spring/summer 2016
COMPLIMENTARY
health. fitness. naturally.
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NOW IN NEW BRAUNFELS
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We help you get back to the life you love Welcome to Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels, your podiatric experts close to home. We provide the highest degree of service in an efficient, personal, and professional manner. Our focus is to maximize the health, function, and quality of life of the population we serve. Model, not actual patient.
When you have problems with your foot or ankle, you need to turn to a specialist who listens and responds ...a friendly physician who counsels you on the best ways to maintain and improve your health. Our staff meet all these criteria. Plus, you benefit from a dedicated team of trained professionals who give you the individualized attention you deserve.
Accepting same-day appointments! Call now!
(830) 387-4427 www.footandanklesurgerynb.com • footandanklesurgeryNB@gmail.com 2115 Stephens Place Suite 930 • New Braunfels, Texas 78130
Dr. Brandon James, DPM Dr. Sarah James, DPM
Taking care of women throughout their lifespan Moving Soon
To Our New Location:
705 Generations Drive New Braunfels
Gynecology and Gynecologic Surgery Robotic Surgery • Pelvic Floor Reconstruction • Laparoscopy Hysteroscopy • Endometrial Ablation • Urinary/Fecal Incontinence Infertility • Essure (Non-surgical permanent sterilization)
High Risk and General Obstetrics Well-Woman Care Teresa Irwin
MD, FACOG BOARD CERTIFIED IN FEMALE PELVIC MEDICINE AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Beth Delaney Reid MD, FACOG Barrett Blaue MD, FACOG Kari Fay MD, FACOG Lauren Hermann DO Accepting New Patients 512.396.7575 New Braunfels • 1583 Common Street • Ste. 100 San Marcos • 1305 Wonder World Drive • Ste. 209 w w w.caringcenter for women.com
contents
spring/summer 2016 Two plus five equals one big, happy family Rhonda Ballard’s passion for adoption..............................................26
on the cover model Kim Cobb photo by Beth Bizer
contents
23
38
20 30
14
Health
Nutrition
Life
Healthy You! Ozone Therapy............................................16
The Skinny on Clean Eating A simple, no-nonsense approach to eating healthy........................................22
Time and Distance A poem by Tess Fenton............................12
Your Best Energy Breaking the female code.......................18
Fitness Get in the Swing! Dance your way into great shape.........20
Healthy Recipe Apple, Brie and Bacon Omelet...............24
When Your Clothes Hurt! According to Marty....................................14 Tricks of the Trade Love for Chickens!......................................38
Style The Death of Cosmetic Surgery?..........30
Moxie Message
Moxie Makeover!........................................32
The Family Table.........................................42
A Makeover Continues A mini-makeover with big results!.......34 Chic Shots!....................................................36
from the editor
No matter our age, we are still growing! The older I get, the clearer my path in life becomes to me.
A
t age 58, I am able to look back on my life and see the affect experiences (good and bad) have had on where I am today. I can see that my work choices have led me to where I am today – publishing this magazine! And this magazine helps me grow more and more each day. While the past two years have been a bit of a health challenge, the experience has led me to a new and exciting chapter in my life. Watch for this story in the making! In the meantime, enjoy the stories in this issue of Moxie! We have lots of inspiring words from women reflecting on their lives, leading to an understanding of where they are today and where they are headed tomorrow. Be sure and read Tess Fenton’s thoughtful poem, “Time and Distance” on page12. And Marty Newton’s hilarious take on diets and dating on page 14.
In our “Your Best Energy” column written by Jill Sharp and Margaret Polser, we are encouraged to know and understand how our past shapes our future. Find it on page 18. It’s a great read you don’t want to miss! Our Moxie! Woman story, by Kristy Hurst, takes us all the way to Gainesville,Georgia to meet Rhonda Ballard. Rhonda’s girlhood passion for adoption has led her to grow a beautiful family. She is helping change the course of five young lives so they can each grow to their full potential. (Story begins on page 26) Life is ever-changing! Take the time to reflect. Adjust if you need to. Never stop growing into the woman you were designed to be! Be enthusiastic. Be inspired. Be MOXIE!
moxie!
Writers: Tess Fenton, Marty Newton, Leslie Tatum, Jill Sharp, Margaret Polser, Michelle Simmonds, Kimberly Olsen, Angela Hein, Dave Pavlock, Kristy Hurst, Marc Franklin, MD, Megg Chalupa, Megan Hughes, DVM
Editor in Chief: Georgia Williams
Photographers: Beth Bizer, Pauline Stevens
Design Director: Pete Williams
Copy Editor: Kelly Williams Advertising: Caryn Benson caryn@moxiemagazine.com 512.627.1020
Moxie Magazine P.O. Box 310191 New Braunfels, TX 78131-0191 georgia@moxiemagazine.com ads@moxiemagazine.com moxiemagazine.com
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time and distance By Tess Fenton Time and distance Are they healers or destroyers? Years and miles Are they enemies or friends? Time can be my great healer It forever repairs my yesterday with the new dawn Time can be my destroyer It escapes me and I cannot reclaim it Distance can be my great healer It lends perspective to all I leave behind Distance can be my destroyer It detaches me from my realities The years are my friend They mend my soul and guide my journey The years are my enemy They close off my heart and write stories on my face The miles are my friend They unfold the world before me The miles are my enemy They are visible in my eyes The time and years that once held such promise Are now filled with defeat and disappointment The time and years that remain forever before me Will be filled with grace and peace The miles and distance that stood before me as adventures Now show the mistakes of a lifetime The miles and distance that await my arrival Will be filled with discovery and acceptance I cannot pause the time and years I cannot surrender the miles and distance I can greet them all as a newly found friend I can respect the gifts they have granted
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MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016 13
When Your Clothes Hurt (Other titles considered were: Too Fat To Leave The House and Eat Like No one is Watching.)
By Marty Newton
me assure you—it is ski pants. Thank goodness “Stevie Nicks” inspired fashion has come back around. I have never owned more capes and I have practically conducted kimonos in my life. I met a girlfriend out for a an experiment in eating and drink the other night and she spun around on her barstool and greeted me by saying, “What drinking everything I want for in the world are you wearing? You look like a the last year. It is bad and it really character in ‘Game of Thrones.’” should be even worse. Then, the very worst thing happened; I was making a very important adjustment can trace it all back to the relationship under my dress to my undergarments. Okay, before the last relationship. There are at I was rescuing my underwear from where they least two kinds of breakups. There is the, seem to reside, lately. In that very moment, “How will I live without him? I can’t eat or someone (think Wizard of Oz magnitude) in sleep,” breakup! You can generally tell who my professional world emerged on the scene has taken the split harder by who gets hotter in the ladies bathroom and she saw my butt, as a result. The person dropping the most the one I have been hiding under all those weight is usually the person most devastated. capes. In the last 10 years she could have seen That person has much to do, as they have my, “I am training for my fourth MS-150 bike to get crazy skinny, register for all of those ride” butt. Or my “I am playing for the chamWarrior Dashes, and join EVERY dating site. pionship in my tennis league” butt. Or my “I In a lot of ways, this is the preferred breakup am running 30 miles a week” butt. No! She because it fuels so much personal growth and saw my “I wanted to scream –this is not my a hefty dating spurt. I have certainly had this real butt!” butt. kind of breakup but invariably, I trick another In a few days, I will be in L.A for my vegan unsuspecting suitor into thinking I will stay friend’s wedding, weighing 15 pounds over
By no accident, I am fat.
I According to
ISTOCKPHOTO/ AREASUR
Marty
14 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016
crazy skinny. Sometime into the bliss of a new relationship (usually the middle), I always become comfortable enough to finish an enormous plate of enchiladas while showcasing my “tortilla as an eating utensil” skills. This is where I was last year when I had the other kind of breakup. The other kind of break up is the, “Here I am in the Whataburger Drive Thru,” breakup. If your appetite is intact 45 minutes after the breakup, you are probably going to be just fine. I spent last summer swimming in guacamole and margaritas. In the fall, I spent a few weeks eating my way through part of Europe, and by car, so there was very little walking except in and out of the wineries . Last month, I went skiing and I ate a mound of truffle fries and drank 2 goblets of cabernet for every run I skied. If there is a truth serum in clothing, let
what I like to weigh, 10 pounds over what my mother likes for me to weigh and five pounds over all out panic. I guess another title could have been, “Fat in LA!” Here is what I can tell you; this past year was one of the best years of my life. There was something freeing about being able to do whatever I wanted without worrying about a few extra pounds. It is now time to reign it back in by making at least a modicum of healthy choices and increasing my time with a racquet in my hand and my butt on my bicycle seat. May this be the fattest summer of your life—in whatever way is most meaningful to you! Marty is a freelance writer and lives in New Braunfels with a cat.
Family Medicine in Gruene The mission at Lonestar Medical is to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. We strive to utilize the latest technology, combined with evidence based medicine, to treat the whole person. We focus on wellness, disease prevention, comprehensive allergy testing and treatment, while also treating acute and chronic conditions. Lonestar Medical’s goal is to create a relationship with our patients for a lifetime. We encourage family healthcare and invite you to visit our practice. You will find our rural rustic setting, mixed with country medicine charm and friendly staff, will make you feel right at home. Additional services offered: Allergy testing , Minor Office Procedures, FAA physicals, DOT physicals, Nutritional Evaluations
Jay Gruhlkey, MD, FAAFP Sue F. Brandt, FNP
952 Gruene Rd. Ste. 150
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(830) 625 4313 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016 15
HEALTHYyou!
Ozone Therapy By Leslie Tatum, RMT, ACN ISTOCKPHOTO/ MICHAELJUNG
Have you or someone you’ve known ever suffered from one or several acute and/or chronic illnesses? Are you tired of taking multiple medications to treat numerous symptoms? Well, ozone therapy may be the best treatment for you!
O
zone therapy is the use of medical grade ozone, a highly reactive form of pure oxygen, to create a curative response in the body. The body has the potential to renew and regenerate itself, and when it becomes sick it is because this potential has been blocked. The reactive properties of ozone stimulate the body to remove many of these impediments, thus allowing the body to do what it does best – heal itself. Ozone has been known to treat and/or cure many abnormalities within the body, such as inactivating viruses, bacteria, yeast, fungi, parasites, and protozoa. Ozone stimulates the immune system, speeds healing, cleans arteries and veins, improves circulation, oxidizes toxins in order to facilitate their excretion, normalizes hormone and enzyme production, reduces inflammation, reduces pain, calms nerves, improves brain function and memory, scavenges free radicals, and much more. In 1856, ozone was first used in a hospital setting to disinfect operating rooms and surgical instruments. Shortly after that, many European countries were using ozone to disinfect drinking water as a way to prevent bacteria and viruses. By the end of the 19th century, ozone was being used to treat tuberculosis and open wounds. Today, ozone is used by many practitioners throughout the world as a way to treat and cure an abundance of illnesses and abnormalities throughout the body.
16 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016
There are various methods used to introduce ozone into the body, such as sinus, ear, vaginal, and rectal insufflation, through IV therapy, water, massage oil, injection, bagging, specialized steam cabinets, and autohaemotherapy which is a procedure where blood is withdrawn from the body, mixed with ozone gas, and then injected back into the body through a vein or muscle by an IV. One of the newest techniques for delivering ozone is through the HOCATT Ozone Steam Sauna. The HOCATT™ is a powerful therapeutic tool which combines the beneficial oxygenation and detoxification effects of both ozone, CO2 and steam sauna, thereby restoring the body’s natural balance to heal itself, and remove toxins, inflammation, viruses, infec-
One of the newest techniques for delivering ozone is through the HOCATT Ozone Steam Sauna tions, and many illnesses. You sit comfortably in the Ozone resistant steam cabinet with your head protruding out the top of the cabinet. Adjustable volumes of steam, CO2 and an ozone/oxygen mixture is circulated inside the sealed off unit. The pores open and capillaries dilate due to the moist heat &CO2 gas. Ozone dissolves in the superficial water film on the skin and reacts with lipids in the skin to generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and an array of Lipid Oxidation Products (LOP) which enter through the dermis, derma and capillary wall penetrating the lymphatic fluid, blood and fat cells. Toxins in the lymph, fat & blood are oxidized and the body is cleansed of infections, inflammation, viruses, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, parasites, and many other illnesses.
For more information, contact Living Health Holistic Health Care at (830) 632-5906, or visit www.livinghealthnb.com.
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I will be an 88 year old woman one day, too. This was one of the thoughts that went through my head as I studied my dear grandmother during our recent family holiday.
BREAKING THE FEMALE CODE YOUR BEST ENERGY BY JILL SHARP AND MARGARET POLSER
ISTOCKPHOTO/ MARGARETW
I
t was a bittersweet reflection, in part, because of the reality of where we both are in this short journey of life. And although there is much I could share about that, what I was most struck by was the mark, the legacy, this incredibly strong and fiercely caring woman has left on us and the world around her. Knowing the hardships of her childhood, the raising of four children, one of whom was deaf, all the while working in the local school’s cafeteria to help provide for her family, is just the beginning. She somehow, remarkably, survived the death of her youngest daughter at the age of 19 and later lost her husband and father almost simultaneously. And in her most recent chapter, she fights a battle with Father Time that she knows she will not win but is refusing to give in to. Though life has knocked her to her knees at times, she has repeatedly gotten up with a determination and devotion to stand strong, take care of her family, and truly live her life. As I looked around the room I was profoundly grateful for the positive impact she has had on her family‌ the values she has instilled, the legacy she has passed on, the people we have become because of her. Which brought me to my next, more sobering, thought as I admired her from across the room: I wondered if my Nanny (our name for her) really knew how far-reaching her value actually was. Yes, we have all expressed it to her in some
way before, but did she really get it? Believe it? For many women of my grandmother’s generation and generations before and after hers, a woman has been expected to put her head down and just get it done. No high-five, no celebration or acknowledgement of the mountain that has just been moved… just a box checked on the to-do list. Worse yet, this has often come with a heaping dose of guilt or self-criticism for what has not been done, where she may have fallen short, and how self-indulgent it would be to see it any other way. As women today, we know this is still a strong aspect of the female code. And where this may serve us and those around us in some positive way, it can also come at a price. Research has repeatedly shown the impact this has on happiness, fulfillment, confidence, and self-esteem. As Claire Shipman and Katty Kay wrote in their book “The Confidence Code,” this can keep women from advancing their careers, asking for well-deserved raises, and taking small risks that might have big returns. It sets women up for a perfectionism mindset, which frankly is unachievable and feeds a sense of failure and lack of self-worth. This was yet another gut check for me in that moment. Despite my own progress and the progress I witness working with other women to help them know and embrace their value, it is easy to fall prey to the female “programming” that begins at an early
age. One of the biggest barriers women face is allowing the past and the expectations of others define them. Author of The Woman Code, Sophia Nelson, motivational speaker, lawyer, and former White House reporter said: “If you were given negative tapes (a harsh internal critic), you have to make peace with that,” she said. “And you have to decide ‘I’m not going to be defined by that. I’m going to be the
I’m going to be the definer of me. definer of me.’ Everything you need to win at life is inside of you. It’s already there. Greatness is there, so it doesn’t matter how you start. It matters how you finish.” So …how will you define you? How will you “finish?” And perhaps more importantly, how will you honor who you are becoming in the chase? We all have an opportunity to answer for ourselves: What will be my legacy? What in my life do I fight fiercely for? What are the values I will instill, and exactly what is the value I bring to the world
around me? How can I leverage that value day-to-day so that I can be more intentional about making a positive difference? How can I celebrate my many daily contributions with a compassionate, caring, and humble inner voice? Perhaps this is an example of the hardheadedness that has been passed on to me (a value I embrace and leverage daily, by the way), but guilt, self-criticism, and perfectionism will not be the part of the legacy I pass on. The women in my life have often reminded me to leave “it” better than it was when I found it, and that rule can certainly be applied here. In order to strengthen the change I want to see for myself and my daughters, we have some celebrating, risk-taking, and more uplifting of one another to do. And if I am lucky enough to be 88 years old one day like my grandmother, one of my own granddaughters will be honoring me for helping them know their value, know they matter, and that the world is a better place because they are in it. Jill Sharp is a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer with over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. She is also an experienced corporate trainer and performance coach, specializing in the development and delivery of personal and professional performance improvement programs. (jillmsharp@aol.com) Margaret Polser has a master’s degree in education and is a certified personal trainer. She is also a trained and certified Wellness and Performance Coach, specializing in physical fitness, nutrition, and stress management. (mpolser@mpolserwellness.com) MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016 19
e h t n i t Ge
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his spring, I am starting my ninth year of teaching a one-hour Swing Dance class each week at Gruene Hall. In those years, I have seen people of all ages come and dance, from little children to men and women in their 70’s and 80’s. My parents, Lew and Pat Simmonds, have been loving my class for years, and they are in their early 70’s. What I notice is how much fun people are having while getting a great cardio workout! They don’t even realize they are exercising! Swing dancing strengthens muscles, improves eye-hand coordination and improves balance and flexibility. You might even lose a few pounds having all that fun! Listening to music you enjoy causes your brain to release dopamine, a “feel-good” neurotransmitter. When you combine this with dance, you can improve the quality of your life in numerous ways: Reduce stress and anxiety Lift your mood Boost your health Enjoy better sleep
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Dancing has a huge beneficial effect on our brains. A New England Journal of Medicine study of 11 physical activities found that dancing was the only one that lowered dementia risk by a whopping 76 percent. What are you waiting for? Grab a partner and head to the nearest dance hall and get your swing on! It’s the most fun you’ll ever have getting in shape! Join Michelle at Gruene Hall during the summer months on Tuesday evenings at 6:00. The hour-long class is followed by live music with Two Tons of Steel. It’s a great way to practice your moves!
Justin Barber, DDS & William T. Lee, Jr., DDS 1280 E. Common Street, New Braunfels, Tx 78130
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PHOTO BY PAULINE STEVENS MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016 21
Start your Day with a Green ➊ Smoothie – This is a quick, convenient alternative to the traditional break-
fast and an easy way to load up on healthy nutrients. Use an unsweetened base like water or almond milk, then add frozen fruits to sweeten. Finally, top off with dark leafy green vegetables like spinach or kale. I recommend boosting your smoothie with a plant-based protein and digestion supplement, which not only adds more nutritional benefits, but will also help you feel more satisfied. Plan Your Week & Meal Prep Take a couple hours on Sunday evening to chop your vegetables for salads or stir-fries, cook up a giant pot of quinoa that can be used for multiple meals, or just portion out ingredients to toss into the crock-pot for healthy meals. A little planning will go a long way to keep you on track. You can even portion out your smoothies and freeze them for the week ahead. Stock up on Natural Snacks If snack time catches you off guard, it’s time to stock up with healthy snacks. Fortunately, fruits like bananas, By Kimberly Olson oranges and apples come pre-packaged Next, you want to load up on fresh by nature, simply rinse or peel and snack. fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fill Nuts and seeds are also a great option your refrigerator and your stomach that will provide healthy protein and fats with these incredibly nutritious foods. for quick energy. With clean eating, Hollywood has Because fresh fruits and vegetables contain nutrients like fiber, but very few finally discovered what nutrition experts calories, you can splurge on these deli- have been preaching for a long time. By cious treats all day long. Round out your changing your food, you will change your plate with a healthy protein like wild- life too! caught fish or organic chicken breast. Clean Green PB&J Smoothie Finally, because we are busy women By Angela Hein and don’t have hours to prepare food from scratch, we need to buy some 1 Cup unsweetened almond milk processed or prepared foods. In this ½ Banana, frozen and peeled case, you’ll want to opt for minimally ½ Cup frozen mixed berries processed foods, which are foods that 1 tbsp. Almond or peanut butter contain fewer than 10 ingredients and 1 tbsp. Organic Digest powder all of the ingredients are real foods 1 tbsp. Organic Protein powder that you recognize and can pronounce. 2 Handfuls Fresh Spinach However, try to avoid products that Simply combine ingredients in contain added sweeteners as even natuthe blender and blend to desired ral sweeteners like sugar and agave can consistency. Enjoy! wreak havoc on your waistline. Instead, purchase unsweetened products and Kimberly Olson holds PhDs in natural health add a little sugar or honey on your own. and holistic nutrition and is also a certified My clients are often worried that personal trainer. She is an author and TV wellthey are too busy to “eat clean,” but ness expert with a nutritional consulting practice based in Austin. (www.fitkim.com) that’s simply not the case. Clean Angela Hein is a smoothie mixologist and eating can be quick and efficient, and co-founder of The Natural Citizen, an Austinhere are three tips to make clean based wellness company that develops organic, eating easy even when you’re on gluten-free smoothie boosters available online at www.thenaturalcitizen.com. the go:
➋
The Skinny on Clean Eating You’ve heard your favorite celebrities and nutritionists talking about “clean eating,” and may have brushed it off as just another Hollywood weight loss trend. However, this time they might be onto something real.
T
he truth is, clean eating isn’t a diet. In fact, it’s the anti-diet. The thought behind clean eating is that when you consume real, “clean” foods as opposed to processed foods, your body can digest, process and eliminate them better. The results are evident from increased energy levels to clearer skin and everything in between. As a nutritional consultant, I believe that the clean eating lifestyle is here to stay because it’s not about starvation, cutting carbs or counting calories, but making smart, healthy choices that will help you feel better both inside and out. Clean eating is an incredibly simple concept. The first step is to toss out all highly processed foods, which are foods that have been significantly modified from their original form or contain artificial ingredients. The easiest way to identify a highly processed food is by reading the list of ingredients. If the list is super long and contains ingredients that are hard to pronounce, then avoid it. 22 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016
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RECIPE PROVIDED BY PAVLOCK’S CAFE, NEW BRAUNFELS
PHOTO BY PAULINE STEVENS
Apple, Brie and Bacon Omelet INGREDIENTS 1 tsp. 0live oil ¼ cup Granny Smith apples, julienned ¼ cup smoked bacon, cooked, chopped Salt and pepper to taste 2 brown eggs, beaten 1 Tbsp. milk 3 pieces Brie cheese, sliced thin 1 Tbsp. pico de gallo
A
dd eggs and milk to a mixing bowl and whip with a fork until incorporated. Heat a non-stick omelet or sauté pan on medium heat. Add the olive oil to the pan and heat, about 30 seconds. Add the chopped bacon, julienned apples and salt and pepper to the pan. Sautee until bacon is cooked and apples are crisp tender. Add beaten eggs. Using a rubber spatula, push the egg mixture around the pan to help the cooking process. Be sure to scrape the sides of the pan so the eggs don’t overcook. Once the eggs firm up but still have liquid in them, flip the pan to turn the omelet to the other side. Add the sliced brie to the omelet and continue to cook until liquid is gone. On a plate, gently tilt the pan so that the omelet slides out of the pan and fold it over itself. Top with pico de gallo and serve hot.
MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016 25
In 1980, at the age of 14, Rhonda Ballard read a magazine article, and that was all it took to change the trajectory of her life.
ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED
Two Plus Five
EQUALS ONE BIG, HAPPY FAMILY BY KRISTY HURST
T
he story was about China’s one-child policy – a population-control policy in a culture that favored boys, leading to tens of thousands of baby girls abandoned between the late 1970s and 2015. Today, at nearly 50, Rhonda remembers holding that magazine, staring at a picture of four women holding baby girls, and making up her mind then and there to adopt a baby girl from China when she grew up. When she met her future husband – Scott, a Marine – she told him about this dream she had carried with her since adolescence. Eight years after their wedding in 1992, they traveled to Hong Kong with a group of more than 30 other adoptive parents to meet their first child. Rhonda recalls riding a bus into the People’s Republic of China, walking into the hotel, hearing babies crying, then spotting their daughter in the crowd of nannies holding babies. Two weeks later, they brought Lindsay home to Virginia. She was 12 months old. Just two months after Lindsay’s arrival, Rhonda chanced to meet a woman who shared a story of adopting a little boy from Korea. Ready to grow their family, within a year the Ballards had adopted their own little boy from Korea, a five-month-old newborn they named Eric. They were now a happy family of four, following Scott’s career in the Marines from Virginia to Louisiana to Georgia.
It was Scott who first said he wanted another daughter. Soon after, Rhonda traveled to China to meet 15-monthold Kelli Ann for the first time on May 9, 2004, which happened to be Mother’s Day. Scott left for a 7-month-deployment in Iraq later that summer, and once he was safely back home, Rhonda told him that now that Lindsay had a sister from China, Eric needed a brother from his culture. While working through the process of adopting their next child from Korea, the family was living in Louisiana, where hurricanes were wreaking havoc on their communities and lives. “We had to evacuate three kids, plus dogs and cats, and we ended up having bigger ones – and then Katrina hit,” she says. “We evacuated up to Georgia, and we stayed there two or three weeks. It was terrible to have to evacuate so many times, and I knew I couldn’t live like that with four kids. So we found a home here in my hometown of Gainesville, MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016 27
Georgia, and we closed on it in January 2006. Brandon arrived from Korea on May 9 – the same ‘gotcha day’ as Kelli Ann.” Brandon was seven months old, and it was their fourth adoption in six years. “After that we were pretty settled, but in the back of my mind I kept thinking I really wanted to adopt an older child with special needs,” she says. “So I bugged Scott for about four years, and he kept saying, ‘I have to retire sometime.’ But it kept staying on my mind.” Through the moves, Rhonda had kept a special box labeled “future daughter,” where she stored little things for the child she dreamed would complete her family. On one trip to China, she had bought five small stuffed animals, and had given one to each of her children. The fifth was waiting inside that box for a child that had yet to come home. “I didn’t know yet who she was, but I was hoping for her,” she says. Then it hit Rhonda in church one day in 2010. “Wow, this is what life is really all about,” she remembers. “We have room, we have great insurance through the military. We can do this. So I talked 28 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016
to Scott, and he said OK.” With her first four adoptions, Rhonda had simply requested an age range and waited to be matched. This time, she filled out a medical needs checklist for different medical conditions they would be willing to accept.
I always tell my kids, ‘Your birth parents would be so proud of you and so happy if they could see you now...’ And rather than simply waiting, she went online to look at profiles of special needs Chinese children in need of families. “I ended up torturing myself for about three months,” she remembers.
“You see kids with deformities, burns – all kinds of awful problems. You think, ‘They are never going to be adopted.’ It’s heartbreaking. But I was drawn to look. Those kids never look happy, but one little girl was smiling away, with her striped socks on and a shaved head. Her label was spina bifida and scoliosis. That’s a scary label, whether you have one or four other kids.” A few weeks later, she happened to see that child’s name assigned to an agency in Oregon. And when she saw her smiling face again, Rhonda picked up the phone and learned that everyone else had been too afraid to adopt her. Rhonda and Scott had the file transferred to their own agency, took the information to their pediatrician, and talked it through. “We said, ‘That’s our daughter,’” Rhonda says. Within a year, Rhonda was on her way back to China to meet the three-year-old they would name Danielle. She was amazed to find a healthy, active little girl. Her spina bidifa was low on her spinal cord and did not affect her ability to walk or run, and the base of her spine was surgically repaired by a specialist
back in the United States. Her spine is being straightened with expandable rods that are adjusted to grow with her. “They label children as special needs, but once you have the child, that’s your child, so you go to doctor and do what needs to be done,” Rhonda says. “It makes me sad that people look at that label and say, ‘No way.’” Just like that early picture, Danielle has kept right on smiling. An intelligent and funny child, her big personality keeps her family laughing. “She came into our family at three years old like she was born with us,” Rhonda says. “She has no special needs. She will live a totally normal life, and she is loved everywhere she goes.” Rhonda sometimes thinks about what Danielle’s life in China would have been like if she had stayed. Without medical treatment, she likely would have become wheelchair-bound. At 16, she might have been forced out of the orphanage and on her own for the rest of her life, living with the stigma of being abandoned. While none of her five children know why their birth parents made the
choice they did, they know a lot about the cultures they came from. Every year, the family celebrates each child’s birthday and “gotcha day.” There’s a special dinner and cake, and often, they look through baby albums that record both the child’s life in the orphanages and their earliest days as a treasured part of a family. “I don’t ever want them to forget where they came from, and to know that they do have a birth family in another country,” she says. “Their lives began there, and they had people who loved and cared for them, and wanted something better for them. Each child has two English names and the Chinese or Korean names that were theirs for their first few months. “I always tell my kids, ‘Your birth parents would be so proud of you and so happy if they could see you now, playing piano, being in the band, playing soccer, doing well in school, having the life they prayed for for you when they had to leave you,’” Rhonda says. All five adoptions required time, lots of paperwork, and money that covered necessary services and expenses. But
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unlike some international adoption horror stories involving bribes and corruption, Rhonda never encountered a single instance of anything inappropriate or uncomfortable. Today, Lindsay is 16, Eric is 14, Kelli Ann is 13, Brandon is 10, and Danielle is seven. “We didn’t set out to adopt five kids,” Rhonda laughs. “They’re just happy, regular kids. It’s amazing to think that God allowed this to happen: To match me and my husband with the most wonderful group of kids in the world.” Rhonda is convinced that being their Mom was God’s plan for her life. “Scott just happened to marry me,” she laughs. But both she and Scott have become advocates for international adoption, and have influenced many others to embrace it and build their own families. “Once your eyes are opened, it’s hard to turn away,” Rhonda says. “You’re talking about a person’s life here. It’s so worth it.”
Kristy Hurst is a freelance writer. She lives in New Braunfels with her husband and two children.
The Coolsculpting procedure is the world’s #1 non-invasive fat reduction procedure CoolSculpting is an FDA-cleared treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate fat without surgery or downtime.
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While the title may be dramatic, the possibility is not too far off. The fastest growing trend in cosmetic skin and body rejuvenation is a move towards minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures and away from cosmetic surgical procedures.
The Death of Cosmetic Surgery? By Marc Franklin, M.D. The ENT Center of New Braunfels and CosMedical Esthetics
A
ccording to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2014, there were 1,677,478 cosmetic surgeries, such as face lifts, performed versus 13,945,388 minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Some minimally invasive examples include CoolSculptTM and UltherapyTM. Additionally, there has been a 154% increase in minimally invasive procedures since 2000 versus a 12% decline in surgical procedures over the same time period. These statistics show an obvious trend away from surgical procedures towards non-invasive alternatives. Much of the reason for this trend can be attributed to advancements in technology, safety, efficacy and comfort of the devices. Ultherapy and CoolSculpting are two of the latest and most popular technologies that meet esthetic/cosmetic needs in a minimally invasive, safe and effective way. “Less is more” when it comes to skin tightening/rejuvenation, fat reduction, and wrinkle control: less pain, less down time, less expensive, less risk of complications. These effective therapies are offered in a pleasant and relaxing environment with direct physician supervision. CoolSculpting is a novel approach to safe yet effective fat reduction without the risks inherent to traditional liposuction. It is an FDA approved device which actually freezes the fat cells at a temperature that crystallizes the fat molecules, allowing the body to remove them naturally, while preserving the surrounding skin, muscle and nervous tissues. The procedure takes one hour and has absolutely no down time. Clients return to work or normal activities immediately afterwards. The beauty of the procedure is at least a 22% reduction in the fat volume of the area treated with no anesthesia, incisions, scarring or possible dimpling seen with liposuction. (See results on next page) The only FDA approved medical device for skin tightening and lifting is Ultherapy. It is indicated for the face, neck, under the chin and décolletage but can be used off-label almost anywhere on the body to tighten, lift and reduce wrinkles. It employs focused ultrasound waves to target the deep foundational layers to tighten and lift—the same layers targeted during a surgical face lift. The added benefit of ultrasound therapy is that it allows the practitioners to visualize the treatment area, ensuring the energy is reaching the optimal level for the best results. Again, the benefits include: no down time, no incisions, and no risk of complications, scarring or over-correction (we have all seen the over-stretched face lift patient). It is an exciting time for people who desire to “age gracefully” as the saying goes. With the advent of better and safer devices to treat unwanted areas of fatty tissue, tighten and lift skin and reduce wrinkles, patients are experiencing excellent results without the hassle, pain and potential complications of surgical procedures. Dr. Marc Franklin, of CosMedical Esthetics, offers cutting-edge technological innovations including CoolSculpt and Ultherapy. Call 830.626.6262 or visit www.cosmedicalesthetics.com
30 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016
“When you’re ready to buy or sell...”
Janie Macredie R E A LT O R ®
jmacredie@cbharper.com (830) 608-5418 (830) 708-5926 Fax: (830) 608-2718
JanieMacredie.com
Haoran Yu, M.D. Managing Diabetes locally for 18 years
BEFORE
If you have uncontrolled diabetes, Dr. Yu and his team can help, with extensive medical knowledge and clinical experience and advanced technology,
43 Yu Drive • New Braunfels
830-608-9300
Join us for this gathering of women who are in treatment for cancer Come and receive encouragement, inspiration, care and lots of love! Friends, family and caregivers are invited to join you. Find us on Facebook and get ready to have fun!
AFTER
esprit health hope life NEW BRAUNFELS
MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016 31
moxie
makeover
Dear Moxie...My name is Jason Ayers, and I’m writing to nominate my wife, Michele Ayers, for a Moxie! Makeover. My wife is turning 44 years old this June. I am an Army Reservist, and I was deployed from January through November of 2014. My wife did a fantastic job of managing our household, including our 8 year-old son and 5 year-old daughter. Your makeover would be a great opportunity to show my wife how much our family appreciates the sacrifices she made that year!
Dear Jason, we would be more than happy to treat Michele to the pampering she deserves! Thank you for your thoughtful request! - Moxie!
Makeover At CosMedical Esthetics, Dr. Marc Franklin treats Maria Lopez, LVN, at Hill Country Vein & Michele to Botox and VIPeel to improve her skin Aesthetics makes Michele’s spider veins tone, texture, and to soften lines and wrinkles. disappear with Sclerotherapy treatment.
At William Edge Salon, imEdge Designer, Danielle Hidalgo brightens Michele’s naturally blonde hair with brighter blonde highlights and low lights in honey blonde. 32 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016
Taking just a few inches off of her length, Natasha Peterson gives Michele a long bob cut with a few face framing layers to add movement. The final touch...beachy waves for a fun, easy look for Spring.
At All About Me! Boutique, AnnetteMarie helps Michele pick out the perfect Spring outfit and accessories!
Makeup Artist, Alicia Canon, uses shades of brown to bring out Michele’s intense blue eyes. Tinted moisturizer gives her skin a beautiful glow. Soft pink on the cheeks and natural lip color finish the look!
PHOTO BY PAULINE STEVENS
A Mini Makeover with Big Results! Remember Carol, our Winter/Spring 2016 makeover model? During the makeover process, she expressed concern about the accumulation of fat under her chin. Heredity, age and gravity were taking their toll. Dr. Mark Kneuper of Hill Country Vein and Aesthetics offered to treat Carol to two procedures that would remove the fat, reduce wrinkling, and improve her profile.
Before Treatment
Her treatment began with CoolSculpting. The CoolSculpting procedure delivers controlled cooling, gently and effectively, to the targeted fat cells underneath the skin while leaving the skin itself unaffected. The treated fat cells are crystallized (frozen), then die. Over time, your body naturally processes the fat and eliminates these dead cells, leaving a more sculpted area. This non-invasive proce-
After CoolSculpting®
After CoolSculpting and Infini®
dure requires no needles, no incisions, no provides quick and easy recovery and is anesthesia, and no downtime. safe for all skin types. The loss of collagen and elastin are the main causes of wrinkles and aging skin. “What a lucky girl I am! The results of Infini (RF micro needling) was used to my procedures are dramatic. Friends tighten the skin and reduce wrinkling and family members (even the men!) on Carol’s neck and face. Infini delivers have commented on how great I’m precise 3-dimensional thermal energy looking! I was in the right place at to the skin which encourages collagen the right time, and I had the best time! and elastin stimulation and growth. It Thank you Moxie!”
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Chic Shots!
Kim Cobb Distric Manager
Banana Republic Factory Store Division
“Trust your instincts; wear what you love and what makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Make it your own and have fun with it!” With a career in retail for 23
years (seven at Express and sixteen at Banana Republic) we couldn’t resist finding out how this busy wife, mom of two, and manager of 11 Banana Republic Factory Stores in Texas keeps it all together.
And does it while looking so darn cute all the time!
We needed details so we asked Kim about her personal style choices and prioities. Read on... PHOTO BY PAULINE STEVENS
36 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016
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We’ve got the scoop here!
How would you define your style? I don’t really have a single style. It’s more of a mix. On Mondays I’m casual and relaxed since I’m working from home and picking kids up from school. Tuesday through Friday my style might be more chic and tailored, or avant garde to whimsical. On weekends my style is “dressed up denim” for a night out or “dressed down denim” for running errands or attending kids functions.
EVERY SATURDAY 9AM – 1PM 186 S. Castell Ave • Downtown New Braunfels • 830-629-2223
When shopping for clothes and accessories, what is most important to you? Clothes come first, then accessories. I start with the outfit and build upon it with the accessories and shoes. I love extra details that catch your eye; fun prints and happy colors - something I can put on that makes me feel confident, secure and happy. Accessories are the icing on the cake that no outfit can go without! I am obsessed with earrings, necklaces and rings. And of course, shoes...I have over a 100 pair! Style, fit and quality are what are most important to me when shopping. I tend to shop brands I know have great quality for a great price with consistent sizing. To me, it’s important to have a connection with a brand you trust. When you have to pull yourself together in a hurry, what is your go-to outfit? Definitely jeans and a great novelty print top with my hoop earrings and a great pair of wedges. I like to be comfortable but still trend right. I would call this outfit “my happy place.” I never leave home without my... Louis Vuitton handbag which holds at least 5lbs of necessities; my smart phone for staying connected to friends, family, work and Instagram (check out whowhatwear), MAC pink lipstick (about 5 different tubes, favorite being Snob), MAC lip gloss in shades of neutral, pink and sparkle, and sunglasses even if it’s not sunny out (makes a great headband). And most importantly, I never leave home without telling my family “I love them.” Those hugs and kisses get me through the day until I see them again! MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016 37
LOVE for CHICKENS
I have decided I am going to let the world know that I am a chicken person! It is my opinion that there are very few things to not love about chickens. Two to be exact: poop and roosters crowing at 1:27am. Or at any hour, for that matter! With those two unappealing entities aside, let’s move on to what IS appealing about the hens and roosters in my back yard. When I was in elementary school in 1971, my family moved to the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York off Long Island. When my dad first told me we were moving to the country, I clearly remember the distinct image I had in my mind of him standing in a barnyard in faded blue denim overalls with chickens all around him. My dad taught high school and college English, so it was a bit “out there” of me to even imagine him in such attire and in such a setting (I obviously grew up watching Green Acres!).
By Megg Chalupa Photos by Pauline Stevens
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t was when I met my new friend, Lorine Van Put, that I was struck with CLS (Chicken Loving Syndrome) for the first time. Lorine’s parents both worked for the parks and wildlife department and were also both fishing guides on the Beaverkill River, known for its trout and for fly fishing. Mr. and Mrs. Van Put tied their own flies (special hooks) to fly fish with, and had chickens to use their feathers in the flies/hooks. Lorine had her own little hen, Penny, and she was the most darling little low-to-theground hen I had ever seen! From that point on, I had CLS. I longed for a pet hen the way normal kids long for kittens or puppies or hamsters! Fast forward to 2001 when my husband, Anthony, and I built our home on several acres. My friend, Sully, wanted to give me some of her banty hens and roosters (She also suffers from CLS, by the way). Anthony built me a super cute coop and I simply could not wait to wake up each morning and go let “my girls” out in the yard. Banty hens love to be mamas, so it wasn’t very long before I had several batches, or broods, of babies. Watching chicken mamas with their babies is heartwarming. Truly! They are so protective and have different clucking sounds for different situations of food, danger and comfort. They often will stop and sit so the babies can go under their wings to rest and warm up. One of my favorite scenarios is when there are multiple moms with chicks. They all hang out together in a different part of the yard from the other chickens. It
warms my heart as it brings back memories of play dates when my four children/chicks were little and the wonderful times I had visiting with girlfriends and other moms as our children played.
I
think what I mostly love about my chickens is the comedy and laughter they fill my home with. Recently, someone left the front door open and Sadie, one of my big hens, had made herself comfortable in the rocking chair in the entry hall. Another day, someone left the back door open (obviously not uncommon in this house) and when I walked into the living room, Jean Pierre, (my favorite rooster of all time!) was standing in the middle of the room looking at our three outdoor cats that were also now indoors! Several years ago my neighbor came over to tell me he had found some eggs in his boat and also in his barbeque pit. Oh, my girls are such world travelers going to all corners of the world to lay their darling little eggs! We have had quite a few expectant moms sit in the planters on the front porch, on the shelves in my husband’s barn/garage, and a few even hatch babies up in the boys’ tree fort. That was not well-thought-out since the moms didn’t figure in to the picture how they were going to get their babies down. But my son, Cameron, my youngest chicken rescuer at the time, climbed up with a backpack, tucked all the babies in, and brought them down as the mothers squawked and fussed until they were reunited once again! My roosters also have a special place in my heart as they can be seen standing guard every day over the “women and children”. They are also wonderful providers and use certain clucks and bob their heads up and down toward the bug or seed to indicate there is a treat for some lucky lady! I could continue with many more chicken tales (not to be confused with chicken tails), but would be remiss if I didn’t include how my chickens have even encouraged my heart in this hard season of my life. Last year, my wonderful husband, Anthony, passed away after a battle with cancer. Our loss is so great. But God has so sweetly used my chickens to comfort me (Psalm 91:1-2, 4). When I see those baby chicks running under their mamas, it is the most impacting image I could have to help me remember Who my Strength is, Who my Protector is, and Who my Comforter is, as I trust Him and hide under His wings. We often can miss the reminders, comforts, and healing ways that everyday events can play in our lives. And God, in His incredibly creative love, has used my silly feathered friends to bring a reassuring hug to my heart, letting me know that He’s in charge and taking good care of me and my children. I know that MANY people don’t get my “chicken thing”, and that’s okay. But who knows? Maybe there are some of you who need a few girls and roosters in your lives to give a smile to your face or a hug to your heart...just sayin’. Or maybe you need to watch a few episodes of Green Acres to get the ball rolling! Megg Chalupa lives in New Braunfels with two of her sons, a daughter, and a backyard full of adorable chickens and roosters. 40 MOXIE! SPRING/SUMMER 2016
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Raising Backyard Chickens
by Megan Hughes, DVM
Have you been thinking about how fun it would be to have backyard chickens? Backyard chickens enable you to have farm fresh delicious eggs every day. Chickens also provide chemical free bug control and fertilizer for your lawn. In addition, chickens make friendly and low maintenance pets! But there are a few basic tips you should know.
Getting Started Before buying any chickens, do your research on your city/town’s ordinances or homeowner’s association rules on owning chickens. Make sure to educate yourself on chicken care before getting your first chickens. Buying chicks Many feed stores sell newborn female chicks in the spring. Ask questions and find the best chicken breeds for both egg production and personality. Chick care: While on average chickens are low maintenance, baby chicks are very fragile and require much TLC in their first 60 days. You will need to keep your chicks in a brooder which can be easily hand made. They need to be kept warm with a heat lamp at 90 degrees for the first week and then you decrease the temperature by 5 degrees each week. A thermometer is recommended. They need to have free access to water and chick starter crumble feed. Pine shavings provide good bedding. Your local feed store will often sell all the supplies you need. Chicken Care: Once your chicks are fully feathered and old enough they can be kept in a chicken coop. You can buy coops or there are plans available to build your own creative coop. You can allow your chickens to be free range or build them an enclosed pen outside the coop. Make sure to keep local predators in mind when designing your coop. The rule of thumb for space is a minimum of two to three square-feet inside the coop per chicken and four to five square-feet outside the coop per chicken. More space is always better to avoid overcrowding. Adult hens will need free access to water and laying hen chicken feed. They also love treats including berries, fruit, veggies and bread! It is recommended to find a local veterinarian who sees chickens in case they have any health issues. Enjoy! Hens will start laying eggs around 6 months of age! They are very rewarding and fun to care for. Megan Hughes is a practicing veterinarian in Spring Branch, Texas and proud owner of backyard chickens. For more information contact her at meganhughesdvm@gmail.com,
My dining room table is the hub of family life in my home. In 1994, when country decorating was all the rage, my husband and I found an old farm table in a local antique shop and fell in love with it.
The Family Table By Georgia Williams
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he well-worn table suited our 1916 craft home better than the fancy Duncan Phyfe table I had inherited from my grandmother. And it seated our family of seven better, too. For a while we had a set of mismatched chairs, but one day my mother-inlaw surprised us with a matching set of eight country-style chairs and our set was complete. Oh, the stories my table could tell! My sweet table has been the sight of years and years of family dinners with a growing brood. It has hosted fancy holiday breakfasts and more birthday celebrations than I can count! It has heard the rules laid down by my husband and me in family meetings. It has enjoyed the laughter and fun of Friday Fun Night bingo games and Christmas cookie decorating. It has endured the agony of income tax preparation and budget meetings. My cherished table has kept secret the talks of parenting concerns and marital trials. It bears the battle scars of tic-tac-toe games and teenage hair-dyeing jobs. Now, after 22 years, my happy table still seats half of our growing family. Not too long ago, my husband dared to suggest that it might be time to replace our precious table with a bigger, better one. We settled on a new set of chairs instead. I couldn’t possibly bear to part with this happy fixture in my home. It knows too much. It cares too much for us! This table of mine is the center of family love in my home.
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