Georgia Mountain Laurel November 17 by The Laurel of Northeast Georgia

November 2017

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November 2017

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November 2017

A Note From Tracy

was raised to be patriotic. Love of country, appreciation of the men and women who serve and respect for our flag. These things will always be a part of who I am and in this issue we will share these things with you. I am so thankful to live in America. I often have to look twice to see the country I knew in my youth. So much has changed. I can not pass a man or woman in uniform without stopping to thank them for serving our country and their willingness to die for my freedom. I will always stand for the flag and for the equal treatment of all God’s people, and I believe we can do both. This issue will include some stories of hope, faith in Christ, and thanksgiving. The recipes are great, the Thanksgiving memories are precious, and the courageous men in uniform that were kind enough to talk with us are outstanding. The stories in these pages are meant to lift you up and offer some goodness in a world that can get a little crazy at times. We hope you enjoy this month’s issue and that you find something to share with another or that offers peace at this time of Thanksgiving.

Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Assistant Editor - Luke McCoy Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Graphic Designer - Nikki Dunbar Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melissa Williams-Thomas Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh

Contributing Writers: Jan Timms Jean Hyatt Mark Holloway Susan Brewer Steve Jarrard, MD Lisa Harris John Shivers Emory Jones Lorie Thompson Michael Rogers Patrick Trawick Glynnis Whitwer Kendall Rumsey

Copyright 2017 by Rabun’s Laurel Inc. All rights reserved. The Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine is published twelve times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to GML magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel magazine or any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. The Georgia Mountain Laurel maintains a Christian focus throughout their magazine. Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. reserves the right to refuse content or advertising for any reason without explanation.

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November 2017

In This Issue Arts & Entertainment 10 14

It Run’s in the Family North Georgia Arts Guild Holly Klaine Art Show & Sale

Honoring Veterans 18 20

Veteran Spotlight - Varney Watson Veteran Spotlight - Jim Kidd

Just Thinking... 28 30 32

Lovin’ the Journey Notes from a Southern Kitchen By the Way

Faith in Christ 36 38 39 40 42 44

Bless Your Heart Life is a Blessing River Garden Doing Busy Better Jesus - Way • Truth • Life Rabun for the Gospel (R4G)

Health & Wellness 46 50 51

Live Healthy & Be Well Mountain Lakes Medical Center The Squeeky Wheel

A Taste 52 56

Bon Appetít The Family Table

Mark Your Calendar 60 66

Event Calendar & Festivals Holiday Shopping Extravaganza

Outdoors 68 69 72

November 2017

Adventure Out The Visit Mountain Nature

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Art - It Runs in the Family by Tracy McCoy

t is no secret that art is therapeutic. Art is an expression of emotions, thoughts and desires. Thomas Merton said “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Artistic expression is contagious but I’d never thought of it as a genetic trait, but for one family from the small town of Roberta, Georgia, that seems to be the case. Patti Brown and Pam Perry are sisters raised in a Godly home. Their parents were very active in their church and raised their daughters the same. “Our friends were Church family” Patti says. Ruth Joyner and her late husband Calvin had three beautiful daughters, Pam Perry, Patti Brown and Dr. Penny Wadell, the Dean of Education at Gwinnett Technical College. All of the Joyners’ daughters are lovely and talented. I’d like to share with you in this issue at least three generations of artists. Mr. Joyner was a bit of an artist doing pencil drawings of his old homeplaces. Pam and Patti are both artists and Patti’s daughter Vina Jumper is as well. Her grandson Tanner Brown is also interested in art as you can see in the photos below where he helped Patti complete a mural on her garage wall. Pretty incredible! I think you will find a common thread, that being that the Joyners encouraged their children to be creative and to explore art. ___________________________ Pam Perry remembers taking art throughout her years at Crawford County High School in Roberta. She enjoyed it so that it was a natural choice for her studies in college. Pam says she learned every medium in college but she felt that oil was the only choice for a true professional artist. Pam became an art teacher. When she finished college, she accepted a position in Gwinnett County. She worked with students at Central Gwinnett for three years. A call came in to Pam that the art teacher at her Alma Mater was retiring, and they wanted her to fill the position. She jumped at the chance and Pam Perry was the art teacher at her hometown high school for 29 years. Currently she is an adjunct instructor at Central Georgia Technical

College where she teaches Art Appreciation. After retiring Pam realized that while teaching art she had not found much time to paint for herself. She began taking art classes as part of a local artist group and it was there that Pam became quite fond of acrylics. Landscapes and still lifes are what she enjoys with nature a general theme. The group at Jailhouse Alley Art Center, where Pam paints, holds annual art show and sale. This event is in its 50th year! Pam sells her art at the show. The Jail House Alley Show is held November 4th from 9 am – 2 pm at Fort Valley United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Fort Valley, Georgia. A fellow artist with Rabun County roots, Janie P. Taylor’s daughter Dawne Bryan, also participates in this art show. Patti Brown is a resident of Rabun County. Patti and her husband Mark Brown operated a landscaping company called Mountainscapes over near Lake Burton. Patti is the youngest Joyner daughter. She began her professional career in Atlanta working in the landscaping industry. Patti was never afraid of hard work, and she was a successful, independent, hardworking mother raising her daughter. Art was not something that she had time for. Her art included rich black topsoil and plants, rocks and landscape timbers. An art all its own! When Mark Brown, Patti’s former boss and dear friend while living in Atlanta, had an accident and fractured his back, his son called Patti. He asked if she come to the mountains to help with a few bids until Mark recovered. She was on her way before Mark’s son Zack hung up the phone. What started as a friend helping another turned into a love story. This story has many twists and turns and this couple has a very joy-filled life, and they are a blessing to everyone who meets them. Retiring from the landscaping business afforded Patti time to explore her art. She finds great pleasure in putting brush to canvas but also enjoys creating useful art. She paints mostly landscapes, especially mountains capturing the depths of ridges and valleys perfectly. Patti is inspired by others like her sister and her daughter. She paints her memories and places she has been. Patti paints in acrylic, oil and watercolor. Patti and Mark play in a bluegrass gospel group called Cross Creek. Their daughter in law Britney Brown plays in the group as well. Patti accepts commissions and if her art is available for purchase at Burton Grill & Grocery and Billingsley’s Garden Center.

Retired on the left and Redbud on the right both by Pam Perry 10

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Vina Jumper was raised by her mother, Patti, in the Atlanta area. She was exposed to art through her family, but it was just something that she was drawn to. Vina floundered academically as most creative people do. She remembers her mom starting her out young with craft time most days. Her favorite Christmas gift was Spin Art and she recalls playing with it as often as she could. Art was an important part of her elementary, middle and high school years. Her mother encouraged her to pursue art as a career. She attended Gwinnett Tech studying Fashion Merchandising and attained that degree. It didn’t take long in retail until she learned that it wasn’t for her. She was introduced to North Georgia College and it all fell into place. Vina made the Dean’s Honor Roll and she studied Art Education. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and went to

Field of Tulips painting and Mural of Mountain Scene by Patti Brown with help from her grandson. Horse Drawing and Hummingbird Painting by Vina Jumper

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work at West Forsyth High School as a K-12 Art Teacher. Vina teaches 2-D Visual Art and sculpture, which she finds very enjoyable. When Vina finds time to pursue her art on a personal level she prefers to paint but has begun to explore pencil drawing and painting with a palette knife adding a texture agent to her paint. She finds that the knife forces her to abandon her detail oriented nature and delve into more abstract. The Hummingbird painting below is her first palet knife painting. She encourages her students to explore and experience art and to look for inspiration around them. Recently Vina completed six paintings that were purchased to decorate a church nursery. She has art in Rabun County at Lake Burton Grill on Highway 76 West and also at Billingsley’s Nursery in Rabun Gap on Highway 441. Vina also accepts commissions. She is drawn to lighthearted creatures like butterflies, dragonflies, birds and bees. She has always found art as a way to share emotion and express feelings. Vina is also a mentor working with Mountain Ed two or three days a week. She enjoys getting to know these students and hopes to foster relationships that will be a positive force for them.

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Finding Art

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November 2017

NORTH GEORGIA ARTS GUILD Terry Barnes Fine Art Photography Eyes Looking Deeply By Susan Brewer

lone man walked the circuit of art for sale at the Painted Fern Festival held in July at the Clayton Civic Center. He stopped. His face narrowed, intent on searching the image in front of him. Pulled forward as if by a magnet, he stepped closer. He seemed to be looking deep within himself. His spirit stirred, his body and the place forgotten. In front of him was a photograph by Terry Barnes, an award-winning photographer whose fine art images are reproduced with paint using inkjets, a method referred to as giclée. In Terry’s work, mountains stand sure. Ranges vanish in great distances. Light arches from sky to earth. Clouds part. Cold, snowcovered landscapes are there, along with the warmth and reds of the sun. Terry is told by his viewers that his art puts them in touch with something that would otherwise be missing from their lives. “Yes,” Terry says, “I hear that all the time. They look deep into my images and talk about how they have seen certain scenes like them but they don’t remember the feeling. The ever-changing landscape is very exciting to witness, especially through the lens of a camera. And mountains have always thrilled me, and photographing them gives me a real sense of spiritual connection.” Terry sums it up this way: “Nature scenes speak to me in a way that soothes my soul.” Carolyn and David Hill own a giclée photograph by Terry called “Skinny Dip Falls.” Carolyn described it this way, “The natural light and vibrant colors give me the sense of ‘being there’ – I’m almost certain I can hear the waterfall and feel the mist rising from the rocks.” David says each day he takes in the picture again, appreciating it for what is and isn’t there: no chaos, no human intrusion, only a peaceful, sylvan atmosphere. This last month (September 2017), the U.S. has experienced nature’s destructive side: wildfires raged in Burbank, California and up and down the Pacific coast; extreme droughts affected Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming; and then one, then 14

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two, then three record-breaking hurricanes made landfall. First, Harvey hit Houston. It terrified the nation with its scale and endurance. As much as 40-61 inches of rain fell. Then Irma. Irma was the storm that was going to take out Miami and Tampa – it didn’t – but the state’s population was forced to evacuate. Swaths of Florida and Georgia were without power. Lives were disrupted in a major way. Then Maria was the “two” of the one-two punch to the Caribbean. Maria has undone the footprint of man there. The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, isolated within the ocean, have been destroyed. In all, people lost lives and loved ones, their ways of life permanently rewritten. Eyes that look deep are pulled between these contrasting visions, one real, the other in Terry’s work. Should we not wonder at what is going on? We return to Terry’s images thankful that the natural world’s destructive forces are once again out of sight. Nature’s beauty captured, we are safe. To purchase, go to tbarnesphotography.photoshelter.com.

Holly Klaine Art Show & Sale H olly Klaine and the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce an Art Show and Sale on November 11th at the Chamber’s Welcome Center located at 232 US Highway 441 in Clayton, Georgia. The Rabun County Chamber of Commerce will host an honor ceremony for local Veterans at the Rabun County Courthouse and after the ceremony all are encouraged to head to the welcome center for the art show from 12 PM - 4 PM. Holly will be there to meet and greet and her art will be on display.

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November 2017

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November 2017

Varney Watson United States Army Special Forces by Tracy McCoy

“Military men are the last to want a war.”

rowing up at the head of Betty’s Creek had many advantages. In the 50s boys raised in Betty’s Creek fished and hunted. That is, when they were not working. Families were large and chores were many. Varney Watson was one of 6 kids raised in the home and he learned at an early age what hard work was. His raising took him places in life that he never dreamed. Varney attended and graduated from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Rabun Gap, Georgia. One Saturday night he and some other guys went to Franklin (looking for some girls) and he met Linda Ledford, and he was quite taken with her. The couple soon began “courting”. When the Vietnam War began, Varney felt he should volunteer for the draft, much to his mother’s and Linda’s dismay. Basic Training at Fort Benning revealed to Varney’s superiors that he had some skills that the perhaps other soldiers didn’t. After Basic, his orders were changed and he was headed with a dozen or so others to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for combat engineer training. There he learned war engineering and demolition. After this training he returned to Fort Benning for Jump School. Varney enjoyed jumping out of airplanes. He told me that there are no atheist jumping out of planes, at least not that he knew of. He told me it was said that the first week of Jump School would separate the men from the boys, week two the men from the idiots, and that third week, the idiots jumped. After jump school he was off to Fort Bragg for Special Forces training. He trained to be a navigator and demolition specialist. He trained for 13 months before being assigned an A-Team. An A-Team consisted of 12 men, and Varney remarked that they were some of the smartest men he’d ever met. He became the Junior Demolition expert on the team in only 19 months. He trained people to fight in clandestine operations. He was part of the 7th Special Forces Group cross-training with Navy Seals. During demolition training, his Staff Sergeant told his group, “You make a mistake and you’ll see the flash but never hear the boom!” The explosives were powerful and training included blowing bridges and disarming devices, basically how to destroy your target effectively. He advanced from Junior Demolition E5 to Staff Sargent Spec 5 in 19 months. The 7th SFG’s area of expertise was the Middle East. Most of the groups operational techniques were and are today classified. Much of what they do was dependent on the CIA. Varney served two years in the United States Army as a Green Beret. He talked of the quality of the men he served with and mentioned the men in the 5th Special Forces Group who were in Vietnam during his stateside service. The men in the 7th were next in line and at the end of Varney’s two year enlistment he was offered a handsome amount to reenlist. It was tempting and he considered it, but Varney’s father had been killed while serving in World War II, and when he talked to his mother about his decision, she asked her son (with hand on hip and finger pointed) not to do that. She was ready for her son to come home, and Linda was too. Linda had waited on Varney to return home and they picked up right where they had left off. They had corresponded while he was away, but there is nothing like being side by side. Six months after he was home Linda popped the question and Varney said yes, (I suspect it was the other way around). Varney had enjoyed writing and playing music and he began exploring his music. He traveled from Georgia to New York and Washington, DC, playing music and writing songs. He felt so blessed to meet some incredible musicians during this time. He was paid well, but after some time Linda encouraged her husband (with hand on hip and finger pointed) to find a day job. Putting his music on the back burner, Varney went to work. 18

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Varney landed a job with Georgia Farm Bureau. He worked in the insurance industry for decades! It was a perfect fit because Varney loves people and he enjoyed helping families to protect what they loved most: their homes and families. He and Linda worked side by side for years. After retirement, the couple was able to do some traveling and spend some good years together. Linda had battled Crohns Disease for many years, but lost her battle due to complications of the disease in late 2009. The Watsons had three children: Dawn, DeeDee, and David. While he credits Linda for the incredible children he has, I think it was the two of them who raised these outstanding kids. Dawn Watson is Varneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest daughter, and she is an accomplished writer of Sci-fi and Romance novels. She has one son Caleb. DeeDee married Claude Dillard and she teaches at Rabun County Middle School and coaches Varsity girls basketball. Varney told me that DeeDee declared she would be Valedictorian of her Senior Class when she was in 8th grade, and she was! Dee Dee and Claude have a son named Bryce and a daughter named Bailey. Varney and Lindaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son David is a beekeeper with over 300 hives near his home in Rabun Gap. David is single (look out ladies). Varney declared he has the best grandkids in the world. After retirement, Varney picked up his guitar and began writing songs again. His time now is filled with writing and teaching other musicians to write songs through his songwriters assistance group, The Writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Block. The group hosts workshops, inviting noted songwriters to come in share with aspiring songwriters. Varney has forged some good connections in the music industry and shares what he has learned with many young songwriters and musicians. He recently recorded an all original CD of his music. I was fortunate to get a preview and was very impressed. Varney Watson insured my first car, he is a friend of my family, and a true American hero.

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November 2017

Jim KIdd United States Air Force by Tracy McCoy

“G

et your shoes on Jimmy, we are going to go down to the airport to see the planes” the words that Jim Kidd waited to hear every day. His dad didn’t take him to see the Piper Cubs everyday, but as often as possible because he knew how important planes were to his son. He had begun drawing aircraft in the 1st grade. Born in the winter of 1936 in Watkinsville, Georgia in his grandparents’ farmhouse. The Kidd home was just a short drive from the Athens – Ben Epps Airport in Clarke County. This began his infatuation with planes, the military sparked a love affair with them that has spanned decades.

When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Jim was 6 years old. He remembers always hearing conversations about the war. He recalls every night his family gathered around the battery radio to listen to Walter Kaltenborn deliver the war news of the day. With family members who had gone off to fight and with the nation intensely focused on the war effort, Jim found himself mesmerized and hooked for life on all things military, especially combat airplanes. Jim was well raised by his parents and he grew up in a loving home. Growing up a country kid, he knew what work was. He learned to farm with mules, plowing cotton and corn, raking hay and cleaning stables. All the while he never lost interest in all things aviation. He recalls the first time he laid eyes on Jenny Lovern, he wanted to gt to know her more. He got up his courage to ask her to go with him to the “end of school” picnic on the sand bar at High Shoals. He asked and she said yes. He was 16 and she was 14. He’s not sure why her parents let hr go but he sure was glad thy did. These high school sweethearts have an incredible 26 year story of service and dedication to this nation. Jim went to college at The University of Georgia, and he joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp (AFROTC), a decision he and Jenny agreed on. In his senior year of college Jim asked Jenny to be his wife and the couple wed at the Ashford Methodist Church in Watkinsville. In the fall quarter of 1957, the Air Force started a new program to provide civilian pilot training to ROTC seniors. The program started at the Athens airport. Jim was one of eight candidates in the class of 1958 to receive two days of ground school and 40 hours of training in a Cessna 140/ All eight passed the FAA flight check, all received a private license and all eventually completed Air Force pilot training. Jim joined the Air Force and the couple bought a trailer that they moved from base to base as Jim completed flight training in Bainbridge, Georgia. The couple was then off to Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma, then to Wichita, Kansas and Plattsburgh, New York to check out on a B-47 Bomber. In a short time the Cuban Missile Crisis arose and Jim was sent to England to be on a B-47 nuclear alert. They were told that if the Claxon horn sounded it would be a real launch. During that time Jenny, a friend and the children slept in their blue jeans. They packed up everything they could possibly need in the station wagon and took off a Alabama, a warmer climate. In a mere six weeks it was all over. During one deployment to Vietnam, Jim penned Jenny, sure it would be his last. Jenny and other Air Force wives knew that a B-52 had been shot down but didn’t know who’s. This was the third one in 3 months. All of the wives were standing outside waiting for the Chaplin and Base Commander’s car, with flags flying, to come and tell them who’s husband had crashed. They turned into Jenny’s driveway... she could barely breathe. It turned out that it was her friend’s husband next door. An experience she may never forget. Another story the Kidds shared with me was when Jim was stationed in Thailand. Communication was a challenge. Jenny was meeting Jim in Hong Kong, her flight

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was six hours late. She called the hotel where they had reservations and the front desk fellow said he wasn’t there, but he really was! There was a box at the airport where notes could be left for people trying to find each other. She left a note for Jim. The next morning he went to the airport and found Jenny’s note. She had spent the night in one hotel and Jim in another. With time such a precious commodity they regretted the night apart. Today we take for granted calling anywhere in the world at any time of the day or night, then, a soldier had to stand in line for hours to get a 5 minute call out. Sometimes a Ham Operator would get a call out to Jenny, but that was not often. When Jim returned from England he was sent to Turner Air Force Base in Georgia, flying B52D’s. Soon the unit’s 15 aircrafts deployed to Guam and began conducting bombing missions into Vietnam. At that time they did not have forward bases ready in Thailand so they had to refuel over the Philippines on the way into Vietnam in order to gt back to Guam after the strikes. After six months Jim returned to Turner Air Force Base. When Vietnam began until it ended Jim Kidd flew a total of 243 missions dropping countless bombs. Jim Kidd and many others believed Linebaker II demonstrated what might have been accomplished had thy been given the chance to win the war earlier, the operation opened negotiations between Washington and Hanoi. After they returned home, the Air Force decided to close Turner AFB and sent the Kidds to Columbus, Mississippi to another B52D Base. While there, Jim had two more 6 month tours in Southeast Asia, then on to Carswell air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas where h worked as an instructor pilot on FB-111s. Next they were moved to Montgomery, Alabama where Jim completed Command and Staff training. The next eight months Jim spent back in Thailand. The next move was to Norton Air Force Base in San Bernadina, California and Jim worked on the

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Jim Kidd - USAF General Inspection Team, he was there for four years before moving to Belgium. In Belgium Jim served at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). This was without a doubt the best assignment because they were able to travel around Europe with Jim’s job. Next the couple was off to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska where Jim worked for 4 years as the Commander of NEACP (National Emergency Airborne Command Post). His plane escorted the Commander in Chief protecting Air Force One. His plane was never far away when the President was traveling by aircraft. Jim had the privilege of briefing President Reagan on one of their missions. A room in the Kidd home near Lake Burton is a shrine to this incredible Soldier’s career with medals frame, his flight suite framed with his helmet positioned above it. His awards are too vast to list. A caricature of his plane with signatures of his officer’s wives hangs in his office and photos of his time in the Air Force. The Military was not a part of Jim Kidd’s life, his life was part of Military history. He celebrated 60 years of marriage in September of this year. Two amazing children Debbie and Derek were born to Jim and Jenny. Debbie met her husband while living in Belgium. Don Kennedy retired as an Army Lieutenant Colonel. She married Don in the same church her parents were married in by the same minister. She and Don have two children. Derek is a retired police officer who also has two children and served two years in the Army during Desert Storm. After a total of 29 moves in the Military, Jim and Jenny moved to their home in Rabun County. Jim took classes to be an Architect. He co-managed Supply Mart in Clayton, designing the plans for many homes in the area. He designed his own home and it is an architectural masterpiece. The home is filled with photos, memories and love. Jim and Jenny are more in love today than when they had their first date on the sand bar so many years ago. There is no way that I could adequately tell Jim Kidd’s story as it has been an incredible life. “Get your shoes on Jim, let’s go out on the porch to enjoy the view.” Today the Kidds are settled in as residents of Rabun County and there will be no more moves. I am certain that if Jim Kidd had the chance to crawl in a cockpit and fly a bomber, he would. It has been my pleasure to get to know the Kidds.

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Discover Franklin, North Carolina

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November 2017

Lovin’ the Journey Guilt, Conscience, or the Spirit by R. Mark Holloway If I’m up in a tree above the crowd and this TED talk rockstar sees me, calls me out, somehow knowing my name, I’d be dialed in. Several elements of this story give me hope and grip my soul. Who pays back folks they’ve cheated four times the amount? Actually, Jewish law of restitution required it. But Zacchaeus first says he’ll give half his stuff to the poor. What?

he thing about conscience is it’s a feature that comes standard and is installed at the factory. When you do something wrong, rarely does anyone have to tell you. You just know. Guilt is an odd human emotion. No one has to teach us guilt. When you’re wrong, you just know it. When I was six years old, I shoplifted a piece of bubblegum. My plan was flawless. I stood in the candy aisle of our neighborhood Buckhead grocery store and reached down into the bubblegum bin and grabbed two pieces and hid one in my hand while examining the other. I made a spectacle out of tossing the one piece of gum back in with the rest and then walked away. I got on my bicycle parked outside and began to pedal away. But I was’t going anywhere. I looked down to see my rear tire spinning in air. The store manager was lifting the back of my bicycle off the ground. Fear, guilt, and surprise assaulted my soul all at the same time. The Great Bubblegum Heist of 1966 was over. The store manager made me an offer: go straight home and confess your crime to your father or else I’ll have you arrested. His strategy worked. I rode my bicycle back home and went straight to my Airborne Ranger father and confessed. The experience so riveted me, my life of crime ended that day. I was noticing what happened to a short little tax collector when Jesus lifted up his rear tire. Apparently if you were Jewish and you’d sold out to the Roman government, you could make a very comfortable living. There was a tax commissioner named Zacchaeus who had to climb up in a tree to get a glimpse of this traveling teacherpreacher-prophet. All Jesus did was call his name and invite himself home to lunch. 28

Most folks don’t let you mess with their family, money, or dog. Yet Zach volunteers half his value. Just being around Jesus vexes the part of me needing vexing. The sourish part of me which serves self gets exposed to the light of day every time I step out of the dark. Or when truth comes into my shadow. Being in His presence is simply enough...enough to challenge my heart and change my heart. If I will just be vulnerable, if I will just position myself along the path He’s on. I too will know instinctively my sins both private and public. The other critical element I see is the kindness of Jesus. He allows guilt, conscience, or perhaps the Spirit, whichever, to activate deep inside of me, instantly. And then I change. All he does is show up and ask to be my friend. Repentance is easier than we make it out to be. I’m not sure how Zacchaeus’ day ended. But I bet he was changed. I bet he was thankful for a lot of things. See you on the trail.

Mark and his wife Carol are the owners of Fresh Start. A company dedicated to stewarding the property and homes of their clients. They aspire to be the hands, legs and feet while you are away and your resource for anything you need whether you are a full or part time resident of the area. Both care for the properties entrusted to them as if they owed them theirselves. Mark can be reached by calling 706.490.7060

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November 2017

Notes from a Southern Kitchen

Give Thanks…. by Kendall R. Rumsey

hanksgiving is my favorite h o l i d ay, followed closely by Christmas and my birthday (yes, my birthday is a holiday, mark it on your calendars, April 28th). Celebrating Thanksgiving has always been about family for me. My earliest memories of the day take me back to Rochelle, GA. I was born in Rochelle, but we moved away when I was one. For years our family would use the Thanksgiving holiday to travel back to Rochelle and celebrate the holiday with our friends there. Set amidst the pecan orchards and nestled close to a catfish pond, our family would join with the Hudsons, the Hornes, Conners, Mashburns, Kings, Reids, and other families who lived and loved that little town in gnat country of southwest Georgia. Those idyllic celebrations featured enough food to feed a small country, more laughs than you can imagine, and a love of multi-generations that has continued for decades. When I was about ten we started staying home for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving morning mama would start cooking and as the day passed we would be joined by my grandparents and relatives from Florida. A smaller, less boisterous celebration was what we celebrated, but what love we shared as we sat together at our large farm-style wooden table, mama’s good china at each seat and a feast of turkey, ham, dressing, vegetables and sweets. Mama, my Aunt Beck, and grandmother would have lunch ready at noon, but if you ate too much during the first sit-down, there would always be desserts, turkey sandwiches and dressing after a nap while watching a football game on TV. Over the years our family size would change, once my cousin Melissa married, she would stay back in Florida, sometimes my Aunt and Uncle would come to Georgia, some years they didn’t. One year a blonde-haired girl named Donna joined the 30

family and we decided to keep her around. After marrying my brother, they added Chelsea and Zack to the mix. In 1996, I moved away to Florida and wasn’t always able to come home for Thanksgiving. I began to celebrate the day with friends who became my Florida family. Much like the celebrations in Georgia, we would feast. Multiple families would come together and laugh, eat, have a few adult beverages, chase kids and enjoy a love that grew through common bonds and life experiences. By the time I moved back to God’s Country, mama and daddy, my grand-parents and my Aunt and Uncle had all gone home to the Lord, but when we gather at our table, the love of those who went before us is palpable. Now we have a two-year old that keeps us all on our toes. She brings joy to our hearts and like her namesake, her greatgrandfather, Hadley Rae is the center of attention at any gathering. For my family, Thanksgiving is the same as it has always been. Lots of food, laughs, boisterous conversations and debate, and more love than you can imagine. For me, Thanksgiving is the best holiday of all. There are no pressures of the perfect gift. Traditions passed down from generation to generation weave together the day and a family who has gone through life struggles, joys, failures and success come together and give thanks for who we are and what we have been given. As you prepare for this Thanksgiving holiday, no matter your situation, I hope that the memories and hopes of the day will give you peace and warm your heart with love. Sometimes our days may be filled with loss and pain, but on this day, I hope you will remember the good things of your life and give thanks! Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Ga. He is owner of imPRESSed, a custom imprint company and publishes the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen.

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www.impressedstyle.com www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

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November 2017

By the Way

Why hurricanes make pigs cranky by Emory Jones

ogs hate hurricanes.

None more than my pet pig, Cunningham.

I think it goes back to that Three Little Pigs story and the Iberian wolf who allegedly blew down two of their houses, causing them to have to move in together. I’ve explained that today’s building codes are much stricter, but I fear the damage is done. His horror of hurricanes is the reason for an unfortunate incident Cunningham caused in Cleveland just before Hurricane Irma recently swept across our region. I tried to keep the storm news quiet, but the news was broadcast continuously for 113 straight days prior to landfall. Before long, an RFD channel Farm News Alert interrupted Green Acres to report Irma would hit in Northeast Iowa before dark. Cunningham has lots of cousins in Northeast Iowa, so that report scared him. Before long, the TV folks changed their tune again and said Irma was bearing down on Dillard, with a likely landfall in Dahlonega by the end Friday.

By now, Cunningham was a nervous wreck. I think we all were. Anticipating a power loss, Cunningham filled his water bucket, stockpiled acorns and rooted up bricks to pile along the little window of his sty-scraper facing Clarkesville. Then he turned his attention to nutrition. While people head to the grocery store before a storm, pigs look to their local feed mill for provisions. So, I loaded Cunningham in the truck and headed to the one in Cleveland to stock up on pig pellets. The wind was already picking up from Irma’s outlying contrails, so I told Cunningham to stay in the truck while I went inside to order. “I’d like 12 bags of peppermint flavored pig pellets,” I said politely. “I’m pretty sure my wife made that April late payment on my store account, so we should be good to go,” I added. “That was in 2014,” said the proprietor, “and we’re out of pig pellets.” “How can you be out of pig pellets? This is a feed mill.” “There’s been a run.” “But I saw pig pellets in the warehouse,” I pointed out. “No, you didn’t,” said the proprietor. “You just imagined that.” Before I could devise a snappy comeback, we heard what sounded like a squealing pig trapped inside a truck crashing through a warehouse wall. I’d heard that sound before during The Vietnam Conflict, so I knew it well. I was in New Jersey pulling KP duty, but still, it’s a noise one never forgets. As I said in the police report later—when Cunningham dozed off on the seat, he started having that dream about saving Dorothy’s dog from the tornado Anytime Cunningham dreams about running, he jerks his upside hind in rapid motions. I do the same thing myself. Anyway, his hoof inadvertently hit the gearstick. Gravity, feeling free to take over, pulled the truck rapidly downhill where it sideswiped the mayor’s jeep, removed the side mirror from a customer’s car, and crash into the above-mentioned warehouse. My truck only avoided damage because those stacks of “imaginary” pig pellets cushioned the blow and stopped its forward motion. I generously offered to buy the broken bags for 10-cents on the dollar, but was rebuked rather rudely for my trouble. Looking back on it now, using my one phone call to remind Animal Control to give Cunningham an extra blanket that night may have been a mistake. On the other hand, we both got to ride out the hurricane in safe, but separate, county maintained buildings with generators. Turns out my wife wasn’t in the mood to bring bail money anyway. Besides, her power was out.

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Downtown Clayton, Georgia

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November 2017

Bless Your Heart

Life’s Frosty Thaw by Lisa Harris up and see her church friend Emma come toward her. Emma was a great friend she loved dearly, but just didn’t want to see.

imlessly she stirred her coffee, watching the cream swirl into the color of caramel. Annie couldn’t seem to break her sadness. She could function, talk on the phone, laugh with others, but inside she was totally numb. Life had crept in and stole her joy. Not just a drop of it, but seemingly all of it, and she had become a master at hiding the sadness.

Sighing, Annie picked up her partially consumed coffee and dumped it down the drain. She had a long to-do list, and hopefully, she thought, marking off some would make her feel accomplished.

“I thought that was you hiding under that ball cap,” Emma said smiling. “How are you doing my friend?” she continued to prod Annie knowing otherwise she wouldn’t get a thing out of her. “Missed you at church Sunday.” Annie faked a bright smile and said, “I’m good, all good, just busy marking my to-do’s off my list,” she held it up as if to prove her words. Emma thought better of prying while in the middle of the store and said, “Well, just one thing before I let you go.

A scary illness, finance issues, their only child in middle school was diagnosed with dyslexia and her long-awaited dream of owning a small business was dwindling with the sparse finances and her very slow personal recovery from chemo. Checking out her groceries, Annie wondered if her heaviness would ever leave. She just wanted to feel again. She was almost done putting her groceries in the back of her car when once again she heard her name called. Annie muttered to herself, “So much for my cap disguising my face.” Annie whirled around and came face to face with Ester.

Did you hear our beloved Ester (who sat on the 8th row back, left side of the First Baptist Church) is getting married at 89?”

“Ester, so good to see you and I just heard from Emma your good news!” Annie exclaimed.

Annie went into her bathroom to put on a touch of mascara and lipstick wishing to brighten her face. Hmmm…not great, the twinkle was gone, but better than red and puffy, which is what was her norm lately. She then pulled a ball cap over her hair, trusting no one would recognize and want to talk.

“No! Seriously? Is it to our favorite fella, Mr. Bill? Why in the world would you marry again at 89?” Annie was smiling now.

Ester wrapped her comforting arms about her and gave Annie the warmest hug. It was so comforting that Annie teared up without meaning to.

Emma laughed, “Well, that is what I asked her Sunday, and you know what she said?”

Ester acted like she didn’t notice but said, “We’ve missed you at church lately.”

Fighting the small town’s traffic pattern, Annie pulled into Target. She was, most days, a faithful Wal-Mart shopper, but Target had a Starbucks, and that just felt like the thing she needed to whirl in and out of each aisle.

“Noooo, what?”

Annie gave a half-smile and responded, “Thank you, it’s just been hard to make myself go. Sam encourages me, but most the time just he and Lucy-Jane go.”

Annie ordered her tall caramel frap and on first sip closed her eyes as it slid down her throat giving her a happy, refreshed moment. For that split second, it was worth the $4, she mused.

“Ester pulled me aside and said, ‘Honeee, you want to know why I’d remarry at 89? I’ll tell you,’ she said with a twinkle in her eye, ‘Even though he’s my age, with his shirt off, he looks 79!’” Emma said, “Annie, you should have heard her laugh, she is so much fun and full of life! I want to be just like her.”

Just as she was reaching for a spaghetti squash in the vegetable section, she heard her name, “Annie, Annie,” a woman’s voice called out to her.

Annie died laughing along with Emma. “Thanks, my friend for the giggle,” she said as she hugged her friend bye. In her head she relived Ester’s happiness thinking, “Will I ever be happy again?”

Without much choice, she had to look

It had been an overwhelming few years.

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Ester smiled remembering many years ago her own suffering, her numbness, and desperately wanting her heart beats to break off the frost that encased it. Taking Annie’s 40-something hands into hers, she stared at them as she gently rubbed her thumbs on the top noticing how thin and small they were, but how mightily they have served. “Annie, I know how difficult these last few years have been for you. I want you to know how much God loves you

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and what a witness you have been in your suffering. Nothing produces more fruit than suffering for Jesus. He’s never left you Annie, He’s preparing you. You’ll receive more than you have lost. Trust me, God is always filling your tank, then He’ll top you off for good measure.” Annie’s eyes smiled along with her lips for the first time in years…Ester’s encouragement was life-giving. “Thank you, Ester,” Annie said with another hug. “One question though…what was your top off from Jesus?” “Ohhhh Honeee,” Ester drawled out her charming Southern accent, “Getting a man whose chest looks ten years younger!” Annie truly laughed from her soul as she pondered, maybe a thaw was on its way, maybe she would feel again, and maybe for good measure, God would top her off with something special to hold onto. Annie had no idea what that looked like…but, she yearned for it and she realized in that moment she no longer needed to disguise herself, hiding wasn’t the answer…God’s mercy and grace was. A few minutes later, she laughed out loud as she planned Ester’s wedding shower in her head. It had to be a lingerie shower, Ester would love it, and so would Mr. Bill. Indeed, Ester would and Mr. Bill did.

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November 2017

Life is a Blessing

Love, Love, Love! by Tracy McCoy

lzheimer’s and age related dementia run in both sides of my family. My mom died at 48 years old, but she had three sisters and four brothers, and all of the sisters and one brother suffered with dementia in their late 80s and 90s. As a little girl, my sister and I loved to visit my Aunt Mildred. She and her husband, my Uncle Bud, owned a chicken farm on Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford, Michigan. They sold eggs. She sold those eggs in high heels and beautiful, brightly-colored dresses with clip on earrings and bright lipstick. Her smile was amazing and paired perfectly with the twinkle in her eye. She had a full bodied laugh that filled the room. She was truly one classy lady! Uncle Bud was a burly chested guy who was a coon-hunter and loved back scratches and to have his hair combed. I would sit astraddle his back and brush his hair for hours while we watched TV. I LOVED visiting with them. The memories are plentiful from the “toy closet” to her letting my cousins and I dress up in her heels and dangly earrings and wait on egg customers. We stayed close always and she kept up with me after my mom died and I moved to Georgia. We

name, but she knew that I was hers and that’s all that mattered.

talked often and she was always good for Christmas and Birthday cards... she never forgot. My Uncle Harold Ferguson was first. He was like my grandfather, one of the kindest men that has ever lived. He moved to Georgia to be near his son and died from dementia. When dementia started with my Aunt Leona (the oldest sister), she moved in with Aunt Mildred who cared for her. One 87 and the other 91, they tooled around in a big Buick to the grocery store and church. It got harder and harder. The personality changes are very hard to deal with, and eventually Aunt Leona entered a nursing home where she lived out her days. Within the year or two following her death, my Aunt Mildred began to show signs of this devastating disease and she would have difficulty remembering words, facts, and maybe sometimes who I was when I called. She would become confused and call me in a panic, sure that something was wrong, but not sure what it was. My heart would break as I watched her slip away. I went to visit one January when I was told she was getting much worse. She had moved to an assisted living facility and we sat together in her little apartment on her “davenport” watching TV with the volume topped out. She might not have been able to call my November 2017

I came back to Georgia and soon after she was moved to a home where they could watch her more closely. I called each week and she spoke words that didn’t always make sense and she would laugh that fabulous laugh. One particular day she was troubled when I called, and I told her I thought we should pray she said, “YES, that’s it!” So I began to pray a mighty prayer for her to have peace and to be happy instead of scared and anguished. I told God how important she was to me and how much I loved her. We finished with an emphatic AMEN and she said three words that have remained in my heart and that often come to mind, and I smile because they mean so much to me. She said simply and as clear as a bell, “Love, love, love!” She passed away within months but the impression she left on me and her efforts have shaped my life. Thanks to Jesus I’ll see her again. Love, love, love means many things. It means “Thank you”, it means “I love you” and it means no matter what disease does to our body the love of Christ remains in our heart, and in the middle of your chaos He offers comfort. My paternal grandmother, my Aunt Barbara (Bob) Williams and my own father Hoyt Speed all battled Alzheimer’s disease courageously. There has been too much of this in my family and it is a real fear for me. I am following closely every bit of new research on these horrible brain diseases. It seems that while there is currently no cure for Dementia or Alzheimer’s, a diet high in healthy fats and low in carbs is suggested and there are certain supplements that are thought to help. While not a cure, they do offer more hope than the current prescription drugs. Please refer to Dr. Stephen Jarrard’s article Live Healthy and Be Well on page 46 for more on this disease. gmlaurel.com

“Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” Revelation 7:12 A place where new life springs forth out of despair, failure and death. A place where God brings physical, emotional and spiritual healing to you.

Are You Ready ? We would like to bring two true accounts to you about what happened in the lives of a sixteen year old girl and a man in his 70’s who would both be facing death within a short period of time. None of us knows when we will die, and because we don’t know, we must be ready when the time comes. It was late on a rainy Wednesday afternoon in northeast Georgia, when a Christian woman ran into the department store to purchase a pair of stockings to wear to her Baptist church for the evening service. While she was waiting at the counter for her change, a young girl who she knew walked up beside her. At that moment, the woman heard the Lord Jesus speak to her and say “Tell her about me”. But she was very late and it was pouring rain, and she hurried out of the store to her car. She didn’t have time then, she thought she would do it later. As she was telling me this story, tears welled up in her eyes and began to spill over onto her cheeks as she continued. She told me that this young adorable girl was killed in an automobile accident on that very night. The woman never forgot it and never forgave herself for not taking the time to tell her about Jesus. On a day much like that one, a Christian man was shopping in a store in northeast Georgia, when a Christian man in his 70’s told him he was having severe health issues and needed prayer. He prayed for him right there to be healed, and also heard the Lord Jesus speak to him and say, “Ask him if he has forgiven everyone who has hurt him”. So he asked this man if he had forgiven everyone who had ever hurt him. The man’s face darkened and he said “No, I have not”. He instructed this man to forgive and release the one who had hurt him and turn the whole thing over to God. Several days later, when he saw the man again he was so happy and said he had been able to forgive the one, or more who had hurt him and that he hadn’t felt better in years. In fact, he had been to his doctor and had gotten a wonderful report. He was smiling! We heard a few weeks later that he had died. We wondered, “Why, God?” But then the answer came. God had been getting him ready, getting him ready to meet the Lord with nothing to be ashamed of on that day! How precious it is to the Lord for us to obey His voice. We can’t change ourselves into patient, humble, sober, peaceful, forgiving, joyful people. Only God, through the cross of Jesus Christ, can make those life changes in us. The purpose in God sending His Son as the Lamb of God to earth was to provide a perfect blood sacrifice for you and me so that we could then be completely reconciled to God the Father. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse us from sin. The cross is all about making us acceptable to our Holy God. This is what gets us into Heaven. This is God’s way. gmlaurel.com

Through the centuries, man has been trying to find another way to Heaven. There is no other way. Jesus and only Jesus is the way. He is the door through which you must enter to the Father. He said, “I am the door; by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and shall find pasture” John 10:9. “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father, but by me” John 14:6. Do not depend on anything or anyone but Jesus! Do not depend upon church membership, baptism, religion, being born into a Christian family or being a good person. That does not save you. Only the personal one on one relationship with Jesus and faith in His finished work for you on the cross saves you. Your eternal soul is on the line here. Would you chance losing your life? Ask God to show you the truth and tell Him you are willing to listen to Him. He sent Jesus to redeem you and to bring you back home to your Father and Creator where you belong. Yes, I looked into other religions and ways to get there, but when I found out Jesus was the real Savior, and asked Him to save me, He came into my life and there was a dramatic impact immediately. Even my whole family saw the change in me. I went from always being tied in a knot inside to being so thankful to Him and being able to know for certain that He was the way - the only way! I relaxed and stopped the searching I had done all my life. Have you ever seen a lost person die when they realize they are not ready? If they are conscious, they are usually terrified. You’re not going to be ready to die until you know that the Lord Jesus is in your life. It’s not OK until you know for sure what you believe, how you believe, and why you believe it. It is very unwise to drift along and not know. Do not fear or be intimidated by those who have “another gospel”, always compare what people say with the Bible. Give your children armor and truth to stand. Eph 6:10-19 The consequences of unbelief in Jesus are disastrous. Just a simple prayer is sufficient to change your life: Lord Jesus, I confess I have sinned and I want to change. I acknowledge you as the Son of God and thank you for dying for me on the cross so that I can live forever. Please come into my life and save me. Change me where I need it and bring peace into my life. Thank you. RIVER GARDEN P.O. Box 112 Lakemont, Georgia 30552 706 .782.5435 • 706.490.3063

November 2017

Finding Healthy, Holy, and Enjoyable Balance by Glynnis Whitwer

ost of us long for life to slow down. Maybe that’s why so many of us want a home that looks like a farmhouse. We idealize a lifestyle led by a simple faith and daily routines, prompted by the rising and setting sun. But I’ll be honest, I’d have to have a farmhouse with good wifi. I’m not sure I could give up my electronic devices. In fact, I’m pretty sure I have a slight addiction to my laptop and smartphone. And by slight I mean significant. And I am still waiting for my smartphone to make me smarter. Somehow I just feel dumber when I enter an appointment on my phone and it shows up on my computer—but not my phone. I can’t figure it out. It’s like they are in cahoots. I think if we were all honest, we’d be miserable if things slowed down. We’d much rather things hurry up. The problem is that hurry is the enemy of what matters most in life.

We were designed to go at a slower pace, to ponder, to process thoughts one at a time. And when we try to go at computer speed, we miss out on what’s important in life. Hurry robs us of the beauty God has placed in front of us, and the grace that others so desperately need. Hurry is also a tool Satan uses to undermine God’s plan for us. Jesus calls Satan a “thief” and warns us that he’s out to steal and destroy everything good in our lives. In John 10:9–11, Jesus says, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Using hurry as a tool, Satan steals our contentment. As someone who struggles with her weight, I’m always looking for a tip to help me lose a few pounds. One tip is to eat slowly. WebMD reports that it takes twenty minutes from the time we start eating for the brain to tell the stomach it’s full. Until then, we will keep eating in order to experience that sensation of being full. And in that time, we will overeat.

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What a profound parallel to our need for speed in other areas of our lives. Could slowing down give us the time to feel content with what we have? When I’m in a hurry, I don’t appreciate the beauty around me. My awareness of others is diminished in my increased focus on the goal. I miss the small details of life that bring me the most joy in my rush. Contentment isn’t found in the big splashes but in the gentle ripples. Hurry isn’t our friend in the most important areas of life. Neither relationships, nor quality, nor depth can be found when we hurry. So the next time we feel that panic start to sneak in and push our gas pedal, let’s pause and breathe deeply. Refuse to be rushed. Declare that hurry has no place in the good work you are doing or the beautiful life God has placed before you.

In Doing Busy Better, Glynnis helps you examine your heart and your schedule in order to seek a healthy, holy, and enjoyable balance between work and rest. Most importantly, she shows you that your worth is found not in your accomplishments but in the love of the One who made you for work and for rest. Glynnis Whitwer is Executive Director of Communications for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and contributor to their Encouragement for Today devotional, reaching over a million women each day. She’s the author of nine other books, including Taming the To-Do List and I Used to Be So Organized. She and her husband, Tod, live in Arizona and have five young-adult children. Connect with Glynnis at www.GlynnisWhitwer.com where she encourages women to live with margin and room to breathe while still getting things done.

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November 2017

Jesus

Way • Truth • Life by Patrick Trawick

he Bible makes some pretty outrageous claims. None more outrageous than Jesus’ words in John 14:6 – “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Therefore, you cannot be reconciled to God with any other religion whatsoever. For example, other religious leaders tell people, “Follow me and I will show you the way to live.” But Jesus says, “I am the way.” Other religious leaders tell people, “Follow me and I will show you how to find truth.” But Jesus says, “I am the truth.” Other religious leaders tell people, “Follow me and I will show you a better life.” But Jesus says, “I am the life.” Jesus says, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life.” This statement cannot be minimized. Let’s face it, the Gospel Then Jesus says, “So follow me.” See the difference? is not a particularly popular message. One of the biggest objections to Christianity is that it is too narrow. The Christian Furthermore, because Jesus is all of these things, Christianity idea that there is only one way to God is offensive to a lot of is a “done” religion, not a “do” religion. All other religions people. Some say it is unfair to suggest that other religions are based upon their people doing something. Some religions are wrong. And in a day when fairness and tolerance reigns require you to go on pilgrimage, give alms to the poor, or chant supreme, to be considered a civilized, educated individual specific words. Some religions say you have to go through a means that you cannot assert that your belief system is superior series of reincarnations. Other religions require you to follow to anyone else. their strict religious drills. All of these activities are the attempts of people trying to reach out and impress God. They are all But the Gospel is clear about who God is – He is. He always about what you do. Do this, do that. Do this, do that. was. He always will be. He’s holy. He’s righteous. He’s just. He’s unable to ignore sin. But Christianity is all based upon what Jesus Christ has done for us. He took on flesh and dwelt among us. He went to the The Gospel is also clear about who we are: we are created cross and took the full punishment of everyone’s sin upon in the image of God for his glory. But we consistently belittle himself. So Christianity isn’t predicated upon what we do his glory and seek it for ourselves. At one time or another, trying to reach out to God. It’s ALL about what God has done to everyone has believed that their way is better than God’s way. reach out to us. No other religious leader even pretends to do We fail to give God glory for the gifts he has given us. We that. Moses could mediate the law. Mohammad could swing a question his rule and authority. We do all of this with the brain sword. Buddha could give personal counsel. Confucius could that he gave us, with the lungs and the air that he gave us, with offer wise sayings. But none of these men were qualified to all the cells that that he holds together. So we have all sinned offer atonement for the sins of the world. Only Jesus did that. and fall short of the glory of God. So how do we make it back to God? The reason Jesus could do this is because he is the only one with the right credentials. He claimed to be the Son of God. Let’s be clear: NOT ALL ROADS LEAD TO GOD. Again, this is He claimed he had the ability to take away the sins of the offensive to a lot of people, but we cannot escape this reality. world. And he did this because he was the only one who You may ask, “So are you really saying there’s only one way could. How is that? to God?!” When we ask that question, we reveal the real problem. If there were 1,000 ways to God, we would want 1,001. So the issue isn’t how many ways lead to God, but rather our independence. We want to make our own way. But this is the essence of sin in the first place – trusting our ways more than God’s way.

We don’t have time to go into all the evidence that confirms that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah and the Son of God. But if you look at the Old Testament, there are about four dozen major predictions about the coming Messiah. The odds of anyone fulfilling these prophecies are about 1 in 13 trillion. That’s about as close to impossible as it gets. But Jesus did the This claim that Jesus makes puts Christianity in a class all by impossible. itself compared to other religions. By saying that he is the So while it may be unpopular or outrageous, we cannot ignore only way to God, Jesus is saying that following him is unique. Jesus’ claim in John 14:6 – “I am the way, and the truth, and 42

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the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Yes, it is an exclusive claim. But there is an all-inclusive invitation that comes with it. Before Jesus made this claim in John 14:6, he said, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall live (John 11:25).” And even before that, he said his most famous quote ever: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).” Jesus is the only way to find peace with God. He’s the only way to find peace. Period. But he extends his invitation to peace to everyone. He extends it to you. You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to work for it. You just have to trust him. If you have never done that, I would love to talk with you about how you do that. Or if you have any questions about anything in this article, I would love to talk with you about that too. All you have to do is contact me. You can email me at ptrawick@biltmorechurch. com or call 828.651.6133. Patrick Trawick is the pastor of Biltmore Church’s Franklin Campus in Franklin, North Carolina. They meet each Sunday in the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts at 11am. Biltmore Church is one church in many locations across Western North Carolina including Arden, Franklin, Hendersonville, Swannanoa, and West Asheville. For more information about Biltmore Church visit www.biltmorechurch.com.

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November 2017

Reaching Out and Lifting Up by Tracy McCoy

ith divisiveness at an all time high in our country, it is comforting to see a group coming together for good like R4G (Rabun for the Gospel). So, who are the members of this organization, and what is their mission? R4G is a coalition of churches in Rabun County coming together for the Glory of God and the good of Christ’s Church. Too many times churches compete and get tangled up in doctrine, a “this one is right or that one is wrong attitude.” When asked about this, Pastor Kevin Hurt of Grace Bible Church said, “That is not to imply that doctrine is not important to the pastors of R4G. The doctrines that surround the gospel — Jesus’ substitutionary atoning death (taking the place for sinners and bearing the wrath they deserve), Jesus being the only way to be reconciled to God, repentance toward God and faith in Christ alone for salvation, to mention just a few — are essential to being a Christian and is the very glue that holds the pastors of R4G together. But battles over what could be called secondary doctrinal issues — the mode of baptism (sprinkling or immersion), the time when Jesus will return, spiritual gifts, etc. — are not pleasing to God, and R4G hopes to break down these types of barriers.” If your message is one of hope in the gospel of Jesus, as reflected in the statements above, then we are all “the Church.” The Body of Christ is made up of all who believe in and accept Him. Pastor John Hutcheson of Tabernacle Baptist Church said, “The Body of Christ at large is a glimpse of Heaven and when we meet together on earth it gives us a foretaste of what awaits us in Heaven.” We are all called to carry the Gospel message to the world. This is the mission of R4G to empower believers to be disciples. The gospel is the glue that unites us all. R4G began with four Pastors looking for a way to be more effective and to unite the Churches of Rabun County. As of press time that number has at least doubled. Member Avery Lawrence, Pastor at Persimmon Baptist Church said, “We as Pastors don’t have a Pastor. The pastors in R4G serve as fellow-pastors to each other as we encourage and lift up each other.” The Pastors pray for each other and their congregations. Monthly they meet for a time of discussion, prayer, and fellowship. Bi-monthly the R4G churches gather for an evening of worship, including music, preaching, and prayer at a different church each time. The churches carry a prayer request beyond their own doors and into the other congregations. This unity creates a more effective Church for reaching those who don’t know Christ, which is a fulfillment of the Great Commission given to all believers. R4G hopes to reach out to all families and people to meet spiritual and physical needs through their churches.

Grace Bible Church – Mountain City, GA Pastor Kevin Hurt www.MyGraceBibleChurch.org 706.746.5823 Clayton Baptist Church – Clayton, GA Pastor Joey Thompson www.ClaytonBaptistChurch.com 706.782.4588 Tabernacle Baptist Church – Lakemont, GA Pastor John Hutcheson Jr. www.TBChurch.org 706.782.2734 Rocky Grove Baptist Church – Tiger, GA Pastor Kyle Watts 706.782.7390 Wolf Creek Baptist Church – Tiger, GA Pastor Michael D. Rogers 706.782.4541 Persimmon Baptist Church – Clayton, GA Pastor Avery Lawrence 706.212.7914 Flat Creek Baptist Church – Lakemont, GA Pastor Albert Giovino III www.sites.google.com/site/ flatcreekbaptistchurchlakemont 706.782.2443 Camp Creek Baptist Church – Lakemont, GA Pastor Jim Carver 706.490.1385

Recently the group hosted their second Crusade for Christ with nearly 600 seats filled. With churches united, this event can only grow, resulting in souls saved. The R4G group is open to all churches who share the Gospel message. They have created a booklet that outlines their mission and the Gospel through a series of affirmations and denials. If a Pastor can sign off on this booklet, they are welcome to join this life-changing effort. For more information, or to obtain a copy of the booklet, please contact one of the Pastors at one of the churches listed above. 44

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Live Healthy and Be Well! Alzheimer’s Dementia and the power of “…love, love, love.” by Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS

y good friend and editor of the Georgia Mountain Laurel recently wrote to me a beautiful story about her Aunt Mildred, who had developed dementia later in life. While her memory slowly left her and she could no longer care for herself or others as she had always done – there were certain things that could still “get through” to her, or moments of clarity where Aunt Mildred would “come back,” like in the popular movie The Notebook. Many of you have family or know families affected by Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia, so Tracy and I have decided to jointly team up this month and explore the topic – and try to find some hope for us all in the way of management, treatments, and prevention. Tracy shares her story on page 38. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the worst of a group of dementia causing diseases – but it is more than just being “pleasantly forgetful.” AD is also a neurodegenerative disease that starts out very mild and innocent, and worsens over time to totally incapacitate and render a person unable to care for or help themselves. As the person declines, they and caregivers often withdraw from any outside activities and become reclusive. Gradually, the person may not eat or drink, bodily functions decline and are lost, and death eventually comes to call. With many of these people, their passing is almost anti-climactic, as their family and caregivers have “lost” them long ago, and have already grieved over the years. Sound familiar? Sadly, I feel many of us already know this story first or second hand.

exercise, as well as avoiding obesity, may also decrease the risk – but again that is based on weak evidence. Current medications are scarce and not very effective, although we often feel we must try them. We do believe that keeping yourself physically and mentally active as you age may be somewhat preventive, which is always the best way to fight a disease. The early stages involve short term memory loss and inability to make new memories that can easily be confused with normal aging changes. Gradually, over time, the memory losses become much more profound and personal – such as not recognizing close family members or spouses. As the spouse and close family may be the main caregivers, this development is very cruel. The patient may resist or even show frustration and aggression to caregivers. But, it is not their fault. Alzheimer’s and similar dementias involve many more than the affected person, and their caregivers must be attended to, as well – lest they reach exhaustion. We are not sure what causes AD. There are many theories from it being a “genetically” inherited condition to a shortage of certain chemicals in the brain. The disease process is always associated with plaques and tangles in the brain. These block and interfere with normal cognitive functions, and worsen over time. The signs and symptoms can be divided into four stages: Pre-dementia, early, moderate, and advanced.

AD is the cause of about 60% – 70% of “dementia.” Presently, the diagnosis of AD is clinical – meaning that there is no true test to determine it. It is only truly able to be diagnosed by a brain biopsy at autopsy. But, there is a certain progression and pattern of behaviors and such that have become “classic” and reliably predictive. We normally see it begin in people over 65 years of age, although, there is a small percentage of people who may exhibit “early onset Alzheimer’s” at a younger age. It is thought that a history of head injury, depression, or high blood pressure may contribute to this condition, but there is no strong evidence to support that. Mental and physical 46

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In the pre-dementia stage, forgetfulness increases, and subtle changes in cognitive function may be noticed by family and close friends. Apathy of self and surroundings begins to be evident and will remain and worsen through the course of AD. This stage has also been called “mild cognitive impairment” or MCI. In some elderly people, this may not get worse and may be due to normal aging, but in those with AD, it will continue to progress over time. As AD moves into the early stage, we begin to see deficits of memory, function, and even language (written and spoken) become more profound. Not all cases are the same, and some people may have intermittent symptoms, or retain much of their mid to long term memory, and be able to compensate quite well with minimal assistance from caregivers. During this time, there may be some “bad days,” but there will be many more “good days” to be enjoyed. In the moderate stage, the person’s independence is hampered more and more by their inability to carry out basic tasks that many of us take for granted. They may become “lost” in their own neighborhood, wander off from home, and exhibit unintentional but unsafe behaviors, such as leaving water running or forgetting to turn off the stove. Their reading and writing skills become lost, and their risk of falling becomes much greater. Long term memories, which may have remained intact to this point, become increasingly impaired. Recognition of family may now not be possible, or not happen very often. There may still be a few good days, but they are fewer and further between. The hallmark of advanced Alzheimer’s is the complete loss of independence, including the ability to care for themselves in even the most basic ways. Caregivers are now taxed to the limit mentally, emotionally, and financially in providing complete care. Language capability is very limited and eventually lost. The patient’s apathy is nearly complete, and they begin to “waste away” and become bedridden. Their muscles atrophy and mobility is not possible. Death often comes from the infection of pressure sores or pneumonia. I would be remiss not to mention that in this phase of AD, hospice care is especially helpful for the comfort of the patient and is a valuable support system for the family and caregivers. It is important to know that at any of the above stages of the disease, these people are still known to respond to emotions, touching, familiar things, and kind voices. Even in more advanced phases of AD, there may be “moments of clarity” where it seems they may come back for a while. These moments are to be treasured and enjoyed, and are filled with “…love, love, love.” But also, if you are a friend or family member, please remember another one who suffers with AD, the main caregiver. They also very much need your compassion, help, and understanding. Ongoing research and development will hopefully find some better ways to treat and manage Alzheimer’s disease in the near future. There is a lot of work being done in this regard, and we pray and hope for success. We really do enjoy hearing from you with any questions, concerns, or ideas for future columns and/or health and wellness related issues for the Georgia Mountain Laurel. Please send an email to rabundoctor@gmail.com, or call us at 706-782-3572, and we will be sure to consider your input. This and previous articles can be now be found on the web at www.rabundoctor. com in an archived format. If you use Twitter, then follow us for health tips and wellness advice @rabundoctor. Like and follow our Facebook page at facebook.com/rabundoctor. Until next month, live healthy and be well! gmlaurel.com

November 2017

Mountain Lakes Medical Center The Patient Experience – Elevated submitted by MLMC

he new Mountain Lakes Medical Center is the boldest healthcare initiative in north Georgia’s history. The impressive steel and glass structure represents more than a state-of-the-art facility. It represents the hospital’s philosophy of patient and family centered care. Where healing is imbedded in the design – and physical, spiritual and emotional needs are met. The profound changes that will transform patient care were on view in September at the ribbon cutting where Lewis Reeves, Jr., a longtime patient of the old hospital, was asked to cut the ribbon. “I am so pleased that they asked me to cut the ribbon for the new hospital,” stated Mr. Reeves. “The fact that they picked me for the honor truly shows that they put patients first.”

sofa with a built-in adjustable table to accommodate a meal or a laptop, and the sofa converts into a comfortable sleeper for a family member. An outdoor “sky terrace” on the guest level is just steps away from rooms and allows patients and their guests to enjoy the outdoors in a private area created just for them. An indoor “sky lounge” for patients only offers a beautiful, glassenclosed room with mountain views, comfortable furniture, a flat-screen TV and opportunities for relaxation or interaction with other patients. The care environment created at the new hospital supports collaboration and coordination that will drive the best outcomes for patients. No detail was too small for consideration in the quest to improve the patient experience, care and comfort. The Emergency Room is the gateway to some of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients, and those patients need an environment that is conducive to their care. So, gone are multiple patient bays separated only by curtains. Now the Emergency Services department is twice the size of the ER at the old hospital, and features private rooms with windows and real doors, each with its own private bath.

The grand opening of the new hospital culminates more than ten years of thoughtful, diligent planning and dedicated implementation – the result being a beautiful building that supports advanced care, skilled clinicians, and a more calming and welcoming atmosphere to benefit patients, visitors, and staff. The hospital was designed to provide a unique healing environment, and is likely the only new hospital of its kind created in the Southeast opening in the near future. The 65,000 square foot hospital incorporates an abundance of natural light, calming colors, works of art, and noise reduction, aligning with the hospital’s patients-first Mr. Lewis Reeves, Jr. cuts the ribbon at the philosophy.

Because hospitals can be stressful at times, the new environment was designed to be a stress reducing atmosphere. And healing begins as soon as you arrive, with a hospital Grand Opening of Mountain Lakes Medical Center. navigator welcoming Photo Taken by Klark Byrd, Editor of The Clayton Tribune. you and escorting you Ann Lightfoot was the last As seen in The Clayton Tribune September 21, 2017 edition. personally to your room patient at the old facility for bedside admissions, or and was moved to the new facility upon its opening. “I felt like I was transported to another to your specific service area for treatment. world. It’s just so beautiful,” she stated. “I was a registered nurse for 40 years, so I know about caring for people. When they got The new Mountain Lakes Medical Center exemplifies a deep me settled, the dietician even came to my room to see what food commitment to Rabun County and beyond. The hospital is I liked and disliked and asked what I wanted to eat. The food was providing a level of patient care that’s simply been unavailable great and the presentation was excellent. On a scale of 1 to 10, I until now. If illness or injury arise, you and your family can take comfort in knowing that there are no better hands to be in. The give the new hospital a 10.” new Mountain Lakes Medical Center is much more than a brand The 25 all-private rooms are situated on the top level, with floor- new state-of-the-art hospital. It’s the patient experience, elevated. to-ceiling windows that maximize natural light and views of the mountains. To ensure the best care possible, the rooms are Mountain Lakes Medical Center is located at 162 Legacy Point, just arranged around nursing pods to give caregivers a line of sight to off of Highway 441 up the hill from The Convenient Care Center patients. The hospital recognizes the important role that families north of Clayton. The hospital has a great new website with an and significant others play in the care of the patient. To be sure your abundance of information: www.mountainlakesmedicalcenter. loved ones can be by your side, every room has a multifunctional com, or you may call 706.782.3100

November 2017

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The Squeeky Wheel A Place of Renewal by Tracy McCoy

“W

hat would it mean to you to know that God has a plan from the beginning of time to heal our physical, emotional and spiritual needs?” - Dr. David Stewart – Aromatherapist, Author, D.N.M Natural Health is at the forefront of many peoples’ minds and now many practitioners are also taking notice. Incorporating massage and essential oils into their recommendations, many doctors whose focus is on preventative care, have witnessed the benefits of it. DoTerra is a company who has taken the initiative to partner with innovative physician’s offices to offer free samples for their patients to try the products to see the benefits for themselves. This project is happening nationwide and may well find its way into the office of your doctor or health professional. Locally, at this point, your resource for DoTerra and other natural products would be The Squeeky Wheel located at 75 North Main Street in Clayton, Georgia. Linda Scofield is a Wellness Advocate and the owner of this new natural wellness center located on the second floor in suite 209. You will find everything you need for your home and family for cleaning, first aid, good health and skin care. Your visit can begin with a complimentary Body Scan using the most innovative technology to determine your body’s needs. Linda is knowledgable and well-trained in the products and their uses. She enjoys educating others on oils and supplementation. The atmosphere is relaxing and calming and perfect for small groups who wish to learn more about living naturally. Perfect for friends or family gatherings, The Squeeky Wheel is a place of renewal and excitement offering confidential consultations, healthy gift ideas, and oils to keep your family in a place of good health. Many oils naturally fight flu and colds, and simply enhance your respiratory system. Gyan Golden is a licensed massage therapist schooled in the Feldenkrais method. A Feldenkrais practitioner and teacher, Gyan also offers therapeutic and essential oil massage. She teaches Awareness Through Movement (ATM) classes as well. Gyan works by appointment and can be reached by calling 706.754.2927. The Squeeky Wheel is open daily 9 am – 6:30 pm, and if you are outside the area or if it is more convenient, you can shop with Linda on her DoTerra site at www.mydoterra.com/squeekywheel or find and like The Squeeky Wheel on facebook for updates and the latest news at www.facebook.com/GotOils4U.

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November 2017

Bon Appetit The Bird is the Star But...

by Scarlett Cook

he turkey (or ham or lamb or chicken or pork loin or beef brisket or ….) may be the star of your Thanksgiving meal, but where would it be without its supporting cast? Just like the annual Thanksgiving football game, where would the quarterback be without his supporting team members? Each

needs a group of members (or dishes) to make it complete. Some of these side dishes are old favorites that you have probably cooked in the past and some will be new to you. Now just don’t forget to let the turkey totally defrost before you roast it, bake it, deep fry it, smoke it … Bon Appétit!

Marinated Asparagus

1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/4 Teaspoon black pepper Lemon zest

10 – 12 servings

4 Pounds fresh asparagus, ends trimmed 1 Cup vegetable oil 1/2 Cup white wine vinegar Juice of one lemon 3 Green onions, chopped 4 Tablespoons fresh parsley chopped or 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1 Teaspoon brown sugar 1 Teaspoon Dijon mustard

Steam asparagus until just tender. Combine oil, vinegar, lemon juice, onion, parsley, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper in a jar or plastic container with a tightly fitted lid and shake to combine. Pour marinade over asparagus and refrigerate at least 6 hours. To serve – drain and place asparagus on lettuce lined plate and sprinkle with lemon zest.

Sour Cream Potato Salad 10 – 12 servings

5 Large potatoes 1 1/2 Cups mayonnaise (or to taste) 1 Cup sour cream 1 1/2 Teaspoons horseradish 1 Teaspoon celery salt 1 Large onion finely minced Boil potatoes until tender. Let cool and peel and slice. Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, salt and onion. Layer one half of the potatoes in a serving dish. Pour one half of the sour cream mixture over potatoes. Repeat layers with remaining potatoes and sour cream mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 52

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Fluffy Cranberries 12 – 16 servings

1 Pound fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped 1 Cup chopped pecans 1 20-Ounce can crushed pineapple, well drained 1 Cup sugar 1 Bag miniature marshmallows 1 Container Cool Whip Combine cranberries, pecans, pineapple and sugar in a large bowl. Fold pecans into Cool Whip. Chill both mixtures. Just before serving combine mixtures.

Apple Soufflé

8 servings

1 16-Ounce can unsweetened applesauce 1/2 Cup brown sugar 1 Cup Graham cracker crumbs (or vanilla wafer crumbs or sugar cookie crumbs) 1 Cup half-n-half 2 Eggs, slightly beaten 1/4 Stick margarine Preheat oven to 350˚. Grease a 2-quart baking dish. Combine applesauce, sugar, crumbs, half-n-half and eggs. Pour into pan and dot with margarine. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes. gmlaurel.com

November 2017

A Taste of the Mountains

November 2017

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November 2017

THE FAMILY TABLE Happy Fall, Y’all! by Lorie R. Thompson

home cooking but fancy enough for company. Try my Port Wine Braised Beef Short-Ribs with a Vegetable Ragout and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Cook this when you have a whole afternoon at home with your family. Your house will smell fantastic and your family will definitely hang around for supper!

ast year in November I shared my Mama’s Cornbread Dressing recipe for Thanksgiving. I was thrilled that several of you told me that you made it and that it tasted very much like the dressing that you had as a child. A friend and fellow Re/Max agent had just lost her Mother and she told me there was a family discussion over who would make the dressing. Her Mom had always made it and of course, there was no recipe. My friend made the dressing using my Family Table recipe. She altered my recipe a little to fit their family and she said it was just like “Mama’s”. It made me happy to know that I helped her family in some small way. The November Laurel from 2016 is available online if you need to see that recipe or call or email me and I will share. This year I decided to do an “Anti-Turkey” meal. Please do not think that I am against Thanksgiving, I am not! It is one of my favorite days of the year and probably my favorite meal of the year. But, for the entire month of November, every cooking show, magazine, and food blog is focused on THE BIRD! You will see all things Turkey for the month of November. So, I am cooking a rich and hearty beef meal that is the essence of

Start by seasoning the beef short-ribs with salt and black pepper. Let them rest and allow them to come up to room temperature while you are prepping the veggies. Use 2 full stalks of celery, 3 large carrots, 6-8 cloves of garlic, and a large onion. You can also use parsnips and turnips. I did not have any or I would have added a couple of each. Dice these vegetables fairly small. Fresh herbs are great, but you can use dried, too. I used a sprig of rosemary, some chopped fresh parsley and 2 tsp of dried thyme. Begin cooking by adding 2 T of Olive Oil to a heavy roasting pan that has a tight-fitting cover. Brown the short ribs over medium-high heat and turn them every 3-4 minutes until they are browned on all sides. Brown each end of the short rib, first. They will shrink and pull away from the bone as they cook and it makes getting the ends brown harder to do. After the short-ribs are completely browned, remove them to a holding pan. Drain off all but 1 T of the oil. Add the onion,

November 2017

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carrot, and celery into the pan and sauté’ for 3-5 minutes, until they begin to get soft. Add finely chopped herbs and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Add 2 T of tomato paste and stir into veggie mixture. Allow tomato paste to cook for 2-3 minutes while stirring. This caramelizes the tomato. Add 2 cup of red wine. I used Port Wine, which will make this very sweet. A drier wine will be fine, too or you can use beef broth or even water. Add 1/4 Cup of Balsamic Vinegar. Place the short-ribs back into the pan with the bone side up. Add 1/2 -1 Cup of water to bring liquid level up to cover the meat. It is okay if the bone is above the water line. Cover pan with tight fitting lid and place in a 350 degree oven for 2-2.5 hours or until ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender. Remove the short-ribs from the pan and skim off all accumulated fat from the top of the vegetable ragout. Add short-ribs back to the pan and hold until ready to serve. To make scrumptious Garlic Mashed Potatoes, begin by scrubbing 3 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes. Cut out any bad spots or potato “eyes”. Cut potatoes into uniform sized pieces. Place in a heavy boiler and rinse with cold water until water is clear. Refill pan with water just to the top of the potatoes. Add 1 small chopped onion and 2-3 cloves of rough chopped garlic. Add 2 tsp of kosher salt and the pepper of your choice. Place over medium heat and cook until potatoes are tender and most of the water is cooked out. Leave some water in the bottom. Mash potatoes using a potato masher. If you want a smoother texture, peel your potatoes and use a potato ricer instead of mashing. I like the more rustic texture of the skin-on mashed potato. An added benefit is that the potato skin is a nutrient and fiber rich food! If you are serving just the potatoes without a rich gravy, add 2-3 T of butter and dairy of your choice. My sis-in-law, Gail, made hers with cream cheese! Oh my. So rich and decadent. My Mom used canned evaporated milk. Since I am serving this under the very rich Port Wine Braised Short Ribs, I will not add a lot of dairy. Don’t let them get dry. You can always add a little extra milk or water. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper. Serve the Port Wine Braised Beef Short Rib and Vegetable Ragout on top of the Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Your family will be singing your praises! Happy Fall. Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you many wonderful days of cooking and enjoying your family and friends at your own Family Table!

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November 2017

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November 2017

Mountain Happenings November 10th - 12th North GA Arts Tour Holiday Road Participating Art Galleries in Habersham, Rabun, White and Towns Counties Info: www.ArtsTour.org STEPHENS COUNTY November 11th and the second Saturday of the month Second Saturday Historic Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.886.2132 November 20th and the third Monday of the month Career Coach Stephens County Public Library Toccoa Info: www.gmrc.ga.gov/ WorkforceDevelopment.htm November 20th - 22nd December 20th - 22nd, 27th - 29th Schools Out Day Camp Camp Toccoa Toccoa Info: 706.886.2457 December 1st - 2nd Christmasfest and Lighting of the Tree Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.282.3309 December 9th “Christmas at the Inn” Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site Toccoa Info: www.gastateparks.org/travelersrest The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatretoccoa.com November 2nd Randall Bramblett November 5th Get In The Habit, The Musical November 11th and the 2nd Saturday of the month Southern Gospel Music November 20th and the 3rd Monday of the month Open Mic Monday December 5th Lightwire Theater Presents A Very Electric Christmas December 7th Movie: Christmas on the Coast December 14 Movie: Prancer th

December 21 The Muppet Christmas Carol st

HABERSHAM COUNTY November 4th Habersham Freedom 5K & Fun Run Lake Russell Recreation Area Mt. Airy Info: 706.778.4654 November 23rd - December 31st Christmas Lights Spectacular Cornelia City Park Cornelia Info: 706.778.4654 December 8th Movie Night and More “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Foothills Community Church Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585

November 24th Annual Lighting of the Village Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.2181

November 18th and the third Saturday of the month Masterpiece Mixers

November 24th - 25th 2017 Mistletoe Market Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.3933

RABUN COUNTY

November 24th Annual Lighting of the Village Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.2181 December 2nd - 3rd, 9th - 10th 10th Annual Christkindlmarkt Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.1908

December 9th Habersham County Christmas Parade and Downtown Clarkesville Christmas Downtown Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220

December 2nd Christmas in the Mountains Celebration & Lighted Parade The Cleveland Courthouse Square Cleveland Info: 706.865.5356

December 14th - 16th Christmas in Cornelia Downtown Cornelia Info: 706.778.4654

December 9th Annual Christmas Parade Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.2181

Habersham Community Theater Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315

December 31st Dropping of the Edelweiss New Year’s Eve Event Helen Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908

November 3rd The Atlanta Rat Pack November 24th Movies on Main: “Home Alone”

Sautee Nacoochee Center Sautee Info: 706.878.3300, www.snca.org

December 1st -3rd, 7th -10th, 15th - 17th “A Christmas Story”

November 4th Atlanta Saxophone Quartet

Grant Street Music Room Clarkesville Info: grantstreetmusicroom.com November 11th Songs For Kids November 18th Honeywood Scorpio Birthday Bash WHITE COUNTY

November 5th; December 10th Cannon Classical Music Series

November 4 Civil War Reenactment Helen Riverside Park Helen Info: 706.878.281

November 23rd Clayton Cluckers Turkey Trot Downtown Clayton Info: 706.982.1284 November 24th - 25th Holiday Arts and Crafts Extravaganza and Festival of Trees Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.982.9432 November 24th Christmas in Downtown Clayton and Christmas Tree Lighting Downtown Clayton Info: 706.782.1520 706.982.1284 www.downtownclaytonga.org December 2nd Christmas Parade Downtown Clayton Info: 706.782.4812 December 9th Mountain Shopportunities Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.982.4777 Tallulah Gorge Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981

November 11th - 12th Lilies of the Valley

November 4th Full-Moon Suspension Bridge Hike

November 17th - 19th “Two Rooms”

November 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th Whitewater Releases

December 1st - 3rd “A Christmas Carole”

November 18th Appalachian Christmas Celebration BabyLand General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 www.cabbagepatchkids.com

November 4th Farm Day Hillside Orchard Farms Lakemont/Wiley Info: 706.782.2776

November 7th and the first & third Tuesdays of the month Learn & Dance

November 25th; December 16th Community Contra Dance Info: 706.754.3254

November 2nd Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale Clayton United Methodist Church Clayton Info: 706.782.4426

November 24th Walk Off the Turkey with a Hike Rabun Arena Tiger Info: 706.212.0452

Yonah Mountain Vineyards Cleveland Info: 706.878.5522

November 11th; December 2nd Junior Rodeo

November 4 and each Saturday Live Music Saturdays

November 17th - 19th Annual Pickled Turkey Shootout

November 2017

November 12th - Barrel Racing

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Hambidge Center Rabun Gap Info: 706.746.5718 www.Hambidge.org November 4th and the first Saturday of the month First Saturday Grist Mill Visits November 11th and the second Saturday of the month Second Saturday Artists’ Talks November 18 and the third Saturday of the month Third Saturday Nature Hikes tht

TOWNS COUNTY November 4th Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup Towns County Swim Beach Hiawassee Info: 828.837.5414 November 25 Christmas Parade Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4444 th

December 1st Mountain Community Chorus Young Harris College Young Harris Info: 800.241.3754

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December 2nd Light up Hiawassee The Square in Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4966, 800.984.1543 Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com November 4th Jamey Johnson in Concert November 23rd - 25th November 30th - December 2nd Mountain Country Christmas in Lights December 1st Beach Boys in Concert December 15th John Denver Christmas Show The Returns Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1235 www.cranecreekvineyards.com November 3rd and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic December 21st Winter Solstice Celebration December 31st New Year’s Eve Party

UNION COUNTY November 6 Look Good Feel Better - Helping Women with Cancer Union General Hospital, Blairsville Info: 800.227.2345 th

November 10 Writers’ Night Out Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 th

November 18th and the third Saturday of the month Cruise In on the Square On the Square in Blairsville Info: 678.773.5934 December 1st - 2nd Appalachian Food and Wine Trail Wineries in Towns & Union Counties: Paradise Hills Resort and Winery, Crane Creek Vineyards, Hightower Creek Vineyards, and Odom Springs Vineyards Info: 877.745.7483 December 1 - 31 Tour of Trees December 9th 2017 Holly Jolly Christmas Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 706.745.5789

November 2017

December 1st - 2nd Blairsville Holiday Stop & Shop Union County Civic Center Blairsville Info: 770.789.2044 December 2nd Christmas Parade Downtown Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 December 9th Christmas Tree Lighting Vogel State Park Blairsville Info: 706.745.2628 December 19th Caroling on the Square Downtown Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 Union County Fine Arts Center Blairsville Info: 706.835.4500 November 4th Dancing with North Georgia Stars November 17th - 19th “The Sound of Music” High School Musical Info: 706.745.2216 November 28th Middle School Play Info: 706.745.2483

Mountain Happenings Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center Blairsville Info: 706.745.2655

John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 800.365.5724 www.folkschool.org

November 6th and each Monday Garden Tour

November 4th Blacksmith and Fine Craft Auction

November 17 Seedsaving for Newbies

November 7 , 14 ; December 5 Beginning Contra & Square Dance

November 10th - Faith Willin’

Paradise Hills Resort and Spa Blairsville Info: www.paradisehillsga.com

November 16th Geoff Hohwald & Rick Taylor

November 4th and each Saturday Live Music Series

November 18 ; December 16gh Contra & Square Dance

November 24th Black Friday Sip and Shop Event

December 1 - Gangspil

December 16th Open House - Cookie Contest

December 3 - Fireside Sale rd

December 8th Brasstown Ringers Holiday Concert

November 11 - 12 Candy Cane Market Ridges of Mountain Harbour Hayesville Info: 828.389.3704 Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 peacockperformingarts.center.com

November 11th Veterans’ Parade & Ceremony Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516

November 6th and each Monday & Tuesday through December 11th Ballroom Dance Classes December 22nd Lisa Rock in A Carpenter’s Christmas

November 26th Franklin’s Annual Christmas Parade Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.3161

November 4th An Evening with Dailey & Vincent

December 1st Brasstown Ringers “A Vintage Christmas First United Methodist Church Franklin Info: 828.524.3010 December 2nd Highlands Olde Town Christmas Parade Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 December 14th HCP Holiday Reading Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center, Highlands Info: 828.526.8084 highlandscashiersplayers.org

MACON COUNTY, NC

Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 www.GreatMountainMusic.com

CLAY COUNTY, NC th

November 25th Highlands Annual Tree Lighting Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park Highlands Info: 828.526.2112

November 9th - 12th Highlands Food & Wine Highlands Info: 828.526.2112

Cowee School Franklin Info: www.coweeschool.org November 18 and the third Saturday of the month SEBA Jam th

November 25th; December 2nd Winter Wonderland Nights Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516

December 2nd Cowee Christmas

November 2017

November 5th Faith & Family: A Community Gathering presented by Heart for Families November 9th Open House & 2018 Season Kick-Off November 11th - Jamie Grace November 14th SCC Human Services Club Benefit for Hurricane Disaster Relief November 25th The Mountain Faith Band Sounds of Christmas DVD Premiere Event December 1st An Oak Ridge Boys Christmas December 8th - 9th The Best Christmas Pageant Ever December 14th The Troy Burns Family Christmas Spectacular December 15th Movie: The Polar Express December 16th A Merry Motown Christmas December 22nd Christmas with the Annie Moses Band

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November 2017

Rabun County Chamber of Commerce will host their

19th Annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner.

The event will once again be held at the Civic Center on Thursday, November 9, 2017 with doors opening for handicapped guests at 5:15 pm. Tickets will be available at the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center located at 232 Hwy 441 North in Clayton, Georgia. The guest speaker this year will be Dr. Stephen Jarrard. Event attendees will enjoy special music and of course the fabulous Dillard House food! Come out and honor these men and women to whom we owe our freedom.

November 2017

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November 2017

Holiday Shopping Extravaganza and Festival of Trees 2017

he Holiday Shopping Extravaganza and Festival of Trees will held at the Rabun County Civic Center on Friday and Saturday, November 24 and 25 from 10 AM – 5 PM. This annual event gives residents and visitors of Rabun County an opportunity to shop in a festive environment and to have a wide variety of unique items to purchase for your holiday gifts. Many artisans and crafters, as well as sought after brands, will be present. Admission is free. The Festival of Trees is becoming a favorite fundraising event for the holiday season. There will be silent bidding on beautifully decorated trees ranging in size from 7 feet to 3 feet that are

on display at the Civic Center, starting with the Preview Party on Saturday, November 18 from 5 PM to 7 PM. There is a fee of $10 at the door for the preview party. The proceeds of this party and the auctioning of the trees will be donated to the Rabun County Special Olympics. Each year the proceeds have increased, so we are anticipating a great year in 2017 for this year’s recipient. The Silent Auction will end at the close of the Holiday Shopping Extravaganza at 5 PM on Saturday, November 25. Do not miss this opportunity to obtain a beautiful tree for your home or office. Delivery in Rabun County for the larger trees will be available for a nominal fee. An addition this year is that Santa Claus will join us on Friday from 1 – 3 PM. Photos with jolly Ol’ St. Nick will be available, as well as an opportunity to present your wish list! For additional information about this event please contact Annie Williams at 706.982.9432 or by email at awilliams@ rabuncounty.gov

November 2017

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November 2017

Adventure Out Whitewater Falls by Peter McIntosh

November 2017

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n this adventure, we’re going on a late autumn road trip to South Carolina’s Whitewater Falls. There are actually two cascades on the Whitewater River just before it flows into Lake Jocassee: Upper Whitewater Falls and Lower Whitewater Falls. We’ll be visiting the more accessible upper falls, as the trail to the lower falls is still mostly impassible due to blow downs from Hurricane Irma. By any standard this is a stunning waterfall, tumbling 410 feet over ledges and boulders, all directly across from a wonderful observation platform on the opposite side of the river gorge. And this is also an access point for the Foothills Trail, a 77 mile footpath located along the Blue Ridge Escarpment that runs from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. The hike to the waterfall itself is easy, first on a paved trail of less than 1/2 mile, and then a descent down a beautiful wooden stairway to the observation platform. And along the paved walkway there is a

nice opening where you can overlook beautiful Lake Jocassee. It’s 154 steps down to this spot, but if you’re not up for that, the view of the waterfall from the end of the paved trail is very nice as well. And except for the fact there’s no ramp (Come on, really?) from the parking lot, it’s handicapped accessible to this spot. There is a parking area at the trailhead with a $2.00 fee and there are some picnic tables here and there should you want to enjoy a snack. Whitewater Falls is a popular destination, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting on a weekend. And if you want to make this adventure a loop road trip, backtrack on the road just a few miles and take Highway 107 up to Cashiers and then come back through Highlands. Happy hiking! As late autumn glows like a woodstove ember, Here’s my poem for November: Amidst the remaining colors of red and gold, Let’s go where the water’s falling clear and cold. Down a long flight of steps to where the scene is displayed, Whitewater falls is an amazing cascade. Getting there: From Highway 441 in Clayton, go east on Highway 76 E. 8 miles to the Chattooga River and continue 2 miles to Chattooga Ridge Road. Turn left on Chattooga Ridge Road and go 5 miles to the stop sign at Whetsone Road. Turn right and go 5 miles to intersection with SC Highway 28. Turn left and go about 1.5 miles to where Highway 107 bears off to the right. Go right on Highway 107 for 14 miles and follow signs to Whitewater Falls. To see more Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment, visit: www.mcintoshmountains.com

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November 2017

The Visit

by Michael Rogers, Pastor

couple of fishing poles, two containers of worms, and a waterproof Bible - on this summer day, my friend, Ton and I jumped in Tallulah Falls lake. We slowly swam to the opposite shore, resting upon a ledge that supported a waterfall which emptied into the lake. We were excited to get an opportunity to do some fishing. The sun did its part to dry us from the cool waters of the great Tallulah, and excitement was building to reel in some yellow native perch. What we didn’t know was our man-made plans would soon be interrupted. As we opened up the containers of worms, we searched through the rich, black dirt. To our dismay, there were no worms to be found. “Who sells worms and forgets to fill the containers with worms?” I thought. Our excitement turned to disgust in a matter of seconds, but instead of calling it a day, we decided to rest and relax. While resting, I looked down the lake. I saw what looked like a small plane gliding above the water. As it came closer, we could see it’s six foot wingspan. “An eagle!” I screamed. It flew by us with such majestic power. As we watched it nearly fly out of sight, it suddenly turned and flew back toward us. Seeing the sun reflect off it’s colorful wings was mystifying. For the next ten minutes, it came closer and closer to the point where we were staring eye to eye with this majestic bird. It was though he was trying to tell us something or reveal something. All it’s focus was on us, and I couldn’t help but think, “Is God revealing something to us through nature?” As the eagle flew away to be seen no more, I turned my waterproof Bible to the book of Isaiah, Chapter 40. I began to read out loud to my friend, Ton.

This turned out to be the best fishing trip of all time, and we didn’t even wet a hook. Though as we pondered the day’s event, we felt that God visited and was mindful of us. Then I remember one of the greatest Psalms of King David. “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor”. Psalms 8:3-5 A few days later, I shared my experience with my church. It was very exciting to tell the people that I truly believed God used an eagle to send me a message. God has the power to reveal Himself through nature to anyone, anywhere who is seeking Him, because even through nature He can be clearly seen. Romans 1:20: For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.

This turned out to be the best fishing trip of all time, and we didn’t even wet a hook.

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-30

After telling my church about my experience, my family and I were driving home. As we crossed the bridge at Seed Lake Dam, something caught my eye. I turned and looked at the handrail of the bridge and instantly another majestic eagle landed and stared at me eye to eye as I drove by eight feet from him. The kids were excited to witness this majestic bird, but I couldn’t help but ponder in my heart and tell the Lord that I will rest and wait on His renewed strength because He knew I was going through some tough things in life. I had never seen an eagle in the wild until that week, and in the span of four days, I saw two. Both, for some reason, seemed to stare me down with no look of retreat.

November 2017

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God can reveal himself to the hunter in the deer stand, watching the colorful dying leaves falling all around while he intensely looks for the big kill. It may be the person who goes and sits under a tree for some quiet time, who wouldn’t step foot in a church, and all of a sudden God speaks to their heart. Either way His invisible attributes can be seen in everything. From the precise detail, to the order of motion, and to knowing deep inside that all of nature with it’s astounding beauty couldn’t happen by chance, but was created for the glory of God that He might reveal himself to the seeker through nature, and at the same time bring something into their life to explain the God of the universe and His Son Jesus Christ through Scripture. So God revealing Himself to someone through nature is awesome, and exciting. When that person takes that experience and seeks God through the scriptures and finds faith in the one who created it and holds it together, it’s a life changing experience, and the biggest decision the person will ever make. I know from the scripture that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This is a salvation that shouldn’t be neglected. And as the apostle Peter said, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. The wonderful name of Jesus.”

Micheal Rogers is the pastor of Wolf Creek Baptist Church located at 652 Wolf Creek Church Rd, Tiger, GA 30576. Michael and his church are part of Rabun for the Gospel (R4G) an initiative of local churches to work together to spread the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

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November 2017

Mountain Nature

Set a Table for the Birds

by Jean Hyatt

by some birds; for example, the titmice that come to my feeder will pick out all the peanuts they can reach before they start on the sunflower. Chickadees and cardinals will eat safflower, and ground feeders prefer millet. Some birds favor fruit and berries, and there are mixes available commercially to accommodate these preferences.

ovember is a time for planning that big Thanksgiving meal that will be enjoyed and appreciated by family and friends. We know just what to make and how to make it, and we set a lovely table. When it comes to feeding our birds, however, many of us are lax in our care. It’s a little more difficult perhaps, to set a table for the birds that keep them nourished and healthy and coming back. If we want to enjoy the pleasure of attracting and watching our wild birds, then our goal is to keep them coming back. As we have always stressed, the secret to attracting birds is to provide them with shelter, water and food. For this Thanksgiving article, of course, we will concentrate on food. Feeding birds is fun, enlightening, and brings peace to our hearts and souls. But we have to feed them something they will eat, or they will not come back. We have learned to avoid mixes with milo or wheat, usually labeled “wild bird mix.” Our eastern birds will not eat it, and will use their beaks to rake it out of the feeder, searching for something they like. Black oil sunflower is the best all-around seed you can set out, as it is eaten by most seed-eating birds. It is easily accessible to most birds, as it has a softer shell than stripe sunflower. Other seeds are preferred

But the table we set is important in attracting wildlife. Once we have selected a viable seed for our wild birds, we must present it well. More birds like tray feeders than any other kind. Trays offer unobstructed views of the sky and surrounding areas where predators might be. We put out about a cup of food every day or so on a tray, so that it is eaten quickly. Hopper feeders keep the food drier, as do tube feeders. You will attract different birds with different feeders. For instance, cardinals like space and prefer a tray or hopper feeder to a tube type, whereas goldfinches like a tube or mesh feeder best. Suet feeders are another option, as are ground trays on legs. Whatever your feeder, it must be kept clean and free of mold and mildew. The rain we had in early October wreaked havoc on bird feeders. I could not believe the feeders I had cleaned just a few weeks earlier were stopped up with wet clumps of seed, dust and mold in just a few days. Tube feeders, hopper feeders and even my tray feeders grew mold after so much rain and mist and fog. It’s just one small inconvenience of living in so much humidity, I suppose. If you buy a good fresh seed mix and present the food in a clean accessible feeder with clean water and cover foliage nearby, you will attract a variety of birds that will come again and again to enjoy your offering. Jean and her husband Richard own and operate Mountain Nature in downtown Clayton. They can be reached at 706 7820838. ** Don’t forget to turn off your outside lights at night. Use motion detector lighting, shields, and IDA-approved lighting so you don’t impose your light on those who want to see the stars. I believe God made night dark for a reason. Please help keep it that way. **

November 2017

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