By Marcia Malzahn
The winds of change are in the air. It’s fall and the trees are starting to shed their leaves to get ready to hibernate for the winter. Change is constant and it’s happening right in front of our eyes at an exponential pace. October is a month of transition from one season to the next. The air even smells different. It’s crispier, feels cleaner, and the sky becomes bluer. The vivid colors of the trees create picturesque scenery for us to enjoy. But it can also bring anxiety about what’s to come. The uncertainty of change can be debilitating, confusing, and even paralyzing to some people.
So how do we cope with the winds of change? In this article, we share five steps to manage the winds of change in your life.
Step 1: Compartmentalize your life into two big “buckets.”
Let’s start, for simplicity, by making two big areas in your life: Work/Professional/Career and Home/Family/Personal. Then ask questions under each area that can help you define with clarity, what exactly are you experiencing right now? Unfortunately, often people experience multiple changes at the same time which complicates how you cope with the entire situation.
Step 2: Identify the Changes.
The next step is to list all the potential reasons as to why change is present in your life now. Make a list under each question that you posed in the first step. Then select or circle the answers (or reasons) to each question that best apply to your situation.
Below is an example of a chart with questions and reasons (stressors) based on the two big areas of life:
Work/Professional/Career
Are you changing jobs? If yes, why?
• Left due to a layoff.
• Got fired.
• Decided to switch careers.
• Went from full-time to part-time.
• Got promoted.
Are you changing careers? If yes, why?
• Got bored at the current job.
• Discovered a new opportunity.
• Needed to make more money.
• Graduated from college or got a
post-graduate degree.
Did your company get sold? If yes, what is the impact on your job?
• Got a new boss.
• Got laid off.
• Acquired a new team to lead.
• The benefits changed.
• The job completely changed. You’re lost.
Is technology disrupting your job? If yes, in what ways?
• Automated physical activities and tasks.
• Automation streamlined processes that you used to do manually.
• Your job became more of a desk job versus hands-on.
Did you lose support at work?
• One of your key employees left and now you have to do their work temporarily until you hire a replacement.
• The company’s budget is tight and there is a hiring freeze. You cannot hire the next employee you need to support the growth.
Home/Family/Personal
Is your family growing?
• Adopted a baby.
• Had a new baby.
• A child got married.
• Your first grandchild was born.
Is your family shrinking or are less people living at home?
• A death in the family happened.
• A child got married and moved away
• One of your kids went to college.
• You got divorced.
Are you moving to a new house or to a new city, State, or even country?
• Got a new job.
• Decided to downsize.
• Could not afford the existing home.
• Got promoted and now have to move.
Did the health of a family member change?
• Someone in your immediate family got very ill and now you must care for them.
• Or a family member who was sick with cancer is now in remission and “life can go back to normal.”
• Your own health has deteriorated as you age.
• You discovered you have developed a substance abuse addiction and need help.
Are your parents needing you more now?
• Your aging parents need your physical presence to help them with daily tasks.
• You need to make important, difficult decisions about their care.
• Your parents are resistant to any kind of change in their lifestyle although they can no longer do it themselves.
Step 3: Acknowledge that change is occurring.
There are many other questions that you can ask yourself to identify and clarify the type of change you are experiencing in your life. We only provide a short list of questions and possible triggers or reasons to help you get started. The next step is to acknowledge that change is happening in your life. Just this step will help you to understand your own behavior and help you know that “you are normal.” Change happens to everyone, but we can choose to cope with it in different ways to ensure a successful outcome.
Step 4: Accept the circumstances with grace.
As you can see, whether the change is negative or positive, it is nevertheless a change. And that change brings with it new stress that impacts each person differently. Your body reacts uniquely to the various stressors and your mind also copes with each circumstance different from others. Once you identify the type of change and acknowledge that it’s happening, the next step is to accept the situation. That doesn’t mean you do nothing and let life happen to you. It means that now you have clarity and can choose the correct course of action.
Make decisions and act.
Identifying exactly what type of change you are living through is crucial to making the appropriate decisions. Once you decide what to do based on your options, then you act accordingly. There are always options and there is help so understand that you are not alone. It is difficult for most people to ask for help. But once you get over the fear of asking for help, that is an action in itself. And it’s the first step to continue the journey successfully. And remember that prayer and asking God to help you is also action!
Living life is difficult. And living life with the winds of change constantly blowing at us makes it even harder. However, don’t get discouraged. Change is normal and it’s okay to feel disoriented at first. It starts with your mindset and having a process to cope with change. First, identify the type of change, acknowledge that you’re going through change, accept it, and act on it. I hope these five steps to manage the winds of change encouraged you to successfully go through it.
By Marcia Malzahn
This month I was going to write about the “Back to School” theme. However, due to the extraordinary events that happened in the last few weeks, I changed the topic to “A Prayer for America.” I will use the Bible as our base for simple prayers for our nation that God told us to pray.
Let’s start with repentance and humility.
It all starts with each person acknowledging that we are sinners – no exceptions! The next step is to repent of our sins and ask God for forgiveness. And He will forgive us – no exceptions! It takes humility and courage to take this step but it’s the biggest decision a person will ever make. The result is eternal salvation for our soul.
When each person does his/her part and the entire nation repents, God listens and forgives the nation. With His forgiveness comes blessings, hope, and life. The biggest sin America has committed against God is to reject Him and kick Him out of everything. We must welcome God back into our everyday lives!
Acts 3:19-20 (NLT) Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.
Acts 26:19-20 (NLT) “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT) Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
Let’s pray all the time and for each other. The Bible also tells us to pray without ceasing, all the time. How can we do that when we work, take care of our homes and family, and are busy with life? We make the time. We can pray as we do our everyday activities but, most importantly, we can pray alone with God with no distractions. We also need to pray for each other and help others as we walk through our life’s journey.
Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
James 5:16 (NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
The next few months will be very intense for America as a nation and for its citizens. You will decide who will lead the nation for the next four years. I encourage you to vote. It is your right and a privilege to do so as well as your responsibility as a citizen.
And finally, below are the instructions about worship that Timothy gave the church in 1 Timothy 2: 1-6 (NLT): I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity – the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
I will join you in prayer! Enjoy the rest of the summer and look forward to the next season!
By Marcia Malzahn
Honoring country and freedom is a daily journey of gratefulness. During the month of May, we honor mothers. In June, we honor fathers. July is the month we celebrate our country’s independence. Therefore, it is appropriate to honor our country and the freedom we all hold so dear that comes at a cost.
In May we also remember all the men and women who gave their lives – the ultimate sacrifice of love – to ensure we all enjoy freedom. In October, we give thanks to all the Veterans who risked their lives to fight for our freedom and to protect our country. We dedicate one day each year to celebrate, honor, and remember these special people. However, it’s not enough to honor them only one day out of an entire 365-day year. We must honor our mother and father daily. Similarly, we must remember those who died and fought for our country all the time. Every time we experience the feeling of being free, when we can still make choices on our own, we must remember why.
The cost of freedom is blood…The blood shed by those who dare to step up and risk everything they’ve got, up to their own lives. Why? That is a question I often ponder on. What drives the men and women to fight for our freedom and to protect our country from all its enemies? I believe the main reason is a deep conviction for patriotism and love for Country.
When I became an American years ago, I received the most encouraging and inspiring letter from the President of the United States of America. While it may be a “form letter” sent to all the immigrants who chose to become an American that year, I appropriated it as if it was written personally to me. Since then, I have lived my life with the fire it ignited within me. Here is the letter!
“Dear Fellow American:
I want to congratulate you on reaching the impressive milestone of becoming a citizen of our great nation. As you enjoy the benefits of American citizenship and assume the responsibilities that accompany it, you follow the many brave men and women who have sacrificed to establish and preserve our democracy over the last two centuries.
You now share in a great experiment: a nation dedicated to the ideal that all of us are created equal, a nation with profound respect for individual rights. The United States is a land of unparalleled natural beauty, vast opportunity, and freedom. It is home to people who have been drawn to our shores from all over the world and who share a common love for life and liberty.
Please join me in devoting your hopes, your prayers, your energies, and your labor to our common good and to the future of this wonderful country. Together we must strive to safeguard the freedoms we hold so dear, not only for ourselves but for future generations.”
Below are five things you can do in your daily journey of gratefulness:
1) When you experience the feeling of freedom, simply remember the men and women who made it possible for you. You honor them by remembering them and their legacy.
2) As you walk by a member of the military anywhere, stop to say, “thank you.” This includes police officers that risk their lives daily to keep your own city safe.
3) Pray for the members who are on active duty right now. Ask God to give them strength and grace as they are away from their families. Pray for protection and for them to return home safely.
4) Keep their families in your prayers. They too sacrifice by staying home, sometimes all alone, waiting to hear from their loved one. And, often wondering if they will even return home.
5) Thank God that there are men and women who are called to serve in the military. Because, more than anything, it is their calling. And we reap the benefits. Let’s hold them in highest esteem and respect for their sacrifice.
I hope this letter inspires you to love this beautiful country of America and to remind you of the cost of our daily freedom.
May God continue to bless America, even though many Americans no longer want God involved. Happy Independence Day!
By Marcia Malzahn
Honoring the Father by praying for our children is one of our biggest responsibilities as a parent. God our Father created each person in the entire world. Every child is God’s unique creation, and He wants each human being to go to heaven and spend eternity with Him. Why? Because God is love and He loves us.
When a person becomes a parent, you experience a type of love that is the closest you will ever compare to God’s love for you. Having children is a direct blessing from God. And it is a privilege to raise children in the Christian faith. What does that mean? It means parents have the responsibility to teach the children about the things of God, starting with the truth that God created them and loves them. Proverbs 22:6 (NLT) tells us to “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they won’t leave it.”
Many parents are experiencing a falling away of their children leaving their faith. But we must stand firm on that promise and believe your children will return to God. What is happening? The attraction to the things of the world is stronger than the desire to follow Jesus. The younger generation is disappointed at how “Christians” behave towards other human beings. The hypocrisy amongst believers who judge everyone around them is just as damaging as when an unbeliever hurts another person. Being a follower of Jesus Christ is hard. No one said it would be easy. Jesus told his disciples in John 14: 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Jesus continued telling them what was to come after He left this earth. Later Jesus said to His disciples in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Marcia and her father
If you are a parent, this message is for you. Because we celebrate Father’s Day in June, I dedicate this message to all the fathers and to my dad. I encourage you to pray for your children and never give up on your faith. If you don’t know God the Father, I encourage you to seek Him, and you shall find Him! In Jeremiah 29:13, God told His people, “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you.” Read the Bible, as it is “the manual” for life and for raising our children. I am thankful that I still have my earthly father at 97. And I’m even more thankful that my Father in heaven loves me and I will spend eternity with Him. I pray you have this revelation in your heart as well.
Happy Father’s Day!
Gracias papa, te quiero mucho!
By Marcia Malzahn
Honoring moms on Mother’s Day is not enough. The experience of carrying a child and giving birth to a human being is indescribable unless you are a mom. Mothers around the world sacrifice throughout their lives to provide for their children’s needs. But the greatest need of a child is the need to be loved and accepted, which most moms do well.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:1-3 (NLT) Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” The verb to honor means to “to hold in honor or high respect,” to “venerate and esteem.” Although we celebrate mothers one day of the year, we (children) must honor our mother and father daily. This is one of the only commandments from the Bible that comes with a promise of long life on earth.
This month, I want to celebrate my own mother and will share a little bit of her background. She was born in Leon, Nicaragua. Her father passed away days after she was born, and her mom (my grandmother) raised eleven children on her own.
My mom married my father, a native of Managua, and they had six children. 2024 marks their 60th anniversary! Life has been difficult for both my parents. They survived several natural disasters such as the earthquake in Nicaragua in 1972. They lived through the two-year revolution that culminated in June 1979 with them losing all their properties. They fled to the Dominican Republic where two months later encountered Hurricane David which devastated the island. Moved to America in 1986 sending one kid at a time until it was their turn and the family reunited after one year of being apart.
Marcia and her mother
Although they had their working visas and eventually became American citizens, life in the United States as immigrants was very hard. After several years they moved back to Nicaragua to recover the properties taken by the government after the revolution. They never recovered the properties. They only received government bonds worth a fifth of their value. Nevertheless, they lived in Nicaragua for over twenty years until recently. Two years ago, we (the children) moved them back to the United States where they can be at peace and no longer live in fear.
Someday I may write a book about my family’s story. But today I want to thank my parents for always loving me and for introducing me and my siblings to Jesus. My mom has always been strong in her faith. She never gives up, is hard working, and has never blamed God for anything that life has thrown at them. Seeing her example of faith has strengthened mine over the years.
If you still have your mom on this earth, I encourage you to tell her with words that you love her and appreciate her. Our parents need to hear us say it. If you can visit your mom and give her a hug to show her support during this season in her life, do it. If you have an adoptive mom, love her, thank her, and appreciate her!
Here is to all the moms! Happy Mother’s Day!
Gracias mama, te quiero mucho!
A family at William O’Brien State Park
Story by MN Department of Natural Resource staff
Maybe you’ve thought about camping for a while. Minnesota state parks and recreation areas feature more than 5000 campsites throughout the state. Now is a good time to pick a location and make a campsite reservation. Whether you use a Recreation Vehicle (RV) or you walk in and sleep beneath the stars, there’s a place for you.
If you are brand new to the idea of camping, consider taking an I Can Camp! Program through Parks and Trails. All the necessary equipment is provided, and you’ll learn camping skills like how to set up a tent and build a fire, and lots more. For a schedule of programming, go to mndnr.gov/ican
Next, you will need a destination. The ParkFinder tool at mndnr.gov/ parkfinder is a great way to search for a state park that offers facilities and amenities to meet your needs. Most state parks offer drive-in sites close to a shower building, and many parks offer sites with electric hook-up, popular for campers with RVs. Backpack, walk-in or cart-in sites offer a more quiet and rustic camping experience. You’ll have to carry your gear to your campsite, but the online reservation system will tell you just how far your walk will be from your parking spot.
Group campsites are a great choice for family or friend groups who wish to camp together, and fit up to 50 people. Reservations may be made for all state parks at mndnr.gov/reservations, or make reservations by phone at 866-857-2757. In addition to your campsite reservation, you’ll need a state park vehicle permit, which you can buy at the same time you reserve your campsite or when you arrive at the park. The cost is $7 per day or $35 for a full year.
There are a few things to do before you leave home. Always check the park website for notices or alerts that may impact your trip, and check the weather forecast to make sure you’re prepared with proper clothing and gear for the weather conditions.
Skipping ahead: consider what activities will keep you and your friends and family occupied and happy once you arrive at the park. The park websites list lots of activities. While in the planning stage, you can start to look forward to hiking, swimming, outdoor cooking, moonlight walking, marshmallow roasting, birdwatching, fishing, naturalist programs, photography of breathtaking scenery, tours and more. Some parks have children’s play areas. Many parks let you borrow or rent equipment, from a canoe to a birding kit or a fishing pole with a tackle box.
You’ll find a camping checklist, campsite rules and much more on the Minnesota DNR website at mndnr.gov/camping. Camping, for a nominal fee, opens the outdoors for children while giving adults a chance to take in new scenery, breathe deeply, and learn new skills. State parks are a great place to begin a new chapter of camping adventures.
A Pileated Woodpecker
By Deborah Locke, DNR Information Specialist
Photos courtesy of Minnesota DNR
Maybe like me, your first introduction to woodpeckers took place in the 1960s on a 30-minute television cartoon show, “Woody Woodpecker.” The whacky, red-headed character created for movie theaters in 1940 had this loud, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha cackle.
My second introduction to woodpeckers, occurring long past the days of cartoon watching, took place at Fort Snelling State Park on a brisk November day when a knowledgeable naturalist helped us watch the birds for real. The “Wily Woodpeckers” bird watching program led by naturalist Amy Mester took us on a path into the park in search of Minnesota’s woodpecker species. We used borrowed binoculars, following Amy as she informed the group of 11 about the nine species of woodpeckers in Minnesota. Seven of the nine species either live in or have been spotted at Fort Snelling State Park. Nine species of woodpeckers. Here? For the cartoon-only educated, that was eight more than I expected. Like human Minnesotans, woodpeckers are a hardy lot that overwinter. Their tree pecking at both standing and fallen trees creates a distinct noise. As we walked, looked and listened, it became clear that fall is a good season for bird watching since most foliage is down. Plus, there’s an air of quiet expectation, as the land, vegetation and wildlife prepare for winter. Two deer were spotted on our short hike, and squirrels raced around, frantically storing food for winter.
Amy, who was very tuned to forest sound, both saw and heard the woodpeckers first, flying between trees. We saw three woodpecker species that live at the park: the downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpecker. Less common are the pileated (the bird Woody is based on) and red-headed woodpecker, the northern flicker, and the yellow-bellied sapsucker. The most persistent Minnesota bird watchers may see the black-backed and American three-toed woodpecker, spotted only in the dead of winter in the state’s northern boreal habitats.
Amy pointed out the small downy woodpecker, which from the ground appeared to be five to seven inches long. The birds flitted from tree to tree, stopping to peck, then moving on. Several sharp-eyed members of our group spotted the birds immediately and zoomed in with binoculars. Others (me) searched in vain without any luck. I didn’t get a close-up view, but did see the darting birds in flight. That was a small victory. Not present was any bird resembling Woody Woodpecker, the trouble-maker from my cartoon-watching youth.
Our naturalist guide carried a model of the pileated woodpecker, which she made herself. The species can grow up to 19 inches in length – the same length as the model so we could see how large the birds get. Their padded brains protect their heads from injury from pecking and drumming, and their abnormally long tongues help with insect removal. Their eyes are protected with special folds to absorb the pecking motion, and their flexible claws easily grip tree bark. The hour-long program offered fresh air, conversations with fellow park visitors, information on wildlife, and a way to get away from my keyboard. See information below on finding your nearest state park or trail and finding a program of interest.
Most state park programs are free, but some require pre-registration. Also, you will need a day permit ($7) to enter a park; permits can be bought online or at the park during visitor hours. Call ahead to see if the visitor center will be open. Always check the park website for visitor alerts before you leave, dress for the weather, and know that the visitor centers are often located a couple miles into the park so plan your arrival accordingly.
To find a nearby state park, go to mndnr.gov/parkfinder. To see calendar events, see mndnr.gov/ptcalendar.
Barbecue season is upon us! Outdoor activities are more fun when we share them
with family and friends. This summer, live on the edge with easy, healthy, and delicious
cuisine.
The farmers markets are in full swing and the fresh fruit and vegetable bounty is plentiful. Make a fun activity out of visiting a local market and pick seasonal produce that you can make into healthy, quick and scrumptious meals. Your efforts will produce a fresh, more nutritious and delicious feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
What is in season this summer? For starters, corn, tomatoes, a variety of greens, radishes, red and golden beets, berries, micro greens, pea shoots, green beans, herbs, arugula, kale, Swiss chard, head lettuce varietals, spinach, asparagus, fresh mushrooms, baby bok choi, cilantro, carrots, rhubarb, spring greens salad mix, nettles, spring onions, cucumbers, turnips, starter herb plants, and more! With this fresh assortment of locally grown organic produce so easily available, who can afford to not take advantage of it? Fresh organic and unprocessed food is cleaner and better for you, as well as for the farmers and the community as a whole.
Most fresh foods taste delicious without doing much to them. My motto in the kitchen is to make succulent and healthy meals swiftly and efficiently. We all live busy lives and must make use of time in the kitchen as quickly as possible. Contrary to some beliefs, eating fresh meals is easier and in the end less expensive as it translates into a healthier you. Adopting a fresh eating lifestyle can have a very positive impact not only on your health, but also on the waist of the entire family. Lead by example and they will follow.
Below is a delicious recipe that you can make in minutes with minimal effort. For every fresh item on the list above there’s a way of retaining a great deal of nutrients and crunch by simply making salads dressed lightly with lime or lemon, seasonings and fresh herbs, and combined with grilled lean proteins. Alternatively, make side dishes by sautéing vegetables of choice in olive oil and garlic, or steam and top vegetables with a little seasoned herbed butter. Balance your menu with fresh seasonal fruits for dessert. The farmers market is your oyster!
Fresh beets with onion, lime and sea salt
I grew up eating this salad at home. My mother used to make plates with pan roasted pork chops, steamed potatoes topped with seasoned
butter, and fresh beets salad. The combination is superb.
Makes about 2-3/4 cups
3 medium fresh beets, stalks removed, washed,left whole
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice or substitute with champagne or white wine vinegar
¼ cup yellow onion, julienne
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1. Cook beets in a medium saucepan completely submerged in cold water. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat and cook until tender, about 40 minutes. Transfer the sauce pan to the sink and under running cold water; allow the beets to come to a lower temperature. With your bare hands, peel the beets by squeezing gently while still submerged in the cold water. Transfer to a cutting board.
2. Slice or dice the beets and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the lime juice, onions and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, or allow them to sit in the refrigerator until needed.
Amalia’s Notes:
Serve alone as a side or as a nice topping for a salad.
To roast beets in the oven, rinse and pat dry. Rub with a little oil and place in a baking
sheet and bake at 400°F until soft, but not mushy, about 30-40 minutes.
