Liberty Hill Digest • December 2022

Megan, a mom of two, has been a part of the Liberty Hill community for 11 years. Originally trained as a nurse, today, she channels her passion to help others into throwing birthday parties for kids battling cancer. Megan’s other passion is running, and that same zest for life flows into her writing and sharing the inspiring stories of Liberty Hill.

EDITOR’S NOTE | MEGAN DIANE BEATTY

Dear Readers,

We made it to the 12th month of the year my most favorite flip of the calendar. It’s Jesus’ birthday month and it happens to be mine too. I’ll be another year wiser.

December is the only time of year I get crafty. Nothing beats Christmas crafting with family and friends, although, holiday food and presents are strong contenders. Typically, my jeans inform me “no more Christmas cookies” by mid-December and I see no reason why this year should be any different.

We are celebrating all things merry, Mary, and marry this month in the Digest. Flipping through, you will find holiday light tours, recipes, a live nativity scene that’s worth the drive, and a story from Liberty Hill’s very own Santa.

I’m very pleased to note that if you’re getting hitched, throwing a gala, or hosting a corporate event, our cover feature on the gorgeous venue and upcoming special event at HighPointe Estate will leave all your guests talking.

As well, our veteran network and the support they get here in Liberty Hill is impressive. Another important reason to be proud to be a Liberty Hillian. Thank you for your service past, present, and future veterans!

To everyone in the Panther Nation, from all of us at the Liberty Hill Digest, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Published by Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC

PUBLISHER EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Cathy Payne A nn Marie Kennon

COMMUNITY EDITOR

Megan Diane Beatty

SENIOR WRITER / EDITOR Charlotte Kovalchuk

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Linda A. Thornton • Emily Tilly

& DESIGN Sandra Evans

Ann Marie Kennon

Christianna Bettis

Ring in the New Year

A Sure First Step to Your Perfect Wedding

The experts at HighPointe Estate Wedding Venue in Liberty Hill get almost as excited about bridal engagements as the folks who are involved in them. Not simply because they offer one of Central Texas' premier venues to eager brides and grooms, but also because they were drawn personally by the success of their own children’s weddings to create perfect weddings for others as often as possible.

To facilitate those perfect weddings, Dawson Clark and his amazing staff are pleased to invite readers to HighPointe Estate's third annual Ring in the New Year open house, Sunday, January 8 from 3 to 6pm. He says, "The first decision a couple needs to

make about the wedding is their venue. Until you have a location and a secure date, you really can't confirm any other details for your big day."

Ringing IN THE NEW YEAR

HighPointe Estate's open house is a great opportunity to see its beautiful chapel, reception hall, and grounds, and visit with 30 of the HighPointe’s favorite and most reputable vendors. "We have invited an impressive group of vendors who know our venue well because they have worked successful events here. Guests can meet with event coordinators, caterers, cake bakers, bartending services, photographers and videographers, and we will even have some DJs showcasing their entertainment talents onsite."

What time of year do most engagements happen?

In the United States, nearly 40 percent happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day.

December is the peak month for getting engaged Christmas Eve being a particularly popular day.*

SPECIAL EVENTS

HighPointe Estate is eager to welcome newly engaged couples to see the venue in its most functional and beautiful state, talk about in-house floral design services, and enjoy this one-stop shopping opportunity to secure one or more professional vendor bookings. "We usually host between 200 and 300 guests at this event," Dawson says. "We expect some of our vendors will provide booking incentives or have drawings and, no matter what, our guests will enjoy our beautiful venue, the excitement and interaction with other happy couples, and meet the experts who can help make their own events a success."

Those couples who choose to book at HighPointe Estate within 14 days of the event will also receive the benefit of some valuable discounts on rental upgrades for their day.

HighPointe is always on trend and can provide a variety of special touches from fire pits to floral spotlights and more. Scan the code for more details about the venue and the event.

TIPS FROM THE Events EXPERT

No matter where you have your wedding, retreat, or fundraiser, Dawson suggests anyone planning an event should rely on the assistance of a professional coordinator. "They make a remarkable difference in the experience for everyone involved. They understand how events work, manage the timeline, and are present on the day of the event to mitigate and manage things that come up. This allows the couple, their parents, and family to enjoy the day, or the CEO to network with guests rather than troubleshoot."

HighPointe Estate also suggests no event is too small to empower a professional to manage the details. "There is no threshold you have to meet to enjoy the benefits of having an expert on hand to check on

deliveries, timing, preparations for dining, and even to ensure decor and centerpieces are all in place at the right time."

He also recommends, while making an event budget, families should consider the expectations they have for service at their event. "Every event is driven by bud-

get pressure," Dawson says. "The thing that makes me sad is seeing a family disappointed because the number of servers or bartenders is inadequate to accomplish service within the planned time frame. It is important to have an adequate number of servers so a planned 60-minute dinner does not take 90 minutes, resulting in the bride and groom losing time dancing or other fun activities with friends."

Dawson advises every customer to assess their service expectations honestly, have frank conversations with all vendors, and be willing to invest a little extra to improve the experience of all who attend the event. He says, "There are many ways, start to finish, to manage a budget. Just make sure you plan for efficient use of your guests' time. Coordinators are very skilled at assisting with this entire process as well."

As a final must-do, Dawson reminds anyone looking to take advantage of Texas' best weather and book a spring or fall wedding should do so as early as possible. As Central Texas' population grows, weekends book far in advance. "And remember," he adds, "if you are able to move from a Saturday plan, your scheduling options are greater, and you could even apply the money saved on venue rental for other necessary priorities."

by Ann Marie Kennon photos by Splashes in

Photography

by Ann Marie Kennon photos courtesy Dawson Clark

“Leanne and I, along with many of our staff, have been wedding parents ourselves and that drives our passion. We truly get it that a wedding is an important day, and it deserves everyone's best."

Time

ASK THE EXPERT

IN FRONT OF the Camera

Professional Tips to Capture a Special Day

recipient of the Best of Georgetown gold award in the photographer/ videographer category since 2013.

posture is key, as is your best angle; i.e., which side of yourself you prefer.

Focusing on light, subject, and composition the basics of photography a good photographer will combine creativity and imagination with an eye for detail into a photograph that will capture a moment forever. To shed some light on the subject, we asked two well-known local photographers to share tips of the trade.

Both approach their art in different ways an important consideration when choosing the right photographer for you. Christianna’s playful, imaginative style, captures her subject’s personality in the moment. Her use of props brings out a bohemian concept of uniqueness and creativity in each of her photos.

Rudy focuses on the subject. He places them in the appropriate background as he begins to conceptualize the finished product. He calls this “vision to fruition,” as he may decide to use a filter to achieve a soft, subdued, cinematic look or an off-camera flash, set up on its own stand, to control light direction and intensity.

Looking your best...

On photo day, both discourage wearing busy prints and agree soft neutrals and pastels are best.

For women, Christianna suggests forming a triangle: turn slightly, put one leg forward and one hand on your hip. For a bit more drama, run the opposite hand through your hair. Rudy likes the S-curve pose: slightly bend one knee, then tilt your head the opposite way, not looking directly into the camera (below).

As well, special flashes can transform any sun or shade issues, but, remember, one hour before sunset is the Golden Hour. With more lighting, a bit more makeup is a good idea, but too much can work against you. Framing the photo is also important; their consensus was, pose beside or in between trees, but never in front.

Christianna Bettis (above) and Rudy Ximenez share a passion for photography that started at a young age. Christianna’s first award was in the newborn/maternity category from viewbug.com, a photography community that recognizes talent via contests. Rudy has been a frequent

Group photos work better when the colors are coordinated. For weddings, different style dresses in the same color complement each individual’s shape. For family shoots, the timeless look of white shirts and jeans is always a good choice.

Both acknowledge it’s best to strike a pose and smile, so the end result doesn’t look like a driver’s license. Roll your shoulders back and stand straight good

by Linda A. Thornton

photos courtesy Christianna Bettis and Rudy Ximenez

Christianna Bettis Rudy Ximenez

PHOTO BY RUDY XIMENEZ

VETERANS

A Salute to Liberty Hill Veterans

by Ann Marie Kennon • photos by Kendra Cofer

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans. These gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of fighting at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918.

Here in 2022, Liberty Hill celebrated and honored local veterans at its own focal point Veteran's Memorial Park at the city's fifth annual ceremony. Communications Manager Katie Amsler was pleased with the turnout, particularly given the weather delay, "Liberty Hill is proud to have a strong veteran network. Their bravery, sacrifice, and strength do not go unnoticed in our town."

ONE-PERCENT-ER

West Point graduate, 11-year Army and Iraq combat Veteran, and Liberty Hill resident Captain Robert Baughn was honored to be the guest speaker. EDC Director and veteran Demetrice Gonzalez said she inquired in the veteran community about a possible speaker and said his name came up many times. "It's tough to select from among so many great Veterans every year. CPT Baughn stood out for his support of the community, its businesses, and even LHISD, which is dear to my heart. He has a passion to support those who are here and welcomes many others."

Captain Baughn shared three distinct messages and began by addressing the young men and women in attendance. “Your country needs you. There are very few militaries on this planet that are all volunteer,

even among democratic nations, and certainly none of the size of the United States’ military. This is a result of a proud American tradition of service, pride in your community, pride in our great country, and a desire to safeguard democracy.”

This year, the Army fell to its largest deficit of recruiting in 50 years but he reminded everyone the citizens and veterans in our community will support those who choose to serve. He also praised the older generation who generate wealth with their labor “the fuel that sustains the most effective fighting force in the world. Without every citizen of this community contributing to society and generating taxable wealth, we would never have the tanks, rifles, ammunition, artillery, aircraft, technology, and more that are necessary to overwhelm our enemies and defeat them on the battlefield.”

Addressing veterans, he said, “You are part of the one percent. We are elite among American society, not because we wore a uniform or were deployed, but because we place values like service, integrity, and selflessness above anything else... because we place our American society before ourselves, and countless among us demonstrate this through our volunteer actions every day, even long after we receive our discharges.”

Having shared many examples and accolades for many who believe in doing the greatest good he concluded, as many great Americans have, with a blessing on Liberty Hill, Texas, and the USA.

GIVING THANKS

Pam Turner (left), director of the Linus Project at Cross Tracks Church was pleased to present Captain Baughn and his wife, Karly, with a commemorative quilt. Pam said, "We typically make quilts for kids in crisis but just last month decided as a group to make one for the Veterans' Day speaker. We pulled all our fabrics together, cut, laid out, and sewed all in one day. This was the first time we all worked the same quilt together so it is a little bit of all of us. We had a blast and decided we would do it again next year." She added that the Linus Project welcomes new members looking to learn and share the rewards of helping children in crises. While

all are welcome to attend Cross Tracks, quilting is open to everyone in the community regardless of church membership. Visit crosstrackschurchumc.org for more.

Owned Since

Big Shoes to Fill, Huge Heart to Serve

by Emily Tilly photo courtesy Tom Williams

You may already know Tom Williams who, along with his wife Ella, leads the fun-loving group of folks known as the Over the Hill Gang. What you may not realize is that Tom also fills another important community role and, literally, a big seat every holiday season.

When Tom grew out his salt and pepper beard 25 years ago, he never thought it would lead to a job that would not only impact his life, but also the lives of hundreds of others. Over the years, he generously shared joy, love, and cheer with the young and old in his everyday life, but it eventually led him to assume the role of—you guessed it—Santa Claus.

Walking the Walk

Becoming Santa is more than simply putting on a costume during the holidays and reminding children to be on their best behavior because Jolly Old Saint Nick is coming. Over the past two decades, Tom has learned well the essence of spreading the spirit of the season. When asked what it takes to become Santa, he explained, “Anyone can put on the red suit, fake beard, and pretend to be Santa. However, Santa is all of the best parts of what we are as people. He is loving, giving, and truly enjoys people, especially children. To become Santa you must also exhibit those qualities.”

Like any good Santa, Tom doesn’t reserve his generous nature only for the holiday season but radiates it every day. He maintains his iconic beard as well as his gentle and distinguished air even in jeans and cowboy boots.

Making a Wish, Discovering a Joy

Tom enjoys many things about becoming Santa, particularly in the first few weeks of the season before lines start to form and he can engage more with people. One of his greatest memories is the first time he stepped into Santa’s rather large shoes. He recalls, “My first real job as Santa was with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. That was also my introduction to the

diverse levels of interaction with those who have special needs.” Now, as Santa at Lakeline Mall, he encourages and delights in the many regulars who are invited to a special time to see Caring Santa a few hours before the scheduled opening. Special sessions have low light settings, fewer people, and less noise, which is soothing and helpful for some with autism spectrum disorder.

Tom says he is at the mall most days by 11am but early appointments with Caring Santa are available through December 14. Scan the code for info.

An Impact Lasting Through the Years

Understandably, Tom has many wonderful memories one in particular of a pre-teen with Down syndrome. “The boy used American Sign Language to overcome challenges with verbal communication and I am familiar with it as well. After the photos, he stayed with me while his mom went to pay. We sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and pretended he was driving the sleigh (my big chair). When his mom came back, he got off my lap, hugged her, and told her goodbye because he wanted to stay with me. The next year was the same. Then, during COVID, I didn’t see him; but the following year, his reaction was fantastic. He looked at me with wide eyes and said, ‘It's you!’ I responded with his name and said, ‘And, it's you!’” Moments like these are what drive Tom every year to not only look the part, but to live a life of kindness, love, joy, giving, and caring for others.

Holiday Lights Tours

THE HOLIDAYS ARE FILLED WITH JOY, AND ONE CUSTOM MANY FAMILIES ENJOY IS TAKING A TOUR OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN AND ACROSS WILLIAMSON COUNTY.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESS CENTERS THAT CATER TO THIS ANNUAL RITUAL, AND IT CAN BE QUITE AN EXPERIENCE.

 37th Street- Locally known since the '80s and comprised of some of the weirdest displays near downtown Austin from giant dinosaurs and a stuffed animal petting zoo to a Santa disco party 37th Street is a collection of neighbors keeping the beloved tradition alive. Beginning December 9th the lights will be on from sunset to 10pm through New Year’s. Search "507 W 37th Street" to find them.

 Maywald Christmas The Maywald family light display at 10505 Twilight Vista in Austin is ultra unique in that it features a 15-foot Santa Claus and a 15-foot snowman. You can enjoy their display from 6:0010:00pm through December 31st.

 Chinati Court Stop by to see this cul de sac illuminated in lights through Christmas day. Located in the Ranch and Cypress Creek Community in Cedar Park. You may park on Sun Chase and walk to Chinati Court.

 Butch Gap Cove More than 300,000 lights are dispersed between 12 homes on Butch Gap Cove in Cedar Park. You can park or drive, but either way you will be fully immersed in the joy and excitement of the holiday season. The show runs from 5:30pm to 10pm seven days a week.

 Rhodes Family Christmas This home was featured on ABC’s "Great Christmas Light Fight" and they have some new tricks up their sleeve for this holiday season. Located at 2410 Sharon Drive in Cedar Park.

 Warnock Court is located in Parkside at Mayfield Ranch off County Rd 175 in Round Rock. All homes from 100-124 Warnock Court will participate in the tour.

 Marble Falls Walkway of Lights You will be dazzled by the 2 million lights and more than 130 sculptures at Lakeside Park. The 32nd annual holiday celebration will be open nightly at 6pm from until December 31. The walk is located at 305 Buena Vista Drive in Marble Falls.

by Camy Reynolds

Luxury homesites are selling now at The Canyons at HCH Ranch in Georgetown. Located off of FM 3405 in Georgetown in a private gated community, these heavily wooded home sites will offer expansive hill country views throughout. The Canyons at HCH Ranch feature luxury custom homes built exclusively by Grand Endeavor Homes. The Canyons is a place of unmatched natural beauty in the Texas Hill Country.

Experience Stunning Hill Country Views

Situated on some of the most scenic land in Williamson County, The Canyons rests atop rolling hills looking out over the vast landscape. Offering an abundance of natural beauty and lush vistas, The Canyons has been carefully planned to integrate seamlessly into the natural environment. The development of The Canyons pays homage to the rich heritage of the land and encourages the continuation of this existing beauty to create a timeless natural environment. The homes in The Canyons are considered part of a cohesive element that melds the natural beauty with a place to call home.

A Message in the Stars

The Mystery of the Star of Bethlehem

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2

Thousands of years since the Star of Bethlehem led the Magi on a journey to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the celestial sign continues to enchant and baffle astronomers, with various theories proposed for the cosmic mystery. If we assume the eastern Magi were made aware of Jewish prophecy by the prophet Daniel while he was in captivity in Babylon, it is reasonable to think they would have undertaken the journey to witness the great event foretold in Jewish scriptures.

 Supernova: One explanation is that the Star of Bethlehem was a supernova the biggest explosion humans have ever seen. Each blast is the extremely bright, super-powerful explosion of a star. However, no astronomers have found historical records for such a large, bright event in the sky around the time of Jesus’ birth. Even if there had been such an event, the Magi probably Persian or Arabian astrologers would most likely have walked in a circle over an assumed four to five month journey from Babylon, since stars appear to rise and set in the sky and their timed location changes by 1° by each Earth rotation.

 Comet: A bright comet pointing the way to Jesus’ birthplace is another popular theory. One of the earliest recorded appearances of these cosmic snowballs, documented by Chinese astronomers, was in the constellation Capricorn in 5 BC. Another candidate is Halley’s Comet, which, based on its appearances since being named in 1758, would have been visible in the night sky in 11 BC. However, as the Magi traveled to Bethlehem, it is unlikely they followed a comet because its position would have changed as the Earth rotated, so the celestial body would not have led them in one direction. Furthermore, comets were usually viewed as bad omens, so it is unlikely the Magi would have seen it as a sign that the Jewish messiah had finally been born.



Planetary conjunction: The Star of Bethlehem theory most favored by astronomers was first proposed by Johannes Kepler in the 17th century. A conjunction occurs when two or more celestial objects appear to meet in the sky from our location on Earth. In 7 B.C. Jupiter and Saturn had three such encounters in the constellation Pisces, which is associated with the Jewish people in astrology. This triple conjunction was an extremely rare event that, according to some researchers, the Magi interpreted as a sign of the birth of a powerful king.

The Christmas Star of 2020

On December 21, 2020 a rare “Christmas Star” lit up the night sky as Jupiter and Saturn crossed paths during the closest and brightest planetary alignment in almost eight centuries.

Astronomers and amateur stargazers alike wondered if it could be a repeat of the ancient phenomenon that heralded the birth of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago.

Whether or not they were the same celestial event, both served as a beacon of hope for the Jews during Roman oppression, and for 21st century hopefuls in the throes of a pandemic.

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

HEALTHY HABITS

TO DELEGATING TO-DO

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS

Taking time to be still and pray while reflecting on the things that have a positive or negative effect on you are several ways to find peace during the holidays. “A lot of my clients journal about what went well during the day and what didn’t, and what about them they would change. Just creating that sort of mindfulness is very empowering and helps you feel more controlled during the busyness of the holidays,” Judy says.

Reflecting on previous family interactions is also helpful. “We get triggered by others especially around the holidays. One thing you can do before having any interactions at lots of parties and gatherings is to set the intention that,

 I’m not going to be sucked into that this year.

 I can agree to disagree.

 We don’t have to argue.

 I don’t have to have the last say.

 I’m going to let this go.

We have the power to change what we’re thinking to change how we feel and how we react.” She suggests taking deep, calming breaths and talking to someone else or taking a walk and getting some fresh air to clear your mind.

MANAGING BUSYNESS

Our brains often use busyness as a way to avoid things we don’t want to commit to, Judy says. She recommends doing a mind dump and pouring out everything you need to get done on paper. “After listing everything you have to do, it’s helpful to put a letter next to it:

 A is absolutely necessary.

 B is it would be great if I could do it.

 C is I hope I can fit this in.

Getting others involved in your to-do list is important not only for yourself but those around you.

“Let’s say you’re a working mom and you want to take care of everything for your kids laundry, lunch, or the house being picked up. That doesn’t allow kids and families to step up and learn and be part of making the household successful. It puts all the weight on the mom or the dad.”

Judy suggests letting kids make their own lunches and do their own laundry. “It’s breaking it down as to how I can get this off my plate in a way that allows someone else the joy helping or being responsible. If you really engage others, we all win, because many hands make light work and more people get to share in the success, whether it’s dinner tonight or a big project at work. They’re all part of making it happen and that’s a whole lot more fun.”

FROM PRACTICING MINDFULNESS

LIST ITEMS, JUDY LESTER WITH CPB COACHING SHARES TIPS ON HAVING A LESS STRESSFUL AND MORE JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON THIS YEAR.

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

She also encourages people to resist the fear of missing out and to be intentional about how to spend time during the holidays. “It’s checking in with yourself and asking, is that potential fear of missing out more important than the extra rest I need or something else I need to get done? What will motivate and energize me more?”

MAKING MEMORIES

Embracing traditions and experiences over gifts is important when it comes to creating a memorable holiday season. Even if you don’t have traditions, it’s never too late to start. “Traditions are something that bring unity to whoever your people are, whether a family unit or a friend group or a combination of both. A tradition may be something that creates anticipation and excitement and is something everyone enjoys or enjoys poking fun at."

Judy adds, "Needless to say, regardless of whether you take joy in something or poke fun at it, shared memories create connection. A lot of traditions deserve poking fun at, but you do it anyway because it becomes part of your legacy.”

When it comes to experiences, families can enjoy quality time together in a variety of ways, such as taking a holiday light tour, following an Advent calendar, or simply going out for a slice of pie. “It doesn’t have to be anything big. There are great ways to enjoy the holidays together without very much money spent,” Judy says, adding, “Being present mentally and physically with other people is one of the greatest gifts you can give and at no cost at all.”

To get you started, we found some fun and funny family traditions from the best of the Internet. Hopefully one or more will get your creativity flowing on making new memories and finding ways to adapt in the hustle and bustle of the season.

FA LA LA TRA...DITIONS

Every Christmas my brother eats enough food to feed a small army then passes out upside down in my father's recliner... like I’m not going to draw flowers on his snoring face with a Sharpie like I’ve been doing, literally, since middle school.

~"JazzHands" in Tennessee

Coming from a family of construction workers and carpenters, every year we up the gift-wrapping ante with more wood, nails, welding, and duct tape. It’s kind of funny watching everyone work tirelessly for 20 minutes to get to a $10 gift card. It’s more of a bonding experience than anything.

~"Bunyon" in Texas

When we were young, we bickered about kid things like typical siblings. One year our mom got frustrated and hollered, "If I was Baby Jesus, I wouldn't want to be born in a world with you kids fightin' all the time!" Now that we're grown with kids of our own, we repeat this as often as possible on Zoom calls, in Christmas cards, and definitely during the family dinners. We're all in our 50s and it's funny every time.

~"E-lud" in North Carolina

While many families like to wear ugly sweaters, my family tries to outdo each other every year by making or buying the ugliest or most tacky tree ornament every year.

~"Torhook" in Oregon

Our family goes on a scavenger hunt for gifts. Since my sister and I were about 15 and 12, our dad has made it a scavenger hunt. We start out with an intro poem. It has a vague clue to the first gift and each gift after has a clue to the next. At first they were just around the house but as we got older they spread around the neighborhood and around the city when we could drive.

~"Simon" in Texas

3C Cowboy Fellowship Live Nativity Trail

Roping and barrel racing take place in the arena, but not before a short prayer service. Food is served from a chuck wagon. A milk can in the back of the church replaces a collection plate. A country western band is warming up to play.

According to Pastor Brian Miller of the 3C Cowboy Fellowship Church in Salado, his church does things a bit differently.

Affiliated with the American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches (AFCC), everyone is welcome to this non-denominational church. Pastor Brian has spent much of his ministry at AFCC churches and has been hanging his cowboy hat in Salado for the past six years.

On any given Sunday, cowboys, bikers, business people, John Wayne fans, and everyone in-between make up the usual 500-plus crowd. With no dress code and a feeling of acceptance in this relaxed, nonjudgmental environment, the western ambiance of the church has been celebrated by its 800 members since 2006.

This year, the church is reprising the 3C Cowboy Fellowship Church Live Nativity Trail. This family friendly event was developed in 2019 as a way to promote Jesus and Christmas in an entertaining, down home way.

2022 NATIVITY TRAIL

Trail coordinator John Spivey, having found the come-as-you-are, welcoming culture of the church to be just what he needed after a combat tour in Iraq, has been a church member for 11 years. According to John, the trail is a labor of love. Since June, more than 100 volunteers have been designing and building props and sets, writing scripts, and choosing just the right voices to record the audio messages for the trail. There are also animal handlers assigned to care for and arrange livestock placement within the nativity scenes.

Aaron “Eddy” Howton is a church elder and a self-professed cowboy, while his wife Nelda has always supported the church’s many ongoing activities. As a former school

principal she is ideally suited to coordinate the many tasks involved as head of the actors and costumes, including her biggest challenge: making sure costumes are original and accurate to the period. "Watch for the elevated angel under a spotlight, as her six-foot wings sparkle," Nelda says.

WHEN YOU GO

Visitors begin the trail by climbing on to wagons, which hold up to 60 people, then they witness the story of Jesus' birth as seen through the eyes of a cowboy. A cowboy on horseback chaperones each wagon past seven scenes or stations, complete with live actors and animals. The cowboy’s thoughts are pre-recorded and will be broadcast, via a speaker system, on each wagon. At

by Linda A. Thornton photos courtesy 3C Cowboy Fellowship Church

the last station, the church elders, along with Pastor Brian, will share their thoughts as they sit around a campfire.

To round out the evening, trail riders can hear reflections from a cowboy poet and listen to a country western

band. Hot chocolate and coffee will be available from a chuck wagon and children can have a photo taken on a horse decorated especially for the season.

ABOUT 3C FELLOWSHIP

The 3C Cowboy Fellowship Church prides itself on opening their welcoming doors to the community through other free family events.

 On Easter Sunday, you may find Pastor Brian preaching on horseback in the arena at the sunrise service, followed by a country western band performance, a “Lost Egg Roundup” for children and breakfast served from chuckwagons.

 In June, the church sponsors a rodeo featuring professional cowboys and clowns.

 Halloween’s Trunk or Treat event provides a safe opportunity for children to visit decorated cars and trucks lined up to offer treats.

 Christmas Eve’s early candlelight service accommodates those who want to get into the spirit before midnight.

Church members have also recently competed at the 17th Annual AFCC Gathering rodeo in Alabama. Chalk it up to just another church event at this spirited ministry, cowboy in name, but striving to reach everyone from all walks of life.

A Friend of All Things Liberty Hill

SHE LOVED LIFE AND IT LOVED HER RIGHT BACK

Abeloved member of the Liberty Hill community and Panther Nation passed away last month after battling cancer for 18 months. Kristy Kercheville was Liberty Hill ISD's Communications & Community Engagement Director but served LHISD for nearly 22 years in many roles. Superintendent Steven Snell honored her memory in a public post over the Thanksgiving weekend and reflected on how valued she was as

a colleague and, more importantly, how much everyone loved her as a friend.

Among her many credits are the creation, development, and leadership of both the LHISD Education Foundation and the ISD Communications Department. She also worked on multiple ConnectED magazines and was instrumental in the evolution of the district's overall branding and the recent $500 million bond election. Mr. Snell wrote, "She was a true representation of the Liberty Hill culture and values that make this district special. She was one of a kind and will be missed."

As a relative newcomer to the community, the Liberty Hill Digest has nonetheless prospered from Kristy's ability to connect with and inspire people. She was instrumental in helping our writers and editors become partners in the Panther Nation. As well, her instincts for storytelling led us to many uplifting features about the district and its students, teachers, and events. We are forever grateful for the opportunities she gave us to encourage our readers over the past two-and-a-half years.

Following Kristy’s lead of giving to others, a scholarship fund has been established in her honor. In place of memorial gifts or flowers, contributions can be made to the Scholarship Fund at the Prosperity Bank in Liberty Hill (“Scholarship Fund/Leath”) or by PayPal (kkerch2022@gmail.com).

by Ann Marie Kennon photo: Official LHISD

SomePonderingMore

My Love asked me for some change to do laundry recently and I told him I would dig into my coin bank. I gave him a handful of quarters and said it was a tough thing because I like having lots of quarters. Admit it, you always count the quarters first too. Dimes are annoying to count because they're small, nickels just aren't worth much, and don't even get me started on pennies. Then he actually said, "Yeah, me too." So, as it often does for Belle, it got me to pondering the things we do or prefer but don't really recognize some things are actually 'a thing'. For instance, and I've seen this in a meme... we all have a favorite burner on the stove. The one that is crusty and has food under it cause we always use that one first.

Other things I know about me...if I had five minutes to live and had to pick the last song I'd ever listen to, I'd spend four minutes trying to decide which song, then another minute thinking about three other songs that would have been better choices.

Something I will never un-hear since it occurred to me...ever notice when someone tries to talk while in mid-yawn, they sound just like Chewbacca? You're welcome.

Do you wait for someone else to disappear from the Zoom call at the end of the meeting so it doesn't look like you were the only person who couldn't wait to get out of the room? Or, on the flip side, there are just one or two others and you're all staring awkwardly at each other while trying to find the END CALL button.

Are you ever actually making a sound when you text "lol" or is it really more like "YTITMA" (yes, that is mildly amusing)? Of course, often while I'm on my phone I realize I've been scrolling for 15 minutes and I really just looked at it to see what time it is.

Next time you pick up a pair of tongs, do your very best not to give them a few test clicks...meanwhile, for all my Gen-X people, I'm going to do my best to remember, when I hear someone was born in nineteen-eighty-anything, that he or she is not still a teenager today. P.S. - Did we ever decide if Ross and Rachel were on a break?

I do enjoy having random conversations about Chinese food or cowboy boots just to see how many hundreds of times soy sauce and Tecovas ads will pop up in my social media feed for the next month.

I have no idea what to say or how to act around a person I had a dream about the night before. Especially if I have no business or reason to be dreaming about that person and, in my head, I'm pretty sure he or she somehow knows I had the dream and thinks I'm a stalker.

This one is kind of recent, although not entirely crazy. I rehearse Clint Eastwood scenarios in my head to plan my reactions and responses if someone breaks into my home then inevitably realize the reality will be more like Vinnie Barbarino... all I will really do is look blank and say, "Whuh?" "Way-ah?"

Am I the only one who can't help saying, "Thank you" to Siri or Alexa because my Southern upbringing doesn't reflexively differentiate being polite to an electronic device executing a command via 1s and 0s? I even think it's sweet that she responds with, "My pleasure." I may replace my own you're welcomes with that.

The moment you hear Morgan Freeman's name, you can hear his voice. Don't believe me? Morgan Freeman once said, "I went to a small town and murdered a whole family with a butter knife." You just read that in his voice and you know it's going to be a good movie.

If you're like me, you spend at least some of your time wishing you could come up with a meme that is so original, creative, hilarious, and true that it will live on the Internet forever. I'm not sure what skill set that is because I probably publish a half-million words a year and I've yet to come up with a good one.

I got a text this morning at 7:13. I was awake but I got so aggravated that he assumed I was and/or didn't care if he woke me up. Same thing happens after 10pm. Yes, I could put it on silent but I might miss some kind of emergency, which is what early morning and late night texts and calls are supposed to be... right?

I guess there's no need to ponder any more. I'm definitely just becoming a quirky old woman before my time.

Festive Sweets for the

Family to Share

CANDY CANE HOT COCOA POPS

• chocolate chips (1 c for 3 pops)

• marshmallow bits (1 T per pop)

• 3-oz bathroom size paper cups (non-waxed); plan to use 2 per pop

• full sized candy canes, unwrapped

• heavy duty tin foil, cut into pieces large enough to fit over the top of the Dixie but and drape over the sides

Calculate the amount of chocolate chips, marshmallow bits, candy canes, and cups needed for your batch.

Start by nesting two cups together for each pop.

MELTING THE CHOCOLATE

Pour chocolate chips into double boiler or in metal mixing bowl over a pan of boiling water. Stir often until the chocolate is fully melted.

Fill the inner cup half-full with melted chocolate.

INSERTING THE CANDY CANE

Place a piece of foil across the top of the cup. Add a slit in the middle just large enough to insert and keep the candy cane upright.

Insert the straight end of the candy cane through the slit in the foil, into the middle of the chocolate until it touches the bottom of the cup.

ADD MARSHMALLOW BITS

Hold the candy cane in place with one hand while lifting the foil above the rim of the cup. Spread 1 tablespoon of marshmallow pieces around the top of the chocolate to cov er. Push some into the chocolate to secure.

Slide foil down over the top of the cup. Fold foil over on the sides to secure it around the cup and hold the candy cane upright in the middle of the cup.

Place in the refrigerator to harden; about one hour. Remove the outer cup.

When they are ready to eat, peel away the inner cup and swirl the pop in a cup of 8 oz hot milk to dissolve the chocolate and make pep permint hot chocolate.

Texas Christmas Pickles

• 1 gallon jar dill pickles • 5 oz hot pepper sauce

• 3 cloves garlic, minced • 5 lb granulated sugar

Drain all juice from the jar and discard. Slice pickles lengthwise, and replace in the jar. Pour in hot pepper sauce, add garlic, and about 1/3 of the sugar. Close the lid tightly.

Gently tip the jar back and forth several times to allow everything to mix well. Leave out on the counter at room temperature for about 1 week.

As the sugar in the jar dissolves, gently tip the jar back and forth to mix and continue the process all week until all the sugar is used. When all of the sugar has been absorbed, pickles will be dark green and crispy a nice complement to a sliced veggie tray. Store in the refrigerator, and enjoy within one month.

stained glass shortbread

• ~20 Jolly Ranchers

hard candies

• 1 cup softened, unsalted butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

Unwrap and separate Jolly Ranchers into each color then place in separate small resealable bags. Crush into small bits using a meat mallet, set aside.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, cream together butter, sugar, and salt until well combined.

Mix in eggs one at a time then blend in vanilla. With mixer on low, slowly add in flour and mix until well combined.

Scrape dough out and shape into a rectangle, wrap in plastic wrap and chill one hour.

Cut chilled dough into thirds. Leave one portion out to work with and chill remaining.

Roll dough out onto a floured surface ~1/5" thick. Cut out large shapes using a cookie cutter.

Transfer cut shapes to baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat. Cut a smaller from the center of each and remove with fingernail or toothpick. Re-roll and cut scrap dough.

Fill cut out centers about 3/4 of the way with crushed jolly ranchers.* Chill cookies in refrigerator until firm, about 15-20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°.

Bake cookies until set and candy center has melted, about 12-14 minutes.

Let cool on baking sheet until candy is set and hardened. Repeat process with remaining refrigerated dough. Store in an airtight container.

*Use a straw to poke a hole at the top if you plan to hang with ribbon or string.

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Mix cake mix, oil, and eggs in a medium bowl. If dough is sticky add 1-2T of flour and knead until less sticky.

Cut dough in half and dye to desired color. Place dough in the fridge covered with plastic wrap or lid 30 minutes.

Roll tablespoon size balls in powdered sugar and place on baking sheet with parchment paper.

Bake for 8 minutes at 375°. Remove and let cool before serving.

A New Dynasty Begins

After winning a qualifying round in straight games our area champion Lady Panthers brought home third place at the UIL State Championship last month. School administrators not only facilitated a send-off parade across the district, but also allowed high school students who attended the semi-final match in Garland to have their absences excused so they could support the team.

Other season highlights include players participating in the Panther Tales story time program in October. They read to and got to know the second graders at Bill Burden Elementary school. That same month, Giovanna Mason was named Austin American-Statesman girls athlete of the week.

Way to play Panthers!

by Megan Dianne Beatty photos LHISD