POSTCARDS MAGAZINE - Lake Conroe - August 2023

10 Inspirations

Gunnar Ruthstrom

16 Texas Talent Timothy Sojka

32 Business Focus

Serenity Salt Spa

FAVORITES

Community Calendar -40

Conundrum -38

Dear Gabby -24

From Our Readers -15

Giggles & Grins -37

Glorious Grandkids -27

Let’s Celebrate -8

Medical Matters -25

Milestones -21

Mustard Seed Moments - 42

Pet Pals -28

Postcards EXTRA -26

Publisher’s Post -6

Puzzle Solutions -23

Sudoku Marketplace -39

The Garden Post -29

What Are You Reading -23

What’s Cookin’ -30

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Photo Contest 1st Place Winner-People

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Altom

First Things First

When I think of August, I think of “firsts.” Some readers may think of January when firsts are mentioned, but when August rolls around, there are many very special firsts. Granted, most have to do with our kiddos, but they are so memorable!

There’s the first day of school. Whether Pre-K or high school or college, they bring a tear to mom’s eye. August also brings the first day of team practices. Whether drill team, band, or sporting events, I was always thankful to be a girl when my brothers were enduring two-a-day football practices in August.

However, my favorite first is the first day of August--when the annual Postcards Photo Cover Contest begins! If you’ve ever taken a picture you think is really great, NOW is the time to send it in.

Our categories this year are:

The Grand Prize winner and First Prize winner in each category will have their photo published on the cover of one of our editions in 2024 along with receiving other great prizes. You can submit your entries and learn more on our website PostcardsLive.com/contests.

We look forward to seeing your entries!

Until next time,

Submitted by: Brian B Smith, CFP®, Bryan M Masten, CFP® & Riley W. Smith

Is Lifestyle Creep threatening your future?

As the summer winds down and everyone is getting back to a “normal” routine, it is a good time evaluate how you are progressing on your future goals. While planning may seem intimidating, it can be fun if you take the time to envision your future lifestyle. We often refer to this as creating a bucket list. These can be basic lifestyle goals, or the things, places, and people you want to enjoy. It is not about the money as much as it is about the experiences and memories we make along the way.

What are some steps we can take to identify our goals (bucket list) and work toward achieving them?

1. Dream big but be realistic – Your goals should be a stretch to achieve, but don’t make them such a stretch that you get frustrated and stop working toward them. Sometimes it helps to break them up into several small steps to keep you on track.

2. Get on the same page with your partner – While it is ok to have individual goals, you need to be on the same page as your partner. As a team we can design our future lifestyle in a way that we both get what we want individually and as a couple.

3. Pay yourself first – Consider funding your goals as a bill. It is just one of those payments that must be made each and every month. After a few payments you won’t even notice it anymore and your goals will be less difficult to accomplish.

4. Don’t let Lifestyle Creep derail your plans – What is Lifestyle Creep?

It is the increase in lifestyle that takes place as your incomes increase over time. It is easy to let happen, but it can be very detrimental to your future. As incomes increase consider paying yourself more each month – even if it is only a portion of the increase. This will keep Lifestyle Creep at bay and your goals on target.

5. Prioritize your buckets (goals) – Consider your bucket list as having multiple buckets. Maybe a short-term bucket and a long-term bucket. By doing so, you can prioritize which bucket is more important to you. Be careful; don’t let this derail the long-term bucket.

If you will spend some time to design your life, you will likely find success. If you need help, we are here to guide you through the entire process. Give us a call to schedule a time to get started.

Jan Nell

Certi ed Health Coach

COPE

Gunnar Ruthstrom

Ten-year-old shares about his passion for working on vacuum cleaners.

Story by Dorotha Ruthstrom

Photos by Gina Turner

Inspirations

How did your passion for vacuum cleaners develop?

When I was still crawling around on the floor, I liked watching Mom run this machine over the floor--the way the carpet looked, the tracks, it looked neat. So, Mom put some vacuum infomercials on the TV, and I loved watching them. I watched them over and over. I liked SpongeBob and Peppa Pig, but I liked the vacuum infomercials more. Do you remember any of those infomercials?

I think so. There was this old Hoover song. (Gunnar begins to hum a tune that I know is the U. S. Army theme song.)

Did you know that tune is a U. S. Army song?

But it’s a Hoover song, too…it goes something like “All the fluff, dust and grit. Hoover gets at every bit. For it beats as it sweeps as it cleans.” And their slogan was, “The more carpet you have, the more you need a Hoover.” The Hoover was big in Great Britain, and the Brits say “hoovering”

instead of vacuuming. Your Dad tells about a time when you were two or three years old at a Walmart store, sitting in the cart in front of a display of vacuum cleaners. You were naming not only brands, but also models. One impressed bystander asked if you could already read. But you were not reading at that time, were you?

No. But I watched my TV infomercials and vacuum stuff every day, so I knew the different vacuums. I knew Sharks very well, because they were the ones that I was really interested in. I don’t know why or how, but I just found that Sharks I knew the best. I think I still know them the best to this day. I learned about the Shark because there were neat infomercials, and also I think I watched them demonstrated on something like HSN. I liked that.

How did you go from interest in vacuum cleaners to refurbishing them?

I really don’t know. But, when Daddy bought

me a set of tools and showed me how to use them, I liked that.

What was first vacuum you rescued?

Umm – I think it was a Hoover WindTunnel, but, it might have been a T-Series Hoover. I don’t think it was a T-Series, because it had a brushroll on/off, and the T-Series does not have that feature.

Actually, I destroyed a couple vacuums before learning to refurbish. I destroyed a Dyson, and I’m still disappointed about that. I know how valuable Dysons are. I tried to refurbish the WindTunnel, but a part broke, and we had to throw it away. A weird belt mechanism broke, and it cost too much to replace or repair.

What is your process for refurbishing a vacuum?

Usually, the first thing I do is take some of the obvious things off and put in my laundry basket--things like the canister and filter and attachments, things I can wash--that’s the first thing I do. But, in the case of Dyson,

Dr. Debra Sims

Dr. Rodney Elmore

Educators say, “When a child is passionate about something, they will want to study it.” Ten-year-old Gunnar Ruthstrom is proof of that philosophy with his passion for rescuing vacuum cleaners. His joy is to find a throw-away vacuum, bring it home, restore to useful service, and find it a new home. He feels pride and accomplishment with each success!

it doesn’t go that way…it’s a whole cyclone assembly. In other vacuums, it’s usually not as complicated. So, I flip the vacuum over and take the brushroll off, which usually has tons of hair on it, and I clean the clear part where you can see the brushroll, clean that all up with Method cleaner.

Then, I take the basket, a scrub brush, and dish soap into the shower. I scrub inside the canister and the filters and the things in the basket, and then I blow dry them. I see people on YouTube air drying them, but it’s quicker with a blow dryer. I rarely wash the hose unless it’s REALLY dirty. Do

you ever have to order parts?

Sometimes. Maybe attachments. Once I had to order a cord for a Dyson because it was ripped up.

Where do you get your old vacuums?

Most come from the side of the road. I’ve gotten a few from Marketplace. They’re free or very little cost. My grandfather has found a few for me in his subdivision, and my uncle gave me one.

Gunnar and his helper, Cochise.

Tell about some special curb-find experiences.

Once, I found a great Shark Navigator Professional. I found it on the curb in our neighborhood.

Probably one of my luckiest days would be, I think, in January. It was trash day in my neighborhood, and I spied this vacuum on the curb where people were moving out. While I was talking to the owner, another neighbor heard our conversation that I was refurbishing vacuums and said, “My vacuum doesn’t work, so you can have mine, too.”

So, I’m walking and have two vacuums. Thankfully, one of the ladies took me and my vacs home on her golf cart.

What is your favorite vacuum and why?

My favorite vacuum is probably a Bissell PowerEase Rewind Pet. I just like the Bissell brand overall, but not just because it’s a sharp looking vacuum. Sharks and Dysons are really good vacuums and probably the best on the market, but I lean toward Bissell because they support the Bissell Pet Foundation with the goal to make

all pet shelters empty. I think that’s not possible, but I’m glad they are trying. So, for now I choose Bissell. That doesn’t mean I’m not totally impressed with Dyson and Shark.

I understand you watched a documentary about James Dyson that you found impressive.

Oh, yes. Well, he started out studying art and changed to engineering with a dream about separating dust from air. He was told it could never be done, but he tried anyhow. Five years and 5,127 prototypes later, he invented the first bagless vacuum cleaner. He filed a patent and started making them, and I think it was the first vacuum to not lose suction ever, and it was an amazing vacuum, the DC01. He innovated from there to the DC25, and I think the DC35 was the first cordless vacuum Dyson made. Then they innovated to the DC41 and the DC65 and the Ball Animal

2, and that’s what I know about James Dyson. I think he was very innovative. Oh, and he now makes a bladeless fan somehow by taking a small amount of air and forcing it through a very small opening which makes forceful airflow. I don’t really know how it works. Go to YouTube. And he makes a hair dryer using the same method.

Dyson’s achievements certainly sound impressive. I understand you’ve had some achievements of your own recently. Tell about these experiences.

Well, I sold two of my vacuums on Marketplace. And just a few days ago, I refurbished a vacuum cleaner for Junkyard Fitness in Montgomery where I take lessons. Coach Brandon was impressed with the results. He said, “That vacuum looks brand new!”

I was happy!

Left: Gunnar at a young age showing interest in a vacuum.

From Our Readers

Way to Grow!

So awesome to hear about your Eastex Edition in the Cleveland area!! Way to grow!!!

Adriane Hunter

Congratulations on your new edition! Michelle Miller Cleveland friends, you are gonna love this magazine. Pinky swear!

Lois Stehlik

Cover to Cover!

I just want you to know how much I enjoy your magazine. Every time it comes, I read it cover to cover!

Marie Conner

Thank You

Hello, I just wanted to thank you for putting a picture of my cat Munchie in your previous magazine. Munchie recently passed away so I just wanted to thank you because it meant so much to me.

Holly Hunt

What to share something with us?

Texas Talent

Story by Linda W. Perkins

Timothy Sojka

All my books are set in East Texas, and they always will be. I feel like I get pulled back to Silsbee like a salmon being pulled back to its breeding ground.

Submitted Photos

I don’t know what a novelist in the “thrillers” genre is supposed to look like, but after reading the first chapter in each of his three books (where in each case someone is found murdered), I would have expected author Timothy Sojka to look a little more grisly. Instead, I am greeted inside a smartly decorated office by a tall, slim man wearing a tie and pinstripe suit, with salt and pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard.

As he reaches to shake my hand, I wonder when I am going to see beyond the businessman and get a glimpse into the mind of the award-winning storyteller whose novels are set deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. When he sits down and starts talking, I pick up on his drawl…and then as he crosses his left leg over the right, the cuff of his pant leg rises just enough to show a mostly-purple multicolored striped sock, and I begin to sense the creative side of him.

How long have you been a writer, and how do you balance it with your real estate business?

I knew at a really young age I wanted to be a writer. I just knew I didn’t want to be a starving author. A lot of successful writers have other jobs. A lot of them are literary. It’s just that my other job is selling about 200 homes per year, plus I do commercial real estate as well. I think we all might like to have a book where we could quit our day job--and honestly, that used to be my goal--but now I just want to write something great.

What do you think makes a writer great?

Well, some people don’t like to get tough feedback, but I love it. I swap with other authors, and there are a couple in particular I really value, because I can be tough on them, and they know they can be tough on me. When I was younger, I couldn’t handle that kind of feedback, but now I can. I know my books are so much better because they were tough on me.

Your first two novels, Payback Jack and Politikill, address political issues. How does that exactly work in the world of fiction?

I want to write something that changes the way people think. When I was about 15 or 16, there was a scandal about politicians who were taking bribes; the FBI came in, and they got prosecuted. So, I started thinking, “Man, that’s a great idea. We should be holding our politicians accountable.” Then 30 years goes by and nothing else happens, and that really bothered me. So, I could write a non-fiction book about corruption, but that would be boring. What if, instead, I wrote a thriller about a woman who was really affected by political corruption and then started killing people? I can use the story to talk through more effective ways to deal with corruption –not killing politicians (obviously), but term limits and the like – that is a lot more compelling than writing a non-fiction book about it.

So, these are important subjects to you personally?

Yes. Like my first book, Payback Jack, deals with

the death penalty. It really bothers me the way we handle it in the United States. I can research and write about that, but my opinion doesn’t mean a lot to most people. But if I can write something that really entertains you and presents both sides of the story, then lets you make a decision about it, I have accomplished my goal.

You grew up in Silsbee, in the Big Thicket area of Texas, right? How influential is that in your writing?

My (writer’s) voice is all about where I come from. All my books are set in East Texas, and they always will be. I feel like I get pulled back to Silsbee like a salmon being pulled back to its breeding ground. I don’t go there in my dreams every day, but I go back there a lot. I think about things and the people there. I know the rhythms of how they talk. Sitting in the living room, with my uncle Raymond Gilmore and my grandparents Myrtis and Selman Gilmore, listening to them talk--that’s how I learned to tell stories and entertain people. It makes you feel differently and think differently when those are your first storytellers.

Besides your family members, who else has influenced your writing?

I love the Georges as storytellers – George Jones and George Strait. I also love the Charlies – Charlie Daniels, Charlie Rich, and (most importantly) Charlie Pride. I mean, the first people to paint pictures in my head weren’t books. Hearing Kiss an Angel Good Morning by Charlie Pride was the first time I remember words painting pictures in my mind. The Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels came out when I was in 6th or 7th grade, and it was the first time I could actually see and understand who the devil was and how he was buying you off. My voice has been shaped more by country music than by the fancy authors I’ve read.

What are some unique things about growing up in a small East Texas town that show up in your books?

The first death I ever witnessed was there. By the way, you get better

Timothy’s award winning books.

food at funerals in small towns than you do at birthdays. So, you were excited to go to a funeral. Sure, you had to sit for a couple of hours and look at dead bodies, but then you got to have everybody’s best cooking! I also love that I’d be at a swimming hole where someone died 15 years ago, or even a week ago, and people would still be sitting around telling the stories. Everything was so dark and romantic.

I wasn’t born in East Texas. I was born in Chicago. But something really rough happened to me when I was six, and I didn’t trust adults. My parents got divorced, and I got shipped to Silsbee, Texas. I started picking up things really young – how people talked and how they acted – so that I could decide whether I could trust them. When you’re young and you can’t trust anyone, you become a storyteller.

You write on some pretty dark subjects. How can that be a challenge?

We all want our lives to be easy, but in a novel, we all want our characters to go through hell. If you wrote a book where

everything went okay for the characters, it’s not going to sell anything. So you want your character to go through holy hell. You have to make their lives as difficult and as tough as possible. And it’s kind of sad, because when you create a character, you really get to know them. You really do. I mean, you spend more time with them than you do anyone else outside of your wife or kids. Do you have a favorite character from your books?

To this day, I still really love Smith Driskill from Payback Jack, because he’s the first character I ever saw and felt. And Teeny in Claws, my new book I’m working on now that will come out next year, is my current favorite. She’s an eight-year-old who has gone through some terrible things. She can talk, but she chooses not to. I like that limit. It makes her more interesting, because she can’t say anything. I think the best characters are defined by their limits, not their strengths. One thing I noticed in your books is how descriptive you are. For instance, I think all our readers would be able to relate to how you

describe the weather in southeast Texas, “The heat surrendering to its superior tormentor – humidity. The stickiness of your clothes, the line of sweat forming across your back, supergluing skin to shirt.”

You have to get people off the page. When I read and I see the words in front of me, I hate that. But when I read and I can see pictures in my brain, that’s where I want to be. The best compliment I get is when someone says, “Hey, I read it like it was a movie. It should be a movie. I saw it in my brain.” That’s the greatest. I try to write to people’s senses a lot, as well as to their sense of humor.

Timothy Gene Sojka is the author of Amazon bestselling thriller Payback Jack, and his novels Politikill and 39: Your Last Birthday are both Maxy Award winners. His latest book, Claws, a thriller dealing with the subject of child trafficking, is due out in 2024. Tim is a Realtor/Broker and CEO. He is happily married with one grown daughter. He paddleboards for stress relief, and runs so he can eat Tex-Mex.

Andrea Correa recently celebrated her 40th birthday with son Sam.

Jim & Linda McKenzie recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 26th.

Mahala Hughes is turning 2!

Becky Way reading Happy Mind, Happy Life

By Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

Cydney

Dorman

reading

November 9

By Colleen Hoover

Dear Gabby

Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column. This hot weather has been brutal! It was so hot in July that I got condensation on my backside from the water in the toilet bowl! I don’t expect August will be any cooler. Either it’s humid, or my underwear has suddenly turned very friendly. But, enough about my derriere, let’s discuss yours. It’s swimsuit weather, and I’m sure many of you are exercising more because of it. Please be careful with outdoor fitness routines. If you insist, switch your customary time to early mornings. I never thought I’d be the kind of person who’d wake up early to exercise…and I was right! Send your questions to me by clicking on Dear Gabby at www.PostcardsLive. com/share.

DEAR GABBY

I am so tired of trying to think of things to cook when it is so hot inside and outside my house! Do you have any suggestions for cool things to prepare for meals?

HOT, BUT NOT IN A GOOD WAY

DEAR HBNIAGW

Besides ice cream? Wraps, sandwiches, and pasta salads can be served cool or at room temperature. Fruit salads are delightful! There are lots of delicious salads with protein that are quick, easy, and cool. Tuna salad is a classic, chicken salad is wonderful, and shrimp salad

is even better. Add a cool dessert, and you’re gold. If you’d like my favorite salad recipes, give me a shout via the PostcardsLive address above, and we’ll print them in the next issue.

GABBY

CONFIDENTIAL TO “NO GREEN THUMB”:

I can relate! My garden identifies as a prairie restoration project.

Medical Matters

By Erica Vinogradov, FNP-C Family Nurse Practitioner

5 Tips for Keeping a Symptom Diary

Recurring headaches, frequent bouts of digestive discomfort, pain that won’t go away, sleep problems, asthma attacks, period pain — when uncomfortable or disruptive health issues linger, it can really impact your day-to-day life.

Pinpointing the source of the issue and how best to resolve it can be challenging. It’s why these things can persist for months…or come and go, flaring up seemingly without warning.

One tool your doctor may suggest is keeping a symptom diary.

“A symptom diary is a log of a person’s symptoms and other particular details surrounding those symptoms,” explains Erica Vinogradov, a family nurse practitioner at Houston Methodist. “It’s a focused, informationgathering exercise that helps organize these details in a way that can be useful when talking to your care provider.”

One benefit of a symptom diary is it can help you learn the potential patterns and triggers associated with your specific issue.

Here are five tips for keeping a symptom diary:

1. Put pen to paper or try an app

Writing your symptoms in a diary can be somewhat therapeutic, like journaling for mental clarity.

Or you might prefer the convenience of using an app. There are many symptom diary and symptom tracking apps available.

2. Know what information to include

The key details of a general symptom diary include:

• The date

• Symptoms experienced

• Timing of symptoms

• Duration of symptoms

• Symptom severity

• Potential triggers

• Medications or remedies used

• How you responded to treatment

3. Be consistent

“We’re looking for patterns, and the higher quality the information, the better,” says Vinogradov. “Try to record every single day and include the same information every time — being as clear, concise and organized as possible.”

Don’t leave any fields blank, as this can leave room for misinterpretation.

4. Be honest

Don’t omit, downplay, or exaggerate symptoms.

“There are studies suggesting that daily documentation of symptoms might increase a person’s perception of the severity of the symptom,” adds Vinogradov. “This gets back to consistency. Try to document your symptoms without bias each day.”

5. Share your symptom diary with your primary care provider

At your next appointment, let your provider know you’ve been tracking your symptoms via a diary and provide the information.

Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys mark their 90th Anniversary tour with a local stop.

Credited for creating and popularizing Western Swing in the 1930s, Bob Wills was a Texas fiddler with a big personality and incomparable stage presence – a man who led a group of lively musicians known as the Texas Playboys to the national spotlight. Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys first wowed audiences across Texas and Oklahoma, and by the big-band era of the 1940s, reigned as the top live attraction in the nation. Wills, known as the “King of Western Swing,” captivated audiences with his fast fiddling and trademark “AH-ha” calls in fanfavorite tunes like “Take Me Back to Tulsa” and “Stay a Little Longer.”

Wills’ legacy is still alive and well, now nearly 50 years after his passing, thanks to Brett Bingham, a producer and booking agent, and Jason Roberts, a fiddler and band frontman, formerly with Grammywinning Texas band Asleep at The Wheel.

Visit postcardslive.com for the full interview with Bingham and Roberts about the history of this legendary band, the reasons they are carrying the torch for Western Swing – and what fans can expect when Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys perform at Old Town Theatre in Huntsville on Friday, September 22.

Isabella & Arabella Grandchildren of Dolly Rasco

Devin Walter Loggarakis Great-Grandchild of John & Darlene Boyce

Lakelynn Kimich Grandchild of Ricky Kimich

The Garden Post

By Kim Bius

Summer Gardening in Texas

It is deep summer in Texas, and the heat is sizzling. The following tips should be helpful. New landscapes (installed in spring) will require deep root watering 4x a week. If you have planted new plants into an established landscape, the new plants will need additional water and will need to be hand watered to not overwater established plants. The first few minutes of irrigation are lost to evaporation, making it imperative your stations are running a minimum of 15 minutes.

Outdoor pot plants may require watering every other day; some plants--such as petunias, geraniums, Gerber daisies and calibrachoa--will do beautifully if moved into an area with morning sun (shady after 12:30). In mid- September, the plants can be moved back into full sun, if you desire.

Annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets will require pruning back to pot rim and leave 6” on top for the plant to reflush if it has become heat weary. Frequent summer watering leaches out the nutrients, and it is important you keep your micronutrients replenished and not allow salt build up from granular fertilizer. Fox Farm has several rock star fertilizers that we use weekly at the garden center to keep plants looking lush. Big Bloom, Tiger Bloom, and Comeback are our favorites. Bat Guano, worm castings, 10% iron, and a host of other nutrients will have your plants looking amazing in a few days.

Chinch bug damage is appearing in area lawns and must be treated quickly or you will have to replace the lawn. Treat with a granular systemic insecticide every 30 days through September. What do chinch bugs look like? You will notice brown, dried out grass along the perimeter….all the other grass in the area is lush green. You begin thinking, we need more water here…but it is microscopic chinch bugs “sucking” the chlorophyll out of the sod.

Most vegetable gardens will have “played out” by mid-July and will need to be turned under to make room for the fall garden. Ensure you add an inch of new compost (humus), not fresh compost, to replenish lost nutrients.

August 1st will be time to plant broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprout seeds, and other veggies from seed. It will remain hot until mid-September, when cool weather veggie starters can be planted.

A few more tips. Remember to only fertilize hibiscus with hibiscus food and save your high phosphorous fertilizers for other plants. Can you plant now, when the heat is high? Yes, but you will water frequently. Pot plants that have become too dry will need to be placed in a container of water for several hours until the oxygen pockets are replenished and the “dried brick of soil” has regained its original texture.

Fall is just around the corner, although it seems like an eternity from now. Use your time now to repot, fertilize, and plan your fall selection.

Happy Gardening

Chinch bug damage to a St. Augustine grass lawn. Note the patches of Bermuda grass left unharmed.

What’s Cookin’

Zucchini Corn Fritters

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup sugar

1 Tbs baking powder

½ tsp cumin

½ tsp salt

freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 cup milk

¼ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled

2 large eggs, beaten

2 cups grated zucchini

1 ½ cups fresh corn, kernels cut from cob

1 cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese

1 quart oil for frying, or as needed

Directions

Step 1: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, cumin, salt, and

pepper together in a large bowl.

Step 2: Whisk milk, melted butter, and eggs, together in a small bowl; pour into flour mixture and whisk to combine. Stir in zucchini, corn, and Cheddar until well combined.

Step 3: Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees. Working in batches, drop tablespoonfuls of batter into hot oil. Fry until crisp and brown, about 4 minutes per batch, turning halfway through with tongs. Drain on a paper towel lined plate.

SPOUSE HOMESTEAD RIGHTS

By: James M. Bright, Attorney at Law

Occasionally this firm runs into the situation where there is confusion between the rights of the children of a first marriage and the rights of a current surviving spouse of the decedent as it regards the family homestead.

A typical scenario might be one of the following:

* Husband was married before and had three children with his first wife. He and his first wife purchased a home together.

* Husband married his second wife and continued to be married to her at the time of his death. They lived together in the same home purchased with the first wife.

* Alternate possibilities:

1. Husband, in order to protect his second wife, left a will that named his second wife as devisee of the home, or

2. Husband, while he was still married to his first wife, executed a will naming his first wife as sole beneficiary and then his children equally if his first wife predeceased him (which she did), or

3. Husband signed a new Will (after his second marriage) naming the children of his first wife as beneficiaries of the family home, or

4. He died intestate (i.e., without a will).

Keep in mind that this article is only examining the preceding fact scenarios as they relate to a “probate homestead.” “Probate Homestead” is defined as a homestead set apart by a court for the use of a surviving husband or wife and minor children out of the common property or out of the real estate belonging to the deceased. This article is intended to cover only the narrow subject of spousal survivor rights to the homestead and does not address other property issues.

The above recited alternative fact scenarios are discussed as follows:

POSSIBILITY 1- If husband left a will giving the homestead to his second wife, when the will is probated, the surviving spouse will receive clear title to the homestead property and can do whatever she desires with it.

POSSIBILITY 2, 3 & 4 all fall into the same category and fall under the protection of the Texas Constitution. The surviving spouse will have a life estate and be able to live in the home for the remainder of her life. The three children will have a remainder interest. Although children will own legal title to the home – they cannot sell it or occupy it until after the surviving spouse dies or it is abandoned.

Article XVI, Section 52 of the Texas Constitution “On the death of the husband or wife, or both, the homestead shall descend and vest in like manner as other real property of the deceased, and shall be governed by the same laws of descent and distribution, but it shall not be partitioned among the heirs of the

deceased during the lifetime of the surviving husband or wife, or so long as the survivor may elect to use or occupy the same as a homestead, or so long as the guardian of the minor children of the deceased may be permitted, under the order of the proper court having the jurisdiction, to use and occupy the same.”

This Texas Constitutional right offers protection to a surviving spouse so that she cannot legally be evicted from the home, but also can be the source of much angst as to the duties of the surviving spouse and duties of the children of the first marriage.

If you are a surviving spouse and you are not familiar with these rights as guaranteed by the Texas Constitution, you are encouraged to find an attorney of your own choosing who is experienced in the laws of intestate succession to discuss these matters with you.

Business Focus

Story by Linda Perkins

Photos by Gina Turner

The Business Focus is chosen each month by random drawing from among Postcards contract advertisers.

“Breathing in that Himalayan salt acts like a toothbrush for your respiratory system.”

For years, I have heard people rave about the benefits of pink Himalayan salt, especially in gourmet food magazines. Being a foodie myself, I bought a salt grinder and a bag of Himalayan salt, and I have enjoyed it ever since in various dishes. I love it for the taste, and my daughter loves it for the color (pink).

I will admit, however, the last thing I ever expected was to be walking across a floor of pink salt crystals, over to a lounge chair where I could sit and relax while breathing in salt-infused air and enjoying the beauty of being surrounded by pink salt crystal walls. That is exactly what I was doing when I went to visit Serenity Salt Spa in Montgomery.

What I didn’t know until talking to Serenity Salt Spa’s owner, Tina Kilburn, is that salt therapy – also known as halotherapy –has been used in Europe for almost 100 years in health spas; it is known for helping people with inflammation and respiratory issues in particular. Himalayan salt has upwards of 84 minerals that can be absorbed through the skin and is naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal, which can also help with skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis.

One of only four halotherapy spas in the greater Houston area, Serenity Salt Spa is unique in that it not only has rooms with bricks made of Himalayan salt, but one of the rooms is designed to look like a cave, with salt “rocks” as well as bricks, and a ceiling that makes you feel you are looking up at a starlit night sky. With soothing nature sounds and calming music playing in the background, soft lighting, anti-gravity chairs and soft blankets available for anyone who feels chilly in the climate-controlled (68 degrees with 45% humidity) room, I can see why this is quickly becoming a popular place for individuals, couples, and groups to come and unwind.

“I’ve got seven chairs in there (the cave), so if people want to bring their Bible study or coworkers, they can come as a group. Women like to come and enjoy each other and chat. Men are usually asleep and snoring by the time their 45 minutes are up! I’ve had a mom fall asleep as well. It really helps with stress,” Kilburn said.

Kilburn, who opened the spa in March with some help from her children and her brother, grew up on the shores of Lake Erie in Michigan and lived in Florida for years, which has influenced the design of the spa.

“All my friends who know me well said, ‘Of course, Tina’s got a job where she can wear flipflops!’” she said with a laugh as we both took off our shoes before stepping into the salt cave, which has at least three inches of crushed Himalayan salt on the floor. She continued, “Some people don’t bother with the chairs. They just love to sit down in the salt.”

In addition to a no-shoes policy, Serenity also encourages people to leave their cell phones and other electronic devices outside the salt rooms.

“We have all of these positive ions from our electronics. Those positive ions are not good for us, so we want negative ions – which Himalayan salt produces – to help neutralize them,” Kilburn explained, noting their electronics policy is also about helping customers relax. “So many of us just need to put down our electronics. We depend on them so much. We want people to come here and relax--to leave the world outside for a little while.”

For people looking for the ultimate spa experience, Serenity offers add-on services such as warm detoxing foot domes made of Himalayan salt, as well as hand and foot massages by licensed massage therapist Katherine Marquez.

“Katherine, our masseuse, specializes in deep tissue massage, but also does Swedish massage and cupping,” Kilburn said, explaining there is a separate massage therapy room outside the salt rooms, but combining massage with halotherapy is an option as well. “If it’s available, you can even get a private massage in the cave. That way you’re getting the benefit of the salt therapy and a 55-minute massage.”

Not everyone goes to Serenity for a spa experience, though. Some come specifically for the medicinal benefits of halotherapy. Unlike some salt spas that are “passive” (in which people just sit surrounded by the salt bricks and crystals), Serenity uses an active system of pumping medical-grade salt through the airways into their salt rooms, which produces a more direct effect--similar to breathing in the salty air on a seashore.

“It’s great for asthma, allergies, sinuses, headaches, coughs, COPD, and post-COVID symptoms. When they come in the room, I tell people to do some deep breathing, because breathing in that Himalayan salt acts like a toothbrush for your respiratory system. It’s cleaning and getting out all the impurities and toxins. That’s why I keep tissues in the rooms,” she explained.

“I’ve even had mothers bring in their children. There was one boy who had an ear infection, and his ear started draining afterwards. It’s pretty amazing.”

JaLaine Aesthetics and Wellness, which is owned by a nurse, also operates out of Serenity Salt Spa, offering customers services ranging from nutrition and stress management programs to microneedling, dermaplaning, neuromodulators, and dermafillers.

Of course, it says a lot when business owners personally use the products they sell, and Kilburn is one of those. The front lobby of the spa is filled with Himalayan salt products, from bath crystals to soap to salt lamps. Kilburn makes some of the bath products herself, pairing the salt with other medicinal herbs like lavender. She also has three salt lamps in her home.

“We are blessed to be here, and we are excited to help as many people as we can to feel better, breathe easier, and just relax. This salt spa was a thought, an idea--I ran it by my kids, prayed about it, put the plan

into action with their help--and now we’re just living on prayer and trusting God,” she said. Serenity Salt Spa is located at 107 Old River Road, Suite K, Montgomery, Texas.

Appointments may be scheduled by calling 936-777-3682 or by visiting the spa’s Facebook page, Serenity Salt Spa TX. In addition to individual appointments, group discounts and memberships are available.

Front: Cory, Tina Kilburn (Owner); Back: Cathy, Jennifer & Katherine

Giggles & Grins

“How do you drown a hipster? Throw him in the mainstream.”

“What sits at the bottom of the sea and twitches? A nervous wreck.”

“Why don’t Calculus majors throw house parties? Because you should never drink and derive.”

“A man tells his doctor, “Doc, help me. I’m addicted to Twitter!”

The doctor replies, “Sorry, I don’t follow you …””

“Why can’t you explain puns to kleptomaniacs? They always take things literally.”

“How do you keep a bagel from getting away? Put lox on it.”

“How does Moses make tea? He brews.”

“What kind of exercise do lazy people do? Diddly-squats.”

by J.R.A.

Sounds from the Seaside

…Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 1:17

The words of Jesus above were spoken to some fishermen. They were spoken as Jesus walked by the sea. Ever notice how many things in the life of Jesus happened by the sea?

These men had a trade; they were fishermen, something they perhaps had learned from their fathers. It was the way they made a living. It was how they put food on the table. They knew their job well. Why would they want to trade a way of life they knew so well for something they didn’t know?

“Come after me!” Was this a request or a demand? Or was it an invitation? Let’s call it an invitational challenge He empowered them to take. What would they get? At this point, all they were receiving were His words, “I will make you.” They left on His words. They left on His promise. They followed, and what an adventurous journey they took. They spent three years with their creator and were re-created into fishers of men. Their life with Jesus was an adventure they would cherish for eternity.

For us today, we get to share in that journey and adventure, reliving them every time we read the Gospels. I find something new and exciting every time. Start a count on the seaside happenings in the life of Jesus (if for nothing else, just to see how many you can

find). Then listen to the wind and pounding waves…above the roar, you just might hear the voice of Jesus say, “Come after me.”