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December 2024
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A 10-Year-Old’s Take on the Magic of Christmas and What Really Matters Christmas Through Leighton’s Lens
find our elf, it makes me so happy to see that my brother still believes in Santa and has the best time finding the elf. Another thing I feel about Christmas is giving. I think giving is better than receiving because some people could be in a hard spot right now that you do not know about, and maybe giving them something special would make their day better, make them smile, or give them some hope that someone really cares about them. I think Christmas is about celebrating God and giving to other people. My sister and I always listen to Christmas music, even in October. We set up little Christmas trees in our rooms, you can always smell cookies and mints in our rooms, and it might make you sick. We also celebrate Christmas before we leave our house with my dad’s parents and my other cousins Holton and Weston with their parents. At that time, we have a packed house with my family, grandparents, cousins and their parents, and my cousin’s girlfriend Addison, who is so nice and pretty. I just think that Christmas is a happy, cozy, nice, and welcoming time. I live in Dallas, Texas, so we don’t get much snow. When we do get snow, it is not that much, but it is so cold it feels like it did snow but melted at night. Christmas just means, in simple words, a lot of laughter, smiling, jokes, and more. It also means you are surrounded by nice, loving people who really care about you. If I lived somewhere else where it did
Happy Holidays! Four years ago, when my oldest daughter Sutton was 10, I asked her to write my newsletter article about her thoughts and feelings on Christmas. It was a hit! This year, I asked my daughter Leighton, who is now 10, to do the same (with a few edits so it reads smoother). I hope you enjoy. – Patrick R. Kelly Hi, my name is Leighton Grace Kelly, but my friends and family call me LG. I was asked to write how I feel about Christmas, and here is what I think about it. What I love about Christmas is getting to hang around the fire with my family and celebrate God. Some people think that Christmas is all about presents, but I don’t think that. It is about thanking God for everything he has blessed us with and everything he has done for us. Every year, my family drives to San Antonio to see my grandparents while my cousins fly in from California. We have a Christmas lunch every year, and we bless the food that my grandma, who I call Cici, has made. I also love when I get to see my cousins because we don’t see them a lot. Even though I don’t believe in Santa, whom I have loved for many years, that doesn’t mean I still can’t love or have faith in him. I get to hide the elf for my little brother Whitten, and my older sister Sutton helps me. Every morning when Whitten goes to
snow, the way of entertaining me would be building a snowman, snowball fight, snow angel, and more. Someone once told me, “It doesn’t matter how expensive or nice it is. It just matters if it’s from the heart.” It doesn’t matter if it is small or cheap. If it is from the heart, it is very special. You have to realize that some people don’t get a lot of presents or don’t even get any, which is sad because everybody deserves a present even if they have done horrible things in the past. This verse that has stuck with me is from Jeremiah 31:3: “The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” So, overall, I think Christmas is about God and celebrating with your family and friends. – Leighton Grace Kelly
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CANINE COUNSELORS THE ROLE OF COURTHOUSE DOGS
they also greatly emphasize how schools treat their puppy pupils. To become accredited, a school must also employ humane training methods, have a valid health care regimen, and employ well-trained and evaluated trainers. The accreditation process is essential because courthouse dogs are only assigned to a handler after at least two years of training. If you think in dog years, that’s the equivalent of a Ph.D. in being a fluffy, adorable companion. Handling Business Once a dog has graduated from an accredited dog school, it is ready to be assigned a handler. The handler essentially adopts the dog and is responsible for housing, feeding, and caring for the professional pup. The handler is typically a victim advocate, forensic interviewer, police officer, or attorney, as they most often interact with people needing the dog’s expert care. Handlers also can’t have other dogs in the home who are overly aggressive, and most handlers provide support to the courthouse dog during off-hours. A secondary handler is typically necessary, as they can accompany the dog when the primary handler is required elsewhere. The Drawbacks Issues can arise if court employees or participants are allergic to dogs. Dog dander, a common allergen, can be on handlers’ clothing, making them a hazard to those with strong allergies. Care must be taken to avoid contact between handlers, their dogs, and those allergic to the animals. Similarly, some people have intense phobias of dogs; in this case, similar measures should be taken to avoid contact between the dogs and these individuals. The Benefits Courthouse dogs can seem alien in the stuffy courtroom environment, but their benefits greatly outweigh any breach in tradition or hindrance allergies or phobias may cause. They can help vulnerable witnesses regain the confidence to share their stories, no matter how difficult, and persevere through a challenging situation.
The courtroom can be an intimidating place. The formality, seriousness, and importance of our legal system — paired with potential trauma — can make it a challenging environment for those called to testify. Scared witnesses, victims of crime, and experts who are just having a down day can all have trouble when taking the stand. However, recalling a traumatic event can be easier with the help of a well-trained dog snuggled up against you on the witness stand, providing the mental nourishment to get through it. Courthouse dogs are used throughout the United States, providing an invaluable service often overlooked or unknown despite their noble purpose. They are professionally trained animals chosen from the most friendly and compassionate pool of dogs to provide reassurance in high-stress situations. Here is what you should know about these unsung heroes. Accredited Companions Not just any dog can become a successful courthouse dog. First, it needs to meet the professional standards. Only the friendliest and most adaptable dogs can cut it in an accredited assistance dog school. These hallowed nonprofit institutions are accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the world’s leading authority in the industry. ADI has been an integral part of the process since 1986 and only awards accreditation to organizations that meet its rigorous standards. While the ADI evaluates a dog school’s organizational operations, treatment of clients, safety, cleanliness, and compliance with legal regulations, “Courthouse dogs are used throughout the United States, providing an invaluable service often overlooked or unknown despite their noble purpose.”
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Picky Eaters
TAKE A BREAK
HOW TO HELP KIDS ENJOY MORE FOODS
No matter where you go in the world, most kids are picky eaters. According to a study published in Frontier, about 54% of kids are reluctant to try new foods. In the U.S., many kids will scoff at anything but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In France, it’s probably peanut butter and creme fraiche. And good luck getting Scandinavian kids to eat anything that doesn’t taste like black licorice or pickled herring! In all seriousness, parents everywhere have a similar problem. So, what’s the solution? Small Steps Kids go through many different dietary phases as they grow up. While frustrating, it is common for young kids to go through their “picky eater” phase. Some common tactics parents employ to counter this, however, are counterproductive . For instance, making kids eat everything on their plates can be stressful and make them even pickier than before. Instead, serving smaller portions is more helpful, especially when the foods are unfamiliar. Role Models When it comes to food, parents should lead by example. Eating together as a family and demonstrating how you enjoy the foods you are trying to introduce to your kids can go a long way to getting them to try new cuisine. While you’re at it, describing what you’re serving is a good idea so the textures and flavors don’t catch them off-guard. Introducing New Foods Building on the previous tips, introducing new foods, even in very small amounts, can help expand a child’s culinary boundaries over time. Even if the child does not eat the food the first time you put it on their plate, or even the fifth time, they will naturally become more familiar and comfortable with it. Studies show that you may need to feature new foods on their plates up to 15 times before kids are willing to try them!
Creamy Thai Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup almond butter • 3 cups diced carrots • 3 cups peeled, diced sweet potatoes • Salt and pepper to taste • Cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil • 2 cups chopped yellow onion • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger • 2 tbsp red curry paste • 4 cups vegetable broth, divided
Directions 1. Melt coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 5–6 minutes. Stir in curry paste. 2. In a small bowl, whisk 1/3 cup broth with the almond butter until smooth. Add the mixture to the pot, along with the carrots, sweet potatoes, salt and pepper, and remaining vegetable broth. Stir to combine. 3. Bring soup to a low boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are fork-tender. 4. Blend with an immersion blender until the soup is smooth. 5. Season with salt and pepper. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for more spice if desired.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
10-Year-Old Leighton Grace Kelly on Family, Faith, and Christmas Cheer
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How Canines Bring Comfort to the Courtroom
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Creamy Thai Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
Conquer Picky Eating
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Hospital Loses Part of Patient’s Skull
ANYONE SEEN A SKULL? Hospital Misplaces Patient’s Body Part
scheduled the procedure to repair Fernando’s skull for November 2022, issues arose that made it impossible for the hospital to fulfill its end of the bargain. The hospital made errors when identifying the bone flaps and had no idea which skull fragments belonged to Fernando. Eventually, hospital staff informed the patient they could not find his bone flap and, as a result, they would be unable to put the missing pieces back in his skull.
All of us have had to search underneath the couch cushions for a missing wallet or TV remote, or we’ve had to scour the mall parking lot in search of our somehow misplaced car keys. I would almost certainly lose my head if it were not attached to my body. Which, as it turns out, is why I definitely should not work
at one particular Atlanta hospital. In September 2022, the Emory University Hospital Midtown staff allegedly misplaced something more important than the contents of a patient’s pants pocket. Following his brain surgery, Fernando Cluster was horrified to discover that the hospital had misplaced part of his skull . What a Headache Fernando underwent emergency brain surgery after suffering a stroke and subsequent cranial bleeding. As part of the surgery, surgeons removed a portion of Fernando’s skull, known as a bone flap, with plans to reattach that portion of his skull after he healed from his surgery. While the hospital
Suing Over a Skull Consequently, Fernando and Melinda Cluster have filed a civil lawsuit against the hospital. The Clusters claim the hospital’s failure to find his bone flap led to an extended hospital stay, increased medical debt, and undue pain and suffering. Not to mention, of course, the alleged negligence in misplacing a patient’s skull . If nothing else, the Clusters have a remarkable story to tell and, most probably, a large settlement headed their way instead of a fully functional brain cage.
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