LOVE ADVICE

Tyler and Sarah Swope were high school sweethearts and posed for engagement photos.

Now married for 10 years, the Swopes have a full family with three children

Tyler and Sara Swope; married 10 years

Always tell the truth. Communication is key in marriage, and allowing yourself the safety to be authentic and real with your spouse is a huge part of building the trust and intimacy that make a marriage last. Also, marriage is work. Without maintenance, any structure will start to fail. Find a support system and work together to keep your relationship strong.

Matt and Karen Segsworth on their wedding day, 11 years ago.

Today, the Segsworths make Monett home with their two children

Matt and Karen Segsworth; married 11 years

We suggest couples figure out what makes the other person feel loved, realizing it’s probably not how you most feel loved. Go on dates, and just spend time together. Make efforts to show interest and try things that are important to the other person. Communicate, communicate, communicate, and keep trying even when it gets frustrating. Continue learning about each other and be willing to change together.

Andy and Michelle Goodson in their early days of dating.

Married 20 years, the Goodsons are focused on marriage for life.

Andy and Michelle Goodson; married 20 years

Try to always keep your marriage a priority. Once kids come along, it can be hard. When our kids were young, we often reminded them they would leave some day, so we needed to go on dates and trips without them. We attend marriage conferences and events. We want to make sure the love is still there when the kids are gone and we’re in the next stage of our life. We got married to spend our lives together, so we work toward that goal.

Clif and Dee Crocket at their wedding 48 years ago.

Today, the Crockets celebrate the family that has grown through children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Clif and Dee Crockett; married 48 years

All our years of marriage have been in ministry where the Church has been a huge part of our personal and professional identity. We have lived and breathed our calling. One of the greatest gifts that a couple can possess is to be “on the same page,” to have a common vision of who they are and what they’re called to do.

Throughout our ministry we’ve been gifted with very deep relationships with other clergy and laity. Marriage isn’t a “solo” thing. Those friendships have served us well in both the good and the difficult times. God has blessed us with those people who have been invaluable in our marriage.

Also, we have two daughters, six grandchildren, one step grandchild, and two great-grandchildren. We moved back to Monett in retirement to be close to many members of our family. It’s been a zoo, but a good one for the most part. We never know who or how many are going to walk through our door at any given time! Not what we expected, but we realize that God has gifted us with all these people. They bless us and we have the opportunity to bless them, help guide them, and encourage them in their life’s journey. J.D. and Pam Mayo on their wedding day.

Celebrating 50 years of marriage for the Mayos.

J.D. and Pam Mayo; married 50 years

There is no perfect marriage and there will be arguments, always remember to compromise and make up. We knew when we got married back in 1971 we were both marrying for life. I (Pam) grew up in a broken home and J.D. grew up in a stable home with both his father and mother. I knew I did not want our kids to experience what I did and J.D. knew he did want our kids to be raised like he was. So, with that as our goal we were able to work through our problems as they came along and keeping the lines of communication open.

by Faith Herron by Payton Jobe

Payton Jobe and Faith Herron completed the Dietetic Internship program at Cox College. Payton enjoys swimming, cooking/creating new recipes, and playing with her dog, Brindle. Faith enjoys experimenting with new recipes, playing tennis, and reading classic literature.

PART ONE: Importance of Routine

Humans are naturally creatures of habit. It allows for structure and organization in our lives. Having a routine, especially during a pandemic, can make a positive impact on one’s health. This two-part article will provide information regarding the importance of having a routine and ideas on how you can implement a routine in your life that is realistic for you. People who do not have set routines in their life may suffer from increased stress levels, poor sleep, poor eating habits, inactivity, and poor time management. This can lead to increased inflammation in the body and increased risk of becoming ill or developing chronic diseases later in life. Starting a routine and implementing healthy habits in our lives now could make a large impact. The topics these articles will focus on include sleep, stress, food, and physical activity habits for a healthier lifestyle. SLEEP

In America it seems like being sleep deprived is worn as a badge of honor. The more sleep deprived you are, the harder the worker you are.

The saying “I can sleep when I’m dead” is somewhat of a moto for most Americans. However, sleep could be one of the most important aspects in the proper functioning of our bodies. Sleep plays a role in the repair of the heart, blood vessels and muscles. Studies have shown that there is an association between sleep deficiency and diabetes, increased cardiovascular risk, kidney disease, and stroke. The amount of sleep that a person needs varies from person to person. However, the general recommendation for adults 18 and older is 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Many believe that napping and sleeping in are strategies to make up for lost sleep. However, this is often not the case. Once lost, the body remains sleep deprived. Naps may help with short-term energy needs but they do not have the same benefits as what you get from overnight sleep. Sleeping in can allow to make up for some sleep, but it can also affect our natural sleep cycles. Therefore, it is important to create positive sleeping habits. This includes creating a sleep schedule with a set time for bed and a set time for waking up every single day. Many phones now have “sleep focus” and “sleep schedules” to cue you to wind down and to prevent calls and notifications from keeping you up. Having a relaxing bedtime routine can help you wind down and fall asleep quicker. Tracking how many hours of sleep you get each night can be beneficial for determining any underlying problems as well. STRESS

Many Americans struggle with high levels of stress in their lives. Uncontrolled stress is another contributor to many chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It is important that we identify the signs and symptoms of how stress affects us to be able to better manage our stress. Keeping a journal that describes your symptoms and how you feel when you are stressed is one way to help identify triggers. Allowing yourself “me time” is another way that we can attempt to reduce stress in our lives. This can include alone time where you sit quietly, meditate, or listen to calming music. During this time, you should avoid distractions such as cell phones, specifically social media platforms. There is an association between social media use and increased levels of stress. There are many stress management techniques out there including websites, apps and health care professionals that could be beneficial as well. Creating an everyday routine could also help reduce stress levels. As said at the beginning of this article, humans are creatures of habit and we don’t like change. Veering away from our usual routine can also be a major cause of stress. We will continue this conversation about the importance of establishing a routine in next month’s issue. •

Show Me Hope @ The Clark Center

2021 was rough. Show Me Hope at the Clark Center is connected to resources for financial help, mental health help, and self-care. The program is free and confidential. Programs are created to assist our communities with the ability to recover from the grief, uncertainty and frustration of recent times. We are here to listen and help. Anyone in the community with concerns about their recovery, or that of another individual or group is encouraged to call and seek assistance. Points of focus for Show Me Hope are resiliency,

self-care and experiencing loss. Here 24/7...... CShow Me Hope, call or Clark Center: text: 1-800-985-5990 417-235-6610 C