Meet Dr. Dan Hudson of Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C.

December 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Here’s to your Health

For Dan Hudson, M.D., being a doctor runs in the family. “I was inspired to become a doctor by watching my father who was a urologist at Carraway Methodist Medical Center,” Dr. Hudson shares. In addition to his father’s influence, his brother eventually joined their father’s practice, and his sister is married to a physician. Dr. Hudson has three daughters who are all working in the medical field, too!

Dr. Dan Hudson married his wife, Tracy, 34 years ago and they have three daughters: one is currently a CRNA and two are soon to be CRNAs.

Dr. Hudson is a native of Birmingham and earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He returned to Birmingham and completed his residency training at Carraway Methodist Medical Center. He has served with the Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C. (HWWC) as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist since 1998. “One of the physicians asked me to join the team and it has been an enjoyable experience working with such dedicated physicians for the last 24 years,” Dr. Hudson says.

Connecting with patients is just one aspect of being a physician that Dr. Hudson enjoys. “I always hope to be a positive influence in my patient’s lives,” he says, adding, “My faith is important in establishing a trusting, loving relationship with my patients. If I can exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit in my interactions with patients, they are drawn to that.” He also enjoys the surgical aspect of being an OBGYN. “I really enjoy performing robotic surgery.” Dr. Hudson sees patients four days a week at the Birmingham location. On Thursdays, he can be found at the Gadsden or Cullman offices.

For more than 40 years, Henderson & Walton Women’s Center has been specializing in women’s health care. All the OB/GYN physicians, including Dr. Hudson, are board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For patient convenience, HWWC sees patients in Birmingham, Alabaster, Chelsea, Cullman, Rainbow City/Gadsden, Jasper, and Tuscaloosa. To learn more about Dr. Hudson and the team of physicians and staff at Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C., visit www.hwwc.net or call 205-930-1800.

-Melissa Armstrong

December 28, 2021December 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Special Feature

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor with Child — One of the most critical factors determining whether or not a young person reaches their potential is the presence of a trusted adult role model. Sadly, 1 in 3 children will grow up without a mentor. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham is working to change that by connecting youth with a one-to-one mentoring relationship. Consider being a Big Brother or Big Sister in 2022, visit www.bhambigs.org.

January is National Mentoring Month which is a great time to apply to become a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham. As an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham (BBBS) has provided positive adult role models for youth through its mentoring programs since 1973. BBBS’s mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. The initiatives of BBBS bolster self-esteem and work to improve the chances that the youth served will achieve success in their academic, social, and family lives. BBBS of Greater Birmingham operates under the vision that all youth achieve their full potential. According to CEO Sue Johnson, “Our priority and what distinguishes Big Brothers Big Sisters is our commitment to providing long-term mentoring, resulting in proven positive educational and social outcomes, improving kids’ chances to succeed.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor with his "Little" — January is National Mentoring Month! Now is a great time to apply to become a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham.

Each year, BBBS aims to serve more than 1,300 youth in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount, and Walker Counties. National Mentoring Month is the time of year where engagement is usually at its highest and BBBS hopes that this year will be no different. With a new e-mentoring program available, anyone now has access to becoming a mentor and changing the lives of Birmingham youth. Given recent social and economic changes, many “Littles” are experiencing an exacerbation of the issues they regularly face, from societal barriers and opportunity gaps to poverty and identity-based discrimination. Consequently, it is incumbent upon Big Brothers Big Sisters to continue fulfilling their mission of being there for these young people. Thus, BBBS must remain the visible allies they have long been to “Littles,” for our mentoring means that they will not have to face life’s challenges alone.

Celebrate National Mentoring Month by supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters this year. Learn more at: www.mentoralittle.com.†

December 27, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Here’s to your Health

Kick off the new year by making your health a priority T.Fox SalonSpa. The team is ready to help you and your family do just that with products that help you stay healthy and looking great all year long!

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For more ideas on how to best care for your hair and skin visit the T. Fox SalonSpa Facebook page where every Tuesday the team posts a Tuesday Care Tip www.facebook.com/TFoxSalonspa. The team also invites you to stop by the SalonSpa on Valleydale Road in Hoover to learn more.

-Brought to you by T. Fox SalonSpa, Top 200 Salon in North America by Salon Today

2080 Valleydale Road, Hoover, AL 35244

205-403-8369

www.tfoxsalon.com

T.Fox SalonSpa is offering a Reader Rewards coupon for the month of January!

March 28, 2022December 27, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Publisher’s Note

Birmingham Christian Family has had the privilege of sharing Good News with readers in Central Alabama for 21 years! So many of those Good News stories have come from you, our readers, letting us know how God is at work in your life and your community. As we embark on our 22nd year, we would ask that you give us just two minutes of your time to answer a few questions to help us do the best job we can in delivering Good News to You.

Take a moment to help us improve your reading experience and give you more of the Good News you want! The survey may be completed anonymously or if you provide your email address, we will enter you in a drawing for an opportunity to win a $60 Gift Card to A Birthday Place or four tickets to Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure. We know your time is valuable and we want to say THANK YOU for sharing your thoughts with us.

Winners announced on Facebook so be sure to follow our page, Birmingham Christian Family.

-Laurie Stroud Franklin

Founder, The Christian Family Publication, Inc.

www.BirminghamChristian.com

Facebook: Birmingham Christian Family

Twitter: @cfpBirmingham

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LinkedIn: Birmingham Christian Family

Celebrating 21 Years of Good News!

God tells us, “…how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” (Romans 10:15, Isaiah 52:7). Each and every day we have the opportunity to bring Good News to those individuals God puts in our path, showing them His love in how we live. Where will your beautiful feet take you today?

MORE January GIVEAWAYS!

TO SAY THANK YOU for reading and supporting the businesses and organizations that advertise with Birmingham Christian Family(BCF) and make spreading Good News possible we have a FAMILY FOUR PACK of TICKETS to a Birmingham Bulls Hockey Game at the Pelham Civic Complex. To enter simply LIKE and SHARE the Giveaway Post on our Facebook Page and FOLLOW BCF.

For EXTRA ENTRIES:

SUBSCRIBE to receive your free digital issue of BCF at www.birminghamchristian.com.

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Offer ends 1/18/22. Winners announced 1/19/22 on Facebook so be sure to LIKE our page! www.facebook.com/BirminghamChristianFamily.

December 8, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Special Feature

A horse in a stall at The Morton Family Barn 1 — A look inside the new Morton Family Barn.

The King’s Home Equine Therapy Program strives to help residents and other participants develop needed skills and character traits, such as accountability, self-confidence, responsibility, problem-solving skills, and self-control. On December 1, they expanded the King’s Home’s Equine Therapy Program (King’s Stables), by dedicating a beautiful brand new blue and tan Morton Barn boasting gorgeous woodwork with a 120ft long welcoming front porch with ceiling fans and benches. King’s Home has dedicated their new barn at King’s Stables as “The Morton Family Barn” in honor of beloved donors, the Morton Family. The family includes Barry and Catherine Morton along with their adult children Lynn Morton Schrago, Bill Morton, Katherine Morton Gurley, Mary Dorothy Morton, and Catherine’s parents Mary and Bob Byrd of Mobile.

Due to their generous donation which provided the new expansion of King’s Home’s Equine Therapy Program, King’s Stables has a beautiful brand new blue and tan Morton Barn that features a 12 stall horse barn including one birthing stall. Each stall has an automatic watering bowl, rubber floor mats for easy cleaning and easy access feed pan and hay rack accessible from the barn corridor. The barn also features a lovely tack room and feed room with a working sink and counter. At the far end of the barn, you’ll find a fantastic wash stall with hot and cold water to better care for the horses. The barn is also home to a climate-controlled office and classroom with kitchenette and ice maker, two ADA accessible bathrooms, and 20 parking bays including one ADA van accessible spot.

Inside the Morton Family Barn — The barn also features lovely tack room and feed room with a working sink and counter.

“Our family has always had a heart for ministry groups working with children and it’s always a blessing when we visit a King’s Home facility. We’re so thankful for the faithful leadership of John Hall as the project manager and the beautiful woodwork by Chris Waldren,” said Catherine Morton. “We know that spending time with God’s creation in a beautiful setting is the greatest therapy and this barn will make a great impact on many lives at King’s Home.”

In 2012, King’s Home welcomed a new program called King’s Stables, which serves as the Equine Therapy Program for the residents of King’s Home and other nonprofit partners. The program has substantially expanded since its beginning, and with the opening of the barn today, future growth plans are on the horizon. Currently there are over 100 participants in the program with an average of 80 sessions each month. These include King’s Home residents, nonprofits, homeschool groups, community members, and volunteers. The program which includes therapeutic riding, equestrian education, camps, and more is led by Callie Smelley and Kelly Bloomfield, Co-Managers, and Instructors at King’s Stables. “The Morton Family’s generous gift is a lasting legacy that God will use to transform lives of abused youth, moms, and kids at King’s Home plus many others for decades to come,” said Lew Burdette, President, King’s Home. Read more about King’s Home here. †

December 8, 2021December 1, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Charlotte and her husband Jon sitting by their fireplace

Special Feature

It’s the best time of year! Twinkle lights, family gatherings and holiday cheer…Christmas time is here! Nothing gets me in the spirit like a Christmas tree. Have you ever wondered what is so magical about a Christmas tree? It’s the first thing we put up and the last thing we take down. I personally think it has to do with the twinkle. Twinkle lights make everything whimsical. The glistening glow sparkling at night brings an instant warmth to the season. I admit we have trees in every room of the house during the holidays, but even more than that we have twinkle!

Can you ever have too much twinkle? I think not! You will find lights not only on our Christmas trees, but also throughout the house. I have them hanging on my open shelves in the kitchen, twisted in garland on my table and even bunched up on top of my hoosier cabinet.

Last year, I ran out of strands of white lights and didn’t want to buy more. While digging through containers for decorations, I found some outdoor icicle lights that we weren’t using. Suddenly, the thought hit me to put them to great use! Had I ever seen someone hang icicle lights inside? No. Did I care? Of course not! I’m willing to try anything when it comes to being creative in decorating. And oh, what a happy change this was. I got a lot of bang for my buck because they have so much more twinkle with the extra strands that hang down like icicles. I hung them on the inside of our windows by utilizing the curtain rod. The instant holiday cheer and whimsical touch they brought to our bedroom was captivating. I loved it so much that I hung them on our head board as well. This year, I even draped them across a mirror in our living room. A mirror caused them to have twice the twinkle!

Be creative and take chances when it comes to holiday decorating. It doesn’t have to look perfect to bring in the spirit of Christmas. If you don’t have a lot Christmas decor, twinkle lights go a long way. Another bonus of hanging them on on your curtain rods is you can also see them from the street. We even have them plugged in during the day to give us all the festive feels! Happy decorating and Happy Holidays, my friends!

—Charlotte Evans Russell
Instagram: @CharlottesHappyHome

For more design inspiration and tips, follow me on Instagram

@charlotteshappyhome and subscribe to my blog, charlotteshappyhome.com.

November 30, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Elegant Living Room Interior W 400578314

Our House

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but as you can imagine this is not our busiest time in the real estate world. Although the holiday season, in and of itself, is stressful, combined with selling your home during the Christmas chaos sounds like a recipe waiting for a disaster. But do not be afraid, we come bearing gifts- a good plan to calm your nerves which will bring you good tidings of comfort and joy and… a sale in return. The good news during this time of year is the birth of Jesus Christ, and the comforting fact in our real estate market is the buyers who are looking are not just window shopping. They are serious, ready to find a house and ring in the New Year at a place they can call home. So, is it a good idea to decorate your home for Christmas while trying to sell? The answer is yes but keep these few things in mind before you start pulling out all your Christmas décor.

1. De-clutter and Stage: The house needs to be show ready before and after the decorations appear and disappear.

2. Put up the Christmas tree, but do not overdo it: If it overpowers the room or makes it feel crowded, consider getting a smaller tree or removing furniture. If your ceilings are high, show them off with a tall Christmas tree. If you have a large home, consider additional trees in various rooms to show how much space your home has to offer.

3. Take advantage of the holiday scents: Consider using candles of pine or balsam, bake warm cookies or have simmering cider. Try to avoid heavy scents like cinnamon and vanilla.

4. Don’t dismiss first impressions: Do not take someone’s “Merry” away from their “Christmas” by having them drive up to your home full of inflatables or the Clark Griswold spectacular. We want to encourage buyers to focus on the exteriors and not be distracted by any yard décor that takes away from the architecture.

5. Accentuate the home with neutrals: Use fresh garland and white lights to add more holiday cheer. Make sure your Christmas collection compliments your home décor. Do not use lime green and red ribbon on your mantel in a room of soothing, pale blues. Compliment colors and spaces or leave it in the box. Remember white lights or not lights. Colored lights do not show well in photographs. Focus on a neutral color palette.

6. Don’t fill every corner with decorations: Do not block important areas of your home with decorations. We want buyers to see all your home has to offer.

Remember, we don’t live the same way when we try to sell our homes so we shouldn’t decorate our homes for Christmas the same either. Very few buyers are turned off by Christmas decorations so embrace it. Have fun and enjoy holiday cheer. Just keep in mind, you are trying to sell your home so focus on accentuating its features, not your Christmas decorations. We hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and remember the Reason for the Season!

-Tom and Julie Douglass

[email protected], [email protected]

205-999-2780, 205-999-4153

December Tip: Decorating your mailbox for Christmas, follow us on Instagram @theDouglassDuo to watch Julie demonstrate a fun tutorial.

November 30, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Christmas gift boxes laid out 210459529

Legal Matters

Brought to you by: Community Partner Bradford & Holliman

More than ever, gift giving is fraught with peril this year. Consider the overseas shipping and delivery problems to stores near you, the increasing cost of shipping gifts to your loved ones, the predicted difficulties of timing when your gifts arrive, the possibility of your gift being the wrong size, color, style, or even a duplicate. Avoid all these issues and send a gift that is perfectly customized to your loved ones’ needs – funds for a full estate plan. Your own estate planning attorney can help locate an experienced estate planning attorney in your loved one’s hometown if needed.

A quick online search will tell you: “A staggering 79 percent of millennials (ages 18-34) do not have a will. Even more surprising is that 62 percent of those in the 35 to 44-year-old age group don’t have a will or living trust, and 60 percent of those in the 45 to 54-year-old age group don’t have one either.” Now, it’s not that millennials don’t think wills are necessary. They just assume they can get around to it when they hit their fifties. Single millennials often assume that their families can just take care of matters using the state’s intestate laws… without researching what those laws are. Mistake! And that’s not even mentioning the critical need for financial and healthcare powers of attorney, healthcare directives, a plan for personal belongings, and guardians for their minor children.

If you are lucky enough to be with your loved ones in person during the holidays, use this strategic gift to discuss your own estate plan and the reasons behind it so that no unpleasant surprises create family problems after you’re gone. Perhaps combined with the joy of the season, this longer-term expression of affection will mean even more to your loved ones. And if changes in family members have occurred recently due to births, deaths, or divorces, give yourself the same strategic gift by updating your own estate plan.

-Melanie B. Holliman, JD

Partner at Bradford & Holliman

Estate Planning, Trusts & Special Needs

205-663-0281

www.bradfordholliman.com

No representation is made that the quality of the legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of service performed by other lawyers.

November 30, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Selective Focus Of Calculator 394837187

Money Matters

Brought to you by: Community Partner Vision Financial Group, Inc.

The end of the year can help remind us of last-minute things we need to address and the goals we want to pursue. To that end, here are five aspects of your financial life to think about as this year leads into the next.

1. Your investments. Set a goal to review your investments with your financial professional. You’ll want to come away from the meeting with an understanding of your portfolio positions. Look over your portfolio positions and revisit your asset allocation. Remember, asset allocation and diversification are approaches to help manage investment risk. They do not guarantee against investment loss.

2. Your retirement strategy. You may want to consider contributing the maximum to your retirement accounts. It’s also a good idea to review any retirement accounts you may have through your work. This is also a great time to decide on making catch-up contributions if you are eligible.

3. Your tax situation. It’s a good idea to consider checking in with your tax or legal professional before the year ends, especially if you have questions about an expense or deduction from this year. Also, it may be a good idea to review any sales of property as well as both realized and unrealized losses and gains. Look back at last year’s loss carryforwards. If you’ve sold securities, gather up cost-basis information. As always, bringing all this information to your financial professional is a smart move.1

4. Your charitable gifting goals. Plan charitable contributions or contributions to education accounts and make any desired cash gifts to family members. The annual federal gift tax exclusion allows you to give away up to $15,000 in 2021, meaning you can gift as much as $15,000 to as many individuals as you like this year. Such gifts do not count against the lifetime estate tax exemption amount, as long as they stay beneath the annual federal gift tax exclusion threshold. Besides outright gifts, you can explore creating and funding trusts on behalf of your family. The end of the year is also a good time to review any trusts you have in place. Using a trust involves a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations.1,2

Your life insurance coverage. The end of the year is an excellent time to double-check that your policies and beneficiaries are up to date. Several factors could impact the cost and availability of life insurance, such as age, health, and the type of insurance purchased, as well as the amount purchased. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, you may pay surrender charges, which could have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Finally, don’t forget that any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments.

-Vision Financial Group

4505 Pine Tree Circle, Birmingham, AL 35243

www.vision-financialgroup.com

205-970-4909

Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CFGS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory
services offered through Concourse Financial Group Advisors, a DBA for CFGS, a Registered Investment Advisor. Vision Financial Group, Inc. is independent of Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates.

Citations

turbotax.intuit.com, October 16, 2021
irs.gov, October 14, 2021

November 30, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

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Parenting Points

Every year, it seems like the anticipation for Christmas gets earlier and earlier. The Halloween candy is quickly replaced by the unending stock of Christmas décor. Our culture longs for Christmas with all its pomp and circumstance, yet we often miss the greater longing which Christmas is meant to invite us to experience.

In the middle of Luke’s retelling of the Christmas story, we meet two minor characters who show the heart of longing which Christmas should plant deep within our souls. Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-38) have both spent years at the temple praying and hoping for the Messiah to come. Simeon has been promised that his weary eyes will behold the Son of God before he passes into eternity. Anna came daily to the temple to fast and pray that God would send His Rescuer.

The faithfulness of clinging to a promise yet to be realized kept Simeon and Anna going day by day. As time ticked by, it would have been easy for them to think God had forgotten about them, that their prayers were hitting the ceiling of the temple, and that their fasting was in vain. Simeon and Anna were sustained by the truth that God is faithful, and His character is unchanging. They had been longing for “the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38 ESV), and finally, Mary and Joseph walk into the temple with the promised Jesus. The answer to their prayers unfolds before their weary eyes. When we come to Christmas, we are left with a longing as well. Jesus has purchased our redemption at the cross and paved the way for us to have new life in Him, yet we long for the day that Jesus will return to bring restoration to all things.

The Christmas season has been termed a season of advent or “waiting.” We gather to celebrate Jesus coming the first time while also looking for the moment when He will come again to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5 ESV). Restoration is just over the horizon and our anticipation of celebrating Jesus’ first coming should not overshadow our longing to experience His second. This year’s Christmas, like countless years before, will be disappointing. The anticipation and excitement in our hearts cannot be fulfilled by celebration. It results in an advent longing which should drive us to prayer, fasting, waiting, and longing. Come Lord Jesus, your people are waiting and ready.

-Dr. Ben Birdsong

Missions Minister at Christ Church Birmingham

Writer and Speaker

www.benbirdsong.com

Meet Dr. Dan Hudson of Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C.

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