Southern Indiana Living Magazine - November / December 2024

Wishing you a very merry holiday season from 

Southern 

Indiana 

Nov / Dec 2024 

Living 

A Tree 

Full of 

Memories 

Clay+ Wood 

An artistic union of nature

Honoring every 

moment together. 

William’s wife, Ella, was his rock. When illness struck, Hosparus Health 

Southern Indiana became their lifeline. Our compassionate team provided 

dignified care, easing Ella’s pain and offering support to William. If you’re on 

a similar journey, don’t wait. Call 812-945-4596, scan the QR code or visit 

HosparusHealth.org to experience our warmth and expertise. Because every 

moment matters — for your loved one, for you, for all of us. 

2 • Nov/Dec 2024 • Southern Indiana Living

2025 

Southern Indiana Living • Nov/Dec 2024 • 3

This is where 

autumn adventures begin 

GLASSTOBERFEST 

CHESTNUT STREET MARKET 

ZIMMERMAN ART GLASS - GLASSTOBERFEST 

Whether it’s strolling down the sidewalks 

of a uniquely Indiana town or planning 

an outdoor adventure, there’s no better 

place to enjoy the magic of fall than Corydon 

and Harrison County, Indiana. 

HARRISON COUNTY 

To learn more, visit ThisIsIndiana.org 





NOV / DEC 2024 

VOL. 17, ISSUE 6 

PUBLISHER | 

Karen Hanger 

karen@silivingmag.com 

LAYOUT & DESIGN | 

Christy Byerly 

christy@silivingmag.com 

COPY EDITOR | 

Jennifer Cash 

COPY EDITOR | 

Sara Combs 

ADVERTISING | 

Take advantage of prime 

advertising space. Call us at 

812-989-8871 or e-mail 


SUBSCRIPTIONS | 

$25/year, Mail to: Southern 

Indiana Living, P.O. Box 145, 

Marengo, IN 47140 

Contact SIL 

P.O. Box 145 

Marengo, IN 47140 

812.989.8871 


ON THE COVER: 

Hand drawn winter scene / 

Vector by Talva / shutterstock.com 

7 

9 

Featured Stories 

9 | A TREE FULL OF MEMORIES 

A Walk in the Garden with Bob Hill 

20 | WOOD+CLAY 

An Artistic Union of Nature 

Southern Indiana Living 

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024 

Check out more 

features and stories 

at www.silivingmag.com 

Southern Indiana Living is 

published bimonthly by SIL 

Publishing Co. LLC, P.O. Box 

145, Marengo, Ind. 47140. Any 

views expressed in any advertisement, 

signed letter, article, 

or photograph are those of 

the author and do not necessarily 

reflect the position of 

Southern Indiana Living or its 

parent company. Copyright © 

2018 SIL Publishing Co. LLC. 

No part of this publication 

may be reproduced in any 

form without written permission 

from SIL Publishing Co. 

LLC. 

20 

In Every Issue 

7 | FLASHBACK 

Over the River, Corydon, IN, 1925 

13 | NOTE TO BABY BOOMERS 

Mental Health Amid the Chaos 

27 | REAL LIFE NUTRITION 

Nutrient-Rich Fresh Fall Flavors 

29 | EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 

The Messy Miracle of Christmas 


HAPPY HOLIDAYS 

From Crawford County Recreation & Tourism 

For more information: 812-739-2246, 

info@crawfordcountyindiana.com, 

www.cometocrawford.com 


Flashback Photo 

Over the River and Through the Woods 

Corydon, Indiana 

ca. 1925 

// Photo courtesy of the Frederick Porter Griffin Center, Harrison County Public Library 

This snapshot from the Harrison County Public Library archives captured a beautiful winter snow on the old North 

bridge over Indian Creek near Cedar Glade in Corydon, Indiana, in 1925. 


Seamless transfers and transitions between 

Norton Healthcare and Harrison County Hospital ensure 

that your follow up care and 

rehabilitation can be delivered here, 

in the community that you live. 

Visit us at 

www.hchin.org 

+123-465-7980 

Call Us 

(812) 738-4251 


A Tree Full of 

Memories 

As the leaves begin to fall, 

and we close in on the Turkey 

Day festivities with 

Christmas lurking just 

down the calendar, the belief that 

the latter comes but once a year can 

come with some necessary qualifications. 

Sure, Christmas is generally 

celebrated on Dec 24th/25th with 

all appropriate religious ceremony, 

eggnog with eggs, milk, cream, 

spices and rum, and, oh yeah, the 

red-suited chimney sweep leaving 

his reindeer on the roof. 

But why not put all that yearlong 

giving of thanks on the same 

tree. Make it work for all four seasons. 

It can be done. We have a 

small, very well decorated, artificial 

tree we leave up every day of 

the year. Sitting right there under 

our big television mounted on the 

barnboarded wall in our Rock City 

room. 

Sure, for about 55 years we 

had been doing the regular, pre- 

Christmas decorating thing, hauling 

home a once live conifer, propping 

it up, and smothering it in 

lights, bulbs and ornaments. But in 

many of those recent years, the kids 

and spouses couldn’t make it home 

to seal the holiday deal. 

So, we just put up the smaller, 

heavily decorated artificial tree and 

never took it down. Christmas now 

lives here every day of the year — 

as in 24/7/52/365. Co-mingling, 

in a way, with Easter, the Fourth of 

July and Thanksgiving. 

But that overriding Christmas 

feeling dates to our finest and most 

precious of keepsakes, a couple old 

glass ornaments we bought when 

first married more than 62 years 

ago and residing in a $75-a-month 

apartment in Houston, Texas, living 

on love and peanut butter sandwiches. 

Why should they be carefully 

put away in a box to be stored 

in a closet for 50 weeks a year? They 

are the way we were. Those brittle 

glass treasures will be passed down 

to our kids, but will they ever understand 

their full meaning? 

Speaking of which, up there on 

the tree is a cloth star Janet made 57 

years ago, just before Jennifer was 

born, a cotton time capsule. Moving 

around the tree, you’ll find some of 

the old paper ornaments the kids 

made in grade school to be hung on 

the tree with the flimsiest of paper 

clips, one of the ornaments a very 

fat Santa Claus. Hanging nearby 

is a faded yellow cloth star Robb 

made about the same time. 

But wasn’t that just yesterday. 

Moving ahead while looking 

back, there’s another very dated 

cloth ornament made by Stacy Dieterlen, 

our nephew’s wife, and artist. 

It offers a very old picture of Janet 

and her brother, “Dude,” as very 

young kids pretending to smoke 

cigarettes back on the farm. You 

had to be there. 

A Walk in the Garden 

But that overriding Christmas feeling dates to 

our finest and most precious of keepsakes, a 

couple old glass ornaments we bought when first 

married more than 62 years ago and residing in a 

$75-a-month apartment in Houston, Texas, living 

on love and peanut butter sandwiches. 

The old ornaments, the cloth 

pieces, the cutouts and crocheted 

pieces offer so much more Christmas 

spirit and nostalgia than anything 

you will find at Rural King, 

Dillard’s or even Oxmoor Center. 

Why do we keep putting all that 

back in boxes come January? 

You want family connections. 

Our year-round tree is blessed with 

cloth pieces from the practiced 

hands of Janet’s Aunt Helen, a lady 

so given to old-school neat and tidy 

that one day when an ambulance 

was called to her house for a possible 

health emergency, she insisted 

on washing all the dirty dishes before 

accepting a ride to the hospital. 


There’s a lot of that in Janet 

Hill, too. Where are you going to 

find that kind of family history on 

a Hallmark card? 

Add up the hanging memories. 

There’s contemporary Delftware 

collected on wonderful trips 

to the Netherlands, visiting old 

buildings and gardens. There’s a 

large ornament we bought on a 

trip to Scotland, a hanging memory 

more easily affirmed than going 

through the old slides every few 

years, and a lot less trouble. 

Janet’s mom, Mable Smith, 

made Jennifer an ornament for her 

first birthday. It’s hanging right 

there on the tree — and long after 

Mable left us. Janet Hill has many 

ornaments gifted here from coworkers 

who spent years with her 

as an elementary school aide and 

no-nonsense-accepted cafeteria enforcer. 

Twenty years later, she can still 

tell stories of each gift, the classroom 

and teacher that provided 

it, and the students, some of them 

now lawyers, teachers and business 

professionals. All of that hanging 

right there in front of us, every day, 

from Memorial Day to New Year’s 

Eve. 

Robb Hill, who lives near 

There’s a large ornament we bought on a trip 

to Scotland, a hanging memory more easily 

affirmed than going through the old slides 

every few years, and a lot less trouble. 

Inspiration for Every 

Season of Faith 

Devotions by SIL columnist Jason Byerly 

Washington, D.C., and often photographs 

its politics, comes through 

every year with a Christmas present 

from our nation’s capital. That 

includes several hanging miniatures 

of the White House, the nearby 

trains, the many familiar landmarks 

nicely packaged in special 

boxes. Love touring the city — not 

so crazy about all its occupants. 

To be sure, there are days, even 

weeks, when we don’t study our 

Christmas tree. We get too caught 

up in televised news; what’s going 

on in Washington is too often 

shown on the television just above 

the tree. We also watch “Wheel of 

Fortune,” “Jeopardy,” baseball, 

football — and can basketball be far 

behind? We have yet to see the final 

season of “Ted Lasso,” a show with 

a few occasional, much-needed 

support services. 

But I do my best to keep up 

with our Christmas tree memories, 

the many garden-related ornaments 

hung on it. Most are gifts from Janet 

that blend in so nicely with all those 

from family, friends and neighbors. 

Way around the back of the 

tree is a stocking that was once 

stuffed with Christmas quarters. 

Only one quarter remains. It gets 

examined and put back in the sock. 

A frugal sign of the times. 

Way down to the bottom is 

a carefully crafted angel, a past 

Christmas present, which might be 

the key to the entire process. All of 

us need an angel. Every day of the 

year. • 

About the Author 

Former Courier-Journal 

columnist Bob Hill enjoys 

gardening, good fun, good 

friends and the life he and 

his wife, Janet. 

Holiday Road 

A Christmas Devotional 

JASON BYERLY 

** Excerpt for preview only ** 

i 

Available in paperback 

and e-book on Amazon! 

#MyFrenchLick | 812-936-3418 | vflwb.com 



Download your free ebook from 

SIL columnist Jason Byerly today! 

Twinkle lights shining bright. 

Christmas time is near! 

God’s own Son, the Holy One 

We celebrate each year! 

Christmas Lights is a sweet, rhyming picture book with charming 

illustrations that teaches kids why Christmas is worth celebrating. 

You can download this free ebook at JasonByerly.com/Christmas 

or by scanning the QR code below. 


Embrace Mental Health Amid the Chaos 

A Note to Baby Boomers 

Things go wrong. Then they 

don’t. 

It can take awhile again 

to breathe, not seethe. It can 

take too long. 

Such was my summer, one gut 

punch after another. Only now my 

fight finally ends. While it raged, I 

reeled. 

Things got to me. 

I ask for no pity party. I mostly 

wonder. How do people cope with 

truly life-changing things, problems 

that never may go away? 

More mid-sized messes, my ordeal 

nonetheless stole my sleep and appetite 

and steadiness and eventually 

led me to a glorious Saturday 

night of passing out and ending in 

the hospital. 

I now believe what we increasingly 

hear, thank God — mental 

health is health. It took an ulcer to 

seal my conversion. 

Let’s hope you reach the same 

conclusion without internal bleeding. 

My medicine chest now includes 

low-dose chill pills. I acknowledge 

this to do my bit to stare 

down the stigma. I am no more-crazy 

than anyone else who likes buttermilk 

and dollar-store shampoo. 

I am vulnerable, however, like are 

we all. 

The kids raised, the career concluded 

and a few bucks in the bank, 

I should be as worry-free as worry-free 

gets. Nope. I worry about 

what’s in the mail. I worry if my 

beloved San Francisco Giants will 

play still worse or if the stock market 

will rise still faster. 

I worry if my chronic leukemia 

will awaken, though it never has 

and never may. I worry when — not 

if — the smoke detectors again will 

go off for no good reason. I worry 

if our 14-year-old dog will wake up 

tomorrow. 

Oddly enough, I do not worry 

about matters I arguably should. I 

do not know how to change a tire 

or to access a podcast, for instance. 

Keeping my cool is possible. 

Much of the summer’s nightmares 

involved insurance. My parents 

raised me right; I find it hard 

to hate. So, there’s an insurance underwriter 

out there that I try and try 

not to hate. 

But wow is it tempting. 

I switched insurance companies, 

my fault. The new company 

said it wanted me. Then it said it 

didn’t, after a nonsensical inspection 

of my fortress-of-a-163-yearold 

house. 

Not my fault. I again switched 

companies. 

Then the Medicare supplement 

people said they were kind of, 

sort of, getting out of that business. 

But here’s a nifty option, they insisted. 

Playing the field — and the 

Medicare supplement/advantage 

field is beyond fertile — led to stillmore 

stress. So, that option it is. 

OK … 

Then my city wants a sizable 

strip of my front yard for a sidewalk. 

How much is a sizable strip 

of my front yard worth? The city 

claims to know. I do not. 

OK … 

Along the way a family member 

had a health scare (no big problem), 

a lawn tractor broke and a 

bigger-than-big tree limb fell on 

a fence. My wife’s back and knee 

will not stop aching. The cable bill 

climbs faster than I climb steps. 

You know — life. 

Only worry about what you 

can control, we all hear. Shake it off. 

Move on. It makes sense but seems 

unreachable. Some days I’d almost 

rather but carefree than cancer-free. 

That is beyond silly. 

Here I am, instead, relying on 

the streak of wrong things to go 

away and to stay away at least long 

enough for me to get a run of good 

nights’ sleep. 

Then again, I still don’t eat like 

I long had, as long as there is no 

fried chicken handy. I’m on the ulcer 

diet. Indeed, there is an upside 

to everything. 

Decades ago, I won a journalism 

award from a state mental 

health association for a column 

about depression. It featured a 

woman who asked me to interview 

experts and then agreed to discuss 

her own depression. 

Her personal struggle made 

all the difference. This was when 

going public about mental health 

was far from common. I continue to 

marvel at her bravery and candor 

as well as now, to her trail-blazing. 

I feel not at all worried — 

how’s that for an upset — to seek 

help out of my funk. I know others 

likewise in pursuit of peace that 

turn to counseling, to therapy, to 

medication. They are good people 

deserving of good mental health. 

They may not get it quickly, 

perhaps not absolutely. 

My life is way easier than 

many of yours and I feel blessed. 

No life is always easy, though. Hassles 

can appear around one corner 

after another. Coping is not to be 

mastered as if it were multiplication 

tables. Some days reek like, I 

now realize, can some seasons. 

Here’s the reality: Insurance 

companies are businesses, not 

It matters to be friendly, to spend more time 

looking into people’s eyes than onto some 

screen. It matters to do more favors than owed. 

charities, regardless of slogans. 

Their priority is themselves. My 

city will build its sidewalk. Limbs 

fall, machines break, news from the 

kin will not always be good. Stock 

prices drop. 

Nothing from my head to toe 

works better than it had. Life’s clock 

wins every time. In the meantime, I 

will continue to love my family, my 

old house, my old dog (and cat), 

my ambitious community, routine 

exercising, good books, chirping 

birds, struggling sports teams and 

cheap shampoo. 

I will try to do better at doing 

better when things go wrong. They 

invariably will. I will lean unapologetically 

on others and will take a 

bunch more deep breaths. 

Do not worry to do likewise. 

Mental health truly is health. Ulcers 

are no fun.• 

After 25 years, Dale Moss 

retired as Indiana columnist 

for The Courier-Journal. He 

now writes weekly for the 

News and Tribune. Dale and 

his wife Jean live in Jeffersonville 

in a house that has been 

in his family since the Civil War. Dale’s e-mail 

is dale.moss@twc.com 


It’s beginning to look 

The holiday season is upon us! And there’s no 

better way to get in the Christmas spirit than a 

day trip to Monastery Immaculate Conception 

in nearby Ferdinand, Indiana. 

Take a tour of our majestic church, 

and marvel at the Old World detail 

that abounds throughout this 

century-old architectural wonder. 

Attend Mass or prayer with the 

Sisters during Advent and reflect 

on the mystery and wonder of the 

Christmas story. 

If you prefer the outdoors, spend some reflective 

time in our Grotto, praying the Stations of the 

Cross or Rosary Walk, visiting the shrines for 

Our Lady of Lourdes and Guadalupe…or just 

enjoying the tranquility of this peaceful 

setting. 

You can also find a new 

appreciation for the miracle of 

creation with a stroll through our 

new Cosmic Walk, or meditate in 

our labyrinth. 

And if you’re thirsty after all that, 

enjoy a refreshing pint or a glass of wine 

at St. Benedict’s Brew Works, located on the 

monastery grounds next to the Gift Shop. 


a lot like Christmas! 

And it’s no ordinary gift shop. Wander in and 

find something for everyone on your Christmas 

list, including you! 

Marvel at the beautiful nativity sets. 

Browse the assortment of journals, 

cards and prints. Even find original 

art by some of our talented Sisters. 

From cozy apparel to home 

decor, spiritual to whimsical, 

you can truly find something for 

everybody. 

You’ll also find our gourmet baked goods, 

including Sister Anita’s Bourbon Soaked 

Fruitcake, each delicious loaf infused with the 

equivalent of two shots of bourbon — perfect 

for the bourbon lover on your list! 

From delicious cookies, 

including our new Pumpkin 

Starlets, to specialty coffees, 

teas, jams and more, there’s 

something to suit every taste. 

Plan now for a relaxing day 

away, and come home aglow with 

holiday spirit! 

www.thedome.org | 812.367.1411 | 802 E. 10th St., Ferdinand, IN 47532-9239 | monasterygiftshop.org 


We are so THANKFUL! 

During this season of harvest and special gatherings, 

let us all remember to be thankful. 

Please consider a gift of any size to help Crawford County meet the 

match. For each $1 YOU give to an unrestricted community 

grantmaking fund, we can match your contribution with $2, 

available for a very limited time. Please help bless our community. 

We Honor Anonymous Giving 

Cash, Check, Charge, Online 

Estate Planning 

IRA / Retirement Fund Distributions 

Real Estate 

Securities/Stock 

And others - just call us to inquire 

4030 E Goodman Ridge Rd, Marengo, IN 47140 | (812) 365-2900 | Give online at CF-CC.ORG 

Discover What Makes Washington County a 

Great 

Destination! 

Small Business Saturday and Cookie Walk 

November 30th 

Have your picture taken with Santa at his house and receive information about the cookie walk. 

Christmas Magic in Salem 

December 7th | 3PM-7PM 

• Festivities will be downtown around the square and our stores will be open for your holiday 

shopping. 

• Vendors will have their booths full of items that would make great Christmas gifts. 

• Take a covered wagon ride at City Hall and Pick up a Kid’s Christmas Passport Card. 

• Visit with Santa (a great photo op) 

• Storytime with Mrs. Claus and receive a candy cane, Carolers will be singing and Dulcimers 

playing, and a cup of hot cocoa will be served at Raquel’s Restaurant. 

• The passport starts with a bagged H&R Bakery cookie when you pick up your passport. First 

stamp completed! There will be seven more places to get stamped. Return your filled Kid’s 

Passport card to City Hall to be entered in a drawing for a Christmas Gift. 

Be sure to check visitwashingtoncounty.org for more information 

and other events that are planned, or call 812-883-5533 to plan your trip! 


TUE-SAT: 10am - 6pm 

SUN: 11am - 4pm 

Visit us for all your everyday needs 

or holiday shopping! 

Stay connected with us on Facebook to receive 

updates about the latest offers and promotions. 

110 South Mulberry Street | Downtown Corydon, IN 

Reserve, Kick Back, and Enjoy! 

Present this in November or 

December for $5 off book purchase. 

The Hawk’s Nest 

The Eagle’s Nest 

(812) 968-4334 | BigTimberRiverCabins.com 

Overlooking the Scenic Ohio River 

Crawford County Historical & Genealogical Society 

Tuesdays & Thursdays 11 AM–2 PM 

310 Oak Hill Circle, English, IN | CCHGS.org 

We Are More Than Just 

A Flower Shop 

Jessica Bliss 

Owner 

411 Capitol Plaza 

Corydon, IN 47112 

812-738-7556 

CorydonFlorist.com 




Showcasing 

and 

celebrating 

the people & 

places of 



since 2008! 


VANWINKLE 

• ALIGNMENTS 

• OIL CHANGE 

• TIRES 

812-347-3134 

CALL RAMSEY TODAY! 

Tina Lee, Owner 

812-620-0754 

56 Public Square, Salem IN Tues-Sat: 10AM-5PM 




Showcasing and celebrating 

the people & places of 

Southern Indiana 

since 2008! 

Do you know someone 

scheduled for elective 

surgery, such as joint 

replacement, who may 

require short-term 

rehabilitation or 

post-acute care? 

CLARKSVILLE 

Clark Rehabilitation & 

Skilled Nursing Center 

517 N. Little League Blvd. 

Riverview Village 

586 Eastern Blvd. 

One quick call and we 

can match you with a 

location that best fits 

your needs! 

Important Pre-Surgery Planning 

Scan QR codes with your cell phone camera to take a Virtual Tour 

of any of our Clarksville communities! 

Care Coordination Center 

here when you need us: 

888-996-8272 ASCCare.com 

Visit ASCCare.com for more information about locations, services and career opportunities. 

JEFFERSONVILLE 

Hillcrest Village 

203 Sparks Ave. 

LEAVENWORTH 

Todd-Dickey Nursing 

& Rehabilitation 

712 W. 2nd St. 

SCOTTSBURG 

Hickory Creek 

at Scottsburg 

1100 N. Gardner St. 

Lake Pointe Village 

545 W. Moonglo Rd. 

18 • Nov/Dec 2024 • Southern Indiana Living 

CLK-mkt 7.5x4.75_SIndLivingMag-PreSurgery_06.24.indd 1 

6/13/24 11:33 AM

Tuna tartare by Brooklyn and the Butcher 

Students from Prosser Culinary Arts Program 

present cuisine tastings for attendees. 

A look inside the hangar 

Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation’s 

inaugural Sip, Savor, Soar event was held Thursday, 

Oct. 3, 2024, at the ASI PrivateFlite hangar at 

Clark Regional Airport. The event benefited the 

neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Norton 

Clark Hospital in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Sip, Savor, 

Soar was presented by Abel Construction and 

The McMahan Group. 

Guests experience a red-carpet entrance 

with a private charter plane on display. 

HelpNortonChildrens.com 


Artists of So IN 

Wood+Clay: An Artistic Union of Nature 

Southern Indiana Artist Kevin Darst 

Local artist, Kevin Darst, a 

native of Louisville, Kentucky, 

moved to Southern 

Indiana in 1995. He began 

his study of ceramics in the late 

seventies at Western Kentucky University 

and later at the Univeristy 

of Louisville under Tom March. He 

had a fulfilling career in graphic design 

for the next 30 years and taught 

clay sculpture and wood carving at 

the Waldorf School. Upon semi-retirement 

Kevin rebuilt his kiln, and 

began creating clay forms, wood 

sculptures and tables. His creative 

energy is spent at a cabin in the 

woods and a studio at Mount Saint 

Francis.• 


“I help the clay create 

a form produced by 

motion and gravity. I 

work with the wood 

to help discover it’s 

natural beauty. My 

current forms merge 

two contrasting 

elements (wood & 

clay), creating an 

artistic union of nature.” 

- Kevin Darst 




Navigating Grief During the Holidays: 

Finding Support Through Hosparus Health 

The holiday season is often 

seen as a time of joy and 

celebration, but for those 

who have lost a loved one, 

it can be one of the most challenging 

times of the year. The pressure 

to be festive, combined with memories 

of past holidays, can intensify 

feelings of grief, isolation and sadness. 

These emotions are natural 

responses to loss, yet many feel uncertain 

about how to manage their 

grief while trying to avoid dampening 

the holiday spirits of others. 

At Hosparus Health Southern 

Indiana, we understand that grief 

doesn’t take a holiday. For over 45 

years, our nonprofit organization 

has provided compassionate support 

to individuals and families 

facing serious illness and loss. Our 

licensed grief counselors provide 

support groups, individual and 

family counseling sessions, education 

and special events year-round 

to help the community cope with 

loss, with special offerings during 

the holidays. 

Whether you’re facing your 

first holiday season without a loved 

one or revisiting old wounds from 

past losses, our compassionate, 

community-based resources are 

available to help. Thanks to generous 

donor support, we provide 

specialized programs for people of 

all ages navigating grief, regardless 

of whether their loved one received 

our hospice services. 

Why Grief Intensifies During the 

Holidays 

The holidays can heighten 

grief as they often center around 

family traditions and gatherings. 

An empty chair at the table, the 

absence of a familiar voice or even 

a memorable decoration can trigger 

waves of emotions. For those 

mourning, the contrast between the 

festive atmosphere and their inner 

sorrow can feel overwhelming. 

It’s crucial to remember that 

there’s no right or wrong way to 

grieve. Some may find comfort in 

maintaining traditions, while others 

might need to adjust or create 

new ones. Grief is a deeply personal 

journey, and Hosparus Health is 

ADVERTORIAL 

here to provide the guidance and 

support necessary to navigate it. 

Grief Programs to Support You 

Hosparus Health Southern Indiana 

offers specialized grief programs 

to help individuals and families 

process their emotions. These 

programs are free to the community 

and are designed to provide 

space for reflection, connection and 

healing. 

Hope for the Holidays 

Grieving as a family during 

the holidays can be particularly 

challenging. Traditions that once 

brought joy may now feel painful, or 

you may be unsure how to honor a 

loved one’s memory without deepening 

your sense of loss. Our threepart 

Hope for the Holidays series, 

running from November through 

January at Hosparus Health Southern 

Indiana, 502 Hausfeldt Lane in 

New Albany, provides a supportive 

space for families to share their

grief and engage in activities that 

foster healing. 

Although this series is 

geared toward families with children, 

all are welcome. Sessions 

are designed to ease the emotional 

burden of the holidays through 

creative expression and meaningful 

discussion. Advance registration 

is encouraged by calling 888- 

345-8197. 

Guided Meditations for the Caregiver’s 

Heart 

For those preparing for a 

loss, whether the impending death 

of a loved one or ongoing grief 

from caregiving, emotions can feel 

particularly heavy during the holidays. 

Our virtual series, Guided 

Meditations for the Caregiver’s 

Heart, uses Guided Imagery techniques 

to promote stress reduction 

and emotional resilience in a safe 

space where caregivers can focus 

on their emotional well-being. 

Offered monthly through 

December, each virtual session 

centers on a different theme, providing 

caregivers with solidarity 

and relief during this challenging 

time. To reserve your spot, visit 

bit.ly/griefmeditations or call 502- 

456-5451. 

features a hands-on activity followed 

by a special ceremony. To 

participate, please visit bit.ly/rememberindiana24 

or call 502-456- 

5451. 

Year-Round Grief Support 

Grief doesn’t end when the 

holidays are over. It is a journey 

that continues long after the decorations 

are packed away. Hosparus 

Health is committed to supporting 

families through every stage of the 

grieving process. Our Grief Counseling 

Center offers year-round 

services, including individual and 

group counseling, to help navigate 

emotions and find a path toward 

healing. 

For families of our hospice patients, 

grief services are available at 

no cost for up to 13 months after a 

loved one’s passing. For others in 

the community, we offer slidingscale 

fees and financial assistance 

to ensure anyone in need can access 

the help they deserve. 

Finding Your Way This Holiday 

Season 

If you’re struggling with grief 

this holiday season, know that you 

are not alone. Hosparus Health 

Southern Indiana is here to support 

you with compassionate care, 

expert guidance and a community 

that understands what you’re going 

through. 

For more information about 

our grief services and to register 

for programming, visit hosparushealth.org/grief-counseling 

or call 

888-345-8197. Together, we can 

navigate this difficult time and embrace 

the hope and healing that lies 

ahead. 

The pressure to be festive, combined with 

memories of past holidays, can intensify feelings 

of grief, isolation and sadness. These emotions are 

natural responses to loss, yet many feel uncertain 

about how to manage their grief while trying to 

avoid dampening the holiday spirits of others. 

Wandering Through Grief 

Community members are 

invited to participate in Wandering 

Through Grief, a nature-based program 

where adults and children as 

young as 8 (accompanied by a parent 

or guardian) can find comfort 

while exploring the healing power 

of the outdoors. Guided nature 

walks occur every third Friday 

through December at scenic locations 

throughout Southern Indiana 

and Kentucky. Space is limited, so 

please register at bit.ly/wandering24 

or 502-456-5451. 

Service of Remembrance 

The holiday season is also a 

time to honor and remember those 

who have passed. Our annual Service 

of Remembrance on Sunday, 

Nov. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m., provides 

community members an opportunity 

to gather, reflect and celebrate 

those who have died in the past 

year. Hosted at Hosparus Health 

Southern Indiana, 502 Hausfeldt 

Lane in New Albany, this event 

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There’s no doubt about it! Fall 

is in the air. With the burst of 

color surrounding us through 

the changing leaves, your plate 

can reflect the vibrant change of season 

as well. With the entrance of fall comes 

many healthy seasonal food options 

as well. Add these superfoods to your 

diet to get you in the spirit of the season 

and provide your body with a boost of 

healthy, nutrient-rich foods at the same 

time. 

Pumpkins 

rich nutrient load and help to maintain 

blood sugar levels better as well. 

Brussels sprouts 

Brussels sprouts, along with other 

cruciferous vegetables, are a perfect 

addition to your fall menu. They support 

digestive health and also provide 

anti-inflammatory properties. Brussels 

sprouts tend to get a bad rap but are actually 

quite delicious, especially when 

Real Life Nutrition 

arugula and Swiss chard. These leafy 

greens can be served as a fresh salad to 

toss in with some other fall favorites or 

added to a soup or stovetop dish. They 

will add a boost of color as well as nutrients 

and antioxidants, including vitamins 

A, C, E and K; calcium; iron; and 

fiber. Adding leafy greens to your diet 

regularly can help to increase fullness at 

meals, improve digestion, and promote 

healthy bones, vision and skin. 

The arrival of the pumpkins 

lets us know that fall is officially here! 

Pumpkins are synonymous with harvest 

season, but they provide so much 

more than that beautiful orange hue to 

our fall décor. Pumpkins are rich in antioxidants 

like alpha and beta-carotene, 

both of which boost your immune system 

and are linked to a decrease in risk 

of heart disease and cancer. Pumpkins 

also provide a multitude of other nutrients, 

including potassium; calcium; 

magnesium; phosphorus; iron; vitamins 

A, B, C, E and K; folate; omega-3; and 

omega-6 fatty acids and protein. You 

can also roast the pumpkin seeds to provide 

a delicious crunchy snack packed 

with nutrients and flavor! 

Apples 

Apples are a quick and easy fall 

snack that provides convenience for 

on the go with little to no preparation. 

However, apples also come with a host 

of health benefits with their rich assortment 

of nutrients and antioxidants. For 

example, apples contain pectin, a soluble 

fiber boasting detoxifying properties, 

and quercetin, known for reducing 

inflammation and easing those seasonal 

allergies. Apples are also a great source 

of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, vitamins 

A and B6 and dietary fiber. They 

also pair great with a protein source, 

such as nut butter, for a well-rounded 

nutritious snack. 

Sweet potatoes 

Sweet potatoes are among the top 

of the list when it comes to fall superfoods! 

These fall food heroes are rich 

in antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, 

which boasts heart disease and cancerfighting 

properties, anti-inflammatory 

benefits, and vision and eye health. 

They are also a great source of vitamins 

A and C, magnesium, dietary fiber and 

even some protein. They are a superior 

choice to regular potatoes due to their 

Fill Your Plate with Nutrient-Rich Fresh Fall Flavors 

roasted with a little olive oil or your favorite 

seasonings or fresh herbs. As well 

as being delicious and adding variety to 

your plate, they also bring along plenty 

of fiber and a myriad of vitamins and 

minerals, including vitamins A, B6, C 

and K; calcium; iron; zinc; magnesium; 

and potassium. These tiny but mighty 

vegetables pack a punch when it comes 

to nutrition and health benefits, so next 

time, do yourself a favor and don’t skip 

the Brussels sprouts! 

Pomegranates 

Pomegranates are quite the showoff 

when it comes to antioxidant sources. 

Along with their unique appearance, 

they come bursting with antioxidants 

in abundant supply. Pomegranates provide 

a rich supply of vitamins C and B6, 

magnesium, iron, potassium and fiber. 

These antioxidant rockstars are linked 

to reducing the risk of breast, prostate 

and colon cancer; leukemia; heart attacks; 

and strokes, as well as promoting 

good cardiovascular health overall. 

And you’ll have fun eating them, too! 

You can throw some on a salad or with 

a protein to add a little extra sweetness, 

color and a whole lot of nutrients! 

Leafy Greens 

With this season come plenty 

of leafy greens such as spinach, kale, 

With the arrival of the fall season, 

we have many things to be thankful for, 

including the vast bounty of beautiful 

and delicious foods nature provides for 

us this season. These foods are just a 

few of the nutrient-rich choices you can 

make this season to liven up your meals 

and treat your body to a boost of immunity 

and anti-inflammatory promoting 

benefits. A few other great seasonal 

choices that provide exceptional sources 

of health-benefitting nutrients include 

red grapefruit, pears, dates, beets, cranberries, 

chia, avocado and parsnips. The 

best part is that most of these foods can 

be found fresh at your local farmer’s 

market or grocery store. Embrace the 

season and start adding some color and 

freshness to your plate! Your body will 

thank you! • 

Photo: Foxys Forest Manufacturer / shutterstock.com 

About the Author 

Monica Loughmiller, 

MS, RD, LD, is a clinical 

dietitian at Baptist 

Health Floyd in New 

Albany. She graduated 

from Louisiana State 

University and completed her master’s degree 

and internship at Louisiana Tech University. 

Monica has been a dietitian for 18 years 

and has practiced in many different settings. 

She most enjoys clinical nutrition and the benefit 

nutrition provides in improving clinical outcomes 

and overall health 


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The Messy Miracle of 

Christmas 

The holiday season is finally 

here! That means it’s time to dig 

out the decorations, put on the 

Christmas music and get ready 

for your kids or grandkids to ruin your 

perfectly designed Christmas cookies. 

Oh, wait, maybe that’s just me. 

I’ve decorated cut-out sugar cookies 

all my life. I was no Martha Stewart 

as a child, but I do remember sticking 

to the fundamentals of Christmas cookie 

decor. Santas were frosted red with 

white beards. Trees were green with 

multicolored bulbs. Stars were yellow. 

Snowmen were white with blue hats. It 

was a no-brainer. 

Back in my day, we didn’t have a 

bunch of fancy food coloring, just the 

four packs of red, green, blue and yellow 

from the JayC store, and that was 

all I needed. When I was done, my 

cookies looked like edible Christmas 

cards. Sure, they were a bit messier, but 

they exuded a classic Christmas vibe. 

But kids these days? It’s a whole 

different story. When my daughters 

came along, I couldn’t wait to introduce 

them to the joys of decorating Christmas 

cookies. Little did I know how irresponsible 

they would be. 

Once they got their hands on the 

frosting, it was like one big science experiment. 

Let’s mix colors and see what 

we get. Purple reindeer? Sounds great. 

Brown stars? No problem. 

What were they thinking? All I 

could guess is that this creative gene 

must have come from their mother’s 

side of the family. 

And then they would start in with 

the sprinkles! They didn’t understand 

that the word “sprinkle” isn’t just a 

noun but a verb. Instead of sprinkling 

them on their cookies, they would 

dump them like a construction worker 

pouring sand into a concrete mixer. 

It didn’t end there, however. After 

my oldest daughter cut out three or four 

cookies, she would get bored and start 

making her own shapes. At that point, 

it just became modeling clay. She would 

roll the dough into balls, cylinders, giant 

lumps or just whatever seemed fun. 

Some she would even fill with mounds 

of sprinkles, like sugar-packed ravioli. 

If we’d had some adult supervision, 

maybe they could have reigned 

them in. Unfortunately, we only made 

cookies when my wife was out shopping. 

That just left me and a grandma 

to supervise, which meant no one was 

telling them “no.” 

Eventually, I finally wised up 

and started making the girls their own 

dough so we each had plenty for our 

own style of cookies. I would let them 

continue with Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory 

while I baked and decorated the 

proper way. 

Now that they’re grown up, however, 

I look back on those days and realize 

their cookies were actually a whole 

lot more Christmassy than mine. 

If you look at that first Christmas 

2,000 years ago, you don’t see a pictureperfect 

yuletide scene. You see a messy 

miracle. 

Jesus wasn’t born in a palace or 

even a guest room in a home. He was 

born in the place they kept the animals. 

It certainly wasn’t a location you’d see 

featured on a holiday HGTV special. 

And who did God choose to raise 

his Son? Instagram influencers in stylish 

Christmas outfits? Not exactly. His 

Everyday Adventures 

parents were a faithful but confused 

teenage girl and a poor carpenter who 

was ready to call off the wedding until 

an angel intervened. 

No one rolled out the red carpet 

for the newborn king other than a handful 

of scruffy shepherds. There was no 

parade and no royal welcome. In fact, 

Herod, the Roman puppet king, actually 

put out a hit on baby Jesus the second 

he caught wind of his birth. 

Jesus was born into a world of 

pain, oppression, evil and injustice. Not 

Back in my day, we 

didn’t have a bunch of 

fancy food coloring, 

just the four packs of 

red, green, blue and 

yellow from the JayC 

store, and that was 

all I needed. When I 

was done, my cookies 

looked like edible 

Christmas cards. 

exactly the stuff of Christmas cards. Fortunately, 

though, that’s exactly where 

we needed Him. Right in the middle of 

our mess. That’s where the Savior of the 

world does his best work. It was true in 

Bible times and still true today. 

That’s why hands down I’d vote 

on my girls’ chaotic Christmas confections 

to represent the true meaning of 

Christmas over my traditional cookies. 

Christmas is about the God who saw 

our mess, saw our mistakes and chose 

to step in and do something about it. 

For God so loved the world, messy people 

and all. 

So, whatever you happen to be going 

through this Christmas, whether it’s 

your mess or someone else’s, remember 

God loves you. He specializes in messy 

miracles, and you don’t have to fly to 

Bethlehem to find one..• 

Photo credit: New Africa / shutterstock.com. 

Jason Byerly is a writer, pastor, husband and 

dad who loves the quirky surprises God 

sends his way every day. You can read more 

from Jason in his books Tales from the Leaf Pile 

and Holiday Road. You can catch up with Jason 

on his blog at www.jasonbyerly.com. 


New Albany | Memphis | Palmyra | Salem 

Times and locations att 

graceland.church 



Nancy is 

Treated for cancer in 2021 

at Baptist Health Floyd. 

Enjoys retirement by spending 

time with family and friends. 

To find out why more people have chosen Baptist Health for treatment of breast, colon and lung cancer 

than any other health system in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, visit BaptistHealth.com/CancerCare. 

Corbin | Floyd | Hardin | La Grange | Lexington | Louisville | Madisonville | Paducah | Richmond 

BaptistHealth.com

Southern Indiana Living Magazine - November / December 2024

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