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About the Cover Will You Be Bitter or Better Family - Where Life Begins & Love NeverEnds From Us To You Spotlight on Burleson County Professional Directory The Good Funeral It’s Not Just the Hair Changes in Medicine Miller’s Drugstore History & Heritage To Hate is Easy Hosea, Can I See? Where All Good Things Come From The Hand of a Teacher The Lights Are Always On When Daddy Went to Church with Me Trying to Defend the Defenseless Is the American Dream Dying Banana Nut French Toast Casserole Recipe Homeless Pet Crisis The Old Farmer Meeting Betty Davis Your Annual Plan - Financial Success The Gold Wrapping Paper She Did What She Could Letter to the IRS Gratitude Fall and the Flu Season Monk Eye and the Cool Cat Caper Making of One Minister’s Wife Our Neighbors’ Traditions Whispers of a Child’s Love Help Kelsie’s Story Growing Up Small Rules for Using Essential Oils The Three Trees Choosing an Orthodontic Provider
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Lately, if you listen to the media you’d believe there are not many happy or joyous events that merit much press. Do you think this is by chance? No chance. There are any number of people who can’t help but tune in to hear the negativity, biased reporting; Many who can’t help but weigh in; and others who would rather just turn in and tune out! The concern with this is that philosophies and values that were bedrock beliefs that founded our great nation are now considered “offensive” or even “prejudiced” to those who have been received, no welcomed, into our great nation. Yet, America has lost her voice to these very people. Can you hear her crying? To think that anyone would remove “In God…” or “…under God” from a building, a coin, or a pledge for fear of offending someone is the most frightening part of the madness we are experiencing as a nation. We welcome those, who do not “believe” the way we do, to live in our great nation because of these very beliefs we have about accepting others. To work here, to birth here, to enjoy benefits many of our own countrymen and women do not... for us as Christians, this belief of accepting others is at the very core of our beliefs . We are not to judge. Yet, we now find some political agenda would create such questions or concerns about America’s beliefs that we would consider changing our principles for our “received residents” who chose to come to our home. Ask yourself, will you be better from this or will you be bitter? Better has behavior and actions that follow. The Laissez Faire attitude of leaders who not only stand by, but stand for oppositions to our beliefs and changes is sickening and demoralizing to so many who died or lost a loved one to fighting for this country, her safety here and abroad. We don’t have to agree on all the issues to present a united front to the world. We do, however, need to be convicted about what might be perceived as weak behavior or weak character. The interesting part of all that is happening in America is last time I checked many of you still have a voice when it comes to elected officials. The privilege to live in a country where you can vote to keep or dismiss a public official (once called servant) is at your fingertips to a certain degree. It’s never been more important to understand the issues at hand, the candidates, their backgrounds, and what it means to you and your family’s futures when you vote or don’t vote. It can be a daunting task to consider that you might really have
to “listen up” to candidate’s agendas, philosophies and position on issues versus believing the old school theory (my daddy was devout) about voting a straight ticket. There was a day and a time when the ticket outlined who a person was and clearly what he stood for, not so today. It takes study about the candidate, reading, listening, and most of all, observing behavior. Who has time to do this in these challenging times? Actually, we should all spend a little time doing some research to make the best decision for the future of our country and her people. When you don’t exercise your right to vote, you give away the very freedom someone fought for you to have. Taking the time to understand what you vote for, which any individual can do, and how it will impact your future, your work and your family is critical today. Most Americans love lower gas prices. I would pay more if it meant my nephew could have his job back in the oil field... If it meant the oil field workers who are buying vehicles and homes, and are spending consumers could keep spending to help our economy. Many are affected by one single decision of those we elect. There are so many issues and so little time to understand the impact on our great nation. Most Americans love aspects of the changes to healthcare. I think about my sister, as an administrator for two specialty health care providers, and how they can’t honestly afford to hire the extended team they need to provide care due to the cuts, insurance plan rules, and regulations of Medicare and other healthcare changes. Again, will you be better or bitter about these changes? Better has a behavior and an action! For our family, in dentistry, third party carriers truly want people believing that a name on a list is a better choice because it is cheaper to the individual. Seriously, why should we go to work and ask our workers to take a 40% cut in pay? That’s what the third party carriers want us to do by charging their dictated fee, which requires us to see more people; reduce costs by using cheaper supplies and labs, and to hire fewer or cheaper workers so that we can be on a list offered to their employees. We recently did a study on a nearby business many of whose patients we see. When we purchased the practice in Bryan the existing doctor was on “the list.” After one year we began to phase out this plan and learned that once off “the list” the third party carrier (insurance company) actually paid our normal fees less $6.00. In short, the plan that took 40% off the top for us to be on their list (which we did for one year to establish a relationship and create value) was now actually paying the fees we needed to charge to upgrade the facility, technology
Your better or bitter attitude and actions will have an effect on her future and her tears. and quality team member trained in providing the care. Not only was our hygienist surprised but our patients were thrilled to know they could still have care in our office without our name being on their list. In light of such findings, we see afresh when big business and government come in to dictate your healthcare, it should be alarming to you. When you begin to understand how the tears come to America’s eyes and why she cries, you must also decide what you will do individually. Will you be better or will you be bitter from these changes and disputes that plague our great nation? Better has a conduct and a deed. Better means one will do everything in his control to stand for what he believes our nation was founded on and needs for her future. For the future of our children and grandchildren, not to mention the future of our aging population, we must take care of our own first! Better means one will continue to be respectful of mankind while knowing what this country is and has been about. Better is voting, even in the most local elections and denying those who say, “That doesn’t really have an effect on me.” Bitter is as bitter does. It’s like greed in many ways, a scarcity mentality and it with a loud complaining voice.
Our nation was founded on an abundance mentality. This is one of the reasons she has opened her doors and borders to so many with diverse backgrounds and philosophies. It is not however a license to come and demand the changes others see fit because of the diversity. We were respected, financially healthy and commanded such respect for our values. This is our home. Your better or bitter attitude and actions will have an effect on her future and her tears. Will you be better or will you be bitter? Exercise your right to vote, that is her voice you hear, be her hands and feet in the battle for better! This article is dedicated to the many elected officials who appreciate and listen to the very people who got them elected while knowing, we will vote again. We also acknowledge public servants, police officers, servicemen and women all those who protect and serve. Praying that we will continue to vote when it matters so that you all stay protected by this nation and her people!
JoAn Majors is a professional speaker and published author. Her articles have appeared in over 25 national and international magazines and newsletters. She writes articles regularly for many magazines. She is a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who also supports in the marketing efforts for her husband, Dr. Chuck Majors at MajorSmiles.com. You can learn more at www. joanmajors.com or call 1.866.51.CHOICE.
Marilyn and Pat Seymour live in a wonderful family home that is graced with a great FRONT PORCH that spans the length of the house. An only child, Marilyn inherited her family house and acreage from her parents James Sebesta and Lillie Srubar Sebesta who had purchased the land from Lillie’s parents John Joseph Srubar and Marie Rychlik Srubar The original family land purchase of what is now 2928 CR 233, was by Marilyn’s great grandparents Anna Faldyn Srubar and Josef Srubar. They had come to America from Czechoslovakia, arriving by boat at Galveston, Texas. Josef bought the land September 12, 1913, and built a basic home on the land. Then John bought land from his father on November 7, 1921, and with the help of family and neighbors built in 1925. Marilyn’s parents built a home next door to Marilyn’s grandparent and were able to help them as they aged and with health issues, so she has many childhood memories of her present home. She spent every summer with her grandparents, playing in the hay barn and enjoying the open land, and she still remembers drinking water from the rain barrel and using the outhouse. Taking a bath only
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happened once a week in a #3 washtub in the smokehouse. Their meals always included breakfast, midday Svacina (which was a snack of homemade bread or a kolach), lunch, Svacina, and dinner. Marilyn remembers helping with pickling—washing and preparing the cucumbers. During those summers, she learned much about canning from both her mother and grandmother, for which she is grateful. She remembers also that her grandparents had no desire to have plumbing and running water in their home; they wanted things to stay the same, so basic conveniences were not a part of their lives. And Grandmother never learned to drive. In 1980, Pat and Marilyn began an extensive refurbishing of the original house. They added two baths, enlarged the existing kitchen, and built the expansive front porch on the house. The Seymour family, Marilyn, Pat, and sons Brandon and Dustin Cedidla, has enjoyed living on the family land. With cattle and lots of room for growing boys and their friends, the home place was always a joy. Now, Brandon and Dustin are grown and have wives. Brandon married Kim Mayes, and Dustin married Miranda Lowe. Both sons have girls, Kadie Hartman and Maesyn. And Kim has recently given birth to baby boy Jake Brandon, a sibling for Kadie. Marilyn’s earliest ancestrial ties to the land date back to the 1800’s with her great-grandfather Josef ’s birth and death being Feb 2, 1854, to Dec 28, 1936; and her great-grandmother Anna’s birth and death being Aug 30, 1864, to Feb 17, 1951. As for the FRONT PORCH on their home, it is the place to be on many warm as well as cool days. There, early morning coffee is enjoyed. But, in the winter, since the house faces north, their time on the porch is limited; however, they always love the view from their porch. One project that is on-going at the Seymour home is the restoration of the little house of Marilyn’s great-grandparents. The house has been moved to the back of their property, and Pat is lovingly working on it as time permits.
F
rrom om us to you
Editors Note
Dear Readers,
S
summer with its terribly dry days has passed and we look forward to days of refreshment, both in temperature and precipitation. We know you do, too.
We’ve once again heard words of praise and encouragement from readers near and far. Thank you for taking the time to communicate your satisfaction with what we have published. Our theme for this edition is “What can we do to dry her (America’s) tears?” We live in a troublesome time in America today. We are all affected by our national government’s dishonesty with us and others, with the growing terrorism near and far, with our jobs or lack of, with over-taxation, and the mounting healthcare issues… the list goes on and on. As the next presidential election draws near, please consider carefully your vote for the person who will next lead our wonderful nation and in that way help America dry her tears. May God bless America. Sincerely Sandi Balcar, Publisher Scarlette Taylor, Editor and Advertising Manager
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potlight on
Burleson County’s
Unique Heritage
People in all walks of life influence those around them. In this column, we will be featuring those who have made an impact in our small towns.
BILLY BROADDUS Caldwell’s Renaissance Man
William Lee Broaddus (Billy to his friends and colleagues) was born January 29, 1930, the son of Murray and Ray James Broaddus and has been a life-long resident of Caldwell (except when serving in the military.) His roots in this county go all the way back to his greatgreat grandfather, Andrew S. Broaddus (1810-1891), who lead a wagon train of approximately 200 people to Burleson County from Caroline County, Virginia, in 1854.
as City Administrator of Caldwell from 1986 through 2007 (serving a dual role as Mayor and Administrator for two years). In that position he was respected not only here in Caldwell, but across the State of Texas for his sound business practices and common sense administration of city affairs. He retired in 2007 from full time service with the city but has continued to serve part time as Financial Consultant from 2007 to the present keeping the city operating within its budget.
Billy Broaddus joined First Baptist Church of Caldwell in 1939 and is still a very active member and Deacon. He graduated from Caldwell High School in 1947 and received a degree in Marketing and Business Administration from Texas A & M, Class of 1956. He was also commissioned as an officer in the U. S. Army at that time and served at Ft. Bliss in El Paso in 1957-1958. Upon graduation from Texas A & M, he worked for Alcoa as an accountant. In 1960, he built Broaddus Minimax Super Market and operated it through 1988.
During his tenure with the City, Mr. Broaddus led in many major projects, most notably: t $POTUSVDUJPO PG UIF $BMEXFMM $JWJD Center t $POTUSVDUJPO PG Davidson Creek Park t .BKPS VQHSBEFT to Caldwell Mu nicipal airport t .BOZ NJMFT PG paving and drainage projects t /FX FYQBOEFE City Hall t .BKPS improvements to Caldwell util ity systems.
It is impossible to list all the committees, boards, and volunteer jobs Mr. Broaddus has been involved with throughout his life, but the one that is dearest to his heart is his service to the City of Caldwell and the City is what it is today largely because of Billy Broaddus. His city service began as a City Councilman serving from 1966 to 1976. He then served as Mayor of Caldwell from 1976-1988. He was hired
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In keeping with Mr. Broaddus’s conservative philosophy
on financing governmental projects, all of the above were completed with no outstanding debt. Money was set aside for each project and work was not begun until funding was complete. As an example, the City, with Mr. Broaddus’s guidance, saved for 25 years for the Civic Center before work began. This wise
leadership has kept city taxes low and we have some of the finest facilities, roads, parks, and utility systems of any city our size in the State. Not only has his leadership been wise, but his character is above reproach. I consider Billy Broaddus one of the finest men I have ever known and I am proud to have been asked to write this tribute.
professional directory Air Conditioning-Installation & Repair Reliant Mechanical 53 Weaver’s Refrigeration 51 Automobile Parts-Supplies-Rep airs Burleson County Motor Supply 61 dBm Auto Repair 51 Groce’s Shell 15 Kwik Kar 61 Wilde Auto Plus 21 Automobile Sales-Detail Caldwell Country 27 Banks Citizens State Bank 23 Prosperity Bank 15 BarBQ Matus BarBQ 61 Beauty Salon Cindy’s Hair Salon 13 Ebony Essence 14 Bed & Breakfast Rocking H Bed & Breakfast 59 Burleson County Events Fair Association 60 Chemicals Project Chemicals 49 Churches Church of Christ 53 First Baptist 49 City/Civic/Government Offices City of Caldwell 47 City of Somerville 55 Construction C & H Building Construction 43 Richard Boyd Construction 68 Convenience Store RockinG 30 Copies/Printing/UPS ImageMaker 17 Credit Card Services Lonestar 43 Dentistry Brazos Valley Orthodontics 39 Drgac Dental 32 MajorSmiles 2 Rivers Family Dentistry 25 Dozer Services J7 Service 65 Loehr Dozer 21 Electrical Service Stevenson’s Electrical 51 Feed Faust Farms 37 Homeyer Feed & supply 39 Fencing Drgac Fencing 39 Financials LPL Financial 53
Florist Wine & Roses Funeral Home Phillips & Luckey Furniture Mc Rustic Gifts Wine & Roses Hand Gun License Providence Hill Health Care Burleson St Joseph Manor Guardian Health Care Hope Pregnancy Center Insurance Alford Insurance Company Farm Bureau Livestock & Commission Caldwell Livestock Com. Lumber Company Woodson’s Lumber Company Pest Control Armstrong Pesticide Solutions Plumbing DP Plumbing Real Estate Double “O” Team Fossillmeyer Home & Ranch Real Estate Polansky Realty Real Estate Listings Home & Ranch Restaurants & Catering Deanville Bar & Grill Freedom Ranch Golden Chick Lo Nuestro de Mexico Mad Hatters Tea Room Masfajitas Mexican Restaurant Super Donuts The Garden Spot Service Station Groce Shell RockinG Storage Mustang Storage Tax Preparers & Advisors Danny Koerth Truck-Auto-Tires-Supplies Burleson County Motor Supply Mitchell Tire Service Wilde Auto Plus Veterinarian BV-MVS Vitamins Roots & Shoots Water Well Drilling Loehr Drilling Co, Inc Welding & Fabricating
13 55 67 14
Welding & Fabricating C&H Welding & Fabrication BWM C&H Welding & Fabrication Wellness Prime My Body
14 61 45 25
57 7 26 33 68 59 65 19
SANDI BALCAR & SCARLETTE TAYLOR
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SANDI BALCAR
61 29 61 3 63 5 29 45 15 63 10 25 16 26 15 30 17 37 61 47 21 37 9 23
PUBLISHERS
LAYOUT & DESIGN
SCARLETTE TAYLOR ADVERTISING SALES
SCHUMAN PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
NEAL BEARD LINDA CHAMBERLAIN DR. SCOTT CHENNAULT SUZY COHEN EDWIN H. COOPER TRACY FRANK GARY GARDNER STEVE GOODIER TAMMY KUBECKA SHARON ANN LAFFERE JOAN MAJORS DR. JACK MCKEMIE DVM KELSIE MILLER KAVON NOVAK RENITA ODSTRCIL DONNA VARNER PRESNAL DR. KIA PARSI DEL ROGERS, SR. BECKY SCHENK MIKE STONE SCARLETTE TAYLOR TONY TAYLOR GARLAND WATSON DDS J. ALLEN WHITT POLLY WILLIAMS Phone 979.567.7871 979.567.6753 301 Hwy 21 E Caldwell, TX 77836 The contents of all articles do not represent the views of the Front Porch Magazine. The magazine claims no responsibility for the accuracy of information or content.
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The Good Funeral A goodbye to a special friend of the Front Porch Magazine and of the community of Caldwell. Tony Taylor is the eldest of Richard and Scarlette Taylor. He has been published in Coach Magazine and is currently an Athletic Director and teacher at Mc Mullen High School in Tilden, Texas. It’s been nearly five months since my father passed away. I’ll be very honest, not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. I’ll catch myself saying something he would always say or watching my two children, Hallie and Mason, growing up and knowing that he would’ve loved to have seen them through each stage of their lives. When dad was first diagnosed with bone cancer, I can specifically remember him being emotional and telling my mom that he wouldn’t get to see Hallie and Mason grow up. What could I say back then to make it better for him? There was nothing to say. What was most frustrating with the cancer that my father had was that there was “no fixing it!!” He was always a fixer in coaching at Shepherd and East Chambers High School and in administration at Caldwell ISD. But we knew we were facing an opponent that we had no answer for. I can remember some nights in the hospital room when he would say, “Tony, what’s the plan? What do we need to do?” How do you answer that when you know the answer? Man, those were some tough nights. Well, after his battling for thirteen months, the Good Lord decided to take my father Richard Taylor home. My father passed away this past April, and I’ll be honest, I was ready for him to leave his earthly body. My brother John, My mother Scarlette, and I didn’t want him to leave us, but we were tired of watching him suffer, and believe me, near the end it was very painful to watch what bone cancer had done to my dad. When my dad passed I was heading back to Caldwell after taking my children back to Tilden for school. I wanted to keep them in as normal a routine as I could. My brother John called as I entered Jourdanton that day and told me of my dad’s passing. I knew the day was coming, but I guess we’re never ready to lose a loved one. The day my dad died I lost my BEST FRIEND. All sorts of thoughts passed through my mind- “There would be no more phone calls about “last night’s game;” No more-how’d my girl “HAL” do in a volleyball or basketball game or track meet, No more- “Hey, what about trying this? (Big Rich aka Dad always coaching!!!) I say all this to finally get to my title: “The Good Funeral.” Is there such a thing? I don’t know, I guess it’s kind of an oxymoron, but I can honestly say this about Coach/Principal Richard Taylor’s funeral: We, meaning all in attendance, had a good time and celebrated the life of an AWESOME man and father!! The funeral lasted over two and a half hours and it could’ve lasted several more. We laughed, cried, heard some awesome coaching
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and administration stories, and then we laughed some more. I was talking to my wife Tracie the other day about dad’s funeral and I hadn’t realized but ten people had spoken on behalf of my father. I already knew what a great MAN my father was, but to see his Legacy talked about that day in Caldwell was truly amazing. I was also amazed as I saw people from the many walks of life where my father had an impact from the First Baptist Church of Caldwell where he was a deacon to the several schools where he was either a coach or principal. His last job in the school business was at Caldwell High School where he and Mrs. Ochs had taken on quite a challenge to start the school year of 2013-14. As always with him being the “fixer,” he hit the ground running and never looked back. I vividly remember those first few months with him back on the job. He would tell me, “I’m a little old for this, but Man, Caldwell High School has some great kids!!” He would tell me how he and Bobby Jack Goforth would laugh and be a sounding board for each other. BJ was trying to “fix” the athletic side of things while Dad was getting students where they needed to be with their classes, grades, and discipline issues. I had so many people come up to me after the funeral and in later weeks say, “I’ve never quite been to something like your dad’s funeral; I could’ve stayed even longer for his “Celebration of Life.” See that’s what we had, a celebration. We were celebrating his legacy for his work done here on earth, but I was also celebrating that he would be hurting NO MORE!! Richard Taylor was pain free at last. The neatest thing to me at the funeral happened when two of dad’s athletes (Jesse Evans and Bret McDonald) from the mid to late 70’s at East Chambers High School spoke about him. Jesse played football and ran track for my dad. He spoke about how dad was a father figure to him and how dad trusted him with taking care of me and my brothers. Jesse also spoke of how my
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Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Strangers I was trying to get my seventh-grade history class to understand how the Indians must have felt when they first encountered the Spanish explorers. “How would you feel,” I asked, “if someone showed up on your doorstep who looked very different, spoke a strange language and wore unusual clothes? Wouldn’t you be a bit scared?” “Nah,” one boy answered, “I’d just figure it was my sister’s date.” Goldfish Passing Little Nancy was in the garden filling in a hole when her neighbor peered over the fence. Interested in what the cheekyfaced youngster was up to, he politely asked, “What are you doing there, Nancy?” “My goldfish died,” replied Nancy tearfully without looking up, “and I’ve just buried him.” The neighbor was very concerned. “That’s an awfully big hole for a goldfish, isn’t it?” Nancy patted down the last heap of dirt then replied, “That’s because he’s inside your stupid cat.”
Red Face A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, “Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face..” “Yes,” the class said. “Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn’t run into my feet?” A little fellow shouted, “Cause your feet ain’t empty.” Apples The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: ‘Take only ONE. God is watching.’ Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, ‘Take all you want. God is watching the apples.’
Continued from Page 12 - The Good Funeral dad “saw no color” when it came to his athletes and that spoke volumes to me. Jesse also shared his personal story of how it’s taken him thirty-one years to get his degree and that he is finally getting to teach and coach. He said he wants to hopefully have an impact on students and athletes like my father had on him. Jesse is currently teaching and coaching at Rockdale ISD, and I know my dad is looking down on him and smiling. Bret is probably the best athlete to ever come out of East Chambers High School. I know that’ll be debatable with the late 60’s alumni because Glen Gaspard played at ECC as well and later went on to star at the University of Texas, but I’ll take Bret as the best ATHLETE!! My dad coached both of these great men. If Bret hadn’t torn up his knee at the University of Texas I have no doubt that he would’ve been in the NFL. Bret talked about how my father had a huge impact on his life, but what I will never forget is how he ended his talk on my dad. It wasn’t about his role as a coach and what he did for him on the athletic fields but what he did for him and others as their Sunday school teacher. He said he could still see the small room upstairs at First Baptist ,Winnie where Coach Taylor told him and other young men about Jesus Christ!! My dad, what a guy. Well, I’ve just started my 27th year of coaching and teaching. I know this year will be different for me and my family, especially my mom. She misses her Richard, how can she not? They did everything TOGETHER for the last 50 years. As she said the other day, “It just seems like your father should be coming through the front door any day.” He is missed but will never be forgotten, I carry his memories in my heart and mind every day!! Just wanted you to know one last time, Dad, that you have a son in Tilden, Texas, who “LOVES YOU DEARLY!!!” Isaiah 58:11
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It’s Not Just the
C
Hair, It’s theExperience.
assandra Wilson, the owner of Ebony Essence, which is located at 1562 CR 327 in Caldwell, Texas, is a licensed Cosmetology Insturctor who offers all services, relaxers, cuts, styles, shampoos. She specializes in all types of hair weaving, braiding and eyelash extentions.
Cassandra began her studies at Charles and Sue’s in Bryan, Texas, where she was born and reared. Then she moved to the Houston area and finished her cosmetology studies at Houston Community College. Afterward, she advanced herself with her Instructor’s license. However, she says that God is the Center of her life, that he is the Foundation on whom she depends daily. She says she lives by Jeremiah 29:11 “ ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord....” Cassandra recently moved to the Caldwell area with her family in July 2015. Her family is her supporting system that motivates her in all of her endeavors. One of her future plans is to open a beauty school at l707 West Highway 21, Caldwell, Texas, teaching all of the cosmetology techniques and requirements to pass the TDLR exam. Her goal is to inspire students to go as far as they desire, creating a new future for themselves.
Specializing in weaving, relaxer cuts, styles, highlights, quick weaves, color, basic cuts, microbraiding, box braids, eyelash extensions, feathered bobs, corn rows, extentions, invisible parts.
979-574-1821
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Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Love the Irish...
Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn’t find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, ‘Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey !’ Miraculously, a parking place appeared. Paddy looked up again and said, ‘Never mind, I found one.’ ********** Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and asks the first man he meets, ‘Do you want to go to heaven?’ The man said, ‘I do, Father.’ The priest said, ‘Then stand over there against the wall.’ Then the priest asked the second man, ‘Do you want to go to heaven?’ ‘Certainly, Father,’ the man replied. ‘Then stand over there against the wall,’ said the priest. Then Father Murphy walked up to O’Toole and asked, ‘Do you want to go to heaven?’ O’Toole said, ‘No, I don’t Father.’ The priest said, ‘I don’t believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don’t want to go to heaven?’ O’Toole said, ‘Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.’
I still think of my patients as patients, not customers. We physicians who practice in rural communities still have the advantage of knowing our patients. We have the privilege to care for entire families and really get to know them. It is an advantage when a doctor knows the history of not only his patient, but also that of the entire family. This is all part of what makes medicine an art, not a hard science. While it is nice to have CT scans, MRI’s and lab tests, it is the art of medicine that points the physician down the diagnostic road they decide to take. Technology is great, but give me a physician who takes the time to listen to me, actually puts his hands on me to examine me, looks at me when I am talking to him, over one who just orders tests. With the oversight, regulations, insurance companies and government coming between patients and their physicians, I am concerned that medicine is becoming a “Lost Art.” You know you are getting old when you sit around and long for the “Good Old Days.” I guess I’m old. If the definition of getting old is sitting around reminiscing about the “Good Old Days,” I have reached that milestone at 56. The changes in medical practice over the 25 years I have practiced in Caldwell have been drastic. The scientific advantages have been amazing with the new drugs, surgeries, transplants, and rehabilitation leading to longer and more productive life. But not all change is good. I was blessed to be taught by and to practice with a group of the previous generation of physicians. These physicians truly practiced the “Art” of medicine. If you have been to see a physician in the past 2 years, you have noticed many changes. As “Obamacare” has been phased in, the major change you have probably noticed is that the physician is spending a lot of time entering data into a computer. The EMR or Electronic Medical Record was mandated for use by all physicians who accept Medicare. While it (EMR) does a great job of keeping up with the records, most patients feel that it has decreased the amount of attention paid them by their physicians, and I think they are right. I went into medicine to care for patients, not to be a data entry clerk. I prefer to look at my patients when talking to them, instead of entering the information into a computer. Medicine is still an art. A lot of information is gained by not only asking questions of the patient, but watching the patient, noticing the patient’s expression and appearance. A physician must use most of his senses to guide diagnosis and treatments. If this were not true, a computer could replace us.
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Dr. Scott Chennault was born in Texas City and reared in Friendswood, graduating from Friendswood High in 1977. He married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Beers Chennault in 1979. Dr. Chennault graduated from the University of Houston Clear Lake in 1982 with a BA, and in 1983 with a Masters of Science. He graduated from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, in 1987 with a doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. After completing his three years Family Practice Residency at UTMB in Galveston, he moved to Caldwell in 1990 and set up his practice. Dr. Chennault and Sharon have two daughters, Heather Lee Chennault (12/21/88-3/1/1998). And Hollie Lynn Chennault who is currently attending the University of Houston Clear Lake. While his practice doesn’t allow much free time, he loves to travel, scuba dive, fly, fish, and target shoot.
The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Did God Make You? A little girl is sitting on her grandpa’s lap and studying the wrinkles on his old face. She gets up the nerve to rub her fingers over the wrinkles. Then she touches her own face and looks more puzzled. Finally the little girl asks, “Grandpa, did God make you?” “He sure did, Honey, a long time ago,” replies her grandpa. “Well, did God make me?” asks the little girl. “Yes, He did, and that wasn’t too long ago,” answers her grandpa. “Boy,” says the little girl, “He’s sure doing a lot better job these days, isn’t He?” Hockey At one point during a game, the coach called one of his 7-year-old hockey players aside and asked, “Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?” The little boy nodded in the affirmative. “Do you understand that what matters is not whether we win or lose, but how we play together as a team?” The little boy nodded yes. “So,” the coach continued, “I’m sure you know, when a penalty is called, you shouldn’t argue, curse, attack the referee, or call him a pecker-head.” Do you understand all that?” Again the little boy nodded. He continued, “And when I call you off the ice so that another boy gets a chance to play, it’s not good sportsmanship to call your coach ‘a dummy’, is it?” Again the little boy nodded. “Good,” said the coach. “Now go over there and explain all that to your mother.” Magnet Panicking when her toddler swallowing a tiny magnet, my sister Betty rushed him to the emergency room. “He’ll be fine,” the doctor promised her. “The magnet should pass through his system in a day or two.” “How will I be sure?” she pressed. “Well,” the doctor suggested, “you could stick him on the refrigerator. When he falls off, you’ll know.”
If a man says he will fix it,
HE WILL.
There is no need to remind him every six months.
Miller’s Drugstore To be sure, there were five or six drugstores in our fair city. But the one that mattered most to us while we were in high school was Miller’s Drugstore. To us, it was as important as the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, all rolled up into one emporium and open all year long…admission free. Miller’s Drugstore ads in the newspaper, football programs, graduation programs and the like always announced that the store carried “notions and sundries,” terms that I really still don’t understand. The book says the terms mean small, useful items and I can’t argue that. The ads and counter displays also boasted of quality drugs, candies, jewelry, health care items, magazines, newspapers and things that ladies, mainly, couldn’t do without. Under health care items, I have vivid memories of castor oil from Miller’s Drugs and Mama’s attempts to disguise its vile flavor and texture by mixing the stuff in liquids like orange juice. To this day, I do not trust orange juice unless I pour it myself and with a relief station in sight. Miller’s also carried my parent’s favorite wonder drug which healed all scrapes and abrasions in nothing flat. Its official name was Mercurochrome, but we called it “monkey-blood.” It didn’t sting too badly and its strange iridescent colors would make a minor scrape look like major surgery, a decided psychological advantage to any young warrior. Oil of anise is a mighty pleasant-smelling item which you could buy at Miller’s. It was stocked to “relieve the pressures of intestinal gas” among ailing folk, but we found that we could bait our trap lines with the stuff and it would attract fur-bearing creatures of every description. Whether those animals had intestinal gas problems or not, we’ll never know. I guess you could say that a soda jerk is a person who works at a soda fountain; both sadly, have just about disappeared from the American scene. A soda jerk at Miller’s was much more than a dispenser of flavored treats, however. Regarding people, places and things in and around San Marcos, he saw it all, heard it all, and knew it all. He was the best informed person in town except perhaps for the ice man. You could ask the soda jerk at Miller’s whether or not a sweet
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young thing might be interested in you, and he could tell you straight-out, yes or no. And you could put that answer in the bank and draw interest on it. The ranking soda jerk at Miller’s was always on duty Friday and Saturday nights-the busiest of the week. During the season, he could rattle off final scores of all the games, tell you about the best plays and give you an injury report. He was up to date on police activities, fires, car wrecks, and unusual weather that might be approaching. Before TV, the soda-jerk was, in essence, the 10 o’clock news. And he was the authority on sandwiches, hamburgers, pies, cakes, donuts, banana splits, sundaes, frosted cokes, milkshakes, malteds, lime cokes, cherry cokes and cherry phosphates. He served a good cup of coffee to the old men who frequented Miller’s in shifts throughout the day, and he called them by name. Miller’s Drugstore served many a purpose. Regardless of age or status in life, it was the place to meet and see friendly faces. It was the news hub, especially during WWII when local boys were fighting in Europe and the Pacific. It was the place where young folks fell in love over cherry phosphates or by passing notes to each other—all under the scrutiny of the soda jerk. On Saturday mornings in the fall, it was where the old men over coffee would pat the football players and brag on their games the night before, win or lose. It was a place you just had to be. Until 1945, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only President America had during all but three years of my childhood. I was moved to tears upon hearing a radio announce his death as I was having a chicken salad sandwich and a lime coke for lunch. As you might guess, I heard that terrible news at Miller’s Drugstore. That made it official, somehow. Edwin H. Cooper, writer of human interest stories and articles, has been published in many Texas magazines and newspapers, and is active in numerous civic and school organizations. His new book, 40 Years at Aggieland, was published in 2013.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Cowboy’s Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie, Texas. 1) Just one God. 2) Honor yer Ma & Pa. 3) No telling tales or gossipin’. 4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting. 5) Put nothin’ before God. 6) No foolin’ around with another fellow’s gal. 7) No killin’. 8) Watch yer mouth. 9) Don’t take what ain’t yers. 10) Don’t be hankerin’ for yer buddy’s stuff. Now that’s kinda plain an’ simple, don’t ya think? Y’all have a good Day, Ya Hear.
Since the rest of the country hates Texas (according to an online survey)...this is how Texans feel about the rest of the country.
History
& by Tammy Kubecka
History can be defined as a series of past events. It’s what has, or might have happened, while heritage is something passed down from your ancestors or the past, such as traditions or characteristics of a certain culture. In other words, heritage is the part of, or kind of, history that makes up your past. The unique blend of historical events and ethnic cultures make all of us who we are. We are fortunate in Burleson to have an extremely diverse history and heritage. Take a look at our past: t 'JSTU JOIBCJUFE CZ QSF IJTUPSJD OBUJWF USJCFT TPNF years ago. t 'PMMPXFE CZ IJTUPSJD /BUJWF "NFSJDBO USJCFT t ćFO &BSMZ "OHMP TFUUMFST DBNF GSPN UIF FBTUFSO 6OJUFE 4UBUFT XJUI UIF JOĘVY PG 4PVUIFSO GBNJMJFT JO UIF NJE T t "Ä™FS UIF $JWJM 8BS EFTDFOEBOUT PG TMBWFT BOE GSFFE TMBWFT dispersed in rural communities in the county. t *O UIF T $[FDI (FSNBO BOE *UBMJBO GBNJMJFT BSSJWFE t "OE JO UIF T UIF )JTQBOJD QPQVMBUJPO ĘPVSJTIFE t 8F WF QBSUJDJQBUFE JO 5FYBT JOEFQFOEFODF XPSME XBST BOE building a county and a country. There is a saying that history is written by the winning side, that historians continue to repeat the same stories. To a point this is true, and the fanciful accounts of glory days do get the most circulation. Sometimes, it just seems easier to tell the same tales rather UIBO UP Ä•OE BOZUIJOH OFX #65 JG ZPV EJH B MJUUMF EFFQFS ZPV can find a different point of view for every event. Historians can dispel so many misunderstandings in society, if people will open their minds to research and take the time to learn all they can. People who do historical work have to be extremely broadminded because research has twists and turns. Historical events can unfold in the least expected way, but you might learn that old familiar stories are not true. By the same token, CF QSFQBSFE UP Ä•OE BOZUIJOH BOE "/:0/& XIFO MFBSOJOH about your family heritage. Your heritage can have business people, preachers, criminals, teachers, lazy bums, loud moths, over-educateds, a relative at the poor house or the state hospital, politician, northerners, southerners, war vets‌and one family with kids hard UP TUBOE "MM UIJT TIPVMEO U NBLF VT MPWF UIFN BOZ MFTT CVU
Heritage
make us learn tolerance and acceptance of differences. That should apply to all cultures, not just our own. With all this diversity in our backgrounds in this county, we like to think we’ve come to understand those differences and embrace them. History shouldn’t be offensive. Learning the truth about past events or people and teaching those facts to the next generation should help open minds to new worlds. There is no reason anyone should apologize for, or change history. It’s facts, truths. Our heritages are similar, yet different. Research your past‌understand it, be proud of it, but accept differences‌and learn from them. You’ll be amazed.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers
"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." President John Kennedy
Fun Classroom Psychology Text A psychology professor at the University of Miami knew his students expected a terrifyingly long final exam. To play with their minds a little (what do you expect from a psychology professor?) he only put ONE question on the final exam. He watched the reactions of the students as they all opened the exams and saw the one question. Initially they all looked relieved, but as the difficulty of the question began to sink in, those relieved faces sagged to confusion and consternation. All, that is, except for one student. He read the question, tapped his pencil into his palm a few times, then jotted something down on the test paper. He walked up to the professor, handed him the final, and walked out. The professor blinked in surprise, looked at what the student wrote, and smiled. The professor wrote “100%” on the top of that student’s test. The question: What is courage? The student’s answer: This is.
I should run for political office just to see what kind of scandalous dirt they dig up. It would be nice to piece together my twenties.
"Today is Bill Clinton's birthday. Hillary
sent Bill an e-birthday card and out of habit she immediately deleted it." – Conan O'Brien "Today, Hillary Clinton released an ad that emphasized her humble economic background. In the ad she says, 'Just 15 years ago, my family and I were evicted from our house.'" –Conan O'Brien 21
To Hate Is Easy “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:4345) Why is it so easy to hate and hard to love? I think it has a lot to do with the way hate is promoted in the media. Hate sells. Everywhere you turn these days, hate is being thrown in your face. It’s in the newspapers, television, and social media. Oh, don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of good stories out there but have you noticed how those never seem to make the headlines or as in today’s social media world they tend to ‘get lost in the feed.’ Our whole world seems to be thriving on hate and evil these days. I’ll say it again, God is in control and Jesus is the answer. We cannot let the hate and evil consume us. We must recognize The Bible tells us so! it and pay attention to it but not promote it. To hate something is easy. After all, it is a natural emotion. God does not condemn us for hating. He himself hated evil and wickedness. “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers” (Proverbs 6:1619) So then, if God himself hates evil then what are we to do? We are to do what we are commanded to do. We are to hate evil and wickedness as well. We are to hate that which is sinful. We are to love those who do us wrong. We are to love those who do evil. It is not our place to seek revenge or even judge the sins of others. God is and always will be in control. We all have sinned and we all will have our day of reckoning. Are you ready for your day of reckoning? The Bible tells us, “For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We are all sinners but we all have the chance to be redeemed. God has given us that chance by sending us His son Jesus Christ who died on the cross to cleanse everybody of their sins, not just you and I. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Make no mistake about it, God does not like evil or wickedness and will deal with those who do not repent. And although, loving and doing good is commanded of us, it’s not going to be enough to get us into heaven, folks. Only through Jesus Christ Renita Odstrcil is a licensed Texas Realtor. She is a member of the can we and this world be saved. Jesus told us, “I am the way, National Association of Professional Women, the National and and the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except Texas Association of Realtors, and the local through me.” (John 14:6) B/CS Association of Realtors.
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Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Queen’s Riddle Barack Obama met with the Queen of England. He asked her, “Your Majesty, how do you run such an efficient government? Are there any tips you can give to me?” “Well,” said the Queen, “the most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people.” Obama frowned, and then asked, “But how do I know the people around me are really intelligent?” The Queen took a sip of tea. “Oh, that’s easy; you just ask them to answer an intelligent riddle.” The Queen pushed a button on her intercom. “Please send Tony Blair in here, would you?” Tony Blair walked into the room and said, “Yes, my Queen?” The Queen smiled and said, “Answer me this please, Tony, your mother and father have a child. It is not your brother and it is not your sister. Who is it?” Without pausing for a moment, Tony Blair answered, “That would be me.” “Yes! Very good,” said the Queen. Obama went back home to ask Joe Biden, his vice presidential choice the same question. “Joe, answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child. It’s not your brother and it’s not your sister. Who is it?” “I’m not sure,” said Biden. “Let me get back to you on that one..” He went to his advisors and asked every one, but none could give him an answer. Finally, he ended up in the men’s room and recognized Colin Powell’s shoes in the next stall. Biden asked Powell, “Colin, can you answer this for me? Your mother and father have a child and it’s not your brother or your sister. Who is it?” Colin Powell yelled back, “That’s easy, it’s me!” Biden smiled, and said, “Thanks!” Then, he went back to speak with Obama. “Say, I did some research and I have the answer to that riddle. It is Colin Powell!” Obama got up, stomped over to Biden, and angrily yelled into his face, “No! You idiot! It’s Tony Blair!” And that is what’s wrong with our government.
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Call 979-567-6753 23
Hosea, Can I See? by Scarlette Taylor
Recently, I began a Bible study focusing on the book of Hosea. Hosea, not being the most well-known book in the Bible, and being in the Old Testament, I was not “fired up” to get started with the personal, daily study that the presenter and author of the study provides. But, I had been amazed to watch her as she spoke to women for over 32 minutes, without a note or cue card. You see, Jennifer Rothschild is blind. She lost her vision when she was 15. It was quite amazing to watch her help us fill in the blanks to the viewing guide, and to tell stories and to quote or paraphrase scripture, almost verbatim. Anyway, back to the point I want to get to…As I began the first week of study, I went through days 1-3, learning a great deal about God’s displeasure with His people, Israel and Judah, about Hosea and Gomer, the prophet and his unfaithful wife. But, gradually, Jennifer began to help us who are in study to consider ourselves, and our treatment of God. The night I was going over the work for the third day of the first week, I encountered the consideration of rating how prone I am to wander from God, I AM, Jehovah, the One True God. There was a line like this across the page. Not prone 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Prone to Wander As I considered what number to circle, I thought My heart is tender toward God. I love God, and I want His will. In fact, I thought about wanting His will in my life…even at the point I am in, having dealt with my husband fighting cancer for over a year, and then losing his battle. I thought I was not so prone to wander, so I circled 5. I knew that I was not a 10, and was not totally where God wants me at all times. Then, I read her comments after the circling. She basically wrote, “If you circled a 5 or lower, you probably should reconsider.” And I did begin to consider all the ways I am to be obedient to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit. I thought of my pride. I do have to keep suppressing it, asking God to help me and to give God the glory for any praise I get. (And I am always amazed that I can be so prideful when I have so little to be prideful over). I thought of my mind, controlling it, taking every thought captive. Wow! That spoke volumes to me. I think a lot of things I don’t say, and the Lord convicts me of wrong thoughts all the time. The truth is I want to be pleasing to Him, and to others, but I fail. I thought about my critical heart. I am so prone to look at things and find what is wrong with them…maybe being an English teacher for so many years, years ago, I trained myself to find what is wrong…not that I am making an excuse or even wanting to say finding fault in people is ok. So, another area screamed at
me. I though of the sins of omission, not doing. I know that Scripture tells us that there are good works God has planned in advance for us to do.(Isn’t that mind boggling?) I want to minister to others and show them that I care, to be the servant as Jesus demonstrated. But, I am not a Susie Homemaker or a gourmet cook…If I have to evaluate my domesticity, I’d probably say I may be an acceptable cook. So, for me to fix a meal and get it to the family is a task. But, I do care about them, and often do pray for them, even if the meal doesn’t get there. I thought of giving my time to God. I know that God wants me, us, to be in His Word daily. It is because He wants to talk to me, and you. His Word gives direction, and hope, and inspiration and insight and courage and understanding and preparation. Why would I not read it daily? It keeps giving me worth. I would be nothing without God, without His making me a woman of value. Alone, I am a mess. I need to be reading and hiding the words of Scripture in my heart. (though it is not as easy as it used to be). If I don’t, I know that I will fail so utterly in life. But, I have not disciplined myself, like some of my women friends, to get up early and read His Word, if my schedule is changed, or I couldn’t sleep much in the night. I fall short there, and when I do, I’m not prepared to meet the day which often means missing a blessing, even an opportunity to be a blessing. I thought of praying. I have struggled with praying lately. Not that I don’t want to pray. I just can’t seem to get it right… whatever that is! I’ve thought a lot about a saying I heard or read somewhere. It is “Pray till you pray.” I think I am there. I need to pray and keep on praying till I am praying, till I am communicating with my God in a way that is pleasing to Him. So, am I prone to wander? And what about recalling the sins of the past? I know that is not what God wants me to be doing? Or what about wanting to think on the past too much? I know that is not living in the present. I know there is so much to be doing for God. But, I have to ask Him to forgive my going back to those thoughts of sinning at different points in my life. If I simply ask Him to take those thoughts away, He does it every time. But, I know that it is better not to let my mind go to the thoughts. And I want to be in His will. I want to do things if He wants me to do them. Too many times in life I’ve said yes to do things because no one else would do them at church. Or I’d think I’ll do this for God. I desire to do things according to His will. And it is hard to know what His will is sometimes. And, of course, there are many other areas that I could enumerate. But, I know as Jennifer Rothschild reminded us, Scripture
tells us that we all fall short of the glory of God, that not
Hosea, Can I See? (Cont’d) one of us is righteous…we have all sinned and gone astray. So, my 5 evaluation is a bit high, when I think on righteousness, living fully in the will of God, truly loving Him. But, you know what, I’m not discouraged by my needs for improvement because I know God knows me and loves me, more than I can comprehend. In fact, God created me and gave me free will, but He takes me like I am, and He wants the best for me, so He won’t leave me alone till I am pleasing to Him. He loves me and wants the best for me, just like I want for my children. But, the truth is that He alone is God. I can love my children, and I can pray for them to be pleasing to God, but He is the only one who can truly help them, and He’s the only one who can change them, grow them, and help them know how much He loves them so that they are men of worth to His kingdom. You know what, I’m happy I’m in the study of the Old Testament book of Hosea. I am learning much!
No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and now looks to the future with a lot more optimism. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government is conducting business today. They Don’t Mess Around
A seven year-old turns up in his classroom one morning to be confronted by his teacher: “Morning Tommy, and why weren’t you at school yesterday?” “Well Miss, my Grandad got burnt.” “Oh Dear, he wasn’t too badly hurt I hope?” “Oh yes Miss, they don’t mess around at those crematoriums.”
Not exactly GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) It’s a slow day in a little east Texas town. The sun is beating down and the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everyone is in debt and living on credit. On this particular day a rich tourist from back east is driving through town. He stops at the hotel and lays a $100 bill on the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night. As soon as the man walks upstairs, the owner grabs the bill and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher. The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to retire his debt to the pig farmer. The pig farmer takes the $100 and heads off to pay his bill at the feed store. The gal at the feed store takes the $100 and rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill with the hotel owner. The hotel proprietor then places the $100 back on the counter so the rich traveler will not suspect anything. At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, picks up the $100 bill, states the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.
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Where All Good Things Come From Something Homemade & Homegrown The Garden Spot, located at 1005 Echols in downtown Caldwell, Texas, is a new, fresh food restaurant providing wholesome foods daily. Owner Michelle Boyd is fulfilling adream to carry on her father’s legacy of eating out with family and enjoying times of sharing and laughter. She is providing a place for individuals and families to eat, have family and funtime like she remembers. Her heart is to provide the location, and serve the people of Caldwell. The Garden Spot is and has been a labor of love. Located across from the County Court House, the restaurant is a friendly, welcoming place that offers a variety of “as fresh as she can make them” dishes: Salads, soups, fresh fruit dishes, sandwiches of several varieties and Blue Bell Ice cream. There are also daily specials. Michelle Boyd is no new comer to the restaurant business; she has worked the front of restaurants for 28 years and has loved serving people. Five years ago she and husband Steven bought a home in Beaver Creek where she focused her life on growincrops, feeding chickens, and studying about both; time when she was mostly alone, except for communication with God. When asked about how she chose the location for The Garden Spot, Michelle told of loving the historical building that’s been battered and bruised but brought back to life. Each time she’d come to Caldwell and see the building, she’d pray over it.. One day, she felt led to inquire about its availability and found herself signing a lease and planning…all in God’s design. Family is so important to Michelle, blood and chosen, as she calls them. In a few years, all of her own children will be living in the area. Her desire is The Garden Spot will be their legacy. Michelle has many future plans: to be open 6 days a week, to make her place the sweet/coffee shop in town, the place for family functions, to be the place for special events and a safe place for young people for a couple of hours. Michelle says it’s important to her that there is a happy, healthy restaurant in Caldwell. She plans to succeed, with God’s help. Phone: 979-567-9955 8A-5P Mon-Fri Grill open 10A-2P 8-10A Breakfast 2-5P Coffee, Tea, Dessert Free Wifi
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The Hand of a Teacher:
A Thanksgiving Story
At first it sounded like a Thanksgiving story, but the more I reshe said, “Take my hand, Douglas, we’ll go outside.” Or, “Let me flected on it, the more appropriate it seemed for any time of the show you how to hold your pencil.” Or, “Let’s do this together.” year. The way I heard it, the story went like this: Douglas was most thankful for his teacher’s hand. Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work. a fun assignment -- to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful. The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showMost of the class might be considered ing friendship, and how much it means to the Douglases of economically disadvantaged, but still many the world. They might not always would celebrate the holiday with turkey and say thanks. But they’ll remember the hand that other traditional goodies of the season. reaches out. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her student’s art. And they were. But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher’s true child of misery, frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.
By Steve Goodier www.LifeSupportSystem.com
Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand. His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went -- until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself. When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas’ desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and murmured, “It’s yours, teacher.” She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had
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A teacher takes a Hand, opens a Mind and touches a Heart
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Grandma A woman rushes to see her doctor, looking very much worried and all strung out. I was out walking with my 4-year-old Grand daughter. She picked up something of the ground started to put She rattles off, “Doctor,offtake a look at me.and When I woke up it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked this morning, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw my her to doand that.frazzled up, my skin was all wrinkled and hairnot all wiry pasty, my eyes were blood-shot and bugging out, and I had ‘Why?’ my Granddaughter this corpse-like look on myasked. face! What’s wrong with me, Doctor?” ‘Because it’s been on the ground; you don’t know where it’s been, it’s dirty, andher probably germs,’ of I replied. Atthen this The doctor looks over forhasa couple minutes, point, my Granddaughter looked at me with total admiracalmly says, “Well, I can tell you one thing... there ain’t tion and wrong asked, with ‘Grandma, how do”you know all this stuff? nothing your eyesight. You are so smart.’
I was thinking quickly. ‘All Grandmas know this stuff. It’s on the Grandma Test. You have to know it, or they don’t let you be a Grandma.’ We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. ‘Oh.....I get it!’ she beamed, ‘So if you don’t pass the test you have to be the Grandpa’. ‘Exactly,’ I replied with a big smile on my face.
Gun Control
is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for
sober people to own cars.
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THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON When you’re headin’ out Highway 21 West, toward Austin, on your left you’ll see Caldwell’s newest service provider, RockinG Oil Company, a new truck stop, plus so much more. Owner Roger Groce, in November 2014, purchased the old elementary school, had it demolished, and began the construction of a beautiful 7,000 sq ft building and the placement of his 6 lanes for diesel trucks, with diesel exhaust for the pumps, as well as the spacious trucker parking. The project was up and running by August 2015. This great facility is open 24/7. RockinG is more than a place to buy gas. When you walk into the spacious building, turn to your right and you’ll see a bakery, affectionately named Nonnie’s Bakery. There breakfast foods, Czech Kolaches, cinnamon rolls, pies and homemade bread are available. Fountain drinks can also be purchased. The bakery is happy to take special orders. Bakery hours are 6 am to 1 pm, Monday-Saturday. Turnin’ to your left at the front door, you can head to the cafe, Papa G’s. With ample space for several to sit and eat, customers can purchase old-fashioned, hand patted, fresh cooked burgers. And to go with them are French fries or onion rings. Or, if you prefer, you can get chicken strips. Fountain drinks are available there also. They’re open 11 am to 8:30 pm M-Sat, and on Sunday 11 am-3
pm.. The number there is 979-567-4700. In the middle of the building is the check out area, with lots of room for customers to move around.. Ice, drinks, deer corn, and other convenience store items are for sale. At the back of the building, truckers have showers available for their use. The long brick and cedar front and back porches are very attractive parts of the building. Roger Groce, whose family has been in the Caldwell area since 1860, says that his family has always been service minded. He’s from a family with five siblings, 4 brothers and a sister, who all still live in the Burleson County area. He and his wife Kathy have three girls and one boy of their own: Shannon, Kristin, Jenna, and Jared. And they are proud grandparents of eight. Roger says he built RockinG for his family, and that they handle the day to day operations. Roger has been in the service business for over 35 years. He’s always been involved in Caldwell and says he’s given to Caldwell, and it’s always given back. He’d like to personally say to the people of Caldwell that he appreciates the support of his business and that, as the only locally owned convenience store, he looks forward to serving Caldwell in the future. Stop by RockinG at 1515 W Highway 21, Caldwell, TX, or call 979-567-4710. RockinG will be open!
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil was for good men to do nothing.”
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WHEN DADDY WENT TO CHURCH WITH ME All six of my uncles and my Great Uncle served honorably overseas in WW II in the Pacific, all came home safe and sound – praise God. My Great Uncle, my mom’s Uncle Jesse was the only one who did not come back to a happy home. While in the Pacific he received a “Dear John” letter, his wife was getting a divorce. He spent the last half of the war with a hurting heart and a frustration and a hopelessness that thousands of miles of separation can bring. He fought the boredom between battles by writing poems. I have all that survived the war. Some are heart rendering; some are funny; some are touching like the one that was most personal to me; written about his experience in 1943, it was echoed in my experience in 1954. But first, some of my own background with great similarities to one of his poems: I met Glen Morris in 1952. Glen was a year older and became my best friend, and more importantly, he was a Christian – who lived his Christianity in front of me. In the summer of 1954, Glen introduced me to Jesus, and I accepted Jesus as my Savior and my Lord. I was baptized at West Liberty Baptist Church; I began singing soloes there and before the year was out, I was leading the congregational singing. Mom and Dad never came to hear me sing. I was 15 and was driving by then, so I took my younger brother and sister with me when I could get them up, fed and dressed. I always asked Mom and Dad to join us, but they never would go. It was the same pattern until one Saturday night Mom and Dad came in from a night of dancing and drinking. Dad got mad at me for some reason and slapped me and knocked me to the floor. It was the only time my dad ever hit me. I climbed off the floor and onto the sofa,weeping,not just because of the slap but perhaps more because of what I saw that drinking was doing to Dad. Through my tears I said, “Daddy, I know you didn’t mean to do that – it’s the whiskey”. I continued between sobs, “Daddy, I am going to Heaven with Jesus someday, and I want you and Mom to go there, too.” My dad didn’t say a word but turned and staggered into the bedroom and slammed the door. The next morning I fixed breakfast for my brother and sister. As we were finishing the meal, my dad came out and said, “Son, I am so ashamed and so sorry for last night. It will never happen again”. I hugged him and said, “It’s OK daddy, but will you and mom go to church with me today”? Dad said, “Yes.” I was so proud when we walked into church that Sunday and overwhelmed with emotion when Mom and Dad went forward at the close of the service and accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord.
In the last year of my dad’s life at 93 – dementia was taking his memory. I visited him two or three times a day and sometimes in a more lucid moment he would say, “I did so much bad in my younger years; I wonder if I will be able to join Joyce in Heaven.” I would say, “Daddy, it doesn’t matter what you did before: it matters what happened in 1954. Do you remember? And he would smile and say, “Oh yes, that was when I went to church with you and accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord.” This brings me back to Uncle Jesse’s poem that means so much to me. WHEN DADDY WENT TO CHURCH WITH ME Jesse McCann - 1943 Somewhere in the Pacific So many things that my memory holds That I can look back on with glee The most wonderful one I love the best Is when Daddy went to Church with me Dad loved me so very much I know Always to my needs he would see I could sense his love beyond compare When he held me on his knee. I would go to church with mother and Jim We were always doing our part The thought that daddy wasn’t with me Always sent a pain to my heart He never went much for church and such Though he was always good as his word He was always willing to help those in need His heart was so easily stirred One Sunday morning after much persuasion I was made so happy, you see Daddy had consented this Sunday morning To go to church with me As we walked down the aisle I wore a big smile Seemed that everyone was looking at me I was so glad, oh, this was my dad I wanted everyone at the church to see I twisted and turned and looked all around People would turn and my way would glance My heart was so happy and I felt so snappy I wanted to get up and dance Not long after this My daddy passed on I know he is happy and in Heaven so free Because Daddy found Jesus so good and so sweet The day He went to Church with Me… Del Rogers, Sr., founder and CEO of Stewardship Enrichment is a recognized authority on successful fund raising for churches, ministries and personal stewardship growth for individual christians.
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Trying to Defend the Defenseless Earlier this summer, horrific videos surfaced depicting Planned Parenthood executives discussing the harvesting of organs from unborn babies. The blatant disregard for human life in these videos was underscored by the cavalier attitude displayed by Planned Parenthood executives. (newsletter@cornyn.enews.senategov) Republican Senators proposed an Act that would ban abortions after 20 weeks. (Since neither Congress nor state legislatures can vote to ban all abortions under Roe v. Wade.) Then a Democratic filibuster ensued. The third week of September the Senate voted to stop the Democratic filibuster of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which was keeping the Senate from voting on the bill that would not allow late term abortions.(Life News) The Democrats defeated the vote 54-42, with pro-life Senate Republicans not getting the 60 votes needed to end
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debate and proceed to a vote on the pro-life bill itself. Later in the week, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) dismissed the attempt to make the Senate actually vote on H.R. 36. (News Today) The tragedy behind all of this is the unborn child who feels pain by 20 weeks, if not before. The child is not insensitive to the brutal violence done to her body during abortion. “It is also indisputable that the later in pregnancy an abortion occurs, the riskier it is for the mother and the more painful it is for the child.� (Stated by Senator Dan Coats.) (Follow@LifeNewsHQ) Is it not time to stop the barbaric treatment of the totally defenseless, yet to-be-born babies? Only 7 countries allow wholesale abortions at the 20-week period, including China and North Korea. We do not want to be part of such a group. Speak out for the defenseless.
Is The
American Dream
I
flag.
Dying?
n the the C Centerfold, ente en terf rfol old, d, yyou ou w will illl see il see a symbol sym ymbo boll of of our our theme: the heme me:: What Wha hatt ccan ca n we we do do to d dry ryy h her e ((America’s) er Amer Am eric i a’s) s tears tears? rs? Th Thee eeye ye yyou ou wil will ll see there h has h a llarge red, d white, h and d bl blue pupill surrounded d db by beautiful lights (stars) that we associate with our beloved
However, this beautiful eye is shedding a tear. Look closely at the tear drop. Our America is hurting today. She has lost much in recent years. For generations, centuries actually, America has been a country that has been looked up to by many countries who were in need. They found America worthy, a nation that could be depended on for help. They felt America was the strongest of countries. America has been strong, independent, a leader among nations, trusted, revered, caring, and willing to step in and help our allies, and not negotiate with our enemies. She has been a protector of and provider for her veterans, who fought for rights and freedoms of America and other nations. She didn’t forget their sacrifices and honored those who served, some losing sight and limbs, and some paying the ultimate price of their lives. America was seen as the nation that would fight against tyranny, darkness, hopelessness, inhumanity. It was a nation with laws and a Constitution that was followed. It is true that we have changed; however, we are not out for the count. But neither can we take for granted that we are going to be ok, that our children and grandchildren will have an America that will be strong and able to deliver the freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. All generations need an
America that will take care of them by providing jobs, assuring basic freedoms, and not over-taxing. They need a country that is aware of waste and does something to get the load off the people. The America needed will not burden them, her people. So, please ask yourself what you can do to dry America’s tears. You may feel you can do little because you are only one. However, one plus one, plus one, plus one… becomes many. The American, entrepreneurial spirit has always been strong. You and I are only one, but we are one, and we can help our America in limitless ways.
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Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers After Mr. and Mrs. Fenton retired, Mrs. Fenton insisted her husband accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, Mr. Fenton was like most men -- he found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunately, Mrs. Fenton was like most women -she loved to browse. One day Mrs. Fenton received the following letter from her local Wal-Mart. Dear Mrs. Fenton...... Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and may be forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr.Fenton are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras. 1. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5 minute intervals. 2. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, "Code 3 in Housewares - get on it right away." 3. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's on layaway. 4. September 14: Moved a "CAUTION - WET FLOOR" sign to a carpeted area. 5. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department. 6. September 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?" 7. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the anti-depressants were. 8. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme. 9. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled "PICK ME! PICK ME!" 10. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and moaned, "OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!" And last, but not least.......... 11. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, "Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!" Regards......... Wal-Mart
Homeless Pet Crisis in Burleson County pets. pe
Today I would like to discuss a dirty little secret found not only in Burleson County but many other counties across the country. In the United States alone, The Humane Society and the ASPCA estimate that 3 to 4 million unwanted companion animals are euthanized yearly in shelters. This does not include the animals that are abandoned by people in both metropolitan and rural areas. These animals often die a cruel death of starvation, vehicular trauma, or being eaten by wild predators. I have observed this deplorable behavior by the citizens of Burleson County since I began Veterinary practice in 1996. On a weekly basis I receive multiple phone calls from people in the county who have had puppies, kittens or other diseased or debilitated animals wander up to their residence. These abandoned animals not only face a horrible death but pose a possible health hazard to the residents of Burleson County and their personal
Abandoned animals can spread infectio diseases like Rabies, mange, ringworm tious and other zoonotic (transmissible to huan mans) conditions to well meaning good Sam maritans of Burleson County. At this time I m am not aware of any outlet in the county to humanely deal with these abandoned anihu mals. m I personally believe the citizens of Burleson County are better than this. Make no le mistake, this is a terribly complex issue that m will take the efforts of County government, w law enforcement and the caring citizens of la Burleson County to address. There is no one Bu solution but I suggest that proper education so of the public, low cost pet health care, county wide animal control officers, not just within w city limits, more aggressive enforcement of ci animal cruelty statutes, and a centralized an facility in the county, would help curve this fa problem. pr I site Animal Friends of Washington County as an example of a low cost sterilizaC tion and pet wellness clinic for those who tio cannot afford pet care. This foundation is ca supported by local government and the citisu zens of Washington County to humanely ze care for pets. I highly recommend that you ca check out their website for more information. It is the cooperative effort between government and citizens that may stem the tide of animal abandonment and cruelty in Burleson County. In this age of shrinking local government and household budgets it will take leadership and funding by all concerned parties to address the homeless pet problem. This editorial was meant to spark discussion and action, not as a critique of any one entity except those who abandon or are cruel to companion animals.
Thanks for your attention and time....Jack F Mc Kemie DVM
The Old Farmer J. Allen Whitt, PhD Albuquerque, New Mexico
Allen Whitt is an award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction. His novel Notes From the Other Side of the Mountain was selected as a Finalist in the 2013 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. A free form poem, The Endurance of Letters, won first place in a national creative writing contest for veterans. A Vietnam veteran of three combat deployments to the Gulf of Tonkin aboard an aircraft carrier, he grew up in Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico, where he is a member of SothWest Writers. The Old Farmer Oh, I love them colors of leaves in the Fall, and th’ way each dewdrop will sparkle and glow. So I’ll just sit awhile on the porch with y’all, And rock and chat ‘till it’s time to go. Then I’ll pick myself up, and head for that field, And sharpen that scythe, and gather that hay. And we’ll count all our blessings and tote up the yield, ‘Cause the sun shines bright on our labors today. But it won’t always be sunny, ya know. Old winter may try to cause us some harm. He’ll chill all our bones, and might lay us low, But April always brings them days fair and warm. Sure, I wish I could stay for a cinch’ry or two, And hug all our young ones and see how they grow. But my years now tell me to say adieu ‘Cause the grave must soon embrace me, you know.
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Meeting Betty Davis I have yet to have a trip turn out exactly as I thought it would. More likely it’s nothing like I thought it would be. Sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s a learning experience I wouldn’t wish on the devil. Last year we decided to go to Nashville, Tennessee. We picked up our rental car, and then drove about two hours out of Nashville to a little town close to where we planned on going to a Blue Grass Concert held inside a cavern. The ad in the Sunday paper said this cavern had some of the best acustics anywhere. Our bed and breakfast reservations were made at what looked like an old southern plantation, with good amenities. The implication was that we would be staying in the plantation. We reached the place about dark. From the outside it looked like it was going to be better than we had hoped. We knocked on the door, and Betty Davis, in her role in “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte,” invited us in. If you’ve seen this dark movie, you might remember that she was the care giver, and a terror to her sister, who was bedridden. Betty’s entertainment was making her sister miserable. One of her best jokes was serving her poor sister a rat on a silver plate. The sister lifts the cover and there is the dead rat. Of course, sister goes nuts screaming. Betty had wild white hair hanging off her shoulders, a mean smile, was overbearing, and talked with a southern drawl. She seemed sweet as sugar, but in reality, tortured her sister mercilessly. Our innkeeper could have been her twin. Instead of showing us to a room in the quaint plantation, as was implied on the site, we were shown to small guest quarters at the side of the mansion, that apparently, was, in another life, the garage. The room was completely decorated in well-worn antiques, a thread bare rug, and smelled of moth balls. Had she taken everything out of the attic that morning? Miss Betty was proud of an iron claw tub that seemingly, was the main attraction of our miniature suite. Now, if this had been the Pokinaws, and we had been on our honeymoon, forty-eight years earlier, we might have been more impressed. As it was, she explained that the tub didn’t hold water, so we would need to activate the shower, which had very low water pressure. In order to take a shower at all, we had to pull a plastic, badly leaking shower curtain, all around the tub. We knew we had to try it out, because she had already told us she was going to want to know how we liked it. It seemed more like an order than a suggestion. Instead of fluffy hotel quality towels, we found a small stack of wellworn faded ones, the size of a children’s towel. The 1940’s commode didn’t flush all that well, either. You may remember the perfume Tea, well there was a small bottle of that very perfume in the lavatory area. At the back of the antiquated bathroom, was a door with an old fashioned key lock. The dark wooden door opened to a ballroom/dining area, where, she explained, parties and receptions were held. I think this may have been where Scarlett first
danced with Rhett. It had dark red velvet curtains, and a winding staircase. That night we discovered that the door which was unlocked had no key. When we ask Miss Davis about the metal key,she said, “Oh, didn’t I give it to you?” I’ll give it to you later. This was beginning to seem more like the Bates motel every minute. Going in to dinner, which Betty cooked,and was pretty good, we discovered there was only one other couple and their small son, staying at this place. They were on the other side of the overgrown plantation in what looked like another row of guest houses. Why weren’t we over there? Was it so they wouldn’t hear our screams in the middle of the night? We came back to our room after dinner, and discovered there was a 1950’s TV with rabbit ear antennas. Needless to say, we couldn’t get much on the TV. As I was unpacking my night gear, an unusually large spider came crawling through the two inch opening under the door, which led directly outside our room, and to a weed garden. I spent the night, wide awake, and watching for other outside critters. My husband slept soundly. She informed us that we could tour the mysterious mansion on the plantation the next day, but it would be $20 each. We decided at that point, to pass. We were kind of afraid to tell her. We got through the night, had a nice breakfast, and walked through the souvenir shop, manned by her husband, Borus Korlof. The musty shop was filled with northern civil war paraphernalia. He walked around with us, explaining each item. Lovely! We bought a couple of things for the grandkids, hoping he would let us out of there, and were on our way. The cold chill on the back of our neck was beginning to subside. We drove to a concert in Cumberland Caverns, in McMinnville, Tennessee. It was held in an underground cavern about two and a half hours from Nashville. The cavern seemed a little smaller than Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. The bluegrass music was unbelievably good. While waiting for the tour to begin, we met a writer from Missouri who writes about her outdoor kayaking, and other nature adventures. While part of our trip was not what we expected, it was one of the most interesting trips we have taken. Had we not been open to an adventure, we would have missed meeting Betty Davis!
by Donna Presnal Retired Teacher
Caldwell High School Graduate
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers
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Are the Nails That Built the
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Dead Dog
Two boys are playing football in Central Park when one is Friend From Horrific Attack” he continued writing in his attacked by a rabid Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other notebook. boy rips off a board of the nearby fence, wedges it down the dog’s collar and twists, breaking the dog’s neck. “I’m not a Jets fan either,” the boy said. A reporter who was strolling by sees the incident, and “I assumed everyone in New York was either for the Giants rushes over to interview the boy. or Jets. What team do you root for?” the reporter asked. “Young Giants Fan Saves Friend From Vicious Animal,” he “I’m a Cowboys fan,” the child said. starts writing in his notebook. The reporter starts a new sheet in his notebook and writes, “But I’m not a Giants fan,” the little hero replied. “Little Redneck Maniac Kills Beloved Family Pet.” “Sorry, since we are in New York, I just assumed you were.” said the reporter and starts again. “Little Jets Fan Rescues
Tell our Advertisers you saw them in The Front Porch Magazine.
Your Annual Plan:
Three Steps toward Your Financial Success by Kavon Novak
Kavon Novak is a registered Investment Consultant and Branch Manager with LPL Financial. He holds Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses. Kavon has over 15 years of experience in the financial industry and is a member of the Financial Services Institute and the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce. He is a multi-year “Outstanding Client Service� award recipient and a Fightin’ Texas Aggie ’91. For more information please visit www.lpl.com/kavon.novak.
As the days get shorter and cooler, it’s a good time to conduct a comprehensive annual financial review. While no one-sizefits-all plan exists, the 3 step review process below can help better keep your financial house in order year to year. Step 1: The Year’s Not Over Yet— Make Time for a Progress Check The main reason to create an annual financial plan is to plot out the most efficient route to follow as you pursue essential short and long-term goals for the coming year. However, it’s difficult to get a clear vision of the future without first reviewing any existing plans to gauge whether you’ve managed to stay on the right track this year—and to make sure that you’ve not overlooked any opportunities that might present themselves between now and the end of the year. It’s still not too late to make significant progress before putting a new calendar on the wall. As yourself these questions: t )BWF * UBLFO GVMM BEWBOUBHF PG HJęJOH TUSBUFHJFT BT QBSU PG NZ overall estate plan this year? This can be an effective way of sup porting loved ones (or a charity) while simultaneously reducing your future estate tax burden. t )BWF * DPOTJEFSFE TFMMJOH iMPTJOHw JOWFTUNFOUT UP PČTFU UBYFT on gains elsewhere in my portfolio? t "N * DFSUBJO UIBU BMM PG NZ CFOFĕDJBSZ EFTJHOBUJPOT BOE PUIFS information on important legal documents remain up to date? t )BWF * NBYJNJ[FE *3" DPOUSJCVUJPOT ZFU 5FDIOJDBMMZ TQFBL ing, the contribution deadline isn’t until the April tax-filing EFBE CVU ZPV TIPVMEO U XBJU UJMM UIFO UP GVOE ZPVS *3" Step 2: Plan for Next Year Before Next Year In all likelihood, you already know about some of the financial goals you’d like to chip away at in the coming year. The key to success, however, is to begin working on next year’s priorities before next year. For example, you may want to be sure you’re in a position to:
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t 4FU BTJEF FOPVHI NPOFZ JO BO FNQMPZFS TQPOTPSFE SFUJSFNFOU account. If you’re not yet contributing to one, find out when your employer allows new participants to enroll for next year, then make plans to do so. If you’re participating but not yet con tributing the max, start looking for ways to afford bigger contributions in the year ahead. t "DDVNVMBUF FOPVHI NPOFZ GPS PUIFS NBKPS ĕOBODJBM QSJPSJ ties. If you’re still working, for example, what more could you do to reach your goal of buying a home, funding education, or paying off debts, etc.? t $POĕSN UIF FČFDUJWFOFTT PG JODPNF TUSFBN TUSBUFHJFT *G you’re already retired, what income sources have you been rely ing on, and do they provide enough money to meet your planned and unplanned expenses? Are you maintaining a sus UBJOBCMF XJUIESBXBM SBUF GSPN ZPVS SFUJSFNFOU BDDPVOUT 5BL ing out too much money this year could leave you shorthanded later in life. t 3FCBMBODF ZPVS QPSUGPMJP ćJT DPVME CF OFDFTTBSZ JG NBSLFU performance has altered your asset allocation since the last UJNF ZPV BEKVTUFE JU PS JG ZPVS QFSTPOBM PVUMPPL IBT DIBOHFE at all since then. Keep in mind, rebalancing may trigger a taxable event. Step 3: Give Your Plan a Long Term Vision "O PME BEBHF EFDMBSFT ićF POMZ DPOTUBOU JO MJGF JT DIBOHF w Whoever coined that phrase probably wasn’t talking about financial planning, but the words certainly apply to the task of conducting an annual review. With that in mind, try to maintain a flexible outlook regarding your strategies for the future and make a point of considering priorities that will need to be addressed well beyond next year, including: t &TUBUF QMBOOJOH .BOZ QFPQMF IBWF EPOF OPUIJOH UP QSFQBSF ĕ nancially for the post-death management of their assets. Have you? Failure to do so could leave your heirs shortchanged. t *OTVSBODF DPWFSBHF (FOFSBMMZ TQFBLJOH JU T CFUUFS UP IBWF JO TVSBODF BOE OPU OFFE JU UIBO UP OFFE JU BOE OPU IBWF JU $PO ducting an insurance needs analysis and reviewing your exist JOH DPWFSBHF TIPVME CF PO ZPVS ĕOBODJBM iUP EPw SFHBSEMFTT PG what year it is. t .FFUJOH XJUI ZPVS JOWFTUNFOU QSPGFTTJPOBM " MPU DBO DIBOHF in 12 months. Be sure to touch base at least once a year, if not NPSF PęFO JO PSEFS UP NBLF TVSF BMM ZPVS CBTFT BSF DPWFSFE The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not inUFOEFE UP QSPWJEF TQFDJĕD BEWJDF PS SFDPNNFOEBUJPOT GPS BOZ JOEJWJEVBM 5P EFUFSNJOF which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax PS MFHBM BEWJTPS -1- 5SBDLJOH Š 2011 Mcgraw-Hill Financial Communications. All rights reserved.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers KIDS MARRIAGE ADVICE ( 1 ) You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10 -( 2 ) No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kirsten, age 10 -WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED? ( 1 ) Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10 -WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
( 2 ) On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10 (wise beyond his years)
( 1 ) Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE ( 1 ) Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
( 1 ) When they're rich -- Pam, age 7 ( 2 ) The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. -- Curt, age 7
The Gold Wrapping Paper Dear friends, I don't know if the following inspirational short Christmas story is true, but whether or not it actually happened, it's a wonderfully inspiring story for people of any faith. In this season of love, may we all remember the beautiful love of a small child. I wish you a meaningful and love-filled Christmas season and new year ahead. May your days be filled with love, joy, growth, and inspiration.
O
nce upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. This particular year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family's only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. As money was tight, he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used all of the expensive gold paper to decorate one shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree. He also was concerned about where she had gotten money to buy what was in the shoebox. Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy!" As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her.
But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. "Don't you know, young lady," he said harshly, "when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside the package!" The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: "Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full." The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger. An accident took the life of the child only a short time later. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. The Light in a
Child’s eyes is all it takes to make
Christmas
a magical time of the year
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers New Baby For weeks a six-year old lad kept telling his first-grade teacher about the baby brother or sister that was expected at his house. One day the mother allowed the boy to feel the movements of the unborn child. The six-year old was obviously impressed, but made no comment. Furthermore, he stopped telling his teacher about the impending event. The teacher finally sat the boy on her lap and said, “Tommy, whatever has become of that baby brother or sister you were expecting at home?” Tommy burst into tears and confessed, “I think Mommy ate it!” School Photo The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. “Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, ‘There’s Jennifer; she’s a lawyer,’ or ‘That’s Michael, he’s a doctor.’” up and they saw the sign which read, “Warning! One of the waA small voice at the back of the room rang out, “And there’s termelons in this field has been injected with cyanide.” the teacher; ...she’s dead.” The kids ran off, made up their own sign and posted it next to the farmer’s sign. When the farmer returned, he surveyed the Watermelons field. He noticed that no watermelons were missing, but the sign There was a farmer who grew watermelons. He was doing next to his read, “Now there are two!” pretty well, but he was disturbed by some local kids who would sneak into his watermelon patch at night and eat his watermelons. Stupidity is far more fascinating than After some careful thought, he came up with a clever idea intelligence, after all intelligence that he thought would scare the kids away for sure. He made up has it’s limits. a sign and posted it in the field. The next night, the kids showed
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She Did What She Could By Tracy Frank, Executive Director Hope Pregnancy Center of Brazos Valley
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can be discouraging when we look around our world and see all that is going on. Even in our own country and in our own communities, it is hard to sit idly by and do nothing. So many things we would like to change, to make better, to improve lives. But as single individuals how can we make a difference? The story of the woman with the perfume jar in Mark 13:3-9 gives us a model to follow. While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will
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also be told, in memory of her.” “She did what she could.” As individuals, there is little we can do on our own, but together we can make a difference. We can pray together, serve together and stand together. Each of us can do what we can, no matter how small or great the act. We shouldn’t discount our contribution, as God can use our gifts and talents no matter what they are, even a jar of perfume. The author Elisa Morgan has written a book on this concept if you would like to learn more. A few years ago, an older gentleman came by the center carrying a paper bag. While sitting by his wife’s bedside in a skilled nursing facility he had learned to knit, just something to keep his hands busy. About all he could make were little baby caps. He brought us dozens. He had done what he could and others caught on to his idea and now we have plenty of knitted and crocheted baby caps available to keep little heads warm this winter. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Hope Pregnancy Centers of Brazos Valley. Last year nearly 1,700 individuals took advantage of our services. Our ability to help these women, men and babies of the Brazos Valley has been based individuals doing what they could. Volunteers, prayer warriors, financial supporters coming together and helping us to impact lives.
Hope Pregnancy Centers of the Brazos Valley is a faith-based, non-profit organization providing a safe and confidential refuge for those in crisis. Free services include: pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, one on one peer counseling, parenting and life skills classes and materials through our ‘earn while you learn’ program. Traditionally, Hope is known as a provider of services for women, but through the years has recognized the need and developed programs for men soon to be fathers. To find more information about Hope’s pregnancy services go to www.hopepregnancy.org. Our second facility is now open in Bryan and houses Testing 4 U – a free and confidential STD Clinic. Visit www.testing4u-bcs.com for more information on STD testing and treatment.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Farmer John Farmer John lived on a quiet rural highway. But, as time went by, the traffic slowly built up at an alarming rate. The traffic was so heavy and so fast that his chickens were being run over at a rate of three to six a day. So, one day Farmer John called the sheriff ’s office and said, “You’ve got to do something about all of these people driving so fast and killing all of my chickens.” “What do you want me to do?” asked the sheriff. “I don’t care, just do something about those crazy drivers!” So the next day he had the county workers go out and erected a sign that said: SLOW: SCHOOL CROSSING Three days later Farmer John called the sheriff and said, “You’ve got to do something about these drivers. The ‘school crossing’ sign seems to make them go even faster.” So, again, the sheriff sends out the county workers and they put up a new sign: SLOW: CHILDREN AT PLAY That really sped them up.. So Farmer John called and called and called every day for three weeks. Finally, he asked the sheriff, “Your signs are doing no good. Can I put up my own sign?” The sheriff told him,”Sure thing, put up your own sign.” He was going to let the Farmer John do just about anything in order to get him to stop calling everyday to complain. The sheriff got no more calls from Farmer John. Three weeks later, curiosity got the best of the sheriff and he decided to give Farmer John a call. “How’s the problem with those drivers. Did you put up your sign?” “Oh, I sure did. And not one chicken has been killed since then. I’ve got to go. I’m very busy.” He hung up the phone. The sheriff was really curious now and he thought to himself, “I’d better go out there and take a look at that sign... it might be something that WE could use to slow down drivers...” So the sheriff drove out to Farmer John’s house, and his jaw dropped the moment he saw the sign.. It was spray-painted on a sheet of wood: NUDIST COLONY Go slow and watch out for the chicks!
An honest seven-year-old admitted calmly to her parents that Billy Brown had kissed her after class. "How did that happen?" gasped her mother. "It wasn't easy," admitted the young lady, "but three girls helped me catch him."
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Note: Sometimes a story comes along that needs no polishing or enhancement to make it better. This is one of those. It is a real letter submitted to the IRS the midst of 1995s weird and bizarre denial of dependents, exemptions and credits. The letter speaks for itself. Truth or fiction....in the words of Larry the Cable Guy...I don’t care who ya are, this here’s funny.
Letter to the IRS this in the future. May I suggest that you reinstate Dr. Jocelyn Elders who had a rather good handle on the problem. Patrick is 14. I've had my suspicions about this one. His eyes are a little closer together than those of normal people. He may be a tax examiner himself one day, if he is not incarcerated first. In February, I was awakened at three in the morning by a police officer who was bringing Pat
Sirs: I am responding to your letter denying the deduction for two of the three dependents I claimed on my 1994 Federal Tax return. Thank you! I have questioned whether or not these are my children for years. They are evil and expensive. It's only fair that, since they are minors and no longer my responsibility, the government should know something about them and what to expect over the next year. Please do not try to reassign them to me next year and reinstate the deduction. They are yours! The oldest, Kristen, is now 17. She is brilliant. Ask her! I suggest you put her to work in your office where she can answer people's questions about their returns. While she has no formal training, it has not seemed to hamper her mastery of any subject you can name. Taxes should be a breeze. Next year she is going to college. I think it's wonderful that you will now be responsible for that little expense. While you mull that over, keep in mind that she has a truck. It doesn't run at the moment, so you have the choice of appropriating some Department of Defense funds to fix the vehicle, or getting up early to drive her to school. Kristen also has a boyfriend. Oh joy! While she possesses all of the wisdom of the universe, her alleged mother and I have felt it best to occasionally remind her of the virtues of abstinence, or in the face of overwhelming passion, safe sex. This is always uncomfortable, and I am quite relieved you will be handling
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home. He and his friends were TP'ing houses. In the future, would you like him delivered to the local IRS office, or to Ogden, UT? Kids at 14 will do almost anything on a dare. His hair is purple. Permanent dye, temporary dye, what's the big deal? Learn to deal with it. You'll have plenty of time, as he is sitting out a few days of school after instigating a food fight in the cafeteria. I'll take care of filing your phone number with the viceprincipal. Oh yes, he and all of his friends have raging hormones. This is the house of testosterone and it will be much more peaceful when he lives in your home. DO NOT leave him or his friends unsupervised with girls, explosives, inflammables, inflatables, vehicles, or telephones. (They find telephones a source of unimaginable amusement. Be sure to lock out the 900 and 976 numbers!) Heather is an alien. She slid through a time warp and appeared as if by magic
one year. I'm sure this one is yours. She is 10 going on 21. She came from a bad trip in the sixties. She wears tie-dyed clothes, beads, sandals, and hair that looks like Tiny Tim's. Fortunately you will be raising my taxes to help offset the pinch of her remedial reading courses. "Hooked On Phonics" is expensive, so the schools dropped it. But here's the good news! You can buy it yourself for half the amount of the deduction that you are denying me! It's quite obvious that we were terrible parents (ask the other two). She cannot speak English. Most people under twenty understand the curious patois she fashioned out of valley girls/ boys in the hood/reggae/yuppie/ political double speak. The school sends her to a speech pathologist who has her roll her "r's". It added a refreshing Mexican/Irish touch to her voice. She wears hats backwards, baggy pants, and wants one of her ears pierced four more times. There is a fascination with tattoos that worries me, but I am sure that you can handle it. Bring a truck when you come to get her, she sort of "nests" in her room and I think that it would be easier to move the entire thing than find out what it is really made of. You denied two of the three exemptions, so it is only fair that you get to pick which two you will take. I prefer that you take the youngest two, I will still go bankrupt with Kristen's college, but then I am free! If you take the two oldest, then I still have time for counseling before Heather becomes a teenager. If you take the two girls, then I won't feel so bad about putting Patrick in a military academy. Please let me know of your decision as soon as possible, as I have already increased the withholding on my W-4 to cover the $395 in additional tax and made a down payment on an airplane. Yours truly, Bob (Note: The IRS allowed the deductions and reinstated his refund.)
Gratitude by Sharon Ann Laffere
The holidays always fill me with a sense of hope, peace, and gratitude. In the spirit of the season, a friend recently challenged me to write a gratitude journal. Now I challenge each reader to write their own. Rather than stressing about finding the perfect present, take a moment to count your blessings and share your feelings with those you love. Thank you to Dad and Mom for providing a foundation of faith and family. Thank you, Mom, for teaching me unconditional love and kindness. You will live forever in my heart until we meet again. Thank you to my boyfriend for making me feel loved and worthwhile, even on my worst day. This world can make us feel so small, but you always make me feel special. Thank you to my brothers for showing me that girls can do anything boys can do. You taught me to be strong and to stand on my own, but still defended me against any bully. Thank you to my niece for giving me hope for the future. Watching you grow into a beautiful, intelligent young woman has been a true joy.
Thank you to my aunts, uncles, and cousins for giving me roots and giving me wings. No matter the time or distance, our bond remains unbreakable. Thank you to my friends for sharing hopes and dreams. Your kind, encouraging, generous spirits have brightened my darkest days. Thank you to God for blessing me with family, friends, and the faith to embrace each new day. None of this would be possible without you. Thank you to the readers for sharing your thoughtful comments with me. I wish each of you a very joyous holiday season.
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Fall and the Flu Season Each Fall begins a season of an increased prevalence of respiratory illnesses, including the annual Influenza virus. The following are suggestions to stay healthy and prevent viral infections.
1. Wash your hands. Frequent hand washing has shown to be an extremely effective and simple way to prevent communicable illnesses. Hand wipes and sanitizers are not as effective in eliminating germs as good old fashioned washing with soap and water, but are at times the only option for families on the go and can be readily available. When washing, warm but not hot water is recommended with thorough wringing of the hands with soap. In addition to washing your hands, keeping your kitchen and bathroom countertops clean can help prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
2. Eat healthy. A well balanced diet including plenty of vegetables and fruits rich in natural vitamins boost the immune system’s ability to fight off unwanted diseases. There are many such vegetables and fruits one can choose from. Fruits such as kiwi, blueberries, grapes, and oranges; spices such as oregano and ginger, and vegetables such as garlic, green onions, fennel, and red peppers are packed with important nutrients and vitamins. These are just a few examples of healthy foods that can help boost the immune system. The take home message is that keeping a diverse diet will make sure one gets all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
5. Consider the Flu vaccine.
4. Get plenty of sleep.
It is true that not everyone is willing to get the annual flu vaccine. Each year, a new vaccine for the suspected type of most prevalent flu is developed. Some years the vaccine is more or less effective than other years. Last year’s flu vaccine was found to be about only 25% effective, other years have been better. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that just about everyone age 6 months and older get an annual flu shot. The vaccine is now available in doctor’s offices and pharmacies.
Children should sleep at least 9 to 10 hours a night. Adults usually can sleep less, with an average of 8 hours, to help the body regenerate and boost the immune system. When one is sleeping the body is still very active. Studies have shown that a significant amount of disease fighting by the body occurs when one is asleep. Limiting the amount of nighttime sleep makes it more difficult for one’s body to fight off illnesses.
Dr. Kia Parsi graduated from Baylor College of Medicine and completed his family medicine residency in Phoenix, Arizona. He has been married for 24 years to his wife, Catherine. He has twins who are seniors in high school and an eight year old son. Dr. Parsi has been working in Burleson County for over 16 years as a Family Physician employed by St. Joseph. He is currently at the Caldwell Healthpoint-St. Joseph Clinic working alongside Dr. Kristel Leuber and Kimberly Glidewell P.A.
3. Don’t share. Avoid sharing drinking glasses, utensils, and foods with friends and family members. Often a person can catch an illness and be able to spread the disease before the signs and symptoms of an illness appear.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Burial Little Tim was in the garden filling in a hole when his neighbor peered over the fence. Interested in what the cheeky-faced youngster was up to, he politely asked, “What are you up to there, Tim?” “My goldfish died,” replied Tim tearfully, without looking up, “and I’ve just buried him.” The neighbor was concerned, “That’s an awfully big hole for a goldfish, isn’t it?” Tim patted down the last heap of earth then replied, “That’s because he’s inside your stupid cat.”
We hope you enjoy the jokes you read in the Front Porch. If you have any jokes you would like to share, please email them to imagemaker@airplexus.com. You Never Lean Nothin’ A father and son went fishing one day. While they were out on the water, the boy suddenly became curious about things in general and started asking all sorts of questions. He asked his father, “Why does the boat float? The father replied, “Don’t rightly know son.” A little later, the boy looked at his father and asked, “How do fish breath underwater?” Once again the father replied, “Don’t rightly know son.” A little later the boy asked his father, “Why is the sky blue?” Again, the father repied. “Don’t rightly know son.” Finally, the boy asked his father, “Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?” The father replied, “Of course not, if you don’t ask questions, you never learn nothin’.”
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Monk Eye and the Cool Cat Caper
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onk Eye suffered from a load of undeserved self confidence. He had a scalp full of scars from a failed training session with a belligerent billy goat; a gun shy three legged dog he was ”training” was last seen rocketing down Big A road like a heard of demons was on his tail. Undaunted by historic mishaps and misadventures, the boy assumed himself to be an animal authority. On a scalding hot August day we had been swimming in Bear Creek when we found a black tomcat lying under a pine tree. His labored breathing is all that distinguished him from a dead cat. After a thorough examination Monk Eye declared he didn’t suffer from broken bones, cuts, or abnormal animal ailments. Our friendship nearly ruptured when I said, “Monk Eye, this ole cat’s a ‘gonna die, less jist leave him alone.” His doctoring skills had been challenged. Like Granny Clampett, he dug his heels in and declared, “they ain’t a sick cat nowhere that I can’t get well. I reckon I’ll jist haf to show you.” “O.K. Mr. cat doctor, whut’s wrong with that cat?” “I’ll tell ya zackly whut’s wrong with him. He’s done went and had hisself one a’ them there heat strokes.” Well if he has, they ain’t nothin’ ya can do about it.” “Oh yes they is.” “No, they ain’t.” “I bet you my pocket knife again’ your’rn that I can git him well.” “Hits a bet.” Mama had threatened me with a whuppin’ if she ever caught me gambling. But this wouldn’t be gambling cause it was a certainty that Monk Eye couldn’t revive a dead cat. We took the cat to Monk Eye’s house. His mama was working second shift at the cotton mill; his daddy was sleeping off the affects of some 90 proof cold medicine from the night before. Monk Eye said, “I gotta git this cat cooled down.” He stared at his mama’s refrigerator and moved his mouth. He moved his
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mouth when he was engrossed in heavier than normal thinking. He muttered too. I think he was arguing with himself. I was thinking too, “Don’t thank about puttin’ that cat in the refrigerator. Yore mama’ll kill you grave yard dead.” That is what he was thinking that’s what he did. He laid that cat out on the shelf with a half gallon of butter milk, a half pound of butter, and a pound of bologna. I’ll jist leave him in there for ‘bout an hour. He’ll be alright when he gits cooled down.” We sauntered out to Mr. Renzo Duren’s house; he had cut a watermelon and needed a couple of boys to help him eat it. With our belly’s full of melon, we meandered toward Monk Eye’s house. As we approached we heard a horrible, hair raising scream. The screen door slammed back and his scrawny, bug eyed, wild haired daddy ricocheted across the yard, baggy boxer shorts flapping in the wind. He screeched, “they’s a black devil in the ice box an’ hit jumped me.” Monk Eye never admitted any knowledge of the “black devil.” The resurrected cat was never seen again. His daddy believed his “medicine” had caused him to hallucinate. His mama didn’t know how black hair got in the butter. Monk Eye got my “real imitation pearl” handled pocketknife. If you get to heaven before me I’d appreciate it if you didn’t feel compelled to tell mama about that gambling. I’ve never again bet against a dead cat.
by Neal Beard, a retired pastor living in Douglasville, Georgia. He writes history / humor about the rural northwest Georgia community where he grew up in the 40s and 50s.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Why Parents Have Gray Hair
The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whispered, “Hello?” Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a youngster, the boss asked, “Is your Daddy home?” “Yes” whispered the small voice. “May I talk with him?” the man asked. To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, “No.” Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?” “Yes” came the answer. “May I talk with her?” Again, the small voice whispered, “No” Knowing that it was not likely that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message with the person who should be there watching over the child. “Is there any one there besides you?” the boss asked the child. “Yes” whispered the child, “a policeman.” Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?” “No he’s busy” said the little voice. “Busy doing what?” asked the boss. “Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the fireman.” came the whispered answer. Growing concerned and even worried as he heard the sound of a helicopter through the ear piece on the phone the boss asked, “What is that noise?” “A hello-copper” answered the whispering voice. “What is going on there?!” asked the boss, now getting alarmed. In an awed whispering voice the child answered, “The search team just landed the hello-copper.”
Alarmed, concerned and more than just a little frustrated, the boss asked, “What are they searching for?!” Still whispering, the young voice replied along with a muffled giggle, “Me!”
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The Making of One Minister’s Wife by Polly Williams
“Ow,” I exclaimed as my classmate kicked me in my shin. “Why did you kick me?” I asked “You fool!” she replied. “Don’t you know he cares for you?” I felt like lightening hit my brain as I realized what she had just said to me. I jumped out of my chair, grabbed my purse and ran out the café door trying to catch up with the seminary student I was dating. “Why did you get up and leave after you had just sat down beside me?” I asked. I was crying and tugging at his sleeve to slow him down. In disgust, he replied, “I smelled smoke and alcohol.” I fessed up to drinking and smoking and told him I was at the café drinking coffee to sober up in order to be able to return to class. I told him of my background, how I had grown up fixing high balls and drinks for my parents, and that we all smoked…even my two brothers and their wives. I rattled on and on to him about my life. I was hurting. My folks had gotten a divorce a year before, and Dad had just remarried while Mom was in an institution for alcoholism. Weeks had passed since he had first asked me to go with him for a coke. I had been studying in the seminary library since it was so quiet compared to the college library. When I was there one afternoon, a tall, dark, handsome guy came over to my table and asked if I’d go with him for a coke. I was shocked. Several thoughts raced through my mind: Mother said never to speak to a stranger…This was a seminary student and I was a college student; we weren’t supposed to mix company. It seemed five minutes passed before I could figure out what to do. Poor guy, standing there waiting. “OK,” I finally replied, stood, gathered my books and left the library with him. After we’d been going out together, he told me, “I followed you around campus for two weeks before I asked you out. I wanted to know why you never smiled. I guessed you had your reasons.” I had to tell him I was being expelled from college and was not to return till I proved myself emotionally mature and serious about studying. I’d leave after spring term and go back home. I knew I had one more confession to make as it seemed to me that we were dating seriously: “I’m not a virgin,” I said. I told him while going back to the dorm after lunch. He pushed me away and walked as if to get away from me. I grabbed his arm and cried out, “Please let me explain.” I told him of how my life growing up had been one of double standards. Mother would tell a dirty joke. We 3 kids would repeat it, and then Mother would tell us not to do that, that it wasn’t nice. Once, we knew mother had had an affair, but she denied it. Father was also rumored to have had affairs. Both of my brothers had pregnant wives when they married. I’d read True Story and Playboy throughout school. Rumors abounded that I was pregnant as a freshman in high school. My oldest brother tried to have sex with me when I was 9. Farm brothers tried to have sex with a girlfriend and me while we were down at the creek when I was eleven. It all came rushing out of me. After Dad remarried, he enrolled me in a business school like it was my last chance to learn how to make a living. I had hatred for my stepmother, and I felt no one loved me. I tried to commit suicide after a
horrid argument. But I was trying to drown myself while the song “Jesus Loves Me” went through my thoughts. I jumped out of the bathtub and thought I don’t care if no one loves me, at least Jesus does. One time a neighbor boy who every girl thought was the stud of the town walked by the house when I was dressing for school, and I thought he could see me through the bedroom window that faced the street. Later my brother and new wife came home and wanted to go to a movie. He knew the neighbor kid and arranged for him and me to go with them. I let him have sex with me. Why? I have no idea. There was no love Just something to do. I told him all this and then left for home. At the end of that summer, I was home for the week-end. The seminary student visited. He asked if there was some private place we could talk. He opened his Bible and showed me Scripture explaining how much Jesus loves me and died to take away my sins, and that if I would confess and believe and ask Jesus into my heart, I would be forgiven and have eternal life. I felt stunned, goose bumps covered me, as I realized the truth. He showed me scripture that stated that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. He asked me why I would want to defile this temple with smoking and drinking. Then he told me that he didn’t have a say about what my mother did, but that he’d have a say if his wife was doing these things. It dawned on me that he was serious about me. That very day I quit smoking and drinking. I went back to business school and finished in two years. All the while I was developing as a new believer. I attended church where he was a student pastor. Earlier, he’d told me of his heart defect and the doctors giving him 25 years if he lived an inactive life. As a teen-ager he’d had two bouts with rheumatic fever and infected gum disease that had affected the valves in his heart. So while he’d been in the hospital for treatment, he’d accepted the call to ministry after listening to a Billy Graham program on TV. He qualified for a grant for college and seminary; and he supplemented his income with painting, cleaning grocery store floors during the summers and week-ends. His motto was “I’d rather wear out than rust out.’ Oh, young love! We planned on a wonderful life, children, serving the Lord. But the sins of the past would rear their ugly heads… To be continued…
Polly is a doctor’s daughter, pastor’s wife, mother of 3 sons, farmer’s wife and widow. She completed her RN degree at the age of 40. Her desire now is to submit inspirational stories of her life.
Presidential Quotes Presidential Quotes ‘’If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: ‘President Can’t Swim.’’’ —President Lyndon Johnson
‘’I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.’’ —President Ronald Reagan, during a 1984 presidential debate with Walter Mondale ‘’He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas better than any man I ever met.’’ —President Abraham Lincoln, referring to a lawyer ‘’Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.’’ —President Abraham Lincoln
“I hope we once again have reminded people that man is not free unless government is lim‘’The candidates are an interesting group, with diverse ited. There’s a clear cause and effect here that is opinions -- for tax cuts and against them, for NAFTA and against NAFTA, for the Patriot Act and against the Patriot as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts.” – Act, in favor of liberating Iraq and opposed to it. And that’s just one senator from Massachusetts.’’ Ronald Reagan —President George W. Bush on Sen. John Kerry, March 2004
‘’These stories about my intellectual capacity really get under my skin. You know, for a while I even thought my staff believed it. There on my schedule first thing every morning it said, ‘Intelligence Briefing.’’ —President George W. Bush, joking at the 2001 Radio-TV Correspondents’ Dinner ‘’These days, I look in the mirror and I have to admit, I’m not the strapping young Muslim socialist that I used to be. Time passes. You get a little gray.” —President Obama at the 2013 White House Correspondents’ Dinner Reprint from CNSNews.com
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Our Neighbor’s Traditions Now that it is Christmas, or it is upon us, or it has passed, depending when you are reading this article, we want to consider Christmas. Of course, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, and we need to celebrate His birth, His coming to earth to be our Savior and redeemer deserves our focus and celebra tion. As we are aware, here in America, we start too early with the focus on purchasing Christmas gifts (we all hear that, or maybe say it ourselves), and most everyone decorates in the American ways, with trees, lights, yard decorations, carols, and wreaths. And our churches are decorated with nativities and filled with traditional Christian Christmas songs, and some even have a live nativity, and musical productions. We do celebrate with rich traditions. But, I thought about our neighbors, Canada and Mexico. Do we know how they celebrate, what their traditions are? Canada is a very large country with people of different cultural backgrounds. Their traditions come from France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany and native/ First Nation influences. The Eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia is known for its fir and pine Christmas trees. One tradition of theirs is to send the biggest, best fir tree grown in Nova Scotia, to Boston, USA, because of the assistance that was given them during the disaster known worldwide as the Halifax Explosion, a cataclysmic explosion that killed thousands and caused a tsuami which wiped our a community of First Nations people who had been there for generations. Other traditions involve dressing up in costumes, going to houses, and celebrating with neighbors. Some people dress up in funny Santa costumes and go from house to house to see if they can be identified. (Usually done in small towns and villages).Those dressed up usually carry musical instruments and sing…sounds much like American caroling. In northern Canada some people plan Taffy Pulls. A Pull is held in honor of Saint Catherine, the patron saint of single women. A pull provides an opportunity for single women to meet eligible single men. In Toronto, one of the oldest and largest Santa parades in the world takes place. It started in 1913 with children following Santa when he was pulled through the streets. Now there are over 25 animated floats and 2000 people taking part. Canadians, from all different backgrounds, celebrate with traditions much like ours: opening gifts Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, having special meals or
feasts; Many French descent Canadians prepare a traditional stew, “Ragout Aux Pattes de Cochons” which is made from pigs feet. In southern Nova Scotia, the Christmas Eve meal is lobster. And at Christmas, Canadians eat sweets called Barley Candy and Chicken Bones. They are candy on a stick, shaped like Santa, reindeer, snowmen, a tree or such, and pink, cinnamon flavored candy that is creamy. Mexico, our southern neighbor, begins its Christmas celebration several weeks before. Men and women go to elaborately decorated market stalls or Puestos in towns and cities to purchase the crafts of every conceivable kind, foods such as cheese, bananas, nuts, and cookies, and flowers such as orchids and poinsettias. The poinsettia is native to Mexico and is believed to have first been used in connection with Christmas in the 17th century when Mexican Franciscans included the flowers in their Christmas celebration. The poinsettia has a legend connected with it. A little boy named Pablo was walking to the church in his village to visit the Nativity when he suddenly realized he had nothing to offer to the Christ Child. He saw some green branches growing along the roadside and gathered them. Other children scoffed at Pablo, but when he laid them by the manger, a brilliant red star-shaped flower appeared on each branch. One of the main Christmas celebrations in Mexico is called Las Posadas which refers to processions reenacting the Biblical story of Mary and Joseph trying to find a place to stay before the birth of Christ. Processions begin nine days before Christmas because the original journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem took nine days. Each night of the nine nights before Christmas, friends and family divide up into pilgrims and inn-keepers. Then pilgrims go to houses and ask inn-keepers for shelter, but are rejected until they arrive at the house where an altar and Nativity have been set up. There the pilgrims are admitted and great celebration and rejoicing begins. A traditional prayer is also spoken. During Christmas in Mexico, foods of many varieties are prepared and enjoyed: Romeritos, a dish made with potatoes, shrimp, and the spice Romeritos, similar to our Rosemary; Bacalao, salted fish; stuffed turkey, tamales; and grilled or stewed veggies such as carrots, spinach, potatoes, cactus, onions, squash, and radishes. Of course, the children take turns breaking open a piñata Christmas eve or Christmas day. Most families wait until midnight to give hugs and a toast to the family. Many open gifts then. Mexicans celebrate another day of gift-giving on Epiphany, December 6, to commemorate the gifts of the Magi, given to Christ when he was a child. However you celebrate, be sure to keep your focus on what is most important: Christ, family, and friends. Purchased gifts are nice, but no gift can replace love and acceptance that true family, friends, and our Savior give to us. Honor and enjoy them. A word of praise or thanksgiving to them is often more valuable than what we can buy.
Whispers Of A
Child’s Love
Dad, I’ve got something to tell you... I think she is the one. Mom, He asked me to marry him. Would you love him as your son? A child’s love is like a whisper, given in little ways we do not hear but if you listen closely it will be very clear.
Dad, I’ve got some news for you... It’s gonna be a boy! Mom, I’m kind of scared of this, yet I’m filled with joy!
They often do not say it loud but in how they come to you... Daddy, will you play with me? Mommy, tie my shoe?
A child’s love is like a whisper, given in little ways we do not hear but if you listen closely it will be very clear.
...the many ways they tell you changes as they grow Dad, I made the team today! Mom, I’ve Got to go!
They often do not say it loud but in how they come to you... Grandpa, will you play with me? Grandma, tie my shoe...
Pop, I need some money You see there’s...this girl at school... Mama, I met a boy today and wow he is so cool...!
It is never ending A blessing from above Listen to the whispers of a child’s love.
For the past eight years, Mike Stone, a former Bostonian, has dedicated his life to helping others in the Burleson County area. As a former drug addict, Mike identifies with the people in his rehab program, Celebrate Recovery. This program has been successful with many who struggle with addictions. Mike is the Director of Impact Burleson County, is on the Board of the Theatre Guild and Cross Roads. Contact by email: mikestone316@gmail.com or by phone 979-200-0469
Does anybody know what time it is? It’s time we talk about our hurts, habits, and hang-ups. My name is Mike Stone. I run the Celebrate Recovery program in Caldwell, Texas. Actually, I’m just the figure-head; it’s God’s program. In case you don’t know, there is a serious drug problem in Burleson and the surrounding counties. The primary drugs of choice are methamphetamine (meth), K2, Hydrocodone, and Vicodin. Meth is readily available, and easy to make. It reaches all walks of life. It doesn’t know age, religion, race, or gender. Meth doesn’t just take your money, your belongings, your house, your relationships, and your children; it takes your soul. It doesn’t just affect low-income people. It can get to anyone. It knows no boundaries. Meth is a form of speed. Sometimes women use it as ‘mother’s little helper’ to get housework done, and so on. Soon it becomes ’mother’s little habit.’ These drugs cause you to lose your job, vehicle, home, friends, and family. As the drug use progresses, you stop getting anything done. You begin wandering around all night looking for things that are not there, and then you have to look for your kids because CPS took them. There are two places left to turn: #1- go find some help, or #2- go to the streets for more drugs to hide your pain. You see, drugs are not free and you need money. You start pawning stuff to get some. When there is no more left to pawn, you start scraping together anything you can get your hands on to pawn. When that runs out, now the devil is driving and some people, men and women, resort to selling their bodies to pay for drugs. The devil has you right where he wants you, and you start stealing because that addiction has to be fed, and it is hungry. Then
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you get locked up. You get warehoused in a jail. Maybe you will go to a recovery meeting and swear off all the drugs, “When I get out, man I’m going to change my life, praise God.” Some do, others get out the door, throw the recovery books in the trash and the cycle starts again with a visit to the local drug dealer. All of this is happening right here in Caldwell. It is time to break the circle. Give us a chance to help here at Celebrate Recovery. It’s not just for alcohol and drugs. It covers anything that hurts you, any habits or hang-ups you may have, co-dependency, spousal abuse, grief, and so on. If any of your loved ones or friends has a problem, you can learn a lot from this program to help you understand. You are not alone. Your life can change. Anything is possible when God gets in the picture. Take a chance. It just might change your life. We meet at Area 3:16 on Highway 21 in Caldwell on Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m., and at the Cade Lake Chapel on Fridays at 6:00 pm. Give God a chance. (I like to provide snacks and soft drinks before a meeting. If you would like to help provide food or drink, please contact me.) The Rotary Club of Caldwell, Texas, has chosen Mike Stone’s Celebrate Recovery program to help the community. It is providing funds for Mike to purchase books for the people he is ministering to. Mike would welcome the opportunity to work other clubs and organizations or interested parties.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Team Spirit At one point during a game, the coach said to one of his young players, “Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?” The little boy nodded in the affirmative. “Do you understand that what matters is whether we win together as a team?” The little boy nodded yes. “So,” the coach continued, “when a strike is called, or you’re out at first, you don’t argue or curse or attack the umpire. Do you understand all that?” Again the little boy nodded. “Good,” said the coach. “Now go over there and explain it to your mother.”
Cows Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington? Also they track her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. I think the solution is to give every illegal alien a cow.
Way To True Eino and Toivo, two upper Michigan handymen were hired to paint a flag pole and were going to be paid by the inch. As they were standing at the base of the flagpole looking up, trying as they may to figure how much to charge, a young woman walked by and asked what they were doing. “We are supposed to find the height of this flag pole” said Toivo, “But we don’t have a ladder. The woman took a wrench from her purse, loosened a few bolts and laid the pole down. She then took a tape measure from her pocket, took a measurement and announced, “Eighteen feet, six inches” and walked away. Eino shook his head and laughed, “Ain’t that just like a woman! We asked for the height and she gives us the length!!” Eino and Toivo are currently working for the government......
Kelsie’s Story Kelsie is the niece of Betty Dowdy of Deanville, Texas.
These are the words of an email that Kelsie Miller wrote while on a missionary trip to Nepal. She writes of the things that so impacted her. The first big one: Awestruck by His creation. We went star gazing one night and my heart was absolutely blown into an oblivion trying to grasp the expanse before me, the beauty and the magnitude was almost too much for my soul to take in. I can’t explain it, but I gained a new appreciation for the creative and unfathomable magnitude of the God I serve. The next big one: He is greater than our hearts. Reading through 1 John after feeling quite haunted by my past mistakes, I know the Lord patiently walked me through a piece of scripture that would extinguish the haunting past. He refused to allow me to wallow in that fear any longer, the fear that condemnation would triumph. And this was the verse I continue to try to understand more deeply but has breathed life into what was once hopelessness. “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” 1 John 3:19-20. I can’t begin to explain the implications of this verse to me personally, but it was bigger than life. The final thing: He is. I know this may come off as too simple, and maybe a bit confusing, but the greatness of such a reality is often overlooked and not fully understood. You see, the main religion here in Nepal is Hindu. In that faith, every morning the Hindus ring their bells to wake up their gods/their idols in order to worship them and offer their sacrifices. They travel to temples, buildings filled with darkness, in order to worship them and offer their sacrifices. They travel to temples, buildings filled with
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darkness, often chained closed and always empty. In my little knowledge of this religion, it has pressed hard into my own faith and grown a new appreciation for God. That He doesn’t have to be woken up by a bell ring, He doesn’t require a daily offering. He doesn’t leave you empty but asks to reside in you, desiring your very body to be His dwelling place. All of these differences have left me yearning to know more about the God who is so relational and loving a bounty of hope. God is…Period. All that to say: Nepal has been such a sweet time with my Maker and in that sweetness the power of His testimony grows into a love that flows deeper than ever before.
Growing Up Small Becky Schenk is a native to Burleson County. She serves as Vice Chairman on the Main Street Advisory Board and as Promotion Committee Chairman. She devotes her time between her husband and three children while promoting and volunteering at the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce. Employed by Burleson County Title Company, she and her family reside in Caldwell.
Growing up in a small town, you tend to think or even believe you’ve heard it all or you know someone who knows someone who knows everyone. You know all about the town you live in. Now read that again. You can pretty much sum it up to knowing all there is to know about everyone or everything, right? You know all the streets by monuments, a tree here and a house there. At least to some degree; would you agree? Have you ever thought to dig deeper? Or if you have, did you find that what you thought you knew, was actually only the surface? This could relate to many areas of our lives and in our work, but this, this here, is Small Town, America. And you, you live in it. So suppose you dug a little deeper into your side of this planet, this small world you live in day in and day out that you thought you knew and it exploded right in front of you with all sorts of ideas and new finds? How fun would that be? Well, let me tell you. That is what is happening and it’s happening now if you choose to see it. Are you hooked, maybe even somewhat intrigued? Now let’s see how all this relates to the small town you either grew up in or have the pleasure of living in right here, right now. Welcome to Caldwell, a Texas Main Street City.
By now, we’ve all heard that line out of a country song, “everyone’s famous in a small town,” well to an extent, this is true. Yet at times during our lives we get so tied up in our daily routines of living that we don’t make time to find out more about our town’s history and about the people who were here generations before us with their general store or the pharmacy with fountain drinks? What story does our town have to tell, even today? What would the people before us be proud of and how have we helped memorialize that history? Who will we be in the future? These are questions I ask myself and I encourage you all to do so as well. Caldwell has been designated as a Texas Main Street City. What this means is we now have access to certain expertise and resources through the Texas Main Street Program. What a better time to come together, support our locale and be alert to what’s happening right here, right now. Then showing up, bringing your family, your friends and let’s get together and treasure the uniqueness of our Small Town, America. Whether you choose to believe it or not, we all have a certain innate feeling of wanting to serve in some form or capacity to the society in which we live. Well, here’s your chance and it all helps keep downtown Caldwell alive and revitalized. It can only get better. Whether you help with historical facts, attending meetings or just meeting friends over wine, lunch or shopping, it all helps support our side of this Small Town, America. Why not be a part of it? Why not tell your story of how you helped Caldwell be all that it can be? Let’s grow up small together. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Becky Schenk, Vice Chairman, Advisory Board of Directors or Michelle Mahfouz, Main Street Manager. Becky Schenk, Promotions Committee Chairman 979-587-0059 Becky 979-567-3901 Michelle rebecca.schenk01@gmail.com mmahfouz@caldwelltx.gov
Rules for Using Suzy Cohen, RPh www.DearPharmacist.com People call me “America’s Most Trusted Pharmacist®” because I’ve been a licensed pharmacist for over 22 years and I am able to share the pros and cons of medication use as well as offer natural substitutions for most any of your health concerns. While I pride myself in ‘thinking outside the pill’ let me just say that I am still very proud to wear my white coat because I realize that there is a time and place for medications. We need to consider all of our options, and often, a combination is best. I’ve spent the last 13 years writing a syndicated column called “Dear Pharmacist” which focus on health and explores the use of natural supplements, as well as the safe use of medications if you are taking them. the dry summers of Colorado (which by the way is a dessert), I put 1 or 2 drops of essential oil of lemon in my ice water each day for a This has been printed in many newspapers nationwide. quick, refreshing pick-me-up. www.suzycohen.com
Essential Oils
No joke, I probably have more than 18 little bottles of essential oils in my house. They are in every room, on top of the coffee table, on end tables, in the kitchen drawer, on my night-table, and in my purse. One day I will make you a video and walk through my house and show you, lol! But for now, let’s go over the rules of using essential oils. There are basically 3 ways to use them. And it’s easy as ABC!
Go Slow! Essential oils are medicine. They have mood-altering benefits. For example, they can affect your hormones and your glands, they can affect your limbic system (all in a good way) but too much a good thing is bad too isn’t it? So treat essential oils with respect, they have been around for centuries. If your diffuser says to add 3 drops of essential oil, they mean 3 drops, not 30! Excellent results can be achieved by mixing oils, so if your aromatized says you can A for Apply to skin. add 20 drops (total) then you can mix different ones until you get B for Breathe it in! to 20 drops, it is NOT 20 drops of each. You know you are getting C for Consume internally. too much of an oil if it is too strong, or it burns your nose or eyes, or you get a headache. Speaking of burning your nose or eyes, I should A for Apply to Skin. warn you to be careful with peppermint. Let me talk more about You can dab it on your skin like I did when I applied tea tree oil peppermint since it’s among the most popular essential oils in the to my rash. You can also squeeze a few drops of essential oil on a world. wet compress, either cold (or warm) and then apply the compress to your skin. Another creative way to apply it is in lotion. You just put Peppermint a few drops of essential oil into your lotion or cream and rub it on. Peppermint gives us menthol, which is in all sorts of products If you have ylang ylang handy (often used on the skin) you can put including popular muscle rubs. Peppermint is a flagrant for candy it into a little oil or some lotion and apply to bald spots, some people and mints. As an essential oil, it is beneficial for headaches, and claim it helps with hair growth. (You can let me know). These are often applied to your temple region but if you get too close to your the best ways to apply essential oils to your skin. eyes, it may sting. Now, the big deal is how peppermint oil may influence the breakdown or metabolism of certain medications, inB for Breathe It In! cluding felodipine (Plendil) and simvastatin (Zocor). Atorvastatin The fastest way is to put a drop or two into your hands and rub may decrease the effectiveness of menthol (but clinically this is inthem together, then cup your hands over your nose and inhale. You consequential). can do that for instant calm if you have lavender around, or instant Because compounds in peppermint oil inhibit your liver enzyme energy if you have wild orange or bergamot handy. Personally, I called “cytochrome P450” or CYP-450 it may increase the pharmathink the best way to infuse the air with essential oils is to put them cologic action of these drugs and lead to more adverse reactions. into a diffuser, sometimes called an aromatizer. These will pass a Another important fact about peppermint -specifically mentholcontinuous stream of scent through your room. is that it might delay the absorption of caffeine so if you need a Another way to breathe essential oils in is to put a few drops of quick buzz and some energy, don’t dab the peppermint right bea particular essential oil (for example eucalyptus) into a pot of hot fore the coffee. If you’re ordering a Peppermint Latte, I wouldn’t be water. Cover your head with a towel and breathe in the vapors, but concerned, the peppermint they use is just a sugar-based syrup, it just be careful not to burn yourself. You might want to keep your doesn’t actually have real peppermint oil in it so it’s not going to deeyes closed too. lay that beloved rush of brain fuel you are looking for. While rare, there are some of you with transplants, and for good measure I’ll C for Consume Internally. tell you that peppermint tea might reduce your cyclosporine levels, You need to be 100% sure you can ingest an essential oil, don’t to what extent no one is sure. Putting a drop of peppermint oil in just do it. One of the best ways to enjoy an essential oil is to cook your Christmas cookies will enhance the flavor, so put one (even 2 with it. For example, when I make pumpkin bread, I add 2 drops of drops) in your batter before baking for a little extra zing. essential oil of cinnamon to my recipe, and it tastes better. During
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Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said someone may steal from it at night; so they created a night watchman, GS-4 position and hired a person for the job. Then Congress said, “How does the watchman do his job without instruction?” So they created a planning position and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, GS-12 and one person to do time studies, GS-11. Then Congress said, “How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?” So they created a Q. C. position and hired two people, one GS-9 to do the studies and one GS-11 to write the reports. Then Congress said, “How are these people going to get paid?” So they created the following positions, a time keeper, GS09, and a payroll officer, GS-11, and hired two people. Then Congress said, “Who will be accountable for all of these people?” So they created an administrative position and hired three people, an Admin. Officer GM-13, Assistant Admin. Officer GS-12, and a Legal Secretary GS-08.
Be a Part of the
Then Congress said, “We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $280,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost.”
that provides business
So they laid off the night watchman.
Magazine
Opportunity 63
THE THREE TREES This incredible story of three trees will really open your eyes to the truth of our plan and God's plan in our lives. So powerful!
Wanted to share this special story with you.... Like a lot of things in life, it’s much easier said than done but this is where faith and perseverance comes in. Once there were three trees on a hill in a woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving, and everyone would see the beauty.” Then the second tree said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.” Finally the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me..” After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter.” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree so I’ll take this one,” and he cut it down.
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When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said, “Peace,” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the king of kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
Chuckles, Giggles & Snickers Once Upon A Time
A man who absolutely hated his wife’s cat decided to get rid of him one day by driving him 20 blocks from his home and leaving him at the park. As he was nearing home, the cat was walking up the driveway. The next day, he decided to drive the cat 40 blocks away and try the same thing. As we was driving back into his driveway, there was the cat! He kept taking the cat farther and farther away, but the darn cat would always beat him home. At last, he decided to drive a few miles away, turn right, then left, past the bridge, then right again and another right and so on until he reached what he thought was a safe distance from his home and he left the cat there. Hours later, the man calls home to his wife: “Jen, is the cat there?” “Yes,” the wife answers. “Why do you ask?” Frustrated, the man answers: “Put that darn cat on the phone. I’m lost and I need directions!” The Theatre
The cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the theater. When the usher came by and noticed this he whispered to the cowboy, “Sorry, sir, but you’re only allowed one seat.” The cowboy groaned but didn’t budge. The usher became more impatient. “Sir, if you don’t get up from there, I’m going to have to call the manager. The cowboy just groaned. The usher marched briskly back up the aisle. In a moment he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police. The cop surveyed the situation briefly then asked, “All right buddy, what’s you’re name?” “Sam,” the cowboy moaned. “Where ya from, Sam?” With pain in his voice Sam replied....... “The balcony.”
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Choosing an 0SUIPEPOUJD 1SPWJEFS by Dr. J. Garland Watson and Dr. Gary Gardner
Archeological artifacts indicate people were using crude metal bands to close spaces between teeth as early as 500 B.C. As you can imagine, orthodontic care has come a long way since its beginnings! Even mere decades ago, getting braces often meant having uncomfortable impressions done so metal bands and wires could be placed on teeth to facilitate the desired movement. Even so, several years could potentially pass before straight teeth were smiling back at patients in the mirror. Now, centuries later, technology leads the way in orthodontic care, allowing for a more customized patient experience and shortened treatment times. Improvements such as 3M Unitek digital scanning and SmartClip advanced technology allow for more comfort, efficient movement of teeth and potentially shorter treatment times. This combined with a reputable orthodontist will give you something to smile about in no time! Things to consider when deciding on an orthodontic provider: t $SFEFOUJBMT $IPPTJOH BO PSUIPEPOUJTU FOTVSFT UIBU TPNFPOF with a specialized educational background will be caring for you throughout the duration of your treatment. Although den tists are skilled in their own right, orthodontists only focus on orthodontic care and continued advancements in their special ized field. Orthodontists don’t have to fill cavities or perform root canals, so they can devote their time to advancements in their particular field.
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t &YQFSJFODF .BLF TVSF UIF PSUIPEPOUJTU BOE UFBN IBWF UIF years of experience necessary to make them trusted provid ers of orthodontic care. You wouldn’t want to entrust your smile to just anyone, so do your research and find a leader in the field. t 5FDIOPMPHZ *OWFTUNFOUT JO UFDIOPMPHZ JOEJDBUF UIF PSUIPEPO tist is truly concerned with patients’ experiences and outcomes. Consider how it will impact you with a better overall patient experience. t 1FSTPOBMJ[FE DBSF &BDI PG VT JT VOJRVF BOE CSBDFT TIPVMEO U CF a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Your orthodontist should take time to explain a customized treatment plan that will ensure the best possible results. t ćF SJHIU ĕU GPS ZPV $POTJEFS NBLJOH BO BQQPJOUNFOU GPS B consultation. Sometimes meeting a health care provider can IFMQ NBLF ZPVS EFDJTJPO FBTJFS 5BML XJUI UIF PSUIPEPOUJTU BOE UFBN BOE BTL RVFTUJPOT BCPVU XIBU UP FYQFDU EVSJOH USFBUNFOU Dr. Garland Watson and Dr. Gary Gardner offer customized orthodontic care for all ages at Brazos Valley Orthodontics. The practice, which has convenient locations in Bryan, College Station and Caldwell, utilizes advanced digital scanning and SmartClip technology and has the most experienced team of orthodontic professionals in the Brazos Valley. Dr. Watson holds memberships in the American Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association and Texas Dental Association. Dr. Gardner is a member of the American Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), American Dental Education Association and the AAO Society of Orthodontic Educators. He has authored/coauthored articles in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.
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