The Journey Magazine, January 2013

Page 1

Your big day is approaching. You’ve tried dieting & exercising, but you

still can’t lose the weight. Find out what’s really making you overweight! We’ll work with you to develop D VDIH DQG HIIHFWLYH FXVWRPL]HG SODQ IRUPXODWHG WR KHOS \RX ORVH ZHLJKW DQG NHHS LW RII

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302 Medical Park Drive Suite /XINLQ 2 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

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\RUIO KWU 3

\RUIO KWU 4

photographed  by  Morgan  Due

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hat  a  great  issue  to   celebrate  new  beginnings  of  2013  and  the  new  beginnings  of  many  brides  to  be!  This  is   always  a  fun  issue  to  put  together,  because  something  about  weddings  gets  everyone  OQLLa ?MLLQVO[ IZM Ă…TTML _Q\P M`KQ\Mment,  drama,  love,  laughter,  tears,  joy,  and  most  importantly,  the  future  that  lies  ahead. I  remember  those  feelings  I  had  when  I  _I[ I JZQLM \W JM AW] IZM Ă…TTML _Q\P butterflies  and  overconfidence  that   together  you  can  conquer  the  world.  You  have  a  sense  of  not  having  a  care  in  the Â

WELCOME

Through  everything,  we  are  tested  and  tried.  Whether  we  are  single  or  married,  the  reality  of  life  can  be  a  cruel  thing.  The  one  who  can  help  make  sense  of  it  all  is  the  One  who  endured  the  trials  and  valleys  Himself,  Jesus.  In  the  community  where  we  live,  it  is  apropos  to  say  you  are  a  believer  of  Christ,  that  you  love  Him  with  all  of  your  heart,  mind,  and  soul.  The  only  way  any  marriage  will  stand  or  you  can  make  start  2013  anew,  is  if  you  really  know  and  feel  the  deep  love  of  Christ.  It  is  when  you  know  how  deeply  you  are  loved  that  you  can  give  that  love  back  to  your  spouse,  your   coworkers,  your  friends,  and  your  family. So  as  you  start  your  2013  journey,  I  challenge  you  to  make  Jesus  real  in  your  TQNM 1\Âź[ Ja [\IVLQVO WV \PM Ă…ZU NW]VLI\QWV that  marriage  and  lives  withstand  the  tests  of  time.  Whether  you  are  beginning  a  new  life  together  as  a  couple  or  just  beginning  2013  with  a  fresh  new  startlet  Jesus  be  a  part  of  it  from  the  very  beginning.  From  the  tiniest  details  to  the  major  crisis--you  will  be  in  awe  of  what  He  reveals.

_WZTL JMKI][M aW] Ă…VITTa NW]VL šaW]Z one  and  only,  your  soul  mate.â€?  The  world  could  crumble  and  fall  and  nothing  else  mattered  as  long  as  you  were  in  each  W\PMZ[Âź IZU[ 4QSM 1 [IQL š1 ZMUMUJMZ those  feelings.â€?  Then  the  cruel  world  of  reality  hits  you.  For  some,  that  can  be  PMIT\P Ă…VIVKM[ KIZMMZ[ NIUQTa WZ I TWVO list  of  many  of  things.  That  unwavering  Psalm  19:14,  â€œMay  these  words  of  my  mouth  love  is  put  to  the  test.  We  go  through  and  the  meditation  of  my  heart  be  pleasing  in  UIVa ^ITTMa[ I[ _MTT I[ \PM Ă…MTL[ WN RWa your  sight,  Lord,  my  Rock,  and  my  Redeemer.â€? However,  it  was  the  endurance  of  going  \PZW]OP \PW[M ^ITTMa[ IVL Ă…MTL[ \PI\ 1 was  able  to  taste  the  sweetest,  most   precious  kisses  I  have  ever  known,  the  kisses  from  the  four  greatest  treasures  STEPHANIE OLIVER PRESIDENT ever  given  to  me,  my  children.

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Call for more details! \RUIO KWU ÂŒ 5 Â

JANUARY Â 2013

CONTENTS 9

YOUR Â HOME

10 14 16 18

Home  Tour:  L ittle  W hite  Chapel Decor  &  D esign:  A ll  i n  the  Details In  the  Kitchen:  Wedding  Food  Vendor Your  Pantry:  ' Tis  the  Season  for  Weight  L oss

21 YOUR COMMUNITY 22 26 28

Behind  the  Lens:  T ips  From  the  Pros Calendar:  Upcoming  E vents 1V[XQZQVO ?WUIV" )TM` +IZZQTTW

Cover  Photo  by The  Silhouette  Studio

31 YOUR LIFE 32 34 38 40 46 48

CONTACT Â US:

Something  A bundant:  " Here  C omes  the  B ride..." Relationships:  M aking  L ove  L ast  a  L ifetime Stretch  Marks:  B randon  { hearts}  Kylie Wedded  Bliss:  the  B rooks,  the  Castleberrys  &  the  N ortons Newlyweds:  Presley  &  H unter Marriage  &  Missions:  A manda  Glazner  &  Chris  Poole

5IQTQVO" 87 *W` d 4]NSQV <M`I[ ! 8Pa[QKIT" - ;PMXPMZL d 4]NSQV <M`I[ ! ! d IL^MZ\Q[M(\RUIO KWU Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â facebook.com/tjmag

51 YOUR Â BODY 52 54 56

                       twitter.com/tjmeast

Fashion:  Easy  Weekend  O utfits 5ISM]X *W`" <PM 8MZNMK\ 4WWS NWZ \PM 8MZNMK\ ,Ia Health:  Turn  T hat  Frown  Upside  Down

57 YOUR Â CHILD 58 60 63 64 66

10

Pretty  Babies Parent  T houghts:  Progression  of  Photographs Look  at  M e Birthday  Bash:  I t's  Snow  M uch  F un! Why  I  L ove  B eing  a  M om:  A nita  B yrd:  Spiritual  Parenting

28

46

64

president:  Stephanie  Oliver  managing  editor:  Beth  Johnson  |  editor@tjmag.com director  of  sales:  Kim  Iribarren  |  kim@tjmag.com  marketing  consultant:  Kevin  McCarty  |  kevin@tjmag.com  layout  and  design:  Macy  Haffey event  photographer:  Lisa  Crow  |  lisacrowphotography@gmail.com  event  photographer:  Morgan  Due  |  www.morgandue.com contributors:  Jessica  Tinsley  Bridges,  Kelly  Finnerud,  Kathryn  Greene,  Amy  McLeod,  Angie  Nichols,  Melissa  Radke,  Raegan  Cassels  Williamson  distribution:  Lisa  Crow,  Janet  Glover,  Jarod  Thompson Â

7 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

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On  purpose.     With  a  purpose.         For  a  purpose.

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H A PP Y NEW YEAR!

With  this  ring..

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121 east frank~lufkin

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'UHDPV 'R &RPH 7UXH Perfect Wedding. Romantic Honeymoon. New Home.

1HZ %HJLQQLQJ As you begin this journey, keep us in mind for all your financial needs.

204 Gobblers Knob Road | Lufkin, TX 75904 P: 936-­632-­4397 | F: 936-­632-­3044 Federally insured by NCUA

YOUR Â HOME

10  PWUM \W]Z ÂŒ 14  LMKWZ LM[QOV ÂŒ 16  QV \PM SQ\KPMV ÂŒ 18  your  pantry Â

+W]Z\VMa +WVMZTa 0IUJa ÂŒ photographed  by  Simply  Bloom  Photography,  LLC

HOME TOUR

hen the much anticipated wedding day arrives, the one song that comes to everyone’s mind is the TQ\\TM \]VM \PI\ [QVO[ ¹/WQVO \W \PM +PIXMT º -I[\ <M`I[ PI[ I rich history and heritage with churches in our IZMI .WZ M`IUXTM WVM KP]ZKP 7TL 6WZ\P +P]ZKP Q[ JMTQM^ML \W JM \PM WTLM[\ KP]ZKP QV <M`I[ LI\QVO JIKS W^MZ aMIZ[ IOW 7\PMZ[ IZM UWLMZV churches built to resemble the traditional style chapel from years past. Here are a few of those ¹4Q\\TM ?PQ\M +PIXMT[º _Q\P XTMV\a UWZM \W JM discovered. If you take a Sunday drive down the back roads of forgotten communities, the church still stands and more than likely is still being put to good use.

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(L-R) Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. 340 Northeast Stallings Drive, Nacogdoches Calvary Baptist Church. 6WZ\PMI[\ ;\ITTQVO[ ,ZQ^M 6IKWOLWKPM[ Keltys United Methodist Church. 7TL 5QTT :WIL 4]NSQV

Wallace Chapel. Corner of FM Rd 3258 and Penn Bonner

Beulah Congregational Methodist Church. 12 miles southeast of Lufkin on FM 58

Old North Church. Old Highway 35, Nacogdoches 10 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

little white chapel

Ryan Chapel Methodist Church. .5 ! ,QJWTT

Shawnee Prairie Baptist Church. FM 844 and FM 1818, Huntington

Pine Grove Baptist Church. 5662 FM 1818, Diboll \RUIO KWU 11

photographed by Lisa Crow

PLACES & FACES

CASA Tour of Homes

Interested in purchasing a photo you see? Visit lisacrowphotography.smugmug.com!

DECOR & DESIGN

all in the details n August 18, 2012, Ashley Hieronimus married Seth Marcantel at The Lodge in Lufkin and held their reception at Abrams. With the help of the very talented designer, Shannon Davis IVL I[[Q[\IV\ .MTQ` +PIKWV )[PTMa PMZ UWU and grandmother, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work. <PM _MLLQVO \PMUM )[PTMa LMKQLML WV _I[ I ¹.ZMVKP >QV\IOM with Industrial Inspiration.”

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Ashley k new she wanted to use g rays, and she k new that she liked the v intage feel. The g room, Seth, is from Louisiana, so the French theme was also a way to draw that in and make that an important piece of their day. <PM ¹\MIUº KZMI\ML I ! PIVLUILM _Q\P TW^M _MLLQVO ¹)TUW[\ ITT WN \PM LuKWZ \PM XZWOZIU[ \PM JZQLM[UIQL[ OQN\[ even down to the newspaper hearts being thrown to them as \PMa UILM \PMQZ M`Q\ _MZM PIVLUILM ^QV\IOM WZ ZMKaKTML Our inspiration was to reuse everyday things and make them beautiful,” said A shley’s mother, Beverly Shurley. Some of the creative touches were a sectional area made from WTL XITTM\[ 8IXMZ ÆW_MZ[ \PM IT\IZ _I[ UILM NZWU WTL LWWZ[ chandeliers and w indows, a drum shade used in the ceremony was made from chicken wire, paper, burlap and ribbon, an old dresser was made vintage with numbers painted on the drawers, every centerpiece was unique and different w ith French glass bottles decorated w ith burlap, r ibbons and most importantly, each had a broach that belonged to Ashley’s grandmother, Bernice Tomez. One very special piece of the ceremony were the hand sewn programs. They were three pages, front and back, not includQVO \PM NZWV\ IVL JIKS KW^MZ ¹<PM[M _MZM ^MZa [XMKQIT JMKI][M my grandparents, Ennis and Bernice Tomez, helped put these together and sew them,” said A shley. The cake was framed with an old gazebo covered and wrapped with brown packing paper. A lso, each pillar was decorated _Q\P NIJZQK ZQJJWV J]ZTIX IVL UIVa XIXMZ ÆW_MZ[ <PQ[ was located on the bi-level at Abram’s, so as you walked in your eyes were automatically drawn up to that beautiful area. How to make programs: Use v intage scrapbook paper for the NZWV\ KW^MZ IVL JZW_V KIZL[\WKS NWZ \PM JIKS <PM ÅVIT layer was a piece of hand-cut, scalloped-edge burlap fabric. To hold all of this together, use a sewing machine and run one stitch down the side.

photographed by Jackie Ray Photography

photographed by Simply Bloom Photography, LLC

broach bouquets A g rowing trend for today’s brides is Broach Bouquets. It is a t wist to \PM \ZILQ\QWVIT ÆWZIT JW]Y]M\ +W]Z\VMa +WVMZTa 0IUJa JMOIV working on her bouquet the day she became engaged. She k new this was one thing she wanted to have. She began collecting broaches from her family members, and some of her friends and wedding party gave her broaches as gifts. Courtney assembled all the stems NWZ MIKP JZWIKP J]\ \PMV \WWS \PM JW]Y]M\ \W PMZ TWKIT ÆWZQ[\ \W I[[MUJTM \PM ÅVQ[PML XZWL]K\ 0MZ K][\WU JW]Y]M\ _I[ I [XMKQIT treasure that made her day even more perfect.

\RUIO KWU 15

IN THE KITCHEN

WEDDING FOOD VENDOR

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very popular wedding trend that continues to grow is having a food truck for your guests, either as your guests arrive and you welcome them with hors d'oeuvres or as your main caterer. Food trucks are popping up all over the country with very delectable treats. They are very popular when used as a midnight snack as guests leave the wedding.

Sals & Sams is a local food vendor that is well known for its bright orange truck. It is even more well known for its delicious lunch meals. Sals & Sams is usually located downtown Lufkin in the Heritage Antique parking lot. Some of Q\[ UMV] Q\MU[ QVKT]LM /ZMMS OaZW[ Å[P \IKW[ 8PQTTa KPMM[M[\MIS X]TTML XWZS [IVL_QKP IVL U]KP U]KP UWZM 7VM popular delight is the Elvis’ Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich.

Elvis’ Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich Ingredients 2 tablespoons peanut butter (preferably smooth) 2 slices white sandwich bread 1 small ripe banana, mashed with a fork (about 1/4 cup) 2 tablespoons butter Directions Spread peanut butter evenly on 1 slice of bread, then spread mashed banana on other slice, leaving a 1/4-inch border around edge. Close sandwich, gently pressing bread slices together. Heat butter in an 8- to 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then fry sandwich, turning over once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes total. **Sals & Sams special ingredient: Add Cajeta Caramel or Chocolate Sryup to the on top of the bananas.

16 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

Breakfast served daily 11:00 pm-11 00 am

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FREE TAQUITOÂŽ with the purchase of a TaquitoÂŽ

On your next visit, please present this coupon when ordering. Coupon does not include add-ons. Offer not valid with any other offer. Void where prohibited. No substitutions. Limit one coupon per customer. Price and participation may vary. This coupon is void in the event of any sale or transfer. No reproductions allowed. Offer expires 1/31/2013.

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by Amy McLeod, RD, LD

YOUR PANTRY

‘Tis the Season for Weight Loss In Search of a “Magic Bullet”

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esirree, it’s January, a month when millions of A mericans w ill attempt to lose weight. How do we want our weight loss? We want it the way we want it, in slick packaging, void of any XIQV WZ [IKZQÅKM IVL XZMNMZIJTa NZMM WN IVa M`XMV[M or investment of time. Why not? With smart phones, we now have apps to download free music; we can have a book read aloud to us while we drink our morning coffee and apply mascara at the same time. Computer programs manage our appointments, create spreadsheets and balance our checkbooks, so why can’t weight loss be that easy? =VNWZ\]VI\MTa _MQOP\ TW[[ Q[V¼\ [M`a WZ N]V <PMZM Q[ VW ¹UIOQK J]TTM\º NWZ [INM IVL PMIT\PN]T _MQOP\ management. Obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight is a lifelong process. It means following a lifestyle that includes a healthful eating plan on most days coupled w ith regular physical activity. The A merican Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AAND) advocates that a safe rate of weight loss includes a one to t wo pound weight loss per week and such a diet allows someone t ime to learn to manage food and drink intake while still getting the important nutrients his or her body VMML[ 6W\ ^MZa [M`a Q[ Q\'

The latest t itles reviewed by registered dietitians include: The 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat–Loss, Incredible ;M` IVL *MKWUQVO ;]XMZP]UIV Ja Timothy Ferriss (Crown Archetype December 2010) <PM ,Ia ,QM\ Ja 5QSM 5WZMVW MD (Simon & Schuster’s Free Press March 2011) The Amen Solution by Daniel G. Amen, M D (Crown A rchetype February 2011) Cinch! Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds a nd L ose I nches by C ynthia Sass, M PH, R D ( Harper O ne January 2 011) Clean & Lean Diet by James Duigan (Kyle Books January 2011) +ZIba ;M`a ,QM\" -I\ AW]Z >MOOQM[ Ignite Your Spark and Live Life Like You Mean It! By Kriss Carr (Globe Pequot Press January 2011) The Dukan Diet by Pierre Dukan, MD (Crown A rchetype April 2011)

The Game On! Diet by Krista Vernoff and A z Ferguson ( HarperCollins June ! Healthy E ating f or L ower B lood P ressure by Pau l Gayler w it h Gemma H eiser, M Sc ( Kyle B ooks Februar y 2011) The Italian Diet by Gino D’Acampo (Kyle Books February 2011) Living Skinny in Fat Genes: The Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Feel Great by Felicia Stoler, DCN, MS, R D, FACSM ( Pegasus Books January 2011) The New Sonoma Diet: Trimmer Waist, More Energy in Just 10 Days by Connie Guttersen, PhD, R D (Sterling Publishing Company January 2011) Prevent a Second Heart Attack by Janet Bond Brill, PhD, RD, LDN (Three R ivers Press February 2011) The Super Health Diet: The Last Diet You Will Ever Need by KC Craichy (Living Fuel Publishing February 2011)

9]QKS Å` LQM\[ IZM ZW]\QVMTa XZWUW\ML I[ I UIOQK bullet for weight loss, and there are literally hun- Full: A Life without Dieting by Midreds of them. Whether it’s a pill, a cleanse, a chael A. Snyder, MD, FACS (Hay fast-results diet or entire lifestyle change, there is House January 2011) no shortage of products, programs and books that How Can I Spot a Fad Diet promise life changing results. It may be a fad diet if it: Do these plans work? A re they healthful? How can people tell the good advice from the bad? To help ;W]VL[ \WW OWWL \W JM \Z]M Q\ XZWJIJTa Q[ ¹4W[M TJ[ QV LIa[ º consumers separate diet fads from healthy, science- :MKWUUMVL[ ][QVO I [QVOTM NWWL WV I ^MZa KWV[Q[\MV\ JI[Q[ based options, registered dietitians who are media spokespeople of the AAND have reviewed 15 of 8ZWUQ[M[ Y]QKS IVL MI[a _MQOP\ TW[[ _Q\P VW MNNWZ\ the latest diet and lifestyle books. To read the re -TQUQVI\M[ IV MV\QZM NWWL OZW]X []KP I[ KIZJWPaLZI\M[ WZ LIQZa views, v isit w ww.eatright.org/dietreviews. /]IZIV\MM[ IV W]\KWUM QV I [XMKQÅML \QUM XMZQWL Source: American Association of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Amy McLeod, RD, LD is a registered dietitian and Healthy Living Spokeswoman for Brookshire Brothers Food and Pharmacy. For products “Approved by Amy,” go to www.brookshirebrothers.com

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CARE ISSUES

FOR Â SENIOR Â ADULTS

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\RUIO KWU !

PLACES & FACES

Evening in Old Bethlehem

20 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

YOUR COMMUNITY

22 JMPQVL \PM TMV[ 26 KITMVLIZ 28 i nspiring woman

photographed by Morgan Due

BEHIND THE LENS

TIPS FROM THE PROS

t the end of the day and after all the planning, your photos are what you will have to cherish from your special day. Here are some tips from a few professional photographers.

A

photographed by Morgan Due

MORGAN DUE ,]ZQVO \PM ZMKMX\QWV I [MKWVL [PWW\MZ KIV KIX\]ZM Select portrait locations that candids of grandma dancing while the photographer is mean something I love portraits in the park, but that’s not the There are many variations in style. Contact a shooting your new hubby talking to his buddies. only option. If there is a special place nearby… few that you like and see if their personality Book an engagement session KWV[QLMZ ][QVO Q\ QV[\MIL ?I[ aW]Z ÅZ[\ SQ[[ QV meshes with yours. You will be spending a lot of time with the photographer. Make sure you Today, this is included in many photographer’s front of your high school? Do you have a faTQSM JMQVO IZW]VL PQU WZ PMZ ?PMV aW] ÅVL wedding packages. Take advantage of it! If vorite local hang out? See if the owners would the photographer of your dreams…hire them. for no other reason, use it as a day to get to mind a 20-30 minute session the day of your Then, leave it in their hands. Ask them for know your photographer. I learn a TON about wedding! Make your day about the two of advice. If you trust their work, then trust them my couple during the engagement session. By you...don’t be afraid to do something different. knowing the couple in advance, when the to handle your day as well. wedding day arrives, we are way ahead and Plan for the weather can jump right in! Make sure your wedding package Most of my weddings take place in East includes a second shooter <M`I[ 1 _Q[P 1 KW]TL XZWUQ[M aW] JT]M [SQM[ ?PI\ LW \PMa TQSM LQ[TQSM' I include a second shooter in every package I and sunshine, but unfortunately for all of us, offer. Your photographer may not include one ?PI\ PMTX[ \PMU ZMTI`' we could have a blizzard in May. Make sure in their standard packages, but it is almost ?PI\ NMI\]ZM LWM[ [PM PI\M \PI\ _M KIV PQLM QV you have a backup location in mind. always an option. KIZMN]T XW[QVO' Hire a professional photographer you fully trust {and then trust him or her}

A second photographer ensures a few ?PI\ UISM[ \PMU TI]OP' things. First, there are many parts of the Schedule plenty of time for day that happen at the same time and wedding formals obviously your photographer can only be This is one of the most important points! The in one place at a time. more time you allow for your photographs, ?PMV \PM JZQLM Q[ OM\\QVO LZM[[ML I [MKWVL [PWW\MZ the more your photographer can get creative, KIV KIX\]ZM \PM O]a[ Å`QVO \PMQZ \QM[ PMTX aW] \W ZMTI` IVL OM\ [WUM OZMI\ [PW\[ The best albums I’ve created came from brides )N\MZ \PM JZQLM IVL PMZ NI\PMZ [\IZ\ LW_V \PM IQ[TM I and grooms that allowed a good amount of second shooter can capture them from behind and get a time for photographs. great shot of the dress.

photographed by Stephanie Davis

KYLIE TYER My absolute favorite part of shooting weddings/picture is Research what type of photography you like. Print out seeing the g room's face when he sees his beautiful bride! pictures/ideas. Let your photographer know what you like!!

STEPHANIE DAVIS My advice to the bride would be to hire a wedding planner, There is a long list of images not to miss, but for sure so she can enjoy her day and soak it all in, because it goes would be photos of the bride and groom, cake cutting, by so fast. and first dance.

LISA CROW The key to a planning a successful wedding (read: a wedding that goes smoothly, without any major glitches) is in the planning. Small things go wrong at every wedding, but keep in mind that you can save yourself from major headaches and crying spells by planning in advance. Get as much done I[ XW[[QJTM QV \PM ÅZ[\ NM_ UWV\P[ [W \PI\ \PM TI[\ NM_ UWV\P[ won’t be hectic. Don’t try planning it all on your own. Ask for help. Contact a wedding planner, family and friends.

On your wedding day, you’ll want to make sure your photographer captures those essential details you worked [W PIZL WV 8ZW^QLM aW]Z XPW\WOZIXPMZ _Q\P I TQ[\ WN ¹U][\ take” wedding photography shots. There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of the day and realizing that no one took a picture of Aunt Mildred or that you only got shots of one set of parents with the bride and g room and not the other side of the family!

\RUIO KWU 23

PLACES Â & Â FACES

photographed  by  Lisa  Crow

5][M]U WN -I[\ <M`I[ .IUQTa ,Ia

Interested  in  purchasing  a  photo  you  see?  Visit  lisacrowphotography.smugmug.com!

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31

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your  heart

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2/5 Black  History  Exhibition At  ACA  Art  G allery  at  Angelina  C ollege.  L ocal  IZ\Q[\[ _QTT XZM[MV\ WZQOQVIT _WZS[ \PI\ ZMÆMK\ \PM vibrancy  of  Black  c ulture  a nd  history  in  America.  -`PQJQ\ WXMV ITT LIa ZMKMX\QWV I\ " X U .ZMM Admission.  For  more  information,  call  936.633.5233

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INSPIRING WOMAN

photographed by The Silhouette Studio

I\Q^M[ WN )VOMTQVI +W]V\a LMÅVQ\MTa NMMT it and know it, but when you are on the receiving end of the hospitality, generosity, kindness, and love, there is no doubt about it; Angelina County is one of the most giving counties in the country. Time and time IOIQV \PM XMWXTM WN \PQ[ [UITT -I[\ <M`I[ +W]V\a [\MX ]X IVL ÅTT QV \PM OIX _PMZM^MZ Q\ Q[ VMMLML .WZ one Diboll family, their needs were unknown. All they knew is their hearts were hurting.

N

)TM` +IZZQTTW _I[ JWZV IVL ZIQ[ML QV ,QJWTT 0MZ UWU and dad met in Diboll at Old Orchard Park. That is _Pa ,QJWTT Q[ [W QUXWZ\IV\ \W \PMQZ NIUQTa WN ! )TM` was the middle child of seven children. )N\MZ OZIL]I\QVO NZWU ,QJWTT 0QOP ;KPWWT )TM` _MV\ on to pursue a degree in education from Stephen F. Austin State University. During her last semester, while she was student teaching at Diboll High School, one of the teachers resigned. Administration needed \W ÅTT \PI\ [XW\ 1V 2IV]IZa )TM` +IZZQTTW JMKIUM IV WNÅKQIT [\INN UMUJMZ WN ,1;, ¹1 IT_Ia[ _IV\ML to be a teacher since Junior High. I always enjoyed teaching my cousins, nieces, and nephews. I knew I wanted to coach, too. I had a friend that was struggling with school and was not doing well, but the only thing that made her come to class and even try with her work was because of athletics.” Then on March 8, while she was in Corrigan for a Varsity Track meet, a student showed her a picture WN I KIZ IKKQLMV\ WV NIKMJWWS ¹;PM [PW_ML UM \PM photo because she said it was close to my house, but she didn’t think anything of it because the car looked like a green jeep. Four seconds later, my brother called and said there was a bad accident by our house. A train hit a green jeep. We were both worried, but felt ok only because our family has a black jeep and not a green jeep. Then my father-in-law called to break the news. He told me, my sister, mom, and baby passed away. That was about 1:30 or 2. I was still sitting in the stands with my students. I was shaking bad and just wanted to break down. I remember thinking, I have to get up and walk down these bleachers, and walk out of the gate.”

28 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

ITM` KIZZQTTW 6W\ \WW TWVO IN\MZ I XWTQKM KIZ [PW_ML ]X I\ \PM +WZZQOIV ÅMTL \W XQKS ]X )TM` 0MZ JZW\PMZ IVL PMZ NI\PMZ QV TI_ _MZM QV \PM KIZ \WW ¹<PMa ZIV W]\ WN \PM KIZ \W UM 6W WVM PIL KITTML Ua other brother and sisters yet, so I had to be the one to make those calls.”

[IQL ¹1 LW º ;PM ZMKITT[ ¹?M PIL I P]OM 5M`QKIV _MLLQVO 1\ was so much fun and everything I wanted it to be.”

With the new beginning of her life with Gabe, they hope to have UWZM KPQTLZMV )TM` _IV\[ \W TQ^M I PIXXa VWZUIT TQNM IVL KWV\QV]M \MIKPQVO ;PM [Ia[ ¹1 LWV¼\ NMMT [WZZa NWZ Ua[MTN 1 IU VW\ )TM`¼[ JIJa ¹3QVO :Ma º UWV\P[ PMZ [Q[\MZ <IJQ\PI ! aMIZ[ the only one who has lost someone before.” and her mom were all in their Jeep when the train was coming, IVL [WUMPW_ \PM 2MMX [\ITTML ¹)\ \PI\ UWUMV\ Q\ R][\ LQLV¼\¼ make sense. I keep driving over the tracks and tried to go as slow as possible and they should have had plenty of time to get the jeep going again or get out of the jeep all together. It was then, when I knew it was meant to be. In my mind, I knew they were better off. My mom was with my baby.” ?Q\PW]\ PMZ NIQ\P )TM` [Ia[ VWVM WN \PQ[ _W]TL M^MV JMOQV \W UISM [MV[M ¹1N 1 LQLV¼\ PI^M NIQ\P 1 _W]TL XZWJIJTa PI^M SQTTML myself. Death is a crazy thing and does crazy things to your mind. I know it’s harsh to say, but it is the truth.” *MNWZM )TM` OW\ JIKS \W PMZ PW][M NZWU \PM IKKQLMV\ XMWXTM PIL ITZMILa [PW_ML ]X _Q\P NWWL ¹7]Z ,QJWTT KWUU]VQ\a Q[ [W [UITT but they were all praying. I could feel all 3,800 praying for us.” The community rallied together to hold fundraisers and raise UWVMa ¹1\ _I[ QV[IVM \W [MM _PI\ ITT \PM [KPWWT[ IVL J][QVM[[M[ were doing to help us. They raised enough money to pay for all \PM N]VMZIT M`XMV[M[ 1 IU [\QTT \ISMV JIKS IVa\QUM 1 \PQVS JIKS on what they did for us.” Tabitha was a special sister and friend to all who knew her. It was \PZW]OP <IJQ\PI UIVa aMIZ[ MIZTQMZ \PI\ )TM` UM\ PMZ VW_ P][band, Gabe Compean. Through the unending love and support of her father, siblings, and her God, she is able to keep going and UW^M NWZ_IZL QV PMZ TQNM <PQ[ XI[\ ,MKMUJMZ )TM` IVL /IJM

\RUIO KWU 29

PLACES & FACES

photographed by Lisa Crow

Downtown Lufkin Christmas Parade

Interested in purchasing a photo you see? Visit lisacrowphotography.smugmug.com!

YOUR LIFE

32 [WUM\PQVO IJ]VLIV\ 34 ZMTI\QWV[PQX[ 38 [\ZM\KP UIZS[ 40 _MLLML JTQ[[ 46 VM_Ta_ML[ 48 marriage & missions

photographed by Morgan Due

SOMETHING ABUNDANT

by Angie Nichols

“Here comes the bride...” ew things come to mind more captivating than a KI][ML [WUM ^MZa LQNÅK]T\ [MI[WV[ L]M \W TIbQVM[[ \W W]Z KWUwoman in white splendor on her wedding day. mitment. But through those struggles, I’ve learned some things IZM UWZM ^IT]IJTM \PIV ÅVM RM_MT[ As a very young girl, I pretended my wedding day just about every day. A pillow case for a veil and a 1 _QTT OZMI\Ta ZMRWQKM QV \PM 47:,# Ua [W]T [PITT M`]T\ QV Ua /WL NWZ PM cheerleader pompom for a bouquet is all I needed to envision has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the myself as a beautiful bride with all eyes on me. John from C.H.I.P.S. robe of righteousness...as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah WZ 5QKPIMT 2 .W` NZWU Back to the Future _MZM QV\MZUQ\\MV\Ta M`61:10 ESV changed as the groom at my discretion. I practiced the righttogether, left-together wedding walk until I perfected without God doesn’t intend for His children to settle for anything less M^MV PI^QVO \W _PQ[XMZ ¹TMN\ \WOM\PMZ ZQOP\ \WOM\PMZº \W Ua[MTN than His perfect will. Although rarely easy, pretty, or even com1V[\MIL 1 P]UUML \PM \]VM WN ¹Here Comes the Bride.” For me, there fortable, God, when allowed, turns our failures, the curse of illness _I[ VW\PQVO UWZM M`Y]Q[Q\M \PIV I JZQLM LZM[[ML QV _PQ\M 1V- WZ M^MV W]\ZQOP\ M^QT \W JTM[[QVO 0M Y]ITQÅM[ 0Q[ KPQTLZMV \W nocence is convinced of its destiny to be the center of a hero’s ZMÆMK\ 0Q[ SQVOLWU QV I JZWSMV _WZTL +PZQ[ IVL 1 KIV \M[\QNa \W attention as a princess bride. Every woman-child’s heart knows those truths. We’ve seen Him rescue our marriage from neglect, it is made to dance hand-in-hand with the man of her dreams preserve it through our daughter’s life-threatening illness, and XZW^QLM NWZ W]Z VMML[ \PZW]OP 0Q[ []NÅKQMVKa +PZQ[ TMIZVML \W to fairy-tale songs. TIa LW_V PQ[ W_V LM[QZM[ \W [PW_ UM PQ[ TW^M IVL PM ZMÆMK\[ I But at the age of eleven, a plane my daddy was on smashed into Savior who laid down His life for the love of a broken world. I the ground. Some time after, I rationalized that my beauty went learned to agree quietly to Chris’ leadership, respecting and ]X QV ÆIUM[ _Q\P Q\ IVL TW[\ \PM LM[QZM \W LZMIU QV ^MQTML ÆW_MZa []XXWZ\QVO PQU QV[\MIL WN VIOOQVO IVL IZO]QVO IVL 1 ZMÆMK\ \PM melodies. Unaware, it slipped away quietly, like the lift mysteri- JMI]\a WN \PM JMTW^ML <WOM\PMZ _M JMOQV \W JM IV M`IUXTM WN ously escapes a helium balloon left overnight. the epic love story of Jesus and His Bride in this time and place. Our marriage is a miracle performed by God and a work in At seventeen, I fell for Chris, my Mr. Right. By twenty, he con- progress. But God’s plan goes even beyond healed lives and vinced me to spend my life with him, but the picturesque fairytale earthly marriages. His plan is redemptive and romantic. For life I once dreamed faded, long forgotten in the depths of my eternity. PMIZ\¼[ PWXM KPM[\ <PM LZMIU TW[\ _I[ VW\ I ZMÆMK\QWV WN Ua OZWWU¼[ Y]ITQ\a \PW]OP 1 JMTQM^ML PQU UIOVQÅKMV\ QV M^MZa _Ia Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb Best friends turned googley-eyed love birds-- more romantic than has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, _Q[M _M NW]VL UWLQÅML NIQZa\ITM[ []NÅKQMV\ ZMXTIKMUMV\ NWZ was given her to wear. Revelation 19:7-8 dreams lost and decided to get married anyway. Chris and I determined to skip the whole ceremonial scene and took off God the Father penned the Love story of all love stories. From alone for a tropical beach wedding. It’s not like we stole away the beginning of time and creation, His plan included the wedsecretly to elope. Our family and friends knew the particulars. LQVO WN 0Q[ ;WV \W I JMI]\QN]TTa ZILQIV\ ÆI_TM[[ *ZQLM LZM[[ML QV _PQ\M 0Q[ +P]ZKP 1\ Q[ ITUW[\ I ZIO[ \W ZQKPM[ NIQZa \ITM KTQKPu They just weren’t invited. M`KMX\ /WL Q[ \PM ÅZ[\ IVL TI[\ XWM\ IVL \PQ[ ^MZ[M _I[ _ZQ\\MV ;QVKM \PM LIa 1 ^W_ML ¹1 LW º \W PQU +PZQ[ IVL 1 NIKML [WUM NWZ aW] JMNWZM ¹1V \PM JMOQVVQVO°º 8QK\]ZM[Y]M _MLLQVO[ IVL traumatic circumstances, like our only child’s cancer. We also loving marriages only foreshadow the coming climactic event of ever-after joy.

F

...as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5 Few things are more radiant than a woman aglow under the unique attention of her Eternal Bridegroom. Her essence draws others into the thrill of His romance. You were created to seek out a personal happily-ever-after, abiding in the love of a Hero King. Jesus is coming for His Bride (Rev. 22:20). His desire is for you. No matter your marital bliss, mistakes, or the tangle of both QV \PQ[ TQNM aW] KIV JM UILM VM_ IVL Y]ITQÅML NWZ ZWaIT MVOIOMment. Friend, you are created to recognize Christ’s unending love song and this is your cue: Here comes the bride... 32 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

NEW HORIZONS

by Kathryn Greene

RELATIONSHIPS

making love last a lifetime ohn and I have been married for 40 years. Our journey began when we met at the end of our freshmen year QV KWTTMOM 1\ PIL JMMV Ua LZMIU \W ÅVQ[P KWTTMOM WVM _MMS IVL OM\ UIZZQML \PM VM`\ _MMS IVL /WL ITTW_ML \PI\ LZMIU \W JM N]TÅTTML ?M _MZM UIZZQML WV 5Ia ! 2WPV QUUMLQI\MTa [\IZ\ML \W [MUQVIZa IVL 1 JMOIV _WZSQVO W]\[QLM \PM PWUM ;Q` UWV\P[ TI\MZ _M UW^ML to Lufkin where John began pastoring Harmony Hill Baptist Church and commuting to seminary. I began wearing many hats: wife, pastor’s wife, Sunday School teacher, mother of two boys, KP]ZKP [MKZM\IZa \PM KP]ZKP _I[ [UITT M\K )[ 1 ZMÆMK\ WV Ua marriage, I realize God has blessed me with a husband who has

J

been faithful, supportive, and accepting of all my weaknesses as _MTT I[ Ua [\ZMVO\P[ ?M¼^M [PIZML UIVa M`XMZQMVKM[ \WOM\PMZ" completion of graduate degrees, many seminars and conferences, vacations to Oregon and Ireland, the birth of eight grandchildren and adoption of three, the death of parents, and many, many more. Why has God blessed me with a lasting marriage? The success of my marriage, in part, is because John and I have worked diligently and skillfully to cultivate our love for one another. In their book, Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott share their thoughts on what it takes to have a healthy marriage: passion, intimacy, and commitment.

PASSION – How do you keep passion to me. As a counselor, I realize that the one thing that most people need is for someone alive in your marriage? to genuinely listen to them. When we listen 8ZIK\QKM UMIVQVON]T \W]KP ¹)K\QWV[ [XMIS with a third ear, we are not only listening louder than words.” Many of us know that to what is being said, but to what is not we are loved, not only by being told, but being said. We observe body language, by being shown acts of service and mean- TQ[\MV \W \PM QVÆMK\QWV[ WN \PM ^WQKM IVL ingful touch. assess the feelings that are being conveyed.

8TIV U]\]ITTa MVRWaIJTM M`XMZQMVKM[ What do you enjoy doing together? Going to the movies, antiquing, riding bikes together (even a motorcycle!), or cooking together (I make the crust and John makes \PM ÅTTQVO NWZ KPWKWTI\M XQM[ .QVL [WUM thing that you can do together that is fun IVL N]TÅTTQVO 5ISM I ¹LI\Mº \QUM _Q\P MIKP other weekly or at least monthly. Plan a get-away time each year to review your goals and edit the means to achieve those goals.

Compliment your partner daily. We all want to feel special. If your spouse doesn’t make you feel special, the chances are you _QTT ÅVL [WUMWVM \PI\ _QTT

INTIMACY – How do you cultivate intimacy in your marriage?

Spend time together. Sometimes I think John and I spend too much time together – _M _WZS QV WNÅKM[ VM`\ \W MIKP W\PMZ _M cook together, we shop together – we do just about everything together. One of the JMVMÅ\[ WN JMQVO \WOM\PMZ Q[ \PI\ _M SVW_ each other very well. We share similar goals and interests. Knowing God’s purpose in our life supersedes many of life’s temptations and motivates us to keep on persevering.

marriage in place.” Divorce is not an option, and once that is settled, you realize there are very few things that are worth dying for!

Meet your partner’s needs. When I seek to meet John’s needs, then our relationship is not about me – it is about getting outside of myself and seeing his needs through his MaM[ · VW\ Ua W_V [MTÅ[P LM[QZM[ ?M MIKP feel secure in our marriage when we are meeting each other’s needs. We don’t have to look outside the relationship for someone else to meet our needs.

Practice unconditional acceptance. All of us fear rejection, and the last person we need to fear that from is our spouse. As God loves us unconditionally, He desires for His children to model that to others. Intimacy flourishes in unconditional acceptance. Focus on commonalities. John and I are very different. He is laid-back, non-con frontational, passive, everybody’s friend, and never sees the bad in anyone. I am LZQ^MV UWZM ¹TM\¼[ LMIT _Q\P Q\ º TWaIT \W one friend, and will immediately be critical rather than seeing the good. We have learned to accept our differences as God’s gift to each other to make us one and then enjoy the things we have in common.

¹)[ P]UIV JMQVO[ _M KZMI\M IVL LMÅVM W]Z[MT^M[ through commitments, and those commitments be KWUM IV QV\MOZIT XIZ\ WN W]Z QLMV\Q\a ?PMV _M contradict our commitments, we lose ourselves and suffer an identity crisis. You can strengthen your commitment to your partner by choosing to make it a vital part of your being, by giving it top priority, so much so that to break it is to break who you are.”

-`XTWZM [XQZQ\]IT \MZZIQV \WOM\PMZ ?PMV a couple shares mutual spiritual desires and OWIT[ \PMa KIV M`XMZQMVKM OMV]QVM QV\QUIKa in their marriage. Oneness in marriage is achieved not only in the physical relationship, but also in the soul. I cannot imagine our journey together if we did not share a spiritual union.

It is my desire for John and me to make 40 more years of marriage together. I believe if we are going to make it, it will be because we have taken our marriage vows to love, honor, and cherish each other very seriously. To make our love last a lifetime will require us to continue cultivating passion, intimacy, and commitment in our marriage.

Make your commitment part of your being. I love what the Parrotts said in their book,

COMMITMENT – How do you cultivate *Thoughts taken from Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts by Les and Leslie commitment in your marriage? Parrott, pages 50-56. Listen with a third ear. I often tell John Assess the high value of commitment. that I want to talk with him, but I don’t )KKWZLQVO \W \PM 8IZZW\\[ ¹+WUUQ\UMV\ VMML PQU \W Å` UM 1 R][\ _IV\ PQU \W TQ[\MV is the mortar that holds the stones of 34 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

Happy  New  Year!

ONE Â DAY

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PLACES & FACES

36 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

Academy of Gymastics & Dance: Nutcracker

\RUIO KWU 37

by Melissa Radke

STRETCH MARKS

brandon {hearts} kylie wo months ago, my cousin Brandon got married. We But now the wedding’s over. _MZM ITT [W M`KQ\ML PM UIZZQML 3aTQM JMKI][M \W JM Y]Q\M honest, it was touch- and- go there for a little while. He’d The rentals have been returned. touch a lot of girls, and then they would go. The dress has been stored away. Oh, I’m only kidding!! And the real work begins. The wedding was so beautiful, and the bride and groom were madly in love. I sang an Adele song better than Adele ever even thought about So in honor of our weddings issue here at The Journey magazine, [QVOQVO Q\ IVL Ua SQL[ _MZM \PM _WZTL¼[ K]\M[\ ÆW_MZ OQZT IVL ZQVO I have written a letter from me (a long-time veteran of 18 years) to JMIZMZ ;MZQW][Ta \PMZM _I[ I KWV\M[\ IVL \PMa _MZM ^W\ML ¹?WZTL¼[ them (the blissfully ignorant): Cutest.” Of course, I held the competition in my home, but…)

T

Dear Brandon & Kylie, 0W_¼[ Q\ OWQV¼' A¼ITT [\QTT UIZZQML' I only ask you that question because about two months after the Attorney General and I were married I called my dad and asked him to come get me and take me home. His M`IK\ _WZL[ _MZM ¹)J[WT]\MTa JIJa 1¼TT JM \PMZM Ja W¼KTWKS° º *]\ \PMV Ua UWU OZIJJML \PM XPWVM IVL aMTTML ¹6WXM 7]Z _WZS PMZM Q[ LWVM AW]¼ZM PQ[ XZWJTMU VW_ º Then she hung up. 1¼U OTIL [PM P]VO ]X WV UM 1N [PM PILV¼\ 1 _W]TL PI^M VM^MZ ZMITTa TMIZVML I TW\ WN big life lessons. For instance, you just think you learn how to share in grade school. Nope. AW] ZMITTa TMIZV \W [PIZM _PMV aW]¼ZM UIZZQML AW] [PIZM aW]Z UWVMa aW]Z JML IVL aW]Z \QUM <PI\¼[ I TW\ WN [PIZQVO 1 IT[W TMIZVML IJW]\ UWVMa 1V NIK\ QN 1¼U PWVM[\ 1¼U [\QTT TMIZVQVO IJW]\ UWVMa 1¼U TMIZVQVO \PQVO[ TQSM · [WUM\QUM[ aW] OW\ Q\ J]\ I TW\ WN \QUM[ aW] LWV¼\ <PM MVL

I learned that in-laws are not just something that God throws in your lap to test you and see if you really are ready for marriage, because believe it or not – and I did not know this – the in-laws are part of the package. T hey stay. Until they die. And you have to spend holidays with them and have them make remarks about how you keep house and how much salt you use on your roast. 1 TMIZVML \PI\ OM\\QVO I XM\ _PMV aW] IZM ÅZ[\ UIZZQML Q[ QV VW _Ia \PM [IUM \PQVO I[ PI^QVO I KPQTL 6W\ QV IVa _Ia 6W _Ia 6W PW_ 8TMI[M LWV¼\ [Ia \W XMWXTM ¹?M¼TT JM great with kids, our dogs are happy!” People will laugh at you behind your back. T hey will talk mean about you. And then they will come back years later when you have kids and shout obscenities at you. 1 TMIZVML \PI\ PI^QVO I ZMITTa JIL \MUXMZ aW]Z ÅZ[\ NM_ aMIZ[ WN UIZZQIOM Q[ VW\ ITT Q\¼[ KZIKSML ]X \W JM ;]ZM 1 \PZM_ I ÆIUQVO PW\ KIVLTM I\ PQ[ PMIL J]\ _PW LW aW] \PQVS PIL \W KTMIV ]X \PI\ UM[[' 6W\ PQU I learned that pretending not to be able to cook brought me no joy, and it made me hungry. But seeing his face light up when I learned to cook his favorite meal meant the world to me. 1 TMIZVML \PI\ \PM Z]TM[ \W NWW\JITT IZM VW\ \PI\ LQNÅK]T\ )XXIZMV\Ta IVa QLQW\ KIV ÅO]ZM Q\ out. So I did, and he appreciated my efforts so much he started taking me to games with him (even if I did sit beside him and read InStyle magazine). I learned that he is quick to forgive, which is a really nice trait to have in a partnership. 6W_ 1¼U Y]QKS \W NWZOQ^M JMKI][M 1 TMIZVML Q\ NZWU PQU 0M PI[ TMIZVML \W TI]OP I\ PQU[MTN UWZM JMKI][M 1 \I]OP\ PQU PW_ ;MM PW_ \PI\ _WZS[' *MNWZM TWVO aW] [\IZ\ TMIZVQVO NZWU MIKP W\PMZ <PI\¼[ _PMV aW] SVW_ aW]¼ZM I \MIU I also learned that I cannot live without him. I know this for a fact, because once I tried. .WZ ITUW[\ \_W _MMS[ 1 \PW]OP\ 1 KW]TL LW Q\ 1¼L JM JM\\MZ WNN 0M¼L JM JM\\MZ WNN ?M _MZMV¼\ ?M _MZM JM\\MZ \WOM\PMZ ;\ZWVOMZ" I NWZKM \W JM ZMKSWVML _Q\P )N\MZ \PW[M \_W _MMS[ 1 OZIJJML PQU ]X IVL 1 PI^MV¼\ TM\ OW [QVKM I learned that having kids with him was the best decision I ever made. Brandon and Kylie, I hope your marriage will be as happy, as turbulent, as passionate, I[ PQTIZQW][ I[ ZWTTMZ KWI[\MZ IVL I[ RWa ÅTTML I[ W]Z[ PI[ JMMV 1\¼[ \PM JM[\ ZQLM 1¼^M M^MZ ZQLLMV <PM JM[\ [PW_ 1¼^M M^MZ [MMV 1\¼[ \PM JM[\ [WVO 1¼^M M^MZ PMIZL WZ JWWS 1¼^M M^MZ ZMIL *MKI][M Q\¼[ JMMV ITT W]Z[ With all my love, Melissa

Melissa Radke is married to the best looking man in town, whom she affectionately refers to as The Attorney General. They have two children, Remi and Rocco; you have probably seen their picture in the Most Wanted list at your local schools. She loves movie popcorn, telling her friends what to do with their hair and being the center of attention. You can find her anytime at melissa@lufkin.org or Chikfil-A. You are encouraged to ask for her autograph. In fact, she insists.

)UMZQKIV /TI[[ +WUXIVa 6M_ :M[QLMV\QIT +WUUMZKQIT +WV[\Z]K\QWV =VQ^MZ[Q\a ,ZQ^M 6IKWOLWKPM[ <@ ! 8P" ! ̉ !̉ ! d .I`" ! ̉ !̉ ! -UMZOMVKa" ! ̉ ̉ ! <WLL 0IZOQ[ 7_VMZ

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\RUIO KWU !

WEDDED BLISS

the brooks ,MJJQM IVL 2QUUa [PIZM ¹<W JM I\ \PQ[ [\IOM WN our lives, we are so glad we made it. We celebrate and rejoice over the accomplishments of our children and we cry together and pray over their struggles. We have seven grandchildren and we absolutely adore them. Together, we look at them through the eyes of grandparents and we know 1 or more of our four grandsons will probably play They were instantly best friends, talking about in the NBA, our oldest granddaughter is a possible everything together. They played basketball every Olympic gymnast and our other two will replace day and Jim helped Debbie with Algebra. Most Taylor Swift on the charts in a few years. We have importantly, they laughed a lot. another grandson due in April, and we can’t wait to see what he will do." <PMa _MZM UIZZQML WV 5Ia ! I\ \PM )XXTM Springs Baptist Church. They were both working What is your advice to young parents? and attending college, so their schedules often meant they met each other coming and going. However, I tell this to my own children; enjoy every moment! It goes they made it a point to make the time they were by so fast. It seems like we went from diapers and late night together meaningful, cooking special meals and feeding to baseball and dance recitals to a house full of bringing small gifts. \MMVIOMZ[ QV I ÆI[P ;W [TW_ LW_V IVL MVRWa im and Debbie Brooks give God the glory for their forty year marriage. They met in the eighth grade. Debbie liked Jim’s surfer haircut, so she decided to try and get his attention. She knew he liked basketball, so one day after lunch, she challenged him to a one on one match, and their story began.

J

Both Jim and Debbie were raised without their mothers. Debbie’s mother passed away when she was two days old, and Jimmy lost his mom at the age of four. They were both raised by grandparents, fathers, stepmothers and lots of brothers and sisters. They were looking forward to becoming a family of their own.

What would you say to couples considering divorce?

Remember when I said we give God the glory for our UIZZQIOM' ?MTT \PQ[ UIZZQIOM PI[ OWVM \PZW]OP M^MZa\PQVO ?M UILM UIVa UQ[\ISM[ ?M _WZSML QV W]Z J][QVM[[ together, and we constantly have to say, “Please forgive UM º ?PMV _M \PQVS WN PW_ /WL NWZOQ^M[ ][ PW_ KIV Five years into their marriage, God blessed them _M VW\ NWZOQ^M' 1N aW] IZM KWV[QLMZQVO LQ^WZKM XTMI[M [MMS _Q\P \PMQZ ÅZ[\ KPQTL ,IUWV _I[ JWZV QV 5IZKP Christian counsel. ! IVL \PMQZ LI]OP\MZ ,IVI NWTTW_ML QV 7K\WJMZ ! ! <PMa _MZM W^MZ_PMTUML _Q\P TW^M NWZ their children who are still the joys of their lives.

\RUIO KWU 41

the castleberrys ]TQM IVL +WWXMZ +I[\TMJMZZa ÅZ[\ met when Cooper was in the 8th OZILM IVL 2]TQM _I[ QV \PM \P They were introduced by her cousin, Gus Boesch. They would UMM\ I\ ¹<MMVMZ 8IZSº ]V\QT 2]TQM OI^M PQU away to another girl. They reconnected when Cooper was a junior at Lufkin High School and she was a sophomore. Their ÅZ[\ ¹ZMIT LI\Mº _I[ WV 7K\WJMZ ! <PMa LI\ML aMIZ[ ]V\QT \PMa _MZM UIZZQML QV ! I\ \PM .QZ[\ =VQ\ML 5M\PWLQ[\ Church in Lufkin.

J Coach Bill Snyder and Cooper.

(front, L-R) Julianne, Anne, Julie, Claire. (back, L-R) Tyler (Anne's husband), Coop & John, Peter (Claire's husband), Trey.

Station who just graduated from A&M this December. They are enjoying two grandchildren, Julianne Hennessey, 4 years old, and Peter John Hennessey V, 1 year old, both of San Antonio. They are hoping and praying to be blessed with many more grandchildren! +WWXMZ [Ia[ ¹1 IU PWXMTM[[Ta QV TW^M _Q\P Julie. I married my best friend, and after nearly forty years, she’s still my best friend. The old song, Right Down the Line by Gerry Rafferty perfectly describes my feelQVO[ NWZ PMZ º 2]TQM NWTTW_[ ¹1 PI^M PIL I wonderful thirty-eight years with Cooper, and hope we are blessed with many more together. The old song Still the One by Orleans perfectly describes my feelings for him!”

The success of their marriage is built upon three basic principles: They have always kept God at the center of their relationship and in the raising of their children. They never ask each other to do something they aren’t willing to do themselves. Lastly, and Cooper says most importantly, Julie is al- What is the secret to a happy marriage? ways right! )OIQV LWV¼\ I[S aW]Z [XW][M \W LW [WUM\PQVO aW] They have three children, Claire Hen- _W]TLV¼\ LW aW]Z[MTN .WZ QV[\IVKM QN aW] LWV¼\ nessey of San Antonio, Anne McCarty of want to spend every Christmas at your in-laws, Ft. Worth and Trey Castleberry of College \PMV LWV¼\ I[S aW]Z [XW][M \W LW \PI\ ,WV¼\ UISM unreasonable demands of each other. Be willing to compromise. You have to be able to completely trust each other to have a successful marriage. What is a story you like to think back WV \PI\ LMÅVM[ aW]Z UIZZQIOM' 2]TQM" ?PMV 1 _I[ aMIZ[ WTL IVL WV W]Z [MKWVL date (I think we were going to a movie at the Pines) I told Cooper that I knew we would get married someday! He laughed at me, but there was something special about him, and I knew it even way back then! What is your advice to newlyweds? +WWXMZ" ?PMV Ua LI]OP\MZ[ OW\ UIZZQML 1 \WTL them this: “Never forget who is in control. You can make his life more miserable than he can make yours.” Trust me, I learned the hard way. I had hair when we got married, now look at me!

Julie: Your husband should be the “spiritual leader” for you and your family, but you should JW\P [M\ \PM M`IUXTM WN TMILQVO I +PZQ[\QIV TQNM 1N aW] SMMX /WL ÅZ[\ \PM ZM[\ _QTT NITT QV\W XTIKM ) JQO LIa NWZ \PM +I[\TMJMZZa¼[ <PMQZ aW]VOM[\ <ZMa OZIL]I\ML KWTTMOM (L-R) Claire, Coop, Trey, Anne, Julie.

What is your advice to young parents? Three T hings: Never, EVER, lie to your kids. Let them know \PI\ _PMV aW] [Ia [WUM\PQVO Q\¼[ \PM \Z]\P 6M^er threaten them with punishment and then not follow through. There were many times we told our kids they would be punished if they did a KMZ\IQV \PQVO IVL _PMV \PMa LQL Q\ 1 ZMITTa LQLV¼\ want to carry out the punishment. However, I knew I had to. T hey grew to know that I meant what I said. ?ITS aW]Z \ITS ,WV¼\ [UWSM _PQTM \MTTQVO aW]Z KPQTLZMV VW\ \W ,WV¼\ M`XMK\ aW]Z KPQTLZMV VW\ \W OM\ LZ]VS QN \PMa [MM aW] LZ]VS 1N aW] M`XMK\ \PMU to go to church, then you go to church instead of going to the golf course or lake. Just live the life aW] M`XMK\ \PMU \W TQ^M <MIKP Ja M`IUXTM Be their parent, not their friend. I told my kids a TWVO \QUM IOW ¹1¼U VW\ aW]Z NZQMVL# 1¼U aW]Z LIL º AW]Z NZQMVL[ _QTT TQM \W aW]# \PMa¼TT \Za \W OM\ aW] \W LW \PQVO[ \PI\ aW] [PW]TLV¼\ LW <PMa KIV JM jealous, but I let them know that we will love them VW UI\\MZ _PI\ ?M _IV\ \PM JM[\ NWZ aW] IVL _QTT never knowingly mislead you into trouble. The only lie we ever told our children was that Santa +TI][ ZMITTa LWM[ M`Q[\

Cooper & Julie, New Years Day 2013.

What would you tell the couple considering divorce? 1¼U []ZM \PQ[ _QTT JM WNNMV[Q^M \W [WUM J]\ Q\ [PW]TLV¼\ JM ?M ITT [\WWL I\ \PM IT\IZ WN /WL IVL made a vow to Him that we would stay together in good times and bad, with or without money, through sickness or good health, to be faithful to each other and we promised and made a covenant with Him to live that kind of life until one of us was dead. So, are you going to break a promise aW] UILM _Q\P /WL' )VL QN aW]¼TT JZMIS I XZWUQ[M _Q\P /WL _PI\¼[ \W UISM UM \Z][\ aW] VW\ \W JZMIS I XZWUQ[M _Q\P UM'

Julie with grandson, John.

\RUIO KWU 43

ene and Karen Norton married WV 2]VM ! ! <PMa UM\ I\ 4ISM Tejas in Colmesneil in the summer WN ! ! /MVM I ZMKMV\ PQOP school graduate, was a lifeguard, and Karen, a soon-to-be high school sophomore, _WZSML I\ \PM KINu <PMQZ ÅZ[\ LI\M WV I 2]Ta \P hayride would be the beginning of a lifelong relationship. They dated throughout the remainder of Karen’s high school years and married two weeks after she graduated.

G

.WZ \PM ÅZ[\ \MV aMIZ[ WN \PMQZ UIZZQIOM \PMa TQ^ML in Huntsville and attended Sam Houston State University. They were blessed with two beautiful LI]OP\MZ[# 2IUQM _I[ JWZV QV ! IVL 2IVM\ KIUM ITWVO QV !

Gene & Karen 1972

(front, L-R) Graham, Karen Vi, Caleb, Sage. (middle, L-R) Janet, Laura 3IZMV¼[ UW\PMZ 3IZMV 2IUQM (back, L-R) Jeremy, Gene, Danny June 2011

44 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

<PM 6WZ\WV[ UW^ML \W 4]NSQV QV ! IVL JMOIV attending Lufkin First Assembly. They raised their daughters in Lufkin, surrounded by their church family. Karen has worked at the church for twenty-nine years. She continued her education and became credentialed with the Assemblies of God. She is now an ordained minister and serves on the pastoral staff at Lufkin First Assembly over Pastoral Care and Biblical Counseling. Gene continues a successful career in retail at Ashley Furniture in Lufkin. The Nortons have taught numerous marriage classes over the years. God has blessed their marriage and family, and they are passionate about helping other couples have Godly marriage and raise Godly children. Their oldest daughter, Jamie, was called to missions at a young age. Upon graduation, she moved to Northern Asia and taught English in a small rural university. In 2003, she married her college sweetheart, Danny Lund. Together they served in Northern Asia. God blessed them with a hand[WUM [WV +ITMJ QV IVL \PMa ILWX\ML I China doll, Karen Vi, born in 2008. Jamie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. They re\]ZVML \W <M`I[ NWZ PMZ \W ZMKMQ^M \ZMI\UMV\[ 7V 6W^MUJMZ /WL \WWS 2IUQM \W PMI^MV at the age of 36. Her life and death are a testimony to the goodness of God and the reality of heaven. Jamie taught many how to live and follow God’s call, no matter the cost. She modeled how to die with a pure and holy heart.

the nortons Janet married her college sweetheart, Jeremy Yancey, in 2000. Jeremy What would you tell the couple considering divorce? Q[ \PM -`MK]\Q^M 8I[\WZ I\ 4]NSQV .QZ[\ )[[MUJTa IVL 2IVM\ Q[ I ZMKZ]Q\MZ I\ 5MUWZQIT 0MIT\P ;a[\MU WN -I[\ <M`I[ <PMa PI^M \_W ,WV¼\ ;MMS /WLTa IVL WZ XZWNM[[QWVIT KW]V[MT NZWU \Z][\ML +PZQ[\QIV[ )LUQ\ aW]Z faults to each other and forgive each other. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, beautiful children. Sage is nine years old and Graham is four. your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their The Nortons are truly blessed to have raised two precious daughters, trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15. Go and now they are thoroughly enjoying our grandchildren. JIKS \W aW]Z ÅZ[\ TW^M# LW \PW[M \PQVO[ \PI\ aW] LQL \WOM\PMZ QV \PM JMOQVVQVO :WUIVKM KIV JM ZM SQVLTML ,WV¼\ OQ^M ]X J]\ X]\ NWZ\P \PM MNNWZ\ 1N _M LW W]Z XIZ\ /WL What is the secret to a happy marriage? will do His part. Get your priorities in the right order: God, spouse, children, work, aW]Z[MTN 0][JIVL[ IVL NI\PMZ[ JM UMV WN aW]Z _WZL IVL UMV WN \PM ?WZL# SMMX Have a Christ-centered marriage and a Christ-centered home. Find a good church aW]Z XZWUQ[M[ ?Q^M[ IVL UW\PMZ[ ILUQZM aW]Z P][JIVL W]\ TW]L )KKMV\]I\M \PM home and stay there. Learn what God says about marriage and family, and do it. positive. Tell your children in front of your husband that they have the best daddy Actively serve God. Read the Bible and pray together daily. Husbands love your QV \PM _WZTL )VL WVM UWZM \PQVO" *M M`\ZMUMTa OMVMZW][ _Q\P INNMK\QWV P]O[ IVL _Q^M[ I[ +PZQ[\ TW^M[ \PM KP]ZKP ?Q^M[ ZM[XMK\ aW]Z P][JIVL[ -XPM[QIV[ " kisses; say, “I love you,” often. 33. Really listen to each other. Never go to bed angry. Early in our marriage, there _MZM [M^MZIT VQOP\[ _PMV _M [I\ QV JML ]V\QT UWZVQVO \ITSQVO IVL ZM[WT^QVO KWVÆQK\ 8]\ \PM VMML[ IVL LM[QZM[ WN aW]Z [XW][M IPMIL WN aW]Z W_V *M M`\ZMUMTa OMVMZW][ with affection, hugs, and kisses. Say, “I love you,” often. ?PI\ Q[ I [\WZa \PI\ aW] TQSM \W \PQVS JIKS WV \PI\ LMÅVM[ your marriage? <PM ÅZ[\ [\WZa \PI\ KWUM[ \W Ua UQVL Q[ \PM WVM 2M[][ \MTT[ QV 5I\\PM_ " In this passage, Jesus urges us to build our house on the rock of his teaching and \Z]\P 7\PMZ_Q[M _M IZM _IZVML \PI\ W]Z PW][M _QTT VW\ _Q\P[\IVL \PM ÆWWL WN \ZQIT[ \PI\ _QTT KWUM W]Z _Ia ?M IZM VW\ XMZNMK\ Ja IVa [\ZM\KP WN \PM QUIOQVI\QWV# _M¼ZM [QVVMZ[ [I^ML Ja /WL¼[ OZIKM ?M IZM [\QTT TMIZVQVO PW_ \W LW \PQ[ \PQVO KITTML ¹UIZZQIOM º J]\ _M PI^M TMIZVML \PI\ /WL Q[ NIQ\PN]T \W 0Q[ ?WZL What is your advice to newlyweds? 7]Z UIZZQIOM ^W_[ \W MIKP W\PMZ IZM [IKZML IVL VW\ \W JM KWVN][ML _Q\P \WLIa¼[ culture and its idea of marriage. Remember the vows you made before God and your [XW][M IVL LW M^MZa\PQVO aW] KIV \W N]TÅTT \PW[M ^W_[ ;\Ia JM[\ NZQMVL[ NWZM^MZ Spend time together; have fun and laugh. Learn to laugh at yourself. Just know \PI\ aW] KIV¼\ KPIVOM aW]Z [XW][M AW] WVTa PI^M \PM XW_MZ \W KPIVOM aW]Z[MTN What is your advice to young parents? Invite God into your marriage and child-rearing. Gene and I were always so keenly aware of little eyes watching and little ears listening. Let your children see you living out your faith in God. Be loving and affectionate to each other in front of \PMU 4W^M aW]Z KPQTLZMV IVL JM M`\ZMUMTa OMVMZW][ _Q\P INNMK\QWV P]O[ IVL kisses. Say, “I love you,” often. Have fun together and build great memories with your children. Allow your children to be children; enjoy childhood with them, because aW] _QTT \]ZV IZW]VL WVM LIa IVL \PMa¼TT JM OZW_V

Gene & Karen 2010 \RUIO KWU 45

NEWLYWEDS photographed  by  Kylie  Kristine  Photography

PRESLEY Â & Â HUNTER

f  there  ever  was  a  love  story,  Presley  and  Hunter’s  has  all  the  right  pieces  to  be  the  perfect  one.  Even  if  one  had  their  doubts  of  it  being  a  love  story,  one  thing  is  for  sure,  they  are  living,  breathing,  truth  of  a  God  story. Â

Hunter  had  an  accident  and  was  on  his  way  to  \PM PW[XQ\IT 1 _I[ WVTa Ă…N\MMV [W 1 KW]TLVÂź\ LZQ^M there  and  all  of  my  family  was  at  work.  They  kept  telling  me  that  Hunter  was  asking  for  me  and  wanted  me  to  come.â€?

8ZM[TMa [Ia[ š1 ZMUMUJMZ _PMV PM _I[ VM_ \W \PM school  in  8th  grade.  He  was  different  from  everyone  else.  Where  others  were  in  jeans  and  boots  or  jeans  and  tennis  shoes,  Hunter  came  to  school  wearing  Dickies  and  Vans.  I  like  that  he  was  different.  It  LMĂ…VQ\MTa KI]OP\ Ua MaM IVL 1 _I[ ^MZa QV\ZQO]ML Âş

By  the  time  Presley  could  get  there,  Hunter  was  on  his  way  to  Houston.  His  best  friend’s  father  drove  her  \W [MM PQU š?PMZM PM _I[ aW] KW]TL WVTa PI^M \_W people  in  the  room  at  a  time.  When  I  got  there,  I  remember  him  saying  to  me  that  he  completely   understood  if  I  wanted  to  leave  and  not  stay.  Of  course  I  wanted  to  stay  and  be  there.  Once  I  was  there,  he  didn’t  want  me  to  leave,  so  people  could  only  come  in  one  at  a  time.â€?

I

Hunter  was  new  to  Huntington  High  School,  because  his  dad  was  a  professional  motocross  racer.  He  raced  bikes  and  Hunter  rode  as  well.  So,  not  too  long  before  Hunter’s  8th  grade  year,  his  dad  bought  land  to  build  I JQO \ZIKS NWZ 0]V\MZ \W XZIK\QKM š<PQ[ _I[VÂź\ R][\ I fun  hobby  for  the  family,  this  was  their  livelihood.  Hunter’s  dad  raced  professionally  for  twenty  years.â€? According  to  Presley,  later  that  year,  she  and  Hunter  began  a  relationship,  but  he  later  broke  up  with  her  IVL JZWSM PMZ PMIZ\ š0M \ZQML \W I[S UM W]\ WNN IVL on  over  the  years,  but  I  was  still  hurt  from  him   breaking  my  heart.  All  the  while,  I  always  knew  it  was  Hunter  I  was  crazy  for.  So  in  tenth  grade,  we  began  dating  again.â€? On  July  4,  2006,  during  the  summer  between  their  10th  and  11th  grade  years,  Hunter  was  supposed  to  pick  Presley  up  for  them  to  spend  \PM LIa \WOM\PMZ š0M _I[ []XXW[ML \W JM I\ Ua house  already,  so  I  called  his  phone  asking  where  he  was,  but  there  was  no  answer.â€?  Before  he  was  on  his  way  to  pick  her  up,  he  got  on  his  bike  to  ride  a  couple  of  laps.  His  dad  was  at  the  house  watching.  Hunter  wasn’t  doing  anything  daring,  going  IV M`KM[[Q^M ZI\M WZ IVa\PQVO \PI\ aW] _W]TL UW[\ likely  imagine.  In  fact,  he  wasn’t  even  going  10  mph.  0M _I[ ZQLQVO W^MZ š_PWWX[ Âş ?PWWX[ IZM I [MZQM[ of  bumps  in  the  track.  For  whatever  reason,  Hunter  was  kicked  off  his  bike  and  his  legs  went  over  his  head.  When  he  hit  the  ground,  he  told  his  dad  that  he  couldn’t  feel  his  legs.  š0Q[ JM[\ NZQMVL IVL I]V\ KITTML UM JMKI][M \PMa [I_ the  missed  call  from  me  on  his  phone.  They  said Â

<PM LWK\WZ[ _MZM OQ^QVO \PMU UQ`ML ZMXWZ\[ 1\ _I[ his  T3  vertebra  that  was  injured.  He  compressed  his  vertebra.  The  doctors  were  saying  it  was  a  good  sign  that  it  was  not  severed,  but  because  spinal  cord   injuries  are  so  different  for  every  person,  the  doctors  could  not  tell  Hunter  and  his  family  what  that  meant  for  him.  Only  time  was  going  to  tell  how  the  injury  affected  him.  š*MKI][M 1 _I[ [W aW]VO IVL VIQ^M 1 ZMITTa \PW]OP\ 0]V\MZ _W]TL JM ]X IVL _ITSQVO \PM VM`\ LIa WZ maybe  by  the  end  of  the  week.  I  had  no  idea  that  this  accident  was  a  bad  situation,â€?  said  Presley. The  rest  of  the  summer,  he  stayed  in  Houston  and  LQL ZMPIJ I\ <1:: <PM Ă…Z[\ LIa WN [KPWWT 0]V\MZ wanted  to  be  there,  so  he  started  back  to  school  like  everyone  else.  Later  that  fall,  Hunter  went  to  Baltimore,  Maryland  and  stayed  for  a  month  to  work  with  the  world  renowned  Kennedy  Krieger  Institute  that  specializes  in  spinal  cord  injuries.  There  was  a  point  in  time  when  Presley  began  second  O]M[[QVO M^MZa\PQVO š1 _I[VÂź\ []ZM \PQ[ Q[ _PI\ 1 _IV\ML NWZ Ua TQNM 5a ÆM[P _I[ \MTTQVO UM \PI\ 1 wanted  to  be  able  to  run  and  go  if  I  wanted.  What  if  I  wanted  to  climb  a  mountain?  I  wanted  to  be  able  to  climb  a  mountain.  Then  the  Lord  changed  my  heart.  It  wasn’t  about  any  of  those  things.  I  don’t  even  see  the  wheel  chair,  and  I  don’t  mean  physically  see  the  wheel  chair,  because  I  do.  But,  it  has  no  hindrance  to  our  relationship.  I  love  the  man  he  is  in  that  chair.  I  know  without  a  shadow  of  a  doubt Â

that  this  was  in  God’s  plan  for  Hunter.  Hunter’s  plans  and  dreams  were  to  professionally  race  motocross  forever.  There  wasn’t  ever  a  backup  plan  or  a  Plan  B  if  that  didn’t  work.  I  know  that  God  knew   Hunter  would  be  closer  to  Him  in  that  chair  than  anywhere  else.â€? Presley  and  Hunter  eventually  graduated  high  school  and  went  on  to  college.  For  a  long  time,  Hunter  didn’t  understand  it,  but  he  eventually  realized  it  wasn’t  for  him  to  try  to  understand  God’s  plan.  Now,  he  just  uses  his  situation  to  glorify  the  Lord.  Because  of  his  injury,  Hunter’s  body  is  not  as  strong  as  most  people.  This  past  March,  he  had  a  kidney  QVNMK\QWV <PM QVNMK\QWV OW\ JIL Y]QKS š0]V\MZÂź[ immune  system  isn’t  as  strong,  so  things  affect  his  body  differently.  That  kidney  infection  was  really  bad,  and  it  wasn’t  looking  good  for  Hunter.  I  was  so  worried  I  _I[ OWQVO \W TW[M PQU )N\MZ \PI\ [Q\]I\QWV Q\ ZMINĂ…ZUML my  belief  that  wheel  chair  or  not,  I  need  him  here.â€? 8ZM[TMa IVL 0]V\MZ UILM Q\ WNĂ…KQIT IVL OW\  married  May  2012.  They  now  live  in  College  Station  waiting  for  Hunter  to  graduate  in  May  2013  with  his  Construction   ;KQMVKM LMOZMM NZWU <M`I[ ) 5 =VQ^MZ[Q\a <PMa have  rehab  equipment  in  their  house  for  Hunter  to  _WZS W]\ M^MZa LIa š1 IU VM^MZ OWQVO \W OQ^M ]X trying  to  walk,  and  I  will  keep  trying,â€?  says  Hunter.  They  both  know  that  if  the  Lord  wants  Hunter  to  _ITS PM _QTT _ITS 8ZM[TMa [Ia[ š1N Q\ _QTT OTWZQNa \PM Lord  more  for  Hunter  to  walk,  he  will  walk.  If  it  brings  Him  more  glory  for  Hunter  to  be  in  the  chair,  Hunter  will  be  in  his  wheelchair.â€? Presley  and  Hunter  have  big  dreams  and  goals  still  ahead.  Hunter  is  already  getting  job  offers.  Presley  would  like  to  go  back  and  work  on  a   Master’s  degree  in  Speech  Pathology.  Of  course,  they  would  like  a  family  of  their  own  when  they  IZM Ă…VQ[PML _Q\P KWTTMOM š0]V\MZÂź[ IKKQLMV\ NMT\ TQSM I \ZIOMLa _PMV Q\ happened,  but  we  know  now  that  it  was  not.  It  was  all  in  the  Lord’s  plan.â€? Â

Faster. The 30-Minutes-or-Less E.R. Service Pledge. Only at Woodland Heights Medical Center. Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. You’ll find these at Woodland Heights Medical Center. The experienced E.R. physicians and the entire team are committed to working diligently to have you initially seen by a clinical professional* within 30 minutes of your arrival. If you need an E.R. fast, try our fast E.R. Once you do, you won’t want to go anywhere else. Visit us online at WoodlandHeights.net to view our average E.R. wait time.

*Clinical professional is defined as a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. Woodland Heights Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.

MARRIAGE & MISSIONS

Amanda Glazner & Chris Poole

“Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” -Ruth 1:16 Amanda {Grace} For many years I prayed God would send me a life partner, not just a wife or another relationship. Then God called me into full time missions, IVL PWVM[\Ta Ua JQOOM[\ NMIZ _I[ 1 _W]TL VM^MZ ÅVL ¹\PM XMZNMK\ WVMº I can’t promise her a dream car, a dream house, or even the dream life many women grow up dreaming of. When God called, I walked away NZWU ITT WN \PI\ 1 \PW]OP\ \W Ua[MTN 1¼TT VM^MZ ÅVL PMZ <PMV TMI^QVO I men’s leadership weekend, I met Amanda Grace. One of my best friends \WTL UM \PM UWUMV\ 1 UMM\ ¹\PM WVMº 1 _QTT SVW_ IVL PM _I[ ZQOP\ 1V that moment, I knew my life would change forever.

talked through email, I got to see the important part, her heart. This is what pushed it over the top. Not only is she gorgeous on the outside but the inside matches. I saw the heart she has for the Lord and the unconditional love she has to offer. I saw her honesty, her compassion, and the way she cared for other people. I told Amanda upfront the things I could promise her: unconditional love, protection, and a heart for the Lord. When that was enough, I knew God had given me my partner in life. Hearing Amanda say she was ready to sell Grace Boutique showed me her heart for the Lord. She was willing to walk away from her dreams to become a full time missionary with me. I knew this was only something )UIVLI _I[ I ¹\WW OWWL \W JM \Z]Mº UWUMV\ 7V \PM W]\[QLM [PM _I[ God could do, and I am very thankful He blessed me with such a special everything I had dreamed of: blonde hair, blue eyes and the most beau- and beautiful bride-to-be. tiful woman I had ever seen. Then as the following week passed and we ¹?PMV /WL KZMI\ML _WUIV 0M ][ML I ZQJ NZWU UIV¼[ [QLM Nothing from his head so that he may rule her, Nor from his feet so that he may walk over her, But from under his arm so he may protect her, From close to his heart so he may love her, And from his side so that she may stand beside him.” Author: Unknown Christopher {David} Compassionate, Father’s heart, strong, Godly, trustworthy, honorIJTM PWVM[\ IVL ZM[XMK\ML <PM[M _MZM [WUM WN \PM ÅZ[\ _WZL[ I thought of when I met Chris. It’s also how many people have described him to me through the course of our relationship. I knew he was a good man, because his peers, mentors, and siblings told me so. I also knew because those were all the words I thought WN _PMV 1 PMIZL PQU XZIa NWZ \PM ÅZ[\ \QUM WV W]Z ÅZ[\ LI\M

mothers. He builds friendships with these children and their mothers to show them the love of Jesus. God called Chris to train in missions in Colombia about a year and a half ago when he went on a mission trip there. God captured his heart, and Chris has been serving in that capacity ever since. He works with an amazing ministry, Relationships for Christ out of The Woodlands. It is through his training and mentoring at RFC that God is callQVO PQU \W UQ[[QWV[ QVLMÅVQ\MTa IVL _M IZM XZIaQVO \WOM\PMZ IJW]\ Chris currently lives in Bogota, Colombia where is working with _PMZM _M _QTT JM VM`\ 5 different orphanages/emergency centers for young underage 48 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

photographed by Brittany McBrayer

“When I met you, I instantly knew you were God’s Plan for my life.”

M

ost of you know that Chris and I haven’t known each other very long. We met by divine appointment on March 4, 2012. My dad and brother-in-law had been at a men’s Christian leadership retreat all weekend, a weekend that Chris’s dad was in charge of. Both Chris and my dad were speaking at it and actually J]VSML VM`\ \W MIKP W\PMZ ITT _MMSMVL +PZQ[ PILV¼\ JMMV PWUM NZWU +WTWUJQI QV IJW]\ UWV\P[ [W PM PIL ÆW_V QV \W PMTX PQ[ LIL 6MMLTM[[ \W [Ia 1 PIL daddy’s approval before I ever even met Chris! I had known Chris’s family literally my entire life, but had never known Chris M`Q[\ML ]V\QT \PI\ ;]VLIa M^MVQVO 1V NIK\ Ua [Q[\MZ PIL M^MV UM\ PQU ;PM _I[ \PM WVM \PI\ QV\ZWL]KML ][ L]ZQVO [IQL QV\ZWL]K\QWV [PM LMÅVQ\MTa I[SML PQU if he was married....embarrassing!) When I met Chris, I had this feeling; some\PQVO _I[ [W]VLQVO QV Ua PMIZ\ J]\ 1 \PW]OP\ \W Ua[MTN ¹?M¼ZM [WWWWWWWWW LQNNMZMV\ º 0W_M^MZ Ua [_MM\ LILLa _W]TL 67< [\WX \ITSQVO IJW]\ ¹\PQ[ IUIbing young man” at dinner after I had picked him up from the retreat. My sister and I had wanted to go on a mission trip for a while, and God had been calling me to that life since I was about 13 years old. So when we met +PZQ[ \PI\ ;]VLIa _M \PW]OP\ Q\ _W]TL JM \PM XMZNMK\ WXXWZ\]VQ\a \W ÅVITTa OW Through the course of the week, I talked to Chris about coming down and helping out this summer, life, beliefs, and why I believed what I believed. We were interviewing each other and didn’t even realize it! He challenged me and I couldn’t talk to him enough in those few days. We ended up having coffee on that Friday in the middle of a tropical storm in The Woodlands. Little did I SVW_ Q\ _W]TL JM Ua TI[\ ÅZ[\ LI\M NWZ \PM ZM[\ WN Ua TQNM +WNNMM \]ZVML QV\W I three hour discussion, which turned into a late lunch, which turned into dinner, which turned into spending the weekend with his family. It took two days to fall in love with Chris. I knew I loved him when we went to church together Sunday (a week after we had met). We didn’t just go to church together, we WENT TO CHURCH together. Worshipping the Lord together _I[ \PM UW[\ IUIbQVO M`XMZQMVKM IVL \W \PQ[ LIa WVM WN Ua NI^WZQ\M UMUWZQM[ of us as a couple. +PZQ[ ÆM_ JIKS \W +WTWUJQI 5WVLIa IN\MZVWWV IVL _PMV 1 _I[ \MTTQVO PQU bye before I left for work that morning (thirty minutes late, I might add) he told UM PM TW^ML UM NWZ \PM ÅZ[\ \QUM ?M PIL SVW_V MIKP W\PMZ \_W IVL I PITN days, and I had never been more certain of a statement in my entire life. 4W\[ WN ¹.IKM\QUM LI\M VQOP\[º XPWVM KITT[ IVL TM\\MZ[ TI\MZ PMZM _M IZM IVL we absolutely couldn’t be happier. God had been preparing us for each other for about 3 years in our individual lives. What better way to start a relationship \PIV _Q\P XZIaMZ IVL KWVÅZUI\QWV NZWU \PM 4WZL \PI\ \PQ[ Q[ aW]Z [W]T UI\M

Amanda and Chris will be married January 19, 2013. To follow their journey, visit rfcministries.org. \RUIO KWU 49

PLACES & FACES

photographed by Lisa Crow

Downtown Lufkin Christmas Parade

50 THE JOURNEY JAN2013

YOUR BODY

52 NI[PQWV 54 UISM]X JW` 56 women's health

4I<QNIP ?WZZMTT .TMVQSMV photographed by Stephanie Davis

FASHION

 by  Jessica  Tinsley  Bridges,  Co-creator  of  joandjessfashionblog.com

easy weekend W]\Ă…\[

\Âź[ 2IV]IZa IVL \PM _QV\MZ _MI\PMZ Q[ PMZM Ă…VITTa ¸_PQKP KIV UISM Q\ XZM\\a \W]OP \W Ă…O]ZM W]\ _PI\ \W _MIZ WV \PM _MMSMVL _Q\PW]\ TWWSQVO TQSM aW] R][\ ZWTTML W]\ of  bed.  After  spending  the  week  in  your  work  clothes,  the  weekend  calls  for  chic  and  comfy  outfits.  With  a  few  variations,  these  looks  can  become    appropriate  for  any  age  and  body  shape.  Whether  you’re  headed    to  date  night  or  running  errands,  I  have  compiled  options,  all  under    $50,  with  style  and  comfort  in  mind. Â

I

Date  Night Girl's  Night  Out What  girl  doesn’t  love  a  little  sparkle?  This  look  would  be  perfect  for  a  night  out  with  your  favorite  girlfriends.  The  sparkly  top  adds  interest  to  the  look,  the  snakeskin  print  clutch  is  a  fun  accessory,  and  the  skinny  black  jeans  and  booties  go  perfectly  together.   You  can’t  forget  to  add  a  fun  pair  of  earrings  to  top  off  the  look. EARRINGS:  $29.50.  Juliette  Gem  Drop  Earrings,  Stelladot.com/jessicalbridges.  TOP: 4IJ_WZS[ ?WUMV [ Metallic  Tunic,  Target.  PANTS:  $20.  MossimoÂŽ  Skinny  Jeans,  Target.  CLUTCH:  $35.  Monet  Clutch,  JC  Penney.  SHOES:  $34.99.  Naomi  Platform  Bootine,  Payless.

Running  Errands So  much  to  do,  so  little  time.  <PQ[ W]\Ă…\ _QTT UISM Q\ TM[[ WN a  chore  when  choosing  what  to  wear  while  you  run  around  town.  I  love  the  comfy  Aztec  print  sweater  paired  with  riding  boots  and  skinny  denim  leggings.  Add  a  simple  pair  of  earrings  and  you  will  be  ready  \W OW <PQ[ Q[ IV W]\Ă…\ aW]ÂźTT want  to  be  seen  in. EARRINGS:  $34.00,  Serenity  Small  Stone  Drop  Earrings,  Stelladot.com/jessicalbridges.  TOP:  $42.50,  Cecilia  Sweater,  Blithe  Boutique.  PANTS:  $27.99,  MossimoÂŽ  Denim  Leggings,  Target.  SHOES:  $39.99,  MOOTSIES  TOOTSIESÂŽ   Riding  Boot,  Bealls. Â

52 Œ THE  JOURNEY  Œ JAN2013

I  always  look  forward  to  date  nights  with  my  hubby,  since  we  both  have  pretty  crazy  work  schedules.  When  I  do  have  the  chance  to  go  out  with  my  husband,  I  take  full  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  dress  up  and  embrace  the  night!  I  make  the  most  of  it  by  dressing  up  a  basic  item  in  my  closet,  like  this  colorful  sweater.  It  can  be  dressed  up  for  date  night  by  adding  printed  dark  skinny  jeans  and  booties.  If  you’re  not  a  high-heel  girl,  trade  them  for  an  embellished  XIQZ WN ÆI\[ ?PMV Q\ KWUM[ \W RM_elry,  keep  it  simple  and  stylish  with  a  gorgeous  pair  of  earrings. EARRINGS:  $29.50,  Bardot  Hoop  Earrings  Stelladot.com/jessicalbridges.  SCARF:   $9.99,  Pleated  Scarf,  Payless.  TOP:  $20,  MNG  by  Mango  V  Neck  Sweater,  JC  Penney.  PANTS:  $27.99.  MossimoÂŽ  Snake  Print  Denim  Legging,  Target.  SHOES:  $29.99,  MossimoÂŽ  Vira  Shootie,  Target.

Sporting  Event 0MZM Q[ IV W]\Ă…\ QLMI \PI\ Q[ K]\M IVL comfortable.  My  favorite  fashion  advice  for  sporting  events,  whether  it’s  watching  your  child’s  basketball  game  or  attending  your  favorite  college  game,  Q[ šLZM[[ TQSM aW]ÂźZM _I\KPQVO VW\ XTIaingâ€?.  Change  up  your  normal  blue  jean  ZW]\QVM NWZ KWTWZML LMVQU )LL I ÆW_QVO \WX IVL JITTM\ ÆI\[ IVL aW] _QTT JM ready  for  the  game. NECKLACE:  $27,  Multi  Chain  Necklace,  JC  Penney.  TOP:  $30,  Striped  Tab-Sleeve,  Old  Navy.  PANTS:  $27.99,  MossimoÂŽ  Colored  Skinny  Jeans,  Target.   SHOES:  $14.99,  MossimoÂŽ  Ona  Ballet  Flat,  Target.

Jessica (Jess) is a 28-year old brunette born and raised in Lufkin. She is in love with fashion and wearing high heels, even though she’s 5’10’’. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a Fashion Merchandising degree. She and her husband live in Houston with their 2 dogs, Bella and Bentley. She is an assistant buyer for a department store in Houston, Texas. She and her sister-in-law, Jo, have their own fashion blog where they share their love of fashion on a budget.

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MAKEUP BOX

by :IMOIV +I[[MT[ ?QTTQIU[WV d photography by Morgan Due

the perfect look for the perfect day! ven though wedding makeup is usually very simple and neutral, some brides will also choose a more dramatic look. However, it’s one of the hardest makeup looks to create, since it has to be PERFECT. After all, it is your big day! Makeup should last all day, through all the crying, hugging, kissing, eating and dancing. You’ll probably want to get your mascara waterproof, lips to be kiss proof, and your skin makeup to be bombproof. Your goal is to bring out your best features- not to prove how well you apply your makeup. If you’re going get your makeup done by a professional makeup artist, be sure to tell him/her what you want from your makeup. If you want something bolder, or some [XMKQÅK KWTWZ aW] [PW]TL JM IJTM \W OM\ Q\ )T[W XZW^QLM aW]Z IZ\Q[\ _Q\P XQK\]ZM[ WN PW_ aW] UIa _IV\ aW]Z UISM]X \W TWWS since describing the look isn’t always best. It is after all YOUR day, and you’re the one who gets to decide how your makeup looks. Do not be afraid to ask questions and correspond with your artist as much as possible, if needed. I suggest a consultation and trial makeup session, so that you and the makeup artist are comfy with each other and the look.

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IF you decide to apply your own makeup on your special day, here are some special tips for you! f,WV¼\ NWZOM\ aW]Z LuKWTTM\u QN aW]Z LZM[[ [PW_[ Q\ ) TQ\\TM IUW]V\ WN [WN\ [PQUUMZ WV \PM TW_MZ VMKSTQVM OQ^M[ \PM ÅVIT \W]KP \W aW]Z TWWS ~Remember that some foundations and/or powders look different in XQK\]ZM[ [QVKM \PMa ZMÆMK\ TQOP\ LQNNMZMV\Ta 1N XW[[QJTM OM\ aW]Z UISM]X KPMKSML IVL XPW\WOZIXPML _Q\P I ÆI[P JMNWZM \PM JQO LIa )T[W JTMVL your foundation down the neck some to make sure your face does not look different from the rest of your body. ~If you’re getting any facial treatments, make sure to get them several days JMNWZM \PM _MLLQVO LIa ;WUM\QUM[ [SQV KIV TWWS QZZQ\I\ML NWZ \PM VM`\ couple of days after treatments, and you don’t need that kind of surprise! ~Get your brows plucked and shaped (possibly even dyed) before the wedding day. If you pluck them on your wedding day, your brows may look red, swollen and irritated. ~Use a face primer, it will help your makeup last longer, make your [SQV TWWS [UWW\PMZ IVL _QTT ÅTT QV IVa ]V_IV\ML XWZM[ ~If you choose to wear false lashes, practice applying them prior to \PM _MLLQVO LIa AW] UIa KPWW[M \W PI^M MaMTI[P M`\MV[QWV[ IXXTQML by a professional. f-`XMZQUMV\ _Q\P TQX [\IQV[ WZ I KWTWZ [\Ia TQX[\QKS \W MV[]ZM \PI\ aW]Z pretty pout doesn’t rub or kiss off before walking down the aisle. f ,7 67< .7:/-< \PM _I\MZXZWWN UI[KIZI VW VMML \W M`XTIQV those tears of joy. ~If you’re going to wear contact lenses on your wedding day, put the lenses on before applying your makeup. ~Try not to stress too much (easier said than done, I know!). Stress may cause impurities on your skin. If you have some impurities, do not pick at them, as it makes them worse! Also, put a clean pillowcase WV M^MZa VQOP\ IVL LZQVS XTMV\a WN _I\MZ I^WQL []OIZ[ M`KM[[ UQTS IVL KIZJWVI\ML JM^MZIOM[ AW]Z JWLa IVL [SQV ZMÆMK\ _PI\ aW] MI\ so get plenty of veggies and fruits. ~One last tip: BREATH, SMILE, LAUGH, ENJOY....cherish every moment, even the small ones.

:IMOIV +I[[MT[ ?QTTQIU[WV Q[ I wife, mother, nurse and cosmetic enthusiast. She has put her career on hold to be a mother to her twoyear old son, Legend. In her spare time, she owns her own business, Airbrush Artistry. She specializes in airbrush tanning, airbrush and traditional makeup applications and makeup tutorials.

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perfect day

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WOMEN'S Â HEALTH

Turn  that  Frown  Upside  Down

Post-­holiday  blahs  might  be  seasonal  affective  disorder  he  gifts  are  unwrapped,  the  holiday  gatherings   concluded,  and  several  more  cold  weeks  of  winter  remain.  If  hibernation  has  set  in,  it  may  be  hard  for  aW] \W Ă…VL \PM UW\Q^I\QWV \W OM\ WNN \PM [WNI IVL out  from  under  that  warm,  wooly  blanket.  But,  if  your  post-holiday  blues  won’t  budge,  you  could  have  seasonal  affective  disorder  (SAD),  a  condition  that  occurs  during  the  winter  months. Â

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two  weeks  or  more  â€“  often  several  months  â€“  and  are  not   affected  by  the  time  of  year  or  changing  of  seasons.

SAD  is  a  disorder  that  affects  between  4  and  6  percent  of  people  in  the  United  States  â€“  around  10  million  Americans  â€“  IVL IVW\PMZ \W XMZKMV\ WN \PM XWX]TI\QWV UIa M`XMZQMVKM a  milder  form  of  winter  blues.  Many  more  Americans  with  SAD  remain  undiagnosed  and  untreated,  according  to  health  M`XMZ\[ ;), KIV INNMK\ IVaWVM J]\ Q\ Q[ UWZM KWUUWV IUWVO women,  people  with  a  family  history  of  SAD,  and  people  who  TQ^M QV IZMI[ _PMZM _QV\MZ LIa[ IZM [PWZ\ IVL \PMZM IZM [QOVQĂ…KIV\ changes  in  the  amount  of  daylight  between  the  seasons.  SAD  is  most  commonly  diagnosed  in  people  ages  15  to  55.

0MIT\P M`XMZ\[ IZM ]V[]ZM _PI\ KI][M[ ;), J]\ Q\ Q[ \PW]OP\ that  the  lack  of  sunlight  during  the  shorter  winter  days  disrupt  the  body’s  sleep  cycle,  circadian  rhythms  â€“  physical,  mental  and  behavioral  changes  in  the  body  that  follow  a  24-hour  cycle,  prompted  by  changes  in  light  and  darkness  in  the   MV^QZWVUMV\ ¡ IVL \PM JZIQVÂź[ XZWL]K\QWV WN I šNMMT OWWLÂş chemical  known  as  serotonin  that  affects  mood,  and  melatonin,  which  affects  sleep  patterns.

Conversely,  depression  is  generally  caused  by  a  combination  of  genetic,  biological,  environmental,  and  psychological  factors.  1\ KIV IT[W JM \ZQOOMZML Ja \ZI]UI TW[[ WN I TW^ML WVM I LQNĂ…K]T\ relationship,  or  any  stressful  situation  â€“  but  sometimes  there  is  no  apparent  cause. Â

<ZMI\UMV\ NWZ ;), QVKT]LM[ TQOP\ \PMZIXa M`MZKQ[M UMLQKI\QWV or  counseling.  Light  therapy  is  simple,  and  involves  sitting  in  NZWV\ WN I TQOP\ JW` ¡ VW JQOOMZ \PIV I PIZLJIKS JWWS ¡ WZ Symptoms  of  SAD  include:  wearing  a  light  visor,  for  about  half  an  hour  or  longer,  usually  % .MMTQVO [IL OZ]UXa UWWLa WZ IV`QW][ in  the  morning.  Other  light  therapy  uses  dawn  simulation,  with  a  dim  light  that  turns  on  in  the  morning,  activated  by  a  timer,  % Loss  of  interest  in  activities  usually  enjoyed  when  you  awaken  and  brightens  over  time,  to  mimic  the  sunrise.  % An  increase  in  appetite,  particularly  a  craving  for  starchy  It’s  believed  that  light  therapy  helps  to  re-set  the  brain’s  internal  carbohydrates,  such  as  bread  and  pasta clock,  restore  the  body’s  sleep/wake  cycle  and  regulate  other  daily  rhythms  â€“  which  in  turn,  relieve  the  depression-like   % Weight  gain symptoms  of  SAD. % An  increased  need  for  sleep  and  feeling  drowsy  during  If  you  can’t  kick  those  feelings  of  post-holiday  blahs,  talk  to  the  daytime  your  doctor.   Help  is  available. % Inability  to  concentrate Learn  more  by  visiting  www.WoodlandHeights.net,  click  on  % Increased  sensitivity  to  social  rejection,  and  avoidance  š0MIT\P :M[W]ZKM[Âş IVL š1V\MZIK\Q^M <WWT[ Âş IVL \M[\ aW]Z of  social  situations knowledge  with  the  Seasonal  Affective  Disorder  Quiz.  Or,  call  Symptoms  typically  begin  in  September  or  October  and  end  ! !! +):- \W Ă…VL I XPa[QKQIV _PW KIV PMTX QV )XZQT WZ 5Ia ;WUM\QUM[ Q\Âź[ LQNĂ…K]T\ \W LQ[\QVO]Q[P _PM\PMZ you  have  a  case  of  the  winter  doldrums,  SAD  or  depression,  because  many  of  the  symptoms  are  similar.  The  key  difference  Remember  that  this  information  is  not  intended  to  replace  is  the  time  of  year,  length  of  time  that  you  feel  down,  and  the  the  advice  of  your  doctor,  but  rather  to  increase  aware[aUX\WU[ \PI\ IKKWUXIVa aW]Z šN]VS Âş ness  and  help  equip  patients  with  information  and  facilitate  conversations  with  your  physician  that  will  benThe  differences  with  SAD  are  that,  unlike  depression,  symptoms  MĂ…\ aW]Z PMIT\P come  and  go  with  the  changing  of  the  seasons.  If  your  depressed  UWWL TQN\[ _Q\P \PM WV[M\ WN [XZQVO IVL TWVOMZ TQOP\ Ă…TTML LIa[ Sources:  National  Institutes  of  Mental  Health,  www.nimh.nih.gov;  you  may  have  SAD,  rather  than  depression.  A  major  depressive  American  Academy  of  Family  Physicians,  www.familydoctor.org ?MJ5, disorder  has  the  same  emotional  and  physical  symptoms  as  www.webmd.com SAD,  but  the  majority  of  these  symptoms  will  persist  for  at  least  56 ÂŒ THE  JOURNEY  ÂŒ JAN2013

YOUR CHILD

58 XZM\\a JIJQM[ 60 XIZMV\ \PW]OP\[ 63 TWWS I\ UM 64 JQZ\PLIa JI[P 66 why i love being a mom

photographed by Morgan Due

PRETTY Â BABIES

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3

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5 7 1.  Camille  Renee'  Calda.  1/5/12.  Proud  Parents:  Keith  &  Kari  Calda.  2.  A .J.  Gomez.  8/23/12.  Proud  Parents:  Dawn  R ichardson  &  Michael  Gomez  (Lufkin,  TX).  Proud  Grandparents:  Suszette  Gomez  /  Debroah  Richardson  (Lufkin,  TX).  3.  Lucas  Mateo  Juarez.  8ZW]L 8IZMV\[" 2]IV AILQZI 2]IZMb ,QJWTT <@ 8ZW]L /ZIVLXIZMV\[" ,WZI .IZWWY 8Æ]OMZ^QTTM <@ 2W[M ) +I[\I}MLI 4Q\\TM Elm,  T X).  4.  Lily  Raye  Litton.  8/1/12.  Proud  Parents:  Gary  &  Jessica  L itton  ( Huntington,  T X).  Proud  Grandparents:  L ewis  &  L ibby  Sapp  ( Huntington,  T X)  /  Gary  &  Julie  L itton  ( Huntington,  T X).  5.  Paisley  Faith  Pierce.  10/2/12.  Proud  Parents:  Cody  &  Shay  P ierce.  6.  Ledger  A llen  R ice. 8ZW]L 8IZMV\[" 4]\PMZ 4QVL[Ma :QKM 4]NSQV <@ 8ZW]L /ZIVLXIZMV\[" ,MVVQ[ -^MTaV :QKM 4]NSQV TX)  /  David  &  Kay  A lsbrooks  ( Lufkin,  T X).  7.  Ryane  A lise  Smith. ! ! 8ZW]L 8IZMV\[" ;PMI 2IUQM ;UQ\P ,QJWTT <@ 8ZW]L Grandparents:  Bobby  &  Gina  Jones  ( Diboll,  T X)  /  Steve  &  Susan  Smith  ( Jasper,  T X).  8.  Hailey  Lucille  Stuck.  3/6/12.  Proud  Parents:  Jason  &  Carmen  Stuck  ( Lufkin,  T X).  Proud  Grandparents:  Brian  &  L inda  M iller  ( Lufkin,  T X)  /  Dean  &  Candy  Stuck  ( Watauga,  T X). E-­mail Pretty Babies submissions to prettybabies@tjmag.com. Please include the information seen above. Submissions are free of charge.

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PARENT THOUGHTS

by Kelly Finnerud

progression of photographs here aren’t too many things I do as a parent where 1 KIV [\MX JIKS IVL [Ia ¹?W_ 1 PIL I ZMITTa OWWL idea.” But it does occasionally happen. After our youngest turned one, I decided to start taking a picture of him every year around his birthday wearing something that belongs to his daddy. I remember thinking \PI\ \PM \]`MLW Ua P][JIVL _WZM \W W]Z _MLLQVO _W]TL JM I

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Age 2

Age 3

Age 4

great idea, but like most young couples, we’d rented it. I ended up choosing a t-shirt he always wears. Looking back, I wish we’d gone with a nicer shirt, and alongside the fact, the yellow shirt Q[ VW_ ! aMIZ[ WTL IVL Ua P][JIVL Q[ U]KP \WW [SQVVa \W _MIZ it anymore. However, we’re sticking with Old Yellow now, and I’m enjoying the progression of photographs.

Age 5

Age 6

Age 7

When our second son \]ZVML WVM 1 ÅO]ZML well, with 2 toddlers running around I didn’t ÅO]ZM U]KP WN IVathing, so we stuck with the yellow shirt.

Age 1

Age 2

Age 3

Age 4

Age 5

Age 6

While I LOVE looking at their growth in Old Yellow, here is where I pride myself. By the time our daughter came around, I had a new camera and was learning how to use it in manual mode. I was thinking clearly enough to not put her in that old man shirt, and I pulled out my wedding dress to play with my camera.

Age 1

Age 2

Kelly Finnerud and husband, Ryan, have 3 energetic kids, Aidan (8), Trace (6) and Emmy (4). T hey have been married 10 years. Ryan is a worship pastor at Grace Bible Church in Nacogdoches, and Kelly has a music education degree and has been a band director in the area until staying home with young children. Kelly writes for ParentThoughts.com, an online resource sharing local activities, parenting stories and anything else kid-related in our area.

Age 3

Age 4

I fell in love with the images I captured, and she loves dressing like a princess bride each year on her birthday! There will probably come a time when the children don’t want to participate anymore, along with a time when I can’t make them. (See 1st set of photos, Age 2.) But until then, and even after, we’ll hang on to that old t-shirt and have many memories to share. ;W 1 MVKW]ZIOM aW] \W ÅVL [WUM\PQVO UMIVQVON]T \W you, your spouse or your child and begin taking a yearly photo. It’s not too late to start now!

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!

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PLACES & FACES

photographed by Lisa Crow

Lufkin Industries Rudolph Lighting

Interested in purchasing a photo you see? Visit lisacrowphotography.smugmug.com!

1

LOOK Â AT Â ME

LOOK  AT  ME! /ZQNÃ…V ;ITI[ 2W[P 5aTM[ 4QT¼ 0WWXMZ[ [\ XTIKM aMIZ old.  Hudson  Youth  Basketball  Shootout  Tournament.  2.  Bennett,  Asher,  &  Kaytlin  Hearne.  3.  Hudson  Youth  Basketball.  Start-Up  <W]ZVIUMV\ ! 4WVOPWZV[ _WV [\ 8TIKM *W\\WU ZW_" ;QUWV White,  Kanaan  Holder,  Braden  Barker,  Kaleb  Owens,  Carson  Courtney.  Top  Row:  Trace  Lucas,  Izah  Rivera,  Martin  Lucas,  Coach  Tony  Holder.  4.  Ace  Soto. aMIZ[ WTL 4W[\ Ã…Z[\ \WW\P WV \PM [KPWWT bus!  5.  Zoie QV PMZ Ã…Z[\ XTIa LIa 6.  Chase  Driscoll _WV Ã…Z[\ XTIKM in  Lufkin  fun  run  10-13-12.

4

2 3

5

6

BIRTHDAY Â BASH

it's  snow  much  fun! he  only  way  to  have  a  Winter  Wonderland  QV <M`I[ Q[ I [VW_ UIKPQVM .WZ 3IZ[WV [ 1st  birthday,  his  mom,  Morgan  Due,  wanted  to  recreate  a  piece  of  winter  fun  that  East  <M`I[ LWM[V¼\ OM\ \W M`XMZQMVKM \WW WN\MV 1\ _I[ LMÃ…VQ\MTa I XIZ\a \W ZMUMUJMZ IVL N]V NWZ M^MZaWVM to  play  in  the  snow! Â

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Anita Byrd

WHY I LOVE BEING A MOM

Spiritual Parenting ¹5a OZMI\M[\ JTM[[QVO[ KITT UM »5WU¼º 1 KIV¼\ imagine my life without Bryanna, Bobby, and Brandy. I can remember walking across campus my sophomore year of college thinking to myself, ¹)TT 1 M^MZ _IV\ QV TQNM Q[ \W JM I _QNM IVL UW\PMZ º God has richly blessed me with both.

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Bobby and Meredyth praying before their wedding.

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us; obedience to God is a heart issue. A verse we have had in our home since we were married is 2W[P]I " ¹°I[ NWZ UM IVL Ua PW][M _M will serve the Lord.” I cannot fathom the thought of one of my children not being in Heaven, and who is more responsible to teach them Truth \PIV \PMQZ XIZMV\[' 2WPV " [Ia[ ¹1 IU \PM way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Their relationship with Christ has been the driving force of being their mom. I remember when each one accepted Christ as their Savior! Pure joy!

As soon as Bryan and I found out we were M`XMK\QVO MIKP WN W]Z KPQTLZMV _M [\IZ\ML praying for our child and their future spouse. Our greatest investment has been teaching them the importance of their relationship with Christ and how that relationship relates to all aspects As I mentioned before, we prayed for each of of their lives. W]Z KPQTLZMV I[ _M TMIZVML _M _MZM M`XMK\QVO I can remember when my husband, Bryan, and them, and we prayed for their spouse. While our 1 ÅZ[\ NW]VL W]\ _M _MZM M`XMK\QVO W]Z ÅZ[\ KPQTL children were growing up, we taught them the Bryanna Lynn. I began to ponder the unfathom- ^IT]M IVL QUXWZ\IVKM WN [M`]IT X]ZQ\a IKKWZLQVO able responsibility of bringing up a child. It was \W /WL¼[ ?WZL ?M \WTL \PMU \PI\ [M` JMNWZM then in our lives that we made a commitment marriage was like letting other children come to invest our lives in sharing Jesus with our over at Christmas, unwrap and play with all their KPQTLZMV IVL \MIKPQVO \PMU Ja M`IUXTM \PM gifts, and then Christmas morning mom and importance of having a relationship with Him. dad rewrapping the gifts and giving them their ][ML OQN\[ *MQVO WXMV IVL ¹TQ[\MVQVOº \W W]Z I can remember as a young mother, hearing children has created the most blessed relationship [WUMWVM [Ia ¹;WUM XMWXTM \PQVS \PMa IZM I with each of them. successful parent if their child is a doctor or lawyer, etc, but a successful parent is one whose My girls and I will always have our relationship, children know Christ as their Savior.” That because when they marry, our relationship will thought left a lasting impression on me, not change. However, I have known that my especially knowing that this life will soon pass. relationship with my son, Bobby, would change Therefore, Bryan and I always put more one day. God taught me very early in his life that emphasis on our children studying God’s Word one day another lady would take my place. than on school events or other activities. /MVM[Q[ " [Ia[ ¹° I UIV [PITT TMI^M PQ[ NI\PMZ and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and I believe as parents we were fun and not too \PMa [PITT JMKWUM WVM ÆM[P º )N\MZ KWTTMOM rigid… but we never compromised God’s Bobby moved back home and it was then that standards in our parenting. We taught our chil- his and Meredyth’s relationship grew to the point dren to be obedient to God and His Word that it was time for them to be married. As much because they desire to please Him, not to please as I love that young man of mine, God’s grace _I[ UWZM \PIV []NÅKQMV\ I[ 1 _Q\VM[[ML PQU WV August 11, 2012 give his heart away to another TILa 5Z[ 5MZMLa\P <WLL *aZL 1 KIV¼\ M`XZM[[ the joy their wedding day was to my heart. Our pastor, Dr. Mark Livingston, of Keltys First Baptist Church, performed their wedding KMZMUWVa <PMQZ _MLLQVO _I[ ¹XMZNMK\º I[ W]Z church family surrounded us and our family and friends as Bobby and Meredyth entered into their marriage covenant. I love being a Mom because God is faithful to His children! God has richly blessed me with 25 years beside my best friend bringing up our children in the ways of the Lord!

photographed by Lisa Crow

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