Featured Article
Seasons
There are 4 in all – choose your favorite
By Gaye Bunderson Once again, I’ve tapped a number of contributors, advertisers, interviewees, and friends about a family-related topic, soliciting their views on a subject we all have an opinion about: What is your family’s favorite season, and why? The idea was to stoke the fires of enthusiasm for events and vacations to come. Our…
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Brisket challenge
This will be easy – except it wasn’t
By Dennis Lopez If you are a writer, you know that the foundation for any story is people, place and a problem.If you are someone familiar with the art of smoking meat, no doubt you are familiar with the hundreds of YouTube clips out there to give you limitless advice on how to prepare and…
Read MoreDown Syndrome Month Sadie, age 4, helping to raise awareness
Caption for Just Sadie: Sadie, 4, is helping her family and others realize the value and beauty of a child with Down syndrome. October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. (Photo by Arrowleaf Photography) By Gaye Bunderson When asked what she’d say to a mother who just gave birth, Steffanie Larriba replied, “I would say, ‘Congratulations’.”…
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FLC & BUGS
Teaching kids a love of the natural world
Caption for Children in Outdoor Preschool: Children in the Outdoor Preschool program enjoy playing and learning in nature at the Foothills Learning Center. (Photo provided by FLC) By Gaye Bunderson Nature surrounds us and, yet, we frequently fail to experience it to the fullest. Helping people of all ages get the most from nature’s bounty…
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River Discovery
Family fun for cancer fighters of all ages
Caption for Cody Bryson Family: Cody Bryson took five members of his family on a 1-Day Family Rafting Adventure, courtesy of River Discovery. Rafters included his 6-year-old daughter, Lilah, who previously spent 800 days in cancer treatment. (Photo by Bear Valley Rafting) By Gaye Bunderson The last word you’d ever expect to hear associated with…
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Anxiety interventions
Changing perspectives and strategies
By Macaile Hutt Since becoming a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional for Children and Adolescents (CCATP-CA), my entire view on anxiety interventions has changed. I used to focus so much on the content of the worry when working with my clients and even when managing anxiety I was experiencing myself.What are you worried about? What’s…
Read MoreWendy Jepson: Honoring her dad by helping others
Caption for 2020 Clothing Drive: Wendy Jepson of Boise was motivated to perform acts of service to help address the sadness she felt following the death of her father, John Stutznegger. Shown here is a handwritten sign she erected in front of her home in 2020 to help collect clothing for the homeless. (Courtesy photo)…
Read MoreNational Adoption Month: Children are waiting for adoptive families
Caption for Adoptive Family: Kenia, Ian, and Tristan (left to right) are all members of an Idaho adoptive family: mother, son, and father. November is National Adoption Month. Many children are eager to be adopted, and for anyone who’s ever considered adopting a child, now is a great time. (Courtesy photo) By Tina Kierce We’ve…
Read MoreShawn White: Helping foster kids through 2 programs
By Gaye Bunderson Shawn White helps children every day. After holding what she refers to as “a lotta jobs” over the years, she now receives fulfillment in helping kids in foster care find their Forever Family.Shawn serves as the Recruitment Services Administrator for both Wednesday’s Child and Wendy’s Wonderful Kids programs. It’s a job she…
Read MoreGo Kart Racing: The right sport for Kuna’s Ford family
Caption for Number 7: While taking photos at Glenn Morgan Raceway near Star last summer, Dennis Lopez spotted racer Number 7 through his camera lens. Charley Ford, then 10 years old, whizzed around the track in her humble racing outfit, steering her ordinary kart. Eventually, the photographer met her and other members of the Ford…
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