Midlandswoman fall 2014

FALL 2014

COMPLIMENTARY

CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING WOMEN

Real

Norman

Rockwell: Behind the camera

Trusting

HIM

Meet the Clark Family

Meet

Courtney Griffin Freeman

In this Issue

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www.midlandswoman.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lori Samples Duncan loriduncan86@gmail.com

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES Cathy Williams info@midlandswoman.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lori Samples Duncan Peggy Elliott Patti McGrath Amy Pittsenbarger Carol Ryall

From the Editor

Celebrating the Survivor in You!

2 Back to SCHOOL!

Graphic Designer Lindsey Duncan

PHOTOGRAPHY

Robert Patrick Image Design Joe Willis

20 Trusting HIM- The Clark Family

Events

3 What’s Happening?

Health & Wellness

Let’s Talk

5 SC Science Academy- Stem Education for Middle and High

School 6 Southeastern Esthetics Institute 9 Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera at the CMA

Business & Web Directory 27 Contact our Advertisers

Personal Note

28 The Gift of Children

Downtown Divas!

Find us on facebook!

Midlands Woman Magazine Woman 2 Woman Publishing (803) 785-4475 104 Pine Tree Drive Lexington, SC 29073

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. © 2014

25 MEET Dr. Kris O’Neill 27 Self Regional

10 A Splash Above with Monica Allen 12 Va-va-va Voom Vintage: Bombshell Beauty Salon 15 Cafe Strudel 16 Forest Lake Travel

Professional

19 The Buyer Knows Best – Earth Available Realty, Inc., Buyers’ Representatives

www.midlandswoman.com

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am getting excited as we start racing toward 2015. I can hardly believe there are less than twenty weeks left in this year. It seems like just yesterday I was trying to remember to put 2014 instead of 2013 on payroll checks!

I remember being a teenager and wishing for the next milestone. Sixteen came and went and I wanted to be 21. Isn’t it funny how now at 40 er.. something I find myself wishing I was 29 again? It isn’t that I mind being forty… er…. something, it is just all the changes that come with that age. Some of those I could do without!

I hope for the remainder of this year I can just stay in the present. I don’t want to worry too much about tomorrow or dwell at all on the past. Things change and that is just part of life. In fact I heard some one say once, the only thing that stays the same is that things change. I want to take the time to appreciate the gift that today really is. I want to be aware of everything that is going on in my life today. I want to take time to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.

In this issue, we tell another story of survival. We tell a story about survival because we want women to know they can survive.

September is Childhood Cancer awareness month. Last month Lexington lost another precious child to childhood cancer, and probably others we don’t even know about. Richard Culliver received his complete healing early in the morning on August 24th.

I like to think he and Kennedy Branham are together again, in the arms of God. We must continue to fight this awful disease that takes our children from us.

This issue was a tough one. I hope you enjoy it, but more than that I hope it changes you in some small way. I hope it makes you take a moment and think of things just a little differently than you did yesterday.

I would ask that you support our advertisers. It is through their support that Midlands Woman Magazine is able to be complimentary. They not only support what MWM is doing in telling the stories of real women in Midlands, they have also made a commitment to you to provide quality services and products right here at home. Support local business. 90% of that money stays right here in Midlands to support you.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

God Bless and Happy Fall, Y’all!

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Events

What’s HAPPENING? Columbia’s Greek Festival Columbia, SC September 18, 2014 -September 20, 2014 Thursday-Saturday,10:00am-10:00pm and Sunday, 12:00pm-8:00pm

Join us at the South Carolina’s 28th Annual Greek Festival on September 18-20, 2014. Featuring live music to traditional folk dances, from the Orthodox Faith to the Greek Culture and Traditions, join us to celebrate.

Choose from our many festival shops... take home a Greek treasure... Art, ceramics, jewelry, icons, apparel, souvenirs, music, creative gifts, and more. Choose from a variety of authentic Greek foods throughout the festival, from entrees to pastries to Greek coffee, as well as imported wine and beer. Take a break from shopping and relax to the sounds of Greek music as you enjoy your meal.

Columbia Beads and Jewelry Show, Columbia, SC September 20, 2014 -September 21, 2014 Radisson Hotel and Conference Center 2100 Bush River Road Columbia, SC 29210

Beads and Jewelry Show will be held on September 2021, 2014. The show features exhibitors from all over the United States that supply quality beads, beading supply, findings, Lamp work, Ready to Wear Jewelry and Jewelry Making supplies to inspire your creativity. Bead Show and Jewelry Show is open to Wholesale and Retail Bead and Jewelry Buyers and to the Public. Hours: Saturday 10AM - 5PM; Sunday 10AM - 4PM.

South Carolina State Fair Columbia, SC October 8, 2014 - October 19, 2014 1200 Rosewood Drive Columbia, SC 29201

The Palmetto State’s largest event, located in the capital city of Columbia, is one of the best values in family-oriented entertainment. Enjoy mouth-watering food, thrilling rides and exciting entertainment. Rides, games, animals, exhibits, competitions, food, musical entertainment, roving entertainment, stage acts, grandstand shows and much more.

Oktoberfest Columbia, Columbia, SC October 10, 2014 -October 12, 2014 3005 Devine Street Columbia, SC 29205

Columbia’s Oktoberfest offers authentic German food, beer, entertainment and fun! The second weekend in Oktober brings live oompah bands, homemade authentic German food and lots of great beer to our big backyard at Incarnation Lutheran Church! Hours: Fri 11-8, Sat. 11-8, Sun 12-6.

Christmas Craft Show and Holiday Bazaar, Lexington, SC November 8, 2014 -November 8, 2014 Lexington Middle School (cafeteria) 702 North Lake Drive Lexington, SC 29072

Over 50 Crafters and Vendors with Silent Auction to benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank. Hours: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.

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Lets Talk

SC Science Academy

STEM education for middle and high school!

By: Patti McGrath

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f you haven’t heard the term STEM in the news recently, chances are you will in the very near future.

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and employers are looking for people with skills in these areas. In fact, 62% of jobs today require STEM skills.

Due to the demand for STEM related skills, the South Carolina Science Academy (SCSA), located at 2015 Marion Street in downtown Columbia, will open its doors on August 21, 2014 at 11:30am. In an effort to guide students toward a career in STEM related fields, the Academy plans to expose them to STEM disciplines early in their educational careers.

The SCSA is a tuition free, public charter school that will actually begin classes on August 25, 2014 for students in grades 6-9. With each subsequent year, another grade will be added, and eventually the Academy will be open to student’s grades 6-12.

“The mission of the SCSA is to develop innovative leaders by providing a diverse student body a world-class middle and high school education with a science focus within the core academic courses that emphasize STEM,” states Dana Hutto, the STEM Coordinator for the school. “The Academy will provide a safe and supportive learning environment where students are provided the tools to actively engage in the learning process, develop strong leadership qualities, and learn to solve problems in a way that will provide the skills necessary for future challenges in a scientific and technological society.”

Since jobs in STEM related

The SCSA will be special because the students will be part of a learning community that is centered on core educational and character values is now to prepare the students who will become the workers of the future.

fields will become even more prevalent in years to come, it is vital students become interested in these fields at an early age. If you pique a child’s interest, the interest can be developed over the years, both in high school and college.

According to the 2011 K-12 STEM Ed Report Card for SC, which is published by the Alliance for Science and Technology Research in America, South Carolina will need to fill 85,000 STEM related jobs by the year 2018. Also, 91% of STEM jobs in the United States will require some level of college. Since the work force of the 21st century will need STEM skills, the time

“The SCSA will be special because the students will be part of a learning community that is centered on core educational and character values,” Hutto says. “We are committed to academic excellence. Our students will acquire the academic knowledge and understanding to become successful in attaining degrees in technology or liberal arts.” Preparing students to attend college is particularly important as 56% of all jobs in South Carolina (1.2 million) will require some sort of education beyond high school by 2018.

“It is our hope that SCSA students will become responsible, engaged citizens who are prepared to be global leaders in the future,” she continues.

“Our curriculum will use a blended learning model where

the use of technology is integrated with face-to-face instruction. Teachers will also utilize problem-based learning in which core concepts are investigated through real world experiences and examples.”

Since a solid background in STEM classes is becoming an important part of a student’s future success in the workplace, it is imperative that a school such as the SCSA exists. And, by the time a student is a senior, their course of study will be determined by a STEM track selected from areas such as physics, natural science, life science, or computer science.

SCSA is currently enrolling students, and students can enroll any time during the school year. If you would like more information about the school and the importance of STEM in a student’s future, please visit the school’s website at www.scscienceacademy.org or call (803) 540-3421.

www.midlandswoman.com

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Meet Courtney Griffin Freeman By: Patti McGrath

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ll of us want to look our best, and Courtney Griffin Freeman is training estheticians at the Southeastern Esthetics Institute (SEEI) to help us reach that goal.

SEEI originated in 2012 as an addition to a medical spa. “I am a partner in a Sumter-based medical spa, Southeastern Laser, where we provide clients with Botox injections, laser hair removal, dermal fillers, chemical peels and other results-oriented procedures,” Freeman explains.

“SEEI began as part of my medical spa business in Sumter until we moved the school part

of the business to Gervais Street in downtown Columbia. I saw a need in the industry for advanced training in the esthetics field while also seeing a general need for a statewide facility.” Moving the school to Columbia was a great decision since it has generated students from across the state and extending into Georgia.

Freeman became interested in starting a school because South

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Carolina requirements lack advanced esthetics knowledge as it related to results-driven treatments. “Clients are looking for highly skilled and educated professionals. In the past, esthetic professionals would have to acquire any further education from vendors or workshops if they wanted to reach a level in their career enabling them to attain financial freedom,” Freeman

says. “At SEEI, advanced education is included in the required fundamentals curriculum. This produces more knowledgeable graduates, and thus, happier clients.”

“Esthetics is a booming industry which requires detailed knowledge to care for skin on a results-oriented level,” she continues. “Our goal at SEEI is

Lets Talk to prepare students for a modern career in esthetics at a level not found at other schools in the state. It is our passion to change the skin care industry by molding skin care estheticians into top of the line employees and business entrepreneurs so they may assist customers in achieving maximum results with their skin rejuvenation goals.” SEEI offers class sizes that have no more than ten students so they may receive the individualized training and attention they need. “You will find SEEI goes above and beyond to assist its students in learning, not only what is necessary for licensure, but other aspects of the esthetics field to help them build a long term and rewarding career for years to come,” Freeman states.

Freeman loves the career she has chosen. “When you help others succeed and reach their full potential, you succeed yourself,” she says. “I truly feel the same happiness and sense of accomplishment that my students feel on each graduation date. It’s inspiring to help others get where they want to be in life.” But, satisfaction in her job doesn’t only come from working with students. “Our industry is about

assisting clients in becoming their ‘best self.’ When we provide a phenomenal treatment and results for clients, their joy is our reward. It’s a chain reaction for success from every level!”

But, life isn’t all work for Freeman. “I’m a firm believer that a woman can truly balance it all. I am able to work a full day from 7:00am to 3:00pm, spend time with my son every single afternoon, schedule workouts at the gym, and go kayaking in the river down from my office on the weekends,” she declares. “We all have the ability to achieve a life-work balance that can encompass fun and inspiration in every area. There is nothing we cannot achieve when we have time management skills and are organized.”

That doesn’t mean that owning a business is always easy. “It is definitely not for those who are easily offended, fail to jump up quickly after a fall, or are not comfortable taking chances,” Freeman says. “Fortunately, I tend to thrive on chaos and enjoy challenges. Running a business keeps me on my toes at all times, yet it is also rewarding in every way.”

www.seestheticsinstitute.com www.midlandswoman.com

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Lets Talk

Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera By: Patti McGrath

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he Columbia Museum of Art announces a landmark exhibition of the most famous and beloved of American illustrators, Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera, on view from October 17, 2014,

through January 8, 2015. This is the first exhibition to explore in-depth Rockwell's richly detailed study photographs, created by the artist as references for his iconic paintings. Rockwell is known for his depictions of everyday life created with humor, skill, and emotion. However, it is little known that he staged photographs to make his popular covers of the Saturday Evening Post. Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera includes 50 photographs that show the careful procedure Rockwell used to make his art, as well as 16 original paintings and drawings, and takes viewers behind the scenes in the creative process of one of America's great masters.

"We are excited to bring to Columbia and South Carolina this first-ever exhibition exploring Norman Rockwell's inventive use of photography to set the stage for his memorable works of art," says Karen Brosius, CMA executive director. "In his artistic approach, Rockwell became known as the 'Kid with the Camera Eye' for his unerring talent and uncanny ability to capture such special moments. Behind the Camera uniquely presents the long-valued relationship between photography and painting while delighting viewers with the inherent charm, energy, and warmth of Rockwell's art."

props, and settings--are fully realized works of art in their own right.

Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera brings together prints of Rockwell's study photographs and original paintings and drawings from the permanent collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum linked to the photographs on display. The result is a fascinating frame-by-frame view of the development of some of Rockwell's most indelible images.

At the same time, the photographs themselves--painstakingly staged by Rockwell and involving an array of models, costumes,

Rockwell. In Behind the Camera, we get to see just how hard he worked as he used photography to carefully stage every aspect of what would become a magazine illustration.

Rockwell added and subtracted detail, moved objects around, and tweaked the expressions on the faces of his sitters until he got it right.

Behind the Camera is a wonderful behindthe-scenes look into the working method of an artist who created many of our most memorable pictures of American life."

"People think of artists as rebels, rule breakers, and bohemians," says Will South, CMA chief curator. "The greatest artists are also hard workers, and that includes Norman

People think of artists as rebels, rule breakers, and bohemians

The CMA is the last venue in the national tour of the exhibition. It is a last chance to see the selection of photographs, paintings, and the creative process of an American master.

"Norman Rockwell was a natural storyteller with an unerring eye for detail," says Stephanie Haboush Plunkett, deputy director and chief curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum. "This ground-breaking exhibition shows how that narrative instinct found its first expression in the artist's meticulously composed photographs."

Accompanying the exhibition is a beautiful, fully illustrated hardback catalogue entitled, Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera, written by Ron Schick with a foreword by Rockwell's son, John Rockwell (Little & Brown, 2009). Copies of the book will be available for purchase in the Museum Shop.

This exhibition is presented through the generosity of SCE&G, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, and Richland County. www.midlandswoman.com

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A Splash ABOVE with

Monica Allen By: Peggy Elliott

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rom April through September, Monica Allen is in or near a swimming pool, but she’s not just getting a tan and staying fit. She is cleaning, renovating, restoring and otherwise caring for those pools through her business, A Splash Above.

She started the business five years ago, and it has grown to the point that she and her five associates have to be careful about taking new contracts. Typically they clean more than 20 pools a day.

like inspecting our pools because it’s a waste of their time,” Allen said. She is the only female Certified Pool Operator in the state and is one of 12 members of the Board of Trustees that oversees the certification process.

“Then I go home and do all the accounting,” she said, chuckling.

She is tough with her commercial customers: “You’ve got 150-450 people a day going into these pools, so we have to be on top of our game, all the time. If you sign on the dotted line with me, you (the customer) play by my rules, because a pool can be a big health risk.”

Allen has worked in the pool industry since 1994. She earned a degree in business from Midlands Tech, but she found that working in an air-conditioned office didn’t suit her. “I just need to be outdoors, and I don’t mind getting my hands dirty,” she said.

More than 30 of the pools tended

by A Splash Above are commercial, like those at community centers and motels. These pools are governed by strict regulations monitored by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). A person or company must be a Certified Pool Operator to maintain these pools.

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Even though she started the business shortly after the 2008 banking collapse, customers kept calling, and she said it is because of the way she treats her customers.

“Honest, caring, loving … Our customers we know by first name. We go out of our way to make sure that pool is perfect for them,” Allen said.

“DHEC loves us, but they don’t

Her largest complaint about commercial pools is that the users

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ignore signage, and “they don’t know that that $2 bottle of beer can break, and if it cuts the liner, it could cost the owner upwards of $5,000.” On the residential side, she enjoys most working with pools in older homes, because their owners tend to take better care of their pools. Regardless of the condition, however, she takes her job very seriously and has a heart for younger swimmers in community pools.

“We provide swimmies for the kids if they don’t know how to swim. I don’t want any of them to be the next statistic, so children who don’t know how to swim and don’t have that, we give it to them. I take it out of my own pocket,” Allen said.

Her proudest accomplishments are restoring pools that others have given up hope of ever using. Foreclosure homes often have these kinds of pools, and she is asked to estimate the cost of filling in the pool and turning it back into a grassy. ‘This one pool had trees growing out of it, it was so bad. We cleaned it out,

redid the bottom, put in a new liner, and it looked like it had just been installed. That house sold within the month,” she said. The renovation cost turned out to be about $2,000 less than removing the pool. “My dad carries around pictures of the project, he’s so proud of what we did,” she said.

“Being the lone woman in the man’s world of pool maintenance is not easy, she said, because “everyone underestimates a woman, especially in this physical business.”

“You still get some men who look at you like you don’t know what you’re talking about. I just look at them and laugh,” she said, describing herself as a blond-haired, blue-eyed girl who wears a ball cap all the time.

“We’ve made something out of nothing. It’s just unbelievable.

Five years ago I wouldn’t have thought we’d be sitting where we are today,” Allen said.

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Va-Va-Voom Vintage:

Bombshell Beauty Studio By: Amy Pittsenbarger Photography by Robert Patrick Image Design

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ombshell Beauty Studio, located in downtown Columbia, is one of those special businesses that contribute something unique to the city. The studio offers a huge variety of hair cutting and styling services. “There’s such a level of energy in the studio. People are always talking about what really matters to them. It’s way more than some cookie cutter place, it offers a big city feel with that neighborhood familiarity,” Jenny Thompson, the owner and founder of Bombshell Beauty, explains, “We want people to enjoy our services and get truly top notch work!”

Jenny first started her artistic career in fashion design. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, she worked in the fashion industry for seven years before moving back to her hometown of Columbia to start her career, where she decided to try her hand at cosmetology instead. The rest has played out from there. She found that hair was the perfect artistic medium for her, and she went on to open her own studio in 2003 in the Vista with just

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one other stylist. She says she knew that Columbia needed a little “twist on the norm” and to be exposed to “truly artistic people who love what they do.”

Jenny has spent time in management positions at both restaurants and retail stores, but nothing compares to the joys and struggles of managing her own salon, she explains. “You learn what works and what doesn’t work. Experience makes you rich,”

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she says. Over the years, she has slowly moved up in the Columbia business community, towards opening Bombshell Beauty, which has a staff of 12. They see anywhere from 35 to 50 clients per day, and their talents are truly the best of the best. “I think we could survive in any city in any environment,” Jenny says proudly.

Bombshell Beauty has become a place much like its name -an exciting and vibrant place where people come to

DOW N TOW N DIVAS enhance their lives. Jenny describes it as her home and her family. She admits that it can be a balancing act to manage all of the different personalities of people at the salon. “I’m wearing so many hats (manager, stylist, mom, wife) and I’m trying to make everybody happy,” she says. Somehow, she always manages to make it work.

It is extremely important to be able to communicate with your hairstylist, she explains, as well as with your employees and co-workers. The stylists have a practice of sharing clients, which, Jenny says, allows their artistic talents to mingle. They also work to match clients with the stylist who best fits their style needs and matches their personality.

The decor of Bombshell Beauty is based on Jenny’s own notions of vintage style and pinup glamour. “The vintage vibe is purely my taste. My little world of interest is creating design,” she explains. With 1950’s bombshell icons like Marilyn Monroe as her inspiration, Jenny has launched her own unique style.

It’s about taking what you have naturally, embracing it, and doing the best you can.

We make you the best we can with what you already have.

Jenny and her staff work hard to make sure that their salon is welcoming and accessible for people of all types. They offer price points in the mid range, and they welcome people of all backgrounds and personalities to come in.

“I worked hard for everything that I have. Being able to run this place allows me to have a flexible and stable schedule, as well as give Columbia something different and super cool,” Jenny says with a smile.

For more information on Bombshell Beauty, check out their website at http://www.bombshellbeautystudios.com/index.html. www.midlandswoman.com

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DOW N TOW N DIVAS Nurturing early development, socialization, and exploration.

Otherwise referred to as,

The Little Gym helps children reach their greatest potential. From 4 months through 12 years, classes promote development and build confidence during each stage of childhood.

Discover your kid's happy place with our three week Introductory Experience for

Only $40.00!

Columbia 738-1115 路 Lexington 951-7235 www.thelittlegym.com

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CAFE STRUDEL

By: Patti McGrath

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have always been interested in good food, cooking, cookbooks, and entertaining. I have a collection of at least 350 cookbooks,” Marila Turbyfill says. “In earlier positions, in banking and at a computer company, I always planned any social event or gathering.”

It was this passion for entertaining and her interest in cooking that eventually led Turbyfill and husband Trip to open Café Strudel in 1997. But, it took years to develop into the business it is today. “As early as 1991, I became very interested in opening a coffee shop. After discussing it for a few years, we actually began with a shaved ice cart,” she recollects. “We went to festivals and set up in a parking lot for months before arranging a spot at Fort Jackson for a couple of years.”

“We upgraded to a larger trailer and added espresso, coffee and dessert,” Turbyfill continues.

“Then, I was driving down State Street in West Columbia one day after leaving Fort Jackson and saw a for rent sign in the window of a run down, very tiny space. I decided this was the place! Our family thought we were crazy, but with a lot of labor and love we began Cafe Strudel in 1997.

We are now in our third location on State Street and were able to buy and renovate the building where we are currently located.”

Turbyfill is originally from James Island, South Carolina. She attended both the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston before beginning a 17 year career in the banking industry. “I met my husband Trip in 1982 when he was stationed at Charleston in the Navy. We got married and the following year had a son, Kyle, and then moved to Hawaii for 4 wonderful years!

While in Hawaii we had another son, Christian. When Trip decid-

ed not to re-enlist, we decided to move back to his hometown of Cayce-West Columbia.”

Now that her three children Allison (from her first marriage), Kyle, and Christian are grown, Turbyfill says she and her husband stay very busy with restaurant duties and maintaining their home and garden. This is no small task as the restaurant has grown over the years.

“When we first opened Café Strudel, we served desserts, coffees, and sandwiches and have progressed to a full menu and bar. We strive to have quality food, seasonal dishes and local products,” she says. “We also like giving those in the kitchen creative freedom and I like to make suggestions based on customer feedback. Breakfast and brunch are our most popular items, but now we also have a wonderful night time menu!”

It took years of effort and determination to grow the restaurant into what it is today, but she encourages others with a goal of opening their own business not to give up. “I try to encourage local people, women especially, to pursue their dreams and always stay positive. Never, ever think failure is an option. It takes a lot of hard work, consistency, and determination. Success does not happen overnight,” Turbyfill states.

“I just hope people see me as positive force in pursuing and accomplishing your dreams,” she says. “We are living our dream every day!” www.midlandswoman.com

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FOREST LAKE TRAVEL with Daisy Miller By: Carol Ryall

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ravel and tourism make up one of the largest industries in the world, employing nearly 260 million people worldwide. Locally, Forest Lake Travel is a full-service Travel Agency which serves their clients with an excellence reflected by having been named "Best of Columbia" by the readers of The State Newspaper and Columbia Metropolitan Magazine for over 12 years!

Locally owned and operated, Joe Bouknight opened Forest Lake Travel in 1978. Back then, every airline ticket had to be hand-written. How times have changed! Today his two daughters, Daisy Bouknight Miller and Margaret Bouknight Bauer and their staff of twelve full-time Travel Advisors and eight Independent Contractors can handle all the travel needs of their clients electronically. Because of this, they are able to assist not only myriads of clients throughout the Midlands, but also clients located all over the nation.

Daisy Miller told me they are very fortunate to have such experienced Travel Advisors who have been with them for many years.

Their knowledge and experience is unsurpassed. Each of the Forest Lake Travel Advisors take special pride in getting to know their customers personally, understanding their wants, needs and priorities.

Forest Lake Travel is proud to be a member of Virtuoso, a network of the world’s finest travel agencies. It’s a by-invitation-only organization through which Member Travel Advisors have privileged access to exclusive amenities, travel offers, and rare experiences not available otherwise. With personal contacts at over 1,300 airlines, cruise lines, hotels,

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resorts, and premier destinations worldwide, your Virtuoso affiliated Travel Advisor puts their relationships to work for you.

Daisy Miller explained, “There are many advantages to planning your travel with a Forest Lake Travel advisor. Whether you’re the doit-yourself type or are looking for someone to completely take the reins, collaboration with one of our travel advisors eliminates much of the stress so you can focus on the excitement of travel.”

“We can save time, cut through the clutter, and can personalize trips tailored to your needs, interests, and budget. Our expertise and connections around the world help you travel better,” she continued. “We have access to the same (and often better) pricing as you can find online, and can secure VIP perks such as free room upgrades, daily breakfast, and other benefits that you can’t get on your own.”

“Another big advantage,” Daisy pointed out, “is that you have an Advisor available 24/7 before, during, and after your trip. This helps ensure your peace of mind, so you can relax and have fun.”

Forest Lake Travel can assist you with any

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type of travel from corporate arrangements, to Group Tours, Luxury Cruises, and Disney Vacations. They can work within any budget and accommodate any special needs, personal interest or preferences you may have.

Forest Lake Travel strongly recommends that anyone planning to travel outside of the United States have a passport. As Daisy explained to me, “The cruise lines don’t always require you to have a passport, depending on where you are going, but if you were to get sick or have an emergency and needed to fly home, without a passport in hand you probably would not be able to fly.” The information on how to get a Passport, when you need a visa and much more relevant material is available on their website, www.ForestLakeTravel. com. They also have a Facebook page.

When you have a relationship with a Forest Lake Travel advisor, you'll rest easy knowing your personal preferences are reflected in every aspect of each travel experience they design especially for you. Call them at (800) 554-8758 (803) 738-1520 or stop by their office located at 4505 Forest Drive in Columbia, to start planning your next trip or vacation. Bon Voyage!

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The Buyer Knows

Best

Professional

Earth Available Realty Amy Pittsenbarger

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uying a house can be a process full of anxiety. But it doesn’t have to be like that! In fact, Earth Available Realty is here to prove that it can be the exact opposite. Carol and Hugh Ryall, dynamic business

partners and a husband-wife team, work exclusively as buyer’s agents. The idea of buyer’s agents is a real estate movement which originated in California and eventually spread throughout the country. Essentially what this means is that the Ryalls work to protect the buyer’s best interest in today’s tricky real estate market.

“Our goal is to always to give the buyer peace of mind, to find the best home for them, and negotiate the best price and terms for their situation, whatever that may be,” Carol says.

Their agency has never listed any houses for sale, and they never will. This eliminates the possibility of ever having to ask their clients to settle for a dual or designated agent. They are totally and 100% dedicated to working for the buyer.

Carol says, “At the beginning, there were some challenges from the traditional real estate community because of the huge difference that buyer’s agents make to the transaction of a house sale. But over time, other agents in the area came to understand what buyer agency is all about, and Earth Available Realty has excellent working relationships with the other real estate companies in the Midlands who specialize in listing houses.”

Carol originally earned her real estate license in 1989 to help out a friend in Property Management, never expecting to eventually go into the business full time. However, in the fall of 1990, she was a single mother, looking for a salaried position, and not finding what she needed. When she eventually approached Hugh Ryall, a friend and real estate broker, about becoming a real estate agent, they ended up becoming business partners and opening a totally new real estate company, Earth Available Realty, Inc. in January of 1991. Hugh Ryall recognized the advantages of Buyer Agency early on and they were among the first in the Southeast to adopt this business model. Hugh and Carol married in December of 1992, and have continued work-

ing together ever since.

Earth Available Realty, Inc. services the greater Midlands area, encompassing a 50-mile radius around the city of Columbia.

They work with many first time homebuyers, as well as with mid-level and higher priced homes. “The first time home buyers want someone to guide them through the process, while the more experienced buyers are astute enough to recognize the advantages of having an agent who is working only for them,” Carol explains. They are the only exclusive buyer’s agency in Columbia, and one of just a few in the entire Southeastern US. Their hard work certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed. Hugh Ryall was one of the first twelve agents nationally to be recognized in the National Association of Realtors Buyers’ Agents Hall of Fame. Carol is the only agent ever to achieve lifetime membership in the Columbia Association of Realtors’ Circle of Excellence while working only with buyers.

Part of the process of buying a house is utilizing local connections and businesses. “Over the years we have assembled an outstanding team of providers we can recommend for anything our Buyers might need during the process, from lenders and lawyers to inspectors and cleaners. These folks only get recommended because they have given our previous clients outstanding service. We take no commissions or referral fees etc. from any of them. We just want them to work as hard for our clients as we do,” Carol explained.

And according to her impressive number of former clients, Carol has never been anything

but helpful in this process. “Carol is a detail oriented agent who was able to find the right school district, neighborhood and home for our family. In a declining real estate market we have been very pleased with the value our home has held. Additionally, Carol was instrumental in integrating our family into the community in which we moved,” Terry Kennedy says. “Carol happily took the time to show me all the houses that I was interested in seeing. She also gave some great advice about houses that I was interested in buying,” another former client, Jeff Hurley says. Meghan Matherly Matthews explains, “Carol has been an incredible source of support, a voice of reason, and a fantastic help in our search for a home and mortgage loan over the past 6 months.” “Carol’s priorities were to look out for our best interests through the entire process. That provided so much peace of mind, knowing that we weren’t getting taken advantage of by any behind the scenes maneuvering or buddy-buddy agent collusions,” Sergeant Musall says.

“It’s been a fun and exciting process. It started out as roller coaster, and now it’s more of a carousel,” Carol laughs. “It’s been amazing to watch the industry change in response to what we are doing.” Buying a house doesn’t have to be a stressful process where you feel like nobody is looking out for you! It can be a fun and relaxed process, and you can rely on Carol and Hugh Ryall to be there for you every step of the way. For more information about the many advantages of having a buyers’ agent who is working totally for your benefit, visit their website, www.earthavailable.com or check them out on Facebook. www.midlandswoman.com

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Trusting HIM The Clark Family

by Lori Samples Duncan photos by Joe Willis Photography

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Midlands Wom a n cel ebr ates the sur vi vor i n you Real Women

W

hen I asked Jennifer and Chad to talk to me about their daughter Cassidy Leanne Clark, I had no idea the affect it would have on me. I have often heard it said there is no greater pain than outliving a child. When I learned of their loss and the courage and strength they had to face it together, I felt it would be a perfect fit for Lexington Woman Magazine. If you are reading this and you have suffered a loss, I hope this article brings you some measure of comfort.

W2W: What has enabled you to go through such a terrible loss and find joy in your life again?

Jennifer: The only way we were able to survive losing Cassidy was because we have God and our faith in Him is what gives us the strength every day.

and die. Now watching your daughter get diagnosed... How do you continually trust a God who you believe allowed all that to happen?” I explained to him,

W2W: When was Cassidy diagnosed?

Jennifer: She was diagnosed with Leukemia at 3 and lost her battle at age 8 in 2011.

We talk about her every day at home. We try not to make it where we can’t talk about her.

W2W: How many children do you have?

Jennifer: Cassidy is one of 5 children. McKenzie, a fifteen year old daughter, Savannah, a thirteen year old daughter, Cassidy would have been ten now, Ansleigh is two and we have a four month old son Hayden.

W2W: How have you helped your children deal with the loss of a sibling?

Jennifer: Her birthday and the anniversary of her death are about a month apart. We take balloons on her birthday to the grave site. We talk about her every day at home. We try not to make it where we can’t talk about her. We talk about her almost as if she isn’t dead – but more like she just isn’t here.

W2W: Many would say “how do you keep your faith when something like this happens?”

Chad: The truth is I could write a book on that one question. There are two things: First, when I lived in LA where Myndi was from and I was a student pastor at a church there, my next door neighbor and I were out shooting basketball and he just brought it up. He said, “Man, I don’t believe in God.” He had worked for the LAPD and he continued to tell me, “If you have seen the things I have seen it makes it hard to believe in God. Now as a Private Investigator, I am always investigating people who are doing what they shouldn’t be doing. I have seen you wheel your wife away and take her to doctor appointments, and I have slowly seen her waste away

“This would be a whole lot more difficult for me to go through if I thought this was just some random act of nature and there was no purpose behind it. But I believe God does everything for a purpose. First and foremost, I believe he loved us with his whole heart and he showed us he loved us by sending Jesus to the cross. Just knowing there is a purpose in this and I believe God has a purpose- I can live with it because of that trust.

The other thing is the gospel. When you think about the gospel, so many times you can narrow it down to death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The gospel is so much fuller than that. The truth is God wanted a relationship and fellowship with us so much he created us knowing what would take place in the garden; knowing Adam and Eve were going to sin and that he would have to send his son to die in our place. If a God was willing to do that for me he is a trustworthy God. He is a God who loves me.

I find great confidence in knowing that because God loved me so much, he took on flesh and died for me.

There is a passage in John where many were offended and they “walked no more with them.”

So he looked at the twelve and said, “Will you also go?”

Peter looked at him and said, “Where am I going to go? I am sure you are the Christ and you have the words of life.”

I have told people (during this process) if I thought something else was better, I would have gone to it. But I am sure who Christ is and

www.midlandswoman.com

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“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

(Matthew 5:4)

The beauty of the retreats is that we have no agenda, no schedule to go by.

because I am sure of that, I can put my faith in Him.” Another important part is gratitude. “For us, early on when Myndi was sick one of the things we started doing and discovered it brought us a lot of comfort: we just praised God, praising him for who he is, what he was doing, I kinda learned when you are going through a trial, you get tunnel vision and all you see is what is right in front of you. That problem may be huge. But that is not the only thing going on in life. If you take your eyes off the problem and put your eyes on God then you realize this situation isn’t hopeless You take your focus off the problem and put your focus on Christ you realize God is working and there are a lot of things you can

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

be thankful for no matter how bad that one thing is. There is always so much to be thankful about.”

W2W: Was there was an incident with Cassidy or something she did that gave you peace?

Chad: She had already gone through three bone marrow transplants and we had just gone to Orlando with the Make A Wish Foundation. We had gone to Disney and SeaWorld and while we were there, she started running a fever. I wasn’t really concerned because I thought her immune system was low. After a visit to her doctor when we returned home, Dr. Collen Mcdonough was slightly concerned and sent us to Saint Jude. While we were there, they did blood work and let us know it didn’t look good and that it looked

Real Women

like a relapse.

So I was lying in bed with Cassidy and we were waiting on them to get the test results… and it just seemed like a good time to bring it up, so I said, “Cassidy you know you took your tests and the results are supposed to be here tomorrow.

They think the leukemia is back.”

She looked at me, and just kinda paused and I said, “You know if it’s back, there is nothing else they can do, but they can give you some medicine that will cause you to live a little longer.” She just looked at me and said, “Daddy, please don’t make me take more medicine, let me die and go to heaven.”

Up to that point she fought she fought hard! She wanted to fight and wanted to survive. Test after test, they thought she wouldn’t

survive and she did.

Cassidy had a personality where she just cared about everybody.

One night it was late into the process, probably a month or so before she passed. She couldn’t walk anymore and she slept in the room with her sisters. We kept a monitor in the room so I could hear her if she needed something. So one night she was laying there and as we were sleeping, she started calling and saying she needed to go to the restroom. She slept on the bottom bunk of the bunk bed and as I bent to pick her up and she said, “Daddy, don’t hurt your head.” She wasn’t much more than a skeleton at this point and she was worried about me. On the way back to bed, she started rubbing my back and said, “Daddy I don’t want your back to hurt.” I laid her back down

and the thought never crossed her mind as I returned to my room that I could hear her on the monitor. She just began to pray. She started praying for her friends at St. Jude who had can-

She had a heart for others and she wanted every single person to know her Jesus. cer and ask God to heal them. She began to ask God to be with their families and then she began to pray and ask that God would work in the hearts of those weren’t saved and they would learn to know Jesus the way she knew Jesus.

Then she finished it up with, “Lord when I die, please help my mama and daddy not to be real sad. Tell my mommy I am coming and when I get there we are going to have a picnic.” She just sang herself to sleep with a Christian song she loved. (Her mama is Jennifer and her mommy is Myndi who had lost her battle to a rare sarcoma when Cassidy was very young.)

Just seeing her peace, the way she dealt with three bone marrow transplants, the doctors nicking a main artery in her heart by accident and bleeding out on the table; and she was in ICU for about five weeks. She endured full body chemo and so much more.

W2W: Is there anything else you want to share about her life?

Jennifer: She had a heart for others and she wanted every single person to know her Jesus.

She would ask all the time, “Do they know Jesus?” She just loved life, she was fun and we called her Sassidy because she was so sassy.

There were laughter and tears as I talked with her parents about her short life. It was apparent that Cassidy knew she was loved and she knew she would get her healing. I wish God would have chosen to heal her in this life. My reasons are selfish. I would have loved to meet the brave little girl who fought so valiantly for five years and when she knew the time to fight was over, she gave in to grace and went home to be with her Jesus and her mommy.

www.midlandswoman.com

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www.drkrismoneill.com

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real Women

Professional

MEET Dr. O’Neill

By Patti McGrath

W

e all were asked what we wanted to be when we grew up at some point in our childhoods.

According to her grandmother, Dr. Kris O’Neill’s answer, even as a child, was a dentist. Dr. O’Neill actually made the career decision in high school. “I had taken an aptitude test and one of the recommended job choices for me was to become a dentist. It seemed like a good match, and it has been,” Dr. O’Neill says. “I absolutely love what I do and it is exactly what I want as a career. I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love every day!”

Dr. O’Neill comes from a family of physicians, and was the 5th generation in her family to attend the Medical University of South Carolina. “I wasn’t sure if I had decided to become a dentist from the unspoken expectation of being in the health care profession or if it was what I really wanted,” Dr. O’Neill explains. “I toured the dental school several times and met the Dean before I decided it was for me. After graduating, I joined a practice in Columbia in 1995 then on September 11, 2000, I

provide. “My newest and most exciting advance is being able to provide crowns in one day.

Using our CEREC machine we can scan teeth and then fabricate a beautiful crown. Patients come in and within two hours they have a new crown. It’s nice for our patients because it limits the amount of time they have to take off work to have the procedure done.” Another service Dr. O’Neill is pleased to offer is Invisalign, so her patients can get the straight smile they desire.

Everyone says they hate going to the dentist so we want to change that. We help patients with everything from dentures to implants to teeth whitening opened my own practice. Not only bad things happened on that date!”

Her dental practice provides both cosmetic and general dentistry for patients of all ages.

“My goal is to provide excellent dental care in a relaxed comfortable atmosphere,” Dr. O’Neill states. “Everyone says they hate going to the dentist so we want to change that. We help patients with everything from dentures to implants to teeth whitening.”

Dr. O’Neill is especially excited with new services she is able to

With such a busy work life, Dr. O’Neill does take the time to maintain a good balance between her personal and work life. She is the proud mother of Thomas, 19, a sophomore at Clemson, and Sean, 16, a high school junior. “I try not to worry about the office when I leave work,” she says.

“You have to work hard and play hard – have a hobby and a life outside of the office. I exercise as often as I can and try to get outside. You have to leave work at work.”

Of course, having fun is easier

when you like the area you live in. “The South is the best and I love the people in Columbia,” Dr. O’Neill states. “I love how big and small it is at the same time.

It’s great to be two hours from the beach or the mountains.”

What is her advice to any woman hoping to open a business?

“There are so many things,” she says. “Start by doing your research and work with qualified people. Hire a good accountant, and have a good team. Everyone needs help, so let others help you.” Dr. O’Neill says to re-

member your blessings each and every day. “You need to be able to trust the people you work with to do their jobs. When you are able to count on them, it makes life much easier.”

“Know you will have some bad days,” Dr. O’Neill continues.

“Just remember they will pass, and you’ll have great days too.

Prepare yourself for the ups-and downs. Just don’t let challenges stop you – let them motivate you!”

www.midlandswoman.com

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

Real Women

Health & Wellness

Oh, My Aching Back!

By: Carol Ryall

I

f this is your frequent (or constant) complaint, you may not realize that you have access to one of the nation’s most advanced spine surgery programs right here in South Carolina. Recognizing the national trend toward a Center of Excellence approach for complex health problems, South Carolina Spine Center was created by Self Regional Hospital to improve the way they care for back and neck pain. It is consistently ranked in the top 10% of all spine programs in the U.S. and is home to the state’s only integrated surgical navigation system which provides 3-D images of the spine, discs and nerves during surgery. For the greater convenience of their patients, all the necessary diagnostic testing from x-rays to MRI, and non-operative treatment is provided at the same location.

Something unique about the South Carolina Spine Center is its emphasis on nonsurgical treatment options to back and neck problems, in advance of spine surgery. This can include spine-specialized therapy, the use of spinal injections which can relieve pain symptoms entirely, or at least provide new information to the spine specialist about what is causing your pain symptoms. Dr. Karl Boellert, a fellowship-trained and board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, is proficient in pain-relieving cervical, thoracic, & lumbar epidural injections, facet injections, medial branch blocks, and radiofrequency ablation as well as sacroiliac joint injections.

If nonsurgical treatment options have failed, or if there are emergency symptoms, spine surgery may be necessary. If this is the case, the expertise of Dr. Boellert, and three fellowship-trained spine surgeons are available.

(Fellowship-training is the highest level of medical education possible.)

Some patients can benefit from new minimally invasive spine surgery techniques that enable them to have spine surgery in the morning on an outpatient basis and be home later the same day to recover in the comfort of their own home. Innovative developments in minimally invasive techniques have pioneered better ways for the surgeon to access the spine. In minimally invasive spine sur-

gery, a smaller incision is made, sometimes only a half-inch in length. The surgeon inserts special surgical instruments through these tiny incisions to access the damaged disc in the spine.

Minimally invasive spine surgery requires extensive training and experience to master use of the tools, but there is tremendous benefit for the patient. Because the incision is shorter, the surgeon isn't cutting through as much muscle and tissue to get access to the damaged area of the spine. Consequently there is a smaller incision and scar, less damage to tissues and muscles, less blood loss, less post-operative pain and a quicker return to activity.

The spine surgeons at South Carolina Spine Center each perform a high volume of spine surgery every year—typically well over 200 cases annually. They are frequently referred some of the most complex spine cases across the region. They have extensive experience with cervical myelopathy and deformity surgery as well as revision surgery. All of this wealth of experience translates into improved patient care for all spinal problems.

Self Regional Hospital has the most advanced operating theater available, complete

with the new BrainSuite imaging technology which offers tremendous benefit to the patient. This surgical navigation system integrates 3-D images from a CT scanner in the operating room with real time guidance of instrumentation that functions much like a GPS system, but is incredibly more accurate.

The surgeons can perform with a higher level of accuracy in terms of instrument placement, supported by the ability to check that a surgical outcome has been achieved prior to concluding the procedure. Using the Brainsuite® iCT technology, complex revision procedures can now provide pain relief to patients who have undergone spine surgery elsewhere and had less than optimal results.

Self Regional Hospital is the first institution in the Southeast to use this highly advanced OR technology. It provides the highest level of precision and accuracy available anywhere in the world, but it is located right here in South Carolina.

If your back is aching or your neck is stiff, you can get more information on the website, www.SCSpineCenter.org or call them at (864) 725-7272 or Toll free: (877) 513-7272.

The SC Spine Center at Self Regional Hospital is located at 115 Academy Avenue, Unit A, Greenwood, S.C. 29646. www.midlandswoman.com

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A Personal Note

W

hen I was thinking about my personal note to you some time ago, I thought about how I was going to write to you about how excited I was that Trey is headed to Furman. I was going to tell you how pleased I am that Abby is a Junior and how Colton is now (I can’t even believe it) a middle schooler. I was going to tell you about the fact Ryan has grown five inches in six months and how sweet it is that he still will let me hug him and read to him. Then something terrible happened.

It was just a regular evening. I was getting ready to go to bed when I heard an alert on my cell phone and picked up to find it was a Facebook notification from a dear high school friend. She and I had been friends for years. Angie and I went on trips together with our church youth group. We had reconnected on Facebook and I had really enjoyed watching her children grow and hearing about her life. She was always athletic and funny. She coincidentally married my second cousin. This particular night Angie was requesting prayers; her son had been in a motorcycle accident. She didn’t know the details. I stopped and prayed. Not because I knew Jacob personally, but because I had always loved his mother and because of that love, by extension, I love her children. After that prayer I went to bed. I charge my phone in my bedroom. Shortly after I laid down, it went off again. It was another childhood friend. She asked me to pray for Angie and Shannon. Jacob didn’t make it.

When Trent came into the room he was scared to death to hear me crying.

He didn’t know what had happened. I tried to explain my grief to him. How could I explain the very real pain I felt for this mother? As a mother of an eighteen year old son, I couldn’t help but put myself in her shoes. I didn’t weep for Jacob. I believed Jacob went straight to the arms of our heavenly father when he left his earthly body. I cried for his mom and dad. I cried for his brother, Drew and his sister, Ellie. I cried for my cousins and for Jacob’s aunts and uncles. I cried for all the hopes and dreams that Shannon and Angie had for this sweet life-loving boy who simply took a curve too fast and it cost him his life.

He was wearing his helmet. He wasn’t partying or showing off. It just didn’t seem fair.

July 8th is my cousin Kevin’s birthday. Now it is the day that Jacob Bullock was called home.

I write this to you, my Midlands community, about a boy you probably never met for a couple of reasons. The first one is I want my friends’ son to be remembered. He was a baseball playing, four-wheel driving, fun-loving young man who was loved by everyone who knew him. He loved his family. He loved his motorcycle. His favorite scripture was on his Instagram page, “Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” His mom said, “Which is fitting, since his motto was “90 or nothing.” His visitation was so well attended mourners had to wait two hours just to speak to his parents. What a testimony to this family and their impact on the Commerce community.

Another reason I share this with you is to remind you to cherish every single moment. We are not promised tomorrow. Love on your babies, and everyone else who means something to you. Be a blessing to someone. Lastly, I share this story with you to encourage my friends in Midlands, South Carolina to do what they are so well known for doing; pray for the Bullock family. Pray that God will wrap his arms around them and show them his faithfulness in a time of great sorrow. Pray they will still be able to find joy in life. Pray they will chose to live even though they may not want to at this moment in time.

Sometimes in life we get wrapped up in the silliest, pettiest things. Don’t allow the little things to rob you of what is truly important.

God Bless and Keep you,

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

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Celebrating, Motivating and Educating

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Art & Entertainment Colonial Life Arena......................................................................................4 www.LMCtix.com Forest Lake Travel...............................................................................................17 www.forestlaketravel.com Spinners Resort.....................................................................................................8 www.spinnersresort.com The Little Gym....................................................................................................14 www.thelittlegym.com Banking Security Federal Bank..................................................................................... 8 www.securityfederalbank.com Consulting Comprehensive Psychological Services, LLC.............................................4 www.comppsychsc.com Education SC Science Academy....................................................................................4 www.SCScienceAcademy.org Southeastern Esthetics Institute..................................................................6 www.seestheticsinstitute.com Florist Simplicity Floral.............................................................................................11 www.simplicityfloralinc.com Health Services Centa Hearing Center...................................................................................24 www.centamedical.com Columbia’s Care Services LLC.....................................................................24 www.columbiascare.com Doctors Express............................................................................................... 3 www.doctorsexpresscolumbia.com Kris M. O’Neill D.M.D., PA..........................................................................24 www.oneillkriscolumbiasc.com Forest Drive Dental............................................................................................17 www.forestdrivedental.com Self Regional Spine Center..........................................................................26 SCspinecenter.org Home Services A Splash Above Pool Services, LLC.................................................................11 Flooring America........................................................................................29 www.wefloorcolumbia.com Hotel Comfort Suites................................................................................................8 www.comfortsuiteslexington.com Homewood Suites by Hilton........................................................................17 www.homewoodsuites3.hilton.com Wingate by Wyndham..................................................... Inside Front Cover www.charlestonwingate.com, www.lexingtonwingate.com Insurance Ares Insurance and Financial Services......................................................14 www.victoria.ares@allstate.com Legal Services Taylor/Potterfield Family Law Attorneys..................................................29 www.taylor-potterfield-law.com Massage Therapy Massage Envy.................................................................................................24 www.massageenvy.com Photography Robert Patrick Image Design........................................................... Back Cover www.rpimagedesign.com Joe Willis Photography......................................................................................18 www.JoeWillisPhotography.com Real Estate Earth Available Realty, Inc..................................................................................3 www.EarthAvailable.com Restaurants Café Strudel.........................................................................................................14 www.cafestrudel.com Firehouse Subs.....................................................................................................14 www.firehousesubs.com Salon Bombshell Beauty Salon....................................................................................13 www.bombshellbeautystudios.com Shopping Carolina Couture................................................................................................14 www.carolinacouture.com Consign It.............................................................................................................13 www.consignmentshopcolumbia.com Copper Penny......................................................................................................11

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