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  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Do You Need a New Beginning?
    • Baby Boutique Programs
    • Community Resources >
      • Medical
      • Education
      • Parenting
      • Financial
      • Housing
      • Legal & Mental Health
      • Food Pantry
    • Testimonials
  • Donate Now
    • One-Time Donation
    • Recurring Donation
    • Gift Catalog
    • Material Donations >
      • Target Registry
      • Amazon Wish List
      • Wish List
    • Merch
  • Getting Involved
    • Career Opportunities
    • Volunteer >
      • Volunteer Time Log
    • Internships >
      • Resident Supervisor
      • Media Design Internship
      • Film Production Internship
      • Resident Support Internship
      • Marketing Internship
      • Social Media Internship
      • Customized Internship
    • Events >
      • Ministry Presentations
    • Change for Life Program
  • About Us
    • Virtual Tour
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • History
    • Newsletter >
      • Archive
      • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Heart Campaign

Baby Massages

4/20/2018

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This week for group night we welcomed Karie Gerke. She is a licensed physical therapist who is certified in infant massage. We had an awesome time with her as she showed us how mothers can bond with their little ones as young as one month old. Since we have no babies with us at this time, we used dolls that she brought with her. Shawna got to use “Miranda,” a very lifelike doll.
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​The most important rule to follow when starting massages with a baby is to get his or her permission. Obviously young infants cannot yet speak but there are several physical cues to look for. These include giving nice eye contact, a smile, or simply a certain way that he or she turns their head. To turn massages or anything else into a routine, words and actions help the baby understand what is going to happen next. The baby should be in his or her alert stage but also calm. The massager should also be in a calm state and be ready to take her time. Babies can be massaged on a wide variety of surfaces, such as the floor, a table, a lap, or against a shoulder. Younger babies tend to feel more secure on the lap.
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​To begin, start with the baby’s legs. Babies tend to be more protective of their bodies the closer you get to their faces, so this is a good start. Feel free to take off clothes but mind the temperature of the room. Also, the massager should make sure her hands are not too cold. Lotions and oils are optional, but scented ones are highly discouraged. One of the ways that babies use to identify their caregivers is through scent. Babies tend to not like strangers. Lastly, the massage pressure should obviously not be too hard, but make sure to not tickle the baby.
Here are some sample massages: make a twisting motion on the baby’s leg. To do this, use both hands above the knee cap first; shape hands in the form of a C and massage the thigh by rotating the hands in opposite rotations. Repeat this under the knee cap once finished so as not to harm the knee joint. Use your fingers to hug each little toe. Some babies don’t like the bottoms of their feet touched, but if they do try making thumb presses. Next go to the tummy. Because intestines empty on the left side of the baby's tummy, make sure to always press the baby's tummy from his/her right to left. Leg massages can also be used for the hands and arms. For back massages, various positions can be used if the baby is happy. These include the mother’s lap, shoulder, or on a flat surface with the support of a blanket. Finally, if the baby is comfortable enough and gives permission, move on to the face. Stroke from cheek to behind ears, from bridge of nose to cheekbones, upper jaw up to the sides, or even make little cheek circles.
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Even though it is an optional activity for caregivers to participate with their babies, infant massage has a wide range of benefits. Infants take a while to gain sensory awareness. With the help of massages, they gain a greater understanding of where their body parts are and how to use them. It sometimes takes a little bit of time for some babies to know they have feet! Massages can reduce stress and anxiety for the babies. It also helps to relieve tense muscles, especially if a baby spends a lot of time in one place such as a carrier or bouncy seat. The more a mother is in tune with her baby, the better she can determine if her baby is sick or has another ailment. Tummy strokes specifically help digestion for a fussy baby. Lastly, massages create a special bond between the mother and the baby. They are an excellent way for some one-on-one time and a fun activity.
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Group Night is held at New Beginnings.  Every Thursday, we meet as a group to discuss important life skills and educational topics.  Discussions are led by community volunteers and can cover a broad range of topics.
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QUICK SPRING CLEANING TIPS

4/20/2018

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​Is spring finally here? Only God knows but now is a great time to shake off the dust from winter and pull up your sleeves. Here is a simple guide to get started:
Out with the old
Get rid of clutter. Sort items you don’t want into three piles: throw away, donate, and sell. Many possessions like toys and clothes can go a long way if donated. Money earned from selling other items can go towards a little pocket money or be donated to your favorite charity.

Having a hard time getting started? Start small. Do a drawer a day. Divide up tasks. Give yourself a reward for everything you check off your list.
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Reorganize your wardrobe. While you’re shifting out your heavier clothes for your summer line, why not go through your wardrobe to get rid of articles you never wear anymore? If your closet looks appealing, you’ll look appealing!
Organize books and dishes so they are easier to find and look more presentable. 
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​Top to bottom
Clean your residence from top to bottom! Clean light and ceiling fixtures. Fans can be dusted with long cleaning tools or get on top of a ladder and brush the dust into a pillowcase.

Don’t forget the walls; even though they are a flat, sheer surface dust still collects on them. Windows can be cleaned simply with a rag and soapy water. Other a good glass solution can be made with water, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of peppermint extract. Use a squeegee to get that extra sparkle.

Lastly, buff your wood floors. A D.I.Y. solution can be made with olive oil, white vinegar, hot water, and a few drops of lemon essential oil. Tough tile stains can be removed with baking soda and water. Just make sure to use a non-abrasive scrubber so you won’t scratch your floors.
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Deep clean
Here is a list of furniture and appliances to make sure you cover: dishwasher, countertops, cabinets, stove, refrigerator, sink and faucets, bathtub and shower, bedding and mattress, washing machine, silverware, bookshelves, patio furniture, couches, tables, chairs, and other upholstery.

Use salt and soda water to clean inside refrigerators.  This is also an excellent time to go through your entire fridge and get rid of all expired food. Also when you’re finished don’t forget to place an open box baking soda in both your freezer and fridge. Move your fridge away from the wall and clean all the dust built up behind it. This way you can clean the condenser coil to keep your fridge fully functioning and reunite yourself with anything you or your cat have kicked behind it.

Even if blankets and pillows don’t need to be cleaned, air them out to get rid of any winter drab.

​Finally, don’t forget to disinfect your cleaning tools like brooms, vacuums, and sponges.

​Spring is a beautiful time. It’s the season where everything starts fresh. Why not get rid of the clutter in our hearts? Let bygones be bygones. Let go of old grudges and stressors. We are in the Easter season; Christ has washed away all our transgressions! Take this time to start anew and blossom like the beautiful human being that God created.
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 "Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." 
Song of Songs 2:12
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Rachel Christian is an intern from Wisconsin Lutheran College. She is a senior Communicative Arts major with an emphasis in business. She grew up in Sullivan, Wisconsin and graduated from Lake Country Lutheran High School. In her free time she enjoys movies, the outdoors, and spending time with her cat, Cleo.
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The Golden Rule

4/13/2018

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​When I was a child, I would watch Sesame Street with my sisters and I always remember a specific episode.  Oscar the Grouch was trying to learn to be nice to one of the other people on the show.  He heard the Golden Rule and decided that he was going to treat that other person the way he wanted to be treated.  Can you guess what happens?  He took a truckload of garbage and dumped it right onto the other person!  That’s not exactly what the Golden Rule means.  His heart was in the right place but he did not consider the other person’s likes and interests.  Silly Oscar!
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​In church, I learned that God wants us to love everybody.  We are to show that love by giving respect; just like how we would want to be treated.  That is the same rule that Oscar the Grouch was learning, but this concept was more than just a child’s television show.  It was backed up with lessons and examples in the Bible that show we are to love our neighbor as our self.  Peter writes in his letter to Christians, “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” – 1 Peter 2:17
As I child, I understood the concept of respect but didn’t know the actual word for word meaning.  I thought that everybody understood what respect meant but, since working at New Beginnings, I realize how wrong I was!  Some of the mothers who come into New Beginnings, view respect as, “You aren’t giving me what I want, and therefore, you are not respecting me!”  My favorite false idea of respect is “I will respect you as long as you respect me and do as I want.”  The two play hand in hand.  I then realized just how blessed I was to have the strong Christian upbringing that I had along with the guidance of my parents who taught me to respect others. 
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​So, what is respect?  In the dictionary it has a few different meanings but I found two that really seem to nail down the definition.  
​Respect: due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others
               : agree to recognize and abide by rules or laws
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​That is the letter of the law so to speak but that doesn’t cover it all.  In the Bible, God covers respect in a wider spectrum of Love, Honor, and Obedience.  God says in Leviticus 19:3 “Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths.  I am the Lord your God.”  He also tells us in Leviticus 19:32 “Sand up in the presence of the ages, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.  I am the Lord.”
​This is the love and respect we give the mothers who come to us looking for a new beginning.  We strive to help them accomplish their goals and grow closer to God through His Word.  We help teach them what God has to say about respect for not only others but for themselves.  I quickly found out that not everybody grew up being respected by others and therefore don’t know how to respect themselves as an adult.  Through daily instruction in God’s Word, we learn together the love that He has for us, and how He sent His Son to die for us.  What a blessed message to share with the mothers and their little ones!
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to His people and redeemed them.
​– Luke 1:6
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Christina Pritzlaff is married with two children. She has completed Early Childhood 1 & 2 classes, Infant Toddler classes, and completed the coursework for her Associates degree in Child Development. Christina splits her time between spending time with her family and working at New Beginnings. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, camping, fishing, reading, and doing counted cross-stitch.
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What Do Your Donation Dollars Do?

4/9/2018

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​

​New Beginnings
runs entirely on donations from generous people like you!  If you’ve ever donated to New Beginnings or considered doing so, you may have wondered what your donation dollars do.
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​The most obvious thing your donation dollars go toward is providing a safe home for mothers and their babies.  Most of our moms come to us from unsafe or unstable living arrangements.  Being welcomed into a loving, stable home is a healthy change for both themselves and their children.  Moms only pay $1 in rent each month – the rest of their rent and utilities is all covered by your generous donations!  Plus, the apartments our mothers move into are completely furnished so they don’t have to worry about finding furniture for themselves or their babies.  Your kindness provides a roof over their heads and warm beds for them to sleep in.
​Your donation dollars do more than just provide shelter for our moms, they pay for staff who act as Christian mentors to our moms.  Imagine being a young, single mother trying to make this scary journey all on your own!  Christian love and guidance is needed to help moms grow and that is where the staff of New Beginnings comes in.  Because of your generosity, we are able to share God’s Word with our moms every night during devotion.  We also get to sit down with each mom one-on-one each week to have individual Bible studies where we dive a bit deeper into God’s Word.  Beyond spiritual growth, staff at New Beginnings sits down with each resident once a week to set weekly and monthly goals in the areas of faith, parenting, and education.  Throughout the week, we work with them to get those goals accomplished by encouraging them and helping them find necessary resources.  Our Home is staffed 24/7/365 so residents can always get help when they need it.
​One other way your donation dollars create real, long-term change is by allowing mothers to go back to school.  Mothers who get an education can get well-paying jobs to support themselves and their children.  This ultimately stops the cycle of poverty and government assistance use.  Many of our moms start off by working toward earning their GED which is necessary for college and most job opportunities.  If they’ve already obtained a high school diploma, they’re able to start college right away to work toward a degree that will allow them to achieve self-sufficiency.  Our moms have dreams like becoming an accountant, opening up their own non-profit, becoming a nurse, and more.  By donating to New Beginnings, you empower our moms to work hard and make their dreams come true.
THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to or supported New Beginnings in some way.  You are making a true difference in the lives of the mothers and babies who come into our program.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Donate Here to help create a New Beginning
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Taleya Williamson is the Operations Manager at New Beginnings.  She was born and raised in Puyallup, Washington and attended Evergreen Lutheran High School.  Taleya recently graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College with a Bachelors of Science in psychology with a minor in anthropology.  In her free time, Taleya enjoys spending time with her husband, David.

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