POSTCARDS MAGAZINE - Lake Conroe-Feb. 2023

POSTCARDS

Nancy Bowen / Ohio. So? / Kathryn Casey / McCaffety Electric

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I’m a Calendar Girl!

February is here…the month of Valentine’s Day…also known as the holiday all new year dieters

chocolates

candies

in every store aisle about ten minutes after you’ve made your New Year’s resolutions!

I’m not sure about you, but the calendar is incredibly important in my world. In fact, before I go to sleep at night, one of the things I do is check to see what is on the calendar for tomorrow. We often share with team members who join Postcards to be prepared never to know what month they are in. For example, here I am during the second week of January writing the February column and working on March and April magazines. No wonder I have to check my schedule!

The other thing about schedules is they are constantly in flux. In fact, 2023 will be the year of two Christmases for our family. We will have one in January and one in December. (At least we are planning one in December.) Of course, we planned for one in December 2022 as well, and thanks to schedule changes and illnesses, it didn’t happen. In fact, as I pen this column, we are anticipating Christmas with our children and grandchildren now only one week away. Yesterday, one of my friends asked me if our grandson liked a gift she knew was under the tree for him. I replied, “I have no idea. He hasn’t seen it yet!” It is also possible (wink, wink) that my children may have Valentine candy hearts in their Christmas stockings… but hey, that can just be another memory to laugh about, right?

Speaking of calendars, it is good to again see events coming out of postCovid hibernation, and fun to make plans to attend those. Be sure to check out our calendar pages in the back to see what kind of neat things might be in store for you and yours. If you don’t see anything that tickles your fancy, then flip through and find one of our amazing advertisers you have never visited and stop by. If you can’t stop by, then call them and let them know you appreciate what they do to make Postcards possible. We sure do!

Until next time, ~ Karen

I really liked the recent Mustard Seed Moments about the “misfits.” It helped me see that verse with a better understanding.

Thankful for your publication! There are so many sweet stories to enjoy in every magazine!

Thank you and your crew for the beautiful story about Clayton Sparks in Postcards! It means a lot to so many.

Thank you for your support of our organization. We appreciate businesses like yours that support the community, and allow us to serve local students, families, and teachers. It takes all of us to make a difference.

Holly McMichael and the A2TR Board

You put out a very good magazine. I look forward to it every month and read it cover to cover. Whenever we are looking for something to do, we just go to the calendar in your magazine to see what’s going on. Please keep them coming!

Marla Boyett

Diane Harris

Vicki McKenzie

Marjean Creager

Nancy Bowen

From the time she was 12 years old (when her mother’s friend taught her to sew), Nancy Bowen’s life has been measured in stitches. Once a way to make school clothes inexpensively for herself and her sister, Nancy’s sewing ability has blossomed into much more. After retiring from a career as a public-school teacher and counselor, she had more time to sew. Today, she uses her skill and artistry to bring joy to people who need it most.

When Nancy was born, her brother Bill was five; twins Daniel and Denise were one year old. Their father was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Carraway family lived in Florida, New Jersey, Louisiana and Texas. Money was tight, so when Nancy and

Denise were students at La Marque High School, they each got an allowance of just $50 per year for school clothes and shoes. Girls of that era were not allowed to wear pants to school, but Nancy was able to stretch the money by making five dresses for each of them. “We could not have bought 10 dresses,” she says.

Nancy always seemed to have a knack for sewing. She recalls the day her home economics teacher objected when Nancy taught her classmates an easy way to put in a zipper. “My teacher said, “You sew beautifully, and I know you know how to do it, but please let me do it my way.’ I would have been sewing for five or six years then,” Nancy says with a laugh.

Story by Ruth Fields

Photos by Tom Miller

Nancy’s sister didn’t take as well to sewing. When Denise took the high school sewing class, she brought her projects home to Nancy. “She would sneak them in her backpack,” Nancy says. “Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I completed them at home, and she took them back in for a grade.”

Life’s zigzag stitch

In 1983, Nancy had been a single mother for several years, struggling to provide for her two children (Clint and Misti) by working three jobs. That year, however, she met Bill Bowen at a church singles event, and her life took a happy turn. After they were married, they moved to Cameron, Texas, and Nancy began to look for a job. “I was either underqualified or over-qualified,” she says.

“Then Bill asked, ‘Why don’t you go back to school?’” Nancy soon enrolled in classes at Temple Junior College and later graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, becoming certified to teach history, business classes, and vocational education. “I didn’t start teaching until I was 40,” she says.

Nancy was pregnant with her daughter Bethany when she earned her degree, but that did not stop her. She began taking graduate courses at night and eventually earned her master’s degree, becoming qualified as a school counselor. “I could have taken three more classes to be a licensed professional

counselor, but that’s not who I wanted to reach. I wanted to reach the kids in the school,” she says. “When I was in high school, the counselors only had time to help the collegebound students.”

Nancy worked in Cameron schools for 19 years, first as a teacher and later as a high school counselor. She finished her career as a junior high counselor in Tomball. Always observant of her students’ needs, she kept a stash of food, socks, and other needed items in her office. Students quickly learned that Nancy cared about them. “I wanted to build a rapport with the kids,” she says. “I had students from the very poor to the very rich.”

A new stitch; a new niche

For most of her life, Nancy sewed primarily clothes, but that changed in 2008. When she and Bill went to Fredericksburg to avoid Hurricane Ike, she found a quilt made of 3,000, oneinch squares. “It kind of gave me the bug,” she says, so she took quilting lessons. Soon she was churning out baby quilts as gifts for friends and for new mothers who received help at Pregnancy Assistance Center North. Several years ago, she was honored to make a T-shirt quilt that was raffled off at a U.S. Coast Guard Academy fundraiser ball. She dedicated the quilt to her father, who served in the Coast Guard during three wars. The raffle winner later wrote to Nancy to compliment her craftsmanship.

A few years ago, Nancy turned her love of quilting into a business. Using her long-arm sewing machine (which is 10 feet long), she quilts other seamstresses’ piecework—a job that is impossible on a standard sewing machine. Meanwhile, she continued to construct her own quilts. She estimates that, including small baby quilts, she has created more than 100 quilts from start to finish.

Memory quilts

Twelve of Nancy’s quilts were especially meaningful, both to her and to the women for whom they were made. Several years ago, a friend showed her a unique quilt pattern that utilizes the iconic log cabin design to create a cross in the middle. Not long after, her friend Fran Johnson’s husband, Richard, passed away, and an idea was born. Nancy asked Fran for five of Richard’s shirts so that she could piece them together and create a quilt. When Nancy completed the project, Fran loved it and hung it in her home to remind her of Richard every day. As other friends and acquaintances lost their husbands, Nancy made 11 more “memory quilts.”

Nancy is thoughtful when she approaches a widow. She doesn’t want to rush them into going through their husbands’ possessions, but neither does she want them to get rid of the shirts. So, she tells them, “When you are ready to deal with it, I will help you pick them out.” She also asks them for a favorite Bible verse to put on a panel on the back of the quilt. After cutting the shirts into pieces—the most laborious part of

the process—Nancy pieces them together on one of her two Bernina sewing machines, and finally quilts them on her long-arm machine. She uses a digitally-downloaded pattern that features crosses, clouds and doves. “I am not smart,” she says. “The machine is smart.”

Nancy notes that the quilting alone—not including the cutting and piecing—takes hours. “It takes 20 minutes to quilt a row, and that’s with it being automatic,” she says, “and there are 16 rows.” Nancy, however, doesn’t keep up with the hours it takes to create a memory quilt. “I just get such a blessing from doing it. I don’t consider it work.” It is emotional when Nancy presents a completed quilt to a recipient. “There are lots of tears, not only from the widow, but from me,” she says. “I have not had the easiest life, but nobody does. God picked me up every time. This is something I can do for God and for that person who is hurting so badly. This is something I can do that maybe somebody else can’t. God gave me an opportunity to bless somebody. This is my ministry.”

Word has gotten around that Nancy is a gifted seamstress. She is a longtime member of West Conroe Baptist Church, which holds a citywide mission event every summer called Cross Conroe. A few years ago, the church created a sewing team, and Nancy became the coordinator, coaching the church’s seamstresses to construct drawstring backpacks for homeless people. The “blessing bags” are filled with water, snacks, socks and other needed items. At Cross Conroe 2022 alone, the sewing team constructed 150 bags.

Nancy’s sewing has overtaken two rooms of her home, but it seems only appropriate for someone who has spent so much of her life sewing for others. “There are very few days I don’t sew,” she says. “I’ve never lost my love of taking a flat piece of material and making something out of it.”

For more information, email Nancy at nancybowen51@gmail.com.

Kyrra Jean Grandchild of Terry Coen

Maverick Ferguson Grandchild of Becky & Robert Ferguson, and Cody & Regina Ginsel

Parker Grace Webb Grandchild of Dave & Edna Schmeck

Trippin’

Story

and

Photos by Karen Altom

Although geographically closer to the northeast, Ohio is the easternmost state of the U.S. region known as the Midwest. I visited Ohio decades ago when I worked with newspapers around the country. The experience did not top my favorites list. Maybe it was the time of year, or the newspaper staff, or the location, but whatever it was, I left there thinking I should give their state travel board the new slogan I had coined for them: “Ohio. So?” That was until a few months ago. Wes and I had planned a long weekend trip down to Biloxi, Mississipi to see comedian Bill Engvall perform on his final tour. A family wedding required us to change that to another date/location, so we chose somewhere we had never visited--Lorain, Ohio. I was excited about giving Ohio another try, and even more excited about visiting the Amish community of Holmes County. Our friends Gregg and Nancy Jolly decided to join in, and we had a fabulous time.

is also sometimes referred to as “Steel City” because of its well-known steel mill, but I will always remember it as the home of the historic Lorain Palace Theatre. The Palace was the venue where Engvall performed, and we loved seeing this antique gem. Opened in 1928, the Palace was the first motion picture theater in Ohio to show a talking motion picture. It also still has its original Wurlitzer theatre organ, one of four remaining in Ohio.

Two hours south of Lorain is Holmes County, Ohio, home to one of the largest Amish communities in the United States. Making up approximately half the population of Holmes County, an estimated 38,000 children and adults make this the highest concentration of Amish in any U.S. county and second in the world--only the Lancaster County settlement in Pennsylvania (spanning multiple counties) has more.

About halfway to our destination, we drove through Chatham Township. A community

evidenced this was an authentic general store. Stepping onto the original, worn wood floors was like taking a step back in time. From the vintage 1869 cash register to the local goods room featuring honey, soaps, artwork, and more, the store offers almost anything and everything. We followed the smell of fresh coffee and baked goods to a front counter where we all found a little something for a snack. My selection was a couple of chocolate dipped graham crackers, but the mistake I made was not tasting them until we were in the car. Oh my! They were the best I had ever had!

The Holmes County Amish communities are Millersburg (the largest), Walnut Creek, Berlin, Charm, and Sugarcreek. We decided to spend the day in Berlin (pronounced Ber’lin), and as we made our way down the back roads, we took in the beautiful countryside and meandered our way past farm after farm. Since Gregg is a retired agriculture teacher, he

Because we only had a long weekend, we flew into Cleveland, rented a vehicle, and made the 30-mile drive west to the town of Lorain where we were staying. Lorain is located on the beautiful shore of Lake Erie. It is known as “The International City,” because it is home to more than 70 different nationalities. Lorain

of about 2,400, Chatham is home to the Chatham General Store, founded in 1854. We passed by, and because I was driving, we turned around to check out this historic gem. The building actually dates back to 1834 but has been a general store since 1854. Signs on the porch for maple syrup and hunting gear

was in his element and able to answer some of the questions we had as we passed.

When we arrived in Berlin, population 1,447 in the 2020 census, we drove around the little community to get an overview. We saw streets lined with craft stores, gift shops, antique malls, flea markets, theaters, bakeries, fabric

Photo by Rona Proudfoot

Photo by Rona Proudfoot

stores, ice cream parlors, vintage clothing stores, and knew we were in for a fun day. After getting the “lay of the land,” we decided it was time for lunch and headed to the Der Dutchman Restaurant a few miles down the road in Walnut Creek. Situated on top of a hill overlooking the valley and beautiful

farms, this alone was worth the trip. Known for their Amish Farm chicken, “always real” mashed potatoes, fresh salad bar and buffet, not to mention desserts, this restaurant is a favorite among tourists and locals alike. We stopped in at the bakery next door to pick up a few souvenirs to take home…namely

their Amish Peanut Butter spread, which is a delectable concoction of peanut butter and marshmallow crème. Gregg is now addicted to their blueberry cream cheese fried pies and is currently in “talks” with them regarding shipments to Texas. A couple of other unique food places we discovered were Coblentz

Chocolate Company (they DO ship to Texas), and The Cracklin’ Pig. Coblentz, a familyowned and operated business founded 35 years ago, makes delectable handmade chocolate confections.

The highlight of the trip was our visit to the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center. The Center is the home to Behalt, a 10-foot-high by 265-foot-long oil on canvas circular mural painting illustrating the heritage of the Amish and Mennonite people. The mural and the presentation that goes along with it highlight the history of the Anabaptist people from their beginnings in Zurich, Switzerland, to

the present day. Behalt means “to keep” or “remember.” The mural is an inexpensive, but incredibly creative history lesson of the culture. It was an amazing work of art as well as a sobering reminder of the persecutions some have endured for their faith. The Center also houses a museum, which is free of charge. Featuring Amish apparel, artifacts, exhibits and rare books, the museum addresses and answers some of the most commonly asked questions about the Amish and Mennonite way of life. Unfortunately, the Center was closing before we were able to see everything. Maybe on the next trip we will get a chance

One of the most interesting things I picked up at the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center was a newspaper called The Diary of the Old Order Churches I didn’t know exactly what it was, but, probably because of my work, I tend to pick up any free publications around. This publication is a contribution of work from Old Order church members all over the United States. The goal of the publication is to “collect and preserve the historical virtues of the church.” In its pages are listings of births, marriages, obituaries, and news of the

to explore the One-Room School and Pioneer Barn!

individual church districts. There are also some puzzles and poems submitted by readers (see this month’s Creative Corner for a poem from The Diary). In spite of the fact this is a black and white publication with no photos and LOTS of words, I finally realized why I was so fascinated by it. It is a publication that shares community much like we do at

Postcards. While our community is closely geographic, their community is spread across the U.S., but because of this publication, I understood it a little better.

As we left our day in Berlin, I reflected on the range of sights we had seen. From the simplicity and solitude of farmhouses in Holmes County to the vibrant city of

Cleveland--home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Progressive Field, and First Energy Field where major league baseball and NFL football teams play, Ohio offers much more than I first experienced. I would look forward to the next trip…but only after another stop at the Chatham General Store. Those chocolate graham crackers are calling our name.

Funded in part by a grant from the City of Conroe.

Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column. Do you think it’s a coincidence that President’s Day and Cherry Pie Day are both in the same month? Thanks, George! Cherry pie is my favorite! I’ve just noticed my milk container has a Valentine’s Day date--and I don’t. My secret admirers are apparently taking the secret part very seriously, so my Valentine plans are very simple: breakfast in bed; chocolates; watch a romantic movie; dinner for two; and regretting eating two dinners! Drop me a line to Dear Gabby at PostcardsLive.com for tonguein-cheek advice with a dash of irony

DEAR GABBY

Why do ladies make resolutions to lose weight in January, only to be given boxes of candy in February? If my boyfriend does that to me again this year, he’s history!

RESOLUTE

DEAR RESOLUTE

I commend you on your willpower! Please, at least drop your guy a hint before you ditch him because he fell for the Russell Stover commercials. His intentions are probably noble and romantic. Charles Schultz, of Snoopy fame, summed it up well. He said, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

DEAR GABBY

I understand giving up alcohol in January is a real thing, but I didn’t get around to that resolution in time. I got a DUI last month, so I really need to stop drinking. Can you give me any advice to keep me on track?

NOT USUALLY A QUITTER

DEAR NUAQ

As I always say, if you don’t really want to know, don’t ask. I always recommend that people stop drinking while it’s their idea. One problem with drinking and driving is that you live in East Texas. Trees defend themselves very well. I can’t say as much about other humans. Think about that. Life is not a fairy tale. If you lose your shoe at midnight, you’re drunk. If you wait until your Check Liver Light comes on, it may be too late. Think about alcohol like all other drugs, because it is. And don’t try to quit alone. Pray.

CONFIDENTIAL

TO “SUPER SNACKER”: If we are not supposed to eat at night, why is there a light in the fridge?

GABBY

Mia Vazquez celebrating her 15th birthday Quinceañera! She is the daughter of Victor & Norma Vazquez.

Congratulations to Jimmy and Judi Harding on celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary!

Happy 7th Birthday Emmalin!

By Patricia Thompson, MD

Health Numbers You Should Know

Your primary care provider, or PCP, is one of your most important health resources. But what does a PCP do?

“My job is to work with my patients to help them stay healthy over their lifetime,” explained Dr. Patricia Thompson, a specialist in primary care, pediatrics, and internal medicine at Houston Methodist Primary Care Group in Montgomery. “I help diagnose illness and monitor ongoing health challenges to try to prevent serious problems by catching issues early and educating my patients on the ways they can be healthier.”

How Your PCP Helps You Stay Healthy

Your PCP performs annual check-ups and is usually the first stop if any health concerns arise. They help you understand and reduce your risk for developing a variety of health problems. PCPs monitor your health and can recommend testing or refer you to specialty care when needed. Plans can include increasing activity level, adopting healthy eating habits, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and learning how to check and manage your blood pressure.

“It is not a weakness to see a doctor,”

Thompson said. “This is a partnership to help keep you healthy.”

Important Numbers to Know

To keep an eye on your health, your PCP monitors several key numbers. For a helpful next visit, be prepared to talk with your doctor about these important indicators and other risk factors you may have.

Blood Pressure - Healthy target: less than 120/80 mmHg

High blood pressure can negatively affect the function of your heart and other major organs, such as the kidney and brain. It’s also the leading cause of stroke.

Body Mass Index - Healthy target: 18.5 to 25 kg/m2

The higher your BMI, the greater your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

Fasting Blood Sugar - Healthy target: below 100 mg/dL

Also called hyperglycemia, high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart over time. It can also lead to type 2 diabetes.

Total Cholesterol - Healthy target: less than 200 mg/dL.

Excess cholesterol can build up in the walls of the arteries, leading to narrowing or blockages in your vessels, which increases your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Make an Appointment

Some risk factors are genetic or out of your control, like family history, age and sex but there’s still a lot you can do to keep your numbers in a healthy range. Building a partnership with your PCP and working with them to know and manage your numbers can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease and other health complications.

The best way to know your numbers and understand visit your

Texas Talent

Story by Mike Yawn Photos by Tom Miller

Kathryn Casey is primarily known as a true-crime writer, but her writings cover the spectrum. She’s written about glitzy art galas in Houston, interviewed A-list celebrities, interrogated serial killers, dished with first ladies over tea, and authored several novels. She has written more than 100 magazine articles, 11 works of non-fiction, and 7 novels. She has been seen on numerous news programs and documentaries and can currently be seen in all three episodes of Netflix’s Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields, which ranked as one of the most streamed programs in December 2022.

Kathryn Casey

Kathryn Casey is primarily known as a truecrime writer, but her writings cover the spectrum. She’s written about glitzy art galas in Houston, interviewed A-list celebrities, interrogated serial killers, dished with first ladies over tea, and authored several novels. She has written more than 100 magazine articles, 11 works of non-fiction, and 7 novels. She has been seen on numerous news programs and documentaries and can currently be seen in all three episodes of Netflix’s Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields, which ranked as one of the most streamed programs in December 2022.

Where did you grow up?

The Midwest, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, which is near Milwaukee. I still have family there, and we go back from time to time. When did you move to Texas?

I moved to Texas in 1980, when my husband moved here for a job. At the time, I was working a flexible job as a bookkeeper. When I got to Houston, though, I decided to make a switch and earn a bachelor’s degree from the

University of Houston.

I did. I wanted to major in English, but I was in my thirties, and I thought that was really old. I figured I needed to be practical and get a degree in journalism.

I do not.

Yes. I obtained an internship with Houston City Magazine, which, in turn, led me to being hired by the magazine. By the time I left a couple of years later, I was a senior editor. I then jumped to Ultra

It was a bit like a Town & Country for Texas. I went to many ritzy parties and store openings, and we published a lot of stories with ball gowns and jewels. I was there for about two years, and then I worked regularly as a contract writer at Ladies Home Journal for

almost two decades. During this period, I did a lot of freelance writing.

I wrote for numerous magazines and newspapers. I published for The Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, and The Boston Globe. I was a stringer for Newsweek and People. I wrote for Rolling Stone, Town & Country, and Seventeen. Freelancing was great because it allowed me to do different things, but it was important to have regular work, as I did with Ladies Home Journal

Things are so different now that a lot of people don’t realize what a thriving and stimulating world journalism was in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a lot of fun. One week I might be in a penthouse at Caesar’s Palace interviewing Reba McEntire; then I would go to talk to a grandmother in another state who had been artificially inseminated with her grandchildren; this could be followed by a visit to Allentown, Pennsylvania to cover a serial-killer case; and then it was off to the White House to interview Hillary Clinton.

She wasn’t the only first lady you

Did you pursue that degree with the idea of being a writer?

Do you still think that being 30-something is old?

Did the degree lead to a job writing?

interviewed.

That’s correct, I’ve interviewed Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush.

Who was your favorite interview?

That is a tough one. But I really liked Laura Bush. I spent two days with Ms. Bush, one day with her during the campaign and a day interviewing her. She had been a librarian, and we spent a lot of time talking books, which I enjoyed very much.

Do you have any amusing stories from your time with first ladies?

When interviewing Rosalynn Carter, I had something of a surprise. While in her home in Plains, Georgia, President Carter walked through the door. He had been clearing out some vegetation, and he had cut his hand. He walked in the door, saw Rosalynn and me speaking, and he interrupted, asking, “Rosalynn, do you think we have health insurance?”

Was he serious?

No, he was just playing, but he sat with us for a while during the interview. At one point he

interrupted again, and noting that I worked for Ladies Home Journal, he said, “Lot of recipes in that magazine. Think you could make us some lunch? I’m getting darn hungry.” At that point, Rosalynn got up and escorted him out of the room.

Around this time—the late 1990s—the internet is changing journalism. Can you describe what effect this had?

Absolutely. The internet was emerging, and people were writing internet content for free. A lot of the print media began to dry up, and jobs became scarce. Fortunately, I was writing books by then. Not all writers were that fortunate.

The internet has made information more available, but not necessarily more reliable.

When you were writing for major magazines, what steps were there to ensure accuracy?

Just as one example, when I did a piece for Rolling Stone, I had to supply the editors with a list of all my sources and their contact

Congratulations and Welcome to Julie Love,

information. The magazine had fact-checkers, and all my work had to go through a legal team. Back then, even as a freelance writer, I had support from the magazines. The leading magazines had research teams to support writers. There were strict journalistic standards.

During this period, you wrote on a diverse set of topics, and you could have written books about any of those broad subjects.

What brought you specifically to true crime?

I began covering true crime while I was with Houston City in the 1980s. There was a lovetriangle murder I covered, and I spent months working on it. I found the trial addictive; I enjoyed seeing the attorneys in action. It was like a chess game; as a journalist, I was watching the strategy. I enjoyed that aspect of it. But the cases are also sad, and it is difficult to interview the victims’ families. But I thought there was something valuable in getting the information to the public.

Is it the investigative challenge that intrigues you? »

CPA

Julie Love is a Certified Public Accountant at Neuwirth Slaughter & Associates, L.L.P. with 4 years of public accounting experience.

Julie believes in the core values of hard work, dedication, and a strong work ethic. She does what it takes to ensure her clients stay on track and reach their financial goals. Julie also stays on top of the ever-changing industry regulations, making sure she has the tools to help others succeed. Regardless of her client’s size and needs, Julie is committed to deliver tax and financial services that meet each client’s unique objectives.

Julie is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She earned her Masters of Science in Accounting from Sam Houston State University in 2020. In 2022, she passed the Uniform Certified Public Accounting examination administered by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

Neuwirth Slaughter & Associates, L.L.P.

Certified Public Accountants

168 Col. Etheredge Blvd. • Suite B Huntsville, TX 77340

Partly. It’s putting the puzzle together, assembling the pieces into a coherent picture, making sense out of the case. Prosecutors have asked me, “How did you get all that information?” For me, it’s a quest.

What’s the most interesting truecrime case you have covered?

The Celeste Beard case in Austin probably involved the most unusual set of circumstances. It was something of a preposterous story, one I described in She Wanted it All If the Coen Brothers made a movie about domestic murder, it might look like the Celeste Beard case.

Celeste married a millionaire widower, Steve Beard, who was more than twice her age. She had also befriended Tracey Tarlton, the manager of Austin’s Book People, and the two of them, according to She Wanted it All, made two unsuccessful attempts on Steve’s life. In a third attempt, Tracey shot Steve in the stomach, and he died four months later from a (probably related) blood clot. Tarlton received a reduced sentence for testifying against Celeste, and she was released from prison in 2011. Celeste was convicted of

capital murder, and she is not eligible for parole until 2042.

You made the transition from magazine journalist to truecrime author, then you made the transition to novelist. Tell us about that transition.

I’ve basically been in a long-running legal education, dating back to the 1980s, when I began covering criminal trials. I’ve been in a lot of courtrooms. True-crime is interesting, but it’s not a lot of fun to write, and it’s reporting, not creative writing. I began writing fiction to explore things creatively, to have control of the plots, and I’ve been having fun with it.

Casey’s first novel, Singularity, was published in 2008, and it featured Sara Armstrong, a Texas Ranger. Library Journal called it a “well-written debut” and Booklist called it “impressive,” with a “memorable heroine” who “has brains, moxie, and heart.” Casey wrote four novels featuring Armstrong.

After years of writing magazines and non-fiction, you wrote

COLLEGE OF ARTS & MEDIA

Singularity, featuring a female Texas Ranger. How did you prepare for that?

I spent about a month going around interviewing female police officers. They shared with me the process of breaking into the profession and various elements of law enforcement. And, of course, I have my own experiences covering cases, so I have a lot to draw on. What I learn in non-fiction bleeds into my fiction.

Which sells better: your nonfiction or fiction?

They both sell pretty well. The fiction works have been pretty successful, but I am known as a true-crime author.

Ann Rule referred to Casey as “one of the best in the business” and author Gregg Olsen called her

FEBRUARY EVENTS

Art SCARCITY AND ABUNDANCE EXHIBITION

January 26 – March 4 Reception | January 26 | 6 p.m. University Gallery, HFAB Free Admission

Theatre & Musical Theatre FADE

By Tanya Saracho

February 14 & 16 | 7:30 p.m. February 18 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Showcase Theatre, UTC

Theatre & Musical Theatre THIS IS OUR YOUTH

By Kenneth Lonergan February 15, 17, & 18 | 7:30 p.m. Showcase Theatre, UTC

Music SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT

February 18 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

Music

WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT

February 23 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

UPCOMING MARCH EVENT

College of Arts & Media

CAM ARTIST SERIES: TEXAS GUITAR QUARTET

March 3 | 7:30 p.m. Recital Hall, GPAC

FOR TICKETS & INFORMATION

shsutickets.com | tickets@shsu.edu | 936.294.2339

To view our full list of events, visit shsu.edu/CAM

have

female investigator

belt, do

think you’ll return to the more emotionally and physically grueling true-crime?

I have submitted a couple of chapters of a proposed non-fiction work to my agent. I would like to do more. True crime is very popular right now, perhaps a function of both podcasts and documentaries on Netflix and such. I think readers take something from the true crime.

You self-published one of your novels. Tell us how that works.

My first three Sara Armstrong books were done through St. Martin’s, and I had a clause in that contract that I could get the rights back under specific conditions. It worked out, and I was able to get those rights. When I wrote my fourth Armstrong book, I self-published it. Is that a risk?

Not as much now. Self-publishing is quite common, and if I don’t like an offer from a publisher, I can go the self-publishing route.

It depends on various factors, such as who the author is, but the standard on a paperback is for the author to get eight percent; and for an e-book, the author receives twenty-five percent. With self-publishing, the author will receive between thirty and seventy percent of the cover price, but the author will also need to hire the copy editor and cover designer. And, of course, the author will need to do all the promotion.

Female sleuths sell well; they are in demand. But, also, I am female, and I have done a lot of investigating. I know female police officers. I can take what I know, and I can incorporate it

In my magazine years, I spent a week in a polygamous Mormon town about an adoption case. It is a lifestyle that’s very different from what most people know, and, as I was writing my novel, I thought that knowledge might be useful in forming the backstory and setting.

I have never done that, but it is a great idea. If I do that, I’ll have to include you in the acknowledgements!

You can see Kathryn Casey on Netflix’s Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields, you can find her books on Amazon or at almost any bookstore, and you can learn more about her on her website: https://www.kathryncasey. com/index.htm.

What are the industry standards for royalties through a traditional publisher and self-publishing?

Your latest books feature Detective Clara Jeffries. The first of these books, Fallen Girls, begins in a Mormon community. How did you come across that idea?

In both your fictional series, you

a

as the lead. Is that because it’s what you know, or is it a social statement?

into my novels.

Have you ever thought of inserting yourself into one of your novels as a character? For example, having a dogged female reporter named Kathryn Casey cover one of the cases that Clara Jeffries is investigating?

By Steve VanWagner, D.V.M.

Mare Ready for Foaling?

Most horse owners are nervous about their pregnant mare and have many questions about how to care for them. There is little to be concerned about if a few minor steps are followed.

First things first. Ultrasound at 14-16 days post ovulation can confirm the mare is pregnant, at 25-35 days can confirm a heartbeat, and at 60-70 days can determine sex.

As twin foals are usually born premature, have serious medical problems, and are unlikely to survive, early detection of twins provides an opportunity to eliminate one embryo, thus allowing the other to develop normally.

Provide good nutrition, but do not overfeed. Supplements are NOT necessary if being fed a balanced diet. Do not administer any hormones unless prescribed by your veterinarian. During the first 7 months of gestation, treat your mare as

a non-pregnant one. Light riding is acceptable and actually a benefit. There is no reason to increase caloric intake until last 3 to 4 months of pregnancy.

Vaccinations and deworming are an important part of maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Mares should be vaccinated against Equine Rhinopneumonitis at five, seven, and nine months of gestation. Also vaccinations for Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus, Rhinopneumonitis, Influenza and Tetanus should be given 4-8 weeks prior to foaling to increase antibody levels in the mare’s colostrum (so that when the foal nurses during the first 24 hours of life, it will have increased protection against those diseases). Mares should be dewormed several weeks before foaling, because the mare can be the primary source for infecting her foal with parasites.

The average length of gestation in the mare is 340 days; however, normal gestation can range from 320-380 days. Prolonged gestation is not generally associated with problems or extra large foals unless the mare is grazing fescue grass.

If you notice any vaginal discharge or dripping of milk during pregnancy, contact your veterinarian immediately. Obvious signs of impending birth are: waxing of the teats, filling of the udder, obvious dripping of milk. More subtle signs are: relaxation of the vulva, visible changes in position of the foal, softening and flattening of the muscles in the croup.

If you have any questions, contact your veterinarian. They will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your foaling mare and also how to care for the newborn foal.

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Move an oven rack to the middle

of the oven. Spray 24 muffin cups with cooking spray.

Step 2: Spoon 1 teaspoon melted butter into the bottom of each sprayed muffin cup. Spoon 1 tablespoon brown sugar into each muffin cup. Press a maraschino cherry into the center of the brown sugar in each muffin cup. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of crushed pineapple on top and compact it with the back of a spoon into an even layer.

Step 3: Mix pineapple cake mix, pineapple juice, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium; mix for 2 minutes.

Step 4: Pour batter into the muffin

cups, filling them to the top; do not overfill.

Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

Step 6: Line a work surface with waxed paper. Allow cupcakes to cool at least 5 minutes before inverting muffin cups onto the waxed paper; serve with pineapple and cherry sides up. Sprinkle cupcakes lightly with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Blue Cheese

Ingredients

1 lb sliced bacon, cut in half

1 lb pitted dates

4 oz blue cheese

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Step 2: Slice dates in half and open them up. Pinch off pieces of blue cheese and place them into the center of the dates. Close the halves of the dates and wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside. Secure each one with a toothpick. Arrange in a baking dish or on a baking sheet with sides to catch any grease.

Step 3: Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bacon is crisp. Turn dates over after the first 20 minutes for even cooking.

Dates

Happy Valentine’s Day!

When we were children, Valentine’s Day was for swapping funny cards and candy hearts in school. When we were teenagers, it was for letting your secret crush know you had “a thing” for them. When we became adults, it was for romantic evenings with our significant other, away from the pressures of work, kids, or life in general.

Even when we’re older, Valentine’s Day can still be about all those things! But the older we get, the more Valentine’s Day becomes something else, too. It’s an opportunity to tell everyone I care about how important they are to me. And that includes you.

So, for this Valentine’s Day, we just wanted to let you know how much you mean to us and our team. Getting to serve, to help, to know people like you is why we do what we do.

We cherish the memory of all our past conversations and interactions… and we look forward to all the conversations to come!

As you may know, Valentine’s Day was originally a celebration of a saint who lived during the Roman Empire. Valentinus, or Valentine, performed secret marriages for soldiers and persecuted Christians. Those he helped would recognize him for the ring he wore with the image of Cupid engraved upon it.

Discovered and imprisoned, Valentine befriended his jailer’s daughter, sending her letters signed, “From your Valentine.” Since then, Valentine’s Day has become a celebration of love and friendship of all sorts.

You are much more than a client. You are a valued friend. So, it’s in that spirit we submit – not from your financial advisors, but from your Valentines. However you choose to spend the day, I hope you always remember you are loved, appreciated, and cared about – especially by all of us here at Global Financial Partners. We hope you have a very happy Valentine’s Day!

Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree, which is grown in many tropical regions of the world.

Native to: The Middle East

Taste: Sweet with a rich, intensive caramellike taste when they fully ripen.

Submitted by: Brian B Smith, CFP®, Bryan M Masten, CFP® & Riley W. Smith

Needs of Blended Families

By: James M. Bright, Attorney at Law

already owns) going to Jane and the other 50% as follows:

Having a valid will is an important need in every family, but in a “blended family,” that importance is magnified many times over, demonstrated as follows:

ASSUMED FACTS

1. Jane and Joe marry.

2. At the time of the marriage:

a. Joe had two children, Joe Jr. and Sue,who live with their mother.

b. Jane had one child, Sally, who is one year old.

* No formal adoption procedures were done.

* Jane and Joe Sr. have one child together (Dawn).

* Joe Jr. married and had two sons, Todd and Tad (Joe Sr.’s grandchildren) before he died. in an accident.

* Twenty-five years later Joe Sr. had a heart attack and died without a will.

* At the time of Joe Sr.’s death, Joe and Jane owned the following property (all of which was community property because it was earned after marriage and was earned in Texas):

- A residence valued at $400,000

- Stock worth $300,000.00;

- Personal items worth $5,000.00;

- A family-owned and operated Widget business. (One of the employees agreed to take over the debts and pay Joe’s estate $150,000.00 for total ownership if approval could be obtained from all of the heirs.)

Questions to be answered are - How will Joe Sr.’s estate pass under Texas laws of intestate succession? What will the financial impact be on Jane? Will a probate proceeding be required? How can this result be avoided?

Intestate Succession - The total value of the community estate owned together by Joe Sr. and Jane equals $855,000.00. It will be divided with 50% (the part she

* An undivided 1/6 of the total ($142,500.00) will belong to Sue (Joe Sr.’s daughter from his first marriage);

* An undivided 1/6 of the total ($142,500.00) will belong to Dawn (Joe Sr.’s daughter from his second marriage);

* An undivided 1/12 of the total ($71,250.00) will belong to Todd (grandson of Joe Sr.);

* An undivided 1/12 of the total ($71,250.00) will belong to Tad (grandson of Joe Sr.);

* Jane’s daughter, Sally, will get nothing even though Joe Sr. was the only father she has ever known;

* Jane will retain a life estate in the home, giving her the right to live there for the rest of her life, but she will not be free to sell, refinance, etc. without the consent of Sue, Dawn, Todd and Tad. (This becomes even more complicated if Todd or Tad are still minors)).

Impact on Jane -

* The home previously owned by Joe and Jane is no longer hers. Her interest is an undivided 50% plus a right to live there during her lifetime.

* The stock portfolio that she and Joe so carefully built will need to be split in half, and she will be entitled to only $150,000 of the original sum.

* Jane will get only $75,000 from the sale of the business if it can be sold. It should be noted that even though Jane and Joe Sr. worked hand-in-hand to build the Widget business and although Jane might wish to accept the offer of purchase from the former employee that sale will also need to be approved and accepted by Sue, Todd, Tad and Dawn. Absent approval by each of them (even if they are adults and capable of giving approval), the problem will likely require court intervention to permit partition (i.e., division) of the property

* Jane will get $2,500.00 of the value of Joe’s personal items.

Will a Probate proceeding be required? Unfortunately, and to add insult to injury, to protect even these rights for Jane, it will be necessary to go through a more complex procedure than simple probate of a will. This procedure would typically be an application to determine heirship coupled with an application for administration of the estate. This procedure may or may not be independent of court supervision and may require the posting of a substantial bond.

How to avoid this result. The special problems of the “blended family” are easily avoided with a professionally prepared will. In addition, it is probable that the expense involved in having a will professionally prepared and ultimately having it probated will be far less than the heirship and administration procedure described above.

If you or your loved ones are part of a “blended family,” you may wish to find an attorney of your choice to draft or update your will. By drafting even a simple will, each of the distasteful and unintended consequences of a death in a blended family can be avoided. You will not only be able to decide how your property should pass, you will make it possible for the probate procedures at the time of your death to be more simple and less expensive.

The following is for informational purposes. It should not be construed as legal advice.

By Kim Bius

Grow Your Own Fruit

February is fruit tree and rose season in East Texas, and now is the best time to shop for hard-to-find and new varieties that have limited availability. The beautiful weather we have had has given area gardeners “spring fever,” and the desire to plant and create is overwhelming!

If you have decided 2023 is the year you will begin to control your food source and enjoy the ornamental, edible beauty of fruit trees in your landscape, let us do a review of the basic requirements for successful growth and production.

First, choose a sight that receives full, direct sunlight (min. 8 hours) and has good drainage (heavy clay can be worked with, but generally a poor site choice). Fruit trees will not survive in waterlogged soil. New plantings will need to be irrigated a minimum of twice a week during the next few weeks, and three times a week when temperatures stay in the high 70s. Fruit trees, as a rule, will require consistent watering throughout their lifetimes, and especially during the first summer and production season.

Pears and figs, once established, will tolerate drought conditions longer than peaches, plums or apples--but like any fruit bearing crop, consistent watering is a must. Leave a newly planted peach tree unwatered for 10 days during the summer…and you will be replacing the tree next season. Newly planted trees should be pruned back 20% before planting to stimulate growth and ensure the branching is not too extensive for the root system to handle. Most fruit trees will bear heavily after the fourth through fifth year, but all will produce on three-year growth--just not as much.

When shopping, choose healthy containerplanted trees when possible. Bare root trees or packaged trees are fine until early February for purchasing. Many independent garden centers bring in their fruit tree stock bare root, soak the roots, and then pot into their own “special recipe”, (1/3 topsoil, 1/3 humus, 1/3 fines and compost). The trees are potted in

biodegradable peat pots. The peat pots add compost to the soil and disintegrate over time from watering and rain.

A frequently asked question is, “What size is the best size to plant?” I prefer a tree in the 5’7’ range, generally ½” caliber. Upon planting, ensure the tree is planted at the same level (or preferably, slightly higher) than the existing soil level. This means two things: the tree root ball should be above the soil level at least an inch, and that the existing soil level on the tree cannot be changed--not even 1/16”. Planting a woody-stemmed plant (except for a fig) above the root system will cause the bark to rot. As the bark deteriorates, the “blood vessels” slightly below the bark become damaged, and nutrients cannot flow up and down the trunk, causing the plant to die off over a course of several months. Thus, the importance of keeping the soil level a minimum of 5” (can be more) below the graft (large knot at the base of the trunk).

There are two rules of thought on the application of root stimulator: To apply before or after planting. To me, it depends on the size of the tree. Trees over 3” in caliber should have the hole filled with water and pour the appropriate amount of root stimulator in the hole BEFORE planting the tree. Smaller trees can be watered in upon planting--keeps the mud mess down, and it is easier to mix 4 tablespoons per gallon of water for every 3’ of plant height when the tree is smaller. Root stimulator is a fertilizer (and a hormone) that greatly accelerates the growth rate of the root system so the tree can anchor itself and begin growing. It can be reapplied 6 weeks after planting.

When shopping, ask questions. Informed garden centers will be able to explain chilling hours, pollinator required (if any), texture, time of harvest, and sweetness of the fruit, as well as other bits of information that are “plant specific.” Spring is just around the corner. Cheers to all our gardening enthusiasts and readers.

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Story by Rosa Coss Photos by Tom Miller

McCAFFETY ELECTRIC

McCaffety Electric is a name people know and trust, and that’s no surprise. This year, they’re celebrating 61 years of doing business. In 1962, when Eugene McCaffety and his wife Shirley came to Huntsville, they started the business in back of their home. With his 1959 Chevrolet truck, some hand tools and a shovel, Eugene, a family man and electrician (who had been working as a

lineman), was determined to succeed and started his own business. He passed this drive and determination on to future generations in the family. McCaffety Electric has since grown into a thriving family-owned business that now employs over 90 staff members, including master electricians, engineers, and licensed journeymen. The company has expanded throughout the Huntsville, Conroe,

and Bryan-College Station areas, servicing a 60-mile radius surrounding each location. The corporate office, located at 1711 Sycamore Avenue in Huntsville, has been there for more than 30 years, and also has a lighting showroom. The Conroe location is 1610A North Frazier, and the newest location is at 1523 Crosswinds in Bryan.

Today, Eugene’s son Rob McCaffety serves as

Pam Barnes, Rob & Frankie McCaffety

are a hometown, family business”

President, his sister Pam Barnes serves as CEO, Frankie (Rob’s wife) is the Corporate Secretary, and Jason McCaffety (Rob and Frankie’s son) is the Vice President. Cody McCaffety (Rob and Frankie’s son) and Jeremy Barnes (Pam’s son) run the Conroe location. Jarrod Welch is the Operations Manager at the storefront in Bryan. Concerning the Conroe location, Cody says while he and Jeremy both “wear all the hats,” there are some areas of specialty. “I do office management, facilitate contracts, negotiations, oversee staff, customer relations, and sales. Jeremy is over project management, contract negotiations, customer relations and estimating.”

Their path into the family business was not a direct one. “Jeremy and I grew up in the hayfields, baling hay and working cows. In college, I went to work for AOC Welding Supply, and Jeremy went to work for Brookstone Construction as an assistant project manager. My dad’s thought was to send us out into ‘the real world’ to get some experience from different perspectives, and

then try to bring us into the company. So, Jeremy and I have both been with McCaffety for 13 years.”

Over the years, the business has gone through various changes in terms of the products and services offered. Besides residential and commercial, they’ve also extended their services to larger corporations and

municipalities. To stay up to date with stateof-the-art technology, they also incorporate data wiring, which is different and requires knowledge, training and certification in this area. Data wires are basically cables that provide service for cable TV, Wi-Fi, and phone service, and makes connecting to a network possible through computers and other

“We

Photo by CGI Digital

Cody McCaffety and Jeremy Barnes at the Conroe location are third generation members in the McCaffety family legacy.

Photo by CGI Digital

devices. Today’s data wiring relies mostly on two primary types of cables: ethernet, which are twisted copper conductors; and fiber optic cables made of glass or plastic centers. Each offers a different type of feature. Cody says, “We constantly come across new products that engineers ‘spec’ into jobs.” This requires workers at McCaffety to do their homework to bring everything together in an expert manner.

As far as electrical wiring for residential homes or remodel construction projects, McCaffety does the electrical

wiring from the ground up. They can upgrade fixtures and wiring and install panels as well. For commercial jobs, it’s a whole different

which bid they select, the project manager or owner will award the job to the contractor whose bid was chosen. The process is quite involved.

stand behind it—

ballgame, because a pool of contractors submit sealed bids. Then, depending on

While the current bulk of the workload for McCaffety’s Conroe location is commercial jobs, residential service and repair is an area that is steadily growing…and with a growing workload, comes expansion. McCaffety in Conroe has added to their property and is constructing a new building for additional storage use.

“We

from installation to completion to warranty.”

Overall, the future of McCaffety Electric is promising. “We are very excited to see what innovative ideas and fresh vision the new generations of the family bring to the table,” said Frankie. Jason, Cody, and Jeremy are all very hardworking and driven, and they have plans for growth, expansion and change for the corporation. They’ve been illuminating the Walker and Montgomery areas for over six decades, and now parts of Brazos County as well. Their motto is, “McCaffety Electric - big or small, we do it all!”

“We are a hometown, family business,” stated Cody. “Good guys who try to go above and beyond to do whatever it takes to make sure the customer is satisfied and the product works. We stand behind it—from installation to completion to warranty.”

For more information about their products and services, visit: www. mccaffetyelectric.com or call (936) 539-5411.

“McCaffety Electric -

big or small, we do it all!”

Photo by CGI Digital

CALENDAR

25-Mar 5

Houston

Cirque Du Soleil Presents “Kooza Under the Big Top” cirqudusoleil.com/kooza

10-21

16-19

Galveston

Beaumont

2-4

South Padre Island

SPI Kite Fest sopadre.com

4

Galveston

The Romeros in Concert thegrand.com Houston The Harlem Globetrotters nrgpark.com 5 Huntsville

The Isaacs oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org 7-19

Houston

“Chicago” tuts.com 9-26

San Antonio

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo https://www.sarodeo.com/ 9-26

Brenham

“The Mousetrap” unitybrenham.org 10-26

Conroe

“In the Heights” crightontheatre.org

Mardis Gras! Galveston mardisgrasgalveston.com 11 Houston Monster Jam nrgpark.com

The Woodlands

Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope Gala mcfoodbank.org 13

Houston

Adam Sandler LIVE toyotacenter.com 14

College Station

Lyle Lovett and His Acoustic Group mscopas.org Houston

Bruce Springstein and E Street Band toyotacenter.com 14-18

Huntsville “This is Our Youth” shsutickets.com 15-18 Huntsville “Fade” shsutickets.com 16

College Station

WINGS: Irish Dance Celebration mscopas.org

Mardis Gras Southeast Texas mardisgrastx.com 18

Conroe

Go Texas Parade Email: cwwmetro@hotmail.com Pasadena

Greater Houston Train Show sanjacmodeltrains.org 19

Huntsville

Shake Rattle & Roll oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org 22-Mar 2

Houston

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” houston.broadway.com 22

Sugar Land

The Simon & Garfunkel Story smartfinancialcentre.net 22-25 Huntsville

Prison City Film Festival oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org 24

Galveston

The Kingdom Choir in Concert thegrand.com 25 Huntsville

Prison City Crawfish & Music Festival huntsvilledba.com

Mustard Seed Moments

by Wes Altom

Lending an Ear

…a crowd showed up, Judas, the one from the Twelve, in the lead. He came right up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said, “Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those with him saw what was happening, they said, “Master, shall we fight?” One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. Jesus said, “Let them be. Even in this.” Then, touching the servant’s ear, he healed him. Luke 22:47-51

This was the last miracle performed by Jesus before his arrest and crucifixion, and it’s notable for a few reasons. First, the authorities rushing forward in their attempt to “cancel” Jesus ignore this event at the soon-to-occur trial. You would think a violent (even criminal) act by a follower of Jesus would be of utmost importance in proving their case against Christ, but there is no record it was used against him—perhaps because there was no evidence it happened due to the healing—or because acknowledging the attack meant also acknowledging the healing—or because Christ followed up with words making clear he would not advocate violence.

Next, Luke is the only gospel writer to mention the healing which followed Peter’s attack. Maybe this is noteworthy to Luke because he is a physician—impressed by this aspect of the event and more concerned with human health-and-wellbeing than the other disciples. How fitting, though, that the last miracle in ministry before death is Christ patiently “fixing” an impulsive, well-intentioned act-gone-wrong by one of those closest to Him. This gives me hope for me.

Finally, for those who like to take the Good Book literally (and/or with a touch of humor), this event gives a striking reminder, bringing a visual to the admonition of Matthew 11:15, “He that hath an ear, let him hear.”