ATHE WAY
I SEE IT ...
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Robin Rogers, Ed.D.
nother year has flown by. While I can’t believe it is actually December, the city is lit with Christmas lights, twinkling wreaths, nutcrackers, and sentiments of the holidays. Like it or not, the 25th is coming, which means I better find someone to pay to wrap my presents, or else I will be pulling an all-nighter on the 24th before family comes over on the 25th.
For the first time in many years, I am hosting Christmas dinner. Thankfully, nobody in my family trusts me to do the heavy lifting where cooking is concerned, so I am sure I will have an abundance of help with this meal. Or, we will order a turkey and trimmings from our favorite family-owned restaurants (my usual plan).
The best part about getting older and having adult children is nobody is in a hurry to wake up to see what Santa has brought, and food and drinks stay out all day long for grazing and entertaining. Instead of spending the day putting together toys and cleaning up crumpled wrapping paper, we will play cards and talk and watch through my house’s huge windows the younger kids of our neighborhood scootering by, while the older kids of the neighborhood zip around on golf carts. I love to see those kids playing together and enjoying their Christmas outdoors.
Speaking of younger kids, I have two perfect and sweet boys, both under five, whom I intend to spoil this month. I have already started lobbying for babysitting time so their parents can go on a holiday date night or two or five. We are going to try to see every lawn decoration that has been faithfully put up in the area, and we are going to sing every Christmas song that has ever been sung. We are going to have a fire in the fireplace and make s’mores and drink hot cocoa. I am going to give them matching pajamas and read them The Night Before Christmas. If they want to play games, we will play games, and if they want to kick balls, we will kick balls. I just know that the time I have with them will be precious, so I won’t be stressing about how clean my house is or if all my presents are wrapped perfectly.
INSPIRE THE PESSIMIST
ELEVATE THE OPTIMIST
STIR THE MIND
Ellen Orr
Shane Darby
These sweet boys just got a surprise like no other. Their mom, my friend Victoria, is almost halfway through her third pregnancy. She had done one of those home blood tests to determine the baby’s sex when she first found out she was pregnant, and what do you know? The test indicated that she was having a third boy. But something just didn’t seem right; I didn’t believe she was having a boy. I had already sent her pictures of baby girl clothes. But, those at-home genetic tests are right more often than they are wrong, she said. She scheduled family photos, for which she dressed her children in blue, as a way to indicate that a baby brother was on the way. She made the reveal online, and everyone was thrilled. I still wasn’t sold on that baby being a boy. Obviously, her baby was going to be loved and doted on like the other two no matter what, but something just didn’t feel right.
Fast-forward to one Sunday evening, when Victoria got an email about blood test results from her doctor. As she pulled up the results, her husband asked if it was still a boy, and—you guessed it—she nearly fell onto the floor when she saw the female symbol where she expected to see the male.
“But, Robin,” she said, “what if the doctor’s test is wrong? I don’t want to get excited about a girl now if it actually is a boy.” I totally understood. I may or may not have talked her into a sonogram right then and there.
“Let’s go find out!” I said.
So, she scheduled an appointment for the following Monday. The owner of the sonogram place said that she had only ever seen a few of the early genetic tests come back wrong. Victoria got up on the table while her husband, her sister, her oldest child, and I all waited quietly. The technician pressed around on her belly. She showed us the profile.
“Do you want a baby sister or a baby brother?” the technician asked Brooks. He smiled back at her and told her about their all-boy household. Even their two dogs and pet fish, Finley, are boys.
“Well, you are having a sister!” she said.
And I still get goosebumps telling that story. I’ve never known a person who needed a baby girl more than Victoria, and I intend to spoil them—all of them.
The best gifts are not the kind you can unwrap; they are the once-in-a-lifetime God winks that you don’t expect. And are we ever expecting her now!
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Cristi Hoyt Photography
Victoria Herman
Ellen Orr
Robin Proctor
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Louie Avery
Tony Basso
Baylor McLelland
Family isn’t necessarily the people you live with or those you’re related to by blood or marriage; I believe that the bonds of family are forged by love. This month, the magazine is full of stories about people unified by love or care. The Carpenter family, featured on the cover, has been shown many times over that they are never alone. When George and Julia’s home burned in a house fire, their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and acquaintances really stepped up. Their story is touching, and I hope it will inspire you to add smoke detectors and batteries to the stockings this year.
Merry Christmas, and as always, thanks for reading FSLM.
Do You Have a Story or a Photo?
ENTERTAIN THE SOUL Four States Living Magazine is published the first business day of every month. © Copyright 2024 by Four States Living Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Four States Living Magazine is distributed free of charge. Direct mail subscriptions are $40.00 per year. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material contributed.
Victoria Herman EDITORIAL
Phoebe Warren
Jo Murphy
Ellen Orr
Robin Proctor
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Phoebe Warren
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ON THE COVER DECEMBER 2024
Julia and George Carpenter escaped a devastating house fire on the morning of October 17th. Their family has been forever changed by not only the loss but also the outpouring of love from the community.
Read Grief and Gratitude on page 12.
Cover photo by Cristi Hoyt Photography.
Ten years after the births of quintuplets, Michelle and Steven Seals and the six Seals children offer a peek into their shared life as a young family of eight.
Read about the Seals family on page 46.
OPPORTUNITIES, INC., HELD ITS ANNUAL AUTUMN LUNCHEON AT THE HOME OF LESLEY LEDWELL DUKELOW ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH.
Lesley Dukelow, Morgan Gaddis, and Lisa Ledwell
Corie Woodman and Camille Wrinkle
Jade Evans and Nicole Raley
Susan Landreaux and Francine Francis
Tina Griffin and Tiffany Horton
Joan Carter and Judy Morgan
Lacy White and Malorie Looney
Nicole Wilson and Hollis Boyette
Rosemary Hardy and Jamye DeHaan
Summer Floyd and Lisa Sitterley
Jordan James, Lynlee Harvey, and Denise Wright
Vee Collins and Mary Washington
Yulin Brewer and Suzy Irwin Leigh Davis, Lindsey McMillan, and Cindy Porter
Megan Schroeder, Martha Norton, Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, Rendi Wiggins, and Julie Tidwell
Debra Moore, Nancy King, and Claudia Snow
Mel Walsh and Stephanie James
Morgan Bennett, Kali Bannon, and Rachael Potter
Beth Pesek and Ina McDowell
Camille McGinnis, DeAnna Craytor, and Lynn Whitt
GRIEF AND GRATITUDE
Julia and George Carpenter survived a devastating house fire with community support
by ELLEN ORR
Around 3:15 a.m. on the morning of October 17th, 2024, George Carpenter awoke in his second-story bedroom to a distant beeping sound. He roused his wife, Julia. “What’s that noise?” he asked groggily. Julia got out of bed and shuffled downstairs toward the sound. When she reached the end of the staircase, she saw smoke coming from under a buffet: the photo album she’d recently put there was inexplicably on fire. She shouted for George as she picked up the burning book, intending to toss it outside. But when she opened the door, the influx of oxygen caused flames to erupt all around her. She screamed more loudly.
The couple made it outside with only the pajamas they’d donned hours earlier. Their home of 29 years— with a lifetime of possessions and their dogs, Sweetie and Leon, trapped inside—was burning.
Julia and George have been married since 1980. George proposed mere months after the two began dating, and they were wed shortly after, on October 18th. Then came children: two daughters, Katie and Sarah. As the children grew, so did the family’s need for space. In 1995, the perfect old home, just two houses down the street, was listed for sale. Built in 1914, the twostory Craftsman featured a charming front porch, spacious backyard, and enough bedrooms—all on the upper level—for the family of four. On Labor Day of 1995, they moved in.
house—“Those old houses are like kindling, with their pine floors,” George explained—the firefighters worked hard to contain the spread. Julia, who had tried in vain to wake her next-door neighbor by pounding on his door, insisted that the fire department enter his home and evacuate him, which they did. (His home also caught fire, though it was not destroyed.) Both George and Julia emphasized their unending gratitude for the firefighters who worked to control the fire and provided sympathy and support that day.
Almost three decades later, the day before their 44th wedding anniversary, George and Julia sat across the street from 2912 Hazel St., faces blackened from smoke, and watched as their home turned to rubble and ash. Neighbors provided comfort and blankets, and called 911. Though there was never any hope of saving the Carpenters’
At 3:29 a.m., Sarah Carpenter received a call from one of her parents’ neighbors. “She said, ‘I want you to know your parents are okay, and they’re standing in front of me, but the house is gone,’” Sarah recalled. “She said, ‘It’s on fire, and it’s gone, and the dogs are in there, and they’re not going to make it, but your parents are okay.’” Sarah called Katie, who lives in Dallas, and drove directly to Hazel St.
“A firefighter told me that they had five minutes or they would not have been here, they wouldn’t have gotten out,” Sarah said through tears. “Walking up and hugging your parents, knowing that . . . I will never forget that moment.”
Footage from a nearby security camera shows that the fire began at 3:12 a.m. The cause of the fire is unknown, though it appears to have started under the pier-and-beam foundation and was likely electrical. By 3:24, the entire structure was engulfed in flames.
Before most of Texarkana was awake, word had inexplicably spread throughout the community. When Sarah called James Bramlett, George’s boss at Farmers Bank & Trust, at around 6 a.m., he answered by saying, “Oh my God, I just heard—where is your dad?” Shortly after that call, George and Julia, who had been at the scene for hours, were taken to the emergency room for evaluation and breathing treatments, and Sarah went to Walmart to buy necessities for her parents. When
photo by CRISTI HOYT PHOTOGRAPHY
Left to right, Tyler and Katie Moore with children George and Jude, George and Julia Carpenter, and Sarah Carpenter with daughter Anna Mae Petty.
Sarah called James again to let him know they had gone to the hospital, he replied that he was already there, right beside them.
“My goodness, the friends and loved ones who have reached out to us—it’s just overwhelming,” George said. “And [the Farmers team] has been so supportive. It really makes me proud to say I work for Farmers Bank.”
Other friends who showed up that morning included Mike Craven, who “kept having to walk off because he was so teary-eyed,” Sarah said, as well as Diane and Randy King, who provided George and Julia with a vehicle to use that day. Royce James, a “long-time friend,” was headed out of town to hunt when he got the news; he turned around and drove straight to the scene. “He wanted to hug him, and he stayed with him all day.”
Friends Stephanie James and Char Crane were the only reason Julia relented and went to the ER. “They basically tied my arms behind my back and said, ‘It’s not a choice,’” she said. They met her at the hospital and “wore the nurse out” advocating for their friend.
Thankfully, neither George nor Julia have experienced any major health effects; besides coughing up smoke for days, the worst physical ailment has been a burn and subsequent infection on Julia’s left foot— an unfortunate but relatively minor injury.
The physical effects pale in comparison to the mental and emotional anguish. The Carpenters shared that the healing process has been marked by ambivalence—grief and gratitude in equal measure.
“A good friend of ours [Alex Barlow Jumper] has gone through the same thing, and she wrote me such a sweet message that said, ‘I know a lot of people don’t understand this grief,’” George shared. “It is so much grief. Seeing everything, you don’t know how [both grief and gratitude] could exist at the same time. But they do—both equally as powerful as the other.
When you go through something like this, you don’t take things for granted as much. “ ”
– George Carpenter
“We feel so much gratitude that we actually walked out and have so many friends and loved ones—God has put us in this position so we can enjoy them longer,” George continued. “No doubt, it’s because of the man upstairs that we were able to walk out. He wasn’t finished with us yet.”
The entire family has been touched by this event, including Julia and George’s grandchildren. Katie’s son George, named after his grandfather, turned 9 years old in November, and he told his parents that, in lieu of a birthday party, he wanted to spend time with his family in Texarkana.
It’s not only blood relatives who have been deeply moved by the Carpenters’ tragedy and survival. Michaelyn Liles Marracino, whom Julia described as one of their “extra kids,” provided them with substitute wedding rings upon learning that their originals had been lost in the fire. Cristi Hoyt, a local photographer and friend of the family, donated her services, taking portraits of the entire clan. Friends and acquaintances have reached out, offering everything from meals and gift cards to places to stay.
After staying with George’s sister, Jane Ann (Janie), for a few weeks, the Carpenters moved into a fully furnished rental house, only a few blocks from the remains of their former home. Once the top layer of debris has been professionally cleared, George and Julia will attempt to excavate jewelry and other items from the rubble. But once the ash has settled and the wreckage has been fully assessed, the Carpenters intend to leave the property in the past and list the lot for sale.
One of the few surviving “before” photos of the Carpenters’ home, salvaged from the wreckage.
On October 17th at 3:12 a.m., the fire started. Within 12 minutes, the house was engulfed in flames.
Firefighters estimated that the Carpenters’ escape window was about five minutes.
“It’s a new beginning,” George said.
Whatever else the future has in store, the Carpenters are certain about a couple of things: they will continue to keep their most valuable possessions and important documents in a safe-deposit box, and they will always ensure they have working smoke detectors.
“I had just changed the smoke detector batteries about a month earlier,” Julia said. “I just thought, ‘You know, I don’t remember the last time I changed those.’ So I changed all the smoke alarms, which is not something I generally walk around doing.”
“We’ve been guilty of—you know, when the batteries are low, you get that beep, and you take them out instead of changing them right away,” George added. “But doing the maintenance that needs to be done can save lives.”
The Carpenters’ lives have been changed in more ways than just the material and practical, however; their perspective is fundamentally different.
“[The day of the fire] I thought, ‘We are never going to recover,’” Sarah shared. “It was just so traumatic. But even just a week later, I called Katie and was like, ‘I really think Mom and Dad are good. They’ve been surrounded by so much love from family and friends in the community.’ I hadn’t known how many people truly love my parents.”
“It’s just unbelievable,” Julia said. “It really is. It makes you realize that people are really good. I mean, there are bad ones, but the good ones far outweigh the bad, and I’ll always believe that.”
“When you go through something like this, you don’t take things for granted as much,” George added. “You know, the sunsets look a lot better. You’re really taking it all in—because you’re still alive.”
Everything is
BANANAS COMING UP
by LOUIE AVERY
In the film A League of Their Own, Hollywood icon Tom Hanks (playing Jimmy Dugan) tells his players, “There’s no crying in baseball!” The character might have felt differently if he had ever been to a Savannah Bananas baseball game, where fans have been known to laugh so hard that tears flow. Former Texas High baseball player Zack Phillips can attest to that, having witnessed the fun and excitement during his rookie season with the Savannah team.
The Savannah Bananas are an exhibition barnstorming baseball team, based in Savannah, Georgia. The team was founded in 2016 as a collegiate summer baseball team, but since 2022, they have been a purely “exhibition” team, playing only against their three partner teams, the Party Animals, the Firefighters, and the Texas Tailgaters. The Bananas are often compared to basketball’s Harlem Globetrotters—a fitting, if not one-forone, comparison.
Texas High alumnus Zack Phillips pitches for the Savannah Bananas
photos courtesy of THE SAVANNAH BANANAS
“Everyone thinks the Bananas are like the Globetrotters,” Zack said. “We are in a way, but the Globetrotters put on the same show every time. The Bananas’ show is different every game. We have different antics and different walkups. We try to do things no one has ever seen before on the field, and try our best to never repeat what we do.”
Zack started playing baseball when he was 3 years old.
“I basically lived at the baseball park with my mom [April Lane], who was the president of the Texarkana Arkansas Baseball Association,” the Bananas star relief pitcher said. “If you ask my parents, they’ll tell you I was a very shy kid and never wanted to do anything in front of people. Now I’m performing in front of 40,000-plus at some games. It’s crazy how my life has changed so much.”
The Bananas played in six Major League parks in 2024. That figure will be 18 big-league facilities in 2025.
Statistically speaking, Zack made Bananas history in 2024 with 59 relief appearances, pitching 76 innings. He had the pitching staff’s best earned-run average and was an all-star fan selection. He strikes out his share of batters with a fastball, changeup, curve, cutter, knuckleball, and submarine.
After graduating from Texas High, Zack played for two years at Grayson Junior College before transferring to Ole Miss. He was drafted after his junior season by the Kansas City Royals, making it to Double-A (the second-highest level of play in the Minor Leagues) before the Royals released him in 2023.
Zack’s baseball career might have been over then, if not for “The Dancing Umpire,” Vincent Chapman, who hooked him up with the Bananas.
Vincent grew up in Atlanta, Texas, and umpired youth baseball games all over Texas. He danced his way to umpiring for the Bananas in 2022, after a video of his performance garnered 12 million views and thousands of shares on social media.
photo courtesy of
VINCENT CHAPMAN
photo courtesy of THE SAVANNAH BANANAS
Vincent Chapman, “The Dancing Umpire,” has known Zack since his Little League games.
“Vinny had been umpiring my games since I was 8 years old,” Zack said. “After the Royals released me, he gave me a call and told me I needed to come play for the Bananas. He scored me a tryout with them, and the rest was history.”
Zack’s antics on and off the field make him a Bananas fan favorite.
“Besides pitching, you will find me roaming the stadium during the games, creating special moments with fans,” he said. “You might see me dancing on the dugout or doing a funny skit.”
The hardest part of Zack’s job is being away from his wife, Reagan. The couple resides in Benton, Arkansas. Reagan is currently in medical school, working on becoming a doctor.
“We spend a lot of the year away from each other, but every chance I get to come home and see her and our dog, I do,” Zack said. “She’ll fly down to see me when she gets time off.”
Zack has signed a 2025 contract with the Bananas.
Beyond that, however, his “future plans all depend on [his] wife and her medical career,” he said. “I could see myself playing for the Bananas for at least two or three more years. I would like to stay a part of the Bananas in some capacity.”
Zack with his wife, Reagan.
The Bananas always make time to go meet fans and sign autographs after their games.
submitted photo | others courtesy of THE SAVANNAH BANANAS
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
ENCOMPASS HEALTH HELD ITS FALL CARNIVAL FOR THE COMMUNITY ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24TH.
Rachel Rivera, Rylie Riebesell, and Audrey Mohon
Jennifer Hart, Stacie Gentry, and Tiffannee Watson
Shayne Powell and Tiffany Larkins
Robin Kidd
Sandi Robles
Keely Brown
Evan Sidwell
Adrian Phillips
Amanda McBride, Twinisha Scott, and Suzanne Williams Allison Moses and Drew Burns
Brittanie Stone and Brandy McMillion
THE TRADITION OF CHRISTMAS BLENDING NEW AND OLD
by ROBIN PROCTOR
Christmas in the South is a time for reflection, family, and, of course, food. The holiday season isn’t just about the presents or the decorations; it’s about the rituals that have been passed down from generation to generation— particularly the traditions that take place in the kitchen.
Growing up in a large family of four girls, Christmas was filled with excitement, family, singing, cooking, shopping, and an abundance of laughter. Both of my parents excelled when it came to cooking. My dad’s barbecued chicken was legendary. Always the consummate performer, he would pass the hours sitting in front of his cooker with his guitar on his knee.
Our mother, also a wonderful cook, never minded him taking over her kitchen on any regular day. But when the holiday season rolled around, Dad knew the kitchen was strictly off-limits, no exceptions. This is where our mother would begin preparing the traditional feast, anticipating feeding 30 or more mouths. Thinking back, I am in awe that she was able to do this with one oven and a four-burner stove. Truly, I didn’t appreciate this magical feat until I moved into the role of chief cook. Mom would often enlist each of her girls to make their specialty dish, subsequently reducing her workload a bit. She knew someday her cooking scepter, the spatula, would be passed on to her girls.
As I mentioned, we all had our signature dishes. Mom’s top four and most memorable dishes included divinity candy (dependent on good weather), giblet gravy, her signature dressing (never stuffing), and, legendarily, fruitcake cookies.
There are family stories, and then there are “those family stories,” which will outlive the test of time. I must preempt this story by clarifying that Mom was a devout Baptist. (This quite possibly was the blueprint for her ability to feed her masses.) If you are familiar with the fruitcake cookie recipe, you know that a vital ingredient is peach brandy. So, once a year, as Christmas drew near, Mom would send Dad to the local liquor store to purchase a small bottle of peach brandy. This particular year, however, was an exception, since there was enough leftover brandy from the previous year. After hours of prepping—the candied fruit chopped, the pecans carefully measured, the flour gently folded to coat each piece—it was finally time for the brandy. Oddly enough, Dad had been hovering close by, fretfully watching the process unfold. As Mom reached for the peach brandy, slowly removing the cap to measure the spirits, Dad could be silent no more. Regretfully he said, “Stop, don’t add that. It’s not what you think it is.”
Apparently, over the past few months, Dad had partaken in a nip or two, purely medicinal of course, and before he knew it, the bottle was running on empty. To cover his tracks, he had filled the bottle with tea, guaranteed to ruin mother’s cookies and most likely his Christmas holiday. Do we remember what we all received as gifts that Christmas? Absolutely not! We will, however, continue to laugh at Dad’s remorseful face and Mom’s gracious sense of humor.
Years have passed since we all lived under the same roof. We have all grown up, and our children have grown up. Now, we watch the next
FruitCake Cookies
Instructions:
Mix together:
1 lb of candied cherries, chopped
4 slices of pineapple, chopped
6 cups of pecans, chopped
1 lb of white raisins
1 cup of flour
Cream together: 1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
4 eggs
Sift together:
2 cups of flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
Combine the three mixtures, and slowly add in 1/2 cup of peach brandy and 3 Tbsp of milk.
Drop dough balls on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 250° F.
Robin now mills her own fresh flour and cornmeal with her NutriMill.
generation as they learn to appreciate the traditions we hold so dear and the new traditions that have emerged. The recipes have remained true, with a few new dishes making an appearance each year.
Like that of most homesteaders, my journey of self-sufficiency and a cleaner lifestyle is a daily quest. I decided to look for opportunities for a healthier twist with some of the recipes that my mom and I would prepare together. Traditionally, she and I made the dressing for the Christmas feast. Each year we would chop fresh sage, dice lots of onions, and make pans of cornbread, as our dressing had a cornbread base. Perfect! I knew exactly where to start.
While grazing through Instagram one day, I ran across my homesteading idol. She gleefully delighted over her newest purchase of a NutriMill—and, lucky for me, it came with a discount code. Milling fresh flour and cornmeal can play an important role in the health and clean-living lifestyles of homesteaders. Our ancestors milled their flour and corn, not necessarily by choice, but I figured, if it was good for them, then it was worth more research.
What makes a home-milled product so much better than storebought products? As usual, a quick Google search offered a wealth of knowledge. My research showed the most significant benefit of fresh ground flour and cornmeal is the increased nutrient content. Whole grains contain three parts: the bran, germ, and endosperm, all beneficial to our bodies. When flour became commercialized, the first two of these were removed to improve texture and extend the shelf life. The bran and germ contain important nutrients, however. I realized that the simple change from commercial flour and cornmeal to home-milled versions would provide health benefits for my family. Sign me up!
The first step I took was researching and selecting an appropriate
mill. I chose electric because I didn’t want to work that hard . . . and it was pretty. (Remember, I’m an aspiring homesteader, not fully devoted!) The second step was to acquire grains to mill. It was important for me to use organic grains. Surprisingly, Amazon offers a large selection to choose from, such as wheat, barley, rye, and white. On the corn front: yellow corn was very abundant, but white proved to be a bit more challenging, and Mom always insisted on white cornmeal, so I had to do extra searching.
Then it was time to grind. The learning curve was minimal . . . especially after I read the directions. Pre-directions, I made quite a mess: my kitchen looked as though it had rained wheat berries.
With my mill in hand, I can officially say I am ready to prepare Christmas dinner and our family’s traditional cornbread dressing, with a more nutritious twist. Let the chopping of fresh sage and the milling of fresh white cornmeal begin.
I am not dreaming of a white Christmas but instead of a warm fragrant kitchen filled with the memories of Christmas past. Now, if I can just get these lazy chickens to start laying eggs! But that’s another story. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Robin Choate Proctor was born and raised in Texarkana, Texas. After graduating from Texas High School, she pursued a music career which eventually led her to Nashville, Tennessee. Robin returned to Texarkana and completed her degree in education at Texas A&M–Texarkana. Robin is married to Danny Proctor and has one son, Chase Proctor, along with three beautiful grandchildren. As an amateur homesteader, Robin enjoys sharing her ideas and experiences about her time in her garden, greenhouse, chicken coop, and kitchen.
Seven
^
SIX FOR CHRISTMAS
The Bishops celebrate the adoption of their fifth child, Lily
by JO MURPHY
Anni and Travis Bishop are hometown folks with a meet-cute story straight out of a Hallmark movie. Nobody wants to be stuck on a broken amusement park ride, but that is where Anni and Travis found true love. She graduated from TASD. He went to school in Hooks. When mutual friends decided to take a daytrip to Six Flags, they both tagged along. Fate must have given them the idea of getting on that ride together. When it broke, Anni and Travis sat at the top of Six Flags for over an hour, talking about the things that mattered most to each of them. By the end of the day, they were both thinking, “That’s the kind of person I want to marry.” They fell in love.
However, as every dedicated Hallmark connoisseur knows, “happily in love” does not always mean “happily in sync.” Anni wanted to adopt a child; Travis did not. And, after the birth of their fourth child, Anni’s conviction to adopt became so strong that it was impossible to keep it in. “I really started nagging him,” she said, “and it was going nowhere.”
photo by SHANE DARBY
photo by SHANE DARBY
Anni had always prayed about adoption, but at this point, her praying took a different course. “I prayed for God to change one of our hearts,” she said. “If adoption wasn’t for our family, I wanted him to change mine, and I wanted him to change Travis’ heart if it was.”
Anni said that about two weeks into her prayers, Travis called her from work to tell her that he’d had a change of heart. Not only did he now feel that they should pursue adoption, he felt that the best path to adoption for their family was through the foster care system.
“The need [for adoptive families] is so big,” Anni said. “I beg of you: if you have the tiniest interest in adoption, the tiniest nudge in that direction, take it seriously. Do what I did: pray for God to open your heart if you’re supposed to do this.”
Anni and Travis got to work becoming foster-to-adopt parents. They said that their caseworkers and the entire foster-care community in Texarkana were “phenomenal,” often going above and beyond their job requirements.
When Baby Lily was placed with the Bishop family at just 3 weeks old, the strawberry-blonde infant weighed just 5 pounds. Anni had never seen such a tiny baby. They were in love.
The Bishops expected early on that they would adopt Lily. Her birth father, Anni said,
Elijah, Salem, Naomi, Anni, Shiloh, and Travis Bishop, holding Lily on Lily’s adoption day.
Lily’s first day with the Bishops at just 3 weeks old.
submitted photos
“absolutely loved his baby, but was older and knew he couldn’t care well for her.” He advocated for her to the best of his ability. She was several months old when he requested that a home study be done for a family friend whom he hoped could have custody of Lily.
“That day was scary, because the idea that she could leave us felt like my heart could be ripped out of my chest,” Anni said. She and Travis requested a meeting with Lily’s birth father to ask him to reconsider. Anni said that Travis cried while sharing about how much he loved Lily. “That was only about the third time I’ve ever seen him cry,” she shared.
Although very scary, that meeting was the beginning of a special relationship with Lily’s birth dad, which continues today. They even learned that Travis already had a working relationship with one of Lily’s biological family members. The next day, when Travis went to work, the family member took one look at Travis and ran to hug him, crying, “I can’t believe you have her! She’s in such a good home.” This family member started advocating for the Bishops to be Lily’s adoptive parents. Lily’s birth father came to agree.
Now, at 21 months old, Lily is officially a Bishop. In some ways, nothing has changed. Anni and Travis have loved this baby like their own since before they knew who she was, since before she was born. In other ways—ways that foster-to-adopt families identify deeply with— everything has changed. “I feel that I can breathe now,” Anni said. “This Christmas will feel different.”
Anni wears a simple gold necklace that displays the number 7, representing the seven members of their family. Baby Lily has been in her heart for years and in her arms for months. Finally, legally, Lily is the seventh member of her family.
Lily’s first Christmas with the Bishop family, including her cousins. submitted photo
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
LONESTAR AESTHETICS & WELLNESS HELD ITS 5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT THEIR OFFICE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH.
Amanda Ross, Miranda Mikkelsen, and Samantha Harris
Kaylie Stephens and Callie Breshears
Rachel Orr and Aria Potter
Melinda Vammen and Robin Proctor
Bridget Contreras, Katie Peek, and Angie Hopkins
Ashley Allday, Becca Turner, and Samantha Hughes
Kelly Harvin and Alissa Flanagan
A QUINTESSENTIAL FAMILY
Ten years after their debut on the cover of FSLM, the Seals family speaks on life with quintuplets
by DR. JENNY M c CORMACK WALKER
Like many local parents, Michelle and Steven Seals balance their energy between work responsibilities, domestic duties, and their kids’ extracurricular activities. They plan vacations and often spend time with extended family members. However, unlike most local parents, the Sealses navigate all of those things as a family of eight. Their 7th grader, Brady, and their 10-year-old quintuplets—Mia, Tessa, Gracie, Rayleigh, and Brant—keep them constantly on-the-go.
In March of 2014, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Michelle gave birth to five babies, 11 weeks premature. The multiple pregnancy had resulted from low-dose fertility treatments; her first sonogram showed two fetuses, the second showed four, and the third showed six, one of which sadly died in the womb. The five surviving babies spent many months in the NICU. All three girls needed feeding tubes. Rayleigh also required surgery to correct a heart defect, and Mia’s airway had to be expanded. Once home, the babies received physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The young parents of
Above: The Seals on a family trip to Maui, Hawaii.
photo by SHANE
six received help from the entire community: a family friend spent two nights a week at their home, allowing the Seals adults to get some sleep. Churches, relatives, friends, and anonymous community members pitched in, holding showers and diaper drives, sending monetary gifts and cards, offering prayers, and providing support. In the 2014 issue of Four States Living Magazine, Stephen described their home as “a zoo,” and Michelle said that she couldn’t even imagine what their life would look like in even two years, when the babies were mobile.
Now, a decade later, life is more normal than Stephen or Michelle ever could have imagined.
Organization is key. Michelle said the family’s kitchen includes a big calendar to keep track of everyone’s events, including church involvement, Brady’s football and band activities, Brant’s martial arts, and the girls’ volleyball, basketball, and softball schedules.
“One of the hardest parts of having a big family is the logistics of getting everyone where they need to be,” Michelle said. “We rely heavily on our families for support. Our families help us when we have more than one event happening at the same time. We are great at dividing and conquering to make everything work.”
The Seals took a trip to Disney World in 2021.
The Seals quintuplets and their big brother, Brady, were featured on the FSLM cover in December 2014.
submitted
photo
While the moving parts of afterschool activities might be a challenge to coordinate, home life runs fairly smoothly for the Seals family. Michelle said there are two secrets to their success: routines and structure. Because of this approach, the children have grown to be very independent. Each night, they choose their clothes for the next day and set their alarms for 6 a.m.. They make their own breakfasts and pack their lunches.
Michelle and Steven have high expectations for their children’s academic performance as well. All six kids attend Maud ISD, where both Steven and Michelle attended themselves. Michelle now works at the district as a dyslexia teacher and reading interventionist, while Steven works in Texarkana for Edward Jones.
The parents say that though their family may be larger than average, they have always wanted to be sure their kids had the most normal childhood possible.
“The most interesting thing about our family is that we’re really not that interesting,” Michelle said. “We’re just regular people; there just happen to be a lot of us.”
The quints in birth order: Mia, Tessa, Brant, Gracie and Rayleigh.
Despite their parents’ intentional attempt at normalcy, the quints do recognize the unique bond they have. They all say the best thing about being a quint is having built-in best friends.
“We have each other’s backs no matter what,” Tessa said.
Gracie and Rayleigh talked about the constant companionship their siblings offered, and Mia agreed.
“It’s awesome because I always have someone to talk to about my feelings when I’m feeling sad,” Mia said. “I always have my sisters to cheer with and do stunts with.”
With all of that cheering, Brant offered a different perspective.
“It’s always loud around here with all these sisters,” he shared.
Thankfully, he has Brady, who Michelle says is the best big brother. Brady had just turned 2 years old when the quints were born, and he does not remember a time in his life without them.
Together, the family enjoys being outdoors and traveling.
“Traveling with six kids isn’t the easiest task, but it’s worth it to us,” Michelle said. “The kids love to travel. As a family, we have been to Disney World, Tennessee, Hawaii, and Mexico.”
As much as they do together, the extended family makes sure that the children get individual attention. Michelle said that the kids’ grandparents and aunts are actively involved in their lives and usually take one or two kids at a time on weekends. The extended family also
makes sure that Michelle and Steven have time as a couple without the kids.
Michelle and Steven might have their hands full with such a big family, but they recognize that their hearts are just as full.
“We never imagined ourselves having six kids,” Michelle said. “It was a scary thought when I was pregnant with the quints, but everything has worked out just as it was meant to. We are so thankful and blessed with the crazy life we are allowed to live.”
Every year, the Seals kids choose a theme for Halloween. This year, each child dressed as a musician: Slim Shady, Elvis, and four Taylor Swifts.
submitted photo
SCENE ABOUT TOWN
THE TEXARKANA MUSEUMS SYSTEM AND WILBUR SMITH ROTARY CLUB HELD A PORCH PARTY FUNDRAISER TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE ACE OF CLUBS EXTERIOR RESTORATION ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND.
Dennis Young, Dr. Chris Alkire, and Junie Young
Eric Cain, Maurice Orr, and Erica Cain
Cliff and Becky Robertson with Melissa Matthews
Amy Schulz and Rhonda Allen
Danny Gray, Emily Tarr, and Remica Gray
Schelli Lusk and Debbie Alkire
Edith Thomas and Lindsey McMillan
Dr. Cordell Klein and Bryce Lawrence
Dr. James A. Morris and Jo Ann Rice
Dr. Stuart and Becky Phillips
HEALTH HUB HEROINES
Abby Ashcraft and her mother, Bobbie Jo, facilitate medical supply donations for others in the disability community
by TONY BASSO
photo by SHANE DARBY
In the heart of the Ark-La-Tex is a motherdaughter duo working tirelessly to improve the lives of others. Bobbie Jo Ashcraft and her adult daughter, Abby, spend countless hours each week leading the Joy Project Network’s Health Hub. The JPN Health Hub provides medical supplies to families in need. The recipients are primarily disabled children, though anyone in need is eligible to receive supplies.
Bobbie Jo oversees the supply and delivery of medical equipment to parents across Texas and the nation. “I take in and pick up donations,” she said. “We have walkers, wheelchairs, tracheostomy supplies for people who are on a ventilator, feeding tube supplies [and more]. We just make sure that we can reach as many children as we can, and everything is, of course, at no cost to families.”
While equipment is sometimes donated by organizations or parents with a surplus of goods, many donations to Joy Project Network come from bereaved parents who want to honor their children by donating the supplies they no longer need.
“Sometimes, when you lose a child, it hurts to just look at those things,” Bobbie Jo said. “You don’t want to throw them away because, as specialneeds parents, you know the struggle and how hard it is to fight and get a piece of equipment. We just took in a really large donation from Marshall, Texas, from a parent who had just lost their child. We were able to bless another family literally the very same day with the equipment. It just fell into place so beautifully. They donated so many things, and I was able to immediately turn around and give them to another family, and it was wonderful.”
Bobbie Jo’s daughter, Abby, is 20 years old and disabled herself. Together, the two spend more than 20 hours per week running the Health Hub.
“This has been my way of teaching my daughter to pay it forward and to keep her busy,” Bobbie Jo said. “This really helps me not only to bless [other people’s] kids but my own daughter, too. She absolutely loves it. Sometimes I let her make the call to families when we receive a bigticket item, something that might be a $40,000 piece of equipment. I’ll let her make the phone call and say, ‘Hi, this is Abby with Joy Project Network. Guess what? We have a piece of equipment for you!’ It’s really sweet.”
submitted photo
Abby Ashcraft hugs a Health Hub beneficiary.
Bobbie Jo first became involved with the Joy Project Network after meeting and befriending Meagan Kirk, the organization’s founder.
“Meagan’s passion and my passion and our beliefs and our willingness to serve children, especially in the disabled community, is so aligned, and it just was meant to be,” Bobbie Jo explained. “We wanted to bless kids. If my daughter or another mama had extra supplies, we would bless other families. That’s just kind of how it happened.”
This photo was taken ten days before Jordan Kirk’s passing.
Meagan Kirk founded Joy Project Network in honor of her late son, Jordan. Here she is pictured with her family.
submitted photos
We
couldn’t even do the program without Bobbie Jo and Abby. [They handle] the whole Health Hub program.
“ ” – Meagan Kirk
This little one found a new level of independence with a walker from Texarkana Health Hub.
A Texarkana Health Hub recipient picking up supplies to care for a family member. submitted photos
photo by SHANE DARBY
Many families with disabled children face financial hardships associated with purchasing the needed medical equipment for their children. Insurance guidelines become hurdles to cross, sometimes making it impossible for families to receive critical supplies. Bobbie Jo, Abby, and Joy Project Network are able to offer support to families facing these challenges, oftentimes meeting their exact needs.
Joy Project Network is new to Texarkana but has goals to reach those throughout Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Meagan said that this organization would not be possible without Bobbie Jo’s help.
“We couldn’t even do the program without Bobbie Jo and Abby,” she said. “[They handle] the whole Health Hub program. Since July, just in the Texarkana area, they have served 428 individuals. When I call Bobbie Jo and say, ‘Look at what we’ve done,’ I can hear Abby in the background, giddy with excitement. Bobbie Jo and Abby both have a heart for helping others. [The Health Hub] literally would not run without them.”
Meagan Kirk delivering a wheelchair and diapers to a family in Cuidad Acuña, Mexico. submitted photos
Joy Project Network is a faith-based organization that encompasses more than the Health Hub. Here, volunteers are pictured outside of an orphanage in Mexico.
MEET
ANNA JO BRIGGS
by BAYLOR M c LELLAND
or most people, live theater is a way to entertain themselves and get a few good laughs in. But for Anna Jo Briggs, an actress at Silvermoon Theatre and junior at Maud High School, theater is a way of life.
“I went and watched my kindergarten teacher perform in Charlotte’s Web, and I was hooked,” she explained. “After that, my mom signed me up for a week-long camp at Silvermoon, and I enjoyed it so much.”
Silvermoon Children’s Theatre [SCT] is a local performance group in downtown Texarkana that offers students ages 7 to 18 a chance at performing on stage. The program has been active since 2014, and Anna Jo joined their summer camp just a year later in 2015. By 2017, she was already joining them in mainstage performances.
“I’ve been with SCT since the second grade and in over 20 mainstage plays, not including production camps and summer camps,” she said. “I’ve also been in a few performances at the Perot Theatre and TexRep.”
Her character work can also be seen off-stage, as Anna Jo runs her own side business as a party performer. “Sometimes I dress up as Elsa and go to birthday parties,” she said. “ I usually go and sign pictures, sing a song or two, and let the kids ask me any questions.”
“ ” I think interning in the summer has really made me realize how much I enjoy theater.
– Anna Jo Briggs
photo by SHANE DARBY
Anna Jo lives in Maud and attends Maud High School. With the commute to Texarkana for theater, her schedule is usually filled to the brim. “On the weekends, I go to the theater for rehearsals,” she said. “I don’t do much until we get to ‘tech week,’ which is the week before our performance. Then I’ll go to rehearsal for a week after school from 4 to 8. Getting from school to theater in less than an hour can be hard sometimes.”
Anna Jo has performed all over Texarkana. “Since I joined SCT, I’ve also performed at the Perot Theatre, and recently, I was also in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at TexRep,” she explained.
While she’s portrayed several characters, including Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors and Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, Anna Jo said she’s never felt a real barrier between herself and her characters.
“I can’t really explain it, but I just get into character onstage,” she said. “It just channels a different me. I don’t have any methods or anything; just as soon as I step onto the stage, I become a whole different person.”
Performing with SCT and TexRep has taught Anna Jo a lot about the art of theater, from acting to vocal performance, but— more importantly—it has also taught her lots about herself. “[The theater companies] have helped me get out of my comfort zone and helped me become the girl I am today,” she said. “Without them, I would just be this shy girl who couldn’t do anything. My best friends have come from SCT, and they have always had my back and have encouraged me.”
Anna Jo works both on- and off-stage to make SCT a better collective. When she first started with them in 2015, she attended several summer camps to learn the basics of acting. Now, almost a decade later, she’s a teacher to a younger generation of local actors.
submitted photo
Anna Jo cosplays as Elsa from Frozen for birthdays.
Anna Jo as the witch in Into the Woods.
“I think interning in the summer has really made me realize how much I enjoy theater,” she shared. “Just seeing the little kids’ smiles and seeing how much of an impact I can make on them really brings me joy. Meeting those kids and forming those bonds with them over time has made theater so much better for me.”
Teaching her younger cast members at SCT has also helped her realize one of her life’s ambitions. “I plan to continue to perform anywhere I can, but for a career, I’ll most likely become an elementary school teacher somewhere, and I’ll probably do theater on the side,” she said.
Anna Jo hopes to inspire young people to step onto the stage, whether at SCT or elsewhere. “It is challenging at times, but overall it’s such an amazing life,” she said. “I think everybody should at least try theater. You really learn so much more than just acting.”
McLelland is a junior at Arkansas High School. He is a reporter for the RazorbackTV program and content creator on his YouTube channel, “BaylorWuzHere.” He plans to graduate in 2026 and pursue a college degree in film.
Baylor
photos courtesy of
Anna Jo as Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors.
Anna Jo as the minstrel in Once
Upon a Mattress.
EXQUISITE INTERIORS
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTMAS
photography by SHANE DARBY
The holiday season brings forth a delightful display of shimmering lights, glittering ribbons, and festive decorations. This year, Janet and Craig Cox’s beautiful home is a prime example of such seasonal cheer. As a professional designer, Janet dedicates her efforts to infusing Christmas spirit into her clients’ residences, but she also ensures that her own three-bedroom, two-bath home radiates the same festive warmth.
Constructed in 2021, their residence showcases a modern design characterized by clean lines and a sophisticated black-and-white palette. While Janet and Craig cherish their home throughout the year, the holiday season holds a special place in their hearts. Janet enhances the existing color scheme and fixtures with her Christmas decorations, favoring black, gold, silver, and white over the conventional red and green.
The exterior of the house sets the tone for the interior decor, featuring black metal deer, oversized jingle bells in coordinating colors, and tasteful garland accents. A festive wonderland awaits just inside the door.
Beyond the garland-adorned entry table, which displays a large silver deer head, the interior is aglow with additional garland, more deer figurines, and elegant gold and silver touches. The dining room to the left of the entryway boasts a striking decorative element: a wreath encircling a hanging light fixture, with sparkling ornaments cascading from it. In the living room, the grand fireplace is adorned with flowing garland, gold and silver stockings, and a charcoal-hued Christmas tree painting created by Janet herself. Another dining area to the right of the living area showcases more metallic decor arranged around the dark green garland.
Perhaps the most breathtaking aspect of the home is the Christmas tree, centrally located and adorned with black, gold, and silver ornaments, lustrous ribbon, and a striking topper crafted from branches. This tree holds sentimental value, featuring two pairs of baby booties hanging from its branches—one belonging to Craig as an infant and the other to their son, Matthew.
The home is a dazzling showcase of contemporary Christmas decor, achieving a perfect balance of elegance and warmth.
TOWN
THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES WAS HELD AT THE TEXARKANA ARKANSAS CONVENTION CENTER NOVEMBER 6TH—9TH.
Patrick and Haley Rountree
David and Denise McDaniel with Kim and Braden McDaniel
Bobby and Jo Thomason
Nancy Lambert with Corey and Lindsey Lambert and daughter Winnie
Laura Nix and Lyndsey Nix
Jenni Hedrick, Teresa Smith, Rebecca Barr, Amy Backus, and Kim McDaniel
Bridget Contreras, Judy Priest, Catie Swenson, Barbara Glick, Ashley Carlow, Kim McDaniel, Elizabeth Lofton, and Dr. Christina Payne
Brooke Marshall and Jess Glick
DECEMBER 2024
DECEMBER 1
Williams Memorial United Methodist Church:
Hanging of the Greens
Williams Memorial United Methodist Church will host its Hanging of the Greens service at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Call 903-832-8663 for more information.
Season of Lights
This Christmas lights park and entertainment center is located at I-30 and Exit 198 in New Boston, Texas. Season of Lights is open for another festive holiday season until December 28th. For more information, visit seasonoflights.org.
DECEMBER 5
Bramlett Beans & Cornbread
The 26th annual Bramlett Beans & Cornbread will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Texarkana Texas Convention Center. For more information, call 903-798-3978.
Christmas Open House
Twin City Title and Miller County Abstract & Title invite the community to their annual Christmas Open House. The event is located at 3310 Arista Blvd and will run from 5 to 8 p.m.
DECEMBER
2
Main Street Texarkana’s Christmas Parade
The 40th annual Christmas parade will start at 7 p.m. in downtown Texarkana. For more information, go to mainstreettexarkana.org.
DECEMBER 5—7 AND DECEMBER 12—14
Jefferson Candlelight Tour of Homes
The 42nd annual Jefferson Candlelight Tour of Homes will be held the first two weekends in December. Tickets can be purchased online at jeffersoncandlelight.com.
DECEMBER
6
Unsung Heroes Luncheon
First Baptist Church Texarkana is hosting an “Unsung Heroes Luncheon” in their gymnasium. The event runs from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. and honors those who provide services to the community. For more information, go to fbctexarkana.org.
DECEMBER
6—8
The Nutcracker Ballet
The Community Ballet of Texarkana will present its annual Nutcracker production at the Perot Theatre. Tickets and showtimes are available at perottheatre.org.
DECEMBER
6—7
Holiday Arts Market
TRAHC’s 16th annual Holiday Arts Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. This festive holiday shopping experience is located in the Regional Arts Center.
Main Street Christmas Parade 2023
DECEMBER
15
TSO’s Christmas at the Perot
The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra will perform their traditional Christmas concert at the Perot Theatre, starting at 4 p.m. The winner of the annual Celebrity Conductor Competition will also be announced. Tickets can be purchased at perottheatre.org.
DECEMBER 13—14
Christmas & Candlelight at Historic Washington State Park
Historic Washington State Park will host its 38th annual Christmas & Candlelight event the second weekend of December. For more information, contact the park at 870983-2684.
DECEMBER
14
Jingle Jog 5K Race and Fun Walk
We Are Washington presents its 2nd annual Jingle Jog 5K Race and Fun Walk, located at Spring Lake Park. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. More information can be found on the “We Are Washington” Facebook page.
DECEMBER 21
Christmas on Main
The Perot Theatre presents Christmas on Main in downtown Texarkana. There will be movies, ice skating, and vendors. Movie showtimes are at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. The skating rink will open at 10 a.m. More information can be found at perottheatre.org.
Texarkana Symphony Orchestra Celebrity Conductor Competition 2023.
