A Winter Rambling with Jennifer

There is a season for all things. For skies full of snow and days of sunshine, for climbing and resting, and for days when we summit. Driving along the Front Range in Colorado, you can look up to the mountains and way up in the distance at the top of a large mountain called Pike’s Peak, is a small dot of something. It is the summit, the top of the mountain, where there is a welcome center. 

It was this distant dot that an army of single moms climbed to, with colorful ribbons flowing out of their backpacks. Celebration ribbons (thank you – Ella!). These colorful, long ribbons were attached to wooden sticks with bells. When they were waved, they made the most cheerful sound, a victory sound. The ribbons were carried in anticipation of celebrating. Hiking at the back of the group, I could see the ribbons winding their way up through the mountain. 

Carrying the intention to celebrate is powerful. When we are in seasons that are dark, where the news around us or in our own lives is hard, it is easy to lose sight of the healthy practice of celebrating. One of my friends just signed her daughter up for soccer. In the spring, when the snow melts, she will head out on Saturday mornings with the intention to celebrate and cheer her daughter on. 

I once read the words, “have an eye towards celebrating”. Meaning, have celebration as a focal point in your life. As I sit and write this blog, I remember where I was when I read this, and the season I was experiencing. Life was hard…the climb of my everyday life fatigued me to the core. As I sat bundled up on a chair outside my tiny home in Bellaire, MI, trying to soak up the early spring sun, I read these words, and they challenged me. I made the decision to purchase a latte every Friday as a celebration for getting through the week. It was a small way I could celebrate. I also began to plan for a staycation to mark the completion of a class I was taking.

Celebration can be a practice. We can prepare to celebrate with a celebration plan, and we can spontaneously celebrate. A co-worker of mine has a cowbell in her office. When she witnesses generosity, she rings her bell in celebration. It is the recognition of marking something of worth and delighting in the accomplishment. 

What are the small and big things in your life that are worthy of celebrating? 

After eighteen years of sitting with thousands of single moms, and some of you, there are a few things I know to be 100% true. One of these things is that YOU are worthy of celebrating!

 

A Shared Kitchen

Do you know what accompanies celebrating? Cake. One of my favorite books is The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse by Charles Mackesy. The mole loves cake. His answer to most things, both great and small, is cake. I must admit I am not much of a baker, but if I was I would want to make extraordinary cakes! This week, make a cake to celebrate the ordinary or the extraordinary. And, if making a cake feels like too much – buy a cake or a cupcake!

Funfetti Cake

by Floury Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 2 cups granulated sugar

  • 4 large eggs

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 cup milk

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • ½ cup rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat the Oven

    • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.

  • Prepare the Dry Ingredients

    • In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Set aside.

  • Mix the Wet Ingredients

    • In a large mixing bowl, cream ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened) and 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).

  • Add Eggs and Vanilla

    • Beat in 3 large eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, mix in 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.

  • Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

    • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three parts, alternating with 1 cup of whole milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.

  • Fold in the Sprinkles

    • Gently fold in ½ cup of rainbow sprinkles using a spatula. Be careful not to overmix, as the colors may bleed.

  • Pour and Bake

    • Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

  • Cool the Cake

    • Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

  • Prepare the Frosting

    • While the cake cools, prepare your favorite buttercream or cream cheese frosting. Add a few drops of food coloring for a festive touch if desired.

  • Frost and Decorate

    • Once the cake is completely cool, frost it evenly using a spatula or piping bag. Decorate with additional sprinkles for a fun and festive finish.

  • Serve and Enjoy

    • Slice the cake and serve your homemade Funfetti Cake. Enjoy! 

 

Creating Celebration

It’s time to wave a celebration ribbon! This week, grab a kid, friend, or a stranger who could turn into a friend, and create something that will mark moments of celebration. A bell you ring when your kid gets his license or your little one learns to walk. There are no limits to what you can make. Think of something that would make you smile to wave, ring, shake, clap, or maybe even a melody you can dance to.

In your quieter moments of the week, think about a celebration plan. What is something up ahead in life you want to celebrate? Is it an accomplishment, a life well lived, a small step in the right direction, or a life milestone? 

Once you think of what it is you want to intentionally celebrate, ask yourself this question: How do I want to celebrate this? A tea party in memory of the life well-lived by your grandma? A day trip to a meaningful spot to celebrate a raise at work or a class completed? A night where you let the dishes sit, and dinner is cereal? A walk through a peaceful trail, with a thermos full of coffee? 

There is no right or wrong in how you celebrate. It is the encouragement and joy the celebration brings that is the point.

May we all dance our way into spring with celebration ribbons flowing.

With Love, 
Jennifer

 

We would love to hear your reflections from your at-home pilgrimage.

Grand Traverse

Location: 1240 E. Eighth Street, Traverse City
Phone: 231-944-1710
Email: grandtraverse@singlemomm.org

Benzie Leelanau

Location: 901 Barber St, Benzonia, MI 49616
(Our Mobile Office is located in the parking lot of the First Congregational Church)
Phone: 231-499-5817
Email: benzieleelanau@singlemomm.org

Holland Zeeland

Location: 100 Pine Street, Zeeland, MI 49464
(The SMHZ Office is located inside City on a Hill)
Phone: 616-373-1499
Email: hollandzeeland@singlemomm.org

Wexford Missaukee

NEW Location: 118 Stimson Street, Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: 231-463-0820
Email: wexfordmissaukee@singlemomm.org

A Winter Rambling with Jennifer

Mile marker 8. To anyone who has climbed Pikes Peak in Colorado, this mile marker stands out. It is the spot that, if you are a normal human being, climbing a mountain, not an uber athlete, you want to quit. The climb is hard and long. By this mile marker, you wonder if you can make it, and yet you look back and realize the bottom of the mountain is too far away to consider hiking back down. So, you look up. 

It is the part of the hike that seems mundane. You recite to yourself, “Just take the next step.” You begin to lose your motivation, and sitting down seems like the best pathway forward. 

And yet, there is still so much climbing to be done. There is still a summit view at the top that you cannot even imagine.

Months after our climb to the top, I sat in a room with a fellow climber and shared tears as she mourned an unexpected and severe loss in her and her children’s lives. In every way, it was one of those moments where life seemed too heavy and quitting seemed so inviting. 

And yet, she said, “Do you know what is getting me through? A picture of me hugging mile marker eight.” On the mountain, it was the point at which she wanted to quit. Instead, others around her voiced words of encouragement, they took the next steps with her, and they took the picture of her hugging the point she didn’t think she could get past. That picture has become her life mile marker. It speaks the words, “You can do this, one step at a time.” 

Steps are a funny thing. We can look at them as individual steps, and we can look at them as a collection of steps. Multiple steps in the same direction for a long time can be called a pilgrimage. A step requires us to be fully present in the moment. Not up ahead of what is to come and not behind us.

February, for me, many times feels like a climb. It seems to be a bit mundane, and I lose sight of the momentum I had coming off the New Year and the hopes I held for the months ahead. I have a hard time embracing the present. Sickness seems to abound, and life seems to be a bit more sluggish. During this time, I need to see a picture of mile marker eight, I need to remember words of encouragement spoken to me, I need to re-read a card or letter I received, and I need to remember who God says I am. 

Will you join me this week in taking one step towards encouragement?

Is there a moment where you found yourself at a mile marker eight in your life? A time when you wanted to quit and yet continued? Do you have a picture of this moment, or an object that reminds you of this moment? If so, grab it and put it in front of you as we journey through the last half of February. If you don’t have something of remembrance, what could you acquire, write, or draw that would be a marker to remind you of what you have overcome? Let’s put these markers in front of us, as focal points, to encourage us to take the next step, and to keep climbing our mountains at a slow and steady pace. 

Then, consider sharing your mile marker moment or story with someone else. When we share our stories with others, it encourages them to keep stepping forward and re-ignites our motivation. 

A Shared Kitchen

It’s the middle of February, and a lot of us feel a bit sluggish. This week, consider the joy of grazing. Food grazing consists of taking little snack breaks throughout the day. Consider filling your cupboards and fridge this week with healthy treats. Instead of trying to make full meals, give yourself the week off and graze. My favorite way to embrace a week of grazing is to fill canning jars and small containers with different foods that make me smile: blueberries, nuts, and dried cereal. I also fill a basket inside my refrigerator with food I can grab and go or grab and sit on the couch with: cheese sticks, yogurt cups, and Go Go Squeeze. 

DELICIOUS GRAZING FOODS:

Blueberries

Strawberries

Grapes

Banana Chips

Carrot & Celery Sticks with Ranch

Nuts

Cereal

Popcorn

Cheese Sticks

Yogurt Cups

Pita and Hummus

Chips and Salsa

Pretzel Sticks

Cheese and Crackers

Peanut Butter and Apples

Bread and jam

An At-Home Pilgrimage

Going on a Pilgrimage doesn’t have to be in a country far away or on a secluded trail somewhere. It can be in your own home, through your neighborhood, or at a favorite hiking spot. This week, create a mini-pilgrimage for yourself.

Step 1: Center your pilgrimage on the answer to one of these questions: What do I want to walk towards? Or what am I ready to leave behind? Take time to consider which of these questions you want to journey with throughout the week. Once you have decided, take a piece of paper, write out the question, and put it in your pocket. Carry it with you this week. As you carry the question on your at-home pilgrimage, write down the answers that come to mind, either on paper or in a separate journal.

Step 2: Choose the terrain you are going to travel on. Walk your neighborhood, becoming more present with the sights around you. Pick a neighborhood loop that you can repeat throughout the week. Or, choose a nature path close-by. Consider a path that is circular, or one that holds uphill challenges that resemble life. 

Step 3: Design the structure of your pilgrimage. A pilgrimage always starts with a clear opening, or a symbolic start line to cross. Choose a way to start each walk, a start line that symbolizes the start of pilgrimaging (the start of walking fully present while reflecting on your chosen question). A start line could be the opening of your car door, stepping out, and the closing of your door. It could be a line drawn in the snow, the passing of a specific tree or structure on the path. The opening to your pilgrimage can be anything you choose to mark, the start of quiet reflection (make sure your cell phone is on do not disturb). Design specific pause points on your journey. This could be a bench or log you will sit on, a view you will pause and absorb, a bend in the road you will take a break at, or a personal place of memory. At each point, pause and breathe in deeply. This reminds us that our journey in life is full of steps forward and intentional moments of rest and renewal.

Step 4: Carry with you something to leave behind: a rock, a prayer, a note, a word, or even a funny memory. On your pilgrimage around your neighborhood or on a nature trail, consider the answer to your question you are carrying and leave a thought of it behind. Through a prayer said on the trail or a rock placed along the way, you are grounding yourself in the present, making a memory of what is going on around you or inside you as you journey. As you have thoughts, see sights, and feel feelings, capture them in your journal.

Step 5: When your journey ends, don’t just stop - close it. Step back across the threshold. Write. Cry. Take a bath. Make a good meal. Read a Bible verse. Light a candle. Do something to mark the return.

Step 6: Consider taking your pilgrimage a few times in the next couple of weeks, considering the question you are carrying and the answers that come forth. And then share. Who is trustworthy to share your reflections with? This does not have to be a deep conversation; it could be just a simple reflection. 

 

We would love to hear your reflections from your at-home pilgrimage.

Grand Traverse

Location: 1240 E. Eighth Street, Traverse City
Phone: 231-944-1710
Email: grandtraverse@singlemomm.org

Benzie Leelanau

Location: 901 Barber St, Benzonia, MI 49616
(Our Mobile Office is located in the parking lot of the First Congregational Church)
Phone: 231-499-5817
Email: benzieleelanau@singlemomm.org

Holland Zeeland

Location: 100 Pine Street, Zeeland, MI 49464
(The SMHZ Office is located inside City on a Hill)
Phone: 616-373-1499
Email: hollandzeeland@singlemomm.org

Wexford Missaukee

NEW Location: 118 Stimson Street, Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: 231-463-0820
Email: wexfordmissaukee@singlemomm.org

A Winter Rambling From Jennifer

I have a brown headlamp that is dear to my heart! The first time I put it on, I thought I looked like a dork. It fits snugly over my head, with the little rectangular box of light stuck to my forehead (Yes, it leaves a mark on my head!). However, once I got past my vanity issues, I came to love this little – BIG light. It has been my companion on some epic and not-so-epic adventures.

Many years ago, Single MOMM did our first I Climb for Her camp experience in Woodland Park, Colorado. Ten of us climbed Pikes Peak. We began the climb at 4 am, and, as all good moms know, before leaving anywhere, the question must be asked: “Who needs to go to the bathroom?” 

As we made our way to the public restroom with our headlamps lit, a man passed by us mumbling, “The bathroom is closed.” As a group of moms, that disappointing fact was not going to stop us. We looked at one another, made a deal that we would spread out across the grass lawn, turn off our headlamps, squat, and meet back at the trailhead to start the climb. We have laughed throughout the years, remembering this moment, and are universally grateful for the darkness that hid us as we squatted. 

Darkness was a good thing that morning. However, darkness isn’t always good, and sometimes it can feel paralyzing. The reality is we live in spaces that have both light and dark. This past summer, we took another group of single moms to climb Pikes Peak, and I once again had my brown headlamp. My role was to be the caboose. I hiked at the back of the group, making sure no one was left behind.

Shortly after our hike began, one of our team members got sick and needed to rest. Together we leaned against a rock, and when she was ready to climb again, we stepped out onto the dark trail with our circles of light beaming out in front of us. One circle was all the light each one of us got. In the stillness of that morning, I found myself reflecting on the similarities between this lighted circle and my life. I can’t see everything ahead or even sometimes around me in my life journey. There is a lot that is unknown and not in my control. 

I am not always comfortable with this reality. And, yet. If I really think about it, I have the light I need to take the next step. We live in this place of tension. We hold the hope of what may be in one hand with the realities of what is in the other. We each walk in our own light circles. The light allows us to take intentional steps forward. And our light circles can grow. Becoming more personally aware of who we are, how we are wired, the talents we possess, and what gets us stuck increases the light we walk in. A healthy community also increases this light. Allowing healthy friends, family, people who have gone before us, and those with great wisdom to speak into our lives increases this light. 

““Your (God’s) word is a lamp to guide my feet, and a light for my path.””
— Psalm 119:105

Our circle of light increases as we meditate on what is true. God’s word illuminates our steps. It guides us like the guideposts on the trail and allows us to be sure-footed in our steps. It doesn’t take away the darkness that remains ahead of us, the things unseen, but it offers peace to us as we walk and a sweet knowledge that we are never alone and that God always walks before us, ready to illuminate our paths. In this light, we can see the things that are possible, the steps we can take, and what is ours to control. 

This week, take a small flashlight or the light on your cell phone, and shine it on a piece of paper. Let the light circle grow small enough that it fits on the paper. Then draw around the light circle with a marker, colored pencil, or pen. Looking at the circle, consider the things going on in your life, worries you may have, or circumstances that seem overwhelming. Ask yourself, “What is true about my current feelings or situation?” “What can I control?” “What does God’s Word say?” Write out or draw pictures of what you can control, and what is true inside of your circle. On the outside of the circle, capture the things that you cannot control or that are unknown. This can help us see what steps we CAN take. It helps bring order to our thoughts and fears.

As all of us stepped onto Pikes Peak this past August with headlamps shining, we shouted, “How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time!”

Each step we take in the light moves us towards our personal summits – our mountaintops. 

A Shared Kitchen

One of my favorite memories as a kid was eating bread pudding at my grandparents’ house. It was the perfect combination of sweetness and comfort. I find bread pudding is best eaten with good company and a hot drink. If your week ahead has no space to sit down with this sweet treat, consider throwing together a jar of trail mix. The best part of this recipe is that you choose all the ingredients. Just mix and go! 

Bread Pudding

A classic winter comfort food and great use of day-old bread! 

Servings: 12 (8-inch square pan)

Ingredients:

• 6 slices of day-old bread, broken up into small pieces (think the size of a quarter)
• 2 tablespoons of butter melted
• ½ cup of raisins
• 2 cups of whole or 2% milk
• ¾ cup of white sugar (or substitute coconut sugar)
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Gather all the ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the broken-up pieces of bread into an 8-inch square baking dish. 

Drizzle melted butter over bread and sprinkle raisins on top.

Whisk milk, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla together until well combined.

Pour mixture over bread and press gently with a fork until bread is covered and soaked.

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and top springs back when lightly pressed, about 45 minutes.

*Optional to stir in ½ tsp of nutmeg, a splash of bourbon for more flavor, or drizzle caramel over the top.

Trail Mix: A little bit of everything

Grab a canning jar, throw the ingredients in, and shake!

Ingredients:

Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (or good ole M&Ms)

Salted nuts (pick your favorite type)

Dried fruit (maybe pick a tropical blend to bring some sunshine into your home)

Coconut flakes

Supplies:

• One flashlight
• Other people

Flashlight iSpy

You can play this anywhere that’s dark, perhaps from the comfort of your cozy February nook, turn off all the lights and get ready for a little nighttime adventure!

Choose one person to be “It.” They will hold the flashlight. Everyone else sits quietly with their eyes closed. The person who is “It” shines the flashlight on an object in the room then turn off the flashlight, everyone else opens their eyes and the person with the flashlight says, “I spy with my little eye… something that is ______,” and give a clue (color, shape, size, or what it’s used for). The guessers take the flashlight and try to find that item around the room. The first person to guess correctly becomes the next “It.”

Flashlight Silly Copycat Dance

Choose one person to hold the flashlight. Everyone else stands where they can move without bumping into anything. The flashlight holder does a silly movement or dance and then they shine the flashlight on one person to copy the move. Take turns being the flashlight holder until everyone has gotten a chance. You can switch it up by copying shadow poses by shining the flashlight on the wall and having each person take turns making a shadow and everyone else has to copy it. Make it even more exciting by playing some catchy dance music or playing freeze dance, everyone dances until the person with the flashlight shines the light on you and you have to freeze in your dance pose.

 

We would love to connect with you. Please reach out to your local office or stop in for a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate!

Grand Traverse

Location: 1240 E. Eighth Street, Traverse City
Phone: 231-944-1710
Email: grandtraverse@singlemomm.org

Benzie Leelanau

Location: 901 Barber St, Benzonia, MI 49616
(Our Mobile Office is located in the parking lot of the First Congregational Church)
Phone: 231-499-5817
Email: benzieleelanau@singlemomm.org

Holland Zeeland

Location: 100 Pine Street, Zeeland, MI 49464
(The SMHZ Office is located inside City on a Hill)
Phone: 616-373-1499
Email: hollandzeeland@singlemomm.org

Wexford Missaukee

NEW Location: 118 Stimson Street, Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: 231-463-0820
Email: wexfordmissaukee@singlemomm.org

Welcome to Hibernate!

This is a four-week blog to encourage all of us in the midst of the cold winter month of February. It is an invitation to consider embracing moments of personal hibernation, joining with others over a shared meal, and playing with our children. Each year, we compile this series of writings, recipes, and activities that combat the winter blues and remind us all that spring is coming – until then, let’s Hibernate!

A Winter Rambling from Jennifer

“This is the loudest snow I have ever heard!”

It has been in the negative digits, and piles of snow have accumulated, hardened, and now make a spectacular squeaky sound each time I take a step.

Yesterday, I pulled on a huge overcoat, wrapped my scarf around my face so that only my eyes peeked out, and made sure there was no skin exposed between the tops of my boots and the bottom of my pant legs. I set out into the winter wonderland to walk my dog, Seed.

At first, the squeak of the snow and the wind chill biting my eyelashes were all I could focus on. I thought I would walk Seed as quickly as possible to the corner of our road and then turn back and head for my kitchen table and hot pot of coffee. Then my hands started to warm up inside my mittens, and the quiet heaviness of the snow covering the trees silenced the cold, squeaky snow. Life seemed to slow down, and I noticed I started to join the slow rhythm. Stopping every few feet to let my dog explore, I began breathing deeper.

Even as I inhaled the tiny soft fibers of my scarf, I couldn’t help but notice how peaceful this road in the middle of the woods was. With the wind moving the trees, making them sway and dance together all wrapped in white quilts, I was reminded of this quote:

““I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” ”
— Lewis Carroll

Carroll’s quote invites us to take the imagery of the snow-blanketed trees and step into a season of hibernation. Snuggling down into a soft quilt, walking through the snow at the slow pace it demands, and dipping bread into a hot bowl of soup in the presence of a friend.

In our fast-paced lives, the idea of slowing down and quieting ourselves can often feel like a luxury we can’t stop for. Yet, winter reminds us that stillness is necessary; it is powerful. This season invites us to take a step into pausing, a step towards hibernating. Quiet spaces can be a source of strength and peace. In the stillness, we can hear God’s voice more clearly, and the chaos surrounding us becomes muted.

“Woof, Woof, Woof!”

My stillness was abruptly interrupted by a serious melody of barking, and the sensation of my arm getting tugged off as my dog found something of interest in the woods. Tracks. An animal of some sort had scurried across the snow not too long ago. Perhaps on the way to its den to nestle down, out of the cold… to hibernate.

This week, let’s take a moment to embrace the winter quietness. Take a slow hike, step outside after the kids are in bed just to stand in the quiet, or take a moment to breathe in the cold air and look for an object of beauty in this winter season. And then, let’s hibernate! Create a space inside, a cozy nook with a blanket that you can pull away and snuggle in with a good book or a movie. Consider what a February nook could look like in your space – a space with candles, a favorite mug, art supplies, music, books, pillows, or even a blanket fort. Is there a space that you can create a four-week hibernating spot?

A Shared Kitchen

Winter is a time to break bread together, linger a little longer over a good hot cup of tea or coffee, and drop off a meal to someone in need or someone living alone. If you have older children, consider having them cook/bake alongside you.

Mary’s Magnificently Easy Potato Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

  • 1 large onion, chopped

  • 2 (15-ounce) cans peeled whole potatoes, drained

  • 1 ½ cups chicken or vegetable stock

  • 1 cup cream or half-and-half

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

  • Fresh chopped parsley, grated cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream for topping

Instructions:

In a pot, warm the oil and butter over low to medium heat.
Add the chopped onions and cook, stirring frequently,
until the onions are translucent and soft (5 min).

Transfer the onions to a food processor or blender.
Add the drained potatoes and the stock. Blend until smooth.

Return the puree to the soup pot and
cook over medium heat until hot.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve warm with the parsley, cheese,
bacon bits, and sour cream for toppings.

Baked Brownie Smores

Ingredients:

• 1 box of your favorite brownie mix

• 2 cups of crushed graham crackers

• 1 ½ cups of mini marshmallows

• Chocolate syrup

Instructions:

Choose your favorite boxed brownie mix. Prepare and bake the brownies as directed. While they are baking, crush 2 cups of graham crackers. Once brownies are finished baking, lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees. Top the pan of cooked brownies with the graham crackers, then spread the mini marshmallows on top. Put the pan back into the oven until the marshmallows are melted. Remove and drizzle chocolate syrup on top. Cool and serve.

Supplies:

• The children’s book, The Mitten, by Jan Brett
• Warm clothes for a hike outside

Sitting in your nook, or blanket fort, read The Mitten. This is a story about a collection of animals that find a white knitted mitten and, one by one, crawl inside it to stay warm. It is the perfect book to complement our journey of hibernating.

After you read the book, consider taking a walk outside and look for animal and human tracks. See if there are any winter treasures you can find to bring inside: a twig, dried berries, seeds, or nuts that have been dropped, etc.

If you would prefer an indoor activity, consider trying to knit. There are all sorts of different types of loom knitting and finger knitting great for beginners and younger kids. Pull up a tutorial video online and search for where you can purchase items to knit with.

 

We would love to connect with you. Please reach out to your local office or stop in for a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate!

Grand Traverse

Location: 1240 E. Eighth Street, Traverse City
Phone: 231-944-1710
Email: grandtraverse@singlemomm.org

Benzie Leelanau

Location: 901 Barber St, Benzonia, MI 49616
(Our Mobile Office is located in the parking lot of the First Congregational Church)
Phone: 231-499-5817
Email: benzieleelanau@singlemomm.org

Holland Zeeland

Location: 100 Pine Street, Zeeland, MI 49464
(The SMHZ Office is located inside City on a Hill)
Phone: 616-373-1499
Email: hollandzeeland@singlemomm.org

Wexford Missaukee

NEW Location: 118 Stimson Street, Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: 231-463-0820
Email: wexfordmissaukee@singlemomm.org

c o n n e c t i n g   c h a n g e s   e v e r y t h i n g   ™