March 2023

MARCH 2023 Volume 12, Issue 11

3900 N. 1st Street, Suite #2

Abilene, Texas 79603 (325) 673-4521 www.HispanicLifeMedia.com [currently under construction]

PUBLISHER

David A. Hernandez

EDITOR

David Hernandez / Debbie Heep info@hispaniclifemedia.com

ADVISING EDITOR AND ACCEPTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Amy Hernández

Helen Holguin info@hispaniclifemedia.com (325) 673-4521 Office

ADVERTISING SALES

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donna.lee@amclassabilene.com

• David Hernandez (325) 518-7091 sales@hispaniclifemedia.com

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GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT

Debbie Heep

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About Us

We are dedicated to serving the Abilene and the Big Country by providing up-to-date information and resources that promote healthy families and homes. We also promote our clients businesses by increasing their customer bases and enhancing their public images within the Hispanic community.

HispanicLife Magazine is published on a monthly basis and is owned & operated locally.

Advertising rates are available upon request. While we use great care in creating our display ads, mistakes can happen. HispanicLife and the publisher are not liable for any damages arising from any typographical or mechanical errors beyond the cost of the ad. HispanicLife does not necessarily endorse any of the advertisers, products or services listed in this publication.

2023 HispanicLIfe Media All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without permission from the publisher. www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine

Spring is here, and for many of us that means Spring cleaning. Cleaning out closets, garages, finally getting rid of books you know you will never read or that one shirt you bought on clearance that you know you should not have. We begin to clean up the yard and pull out weeds and clean up our flowerbeds to prepare to put in beautiful new flowers that will bloom and make the yard look nicer.

There is just something about Spring that makes the air seem crisper and clean, the sun shines a little brighter and you may seem to whistle just a little tad more. All of this is good for your home, your garage and your flowerbeds, and once it’s done you may even sit back and say, “Wow the house seems bigger, my yard looks beautiful”. It just makes you feel better, but in reality your house did not get any bigger at all and your yard just needed some TLC. If all of these things make you feel better, just think about Spring cleaning yourself! Yes, I know that may sound weird, but just think of your life. Are there things that need to be cleaned out?

Maybe we all need to step back and look into our hearts and Spring clean some clutter that has been there way to long. Maybe we need to make our hearts beautiful again. If cleaning out our closets make us proud, make us not feel overwhelmed, then just imagine how we would feel cleaning out all mess inside of us. Spring cleaning never hurt anyone, in actuality it makes our burden feel lighter and puts a bigger smile on our face.

Just think how taking that walk with your family in your neighborhood would feel when you get home and all the clutter is gone from the house. It’s the same with your heart. Now that should make the roses smell stronger and the breeze feel cooler and put a BIG smile on your face!

It’s out with the old and in with the new. All things are possible with a little hard work and determination and of course with God.

So take a little time to stop and smell the new roses you just planted, and if you haven’t done it yet, it’s never to late to start Spring cleaning your home, the yard and your heart. Enjoy the people that love you and make you feel good, get rid of those that just add clutter and make a mess. Life is too short to live with clutter.

Have a great month and as always….First God, then Family and finally Friends…. David & Amy

Cisco College Presented Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Texas American Legion

By Colton Wedeking | Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Cisco College

Cisco College was presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Texas American Legion.

American Legion Post 61 Representative, Retired CMSgt Kenneth Simonton visited the Abilene campus to present the certificate to Cisco College for hosting the American Legion 4th Division Oratorical Contest at the Cisco College Abilene Educational Center. Vice President of Instruction, Heather Hicks, and Professor Zane Laws accepted the certificate.

Per the American Legion website, The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Young speakers who compete in the oratorical contests earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. High school students under the age of 20 are eligible. The orators must choose to speak on subjects pertaining to some aspect of the U.S. Constitution with emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government.

Cisco College professors Zane Laws, John Caraway, and Judy Cumby, along with two members of the community served as judges for the contest held on February 4th.

“This is something that we hope to host each year,” said Zane Laws. “The local American Legion post hosts their meetings here on the Abilene campus regularly. We hope that the oratorical contest can grow here on the Cisco College campus.”

To learn more about the American Legion Oratorical Contest, visit legion.org/oratorical/about.

Hacemos tus Sueños Una Realidad

PROGRAMA DE NÚMERO DE IDENTIFICACIÓN FISCAL INDIVIDUAL (ITIN)

Comprar y ser dueño de un hogar es parte del Sueño Americano, y con el Programa de Número de Identificación Fiscal Individual (ITIN) de First Financial Bank, ser dueño de una casa está a tu alcance. El programa está diseñado para futuros propietarios que no tienen número de seguro social. Martin Jasso está dedicado a ayudarte lograr tus metas personales de ser propietario de una vivienda y te apoyará en cada paso del camino.

¡Podemos ayudarte a través del proceso y lograr tus sueños ser una realidad!

DETALLES DEL PROGRAMA

• La cantidad máxima de préstamo es de $450,000, y cantidad mínima de $30,000

• Disponible para residencias unifamiliares ocupadas como vivienda primaria dentro del estado de Texas

• Opciones de préstamo con enganches de tan solo el 10%

• Para personas sin número de seguro social que puedan proporcionar documentación oficial de ITIN

• El enganche puede provenir de una subvención, obsequio u otras fuentes verificables

• Préstamo aprobado localmente

• El préstamo es retenido y administrado por First Financial Bank; el préstamo no se venderá

Martin Jasso

NMLS# 1959764 | 325-627-7029 | mjasso@ffin.com

400 Pine St., Abilene, TX 79605

¡Comunícate con Martin para comenzar hoy!

in schools

By Erica Garner | BigCountryHomePage.com

Just a week after their donation to Abilene ISD, the Abilene Freedom League (AFL) went before the Wylie ISD School Board to present 8 signs bearing the US and Texas flags alongside the national motto “In God We Trust”.

Texas Senate Bill 797 passed in May of 2021, requiring Texas Schools to display the signs only if they are donated and funded by an outside source.

“We are here today because our Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 797 back in May of 2021,” AFL Director of Public Information Tyler Lineweaver told the board.

While concerns about the laws standing with the separation of church and state have been raised, Lineweaver says the law does not constitute a mandate since they must be provided by the community in the first place.

“How they’re preventing the people from being forced to be involved in this – this isn’t taxpayer money that’s going to these signs. They are creating a vessel for the people to be able to fund this,” Lineweaver said.

And by in large, the Wylie Community supports the signs. No residents or parents raised concerns at either the AISD or WISD board meetings.

“It’s part of our constitutional right that we can display our beliefs,” WISD parent Luis Morello told KTAB and KRBC.

“Growing up, God was always in the school. Every morning was prayer scripture readings over the PA system, and it was normal. I just remember one kid that used to gripe about it, and we were like ‘well, just put your fingers in your ears,'” said Former WISD parent Timothy Allen.

Allen had 5 children go though the Wylie School system. As a self professed Christian, he says he is in favor of the signs but not the law that makes displaying them somewhat mandatory.

“I’d say that’s getting politics involved where it doesn’t need to go. That’s the way I see it. Seems like any time you try to push something, somebody’s gonna push back,” Allen said.

‘It’s part of our constitutional right’: Wylie ISD parents largely support ‘In God We Trust’

Continued from page 5

statewide officer in the Texas Intercollegiate Student Association.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in business in 1952, he spent a semester at The University of Texas at Austin Law School before beginning a tour of service in the Navy during the Korean Conflict that included work on the staffs of two admirals.

While on his Far Eastern assignment, on May 27, 1954, Bob married Shirley Long of Austin who was living with her parents in Bangkok, Thailand, while her father was on a state department assignment. A Christian ceremony in the Presbyterian International Church performed by a Baptist missionary preceded an official Siamese government ceremony. The couple honeymooned in Siam and then made their home in Japan until fall 1955, when they returned to Washington, D.C., for an assignment with the National Security Agency.

During his year in Washington he served as president of the ACC Booster Club chapter there until his discharge from the Navy. In a hand-typed and signed biographical brief prepared by Hunter in July 1956, he concluded: “And now, a new and what is hoped to be a lasting chapter in our lives will begin unfolding in September, 1956 at Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas.”

Hunter’s first, brief employment by the university had been the summer after he graduated when he spent three months recruiting prospective students. He returned as director of special events, the first of many titles and many firsts. In 1957 he became the school’s first director of alumni relations. While in that role he initiated the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award and persuaded the theatre department to begin the annual Homecoming musical with The Wizard of Oz, which sold out to more than 3,000 people its first year.

A year earlier he had gained permission from the Student Life Committee to begin Sing Song, the annual musical performance that would grow to be the single largest student activity on campus each year.

In 1962, Hunter became assistant to then president Dr. Don H. Morris (’24), a role from which he directed the multi-year Design for Development campaign that led to construction of Moody Coliseum, Foster Science Building, McGlothlin Campus Center, Brown Library and eventually the Don H. Morris Center and other projects. He served as vice president for public relations and development from 1969-74, and vice president of the university beginning

Autism Center, Day Nursery of Abilene and the Cancer Services Network. He was also a member of the Community Justice Council for Taylor-Callahan-Coleman Counties.

In 1985 he became senior vice president, a role that continued to include the university’s relations with government, remaining in that post until his official retirement in 1993.

That year he was honored by a tribute luncheon selling out the conference center at the Abilene Civic Center raising $160,000 to establish the Bob and Shirley Hunter Endowed Scholarship fund.

In February 2006, the ACU Board of Trustees voted to name the Hunter Welcome Center in honor of Bob and Shirley, and a gala Deep in Our Hearts fundraising tribute dinner was held in Dallas to help fund the facility. The $14 million, 57,000-squarefoot Welcome Center serves as the centerpiece of the east side of campus and is the first place visited by many prospective students, alumni and campus guests.

in 1974 under Dr. John C. Stevens (’38). During those years he also served one term as a member of the Abilene City Council. Hunter earned an MBA from ACU in 1976.

Active in civic affairs throughout his life in Abilene, Bob served on board of directors or advisory boards for the Abilene Classical Chorus, Meals on Wheels, West Texas Rehabilitation Center, Boys and Girls Clubs, Abilene/Taylor County Child Advocacy Center, YMCA, United Way, Business Aid, Rolling Plains Technical Foundation, Texas Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Salvation Army, Mental Health Association, Junior League, West Texas

“Bob was Mr. ACU if anyone was. He was the epitome of tradition and authored many of the ones we love today at the university,” said Dr. Royce Money (’64), ACU’s chancellor emeritus and 10th president. “He stood for everything this Christian university stood for. I admired him because he used every phase of his life in a productive way. Look at what he spanned, especially politics and multiple generations. Students, alumni, donors from every age respected him and what he stood for and dedicated his life to.”

An imagineer at heart, Hunter is credited with originating more than two dozen traditions at ACU to enrich the student and alumni experience, including Freshman Follies, the Parade of Flags at Opening Assembly, class reunions, and the annual alumni awards program.

In 2022, the Bob Hunter Sing Song stage in renovated Moody Coliseum was announced in a private ceremony attended by Bob and his fam

Continued on page 9

Bob and Shirley were married 67 years when she died in June 2021.

Continued from page 7

ily, and friends. The stage will be used for the first time at Sing Song in April 2023.

Hunter was best known in the Abilene community for the 20 years he spent as Abilene’s district representative to the Texas Legislature. That portion of his career began in August 1986 when he became the first Abilene Republican elected to the Texas House. In a special election to replace former Rep. Gary Thompson (’60), he defeated his opponent by 162 votes of nearly 10,000 cast. The subsequent 10 elections were less dramatic. Two he won easily against nominal opposition. Eight times he ran unopposed.

In the House, Hunter earned a reputation of cheerfulness, unfailing integrity and doggedly working on behalf of higher education and his constituents in Abilene and Taylor County. In 20 years he missed only one roll-call vote when he was unable to persuade doctors who were treating him for possible heart attack symptoms that he should be released to return to the Capitol.

He chaired the Committee on State, Federal and International Relations for 10 years, and later led the House Research Organization and was vice chair for the Committee on Regulated Industries. He served on the House Higher Education Committee where he chaired Budget and Oversight. He co-chaired the Special House Select Committee on NAFTA and GATT international trade agreements.

A significant accomplishment of his legislative career typified his commitment to his district over personal interests. Hunter championed the bill that allowed Cisco College to build an Abilene campus during a contentious special session in the summer of 1990. Texas Gov. Bill Clements threatened to quash the bill because Hunter had voted to override the governor’s veto of the education spending bill. To get the Cisco bill passed, Hunter agreed to remove his name from it, thus relinquishing any credit for it on paper, though not in the eyes of his colleagues or constituents.

The next year, Speaker Gib Lewis appointed Hunter to the powerful House Committee on Appropriations and Hunter chaired the state’s budget for higher education. At the time, Lewis said, “No one in the House understands the dual system of higher education in our state and nation better than representative Bob Hunter.”

Lewis was one of many Texas political luminaries from both parties who made the trip to Abilene for the many Appreciation Luncheons and other fundraising events that punctuated his two decades in Austin.

Hunter’s understanding of Texas’ dual system of higher education began with his service to ACU and his leadership from 1970-80 as executive vice president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas; in 1971 he successfully lobbied for creation of the Tuition Equalization

Grant. At the time of its enactment, Texas was one of only six states to pass such a measure. Eventually all but one state offered some form of financial assistance to students at independent colleges, many following the Texas model. Over the past 50-plus years, students at private institutions in Texas received more than 1 million individual TEG awards totalling more than $2.6 billion.

Carol McDonald, who followed Hunter as president of ICUT from 1982-2014, remembered the effective way he went about his work in the Texas legislature and other organizations.

“Bob had a way of organizing people and inspiring people to do things that meant when they went into session, they were ready, and in that 1971 session, they passed the Tuition Equalization Grant,” McDonald said. “It was not without controversy. There were people who had very profound doubts that the state had any business helping students attend school in the private sector because most of the schools were church-related. But Bob managed to persuade a great many people that you were giving the money to the students to do what was best for them. … He had no enemies. He was always positive in outlook. He was always helpful. He always gave good advice. … I can’t say forcefully enough that ICUT would not be what it has become if it hadn’t been for the leadership of Bob Hunter.”

His work for ICUT and in the legislature led to a variety of appointments and awards from state and national boards and commissions related to higher education. Over the course of his career, he received honorary doctorates from Texas Wesleyan University, University of St. Thomas, Austin College, Hardin-Simmons University, McMurry University and Pepperdine University in California in 1974.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Grover Hunter and Grace Grubb Hunter; Shirley, his wife of 67 years; brothers Russell Hunter, Glenn Hunter and Dr. Wallace Hunter; and sisters Thelma Gieg, Velma Anderson, Phyllis Albers, Violet Denio, Dawn Trinta, Lila Long and Laurice Hunter.

Among survivors are sons Kent Hunter (’79) of Millerton, New York, and Les Hunter (’86) of Pasadena, California; a daughter, ACU trustee Carole (Hunter ’81) Phillips of Colleyville, Texas; five grandchildren, including Emily (Phillips ’13) Danesi; and four great-grandchildren. Carole and her husband, Danny Phillips (’81), are members of the President’s Venture Council at ACU and namesakes of the Phillips Education Building. Danny is also a board member of the Abilene Christian Investment Management Company.

Those wishing to honor Hunter’s life may do so with a gift to the Bob and Shirley Hunter Endowed Scholarship at ACU (ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or bit.ly/Bob-Hunter), or the charity of their choice.

An NFL Legend Meets Legendary Child Care

By Sandy Lowe | HispanicLife Magazine

Celebrate an Abilene institution, hear a Super Bowl winning speaker, and support exceptional service to the community at Day Nursery of Abilene’s 50th anniversary celebration on March 27.

Mrs. Morgan Jones laid the foundation for the Day Nursery of Abilene in 1933 when she opened the Negro Day Nursery so that working mothers, primarily domestic workers, had a place to leave their children. It was located in a residence at 1202 Ash Street. The original Negro Day Nursery closed in 1969 but was reestablished in 1972 under the name “Day Nursery of Abilene, Inc.”.

Day Nursery opened in 1973 to serve twenty-five children. That number doubled within the first year. In 1975 a second facility opened in a church on Park Street in the Sears Park area and served seventy-five children. In less than five years the third center opened in the Belmont Baptist Church on the south side of Abilene. After a move to a building on Vine Street owned by Southern Hills Church of Christ, a capital campaign provided a permanent site for this center which opened in 2006 and later expanded in 2015.

Day Nursery’s board of directors conducted its first capital campaign in 1991 to construct a child care center for families working in the downtown Abilene area. In less than twenty years, Day Nursery’s centers were serving more than 300 children daily in three licensed facilities operating Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 6:00pm. The downtown center on Cedar Street opened in 1993.

The Sherry Lane Center opened in October of 2000 after another capital campaign raised $1.3 million in just four months. In January of 2020 the Orange Street Center opened. This collaboration with Hendrick Medical Center and Hardin-Simmons University signaled a partnership with community groups to provide convenient and affordable child care for their employees as well as hands-on educational opportunities for students.

In all, Day Nursery of Abilene has conducted six separate capital campaigns over the past thirty years to build, expand or renovate. Its facilities Day Nursery’s growth reflected the growing need for child care services in the Abilene community for working parents. While Day Nursery was founded to serve low-income families, all children (birth to age 10 years) are welcome.

Currently Day Nursery of Abilene serves children and families at 3434 Sherry Lane, 1442 Vine Street, 650 Cedar Street and 1450 North 17th . These four locations can accommodate as many as 600 children. Each facility has received the highest recognition, 4-star, from Texas Rising Star, the state’s quality rating and improvement system for early childhood care and education.

Over the years thousands of parents have been able to leave their children in safe and nurturing hands to receive a jump-start on their education with curriculum designed to enhance learning, meet developmental needs and prepare children for school. Those parents could go to work and Abilene-area businesses could thrive because Day Nursery of Abilene existed. This growth could not have happened without Day Nursery’s funding partners.

Left to right: Mrs. Morgan Jones (Jessie), Eva Givens (standing), Mr. & Mrs. Morgan Jones, Jr. (Mary), Helen Jones Fulgham, Grant Jones, Tom Jones, Jennabeth Jones Shelton, Mr. Morgan Jones, Sr. Circa 1933.

Bea Ganson, Founding Executive Director – 1970s

Bea Ganson, Founding Executive Director – 1993

Cynthia Pearson and Bea Ganson, two Executive Directors in 50 years for the Day Nursery of Abilene

“If it weren’t for them,” says Cynthia Pearson, president and CEO, “we wouldn’t be where we are today. Foundations, board members, donors and people who believe in what we do and are willing to support it, have made this growth possible.”

The United Way of Abilene and the Dodge Jones Foundation, in particular, have supported Day Nursery of Abilene since its early years.

In addition to funding partners, Day Nursery has joined with local school districts to improve success rates for children entering kindergarten. Another collaborative pro-

gram allows high school students to explore the early child care industry and achieve a Childhood Development Associate(CDA) credential. This credential and related course work counts as hours toward an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Cisco College.

The 50th Anniversary celebration scheduled for March 27 will allow a time to remember past accomplishments and an opportunity to look to the future. Tony Dungy, Super Bowl winning former NFL coach will speak at the football-themed, semi-formal event, 7- 9 pm, at the Abilene Convention Center.

Four sponsorship levels are available, some of which include invitations to a private reception with Coach Dungy as well as autographed copies of his latest books. See the additional pages, including a QR code, in this issue to also purchase tables and individual seats as well as for more sponsor levels and information.

DNA School Age Program

DNA selected as NPO of the Year – 2020

Pre-K graduation

Instruction Time

To place your loved ones obituary or to honor them with a special message, please contact our offices at: (325) 673-4521

Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com

Our sweet mother Betty L. Alvarez received her glorious wings on Tuesday 21, 2023 at the age of 86, after a 3 year battle with Dementia surrounded my her family. Betty was born in San Angelo TX to Ralph and Rosalee Bermea. She attended school in San Angelo. Betty was a real tomboy when she was young climbing trees was a number one thing in these years. A close family friend Mrs Eva Tucker introduced Betty to a dashing young man, Al Alvarez, from the first meeting it was love at first sight. They married on February 4, 1953. Betty moved around with Al's job. While living in Big Spring she attended school and helped with the school cheering squad. She graduated from Central High School in 1953. When she moved to Lueders she continued to help with the cheering squad for several years. Some of the cheers are still being used today. Bettie attended The Bridge to learn office skills of different types. After graduation she worked at a law firm. During this time she worked part time at Al Greers Jewelers. In March 1987 she started her career with West Texas Utilities/American Electric Power until she retired in September 2000. Betty was a smart, caring, loving person. She was always there for her mother, children and grandchildren. She was not a selfish woman and was always there to help in her way no matter how small or large she was there. She would break out of her shell and when she did it was something - falling off a horse into a pile of hay, riding a jet ski, attending every football game to watch her grandson play in the band, playing softball with the WTU ladies league, attending her grandchildren football, softball games and all events of her great grand daughters. Preceding Betty Alvarez are her mother, Rosalee Bermea Tafolla; Father, Ralph Bermea; Brother, Richard Bermea; daughter, Michelle Alvarez Davis; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by two daughters, Ginnie Alvarez of Abilene TX, Denise Alvarez Cameron and husband Will of Virginia Beach VA.; one son, Eddie Alvarez and wife Allyson of Abilene TX.; 17 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren. Rosary and Visition will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Monday February 27, 2023, at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy 277 South, Abilene TX 79606. Funeral Mass will be on February 28, 2023 at 11 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 5410 Buffalo Gap Rd, Abilene TX. 79607. Interment will follow Mass at Elmwood Memorial Park , 5750 Hwy 277 South, Abilene TX. 79606 Lieu of flowers or food donations can be made to the Hendrick Hospice Care at 1651 Pine St. Abilene TX. 79601. Pall bearers will be grandsons Jeremy Alvarez, Justin Davis, Nick Davis, Tim Alvarez, Michael, Alvarez, Matthew Alvarez. The family would like to say a heart felt 'Thank You' to Dr Daniel Vaughn and Dr Allen Schultz and to Hendrick Hospice Care for the tender, care you gave to our mom at Hospice. This journey is hard but with the nurses support it made this journey easier for her children.

Koeun Norm Dam, 89, passed away February 23, 2023 in Abilene, Texas.

Koeun was born on March 10, 1933 in Uddor Mean Chey, Cambodia to Norm Khaw and Sip Sim. She was married to Ok Dam on June 24, 1953. In July of 1975, during the Communist Conflict, Ok and Koeun knew that remaining in their village would not be safe for their family. Ok and Koeun decided to seek out a second chance for their family not knowing where they would find safety. That journey took them through the jungles of Cambodia on foot, traveling only at night to avoid being found, and ultimately seeking refuge in Thailand. In 1980 the family was very blessed to be sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church in Abilene, Texas where they were welcomed with open arms and hearts to help settle their family into the community. Koeun was touched by the second chance she had been given and found faith in the Lord when she arrived stateside, by becoming a faithful member of First Central Presbyterian Church. Soon after arriving in Abilene, Koeun started a job as a housekeeper at Motel 6. She also worked in food service at Luby’s Cafeteria. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ok Dam, and two sons, Sokphean Dam and Oeur Dam. Norm Koeun is survived by four sons, Sokphoun Dam and wife Setha, Samrath Dam and wife Bophalin, Kimhun Dam and wife Tum, and Siphan Che; one daughter, Huon Mulder and husband Tony, and Oeur’s wife Socheat Dam. Grandchildren, Chandra, Viesna, Tida, Jonathan, Christopher, Alex, Elizabeth, Aaron, Andrew, Evelyn, Paytin, Alexis, Makenzie, and Sukhon; and five great grandchildren.

Irma Alejandra Garcia de Rodriquez 77, of Abilene passed away February 24,2023 at her home surrounded by family. Irma was born February 26, 1945 in Candela Coahuila, Mexico to Juan Garcia Zamora and Altagracia Flores de Garcia. Irma married Aristeo Sr. September 10, 1961 In Nyssa Oregon through the Catholic Church. They both would travel to other places as California, Montana and so on to work and eventually moved to Eagle Pass, Tx were she worked at Dickes as a seamstress. They Moved to Abilene, Tx in 1986 where she settled down with her family. Irma worked for USBrass until it closed, she was a great mother and grandmother who loved to cook and enjoy her family. Left to cherish her memories are her sons, Aristeo Rodriquez Jr. (Carla) of Hawley, Hector Rodriquez, Cesar Rodriquez (Monica), Jaime Rodriquez, Javier Rodriquez (Marcela) Emmanuel Rodriquez (Crystal), Irma Delgado (Ernesto). 40 grandchildren, 76 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren. Brothers Mauro Garcia (Dora), Victor Garcia (Martha), Juan Ello Garcia (Erminia). Mrs. Rodriquez was preceded in death by her parents Juan and Altagracia Garcia, her brothers: Pepe Garcia, Juan Garcia,Armando Garcia, Oscar Garcia, Tonio Garcia, daughter Elizabeth Rodriquez, grandaughter Annabell Rodriquez, grandson, Augustin Salinas III, and great grand children Aristeo Ace Rodriquez, Abaigail Grace Hinds, and Giovanni Lucas Hinds.

Pall bearers to the church: Aristeo Rodriquez Jr., Hector Rodriquez, Cesar Rodriquez, Jame Rodriquez, Javier Rodriquez, Emanuel Rodriquez,

Pall bearers to the cemetery: Sergio Renteria Jr., Gabriel Renteria, Samuel Renteria, Jose A. Cortez, Jaime M. Rodriquez, Hector Rodriquez.

Thank you to all who prayed with us, and for us through my mothers journey. Thank you to all the Dialysis Nurses and staff for their loving care through this difficult time. And a special thanks to Eric Balladez for helping us with transportation 8 long months.

ACU Professor Brings Taste of Louisiana to Abilene with Food Truck

By Marley Malenfant | KTXS

What do people do when they’re home sick? They usually want to bring a piece of home with them. For Louisian born ACU professor Dr. Malcolm Scott, he found a way to do just that.

“Well I think culturally, food is such a big part of our culture and my family,” he said. “We did lots of things that was centered around food and sharing together.”

During the weekdays— ACU associate professor of social work Dr. Malcolm Scott is influencing students on campus. But on the weekends, he and his wife Bridgitt are serving the people of Abilene with their Baton Rouge-style cuisine from their food truck “Essence of Soul Food.” They share the space with Peacock lounge near downtown. Bridgitt Scott said the idea of a food truck was about sharing culture.

“I was a entrepreneur before we moved here and we closed those businesses to relocate and so I was having a hard time finding my footing,” she said. “The family actually approach us when his mom and aunt

wanted to retire and said ‘Yall move here and take over the restaurant.’”

And their customers seem to appreciate it.

“I’ve never had a bad meal,” Jonathan Bradford said. “It’s always the best meal in Abilene. Everybite, something new and flavorful. They change their menu every week so there’s always something special. I just look forward to it every Friday.”

Scott is pleased with the buzz he and his wife are getting.

“They blew us away on this past Saturday,” he said. “So we’re really excited to have them and they’re like ‘Oh man, this reminds me of home! This food reminds me of my mom’s cooking. This food reminds me of my grandmother’s cooking.’ You know? So, we get a lot from all the people in Abilene.”

TEACHER TRIBUTE

Julie Jackson - Madison Middle School

Name: Julie Jackson

School: Madison Middle School

Grade: 7th Grade

Student: Carolyn

Carolyn wrote to the Teacher Tribute Prize Patrol for her teacher the year prior, Julie Jackson. Julie said she loves when her former students drop by to say hi, but she never expected a herd of community partners to show up at her classroom to recognize her. But the relationships she builds with her students are the exact reason she was chosen for Teacher Tribute this year.

“I love what I do. I cannot imagine being in a different profession. While there are certainly difficult days, I wouldn’t trade what I

do for the world.”

Julie Jackson has been teaching for 12 years, starting as a senior in high school through the “Ready, Set, Teach!” program. From then on, Julie Jackson fell in love with teaching and seeing her students’ faces light up when they learned something new or when they grasp a concept they had struggled to master.

Julie’s love of literature is felt both inside and outside of the classroom. She fosters a love of reading in her students and loves to spend time reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Ross, and son, Henry.

Thank you, Julie Jackson, for creating a safe space for your students and instilling a love of literature in the next generation of leaders.

Age is No Barrier for TSTC Welding Technology Student

By Ben Barkley | TSTC Communications, Communications Specialist

Jose Garcia decided that he wanted to learn more about welding.

He did not let his age, 47, stop him from enrolling in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College. Now in his second semester studying for a certificate of completion in Structural Welding, Garcia is pleased that he made the choice to begin college.

“I told my mom before she passed away that I wanted to go back to school,” he said. “I wanted to learn more about welding and pick up more techniques.”

Despite having had some previous welding experience, Garcia, of Brownwood, said it has been a challenging experience for him in the lab.

“I have learned different things, including the basics,” he said. “My goal is to weld consistently and keep my beads (welding joints) perfect.”

Garcia said having instructors with real-world experience has helped him learn different techniques.

“Daniel (Aguirre) and Salvador (Marquez) are awesome instructors,” he said. “They know what they are doing because they have been out there working. They are able to give us objectives that we can finish and make ourselves better welders.”

Marquez said Garcia is a student who is dedicated to learning everything he can.

“He is working hard to better his life for himself and his family,” he said. “Like many of our students, he wants to get a career opportunity. In a few months, he will have his certificate and the tools to be successful.”

Garcia said his decision to return to school at his age

was easy. His family is supporting him and waiting for the day he receives his certificate.

“I am doing this to better myself and my family. I want to show my children that you can do anything at any age,” he said.

Garcia also offered advice for other people his age.

“Age does not matter. If you want to go back to school to further your education, do it,” he said. “I am 47 and did not ever think I would come back to school. I am glad I did.”

He said TSTC would be the perfect place for anyone who plans to begin a welding career. “I will tell anyone that this is the place to go. You feel like you are someone every day,” he said. “The instructors and everyone else on campus are awesome.”

According to onetonline.org, welders can earn a yearly median salary of more than $47,000 in Texas. Welding jobs were expected to increase 23% between 2020 and 2030 in the state, according to the website.

TSTC offers Welding Technology at each of its 10 campuses located throughout Texas. Welding Technology is one of nine programs at TSTC that have money-back guarantees. The college’s commitment to participating students is simple: If they do not have a job in their field within six months of graduation, they will receive a full refund of their tuition. For more information on the Money-Back Guarantee program, visit https://www.tstc.edu/admissions/tuition/.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

What Are You Going to Do with THAT?

By Amy Baldwin | HigherEd Parent

Whether your own student has known since she was three years old that she wanted to be a civil engineer or he is nervous about choosing a major that he feels he has to complete no matter what, here are some tips for having a conversation with your student...

One of my favorite parts of my job is talking to students about what they want to major in and what they want to do with that degree. In some ways, I envy the multitude of possibilities that my young students have, but I also recall the sweaty-palms anxiety of having to “make a decision that will affect the rest of my life.”

My goal when I talk with my students is to encourage them to think big–what do they really want to do? And to feel reassured that whatever the path, they have the ability to make it happen. I wish I had had the same support when I was selecting a major.

Whether your own student has known since she was three years old that she wanted to be a civil engineer or he is nervous about choosing a major that he feels he has to complete no matter what, here are some tips for having a conversation with your student:

• Ask questions, rather than make judgments. Ask questions such as “What interests you in that major?” and “What are you most looking forward to learning more about?” are great opening questions to find out more about what makes the major interesting to your student. Avoid asking “What are you going to do with that?” Questions such as though are difficult for anyone, especially young people how are still exploring the possibilities of careers to answer.

I remember when I decided to major in English

literature, I was either asked “What are you going to do with that?” or told that I was going to teach. “I guess you will teach, right?” people often said as if that was the only thing I could do. Conversations such as these made it difficult to have any conversation with adults about my future plans, and, unfortunately, limited my ability to learn more about what I could do with an English degree.

• Encourage exploration the first few semesters. Even if your student knows without a doubt what he wants to major in (and what he life’s path and purpose are), encourage him to explore various other possibilities. While exploring other courses and experiences may not result in a double major or change of heart entirely, it can be worthwhile. Encourage that exploration and the opportunity to move outside your student’s comfort zone.

I changed between an English major and a history major during my first year and then went back to choosing English. What I discovered about myself with those two majors was that I really enjoyed reading, researching, and writing. Studying history for a couple of semesters reinforced my interests although I realized I liked the content of the English classes better.

• Be prepared for changes. Finally, prepare yourself for your student thinking through or acting on their changing interests. And these changes may happen multiple times as they have new experiences and learn more about themselves. This is a good thing. It means they are seriously contemplating what they want and “trying” pathways. Your student’s college or university will require a final decision at some time, but until then, ask questions, encourage exploration, and give them room to change their minds!

DR. GLEN VILLANUEVA

By Lance Fleming | Abilene Christian University

A native of the Philippines, Dr. Glen Villanueva, D.O. (’88), always knew he would lead a life of service after watching his parents work multiple jobs, volunteer at their church and serve those in need while he grew up in San Francisco.

And that’s the path God set him on as he graduated with two bachelor’s degrees from ACU before earning a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in 1992. Shortly thereafter, he made his way to Modesto, California, where he spent nearly two decades serving prisoners, immigrants and indigent populations who would not have had access to high-quality medical care.

Villanueva, who is chief medical officer of Livingston Community Health, has volunteered in medical disaster responses and provided volunteer medical service through

short-term domestic and international missions.

Since 2009, he has served in leadership with the national interfaith organization Pinnacle Forum, and co-founded and led Shoestring Ministries Inc., a Christian educational nonprofit, from 2009-16. Then, as Villanueva said, God threw him a curveball.

In 2015, he and six other founding members formed a nonprofit to purchase and operate Modesto Christian School, a prominent private institution serving preschool through 12th-grade students, and he was named president and CEO.

Villanueva had worked in education for more than 20 years, but it was directly tied to teaching and training medical students. Now, though, he was stepping into something totally different. He did it to keep open the

school where his daughters were being educated, a faith-based institution that was on the verge of closing before the new nonprofit assumed its oversight.

“I knew nothing about leading a school, but I knew that we could not afford to have less faith-based education, especially in California,” Villanueva said. “Many times, God asks us to work, serve and go, and often we say ‘No,’ myself included. This time, I said ‘Yes.’ With God’s leading, Modesto Christian School has continued to thrive.”

And that legacy of service in medical and private education will have ripples that last long beyond Villanueva.

“Legacy is a funny thing, as we will never know the full impact we have had on others,” he said. “My goal in life has been quite simple:

plant and water seeds of Christ and let God make them grow. I’ve been blessed to grow up in this country, go to ACU, graduate from medical school, and have countless opportunities to lead and positively influence people and my community.”

“I’ve been given much,” Villanueva said, “and my life and work are a direct expression of gratitude for what God has given to me. How far will the ripples of my work extend? That’s for God to decide. How does it make me feel if I allow myself to think about it? Grateful, humbled, and energized.”

TEACHER TRIBUTE

Nichole Anderson - Madison Middle School

Name: Nichole Anderson School: Madison Middle School

Grade: 7th and 8th Grade Leadership Student: Esther

The connection between Esther and Mrs. Anderson was felt right away. Esther nominated Nichole Anderson for Teacher Tribute for more than what she has learned in the classroom. “I know I can always go to her when I need an adult to talk to.”

Nichole Anderson has spent her entire seven-year career as a teacher at Madison Middle School. “I didn’t know I was going to be in education. I just knew my calling was to help young adults. I kept an open mind and

took any opportunities that came my way. God is the one who put me in education, and I couldn’t be more blessed!”

Ms. Anderson mentors students like Esther in Leadership and Life Readiness Skills classes. She creates a special bond with these students and helps them achieve their goals both in and out of the classroom. Ms. Anderson is continuing her own educational journey and is currently pursuing her Principal Certification.

Thank you, Nichole Anderson, for showing your students that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

(Photo by Just So / Justin Souza)

ATEMS Prepares Students to Work on NEXT Lab Project

By Abilene Independent School District

an undergraduate student that would impact the project.”

Abilene Christian University is currently building The Gayle and Max Dillard Science and Engineering Research Center, which will eventually house a molten salt nuclear reactor that could provide life-changing discoveries for clean water, affordable energy, and breakthroughs in cures for cancer.

And Abilene ISD students are already making an impact on the research.

ATEMS graduates Bertha Sanchez, a junior at ACU, and freshmen John Stai and Aiden Boisvert are just three of a group of Abilene ISD alums who are working on the project, which is set to go fully online in late 2025 or early 2026. Three years ago, ACU was granted $21.5 million in federal funding to build the 28,000-square-foot facility, which will include a 6.000-squarefoot research bay that will house the molten salt reactor.

Using molten salt and a small amount of low-enriched uranium, the reactor could provide global solutions to the world’s need for energy, water, and medical isotopes by advancing the technology of molten salt reactors. The opportunity to work on the reactor was a major reason that both Sanchez and Stai chose ACU when it came time to settle on their choice of higher education.

“I had applied to a lot of universities – including ACU –during my senior year at ATEMS,” Sanchez said, “but I loved the goal of the NEXT Lab project and the possibility of being

Stai had a similar story, but it was also about having the opportunity to get hands-on experience working in the lab that pushed him to ACU.

“I saw it as a rare opportunity to not only build my resume but to experience a real engineering work environment,” Stai said. “It’s my best chance to discover whether or not I want to take on engineering as a career.”

After working with the NEXT Lab the summer prior to her first year at ACU, Sanchez was placed with the Fluoride Molten Salt Test Loop (FMSTL) group as a freshman, working with an upperclassman to assemble and create a gas-blanket system, giving the reactor the ability to control the salt the way the system intended.

She’s also been involved in construction, maintenance, experiments, planning, research, and other projects related to the NEXT Lab. She said her time at ATEMS got her ready from a mental aspect for what she would be doing at ACU.

“I went to ATEMS because I was curious about engineering, and ATEMS gave me an understanding of what it was and inspired me to pursue it,” Sanchez said. “The thing of value I received from ATEMS was the mentality to do this. ATEMS helped me learn the skills of time management, organization, and quality. Without the expectations and teaching styles of the teachers, I wouldn’t have gained those skills that have allowed me to be where I am today. Character, hard work, and a desire to learn is all you need for the future.”

Like Sanchez, Stai also said the curriculum at ATEMS prepared him for his time at ACU where, as a research engineer, he has

been to the Molten Salt Test Systems (MSTS) group. That MSTS is a proof of concept for NEXT’s molten salt reactor. Stai’s role is to create and edit Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models and drawings for various subsystems of the MSTS, as well as any other engineering-related work such as drafting lab procedures, testing components, and outsourcing hardware.

“The engineering curriculum at ATEMS is an outstanding precursor to engineering work,” Stai said. “Knowing the basics of Inventor has been a major foothold in my success at NEXT. Specifically, the projects and tasks from Mrs. (Allison) Stanley’s Engineering Design and Development (EDD) class were the most pertinent to the work that I do. Everything we did in her class I’ve had to do again and again in the field.”

Dr. Rusty Towell, professor of engineering and physics at ACU and the Director of the NEXT Lab, is a 1986 graduate of Abilene High School and believes that giving students handson experiences makes for the best academic experience.

“What changed me as an undergraduate at ACU was the opportunity to work on real-world problems, work with world-class equipment, and work alongside a Christian mentor who was an expert in the field,” said Towell, who has spoken about physics and nuclear energy across the globe and authored more than 50 journal articles on those subjects. “The NEXT Lab is providing this opportunity to more than 60 students at any given time with hundreds total who have had this experience.

“Many NEXT students, staff, and faculty members began their education in the Abilene ISD before joining this project,” he said. “When students are given the opportunity to learn science, engineering, and math at an early age, they are better prepared to join NEXT and make an impact. I’m thankful for my education from Abilene High, and many of our students have benefitted from ATEMS and, more recently, all the great things happening at The LIFT.”

ATEMS graduate Bertha Sanchez, a junior at ACU, is one of the Abilene ISD alums who is working on the project

Three Cisco College Theatre Students Nominated to Audition for the Irene Ryan Scholarship

By Colton Wedeking | Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Cisco College

Three Cisco College Theatre students were nominated to audition for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) happening February 27 through March 2.

The Crawford Theatre Group’s Kalvin Douglas, Tori Rose, and Tyson Walls will audition at the festival for a chance to win the scholarship, which provide recognition, honor and financial assistance to outstanding student performers, who wish to pursue further education.

There Irene Ryan Foundation awards 16 regional and two national scholarships annually. One winning nominee and acting partner from every region will receive a $500 scholarship and will be invited to the April 2023 national festival in Washington. The runner-up in each region will also receive a $500 scholarship.

“It’s been a real privilege working with Calvin, Tori, and Tyson,” said Zack Frizzle, Director of Performing Arts at Cisco College. “They love theatre. They’re true leaders for our drama program and I am excited to see where their skills lead them.”

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival was started in 1969 by the Kennedy Center’s founding chairman, Roger L. Stevens. The national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide has served as a catalyst in

improving the quality of college theater in the United States.

In January and February of each year, regional festivals showcase the finest of each region’s entered productions and offer a variety of activities, including workshops, symposia, and regional-level award programs. Regional festival productions are judged by a panel of three judges selected by the Kennedy Center and the KCACTF national committee.

Since its inception, KCACTF has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, improve their dramatic skills and receive national recognition for excellence. More than 16 million theatergoers have attended approximately 10,000 festival productions nationwide.

Cisco College’s Crawford Theatre Group, the Big Country’s leading junior college theatre program, is on a mission to engage the community with unforgettable art and entertainment, celebrating student creativity and providing audiences with greater access to cultural experiences.

For more information on Cisco College, visit Cisco.edu. Details on the department of theatre are available at cisco. edu/student-life/clubs-organizations/crawfor-theater. With questions, contact crawfordtheatre@cisco.edu or follow Crawford Theater on Facebook and Instagram.

Kalvin Douglas

Tori Rose

Tyson Walls

42,750 SQUARE FEET

X2!

AISD’s new indoor multi-purpose facilities will benefit all students at Abilene High and Cooper High schools. Not only will athletics use the new buildings, but so will the marching band, drill team, flag corps, ROTC and other groups at each school. Opening for the 2023-2024 school year!

www.abileneisd.org

ABILENE HIGH SCHOOL COOPER HIGH SCHOOL

Start off Singing

By Kristie Carpenter | The Blended Family Mom

We all know how easy it is to find something to complain about. I find myself being critical of one thing and that usually leads to finding fault with numerous other things.

For instance, my husband Dan. We have an extraordinary marriage - he is an awesome husband, friend, mentor, dad and provider. But, you know, there are some days when I get up on the wrong side of the bed and immediately find something that rubs me wrong about him. Then as minutes go by, I'm irritated by the way he beats the spatula against the skillet on the stove - as he is making my breakfast! By the time he leaves for work, I'm in a bad mental place about who he is and what he brings to my life. The point is, where your focus lies, you'll find the faults.

I've worked hard to retrain my brain to go to a place of gratitude. I have a gratitude journal. I sit and quiet myself to make a list of the blessings God has given me. That practice has helped me take captive those negative thoughts and turn them around to praises. Let's go a bit further though.

In the devotional book, “Before You Go” by Jack Hempfling, he states, “A complaint is really a statement that somehow God has failed you.” He goes on to say, “Every inconvenience that comes your way will be an opportunity to grow, be changed, get stronger, and see God in a way you've never known Him before.”

Hempfling then reminds us about King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. King Jehoshaphat did well in the eyes of the Lord. This king sought God's counsel. He led his people to honor God.

Things were great. But then armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and some other “-ites” came to make war on the king (2 Chron 20:1). The king was alarmed, and he quickly resolved to seek God for help.

The king prayed. He reminded his people of the great things God had already done. He prayed in faith that God would hear their prayer and guide them.

Then, King Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness. Then they went out at the head of the army saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.”

I share this with you because I've turned negative thoughts to positive ones. I've sought the Lord in faith knowing He has my todays and always. But I have not been consistent in singing before the Lord

and praising Him before the “war.”

Some of you may be living in your very own war - in your very own home. I've experienced some battles myself.

I want to challenge you to not run straight into the battle. Verse 15 of chapter 20 tells us, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.”

Your blended family may feel like a war zone. It's not your battle. Your blended family may look like it will never be whole. That's not your job. Your blended family may seem impossible. That's not the right mindset.

King Jehoshaphat can teach us stepmoms some new tricks.

First, go directly to God. Phoning a friend will not unleash God's power from heaven to save you.

Second, trust in God's plan. The king told God, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”

Lastly, go sing. Go praise. Even before the storm rages or the battle begins.

In Hempfling's book, he says, "This act of faith (choosing to praise as a response to hardship) released the power of God to bring ultimate victory to God's people.

I believe I'm gonna go start singing!

Blessings in your Blending …

(Editor’s note: Women’s author, speaker and mentor Kristie Carpenter, aka The Blended Family Mom, has been a blended family/step mom since 2004; her blended family currently includes four children and four grandchildren. Follow Kristie on Facebook (facebook.com/theblendedfamilymom), Twitter (@BlendedFamilyM), and Instagram (theblendedfamilymom). Her books - “The Blended Family Mom,” and “Blended Mom Moments,” are both available on her website at www.theblendedfamilymom.com)

It’s Time to Take Out the Trash

By Greg Laurie | Harvest Christian Fellowship

It seems as though there’s some unwritten law of the universe that men must take out the trash. I don’t know why, but that’s our job.

For some reason I put it off at my house even though it’s really not that hard. Our trash cans have wheels and a handle, so all I need to do is drag them out front. Then someone comes along and picks up the trash.

They do their job, and they do it well. I’m glad about that because if they decided not to pick up our trash for a month, we’d have a serious situation.

Now, what I’m about to say might seem a little odd: Jesus, in effect, wants to pick up your trash. Let me explain. He said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NLT).

In other words, “Would you please bring your cares to Me? Would you please

bring your anxieties and your worries and your problems and your burdens to Me? When you do that, I will give you rest.”

That’s quite a promise because we all have cares and anxieties and worries that weigh us down. You know the feeling. Just when you lay your head down at night, here they come. What about this crisis? What about that uncertainty?

Sometimes you’re able to give them over to the Lord, but then they’ll pop back into your head again. It feels like a lot of weight on your shoulders.

Here’s what the Bible says we should do: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). We need to give deliberately and intentionally put our worries and cares into God’s hands.

When your burdens pile up, bring them to God.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 NLT

3 Principles For Greater Progress

By Joyce Meyer | Joyce Meyer Ministries

Winter is a dormant season. It’s a time when trees become bare and most of the grass, plants and flowers die off.

But winter is also a time of preparation. Roots and tree saps respond to soil and temperature changes to prepare for growth that comes in the spring.

In much the same way, you and I go through spiritually dormant seasons. These are the seasons when God seems silent…when our dreams and visions for the future seem lifeless.

But although we may not see or feel anything exciting, it doesn’t mean nothing is happening. A lot has to happen on the inside of us before we are ready to handle the future God has for us.

Just as winter prepares plants and trees for warmer weather, a spiritually dormant season is a time of preparation—when our inner character is developed and strengthened.

Strong character is essential for withstanding storms that come during seasons of growth and harvest.

I find there are a lot of people who have the gifts and talents to take them somewhere exciting, but if they don’t have strong, Christ-like character, all the talent in the world won’t keep them there. God has something planned for you, and if you’re not living in the fulfillment of His plan for you, then now is the season of preparation.

The Bible tells us that even Jesus needed time to grow and increase in wisdom, stature and in years before He was ready to make a global impact through His three-year ministry (see Luke 2:52). Here are three insights I’ve learned that can help you make progress toward your goals, plans and visions during dormant seasons...

1. Ask yourself, “Why?” When God first called me to teach His Word, I wasn’t doing it just because I had a deep desire to help people—I wanted to be somebody.

I had problems from my past and was unaware of how insecure I was. I didn’t realize how much I got my sense of worth and value out of what I did. And because of it, my motives were way out of line with how God wanted me to be.

It seems that many people don’t really know themselves and understand why they do what they do. Self-deception is easy to fall into and one of the hardest things to face.

But when we are willing to face the truth about ourselves and examine our motives, God will help us change for the better and get on track with His will for our lives.

2. Step out of your comfort zone. Before we can move forward into a new thing, we usually have to let go of something we’ve been doing for a while.

God nudges us outside of our comfort zones toward unfamiliar experiences to encourage us to rely on Him. And all too often, we try to hang on to what is familiar before we have confidence that the new thing is right for us. If you keep one foot where you are while the other foot stretches toward someplace new, you will eventually lose your footing and fall over!

God wants us to trust Him by doing what He wants us to do and going where He wants us to go. We must learn to let go of what we have before we take hold of something new...and learn to rely on God to meet all our needs.

3. “Discipline” is not a dirty word. The Bible tells us that all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11). Discipline isn’t fun, but it is essential for our character development!

Self-discipline is a fruit of the Spirit that requires time to develop properly. Self-discipline is developed when we do the right thing consistently, over and over again for a long time.

It may include paying off debts, not over-spending, getting proper nutrition and exercise, changing the way you speak about yourself and others, and spending quality time with God and in His Word every day.

As you become disciplined in every area of your life, you will be better equipped to handle bigger responsibilities in the future. God has amazing plans for your life, and He wants you to fulfill your dreams and live a life of blessing, hope and promise. And you will get there—as long as you are willing to do your part and trust God to do His part. And the more you lean on and trust in Him through that process, the sooner you’ll be ready for whatever He has prepared for you.

5 Things I Wish I Knew as a Newlywed

By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well

Among the things newlyweds should know is this truth: Wedding vows frame an uncertain future in the light of the present. The bride and groom declare their intense love in that moment, confident that their love surely will help them handle the road ahead. It seems simple: Love is all they need and will see them through.

But all newlyweds quickly discover that life—and love—are more complicated than they assumed at the altar. If I could go back to counsel my younger self, here are 5 things newlyweds should know that I wish I knew when I was one.

Differences are good. It’s easy to celebrate our differences in those early years. But in personalities and habits, differences can become a source of friction. It’s tempting to want your spouse to be more like you. Instead, I should have appreciated our differences more. The fact that Susan is different from me has proven to be so good, for both of us, through the years. Spouses’ differences sharpen and challenge and sanctify each other. It may be hard to believe and put it into practice, but it’s true.

It’s not all about you. The excitement and anticipation of doing life together can be quickly overshadowed by disappointments that reveal a lot of selfishness. In those early years, I started to realize just how many of the benefits of marriage I viewed as being good for me. A growing marriage is one where each spouse learns how to consider the other spouse’s needs, preferences, and personality. In many ways, marriage is

about making your spouse matter to you more and more through the years.

You will need to apologize—a lot. When we married, I didn’t anticipate needing good conflict resolution skills in my idealized expectations. But every marriage faces lots of conflict that requires apologizing. I’ve done this a lot during our 30 years of marriage. In fact, there have been times when I offended Susan and didn’t even know I did anything wrong. Instead of keeping score or getting defensive, I’ve learned the value of owning it, apologizing, and asking for forgiveness.

Your marriage is more important than winning an argument. The lawyer in me usually enjoys winning a good debate. But I’ve learned my marriage wins more when I care less about winning with Susan. When we get into an argument, I’ve learned to ask myself, “What’s more important: Who is right or our relationship?” My younger self thought figuring out “who is right” was good for our relationship. The years have taught me otherwise.

How you express love is as important

as how often you express it.

Loving your spouse the right way is more than asking yourself what you’d like to do and then doing that. It’s understanding and showing love in ways that are most meaningful to your spouse, not necessarily to you. I learned this in our marriage once when I took time to wash, dry, and fold all the laundry for Susan, thinking my “heroics” would really make her day—only to have her react dismissively. I learned that her love language is words of affirmation. She appreciated the laundry, but she felt my love when I complimented and encouraged her.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

By International Agency for Research on Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer type worldwide; in 2020, almost 2 million cases were diagnosed. It is the second most common cause of cancer death, leading to almost 1 million deaths per year. This is despite the fact that effective screening techniques exist that could reduce the number of deaths from this disease.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is observed in March to highlight the importance of screening for colorectal cancer, as well as to promote healthy lifestyle habits that can decrease a person’s risk of developing cancer of the colon, rectum, or anus – the three distinct cancer types referred to collectively as colorectal cancer.

The burden of colorectal cancer is highest in Asia, where more than half of all cases and deaths are recorded. China alone accounts for more than half a million new cases and more than 280 000 deaths per year. Japan records the second highest number of deaths from colorectal cancer, almost 60 000 per year.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that the global burden of colorectal cancer will increase by 56% between 2020 and 2040, to more than 3 million new cases per year. The estimated increase in the number of deaths from the disease is even larger, by 69%, to about 1.6 million deaths worldwide in 2040. Most of the increase is expected to occur in countries with a high Human Development Index.

IARC researchers have proven that various factors can increase or decrease a person’s

risk of developing colorectal cancer. Most of these factors also affect the risk of developing other cancer types, similarly increasing or decreasing it.

For example, alcohol consumption was responsible for more than 160 000 new cases of colorectal cancer in 2020, or 8% of all cases of the disease diagnosed that year. Alcohol consumption also increases a person’s risk of developing at least six other cancer types, including liver cancer and breast cancer.

Other known cancer risk factors include tobacco smoking, which causes lung cancer, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which causes cervical cancer. Both of these risk factors also contribute to the burden of colorectal cancer.

Another factor that increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer is obesity. Obesity was responsible for more than 85 000 cases of colon cancer and 25 000 cases of rectal cancer diagnosed in 2012, or about 23% of all cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed that year. Obesity also increases a person’s risk of developing at least seven other cancer types.

Intentional weight loss, physical activity, and diets rich in fish, fruits, and vegetables can decrease a person’s risk of developing colorectal cancer. Attending organized screening increases the chance of detecting colorectal cancer when it is at an earlier, and potentially more manageable and treatable, stage.

Creative Ways to Nourish Yourself

By Health Advocate Blog

If you’re like many people, March’s gray skies can make you feel gloomy and sluggish. Now is the time to take some small actions each day that can help re-invigorate you, nourishing your spirits and sparking your energy. Try these simple ideas:

Limit your intake of news and social media. Taking a break from worrying about troubling events can allow for more for self-reflection and activities that make you feel optimistic.

Jump-start spring cleaning. Refreshing your space can help you feel more comfortable and relaxed. Clean out the dust and dirt built up over winter, and clear out the clutter. Let in some fresh air. Switch vases, pictures, lamps, etc. to a different room to see your living space in a fresh way.

Get a dose of the outdoors. Grab an umbrella and take a stroll down the street, beside a local stream, or even around your own backyard. Observing the glimpses of reviving

nature—the green grass peeking through the mud, for instance—can nourish your soul!

Feed your dreams. Take a mini vacation day centered around activities that you’d like to do on a dream destination. Yearning to visit Paris? Pick up some French pastries at a bakery. View a French film, listen to Parisian music, read a novel set in France, or go on a virtual tour of the Louvre. It’s likely that you’ll feel a shift in energy!

Turn to something that tickles your funny bone. Having a good laugh can help stoke your feel-good endorphins, reviving your outlook. Watch a funny sitcom or video, book tickets for a standup comedy show, or talk with a friend who cracks you up!

Continually feeling down and unmotivated? Ask your doctor for a referral to a qualified counselor or contact a counselor yourself.

The Whole-Body Effects of Stress Relief

By HealthAdvocateBlog

Taking time each day to do simple activities that calm your body and mind is a powerful way to short-circuit stress, restore a sense of well-being, and protect your health! It’s vital to know how your body indicates that you’re stressed, and equally important to take measures to manage stress no matter how it shows up. When stress is ongoing, improperly managed, or uncontrolled, it can negatively affect your physical and mental health. Here are just a few ways that renewing your commitment to stress-busting activities may help keep you healthy:

Help ward off catching colds and viruses. Practice stress management regularly. Chronic stress can affect the body’s ability to regulate the inflammatory response to fight the cold virus early and quickly. Bolster it by getting sound sleep, drinking plenty of water and eating nutrient-dense foods.

Clear up a foggy memory. Taking short, frequent breaks for stress relief throughout the day may help suppress the cortisol output that affects brain neurotransmitters, helping to clear your head. Soothe yourself with deep-breathing exercises, walking and other enjoyable physical activities.

Get better sleep. Track troubling thoughts in a worry journal, try a relaxing wind-down routine that includes focusing on pleasant thoughts to usher you into deep slumber, or read to escape to a whole new world. Excessive worrying prior to bedtime can boost adrenaline levels, keeping you tossing and turning.

Calm troubled skin. Getting proper sleep, exercising, and using relaxation tech-

niques could help quell acne breakouts, rashes, and flare-ups of rosacea, eczema and other skin conditions. Elevated cortisol levels raises blood sugar, which can damage the collagen and elastin that plumps the skin and keeps it smooth and healthy.

Soothe stress-related achiness and pain. Taking a break with a combination of relaxation and exercise can help break the link between chronic stress and chronic pain. Stress prompts the output of adrenaline, which triggers ongoing tension, making your head, neck, or even your legs and other muscles rigid and sore. Manage it by getting up to stretch or walk periodically.

Better manage your weight. Brisk walking and cardiovascular activities may help counter stress’ link to weight fluctuations. Additionally, by controlling your stress in healthier ways, you may find yourself reaching for your comfort foods less often.

Avoid unnecessary trips to your doctor. 90 percent of primary care doctor visits are stress-related. Take steps to control stress to protect your health. Again, stick to nutritious eating, exercise, and try meditation, which may help regulate the stress hormones with positive effects for your overall health and well-being!

If you find yourself in a continual funk, take more active measures. Talking it out with someone close to you, writing in a journal, listening to soothing music, joining a support group and carving out time to attend to your own needs, hobbies and relaxation when you’re feeling overwhelmed are all ways to help yourself and feel better balanced. Or, seek help from a professional counselor.

Big Country Manufacturing Alliance Has Record Year, Launches New Opportunities to Strengthen Manufacturing and Support Area Students

By Richard Williams | Chairman, Big Country Manufacturing Alliance

Big Country Manufacturing Alliance (BCMA), a voluntary, regional alliance of manufacturers and support partners, is pleased to announce the election of incoming officers and appointment of new directors effective January 1. “It’s been a pleasure to lead the Board for these past few years,” said immediate past BCMA Chair and Operations Manager for Ludlum Measurements Thomas Taylor. “We are fortunate to have so many dedicated members and such capable individuals leading BCMA.”

Incoming officers include Chair Richard Williams, CEO of RAM Inc. in Cisco, Vice-Chair Alan Hartmann, President of Hartmann’s Inc. in Abilene, and Secretary-Treasurer Dave Wilcox, Owner of OX Manufacturing LLC in Breckenridge. Newly appointed directors include Amy Morris, Co-Owner of ChemSta-

tion Texas Plains in Abilene and Caleb Kelso, Director of Finance for Chike Nutrition in Abilene.

BCMA is launching a new membership and sponsorship structure that will further strengthen manufacturing in the Big Country. In 2022, BCMA members engaged with over 3,000 students and educators from 40+ schools through classroom presentations, plant tours, workshops and events to raise awareness about careers available in manufacturing. In fact, 94% of participating students reported having a better understanding of manufacturing careers thanks to these efforts. Exciting membership and sponsorship opportunities will be available for individuals and organizations to participate in or sponsor events and scholarships that support area students.

“We’re especially excited about expanding our focus on assisting students and growing manufacturing in the region,” said BCMA Chair Richard Williams. “We will be able to triple the number of scholarships this year due to sponsorships.”

To date, $6,000 has been awarded in scholarships to Big Country high school and college students and BCMA will be able to match that dollar figure in 2023 alone under this new structure. Networking events, including seminars, insider industry tours and informal mixers connected over 180 BCMA members in 2022 and will also be expanded to include new opportunities for members in 2023.

BCMA supports the stability and growth of manufacturing in the Big Country through focusing on business-education partnerships and promoting business to business connections. To learn more, please visit bcmatexas.org or email info@bcmatexas.org.

MEET THE TEAM

We would like to introduce you to Ronny Huff from our Sales Department.

QUESTION: What is your position at Clear Creek RVs?

ANSWER: Sales Associate

QUESTION: What do you like about working at Clear Creek RVs?

ANSWER: It’s a small, family owned dealership.

QUESTION: What would you like RV shoppers to know about the RVs?

ANSWER: You will get the best customer service from every single employee at the dealership.

QUESTION: What is your favorite RV on the lot and why?

ANSWER: Grand Design! They have a huge variety and layouts and they are very well built.

QUESTION: How does Clear Creek RVs compared to other places you have worked?

ANSWER: Clear Creek RVs is a very respectful place to work. Everyone respects each other and are helpful. I have never heard one employee say that’s not my job and everyone goes above and beyond in my opinion.

QUESTION: If you camp, where is your favorite place to visit?

ANSWER: I don’t get to go much, but I would love to stay on a beach for a week or more.

QUESTION: How long have you worked for Clear Creek RVs?

ANSWER: 3 years

Your Credit Score: The Basics of Buying a Home to Live In or to Invest In for Cash Flow

By Jacqueline “Jacqi” Leyva-Hill, CMPS® | ORCA Home Loans, Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist

Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau Welcomes New Convention Sales Manager

Hello beautiful readers! I hope your New Year started off strong!

If you are like many people nowadays, one of your New Year’s resolutions is to buy a new home for you and your family or to buy a home to rent out to generate cashflow.

Well, good news! As a financial fitness educator & mortgage loan officer, I can help you! This month I will be letting you know the basics of what a lender will look for to make sure you are a good risk. So here we go…take notes and make a plan to start getting “financially fit” to buy a home!

First, know your credit scores! If you are applying for a home loan, the lender will more than likely look at the credit bureaus (Equifax, Transunion, and Equifax) scores for you, and use the middle score. For example, if you have a 620, 640, and a 655, the lender will use the middle score, 640.

If you are applying with another person, the person with the lower set of scores will be used. For example, if you have a 620, 640, and 655 and your co-applicant has a 520, 565, and a 545, the 545 score will be used to base their risk level on loaning the money for a new property.

The higher the risk, the higher the cost of money will be. In other words, the higher the interest rate. The higher the interest rate, the more of the monthly payment will be going towards the interest payment and there will be less available to pay towards the equity in the home.

Therefore, it is a good idea to check your credit scores and do things to improve those numbers before applying for a home loan. Most lenders look at FICO scores, but others less often use Vantage, but this article will just focus on FICO scores. The FICO and Vantage scores range from 300-850.

So how do you check your credit scores? Well,

it is not free. One website I like to use is myfico.com. I choose the $29.99 option to have access to my mortgage credit scores, (Equifax Score Report 5, Transunion Score Report 4, and Experian Score Report 2) not just the widely monitored score report 8, which is used to evaluate risk for credit cards (which is much less risky for a lender).

I know some banks and credit cards monitor one of the credit bureaus as part of their monthly service, which is a good start. But there are numerous score report models used for different types of lines of credit and loans, so if you really want to know your mortgage score reports (2, 4, & 5), pay the $29.99 plus tax one -time, then cancel after saving/printing your reports, or monitor it monthly by paying monthly, or pay once and pause the service for for 3, 6, or 9 months, when you may want to check again. It is completely up to you, I don’t get any affiliate

but that is your choice. I highly recommend doing it yourself to save the money and put towards settling up debts or paying down debts to improve your score.

Whether you decide to buy a home to live in or to rent out to generate cashflow, your credit score matters!

Factors are taken into account to calculate a credit score include:

•Payment History (35%)

•Amounts Owed (30%)

•Length of Credit History (15%)

•New Credit (10%)

•Credit Mix (10%)

To boost your credit

•Pay your bills on time or early

•Keep credit lines open as long as you can by maintaining a 10% usage

•Try to use only 25% of your total credit line (ex. $250 out of a $1000 credit line)

•Don’t apply for new credit often, it looks risky to a lender if you are always applying, so be strategic about when you do apply

•Have different kinds of credit lines like fixed (ex. Auto loan) and open (ex. Credit cards)

•Be put on as an authorized user of someone who has great credit so you can benefit from their good credit history

By David Waller | Communications Director, Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau

Abilene, Texas - The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), an affiliate of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the hiring of Courtney Eden as its newest Convention Sales Manager.

Eden brings more than a decade of sales and hospitality experience to the organization, having served various roles with Hyatt Hotels in catering and event management. Most recently, she served as events manager for ASM Global at the Abilene Convention Center.

Her addition to the ACVB comes at an exciting time for the city, as the much-anticipated Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center is set to open in June 2023. "Courtney's experience and industry knowledge add instant value to the ACVB, and we are delighted to have her on the team," said Robert Lopez, vice president of the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau. "With the development happening downtown and the soon-to-open conference hotel, we wanted to add to the strength of our sales team, and Courtney helps us do that."

benefit from recommending this site, it is just the one I use and like.

If you find that your scores are lower than you’d like, then the next step would be ordering a free copy of your credit report from each bureau to review what creditors have reported negative information on you. You can order your free credit reports online at annualcreditreport.com. It used to be that each individual could only order one copy per bureau for free per year, but since the shutdown, you can order as many times as you need. Not sure how long that will last, so order them now to start seeing what is helping and hurting your score. You can choose to contact the creditors yourself to have the negative information removed or changed to a more favorable status, or you can hire someone,

•Never ignore a creditor, always call to ask for payment arrangements if you can’t make the full payment amount by the due date. People are human and run into issues, so most companies will not report negatively if you call and explain your situation and make smaller payments more often.

But start on just finding out what your scores are and next month I will explain what a Debtto-Income (dti) ratio is and how the lenders look at that to determine their level of risk if they lend you money to buy a home.

If you find out you have healthy scores, 620 or better, and are ready to apply for a loan, call me! If you are really “financially fit” and have a 740 or better, call me! If you need a financial plan to be able to buy a home, call me! If you can’t wait until next month to learn about what a debt-to-income ratio is, call me!

Eden is a graduate of Abilene Christian University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration management. She is also a member of the Junior League of Abilene.

Eden commented on her new position, "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to leverage my extensive hotel and event planning experience by joining the accomplished sales team at the ACVB. With so much happening in Abilene, I am excited to showcase our wonderful city to convention planners and help drive tourism to the area."

The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau looks forward to working with Eden to promote and drive tourism to Abilene, Texas.

If you are a member of an association or organization and would like to bring your meeting to Abilene, please contact the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau at 325-676-2556 or email tiffany@abilenevisitors.com.