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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2020)
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Glimpses of Sisters Karen Keady Columnist Making Lemonade The first time I heard the adage, <When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,= it was the early 1980s during my third year of college. We were required to do a case study on a patient. That fall my clinical rotation was at a large VA hospital, rife with possibilities. Imagine my dismay when I was assigned to the mental ward, to a patient with bi-polar disor- der, also referred to as manic depressive illness. I went to my nursing instructor and begged to be reassigned. The patient himself was a clinical psychologist, who had twice attempted suicide. I was very intimidated and felt totally out of my league with the assignment. I was told to make lem- onade. There would be no reassignment. I spent eight weeks with that patient, and in the end wrote a case study that was eventually published in a medical journal. Quite a surprise, as my instructor had, unbeknownst to me, submitted it as a nursing student case study. It was a clinical study written more like a biography. I had made lemonade! During this most stress- filled time in most of our lives as we struggle with job loss, isolation, illness, rents due, food shortages and more, I wondered how some people are making lemon- ade. With time on my hands 10 OFF $ I set about interviewing fam- ily, friends, neighbors and acquaintances. Here are a few of the answers: One friend laid off from her job has been walking every day to relieve stress. She has had more time to prepare healthier meals at home rather than grabbing meals on the run. She has lost over 20 pounds and her blood pressure is lower than it has been in years. A bonus is that for the first time since her last child was born, she can fit into her <skinny= jeans. Richard, from Richard9s Produce says that he is mak- ing lemonade by offering more organic produce, fruits and veggies at his place this year. People want that and he says he has never been bus- ier. Judging by the check-out line 4 people six feet apart of course 4 I would say he is right. A neighbor on my block who sells fresh farm eggs and volunteers at Habitat for Humanity says that she is discovering new ways to connect with friends and family. Things are moving at a much slower pace for us all. Trying to stay connected is a challenge, but she is doing it. A friend with school-age children has been strug- gling with the home school- ing of restless kids, limited resources, and a computer with a mind of its own that often is not operable. The kids become frustrated, can- not concentrate, and do not want to be in school at home. The alternative is, take this time to teach some life skills. Teach the kids how to make their beds. Teach them how to wash a load of laundry, how to boil an egg. Give the dog a good brushing. My friend Diana has taken this time to at long last install those hardwood floors or. she has been yearning for. She is doing it herself! DOT & FAA PHYSICALS When I asked her how she was making lemonade from lemons she laughed and said I must have been think- ing about Judy, our nursing instructor of so long ago. My daughter, a preschool teacher turned librarian, has been using this time off to make masks. She and her sewing circle friends in Georgia have made hundreds of masks. Each of us is finding some joy during this hard- ship, helping others, recon- necting with our families, slowing down from that fast- paced life we have come to accept as normal. Hopefully, we can keep this lesson alive and continue to appreciate just being. We do not always have to be doing something. There is an art to doing nothing. Possibly the funniest story I heard, when I asked a young family member how she was coping with being unable to connect with and play with her friends, said she has been working in the garden, trying to train a pray- ing mantis with a toothpick. To do what? I wondered. To PRAY she replied. I am certain the praying mantis assumes that posture without the aid of a toothpick, but I did not want to dilute her lemonade. The resilience of the human spirit and the will- ingness to help one another during difficult times is amazing. When we look at the chaos occurring in larger cities in this country, I am so thankful to be part of the Sisters community. We will keep on keeping on, we will get through this and we will keep on making lemonade. Church has new name, reflecting independence By Cody Rheault Correspondent Westside Sisters Church has adopted a new name. The former satellite church of Westside Bend is chang- ing their official title to Wellhouse Church and has acquired the Sisters Christian Academy preschool into its structure with additional plans to expand in the near future. The title change came after long talks with board members and prophetic words about the direction of Westside Sisters Church. Visitors and members alike talked about the nature of worship and sermons, feel- ing the church to be a living resource and <a place that welcomes all people home.= <Westside is a great name, but we have become our own family, a new church body,= said Jerry Kaping, lead pas- tor at Wellhouse Church. <Although we are thankful for everything Westside has done for us we are launching out to become our own, and we maintain a great relationship with Westside Bend.= The separation from Westside Church Bend should not be misunderstood as a poor relationship with them, Kaping noted. Instead, Steve Mickel, lead pastor for Westside Bend, expressed his respect and blessing over the name change. <They really gave us a great foundation,= Kaping said. We l l h o u s e C h u r c h 9s vision remains: Live in His Presence, Love His People, and build His Kingdom. Wellhouse Church will make disciples, create community, and train and equip saints for works of service. The former Bread of Life food pantry, under the direc- tion of Westside Sisters, will change to Wellhouse Market, where they will continue to feed and provide groceries for up to 80 families a week. Wellhouse Church has also adopted the preschool program from the recently shuttered Sisters Christian Academy. Following an application with the state to offer the Preschool Promise program 4 where finan- cially struggling families can receive assistance 4 Wellhouse Church is looking to provide before- and after- care, summer care, and holi- day and vacation care for pre- school aged children. Pending approval, the program will provide a free place for quali- fying families as well educa- tion for kids in Sisters. Those familiar with teach- ers from Sisters Christian Academy will appreciate the new head of the preschool program. Mary Ryan, Head Teacher and Director at the See WELLHOUSE on page 14 No Need To Travel... WE’VE DONE THE FISHING FOR YOU! OVER A DOZEN TYPES OF ALASKAN FISH flash frozen the day it’s caught by owner/operator trawlers then flown to Sisters for guaranteed freshness and quality. WALK IN OR SCHEDULE YOUR APPT. TODAY! AND BROUGHT IN THE BEST LOCAL ELK & LAMB! Valid through 5-27-20 541-548-2899 All to supplement our incredible beef, pork and poultry you’ve come to know and love. 3818 SW 21st Pl., Ste. 100 Redmond • Open every day Open 9-6 Daily! • 541-719-1186 yourcaremedical.com 110 S. Spruce St., Sisters TELEMEDICINE • URGENT CARE • OCCUPATIONAL O MED • X-RAY 11 MEATS • CHEESES • EATERY • DRINKERY