Fort Bend Christian Magazine || December 2016 - January 2017

Faithfully Serving Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Stafford

FORT BEND

Family Friendly News with an Eternal Purpose

Inside this Issue:

Car Dealership General Manager Inspires Employees, Community

Merry Christmas from Fort Bend Christian Magazine

What Does Christmas Mean to You?

When Motherhood Feels Like a Waiting Room 2017 Christian School Directory

December 2016 / January 2017

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December 2016 / January 2017

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Letter from the Publisher FORT BEND

Volume III, Issue III

7

Bible Trivia

9

Car Dealership General Manager Inspires Employees, Community

13 What Does Christmas Mean to You? 17 U.S. Postal Service Letters From Santa 18 Project SMILE 23 A One of a Kind:

Jim ‘Mattress Mack’ McIngvale 29 Top 3 Tips for Coping with Stress 33 Katy Resurrection Run Adds

New Sponsors 35 Fort Bend Christian Magazine’s

2017 Christian School Directory 38 Protecting the Things in Life You

Are Most Thankful For 40 When Motherhood Feels

Like a Waiting Room 43 The Buzz About Fort Bend 46 Recipe: Christmas Ham Our Mission Statement: “Our mission is to have a magazine devoted to His glory, provide cutting-edge stories important to today’s Christian, promote Christian-Judeo values we find important, and editorial content that your entire family can enjoy.”

For advertising information, contact Joseph Menslage at (281) 497-6455 or email joseph@houstonchristianmagazine.com

© 2016 Fort Bend Christian Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of this publication or website may be distributed or reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher. Advertisements and or editorial content published in Fort Bend Christian Magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of Fort Bend Christian Magazine.

To SUBSCRIBE: send a check or money order for 30.00 for a 12-month subscription to Fort Bend Christian Magazine, 650 West Bough, Suite 150-170, Houston, TX 77024. For EDITORIAL or calendar submissions, please mail them to Fort Bend Christian Magazine, 650 West Bough, Suite 150-170, Houston, TX 77024.

CUSTOMER SERVICE For 24/7 service, please visit our website: www. FortBendChristianMagazine.com. You can also call (281) 497-6455 or write to us at 650 West Bough, Suite 150-170, Houston, TX 77024.

Greetings! The air is getting crisper, leaves are shedding from trees, and Christmas lights decorate our streets welcoming us into this beautiful and exciting time of the year.

Much has changed in our nation since the last time we spoke. With his landslide victory on November 8th, Donald J. Trump will become our 45th President! Our magazines would like not only to congratulate him, but to encourage each and every one of our readers to keep him in constant prayer. Pray not only for the safety of him and his family, but that God will use his time in office to further His will.

Usually when there is a Presidential election, only about half the population are happy with the results. There have been some elections where I was jubilant, and some where I was depressed and discouraged. I believe that the problems that face our country will not be solved simply by having a Republican or Democrat as President, but by turning back to the Judeo-Christian principles that our nation were founded on. It is my hope that President-elect Trump is the man for the job.

Katy Christian Magazine and Fort Bend Christian Magazine would also like to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As walkers in Christ, this is our Season!

While out and about at the mall or shopping for groceries, you may find yourself humming along to the tune of “O Holy Night” or “Joy to the World” playing over the loudspeakers.

Songs like these celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, I often wonder how many people mindlessly listen Christmas songs, without considering what this sacred day is truly about.

When my children were young, my wife and I would read the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke to them out loud on Christmas Eve. We described Christ’s birth to them, and explained the need for His sacrifice on the cross. We would then go to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve at First Baptist Church in Houston to honor God. This tradition was amongst the fondest memories I have. Sadly, we do live in a consumerist and secular world, where the vast majority is more concerned with what’s under the tree than who died on the Cross. I believe it is our responsibility as believers to instill in our children both a love of Christ, and a recognition for what Christmas is truly about.

Never take Christ out of Christmas!

Joseph R. Menslage President/Publisher Fort Bend Christian Magazine joseph@houstonchristianmagazine.com Like Us On Facebook! facebook.com/FortBendChristianMagazine

Meet Our Staff

Joseph Menslage

Odalis Ochowy

joseph@houstonchristianmagazine.com

odalis@fortbendchristianmagazine.com

Publisher

Account Executive

Nayara Bautista Account Executive

Laritza Garcia

General Sales Manager

nayara@fortbendchristianmagazine.com laritza@fortbendchristianmagazine.com

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December 2016 / January 2017

Bible Trivia

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2. What does the Bible say that the innkeeper said to Mary and Joseph? (Luke 2:7) A. “There is no room in the inn.” B. “I have a stable you can use.”

C. “Come back later and I should have some vacancies.”

D. Both A and B E. None of the above 3. A manger is a...

A. Stable for domestic animals B. Wooden hay storage bin C. Feeding trough D. Barn 4. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus’ birth?

A. Cows, sheep, goats B. Cows, donkeys, goats C. Sheep and goats only D. Miscellaneous barnyard animals E. None of the above 5. Who saw the star in the east?

A. Shepherds B. Mary and Joseph C. Three kings D. Both A and C E. None of the above 6. According to the Bible, how did Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem?

A. Camel B. Donkey C. Walked D. Joseph walked, Mary rode a donkey E. Horse-drawn chariot F. Who knows?

7. How many angels spoke to the shepherds? (Luke 2:10) A. One B. Three C. Multitude D. None of the above 8. What did the angels say/sing? (Luke 2:14) A. “Glory to God in the highest, etc.” B. “Alleluia” C. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” D. “Joy the world, the Lord is come” E. “Glory to the newborn King” 9. What is a heavenly host?

A. The angel at the gate of heaven B. The angel who serves refreshments in heaven C. An angel choir D. An angel army E. None of the above 10. There was snow that first Christmas...

A. Only in Bethlehem B. All over Israel C. Nowhere in Israel D. Somewhere in Israel Answers 1. A. Luke 2:3. 2. E. Luke 2:7. 3. C. 4. E. 5. E. This is a “trick” question. The “magi” saw the star. However, the Bible doesn’t say how many there were and they were not kings, but astronomers. 6. F. Although the modern “pictures” in my Children’s Bible show Mary on a donkey with Joseph beside her, the Bible doesn’t say! 7. A. Luke 2:10. 8. A. Luke 2:14. 9. D. 10. D.

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December 2016 / January 2017

Car Dealership General Manager Inspires Employees, Community with Philanthropy, Positive Attitude

By Jessa McClure AutoNation Nissan of Katy general manager, Rick Francis has always been about making everyone around him feel like family. Not only does he have his own large family with four growing children, but he considers all of the men and women who work at his dealership to be his family as well.

“Being able to have patience and be someone’s sounding board is important,” Francis said. “I hear about everything my employees are going through and I do everything I can to help and move things in the right direction.”

The general manager began his love for helping people get through tough times when he first began working as a car salesman in Albuquerque, New Mexico during his time at the University of New Mexico. It was here that he began his career and met his wife Brittany.

Francis was determined to change the stigma he said is sometimes attached to car salesman. He began getting involved in charitable events and using his natural people skills to get to know his customers. His attitude and generous heart allowed him to go from salesman to general manager in a short time.

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And while he was still in New Mexico, Francis and his wife continued to look for ways to serve their community. One of the ways they did this was through annual Halloween and Christmas events for children.

“For Halloween we had bouncy houses and at Christmas we had a visit from Santa Clause for the neighborhood children,” he said.

When Francis accepted a transfer to a Katy-area dealership in 2013, he and his wife were determined to continue the holiday tradition in their new home. Their Halloween event this year served more than 90 children, and provided a safe, fun event for their friends, family, and neighbors.

But the car dealership manager and his wife don’t stop there. Francis’ wife serves on the board of their children’s elementary school PTA, and Francis has participated in numerous charity events including the “Real Men Wear Pink” fundraiser that benefited cancer research. “[Participants] committed to wearing pink almost every day for a month,” he said. “Then you go out and raise funds individually. We all had a goal of $2500, and I think I surpassed that by a little bit.”

He said helping the local community is something that he encourages his employees to do as well.

“We want to keep everything local and help out all of the different organizations in this area,” he said.

AutoNation Nissan of Katy has donated to numerous school

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Francis said helping his neighbors and fellow man is how he lives out his faith on a daily basis.

“This is a job that I wake up every day and I feel blessed to come to,” he said. “It is a joy for me to be able to assist someone in purchasing a new vehicle, and go through that process with them. Whether it’s to lower a payment, get a safer car for a family, or to help a family purchase a bigger vehicle for a new addition, I’m there for all of it.”

He also shows his faith through being a good example to his employees and the people he interacts with.

“Being a part of a public company means that there a lot of things you can actually say,” he said. “But by doing it and living that way, people do follow when you do the right thing.”

Francis said even when life gets busy and hectic and he feels the pull to not be his best self, he remembers the wise words of his mother.

“She always said, if you’re going to do something, do it with your whole heart,” he said.

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December 2016 / January 2017

What Does Christmas Mean to You?

By Pastor Sonny Rice All Around Cowboy Church It’s already December and with it, all the joys of Christmas are in the air. But what is the true meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, maybe some snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of “Merry Christmas” to those who pass us in the streets (or the country roads where I live)? Is this really Christmas?

For some, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don’t have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Christmas dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some.

But this is what it was for me: A while back, Christmas didn’t mean too much to me. It was a time for good food, hunting with the boys, and some of the family coming by. Christmas Eve and day were just days to me. The day after Christmas was a day to get ready to go to the next horse show, which started on Jan. 1st of the next year. So everything started over again.

The same as all the other years; no meaning, other than my

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work and horses.

But in Dec. 1987, Jesus took over my life and Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me. This is what I have found out in the years to follow, and life is so good now.

Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength.

You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby.

The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

Luke 2: 4-19 says: “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for

them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Why did He come? Why did God send His son to this sometimes cruel and hard world? He sent Jesus to us so that one day, He would grow

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up to become a very important part of history. His story (history) is one of truth, love, and hope. It brought salvation to all of us.

Without Jesus, we would all die in our sins.

Jesus was born so one day the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. The Bible says that all have sinned. We are all born with a sin nature. We do things that do not please God. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed. The only way is through Jesus. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for ALL of our sins. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we can ask Him to come into our hearts and forgive us. Then, we are clean and made whole. We can know that heaven is a place where we can go to when this life is over.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” I John 1:9 We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. We then become sons and daughters of God. Heaven will be our home one day.

Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a “Merry Christmas.” The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met.

Remember, He is not like Santa that you leave milk and cookies out for to enjoy after he leaves the gifts you wanted all year. What do you give Jesus for His birthday on Christmas? The best thing you can give Him other than your life, or to give to your Church, a nice gift in His name.

Jesus’ Birth Is The Reason For The Season! Rejoice!

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December 2016 / January 2017

U.S. Postal Service Letters FROM Santa Program

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Tips To save paper, write Santa’s response on the back of your child’s letter.

If you keep them together, your child will also be able to recall what he or she wrote.

When responding as Santa, make the response as personal as possible by highlighting your child’s accomplishments over the past year, for example, helping around the house, receiving good grades in a particular subject at school or participating in community service activities.

This is a great activity to do at Thanksgiving that the whole family can enjoy, including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other caregivers.

The Letters from Santa program adds to the excitement of Christmas and is ideal for interesting youngsters in letter writing, stamps and penmanship.

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Project SMILE

By Carolyn Engelke Tarver Project SMILE is a community outreach, primarily to children, in memory of my son Stan Engelke. Stan died at age of 17 in a freakish accident in May, 1983.

I began Project SMILE (Stan’s Memory Includes Loving Everyone) that December by taking gifts to 12 children at a Youth Center. In 1984, I began going door to door in various Fort Bend neighborhoods, gathering information about children in need.

Project SMILE since has expanded; we now have volunteers in each neighborhood. Thanks to the invaluable aid of special assistant Eva Donalson and volunteer Dave Grice, we are able to keep our database updated. Within the past 33 years, thousands of children have received school supplies and Christmas gifts from a generous and caring community through Project SMILE. For the past 21 years, Project SMILE has been supported

by Santa’s Exchange. We counted the children benefitted by our outreach for a five-year period and, during that time, 14,667 children received three gifts each at Christmas. Project SMILE also does a lot of outreach work through Bethel Ministry. These projects are supported by many wonderful organizations such as Sugar Land Baptist Church, the Oyster Creek Rotary Club, Sugar Land Lions Club, and Sugar Land/Fort Bend Optimist Clubs. We’re also supported by the Sugar Land Rotary Club, Sugar Land Exchange Club, and Fort Bend Exchange Club, which are service clubs that make up Santa’s Exchange. They have now been

joined by Toys for Tots and Second Mile.

In Book of Isaiah, God told His people that He would give them a crown of beauty for ashes. Through Project SMILE, God has shown me that beauty can arise from the ashes of tragedy. He has shown that through the efforts of many generous and service-minded people who have made Project SMILE a beautiful tribute to my son Stan, as well as a great blessing to thousands of children whose smiling faces reflect their joy in receiving school supplies and Christmas gifts.

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While I will never forget the horror of Stan’s death, I will always remember the blessing of his birth. He brought me more joy and happiness - with a few challenges along the way - than I could have dreamed possible.

His death reminded me anew about priorities; the most important thing in life is the relationships you build (first to our Creator, and then to each other), not material possessions or anything of the secular world. Through my son, I learned the true meaning of love that is so intense that it is almost sacred - love that can only be exceeded by God’s love for us all.

All of my love and hopes and dreams were in my precious son, and the pain of his death never leaves me, but the joy of his life is always present in my heart. I am thankful that I know he lives forever in the presence of our Risen Lord and I WILL SEE HIM AGAIN! What a glorious day

that will be! Because Stan was my only child, I won’t be a grandmother.

However, I am so very grateful that I will always be Stan’s Mother. He gave me more beautiful memories in his 17 years than a lot of mothers have in a whole lifetime. Even if I knew I would lose him, I would run the risk again.

There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to the many caring and altruistic people of our great community who make Project SMILE possible. I wish them all a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

For additional information about Project SMILE and how you can help, contact Carolyn Engelke Tarver at (281) 491-5234 or email carolyntarver37@live.com.

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A One of a Kind: Jim ‘Mattress Mack’ McIngvale

By Caitlin Richards Gallery Furniture owner, Jim McIngvale does more than ‘save you money’ for the Houston community.

As the Houston icon, better known as Mattress Mack, Jim has built a business and a legacy based on faith and hard work.

“He is somebody who is ambitious and driven, thankful beyond belief and doesn’t take no for an answer,” Mack’s daughter Elizabeth McIngvale said. “First and foremost he has always lived a life built for others. My dad really embodies that.”

Mack started Gallery Furniture on the side of 1-45 in an abandoned model home park over 30 years ago. Initially, Mack had great success. The same year he started selling furniture Houston experienced a great wave of families migrating to the city from all over the country. This was perfect for Mack, but sales began to decline after the family boom.

It was during this time of a dramatic halt in sales, that the “save you money” slogan was born. Gallery Furniture experienced a huge shift in sales because of it. Shortly after, Mack started branching away from selling only value-priced furniture to include higher-end furniture as well.

With his life’s motto ‘grateful for everything, entitled to nothing’ directing his life, Mack grew his dream into a multi-million dollar enterprise employing over 400 great American workers

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and countless other Americans through his commitment to selling furniture made in America.

“The Houston community is everything to us,” Mack said. “We believe in providing jobs in Texas and jobs for Houstonians, and great products for our customers. We are here to provide great jobs and great products for America.”

When asked what has contributed to his success, Mack said it was his faith in God, great customers, a great community and the best employees in the world.

Around Houston Mack is known for ‘saving you money’ but he is also known for his philanthropic heart.

Every Christmas, Mack donates households of furniture to needy families.

In 2009, Gallery Furniture committed to providing new furniture to various United Service Organizations centers around the world. He has also invested back into the community through the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo livestock auctions, and regularly participating in speaking engagements at schools and other groups.

“My parents never looked at money and success as what’s important,” Elizabeth said. “They’ve truly looked at making a difference as what is important in life.”

Especially, when it comes to an issue that hits close to home for the McIngvale family – mental illness. As a twelveyear-old, Elizabeth was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

“My family always looked at it as an opportunity to take my personal journey, struggle and pain, and make it into something positive for someone else,” Elizabeth said. “We turned it into a passion to make a difference in Houston, Texas and across the nation for mental illness. It

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has been inspiring to watch.”

Elizabeth and Mack speak in the Houston community frequently on mental health, in an effort to eliminate the mental illness stigma and make a difference in the lives of others who are suffering. The McIngvale’s founded the Peace of Mind Foundation to advocate for OCD and other mental illness.

The legacy of Mack is no doubt an admirable one. Perhaps, the best illustration of his legacy isn’t his business, but his three children – James McIngvale, Elizabeth and Laura McIngvale Brown. Elizabeth and Laura both shared how above anything their father instilled in them and their brother the value of hard work and a job well done.

“My dad is the same person he was when were growing up that he is now,” Laura said. “Insanely driven and passionate about what he does and an all around good guy. When he says he is going to do something, he not only gets it done but he makes sure it is done correctly and morally right.”

All of which has rubbed off on his children. Day in and day out, James works with his father to continue moving Gallery Furniture forward using those same values.

Elizabeth has followed her passion to help others through her career as a social worker and assistant professor at the Diana Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University.

Laura has combined her passion of restaurant hospitality with her father’s business by opening Brick and Mortar Kitchen in conjunction to Gallery Furniture’s Grand Parkway location.

“It has been really neat to have the restaurant in Houston that my parents

can go to,” Laura said. “I really feel like I have made them proud by having it there for them to take clients, customers and friends too.”

Outside of the Houston restaurant, Laura and her husband own the Vince Young Steak House in Austin where they first began their restaurant career. Through their restaurant business, Laura said they try and do things like Mack does.

Mack’s children are each continuing on his legacy. They seem to depict the many qualities and characteristics that make up Mack in their own unique way.

“Success doesn’t mean money,” Laura said. “It doesn’t mean being a celebrity and it doesn’t mean any of those things that a lot of people equate with success. It means being happy, enjoying your life and doing better for others. And he instilled that in all of us.”

Mack is still Mack. Neither time nor success has ever changed that. As to how he got to where he is today, he simply says that’s just how the free enterprise system works and that God is good. Although, he doesn’t take for granted the Houston community that has helped him get there.

“We wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” Mack said.

“They are the alpha and omega of Gallery Furniture, along with the good Lord looking over us. If we can keep the faith, grow the business and help the people then we are doing something right.”

Well Mack has been doing it right for 30 plus years and his legacy is there to prove it.

“My dad is one of a kind,” Elizabeth said.

“Sure, I am biased to say that because I’m his daughter, but I think the Houston community would say the same thing.”

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Top 3 Tips for Coping with Stress Dr. Rebecca Deurlein It’s that time of year when the cries of teenagers everywhere can be heard ‘round the world.

It’s college application time, well-into-school-and-absolutelyno-breaks-until-Christmas time, and “I’m up to my eyeballs in due dates” time. When kids are stressed, parents are stressed, and no one is happy. So what can you do to alleviate your kids’ anxiety? You can help, guide, suggest and even model good organization for your kids.

Teach your kids these skills today, and they will thank you for the rest of their lives: 1. There’s no way around it, something’s got to give.

I can almost guarantee that your teens can drop at least one activity from their list that is a.} not that beneficial or important anyway, but that b.} takes up valuable time and adds unnecessary stress. Your kids need to decide for themselves what that is. When you pose this question to them, don’t be surprised if it takes them 30 seconds or less to answer.

Teens know how they feel about their activities whether they verbalize them or not. They know what’s wasting their time, and they know what depletes their passion resources. They hate busy work.

They hate pointless meetings. They’re just like us in that regard. So pose the question and step back and let them freely share the answer. Chances are, they’ll quickly identify their energy drainer. Be ready – you must be willing to hear it and let your child drop it, even if it’s a favorite activity of yours. If it’s not crucial to their future, an activity about which they are normally passionate, or something that is truly necessary for their growth and well-being, they should be allowed to drop it in the interest of life balance and stress reduction.

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behaviors, and attitudes. Then ask yourself if that one hobby or class is worth it.

2. Kids know and understand everything they have going on in their lives, but they’re not great at figuring out what should take precedence.

In fact, most would choose social media and friends over responsibilities any day of the week. They need parents to guide them and remind them, without nagging or taking over their calendar. The skill of prioritizing is so important to their lives that you would be negligent if you didn’t teach it to them.

Think about the many times in your life when you’ve had to determine what is most crucial and then work to that end in order to keep your job, pay your bills, or maintain your sanity.

You must teach this to your kids. Never expect that they will be able to figure this out on their own.

3. Help your kids by setting them up with a personal calendar where they can enter due dates, homework, activities and events.

Teach them to review the calendar daily to determine what they can do today that will make tomorrow a little easier. Walk them through the importance of tackling big projects, college applications, and tests step-by-step, and by starting when the assignment is given, not the day before it’s due. Teach them that procrastination is dangerous, especially when entering adulthood, in that it adds additional and avoidable pressure and stress. Show them that a little forethought today can make an enormous difference to their futures.

Dr. Rebecca Deurlein is the author of Teenagers 101: What a top teacher wishes you knew about helping your kid succeed (Amazon, Barnes & Noble). She owns Teenager Success 101, a full-service path to success tutoring company serving students across the nation. www.teenagersuccess101.com. Rebecca lives in Sugar Land, TX, where she is Head of School at Montessori Kids Universe. Her blog, A Teacher’s Guide to Understanding Teenagers, can be found at rebeccadeurlein.wordpress. com. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For public speaking events or more information, go to rebeccadeurlein.com.

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Katy Resurrection Run Adds New Sponsors

By Caitlin Richards The Katy Resurrection Run hosted by Faith West and Katy/Fort Bend Christian Magazines is off to a great start. More community partners are stepping up to support the Run through sponsorships.

A total of six community partners are joining title sponsors B&B Butchers and Restaurant as sponsors.

“It is amazing to see how each of these businesses are using their gifts to help the community,” Joseph Menslage, Katy/ Fort Bend Christian Magazines publisher and Katy Resurrection Run founder said. “We are thrilled and thankful to have their support.”

State Farm Insurance Agent Matt Schomburg and State Representative John Zerwas have joined the team as bronze sponsors. Katy News and Covering Katy will be media sponsors, and ER Katy will be the medical sponsor. Christian trial lawyers, Simmons and Fletcher deserve an honorable mention for their generosity. Each of these community partners is equally excited to be a part of the inaugural event.

“It is more of a blessing to be able to give back to the community that has supported our business for so long,” Schomburg said. “Plus, knowing that they are out there doing good things for different non-profits makes us feel good to be a part of it.”

By supporting the Run these businesses will be supporting the many organizations Faith West’s Eagle Initiative supports. The Eagle Initiative is Faith West’s outreach to the community where they give Faith West camp and school scholarships, and partner with numerous community

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organizations to make a difference.

“Covering Katy is about serving the community,” Dennis Spellman, founder and editor-in-chief for Covering Katy said. “Not only by providing news, but also by being a part of the community and helping non-profit organizations and groups that give back to our community, in the same way that Faith West does. So we want to be part of it.”

Organizations the Eagle Initiative benefits include Caring 4 Katy, Good Shepherd, Sunshine Kids, and Sunshine Thru the Rain. The Eagle Initiative’s impact is far reaching as some of the organizations benefit children and families from downtown Houston to the greater area.

Through the Eagle Initiative Faith West is able to open its many facilities like Camp West and Lake West to community organizations at no cost to host events and activities. This includes events like a Christmas experience for children within Child Protective Services (CPS) and a CPS adoption day where adoptions increased by 400%.

“The Katy News is a paper that supports the Katy community. As one of our regular advertisers we try to support any event that Faith West does,” Pat Wilson, The Katy News owner and publisher said. “It’s a run for the education of our youth and to help the children achieve great things in their lives. I think it’s a great cause and something we want to get support.”

The first annual Katy Resurrection Run is scheduled for Good Friday, April 14, 2017. For more information about the Katy Resurrection Run visit resurrectionrunkaty.com or contact Joseph Menslage at info@resurrectionrunkaty.org.com or (281) 777-9790.

“We are super excited,” Jason Brown, ER Katy general manager said.

“We are glad to be a part of the Katy Christian Magazine family.”

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Fort Bend Christian Magazine’s

2017 Christian School Directory We’ve compiled a list of some of the top Christian schools and after school programs in the Fort Bend area. For a complete listing of schools, visit our website at FortBendChristianMagazine.com Berean Christian Academy 1407 West Grand Parkway South Katy, TX 77494 (346) 307-7491 bereanchristianacademy.org

Berean Christian Academy (BCA) is a fulltime school located at Westland Baptist Church in Katy. BCA is named after the noble Bereans of Acts 17:11. We are a non denominational, private Christian school currently hosting students in grades K-4, with plans to expand. BCA features small class sizes and a curriculum that exceeds State standards to prepare students to matriculate to a variety of schooling environments, including public, private, and home schools.

BCA educates students within a Christcentered worldview, producing students who are well prepared to live their lives for the glory of Christ and benefit of others. A BCA foundation helps students recognize Truth, Goodness, and Beauty through God’s Creation. This is achieved through strong academic, extracurricular, and character programs that foster our students’ intellectual, spiritual, social, physical, and emotional development. BCA employs degreed, certified teachers who have a passion for teaching.

They work in conjunction with parents for the well-being of our students. Classes are less than 12 students, and tuition is amongst the lowest in the region!

BCA, a 501(c)(3) charity, is currently pursuing accreditation with AdvancED (SACS). Call 346307-7491 or visit www.bereanchristianacademy. org today to schedule a tour. It’s a great day to be a Berean!

Calvary Episcopal Preparatory Academy 1201 Austin Richmond, TX 77469 (281) 342-3141 ces-richmond.org

While outstanding academics are a trademark for Calvary’s reputation of excellence, its pride as a Christian school is how they treat each other and grow in their understanding of God’s expectations for them. Calvary incorporates Reverence for God, Respect for others, and Responsibility for self into every aspect of the educational experience. In addition to a rigorous and accelerated academic environment, the Calvary experience includes

service learning, leadership opportunities, and enrichment programs for student creativity and expression. These programs include a successful athletic department, visual and performing arts, and competitive band. Notwithstanding, it also incorporates Christian character education, Bible class, Spanish, and library lessons. Calvary Episcopal Preparatory is an international school for Pre-K through 12th grade students.

To visit the campus, go to www.ces-richmond. org and sign up for our preview events.

Capstone Classical Academy 1507 Ricefield Dr #210 Houston, TX 77084 (832) 314-1400 cca-edu.com

Capstone Classical Academy opened its non-traditional school in August 2009 with only 4 students. Since then, we have grown to house over 50 students in grades 5-12. With a maximum student body of 74 students, Capstone offers students a stress-free, bully-free personal learning environment. Students from both large school settings and home schooling alike have found a place where their different learning styles are appreciated. Teachers mold the curriculum around their students’ unique learning styles, rather than molding children to fit a rigid curriculum. Our campus proudly promotes the 3M’s…Manners, Morals, and Motivation, and our teachers help students realize that one must possess all three to be successful.

The National Association of Private Schools accredits Capstone, as our goals match the expectations of this faith-based organization.

We have students from all religions, as we do not teach religion, but have a faith-based premise on our campus. With our “at home” feel on campus, students are free to learn and develop into the person God created them to be.

Our Open Enrollment year-round allows students to enter our school at any point in the school year. Acceptance is based on interviews, as opposed to placement test scores. Students on the autism spectrum have been quite successful in our small setting and are accepted on an individual basis.

Students enjoy a 4-day school week with Funfilled Enrichment Fridays offering an option for students to experience theme-based activities, develop study skills and receive tutoring. Please contact us with any inquiries, thank you for your

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Faith West Academy 2225 Porter Rd Katy, TX 77493 (281) 391-5683 faithwest.org

Since 1982, Katy’s oldest and largest private school, Faith West Academy, continues to uphold core values of reverence for God; respect for ourselves, others, and authority; and responsibility for one’s action.

Located on 42 acres just east of the city of Katy, FWA provides a safe, Christian environment for preschool (starting at age 3) through 12th grade.

As an extension of the preschool, FWA hosts a popular Mother’s Day Out Program that enrolls students as early as 15 months old. FWA serves a growing number of international students seeking studies in America by providing them with on-campus boarding facilities.

Fellowship Christian Academy 16355 Old Richmond Rd. Sugar Land, TX 77498 (281) 495-1814 fellowshipchristianacademy.org

Fellowship Christian Academy (FCA) provides a place for children to grow and to learn while surrounded by God’s love. The early years of a child’s life are the years that shape their future; therefore, the curriculum is carefully selected and developed to enrich the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and social development in each child.

Since 1976, FCA has provided a safe and loving environment where children are encouraged to develop spiritually as they grow cognitively, socially and physically. Many of our teachers

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December 2016 / January 2017

have over 25 years of teaching experience. Age appropriate environments and classes are offered beginning at the age of 18 months and grow children through 7th grade. FCA offers small classes with low student to teacher ratios, giving children the chance and room to blossom in their own unique way. Thank you for considering our school for your child.

Fort Bend Christian Academy 1250 7th St Sugar Land, TX 77478 (281) 263-9175 fortbendchristian.org

you to know that while here, students will be instructed with the values and beliefs of a Biblical perspective worldview. It is our intent to reinforce the values and beliefs that are being taught in Christian homes.

Working together toward a common goal will enable us to share the joy of watching our young people develop spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. We look forward to seeing our students grow into Godly adults who are fully equipped to assume positions of leadership in our community and in our nation.

Foundations Academy

God continues to bless Fort Bend Christian Academy as we enter into the school’s 30th year.

We believe strongly that He will continue to do so as long as we remain faithful to the mission of this school. As in the past, the commitment of the Fort Bend Christian Academy faculty and staff will be to develop a partnership with parents that will assist you in fulfilling the Biblical mandate to “train up a child in the way he should go.”

(Proverbs 22:6) We continue to offer an educational program that is both academically challenging and spiritually uplifting. In order to achieve our goal of Christ-centered excellence, it is important that students who attend our school come from homes which reinforce the values and beliefs taught during the school day. It is important for

20817 Westheimer Pkwy Katy, TX 77450 (281) 599-1200 foundations-academy.com

Foundations Academy is owned and operated by families who are actively involved in local churches, including volunteering as Sunday School teachers, youth leaders and are active Deacons. At Foundations Academy, we believe the preschool years are the most impressionable and critical season of a child’s life. Therefore, it is our goal at the Academy to provide a solid foundation for each child’s well-being and education to build upon as they grow older. With this basic foundation of strong self-awareness and academic concepts, children will be more equipped to excel as they enter the school age

years.

Gateway America Preparatory School 222 FM 359 Richmond, TX 77406 (281) 513-5566 gatewayamericanprep.com

Gateway America Prep started with the idea to provide students with a safe, comfortable environment in which to learn. We have come a long way since we were founded 11 years ago, but we still hold true to our modest beginnings. We believe success breeds’ success. Therefore, every morning students will write daily affirmations, which allow them to start the day with a positive mindset. In addition, the students write 10 goals to help focus on their purpose. Within the individualized curriculum, students use daily and weekly goal sheets to create their accelerated pace and allow them to ‘own’ his own learning.

Gateway offers several extra activities to complete their education. We have certified instructors teach Public Speaking, Music, Physical Fitness, and Art on a weekly basis.

Gateway America takes field trips throughout the year to enhance their experience. We have completed Team-Building weekend trips to Camp Cho-Yeh. We have taken camping trips to Enchanted Rock to promote a sense of outdoors through rock climbing and rappelling. We give the students a chance of a lifetime by having trips

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to Washington DC, England, and Italy. We also, take quick trips to the Zoo, Rodeo, and Museums throughout Houston.

Montessori Kids Universe – Sugar Land 2600 Cordes St. Sugar Land, TX 77479 (281) 299-5187 montessorikidssugarland.com

Montessori Kids Universe, an authentic Montessori pre-school offering programs for children ages 6 months to 6 years, opened its doors on November 7. Led by Head of School Dr. Rebecca Deurlein and a team of educators experienced in childcare and trained in Montessori, the school introduced its Montessori curriculum enhanced by its one-of-a-kind Reggio Emilia science and art enrichment program to Sugar Land.

Following a Fort Bend Chamber ribbon cutting attended by City Council members Himesh Gandhi and Harish Jajoo, Montessori-certified teachers shared the unique curriculum with parents, including the DaVinci Kids program which introduces STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) and focused language arts study to pre-school children.

“The parents in Fort Bend take their children’s education seriously, and we have tremendous respect for them,” said Dr. Deurlein. “The most important support we can give parents is to

help their children discover the joy of learning, to inspire them, to encourage them, and to teach them at a young age that learning is an adventure. If we don’t capture children when they’re young, we could lose them forever, so we take our responsibility very seriously.”

Dr. Deurlein is a 22-year veteran educator who has served in schools across the nation as both a teacher and administrator. She is the author of the parenting book Teenagers 101 and is a frequent speaker to parenting organizations and schools. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and has attended the Harvard Principal Center for continuing studies.

Montessori Kids Universe is located at 2600 Cordes Drive off Lexington and Highway 6. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 281-299-5187 or visit MontessoriKidsSugarLand.com.

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December 2016 / January 2017

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Protecting the Things in Life You Are Most Thankful For

By Margie McCullough Connolly Attorney at Law, Margaret McCullough Connolly, PLLC During the holiday season, we bring to mind the people and things we are thankful for, and remember our blessings with gratitude.

Estate planning is not just for the welloff. It is a process critical to all individuals and families from all walks of life.

You are an individual within a family with a unique set of goals and circumstances.

Whether planning for the distribution of your hard-earned assets at the time of your death, planning for the protection of your family in case of accident or disability, or facing a major change in your family’s status (divorce, adoption, re-marriage), your attorney should walk you through the process step-by-step, until you are comfortable with the resulting plan.

Don’t leave your loved-ones and precious belongings to chance.

Plan ahead for the future.

This article does not constitute legal advice. It is to be used for descriptive purposes only. Please seek the advice of a competent lawyer in your state.

Margie Connolly is a practicing attorney in Sugar Land, TX. To schedule a free consultation, call 281-433-9488, or visit mmconnollylaw.com.

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When Motherhood Feels Like a Waiting Room: Settling Into My Present Instead of Waiting for My Next

By Jordan Harrell When we moved this past summer, it didn’t take long for my husband to find the Goodwill Superstore down the street. This guy is very impressed by a good deal. On his last trip, he brought home an $8 Easy Bake Oven. Now, my girls LOVE to help me cook and are constantly asking to make “real food by myself” so initially I thought, “Way to go, Clark!” But then I realized… Neither child can read a recipe. Neither child can measure. Neither child can wash dishes or clean up messes without help.

Clark just got two little girls really excited about this crap and then left them with me for four months while he coached football. TAKE IT BACK. Just kidding. I’m not a total Fun-Sucker.

A few days ago, I agreed to let the girls make something that looked a lot like melted poo but was in fact brownies. I told them to grab a chair and push it up to the counter. While the chairs began stuttering across the tile floor, I saw a wave of competitiveness flood the girls’ eyes.

I then watched them jockey back and forth for the honor of First Child to the Counter.

Charlee, being older, arrived first and proceeded to push her chair directly in front of the mixing bowl. Hattie, realizing defeat, immediately

collapsed to the floor in all her three-year-old glory. After making sure she hadn’t been shot, I asked her what was wrong.

That was where I was going to put my chaaaaiiiirrr. There’s no roooooom for me now. I won’t be able to see annyyyythhiiinnnggg!!!

I assured her I would scoot the bowl over and make sure they could

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December 2016 / January 2017

both see.

“Do you think I would only let Charlee mix?” No, she replied.

“Doesn’t mommy always let you both help?” Yes, she replied.

“I love you both. I don’t care more about Charlee than you and I don’t care more about you than Charlee. I will make sure y’all both get a turn because I love you both. But you have to be patient.”

Hattie hesitantly pushed her chair up and kindly (if you can be kind and whiny at the same time) reminded me that she couldn’t see inside the bowl. I scooted the bowl over and thought, This is a trust issue. This is an issue of her not trusting my fairness, not trusting that I will give her a turn. So she feels the need to take matters into her own hands.

Sharing is hard. We work and work on it with our kids because we want them to be likable and have friends, but we think WE get it — we think we know how to graciously let others have what we want. But we don’t.

We know how to share toys, french fries, clothes (if we really like someone).

But we have a really hard time sharing success.

We think a lot like little Hattie: That should have been me. There’s no room for ME now. WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN? But really, it’s an issue of trust. We don’t trust our Father.

We don’t trust that there’s enough to go around. We don’t trust that our success is in his hands and not our own. We don’t trust that if we rest in him, he will raise us up. We don’t trust his timing.

So it becomes ME vs. EVERYONE ELSE. And in our grieving at everyone else’s good news we lose the ability to rejoice in it because we become so obsessed with GETTING OURS. That’s not how it works.

I love, love, love the way Glennon Doyle Melton puts it: “Think abundance – always think abundance. Belief in abundance is

December 2016 / January 2017

the source of all generosity and peace. Know that there is enough. Know that you are enough. Know that you have enough. Enough time, enough talent, enough love.

You can’t miss your boat. It’s yours. It stays docked till you’re ready.

The only boat you can miss is someone else’s. Let them have theirs while you wait for the boat made for you. God’s never early and never late. And know that love and life are patient. And that God and life are forever tries.”

OF COURSE. I CAN’T MISS MY OWN BOAT. What freedom that gives me! Freedom to stop working so hard.

Freedom to let go. Freedom to bless others. Freedom to find joy in my current circumstances. Freedom to appreciate the process. Freedom to exhale.

Freedom to rejoice in the arrival of others’ boats, even if mine keeps not coming, because I know that “God is never early and never late” and this is not some huge competition. We are on the same team.

I am determining that I will trust in abundance, that there is always enough to go around.

Motherhood is fraught with illusions of passing boats, convincing me that this is just a time of waiting: waiting for my boat, waiting for my turn, waiting for my next, like motherhood is just an in-between stage. I anticipate and prepare for the “after our kids…” instead of investing and digging into the NOW. Motherhood is so much more than a lobby or a waiting room or a queue.

It’s so easy to believe that while you are changing diapers and playing baby dolls everyone else is floating past you. But Mama?

Don’t you believe that lie. What you are doing is important. This is kingdom work.

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My hope is that we can all collectively work toward one goal: bringing His kingdom down to Earth. And “just being a mom” is enough. Trust his process above your own and know that in your faithfulness, your boat, the one upon which God has already written your name, will not pass you by.

At the news of others’ success, if you are tempted to wonder, “WHEN, GOD? When will it be my turn?” Just as I told Hattie, God wants you to know, “I love you both. I don’t care more about _____ than you and I don’t care more about you than _____. I will make sure y’all both get a turn because I love you both. But you have to be patient.”

Settle into your motherhood. Settle into your God. Lean into both and allow them to be exactly what you need in this moment.’

Jordan and her husband Clark live in North Richland Hills, TX with their three kids, ages 4, 3, and 1. She is a teacher turned stay-at-homemom and attempts to blog on the blessed occasion that all three kids’ naps align. For stories that will make you feel better about yourself, visit her blog at jordanharrell.com.

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December 2016 / January 2017

The Buzz About Fort Bend

Fort Bend Christian Academy students, faculty and families gathered on National Signing Day to witness and celebrate four female athletes as they signed NCAA National Letters of Intent to play at the collegiate level. Danielle Sonnier committed to play softball for the Texas Southern Tigers in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Fort Bend Christian Academy softball player, Claire McKissick, signed to play with Texas Tech Red Raiders on National Signing Day. Claire has played softball for nine years, lettered for four years and served as team captain since her sophomore year.

The Central Fort Bend Chamber hosted its annual Business Expo on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at the Rosenberg Civic Center. The Expo showcases the latest products and services from nearly 50 community businesses and allows large-scale networking while providing a great opportunity to learn more about the resources in Fort Bend County.

Calvary Episcopal Preparatory was proud to host the final Volleyball tournament of the season for the West Houston Christian Athletic Conference. After a successful competition season, Calvary is proud to say that CEP students qualified for the championship match and was awarded the Runner-Up trophy. Great season for Calvary Volleyball.

The Central Fort Bend Chamber hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new member, Storage West on Thursday, October 20th. Storage West has provided quality self-storage to renters for over 35 years with state of the art facilities, clean storage areas, climate controlled storage spaces and great self-storage professionals.

Calvary Episcopal Preparatory students honored Veterans and active military at their Annual Veteran’s Day Chapel and Program on Friday, November 11th. From the walls lined with pictures and descriptions of loved ones who have fought for our freedom, to the lyrical dancers and the meaning of the 13 folds of the flag, veterans left knowing that they their bravery is appreciated by CEP students.

December 2016 / January 2017

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The Buzz About Fort Bend

Calvary Prekindergarten students paid a visit to the Rosenberg Fire Station and learned all about the jobs of firefighters and the importance of fire safety. Calvary students loved the fire station and got another treat when they visited the pumpkin patch before returning to Calvary

Calvary Prekindergarten students visited the Rosenberg Fire Station in October to learn about Firefighters and the work they do in our communities.

Fort Bend Christian Academy hosted it’s annual Tackling a Cure varsity football game for breast cancer awareness on September 30, 2016. Since October is breast cancer awareness month, the cheerleaders held a Pink Out pep rally and sported pink pompoms and hair ribbons. For the game, the football players wore pink wristbands.

Members from Rice University Athletics and volunteers from CarMax write letters of encouragement which will be included in the Totes of Hope care kits that will be given to local veteran advocacy groups and to the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran’s Hospital.

Photo courtesy of Tyler Moyer.

Texas Miss Amazing is a non-profit organization that celebrates the abilities of girls and women with disabilities and provide opportunities for them to build self-confidence in a supportive environment. Participants showcase their abilities through interviews with judges, introductions to the audience, an evening gown presentation, and an optional talent event.

Five representatives from TMA traveled to Chicago to participate at the 2016 National MissAmazing event; boasting over 110 participants from across the country. All participants are awarded a trophy and crown as National Princesses.

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December 2016 / January 2017

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Recipe: Christmas Ham Ingredients • 1 (12 lb.) bone-in ham • 1/2 c. whole cloves • 1 (20 oz.) can pineapple rings in heavy syrup • 1/2 c. packed brown sugar • 1 (12 fluid oz.) can lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage • 1 (4 oz.) jar chopped maraschino cherries Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Place ham in a roasting pan. Score the rind of the ham with a diamond pattern. Press a clove into the center of each diamond. Drain the juice from the pineapple rings into a medium bowl, and stir in the brown sugar and lemon-lime soda. Coat the ham with this mixture.

Arrange the pineapple rings over the outside of the ham. Place a maraschino cherry in the center of each pineapple ring, and secure with a toothpick.

3. Bake uncovered for 4 to 5 hours, basting frequently with the juices, until the internal temperature of the ham is 160 degrees. Be sure the meat thermometer is not touching the bone. Remove toothpicks before serving.

Tip: You can use aluminum foil to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier. Prep: 20 min. Cook: 4 hrs.

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