Magnolia Mornings, Magnolia Tribune The Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Driver Service Bureau will open select locations on Saturday, April 12; Saturday, April 26; and Saturday, May 3, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The extra hours are to accommodate Mississippians still needing to obtain a REAL ID ahead of the federal deadline of May 7. Appointments are available and can be scheduled online, but walk-ins are also welcome at the following Driver Service Bureau locations on these Saturdays: Biloxi Brookhaven Greenwood Hattiesburg West Jackson Meridian Nesbit New Albany Pearl Tupelo After May 7, individuals will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card to board commercial flights and enter certain federal facilities. To check if you already have a REAL ID, look for a gold star in the upper-right corner of your driver’s license.

By Kara Kimbrough General Tso’s Chicken is a popular item on many restaurant menus. But making it at home is easier (and healthier) than you might think.. I’ve shared my favorite cuisines in the past as well as those that I can do without. Specifically, I prefer to skip over the multitude of Mexican restaurants that seem to pop up on every corner of our state. One exception:  I enjoy a sizzling plate of fajitas, but that’s often too heavy for lunch. As far as ordering heavy Mexican dishes covered in spicy sauces, heavy cream and loads of cheese…no thanks. However, I do love Asian food and recently discovered two recipes that taste as good as anything I’ve ever sampled while dining out. First, I uncovered a recipe for Vegetable Lo Mein after purchasing a package in the freezer section. A simple dish consisting of noodles, chopped vegetables like carrots, cabbage and onions and a light teriyaki sauce, it’s a healthier version of anything you can order in a restaurant and here’s why. You can control the ingredients in and the amount of sauce you use. Using the wrong sauce can transform a dish from healthy to unhealthy in no time. Second, I’ve often ordered General Tso’s Chicken when dining at Ridgeland’s P.F. Chang and other Asian restaurants.  Named for General Tso Tsung-t'ang, a Chinese military leader during the 1800’s, the dish consists of  crispy chicken pieces (often heavily breaded and fried, but you can cook them anyway you like) in a tangy sweet and sticky glaze. Once cooked, the crispy chicken pieces are served over rice. General Tso’s Chicken can be complicated to make, but I uncovered a shortcut version that was comparable to the one with more preparation time, thanks in part to a bottle of General Tso’s Sauce that I found in the condiment aisle. Try these two recipes when the desire for delicious Asian food arises and ordering takeout isn’t an option. Even when it is, your version will be much better (and healthier) than anything you’ll find at a restaurant.   Vegetable Lo Mein (add 1 cup of cooked chicken or beef (sliced or shredded) or cooked shrimp if desired) 16 ounces uncooked spaghetti, small egg noodles or lo mein noodles 1 cup vegetable oil 1  onion, chopped 1 cup shredded carrots ½ cup sliced red bell peppers 2 cloves garlic, minced 2  cups grated cabbage ½  cup chopped green onions 1 cup chicken broth 1    tablespoon cornstarch ¼ cup hoisin sauce (substitute a mild barbecue sauce if you can’t find hoisin) 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1    teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon curry powder       Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.   Heat oil in a large wok or sauté pan. Stir-fry mushrooms, onion, carrots, peppers, and garlic until tender. Stir in bean sprouts and green onions; cook for 1 minute. Mix chicken broth and cornstarch in a small bowl and add to stir-fry. Stir in hoisin sauce, honey, soy sauce, ginger, cayenne pepper, and curry powder. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add cooked spaghetti (and cooked meat or seafood, if using), then toss to coat. Shortcut General Tso’s Chicken 1 pound chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or stir fry oil or olive oil 14.5-oz bottle General Tso's sauce (found in condiment aisle) 2  cups cooked long-grain white rice Chopped green onions for garnish (optional)       Heat a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add oil. Add chicken cubes and quickly spread then out into a single layer. Cook about 3 minutes on this side or until browned. Cook about  more minutes or until chicken is browned on the other side and no pink remains in center.        Stir in bottle of sauce and cook 1 minute or just until thoroughly heated. Serve over cooked rice. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com .

By Jessica Breazeale Breazeale speaks at Wesson Lion’s Club Local Mississippi Health Ambassadors recently spoke at the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. The Mississippi Health Ambassador Initiative (MHAI) is a community health advocacy program designed to provide Mississippians with information, guidance and resources around emerging health issues in our state. MHAI is educating and empowering a diverse group of Mississippians to serve as the trusted voices in their communities. With an opportunity to effectively impact the infection rates in the state, ambassadors are focusing efforts on dispelling myths and misinformation in all regions of the state while addressing concerns raised by those in communities represented by health ambassadors. 150 Mississippians meet virtually every month and learn from different health experts with the intent of disseminating the information in their communities - each in their unique ways from school and church announcements and work and civic presentations to communications such as email, social media, website, blogging, and text chains. Ambassadors who live locally were asked to guest present. Stroud speaks at Wesson Lion’s Club “Through my working with veterans, I meet many with health issues, so when this opportunity presented itself, I thought this would be a good way to learn more about conditions and illnesses they are dealing with,” said Cathy Stroud, first-year ambassador. Stroud educated ILR attendees about February’s National Heart Health Month. She has been a Wesson resident for 31 years and is also currently running for Wesson Alderman-At-Large. Heart disease is the number one killer in America. Wilmoth speaking on Huntington’s Disease at ILR “Everyone knows someone who is suffering from it or has passed from it,” said Stroud. Heather Wilmoth of Sontag has remained an ambassador since its inaugural year. She spoke on neurodegenerative movement disorders and emphasized Huntington’s Disease (HD). “HD doctors won’t test children unless they show physical symptoms,” said Wilmoth. “Huntington’s Disease is a terminal neurodegenerative inherited disease that is described as having ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s all at the same time. There is no treatment and there is no cure.” Wilmoth works at Supertalk in Brookhaven and is passionate about HD awareness because she is a caregiver to her husband who has HD. Ambassadors learn various health topics that include flu rates, heart disease, cancers, Covid-19 trends, rising syphilis numbers, diabetes, among many others. Ambassadors are educators, mayors, retired professionals, school nurses, doctors, community workers, business owners, and so many more. The group is diverse to best represent our state. Jessica Breazeale of Wesson, MHAI Program Manager, jokingly calls herself the cruise ship director. “I absolutely love steering the group,” said Breazeale. “I’ve always been passionate about public health and education, so putting the two together just go hand in hand for me.” MHAI is in its fourth year and started as a passion project from former state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs. Dobbs is now at UMMC heading up the School of Population Health and Epidemiology but remains very active in the program as a volunteer as one of our regular health educators. Whittington speaks at Wesson Lion’s Club MS Health Ambassadors also recently spoke at the Lion’s Club in Wesson. Kim Whittington of Wesson whose been an ambassador all four years educated members on mental health and suicide prevention and how to combat it. 988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline that offers 24/7 judgment-free support for mental health, substance use, and more. Text, call or chat 988. She also discussed the importance of the need for every home, business and church to get a free Naloxone kit which helps assist during an active overdose. “You just never know if and when you’ll need this,” said Whittington who demonstrated how the kit works. “Please watch out for warning signs of a child in crisis. My granddaughter had three friends commit suicide within the past few years. This is real and it’s happening.” Properly prescribed medications can be effective—but like illegal drugs, they can also be abused. Whether produced legally or illegally, stimulants and opioids are dangerous substances, and just a small dose can be deadly under the right circumstances. Free kits are at odfree.org. MHAI is funded by the Mississippi State Department of Health and housed at the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi. To watch the recorded calls or obtain the slides from health experts, visit healthy-miss.org/misshealthambassadors.

By: Bob Garver Poster Credit IMDB             Jason Statham has a new movie out. He plays with a guy who used to work in a violent profession, but he’s sworn to leave that life behind. But now some bad people have messed with his employer (the only people to help him out when he was at a low point), and he’s going to make the bad guys pay. Cue a series of investigations, interrogations, and of course, action sequences. He’ll go through several tiers of bad guys, until he’s contending with a huge crime empire that probably could have gone on unimpeded if a low-level employee hadn’t caused problems for Statham. Oh, and the whole thing is directed by David Ayer. The movie is called “The Beekeeper 2.” Okay, not really, it’s called “A Working Man,” but as similar as it is to that Statham vehicle from last year, it might as well be.             Statham plays Levon Cade, a former soldier now living out of his pickup truck and working construction under the kindly Garcia family. Daughter Jenny (Arianna Rivas) gets kidnapped by human traffickers, and father Joe (Michael Peña) offers Cade some much-needed money to get her back. Cade needs the money and stability to help in the custody battle for his daughter (Isla Gie) against his father-in-law, the Most Punchable Man in the World (Richard Heap). With a little help and encouragement from his blind comrade Gunny (David Harbour), Cade sets out on a mission to rescue Jenny.             Cade’s path of destruction will pit him against drug dealers, biker gangs, corrupt cops, and Russian gangsters, and all of that before the human traffickers. In an unusual move, Cade doesn’t spend the whole movie working his way up to the highest-ranking Russian gangster (Jason Flemyng), rather, he spends about half the movie working up to the Big Bad and the other half working his way down, since the human trafficking is just a small part of the Russian mafia’s operation. The villains he really wants are bumbling couple Viper (Emmett J. Scanlan) and Artemis (Eve Mauro), and they’re so incompetent that a deus ex machina does half the work for him.             The movie doesn’t work as straightforward excitement, the most entertainment I got was laughing at how stupid it is. There’s the staggering idiocy by most of the bad guys – it’s hard to believe they were ever smart enough to put together a criminal empire. And yes, this is the kind of movie where Cade has expert marksmanship and not a single bad guy can hit the broad side of a barn. Some of the characters just look ridiculous, especially the nephews of the Flemyng character, who are dressed like they’re going to a costume party as 80’s break dancers. There’s an actual costume party in the last act and the partygoers there don’t look half as gaudy as these schnooks. My favorite way to pass the time during “A Working Man” was pretending that the Russian gangsters were connected to the goons from “Anora.” Like maybe the Flemyng character and Anora’s Russian boyfriend had the same interior decorator or something (both houses give off the same fancy-but-the-owners-don’t-enjoy-it vibe). What I’m saying is that I checked out of this garbage movie and started thinking about a better one. That is, when I wasn’t thinking about another crummy Statham/Ayer movie in “The Beekeeper,” which this movie just lazily retreads. Sitting through “A Working Man” was real work. Grade: C- “A Working Man” is rated R for strong violence, language throughout, and drug content. Its running time is 116 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Mississippi’s capital city has launched a “100 Days of Peace” initiative to make it safer.  In the launch, the mayor presented a large ceremonial check to local credible messengers – formerly incarcerated people who work with youth in the juvenile system to interrupt violence, and kin to gun violence victims from across the state traveled to the capital city to mourn their loved ones outside the state Capitol building and call for gun control policies.  The initiative will include community listening sessions and town halls, as well as trainings leading up to a Sneaker Ball – a formal gala with informal footwear – to celebrate the work in June.  Funding for implementing crime-intervention private sector partners comes from the city’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery established in 2022 with a $700,000 grant from the National League of Cities and Wells Fargo Bank.   Mississippi ranks 49th in the country for gun law strength, with no foundational laws in place such as one requiring a concealed carry permit or no carry laws after a violent offense.

Send responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com Way too often finding yourself lying awake instead of getting your beauty sleep? As many know firsthand, that is an extremely common problem for a lot of people. I won’t bother boring you with the national statistics of this plague, you won’t be interested or impressed. Because the only insomnia that truly bothers you is your own night after night – right? After all, the lady in Nantucket lying awake tonight isn’t causing you much worry. And even if I bring the problem closer to home – let’s say that there is an insomniac lying next to you in your bed, it’s still not you. Their sleepless nights don’t affect you one bit – unless they choose to repeatedly kick you awake, so you can sympathize with their plight as they moan that they can’t sleep. And I would bet my last Oreo cookie that strategy doesn’t garner the true compassion your bedmate is wanting. Instead, most “I’ve-seen-every-hour-on-the-hour” sufferers usually choose wait it out alone. They lay tossing and turning while counting useless and irritating sheep, or attempt to name all their cousins – in alphabetical order no less, or just turn on the lamp and do some casual reading. Others are more purpose-driven, so they might try reciting the multiplication table or creating a ‘Tomorrow’s To Do List’ in their head. For some, this can’t-sleep issue is caused by stress or anxiety. For others it is caused by preservatives in the food they ate or meds they mistakenly took too close to bedtime. Or it can actually be a learned behavior – unwanted, but an unfortunate fact in some sufferer’s lives. For others, it can be a medical issue of the brain. But whatever the cause, it is real – and a real pain. Here’s a thought. Those nights when your eyes won’t close, you might as well do something truly constructive for yourself. Something that gives a true purpose to those lonely hours of sleeplessness. After all, those stupid sheep don’t benefit from being counted night after night – so find something else that is actually worthwhile. How about realizing that you really aren’t alone in the stillness of the night? As an insomniac, you have the opportunity to have an uninterrupted gripe session with the King of Kings. God is awake and would love to listen to you grumble about your fears, your anger or worries, or anything you want. Don’t be afraid to tell Him what you are feeling – after all, He already knows it anyway. But the conversation will help you. But if talking to your God still doesn’t take up enough of those endless hours, then find something productive to do – like writing a newspaper column titled “Dealing With 2:00-6:00 AM Insomnia” - like yours truly. Insomnia happens – probably to everyone once in a while. More often than that for others. It’s a great night when you can overcome it, close your eyes and sleep. But those times when you just can’t, make those hours count for yourself.

Those who attended the conference were MLT Director Paula Yarborough, students Whitney Bishop of Florence, Kali Herring and Tyreka Wilson of Brookhaven; Hannah Meredith of Wesson, Kenzie Smith of Bogue Chitto, Savannah Smith of Brookhaven, Abby Jackson of Brookhaven, and Shanna Clark, MLT Instructor. Instructors and students from Copiah-Lincoln Community College's Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program recently attended the Louisiana/Mississippi ASCLS convention in Lafayette, LA. The Co-Lin MLT student bowl team was first runner up in the Mississippi/Louisiana ASCLS student bowl competition, making them one of the top two student bowl teams in Mississippi and Louisiana. Team members included Hannah Meredith of Wesson, Savannah Smith of Brookhaven, team captain Kali Herring of Brookhaven, Tyreka Wilson of Brookhaven, and Kenzie Smith of Bogue Chitto.  Tyreka Wilson of Brookhaven, MLT Student of the Year Sophomore student Tyreka Wilson of Brookhaven was chosen by ASCLS of Mississippi as Medical Laboratory Technology Student of the Year. Wilson is a member of the Co-Lin Honors College, Phi Theta Kappa, and the MLT Club. She is a 2022 graduate of Brookhaven High School.  "Tyreka is very deserving of this recognition," said MLT Program Director Paula Yarborough. "She completes her assignments on-time, if not early, and has been successful in all her endeavors. Despite her quiet and respectful demeanor, Tyreka is also very competitive and has a drive to do her best and be the best. She shows a high level of maturity in how she handles her work and herself." Paula Yarbrough, MLT Instructor of the Year Additionally, program director Paula Yarborough was named the MLT Educator of the Year and received the Omicron Sigma awards from ASCLS of Mississippi. Yarborough has been leading the MLT program at Co-Lin since 2017. For more information about the MLT program at Co-Lin, visit https://www.colin.edu/program/career-technical/health-sciences/ or call 601.643.8324. MLT Quiz Bowl Pictured L to R: Hannah Meredith of Wesson, Savannah Smith of Brookhaven, Kali Herring of Brookhaven, Tyreka Wilson of Brookhaven, and Kenzie Smith of Bogue Chitto.

By: Kara Kimbrough “Almost” Starbucks Lemon Loaf is easy to make and less expensive to enjoy than the store-bought version.    Everywhere I turned last week…every internet post…every magazine cover in the supermarket checkout line…every conversation I overheard in the supermarket checkout line…you get the picture…it seemed like cakes were on the minds of many. As a result, the thought of soft, moist layer cakes covered with a thick covering of buttercream icing occupied my thoughts until I was forced to give in to a craving for homemade cake.    It started with a TikTok (please don’t come for me with warnings; I’m only there for the recipes) post listing the top 10 best chocolate cakes in New York City. One after another, luscious slices of chocolate cake, each one more decadent than the other, filled my screen and my head. As a rule, I don’t actually like chocolate cake, so the fact that these delicious versions caused my mouth to water is really saying something.     The number one slice, with layers so dark it was called “Brooklyn Blackout Cake,” is served at The Little Cupcake Bakeshop. Iced with a heavy layer of light chocolate, it’s easy to see why Food and Wine Magazine proclaimed its standing as the "best chocolate cake in the U.S."    The next day, I overheard a conversation discussing the high cost of purchasing coffee “away from home” instead of making it “at home.” This led to a discussion about other items sold at the popular Starbucks coffee chain, including its famous lemon loaf. Supposedly a slice of the moist lemon cake frosted with cream cheese icing now costs $4.         I’ve enjoyed a slice of Starbucks’ lemon loaf on more than one occasion with a coffee drink and can attest that it’s “almost” worth the price. I remembered seeing a recipe for “Copycat Starbuck’s Lemon Loaf,” online; a quick search uncovered dozens of recipes, each one increasing my desire for a piece of homemade lemony cake.     As if I needed more impetus to bake a cake, a friend showed me an Instagram page of two sisters who spend their spare time baking old recipes from their mother and grandmother’s recipe files. You guessed it, the first post I saw as I began scrolling the page was a demonstration of old-fashioned vanilla layer cake with a luscious crown of cream cheese icing.    I took the hint that I was SUPPOSED to bake and most importantly – EAT cake. I quickly gathered the ingredients for the “Almost” Starbucks Lemon Loaf and baked it before my cake obsession could get out of hand.        A hot slice straight from the oven was just the ticket to quell my craving. Even better, it was the perfect light sweet touch at the end of a hectic day. Try it…you’ll like it…and best of all, a slice of homemade costs much less than $4.   “Almost” Starbucks Lemon Loaf  Cake:  1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix 2 (2.9 ounce) packages non-instant lemon pudding mix ½ cup vegetable oil 4 large eggs 8 ounces sour cream ½ cup milk 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice  Icing:   2-½ cups confectioners' sugar 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more to taste      Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two loaf pans. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil, eggs, sour cream, milk and six tablespoons lemon juice into bowl of stand mixer; beat for two minutes and pour into prepared loaf pans.     Bake in preheated oven about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 20 minutes on a wire rack.     Whisk confectioners' sugar and 3 tablespoons lemon juice together in a bowl until smooth; spoon evenly over the loaves and let set before slicing.   Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at   kkprco@yahoo.com .

Special to Wesson News As spring, sunlight, and warm days return, locals are joining like-minded folk across the nation who are rolling up their sleeves in the fight to beautify public spaces. On Saturday, April 5, Wesson residents, encouraged by Keep Copiah Beautiful (KCB), will walk through town to pick up litter and recyclable materials and take to dumpsters. The occasion is the month-long observance of Keep America Beautiful Month in which American will participate in a variety ways.  Locally, KOB is focused on Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup, a program which communities join throughout the year.  Other Americans in other areas will “plog” – picking up litter as the jog; challenging themselves with the “BeRecycled Pledge,” committing to “the Triple R” – “reduce, reuse and recycle” to give as second life to what they want to throw away; planting trees as part of RETREET to both beautify the environment and rebuild ecosystems; starting to live “zero-waste” lifestyles towards creating healthier, more sustainable, less littered communities. Keep America Beautiful Month, dedicated to improving public spaces through action and education, is a call to action to reduce litter on streets, parks, or roads; prevent future littering through educational events, and beautify communities. KOB is rallying Wesson participants to respond to the call by giving them gloves to pick up litter safely and bags to carry it to two dumpsters that Town Aldermen have agreed to strategically locate.  The idea is that small actions can have big effects, and littering has far-reaching consequences. Not only are there over 50 million pieces of litter in the US – with more than 2,000 pieces per mile, but over half of them are actually found in waterways and ocean shores. The human issue of littering also affects faraway ecosystems and species of animals and plants. In a recent survey, 90% of Americans said that litter is a problem in their states, so this is the perfect time to educate our communities on the environmental repercussions of littering, as well as the insufficient trees and green spaces in the US – and start planting. Keep American Beautiful Foundation and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America started Keep America Beautiful Month in 1971  as “Scouting Keep America Beautiful Day” to encourage a massive national cleanup and recycling movement in the same month as Earth Day and Arbor Day and catalyze collective action that benefits the environment.  Keep America Beautiful Month was changed to a weeklong event in 1982 and, in 1984, it was extended to a full month dedicated to the reduction of waste, prevention of litter, and beautification of communities nationwide.  Today, the event involves 700 state and local partners, as well as millions of volunteers who seek to take greater responsibility for their public spaces and build an America where everyone lives in a beautiful community.                          SIDEBAR Keep America Beautiful facts:   Cleanup Impacts : Since the start of the Great American Cleanup part of Keep America Beautiful Month, it  has engaged millions of volunteers who have collected over 23 million pounds of litter across 5.3 million hours of community involvement. They beautified 66,300 miles of streets, parks, and roads. In 2024, they planted over 71,000 bulbs and plants: shrubs, flowers, and trees.   Doing Your Part : There are about 50 billion pieces of litter across the US, and if every American picked up 152 pieces, we would clean it all up.   Cigarette Litter : The Keep America Beautiful National Litter Study found cigarette butts to be the number one littered item, accounting for 9.7 billion butts on any given day across the US.  For 21 years, the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program has established litter stands in more than 1,800 communities.

UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute is hosting a See, Test and Treat event which aims to provide free cervical, breast, oral and lung cancer screenings for qualifying uninsured and underinsured women and men. The See, Test and Treat program seeks to reduce cancer deaths and provide health education to participants. The CCRI and the College of American Pathologists Foundation are hosting the event on Saturday, April 5 from 8a.m. to 11a.m. at the CCRI outpatient clinics at the Jackson Medical Mall. Cancer screenings and education will include age-appropriate mammograms for women ages 40-64 and cervical cancer screening with a Pap test for women ages 21-64. Additionally, oral and lung cancer screenings will be available for men and women: oral cancer screenings for those ages 21-64 and lung cancer screenings for those ages 50-80 who are current or former smokers. Eligible participants will receive a free low-dose CT screening exam.

By: Mika Hartman My Final Article This morning, as I watched  Frozen 2  with Hudson, a line from Olaf stood out to me: “One born with ‘powers’ and one born ‘powerless.’” Anna's reaction, a scowl on her face after hearing this, caught my attention. Despite lacking magical powers, Anna’s strength, courage, and perseverance were undeniable. This moment in the film made me reflect on something much deeper—society’s definition of success and how we often measure ourselves and our children by it. As children, and even as adults, we dream big. We set goals that seem larger than life: becoming astronauts, rock stars, mountaineers, or even the President of the United States. But let’s pause for a moment and consider the statistics. As of March 18, 2025, only 721 people have reached the "altitude of space" according to the USAF’s definition. Only 45 people have served as President of the United States. And climbing Mount Everest? Just 7,120 have succeeded in reaching the summit, with only half of those who attempt the climb actually making it. What does this say about "success"? It suggests that even the biggest dreams—those that seem so extraordinary—are rare. They are attainable, yes, but they are out of reach for many, and that’s okay. We don’t need to achieve the extraordinary to be worthy of celebration. As a mother to a child with special needs, I constantly find myself caught in a struggle. Society pushes us to measure our children by the same standards of achievement, success, and comparison that we apply to typical children. But my son, Hudson, does not need to fit into that mold. In fact, I’m realizing he never has to. Hudson is enough just as he is, without needing to prove anything to anyone. The world may expect children with Down syndrome, like Hudson, to do certain things, but I am learning that his worth is not tied to these expectations. He doesn’t have to be a rock star, a scientist, or climb Everest to prove his place in this world. And not all children or adults with Down syndrome will be business entrepreneurs, supermodels, Iron Man competitors, or star in movies… and THAT’S OKAY! Learning what is possible is necessary, but putting all your hopes in rare accomplishments will only fail you and your child. Take a deep breath. Live your life, not someone else’s. You just need your story. Hudson is already doing big things, right here, right now. He’s learning to recognize colors, shapes, and numbers. He’s understanding the difference between matching and pairing. He gives high-fives, fist bumps, and even started using the potty. These milestones may seem small to some, but to me, they are enormous. They’re celebrations in their own right. His learning is a journey, one rooted in consistency, repetition, and modeling. Hudson thrives through routines. This is how he learns best, but it’s important to remember that not every child learns the same way. Every child is unique, and every progress, no matter how big or small, is worthy of celebration. And so, this is my story. This is our journey. I want to share this message with other parents of children with special needs: Give yourself grace. Yes, stories of success are inspiring, but don't fall into the trap of clinging to them as the sole definition of what is possible. Your child may or may not, according to society’s standards, achieve "big things," but what we define as big is often just a matter of perspective. To me, Hudson is doing big things every single day. I didn’t know if he would walk, but he did. I didn’t know if he would communicate, but he uses a communication device to express his wants. There’s still work to be done—he’s still learning to talk, eat, and potty-train—but every step forward is a monumental victory. These achievements may not be deemed extraordinary by societal standards, but to me, they are nothing short of miraculous. The word “convincing” has been with me throughout this journey. When we first received Hudson’s diagnosis, I spent time convincing myself that everything would be okay. But as I went through the process, convincing turned into believing, and then believing became knowing. I knew from the moment Hudson arrived in my arms that he was smart, strong, and capable. I no longer feel the need to convince anyone of his worth. I’ve known it from the start. Hudson’s journey has been filled with challenges, yes, but also triumphs. He has fought for life in ways that no child should ever have to, and yet, he is here—full of determination, love, and joy. His extra chromosome doesn't define him. It makes him unique. It makes him Hudson. And I love him for exactly who he is, extra and all. Throughout this journey, I have met many incredible families—many of whom are trailblazers, inspiring others to see beyond the diagnosis. Wanting to know what is possible without comparing is a difficult, but necessary, shift in perspective. Whether Hudson is one day on billboards or simply a treasured picture on my wall, he is enough. He has always been enough. Whatever the future holds, Hudson’s extra chromosome brings with it an abundance of love, joy, fun, challenges, hurdles, and growth. All of it is mine to experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. His "extra" is more than just a label—it’s a beautiful gift that we hold close, cherish, and celebrate. And I wouldn’t change a thing. The power of Hudson’s EXTRA is more than enough. A letter of gratitude: If you have been reading my articles monthly or this is is your first one, thank you. As a military wife, new locations come with the job. We are excited for what’s to come; we will be moving this summer. As far as what’s been, Mississippi was very good to us. We have been stationed here twice now, but this time we brought Hudson. Doors of trying my hand at writing, helping change laws, and being a voice for children who don’t have one, this duty station gave me a voice I didn’t know I had. Thank you for trusting me. I love this life and I hope I have given you an insight to a walk you may have known nothing about. Thank you to Clay and Amanda for this opportunity of sharing our life with your readers. I have learned so much about myself with this platform. I am very grateful. Unsure of what the future holds, I am certain EXTRA fun will be a big part of it. As Hudson finds his voice, I am sure he will advocate with me for needed change. Thank you with love, respect and profound gratitude. Mississippi will always be home. ~ Mika

Special to Wesson News   The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) spotlighting one of its social workers during each week of March in helping lead the state’s celebration of Social Work Month.     MSDH says social workers play an integral role in its mission.   “We serve as bridges connecting people with resources, advocating for their needs and promoting healthier communities through compassion and action,” says Angela Carpenter, Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and Long Term Care Director for Health Facilities Licensure and Certification.  “All social work is public health social work,” add Krista Guynes, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Director, Office of Women’s Health. “Public health social work is about taking care of people, families and communities, especially those most vulnerable and who face disparities. Wherever there is an opportunity for improvement in the human condition, a social worker should be at the table.”    MSDH points to ways social workers help clients navigate individual programs, such as Genetics and Lead Poisoning Prevention, and serve in care coordinator/case management roles in programs including Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, where they help identify housing, food and transportation, and ensure children receive resources they need to thrive. They also manage high-level strategic development teams, writing grants and annual reports, partnering with external groups to develop programs, and focusing on continuous quality improvement to ensure use of evidence-based interventions.   “Public health social work goes beyond the desk,” affirms Heather Brown, LSW, Social Services Team Lead. “We are on a mission to prevent and intervene in health and social disparities that affect our communities. Community building and relationships are vital in addressing those disparities.”