The Journey

JUNE 2018

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Level IIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Prepared for your little bundle with specialty care.

Your newborn is a miracle. So rest easy knowing that if your little one needs advanced care, Lufkin’s only Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is here to help them get a healthy start. And should you need high-risk pregnancy care, we’re also home to a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic.

Sign up for free childbirth classes today. Call 936-699-CARE. For more information, visit WoodlandHeights.net/Baby.

• Perinatal Care Certification from The Joint Commission • Skilled OB/GYN physicians and staff • Free childbirth and infant feeding classes and support • 24/7 neonatology coverage and on-site transport team • Private rooms with spacious birthing suites

505 South John Redditt Drive, Lufkin, TX 75904 WoodlandHeights.net Woodland Heights Medical Center is owned in part by physicians.

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JUNE ART CAMP Art Camp classes are open for children ages 4 to 14 throughout the summer months. Sessions are offered in both the morning and the afternoon and participants pre-register for the courses of their choice. For more information, visit the Museum of East Texas website.

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D-DAY During World War II, the Battle of Normandy resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control.

The battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest military assaults in history. The Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe.

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM DAY Chocolate Ice Cream Day is dedicated to exactly that, chocolate ice cream. Chocolate is the second most popular ice cream flavor after vanilla. Chocolate ice cream was first introduced to the United States in the late 18th century.

Thomas Jefferson took a liking to ice cream when he was living in France during his time as an ambassador in the 1780’s, and there is some belief he helped bring its popularity to the United States after his return. In the early 19th century, insulated ice houses were invented, spurring growth of the ice cream industry. By the end of the century chocolate ice cream was very popular and still is to this day.

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EEK WEEK Children entering 5th - 7th grade in the fall are invited to a day camp. They will travel all over East Texas, learning about forestry and nature related subjects. $75.00 per child. For more information please contact the Texas Forestry Museum's website at treetexas.com.

FATHER'S DAY Father's Day, in the United States, is on the third Sunday of June. It celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures have on their children's lives. Its origins may lie in a memorial service held for a large group of men, many of them fathers, who were killed in a mining accident in Monongah, West Virginia in 1907.

JUNETEENTH Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement.

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When it comes to your to-do list, put your future first.

To find out how to get your financial goals on track, contact your Edward Jones financial advisor today.

Vince Treadwell, CFP®, AAMS® Financial Advisor FAP-1966D-A

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www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

321 South First Lufkin, TX 75901 936-634-6116

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a l e t te r fro m th e

OW N E R

Dear Summer, Oh how I’ve missed you! I have waited with baited breath for you to show your glorious face again and blow your warm breeze across my backyard like a hairdryer stuck on HIGH. I’ve prepared for your coming by stocking up on sunscreen, brightly colored beach towels, cheap wayfarers and a 9-foot inf latable toucan for the pool.

I’ve explained to my plants that while their death will surely sadden me, I will f ind comfort in the rays of the Texas sun and 115 degree heat. Yes summer, I’ve waited impatiently long enough. Welcome back, and here’s to a fantastic next few months! #AdventureAwaits Hugs –

O n t h e C o v e r, l o c a l c u t i e C h a r L e i g h Fa i t h i s r e a d y f o r t h e s u m m e r s u n!

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CON T E N T S features

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community

42 WOMEN IN BUSINESS

12 HOME TOUR

30 LIBRARY PROGRAM

43 WEEKENDER

20 IN THE KITCHEN

34 LOCAL TALENT

72 PLACES & FACES

24 LET'S CELEBRATE

38 WISDOM FROM THE WORD

The Journey Magazine is available free of charge each month per reader.

Mail service of The Journey Magazine may be purchased for $50 for 12 issues.

Mail check to: The Journey Magazine, P.O. Box 150351, Luf kin, TX, 75915, or contact kogden@luf kinjourneymagazine.com

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reader showcase

sports & outdoors

family

50 GANDY NOTES

91 NATURE'S EYE

54 KIDS CORNER

86 YOUR CHALLENGE

TEXAS OUTDOOR EVENTS

87 YOUR JOURNEY

NWTF NEWS

6 0 EVERYTHING ELSE 6 4 COACH ASHLEY

FISHING FOR BEGINNERS

TASTE OF THE OUTDOORS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

THE

magazine an original since 2005

OW N E R & D I R E C TO R :

Kim Ogden

kogden@lufkinjourneymagazine.com M A NAG I N G E D I TO R :

Beth Johnson beth@lufkinjourneymagazine.com C OV E R A N D F E AT U R E S P H O T O G R A P H Y:

Lisa Crow

L AY O U T D E S I G N & A D V E RT I S I N G D E S I G N :

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Kelly Hudman

CONTRIBUTORS:

Kris Ball Ashley Berry Dale Bounds Emily Courtney/Nature's Eye Angela Gandy Angie Modisette Valena Spradley Aaron Wilson Tara Watson-Watkins

C O N TA C T U S : Mailing:

P.O. Box 150351 Lufkin, Texas 75915

Physical:

1302 East Lufkin Avenue Lufkin, Texas 75901 936-366-5463

Online:

facebook.com/thejourneymagazine instagram.com/thejourneymagazine www.lufkinjourneymagazine.com

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E DI T O R

Hello Summer 2018! We’ve worked so hard to get here and now it’s time to have some fun!

There is so much that I love about this magazine and many things that make me proud of what we publish each month. However, one thing I’m most thankful for is that The Journey is a family friendly magazine all the way around. I don’t have to worry that my young children eagerly await to open the latest issue. They love to pick it up and start reading. I don’t have to steer them away from certain sections or articles; it’s completely safe for them to see.

So, in honor of the many children who love to pick up our magazine, we are excited to introduce ‘The Journey Kids’ section. Kids, these pages are just for you! Each month, we will dedicate a portion of the issue to things that matter to you… fun recipes you can make, inspiring kids like you who are making a difference, fun word searches and more. Turn right now to page 54 to check it out!

Enjoy the longer days and slower pace during this time of year. Take this magazine and go sit out in the sunshine while you enjoy the many stories within its pages. We appreciate you, our readers, and wish you a relaxing, memory-f illed summer!

All the way home,

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H OM E T O U R | I N T H E K I T C H E N | L E T ' S C E L E B R AT E

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H I C K S FA M I LY

photo credit | LISA CROW

welco mes us to their weekend geta way

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The pictures hanging near the pool table are Joe Lowery scenic photographs.

Joe photographed our wedding many years ago and was a long time family friend. Both the house and barn have many unique photographs and paintings passed down through both of our families.

Mark and I had the opportunity to purchase this land soon after we got married. At the time, the property had a farmhouse, barn and a few other random buildings. We looked at renovating the farmhouse, but it was too far gone. We ultimately salvaged what we could from the original home and used those items in the new farmhouse we designed together - this served as a place to have birthday parties, gatherings with friends and fun family weekends. A couple of years ago, my brother got engaged and jokingly I said, “Mark would love to build a barn at Burke!" We had a warehouse full of old materials and unique items we had salvaged throughout the years and he was always looking for a way to use them; the barn idea was a great way to put them to use.

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The metal used on the walls and ceiling of the barn was salvaged from an old railroad warehouse off of Frank Street as well as the original farmhouse that was on the property. The bead board used throughout the house and barn was salvaged from the walls of the original home on the property, the Saxon Mercantile building and the Masonic Lodge building in downtown Luf kin. Many of the doors were from the original farmhouse and various downtown buildings.

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The design of the entire place is based off of a turn of the century farmhouse.

We wanted something that had an authentic feel. The wood in this particular bathroom was salvaged from an old fence at Mark's grandmother's house. We love to take mundane things

Burning candles in my home is something I do almost every day, even if I am the only one there.

It makes me happy and content, and I feel better just smelling those fabulous scents.

I have lots of windows and light coming into my home, and I love the use of shutters everywhere.

This home is comfortable; it's warm and inviting. I have no drapes in my home at all.

and create a one of a kind look.

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We have slowly decorated the house through the years with various items passed down from our families. It’s kind of funny how most of the furnishings end up there‌ imagine a retirement home for old furniture or unique f inds from our previous homes or relatives. We are both sentimental about our family history and have found this as a way to preserve it. Every piece is a conversation starter and usually has a good story behind it.

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The pecan trees on the property are over 100 years old and were brought from Georgia and planted by Mark's great-great grandfather, Albert Johnston.

The petrif ied rock used on the f ireplace in the farmhouse was salvaged from Mark’s great grandparents' house, which was located on Timberland Drive.

This house is full of history from both sides of our families as well as from the community.

We couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out, and we are looking forward to many more memories being made on this property.

Pictured on their land are Mark, Callie, Caroline (10), Macy (8), Aniston (4)

Protecting them is a big decision...

Go with Texas’s biggest broker.

59 South • higginbotham.net • 936-634-2291 JOURNEY_June2018.indd 19

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home | I N

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Fresh Corn Cakes w it h Summer Salsa INGREDIENTS:

4 ounces white whole-wheat f lour (about 3/4 cup) 1/2 cup plain yellow cornmeal 2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 1 cup light sour cream 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 1/4 cups fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears) 2 tablespoons minced jalapeĂąo 1/2 cup diced yellow squash 1/4 cup chopped green onions 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil 1 1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar 1 medium tomato, chopped DIRECTIONS: Weigh or lightly spoon f lour into a dry measuring cup. Combine f lour, cornmeal, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.

Combine sour cream, eggs, and 1 tablespoon oil in a bowl, stirring until smooth.

Add sour cream mixture, corn, and jalapeĂąo to f lour mixture; stir just until combined.

Heat a large nonstick griddle over medium-high heat.

Divide corn mixture into 8 equal portions (about 1/3 cup each); shape into patties. Add patties to griddle; cook 6 minutes on each side.

Combine squash, green onions, basil, vinegar, tomato, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl; toss. Place corn cakes on a plate and top evenly with salsa.

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C r e o l e T o m a t o S a l a d INGREDIENTS: Salad: 3 ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 2 pounds) 1 Vidalia or other sweet onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh mint (optional) 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives Vinaigrette: 4 teaspoons olive oil 4 teaspoons red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon minced garlic DIRECTIONS: Prepare salad, alternating tomato and onion slices on a platter. Sprinkle with salt. Top with mint and chives.

Prepare vinaigrette by combining oil, vinegar, mustard, and garlic in a jar. Cover tightly; shake vigorously. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad, and serve at room temperature.

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L i me , Sh r i mp a nd Avoc ado Sa lad

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup chopped red onion 2 limes, juice of 1 tsp olive oil 1/4 tsp kosher salt, black pepper to taste 1 lb jumbo cooked, peeled shrimp, chopped into pieces 1 medium tomato, diced 1 medium hass avocado, diced (about 5 oz) 1 jalapeno, seeds removed, diced f ine 1 tbsp chopped cilantro DIRECTIONS: In a small bowl combine red onion, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Let them marinate at least 5 minutes to mellow the f lavor of the onion.

In a large bowl combine chopped shrimp, avocado, tomato, and jalapeño.

Combine all the ingredients together, add cilantro and gently toss. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Hot C raw f i sh Dip INGREDIENTS: ½ cup butter 1 bunch green onions, sliced (about 1 cup) 1 small green bell pepper, diced 1 (1-lb.) package frozen cooked, peeled crawfish tails, thawed and undrained 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained 2 tsp. Creole seasoning 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened French bread baguette slices Garnishes: sliced green onion, chopped flat-leaf parsley DIRECTIONS: Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add green onions and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes or until bell pepper is tender.

Stir in crawfish and next 3 ingredients; cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low.

Stir in cream cheese until mixture is smooth and bubbly.

Serve with toasted French bread slices.

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Ma ngo - BBQ Fi sh Tacos  INGREDIENTS:

1 fresh mango, seeded, peeled and diced 1/2 cup barbecue sauce 1/4 cup light mayonnaise 1 teaspoon lime zest 3 cups packaged coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage with carrot) 4 green onions, thinly sliced 12 ounces fresh or frozen skinless red snapper, sea bass or cod (thaw if frozen and pat dry) 8 6-inch corn tortillas 1/2 cup purchased guacamole 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro DIRECTIONS: Place half the diced mango in a blender or food processor. Add barbecue sauce; puree until smooth.

In a large bowl combine 2/3 cup of the barbecue sauce mixture, the light mayonnaise and lime zest. (Reserve the remaining 1/3 cup of the barbecue sauce mixture.) Add remaining diced mango, the coleslaw mix and green onions. Toss to coat. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Grill f ish on the greased rack of a covered charcoal or gas grill directly over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes per 1/2-inch thickness or until f ish f lakes when tested with a fork, brushing generously with the reserved 1/3 cup barbecue sauce mixture during the last 2 minutes of grilling. Wrap tortillas in foil and place on grill rack over heat while f ish is grilling to warm, turning once halfway through warming.

To serve, f ill warm tortillas with coarsely f laked f ish, coleslaw, guacamole and cilantro. If you like, squeeze with lime juice.

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Let's Party With

TARA WATSON-WATKINS

Whoever invented the phrase, “Lazy Days of Summer” did not live in Lufkin, Texas! A great way to kick the summer off with a bang is to throw a party! But let’s face it, I love to throw a party any time of year! There is nothing better than getting together with our dear friends, catching up on life and just relaxing- especially outside. I also understand that throwing a party can be stressful to some, so here are some tips to help you throw an effortless summer bash!

Tara Watson-Watkins is the Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Artistic Director of The Pines Theater. More importantly, she is Analeigh’s momma and Brent’s wife. Tara was born and raised in Lufkin and loves to gather with her friends to celebrate life. You can check out all of the parties she throws to showcase Lufkin at www.visitlufkin.com

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home | L E T ' S

C E L E B R A T E

SPREAD THE WORD I am old fashioned and still love to create a cute invitation. Some of my go to sites are Shutterf ly and Tiny Prints, but if I am on a time crunch, my new favorite paperless evites are from Paperless Post. You can browse thousands of online invitations for life’s most memorable occasions-- from birthdays and weddings to dinner and drinks. Make sure you include the time and attire! If you are cooking and serving dinner at a certain time and you want to avoid re-f iring the grill, make sure you let your guest know that dinner will be served at a specif ic time.

DECIDE WHAT FOOD YOU ARE SERVING I determine the “theme” of a party by deciding on what type of food (and drinks) I want to serve. For instance, if I want to drink margaritas and eat fajitas, I gather all of my colorful Mexican poncho blankets, that I have purchased for years on our trips to Mexico, and throw a f iesta! If I am craving fried chicken and waff les, along with mimosas of course, I invite girlfriends over for a fun brunch! You get my point- it is all determined by food and drinks!

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DECORATIONS Decorations do not have to be elaborate but my philosophy is that “The details make the difference!” I love to set a pretty table. I love to have any excuse to use my china and Waterford- I think the food just taste better when it is served on something pretty! However, Sam’s has some really cute paper plates that I am all about this summer! Even if I am using paper plates and paper napkins, I still get out my cute serving pieces, trays, etc. and make the table look nice. Another cute and inexpensive decoration that I use all of the time are mason jars with f lowers or candles in them. They add just a little something extra, and I think candles make any table pretty!

ENJOY! Make sure that you don’t get too caught up in making it “perfect” that you forget to enjoy the gathering! As my husband reminds me all of the time, no one really cares what you are serving the food on or how the table looks, much to my dismay. It is all about savoring the time spent with friends, making new memories and laughing a lot!

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by a medical professional* in 30 minutes – or less. And, with a team of dedicated medical specialists, we can provide a lot more care, if you need it.

The 30-Minutes-Or-Less E.R. Service Pledge – only at Woodland Heights Medical Center.

WoodlandHeights.net

PRESENTED BY -

L I B R A RY P R O G R A M | L O C A L T A L E N T | W I S D O M F R O M T H E W O R D | W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S | W E E K E N D E R *Medical professionals may include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Woodland Heights Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.

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c o m m u n i t y | L I B R A RY P R O G R A M

CENTRAL ISD’S Summer Library Program Angie Modisette, Central Elementary Librarian

Often times, over the summer, students do not get to read at all because they do not have books at home. Central ISD tries to remedy that by allowing students to have access to the same books that they grow to love during the school year.

Central ISD’s Summer Library program started about eighteen years ago and was birthed from the idea that locking books up for ten weeks during the summer was a crying shame. Administration agreed and gave us the permission to open the library four hours a week to those who wanted to check out books. The f irst week we had f ifteen patrons and thought we were on a roll, but by the next year we were getting close to 100. Last year, our average was above 200, sometimes even up to 250.

Our desire is to create lifelong readers, and with the parent, district, school board, and administrators’ support, we are accomplishing just that. Our goal is that reading is not just something that our students do at school, but something that they grow to do as a whole family.

Our Summer Library is open every Wednesday during the summer from 9 am-1 pm. All citizens of the community can check out books, use computers, take Reading Counts tests, and work on different reading programs such as 2x2s, Bluebonnets, Teens’ Top Ten and the Tayshas list. We gather 1000 books from the high school and 1000 books from the jr. high, so every age student has plenty to read while he or she is out of school.

Parents and grandparents also f ind plenty to read.

Three years ago, we incorporated a special time at 10:00 am to introduce our students to new learning experiences. Some of those topics have been Lego days, cupcake decorating, community helpers, and Jujitsu. We have had people from the community, such as police, f iref ighters, Ellen Trout Zoo, The Forestry Museum, KTRE Weather, missionaries, magicians, artists, and many more who come out and present their programs in 30-45 minutes. After they speak to the students, they allow time for students to experiment with hands-on activities. This year our program lineup includes a dinosaur expert, a nutrition consultant, a sports clinic, and even a family game day. Our goal is to expose our students to all facets of our community.

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Of course, we could not do this without the support of our district. Our school and community support reading all year long, and it shows. Our school pays for professional certif ied librarians to work, allowing for the best service possible.

The Central Elementary is the place to be on Wednesdays during the summer! It is so exciting to see students talking with others about the latest book they just read or the books they are about to check out.

We have students that came in eighteen years ago in strollers that are now about to graduate. These students now have a life-long love of reading because it was valued by their parents, teachers, librarians, administrators, and district.

We are seeing a huge growth in our students’ reading skills. Instead of losing their skills because they didn’t practice them over the summer, our devoted attendees are growing in their reading ability, even when they’re not

in school.

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Summer Library Activity Schedule MAY 30TH – FUNKY FOOD FUN Come see the science behind food and how to make it work for your body.

(Program includes snacks, sponsored by Woodland Heights) JUNE 6TH – DOG DAYS OF SUMMER Experience what it is like to train and visit with a therapy dog.

JUNE 13TH – FANTASTIC FOSSILS Join us as we gather with the Naranjo Museum to discover exciting things about dinosaurs even older than your parents!

JUNE 20TH – WEE-CYCLING WEDNESDAY Learn how you can recycle and build projects from up-cycling common goods.

JUNE 27TH – WATERCOLOR WEDNESDAY Mrs. Amy Jones will teach us the f ine art of water coloring and we will get to produce a product ourselves.

JULY 4TH – CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY JULY 11TH – BOARD GAMES Compete with your family and friends in games of skill and chance.

JULY 18TH – CAN YOU ESCAPE? Our very own Kyle Ivey will lead us through several technology puzzles to see if we can escape.

JULY 25TH – BRICKS & BOOKS Come join us as we play with Legos, make a Lego movie, and watch the Lego Movie.

AUGUST 1ST – BULLDOG SPORTS CLINIC Compete with your family and others as you discover new sports skills.

AUGUST 8TH – TRAIN YOUR BODY, TRAIN YOUR BRAIN How speedy are you? Our very own marathon runner, Kelly Adams, will teach us what it takes to run a marathon.

*Summer Library starts May 30th from 9:00-1:00.

Join us every Wednesday at 10:00am for fun-filled activities.

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LOCAL TALENT L y nn B enner

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“I was born on Boiling Air Force Base and raised in Washington D.C., so many of my earliest memories are of aircraft, museums and art galleries,” Lynn Benner says as she sits at a conference room table at the Angelina County Airport. “I suppose my passion for art and aircraft came naturally.”

Looking around the table, it’s easy to see the truth in that statement. Covering the tabletop are multiple watercolor paintings Lynn has created over the years - brightly painted Bi-planes, delicately detailed Cessnas, helicopters and more.

Behind me in the hallway are no less than 15 more. “I had it in my head for a very long time that I would wind up a beach artist, but something kept drawing me back to aircraft. I absolutely love catching the details of the aircraft I’m painting whether it be fine-tuning the nose art or sketching an engine on a prop plane. It’s all about the showcasing the aircraft’s personality and beauty.”

As we move out of the conference room and into the airport hallway, Lynn stops to show me one of her favorite paintings on the wall. “This plane is incredible and so beautiful in person.

Its home is here at the Angelina Co. Airport. Getting the details correct on this one was so important because of what the plane is constructed out of.” Built during the 1920’s and 30’s, the Ford Trimotor is made of corrugated duralumin, similar to aluminum but much, much stronger. Benner continues, “In person, this aircraft is stunning.”

As we walk and talk about sketching, watercolors and airplanes Lynn explains that her career took a different course than she

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c o m m u n i t y | L O CA L TA L E N T

had originally intended. “I was a Kindergarten teacher at Trout here in Luf kin for 20 years. After I retired, all roads led me back to aircraft. I became a f light attendant for a Delta/American/United company and moved to Georgia. My paints went with me wherever I went. If I was on a layover, I sketched and painted what I saw at the terminals. If we were on an overnight, I painted until it was time to go to bed. International terminals were always fun because I sketched and painted planes from Iran, Ireland, Russia and more. I was even lucky enough to paint a B2 Stealth that I saw at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. The pilot noticed me sketching the plane and ended up buying it from me on the spot! It was a wonderful experience.”

Two of the most touching pieces Lynn created are paintings that now hang at NASA. “When the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded over East Texas, I felt this pull to paint what I saw. For weeks I helped with recovery and volunteered

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with the Salvation Army. Meeting and getting to know people in the field touched my heart, and I knew I needed to capture it with paint. It was a conglomerate piece of what I was seeing and experiencing. One of the astronauts that was here helping with recovery loved them so much he bought them from me and took them back with him to Houston. It was simply my way of finding some peace with what we were experiencing.”

Back in Luf kin now, Lynn continues to work as a f light attendant and paint all she sees on the tarmac. “I missed Luf kin so much when I was gone. I just love this place, my family, friends and my church. This may not have been my hometown, but it’s definitely where my heart was and is. I’ll continue to sketch and paint and travel and take in all that I see. I’ve been very blessed in this life of mine and intend to keep painting until my last breath.”

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YAHWEH is

MY SHEPHERD Written by - AARON WILSON

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M

ost people a re familia r with Psa lm 23

provides ever ything! Like any shepherd, God

and can even quote it f rom memor y because it

possesses both power and gentleness.

f inds its way into most ever y f unera l ser vice.

Now, let’s not overlook this little word,

However, this psa lm is not just a psa lm for those exper iencing death, it’s a song to be sung as we exper ience life! The Lord beg ins as our Shepherd and ends as our Shelter.

W hile in bet ween, we f ind him as a g racious host.

W ITH YA HWEH AS OUR SHEPHER D WE SH A LL NEVER BE W ITHOUT. The LOR D is my shepherd; I sha ll not want.

He ma kes me lie down in g reen pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of r ighteousness for his name’s sa ke.

Psa lm 23:1-3

“my,” in this opening verse. It’s one of the most precious words in Scr ipture. This selfsuf f icient, a ll-power f ul God is MY Shepherd!

His protection and provision continue as he ma kes us lie down. But, why a re sheep lying down in the g rass? W hy a re they not eating?

Perhaps it is because they’ve had their f ill!

There is plenty, they’ve had plenty, and now it’s time to rest. “Besides waters of rest,” is how the next phrase reads in the or ig ina l.

This will a lways be his of fer. Just like the g rass, there is enough water and rest to go a round, for the Shepherd is rea lly the Source.

The image behind the words, “he restores my soul” could indicate the Lord seeking and retur ning a st raying sheep, for that is

Most of us would ag ree that the most

indeed why he sent his Shepherd- Son

astounding fact about our Shepherd is

(Matthew 10:6; 15:24; Luke 15:1-7; 19:10). The

who he is, the LOR D! W hen our Bible has

“soul” of a man is his ver y life, so here the

the name “LOR D” in a ll caps, it should be

Lord has as his goa l to renew us by rescue

t ranslated, “Ya hweh.” This is most persona l

and repentance, br ing ing us into the fold.

and intimate name of God. It is so specia l

The result of being brought into the fold of

that Jews will not pronounce it for fea r of

the G reat Shepherd is a life that wa lks “in

ir reverence. It is his covenant name. Ya hweh

paths of r ighteousness,” or rather “paths of

is the self-suf f icient God who needs nothing.

faithf ulness.” That is, the paths we wa lk in

A nd yet because he’s our Shepherd, he

life as his sheep ref lect the faithf ulness of

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c o m m u n i t y | W I S D OM F ROM T H E WO R D

our Shepherd.

The rod was for defense and g uidance, the staf f

This last little phrase in verse 3, “for his names

for suppor t. Both, when used together like this,

sa ke,” g ives us the chief pur pose of ever ything preceding and following. It is shor t and simple but fa r f rom t r ivia l. God does ever ything –

indicate complete protection f rom a ll danger.

Staf fs were placed under sheep when standing in slipper y places. We rea lize by now that our secur ity and safety depends not on the pastures

ever ything – for the sa ke of his own name.

That is, he does a ll things for his own glor y (1 Cor inthians 10:31). Does he do things on our beha lf ? Of course, he does! But ultimately,

or waters we t raverse, but on the Shepherd who a lways t ravels with us.

W ITH YA HWEH AS OUR HOST WE SH A LL

“f rom him and through him and to him a re a ll

A LWAYS BE AT HOME .

things. To him be glor y forever. A men” ( Romans

You prepa re a table before me

11:36).

in the presence of my enemies;

W ITH YA HWEH AS OUR SHEPHER D WE

you anoint my head with oil;

SH A LL NEVER BE A FR A ID.

my cup over f lows.

Even though I wa lk through the va lley of the

Surely goodness and mercy sha ll follow me

shadow of death,

a ll the days of my life,

I will fea r no evil,

and I sha ll dwell in the house of the LOR D

for you a re with me;

forever.

your rod and your staf f,

Psa lm 23:5 - 6

they comfor t me.

The imager y changes here f rom the Lord

Psa lm 23:4 Verse 4 is probably what ma kes us think Psa lm 23 is a f unera l Psa lm, but hopef ully you’ve seen a lready that it’s so much more! The Shepherd is no longer a head to lead us, but beside to comfor t us. In fact, here in the da rkest pa r t of the psa lm, David goes f rom 3rd person (he leads… he restores…) to 1st person (you a re with me). He’s no longer just ta lking about his Shepherd; he’s ta lking to his Shepherd! This is why he doesn’t fea r, because the God who is his Shepherd is with Him! For the sheep, da rk va lleys a re rea l dangers.

For the believer, the th reat of the da rk va lley of death is just that – a threat. There is no substance to the fea r. We fea r no evil not only because God is with us, but because he has gone before us. Bible commentator, Derek K idner, explains it beautif ully, “Only the Lord can lead a man through death; a ll other g uides tur n back, and the t raveler must go on a lone.”

as Shepherd to the Lord as Host. David was spea king as a sheep, now he spea ks as a g uest.

The most amazing thing about having a table prepa red is not what’s on the table, but where the table is located. That a mea l is made in the presence of enemies shows assurance under pressure and provision in the unlikeliest of places. The believer must remember that he is a lways in the presence of enemies while sojour ning through this world that is not our home.

Being anointed with oil f ur ther shows just how welcome we a re as g uests of the Lord. W hat then is over f lowing in the cup? A ll of God’s blessings, of course! Having the Lord as our Shepherd and Host, could it get any better? Yes, it does!

Because our Host is eter na l, our home is eter na l. The goodness and mercy that has been demonst rated throughout this shor t psa lm follows the believer into eter nity. The word “follow” doesn’t mean just t railing a long

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behind. In the Hebrew lang uage it has the force of an active pursuit. The mercy and loving-kindness of God pursues David th roughout this life on ea r th and continues into the next. David rea lizes he is not just a g uest of the Host for a shor t stay, but a resident forever! The LOR D is both our Shepherd and our Shelter.

Hopef ully you’ve now hea rd this familia r psa lm in ways you’ve never hea rd before. But it gets even better as it points us even f ur ther. This psa lm natura lly leads us to Jesus, who is our good Shepherd and eter na l Host.

A nd Jesus the Shepherd is a lso the Host. It’s one

Register NOW

FOR SUMMER II

thing for a spotless Savior to go and sup with sinners (Ma rk 2:15 -17); it’s quite another for the Savior to humble himself as the ser vant-host ( John 13:1-17), inviting us to himself to sup forever ( Isaia h 25:6; 55:1; Revelation 19:9). “The Spir it and the Br ide say, “Come.” A nd let the one who hea rs say, “Come.” A nd let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires ta ke the water of life without pr ice” ( Revelation 22:17).

Angelina College offers degrees and certificates in nearly 60 fields of study with a class schedule that will help you learn so you can earn more.

Get an education without going into debt.

Summer ll session begins July 9.

Register now.

Aaron Wilson is the Pastor of Administration and Families at Keltys First Baptist Church in Luf kin, Texas. He has served in various ministries from children to adults for over 20 years. He also served

– REGISTRATION DATES –

for seven years with the national radio broadcast of Revive Our Hearts (Nancy Demoss Woglemuth). Aaron received his BS in Bible from Central Baptist College and is currently pursuing his Mdiv at the BMA Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Texas.

Aaron and his wife, Anita, have four children and enjoy reading, photography, collecting vintage games & toys, being outdoors, and cheering for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

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SUMMER II

Register now through July 5 First class day July 9 FALL

Register now through August 23 First class day August 27

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c o m m u n i t y | WOM E N I N B U S I N E S S

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

VA L E R I E B I N N I N G “Living in a big city can wear on you after a while,” said Valerie as we sat in her shop, Yarnia, situated on Main Street Nacogdoches. “Cumming, Georgia was the fastest growing city in the United States.

My husband and I loved living there, but eventually we tired of the traff ic and the business of it all. We needed a change.”

Nacogdoches. I put my faith in God and followed where he led. I found the perfect location, chose the name Yarnia (a reference to Narnia, the beloved book series) and began researching the “How-To’s” of starting a business. That’s when Valerie found the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Angelina College in Luf kin.

The change came in the form of a 100-acre poultry farm in rural Chireno, Texas, roughly 25 minutes from Nacogdoches and almost 800 miles from the city they called home. “My husband came to me one day and said he had found this farm for sale near the area he grew up and ask if I would be interested in checking it out. We came down here, saw the farm and surrounding areas and fell in love. We agreed making this move was what we needed to do.

Everything lined up after that. We sold our Georgia property, bought the farm and moved to Texas.”

“My goodness they were life-savers for me,” explained Valerie. “I met with them and showed them my research and business plan. The SBDC dug more into the yarn industry and f illed in the gaps I had in my personal research. They took all the paperwork, the research and the business plan and plugged everything into a formula in order to predict if Yarnia had a chance at being successful and lucrative for us. I’m happy to report that their f indings were in favor of my business,” she laughed.

A year after the move to their new farm, Valerie received heartbreaking news. “I had worked for AT&T for 31 years and had been lucky enough in the last few years of that to work from the house.

One day the call came that I was being laid off along with the rest of the company based in Cumming. I felt so numb and helpless. I remember crying and crying with this big question looming… what do I do now?” Valerie chuckled, “God works in mysterious ways doesn’t He?”.

“Everything with the SBDC was so easy and personal. They walked with me through every single step of the process and helped me make owning my own business a reality. I really couldn’t have done this without their help, and I’m so thankful for them.

God puts people in our lives for a reason; he places us all together at the right time to help each other.

Everything my husband and I have done has been faith-based and in the end, an absolutely rewarding, whirlwind of an experience. Two years and many prayers later, I’m right where I want to be.”

One thing Valerie had a passion for was knitting and sewing. “I had had this idea before that I would like to own my own business, and my passion was in the yarn industry. I did some research and realized that there was a need for a shop like mine here in

* VISIT VALERIE AND HER SHOP IN PERSON AT 321 EAST MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN NACOGDOCHES, OR CALL (936) 205-3233.

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h o m e | W E E K E N DE R

1

#RUNAWAYFOR DAY Written by - VALENA SPRADLEY

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How many times have you said “I just need to get out of town!” But you don’t know have a lot of time, money or ideas. Here’s an easy one for you – Crystal Beach for the day. Most of us have been to Galveston and that trip def initely needs more than a day to experience, but Crystal Beach is the answer when you need a quick beach f ix.

Recently when I was off work and the kids were out of school, we left home at 7:30 am and headed south. In just 3 short hours you can be standing on the beach, listening to waves and f inding your next favorite sea shell.

When you hit HWY 124 and start looking for High Island that’s when I get excited – every single time. First the landscape changes and you can see forever, then you see a bridge in the distance – once you are on it you see the tug boats and ships headed up the Gulf Intra Coastal Waterway to Port Arthur. Then you top the hill and boom – there’s the ocean. And the big beautiful cross that was put up after Hurricane Ike. You need to roll down your windows and smell the salty air.

There are over 197 species of identif ied birds in this area – the Houston Audubon society is the largest land owner on the Peninsula. People come from all over the world to see the birds that migrate thru this special place. There are several bird sanctuaries for you to visit. The 2011 movie called “The Big Year” staring Owen Wilson, Steve Martin and Jack Black has a scene f ilmed at High Island.

My daughter took a friend who had never been before and I enjoyed watching his head turn back and forth trying to see everything and not miss any of the new sites. The homes at Crystal beach are painted colorful and happy. There are a few that look like they belong in an oldfashioned story book – a little bit frightful but exciting at the same time.

From Roll Over Pass we ventured down and found a great lunch at Hardheads Icehouse and Grill. My daughter always likes to sit at the table where she wrote her name a few years ago – so bring your sharpie and doodle away. Make sure you walk across the street and take photos with the fun totem poles.

The Bolivar Peninsula is 27 miles long. As you head down the 2-lane highway you see sights on both sides of the road. The f irst stop we made was right before reaching Roll Over Pass. Just turn left down a road and you will be on the beach. We found unique shells – but I’m still looking for a sand dollar to add to my collection.

After Hurricane Harvey hit last summer the beach f inds have been unique and several people have found huge shells. Roll Over Pass is the narrowest stretch of the Peninsula and it’s said that Pirates and smugglers gave it that name because they would roll barrels of illegal contraband across this little piece of land to a waiting boat on the bay side.

Next, we headed to the light house at the end of the road – actually the road continues when you board the ferry and cross over to Galveston Island. The light house was built in 1872 and served as a guiding beacon until being retired in 1933. During the Civil War part of the lighthouse was dismantled and used to make cannons. The property is now privately owned but you can drive up to the back and see how tall and grand the light house truly is. Thru the years we’ve enjoyed just driving – it’s such a small piece of land – you can’t get lost but you can f ind interesting homes, shrimp boats and f isherman on the bay side.

Once we found a few shells we drove across to the bay side – the day we were there it was a very low tide so the water was way out – normally you have a nice view of the bay and the f isherman.

However - we did see several birds. When you are on the Peninsula you will see lots of birds – keep your eyes open for the Pink Roseate Spoonbill!

From there we headed back and stopped at Fort Travis Seashore Park. Built in 1836 it was the f irst fort to protect Galveston Harbor. Parts of the fort are still open and you can wander thru the concrete shell of what once protected the area. Part of the highway near the Fort is named after the settler Jane Long. She has been

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co m m u ni ty | W E E K E N DE R

called the “Mother of Texas” and she was a pioneer woman who survived after her husband left her to f ight for his dream of Americanizing Texas. Long, her servant girl and small children were all alone during the brutal winter of 1821 as she delivered her 3rd child. The stories say Jane f ired the cannon daily so that Galveston would know the fort was still being taken care of and the Karankawa tribe of Indians, local pirates and Spaniards wouldn’t know that the only inhabitants of the fort were 2 women and 3 small children. When spring came she left once she learned her husband had been killed.

Our kids didn’t care about the history but they loved running up the hills, posing on top –acting like they were in the Maze Runner movie, and then walking along the seawall – watching the big boats headed to the port Galveston, Houston and beyond.

There are public restrooms here as well.

We then made a quick stop to purchase fresh shrimp. We always purchase from the guy who has a sign that said, “Buy from me – I need the money”. Bring a small cooler to bring back from the gulf seafood.

No trip is complete without stopping at “The Big Store”. It has a full grocery store, incredible souvenirs, and a hardware store.

We bought 3 ice creams and waved at the security guard who always seems to be there and always says, “See you tomorrow”.

Which if you are staying for the weekend is usually a true prediction. They also have pizza to go and a nice selection of sorbet.

One of the things I wanted to do on this trip was f ind Humphrey the camel. He’s a plastic white camel that watches from a high perch. It seems that after Hurricane Ike a lineman with a bit of mischief in his soul nailed him to the top of a pole and it’s a game to f ind him – but once you do you don’t tell anyone so that the game isn’t ruined. There is a Facebook page called Bolivar Beachcombers where folks post photos of shells and other treasures they f ind along with gorgeous sunrise and sunset photos. Our goal was to f ind him and post a photo to the group page. We found him and it was a great moment. The best part of this trip was hearing the laughter in the back seat. Anytime you can get two teenagers away from their phones, running up a hill, acting silly around a totem pole and looking for a plastic camel it’s a win in my book. And they were both asleep before we even arrived in Winnie on the way home…

FOR MORE INFORMATION LOOK AT WWW.BOLIVARPENISULATEXAS.COM AND WWW.CRYSTALBEACH.COM

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G A N D Y N O T E S | K I D S C O R N E R | E V E RY T H I N G E L S E | C O A C H A S H L E Y

tim e | F A M I L Y

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f a m i ly | G A N D Y

N O T E S

HOW TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE

SUMMER Written by - ANGELA GANDY

I

know many of you are reading this and think ing,

“Summer is just another day to me.� I was you! Up until this past school year, summer didn't mean free time Monday-Friday for me. BUT, I did know during the summer you were going to f ind me on the lake, at the beach, hang ing out by the pool, or lay ing around the house. Summer just has this way of mak ing us all want to slow time down and soak up the sun!

The unfortunate thing is...life doesn't stop. The clothes still need to be washed, the dishes still need to be put up, the f loors still have to be mopped, etc. So how do you f ind time to still be productive this summer? Let me help!

Angela is a multi-tasking wife and mother of two boys who keep her on her toes. She loves a good story and enjoys writing. You can contact her at angelagandy@gmail.com.

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GET UP Obv iously, this should be a g iven. But it's taken for granted so often. We may say, “I deser ve to sleep until 10am today!� A nd you may deser ve that, but if you're body isn't used to that sleep cycle, you're actually not doing yourself any favors. If anyone knows me, they know I need sleep! So I'm not say ing wake up at 5, but get up around 8:30...before the world starts to stir.

You'll feel like your days are longer, thus g iv ing you more time to do things!

PRAY Once you're awake, spend your quiet time alone with God. Find the quietest room in your house.

For me, that's my closet. You'll f ind my Bible right next to my mascara and heels. Jesus doesn't deser ve the last of you when you lay down after a long day to say your prayers. Start your day fresh and g ive it all to the Lord. He will g ive you all the strength you need to tack le even the busiest days!

EAT BREAKFAST I know I may be in the minorit y, but I actually wake up hungr y. For those of you who are my like my husband, you will need to work on this.

Tr y something small f irst - crackers, toast, fruit, yog urt. It's important to start your metabolism for the day so that you can attack your to-do list.

SET A GOAL Speak ing of lists, have something you want to accomplish. Studies show that if you set a goal, you're more likely to reach it by the end of the day. Or maybe I just made that part up - either way, it's worked for me, so what could it hurt for you to tr y?

CONSTANTLY TIDY UP Rather than waiting for a 4 -hour cleaning marathon, tr y pick ing up a little at a time. I prefer to pick up trash, toys, clothes, cups, plates, etc. as I move from room to room. Once the sink is full, I tack le it ASA P. Once the laundr y basket is full, I start a load of clothes. Once I can't see the f loor of our Play Room because I just threw all the toys back in there from various rooms in the house, the boys clean it up.

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"BE OPEN TO HEAR GOD'S CALMING VOICE."

If these tips don't help you have a more productive summer, then maybe you have a few tricks up your sleeve you could share with me! We are A L L a communit y together. Let's support each other and share any helpful tips we can along the way.

Xoxo, A ngela

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- FEATU RI NG -

COOL CATS There are so many fabulous kids doing amazing things!

Do you know a Cool Cat who needs to be recognized?

Email the details to kogden@lufkinjourneymagazine.com and you just might see them featured here.

LET'SLOL

WORD FI N D AN D MORE !

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S

U M M

E

R

WORD FIND S

J C A

P

M

C

M C

H

M

P

Y

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Z

E

A

C

H

S U M M E

R

M

S

M H O

T

E

B

H

U

K O

I

G U

F

U

N

W A

T

E

O Q

E

W G L I

J

M M

M V K

BEACH CAMP FUN WATER

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A B

M

R

SUMMER SUN HOT SWIM

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FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS AT ST. CYPRIAN'S SCHOOL HELP A LUFKIN RESIDENT WITH YARD MAINTENANCE.

EIGHTH GRADER JANSEN WARREN AND SIXTH GRADER ALEX TIU HELP A PINECREST RESIDENT LEARN HOW TO USE THE FEATURES OF HER CELL PHONE.

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TAYLOR THOMAS AND KAYDENCE MURPHY HELP WITH KEEPING THEIR CAMPUS CLEAN AT ST. CYPRIAN'S SCHOOL. SOPHIA REED AND GRACE RICHARD HELPING IN THE CHICKEN COOP AT ST. CYPRIAN'S SCHOOL.

ST. CYPRIAN'S 6TH GRADER SUTTON FRANKENS HELPS A PINECREST RESIDENT LEARN HOW TO USE THE FEATURES OF HER CELL PHONE.

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PERSONAL PIZZAS

1 can of large refrigerated biscuits 1 small jar pizza sauce 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 package of pepperoni Any additional toppings you like With a parent’s help, get out a couple of baking sheets and turn on the oven to 375 degrees.

Line your baking sheets with foil or parchment paper. This will make clean-up easy!

Press each biscuit until it’s about 6 inches in diameter.

Spread on the pizza sauce and top with cheese and pepperoni.

Bake the pizzas for about 10 to 15 minutes until the bottoms are light brown and the cheese is bubbly. Have a parent help you get them from the oven. Let them cool and then enjoy!

LET'S

1

2

WHICH VEGETABLE SHOULD YOU NEVER INVITE ON A BOAT TRIP?

3

WHY WAS THE MATH BOOK ALWAYS WORRIED?

WHY DID THE MAN TAKE HIS CLOCK TO THE VET?

ANS WER S - 1. A l e e k. 2 . B e c au se i t ha d so ma ny p robl e ms. 3. B e c au se i t ha d tic k s.

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s e t o N s ' . r D i ps T y t e f a Summe

m in u t e s reen 3 0 ve dar k c s n u s a p p ly ou ha v e n if y mber to 1 - R e m e u g o o u t s id e . E e d s u n s c r e e n ! e o b e f o r e y t a n , y o u s t il l n t d n a our tha in sk ever y h n e e r c s r sun p ly y o u 2 - R e -a p u t s id e . o , nose you are our face y n e e r c o suns forget t 3 - D o n 't e s! otec t th and ear an to pr c u o y hen a hat w 4 - Wear ur head . o eyes . top of y c t your e t o r p o sses t s u n g la s 5 - Wear

NG

T E G VI O M

r S

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GRAB A FRIEND AND A JUMP ROPE AND LEARN SOME NEW TRICKS! HAVE A CONTEST TO SEE WHO CAN JUMP THE LONGEST WITHOUT STOPPING. PLAY YOUR FAVORITE SONG AND SEE IF YOU CAN JUMP UNTIL IT'S OVER.

5/11/18 2:39 PM

f a m i ly | E V E R Y T H I N G

E L S E

More Good Than Evil.

WRIT TEN BY

KRIS BALL

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I absolutely love this time of year and I know

however, was not the beautiful beaches of

what you’re thinking. You’re thinking about

Mexico or the amazing food we ate while

how hot it’s about to get and how the children

we were there.

are about to be released from school…. that’s

that I got to spend at George Bush airport in

right friends, summer is upon us!

Houston before the vacation ever started. We

It was the couple of hours

f lew out on a Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., which I guess I’m personally excited about summer

means we got there about 5:30 that morning.

because of all the fun stuff we have planned

I’m thoroughly convinced that my wife and I

in the upcoming months. Leslie and I kicked

were the only happy people that morning at the

off the “summer of vacations” with a little

airport. God bless the TSA and the job they

getaway ourselves in April. We celebrated our

do, but you could not have paid one of them to

13th wedding anniversary this past November

smile that morning.

and took a trip to Cancun for five days to celebrate it.

That got me to thinking about how we impact each other’s day when our paths cross.

Vacations are such a blessing. There was a time

Whether we are at work or on vacation, every

in both of our lives where vacations were not

person that I interact with or see throughout

possible, either because of money or time. Not

the day has the ability to affect my life. Some

too long ago, there was a time when my wife

affect us positively and some negatively. So

didn’t even want to go on vacation with me. I

I started thinking that just because everyone

couldn’t blame her, but times have changed!

works together at the airport, that doesn’t make it an enjoyable place to be. Now that

Cancun is truly an amazing place to visit.

I think about it, I don’t know that I’ve ever

It has to be one of the most beautiful places

enjoyed my experience at any airport.

in the world. The white, sandy beaches, the

best part is always the f light.

The

turquoise water, the palm trees with coconuts on them. It is a beautiful place. I imagine God

So, I tried not to let this bother me and really

smiled after he created it.

gave it no thought until I was having lunch at Dunbar Primary with Brett the other day. I

My way of thinking is so different than what it

noticed how everyone in the cafeteria worked

was 27 months ago. I can see God anywhere. I

together to make it a smooth process. Everyone

see God while I’m deer hunting. I see God when

was polite and friendly. All the teachers spoke

I coach my little boy’s t-ball games. I could see

to me and welcomed me. All the children were

God really good on the beach in Mexico. It’s an

thrilled to see an adult amongst the herd. It

amazing thing viewing the world through this

was like I was a giant. It was really an uplifting

“new pair of glasses.”

experience. Every time I visit his campus, I leave with a little spiritual buzz.

One thing that stuck with me about this trip,

I can see God at the primary school. My little

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boy comes home talking about the librarian and all

got my attention?

the books she has. He talks about his teachers and

airport. All I’m saying is be careful of what you

the ladies in the kitchen. (The food there is amazing

let steal your peace and serenity. God is working

by the way.) He talks of all these positive inf luences

in our lives constantly by putting people and places

he encounters throughout the day, and I thank God.

around us to show us His love. God allowed us to

I thank God because those positive experiences will

enjoy a wonderful vacation at a very special place

stick with him long after he has left Dunbar.

He created, and if I focus on the airport, then the

The unfriendly people at the

negativity is choked out by the glory of God. You have to focus on the good things for them to stick with you.

If you aren’t, then the smallest

Light overcomes darkness. It always has and always

negative thing can push the positive out of your

will. Negative people come in and out of our day

mind. I can be having the best day and someone cut

like fish caught in a net. Don’t let them steal your

me off in traffic or hold up the line while checking

glory. Focus on all the positives. Focus on God’s

out, and suddenly I’m in shambles. Maybe a rude

love. There is a lot of evil in this world. Just turn

customer really tears into me at work for something

on the news and they will fill your mind with all

that I feel I don’t deserve. That’s something that

that is wrong with society. But that’s not the whole

overpowers the positive and takes control of my

picture of what goes on. There is more good than

mind.

evil out there. There are more friendly people than unfriendly people. There is more love than hate.

Go back to the airport in Houston.

My

wife and I were going to one of the most

God is everywhere. You just have to be tuned to the right channel to see Him.

beautiful places in the world, and what

Kris Ball grew up in Mt. Pleasant, Texas but has called Luf kin his home for the past 20 years. He is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University. He brief ly toured as the Ringmaster for the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey circus. He was disbarred from the circus community after supporting the efforts to continue with live elephant performances. Kris has been married to his lovely wife, Leslie for 12 years. They have two boys, Brett who is 6 and Luke who is 4. In his spare time, he enjoys farming, hunting and coaching t-ball.

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f a m i ly | C O A C H A S H L E Y

"You’re a good, good Father, it’s who you are, it’s who you are.

And I’m loved by you, it’s who I am, it’s who I am…"

I

love the way Chris Tomlin sings this song the best.

too. Like the many kickball games we shared, the making of

I absolutely love the lyrics of this song. They ring true to

houses with pine straws, even the times we would just sit and

my heart each time I hear them. For it took me too long to

be with each other. Those were the days!

realize that my one True Father was there all the time.

One thing I remembered each night was all of my cousins I lived with my grandparents until I was 7 years old. They

going home to their moms and dads. Each night I went home

were so good to me. Every need I had was always met. I was

to my grandparents. I do not recall ever asking or thinking

like their 10th child. I was and am their favorite of all 40+

about where my dad was until I was older.

grandkids, and I let my cousins know it whenever I can. I rub it in really good when we are all together. Mom would

I met my dad at a carwash when I was 12-years-old. He lived

come to visit me often. I would spend summers with her

in Seattle, Washington at the time. I remember seeing him

until I was 7 or 8 and I moved to Luf kin to live with her.

for the f irst time and thinking about how handsome he was.

My heart was happy to be with her, but I was also sad to be

To this day he is still a very handsome man.

leaving my grandparents, too.

As time went on, my dad was back in Seattle and I was in As a child, my cousins and I would all get on the same bus

Texas. I longed to be able to see him, talk to him more, and

to get to school and take the same bus to return home. We’d

spend time with him. This never happened. Sometimes he

get our work done and then it was ‘under the tree time’.

would make promises to come and see me, and I remember

Although ‘under the tree’ no longer looks as it did when we

always getting my hopes up because ‘He was really coming

were kids, it’s still a place that holds lots of memories for all

this time’. He never did.

of us.

As a teenage girl there was a hole in my heart. There was For instance, this is where Ruthie was hit in the mouth with

always a missing piece. I thought it was that of a loving

a baseball bat and I fell on an old bike tire and a screw left a

father. I was missing a loving father in my life to stand

nice scar on my lower abdomen. There were fun memories,

beside me, take me to the father/daughter dances, threaten

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f a m i ly | C O A C H A S H L E Y

boys when they came to pick me up for dates, hold me when

just hold me… I love to be held. I would like to sit in your

I was afraid… I missed my father! I thought I was missing

lap and just be held.” I know it’s kind of weird, but it’s what

out.

I like.

Until one day, I realized that My Father was there all along.

One night during worship, He showed me. It was one of the

He had never left me from the day I was born. He had been

most intimate times that I’ve had with my Heavenly Father.

right there the whole time, and it took me nearly 24 years

There we were in a white room, just me and Him. Sitting

discover it.

in His lap, His arms wrapped around me. Tears f looded my eyes… You…You are the only Father I need. Your arms,

God, the Father of all Fathers was there all the time. It was

these are the arms that will hold me up until the end of time.

Him that held me even when there were no physical arms to

You, You Oh God are the perfect Father.

hold me. It was Him that provided all my needs even when it was hard for my grandparents and my mom to do so. It

You’re a good Father, that’s who you are, that’s who you are.

was Him that loved me unconditionally and never left my

And I’m loved by you, that’s who I am that’s who I am…

side. It was Him that held me at night with tears rolling down my face.

No matter what you are seeking… the love of a father or mother, or from a man or a woman…. There is only one

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was attending

TRUE love and that’s the Love of our Heavenly Father…

a prayer group and I had been praying, “Lord, would you

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Ashley Berry|Lover of Jesus|Mother of One|Entrepreneur|Life Coach|Survivor Seeing others come to know Jesus as their Everything and extended naps are her idea of a great day! She’s passionate about coaching others into better days and seeing lives transformed for the better. Her story of overcoming breast cancer is sure to inspire as she proves God's love for each of us even through uncertainty. She’s certain her future husband is stuck in traff ic... in a random city, if you f ind him before she does... please contact her at: ashley@livingzoe.net

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P L A C E S & FA C E S

| R E A D E R S HOWC A S E | C H A L L E N GE | YO U R JO U R N E Y

re a d e r | S H O W C A S E

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PLACES

&

FACES A N GE LI N A C OU N T Y B E N E F I T RODE O , W O M E N I N R E D & E X P O PA R T Y

( P L A C E S & FA C E S P H O T O S P R O V I D E D B Y L I S A C R O W )

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p l a c e s & fa c e s | A N GE LI N A C OU N T Y B E N E F I T RODE O

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He l d t h e l a s t f u l l w e e k e n d i n Ap r i l , t h i s i s o n e o f t h e f i n e s t r o d e o s i n Te x a s . T h i s r o d e o i s a n o f f i c i a l s t o p o n t h e PR CA c i r c u i t a n d a t t r a c t s m o r e th an 2 0,0 0 0 p eople ea ch year.

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p l a c e s & fa c e s | A N GE LI N A C OU N T Y B E N E F I T RODE O

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p l a c e s & fa c e s | WOM E N I N R E D

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Wo o d l a n d H e i g h t s M e d i c a l Ce n t e r h o s t e d i t s A n n u a l Wo m e n i n R e d Lu n c h e o n t h e l a s t T h u rs d ay o f Ap r i l , re m i n d i n g w o m e n t o t a k e p a u s e a n d re m e m b e r t o t a k e c a re of th e m se l ves a n d th e i r h e a r t . Thi s y e a r ’ s g u es t sp e a k e r w a s a u t h o r , a c t r e s s a n d f o r m e r M s . H a w a i i , D o n n a H a r t l e y .

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p l a c e s & fa c e s | WOM E N I N R E D

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p l a c e s & f a c e s | E X P O PA R T Y

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2 0 1 8 m a r k e d t h e 3 5 t h A n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e G e o r g e H . H e n d e r s o n Jr . E xp o Ce n t e r Ma i n A re n a . Th e e v e n t fe a t u re d a s i l e n t a u c t i o n a n d b u c k e t r a f f l e s , fo l l o w e d b y a s t e a k d i n n e r , g u n r a f f l e , a n d l i v e a u c t i o n . T h e a n n u a l p a r t y s e r v e s a n n u a l ly a s t h e m a i n f u n d r a i s e r f o r t h e E xp o Ce n t e r h e r e i n A n g e l i n a Co u n t y .

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p l a c e s & f a c e s | E X P O PA R T Y

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you’ll find faster care in the emergency room. We work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional* in 30 minutes – or less. And, with a team of dedicated medical specialists, we can provide a lot more care, if you need it.

The 30-Minutes-Or-Less E.R. Service Pledge – only at Woodland Heights Medical Center.

WoodlandHeights.net Angelina County is such a giving community.

*Medical professionals may include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Woodland Heights Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes owners, includingbut certain membersofof the hospital’s Not physician only monetarily, giving time, as medical well. staff.

Volunteerism is a large part of what keeps East Texas moving, and being a part of a “village” can really make a difference.

pldg_8_375x10_875c.indd 1

The volunteer “village” at Woodland Heights is over 40 volunteers strong with a combined 300 years of experience. In 2017, those volunteers donated more than 3,000 hours. During all of those hours, countless smiles and helpful attitudes were given to patients and visitors as they entered the hospital, shopped in the gift shop and arrived for surgery.

4/5/17 10:09 AM

At Woodland Heights Medical center, we combine volunteerism with the giving back in our gift shop.

When you shop at the Woodland Heights Gift Shop, you are supporting so much. The volunteers are a friendly, smiling face in uncertain times or times of great joy.

Shopping at Woodland Heights Gift Shop also makes a difference in our healthcare community.

All proceeds are donated to Angelina College to be used for scholarships for students who are furthering their education in a healthcare-related field. This past April the gift shop volunteers presented a check in the amount of $15,000 to the Angelina College Scholarship Program. It is rewarding for this group to see the work they put into the shop ultimately used to better our community.

Are you looking to join a fun and dynamic group?

Do you have a servant’s heart and love for people?

For more information on volunteering at Woodland Heights Medical Center call 936-637-8687 or e-mail Amanda.Anderson@WoodlandHeights.net

YOU CAN’T BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE, BUT YOU CAN BE SOMETHING TO SOMEONE.

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re a d e r ' s | S HOWCA S E

APOLLO MEDFLIGHT EAST TEXAS Welcome Apollo Medf light East Texas to the East Texas community!

Apollo MedFlight provides 24-hour emergency and non-emergency air medical transport. For more information, visit ApolloMedFlight.com.

• South Loop Crossing • 4605 S Medford Dr • (936) 632-2333

OAKSTREET CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS Congratulations to OakStreet Capital Management Advisors on their ribbon cutting! OakStreet Captial is located at 806 S. Timberland Drive and they can help you with any of your private wealth preservation or needs.

Their areas of focus include Wealth Preservation, Tax Planning, and Estate Planning.

FURNISH ME Welcome Furnish Me to the Luf kin area! Furnish Me offers a variety of new and pre-owned pieces perfect for any home.

Have an idea of what you want? Bring in a photo of your inspiration, and the team at Furnish Me will f ind the right pieces for you! Check them out at 1022 S. John Redditt Drive and online at FurnishMeLuf kin.com.

ANGELINA BEAUTIFUL CLEAN Congratulations to Angelina Beautiful/ Clean, Impact Luf kin - Community Driven, the T.L.L Temple Foundation, and the City of Luf kin for their partnership on a beautif ication project in North Luf kin! The project featured is at the corner of Sayers Street and Kurth Drive.

PINECREST HEALTHY LIVING COMMUNITY Congratulations to Pinecrest Healthy Living Community on their newly remodeled Assisted Living facility! Visit them at 1302 Tom Temple Drive, Luf kin.

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your | C H A L L E N G E

T he ChallengeRat her t han stopping to “smell t he roses”, take a moment to I actually did this the other day and my son saw me do it. He reached down and did the same thing and the smile that came to his face was priceless!

stop and feel t he grass.

Really , You just might f ind t hat smile you’ve been missing.

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WORKING TO CONTAIN THE 19,000 ACRE MCDANNALD RANCH FIRE (DAVIS MOUNTAINS, TEXAS) – BY JUSTIN MURRAY, LUFKIN FIRE STATION 3

ARE YOU A PRO OR JUST A HOBBYIST? SHARE YOUR BEST PHOTOGRAPHY WITH US AND GIVE YOUR JOURNEY SOME EXPOSURE. SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHS WILL APPEAR IN THE JOURNEY MAGAZINE. PLEASE SEND YOUR HIGH RESOLUTION (300 DPI) IMAGES TO

kkhudman@yahoo.com

INCLUDE YOUR NAME, CONTACT INFORMATION AND ANY TITLE YOU WISH TO GIVE YOUR PHOTO. WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR JOURNEY IN THE BEST MAGAZINE!

KELLEN WAS HONORED AS THE DISTRICT 23-2A BOYS SINGLES CHAMPION AND A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALIST. AND IN BASKETBALL, HE WAS NAMED TO THE 2ND ALL DISTRICT TEAM. LOTS OF HARD WORK THIS YEAR! BRIAN WAS HONORED AS COACH OF THE YEAR FOR DISTRICT 23-2A – BY SHARON KRUK

BABY D IS A BOY! - BY MACI DOVER

SHE SAID YES! SPENCER HINES PROPOSING TO HIS FUTURE WIFE MADISON DANIELL -BY VALARIE HUTTO

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LHS PANTHER PLAYERS AFTER THEIR PRESENTATION OF "YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN"

WE HAVE A MAJORETTE IN THE HOUSE! - BY LISA CROW

BABY CHICKS HANGING AROUND OUR GARDEN WHILE WE HARVEST POTATOES - BY GUSTAVO MONSANTE IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING FOR A ZOO TRIP WITH OUR SWEET NIECE ELLIE - BY CYNTHIA POUNDS

CELEBRATING NURSES WEEK AT ANGELINA COLLEGE - BY TONYA LAFORGE

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BRING ON THE SUMMER!!

- BY LINDA MORAN

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Apple Devices

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T EX AS OUT D O OR EV ENT S | NWTF NEWS | FI SH I NG FOR BEGI N N ERS | TAST E OF TH E OUT D O ORS | A ROU N D TH E CAM PFI R E

Prese n ts :

sp o r t s & | OU T D O OR S

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TEXAS sp o r t s & o u t d o o r s | T E X A S O U T D O O R E V E N T S

Texas state parks host a wide range of activities throughout the year.

We’ve gathered a few here, but be sure to check out the TPWD online calendar for a full list of events across the state. You can also f ind more information on specif ic times, maps/directions, and contact info.

Visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar

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JUNE 1: Friday Afternoon Hikes – Huntsville State Park Join Ranger Pick on an easy hike every Friday afternoon at 1pm!

JUNE 2: Dutch Oven Cooking– Daingerf ield State Park Come Join the Dutch Oven D.O.G.s for great food and fellowship the f irst Saturday of the month.

JUNE 2: Build-A-Gator Family Workshop – Huntsville State Park Help Ranger Pick turn an audience member into an alligator!

JUNE 2: Saturday Night Dances – Daingerf ield State Park Come join us for music, dancing, and fun for the whole family!

JUNE 9: Lake Tawakoni Sportsman’s Association Sand Bass Tournament - Lake Tawakoni State Park For more information about the tournament please contact our office at 903-560-7123.

JUNE 9: Stagecoach Saturday – Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site Travel back to 1850 aboard a mule-drawn stagecoach!

JUNE 9: Yoga in the Woods – Huntsville State Park Join us for a relaxing afternoon of Yoga in the woods.

JUNE 16: Ranger Led Hikes – Lake Bob Sandlin State Park Enjoy nature with a Ranger led hike!

JUNE 23: Star Party – Lake Whitney State Park Come out and view the waxing moon at our Night Sky Party.

JUNE 30: Media Bass Fishing Tournament Lake Tawakoni State Park For more information about the tournament please contact our office at 903-560-7123.

JUNE 30: Red, White, & Blue 5K – Daingerf ield State Park Join us for our 2nd annual Red, White & Blue 5K Run at Daingerf ield State Park! This will be the opening event for our Freedom Fest.

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sp o r t s & o u t d o o r s | NWTF NEWS

30TH PINEYWOODS HUNTING HERITAGE BANQUET written by

DALE BOUNDS

The Pineywoods NWTF Chapter (PNWTFC) presents the 30th NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquet on July 28th. We invite you to join us at the Luf kin Civic Center (Pitser Garrison Civic Center) for an actionpacked evening as we raise funds to “Save the Habitat and Save the Hunt”. The PNWTFC will have live and silent auctions with great hunting and f ishing trips, gun and bucket raff les, along with a great meal.

For many years, the PNWTFC group has been one of the top fund-raising chapters in the nation. The last 29 years attendees have enabled the PNWTFC to generate 1.9 million dollars that have helped fund the NWTF mission “Save the Habitat and Save the Hunt”. Many of the dollars have been used on projects in East Texas in the form of making Texas lands better wildlife habitat for hunting.

The PNWTFC is involved in four important local NWTF Outreach efforts. We are planning 4 events in 2018: • Women in the Outdoors Event (May 5th) • Texas State JAKES ( Juniors, Acquiring, Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) event Winston Tree Farm (September)

• Bream Buster Wheelin’ Sportsman Fishing Event at Luf kin State Supported Living Center (Oct.) • Angelina Wheelin’ Sportsman Deer Hunt on US Forest Service- SFA Experimental Forest, TPWD - Alazan Wildlife Management Area and the Winston Tree Farm. (December)

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These outreach event helps pass the Save the Habitat -Save the Hunt message to youth and adults that attend these outreach events each year. Pineywoods NWTF President, Richard Capps and the volunteer committee members are gearing up for the Pineywoods 30th NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquet at the Luf kin Civic Center. Capps states,” Without funds, we can’t do the work for wildlife management to save our hunting tradition.”

Come help us celebrate our 30th Pineywoods NWTF Hunting Heritage Banquet, at the Pitser Garrison Civic Center on July 28, 2018. Doors open at 6 pm. New members are always welcome to join our great group of volunteers.

For ticket information contact: Richard Capps at 936-366-1877 or pineywoodschptnwtf@gmail.com

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FISHING for

BEGINNERS WRITTEN by - Emily Courtney

sp o r t s & o u t d o o r s | F I S H I N G F O R B E G I N N E R S

I

consider myself a fairly well-rounded outdoors person, but I freely admit that I am not a fisherwoman. I never took to it, developed the skill or necessary interest to learn the ins and outs, or all the bits and baubles involved. I’ve tried a few times over recent years to get more seriously involved in fishing, but every time I realize that I’d rather just relax on the boat with a beverage in hand. However, I do happen to have some incredibly accomplished fishermen in my acquaintance. So, in the interest of any of our readers who might actually be interested in wading into fishing waters for the first time, I thought I’d sit down with them and gather some of their wisdom to share.

Taylor Bowling was born with river water running through his veins. He can catch anything that swims and drive anything that f loats. He loves being on the water and has probably logged more hours with a fishing pole than anyone I know. These days you may even find him with a f ly rod in hand, of his own making no less. He ties his own f lies, too, and is the second best fish fryer I’ve ever known after my own grandpa.

I asked him, “If I came to you wanting to know how to get started fishing, knowing nothing, what would you tell me?” This is his paraphrased response:

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sp o r t s & o u t d o o r s | F I S H I N G F O R B E G I N N E R S

Start with thinking about where you will be fishing, whether it’s a private pond you have access to or a lake at a state park, or a fishing pier. The water you’ll be fishing and the type of fish you’re pursuing to some extent will determine the type of gear you need. However, with that being said, you can easily assemble a basic setup that will suit the majority of your needs as a beginner. For pan fish and bass on small ponds and lakes, as well as catfish in river systems, a 6.5 foot rod with a spinning reel and 10-12 pound mono line is a good all around outfit. This can all be acquired at Walmart or any basic sporting goods store.

Then of course, there’s always the classic cane pole. This is where I got my start. It’s the most straightforward method and can be the easiest way to get into it. Pick up a pole, some hooks and bobbers, and a bucket of crickets, and you’re in business. Live bait is the way to go for beginners. Depending on the species you’re going after, you can use anything from crickets to worms or nightcrawlers to chicken livers. Talk to people in local stores where you buy your gear or in the area where you’re fishing to gather info about hot spots and strategies that work in those waters. Once a fish is caught, pliers or hemostats are a must have piece of gear for hook removal. If you plan to catch and release, fish care can be of concern. Always wet your hands before handling a fish. To reduce stress, minimize the amount of time the fish is out of water. Reviving or helping the fish recover and swim away from your hand can help survival.

James Floyd takes more joy from fishing, and everything he does outdoors, than anyone else alive. He is a student of the sport and is one of the most knowledgeable people I know on the subject. He loves trying different strategies and tackle, and matching wits with the fish. You may find him on the local lakes in his aluminum boat, kayaking a creek, or wading a stream with a f ly rod and his self-tied f lies.

I posed the same question to James, and he echoed many of Taylor’s thoughts:

Keep it simple. You don’t have to make it complicated. Many people like to start their fishing venture at a private pond or somewhere secluded so they can learn and practice without fear of judgment or ridicule if they make mistakes. State agencies and extension services sometimes host fishing rodeos to introduce kids and beginners to the sport, and this is a great way to learn the basics and find local public access to state park lakes and waterways. Talk to local people to learn about access to different fishing spots. For kids, start with a simple setup like a cane pole or a Zebco push button and live bait. Even adults often prefer to start out with a cane pole. That would be my recommendation.

Don’t worry about types of reels or line size or lures. Just get a pole, small hooks, corks, and some live bait. I’d suggest going after bream at first for a more action packed experience than you typically get with bass fishing. Finally, always admire your catch, regardless of the size or species.

Talking with both of these seasoned fishermen revealed that their earliest experiences involved basic equipment and a lot of trial and error. They learned as they went from there. That seems to be a great method to follow for anyone with the desire to wet a hook for the first time. Keep it simple. It’s all too easy to overthink and overcomplicate fishing, but it’s completely unnecessary to do so just to get started. Seek out resources in your area to gather knowledge and information, and be patient enough to learn as you go. Don’t forget to enjoy the experience. As the saying goes,

“There are a million-and-one ways to enjoy a day’s angling.

Catching fish is but one of them.”

- Fennel Hudson

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sp o r t s & o u t d o o r s | T A S T E O F T H E O U T D O O R S

COLESLAW Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: none Yields: 8-12 servings INGREDIENTS 1-2 lbs of cabbage or bagged coleslaw mix ½ cup mayonnaise 3 tablespoons vinegar 3 tablespoons sugar ½ medium onion, chopped Squirt of yellow mustard or honey mustard Salt & pepper to taste *Dressing ingredient measurements are approximate and can be increased or reduced (maintaining proportions) based on how much cabbage is used and how wet or dry your prefer your slaw.

DIRECTIONS 1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl.

2. Add cabbage to a separate large bowl and pour dressing over.

3. Stir until all cabbage is coated with dressing.

4. Place coleslaw in refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes to an hour.

5. Serve with your freshly caught fried f ish and hush puppies!

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There’s nothing quite like gathering around a campfire to share stories and experiences from our time outdoors. We’d like to invite you to share your stories with us here by submitting photos of you and your loved ones enjoying the outdoors.

Whether they’re snaps from a weekend camping trip, proof of a conquered hike, or a trophy shot of your kid with their first fish, we want to see them!

sp o r t s & o u t d o o r s | A R O U N D T H E C A M P F I R E

We know there’s a great community of outdoors enthusiasts in East Texas, and we’d love to see what you’re up to!

Submit photos on our Facebook page, or post on Instagram using the hashtag #journeyout, and we’ll choose the best to print here every month!

"SERIOUS BUSINESS" -BY SISSY AND CLAY COLWELL

SUBMIT PHOTOS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, OR POST ON INSTAGRAM USING THE HASHTAG #JOURNEYOUT, AND WE’LL CHOOSE THE BEST TO PRINT HERE EVERY MONTH!

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