Here are some fun family events happening this weekend…..Where You Live!

 Open Wide Exhibit at the Grand Rapids Childrens’ Museum, now - Sunday, April 16.  www.grcm.org

This is the first weekend of the Open Wide exhibit at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.  Kids can learn the basics of dental health while they role play as dentists, brush teeth and put braces on life-size puppets.

 Michigan International Auto Show, Thursday, January 26 through Sunday, January 29 DeVos Place – Grand Rapids www.showspan.com

Auto manufacturers from around the world will bring over 300 new vehicles to DeVos Place, including the latest in sedans, vans, SUV’s, trucks, hybrids and sports cars.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for kids.

Grand Haven Winterfest, Thursday, January 26 through Sunday, January 29-Downtown Grand Haven www.winterfestonline.org

Events include a family dog pull, cardboard sled race and all kinds of winter activities for kids.

Richmond Park Winter Rush, Saturday, January 28 at 11am, Richmond Park – Grand Rapids www.winterrush.com

Winter Rush is an extreme race designed to incorporate the natural outdoor elements of Richmond Park located in the heart of Grand Rapids. Fun course elements include sledding, snow angel making, a wall climb and run through the wood.  Bring the kids out and cheer on the participants!

 This week on Where You Live, we’re talking winter fun at the Double JJ Ranch and Resort in Rothbury, Michigan.  We’ll show you everything that the Double JJ offers families this time of year including tubing, dog sledding and sleigh rides.  Plus, we’ll have your chance to win a two-night stay for your family!  Watch Friday at 7pm on WXSP, Saturday at 7:30am & 7:30pm on WOTV and Saturday at 6:30pm on WOOD TV.

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How are your resolutions coming along? Even though we’re still hanging on to January, it can be difficult to maintain momentum at this point in the year. The routine has started again, the stresses have returned. Winter has now arrived, so we often end up just wanting to do what is comfortable and familiar.

I’m sure many of you have set goals about improving fitness and exercising more frequently. Perhaps your body is something that brings negative thoughts to mind and you want that to change. Dieting and diet related products are a forty billion dollar a year industry—this speaks loudly to the truth that you are not alone—many people want their bodies to change!

It is very easy to be critical of ourselves–especially when we’ve set goals that aren’t turning out the way we had hoped. Thoughts of “I’m failing at this too” or “I knew that I would mess up, what’s my problem” start to take over the adrenaline and motivation we were experiencing a couple of weeks ago.

I want to encourage you to re-focus. Not just by doing more, by checking off that daily workout on your to do list, but by focusing on what is going on inside of you. Allow yourself to tune in to the chatter inside of your mind. Take a moment to ask yourself if the way that you talk to yourself is helpful and encouraging—to you and to others. When we are self critical, we often become more critical of others.

Attempting to re-focus might look something like this…if a typical thought of yours in response to a recently set goal is “I knew I wouldn’t be able to do this, why am I even trying,” attempt to put the feeling that underlies that comment into a statement that is self affirming and motivating. This could include statements like “This is hard, and I am learning how to be determined.” Another example could be “The effort put into this change is helping me become a stronger person.” Getting away from self criticism can be one of the first steps at becoming successful with the goals we set for ourselves.

For more information on behavioral health issues, or to seek assistance, go to www.pinerest.org.

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This weekend on “Where You Live” we’re heading north to the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury for some winter adventures!  We’ll go snow tubing, dog sledding and for a horse drawn wagon ride through the snow!  Plus, we’ll check out the Gold Rush Indoor Waterpark!   And we’re giving away two overnight stay and play packages!!  It’s an amazing  place with an amazing contest!  Watch “Where You Live” this weekend at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on WOTV 4 and 6:30 p.m. on WOOD TV 8!

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With the cost of college rising each year, many families are wondering, “can we afford college for our children?” We sat down with Don Green, Vice President of Extended and Internal Operations for Ferris State University, to get some pointers for parents.

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Katie Douglas is a senior at Ferris State University that is financing her own college education.  She is juggling loans, scholarships and multiple jobs to take on as little debt as possible.

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There are many scholarship opportunities out there for students.  We talked with a Ferris State University Super Senior and also a representative from Ferris’ admissions department on where to begin looking for tuition assistance.

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Work-study is a federally funded program on that places students in on-campus jobs.

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We sat down with an admissions expert at Ferris State University to see what it takes to get into college.

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It’s never too early or too late to start saving for college, the important thing is that you are putting away money for the future.

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The idea of paying for college can be extremely stressful for parents.  Ryan LaRue of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services has some pointers for families on dealing with the stress that comes with financing college.

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