Johnson County Living by RedFin

MIRACLES OPEN DOORS AT THE FOOD BANK Open Door Food Bank was developed when Pastor Brewer and his wife noticed how many neighbors had so little food in their homes.

UPON THE WINGS OF HOPE At Wings of Hope in Egan, children and adults with physical, mental and emotional challenges are assisted by equitheraphy.

JOHNSON COUNTY Tasty food? Incredible service? Bored with the same chain restaurants? Johnson County locals don’t have to travel far to find the best of the best.

Hometown Li v ing At Its Best

We cover every beat of heart care. Heart and vascular care close to home. The Texas Health Huguley heart and vascular program provides services from diagnostic to interventional procedures personalized to your healthcare needs. We also offer cardiac rehabilitation services for outpatients that incorporate exercise, education and emotional support to improve heart health. When it counts, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t skip a beat.

How healthy is your heart? Discuss your heart health with our heart care coordinator at TexasHealthHuguley.org/Heart To schedule an appointment, call 817-568-5599 Physicians on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital. ÂŠ2019

YOUR HOMETOWN REAL ESTATE EXPERT

SPECIALIZING IN JOHNSON COUNTY

Cody Lee Realtor | The Lee Team

GENUINE & HONEST. RELENTLESS WORK ETHIC. INNOVATIVE MARKETING. If you have any real estate needs, please feel free to call, text or email me. I would love to be of service in any way possible. 817.874.5385 | cody.lee@williamstrew.com | williamstrew.com

When you’re there, we’re there.

Bank anywhere, anytime.

Convenience Matters.

Open an account online today.

BURLESON - 1651 SW Wilshire Blvd. CLEBURNE - 300 Granbury St

JO HNSO N CO UNTY LI V I N G

Available at:

972-938-4300 CNBof Texas.com

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CONTENTS

FA I T H & CO M M U N I T Y

M I R A C L E S O P E N D O O R S AT T H E F O O D B A N K

It all started with one helping hand, that led to another, then another, over 25 years ago. Open Door Food Bank was developed when Pastor Brewer and his wife noticed how many neighbors had so little food in their homes.

J O H N S O N C O U N T Y L O C A L E AT S

LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD

Tasty food? Incredible service? Bored with the same chain restaurants? Johnson County locals don’t have to travel far to find the best of the best.

The words "now what?" ring loudly in my head. How can we stretch the charity and love we feel in our hearts during the holiday season, throughout the year?

A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR

Can black and white be colorful? Absolutely, if the pencil is in the hand of Howard Halbert.

REALIZING CHARLIE’S DREAM

Russell Farm Art Center offers residents a secluded place to commune with nature and enjoy a historic site with a treasure trove of antiquities.

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

H E A LT H Y C O M F O R T F O O D S

BRINGING CARE TO THE KIDS

Colder weather can leave you craving some of those “feel good” recipes…the good news is most of these dishes can be made lighter and healthier so they are not only comforting, but good for you, too!

When Cook Children’s Burleson primary care clinic opened their doors to the families in 2010, that was the culmination of planning started 4 years earlier which envisioned better lives and improved health of every child in our region.

ABOUT THE COVER

MIRACL ES OPEN DOORS AT THE FOOD BANK

Open Door Food Bank was developed Pastor Brewer when and his wife noticed how many neighbors had so little food in their homes.

Cover photo is an exterior picture of the Fly By Night Cattle Company Steakhouse. Read more about local dining opportunities in our dining guide starting on page 18.

UPON THE WINGS OF HOPE

At Wings of Hope adults with physical, in Egan, children and mental and emotional challenges are assisted by equitheraphy.

JOHNSON COUNTY Tasty food? Incredible service? Bored with the same chain restaurants? Johnson County locals don’t have to travel far to find the best of the best.

Homet own

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Li v ing At Its Best

Caring for animals isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t what we do, it â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who we are Give us a call today!

817-478-1515

13055 Rendon Rd. Burleson, TX 76028 Like us on Facebook!

Our Services

We strive to provide complete compassionate care for our patients and their pet parents. We offer many services, and our most common are listed below: Wellness Care (including Annual Health Exams, Vaccines, Senior Health Screen, and Preventative Health Care) Laser Therapy Dental Health Care (Including Scaling, Polishing, and Tooth Extractions) Microchipping General Surgery (From Spay and Neuters to Exploratories and Mass Removals)

In House Pharmacy

Monday- Friday 8am- 6pm Saturday 8am-12pm By Appointment Only

In House Laboratory Testing (From Heartworm Test and Fecals to Full Blood Chemistry Analysis) Digital Radiography Pain Management (Including Post op and Long Term with the use of many oral or injectible drugs) Peaceful Euthanasia

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CONTENTS

E D U C AT I O N

L E A R N I N G T O S TA N D

Growing from humble beginnings as a preschool, Holy Cross Christian Academy now boasts over 240 students, with much thanks given to administrator, Karen Matejka, who personally greets each student by name every morning.

H O M E T O W N J U M P E R S , N AT I O N A L C O M P E T I T O R S

Grandview might be a small town on the edge of Johnson County, but its residents have a big competitive heart that beats in their competitive jump-roping team, the ZZ Skippers.

T R AV E L & O U T D O O R S

UPON THE WINGS OF HOPE

At Wings of Hope in Egan, children and adults with physical, mental and emotional challenges are assisted by equitheraphy.

A G O D - S E N T Z O O A T D U N H A M F A M I LY F A R M

Todd Dunham has had two constants throughout his life: a heart for God and a heart for all the animals of the world. When he moved his family to Texas in 2007, the pastor combined these passions into a ministry on 21 acres of land in Burleson, The Dunham Farm.

A L W A Y S A F A M I L Y : JOSHUA DEER PROCESSING

Celebrating their 30th anniversary with over 4,000 deer processed in just 16 short weeks, Dana and Tim Bruce bring joy, love, and the feeling of family to their locally owned business.

HOME & GARDEN

100

SPRING GARDEN GUIDE

108

LESS MEANS MORE

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

The only way to know for sure where our food comes from is to grow our own. And growing an edible garden is easier than ever.

112

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS: CHRISTMAS IN ACTION

Focusing on a segment of society that is largely overlooked, Christmas in Action performs repair and rehabilitation work in the community every April for the elderly and disabled living on fixed incomes.

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75 C RA Z Y 8 M I N I ST R I ES

Hill College Continuing Education offers the training that results in personal and professional enrichment.

Healthcare Programs Nurse Aide Pharmacy Technician Medical Assistant Phlebotomy Technician Massage Therapist

For more information contact: 817.760.5820 | ceinfo@hillcollege.edu

www.hillcollege/continuingeducation H O MET O W N L I V I NG A T ITS B EST

FROM THE PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER

Red Fin Publishing

Justin & Hayley Six Kyle & Halsey Clark

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Justin Six

CREATIVE | DESIGN

GreenFox Marketing

CONTENT COORDINATOR Jennifer Cabbage Jennifer.RedFin@gmail.com

ur lives are busy! We can speak from experience that at the end of a day, we can be left on empty. The demands to do all things and be excellent at all things is a constant battle to be won. Although we encourage you to “seize the day,” “be EXTRAordinary,” “slay,” and the list of cliché phrases goes on and on, in a “carpe diem” world, we embolden you to also “stop and smell the roses.” Take the time to build margin in your lives, time to catch up with friends, make dinner with family, or learn something new. We ask you to sit and read a magazine, preferably this one, and be inspired by someone who is doing something great for others. Make time to do something for someone else. Pray. Breathe. Love. Repeat. We tell you with every issue how much the people of Johnson County inspire us. We pray that with their stories you are given joy, hope, encouragement, and rest—from the momentary busyness that is calling to you even at the very moment you finally sit down. In this issue, you will meet local people who have turned their love for family into services who provide for the community. The Bruce family has operated Joshua Deer Processing for 30 years, turning their employees into family. One local pastor was lending a helping hand to community members and noticed empty refrigerators and cupboards, leading him in his ministry to begin the Open Door Food Bank, serving hundreds of members of Johnson County and providing much needed sustenance. Read about equine therapy helping children and adults with mental and social delays and the beautiful changes being made in the lives of both volunteers and those being served. We want to thank our advertisers for making this publication possible and free to the community! Help us express our gratitude by shopping local and visiting their establishments to pick up your complimentary copy. This publication is about you! Please feel free to email us photos of your events to add to our Hometown Happenings, or any stories you would like to read in the next issue. We would love to hear from you! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for up-to-date events, announcements, and important information about Johnson County you don’t want to miss! We give thanks to God for our many blessings and look forward to a great year to come! Until the next edition, wishing you many blessings,

Justin and Hayley Six

Kyle and Halsey Clark

“ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

JOHNSON COUNTY LIVING MAGAZINE RED FIN PUBLISHING JO HNSO N CO UNTY LI V I N G

Jordan Murdock Jordan.RedFin@gmail.com

SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR Jordan Murdock

PROOF READER Jennifer Cabbage

PHOTOGRAPHERS Madison Simmons Photography

COVER PHOTO

Lindsey Sullivan Photography Steve Keefer Art Photography Photo by Madison Simmons Photography

SALES Kyle Clark Nikki Garrett Deby Grubbs Tana Howell Bruce Racioppa Justin Six

CONTRIBUTING Larue Barnes WRITERS Mary Lou Condike

Peggy Purser Freeman Connie Leonard

Tori Mortenson Jessica Neff Heather Regula Ron Schutz Madison Simmons Alan Snagg

CONTRIBUTORS Cook Children’s Burleson Eren Hayes Texas Health Huguley

Johnson County Living© is published biannually by Red Fin Publishing.

WWW.REDFINPUBLISH IN G .COM P.O. Box 1239 | Weatherford, TX 76086 (817) 301-3828 All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice.

Come see us at one of our conveniently located Dallas-Fort Worth area offices (Addison, Arlington, Cleburne, Fort Worth and Plano) Visit us online at OPTIMALDFW.COM | Call us at 817-558-4600

Dr. Michael Phillips was the first doctor in Dallas Fort Worth to perform Autologous intradiscal stem cell (BMAC) injections for lumbar disc disease and also the first to perform cervical spine intradiscal stem cell injections. He was the first doctor to implant the Medtronic MRI compatible Spinal Cord Stimulator system in the North Texas region and the first doctor in Texas to ever implant a gold-plated Medtronic Stimulator system for a patient with a Titanium allergy. Dr. Phillips was the first doctor in the North Texas region and second in Texas to implant the St. Jude/ Abbott Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) stimulator system for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. He was also one of the 1st 50 doctors in the country to be trained on and implant the Superion Vertiflex indirect decompression spacer device for lumbar spinal stenosis. Dr. Phillips has also served on and still serves on the Executive Board and Medical Executive Committees and has served as Medical Director of several surgery centers in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Dr. Scott Berlin opened and developed the pain management clinic at Methodist Medical Center in Dallas. He was the first practitioner in Dallas to implant a fully implantable dual lead spinal cord stimulator system, which has now become the standard of care. He continues to offer stateof-the-art solutions for unusual and difficult painful diseases. Dr. Berlin is board certified in anesthesiology and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pain Medicine.

Upon moving to the Dallas area, Dr. Andrew Cottingham performed all varieties of anesthesia including pediatric, neurosurgical, cardiac, vascular, orthopedic, otolaryngology and obstetric. He has been the Director of the Post Anesthesia Care Unit at a major teaching hospital and the Medical Director of a surgery center in the Dallas area. He is board certified in anesthesiology and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pain Medicine. Dr. Cottingham has been providing cutting-edge therapies around the Dallas/ Fort Worth metroplex since 1996.

Dr. Tibor Racz completed a fellowship under the tutelage of his father, Dr. Gabor Racz, who is an internationally recognized specialist in the sub-specialty of pain management. Dr. Racz has a special interest in neuromodulation for pain and intrathecal pump therapy for both pain and spasticity. He is board certified in both anesthesiology and pain medicine. Dr. Racz looks at the most difficult patient cases as opportunities, not challenges. He is committed to helping patients navigate through pain to improve functionality and livelihood with cutting-edge medical care and exceptional service.

IS REGENERATIVE MEDICINE THERAPY AN OPTION FOR YOU?

“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you.’ “ -Luke 10:9

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FA I T H & C O M M U N I T Y

Miracles Open Doors at the Food Bank

By Peggy Purser Freeman Photos by Steve Keefer Art Photography

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“It all started with a very old, old man trying to shingle the roof of his elderly neighbor’s home all by himself. One shingle at a time... one day at a time,” explained Pastor Troy Brewer, founder and Senior Pastor of Open Door Church. On the day Pastor Brewer’s father-inlaw drove by, the old man was resting on the roof. In the Texas heat, this eighty-year-old obviously had little strength. “My father-in-law looked up, saw the old man and called me, strongly suggesting that I go over and help. I had no idea that I was entering into a ministry, a lifetime call to servitude. God was about to wake me up.”

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Pastor Brewer roofed the house and then discovered it wasn’t the elderly man’s house. It was his neighbors’ house. The elderly homeowner wanted to meet the Brewers and offered them lemonade. When Pastor Brewer's wife, Leanna, noticed there was nothing in the refrigerator but lemonade, she rushed to the store. When the groceries were delivered, they realized the elderly roofer had little food either. Then the two suggested the Brewers visit their elderly friend across the street and take her groceries. “That neighbor suggested we visit someone they knew,” Pastor Brewer continued. “By the end of the month, I was spending my Saturdays taking food and friendship to the elderly of Samson Park. By the end of the summer, we were visiting more than fifty houses and before I knew it, we had a full-blown ministry on our hands. The whole door-to-door thing is why we first called our ministry ‘Open Door.’ Since this ministry was born on a rooftop, it’s only fitting that we would see incredible miracles.” That rooftop miracle took place twenty-five years ago when Pastor Troy began serving food out of the back of his pickup. “The Word of God is very clear that the way into the throne room is through the servants’ quarters.” Pastor Brewer added. Today, as Pastor Troy and Leanna follow God in a direction they never dreamed, Pastor Frank Allen serves

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the Open Door Food Bank as pastor and overseer of operations. The food outreach ministry of Open Door gives away hundreds of thousands of pounds of food every year to the poor of North Texas. “My job is to keep the dream running—to make it bigger and better. Since being at the food bank, I have seen countless miracles. Last year alone, the food bank served 116,000 people and over 4.6 million pounds of food. We average about 80 to 100 volunteers any given bi-weekly outreach. Four months ago I left my church in Galveston, Texas, to be a part of Pastor Troy’s dream food bank. I’m so thankful they selected me to be a part of this great ministry.” The Open Door Food Bank experiences miracles every day—stories of healing, redemption, love and hugs. A person’s race or social status doesn’t matter. The volunteers make them feel at home, always, on every occasion. “We give out the best produce you can find,” Pastor Frank said. “I won't pass out anything I won't eat myself. Our number one goal is to create unity. We serve every other Saturday. We hand out clothing, a hot meal and lots of prayers. Some people come through the week. We also supply twelve local churches with food for their weekly outreach.” The food bank opens its door at 6601 County Road 912, Joshua, Texas, for volunteers at 7:10 a.m. and for those in need from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

One customer of the Food Bank, Megan Spruiell, recently felt a little suspicious when the Food Bank staff asked her to stop by on a Sunday morning. She had been there two weeks before and as she waited in line during her visit, her car, a used $250 junker, leaked radiator fluid. She lives a few blocks from the food bank, so she ran home, put in more fluid, and rushed back to get the food her family needed. Her story left an impression on Pastor Frank and Bryan Acton, an elder at the Open Door Church. “The Food Bank approached serving its one-hundredthousandth person on November 25, 2018 and wanted to celebrate by giving away a new car, stuffed with food, to a family in need.” Acton had prayed and kept his eyes open for the right person. Then he met Megan Spruiell. “Megan is a mother of two with another girl due in January. She also cares for her ten-year-old sister. She drives everyone to school and drives her husband, Lee, who is visually impaired, to work. She is so deserving and such a thankful person,” Elder Acton said.

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On that Sunday morning, the Food Bank staff and volunteers filled the bright orange car to the roof with food—including a full-size turkey, pounds of hamburger and all the trimmings. Then they tied balloons to the grill and topped it off with a bow. Megan Spruiell arrived at the Food Bank a little confused. When she and her two children arrived, the volunteers cheered. Her family also received a $500 gas gift card. “Seeing the car, Spruiell cried. I can’t believe they did this for me,” she said. Open Door Food Bank serves between 1,500 and 2,150 people every week. They also provide food for 25 other ministries in Johnson and Tarrant counties. The food they give away is donated by several major vendor partners. “The Food Bank gives with no strings attached,” said Troy Brewer. “I’ve never met anyone who didn’t need food. We don’t ask for proof of income or proof of why they need help. No one can steal from us. We give it away.” This attitude of Troy Brewer and the Open Door Food Bank is at the core of their ministry. Their “we give it away” judgment-free attitude reflects God’s gift of grace. The food, the hugs and the good news given freely by the staff and volunteers warms the tummy and the heart.

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The food outreach ministry of Open Door gives away hundreds of thousands of pounds of food every year to the poor of North Texas. Troy Brewer’s Ministries reach around the world. His missionary journeys have taken Brewer to the jungles of Uganda, Costa Rica and to the Middle East. He regularly preaches to congregations in Central America, Mexico and London. His singing and songwriting have received airplay literally all over the world. He resides in Johnson County. He and his wife, Leanna, have four children, Maegan, Benjamin, Luke and Rhema. Pastor Brewer wanted Johnson County Magazine readers to know: ““We're in the business of...caring for the widow, the orphan, the homeless, and oppressed.” Serving always gives us favor with King Jesus who says countless times to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and give generously. We're in the business of doing just that...caring for the widow, the orphan, the homeless and oppressed.” JCL

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call today for a free estimate! cell: 817-933-1702 Store: 817-774-2777

Total Lawncare Service Commercial & Residential

We Offer • landscape design and installation

• trees

• lawn maintenance • tree trimming

• colorful bedding plants

• sod installation

• ground cover

• irrigation

• native plants for Johnson County and surrounding areas

• curb appeal for selling or buying a home, or businesses

Family owned & located in Cleburne Texas.

JO HNSO N CO U NT Y LI V I N G

• shrubs

• & much more!

We have knowledgeable friendly personnel to answer questions regarding plants and trees that work best for your landscaping needs.

envirolscapes@gmail.com | 112 S. Nolan River Rd. | Cleburne, TX 76033

Our Nursery

2019 Calendar of Events Winter Quarterly Meeting: The State of the City

Thurs., January 17

Power of Heles Luncheon—Guest Speaker: Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price

Friday, February 1

Annual Awards Luncheon

Thurs., February 21

Spring Quarterly Meeting: The State of Education

Thurs., April 18

Power of Heels Full Circle Women’s Conference

Friday, May 3

21st Annual Honey Tour Bike Ride

Sat., May 25

BISD New Employee Welcome Luncheon

Tue., August 6

Power of Heels Networking Brunch

Friday, August 22

BACC Annual Golf Tournament

Thurs., October 3

Fall Quarterly Meeting

Thurs.,October 17

Power of Heels Holiday Bazaar

Sat., November 2

Rudolph’s Reindeer Run

Sat.,December 7

* Business After Hours Scheduled for 2nd Tuesday of Each Month from 5:30pm—7:00pm ** For Sponsorship Opportunities or for more information please contact the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce 1044 SW Wilshire Blvd Burleson, TX 76028 Phone: (817) 295-6121 www.burlesonchamber.com

Office Hours Mon - Thurs. 8:00am - 5:00pm Friday 8:00am - 12:00pm Sat. - Sun. Closed

JOHNSON COUNTY Tasty food? Incredible service? Bored with the same chain restaurants? Johnson County locals don’t have to travel far to find the best of the best. Whether it is your next morning cup of joe to start the day, a mouthwatering burger as lunch break hits, the perfect date night, or even a reason not to cook for the evening, we’ve got you covered. Find a selection of some local favorites and try a new, or retry an old, destination for your next meal.

RIO MAMBO & THE RIM

MASSEY'S BBQ

FLY BY NIGHT CATTLE COMPANY BURGER BAR

LOAF'N DOG

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RIO MAMBO Rio Mambo has a reputation as a quality Mexican restaurant in the DFW metroplex and one year ago they opened the seventh location in a brand-new building in Burleson. An ingredients-driven approach sets Rio Mambo apart from the rest, owner Brent Johnson said. They make sauces from scratch and use 90-day aged Wisconsin cheddar and beef and chicken that’s never met a freezer in their dishes. In addition to menu classics the restaurant offers interior dishes, more complex creations that highlight the restaurant’s commitment to quality food that enlivens the tastebuds. A robust bar menu with a full lineup of margaritas and a catering component rounds out the restaurant.

JOIN US AT ONE OF OUR 6 DFW LOCATIONS

817-295-5453 WWW.RIOMAMBO.COM

295 E. RENFRO STREET, BURLESON

THE RIM

WWW.THERIMRESTAURANT.COM 817-720-7707 295 E. RENFRO STREET, BURLESON

The Rim represents an amalgamation of everything owner, Brent Johnson, has loved over the course of his career in restaurants. The spot opened in Burleson in May 2018 and has become a center of social life in Johnson County. “It’s fun and casual but with a serious food and drinks menu,” Johnson said. Fun fuels The Rim. Guitars adorn one corner, a tribute to Marilyn Monroe takes up another, and all the food comes from an inhouse airstream trailer. Patrons come to The Rim to soak up the views— Johnson sat in every seat in the place to make sure every corner has something to catch the eye— and to enjoy craft cocktails, a killer beer menu and chef-prepared food. Gourmet hot dogs, salads overflowing with fresh ingredients and brick-oven pizzas mark the menu, a constant evolution and exercise in creativity. There are no mixers behind the bar— only fruit to juice for craft drinks. Though the bar has screens for entertainment, people focus more on music and on each other at The Rim.

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Fly by Night CATTLE COMPANY

15 minutes south of Fort Worth off the Chisholm Trail Parkway

www.flybynightcattleco.com

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FLY BY NIGHT CATTLE COMPANY AND STEAKHOUSE Jennifer and Bill Craft have enjoyed the sweeping views of their 250-acre Cleburne ranch for decades and since they opened Fly By Night Cattle Company in 2013, the public has had a chance to indulge in the same beauty. Bill Craft grew up in Cleburne and was born into the dairy and ranching business and Jennifer has a degree in business. A turn of events introduced them to catering in the late nineties, and they fell in love with the business of feeding people. Two years ago, they added an onsite event venue and the addition of a bar, built by the Crafts from a neighbor’s silo last year, rounded out the operation. At the end of the day the Crafts just want to share what they have with others. “It’s kind of like having company every weekend,” Jennifer Craft said. The Crafts bring 20-plus years of catering experience to the table and know how to put together a good meal and a good time. The steakhouse welcomes around 800 diners from Thursday to Saturday every week. The Crafts know their way around a cow and serve up hand-cut steaks sourced from quality producers. People come for good country cooking and to escape city life for a couple of hours. Horses graze just beyond the windows of the restaurant, and the sunset has no comparison.

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BURGER BAR

Open Mon-Thurs 9:30-3:00 109 N. Anglin Street, Cleburne

No one knows quite how Burger Bar, a 12x12 brick building in downtown Cleburne, got its start back in 1949, but when Casey Waits took ownership last November, he knew one thing for sure-- he wanted to change as little as possible about the Cleburne icon. He did some basic maintenance to the small building and plans to add outdoor seating; as of now only a handful of people can cluster around the bar at a time. In nicer weather, Waits will start hosting music and events outside. The restaurant serves fresh-cut fries and burgers and bottle drinks, no frills. Burger Bar sources the beef from a Texas producer. Growing up in Johnson County, Waits ate at Burger Bar often and takes pride in owning a piece of Cleburne history.

LOAF'N DOG Vienna Beef franks and a good time are on the menu at Loaf ’n Dog, a gourmet hot dog shop in downtown Cleburne. Johnson County native Casey Waits opened the doors in October 2017. His mother, sister, and some close family friends work at Loaf ’n Dog, giving it a tight-knit, warm family feel where all are welcome to sit down and stay awhile. From the buns to the toppings, most of the shop’s products come from Chicagostaple, the Vienna Beef Factory for an authentic hot dog experience. The menu offers a wide swath of options, from a veggie dog to footlong franks topped with chili, nacho cheese, and jalapenos. A few months ago they added beer to the lineup, a first for downtown Cleburne. Loaf ’n Dog offers free delivery on orders over $15. The joint always has something fun going on, from live music on Fridays, karaoke on Thursdays, and open mic night on Mondays. Sports paraphernalia, tributes to Chicago, art by his wife, Joy Waits, and retro posters bedeck the walls. 22

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208 East Chambers Street, Cleburne

(817) 556-1040

MASSEY'S BBQ At Massey’s BBQ in Alvarado, families gather together. Dakota Massey opened the popular barbecue spot last July. He grew up around barbecue—a family member had a joint in Joshua—and always knew he wanted to open a place of his own. People come to Massey’s for the loaded potatoes, baked potatoes loaded down with barbecue and all the fixings that clock in at three pounds! The brisket smokes over oak wood from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day and has garnered a following. Pulled pork, ribs and sausage are also popular with customers. Massey’s BBQ also offers a catering menu. In the future Massey’s will expand on the same site, to allow for a bigger kitchen and double the seating capacity.

Where Families Gather Together 201 N. Parkway, Alvarado (817) 402-5255

Fresh ingredients. Made to order. Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegetarian and Vegan items available.

> Old Town Burleson 114 S Main St 817-439-9449

> Crowley 314 E Main St 682-215-5511

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Pinnacle Bank is

HERE FOR YOU.

YOUR JOHNSON COUNTY BRANCH PRESIDENTS. LEFT TO RIGHT: KEVIN LEE, AMY LINGO, AMBER WITTE, TIM WHITLOCK, KRISTI JENKINS, WAYLAND CISCO ARLINGTON • AZLE • BENBROOK • BURLESON CLEBURNE • COLLEYVILLE • FORT WORTH • JOSHUA KEENE • MANSFIELD • RHOME • SPRINGTOWN

T H E

W AY

B A N K I N G

S H O U L D

B E

pinnbanktx.com • 817.558.2700 MEMBER FDIC

OFFICES 1647 W. Henderson Cleburne, TX. 76033 125 S Main St. Godley, TX. 76044 www.rodenrealestategroup.com

Tara Roden

Realtor 817-202-7459

Ricky Roden Realtor 817-202-7458

Rhett Roden Realtor 817-202-4772

H O MET O W N L I V I NG A T I TS B EST

FA I T H & C O M M U N I T Y

Let Us Not Become Weary in Doing Good By Heather Regula

The words "now what?" ring loudly in my head. How can we stretch the charity and love we feel in our hearts during the holiday season, throughout the year?

he holiday season is nothing short of magical—the lights, music, hot cocoa, family visits, and so much more! Christmas brings out the best in us— we enthusiastically participate in Secret Santa gift exchanges at work, hunt for the ideal white elephant gift, spend hours searching for the perfect present for a loved one, donate spare change to the Salvation Army bell ringers, and find other ways to help in our communities. The selfless giving that goes on during the Christmas season is incredible! Love is at the heart of what goes on during the holidays—love of Jesus, our families, our friends, and our fellow man. There is a time though when all the holiday magic stops. The lights come down, Christmas music fades

away, kids go back to school and life as we know it resumes. It often seems that by the time the last box of Christmas decorations is put away, our mindset quickly shifts from gift giving and charity to the business associated with the start of a new year. As the new year unfolds, two things stick out in my mind. First and foremost, I see that the needs of the underserved and underprivileged are the same as they have always been—there are still homeless people on the streets and kids in our schools lacking adequate food and clothing. Secondly, as I dive into the new year, I find myself desperately trying to plan and organize everything in an effort to have some semblance of control.

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The words "now what?" ring loudly in my head. How can we stretch the charity and love we feel in our hearts during the holiday season, throughout the year? What can we do to focus on the Lord and trust that He will give us what we need, exactly when we need it, while we work to fulfill the needs of others? We often walk a fine line between trusting in ourselves and relying on God to be with us and all that we need. Living life in complete surrender. Rather than set resolutions I likely won't follow through with each year, I prefer to set a focus. Sometimes it's a year, other times it's a concept. This year, my attention is on letting God's light shine through me in all that I say and do. While this is easier said than done, I do believe that God doesn't call us to a task without equipping us for the journey.

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God has blessed us abundantly, and we can glorify Him by using our gifts and passions to help meet the needs of others. There is still so much work to be done, and the opportunities to serve others are plentiful. My family provided Christmas gifts to a needy family in our town, and we will continue to help meet their needs throughout the year. A surrendered life is worth the work and your love of the Lord will be reflected in your service to others. Start today and increase your intentionality towards giving. Right now, right where you are, with what you have, answer the call and find a way to help someone else. Trust God to provide and to give us strength. I'm so grateful for a God who gives us what we need exactly when we need it, and it's my highest honor to serve Him. JCL

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

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J O HNSO N CO U N T Y LI V I N G

A Horse of a Different Color By Ron Shultz Photos by Steve Keefer Art Photography

t is rare to meet someone with as much talent as Mr. Howard Halbert that has not allowed success to go to his head. It was a pleasure to sit with him and discuss his work. I went away very enlightened, but also felt that I had found a new friend. We are both artists with pencils. He draws, and I am a word-smith, so there is a connection between us. He paints horses and I have been known to do cowboy poetry,

Can black and white be colorful? Absolutely, if the pencil is in the hand of Howard Halbert.

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Howard is a native of Blum graduating from Blum High School. Up until age 13, he dabbled with drawing comics and cartoons, but then found other interests that diverted him from what he would find to be his inherent talent in 2008. He starting drawing every day, finally making his intent to be a full time artist come true in 2010. He spent many years on a ranch with horses and cattle so it is not surprising that his primary subjects are horses, though he does some other western themes as well as some commissioned portraits. He has very few tools in his artist box. Unlike many other pencil artists, he primarily uses a number two pencil. He uses the standard drawing pencil only when he needs some very dark areas when shading. While he really enjoys his craft, his main goal is to bring enjoyment to people. His greatest challenge was learning his style. He had to find out who he was as an artist. He only had three drawings in his first portfolio. The feedback he gets from his clients and art lovers has helped him to mature as an artist. They keep him fine tuning his craft and he is thankful for their help in making him a better artist.

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Unlike many other pencil artists, he primarily uses a number two pencil.

Getting started in the art world can be as difficult or more so than other trades. When he first started, he picked five different galleries. He sent some samples of his work and then waited to hear back. Four said they liked his work, but they were not the right venue so they made some suggestions. He did not hear back from the fifth one and was going to send samples to five more. As is often the case, when he was about to send out those samples that is when he heard from that fifth gallery. That one became his big break and he is still showing with them. He does have other venues, but McLarry Fine Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico is his main one. His sales have increased over the years and he has a display called “Small Work, Great Wonders” in the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. He has also been interviewed by “Cowboy and Indian” magazine. It took years to get his work in some shows and galleries, but interest in his work has increased greatly in the last few years. He is very grateful for that, He sees that and his talent as a gift from God. While he receives monetary rewards for his skills, he also gives, which is equally rewarding. Every year he contributes some of his art to the Children's Advocacy Center to be used in a fund raiser for them. He has a big heart for those kids.

While his talent is God-given, he also credits George Hallmark, formerly of Cleburne, and Robert “Shoo Fly” Schufelt of New Mexico for inspiration. When asked what the role of an artist is society, he replied legacy. Legacy of the art, not the artist. I understand. As an IT guy, I know that so much is now machine created or digitally enhanced that there is a danger of losing the legacy of the traditional artist and the media they use. I am glad that there are men like Mr. Halbert and his mentors to carry on the legacy and hope for a younger generation to receive that baton or perhaps palette is the right word. I asked him what inspired him or how does he get a work started. He said that he just keeps drawing. He always has something started. I asked how he knows when a project is finished and he said, “You just have to stop.” He does not do much editing or rethinking a work like perhaps a writer or other artist might do. He is able to be satisfied with what he has done. The longest project that he has ever worked on took him three weeks or about a hundred and fifty hours. There are no quick jobs. An 8X10 will take him about two days. He has done drawings from 11X14 to 20X30. As much as he loves what he does there are times when he is glad he is finally done with one of the larger projects.

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When asked what the role of an artist is society, he replied legacy. Legacy of the art, not the artist.

His drawings are very detailed. His main desire for a drawing is realism. He achieves that to the point that I had I not known I was looking at drawings I would have thought that I was looking at black and white photographs. The first one he showed me had such fine detail even to wisps of mane that looked like there was a breeze when the photo was taken and yet it was drawn with our old familiar number two pencil we had in school. It is amazing! If you put on some of those virtual reality glasses, you might be tempted to offer it a lump of sugar or an apple. I was surprised to learn that you cannot just take a photograph of one his drawings. Because of the shine of the lead, he has to take them to a shop in Dallas. It can take an hour to make a good picture. Quality is never a quick and easy task. As he took me through his home showing me many of his works, I had to tell him something. I have seen many pencil drawings, but none near as good as his pieces. I have been in museums in New York City and St. Louis and I believe his work should be represented in both of those museums and more. Indeed, there were many artists that I would have had removed to storage to hang Mr. Halbert's works in their place. He is a humble man that quietly accepted my kudos and moved the conversation back to his work and passion. Little did he know in his early childhood what was dabbling and fun would become his mission in life. I asked him what he would do if he were not in the art world. He would still be in ranching working with the horses and cattle he draws. It was an awesome time with him and he acquired a new fan. Neither Blum nor Cleburne qualify for bustling metropolis status and yet we are blessed to have a world class artist in our midst. It is amazing how much local color can be put in a black and white picture. JCL

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wedding. portrait. event. editorial. lifestyle. madisonsimmonsgtx@gmail.com - 817-507-9930 H O MET O W N L I V I NG A T I TS B EST

FA I T H & C O M M U N I T Y

R E AL IZING

Charlie's Dream 40

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By MaryLou Condike Photos provided by The City of Burleson Parks and Rec Department

Russell Farm Art Center offers residents a secluded place to commune with nature and enjoy a historic site with a treasure trove of antiquities.

n 1876, Martha Glenn Russellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world changed forever. Two years after she and her husband, Dr. Robert Russell, moved from Tennessee to Marystown, Texas, the doctor passed away. His dream to practice medicine and run a country store died with him.

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Being a brave and enterprising woman, Martha sold both businesses. She used the proceeds to purchase 540 acres in Burleson and built a small home on the land. On Christmas Eve 1877, she moved in with her five children. The following spring, she farmed the land, raising and selling produce. For additional income, she leased the unused acres to sharecroppers. The farm operated within the Russell family for 135 years. Harriet Russell Lace inherited it and passed it on to her son Russell and his wife Gigi. Their nephew Charlie Boren took over in the 1970s and ran the operation until 2011. The farm is now ‘A Texas Century Farm,’ certifying that it has been maintained and in continuous operation for a hundred years by the same family. The Russell Farms Art Center sits midway between bustling Wilshire Boulevard and Interstate 35W at 405 West County Road in Burleson. The farm offers Johnson County residents a secluded place to commune with nature and enjoy a historic site and a treasure trove of antiquities. Charlie Boren, an internationally recognized wood sculptor, gifted his home to the city in 2011 to provide a venue for artists, historians, and agrarians to learn and grow.

PRESERVATION

Mary Ann Spaun, Russell Farm Supervisor, and Barbara Black, Historical Chair, work together with other volunteers to schedule monthly tours of the RussellBoren home. Barbara’s attraction to the farm and her dedication to its preservation stem from her love of history. When the Boren family gifted the property to Burleson in 2011, local Eumathian Club members were asked to inventory the antiques. Barbara Black volunteered and became one of the farm’s first docents. According to Barbara, “Charlie Boren was a visionary not only for sculpture, but for the farm. He and Louise looked into the future to preserve the history of a hundred-year farm, to create an environment for the expression of art, and to have a place to learn. Also, to broaden one’s horizons and learn about agriculture. The Russell Farm Art Center is a precious gift shared by the Boren family for each of us.”

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CHARLIE’S PASSION

Charlie’s passion was woodcarving. He could see beauty in a mesquite log and carve a masterpiece. Although Charlie preferred mesquite, he also dabbled with other woods. Questioned about formal training, Charlie enrolled in an art class at TCU to improve his credentials. Being the oldest student by years, Charlie found his artistic ability challenged. To prove himself, he sped home, loaded his sculptures, and returned before class ended. After seeing Charlie’s work, he had a long and fruitful relationship with the college. For thirty-one years, Charlie perfected his craft by studying with carving masters in Bavaria, England, Canada, and the United States. During this time, Charlie carved 466 ‘Kickers,’ his signature piece depicting a cowboy boot. ‘Kickers’ are displayed around the world in private and public collections.

CHARLIE’S DREAM

Mary Ann operates the farm and coordinates activities. Working with volunteers and part-time employees, she assures the visitors a positive experience. “It was a personal challenge to bring alive Charlie’s dream,” she said. “It’s our goal to do everything to preserve his dream to further the arts, use the farm for agricultural learning, and keep the history alive. It’s an honor to be included.” When Charlie and his wife gifted the 33-acre farm to the City of Burleson, he did so hoping his lifetime dream would be realized. Charlie died in September 2018 with much of his dream fulfilled. His remaining vision was to have college classes at Russell Farm. Mary Ann proudly reports Hill College will offer its first 2-dimensional wood carving class at the farm in Spring 2019. Burleson’s Deputy Director of Recreation David McDowell works hand-in-hand with the Art Council and Historic Advisory Committee to fulfill the Farm’s mission.

When Charlie and his wife gifted the 33-acre farm to the City of Burleson, he did so hoping his lifetime dream would be realized.

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AGRICULTUR AL LEAR NING

Louise Boren’s passion was gardening. She kept the farmstead groomed and blooming for years. She dreamed of sharing the farm with others who appreciate natural beauty. According to Mary Ann, Johnson County Master Gardeners meet regularly on the farm and monitor and record data from a five-year viticulture trial. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will use the data to help Johnson County residents select grapes suited for the area. The farm also offers sixteen community gardens for individual or group use. The farm provides raised beds, topsoil, water, and on-site gardening tools. Mary Ann coordinates and schedules adult and children’s gardening workshops, visits to the butterfly garden, bird watching, introductions to farm animals, story time for preschoolers, and nature walks.

PROMOTING THE ARTS

Activities promoting the arts include weekly art classes for kids and adults. Classes include Water Color, Acrylics and Oil, and Drawing taught by accomplished artists. A monthly ‘Paint Out’ invites local artists to gather and paint together. On-site Wood Carving classes are also offered. Fun-At-The-Farm Camp, a 3-day camp offered each summer, is a combination of hands-on training with donkey care, fishing, gardening and arts and crafts.

FACILITIES

In the Russell-Boren House, you’ll find pre-civil war linens and hand-sewn quilts covering the beds. If you’re unfamiliar with tatting, an example of the handmade lace trims a pair of knickers. Family photos decorate the walls and hang above the fireplace. The library contains numerous books printed in the 1800s. You won’t want to miss the feather-stuffed couch and an Edison Victrola in the sitting room. The Baker Building contains art pieces from local artists and serves as a museum and meeting area. The farm welcomes new displays from Johnson County artists. The must-see Dairy Barn is where Charlie did most of his carving. His private collection is displayed in a museum adjacent to his carving room. The Chesapeake Building provides a wedding and a music venue. Groups use it for large workshops, reunions, receptions, and more. Russell Lace constructed the Hay Barn in the 1950s. Now with a concrete floor, a bathroom and electricity, the barn provides a perfect outdoor pavilion for parties, church picnics, reunions, workshops and other celebrations.

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VISITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INFOR M ATION

The Russell Farm Art Center is funded by the City of Burleson. Friends of Russell Farm (a 501(c)(3)-nonprofit) provide funds for projects outside the budget. The farm is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free. RussellBoren House tours are held the 1st Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where visitors can enter the home and view the many antiques. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this Texas treasure. Be one of the 12,000 annual visitors seen picnicking, reading, or strolling on the paths among the trees, fountains, and buildings. You might get lucky and hear local fiddlers jamming on the back porch or in the gardens. Further information about the farm can be viewed on the city website www.burlesontx.com or at www. russellfarmartcenter.com. JCL

The farm also offers sixteen community gardens for individual or group use. The farm provides raised beds, topsoil, water, and onsite gardening tools.

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Dietitian Vanessa Abbood ABOUT VANESSA ABBOOD MS, RD, LD Vanessa Abbood MS, RD, LD is a clinical dietitian at Texas Health Huguley. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. Not only has she spent the majority of her career working as a clinical dietician, she also enjoys nutrition counseling and health promotion and education. She enjoys cooking and trying out new recipes. Vanessa lives in Fort Worth with her husband, 2 dogs, and 6 cats.

Healthy Comfort Foods

s the weather has taken on a more seasonable chill, you may be tempted to warm up with your beloved classic comfort food. Comfort food can be a delicious way to endure the winter cold and regret on memories of a favorite childhood dishes.

These “feel good” recipes, however, can be loaded with excess calories, sugar, sodium and fat, which may result in regret and not contentment. The good news is most for these dishes can be made lighter and healthier so they are not only comforting, but good for you too!

Heart-warming Mac n’ Cheese Ingredients:

• 1 cup Radiatore or elbow pasta, whole wheat is preferred • 1 cup of skim milk • ½ teaspoon spicy brown mustard • ½ teaspoon paprika • ¾ cup reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, shredded • ¼ cup reduced-fat Colby Jack cheese, shredded • 1 ½ tsp cornstarch • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large pasta pot, bring water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside in a large bowl. In a medium sauce pan, heat milk on medium heat until simmering. Add cheeses and stir frequently with a whisk. Sprinkle cornstarch into cheese and milk mixture while stirring. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook and whisk mixture until creamy and thick. Pour over pasta and combine. Serve while hot.

Nutritional Analysis: Per ¼ cup serving: 104 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 7 grams of protein

Humble Blueberry Crumble Ingredients:

• 6 cups (~2 pints) of fresh blueberries • 1 cup old fashioned oats • ½ cup whole wheat flour • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp nutmeg • 3 Tbsp of soy milk (or any milk of choice) • 2 Tbsp Splenda (or preferred no-calorie sweetener) • 1 Tbsp honey • 1 ½ Tbsp grapeseed oil • 3 Tbsp cornstarch • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 8” x 8” baking dish • Canola cooking spray

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Place blueberries in a strainer and rinse well. Allow time to dry. In a medium mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, and cinnamon. Add the soy milk, no-calorie sweetener, and grapeseed oil. Mix until incorporated, yet still crumbly. In a separate bowl, combine the blueberries, cornstarch, and vanilla extract. Lightly spray baking dish with canola cooking spray. Evenly pour the blueberry mixture into the baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the crumble topping atop the blueberry mixture. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until crumble is brown and blueberries are bubbling in the dish. Allow to cool before serving.

Nutritional analysis per 1/3 cup serving: 140 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 3 grams of protein

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

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BRINGING CARE TO THE

Kids By Dr. Lanna McClain, M.D. Photos by Lindsey Sullivan Photography

“NO MAN STANDS SO TALL AS WHEN HE STOOPS TO HELP A CHILD.” - A. Lincoln THE VISION Cook Children’s Healthcare System’s vision of being the premier provider for all children in Tarrant and the surrounding counties, including Johnson County started with a dream. When Cook Children’s Burleson primary care clinic opened their doors to the families in 2010, that was the culmination of planning started 4 years

earlier, developed in the Healthy Child 2020 Initiative and envisioned better lives and improved health of every child in our region. The strategy was to place Cook providers within easy access to the cities of Johnson County while being within 30 minutes of the flagship campus of the main hospital of Cook Children’s Hospital with all it’s tertiary care and specialists available with one phone call!

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THE PROMISE Those are the first words that every child and family read when they first walk into the clinic in Burleson. And when Dr. Lanna McClain first read the lines of the The Promise, she knew she had found her home. “The word ‘sacred’ means ‘set aside for an important purpose’, and I believe that every child is truly meant for something truly special – something that no one else can do. And when families bring their children here, we have part of that responsibility to walk aside them and help them fulfill their call!” The entire office understands that children are special and aren’t just adults in small packages and even the parents feel that difference from the scheduler getting their child an appointment, receiving a smile and a ‘good morning’ when they first walk in the door, the medical assistant taking their temperature, seeing the provider, the nurse giving them medication, and even to getting their sticker and lollipops on their way out the door – we are fulfilling ‘The Promise’!

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Knowing that every child’s life is sacred, it is the promise of Cook Children’s to improve the health of every child in our region through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease, and injury.

THE FAMILY The care of the child at the Burleson clinic often encompasses then entire family. “We understand that so much of how a child experiences his or her world is influenced by the family. We have so many different ‘families’, with maybe one parent working in the west Texas oil fields, or being deployed in the armed services, or for some other reasons may have some other stress in their lives. All these dynamics need to be considered when addressing some medical or other issue,” says Dr. McClain. Dr. Deborah Vert has been a pediatrician with Cook Children’s since 1999 and has been able to experience the joy to seeing multi-generational families come see her as their pediatrician. “It’s a wonderful feeling when one of my patients goes through middle school, then graduates high school and then is off to college. And then when they walk in through y office with a new baby because they want me to be their child’s pediatrician…that’s one of the best things about my job!” she says.

THE COMMUNITY

THE FULFILLMENT Dr. Carla Smith grew up riding horses in pastures of her daddy’s ranch around Keller, Texas and attended the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the nearby UNT Health Science Center. After practicing a few chilly winters in Michigan, she decided to return to Texas and picked Burleson to raise her family, to continue her family’s cattle ranching tradition, and to practice pediatrics. She realized the tremendous need for a pediatrics-focused clinic in order to meet the tremendous growth here in Burleson and Johnson County. “I was continually calling and petitioning the administration at Cook Children’s to start a clinic here in Burleson! So many of my friends all over the community were so thrilled when they finally heard Cook was coming!” As both of her children - and now her grandchildren have grown up here, she has been delighted to take care of children (and grandchildren!) of friends. “I always enjoy hearing how all the families are doing and love for them to keep bringing new little babies for me to take care of!”

When Cook came to Burleson, they understood being part of the community meant being here when the patients needed them, but also supporting the community. You might see the some of the providers and staff proudly wearing their “Cook Children’s” blue peaks logo at community activities such as Relay for Life, Honey Bike Tour, numerous health fairs, Boo Bash – just to name a few. Many of our young soccer players and their families may be familiar with Ginny Ciriot, one of our Nurse Practitioners at Cook Burleson, here in the office as well as on the soccer fields, as she has been the Referee Director for the Burleson Soccer Association for the past six years. “When my own children started playing soccer, I knew nothing about the sport. But I believe a family that plays together stays together, so I learned with them, and here I am, still involved with young athletes and their families after all these years and still loving it – both on and off the field!”

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THE FUN One of the first things you might notice when you meet Dr. Lanna McClain might be her smile, but the next thing when you glance down just might be her shoes. She wears VANS that have cartoon or superhero or princesses or other kid-themed patterns on them which she likes to wear for her patients. “Even as an adult I know how intimidating it can be to go to the doctor. I figure if I can start a conversation about fun shoes with a 3-year-old having to come to the doctor, and start talking about his favorite superhero, or her favorite princess, then we can ease some anxiety about the visit. And besides…it’s just fun!”

THE FUTURE In almost ten years, the Cook Burleson Clinic has grown from 1 full time and 1 part-time pediatrician and staff, to currently 3 pediatricians and 2 nurse practitioners and a fully staffed office to see our patients when they need to be seen. “It is a tremendous privilege and honor to have parents bring their most precious treasures and invite us to be a part of their family and be called their ‘Doctor’, and one we all take seriously,” says Dr. Vert. We have tried to adjust and grow and meet the growing needs of our patients and their families. Jade Prather, our newest member of the healthcare team, is a nurse practitioner who comes here with practical experience both in the busy and fun life as a school nurse, as well as a hospital nurse. And she also knows the struggles and joys of being a working mom. “I have always worked – through college, nursing school and NP school, and can relate to parents coming in exhausted, with a little one who is sick and up all night. I think that is why it is so important to have a familycentered clinic to take your little ones, because we have all been there, and can speak not only with medical expertise, but also with some practical experience and compassion and empathy!” JCL

Wherever your road leads from, we hope when you walk into this clinic, you do feel at home, like family, and know you and your child will feel welcome. And you and your little one leave feeling better!

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E D U C AT I O N

Learning TO

STAND By Madison Simmons Photos by Madison Simmons Photography

hen Karen Matejka looks back over her life, she sees a direct path leading her to Holy Cross Christian Academy. She began her career with Holy Cross, then just a preschool, 24 years ago and has led the school as the administrator for the past four-and-a-half years during a time of growth. The private school now boasts 240 students and plans to add a high school in the future. Matejka looks forward to expanding the school and continuing its mission to prepare young people for the world that lies ahead of them.

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Humble beginnings

Every day Karen Matejka drives onto the six-acre Holy Cross campus, two miles south of downtown Burleson, she feels a bloom of gratitude. Sure, things break and sure, the school needs more space—they have their eyes on 13 acres adjacent to the existing property—but Matejka remembers the days when the school’s existence seemed uncertain, In 2004 the church that sponsored the school dissolved its ties to Holy Cross. The school, originally housed in a chapel on Johnson Avenue, became homeless and had no funding. If they missed a school year parents would have no choice to find another school. Ms. Matejka, at that time a teacher, remembers staff scrambling to find parents to form a board of directors. That summer they spent long hours at board meetings, dreaming up ways to save the school. Crestmont Baptist Church stepped up and allowed them to rent space for the 2004-2005 school year. Matejka recalls hard times and cramped quarters, but this generosity gave them enough time to find a longtime solution in an unlikely source—the old skating rink at the edge of town, on Tarver Road. “We became the proud owners of 1500 pairs of skates, the whole package,” Matejka said. A child-size pair of roller skates sits in her office to remind her of the origin of the school. The last knock on the door looking for the skating rink came in 2014, Matejka said. Parents stepped up, offering to buy materials, offering their trades at cost, to complete the buildout of the school at breakneck speed. Now Holy Cross has added more buildings and grades. “Every time we thought, this isn't going to happen, the hurdle was melted down,” Matejka said. “It was really neat how God worked.”

Every time we thought, this isn't going to happen, the hurdle was melted down. It was really neat how God worked.

From country to metroplex

Growing up, Karen Matejka had one dream—to teach at the same school in her hometown, Caldwell, that her grandmother had taught at. She did everything right, worked hard and secured her degree from Texas A&M. But the job went to her best friend, leaving Matejka unmoored. “I was pretty disappointed because that was my life goal. Little did I know God was just setting things up the way he needed them to play out,” Matejka said. About two years later her husband, Kelly, had a job opportunity in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Matejka could not imagine living outside of Caldwell, but agreed. Moving from a small-town where she knew everyone to the metroplex was a challenge, compounded by her twoyear-old twins. “There I had two two-year-old babies, by myself and no friends, I was going crazy,” she said. A few friends recommended she look into Holy Cross, then just a preschool. She gave them a call in August, knowing they would not have any spots available, and begged the school to take her two girls. Spaces had just opened up. Karen began teaching there the next year and never left. “I just really felt like I’d found my home and where I was supposed to be and what I was supposed to do,” she said.

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I just really felt like I’d found my home and where I was supposed to be and what I was supposed to do. God first

Every student at Holy Cross knows Karen Matejka and she knows every student. Each morning watches over the crosswalk and ushers students to the school, greeting each by name. “That’s important, to know that you’re known,” she said. The teachers at Holy Cross all share in this philosophy, she said, and get to know as many students as they can. Matejka grins speaking of the teachers at Holy Cross. “They consider teaching their calling,” she said. “It makes it easy, because they want to do the best they can do for our students.” The school believes God’s vision must precede all else, Matejka said. Unlike all public schools and most Christian schools, Holy Cross provides daily chapel for its children. Matejka leads chapel, with help from other staff.

Right now, the school has set its eyes towards a distant, but not so distant, dream— adding a high school. First, they have to focus on developing the middle school. Holy Cross has accreditation from Association of Christian Schools International, meaning the school does not have to put the same emphasis on standardized tests that public schools have to. This leaves more time for things like chapel, for field trips and for a rich and well-rounded curriculum. A picture of a group of beaming middle school students sits in Matejka’s office. She beamed with pride talking about those students, the first middle schoolers to graduate having had her as their principal. She goes on to name their accolades and talks about attending their high school graduation next May. Matejka takes pride in Holy Cross graduates. “When they leave here they know how to stand on their own two feet,” she said. JCL

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E D U C AT I O N

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HOMETOWN JUMPERS

National Competitors By Jessica Neff Photos provided by Shelley Beaumont

and members of ZZ Skippers

sk most school-aged children about jumproping and you’ll probably hear that it’s something they do occasionally in PE or out on the playground. Most adults will tell you that it’s something they were never great at, but once and a while they throw it into their workout routine. But ask any of the folks in Grandview, Texas about jump-roping, and they’re going to tell you about the ZZ Skippers.

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It started twenty-five years ago with the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original coach, elementary teacher Trina Griffith, and has been handled with love and devotion over the years after Coach Griffith passed the reins onto others when she retired. Today, one of the coaches is an alum of the ZZ Skippers, happy to pass on what she has learned to the next generation of jumpers. Braukel Bishop, a teacher herself now at the new Grandview school campus, spent eight years as part of the team and now has a son who is starting his first year as a jumper. You see that a lot with the ZZ Skippers. More than one current member of the team had a sister or brother who encouraged them to follow in their footsteps and take over the ropes for them as they moved on from the team.

Shelley Beaumont, mother of team member Lexi Beaumont, is also a coach for the ZZ Skippers. Even though she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work for the school district, she said she wanted to do her part to ensure that the jump rope team stayed alive, so she stepped in when there was a need for another coach. The ZZ Skippers are not just a group of kids who get together after school to enjoy skipping rope with each other for fun. They are a competitive jump rope team working hard every week to promote the sport not just at home but across the country and around the world. What they do is take what was once a simple playground activity and combine it with gymnastics, choreographed routines, and music, turning it into a heart-pounding show that brings audiences to their feet.

THE ZZ SKIPPERS ARE WORKING HARD TO CREATE EXCITEMENT FOR COMPETITIVE JUMP-ROPING IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND ACROSS TEXAS.

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Jump-roping has a long history in the United States, with Dutch settlers being credited with introducing it to the country. It was two New York City police detectives, however, that came up with the idea to turn it into something more competitive. In February 1974, the first Double Dutch tournament took place and a new sport was born. Today there are multiple organizations that promote the sport of jump-roping throughout the United States. Grandview’s ZZ Skippers are members of USA Jump Rope, a national organization that holds workshops, camps, and seminars for members. They also conduct championship tournaments at the state, regional, and national level. This year, a group of the senior members of the Grandview team will be competing at the national tournament at the Wisconsin Dells in June. It will be a time of competition, but also seeing old friends, meeting new ones, teaching, and learning. What sets competitive jump-roping apart as a sport is that it is not seen as only team versus team. It is about what they can all learn from one another. While there is competition, there is no animosity that is found in so many other competitive sports leagues. There is no hoarding of secret techniques, but instead an open dialog and encouragement across team lines to show one another how they can improve their skills, how to nail that trick every time, and how to really impress the judges. “Jump rope is family,” is what every member of the ZZ Skippers says. That statement applies from one team to the next, and especially within their own team in Grandview. The senior team members spend part of their practice time helping to coach the younger members. The older kids, most of whom have been jumping for almost their entire school careers, want to pass on what they have learned to their younger teammates. They want to keep fanning the f lames in their small town, keep the next generation of jumpers excited about the sport, and encourage anyone who wants to learn to jump to be part of the team. The ZZ Skippers have been to several competitions over their 25-year history, even visiting New York City in December 2017 for the Double Dutch Classic invitational. They were one of only thirteen teams selected to take part. To prepare for these trips, the team spends a lot of time hosting jump rope clinics and workshops, taking part in physical education conventions, and Jump Rope for Heart events. They can be seen at local parades, basketball halftime shows, and St. Jude’s charity walks showing off their amazing choreographed routines for cheering crowds. Videos of their performances can be found on their YouTube channel, ZZ Skippers.

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“JUMP ROPE IS FAMILY,”

IS WHAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE ZZ SKIPPERS SAYS. When asked about the possibility of jump-roping becoming an Olympic sport one day, the team gave enthusiastic nods, saying that it definitely qualifies as a competitive sport that should be considered. With competitive cheerleading being recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee, opening a door for the potential to be part of a future Olympic event, they could be paving the way for the sport of jump-rope to find a place on the international competition as well. Principal Katherine Stewart says that the ZZ Skippers “have been a tradition for over 25 years that reaches all students across the district.” The team has been an inspiration and a point of pride for the small town outside of the DFW metroplex. While many people would describe the town as small and quaint, the ZZ Skippers call it amazing, fun, caring, and supportive. The team relies on the support of its community to help fund trips to competitions, with one of its more memorable fundraisers including some zebra-striped

flamingos that community residents would pay to have “flock” to a neighbor’s yard. The flamingos would be moved from yard to yard each night, spreading the fun and the school spirit throughout the town. The team of jump ropers from a small Texas town has done amazing things over its history and it will only continue to blow people away with their performances in the future. They would love to see even more competitors from neighboring cities and communities, and that will only happen by promoting the sport they love and encouraging other schools to start their own teams. The ZZ Skippers are working hard to create excitement for competitive jump-roping in Johnson County and across Texas. The team wants to see more people get involved. So get jumping, sign up for a workshop, and come cheer them on at events. JCL Sources: http://www.nationaldoubledutchleague.com/History.htm https://usajumprope.org/page-20-About.html

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H OMETOWN H APPENINGS

CRAZY 8 MINISTRIES ANNUAL BANQUET Crazy 8 Ministries of Johnson County held their annual Dinner/Auction celebrating all of our sponsors and supporters on December 4, 2018. State Representative Dewayne Burns was the emcee and keynote speaker, Lisa Schwarz, addressed the crowd. Live and silent auction items brought revenue to support the mission of Crazy 8 Ministries. We had over 400 people in attendance from Johnson County to support our community counseling service and our housing program. We are looking forward to our 2019 Dinner/ Auction scheduled for December 3, 2019. PHOTOS BY TANA HOWELL

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T R AV E L & O U T D O O R

UPON THE

Wings of

HOPE By Larue Barnes Photos provided by Wings of Hope Equitherapy

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AT WINGS OF HOPE IN EGAN, CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES ARE ASSISTED BY EQUITHERAPHY.

h e covered arena was busy at Wings of Hope, a therapeutic horseback riding center in Egan. Volunteers stood by with gentle horses, waiting for the next equestrian to get their turn at riding for an hour. There was no rush. Voices were kind and encouraging. It wasn’t just riding lessons….it was much more.

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of Hope at age three that words began to have value Riders were participating in equine-assisted activities and meaning for him. He fell in love with his horses for children and adults with unique physical, mental and learned the importance of his words. Before he was and emotional challenges. Wings of Hope is a healing four he had advanced to another horse and learned to sanctuary for many. use reins. He still has speech therapy for pronunciation, Allison Gross, Development Director, explained that currently there are 80 riders who come here once but his vocabulary is ahead of children his age. It was so a week. They are met by the exciting to see a program that same volunteer and the same I have worked for and loved WHEN YOU HAVE NO gentle horse at the same time. for 15 years, through my eyes as a grateful mom.” Consistency is important to their CONTROL OVER YOUR Many of their riders have riders, aged 3 to 90 years. LIFE, AN ANIMAL IS AN been diagnosed with cerebral She explained, “Most of our palsy and spina bifida, Down riders have neurological cognitive EMPOWERING EXPERIENCE. and Chromosonal Syndromes disorders. The autism spectrum and multiple sclerosis. is served well here since there However, stroke victims and cardiac patients have been is no confrontation or judging by the animal. There is strengthened by riding, she said. PTSD patients respond acceptance.” to a tranquil trail ride on the grounds which allows for Gross knows first hand how equitherapy helps. meditation and the joys of nature. “Our son, Grady, was born prematurely,” Gross The stars of the therapy are the horses---all 22 of said. “He communicated, but his words could not be them. They have been donated and have undergone a understood. We took him for speech therapy when he was two. But it was not until he began riding at Wings trial period and training.

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Gross explained, “We love our horses. Our first choice would be show or ranch horses because of their good work ethic. Usually they are around 10 or 12 years old when they come here. We have some 25 to 30-year-olds who have given us 10 or more years of service.” To understand the heart of Wings of Hope it is helpful to know about how it began. In 2000, this reporter interviewed the co-founder of Wings of Hope, Margaret Dickens. She explained how she and Patti Pace felt the need for equitherapy in Johnson County. “I headed up the equestrian program at Odyssey Harbor (in Keene) for 10 years,” Dickens recalled. “The resident children there were emotionally disturbed from abuse, abandonment---unspeakable situations. They were children no one else would take. Many were violent and so very, very troubled. But they loved to ride. When you have no control over your life, an animal is an empowering experience.” The forced closing of Odyssey Harbor was still a painful memory for Dickens. “Children---170 of them--were ripped out of our hands and taken, screaming and crying from us ---holding tightly to garbage sacks that held their only possessions as they were loaded into vans. It was so heartbreaking.” She said the Board was so sold on the equestrian program that they told Dickens and Pace that if they started up another program, they would donate all of Odyssey’s equipment and therapy horses.

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When Odyssey’s equestrian equipment had previously been stolen, Monty Moncrief of Fort Worth came to their rescue. Dickens said, “He brought his credit card to me and said, ‘Get whatever you need.’ I was very conservative in what I bought, but before his death he wound up funding our first year of Wings of Hope.” The $200,000 15,750-square foot complex was entirely funded by donations. Dickens commented, “All of our riders are disabled. There are those with spina bifida who have never laughed or cried. Yet, when they ride, they get so excited. “And for the person who has never walked---riding shows them the rhythm of walking. Their hips move like a walker’s. Often, their muscles start working in response.” The Wings of Hope facility includes a barn, covered arena, offices, and 25 wooded acres in Johnson County. It is a premier accredited center certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. The certified instructors have had extensive experience with both horses and riders with disabilities.

Currently 70 volunteers staff the center, as well. Gross said 125 volunteers would be “golden.” To volunteer, she said there were few requirements. “No horse experience is necessary. A volunteer must be at least 14 years old and be able to walk in the open and have a steady gait.” She admitted a patient nature was a plus, as some small children come a few times before they will agree to get on the horse. Some volunteers had been active for 20 years. Many are retired, but several teenagers serve. A volunteer standing by said that her time at Wings of Hope had become a lifestyle for her. Being able to help people and receiving joy had influenced her life off the beaten path out of the spotlight. Gross said the center is a Christian ministry. “We are non-denominational and have prayer groups between sessions for those who want to participate. We read Bible scriptures and pray for each other under the direction of Patti Pace, one of our founders.” Many come to Wings of Hope as a last resort. With some diagnoses, they feel their lives have ended. Horsemanship is a by product of what they learn. Gross smiled, “It’s interesting. I guess you would say they transfer their skills. Parents tell us that when their child goes home often their focus improves and their homework becomes more organized.” That gives hope. JCL

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To become a partner at Wings of Hope, 4200 County Road 806, you may volunteer your time in grooming and tacking horses, leading horses in class, or side walking with a rider. By assisting, you are helping bring needed resources and inclusion for children, adults, and their families, struggling with lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challenges. Volunteers must be 14 or older and willing to work one to two hours a week. No experience with horses is necessary. The core purpose of Wings of Hope is to provide hope and healing through gentle horses and the love of God. There is a weekly charge of $30. Scholarships are available. Donations are crucial. For more information, call 817-790-8810, or go to www.wingsofhopehorses.org

H O MET O W N L I VI NG A T ITS B EST

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A God-Sent Zoo at Dunham Farm By Madison Simmons | Photos by Madison Simmons Photography

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odd Dunham has had two constants throughout his life: a heart for God and a heart for all the animals of the world. When he moved his family to Texas in 2007, the pastor combined these passions into a ministry on 21 acres of land in Burleson, The Dunham Farm. On the farm he and his family raise show rabbits and chickens and introduce youth to life on the farm, via a youth ministry program with Hope Church. “There’s something about them,” he said of his love of animals. “They’re fascinating to me. It’s a miracle, the miracle of life.”

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A heart for animals

“You know that movie, We Bought a Zoo?” Todd Dunham said, sitting at his kitchen table one winter morning. “Well I’ve made one.” Throughout his life Dunham has raised every animal he could get his hands on, from hedgehogs to alligators, pheasants to exotic cats. Animals marked Dunham’s childhood in rural Colorado. His father and grandfather both farmed in the Western Slope. His grandfather, he recalled, used old methods, eschewing a tractor for a mule-pulled plow. For Dunham and his three brothers, waking up early to feed the animals and muck pens was a part of daily life. “We all had to do chores, but I was the one who really enjoyed and took to animals,” Dunham said. By the age of five Todd Dunham had begun to raise his own animals, a little collection of lizards and rodents. His family referred to it as “Todd’s pet store.” As he got older he expanded his collection, devoting all his free time and money to his animals. “My brothers would buy games, and as we got older, they went on dates, but all the way through

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my money went to animals, pens, and feed,” he said. For his senior portraits in high school Todd posed with his buddy Toby, a bobcat he raised and took around for rides in his truck. He and his wife, Denise, raised their four boys to help with farm work. These days they have decreased the numbers of animals, favoring the quiet and gentle nature of Netherland Dwarf rabbits and Silkie chickens. They also raise golden pheasants, a beautiful breed with jewel-toned plumage. The youngest, Cameron, 16, has taken to the animals, just as his father did. He began showing rabbits on a national level a decade ago. Cameron has won “Best Display” of Netherland Dwarfs three times at the American Rabbit Breeders Association National Convention and the American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club Convention. He, with the help of a friend, does the bulk of the farm chores every morning. The Dunhams have bred their animals to have a laid-back, friendly disposition, making them well-suited to 4H and FFA kids looking for animals to raise.

The Dunhams have bred their animals to have a laid-back, friendly disposition, making them well-suited to 4H and FFA kids looking for animals to raise.

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“They’re just fun, they’re adorable. I work with people, so the things people are excited about I'm excited about,” Dunham said of his choice of animals.

A leap of faith

Faith brought the Dunhams to Texas. “We came to Texas on faith, that God had a plan for us and that we were supposed to be here. We didn’t know all the details,” Dunham said. Dunham, a pastor for many years in Colorado, had attended conferences at Hope Church of Fort Worth and admired their ministry. The opportunity arose to take part in a yearlong leadership training at the church. Seeing an opportunity to maximize and deepen his ministry, Dunham moved the family. As it turned out, senior pastor and founder, Harold Bullock, had a dream of working with a farm on a youth ministry program. Farm life, with its themes of life and death and the backbone principle of diligence, provides fertile ground for lessons. With his extensive background in husbandry, Dunham was the perfect man for the job. After a

year he became an associate pastor at Hope Church, overseeing youth ministry, from middle school to college. “I sold everything we had and bought this property and said, ‘I'm all in, let’s do it,’” Dunham said. The Dunhams hold leadership programs at the farm as an offshoot of youth ministry at Hope Church. City kids come spend a week on the farm, families come out to picnics and every year the Dunhams host a spring festival for church members. “This is what the farm became. This is a facility where we have had the opportunity to train hundreds of young people, not only in character development, what it means to walk with God for a lifetime, what it means to be a Christian,” Dunham said. The Dunham boys received these lessons growing up, doing chores every day. “It taught them diligence, consistently, repeatedly doing something every day. Every day of the week cows need to get milked,” Dunham said. “No matter what happens in life, the ups and downs, you still have your responsibilities.” JCL

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Joshua Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association 90

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101 S. Main St, Joshua

817-558-7447

JCPAAA is a 501C3 nonprofit organization benefiting the Joshua Police Department. The JCPAAA provide civilian assistance to the Joshua Police Department with Neighborhood Night Out, 4th of July and other community events in the area providing refreshments, bounce houses etc. The Joshua Police Department hosts a CITIZEN’S POLICE ACADEMY. The Academy is a free 10-week program allowing Joshua citizens to explore the inner workings of their Police Department.

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H O MET O W N L I V I NG A T ITS B EST

T R AV E L & O U T D O O R

Always a Family Joshua Deer Processing Being a close-knit family, our time honored values are reflected in our business practices. We appreciate our friends, family, and customers in their loyalty.

By Connie Lewis Leonard Photos provided by Dana Bruce of Joshua Deer Processing

oshua Deer Processing just celebrated their thirtieth anniversary. The first deer season, they processed 363 animals. Last season, they processed over 4000 in sixteen weeks. Customers bring their game from all over, and some, like their first customer, Monte Byers, have been with them from the very beginning. The business is a success story, but it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come quick or easy. It is truly a labor of love.

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The real love story began in 1972 when fifth grader Tim Bruce moved to Joshua. He told his friend Robby Davis he was going to marry Dana Russell one day. As the boys played basketball, Tim would say, “If I make this goal, I’ll marry Dana!” She graduated two years before him. Their friend, Roy asked her if she would go out with Tim, and she asked, “Tim who?” Although she had never considered dating someone younger, she agreed. “My best friend, Marianne and I went riding around with Roy and Tim. We had a blast, and Tim caught an armadillo for me. I was hooked!” As their love grew, they wanted children. After several miscarriages, Dana had to quit her job to make that happen. Tim loved processing deer and received his meat cutting certificate from TSTI in Waco in 1982. To supplement their income, Dana’s father, David Russell, gave them his dairy barn and persuaded Tim to remodel it to be suitable for deer processing. All Tim needed was a nudge and a place. Mr. Russell was Tim’s biggest encourager. Dana helped wrap and stamp the meat, made all the phone calls, kept the books, and did payroll. That first winter, she lost their first mid-term baby boy at twenty weeks. Dana said, “It was a devastating time for us, but Deer Processing did help us financially.” Once they outgrew the old dairy barn, Dana’s dad saw the old abandoned Thrift-Way Gas Station (Baker’s Station). Mr. Russell took Tim down to check out the dilapidated building. Tim took one look inside and said, “Heck, no, David!” Russell laughed and once again, encouraged Tim. “You can do it. You’re a carpenter. You have family and friends who will come and help.” He was right. Tim leased the building from Thrift Way Oil Company and paid them off with yearly, seasonal payments in five years.

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Tim and Dana were finally blessed with two beautiful, creative girls. Kerri and Nikki have been involved since they were little. When they went down to visit their daddy, they would literally lay on a pile of deer and make “deer angels” with their mama screaming, “Ticks! Ticks! Get off those deer!” Kerri always decorated the deer shop for Christmas, until she graduated from TCU and began teaching at Joshua High School. Kerri played guitar and sang her way through TCU on local patios. She married her high school sweetheart, Randy Cisneros, who worked the front during high school and eventually wrapped meat, too. Randy graduated from UTA, got a job with J Taylor accounting firm in Fort Worth and no longer has time to help out at the shop. The last two years, Dana drove their youngest daughter Nikki back and forth to The Art Institute of Dallas three days a week and still worked deer season. Nikki graduated with a BFA in Media Arts and Animation. She does contract work for Superior Concrete in Cleburne, helping design tiny houses, fences, fireplaces, etc. Dana said, “She helps me out in a big way by keeping laundry and dishes done, as I have NO time for household duties during deer season. Tim and I may have lost four babies, two mid-term boys, but God blessed us in a huge way with our girls and our son-in-law! We are so grateful!” The love story extends to the dozen employees. Meat cutters, Dan Schleicher, Robert Bonner and Tim’s righthand man and manager, Derek Hardy, have been with the company the longest. Tim recruited Dustin Harris, their third meat cutter, from another deer processing plant that went out of business. Don Carter made the smokers, Randy Johnson built the rail system and Tim’s best friend, Mark Lancaster, helped in many ways. Robert Lacey and Keith Moore were major cutters for years.

H O MET O W N L I V I NG A T I TS B EST

Tim smoke sausage, and we just can’t say enough about Dana said, “We have had so many amazing people him. He takes care of any electrical problem that arises. throughout the years help us with our business, and Our brother-in-law, Greg, a master electrician, brought in we feel like we provide them all a great atmosphere to more power with larger electrical service as the business work in. Mine and Tim’s moms both bring desserts at grew. Our nephew, Cameron, said when he was younger times. My sister, Julie, used to write tickets and check that he just wanted to grow up and work at the deer shop in customers in the early years. Tim’s sister, Karmen, with Uncle Tim. He helps still writes tickets most on the front when he gets a Sundays. My Daddy used to The loyal customer base returns chance. do all the horn mounts and “We have a couple of European mounts, but now the love. Their first customer ever, special young people who we have Mike Conrad and October 1988, Monty Byers, were first in the deer shop Jason Moss who do those in their mothers’ wombs— for us, and Claude, who brought in a deer this season. Preston Bonham and ‘dips’ European mounts. Caitlyn VanWeezel, who We have our same chiliboth grew up to work in the shop with us. Then, Eric, maker and tamale maker from long ago, Terry Massey David, Eric, Clayton, another Derek, Tyler, now another and Moses Diaz. Allan White has made our jerky for Tyler, Jr., Michael, Keegan, I can’t even name them all. 23 years and counting. Along the way, we’ve picked up We’ve had so many great young people helping us on a couple of Hardy boys, who are excellent help. Our the front end. We’re very thankful for all those who have ponytail-sporting cool cat, Jimmy Parker, retired. God helped through the years—the Thetford’s, Leroy, Theresa, literally sent the Canfield brothers our way, Jez and Zech, C.A., Brandon, Clint & Whitney, Johnny, Keith, Dennis, and their family come to help from time to time. From Keith —seems we have doubled-up on some names over Michigan, they are masters of all trades. Great at anything the years.” they do, and they can do most anything! Jose Nava helps

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The cutters begin their day between four and six a.m., so Dana cooks at least three times a week for all the employees. Sundays, when they easily check in 150-200 animals, Dana supports her husband and their faithful employees by cooking a nice meal. Many years ago, Tim asked Dana to stop bringing him food because the other employees didn’t have time get food. So, Dana began fixing food for everyone. Some of their favorites are: homemade chili, goulash, cornbread, Mexi-Ranch Casserole, Tater-tot Casserole, Cleta’s Hawaiian slider sandwiches. Occasionally she gets Grump’s burgers, Roscoe’s BBQ, Arby’s, FastTaco. On especially long days, she’ll surprise the guys with Blizzard’s from Joshua Dairy Queen! “Mmmm, nothing like an ice-cold blizzard to warm the soul.” The loyal customer base returns the love. Some customers bring in homemade breads, candies, cookies, cakes, pizza. Dana said, “Tim is the hardest-working man I know. He had to smoke, cut and wrap 900 pounds of links so he could take me out for our thirty-sixth anniversary.” Mutual love and respect form the foundation of their successful marriage and business. JCL

H O MET O W N L I VI NG A T I TS B EST

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HOME & GARDEN

SPRING GARDEN GUIDE By Eren Hays of TENDED Garden | www.tendedgarden.com

The only way to know for sure where our food comes from is to grow our own. And growing an edible garden is easier than ever!

e all want to feed our families the best food we can afford. But a simple stroll down the produce aisle of the local grocery store can be full of difficult decisions to make. Organic? Local? Seasonal? GMO or non-GMO? Which foods are more nutritionally dense? What do these new labels mean? And can we even trust what we are reading? The only way to know for sure where our food comes from is to grow our own. And growing an edible garden is easier than ever! And not having enough room for a large veggie plot is no longer an excuse. Many edibles grow in containers and are just as happy...and delicious.

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Grow edible plants in pots or existing flowerbeds.

Containers for vegetable gardens can be almost anything. Plastic or clay flower pots, galvanized buckets, baskets, window planters, old wash tubs, large coffee cans and even old dresser drawers are great garden containers. Make sure your container has a few drainage holes in the bottom. If not, a hammer and nail will help you create a place for extra water to escape your container. You can use regular soil in your containers, but potting mixes specifically mixed for gardens are much better. Mixing one part compost to two parts planting mix will increase fertility.

Raised beds are a great way to start your edible garden.

If you want to grow a bit more than a few pots will hold, raised beds might be the best option for you. It will amaze you how much produce can be grown in two small 4ft x 6ft beds. Use cedar for the side boards and wood screws to make your bed last longer. To keep weeds and grass from growing up into your raised beds, line the bottom with landscaper’s cloth.

Get your hands dirty!

During these early months of spring, the soil is just beginning to warm up. And here in Texas, we can still get a late season freeze. So watch the weather and have an old bed sheet ready to throw over any tender plants if it looks like it might freeze overnight. Most of the plants listed below tolerate cooler temperatures well, but it’s always good to be ready. Start with making a short list of the fresh fruits and vegetables your family eats. Then pick a few of the foods listed that you and your family eat the most. For example, if your family eats pizza every Friday, fresh vine ripe tomatoes would be a superb choice for your garden. You might love the look of purple okra and think you should grow green peppers, but if your family won’t eat them, it’s not economical to put the time and money into growing them.

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This time of the year, local nurseries and home improvement stores are full of healthy seedlings ready for their new home in your garden. Seedlings purchased at discount stores or hardware stores can perform just as well as those purchased from local nurseries. Just make sure your new plants get adequate water until their root systems are established.

March into April

Early spring is salad season. This is the time of the year to grow most of your greens, or what gardeners call cole crops. The plants listed below tolerate cooler temperatures well, but always keep an eye on the weather. Plants to consider include: Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Collards Cucumbers Herbs like basil, oregano, thyme and sage Kale Lettuce Mustard Spinach Peas Radishes

April into May

This is the season we’ve been waiting

for! The average last frost date for Texas is April 10th - not that we couldn’t get a frost after that date, this is Texas after all….you never know. But for the most part, the soil is warm and the danger of frost is behind us. So, now is the time to plant all of the good stuff most of us have been itching to grow. As we get into the hotter days of May, make sure everything stays adequately watered, especially if you are growing in containers. Plants to consider include: Green Beans Black Eyed Peas Carrots Cucumbers Eggplant Herbs Melons Peppers Yellow Squash Zucchini Tomatoes

Last thoughts on growing

Growing your own veggie garden can seem a bit overwhelming, but do not get discouraged. There are many books at the library to assist you and online sources are invaluable. Just make sure you are reading about growing in Texas specifically. Growing seasons vary

greatly even within the South. Growing in Arizona is very different than growing here in our area. Consult your nursery staff or visit the local Agriculture Extension Office for more help. Also, gardening is becoming so popular that many cities have garden coaches that are willing to guide you through the seasons for a small fee. Just remember, gardening is a process and a learning experience. As in life, we never have it all figured out. Even the most experienced gardeners learn something new each season.

5 REASONS TO GROW YOUR OWN 1. Your kids will be more likely to eat veggies 2. Growing your own will save you money. A 5ft x 5ft raised bed can grow enough food for your family. 3. Gardening is a workout. 4. Getting your hands in the dirt teaches us about our Heavenly Father, the real Master Gardener. 5. Unplugged family time outside!

February Planting WEEK 1

CABBAGE, ONIONS

WEEK 2

POTATOES, RED OR WHITE

WEEK 3

SPINACH, TURNIPS

WEEK 4

BEETS, BROCCOLI, LETTUCE

• Potato, red or white: plant Feb 12 to 19 • Onions: plant Feb 1 to 19. Always use slender transplants. • Cabbage: plant 1st week of Feb. Always use transplants. • Spinach: Feb 15 to 20. Use seed. • Turnips: Feb 15 to 20. Use seed. • Beets: Feb 20 to 27. Use seed. • Broccoli: Feb 22. Use seed. • Lettuce: Feb 20 to 28. Use seed and plant small amounts every few days for a staggered crop.

March Planting WEEK 1

CARROTS, CAULIFLOWER

WEEK 2

SWISS CHARD

WEEK 3 WEEK 4

SUMMER SQUASH, TOMATOES

• Carrots: March 1 to 7. Use seed. • Cauliflower: March 1 to 7. Use plants. • Swiss chard: March 8 to 15. Use seed. • Summer squash: March 29 to April 7. Use seed. • Tomatoes: 4th week of March. Use transplants.

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April Planting WEEK 1

GREEN BEANS, SUMMER SQUASH, TOMATOES

WEEK 2

SWEET CORN, WATERMELONS, CUCUMBERS, CANTALOUPES

WEEK 3

PEPPERS

WEEK 4

OKRA, BLACK-EYED PEAS

• Green Beans: 1st week. Use seed. • Sweet Corn: 2nd week. Use seed. • Squash, summer: 1st week. Use seed. • Watermelons: 1st and 2nd week. Use seed. • Tomatoes: 1st week. Use transplants. • Cucumbers: 2nd week. Use seed. • Peppers: two weeks after tomatoes [peppers need warm soil]. • Cantaloupes: 2nd week. Use seed. • Okra: 4th week if soil temperature is above 50˚. • Black-eye Peas [Southern Peas]: 4th week if soil temperature is above 50˚. This also includes Purple Hulls, Crowder or Cream Peas, Improved Pintos.

March Planting WEEK 1

OKRA, BLACK-EYED PEAS, CANTALOUPES, SQUASH

• Okra : 1st and 2 nd week if soil temperature is above 50˚ • Black-eye Peas [Southern Peas]: 1st and 2 nd week if soil temperature is above 50˚ This also includes Purple Hulls, Crowder or Cream Peas

• Squash: 1st and 2 nd week. Use seed. • Cantaloupes: 1st 2 nd and 2nd week. Use seed.

H O MET O W N L I V I NG A T I TS B EST

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HOME & GARDEN

Less Means More BY TO R I M O R T E N S E N

n a crisp, cold day back in early January we moms stared into the lights of our still standing Christmas trees, bathing in the remnants of fleeting Christmas joy. We proclaimed that 2019 is going to be our year. The year we get it together. We were going to lose 10 pounds and put the laundry away, read the word of God more and Facebook less, build up our savings accounts, find the meaning of life and unpack our suitcases on the day we get back from a trip... in this new year we would finally get our lives and our homes in order. This year we would finally… be happy.

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Yet here we sit post spring break, the weather has warmed, days have lengthened and what do we have to show for those big, bold resolutions? Probably less than a lot, maybe even not a thing. So what if we are right on track to accomplish exactly zero of the truly life changing things for which we set out? What if we feel like we let ourselves down again? Our lives are not more orderly, more meaningful or more purposeful, than they were in 2018. What if, in fact, the literal and mental clutter is ever present? Experts Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known as “The Minimalists,” say the place in which to

By cleaning the clutter from our lives, we can then make more room for the most important things in the world, the dream life type things: better health, stronger relationships, a life full of passion and deep spirituality. Will all the stuff we’ve bought actually rob us of our happiness? begin to chip away those big elusive #happylife items… is first, by simply tackling our clutter. Millburn and Nicodemus have become wildly popular after their documentary, Minimalism, was released on Netflix in January 2019. The pair encourages us (and their 4 million other followers) to ask how we might live more meaningful lives with less and invite us to surround ourselves only with things of value. By cleaning the clutter from our environments, we can then make room for the most important things in life: better health, stronger relationships, a life full of passion and deep spirituality. If we are putting off the chore of cleaning up, cleaning out and putting things in a meaningful order, in turn, leaving our daily environment cluttered, disorganized, filled with things that lack importance, it could be keeping us mentally and spiritually disorderly too. Is it possible that our mess is actually keeping us from happiness, from a blessing, or even keeping us from being a blessing to others? What would we do with our time if we didn't have to spend all of it cleaning stuff up? How

would it feel to sit and study God's word or to make dinner in an orderly home, filled only with things that we care deeply about? Our lives are full, really full - we have careers and home-based businesses, entire SUVs crammed with children who play sports and have what seems like constant school projects and we have spouses with half a dozen hobbies of their own. How could we possibly minimize anything at all? We need so much stuff just to get through a regular day-in-thelife. The Minimalists agree that this lifestyle of doing more with less, looks different on each and every person, but the path leads to the same place: a life with more time, more money, and more freedom to live a more meaningful life. This sounds much like that dream life we had planned for 2018, am I right? So without sending the children off to boarding school or the husbands back to their moms’ houses, what are a few ultra basic things families can do to start thinking like minimalists… in say… a month or less. Because while we do have a lot of extra stuff, what we don't have, is a lot of extra time.

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DAY 3

31 Days of Thinking Like a Minimalist via www.theminimalists.com/month/

DAY 1: If your destination is happiness, consumerism is

not a through street. Purchase things you love and need and nothing more.

DAY 2: Every possession should serve a purpose or bring joy to your life.

DAY 3: Experience a calmer kitchen by stowing inactive appliances in cabinets and drawers. DAY 4: Start your day with one small victory: make

your bed.

DAY 4 DAY 9: Slow the heck down. There is a vast difference

DAY 5: Establish a simple morning ritual. A pattern of

between being busy and being focused.

DAY 6: Enjoy your clothes more by paring down your

DAY 10: Reuse, recycle, relocate: instead of trashing your unused clothes, furniture, and household items, find them a new home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; donate your excess stuff!

success that leads to a more productive day overall.

wardrobe. Get rid of the clothes you hate. A minimalist wears clothes she loves.

DAY 7: Get that darn TV out of your bedroom! DAY 8: Make letting go easy for your entire household â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

place a donation box in a closet or garage.

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DAY 11: Eliminate paper clutter and organize old photos by throwing a scanning party.

DAY 12: Make decluttering more fun and endurable with

an accountability partner.

DAY 13: The easiest way to organize your stuff is to get rid

of most of it.

DAY 14: The price of our material possessions extends well beyond the price tag. They also require your time and attention.

DAY 15: Let go of just-in-case items with the 20/20 rule.

You can obtain almost anything you need for less than $20, in less than 20 minutes from your current location.

DAY 16: Let go of sentimental items that no longer bring

you joy.

DAY 17: A clutter-free vehicle helps us focus on the

road ahead.

DAY 21

DAY 18: Let’s use our technology more intentionally – as

tools rather than pacifiers.

DAY 19: Digital clutter is different from physical clutter. DAY 20: We don’t need to own a thing to enjoy it. DAY 21: A clean desk is the foundation of a calm workspace.

DAY 22: Avoid sale price (fool’s price). If you don't want it

badly enough to pay full price, do you really want it that badly?

DAY 23: Gift experiences, not stuff. DAY 24: Embrace the junk drawer. But clean it out every

90 days.

DAY 8

DAY 25: Simplicity is for (almost) anyone. Anyone with an open mind, that is.

DAY 26: A life with less is an inherently tidy life. DAY 27: A simple life is a healthier life. DAY 28: Unfilled space is fulfilling. DAY 29: More is less: the more stuff we have, the less we have. Less time and less money.

DAY 30: Declutter your social media feeds. DAY 31: Once you’ve simplified, keep simplifying. 1 Corinthians 14:40 “Let all things be done properly and in an orderly way…”

H O MET O W N L I V I NG A T I TS B EST

111

HOME & GARDEN

Neighbors Helping Neighbors:

Christmas in Action By Alan Snagg Photos provided by Christmas in Action

or some in need, Christmas makes a second appearance, in April, thanks to the folks at Christmas in Action. "We not only are restoring the homes within our community, but we are spreading hope to those within the home that someone truly cares," said Teresa Bednar, the local secretary and one of the founders of the program in Cleburne (along with Peter Svendsen, who is also still on the board of directors).

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The program, which has at least 13 branches, mostly around the southern part of the United States, was formed in 1973 as the brainchild of Bobby Trimble in Midland. His intent was performing repair and rehabilitation work in the community every April, hence the original name Christmas in April. The organization was formed as a result of a lesson he was teaching to a group of young men in his Sunday school class. He was focusing on a segment of society that is largely overlooked when it comes to getting assistance from local, state, and federal government programs, the elderly and disabled living on fixed incomes. Christmas in Action Greater Cleburne was organized in 1999, with the first Work Day taking place in 2000. Each year they perform most of their projects during the Community Work Day, usually the first weekend of April. Applications are accepted between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30. They also accept applications throughout the year for emergency repairs such as gas leaks, electrical hazards, wheelchair ramps, or other conditions that make the home unsafe for occupants.

We not only are restoring the homes within our community, but we are spreading hope to those within the home that someone truly cares.

The name was changed from Christmas in April in 2003. Bednar said the original name was a result of the original elderly lady Trimble and his Sunday school group helped exclaiming, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is just like Christmasâ&#x20AC;Ś Christmas in April!â&#x20AC;? "The City of Cleburne did not have any programs to assist elderly homeowners with maintaining their homes," Bednar said. "Mayor Tom Hazelwood found out about the Christmas in April program in Midland and brought the program to Cleburne." To date, hundreds of homes in Johnson County have been repaired by Christmas In Action. All charitable contributions come from individuals, churches, businesses, civic organizations, trusts, and foundations. "Our Bishop of our church (Jay Hatch ) asked two of us to attend (a meeting about the organization). We were touched by what we heard. Such a Christian-centered program of love caring for others reminded me of the scripture in the Bible, "If we have not charity we have nothing at all,'" Svendsen said. "I knew this was something I had to be involved in. Before I knew it, I was elected president with Mario Rendon as vice president. We put together a committee of strong community Christian leaders." While the program is mostly geared toward the lowincome elderly (over age 65) and disabled homeowners in the community, Bednar said they are now assisting veterans and their families with no age requirement. They have also assisted single-parent families that are lowincome if they have no other means to making repairs.

"In April of 2000 we did our first project on the eastside of Cleburne for a Mrs. Helen Rogers," Svendsen reminisced. "Her husband had passed away. He served our country in the military and worked at the Kimbro Clinic for years. She was the sweetest lady. She was partly blind. "When we lifted up the old mattress we found a long kitchen knife and ice pick. That was her only defense against a burglar. She had cookie sheets under the carpet where holes were. The joy that filled her heart filled all of ours to see this sweet lady safe in her own home." Bednar recalled one of the most memorable projects she and her fellow volunteers with CIA worked on. Adult Protective Services were in the process of evicting an elderly homeowner due to dangerous conditions. "This was her family home of three generations, and she had nowhere else to go. The elderly homeowner had become a recluse within her home and was only able to reside in one bedroom," Bednar recalled. "The ceilings had caved in throughout the remainder of her home. She had no running water or electricity. Racoons and rodents

were found living within the home as well. "The project was a long 10 months from start to completion, with many, many, many volunteer hours, but was very gratifying for all volunteers and businesses that donated their time, money, and services to the homeowner," Bednar said. "This project not only removed a blight and dangerous condition, repaired an older historic home, but most importantly it restored faith and hope to the homeowner that someone cared." Average home repairs for CIA are between $5,000 and $6,000, Bednar said. However, they get donations from numerous local businesses, along with civic organizations, community help organizations, and individuals who care about restoring and rebuilding their community and helping those in need. Bednar added that the city of Cleburne has also provided a grant for $50,000 toward home repairs for elderly within the city through a revitalization program entitled HOPE (Helping Occupants Prosper Everyday). Lois Cochran of Cleburne is a beneficiary of Christmas in Action.

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"What they have done for me has been far beyond my hopes and dreams," Lois said. "Then Teresa applied for a military grant because of my husband having been in the service, which blessed me with a new roof. "It was just a miracle of God that it was all taken care of, and at no cost to me. I thank them from the bottom of my heart." The Community Volunteer Blitz in April is where most of the work gets done. Major projects include repairing or replacing exterior siding, installing new roofs, installation or repair of windows and doors, exterior painting, repairing electrical and plumbing hazards, removing of junk debris in hoarding conditions, property clearing, yard work and even installing new flower beds. Throughout the year, other emergency projects include building wheelchair ramps and decks for handicap homeowners, removing electrical and plumbing hazards, installation or repairing roofs, and bathroom remodeling with showers and easier access for physically challenged occupants.

Nothing makes a community better than volunteers helping their neighbors.

As for volunteers, “All one has to do is ask and be ready to work,” Bednar said. "CIA accepts anyone, any age, to volunteer on a project. Even a 5-year old can clean out flowerbeds and plant flowers." Volunteers may register on line at www. christmasinaction.net, or email info@christmasinaction. net. Volunteer teams may register early by calling 817774-2022 to discuss and choose a project from the list of approved applicants. "Nothing makes a community better than volunteers helping their neighbors. People need help due to various circumstances, and Christmas in Action has built a network of people and resources that can assess needs and collect materials," said volunteer Chris Saunders. "I’ve been fortunate to work on several projects, taking my kids with me, which will hopefully show them the importance of community and the impact volunteers have on others." Most everyone associated with CIA are volunteers. However, they do hire some skilled laborers. Bednar said CIA is truly a "God-given inspired program to helps the truly needy. Christ said if ye have not Charity you have nothing at all." JCL

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Adams Tack.......................................................... Back Cover

Hill College................................................................................. 7

Alan Insurance Agency......................................................118

Jeans, Jewels, and Jesus Boutique............................. 106

Allstate Insurance – Angela Warmath.......................... 46

Joshua Chamber of Commerce....................................... 31

Alpha Omega Pest Control.............................................. 50

Joshua Deer Processing.................................................... 67

Amani Massage..................................................................... 58

Joshua YMCA.........................................................................74

Benage Dental Care............................................................ 98

Keller Williams....................................................................... 67

Berry Stewart Eye Center............................................... 106

LNL Feed and Supply....................................................... 106

Burger Bar............................................................................... 22

Loaf’n Dog ............................................................................. 22

Burleson Chamber................................................................ 17

Madison Simmons Photography ................................... 39

CASA of Johnson County................................................. 66

Massey’s BBQ........................................................................ 23

CB Finchers Western Wear.............................................. 47

Metal Mart...............................................................................118

Chisholm's Restaurant ...................................................... 99

Open Door Charities - Emergency Relief Network...... 59

Citizen’s National Bank.........................................................2

Opportunity Resource Services..................................... 82

Citizens Police Academy...................................................90

Orange Theory Fitness...................................................... 46

Cleburne Railroaders.............................................................3

P&P Plumbing Co................................................................. 83

Cleburne Regional Airport................................................ 51

Pandan..................................................................................... 23

Co-Ed Cuts.............................................................................118

Pathway Church..................................... Inside Back Cover

Cook Children's..................................................................... 83

Pinnacle Bank ....................................................................... 24

Davis Jennings Construction........................................... 99

Prime Source Construction............................................ 106

Dr. Michael Phillips..................................................................9

Rendon Road Animal Clinic................................................5

Enviroscapes Nursery & Landscaping........................... 16

Rio Mambo .................................................................... 19, 120

F6 Plumbing........................................................................... 99

Roden Realty......................................................................... 25

Family Toyota of Burleson................................................ 38

Self Storage Solutions........................................................ 66

Farmers Insurance - The King Agency......................... 82

Stevan Buren Flooring........................................................ 51

First Financial Bank............................................................. 30

Steve Keefer Art Photography.........................................74

Fly By Night Cattle Co Steakhouse............................... 20

Strother & Strother Law Firm.......................................... 99

Freedom Power Sports ..................................................... 58

Sunday Dinner Catering...................................................107

Gone With the Wind Remembered

Texas Health Huguley Hospital....... Inside Front Cover

Museum and Gift Shop...................................................... 98

The Rim............................................................................ 19, 120

Hamilton General Store...................................................... 91

Top Texas Realty...................................................................118

Heart to Heart Hospice...................................................... 98

United Way.............................................................................90

Heartis Senior Living............................................................ 91

Vera’s Hair Shop..................................................................107

Heritage Trails Nursing and Rehabilitation................. 59

Williams Trew - Cody Lee.....................................................1

Heritage Place Independent Living............................... 50

Woolard's Jewelry............................................................... 98

Hidden Creek Golf Course – City Of Burleson.........107

Yellow Rose Propane & Exchange................................. 47

Please thank these advertisers for making this publication possible! H O MET O W N L I V I NG A T I TS B EST

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