©iStockphoto.com/mrslevite

The Magazine to Empower and Enrich Today’s Urban Woman Winter 2010

Lifestyle Something from

Nothing

Faith The Cry of

God

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FaithThe Cry of God .....................................Handling Disappointments ...................

LifestyleMaking Things Beautiful From Nothing ...I Can’t Believe They’re Eating ...............Crazy Beautiful Fashion Show ..............

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FaithLifestyle

Crystal WackerChristina Williams

Jodi-Kay EllisMona Ré Shields

Crystal WackerMargaret Lavisky

Joselyn WardCrazy Beautiful Team

Diana Faruquiwww.iStockphoto.com

www.sxc.huRay Scott

Maribelle Gomez Clinkscales

Editor-in-Chief ..........................Writing Editor .......................Spanish Translation ....................Spanish Editor .......................Contributing Authors ............... Graphic Artist .............................Photos ...........................

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1 Reach UP

THE Cry of

God...Dad and I were talking one after-noon about our readers. He has such a soft spot for women who need to know that Jesus really, really un-derstands their desperate situations. Then he told me he’d been think-ing that the first time anyone ever heard God’s voice, it was a cry.

This is a peek into those thoughts.

When you strip everything away from Christmas celebrations, it boils down to being simply about a baby. A holy baby, the Christ-child, a tiny infant. A baby who cried.

There are some who would like to make you think that as the God-child, “no crying He makes.” Wrong! He cried for his mommy; He cried when He was hungry; He cried when He was wet. He cried.

Isn’t it amazing that the God who had EVERYTHING and lived in heav-enly majesty, who never knew pain, or sorrow, or headaches and disap-pointment, let go of everything in order to become human? And, not a fully grown adult in control of his life, but a dependent baby with con-trol over nothing.

Just think -- the very first sound of God Himself was a cry.

That says something to me. The God I reach up to understands me when I cry. After all, God created me and my human emotions. He gave me tear ducts so I could cry. And

God made the cry of a baby to speak clearly and effectively with-out words. Every mother learns what the different cries of her baby mean. Surely, God knows our cries as well.

Isaiah 53:3 says that Jesus as an adult was a Servant to mankind. He wasn’t handsome, even though movie directors insist on handsome actors playing Jesus. Scripture says there wasn’t anything attractive about Him. In fact, He was looked down on, He suffered, and He knew pain firsthand.

Jesus, who knew glory in heaven (which I can hardly figure out how to describe), also knew rejection, put downs, and extreme disappoint-ment. Sorry to say, I identify more with that side of Jesus. And maybe you do too.

Maybe you have cried lately. Do the holidays bring problems and hurt to the surface when it seems everyone else is happy and celebrat-ing? I understand. But I hope to encourage you with this: Christmas is all about the God-child who came to earth so that men and women everywhere for all time could be reconnected with the God who made them and loves them so deeply that He cries over them.

Yes, I believe Jesus cries over our hurts. When we reject His love

and His plans for our lives, we hurt Him -- enough that He cries. Jesus cried over His city. He cried when His friend Lazarus died. He cried when things got really tough and when the personal pain became too great just before He was ar-rested. He cried out to His Father on the cross.

In a very real way, that’s why we celebrate Christmas. God came to earth to identify with His creation -- humbly, softly, and emotionally.

Maybe through your tears you’ll find enough joy to celebrate the birth of the God-child who gets it. You are not alone. You matter to God. Your tears matter. The cry of your heart is being heard by God. Reach up to Him. It will make all the difference. He’s reaching out to you….

To: YouMerry Christmas.From: Crystal and her dad

By: Crystal Wacker

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3 Reach UP

A Reach UP Interview with Margaret Lavisky

Recently we (RU) interviewed Margaret Lavisky (ML). She helps us promote Reach UP magazine.

RU Margaret, you didn’t grow up in the inner city, did you? But you said that your experience could relate to our readers. How’s that?

ML As a child, I grew up on a country dirt road in Ohio. We were really poor.

RU Ok, tell us about it.

ML Until I was six years old, we didn’t have in-door plumbing. We brought water into the house from an outdoor well with buckets. The water was heated on a wood-burning stove for cooking, bath-ing, and washing clothes. We washed our clothes using a washboard and an old-fashioned wringer washing machine. Then we hung them out on the line to dry.

RU Wow. I wonder how many even know what a washboard is, let alone a wringer washing machine. Doesn’t take quarters, does it? Line drying your clothes, though -- that’s a way to save money.

ML Yes, and there are other things I saw my mother do that I took for granted. As an adult I’m now amazed at her talent.

She made all our clothes. My brother’s pants were made from the back sides of my father’s worn-out pants – the part that hadn’t worn out. She took the seams apart and sewed a smaller pair of pants out of my dad’s large pants.

Nothing in our home was wasted. My mother fig-ured out how to make something from nothing. It really was quite an art.

RU What if someone doesn’t know how to sew?

ML Even if you don’t sew, you can learn how. You can mend clothes that get torn and put patches on holes. I learned so much. But before I go into that, I want to mention that Mom always kept busy. She crocheted and knitted. And we can teach that. So much can be done. I remember that mother would reuse yarn that she pulled from an item that no longer fit, or that had a hole in it. We learned: Reuse it, remake it, and you get something new! I would love to teach women how to make things. It’s fun to keep your hands busy and get something out of it, too.

Somethingfrom NothingBeauty in Everything!

For the next year in each issue, we’ll follow Jeanette Rivera as she prepares

for her upcoming wedding. We’ll get an insider’s view of what it’s like to

plan and budget for a wedding. Then we’ll have a special wedding

issue of Reach UP. So here’s our first glimpse…

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RU Sounds good! I wonder how many of our readers would like to learn (or teach someone) how to sew, crochet, or knit? It’s the holidays, and they are often celebrated around food. What did you learn about food?

ML The food mom served was simple, but she tried to make it healthy and delicious. She served it with a flair. She picked fresh flowers from the outdoors. You know, bouquets don’t have to cost. Pick leaves or a branch, wrap them with a child’s ribbon, and put them in a glass with water, and it looks special. Dogwoods were her favorite. I can still see the twinkle in her eye when she picked them. That’s what she taught me.

RU Yes, it’s obvious that was a special delight. Your sister painted that picture of a dogwood. It’s our goal at Reach UP to inspire our readers to look for beauty wherever they find it.

ML My earliest memories were of mother look-ing for ways to create beauty and warmth in our home. We didn’t realize that we were that poor. I guess you could say that not only did she try to make things look nice with what we had, she had a bit of an “attitude.” No one would be able to say we didn’t look nice. Our clothes may have been

recycled hand-me-downs, but they were always clean and made with love.

RU Very good. Is there something else you’d like to leave us with?

ML We were taught the value of hard work and to enjoy the fruit of our labor. It’s been a lesson I carried with me all of my life and what I’ve tried to teach my daughters.

work hard! enjoy life!

reuse it. remake it.

= somthing new!

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By: Joselyn Ward

5 Reach UP

I’ve been asked many times, “How do you get your kids to eat the way they do?” Kids are famous for being picky eaters, but my four daughters are used to eating at least two servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit a day. With child obesity on the rise, it‘s getting harder to keep on a healthy eating track.

Sometimes I serve my daughters the usual things like baby carrots, lettuce and tomatoes, or apples and oranges. However, they have learned to enjoy lima beans, artichokes, brussel sprouts, pome-granates, grapefruits, and cactus fruit*. Surprising, right? Getting them to like these things is not as hard as it seems. It just takes presentation, persistence, and patience. Here’s how:

Presentation:Think of different ways to intro-duce new foods and to present everyday foods in a new way. Add color to the plate in the formvegetables for dinner.

Cooked vs. raw: My children did not like vegetables cooked -- not boiled, steamed, or baked! Chil-dren often don’t like mushy tex-ture; they prefer crunchy. That’s okay, so go with it. Offer veggies in a baggie instead of chips. Or prepare a veggie tray in advance and leave it in the fridge for an occasional snack option. Instead of popcorn for family movie night, fill the bowl with grapes, strawber-ries, and cherries.

Move beyond everyday fruit like apples, oranges, or grapes. Let your kids pick out something new, then create a fruit salad. If they are still not interested, you can bake fruits into a regular muffin or cake mix for a tasty dessert, or dump them into pancakes for breakfast.

Dip it: Children will eat anything if they can dip it. It’s fun and almost like playing with their food, so they are more likely to eat it. Salad dressings are great to use as dips, any kind from ranch to balsamic

vinegar. Yogurts and caramel sauce are also good for dipping fruits.

Top it: Sauces such as sweet and sour, barbeque, and honey mus-tard are not just for meat anymore. Hummus (chick pea paste) is also great to use to top veggies. Sour cream, creamy spinach, and cream cheese make other tasty choices. Ice cream, jams and juic-es can be used for sweet toppings or making a shake. If all else fails, you can top anything with cheese, peanut butter, or chocolate.

Hide It: Prepare regular cake mixes for muffins and add fruit, even veggies. Cut up and add various veggies to create a chunky spa-ghetti sauce. Add tomatoes and peppers to spice up a boring omelet.

Persistence:If you teach your children to ex-pect fruits and veggies as a con-sistent part of their meals (and I mean breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including snacks), they will learn

to accept them as normal. Be persistent,

but don’t push or nag them. This will just annoy and turn them off to try new things. Remember to have fun with new experiences and flavors.

Patience:Most children will not like what you offer the first time around. And, what they like today, they might like not like tomorrow. But don’t give up! I have found that it takes time for a child to acquire a taste. As children grow, their tastes grow and change too. You may offer kids the best fruit and vegetables, but if they don’t like them, don’t get frustrated. Just try again an-other time in another way. Some-times your negative reaction is all it takes for a child to never want to try again. So stay cool!

Join them in healthy eating: Eat with them. You will always be their first and best example. If they are taking a risk with trying beets, take the risk with them. Children see this as you taking an interest in their health. They see that they can trust you to be there to see them through anything. Believe it or not, it means a lot. Get the kids involved. Take them with you to the store and let them choose something new. Involve

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to accept them as normal. Be persistent, but don’t push or nag them. This will just annoy and turn them off to try new things. Re-member to have fun with new experiences and flavors.

Patience:Most children will not like what you offer the first time around. And, what they like today, they might like not like tomorrow. But don’t give up! I have found that it takes time for a child to acquire a taste. As children grow, their tastes grow and change too. You may offer kids the best fruit and vegetables, but if they don’t like them, don’t get frustrated. Just try again another time in another way. Sometimes your negative reaction is all it takes for a child to never want to try again. So stay cool!

Join them in healthy eating: Eat with them. You will always be their first and best example. If they are taking a risk with trying beets, take the risk with them. Children see this as you taking an interest in their health. They see that they can trust you to be there to see them through anything. Believe it or not, it means a lot. Get the kids involved. Take them with you to the store and let them choose something new. Involve them in meal planning. Ask them what they would like to eat and

steer them in the right direction. It’s another way of showing that you care and are interested in their opinions, interests, and health. Teaching them now about good food choices will help them to make better and healthier choices when they are older and on their own.

*Reach UP readers live all over the world, and not all the fruits and vegetables mentioned are available everywhere. Still it’s nice to learn about them.

Our author, Joselyn Ward, presently lives in Kitch-ener, Ontario, Canada, with her husband and four daughters, ages 11, twins 10, and 6. She grew up in Williamsburg, New York. As a child, she attended Metro Ministries Sunday School (an aggressive inner-city outreach program) after her father passed away. Determined to make something of herself, she volunteered in that ministry, eventually going on staff and meeting her husband there. Currently Joselyn is a child and youth worker for group homes specializing in mentally and physically disabled

children.

7 Reach UP

It’s boot season ladies! Grab your favorite pair to accent any outfit! Add coordinated or contrasting colored tights for extra warmth.

When it comes to winter, color choice is important! Leave your bright yellows and oranges behind and dive into deep blues and purples.

Crazy Beautiful Fashion Show took place in Fort Lau-derdale, Florida. It’s a part of the country that rarely gets cold, so the styles shown are more with the warmer weather in mind. But, if you’re going out for that special event and it’s cold outside, wrap your coat around these great looks.

A simple black wrap-around dress is a flattering choice for the full figured woman! Its a-line flare hides all of the “holiday treats.” Accent it with a set of pearls, add a coat, and you are ready for a wintery night out!

For your fancy holiday parties, an evening gown may seem chilly. Add a shawl for warmth and elegance!

Fitted doesn’t mean we have to see it all. Choose your undergarments wisely will make sure you always look your best!

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1) Recognize that God has known about everything before you did. It is not a surprise to Him. He knows what’s best to do.

2) Talk to God about your feelings.

3) Read the Bible and find out what it says about your situation. 4) Pray with a friend.

5) Make up your mind to do the right thing, even if you don’t feel like it.

Your feelings cannot be used as a measuring stick for truth. They’re just human feelings! Don’t make the mistake of think-ing a drink, or a fix will help. It won’t. It will only make things worse.

Only God’s Word is always true and can be depended upon whether or not it makes sense at the time. God cannot lie and He is the Author of Truth!

Hang with God and you’ll get through...!

Some verses for some disappointing situations:

Not getting something you counted on: Psalm 22:5 (Amplified Bible) “They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in, leaned on, and confidently relied on You, and were not ashamed or confounded or disappointed.” Look up Psalm 145:19 too.

Illness: Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Look up 2 Corinthians 4:17 too.

Lack of support: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not de-stroyed.” ©iStockphoto.com/mrslevite

Given to you by:

I’m a Reach UP woman! www.myreachup.com coming soon I’m a Reach UP woman! www.myreachup.com

The Magazine to Empower and Enrich Today’s Urban Woman Winter 2010

9 Reach UP

Special Note from the EditorBig changes are happening for Jeanette Rivera and her family. You may recall from the fall issue that Reach UP had planned to follow her plans preparing for her storybook (second) wedding to her sweetheart, Guillermo Ri-vera. Many of our readers didn’t realize that this was the same Jeanette who wrote, “Desperation Doesn’t Have To Be Forever” Spring 2010. Now on the other side of depression and bad decisions, she’s living proof that God works out all things for good when you let Him. She and her husband have accepted a new ministry position and have to move. With the move and all the other things involved, they simply cannot do everything they’d like, so the big wedding celebration is cancelled. Reach UP looks forward to future articles by Jeanette.