Tag Archives: family

WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH Sometimes life turns out differently than we planned. Megan MacLaughlin-Barck’s current reality bears little resemblance to her original plans. After graduating from Chippewa Falls Senior High School, Megan vowed never to come back to the area. She earned her undergraduate degree from UW-Madison, followed by a law degree from Pace Law School. Today, Megan is the sole owner of Larson Construction Co., Inc. (a Chippewa Falls company her grandparents founded). She admits she never envisioned herself in this role—but she has eaten a lot of “nevers” along the way. Nevertheless, while balancing motherhood, a thriving business, …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN Since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, I have been thinking about how much I appreciate my mom. I want to take the time to thank her and do some bragging about her. I come from a large family; I have four brothers and two dogs. Admittedly, we can be a lot to handle. Let me just say that things get a little crazy around our house. There is always a kid who is supposed to be somewhere, or a school project to work on, or a dog running away, and somebody under the mistaken …

WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH Edie McDonald is a busy woman. As co-owner of McDonald Company, she manages Goldsmith Coffee Bar and Five Star Catering, using both to give students hands-on business experience. She is also a wife and a mother. In all of her endeavors, Edie understands the importance of a strong value system. And she juggles her multiple responsibilities maintaining focus on her family and her faith. Faith Edie’s grandparents played formative roles in making faith an important part of her life from a young age. “When I was young, I looked forward to going to church in the …

For many people, dogs are family members. Whether small, large, old, or young, these dogs are like children—holding a special place in our hearts. Fortunately, many loving homes exist in our area with people willing to adopt dogs and get them to their forever homes. Three dogs hold the hearts of Brittany Bergeman and her fiancé, Matt Murphy, of Eau Claire. Diesel and Dante are Miniature Pinschers, and Dre is a Doberman. Both Dante and Dre were adopted from unpleasant situations. “I love adopting dogs in need because I feel they deserve their happily-ever-after with a loving family who will …

WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH The past year has been challenging, exciting, and full of changes for Meghan Kulig. With a new baby, a career transition, and a positive outlook on life, Meghan is excited to see what the future holds for her and her family. And, as with many women in the Chippewa Valley, she is busy balancing the five Fs: faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance. Faith After more than eight years as a news anchor and reporter for WEAU 13 News in Eau Claire, Meghan now works for Regis Catholic Schools as the Communications Director. She describes, “Because …

Happy New Year! For a self-proclaimed foodie like me, part of the Love (of this issue’s Love Your Life theme) is definitely shared in the kitchen. Over the Christmas break, our family got to enjoy some of our favorite things, which included our long-held tradition of family pizza/game night. Our evening was inspired by the movie The Hundred Foot Journey. I follow the same pizza recipe that my husband grew up with; it was passed down to me from my mother-in-law. Try this or a similar family tradition with your own loved ones. And then find us on Facebook to …

WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH For Sylvia Hedberg-Thomas, each day is a new day of opportunity, hope, and desire to build a better future. In addition to assisting her husband, Jeff (who is blind), Sylvia works at the Eau Claire YMCA, is a mother to two daughters, and is a three-time cancer survivor. Through resolute faith, family dedication, and a focus on tomorrow, Sylvia is moving forward with an optimistic outlook that defies the odds. Faith Faith defines Sylvia’s life. She professes, “Without Jesus, I feel like I would have nothing. My faith is the most important thing in the world …

WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH Jane Cooper is a woman on a mission to lead a happy, whole, and satisfying life. In addition to caring for her special needs son, she takes time for family, tries to find time to center herself, and works diligently to focus on the positive aspects of everyday living. Through both challenging and fulfilling times, Cooper knows that it is important to take a moment and appreciate everything the world has to offer. Faith “It is not that faith has shaped my life. It is that life has shaped my faith,” says Jane. Her faith is …

Perspectives from a Mother and College-Bound Son Download this article and more in our August/September issue (VOL 3 – NO 4) HERE! By Tina Frank My son will launch off to college in a year; I cannot begin to describe what a difficult transition this is for our family. I am secretly jealous of those parents of confident high school seniors regarding their post high school plans. It pains me to watch my son—who has had little difficulty with school decisions in the past—hit this “college decision wall.” Bringing up the college topic with my son has been quite humbling for me. It …

WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH   Like many women, Dr. Beth Salonek is a busy wife, mother, and caregiver. Add to that a thriving dental practice, and you have a hectic schedule that involves juggling many different people and activities. Through all her endeavors, Beth strives to remain in the moment while building meaningful relationships with family members and patients. And she is enjoying every minute of it. Faith Because of her faith, Beth knows she always has somewhere to turn—especially during times of struggle. This foundation has helped Beth become a strong, independent, and professional woman. Beth’s faith intersects—directly and …