Minute Magazine March April 2016

March/April 2016 Volume 11, Issue 2

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Pedal into

Spring let’s take the path less traveled 1

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Excellence.

The Joint Commission’s The Joint Commission’s Top Performer on Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®® Key Quality Measures 2014 2014 • Heart Attack • Heart Attack • Heart Failure • Heart Failure • Surgical Care • Surgical Care • Pneumonia • Pneumonia • Immunizations • Immunizations

One One of of the the top top in in the the nation nation for the fourth year in aa row. for the fourth year in row.

By focusing on quality care for patients and doing what’s right, we have

By focusing on quality care for patients and doing what’s right, we have received national recognition – for four years in a row. Northern Louisiana received national recognition – for four years in a row. Northern Louisiana Medical Center is recognized by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer Medical Center is recognized by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® for achieving excellence in performance on on Key Quality Measures® for achieving excellence in performance on its accountability measures during 2014 for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, its accountability measures during 2014 for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, Surgical Care and Immunizations. Northern Louisiana Medical Pneumonia, Surgical Care and Immunizations. Northern Louisiana Medical Center is one of just 221 in the country to have achieved this accomplishment Center is one of just 221 in the country to have achieved this accomplishment for four consecutive years. for four consecutive years.

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inside this magazine TIFFANY BYRAM

Owner/Publisher/Editor/Graphics/Layout

VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager JUDITH ROBERTS CHALAINE SCOTT

Staff Writers

BONITA BANDARIES YVETTE HARDY DR. DAVID KAUFMAN MELANIE MASSEY GROVES Feature Writers

issue

8 Without Winter by Chalaine Scott 10 Soul Breaths by Yvette Hardy 18 Refresh Your Heart

by Bonita Bandaries

28 Like Minded

by Melanie Massey Groves

35 War on Pollen

by Dr. David Kaufman

JENNY REYNOLDS Founder

Office Phone: 504.390.2585 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 Address: P.O. Box 961, Belle Chasse, LA 70037

FIND US ONLINE!

For a list of locations near you, or to catch up on past issues, like us on Facebook or visit

www.theminutemag.com Interested in writing for The Minute or have a great feature story idea? Email Tiffany Byram at

theminutemagazine@gmail.com

The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, Ouachita, Webster, & Lincoln Parishes in Louisiana. They are FREE for you to enjoy.

Take some to your friends, relatives or anyone else who needs a refreshing, enlightening “minute.�

Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permission. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials.

The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.

The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted.

Leslie Albritton Shelley Duran Barbara Durbin Sara Enloe Winnie Griggs Wesley Harris Elizabeth Hines Ashley Maddox Jason McReynolds Kathy B. Nelson Rachel Pardue Chalaine Scott Rosemary Thomas Darla Upton

T

he smell of fresh cut grass. The glow of sunlight streaming through the trees. The wind whistling a gentle song of renewal. The sound of children playing in the backyard while you rock on the porch swing.

Spring is a time for joy. The cold, lifeless winter gives way to fresh growth and warmth. I'll be honest with you. This issue is very real and a little painful. Each of our writers seems to have found a common denominator. The winter has been hard. Struggles, pain, grief, and illness are all around us. But the overwhelming theme of this issue is still HOPE. Hope that the rains will come and wash us new.

Hope that God's plan will unfold before us in all its beauty and that we will be grateful for THIS day.

Whether finding your "Soul Breath" with our newest writerYvette Hardy, growing with "Like Minded" individuals with Melanie Massey Groves, or "Refreshing Your Heart" with Bonita Bandaries, the concept is the same. We have to grab hold of what revitalizes us and not let it go. It's so important to strive for change and growth. Caring for ourselves through our relationships and intentions gives us the opportunity to be something better for someone else. This is what spring is all about. The vibrancy returning to earth. The blossoming of dandelions. The warmth rushing back into our beating hearts. Go find your spring.

Tiffany Byram

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Speak It! written by Kathy B. Nelson

Sing and Swing in the Spring!

I

love spring! It’s usually a little bit cool, but a whole lot of sunshine.

Even the “April showers” that bring “May flowers” are good because I actually enjoy the rain, too. This is the season that seemingly dead things are coming back to life and showing us their purpose. Foliage is pushing up through the hard dirt and sometimes even through the concrete. Buds with a little color on the tips are peeking out from branches on dull, barren bushes and trees. It is such a powerful reminder of how new life brings new hope. Some are energized to clean their house and call it “spring cleaning”. I am not one of those people. I would miss the whole spring season in order to get my house clean. Wouldn’t you rather go outside and swing and think of a fun song to sing? I thought so. Me, too.

In light of this wonderful season that includes the celebration of Easter and the resurrection of our Lord, I wanted to revisit the scriptures and see what happened after that gut-wrenching weekend that ended with such a great day. Easter came early for us this year and that provoked within me the desire to know what the people did after such a miraculous, life changing event. I mean, what do you do after something like that? How do you go back to just doing life as you had before? When someone we love dies, it changes us for a lifetime. When someone is born, it changes us for a lifetime, as well. What happens when someone dies and comes back to life after three days? Jesus visited people and showed them he was indeed alive.

Some were scared, some doubted and some rejoiced. But, all of them realized Jesus did just what he said he would do. They did not go back to doing life as they had before! But what else was recorded after the resurrection? What I found in the book of John made me throw my head back and laugh out loud.

It made me stand up and walk around the room and say, "YES! Of course that is what happened!"

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“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25 Do you see it?

Friends, I realized it is STILL happening with as much frequency and power as it did during that season of time after the resurrection. John reflected on and gave witness to the fact that Jesus had done so many things for people, before and after the resurrection, that if every story about him was written the whole world could not contain all the books it would take to hold those accounts.

My life is filled with those Jesus stories, too. He has shown up in my fear, joy, anger, anxiety, and my frustration. He has been faithful in my doubt, failures, solitude, noise and in my weakness… especially my weakness. He is still the subject that can fill even more books.

What have you seen Jesus do in your lifetime? I believe there are so many testimonies that we could not produce enough paper for everyone in the world to write of how this one man changed their lives. We would have some short stories and some would be long stories.

Looking at the options in bookstores, some have one story that fills up an entire book all by itself. Do you have one of those stories? I think I may have a few of those myself.

My word of encouragement to you this spring is that while you are

enjoying seeing all the new things this season brings, take a little time and remember the moments, the stories, the remarkable events that have happened in this life of yours. Write it down somewhere, but please tell someone else. Someone else may need that story of yours to restore hope to their own life. It’s not just the long stories, but the short ones as well, that can speak life into someone’s heart and soul.

Right now, take a little time and be thankful for what you have been given.

In celebration of all of those things, go outside and swing. Swing high and feel the wind in your face. Then pull up that song from your memory bank that you use to love when you were younger and sing it out real loud. If you can’t remember all the words, just make up some like you probably did back when you first learned it anyway. And just like swinging and singing are old lessons you learned that can still be enjoyed today, think about all of the blessings from years ago that are part of what made you the new person you are now.

If the world, way back then when John was writing, could not contain the books that told accounts of all that Jesus had done while on earth, imagine what that would mean for us today. Maybe, to the moon and back or even to infinity and beyond, could not contain them either.

I know one thing – I want my stories to be included. There are so many, just ask me.

----------------------------------------------------

Kathy is an author and speaker that loves to bring a word of encouragement to anyone that will listen.

Founder of Speak It Ministries, she has been sharing her faith and teaching God's Word for over 30 years.

She is a wife, sister, mom and Mimi to some great people and loves spending time with each of them.

You can follow her on FaceBook, Twitter @cckahy, Goodreads and Wordpress. She is best described by having a desire to live life, love people and laugh out loud.

Master Chef Comes to North Louisiana

Spring Open House April 9 Skyros Trunk Show

OUTHERN FAMILY TRADITIONS ARE CREATED AROUND the dinner table. The gathering place for good meals and telling stories is where memories are made that last for generations. And nothing draws the family around like a beautifully set table and delicious food from special family recipes.

meet and greet with owner Kathy Pitts

Townsend House Gifts in Ruston knows all about Southern traditions and setting a beautiful table. Each room in the historic home features inspiration for gracious table settings and centerpieces.

On April 9, Townsend House Gifts will host a Spring Open House, bringing together an elegant trunk show of Skyros tableware, presented in person by the owner of Skyros Designs, Kathy Pitts, and a cookbook signing of a new cookbook by Whitney Miller, winner of the first U. S. Master Chef on Fox TV. At Skyros Designs, headquartered in Memphis, they share a passion for life, laughter, family and hard work. Throughout the years, their goals and values have remained the same. They are committed to beautiful design and unsurpassed quality.

Their stoneware, crafted in Portugal, is extremely durable and chip resistant. Their dinnerware and accessories go from freezer to 500 degree preheated oven and are microwave and dishwasher safe. It is perfect when dressed up with silver and crystal for an elegant dinner, yet durable enough to be stacked in the kitchen and used everyday.

Whitney Miller Cookbook Signing winner of US MasterChef on Fox TV

Whitney Miller will be on hand April 9 at Townsend House Gifts to sign her new cookbook, Whitney Miller’s New Southern Table. Inspired by the hospitality of her 97-year-old great grandmother, and the creativity of her mother, Whitney’s passion for the art of cooking began at an early age. At twenty-two, she won the reality cooking show MasterChef.

Soon after, she earned her degree, with emphasis on nutrition, from the University of Southern Mississippi. Since then, she has been featured across the globe in Southern cuisine cooking promotions and developed recipes for companies and magazines, including Southern Living, Big Green Egg and Tervis. She has also collaborated with chefs at restaurants, and authored another cookbook.

Townsend House Gifts will serve treats from recipes in Whitney Miller’s cookbook, using beautiful pieces from Skyros Designs during the trunk show and cookbook signing April 9, from11:00 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Imagine giving her a beautiful new set of dishes or a signed cookbook filled with favorite family recipes from Whitney Miller. At Townsend House Gifts, they make it easy with free gift wrapping and lots and lots of ideas to please mothers and grandmothers.

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410 N. Bonner St.

Ruston

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The sun is shining brightly, resting between two clouds. Down here, where life is rushing by and people are speeding through their days, it's hard to notice the sun.

People spend a lot of time looking down, and not so much time looking up. But, the sun still shines, and it lights up the sidewalk in patches of yellow, fighting the tree limbs to bring light to the shadows.

The trees sway in a cold winter wind, bare and blank above me from limbs that once held leaves. They swat the air with their naked branches and remind me again that spring has not yet arrived. I hurry through patches of sidewalk shadows of dark pavement to let the sun warm my skin with its rays. Like I do with all life's cold moments, rushing to feel warmth again.

But without winter, I wouldn't love spring.

Without bare trees and withered grass, I wouldn't notice flowers as they pop up from the cold ground and leaves as they start to appear. I wouldn't recognize how great the sun feels on a nose and how joyous an open window.

So often, we fight so hard against the annoyances of our life that we seldom recognize how needed they are. How appreciative they make us. How strong they leave us.

So often, we damn winter winds and expect summer sunshine when we actually need one just as much as the other.

Fights bring make ups. Disappointments bring lessons.

Bad days make ordinary ones seem the best. We need the things we don't want to make us the people we were meant to be. We need the things we don't realize to give us the lives we were meant to live.

Even in the coldest times, God is waiting to bring us the warmest moments. God is tilling the soil for a new day. A new season. A new opportunity.

The sun is peeking through winter trees, and I feel it as it tries to warm my tingling fingers, I feel it as it takes the redness from my rosy cheeks. I'm glad for the sun, because I feel the cold in my bones. And I'm glad for the wind, because without it, I would not know how much I appreciate the coming days when I can lay in the grass in a T-shirt and shorts and feel a warm breeze. Love a sunny day. Look to the Heavens and thank God for a winter. Because He knew we needed it to love the spring.

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We carry 1003 North Trenton, Ruston, LA (318)224-0224

y the time you read this, spring should be sprung! Flowers blooming, weather changing (ok, we live in Louisiana, I realize it changed from yesterday to today). Anyway, spring is a time to stop and smell the flowers, look at life, growth, and rebirth. Time to enjoy all these things. By this time of year, we’ve forgotten most of the New Year’s resolutions we’ve made, but something about all the newness of spring makes us want to begin again. But when we have a hard time slowing down, this can be an issue. So I’m practicing stillness.

I’m learning to wind down and give stillness a chance to work. To do what it is designed to do. And what is it designed to do? I believe it is designed to let my soul breathe.

In this day and age we pride ourselves on how much we can accomplish. The days still have the same number of hours in them as they used to but we sure try to cram a lot more in them than feasibly possible. No time for porch sittin and sweet tea sippin. We are facing a deadline!

I’m no different. I live by checklists, routines and schedules. With a husband and 3 kids, that’s a must. In our family of five, from the oldest to the youngest, there is plenty of activity to go around. Okay, so I’m kinda “high strung” if you want to know the truth. I work best with at least 3 irons in the fire at all times. It’s no wonder that being still is tough for me. I even have a hard time getting a pedicure (and as bad as my feet are, that’s not a good thing… just ask my husband)! I feel that valuable time (when I’m supposed to be relaxing) could better be spent on something more productive than having a person scraping the dead skin cells off my heels while she talks to her coworkers in a language I don’t understand and am sure is all about how BAD my feet are! I seem to be able to go at a rushed pace and still manage PHYSICALLY most of the time, MENTALLY part of the time, but hardly ever can I keep that pace up and come out unscathed SPIRITUALLY. If my soul feels as though I haven’t had specific time to restore normalcy, then I’m done! Physically I begin to fade, emotionally I’m a wreck and spiritually I start to get anxious knowing this isn’t of God. I am definitely doing better than my younger self, (probably because I’m old and tired). But it is a struggle, sometimes daily. In the midst of the craziness, and the running at break neck speed, there has to be some “still time”. There has to be some time to regain composure and let my soul breathe. There has to be time to “be still and know that He is God.” I guess the

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correct term for this would be “balance.” We are all looking for that balance. When we are leaning too strongly in one area, exerting too much energy to running, schedules, tasks, and checklists, our emotional and spiritual gas light comes on. I always tell my husband that there is a method to my madness. But sometimes it is simply madness that keeps me running crazy! We have to find balance. There has to be that down time to recapture, resolve, and restore. For me, it is through time spent in God’s word. There is refreshment for the soul there, just as the spring rains are to the newly budding flowers this time of year. It is the place I go to be still and know that He is in control and that I don’t have to live out every detail of a schedule to hold our little worlds in this orbit. He holds the world! It is comforting to know that there is a Keeper of all things (and even though the males in this house think it’s me, it isn’t). It is a relief to know that I am not responsible for everything but there is One who is holding everything together with His mere breath. He speaks the stars out every night and not one fails to show up.

I think this time of year is the perfect season to reflect on our soul and what gives us peace. The hustle of the holidays are a distant memory and the promises of the New Year have to be put behind us. It is a time for new beginnings, no matter how we failed at our resolutions. Some people find that restoration and rejuvenation through music, meditation, gardening, spending time with family and friends, or journaling. My challenge for you is this…find what lets your soul breathe. And then practice it. It is one thing to KNOW what to do and another thing altogether to DO it! Revisit this “soul breath” often. As often as necessary.

And when, in another couple of months, you begin to feel like you’re running on the hamster wheel again, getting nowhere…remember to get off and stop, look around, smell the flowers and breathe!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Yvette is a mom to 3 brown-eyed beauties, a wife to a hard-working "Louisiana oil-man," a sister to two crazy gals, an aunt to many, and a child of the One True King. These are just some of the titles she holds humbly, and near & dear to her heart. She's still chasing a few dreams (even at her age), and trying to live intentionally! Yvette is a lover of all things old, southern hospitality, a gypsy at heart and happy in boots or heels! She is a nurse and the owner of Fashion on the Fly online boutique with a mobile fashion truck on the way.

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11

from simplicity to

stilettos

written by Chalaine Scott Loseable

A

song played on my radio the other day. A normal day while I was bringing my dog to his vet appointment. I’d heard it so many times before, but this day, this drive, the lyrics hit me. And they will not leave my head.

He was resting his snout on my console, paws hanging from the backseat; I was petting him from the front, promising that this wouldn’t take long. Just a quick shot and we could leave. We were almost to the office. And then, the song…

I’m gonna love you, like I’m gonna lose you. I’m gonna hold you. While I’m saying goodbye…ah-ey ah-ey.

And there I went. Breaking out into tears as I slowed for the red light ahead.

My dog was diagnosed with cancer in November. It’s been a few months since his initial diagnosis. His tumors have been taken out and we’re now working through chemo. But man, cancer is one tough monster to battle. And even when you’ve stood beside grandmas and friends as they’ve overcome it, you just can’t help but let the fear overtake you again. The word alone backs you down into a corner and makes you want to give up. It makes an end feel near and thoughts go crazy.

But despite the defeat it brings, it makes each moment more of a miracle.

If there's one thing cancer is good at doing, it's making you appreciate - truly appreciate - every day. It makes you appreciate the normal minutes when death doesn't feel imminent and sickness isn't in power. It makes you cautiously aware of every opportunity you have to hug and kiss and love and cuddle... because you fear the time you won't get those chances.

So, there you are, in the car, a wet little nose nuzzled up against your arm, tears streaming down your face with these lyrics from the speakers.

I’m gonna love you, like I’m gonna lose you. I’m gonna hold you. While I’m saying goodbye…ah-ey ah-ey.

Because it hits you. It hits you hard. Isn’t that how I should be loving everyone?

Like I might lose them in the next second?

The next day? The next breath?

Because I’m going to. We’re going to.

We’ll wake up one day and those paws won’t be clicking on the hardwood.

Her giggles won’t echo the walls of the playroom. His dirtied jeans won’t litter the bathroom floor. Nana won’t call.

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We’ll wake up one day and look around and all those people we spent a lifetime loving won’t be there to love anymore.

“Honey, what are you cooking us up for lunch?”

“It’s a surprise, mama.”

You’ll get a random text from your dad saying, “What happened? My kids grew up too fast.” You’ll pluck a hair from your chin and question how it got there and you’ll pick another from your head and hold it to the light because surely it can’t be grey and you’ll budget expenses and wonder whether you called to pay the insurance while you’re zipping up your jacket and scrambling for your keys as you’re rushing out the door. And you’ll look in the mirror, right at yourself as you’re washing your hands, right at the darkness under your eyes, and you’ll realize it. You’ll lift your dogs back legs into the car and you’ll realize it. You’ll look at your mom drifting to sleep in her chair and you’ll realize it.

“Honey, what’s for lunch?”

“It’s gonna be a surprise, mama.”

It’s happening to me. It’s happening to him. It’s happening to her. And you can’t stop it.

A man wakes up everyday married to a woman who can’t remember things the next minute. Graciously, he serves her and loves her and reminds her who she is. That’s the best example of loving like you’re losing if you ask me.

We’re getting loseable. Our people are getting loseable. We’ve been loseable and we are loseable and we’re getting more loseable every day. And yet, are we really doing such a good job of loving?

Are we really doing such a great job of holding? Are we here when we’re here?

Are we there when we’re there?

Are we looking down into screens for a story from a stranger instead of listening to a real one from someone we love? Are we trying so hard to get a good photo instead of trying to live a good moment?

Are we trying to word a post to assure some likes instead of sharing a word with someone who loves us? Are we loving like we’re losing?

I look at my dog as he stares at the window. I wonder how many more days he’ll get this view. How many more times will he wake to see rolling hills of snow and passing cars and birds tiptoeing across frozen ground and blank bare trees swaying in a cold winter wind… How many more times will I? My mom overheard a conversation the other day, a husband and a wife of 60 years.

“Honey, are we having lunch today?”

“I’m setting the table now, mama.”

“Honey, did I cook all this?”

“No, mama, we ordered it from the place you love up the road.”

“Honey, how long have we been married?”

“60 years, mama. 60 wonderful years.”

“Honey, do our kids ever call us?”

60 years, and this. Memories made.

Memories faded. Memories gone.

Imagine if we did love people as if we’re about to lose them. I think we’d say I love you a lot more. Bicker a lot less. Ignore emails and Facebook updates. Shut the TV off and put our cell phones down. I bet we’d look into eyes, deep into eyes, see colors and years and hopes. See love. I bet we’d forgive and cry and joke and sing and smile and share and kiss and hold and play and listen and learn. I bet we’d enjoy every ounce. Every fiber. Every inch and movement and feeling. I bet we’d do things a lot differently.

No one likes a ticking clock, an expiration date – but we all have one. Life is but a vapor. I thank God for my vapor. For my chance at loving and learning and trying and failing and winning and losing and growing and meeting and seeing and doing.

I thank God even more for other people’s vapors. For the chance to know them and love them and cherish them. And I pray I can do better at enjoying them while I still can. Before loseable…turns to lost.

A copywriter, novelist, and columnist, Chalaine lives by her pen. She is always traveling and never settling, making memories wherever she roams.

Living off her dog's cuddles, her brother's humor, and sweet iced tea, she is just a girl in love with the simplicities. Mostly though, she is just a mess in stilettos, living off God's grace and living to serve Him, welcoming inspiration from wherever it comes and pursuing her dreams with whatever it takes.

Follow her @Chaleezy

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headlines & hemlines written by Rachel Pardue

The Last Two Years

A

s I sit here writing this article in my college dorm room while snow falls outside of my window for the second day straight, I think back on the girl who pulled up to her high school to meet Mrs. Vicki Caskey for job shadowing day.

That girl seems like a entirely different person. I remember feeling particularly grown up on that morning as I sat in my first car wearing a carefully selected outfit while I watched as the rest of campus filed into the classrooms in a stampede of plaid. In that moment, I experienced for the first time the foreign yet invigorating sensation of being on the outside of routine. I was instantly addicted.

Mrs. Vicki arrived, and I jumped in her car full of excitement to shadow her every move, and experience a day in the life of a magazine columnist and non-profit creator. As we drove back and forth across what felt like all of North Louisiana, I was fascinated by Mrs. Vicki’s can-do attitude, and her rare commitment to allowing her joy to lead her career. This is a lesson that has come full circle for me.

Just last night, I was at my favorite meeting of the week, E Tower. E Tower is the place where the entrepreneurs of my college live and work together in the most amazing display of ingenuity, creativity, and the hunger to make an impact now. Once a week, we have millionaire entrepreneurs (some of whom were a part of E Tower when they were at Babson College) come hang out in our living room, and talk to us with brutal honesty about their experience.

The entrepreneur who spoke to us last night, shared with surprising candidness and vulnerability that the most difficult challenge facing young professionals is maintaining personal balance. He shared that too often the most successful CEO’s allow their

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businesses to become their lives, and as a result from alienating themselves from their friends, families, and hobbies, their sole sense of worth comes from their job. He warned that developing a mindset that tricks you into believing that happiness follows success is far too common.

To borrow from the wisdom of the Dalai Lama, when he was asked what surprises him most about humanity, he answered, “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

On that car ride two years ago, Mrs. Vicki told me how she had the idea to create her non-profit organization, Wiggin Out, which changes peoples’ lives by helping cancer patients in North Louisiana pay for the unbelievable amount of expenses that are the difference between life and death.

Impressively, Mrs. Vicki immediately acted to make her plan a reality. Only now that I am starting my own business do I realize how tremendously difficult it is to build the momentum to bring an idea to life and maintain the confidence to see the plan through when a million challenges are inevitably presented.

At this time in my life, I thought I wanted to be the editor and chief of a

magazine. In my mind, I had a simple three-step plan: high school, college, magazine. While sitting at a table in Starbucks, Mrs. Vicki urged me to start my magazine right away. She said there was no need to wait, and experience is the best teacher.

Although I did not create my magazine, this realization that I could begin pursuing my dreams right away led me to apply for an entrepreneurship program at Yale, which led me to develop a launch plan for my concept of a tech startup, which ended up being my golden ticket into the college of entrepreneurship that I am writing this article from right now. I know God has a plan because I certainly didn’t see any of this coming when I was sitting in Starbucks with Mrs. Vicki two years ago. It was also on this day that Mrs. Vicki asked me to be a guest columnist for The Minute Magazine in this same spring edition.

Come to think of it, the greatest period of wonderful transformation and pushing the boundaries of my faith and myself by taking terrifyingly life-altering risks all began with writing for this magazine. It is unbelievable to me that all of you have been on this journey with me. Thank you for reading, and thank you to Mrs. Vicki Caskey, Mrs. Tiffany Byram, and The Minute Magazine for starting me on my path and supporting me the entire way.

----------------------------------------------------

Rachel Pardue is a recent graduate of Cedar Creek School in Ruston, LA. Rachel is an aspiring entrepreneur who is studying business at Babson College outside of Boston, MA. Babson is ranked as the #1 School for Entrepreneurship in the nation, and Rachel is attending as a Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholar.

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15

a fresh perspective from rosemary's kitchen written by Rosemary Thomas

Planning and Planting True Joy

S

pring is here – finally – and I could not be happier about that. As a gardener, this is the most exciting time of the year. The 2nd most exciting time of the year is actually winter, even though I don’t really enjoy the winter.

Snuggling up with a toddy on a cold night is fun and all, but that is out-weighed by the ice on the truck windshield (as in no garage and a barely-functioning heater/defroster). If I can’t step outside in a T-Shirt, it is too cold for me. What makes the winter tolerable is dreaming of spring.

Dreams and diagrams of rows of vegetables and spires of colorful gladiolus and sprays of cosmos are what get me through winter. Piles of seed catalogs and planting charts are scattered around for months. You would think summer would be more exciting than winter, but it is the planning and the planting that bring me the most joy.

I am sure there is an inspiring metaphor in that somewhere, but I am too tired to work that out at the moment.

I have not had a vegetable garden in several years, so this year I am extra itchy. Once I made my mind up that it was going to happen, I have been like a chicken chasing a grasshopper.

Speaking of chickens, my old gals are apparently happy it is spring as well.

They surprised me by starting to lay again, which they had not done – not a single egg I tell you – since midsummer. I had just resigned myself to feeding them for years on end until such time as they flew off to wherever chickens go when they leave this earthly plane. No doubt that will be someplace with lots of pine straw covered flower beds that remind them of home. I am sure their heaven does not have old ladies wearing slippers who interrupt their lunch with a willow switch and a few choice expletives. The girls have had a rough year though. Pine trees crashing through part of their pen, hawks, bobcats and frequent threats of decapitation (by the aforementioned

16

lady in slippers with the vocabulary of a Merchant Marine). It really is no wonder they stopped laying, but they are back at it and so am I. Eggs are in the incubator as we speak so in a couple more weeks new babies will be here. I said I wasn’t going to get any more chickens, but I lied. That’s what spring does to a person.

I have planted or plan to plant lots and lots of veggies. Early spring crops like lettuce, radish, carrots, spinach and sugar snap peas are in. Because I have returned to my previous vegetarian diet, I will be planting lots of dried beans (black, cannellini, kidney, garbanzo, Jacob’s cattle) along with okra, potatoes, kale, chard, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

I am also planting lots of squash – yellow, zucchini, butternut, acorn and spaghetti. I do love a squash. I pruned the fruit trees this winter and am ready for blueberries, blackberries, peaches, plums, apples and pears later this summer. I am prepared to engage in organic battle with squash beetles, stink bugs, mockingbirds, rabbits and the bane of my existence – the evil gopher.

I am an animal lover, but I tell you, I will kill me a gopher. I catch and release snakes (Sara calls me Steve Erwin), but I am merciless with the gopher. (I talk tough, but since I never seem to be able to trap them, it is mostly just me blowing smoke. If I caught one alive I would not be able to kill it. I would have to take it somewhere and release it – maybe where I take the snakes?) I planted lots of daffodil bulbs this past fall and they are coming up now. Daffodils are the happiest flower I know. Even when it is so cold and dreary, here they come!

The summer flowering bulbs will go in

soon. I have gladiolus, lilies and dahlias along with lots of iris and the annual flower seeds will follow soon. Imagine a vase of zinnia, sunflower and cosmos!

Makes me happy to think about it. If the earth laughs in flowers, we will be ROFL here in Stonewall come summer!

Once I made the statement “If I were rich I would have fresh flowers all over the house” and then I realized that I DID have fresh flowers in most every room.

It is then I knew how rich I really was.

Grab a container, some potting soil and a few seeds or plants from the nursery and get your hand dirty! There are so many herbs you could plant or maybe some bush varieties of vegetables – there is a lot that does very well in pots.

I like to tuck in some vegetables along with the other plants in the flower beds.

If you don’t have a spot, maybe you have a friend that has a sunny patio or backyard. You can share the work, share the expense and share the harvest!

Even if you can’t have a garden, you can still take yourself to the Farmer’s Market. These people work very hard to bring you the freshest produce possible. Make the effort to support them and you will be rewarded with healthy local products. Good for you…

Good for them… Good for the earth.

Enjoy your spring… stay in gratitude… and be happy! Spring is here… but it won’t last long! Enjoy every minute of it that you can!

----------------------------------------------------

Rosemary Thomas is an avid cook and gardener who enjoys the challenge of owning a restaurant and working with her daughter. She is an RN and continues to work several days a week in Shreveport where she lives with her husband, three dogs, two cats and 80 chickens.

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17

amily caregivers have a daily choice to be stressed or refreshed. Choosing to be refreshed is the best choice but not always the easiest. Caregivers often neglect their own health while caring for loved ones. As a former caregiver, I know that it is very easy to become overwhelmed and stressed when pursuing this awesome responsibility. However, self-care is the key for caring for others.

Data reflects that over 65 million Americans are family caregivers! They are caregivers for a spouse, parent, child, sibling, other relative or friend. Their situations are many and varied but alike in the need to be healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally. Between family responsibilities, errands, home-care, work and numerous other tasks, caregivers tend to ignore their own wellness needs.

Who are family caregivers? A joint report on caregiving in the United States in 2015 by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP* presents us with this profile:

However, it is never too late to begin self-care. Spring, the season of rebirth and renewal, is a perfect time for caregivers to reassess their needs and refresh themselves. Exhaustion, worry, inadequate resources, and care demands affect health and make the caregiver more likely to experience depression and serious health issues. With the same love and commitment given to the recipient of care, caregivers must pursue their own health maintenance.

of caregivers care for one person who is likely either living with the caregiver or within 20 minutes of them. of caregivers are female. of caregivers are male. of caregivers have a full-time job work part-time. of caregivers report high emotional stress from demands of caregiving.

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One of the most important aspects of caregiver wellness is finding respite or relief time. To stay healthy, caregivers need some temporary relief not just to do errands and needed tasks but for personal restoration. Relief can come from friends, family, or paid staff. Respite time can also be as simple as taking a nap when the loved one is resting or writing in a journal to express frustrations and emotions.

Like many caregivers, I often had to recharge myself and like David in Psalm 30:6b “encourage myself� when my relief did not arrive and plans changed. Frequently I rescheduled

dental, doctor, or trips out of the house. On these times, I was challenged to find moments for myself. This is when speaking special scriptures encouraged and directed me to find other solutions.

Many references to caregiver health suggest meditation, prayer, or enjoying nature at least 15 minutes a day. This can often be done along with your loved one. While caring for my mother, we visited our patio as often as possible. We both enjoyed sitting quietly listening to the sounds of nature-- birds’ singing, leaves rustling. Springtime is a particularly special time of refreshing. As in the Song of Solomon 2:12: “The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of the birds is come. ..”

Find some joy each day. Find something to laugh about, show affection to others, and make time to talk with family and friends.

According to a review of health writings, good relationships with family and friends have a positive impact on your physical well-being by boosting the immune system. Communication is the tool for achieving this. Speaking and acting positively is an indicator of a good attitude. Medically there are explanations for the body staying in good health when stress is alleviated.

Keep a calendar visible with dates of doctor visits and all important events.

Use logs and journals to record data, questions, thoughts, and feelings.

Positive thoughts, words, and actions renew your strength and replenish your spirit. Meditating on scriptures for strength was an encouragement for me. In quiet moments of rest or other relaxing times, I read passages aloud. Hearing God’s word reassured me that I could pursue the task of caregiving. It sustained me during difficult times.

Rest. Take short power naps or meditate. Get enough sleep at night.

My foundation scripture became Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Reading, listening to music, or just “doing nothing” for 5 to 10 minutes are possible options to reduce stress.

Staying healthy, avoiding depression, remaining active in friendships, enjoying pleasurable activities and having meaningful lives is demanding for caregivers but can be achieved when they choose to be responsible for their own care. The following questions may be used to assess personal wellness: - What are some things I do each day that have a positive impact on my health and well-being?

- Have I eaten healthy today?

- Did I sleep last night?

- Have I rested at intervals during the day?

- Have I found some time to be physically active?

- When was the last time I had a leisurely visit with friends outside the home?

- Am I finding joy in something each day?

- If not, what could I do to find something to be joyful about?

- Have I had some respite time today?

- If not, have I let others know what I needed?

- Have I interacted with other family members today or recently?

- Have I encouraged myself through a hobby, quiet time, meditation, prayer, or other means?

- Have I visited a support group in person or through a website?

- Have I kept regular doctor and dentist appointments?

If these questions can’t be answered positively, seek help and support to find solutions to them. Remember, you are responsible for your wellness!

Think of each day as a new season, a time to begin anew to refresh yourself in the role of family caregiver. The responsibility is challenging but can be very rewarding and create a greater appreciation for life. Family is a blessing, so treasure the special moments shared during the season of caregiving and allow them to refresh your heart.

Take time to enjoy special moments in the day such as having tea or coffee.

Communicate with others.

Strive for normalcy. Involve other family members in meal preparation.

(Even if it is just a ten minute walk.)

Make this a peaceful, loving time by reading scriptures or sharing pleasant thoughts with the loved one you assist.

Even if you are weary, take time to prepare your mind for sleep. Enjoy a relaxing bubble bath, watch a funny movie, or chat with a spouse, children, or friends for a few minutes. Just as you made bedtime for your loved one peaceful, do the same for yourself.

------------------------------------

*“Caregiving in the U.S. 2015,” National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Report, http://www.caregiving.org/caregiving2015/ or http://aarp.org/caregivingintheus/ June 4,2015.

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a collage of southern stories and recipes:

seasoned moments written by Barbara Durbin Hamper-Style Sandwiches

S

pring, my favorite season of the year, is on its way. Oh, I know the “official day” may not have yet come.

When the snowdrops and daffodils have bloomed I consider winter past and we can declare a new season is here.

Spring, the season for new life and rebirth; an occasion when the natural world proves what it was designed it to do. It is a time when man can actually see the redemptive power of God at work in the world around him.

When flowers burst forth from seed; produce stems and leaves, bloom, then wither away, they are doing what they were created to do. They sing their praises to the creator of the universe by this very accomplishment.

When the mountains in all their created majesty, rise up and stand in their snowcapped beauty, they are "performing" that for which they were created. They exist tall and majestic, their heights in the heavens, only to give praise to their maker by their exquisite splendor.

---------------------------------------------------Hamper-Style Sandwiches 2 lbs cooked finely diced cooked meat (ham, chicken, roast beef, or pork) 1 c. diced celery 1 c. diced pecans 1 c. diced apple 4 boiled & diced eggs ½ c. diced onion ½ c. diced bell pepper 4 oz. jar diced pimento 1 t. garlic pepper 1 t. Tony Chachere’s ½ t. garlic 2 c. mayonnaise Bread or crackers

Barbara Durbin is a legal secretary and a published newspaper and magazine columnist.

When not at her "real job", she works on her baskets filled with vintage books/china for "The Vintage Bee." She loves a walk in the woods and her time with God. Barbara and her husband have four children, five grandchildren and a dappled dachshund named Bella. Look for her on facebook and follow her "Pocket Full of Moment" comments.

magazine

As the wind blows to bring in the clouds, and those clouds produce rain, then these forces are fulfilling that for which they were created. The very exploits of these natural forces give glory to the maker of the universe.

We’re Online!

The world at large may want to commune with nature, but I desire to commune with the Creator of nature.

When we the people who were created in His very image give praise to the maker of heaven and earth, then and only then are we in unity with the world around us. When we do that which we were created to do, we will find peace in our mind, body and spirit.

So, take some sandwiches in a basket, get out your most comfortable shoes and take a walkabout. Begin to see the world through the eyes of a child, allow yourself to rise up in delighted praise as you watch it vividly unfold before your eyes. You will be restored, refreshed, and hungering for more than just sandwiches.

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In a large mixing bowl, place all the diced vegetables and seasonings. Add diced meat. Stir thoroughly. Add the mayonnaise, mix until all ingredients are coated. Garnish with cracked black pepper and serve on sandwiches or with crackers. Please note: The meat, eggs, and vegetables must be finely diced, not just chopped.

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23

the uncommon

housewife written by Leslie Albritton Love is Stronger Than Salmonella

recipe. I quickly scanned over the fairly simple recipe and gave her a gracious hug. I have this in the bag! I so. . . so wrongfully thought.

I

I followed the recipe to the letter. After taking out the package chicken from the freezer, I gathered the remaining ingredients and went to work. I sprinkled salt, pepper and paprika on the chicken and then dipped each piece into an egg and hot sauce mixture. Next, I battered with flour and settled them into a cast iron skillet filled with bubbling hot oil. I grew heavy with excitement as I watched the chicken turn into a rich golden brown. I felt accomplished seeing the surprise on my husband’s face as I sat the beautiful plate of chicken on the dining table ringed with bowls of rice and gravy, mac and cheese and cornbread. I beamed with pride as he threw praise my way, complimenting me on how wonderful dinner looked. He picked up a plump breast and took an enormous bite. I was delight to hear the crisp crackle and pop as he began to chew. My husband has always been a huge crispy chicken fan and I had just hit a homerun with my new found hobby! His eyes began to grow wide as did my smile until he promptly started spitting out my beautiful golden brown chicken!

was raised on Southern cooking at its finest. I grew up with a grandmother, a mother and a sister who could whip-up delicious, mouthwatering meals effortlessly out of thin air. These talented ladies cooked flavorful and creative dishes such as: chocolate dumplings, fried pork chops, creamy mushroom spaghetti, butter rolls, smothered potatoes, biscuits with tomato gravy, jelly cake, sun tea and snow cream. Cooking seemed to be bred in their bones and came naturally to each one of them. Unfortunately, the knack for cooking completely skipped me.

As a young tomboy I was more concerned with playing with the latest stray animal I managed to drag up to my home, instead of learning how to make homemade biscuits alongside my sister.

In my teenage years my mother often asked me how I planned on feeding my family if I never learned to cook. To this I would overconfidently reply, “That will be my chef’s duties, of course.” Ah, the delusions of a teenager. It didn’t hit me until two weeks before my wedding day that I had absolutely no idea how to prepare the simplest of meals. I was/ am a connoisseur of mac and cheese and Mexican cornbread, but that about summed up my cooking abilities. My future husband didn’t seem to mind my lacking skills in the kitchen; however, young love can camouflage hunger for only so long.

Growing weary of continually being a guest at my mom’s house for any and all meals, I decided to self-teach the art of cooking starting with my husband’s all-time favorite dish of fried chicken.

At the time, I was employed at a healthcare facility that made the best fried chicken I had ever tasted. After hearing my plight, the main cook in our dietary department took pity on me and wrote out her southern fried chicken

24

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Unable to answer my question due to him drowning the taste from his mouth with ice tea, I picked up the chicken breast and examined it. Sparkling brighter than a five carat diamond were frozen ice crystals on the inside of my white fleshy chicken!

Note to self – chicken must be thawed before frying.

A week or so after the fried frozen poultry incident I decided to give it one more try. This time I made sure to completely thaw the chicken out by letting it sit in the microwave for a few days, just to be on the safe side. Again, the chicken turned into a beautiful russet color.

My husband, apprehensive at first but wanting to make his new bride happy, selected a small leg from the platter and hesitantly took a bite.

“Wow, it’s um, really juicy.” commented giving a tiny cough.

He

He swallowed the first bite down hard.

Seeing the anxious look on my face he slowly took another bite. At this, he gave another cough as bright red juice formed in the corner of his mouth and trickled down his chin. Horrified, I grabbed the chicken leg from his hand and yelled for him to spit the chicken out.

Another note to self – the color of fried chicken is not a reliable indicator it is cooked fully through.

Thankfully, my husband narrowly escaped salmonella poisoning and survived the first few years of married meals. After fifteen years of kitchen fails , including but not limited to; undercooked, burnt, over-seasoned, under-seasoned and just the plain wrong seasons, I have slowly improved my culinary competencies, however, my husband has yet to lift the ban on frying chicken.

Leslie Albritton is a simple girl living in a country world. She is married to Brent and lives on a small farm in Farmerville with their daughter Nicole. They raise mini donkeys, mini horses and mini goats, hence the "small" farm. A runner, biker and kayaker she enjoys all things outdoors, especially the furry and four legged kind.

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25

strangers at my

coffeepot

written by Darla Upton Spring Saves Lives

W

ell, I don't know about you but I came close to beating my loved ones half to death and stuffing them in the freezer this winter! I am certain I could have claimed self-defense because they were running me to death.

See, Hugh sneezed and it all landed in a hand basket. Yes, sneezed! And those poor degenerative vertebrates he has had all his life decided to crumble right there in the Wal-Mart.

Without a thought to me, that man scheduled back surgery right before Thanksgiving. While it got me out of cooking or being asked to bring anything for the holiday feast, it was still just awful. Leading up to the surgery he could barely walk across the street and back! I felt old just being there!

There he was in his cardigan shuffling around. Oh, it took a toll on my ego! I try to embrace the war wounds, the aches and pains from living -- from being given decade after decade. I stretch a stiff shoulder and think, "AC/DC concert 1988, shoulder popped trying to catch that drumstick and hasn't been right since." I may not be as youthful as I once was but I'm not ready for the cardigan shuffle in a mate or myself!

Wanting the sneeze to be a routine man illness blown way out of proportion, I waited.

Ya know when your husband or boyfriend gets a cough and he swears he is being called toward the light? Ya know how for the first four hours you play along and bring the soup and fetch the extra blanket? Then, after that you start saying things like, "Maybe you'd feel better if you got up and showered."

You stop just short of rolling him out of bed with the flick of the duvet. You blind him by yanking the curtains open to a sunny day and conveniently place the remote on the opposite side of the bed.

We have all been there. Sympathy for his stuffy nose starts thinning. A cold to us means we try not to contaminate

26

school lunches as we shuttle kids around and still get to work on time.

Even if we do manage to crawl into bed, we are reminded with every scream from the other room that they are barely surviving out there. No laundry is being done, dishes are going into the dishwasher with food on them, the dog is drinking out of the toilet, trash has been forgotten. When you emerge, the man who puts a bandaid on a hangnail will convince you everyone survived because of him holding down the front lines so you could "rest." This is why even on our death beds we will put a load of clothes in the dryer and start another load to wash. Rest isn't worth the disaster that awaits.

But this wasn't just a sneeze; it ended up being fusion surgery. After a week in the hospital, he came home in agony.

I was patient. I was thankful he could still walk.

"Babe, the next time you come this way can you bring me some water?"

Of course! Don't be silly! I shall stop what I am doing and fetch it now!

But then the days grew. He started moving. Shuffling. Following me. I would round the corner and almost take him out! A sniffle sends him into hiding but major surgery has him asking if I need help. What help was he going to

provide? Should I have strung laundry over his walker, slapped him on the butt and sent him down the hallway? It was frustrating and comical.

But like any comedy tragedy struck.

Atticus decided he would not be out done and fractured his foot on New Year's Day. At ten he is not the biggest help in the world. Often by the time he drags butt doing something I could have finished it myself. But, he still had his talents. He could find missing phones, lift the other end of a heavy box, carry groceries in. Not one to volunteer I would have to yell twice just to get his attention but he would eventually lend a hand. Albeit slow.

"He'll be in a cast for three weeks." Just like that the doctor benched my only player.

One on a walker the other on crutches.

Both unsteady and doing good not to fall.

I told the doctor I found him very handsome and begged him to take me to his house but he just laughed.

"Mom, when's lunch?!"

"Hon, will you see if I left my charger in the den?"

Darla lives in Jefferson, Texas, where she raises her eight year old son, Atticus Gregory with her significant other, Hugh Lewis II. Hugh owns the AlleyMcKay House Bed & Breakfast. Atticus Gregory is the Eloise of the McKay House.

Prior to being a self-employed, stay at home mom she was a Civil Litigation Paralegal for a defense firm in North Carolina. She eventually returned to her hometown of Texarkana, Texas, where she met Hugh while working at the Texarkana Gazette as a production assistant. Girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy, girl has a baby and gets a bed and breakfast? It happened.

So, she was smart and professional at one time and now she can't find her keys, has more toys in her purse than pens, can't decide if she should color her hair again and sometimes she burns the bacon.

Luckily, no matter what life hands her, she has a good sense of humor, vodka and her typewriter.

"Mamaaaaa, I can't unbutton my pants on crutches! I need to pee!!"

"What medicine did I take last? I think I missed a dose."

They were so needy. They needed books. They needed chargers. They needed drinks. They needed food. They needed snacks. They needed blankets. They needed food, AGAIN. They needed help going. They needed help coming. They dropped pillows. They lost glasses. They drank everything in the fridge and ate up the entire pantry!

Running. Me. To. Death.

It looked as though the only way to save myself was to take them out back. I told myself, I was still young....ISH. I could adopt. I could find love again. I was hopeful because I knew with them gone I could pee without interruption again.

At Hugh's follow up, the doctor saw my dark heart. He scaled back the restrictions and upped his activity. That guy likes saving lives! Hugh still can't do much but he can carry his own plate. He can make his own drink. He can live to see another day.

Much to Atticus' chagrin, he made a full recovery and is back helping. If I ask twice. In a loud voice. Threatening him with harm. Help is help.

Homicidal winter thoughts have been replaced with beautiful new buds of life.

Lord, I just hope their allergies don't kick in and ruin it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 boxed yellow cake mix 3 eggs 1/3 cup of oil 1 1/3 cup of water or milk Mix the above ingredients and bake in two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans. Cool completely and then split each layer leaving you with four layers.

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Coming Spring of 2016 A NEW SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

8 oz cream cheese softened 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 20oz can crushed pineapple with juice 2 8oz cans of mandarin oranges (drained well) 1 small box vanilla instant pudding 1 8oz cool whip Whip cream cheese until light and fluffy gradually adding powdered sugar until combined. Stir in the pineapple & juice along with the mandarin oranges (reserve a few slices of the oranges for garnish) Mix in the dry pudding mix. Fold in the cool whip.

Frost and stack the layers and then frost the entire cake, topping it with the few slices of oranges you reserved. Chill cake a couple of hours before serving.

---------------------------------------------------------------------If you are looking for a cake to serve at Easter I have just the recipe for you, my Mom's Mandarin Orange Cake. As long as I can remember my mama has made this cake every Easter. It says Spring to me just as her Apple cake says Fall at that first cold snap of the year.

I hope you make it for your Easter table, I know you will enjoy every last bite. - xoxo Vicki Caskey

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"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment you first find yourself in.�

-Mark Caine f all the chapters in John Maxwell’s 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, one of my favorites is The Law of Environment. This law states that Growth Thrives in Conducive Surroundings.

Think, for a moment, about your current environment. Is it peaceful and supportive? Or is it chaotic and competitive?

Which of those two environments would be best for your daily attitude? Which would promote openness and free sharing of ideas? In which environment would you most like to work?

Now also consider that you are desiring growth, but the people around you are stuck in a mindset of sameness. They are happy with the status quo. This can be your group of friends, your co-workers, or those you consider your spiritual leaders/

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peers. You should know that MOST people around you do NOT want to change.

To see how you are doing in the area of environment, consider the five people you hang around with the most. Assign them all a number between 1-10. This can be determined by how they treat their families, how they honor their health, how invested they are in personal growth, how they keep their physical environment, and how they treat their spouse. Now, what is the number you would ascribe to each of your five closest companions? Add those five numbers together and divide by 5. Guess what! That is YOUR number. We become the average of the five people we hang around the most! If you are happy with the result, you have a good, supportive environment. If not, it is time to take inventory and change your environment to raise you to your potential.

We need to be cognizant of what we want in the people with whom we spend our time. For instance, find someone who will love you unconditionally, desire your success, be mature, and help you when you need help. Similarly along your growth journey, you need to make your growth public, set milestones for your growth, and move forward despite criticism. Those

who come along with you were intended to be on the journey with you. Those who fall off are likely NOT the best contributors to your highest good.

Have you considered what you feel are pollutants and toxic to a work environment? And what would you feel would be an indicator of a healthy work environment?

Assess your current environment both at home and at work, and consider whether your environment is raising or lowering your number.

Recently, I had the opportunity to go to Paraguay with the John Maxwell Team. Talk about a shift in my environment! Just meeting up with like-minded people at the airport increased my energy and anticipation of the event. We accompanied John to South America on an invitation by the president of Paraguay to help transform their country by teaching leadership to the people in all industries. These included education, healthcare, private business sector, and even the government. The energy of the trip was HUGE. Just being in the dining room in the evenings was like getting a shot in the arm of positivity, drive, ambition, gratitude, and significance. Can you imagine? That’s what a positive environment can do… it can lift you to a higher level of thinking, being, and doing.

On the contrary, there is a community on the outskirts of Asuncion, Paraguay, where the entire population lives in and off of the dump. They gather their meals from the trash others throw there. One of the John Maxwell Team members saw a little girl playing “house” with a discarded microwave, as she stood on piles of waste.

One night, as a surprise to the team, John Maxwell and staff hosted an event where the children of the Landfill Harmonic Orchestra came to play for us. These are children from that community who have been mentored and taught to play various instruments crafted lovingly from the trash they encounter on a daily basis. The keys on the makeshift saxophone were actual broken keys.

And in some cases, smashed bottle caps were used as the keys. Old pipes were fabricated to become flutes.

Two cookie tins made a mighty fine guitar! And an old oil drum became a bass. The ingenuity required to create these instruments was inspiring to say the least.

But what was MOST inspiring was the spirit that was seen in these children. They were among the happiest kids I’ve ever seen. They exuded pride! They live in a dump. They have to pick food from trash. They find play activities among others’ waste. But they choose to elevate themselves by associating with others who have a love of music and who have found the good in the bad.

They are now playing their music all over the world, and I actually saw them featured on 60 Minutes last year.

They have risen above their environment. Their motto is “The world sends us garbage...We send back music.”

What a great way to think!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------As a physical therapist and entrepreneur, Melanie Massey Groves has the privilege of owning and operating 5 outpatient therapy clinics across north Louisiana. She has further begun two new businesses, MoJoy Art Studio, used as a conduit for teaching self-awareness and confidence in an environment of creativity, and MoCo, a coaching, speaking, and training company which helps individuals and businesses develop culture, influence, and achieve their maximum potential by using their individual gifts.

Melanie has been developing her leadership for 30 years since her Poppa first gave her information on leadership and personal growth at the age of 11. Melanie is a certified coach, speaker, and trainer with The John Maxwell Team, and her mission statement, “Joyfully use your gifts to brighten the lives of others” sums up her life’s calling.

Melanie has the great honor of owning and operating Melanie Massey Physical Therapy.

This is an intentional growth environment. Consider joining one of their weekly groups.

Having a weekly accountability group, who is like-minded and growth-oriented, greatly increases one’s potential for positive change. These groups are great for anyone wanting to seek a fuller expression of themselves, from homemakers to business executives to owners of a Mom & Pop shop. They are for everyone. The following is our current schedule of events for the spring. Bring your lunch and come join us in learning.

Use your Gifts: A Study of Your Unique Giftedness March 15-April 19 Tuesdays 12-1:00 April 26-May 31 Tuesdays 12-1:00 The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth March 24-May 12 Thursdays 12-1:00 Call 318-884-8334 or email Alyse at admin@mymojoy.com to secure your spot.

If you have any questions regarding my services MoJoy offers or are interested in having Leadership/Team training for your business, contact me at MoJoyStudio.com. This is also the place to sign up to receive Monday Motivation emails for weekly inspiration.

Use your 365 wisely. Use Your Gifts.

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TEAM CAMP ($375)

ELITE CAMP ($55)

June 1-2 Middle School, High School Girls JV/Varsity & AAU

June 3 Open To All Girls Entering Grades 9-12

CAMP OBJECTIVE: This camp is designed for JV/Varsity level teams. It is a high-intensity camp for committed programs that want to elevate their level of play, players who aspire to play collegiate basketball one day or just want to have some fun playing tough games in a legendary facility. We guarantee four full-court games of pool play over the course of this two-day camp.

This camp will provide intense specialized skill instruction with an emphasis on the fundamentals of basketball (ball handling, passing, shooting, offensive/defensive positioning) as well as the mental side of the game. Campers will receive position-specific drill instruction from Coach Summitt, the LA Tech coaching staff and the Lady Techsters. Drills, instruction and competition at this camp are intense and challenging. Campers will also receive information on NCAA recruiting rules and academic standards for eligibility.

CAMP OBJECTIVE:

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 25, 2016 FINAL PAYMENT DUE BY: JUNE 1, 2016

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 27, 2016 at 11 AM CHECK-IN/FINAL PAYMENT DUE: JUNE 3, 2016

DAY CAMP ($150)

June 6-9 Open To All Girls Entering Grades K-8 CAMP OBJECTIVE: This day camp is for young beginners and those new to the game of basketball. Each camper will receive high quality instruction on the fundamentals of basketball in an enjoyable, positive environment. The coaching staff and players will emphasize individual skills (shooting, passing, ball handling, defense) and team play.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 30, 2016 at 8 AM CHECK-IN/FINAL PAYMENT DUE: JUNE 6, 2016

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redeemed &

free indeed

written by Sara Enloe Finding the "Good" in Grief

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rief. That's a loaded word if I've ever seen one. I used to think grief was predictable; something you could see coming and decide whether to sink into it or ignore it. I'm learning that it's more like a tidal wave that sneaks up on you. By the time you look up to see it breaking, you're already at its mercy...

I lost one of my best friends early March 2015. She was my cube buddy at work; we talked way too much. She called me her "heart friend." She was the most beautiful person, inside and out. We raided each other's closets and ate each other's food. We left each other "love notes" and laughed so hard it hurt. She had the best laugh. She was pure sunshine. She knew all my secrets and dreams. I was her confidante. She was my prayer partner. She had the voice of a Disney princess and was always, always there for me. She would have been standing next to me on my wedding day, but she's gone. I would say my heart broke in two when the news of her death reached me, but that sounds trite compared to the soul-wrenching pain that I experienced. I was shocked still, immediately denying the horrifying truth. It took me a good five minutes to realize I was no longer sitting in a chair but on the ground sobbing in the arms of my CEO. Imagining her in the arms of Jesus was the only thing that kept me together long enough to drive home from work.

Know you're not alone, and I am believing that our good, good Father has a plan to restore all that was lost and make sure you smile again. It's a new season for you, friend- HAPPY SPRING!

Fluent in Spanish and meow-ing, Sara Enloe is a Jesus-lovin' cat lady who traded Michigan winters for Florida sunshine. You can find her writing, singing, or laughing at herself. Follow her on Instagram: @quitesimplysara

At this point you are probably wondering- what does this tragedy have anything to do with spring?

Spring, to me, is all about fresh starts and new beginnings.

It's about hope. And my personal grief journey led me to the feet of Jesus where my hope was renewed. He helps me work through my depression and anger and confusion and keeps bringing me back into His perfect peace. Just like He promises in Isaiah 61, "He has given me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness". Furthermore, I am seeing Psalm 30:11 brought to life: "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy."

Grief is never easy. It takes on different forms with different people and it has the ability to sideline even the strongest person. But it is absolutely necessary to deal with your sorrow.

Don't tuck it away in a shoebox under your bed; don't be ashamed of it. Write it out. Talk it out. Scream it out. Pray it out. Praise it out. Just let it out. And give yourself some grace.

You're human and grieving is natural.

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a season of

becoming written by Shelley Duran If We Were on a Coffee Date

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oes anyone else feel like time is passing too quickly? It’s something I occasionally marvel at, mostly when I finally sit down with a friend. When did it become so difficult to carve out time for others? Lives evolve and the free time we have becomes tied to other people.

While this is a good thing, it also makes it a little tougher to be spontaneous or to road trip it across the state. Since I can’t sit with you and ask how you are and what you’re up to, here’s the coffee date I’m dreaming we’d have if we could see each other.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d probably be late.

Cause you can take the girl out of New Orleans but you can’t take New Orleans out of the girl. “New Orleans Time” is real and it’s one thing I haven’t let go of even though I no longer live there.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d be drinking a dirty chai latte – iced with coconut milk.

It doesn’t matter the current Louisiana temperature, all my coffees are iced, even the ones that are confusing and dairy free.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d tell you about my ice cream making business.

I've started selling ice cream at my workplace. It's pretty cool and exciting but also it means I'm making ice cream on a daily basis. I realize this doesn't sound like a terrible thing. There’s currently an ice cream scoop in my purse – I swear it’s clean.

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If we were on a coffee date, I’d ask you a million questions about lipstick.

I’ve fallen into the makeup tutorial YouTube channels and it’s made me want to wear all the lipsticks. I’ve never been comfortable wearing it, especially on a daily basis but geez these chicks can pull it off.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d try and convince you to eat peanut butter with sweet potatoes.

I know it sounds weird and sort of disgusting but please wait and listen. I slice the tators in half and bake them cut side down to get them a little caramelized while cooking. A little salt topped with natural peanut butter and some honey and DANG IT IS GOOD. If we were on a coffee date, I’d tell you I’ve been praying for more friend couples.

I think it’s important in relationships to hang out with others who are doing the hard work the right way. This has lead me to pray about meeting more couples that are new friends to both me and my boyfriend.

That stomach bug was NOT pretty and it’s an unexpected step in the relationship, but it happened and we’re moving on. I also cleaned the bathroom like crazy.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d eventually confess my love for most things Jennifer Lopez.

She’s too much and I love it. One lazy Saturday I watched all the episodes of her new show, ‘Shades of Blue’ and I was gleefully pressing ‘next’ each time.

For the record, there were only seven so I didn’t waste the whole day away.

If we were on a coffee date, I'd thank you for being here in this time and space with me.

Friends come and go. They're here for now, but not always for later, and I'm trying to be intentional in the now. You're dear and special and an encouragement. And, though we might not always be in one another's lives, you're here now and that matters.

----------------------------------------------------

If we were on a coffee date, I’d try to explain what it’s like to puke in your boyfriend’s bathroom sink.

Shelley is a twenty something gal two-stepping in Lafayette, Louisiana. When she's not working as a Marketing Manager for the Chamber of Commerce, she can often be found running through her neighborhood in order to enjoy Cajun cuisine on a regular basis. Her beloved dog, Olive is often by her side. Follow her rants and quips on Twitter @shellbellduran.

LOTS OF POTENTIAL WITH THESE LARGE SPACES THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS Property Features This 7,000 sq ft building has a new air unit and electrical. The outside of the building has been updated and offers good parking. This space has multiple exam rooms and would be perfect for a Physician Office, Rehab Center, Dental Office, Home Health Agency, etc.

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the journey written by Jason McReynolds The One Thing You Must Have in a Marriage

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adies, here’s an open secret about husbands. Guys don’t share their feelings. Guys don’t get mushy.

Guys don’t understand things like why chocolates or ice cream make you feel better. But we do learn how to cope with those things.

I’ve learned that a great question to ask my wife when she has a problem - Do you want me to listen or do you want me to fix it? She NEVER wants me to fix it! She’ll always want me to listen.

But as I’m listening I’m coming up with a 7 point plan to fix it. Learn from my mistake and don’t do that… until later.

Now here’s an open secret about wives.

They have a longer term strategy for our lives than we do. They want to change us! But they’ll play the long ball. They don’t care if they win the battle but you better know they’re chess masters when it comes to the war itself.

If I asked you “What is love?” what comes to mind? Ok, so after that song entitled, What is Love by Haddaway (I know, who?) gets out of your head how would you describe love? What are some qualities of love? Now ask yourself, “What are reasons people give to get out of a marriage?" Everything points to commitment. Love requires commitment. If you want out then you are no longer committed. What is commitment? In marriage, it is being there for the rest of your or their life.

Otherwise it’s a broken promise, right?

Even Hollywood’s romantic ending is still marriage. They may distort how you get there w/ their jacked up version of love but even they see a lifelong commitment as the most positive end result.

Our culture loves love. Just in music alone what percentage of songs are about love?

Probably 75% right?

Almost all country songs are about love, right? Love for their girl, their dog, their trailer, whatever it is they love it! I’m willing to bet that, no matter what age you are, you could think of 10 songs off the top of your head about love right now. I always think of The Love Boat theme song for some reason but that’s a counseling session for another day.

It’s in your head now isn’t it?

Love is everywhere but commitment

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is rare. The whole point of dating is to find out if you want to commit your life to that person. Here’s a downer for those you who may be dating… the romantic feelings eventually wane and you have to work hard to create moments and moods to bring those feelings back to the surface. This is why wives love holidays like Valentine’s Day because they know guys have to at least try! But that’s one of the reasons marriage is hard.

This is a very simple straight-forward command in the bible. In 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 Paul tells us to stay married.

“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.”

To Christian husbands and wives, Paul says, "If you're married, stay married."

Now this doesn’t deal w/ when there has been adultery nor does it deal w/ when one spouse is not a follower of Christ. Those fall under a different category of marriage which I don’t have time to discuss here.

But doesn’t God want me to be happy because I’m not happy in my marriage?

NO!!! Because God knows that by believing that you are buying a lie and the short term fix will result in long-term pain. You won’t be happy. Anytime you go against God’s will you will be miserable.

The second part of that verse – the if you separate then work to reconcile part – seems inconceivable in our culture today! Paul says that if that happens, then you must not remarry. I love what Doug Goins of Peninsula Bible Church says about this part. “Wait for the other one to come back, holding out the hope that God can reconcile the relationship, because in God's eyes the union hasn’t been broken. God's expectation of this kind of physical separation is always hopeful. You see, God is not a cosmic killjoy. He desires the door to always

be open for possible reconciliation between the estranged partners. His instruction to married couples is to face into the difficulties and work out the differences. I love Paul because he is not the least bit sympathetic toward irreconcilable differences especially between Christians.”

Why would God want us to go this far?

Because this is what He does with us constantly! We constantly leave Him and He constantly waits for us to return! We constantly betray Him and He constantly takes us back. We are to reflect His character and love for us to those around us, especially our spouses.

How many of us dream of getting married for 10 years and then divorcing? Nobody! How many of us when we see a couple who has been married for 50 or 60 years say, “I don’t want that?” None of us! We all desire to be that couple because that is what God desires. Think about the qualities that you see in long-married couples.

You want those same qualities right?

Are we to committed to see this in our marriage? If we are to be God's people, if we are truly His creation, then we are to imitate Him. Commitment is one of God's most amazing qualities! If we are to imitate him then we are to imitate His commitment. It’s not easy but He is committed to us even when we have turned away from Him so we need to reflect Him in our lives. He is so committed to us that He gave His Son to die on the cross for us. That's how committed to our relationship He is.

That's how much He loves us. So we need to ask ourselves how committed are we to Him? And secondly, are we fully committed to our spouse or, if we’re dating, are we prepared to be fully committed to our spouse for life?

The depth of your love will be tested by this very question.

Jason McReynolds is the pastor of New Orleans Community Church. He and his wife, Liev, have two boys and one little girl. Jason enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, watching and/or playing any kind of sports, and taking his wife out on dates. To learn more about him, or NOCC, visit: www.neworleanscommunity church.com

While many of us may be eagerly anticipating spring, ready to see the last of cold weather and snow drifts, others dread the season for the allergies that come with it; the sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, and coughing. They understand the arrival of pollen–whether the counts are high or low–means the onset of misery. However, there are ways to prevail in the fight to breathe easier and remain relatively sneeze-free.

“People focus on the highs and lows of pollen counts,” said Dr. David Kaufman, an allergist with BreatheAmerica, “What they don’t realize is that a high total pollen count doesn’t always mean you will have allergy symptoms. The pollen from the plant you are allergic to may not be high. The key is to know what you’re allergic to, and how to treat your particular symptoms.”

More people than ever suffer from allergies of all kinds. Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion. One in five Americans suffer from allergies each year. Even as spring brings sneezing and sniffles to you, if you are an allergy sufferer, it’s important to remember that there are a number of tools at your disposal; whether your suffering is mild or severe. that you should keep in mind to keep Here are your spring allergy symptoms under control.

Heading symptoms off at the pass – One thing you may not be aware of is that if you start taking your prescription allergy medications before the worst symptoms hit, your suffering will be greatly alleviated. Although people think of spring starting in April or May, spring allergy symptoms can start as early as February or March. Starting on your prescribed regimen for your allergy medications two to three weeks before your symptoms normally appear will do you good!

Early spring is awesome? May mean more pollen – Although it may seem like a good sign when the winter weather starts to clear up early, it’s not good news for people with allergies.

A mild winter tends to lead to an early release of pollens, from certain trees. Once your allergies are triggered by the earlier release of pollen, your immune system is primed to react to allergens, and there will be little relief, even if temperatures cool down again before spring has sprung for good. If the weather report calls for a streak of warm days, begin taking your medication.

Location, location, location – Though some areas of the country tend to get hit harder than others, tree pollens are bad in all geographic regions of the US. Tree pollen first appears in

February, even in the coldest climates, and peaks twice: first in March and then again in April. The way your system responds to pollen can depend on which pollens you’re allergic to. If you are allergic to tree pollen or grass, you may experience an increase in symptoms, no matter where you live. Knowing your allergic triggers is half the battle, so you can avoid areas with high concentrations of your troubling pollen.

Just like every snowflake is different – No two allergy sufferers have the same set of allergic responses, so you have to treat YOUR allergies according to YOUR symptoms. While some people may be able to treat their mild allergies with overthe-counter medications, many people benefit from seeing a board-certified allergist who can diagnose exactly what they’re allergic to, and create a personal treatment plan.

While there isn’t a cure for spring allergies, yet, there are several treatments an allergist can prescribe or provide. For more severe symptoms there are two types of immunotherapy currently available: allergy shots and tablets.

Allergy shots: An immunotherapy treatment program consists of injections of a diluted allergy extract, administered frequently in increasing doses until a maintenance dose is reached.

Immunotherapy helps the body build resistance to the effects of the allergen, reduces the intensity of symptoms caused by allergen exposure and sometimes can actually make skin test reactions, and your allergy, disappear.

Tablets: Starting at least three months before allergy season begins, patients dissolve a tablet under the tongue daily.

Treatment can continue for as long as three years. Only two allergens (grass and ragweed pollens) can currently be treated with this method, but it is may be a good option for patients with grass pollen allergy not controlled with medications. The Food and Drug Administration approved this type of immunotherapy in 2014.

If you think you might be one of the more than 50 million Americans that suffer from allergy and asthma, you can call BreatheAmerica of Shreveport at 318-221-3584.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. David Kaufman is a board-certified Allergist and Immunologist with BreatheAmerica Shreveport, specializing in asthma, nasal and sinus allergies, food allergies and atopic eczema.

Dr. Kaufman received his MD from George Washington University and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. His allergy and immunology fellowship at Louisiana State University brought him to Shreveport, and after practicing 9 years at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Florida, he's been back home with BreatheAmerica Shreveport since 2014.

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ice cream & other things that should be discussed

written by Ashley Maddox Waiting Tables

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any people have waited tables at some point in their lives and most will tell you, it sucks. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great leaving work with cash in your pocket but most of the time the cash doesn’t make it worth it. Everyone should have to wait tables at some point. It’s a great way to learn humility and patience.

I waited tables during college to pay rent and my other bills. I could rant and rave about how waiters only make $2.13 an hour or how despite the fact that I went to school full time I also waited tables at least 30 hours a week. I could also mention that YOUR WAITER/ WAITRESS DOES NOT MAKE YOUR DRINK (in most establishments) AND ALSO DOES NOT DETERMINE WHEN YOU GET A TABLE OR HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO SIT IN THE LOBBY! Yes some people actually believed that it was my fault they didn’t get sat sooner because apparently while I was waiting on the 3-5 tables I had, I also had time to determine seating. I’m a great multitasker. Wink, wink.

Well I am not going to rant on these things. I will however share some of the funnier things that happened to me while I waited tables.

At the restaurant I waited tables at, we had an employee bathroom in the kitchen area. It was disgusting and no one used it. Therefore, I had gone into the lobby to use the guest bathroom. I was sitting in the stall minding my own business when I heard two ladies come in. They were talking and then the next thing I knew a small boy was crawling under the door of my stall and then he was standing in front of me. Luckily, all of my private areas were covered from his view. He and I stared at each other

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and then I heard one of the women say “Get out of there or people are going to think you’re a pervert.” Then the other women said “Too late, he’s already a pervert.” I looked at the small boy and managed to talk him into climbing under the partition into the empty stall beside me. One of the women apologized profusely but it is definitely something I will never forget.

There was a smoking section in the back of the restaurant. I never really cared for that section but smokers tend to tip better and be more relaxed so it wasn’t necessarily a horrible section. I was waiting on a couple one evening and after they had finished their entrees I began clearing up the plates.

The woman had not eaten much so I asked her if she liked her entrée. She responded, “Oh it was great. I’m just full. You can have the rest.” As you can imagine, I was quite horrified because this woman was a stranger to me and I just don’t eat after random people.

Before I could stop myself I said, “Ma’am I am not going to eat off of your plate.” I’m not saying I’ve never seen people eat off of a guest’s plate but I never have. Gross.

One night close to closing, I was in the lobby talking to the hostess. She had a friend waiting on her. The friend was

wearing a hoodie and cargo shorts and had short hair. The hostess said, “This is my friend Ashley.” I said, “I love it when guys are named Ashley.” Then the hostess said, “She’s not a guy.”………

Whoops. And I just walked off.

In closing a few quick tips when dining out: 1. Don’t go out to eat if you can’t tip. Waiters and waitresses in most establishments live off of tips. Plus at a lot of places some of their tips go to the bartender, busboy, etc. I’m not saying tip well if you do not receive good service but please tip well for good service.

2. Remember, if you had to wait a while in the lobby, you are going to wait a while on your food and drink. It’s not rocket science, it’s logic.

3. When you get the bill, please don’t look at it and act shocked and then ask if you can wash dishes in the back to cover it. Not funny.

4. Take time and enjoy your meal. Don’t be in a rush at a sit down restaurant.

Save the rushing for the drive through.

Happy eating!

----------------------------------------------------

Ashley is originally from North Louisiana but now resides in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her experiences growing up in the country and being transplanted to the big city give her a unique perspective into life's quirks and hilarities. She is active in the New Orleans lifestyle and she has a great group of friends from which to draw her inspiration. She is a member of the Krewe of Nyx, attends numerous Mardi Gras Balls, runs, and enjoys reading and ice cream. She is married to her loving husband Jerry (who may or may not have written this bio).

5821 Youree Dr. Shreveport, La. 71105 318-865-0885 Caspianagiftandclothing.com

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a novel approach written by Winnie Griggs

The Art Of Backstory – Part II

T

his is the second in a series of articles I’m bringing you about Weaving Backstory Into Your Work. In the first article I discussed what backstory is and what and how much should be included in your manuscript. In this article I’ll be discussing when you’ll want to reveal those enticing nuggets of your characters’ histories for maximum effect.

So When Do You Let The Reader In On The ‘Good Stuff’ Many novice writers make the mistake of trying to explain everything about their characters up front. They want the reader to love and understand their characters from the get-go. And of course that means learning all of those touching, life-shaping events from their past. After all, the thinking goes, the reader won’t really understand the deeper significance of the current action if they don’t know all these little details.

If this is your excuse for dumping in boatloads of backstory early on, stop and think about your own experience as a reader. Isn’t part of your enjoyment derived from the anticipation and discovery of why certain things are happening? Don’t you like trying to puzzle some things out for yourself before the author spoon feeds them to you?

I’m sorry to have to break this to you, but if you attempt to front load your story with buckets of backstory, you will eliminate much of the suspense, the page-turning quality that drives your reader further into the story, that makes them eager to follow along as the layers are peeled back a little at a time.

In fact, if you throw very much backstory into the first part of your book, before we’ve had a chance to get to know

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your characters and form an interest in their situation, you risk stifling much of the story tension. In effect, you’re answering dramatic questions before the reader has had the chance to form them.

And to give your really big, JUICY stuff more punch, you’ll want to wait until it can serve either one of two functions: 1. To answer a story question you’ve been building up to in earlier pages Your reader will feel more involved in your story if, rather than providing a ‘this is your life’ account up front for your characters, you start with subtle hints that both intrigue and raise questions in the readers’ minds. This allows them to puzzle things out, layer by layer, so that when the final pieces fall into place, they feel some satisfaction in having deduced all or part of the picture. Let me give you a quick example.

In my book WHATEVER IT TAKES, I show my hero acting a bit uncomfortable when he sees a couple of men standing on rooftops to string a banner across a street. In two other places within the next few chapters I show him reacting similarly to other situations involving heights. Now, hopefully I was subtle with this, but by the time I reveal that he has a fear of heights the reader should have begun to figure this out for themselves.

Buried in this is another, much more subtle hint at a second backstory

issue. Whenever he’s confronted with something that activates this phobia on his part, he unconsciously twists a ring he wears on his right hand. This hints at a much darker secret he is hiding.

2. The second function you want to save up these juicy secrets for is to introduce an unexpected twist that will send your story in a whole new direction, or that will shed a startling light on prior events.

In this scenario, the reveal is intended to be a surprise, something the reader didn’t see coming. Once disclosed, it makes the reader sit up and really take notice.

You might be going for a ‘Cool! So that’s why she did such-and-such when confronted with situation thus-and-so.’

Effect.

Think of the movie The Sixth Sense.

Once you learned the twist at the end, didn’t it radically alter your perceptions of his wife’s actions?

Didn’t you immediately want to go back and see it over again so you could figure out how the writer pulled it off?.

OR If your twist happens in the middle of your story rather than the end, you might be going for a ‘Wow! I wonder what he’s going to do now that he knows the BIG SECRET.’ Reaction.

Think of the Darth Vader’s classic Star Wars line “Luke, I’m your father.” or of

Winnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her friends thought of as the back of beyond. She and her siblings spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou. Once she ‘grew up’ she began capturing those wonderful adventures in the pages of her notebooks. Now a multipublished, award winning author, Winnie feels blessed to be able to share her stories with readers through her published books. You can learn more about Winnie at www.winniegriggs.com or connect with her at www. facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author

the revelation in Pirates of the Carribean that Will Turner’s father was a pirate In all of these cases, the revelation of certain pieces of the character’s backstory was withheld until the moment when it would have the most impact.

So, when deciding the timing of that all important ‘reveal’, you should give careful consideration to whether the information is essential for the reader to know at this particular point in your story, not whether it is merely relevant. Because, remember, by our definition all backstory is important and relevant to some degree.

Hold back your character’s secrets until the last possible moment, make your reader guess and speculate about what makes him/her tick, and you are on your way to having a page turner.

That’s it for the WHEN of backstory. Next time we’ll begin discussing the various methods for actually weaving it into your story.

And, as always, feel free to contact me at Winnie@winniegriggs.com for questions on this or any other aspect of novel writing.

And feel free to look me up on facebook as well.

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39

bringing back

the past

written by Wesley Harris Hitchhiking to Fame

As another season of baseball nears, a look at one of Louisiana's greatest players

"N

obody was more competitive than Atley Donald.” That was the assessment of Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey of his New York Yankee teammate.

Donald’s drive to reach what some viewed as unrealistic goals propelled one of Louisiana’s best baseball players to astonishing success with the powerhouse Yankees, helping the team reach four World Series, and winning it all in 1939, 1941 and 1943.

Nicknamed “Swampy” by a Yankee teammate unaware of the difference between Cajun bayou country and the north Louisiana hills, Donald was a credit to his state and his alma mater as he posted an impressive streak of seven consecutive winning seasons as a hard-throwing pitcher for the Yankees.

The 1930 Louisiana Tech Lagniappe said of the young farm boy’s addition to the freshman team: “The most promising of the new men on the squad is Atley Donald, who throws the ball across the plate in a manner that makes him look good for the varsity now. He was a star at Downsville, and is the best Tech has coming up.”

Donald quickly moved up to the varsity team, both pitching and playing the outfield. He played for the Bulldogs from 1930 to 1933, missing the 1932 season with eye trouble. After his junior year, he asked Tech Coach L. J. Fox to write a letter for him to the Yankees requesting a tryout. The most celebrated team in baseball did not respond.

Undeterred, Donald elected to go to the Yankees and plead for a chance to show his stuff. On Thanksgiving Day 1933, Donald left his home in Downsville with $24 in his pocket and a dream in his heart, hitchhiking to Florida to await the team’s arrival for spring training.

For three months, he delivered groceries, surviving on a meager $12 a week salary until the club arrived. When he showed up at the Yankee training camp and announced he wanted to try out for the team, the undersized youngster probably elicited a few snickers from bystanders. The Yankees did not hold tryouts.

40

Donald’s gloomy face as he left the clubhouse caught the attention of one of the team’s scouts. Some years before, Johnny Nie was scouting future Chicago Cubs pitcher Claude Passeau at Millsaps College in Mississippi when Donald hit a home run for the Tech Bulldogs. Nie found his notes on Donald and even the letter from Fox and arranged a rare audition.

Against improbable odds, Donald earned a place in the organization and played in the minors for several seasons, including a stint with the Newark Bears, the Yankees’ highly successful farm team.

While playing for the Bears, Donald was called up by the Yankees for a brief stint during the 1938 season. After pitching in only two games, he had to make his first major career decision.

“I had a choice,” Donald later explained, “They said they would sell me to the Boston Braves or I could go back down [to the minors] and be guaranteed a spot [with the Yankees] the next year.

They just had too many pitchers.”

Donald wisely chose to remain in the Yankees system.

Donald received a major league salary while finishing the 1938 season with the Bears, arguably the best minor league team ever assembled. Both Donald and the Yankees would later rejoice that he decided to remain with the organization.

In 1939, Donald found himself a rookie among some of the legends of the fabled ball club. That year, Joe DiMaggio hit .381 and Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 consecutive games ended. Donald got his only starts in doubleheaders or when another pitcher was injured. But the right-hander became the first rookie pitcher in American League history to win his first twelve decisions. His blazing speed made him nearly unbeatable, posting a 13-3 record during his rookie season. A crude radar developed in

1939 measured Donald’s pitches as the fastest in the major leagues. The Yankees won the World Series that year, a dizzying accomplishment for the country boy from Downsville.

Donald continued his winning ways in the 1940 and 1941 seasons, chalking up 8-3 and 9-5 records. The wealth of Yankee pitchers usually kept him out of the starting rotation, but his speed and durability were qualities any team would envy, then or now. During those two seasons, he pitched complete games in half of the 31 contests he started, an unlikely feat in today’s game of relievers, set-up men, and closers.

On October 5, 1941, Donald was the starter in one of history’s most famous World Series games. He was taken out in the fifth inning, having run into trouble. With the Dodgers leading 4-3 in the ninth and the Yankees with two outs, Donald seemed destined to be the losing pitcher. The Dodgers’ Hugh Casey had two strikes on the batter when catcher Mickey Owen let the third one get by him. The most famous passed ball in baseball opened the gate for a ninth inning rally that gave the Yankees a 7-4 win. They won the Series the next afternoon.

Since Donald played before the advent of television, his fans back in Louisiana followed his exploits in print. One young admirer, Virgil Orr, who later went to Tech himself and eventually became Vice-President of the university, fondly remembers Donald as one of his boyhood heroes. Orr scoured sports magazines for articles about Donald.

“I read a story in a magazine about Atley Donald appearing at a circus,” Orr recalls. “A tiger escaped and Atley threw a baseball and hit the tiger in the head to keep him away from the crowd.”

Donald’s best year came in 1942, when he posted an 11-3 record, a 3.11 ERA, and allowed only six homeruns in 147 innings.

Wesley Harris is a native of Ruston. Among his books are FISH OUT OF WATER: Nazi Submariners as POWs in North Louisiana during World War II and GREETINGS FROM RUSTON: A Post Card History of Ruston, Louisiana, available from amazon.com. Check out his Louisiana history blog at http://diggingthepast.blogspot. com. He can be contacted at campruston@gmail. com.

In 1945 Donald won his first four games and seemed on the verge of finally working into the Yankees’ starting rotation.

Then his arm went bad and Donald lost four in a row. Surgery at Johns Hopkins revealed calcium burrs in his shoulder and weeks after the operation, Donald still could not lift his arm above his shoulder. A miserable outing in spring training in 1946 marked the end of his pitching but the launch of a stellar career as a scout.

Donald became one of the most respected scouts in baseball, noted for his honesty and willingness to mentor young players.

He helped guide a Louisiana kid named Wayne Causey into the majors where he played for eleven years.

“I was always in awe of him,” said Causey, who played for the Athletics, White Sox, Orioles and others.

Donald worked as a Yankee scout for thirty years before returning to his 450-acre farm in Downsville with wife Betty.

He fished in his 25-acre bass lake and talked baseball with visitors. He was inducted into Tech’s Hall of Fame in 1984. In early 1992, he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Before his death later that year at age 82, Donald took the disease in stride. “The doctors say there’s nothing they can do about it,” he said. “And there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll take the treatments, maybe buy a little time and hope for the best. But I ain’t going to worry about it. I’ve done just about everything I wanted to do and I’ve made a good living doing it.

“I’ve never had a job I didn’t love that I would have done for free if I could have afforded to. I’ve truly enjoyed myself, all my life.

My time has come. I’m ready.”

Maybe when I’m 82, I can say the same.

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41

www. theminutemagazine. com Life Outside the Boot written by Elizabeth Hines New Beginnings

I

t's springtime. Spring is an international sign for new beginnings and fresh starts. It means that the old has melted away, and new life has sprung forth.

For me, that new beginning is in Africa.

I started my new year in an unknown country with a bunch of strangers. I thought NYC was tough, but it had nothing on Ethiopia. Moving here for nearly half a year means I am starting over from scratch. Everything about my life is new and unknown. I don't know the language, I don't know the customs, I don't know how to get around, and I don't have any idea what I am doing most of the time.

After a month I have managed to find some sort of routine. Some sort of idea about what to do to not stand out (too much) and not to look and feel foolish most of the time. I have learned enough words to buy a few item at the suk (corner store) and to tell strange men on the street to leave me alone.

And of course, to make my roommates laugh. I have sort of figured out how to get around- although sometimes that means hitching rides with strangers, which is also a new concept for me. And one I would not do in the states.

I have never before been somewhere where everything that I did, said, and ate was something I have never done before. I mean, sure, I have been on vacation- a lot. But every time I packed, I relied on the unknown: "If I forget it I can always buy another one at Walmart." There ain't no Walmarts in Ethiopia. If I forgot it, I just learn how to live without it until May. And clearly, I just didn't need it.

In one short month I have learned so much about myself. I have learned

42

how to cope with the unknown. I have learned how to live without Facebook and Netflix. I have learned how insanely lucky I am to have been born in America. I have learned how to live without reliable electricity and running water. I have learned that there is an entire world out there that I only thought I knew about until January 17.

I landed in a strange country, in a strange airport, and rode to a new, strange home with people I had never spoken to before. I spent the entire ride to my new home in tears wondering what in the world I had down. I had taken a leap of faith like never before.

NYC at this point looked like child's play. At least in NYC most people spoke English. At least there I had a job, and my own apartment. At least there I could call my mom and my friends whenever I wanted to and we wouldn't be cut off when the electricity went out. At least in NYC I could just hide in my bed with a glass of wine and pretend the big scary world was not out there when everything was too overwhelming. But here none of those are choices. I have to face everything everyday- whether I want to or not. Even when I am scared.

Even when I have Diarrhea for the 1,234th time.

So in I have jumped, head first - to the new and unknown. Everyone at some

point in their life should take a leap into the brand new. As difficult as this journey has been so far, I would never take it back. I have only finished one month, and I have many more to go. I have been broken down to a puddle of tears and built back up stronger than before. I am sure it will happen againprobably several times. But I cannot regret the friends I have already made here, and the new perspective I have found on my life. The new has been exciting and a great experience- but it has also taught me to appreciate the old so much more.

The unknown is terrifying. I mean, let's be real- in the south the unknown and the different is often classified as wrong.

Let's jump out of that. Let's see what else there might be! New Year's day does not have to be the only time we try new things or resolve to be different or better. Go to the city you have never been to before. Try the food you have never tried before. Dance on stage for the first time. Every new opportunity and experience molds us, changes us, makes us different and makes us stronger. And who wants to just stay their same old selves?

So here is to spring. Here is to the new. May it be equally terrifying and rewarding.

Liz is a typical southern girl who is taking on the world. After following the scenic route through college at Louisiana Tech she moved to New York to work as a Child Life Specialist. Recently she took her next big leap by taking a hiatus from her career to travel to the other side of the world to live in Kenya, Africa. After that? Who knows!

But wherever she ends up outside of the boot, a part of her is here. Follow her at tradingbootsforpearls.blogspot.com

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