Ccontents coOnN teT ntEN s TS
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“A DATE NIGHT IN THE MAKING”
tips
8 14 16
BUSINESS Teri Moten
WEDDING PLANNING Aubrey McWilliams
SPEAKING LEGALLY Diane Kliem
22 FITNESS TIP PREVENTION 28 CRIME officer John Turner HOME 30 DREAM Matt Studer
12 WHO’S THAT LADY? PART 8 MEET KATHLEEN CAREY CARD
by Robin Janecka
features
6 ANNOUNCEMENTS ENTERTAINMENT IN
22 THE CROSSROADS
31 32
REAL ESTATE BLACK BOOK
& GARY MOSES CALENDAR OF EVENTS
games
24 YOUR WORD by Michele Rohde
PUZZLE 10 PICTURE Win a dinner for 2 PUZZLE 08 SUDOKU Win Family Package from
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CROSSROADS CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Win a dinner for 2 from Dickey’s B-B-Q!
Outlaw Pass!
comments THOMAS CEFY SALAZAR All Things Crossroads keeps you current on local opportunities both business and pleasure. Great FB page.
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PITTY PAWS BULLY RESCUE by Aubrey McWilliams
SHENA ENGLISH Crossroads magazine is the best place to find out everything going on in our community. Follow Us on our Blog : http://www.allthingscrossroads.com/index.php/blog
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WE ARE PROUD MEMBERS THE VICTORIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND VICTORIA CHAMBER AMBASSADORS SUPPORTERS OF C.A.S.A. FOR MORE INFORMATION: 361-573-3734
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Publisher/ Editor Vickie Romero
Creative Director Bernard Ray Bluntzer Jr.
Executive Writer
Delivery D li
Carolyn Mann Morehead
Eddie & Sandra Flores
Your complimetary magazine to what the locals know where locals go. VOL. 10 • ISSUE 2 • JANUARY 2020 COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE
contact us: All Things Crossroads Magazine 8806 N. Navarro Ste 600-272 Victoria, TX 77904 email: staff@allthingscrossroads.com 361-935-8366 www.allthingscrossroads.com
All Things Crossroads Magazine. This entire document is owned by All Things Crossroads Magazine and no portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of All Things Crossroads Magazine. All articles are intended as information not as advice.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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T H E CRO SSR O ADS L E ADE R
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BUSINESS tip
SIMPLE MARKETING TOOLS TO KICK S TA R T T H E N E W Y E A R Today, I’d like to teach you about the three most simple, yet important start up marketing tools you need to get and keep new customers. 1) In person: It’s essential you meet with customers/clients in person whenever possible. This shows you respect them and take the time to work with your clients to give personal attention to each of them. 2) Follow up letter: Always take a moment to send a follow up letter about what you talked about, new agreements or partnerships made and to thank them for taking the time to meet with you. Likewise, you should always send thank you letters or small gifts to partners you find success with. 3) Phone call: Use a telephone call to follow up with them to talk again about the matters you talked about in your meeting and offer any assistance you can to help their business run smoothly and more successfully. None of these will work if you don’t have a quality product/ service to back you up! Here are the key steps for putting together your start-up marketing tools: 1) Research potential customers, buyers, competitors and their preferred methods of distribution. 2) Talk to potential customers. Take a hard look at your product from a customer’s perspective and see what it needs to be successful. 3) Develop systems for contact follow through, quality control standards and customer service. 4) Develop post-sale follow up system to keep lines of communication open with customers. Start your year with simple marketing tools for your business success! Teri R. Moten, MBA Business Consultant and Empowerment Coach
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Just complete the SUDOKU puzzle for your chance to win, cut it out and return to: Prize All Things Crossroads, 8806 N. Navarro Ste. 600-272, Victoria, TX 77904 or You Can Also Drop Off At UPS STORE 8806 N. Navarro Suite 600, Victoria. Remember to provide your name, address and telephone number. Closing Date: LAST DAY OF THIS MONTH, ONLY ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD ACCEPTED. DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES TO WIN! email your submission to staff@allthingscrossroads to sign-up for our newsletter.
GAME Picture Puzzle
WIN LUNCH for 2!
Find all 7 differnces • Win from DON JOSE MEXICAN RESTAURANT! Photo by Richard Stone .Just complete the picture puzzle for your chance to win, use your smartphone to text it with your info to staff@allthingscrossroads.com or cut it out and return to: Prize All Things Crossroads, 8806 N. Navarro Ste. 600-272, Victoria, TX 77904. You Can Also Drop Off At UPS STORE 8806 N. Navarro Suite 600, Victoria. Remember to provide your name, address and telephone number. Closing Date: LAST DAY OF THIS MONTH. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD ACCEPTED.
DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES AND email your submission to
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
in San Antonio, Kathleen and her mother moved back here pretty quickly. Then, at the age of five, her mom and stepdad moved to Illinois, four years later to Connecticut, and ten years later she moved back to Victoria. Her parents followed a few years later. Kathleen’s family are seven generation Victorians. And I have heard this over and over - Victoria lures you home!
KATHLEEN and I met in 2010 while serv-
a degree in fashion merchandising/ marketing from Southwest Texas State (Texas State), Kathleen really did not like fashion by the time it was over! She does make an extra effort to dress fashionably daily, of course. After a brief time in Austin, she was back at work for the college for about four years. Someone suggested she would be good at marketing in healthcare, and Kathleen got her first job at a nursing facility in Edna. She stayed a year and was educated with the world of Medicare and Medicaid. She then heard about a position opening at Hospice of South Texas. The thought of working for a nonprofit really appealed to her already generous heart. She and her team are continually raising money to make sure that anyone who needs end-of-life care gets it regardless of their ability to pay. Kathleen feels the rewards of her
ing on the Healthy Woman-DeTar board. We worked together with a group of other community-driven ladies to organize annual events to reach out to women of all ages to educate and improve their health and well-being. These events have brought together thousands of women where we have been motivated and inspired by guest speakers such as Elizabeth Smart, Ali Vincent, Kelly Swanson, and Dale Smith Thomas. We then crossed paths again and again throughout the community at benefits and social events. Kathleen is a motivated and caring individual and any person, or animal, is all the better for having her in their lives.
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BORN
Can you believe we are in a new decade? Have you made a list of goals and milestones you intend on meeting this year? Well, I hope that includes making new friends along with working on your existing friendships. With that being said, I would like to introduce you to the next fabulous lady who makes the Crossroads a better place along with being a blessing to her friends and family. Meet Kathleen Carey Card.
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WITH
position and will be celebrating 15 years with Hospice in January 2020. Congratulations! What a milestone!
BEYOND
the fund raising efforts for Hospice of South Texas, Kathleen is involved with additional community efforts. She assists Post Acute Medical with some amazing events for sending care packages overseas to our soldiers. She participates with Go Red for Women (American Heart Association) hosting a benefit fashion show annually. Kathleen is definitely a worker-bee and believes having a servant’s heart is a very important personal trait. She hopes her children are learning from her example as they grow into caring and generous members of society. She strives to teach her children to be kind, love nature, and always look out for their tribe.
horse running down the road! The sweet dog had a chip, and was returned to its family. Kathleen uses a network of friends to help rehome many of her animal finds and they all go on to live happily ever after.
2020 is a big year for Hospice
of South Texas as they will becelebrating our 35th year as a nonprofit organization servicing the Crossroads area for those patients and families who are dealing with life limiting illnesses. Her goal is always to educate more so people are not fearful of end-of-life care and allow us to come be a part of their family sooner rather than later. Every day Kathleen hears people express that they wish they would have known about hospice services sooner! Comfort care is just another type of care, and we should spend just as much on end-of-life care as we do for the beginning of life.
KATHLEEN
is part of a very close-knit family. She and her sweet husband Randy were married in 2012. She is very proud of her 19-year-old college student, Jane, who will be an Aggie in the spring, and 17-year-old stepdaughter who is a senior, Laira, and then little 6-year-old love bug, RJ. Her parents Kathleen and Thomas are the true inspiration to her generosity. Big family gatherings are an advantage of living near to one another and the whole family gets together very often to spend quality time.
BUT
Kathleen is also blessed with being a friend toall of God’s creatures. She and her mother have been on some interesting adventures! They have captured a sick owl, squirrels, dove, deer, and, of course, more dogs and cats than they can count. Currently, she has nine dogs and three cats. If she brings anymore into the house, she is pretty sure divorce papers will be on the kitchen table! The last dog that ended up in her car very recently was a Great Dane who she thought was a
OF
course, another goal is always to educate people on spaying and neutering their pets as well as remembering what a commitment an animal is, and not giving up on them as they get older! Dogs and cats, or any other pet are not immune to aging and they depend on us for love, support, and care. They give us unconditional love in return!
AS
you see, this wonderful lady has made a greatdifference in the Crossroads. If you have two legs, gray hair, and wrinkles - or - four legs, fur, and eat kibble, Kathleen will make sure you are well-loved and have a friend if even briefly. Kathleen professes that we have a wonderful community and lots of volunteer opportunities. If animals or end-of-life care are not your thing, there are plenty of other places to volunteer! Thank you, Kathleen, for all you do!
WEDDING PLANNING tip
Time to get planning! BY: A U BREY MC W ILLIA MS PHO TO B Y C L OV ER A N D V E IL P H OT OG R A P H Y.
The
beginning of every year means it’s wedding fair season. There are so many checklists and things to be done.
First
determine your wedding budget. This mostly depends on your guest count. Food and décor are typically the largest ticket items and both are determined by guest count.
When
deciding a date, consider the demand of that wedding season. Certain months of the year are very busy for vendors. If you have a certain vendor in mind, make sure to book them early. Sometimes brides wait until a month or so before her big day and her favorite vendors are booked already.
an educated decision. Invest in the things that stay with you after the wedding. Your photos and video become cherished items that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Once
booked, trust your vendors to do the job you hired them to do. I often say, “a wedding started when two people fell in love, now you must fall in love with your vendors.”
Don’t overwhelm yourself with DIY. A bride
handmaking every single centerpiece or guests favors can lead to stress. Think of a few small items that will give your wedding a personal touch without adding a boatload of work to your already busy schedule.
Additionally,not all flowers are available Lastly, hire a Day-of-Coordinator. Everyone
all year. When deciding on your floral, look for flowers that are in season on your wedding date. If you plan a winter wedding and are obsessed with a summer flower, expect to pay quite a bit more per stem.
Choose
your vendors based on quality of work over price alone. Look at their work and make
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needs a day-of, they just don’t realize it until the day of. I provide coordination through my company Events by Aubrey. I’d love to help your wedding be a magical day. Let me take your stress. Check out my website eventsbyaubrey.com today!
SPEAKING legally
GUARDIANSHIPS A guardianship is created when a court
When the ward is a minor, a guardian
gives a person, known as the guardian, limited or full authority over the person and/or the estate of an incapacitated person. An “incapacitated person” can be a minor, defined as someone under age 18, or an adult that cannot care for their own physical health or financial affairs due to a physical or mental condition. The incapacitated person is referred to as the “proposed ward” or “ward.” The need for a guardianship often arises out of immediate necessity; however, the establishment of a future guardianship can be a helpful estate planning tool.
of the person is appointed when both parents are unfit or deceased. A guardian of the ward’s estate may be appointed if the minor has inherited a substantial amount of money, property, or is receiving a monthly monetary benefit.
A guardian of the person has the right to physical possession of the ward or the option to choose where the ward will live. The guardian has the duty to provide care, supervision, and protection for the ward. This includes providing the ward with food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. The guardian of the ward’s estate can access, control, and manage all property belonging to the ward, manage the ward’s financial affairs, and bring and defend suits by or against the ward.
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Guardianships of incapacitated adults are usually created due to a ward’s mental incapacity. This might apply to older adults suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Degenerative conditions such as these make it increasingly difficult for the ward to manage their personal and financial affairs, making a guardian necessary for the safety and welfare of the ward and their property. If there is a history of one of these degenerative conditions in the family, selecting an individual to serve as guardian before the need arises can bring peace of mind to the entire family. At Kliem & Associates we handle guardianship proceedings as well as other estate planning matters. At Kliem & Associates, we are “Not just a law firm. A relationship.”
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How often do you say or hear others say that there is nothing to do in Victoria? When I was a teenager, which was a while ago, I went through many phases of style, depending on the group of friends I hung out with. Sometimes I played the hippy with long straight hair parted in the middle. I was wearing bell bottoms, fringe and listening to Alice Cooper, Doobie Brothers or Grand Funk Railroad. I cruised places like Lands and the Jet or just hung out with friends. Other times I was a Kicker, with my low cut skin tight dragging the floor pants, fitted shirt tucked in, a big belt buckle and of course my custom made Lucchese boots. These are the times I was truly in my element. I cruised the Corral and dated cowboys.
I grew up with parents and grandparents who loved to dance and were fabulous dancers, so it’s no surprise that I would learn to dance at an early age. I was constantly forced to go to dances with my family and learned the steps from my Dad, Grandfather and any of their friends who fancied dancing with a young girl. By my teens I realized was pretty good at dancing and started going to the 2nd oldest dance hall in Texas, Schroeder Dance Hall. I lived in the country so it wasn’t really that far away. My friends and I started out by having my parents drop us off at Schroeder and we usually had no problem finding a friend to bring us home. Things were so different in the 70s. If I wasn’t at Schroeder on a Saturday night, I was at Sun Valley, another popular dance venue. What I found is
that unless there was a special event hosted at Sun Valley, you mostly went there with a date. My friends and I liked to keep our options open so Schroeder was our first go to for a fun night of scoot’n our boots with each other or hopefully boys.
Hot Pants came into style during that time and I am all about keeping up with fashion so you know I was showing off my legs and strutting the Hot Pants my Mom made for me. And of course, they led to lots of dancing.
The cool thing about Schroeder at that time were the waiters that we made friends with. They were sharp in their black dress pants, white shirt, bow tie and white jackets. They may or may not have snuck us a beer now and then. Schroeder was and still is a family friendly venue so parents were comfortable allowing their daughter’s to experience a legendary piece of history.
The interesting part of this story is that I met my husband at a dance. We danced our way to love and frequented Schroeder often, me in my Rocky Mountains
and him in his tight Wranglers. We loved listening and dancing to our favorite bands like The Drifters, The Moods, The Velvets and The Kustoms. Some 40 years later and as we have aged we have gotten away from regular date nights and doing things that brought us together. I know I can’t be the only couple who allows life to interrupt having fun. You can go out to eat or to a movie, but the best connection with your significant other is the physical contact of a slow dance to your favorite song. I am the past President of VPEN and we are currently creating that perfect date night. We are offering you the opportunity to experience a fun night of dinner, dancing and bingo at the legendary Schroeder Dance Hall. Your contribution will help our nonprofit provide education and scholarships to area students and business women. The best part of this evening is the possibility of going home with $5000 if you are the lucky Bingo winner. It doesn’t matter what age you are, but if you relate even a little to this story, don’t you think it’s time to relive a little of your youth for a good time?
Grab your date, spouse or girlfriends and come out to Schroeder on March 28th, 2020. You are certain to have a great time and you will be contributing to local business women, learning about the great women of VPEN and your community. Look around town for posters about this wonderful event or check out the Schroeder website. If you would like to know more or are interested in donating a silent auction item, contact Vicki Wagner at vaw1027@gmail.com 361-935-3343 T H E CRO SSR O ADS L E ADE R
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FITNESS tip
11 GYM MEMBERSHIP TIPS TO HELP YOU GET T H E B E S T R E S U LT S Are you feeling like you’re getting the most out of your gym membership? Perhaps, you’re considering joining, but aren’t sure you will get your money’s worth. Making a commitment to your health is important. That’s why we’re here to support you as you set and reach your fitness goals. Here are 11 tips to help you get the results you want from your gym membership. 1. START WITH WHAT YOU WANT Having firm fitness goals you want to achieve is the way to start. Do you want to lose weight, get stronger, run a marathon? Setting goals gives you something to work towards, but also will help you stay focused on the right kinds of exercise. 2. HAVE A PLAN OF ATTACK Your gym time can quickly become unfocused if you don’t have a plan to start with. Map out what you want to do each time you are there and stick to the plan. If you’re unsure what to do, take advantage of free consultations or schedule time with a personal trainer. This is a worthwhile investment to make sure you get the most benefit from your workouts. 3. MAKE A COMMITMENT & STICK TO IT Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was your current
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fitness level. It takes dedication. Go into your commitment to the gym knowing that you will see results fairly quickly, but it will take time and effort to reach your goals. 4. STAY FOCUSED When you’re at the gym, don’t get sucked into multitasking. You’re there to improve your health, strength or agility; not working or checking Facebook. Anything that isn’t your workout is just going to distract you from your workout. This is where having a scheduled plan of action comes in handy … so you can stay focused on doing what you came there to do. 5. DEVELOP THE HABIT OF GOOD FORM Going to the gym and working out, sticking with exercise classes … those are good habits to develop. So is using good form during your exercises. If you don’t, you could risk hurting yourself. Watching what other people do can lead to learning the wrong things. Nothing can replace having an instructor or personal trainer answer your questions and help you develop your form. 6. GET A BUDDY Some people enjoy working out alone; but, not everyone. You can increase the amount of fun you have at the gym by getting someone to come along. Having a gym buddy can also mean you have someone there to help keep you motivated. And, if you’re both really focused on getting healthier, you could get in on small group training with a personal trainer.
7. BE ADVENTUROUS It’s easy to get into a rut at the gym. You start doing certain exercises or using certain equipment, then it becomes comfortable. If you’re going to exceed your fitness goals, you’re going to have to stretch yourself … so be a little adventurous and keep trying new things. 8. DO MORE THAN THE GYM Part of increasing your body’s ability and strength rests on you pushing yourself. Sometimes, what you need to go beyond a plateau is a different activity or focus. You can stretch yourself by scheduling a few sessions with a personal trainer or trying some new classes. 9. GET A CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER Having personal trainer means having somewhere there to listen to your goals and create a fitness plan to help you reach them. Personal training is 100% focused on you! With a trainer, you’ll learn the exercises you need to do, how to do them properly and get motivation from someone who cares about you. 10. GET GOOD SLEEP As odd as it may sound, this is one of the more important things that you can do to increase the benefit from your gym membership. Regular rest is something your body needs to recover and rebuild those muscles! Commit to sleeping 8 or more hours every night. 11. TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE Remember, the results you want will take time and dedication. Don’t wait until the end to celebrate. Revel in the fact that with each mile, each new routine, each night of sore muscles … you’re winning it for yourself! So, celebrate every day, knowing tomorrow you’ll look and feel that much better.
Happy New Year! 2020 is finally here! For some, though, it could be a less hopefilled time or even annoying depending on current & past circumstances. Honestly, it is not without good reason to give up on setting new resolutions, because what I’ve learned through years of helping others with their goals, vision boards & challenges is that by February, 90% of New Year resolutions have been abandoned. Life creeps back in & takes over – fast. It can be depressing. It can cause cynicism, resentment &/or hopelessness. Not to mention, sometimes life can simply hit us hard with unexpected challenges before we even get the chance to think about setting positive goals. The rug can get pulled right out from under our happy lives without our say so at any given moment. When we experience loss or another devastating circumstance like this, it’s difficult to even be in the right frame of mind or mood to think about the future, because it hurts too bad.
So,
what do you do? Do you try to live with rose-colored glasses anyway? Do you resolve
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not to make new resolutions at the start of the new year? Do you suffer through the challenges the best you know how? How do you change things if you don’t want to stay where you are? Or, if things are good, should you leave well enough alone?
These are insightful questions we should ask ourselves so that we may strive to find an answer that truly brings us peace. Peace is a good thing to strive for first. How can you find peace?
I
think that when we are living well, the evidence in our life will be the good fruit it bears. The good fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control. If we have evidence of these in our lives, life is good!
If
we are experiencing any of the opposites of these like anger, sadness, confusion, impatience, disloyalty, disobedience, fear, hopelessness or etc, it’s a flashing warning sign that we are wounded & missing something we desperately need.
So,
here is what I propose if you want to start to overcome the bad fruit, and experience more of the good fruits in your life no matter how big or small it feels. Even if you are someone just trying to juggle it all better. Family, faith, finances, fitness & etc! How do we balance it all without losing our minds? Is it even possible to balance it all & feel happy at the same time?
Yes, I believe it is. But it is a continual process. It is a process we will have to come back to every time life starts to feel hard again. It’s also not a one size fits all process. It will look a little different for everyone, as it should, because we are all at different stages of our journey. But, I believe these 2 things I’m going to share would be helpful to you no matter what, so here we go… 1) Make a list of your values. List the most important, valuable things you feel are necessary for you to feel like you are living a good life. Think on this: if you were 100 yrs old looking back so satisfied & proudly on a life well-lived, what would you be seeing? List those things out. Then, start to look at your present, day to day life. What things are you doing every day that aren’t in alignment with your values? Make a commitment to do more of what matters and less of what doesn’t. Is it surfing social media or spending time with toxic people or other habits instead of with your children for example? Then, replace those unconstructive things with the positive values/ actions that fill your heart & soul. Things that will make you proud and make a difference. This process is how you create the space without adding to your already full plate. Decide what you don’t want to do anymore & replace it
with what matters most. It’s not an all or nothing approach either. You can start by committing to just a few days a week, see how it feels and go from there. Be gentle with yourself in the beginning with lots of grace. Pray. Reach out to other positive role models and communities for support. Things will improve when you start with awareness and finish with small, consistent action steps. That’s the secret formula that will keep on giving as long as you invite God into that space every single day to guide you. 2) The second thing I think you would find helpful, may sound as cliched and cheesy as New Year resolutions, but if done correctly, I think it will help to bring you more of that peace you may be seeking. It is to find out “your word” for 2020. Some people choose their own word based on what they’d like the theme of the coming year to be for themselves. For one, it may to be more adventure – to be brave & say “Yes” more. For others, it may be to simplify and to say “No” more. There are many words that invoke a positive theme. I’d recommend instead of choosing for yourself, to set aside some quiet time to meditate on learning what God’s word of the year is for you. There are a few methods for doing this, and I’ll share a few you may like to try, but the point I want to make is that finding out your word can help serve as a good starting point for encouraging a change. It will serve as your North Star. It is the good fruit God wants to add to your life this year. It can serve as a comforting anchor in the storm, or as a motivating hand to guide you toward the peace you seek. It may seem overwhelming to narrow it down to just one word, but if you feel that way, its because you are trying to take control. This
is luckily not your job So, I invite you to set a time now to intentionally hear what good theme God wants to speak into your new year…I’m excited for you! One method is to find a passage to read and then meditate on it. Start with prayer. Ask God to reveal your word of the year, then read the passage as many times as you need, highlight any words that stick out, then quietly listen & notice what you feel, think or hear for several minutes. Repeat this process as many days as you need until you come to know your word & find comfort in it. One great passage to use in this process is Isaiah 61. Another process is to journal your thoughts and reflections during your prayer time. Again, you could meditate on a quote or another passage, such as Isaiah 43:19 or a quote like Mother Theresa’s: “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” Journal about what personally comes to mind for you. What journey have you been taken on in the past so that you could arrive at a new place? What new, good thing do you hear God calling you into? This is a process I learned from the Abiding Together podcast I’d highly recommend if you’d like to dive deeper into the fullness of this concept. Regardless, I hope 2020 is a year that brings you what you want & need the most in the midst of all we’ll experience. Blessings! Michele Rohde is a mom to 2 sweet girls, Lexi & Kelsey & married to her high school sweetheart, Rocky. Her passion as a Financial Advisor & Lifestyle Coach is to help people learn how to “Design a Life You LOVE!” ™ by improving lives in the areas of faith, finance, fitness, fun & freedom.
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CRIME PREVENTION tip
P L AY I N G C O P S A N D R O B B E R S A S A N A D U L T.
Or as we like to call it, “scenario based training”. IF you’re 18 yrs or older and would like to play cops and robbers… I mean, participate in some scenario based police training, then the Victoria Police Department’s Civilian Police Academy may be for you. This 12 week program is directed toward citizens who would like a better understanding of the law enforcement profession and the operation of the VPD. DURING this class, you will learn about all aspects of police work, from recruiting and training to patrol, investigations, S.W.A.T. and everything in between. You will learn first-hand from the people who do this job every day. In addition to some classroom time, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for the scenario based training mentioned earlier. This training includes building searches, deadly force and traffic stops. In each one of these classes, you will playing the part of a police officer. You’ll be given a scenario and will interact with other role players playing the parts of criminals, witnesses or simply innocent bystanders. These can get a bit stressful but don’t worry, you’ll have a few seconds to figure it out.
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BUT wait, there’s more. We also have demos by the S.W.A.T. team and K-9 unit, a tour of the jail, an opportunity to ride along with an officer on patrol and a day at the firearms range. Yes, you will get to test your shooting skills against those of your fellow classmates. After a half a day of shooting, you will be treated to a picnic provided by our Civilian Police Academy Alumni Association. These folks are all graduates of the Civilian Police Academy who have created their own nonprofit organization that assists the VPD and other community organizations with a number of projects throughout the year. TH E C R O S S R O AD S LEA DER
SO, for a mere investment of three hours a week (and a couple of Saturdays) you can gain a wealth of knowledge and get a behind the scenes look at the operation of the VPD. John Turner is a Crime Prevention Specialist with the Victoria Police Department. For more information on the Civilian Police Academy, he may be contacted at 485-3811 or jtturner@victoriatx.org
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“SAVING LIVES EVERYDAY WITH YOUR HELP.” This is the motto of Pitty Paws Bully Rescue. Pitty Paws is a local non-profit dog rescue that was founded almost 2 years ago by Brenda Bleier and Wesley Pupi.
THEIR
Facebook page states it best, “We are in it for the love of dogs, particularly the bully breed. Bully breeds, many times, cannot get adopted out through local animal care services. Pitty Paws is here to try and help as many bullies as we can. We are a foster based organization and have many years of experience saving the bullies as well as other breeds. Our mission is to educate the community to help end the negative stigma engulfing the bully breed and be true ambassadors of the breed and promote responsible dog ownership.”
dogs. Many of those being puppies born in her care. Her devotion to caring for the “misunderstood” breed has only grown as she has fully stepped into the rescue world. Brenda is so thankful for Wesley and her valuable nursing skills as she assists in care of the “Pitty Paws Pups.”
BRENDA
has lived in Victoria her entire life. She tells me that her husband is such a help and support. He helps with
IT all began with Brenda fostering her first dog in early 2017. She has since fostered over 95
THE
bully breed is a great animal to adopt. Brenda shares that, “bullies are really a friendly, outgoing, loveable breed. They are loyal and cuddly dogs. Abuse has led to the issues that cause people to misunderstand this breed. Every dog is different and has a different personality. They are great with kids. Bullies can be active and also a big couch potato. Pitty Paws has many wonderful dogs who are looking for forever families.”
• IF YOU CAN’T ADOPT, FOSTER. • IF YOU CAN’T FOSTER, VOLUNTEER.
the heavy lifting and at adoption events.
I met with Brenda recently, had a PITTY PAWS is fochance to meet some of the dogs and learn more about what they do and how she got into bully rescue. After working in rescue and fostering dogs for a few years, Brenda had a chance to learn the “interworkings of a rescue.” She then decided to branch out on her own and open her own rescue so along with Wesley Pupi, Brenda started Pitty Paws Bully Rescue in April 2018.
pet adoption and microchipping. They currently have 21 dogs available for adoption. Brenda stresses “Adopt Don’t Shop.”
cused on bulldog breeds. This includes the Pitbulls, Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, Boxers and really any mixed breed. Brenda shared that, “bullies are hard to place because they have a bad reputation. People are unaware of how to handle the dogs and correctly act around them.”
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rescue is truly in need of foster homes for their animals. This means a home that would care for a dog until it found a forever home. Pitty Paws offers
• IF YOU CAN’T VOLUNTEER, DONATE.
INFORMATION on dogs available for adoption, becoming a foster family and donations is available on the Pitty Paws website. If you aren’t able to do any of the above listed, they spread the word. Tell others about Pitty Paws Bully Rescue.
IF
you’re interested in adopting from Pitty Paws, contact Brenda at www.pittypawsbullyrescue.org, through Facebook or 361-649-5608. Your new family member is waiting for you!
DREAM HOME tip
HAVE YOU HEARD THAT A HOUSE NEEDS TO BREATHE? IT’S A COMMON MYTH, BUT THAT’S ALL IT IS, A MYTH. HOUSES DO NOT NEED TO BREATHE, PEOPLE DO. In my opinion a house cannot be too tight. However, a tight house can have problems but it’s usually not from air sealing. The problem comes from not planning out the home’s mechanical systems. These are the 3 main problems that can occur with tight homes: - Poor indoor air quality - High humidity, mold growth - Backdrafting of combustion (gas) appliances
The solution for the first problem is mechanical ventilation. The HVAC contractor installs a motorized damper that is set to bring in fresh air from outside on a percentage or timed schedule. This leads to the 2nd problem of humidity. A simple whole home dehumidifier works wonders in our climate zone. The fresh air coming in will pass through the dehumidifier to condition the air before it enters your ductwork. Not only does this improve indoor air quality but the
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dehumidifier keeps your home at a constant comfort level.
The last main concern comes from gas appliances, mainly a water heater. In a tight home theres no leaks in the home for the combustion air to come from and makes it more likely to generate carbon monoxide. The solution here is to isolate them from the living space by locating them in the garage, carport or even mounting a tankless unit on the exterior of the home. Another option is using an all electric water heater which can be placed anywhere in the home.
With these simple changes you’re left with an energy efficient home with amazing indoor air quality which maintains temperature and humidity level. In short, the most comfortable home! Matt Studer Pearl Homes 512-633-7520 facebook.com/pearlhomestx
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