Anna Living Magazine Issue 8

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8

CONTENTS 3

Teacher of the Year

6

Meet the Neighbors

18 20

Lacy Sanders is the teacher of the year for the district's elementary teachers. Congratulations Lacy!

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8

18

Jewelry maker Alice Courtney shows some of her merchandise displayed throughout her home.

Pudge in Melissa

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez was in Melissa recently for the annual Pudge Rodriguez World Classic baseball tournament.

Anna High School Graduates

Walking across the stage to accept that long awaited diploma for the beginning of a new phase in their lives. Anna Living Magazine is excited to be able to publish the photos of the graduating seniors.

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4 IN EVERY ISSUE 4

A BIT OF ANNA HISTORY

22 UNCLE SPIDER'S ADVENTURES

8

ALL ABOUT THE YARD

26 JAMIE’S KITCHEN

10 LIFE A LITTLE SIDEWAYS 12 WORDS OF INSPIRATION

28 MOVIE REVIEWS Cover Photo by Joyce Godwin / Anna Living Magazine

ABOUT THE COVER Lacy Sanders was selected as the 2021 ElementaryTeacher of the Year for Anna Independent School District.

from the

EDITOR We, at the Godwin household, have been enjoying the weather this spring and now summer and one of the greatest joys comes from our sweet Liberty Girl.

She’s a red standard poodle who loves to run, run, run. She is not yet two so she’s still very much a puppy and really, really smart.

We got her after our dog, Missy (another standard poodle), died the day after Christmas 2019. I cried for days and then decided it was time to bring some joy back to our house. So Liberty came home for my birthday.

She’s been a challenge, but totally worth it. Now the challenge belongs to our little white Chihuahua rescue dog, Dominga, that Liberty believes is her personal toy. Liberty was smaller than Dominga when Liberty first came home so they were playmates then. But now, Liberty is four times Dominga’s size and she still tries to play the same as when they were the same size.

Anyway, it’s been so fun to watch Liberty interact with Dominga, the cows in the pasture, our neighbor Jack, Jerry our UPS guy, Janelle who comes to groom her, the birds nesting around our house and anything else that moves. She’s curious, playful and loves with her whole heart and the only thing she loves more than a ball is a ball that squeaks.

What could be better for a couple of aged folks like us living on the edge of Grayson and Collin counties watching the hummingbirds.

Wouldn’t it be great if people were more like Liberty — accepting and joyful.

In this issue of Anna Living Magazine, we are excited to be able to show off Anna High School’s graduating seniors. Our cover story this time is about one of the elementary teachers. Also, we have another story about the Coffman Community west of Anna.

When you get a chance, would you please like us on Facebook, and if you don’t receive the magazine in the mail, pick it up at one of our distribution points: Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce at 218 W. 4th St., Premier Pawn at 1002 S. Powell Pkwy., Crow’s Country Cafe at 1143 W. 4th St., The Gar Hole at 106 Houston St. in the Westminster Community or My Estrella at 810 W. White St., Suite 700.

PUBLISHER

Joyce Godwin EDITOR

Joyce Godwin AD SALES

Jessica Larriviere, Amy Jukes, Jamie Roubinek, Joyce Godwin PHOTOGRAPHERS

Joyce Godwin, Xaviar Jukes, Jessica Larriviere DESIGNER

Open Look Business Solutions DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Amy Jukes 469-389-2636 amy@annalivingmagazine.com

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND SALES

Jessica Larriviere 469-748-7848 Jessica@annalivingmagazine.com CONTRIBUTORS

Don Eldredge, Jamie Roubinek, Jimmie Gibson, Christi Webb Mahon

SPECIAL THANKS

Kimberly Winarski of the city of Anna, Melane Woodbury of the Anna Independent School District.

FOR ADVERTISING QUESTIONS OR EDITORIAL REQUESTS Please email joyce@annalivingmagazine.com MANAGING OWNER Joyce Godwin 903-815-0044

Remember to shop local and please start with the advertisers in Anna Living Magazine.

Until our next issue, enjoy your summer!

P. O. Box 91, Anna, Texas 75409

Anna ISD Names 2021 Teachers of the Year Lacy Sanders Cited as Elementary Teacher of the Year

By Joyce Godwin

L

acy Sanders wears a big smile after being named teacher of the year among Anna ISD elementary teachers. But what really sets her smile in place is watching students grow throughout the year and mastering their challenges.

Sanders has taught second and third grade classes at Rattan Elementary School over the past six years; three years at each level.

“Teachers work so hard to help each student become the best version of themselves,” she said.

She received the Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Midwestern State University in 2013 and went on to get a Master of Education degree with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction from Midwestern in 2015. She received her principal certification through Lamar University in 2018. She started her teaching career in Wichita Falls, Texas teaching third grade for one year before moving to Anna ISD. Then she taught three years in third grade followed by three years of second grade at Rattan Elementary.

But next year brings another change for Sanders because she’ll be moving to a new position — Gifted and Talented (GT) Coordinator.

Sanders says she will service multiple campuses of GT students.

Her philosophy of teaching can be summed up in a famous quote, “They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” It falls in line with what Sanders says about her teaching experience. “Teaching during a global pandemic led to many challenges as teachers tried to navigate the new normal, while also keeping safety a top priority,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges this year was meeting students ‘where they are.’ Many students have large gaps when they come to you, and as a teacher all you want to do is help close those gaps. Ending the school year so abruptly in the

spring of 2020 left many students with large gaps from not completing their prior school year face-to-face.”

Sanders reflects on the past year and points out another issue that emerged during the navigation of the pandemic. She said it was the major shift of social and emotional well being. “This year was a wild experience for almost all individuals, and that anxiety and fear also fell on the students. Luckily, we had the support of our counselors and district to incorporate a social-emotional education lesson into our schedule everyday.”

She said it was a blessing to have all of the students back for faceto-face learning by the end of the year. Her class size was 13 when the year began and she finished with 20 students.

One of the biggest rewards for Sanders is to see her students reach full potential. “It’s an amazing feeling,” she said. “Another great thing about teaching is that you never have a dull day. Each day is full of adventure and certainly keeps you on your toes! Whether it’s the lesson you are teaching or the feedback you receive from your students, teachers are sure to smile multiple times in the day and be reminded why they chose this profession.”

Sanders says the sweet smiles and hugs coming from her students help eliminate any worries throughout the school day.

Anna Living Magazine

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The Mystery Can Never Be Solved

By Joyce Godwin

W

e’ve been reprinting stories from the book published by the Anna Area Historical Preservation Society “The Spark That Ignited the Town of Anna” in each issue of Anna Living Magazine.

We are thankful to the AAHPS for giving us permission to use the book for our magazine.

In the last issue we shared the interesting story of the Coffman Community located west of Anna. In checking some of the facts laid out for that story, this writer discovered a tragedy that stayed in the headlines for years and got as much attention as the T. Cullen Davis escapades in 1976.

No one can really know what happened in the Coffman Community the night gun shots rang out Jan. 3, 1909 shattering the lives of two families. Only Mr. and Mrs. Louis Coffman know what happened and one of them was dead.

In a McKinney paper, folks read on January 6, “Former Constable Louis S. Coffman, who is in jail here to answer a charge of killing his wife Mrs. Jessie Coffman, has made no further statement in regard to the matter and does not discuss the case.”

The scene of the shooting was described in newspaper reports as shocking, fearful and tragic.

In “The Sulphur Springs Gazette” it was reported “near neighbors to the Coffman’s were alarmed last night about 10 o’clock by two shots followed by cries.”

Witnesses were reported to say “Mrs. Coffman lay on the bed in her night garments quite dead. The pillows and bedding were crimson with blood. Coffman, who seemed stunned and bewildered, stood holding his bleeding hand.

“His statement, when he had recovered in a measure of calmness, was that he and his wife had retired for the night and that without warning she fired at him with the revolver, 4

which still lay on the floor; that when he sprang out of bed in amazement and pain that his wife deliberately placed the muzzle of a shotgun, found later on the other side of the bed, to her head and had taken her own life.”

Another paper graphically described the injury in this way; “…a ghastly hole had been torn in her head, the shot entering about the bridge of the nose and tearing away a portion of the forehead, into the cavity of which a man’s hand could have been placed.”

Coffman was accused of murder and taken into custody that night and he was never the same again. He and his family and the family of his wife went through several court actions before Coffman was given a death sentence and then new trials gave him a life sentence.

Witnesses against Coffman reported him to be difficult and hard to get along with. Apparently, he did not have a good relationship with his father-in-law J.G. Barnes.

Witnesses for Coffman claimed his wife had been a heavy drinker and was most unhappy that she had to live on the farm on the Coffman land.

One of his trials was moved to Sherman on a change of venue. The Sherman newspaper reported “the jury returned a verdict finding the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree; and assessing his punishment at confinement in the state penitentiary for life. The case has been on for two weeks and one day and has attracted a great deal of attention on account of the prominence of the parties as both young Coffman and his wife belonged to prominent families.”

The couple married in 1903, the second marriage for both, and a year later welcomed their only child William Scott Coffman.

From all reports found in research, young Will was taken in by his grandparents John Anna Living Magazine

In this photo captured from ancestry.com is Col. Thomas Scott, father of Mattie Scott Coffman. He married Elizabeth M. Shirley.

Left is the Scott grave marker and center is the gravestone for John Hogue Coffman.

Hogue and Mattie Scott Coffman.

A Convict and Conduct Registry shows that Louis was pardoned in January 1915 and his World War I Draft Registration is dated in November 1918. He is shown to be living in Dallas on Young Street and working as a Linen Man at the Adolphus Hotel.

He died in 1924 and his death certificate names pneumonia as cause of death with alcoholism being a contributing factor.

Young Will moved away from the area with his grandmother in 1918 as reported in a McKinney newspaper. “Mrs. J.H. Coffman and grandson Will Scott Coffman have moved to Brownwood, Texas where they will make their future home. We regret to see Mrs. Coffman leave us as she has been a great help in this community in church, and many other ways.

She was always ready to help in sickness or at home where the Death Angel had come and claimed its victim and could speak many kind and comforting words to cheer lonely hours like this.”

John Hogue Coffman, Louis Coffman’s father, died following surgery in 1914; Mattie Scott Coffman died in 1937.

Will Scott Coffman died in 1965. His draft registration showed he worked in Houston at the National Supply Company. When Will died, it was the end of the Coffman name as descended from John Henry Coffman who was the father of Hogue and George Coffman.

George Coffman is the descendant who established the Coffman Cemetery which is seen from the service road on U.S. Highway 75 just south of White Street.

Most members of the John Hogue Coffman family, including Louie Scott and Will Scott are buried in the Melissa Cemetery in a section next to Mattie Scott Coffman’s family.

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Meet the Neighbors

Jewelry made Right Here in Anna

Alice Courtney shows her jewelry and explains the different kinds of beads.

Story and photos by Joyce Godwin

O

n the outside, it’s a cute little house with a handicap entrance for a wheelchair across State Highway 5 from Anna Middle School. But once in the door, it takes on a whole new look where Alice Courtney is a welcoming face.

She is a jewelry maker at heart. It’s what she loves to do and she’s good at it. Self taught in the ways of glass beads and more, Courtney says it’s become her obsession — her life.

She used to frequent festivals and markets where she could have a booth and sell her creations, but her health has deteriorated and she is no longer able to do the physical work involved with moving the inventory from market to market. She still wants to 6

sell her jewelry, but she stays at home now.

Alice lives with challenges but says she’s a glass-half-full kind of person and always finds a way to get things done. She also has some help from her daughter and a part time caregiver. But what gives Alice the most joy these days is being able to create jewelry. She loves it and makes all styles in all colors using all manner of beads. She is an artist.

So you’re getting dressed to go out for the day or evening and you don’t have that piece of jewelry that would complete your ensemble? Just give Alice a call and make a quick trip to her house to browse the walls in her home which have become her market.

What could be easier? There is so much Anna Living Magazine

from which to choose, the biggest challenge could be in making a decision.

Alice is able to get around her home with a cain and also uses a wheelchair. Her jewelry is modestly priced, so now, she just needs help to connect with a customer base. It’s been suggested she could benefit from a website, but she doesn’t know how to do that.

So, for now, in a sweet little house across from Anna Middle School, Alice makes jewelry. It’s her love — her passion.

Anyone who would like to connect with Alice Courtney should call her at 972246-9754. She also welcomes connecting through text and her email is alicecourtney9@gmail.com.

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Drainage Problems? Let's Fix It!

D

rainage is a widely misunderstood landscaping issue. Water collecting or standing in your yard for several hours after a rain is not a drainage problem.

Water standing for two days or more after a rain could definitely be a problem.

There is one very important premise with drainage: Water flows naturally downhill, and uphill by only mechanical means. However, determining where “downhill” is and getting water to flow efficiently in that direction sometimes is not as simple as it may seem. An accurate assessment of the situation is necessary before the problem can be corrected properly.

There are two basic types of drainage dilemmas and each has different solutions.

Problem: Surface Water The most common problem is surface water — there is water running through your yard, or water stands for several days at a time after a strong rain. This would probably indicate improper contouring of the landscape or building site, a pretty common problem for modern builders these days. Correcting the contour can sometimes solve the problem.

Solution No. 1: Berms and Swales.

There are two methods employed to change a site’s contour. One solution is to lower the soil level with a swale, a shallow ditch that catches water and moves that water to another location. The other solution is the complete opposite: raising the soil level by constructing a berm that interrupts the flowing water path and moves it around the raised earth, creating a new path.

Solution No. 2: Surface Drain.

A different approach to the dilemma of surface water is to install a surface drain that feeds into a pipe, which moves the water to a different location. Most often moving water across the surface is preferable to using a pipe and drainage system due to the fact that swales and berms are adaptable; they can be moved, reshaped and are easier to maintain. Piping has a limited volume of water it is able to move and can get clogged over time with debris or roots.

Problem: Subsurface Water A subsurface drainage problem is indicated by ground that stays wet for long, extended periods of time.

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Solution No. 1: French Drains.

Using a French drain system can drain soggy, wet and saturated soil. The standard French drainage system uses porous piping surrounded by gravel to carry water downhill to a suitable location for discharge. A trench is dug through the area where the water is collecting and a perforated plastic pipe is placed in the trench with the perforations at the five and seven o’clock positions. Gravel is then poured around the piping material to backfill the trench.

Excess water fills the spaces around the gravel and then moves into the drainage pipe to be carried away.

Solution No. 2: Submersible Pumps.

If you happen to have an area that seems to consistently collect water with no way to move it downhill, a submersible pump can be placed in a shallow collection well to pump the water uphill to your discharge location. The collection well can be purchased commercially, or you can create your own by digging a hole two or three feet deep and lining it with large aggregate or gravel. Excess water will collect in the well and an automatic switch in the form of a float can turn the pump on as the well fills and off as it empties. There are issues to address with this solution however; The pump needs a power source, so electricity will have to be run to it, and during storms when your heaviest rains occur, you may lose power, disabling your pump when you need it most.

Combined systems: Sometimes a combined system could be the smartest idea depending on your situation. Areas that are naturally wet and need a French drainage system can also benefit from a surface grate that will collect water during rains and move it throughout the French drain before it adds to the subsurface problem.

Drainage does not have to be a difficult dilemma, but a correct assessment of the Anna Living Magazine

problem and possible solutions is needed before you start digging trenches that rival the Mississippi River!

Question: Jimmie, I read your recent article in a magazine at my doctor’s office and am now so ready to start playing in my landscape. You had some really good tips. I have a question about my Red Tip Photinias. I have some that are covered badly with leaf spots and is now starting to affect my Indian Hawthornes as well. How do I control this problem?

Patricia L. from Anna Answer: Hi Patricia, Thanks for your inquiry, Photinias are one of the most infected shrubs with “fungal leaf spot” which is what you’re describing. Most landscapers will no longer warranty Photinias due to that reason.

The disease itself is an airborne bacterial fungus. To be totally honest with you your best bet long term would probably be to replace the Photinias with another type of shrub that is not susceptible to the fungus. However, if you choose to treat it, the best chemical to use on it is Daconil. It can be purchased at a good nursery or anywhere that carries a good supply of Ortho products. You will apply the infected areas by spraying every 10 days until you see all new growth coming out disease free. Use the same treatment with the Hawthornes. There are also some fungicide products that help too.

Keep a close eye on the Photinias after that, it’s very likely to come back.

Hope this helps you out. Until next time, happy gardening!!

- Jimmie Send your landscaping and gardening questions to Jimmie Gibson Jr. at http://www.absolutelybushedlandscaping.com or jimmie@absolutelybushed.com JIMMIE GIBSON is a Prosper resident and the owner of Absolutely Bushed Landscaping Company, an award winning, family and veteran owned and operated business created in 1980 to provide the highest quality custom Outdoor Renovation available to homeowners in the Dallas Ft. Worth area.

Pudge Comes to North Texas

By Joyce Godwin

M

LB Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez was in Melissa recently to help usher in the action for the annual Pudge Rodriguez World Classic baseball tournament, a short way down State Highway 5 from Anna at the Z-Plex Texas Sports Village.

Widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of all time, Rodríguez has received 13 Gold Gloves. He says he believes in making an impact on young people and visits as many camps and tournaments as his schedule will allow.

In Melissa, he answered questions of the players at the banquet. He said when he was young he played in every sport and

recognizes that as important to his development. “I feel sports, not only baseball, are a very important part of a kid’s childhood. Being involved in sports brings discipline, work ethic, passion and character to a kid’s life.

They need to have fun while playing any kind of sport.”

When asked what he missed about baseball since being retired, he answered, “Everything.”

For more information on scheduled tournaments at the Z-Plex visit the website at www.melissasports.com.

Anna Living Magazine

Courtesy photo Riverson Roubinek (left) and his brother Langston Roubinek got a moment for a picture with MLB Hall of Fame member Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez during the famed catcher’s recent visit to the Z-Plex in Melissa to kick off the annual tournament that bears his name.

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B

ack in the day, pets didn’t require much. As long as Bubba and Boopsy were regularly fed and watered, had a decent place to get out of the weather as most were outside pets, were played with and loved on a little, plus had an occasional vet visit if required, everybody was happy. Not so with today’s fur babies. They’ve apparently been watching way too much tv and are now making demands.

What got me to thinking about this disturbing turn of events was when I saw a “camp” for canines during a recent trip to McKinney.

Though I knew what the camp really is, my mind immediately went in a whole different direction. My first mental images were of groups of safari hat-wearing pooches canoeing on a lake, making macramé bracelets, roasting marshmallows around a campfire, playing baseball and other camp-related activities. That train of thought led to questions. How in the world can pups learn to paddle a canoe? Are they going to be allowed to use their teeth to help weave that macramé cord? What if they don’t know how to blow out a blazing marshmallow BEFORE trying to eat it? Can they be care-flighted to a hospital when they set their furry muzzles on fire? I won’t even go into the mass confusion on parents’ day.

I then started thinking about how evolved our pets have become or, most likely, how far pet parents (We are no longer referred to as pet owners.) have gone off the deep end with our four-legged kids. After working at a pet supply store for a few years plus doing some quick research, there are justified reasons for my concern.

Let’s start with food. It seems our pets’ stomachs, especially dogs and cats, have changed considerably. Table scraps, a bag of mystery ingredient food and chew sticks — the kind found in the yard — are no longer acceptable.

The critters, via their “parents,” prefer “all-natural” foods with little or no weird, additional stuff. Real meat topped with things like blueberries, green peas, spinach, carrots and such are required in both the dry, canned and fresh, must be refrigerated varieties. Trust me folks, I’ve actually tried some of that canned food and, sad to say, there were a few that rivaled my mama’s cooking and she was a really good cook.

Of course, there are now supposedly “vegan” dogs and cats which, I’m pretty sure, was the decision made by the pet parents and/or vet who were also vegans.

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On top of the food itself, there is now frozen yogurt for pets, healthy treats and dental stuff like toothpaste, brushes, mouth wash and even breath spray. Add to that a bevy of food supplements for everything from upset tummies to arthritis, bad hair, itchy skin, irritable bowels, anxiety and everything in between. Especially trending are the growing lines of hemp and CBD products for pets’ well-being. It just blows my feeble mind!

Next comes the clothing and accessories. Shirts, pants, pajamas, dresses, tutus, tuxedoes, shoes, hats, bandanas, tiaras, necklaces, sunglasses, goggles, life vests, rain coats and the like are available to suit any season and occasion.

There are folks out there whose fur babies have a more extensive and better wardrobe than they do. I know this for a fact because I dealt with many of them at the pet supply store. Even top-of-the-line human clothing designers like Gucci and Chanel have gotten into the pet clothing market. I won’t even discuss the Swarovski crystal line of pet accessories! And no self-respecting dog or cat will be caught without his or her own travel luggage, weekender bags, purses and other travel-related items.

Digitally-speaking, electronics are starting to take the pet industry by storm. There are treat dispensers and video monitors you can control via your phone. Toss Fido a treat or see and talk to Fido and vice-versa while you’re miles away at work, on vacation or at the bank trying to take out a dog/cat food loan. There’s now a wi-fi-connected litter box that cleans itself and a dog bone with an “emotion-driven system” that can be programmed to move and react based on how your dog is reacting to it. I know there are many more, but I stopped researching because that $500, self-cleaning litter box sent me into a mental meltdown.

What about housing for Bubba and Boopsy?

I’ll put it this way. I’ve lived in less well-engineered structures than what today’s pet housing market offers. Choose from heated, cooled, insulated versions in all kinds of styles. Then there are such things as teepees, gazebos, tents Anna Living Magazine

and similar options for home and/or travel use.

Speaking of our fur kids’ health, regular wellness visits to the vet have become the norm, along with emergency visits, just like humans. And, just like humans, pet insurance is as common as human insurance and just as costly. Even the company I work for offers pet insurance via the insurance provider it uses.

Listen folks. I can’t even afford insurance for myself so how in the heck am I supposed to buy insurance for my three fur kids?

Long story short. Based on what society is “requiring” for pets, it now costs more to care for one or two dogs or cats than a whole herd of human kiddos. But since pets are now being treated like human children, there should be some of the same options for assistance, right?

I think I’ll check into a reduced meal program for our fur girls!

LYNETTE GEORGE is the former editor and some times reporter for the Herald Democrat (Denison-Sherman, TX) for about 20 years. Her sometimes zany outlook on life gives her an enviable sense of humor like no other.

She lives in Denison and her love of animals prevents her from ever passing an animal in need. She may be reached at nettiegeorge79@gmail.com.

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Relationships

I

n my last article we tackled the issue of unity. At Grace Point we always want to make sure that we put handles on what we learn so we know how to apply it in our everyday life and not just end up with more knowledge that doesn’t really change us. With that in mind, I’d like to dive deeper into the book of Romans chapter 12 and see HOW we can walk in unity.

Let’s start here: Romans 12:4-8 (NLT) 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.

And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (emphasis mine) So we all have a part to play and… No one is “better than” and no life is unimportant!

Our faith is marginalized when we get comfortable in our relationships; only spending time with people that are easy to deal with or the ones that make us feel good about ourselves. It’s nice. But being a Christian is NOT just about being nice or even being a “good” person… it’s about changing the world!

If we want to CHANGE the world we have to accept the challenge to change how we SEE the world and our part in it.The good news is that as we follow Jesus, He is constantly working in us. That’s why we are called “new creations” in Corinthians 5:17. Most often though, our response is, “okay God, do something new, 12

but can you please make it look and feel like the old thing I was comfortable with?”

His answer will, of course, be “No.” Romans 12:9-13 (NLT) 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

If you’re like me, it’s easy to get lost in this passage and read it like it’s a collection of wise sayings like the book of Proverbs. It’s not! This passage is a verse-by-verse instruction on how we can truly love one another!

So in reality, you need to read each clause of this passage in relation to the subject that Paul opened this passage with; “Don’t just PRETEND to love others, REALLY love them.”

Hate what is wrong in your relationships and take action to make it right.

Hold tightly to what is good and defend what is best in your relationships. So how do we defend what is best in our relationships?

In Philippians 4:8 the Apostle Paul instructs us “8b ... Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

If we focus on what we disagree about and lose our sense of gratitude for each other, then we lose the benefit of that relationship.

Love each other with GENUINE affection.

Express your heart for one another, don’t make people guess how you feel and the importance they hold in your life.

Take DELIGHT in honoring each other.

Never be lazy in serving one another but Anna Living Magazine

work hard and serve the Lord as you serve one another.

Rejoice in our confident hope. That means no matter what it looks like today, the same God that has done miracles IN your life and THROUGH your life can work miracles in your relationships and restore what was dead back to life!

Be PATIENT in trouble. People you love and care about will let you down BUT KEEP PRAYING FOR THEM ANYWAY! When they are in need stand at the ready to jump in and help.

ALWAYS be EAGER to practice hospitality!

So what does “hospitality” mean? It doesn’t mean that you are a great party host or that you have people over to your house a lot. Hospitality simply put means “You matter to me,” “I value you,” “I care about YOUR needs and what matters to YOU.” So let’s be transformed and think about our relationships differently!!!

So here is a homework assignment if you are willing to accept it: “Hate what is wrong” in your relationships and take action to make it right.

Who can you call or reach out to today and make amends?

“Love each other with genuine affection.”

Who can you have a coffee with, call, or even text to let them know that they matter to you?

Go out of your way to make a new friend!

LAFE ANGELL graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1993. He and wife, Hope, have three children Callie, Caleb, and Noelle and live in Anna. The couple served at Elevate Life Church in McKinney over 20-year period in different capacities moving to Pastor of Servant Leadership in 2014.

In august 2019, The Angells launched a new church and began services at Grace Point Family Church in January 2020.

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Abbruzzese, Isabella

Adams, Brandon

Adams, Erek

Adams, Jaden

Adams, Madilyn

Adams, Ruthi

Adams, Taylor

Adcox, Luke

Agerlid, Kylie

Ahern, Malory

Akanihu, Christian

Alanis, Leslie

Allison, Emmareye

Ansolabehere, Shelby

Aponte, Deja

Aragon, Marcial Victoria

Arellano, Cristian

Arellano, John

Arguellez, Raeleigh

Aronow, Ariel

Artrip, William

Baham, Gabriel

Bardere, Stanley

Barton, Jennifer

Bell, Caitlin

Beltram, Avery

Berumen, Hailey

Bostic, Dylan

Bowman, Jaiden

Box, Clayton

Boykin, Caroline

Braden, Charles

Brewer, Lydia

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Brown, Briana

Brown, Madison

Brown, Sarah

Brownfield, Michael

Burnside, Michael

Calles, Derek

Campbell, Jaiden

Cano, Daniel

Cardenas, Gavin

Carter, Chason

Castillo, Jennifer

Castro, Rocio

Cervantes, Madison

Chacon, Priscila

Chavez, Brenda

Chih, Jonathan

Clement, Malena

Coelho, Mason

Condron, Chloe

Convento, Natallie

Copeland, Madison

Crow, Christian

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Darden, Katelyn

Davis, Ronald

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Long, Shelby

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Avoid these risks or you may fall asleep at the wheel...

Drowsy driving can impair reflexes and lead to disaster. Try these tips to stay alert.

Steps to stay alert while driving Drowsy driving can impair reflexes and lead to disaster causing more than 100,000 crashes each year. Try these tips to stay alert.

The struggle to stay awake while driving may be more common than you realize: 37 percent of people have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation.

Fatigued driving isn’t worth that risk: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 775 reported fatalities involving a drowsy driver in 2018.

Late night drivers, workers who had a long day or those who haven’t slept well should heed warning signs. If you’re yawning, blinking a lot or nodding off — or if you can’t focus — think twice about getting on the road.

Steps to stay alert To help reduce your chances of falling asleep behind the wheel, follow these common sense steps to stay alert and safe on the road: 1. Get enough sleep at night. Drivers who sleep less than six hours each night are at an increased risk of getting into an accident as those who get at least eight hours. It’s even worse for those who sleep five hours or less.

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2. Pull over. If you feel bored, restless, are having a hard time concentrating or have tired eyes, you need a break. Pull over to a rest stop, stretch, take a short nap or switch drivers. Take a break every two hours.

3. Adjust your car’s settings. Stay more alert by keeping the temperature cool, playing loud, high-energy music, turning off the cruise control and placing your seat back in an upright position.

4. Wear sunglasses during the day. Bright sunlight can cause you to squint, making your eyes tired.

5. Watch what you eat and drink. Caffeine and sugary products don’t ensure mental alertness. Instead, opt for water or juice, and high-protein foods rather than heavier fare.

Smart tech combating sleeping behind the wheel. Though it’s no replacement for a good night’s rest, current automotive technology can help pinpoint signs of drowsy driving and help prevent collisions.

Fatigue warning systems track your steering, blink rate duration and other behaviors and will alert you if they suspect sleepiness.

Lane departure warning and prevention systems monitor your vehicle’s position and react if you’re in danger of drifting into another lane.

Forward collision warning systems use sensors to follow vehicles in front of yours and may engage automatic braking to prevent accidents.

Drowsy driving can impair your skills, Anna Living Magazine

leading to potentially disastrous consequences. Learn more about the dangers of distracted driving.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

This article was provided by State Farm and local agent Rod Walnofer.

ROD WALNOFER has been serving Anna for over 22 years helping our community with their insurance needs. He may be contacted at rod@ walnofer.com

PREMIER PAWN TEXAS LLC HANDGUNS, RIFLES, GOLD DEALER At Premier Pawn Texas LLC, we provide our loyal shoppers with a broad assortment of ever-changing inventory. The only thing that remains the same is our low prices.

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P

eople assume that, because I run a place called the Gar Hole, I must be a fisherman, and in fact, I do come from a long line of fishermen. As a young child I sat for hours in my grandad’s 16-foot Lone Star aluminum boat with the 7.5 horse power outboard motor and fished for crappie on Lake Lavon. When I was about twelve, my parents bought a place on Cedar Creek Lake and every weekend we packed up and headed there for the weekend. Dad and his buddies caught dozens of sand bass at a time, and paid me a dime apiece to filet them. But my best fish story is a little different than most.

We came in from water skiing around noon one Saturday, tied the boat to our dock and headed to the house for lunch. I glanced over at the neighbor’s place. They always secured four or five cane poles on the side of their dock, hoping a catfish might bite. Sure enough, one of the poles was bent over and the bobber was out of sight. I yelled up at their house, “Gwen, you got a bite!” Next thing I know, that pole is jerked out of the holder and heading across the cove.

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I immediately took off running down their pier and dove into the lake. Now, what that fish didn’t know was that I was conference swimming champ in the 100 butterfly. In fact, that fish probably didn’t even know someone was chasing him, because about half way across the cove, the cane pole slowed to a stop and I grabbed it. Based on the pull on the line as I swam to shore, I figured there was a pretty big fish on the line, but we were all surprised when I finally reached the beach, stood up and pulled up … a huge, ugly, 5’ long alligator gar.

Across the cove at the Paradise Bay Marina, a group of senior citizens were fishing off the gas dock. They had watched the entire ordeal, and when I held that gar up, they all started clapping and cheering.

After lunch we headed back to the boat for some more skiing. Needing gas, I pulled up to the marina and began filling up. My buddy went inside to get some ice and drinks.

When he got back to the boat he told me those seniors who had been fishing earlier asked him, “Is that the boy that out-swum

Anna Living Magazine

that fish?”

Fishermen know that a gar hole is a bad place to fish. That’s because gar don’t need much oxygen, and can live in the most foul waters. They are very bony and difficult to eat. Most importantly, the fish that people like to eat, like bass, crappie and striper, don’t cohabitate well with gar.

Even so, I’m sticking with this as my best fish story. And if you think that’s why we call our little establishment thwe Gar Hole, well you’d be wrong. Stop by for a visit and I’ll be glad to share that story, as well, but for now, two fish stories are one too many.

UNCLE SPIDER calls North Texas home, but has traveled all over the world, seeking adventures that might make for a good story.

He’s also one of the owner/ operators of the GARHOLE in Westminster. Stop by and see him there, or email him at spider@garhole.net.

We have a guest chef for this issue. Instead of Jamie Roubinek, Christi Webb Mahon is providing her recipes.

Tomato Suprises

Tomato Season is upon us, lovely red juicy tomatoes are coming in and they are delicious. My dear friend Shirley introduced me to Tomato Surprises a few years ago. They’re easy, great for snacking and taste so fresh.

• • • • • •

INGREDIENTS: 11 loaf of French baguette, cut into ½ inch slices 1 container of spreadable Philadelphia cream cheese Chive flavored Tomatoes, sliced into little slices or chunks Seeds removed Garlic Salt

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange slices of baguette on a cookie sheet and toast for six minutes, turning over half-way through. The idea is to get them a little toasty, but not hard or browned.

2. Let cool, spread cream cheese, not too thin, on one side of each piece of bread.

3. Place a few tomato pieces on the cream cheese, sprinkle with garlic salt and enjoy! So simple and so good.

Miditerranean Feta Salsa

In the 90’s I shopped at Whole Foods on Coit Road in Dallas.

They made several delicious dips at that store, my favorite was Neal’s Mediterranean Feta Salsa. When they stopped carrying it, I was determined to duplicate it. If you like Feta Cheese or Kalamata Olives, I think you’ll love it. Several friends describe it as a Greek Salad on bread.

• • • • • • • •

INGREDIENTS: 1- 6 to 8 oz. container crumbled plain feta cheese ¼ to 1/3 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil 2 to 3 green onions, chopped include green 1/3 cup Kalamata Olives, chopped 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh Italian Parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 small clove fresh, garlic finely chopped Optional: ¼ to 1/3 cup chopped tomato, seeds removed

DIRECTIONS: 1. Pour feta cheese in a mixing bowl and break up the big chunks with a fork.

2. Pour the olive oil over feta and stir. Let sit to absorb the oil while chopping the other ingredients. You may like to add a little more olive oil if the spread is too dry.

3. Add all the other ingredients and stir, but don’t overwork it.

4. Spread on fresh sliced baguette and enjoy. It works well on a charcuterie board.

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Anna Living Magazine

Everyday Salsa

My brother grows the most beautiful organic tomatoes. A few years ago he said he was bringing me a few containers full. He brought me 10 gallons of tomatoes.

I made several batches of salsa and any recipe I found with fresh tomatoes. I call this recipe Everyday Salsa because it’s good on many things; try topping your favorite baked fish with it. Adjust to your palate and let us know what you think.

INGREDIENTS: • 12 to 2 ½ cups coarsely chopped ripe tomatoes • ¾ cup chopped onion • ½ fresh lime juice • 1/3 cup coarsely chopped cilantro, stems removed • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder • ¼ teaspoon sugar • 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno, fresh or canned, to taste • ½ teaspoon tamari or soy sauce, or you can salt it instead • ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground cumin • 1 small can chopped green chilies, optional DIRECTIONS: 1. Combine all ingredients and gently stir. Refrigerate 30 minutes to give flavors time to mix. Enjoy with your favorite tortilla chips.

Anna Living Magazine

CHRISTI WEBB MAHON Christi Webb Mahon began helping in the kitchen at an early age. She learned to cook by watching her mom and grandmothers. Their dishes were not fancy but, were always tasty and made with love. Grandmother Pebble told Christi she loved watching people enjoy their food, and Christi says she feels the same. Christi may be reached at christi. easyrecipes@yahoo.com.

I’m JAMIE ROUBINEK and I’m the girl behind this little corner of kitchen inspiration.

I find great pleasure in always learning something new. I was never confident in the kitchen but I love learning new things and trying them out. Doing that experimenting has led to a lot of happiness around the kitchen table at my house. Fortunately, the key to my husband of 13 year’s heart is through his stomach and he is easy to please. With our five kids, on the other hand, that hasn’t always been the case. I love fine-tuning recipes and making adjustments to make everyone smile. I hope that I can help you see how easy it can be to bring that same happiness to your kitchen table! Submissions and suggestions from readers are welcome.

Send to jroubinek@yahoo.com.

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“Movie fans listing their favorite pictures is fairly common."

I

feel safe in making that assumption because I was once a part of an online service called Your Movie DataBase (YMDb). It was run out of Brussels, Belgium, by a guy named Fred Nanson. I think there is a reincarnation of it somewhere online these days, but it’s not like the original. Back then, about 15 to 20 years ago, movie fans from all over the world gathered online to discuss their favorites. And the typed conversation was always lively.

Like many good things, online trolls began to take over the conversation, Mr. Nanson sold the site (I always imagined because of lack fo time to keep it running properly) and the movie fans gave way to the trolls who eventually ruined the great fun.

OK, to answer the question, “If it was run out of Brussels, were the online comments all in English?” Yes, that was an early decision of Fred Nanson, and people from France, Israel, England, Belgium, Canada , USA and other places converged to discuss film.

To join YMDb, a member began by listing his/her 20 favorite pictures. That became the members’ home site. Mr. Nanson compiled those, and the sub-site that included the composite favorites also served as a discussion board for everyone. But that wasn’t my first venture into listing my favorite films. Initially I was prompted by a 1977 television special produced by the American Film Institute (AFI) that announced a membership voting for the 10 “greatest motion pictures ever made.”

From there I began compiling my own favorites, and in 1998, AFI produced a new TV special, “100 Years … 100 Movies.” The success of the ’98 show set the Institute on a path for a dozen more specials spotlighting different film genres, actors and actresses, and even music. All these can be found by searching online for afi. com and following prompts.

Meanwhile, my own list evolved into 783 favorites, a gesture that greatly amused an old film-watching buddy of mine. These days the list changes only slightly, although there are occasional new pictures that deserve spots there.

Unlike the AFI lists, I include international movies among my favorites.

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While publications such as Entertainment Weekly, People, Time, Readers’ Digest, TV Guide, Movietime, Village Voice, Halliwell’s, Aspect Ratio, Cahiers du Cinema and others have offered lists, arguably the most respected is the Sight & Sound poll taken every 10 years since 1952. It was the only poll in which prominent film critic Roger Ebert took part in and is compiled from lists made by movie critics and directors around the world.

Originally only the top 10 movies were listed in the Sight & Sound poll, but since 1982 the magazine has listed separate pollings for the critics and directors. And in 2012, the leading 250 critics’ choices and 100 directors’ choices were included in the released material. The next S&S poll is due in 2022.

So let’s look at some of these favorites. S&S voters chose Vittoria De Sica’s “The Bicycle Thief ” (Italian, 1949) as the best picture in the 1952 poll. But for the next five decades, through 2002, Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” (USA, 1941) led the list. Then in 2012, in somewhat of a surprise, ‘Kane’ was dropped to No. 2 behind Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” (USA, 1958) in the critics’ list while Ozu Yasujiro’s “Tokyo Story” ( Japan, 1953) was named No. 1 by the directors.

On a personal note, my own all-time favorite, “Lawrence of Arabia” (USA/England, 1962) was pushed to No. 81 in the 2012 critic’s poll and landed in a tie for No. 48, according to the directors. I insert this to show how subjective these all-time favorite and/or greatest movie lists can be. For example, the 1952 favorite “The Bicycle Thief ” dropped to No. 33 in the 2012 critics’ poll even though it did remain at No. 10 among the directors’ choices. Two Charlie Chaplin films, “City Lights” (USA, 1930) and “The Gold Rush” (USA, 1925), were in the 1952 top ten, but his pictures haven’t landed a spot among the elite a single time since.

Divergent lists are a common thing for movies. While Time Magazine didn’t number its top 100, such pictures as “Star Wars” (1977), Anna Living Magazine

“Pulp Fiction” (1994) and “E.T.” (1982) are included. Movietime magazine has “True Lies” (1994) among its favorites and “Blade Runner” (1982) is a Village Voice choice.

Keeping in mind that your friendly writer is in the senior age category, I always found it interesting that a close friend chose “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963) as his favorite.

The films of Adam Sandler, Vince Vaughan, Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Lopez are favorites of many moviegoers these days. So naming a favorite like ‘Borat’ or “The Hangover” or any of the ’Toy Story’ incarnations is not out of the realm.

Here is a good rule of thumb for emerging movie fans. Don’t omit anything or any genre. Give all pictures a chance, whether it be “Night of the Living Dead” or “Heredity;” “It Happened One Night” or “Crazy Rich Asians;” “The Best Years of Our Lives” or “Nomadland;” “Broadway Melody of 1938” or “Sound of Metal.”

There is a lot of truth to the adage, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” It surely holds true for the movies.

DON ELDREDGE is the retired editor of the Herald Democrat newspaper (Sherman-Denison, TX) and resides in Sherman. E-mail him at eldredgedon@gmail.com.

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