WOMENSINC.NET
The Wedding Issue
MARCH 2018
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CONTENTS
M A R C H 2 018 WOM EN ’ S IN C . Editor Lori Quinn
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Cover Story
Feature Story
Breeding Wedding
Conway’s Classsic Touch
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18
Contributing Writers Jeanette Anderton Leah Ashby Cindy Beckman Detra Clark Marisa Hicks Colleen Holt Nancy Jackson Lindsey Jones Andrea Lennon Susan O’Keefe Jennifer Stanley Jenny Strange Kelly Sublett Chief Photographer Brandy Strain Art Director Jay Prince
Food
Crowd Pleasing Dips
Harper’s Hope
Springhiill family honors daughter’s battle by giving back.
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28 News & Events
January ribbon-cuttings
News & Events Events Calendar
columns 40. book review
The Awakening of Miss Prim Susan O’Keefe review
42. faith
An Unlikely Proposal by Andrea Lennon
Advertising Sales Executives Crystal Geraldson Bobby Eller Leigh Anne Gray Cortney Askins Editorial Advisory Board Leah Ashby Jenny Cabantac Ayisha Canant Detra Clark Alyson Fish Nicolle Fletcher Haley Crafton Fowler Sarah Frost Mary Harlan Nancy Jackson Cate Ketcheside Leslie Kostecky Caroline LaVan Velda Lueders Christina Munoz Madsen Candace Meeks Misty Morse Carol Patty Amy Reed Lanette Rogers Lori Ross Mary Margaret Satterfield Jennifer Stanley Katherine Thomason Stefanie Holt Vann
Questions or Comments? Call (501) 327-6621, e-mail: WINC@thecabin.net or write to P.O. Box 969, Conway, AR, 72033 • www.womensinc.net
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cover stor y
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BREEDING WEDDING
Breeding Wedding “The next thing I knew, he was down on one knee asking me to marry him. I couldn’t get words out when he asked.”
By Jennifer Stanley Photos by Caitlin Trickett Photography Cole and Taylor Breeding’s wedding day was a relaxed, happy occasion. The couple, both Conway natives, met in sixth grade and, years later, made the walk down the aisle. Though Taylor attended Conway High School, and Cole went to St. Joseph School, they grew up as friends. “Each of our best friends lived next door to each other, so we would always hang out if we were at our their homes,” says Taylor. “Once we hit high school, we never really talked. However, once college came, we ended up hanging out with the same group of people and reconnected.” WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 7
cover stor y
The Proposal When asked when each knew they would marry the other, Taylor responds with a laugh, “I knew after just a few months of dating, but I didn’t tell him that! I just knew there was something different about him, and we had a connection as if we had been together forever. We could literally talk about anything.” Cole says he knew once he graduated college in May 2015. “Our plan was to go camping for our three-year dating anniversary. When we got to the campsite area, Richland Waterfalls in the Ozark National Forest, we immediately saw the falls. We got out and explored the area. Cole suggested we hang out by the waterfalls for a bit, and I thought it was kind of weird but just went with it. He said he had a little game to celebrate our anniversary. He’d printed pictures from when we were dating, and we went through them to see if we could remember when and where they were taken and the stories behind them. The last photo was of a ring box. I stopped and kind of looked at him like, ‘No way that’s a ring!’” says Taylor. “I was not expecting him to propose that early, yet, the next thing I knew, he was down on one knee asking me to marry him. I couldn’t get words out when he asked,” she laughs, “But of course I said yes. There was no cell service where we were, so I said, ‘We are not still camping, right?’ And that’s when he told me he’d planned a big engagement party back in Conway at his parents’ house. All our family and friends were there, and everything was perfect. He couldn’t have planned a better proposal,” she says.
The Planning
The couple’s first order of business was determining the venue and securing a date. “One of my good friends was married at Albert Pike a few months before we got engaged, and I loved it. When I started looking at venues, I knew I wanted something different. After a few days, I officially decided to go with Albert Pike. I loved the classic elegance of the building and that we could have the ceremony and reception there. We originally wanted an October wedding, but the first opening Albert Pike had was August 12, so our desired location pretty much chose our date,” she says. Cole and Taylor were on the same page with most wedding details. Mrs. Vickie Constien and Mrs. Susan Kelton, dear family friends, helped plan and design the decor, menu, and flowers. They created all flower arrangements with the exceptions of the groomsmen’s’ boutonnieres and the bridal bouquet, which were made by Tipton & Hurst in Conway. Taylor’s dress was from Inverness 8 WOMEN’S INC. / MARCH 2018
Bridal in Conway, and Cole’s suit from Bell & Sward, also of Conway. The flower girls’ dresses were designed and made by Olga Luyet, Cole’s grandmother, which added a special, personal touch. She also completed the alterations on Taylor’s gown and placed the beading on her veil. The photography was by Caitlin Trickett with accompanying videography by Sydney Trickett. “I wanted something elegant and timeless, and I feel like the venue alone accomplished that. Mrs. Vickie and Mrs. Susan, the two ladies who did the decorations, flowers, and food, were the ones who pulled it all together. Honestly, our wedding would not have been as amazing, nor gone as smoothly, without their help and expertise. They were able to hear my ideas, take the picture I had in my head, and make it a reality,” says Taylor.
BREEDING WEDDING
The Wedding With a color scheme of pink, burgundy, navy blue and gold, the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets were dainty and simple. “We mainly used different colored roses and some pretty light green accents. My bridesmaids wore burgundy dresses, so the light pink flowers contrasted beautifully. I am obsessed with my dress! It was the very last dress I tried on during my appointment at Inverness, and I fell in love. I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful, elegant, and timeless dress,” Taylor explains. “For my something borrowed, I wore my grandma’s diamond earrings my grandpa gave her for their 25 year wedding anniversary, which was so meaningful. We both have very close families, so having them there the whole day and involved was important to us.” When asked of their favorite memories from the day, Taylor says, “Seeing Cole for the first time was easily my favorite. I was so ready and anxious for him to see me and the dress, and the look on his face was something I’ll never forget; he had the biggest smile! Also, getting to see my dad and grandparents was really special. Being the oldest sibling and grandchild, this was a first for everyone, so seeing them and their reactions for the first time was great. Cole adds, “The first look was my favorite and most memorable. The reception was my second favorite; it was just a big party with all of our family and friends.” Asked about managing any wedding-related stress, Taylor says, “We actually didn’t have anything crazy happen the day of. We were both pretty relaxed and just soaked everything in. Honestly, I was surprised at how chill and laid-back I was,” she laughs.
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The Reception Taylor and Cole considered their reception fun and exciting, saying, “You could tell our guests had the best time. The DJ, Mario Luna from Central Arkansas Entertainment, was great at getting everyone involved. We had parents, grandparents, our friends, and even toddlers out on the dance floor the entire time, and we had glow sticks. Everyone danced until they announced it was time for our exit.” According to the couple, the only change they would make is being able to taste their cake, a four-tier, classic wedding cake in strawberry and lemon. “There was zero left after the reception,” laments Taylor. The cake was designed by pattiCakes of Conway. Cole’s mother, Teri, did the groom’s table, which was a hunting theme, as an ode to one of his favorite pastimes. Teri made four large cheesecakes in varying flavors, plus chocolate-covered strawberries and pretzels, which were also gone at the end of the evening. “Mrs. Vickie and Mrs. Susan did all the food, which was to die for! We still have people asking and talking about the food,” says Taylor. “They made pork tenderloin, brisket, rolls, fresh green beans, summer salad, and new potatoes.” When asked to share words of wisdom from their big day, Taylor suggests, “Don’t stress the little things. At the end of the day, it’s not worth it, and you have other people there to make sure you don’t stress. Also, try to enjoy every second of that day because it goes by fast.” Cole adds, intelligently, “Do whatever makes her happy!”
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BREEDING WEDDING
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feature story
Conway’s Classic Touch It’s no surprise that brides-to-be flock to Conway’s Classic touch for all their floral and bridal registry needs. A mainstay in the Faulkner County floral business, Conway’s Classic Touch has delivered one-of-a-kind floral arrangements for over 17 years. Emma Vote, owner of Classic Touch, purchased the business after working for Baker Drug for seven years. “Jimbo and Terry Hendrixson, the owners of Baker Drug, introduced me to so many wonderful people in the community.” Her love of the community and desire to be creative ultimately guided Emma’s decision to own a business in Conway. 12 WOMEN’S INC. / MARCH 2018
By Leah Ashby Photos by Brandy Strain Photography
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feature story
Emma and her staff always strive to deliver a design unlike anything else. “Not only do we provide thousands of options for floral and gift arrangements, we also offer experienced employees to help each customer. The staff is dedicated to taking care of our customers.” Emma said. Leah Spinelli, store manager, explains what sets Conway’s Classic Touch apart. “We offer small to over-the-top floral designs. The staff is committed to creating new, innovative designs. We definitely stay away from the cookie cutter designs. No two designs are alike.” Classic Touch also offers floral delivery six days a week and is open regular business hours on Saturday. Floral orders may be placed over the phone, via internet or in the store.
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feature story Conway’s Classic Touch is not just a flower shop. From fresh flowers to wreaths, gifts and home décor, the friendly staff helps customers find just what they want for any occasion. Emma strives to provide an array of gifts including pottery, prints, home décor, and gourmet food items. Custom wreaths are also popular, as each one is a unique design. Complimentary gift wrap is always included with a purchase. In addition, the designers love to decorate homes during the holiday season and also decorate for special
events. “The events that we do are some of the most important events in people’s lives. We are very dedicated to our customers and love making the event one they will never forget.” Emma said. When asked why she loves most about her business, Emma’s answer is simple. “I love seeing a customer’s face light up when they receive a bouquet of flowers from us.”
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food
y s a E DIP RECIPIES
Whether you are hosting friends or a guest at someone else’s gathering, a go-to dip recipe is always a hit. Keep these easy dip recipes on hand that are sure to please a crowd.
Crowd Pleasing Dips
food
Southern Field pea salsa Ingredients • 1 can Southern style field peas (drained, not rinsed) • 1 can Ro-tel • ½ small yellow onion, chopped • 1 small chili or serrano pepper, chopped • 2 Tablespoons of cilantro, chopped 20 WOMEN’S INC. / MARCH 2018
Preparation • 1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped • 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar • 1 Teaspoon sugar • 1 Teaspoon garlic salt • ½ Teaspoon black pepper • ½ Teaspoon cayenne pepper
Stir together and chill.
Corn Dip Ingredients • 1 can white shoepeg corn, drained • 1 can yellow corn, drained • 1 can Ro-tel, drained • 1 small can green chilis, chopped • 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese • 1 Teaspoon chili powder • 1 Teaspoon cumin • 1 Teaspoon garlic powder, optional • Tortilla chips
Preparation 1. Mix all ingredients and heat in microwave until cream cheese is melted. 2. Dip can be served warm, room temperature, or straight out of the refrigerator. 3. Serve with tortilla chips. Note: I usually add an additional can of corn to make the dip go further.
Ingredients • 2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened • 1 cup ranch dressing • ¾ cup red hot sauce • 1 (10-ounce) can chicken, drained (or equivalent rotisserie or freshly-cooked, chopped chicken) • Shredded cheddar cheese • Frito corn chips or crackers
Preparation
1. Beat cream cheese, ranch dressing, and red hot sauce. 2. Fold in shredded chicken. 3. Spread mixture into pie plate or small casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray. 4. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. 5. Add cheddar cheese on top and bake an additional 10-15 minutes. 6. Serve hot with Frito scoops or crackers.
BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 21
Harper’s Hope
e p o H s ’ r e H a rp
By Kelly Sublett
Chad and Jai Stephenson live in a modest home in Springhill with two joyous little girls who squabble and giggle and play together like sisters do. But nothing about their lives is ordinary. In fact, one might say they’ve lived a lifetime in six years, fighting a battle that for months had no name. Harper, the Stephenson’s 6-yearold, developed a cough at age 2. It was debilitating sometimes, forcing Mom and Dad to keep her propped up to sleep, wracking her little body to the point she couldn’t breathe. What the family, living in Magnolia at the time, and doctors believed to be severe allergies forced a trip to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock in late January 2014. A CT scan proved the situation would be more — much more. “They were thinking pneumonia, but before we had time to get out of recovery for the scan, we were admitted to oncology,” Jai said. “I was so overwhelmed, I didn’t put it all together.” Chad was putting the pieces together, too. “What really hit me was when the nurses brought in the little dolls that had no hair, to try and explain to Harper. They did that right away. And through all of this, Harper was like ‘It’s no big deal.’ The hardest part for her was a nasal tube she had for a couple of days.” After an initial biopsy, doctors were reporting, “we don’t know what this is.” 22 WOMEN’S INC. / MARCH 2018
A mass was appearing on Harper’s lung. Maybe it was an infection, doctors said, so home healthcare required treating a bacteria. But Harper’s face was swelling and family and friends began to notice. The mass had caused SVC Syndrome — blood flow from her head back to her heart was slowly being cut off. Now the concern was pulmonary on top of other issues. A cardiologist got involved, a thorasic surgeon was called in, and almost a month after the initial visit to Children’s in Little Rock, the family would begin making plans to seek treatment at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. A second biopsy identified Isolated Myofibroblastic Neoplasm. An IMT of the lung represents an extremely rare type of inflammatory pseudo tumor that appears most commonly in children and young individuals. “Cancer is just never on your radar of what can happen,” Jai said. Chad echoed, “Her cancer was so rare, no one had any information on what to do with it. They couldn’t do radiation. It was too close to her heart.” Harper’s nine-month chemo treatment would commence, hopefully shrinking the mass to an operable size in an attempt to save her right lung. During this time, the Stephensons relocated to the Greenbrier area to be near family who supported them in many ways. Community and friends rallied to help. Jai and Chad discovered during the chemo treatments that they would be expecting a second child, and the pregnancy would limit Jai’s interaction with Harper. “She lost her hair the first time in May,” Jai recalled with a deep breath. “That’s when it hit me — really hit me. Not only was she sick, she now looked the part. It broke my heart.” In November, the family welcomed their second little girl, Hadlee. Thanksgiving week, Harper completed her chemo treatments. Doctors were satisfied the chemo stopped the growth of the cancer. Scans every three to six months proved as such for over a year. Harper, by all accounts, continued to be her smiling, happy self, rarely bothered by all the procedures, travel and inconveniences. “They would give me shots (IVs),” Harper told WINC on an afternoon after school. “They had my pictures done, too (scans). And I always get to see Dr. Raj!”
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feature story Dr. Rajkumar Venkatramani is the director of the Rare Tumors Program at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, he is involved in management of children with rare cancers. He is leading the team of researchers on Harper’s condition. The Stephensons consider Dr. Raj part of the family, and along with other medical professionals in Arkansas and in Texas, and credit his work with saving her life. In the spring 2016, a scan indicated that in a short time the mass had doubled in size. Surgery was Harper’s last hope. In July, the little girl who never complained would undergo a nine-hour surgery in Houston. Surgeons removed part of her trachea, all of her right lung, part of her heart and the tumor itself. The remarkable thing was although recovery outlook was three months, Harper shocked everyone and walked out of the hospital three days later. After 10 days, she returned home to Springhill. A month after surgery, she started kindergarten. Harper plays basketball and softball and is full of energy.
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“The one thing we can say is that there are a lot of good people out there,” Jai said. Through all of this, it was good to see that. “This is our life. I don’t know that it’s easy to take a breath because we still go back for scans, but we take a breath on the way home.” The family has established Harper’s Hope, a foundation to raise money for research of this rare cancer. Very little is known about this mass that affects children like Harper. Proceeds from the foundation will help Dr. Raj and his research at Texas Children’s Hospital. The first big event will take place May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock. Speakers will be Mike Anderson, head basketball coach at the University of Arkansas; Dr. Raj; Manuel “Manny” Watkins, a former U of A basketball player; and emcees will be hosts of “The Zone” radio broadcast Justin Acri and Pat Bradley. Seating is limited and sponsorships are available. Get more information and RSVP at www.harpersteam.com or email harpersfoundation@gmail.com to request Chad to speak to your organization about this amazing story.
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pets
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Bad Breath in Pets Could Be a Sign of Poor Health If you’ve ever experienced dry mouth, you know how uncomfortable it can be. Unfortunately, your pet can get dry mouth too, and it can lead to more serious issues down the line and can also be a sign of more serious current health issues. Dry mouth is a condition where saliva loses its protective benefits and leads to an overgrowth of odor-causing bacteria and plaque accumulation, as well as increases the risk of periodontal disease.
watching out for bad breath can help, as it is often a red flag that something is wrong. Experts say that you don’t need to wait until this becomes an issue to protect your pet’s health.
“Prevention is always the best medicine,” says Pamela K. Bosco, president of Pet King Brands.
Bosco recommends Oratene Brushless Oral Care PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Paul/stock.Adobe.com for pets, an easy-touse oral care product line that doesn’t require brushing. Whether it’s the water additive, breath freshening spray or brushless toothpaste gel, the enzymes in its formula work to replenish what is missing in order to help restore While such diseases as diabetes can contribute to dry mouth healthy oral flora, as well as destroy odor-causing bacteria and in pets, the most common cause is medication. What’s more, it is remove plaque biofilm. The products can help prevent complications believed that medications increase the risk of developing complications due to dry mouth by 40 percent. This side effect is far-reaching. due to dry mouth, and will benefit any age dog or cat, especially those on medications, aging pets, or those pet parents averse to Medications for allergies, anxiety, urinary incontinence, osteo-arbrushing. thritis pain, heart conditions, high blood pressure and more can all contribute to dry mouth. Oral health is crucial to a pet’s overall health. Be sure to pay special attention to the state of affairs in your pet’s mouth by taking While most pet parents are not aware their furry friends have steps to prevent dry mouth, a condition that can lead to serious dry mouth because they may still drool even with the condition, health issues when left untreated.
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RIBBON CUTTINGS
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom - The Garden Room 1065 Skyline Drive Conway, AR 72032 (501) 499-6222
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Bledsoe Chiropractic 1155 Front Street, Suite 1 Conway, AR 72032 (501) 504-6999
in the news
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health
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The Monster in the Closet When you were a child were you ever afraid of the monster in the closet? You know, the one that would come out at night and eat you alive? Of course we all know there is no such thing. But, you need to know there truly is a “monster in the closet” coming between your pharmacist and you. That monster is very real and quite possibly will “eat up” all local pharmacies and force you to go the pharmacy that owns that monster. To start at the beginning, let me explain in simple terms what goes on when you get a prescription filled. There are companies called pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs for short, which act as intermediaries (a middle man) on every prescription you fill. Originally these PBMs were only intended to process claims from the pharmacy to the insurance company for payment. However, over the course of the past 20 years they have grown into something entirely different. They still connect pharmacies with insurance companies, but they now control which medications you can have, how many doses you can take each day, how many times you can get them filled during the course of a year, and how much you have to pay as a co-pay when you get them filled. All you see is how much you owe. But there is so much more that you don’t see. Pharmacy owners are required to sign contracts with these PBMs in order to process prescriptions through the PBM for payment. This is where the monster peeks out of the closet. These contracts are non-negotiable, “take it or leave it” contracts in which the pharmacy literally has no bargaining power. We are not allowed to band together in a geographic area to try to negotiate a better deal – that would be considered price fixing and we would all go to jail. Over the course of time, the contracts have gotten worse and worse with payments to pharmacies getting lower and lower. You pay more for a soft drink from a vending machine than your pharmacy is being paid for a life-saving medication. On the other end of the transaction sits the insurance company. Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield (ABCBS), the largest insurance company in the state, is a good example. After telling the pharmacy what they are going to get paid, the PBM then sends a bill to Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield for the prescription. This bill is dramatically different from what they paid the pharmacy. The difference between what the PBM paid the pharmacy and what they
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billed the insurance company is called the spread. Spreads of $30, $40, $50 and even hundreds of dollars are common. The monster gobbles up all of that money – a lot of it Arkansas taxpayer money – and sends it straight to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where it continues to feather its nest. Can you begin to see just how ugly this monster is? On January 31, I attended a legislative insurance oversight committee meeting at the state capitol along with about 300 of my fellow pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy educators from across the state. The legislative committee members demanded an accounting from Caremark about their arrangement with Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. The Caremark representative had no answers for these questions, but he assured the committee members that there was a “firewall” between Caremark the PBM and CVS the pharmacy. He further asserted that all pharmacies were being treated equally and had the same reimbursement. Several Arkansas pharmacies have documents in their possession to prove that is simply not true. CVS Pharmacies are being paid a much higher amount on prescriptions than the local pharmacy, often times hundreds of dollars more.
At the beginning of the year, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield allowed Caremark, the PBM on their plans, to lower payments to Arkansas pharmacies to less than what the pharmacies paid for the drugs. Let me say that again. They pay pharmacies less than what the pharmacies paid for the drugs. Now, you don’t have to be a genius to figure out what that leads to. I’m sure you’ve seen the Blue Cross commercials on television using their catchy motto admonishing Arkansans to “live fearless.” Because Blue Cross has partnered with this monster in the closet, my patients and I now live in fear. No business, including your local pharmacy, can stay in business by collecting less than it pays for its products. Let’s get even more specific. Would you like to know who owns Caremark, the PBM for Blue Cross Blue Shield and many other insurance companies across the United States? The answer is CVS Pharmacy. The simple fact is this is a poorly disguised attempt to drive local pharmacies out of business and to drive all the prescriptions to their own pharmacies. If this is allowed to continue, the end result will be the closing of your local pharmacy. When there is nothing left but “the company store,” what do you think will happen to prescription drug prices? The citizens of Conway and surrounding towns are blessed to have several wonderful pharmacies from which to choose. Local pharmacists, both owner pharmacists and staff pharmacists alike, are decent, hard-working, patient-care oriented people who have dedicated themselves to the good health of their patients. We are literally in a fight for survival in order to continue to provide care for our patients and jobs for our staff members who live and shop local, and pay taxes for the upkeep of our schools and city services, and depend on their jobs as much as you depend on yours. Currently, this monster answers to no one. Caremark (and other PBMs like Express Scripts, OptumRx, etc.) are unregulated, multi-billion dollar corporations who literally have no oversight. There is no agency either on a state or national level that can control them. They exist in a plane above the system and are literally draining every dollar they can from the system. They have hired every lobbyist available and are spending millions of dollars to keep their machine running. They threaten providers with removal from their program if we so much as tell our patients that we are losing money on prescriptions. Just last week they sent a fax to pharmacies stating that we were not allowed to talk to “any government official” about the financial terms of our contract without their approval. On top of that, a few weeks ago they sent many of us pharmacy owners a letter offering to buy our pharmacy! Can you begin to see the size of the monster’s teeth? This is not a child’s nightmare. This is reality. What can you do, better yet, what should you do? Call, text, email – whichever way you choose – your senator and representative and beg them to enact legislation to require these PBMs to answer to the State Insurance Commission. They have heard it from us, but they need to hear it from you – now! We have a very narrow window of time before it is too late. #BehindTheRxCurtain David Smith is owner and chief pharmacist at Smith Family Pharmacy where he works with his wife, Shirley and staff. He graduated from the UAMS College of Pharmacy in 1974 and has been taking care of people in the Conway area for 43+ years. He loves spending time with family and is No1POP to 5 wonderful grandchildren. WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 31
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Getting Used to Hearing Aids and Better Hearing By Dr. Sam Kelso, Au.D. You’ve finally decided that it’s time to get hearing aids, or maybe you just recently got your first pair but aren’t quite sure about what to expect. Hopefully your doctor gave you some tips for realistic expectations and you’re moving along without a hitch. I hope that this short article will inform you about what to expect and/or motivate you to seek a diagnosis and treatment for your hearing loss. I’ve written in this space on prior occasions that hearing sounds and understanding speech are different. Hearing is the ability of your ears to detect the presence of a sound while understanding is the ability of your brain to formulate those sounds into something that is meaningful. The primary complaint of all patients with sensory neural hearing loss is. “I hear but I can’t understand”. The brain must be constantly stimulated to process sound and ironically it is our ability to ignore unwanted sounds that help us hear better in noisy places. In order to begin to hear better, new hearing aid users must learn to filter out what they don’t want to hear the same way that they did when their hearing was normal. People with normal hearing have the ability to do this and don’t even think about it. No hearing aid can distinguish between what you want to hear and don’t want to hear as well as your brain can. The longer you go without hearing well the harder it is for your brain to relearn to understand speech in the presence of other noises. We can all get used to things to the point where we ignore them. If you were to move in to a house close to the railroad tracks, you might not sleep for weeks, or even a few months because you would be so aware of the trains going by. After several years someone might ask you, “How can you stand that?” and your response would be, “Stand what?” The train didn’t get quieter, but you became so used to it that your brain learned to ignore it and it no longer interferes with your normal activity or sleep. The more that you wear your new hearing aids the
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more sound you will be hearing, and your brain learns to better sort out things that are not important so that it can focus on the sounds of voices that keep you engaged in the conversation.
Getting used to your hearing aids should only take a couple of weeks and most patients tell me that they don’t even know they are wearing them after a few days. I generally tell a patient that they should expect a 75-80% improvement in their ability to understand. This is meant to imply that you will hear much better but can sometimes miss what was said. It helps to be self-motivated and stay positive about hearing and understanding better. Hearing aids have improved dramatically in the past few years but more importantly those improvements have helped patients regain much of their speech understanding that was once lost to them. They can help you too!
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A Diamond Saved is a Diamond Earned
Diamonds mean love and it’s so important to make sure that those diamonds are insured and covered in the event they should be lost or stolen. But how do you know the value of your jewelry?
When you purchase a nice piece of jewelry, you should receive what is called an insurance replacement appraisal from the jeweler. This is simply a document that gives a detailed description of the jewelry and the replacement price. You can take this to your insurance agent and add it as a ‘floater’ or ‘rider’ to your current homeowners or renters insurance policy.
How can this save you money you may ask? Thankfully, if the jewelry is lost or stolen you will be reimbursed in some form by your insurance company. But more importantly, you can save even more money by making sure that the insurance appraisal is accurate!
There are professionals who are qualified to write insurance appraisals: graduate gemologists. There are also jewelers who can also write appraisals due to their extensive experience in the industry. The important thing to note is that the insurance appraisal match what you actually have and not what you wish you had because this will determine the price you pay in insurance premiums for the jewelry. For example, if you purchase an engagement ring for $2,000 and the jeweler gives you an appraisal claiming the ring is worth much more, you will end up paying hundreds, possibly even thousands, of dollars more in insurance premiums over the years.
It is also very important to have a professional appraisal updated every 3 years because the value of the jewelry may increase or decrease as the gold market fluctuates. If regular updates aren’t maintained, the value of your jewelry may be higher than what you’re insured for and you definitely don’t want that.
The key point is to ALWAYS insure your jewelry and make SURE you are getting an appraisal from a true professional who will give you the most accurate appraisal of your jewels.
Another great way to save money is to go through your jewelry box from time to time and clean out the jewelry you aren’t using anymore. Your local jeweler will buy gold, silver and platinum that you aren’t using, putting extra money right in your pocket! It can literally be anything that is gold, silver or platinum. Over the years I’ve purchased gold fillings, single earrings, broken chains and even custom grills! You’d be surprised what you may have and what can easily be turned into cash! Cindy Webb is the owner of Francis M. Fine Jewelry in downtown Conway. She received her Bachelor of Science in Speech/Communications from UCA, Graduate Gemologist title from GIA, Certified Gemologist title from AGS, and has continued her education with GIA by receiving the Pearls diploma and Insurance Replacement Appraisal diploma. Cindy has worked in the fine jewelry business for the past 25 years in every capacity, and is a practicing numismatist. She and her husband, Donald live in Conway with their 3 adopted cats.
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arts scene
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2018
Arts caldendar
Information and pricing on event websites. March 1: UCA Concert Choir/Chamber Singers Concert @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/music (G) March 1-3: Three Days of Rain @UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Bridges/Larson Theatre; March 1,2 @ 7:30 p.m., March 3 @ 2:30 p.m. www. uca.edu/theatre (PG13) March 2: Painting and Pizza Parent’s Night Out @ Blackbird Academy of Arts; 6-8 p.m. www. blackbirdacademy.org (Ages 5+)
March 8: Day of Giving: Play Your Part with AST! Online Day of Giving for Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre; 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. www. arkshakes.com (G) March 8: UCA Annual Student Art Competition Reception @ UCA McCastlain Hall Baum Gallery; 4:00 p.m. www.uca.edu/art (A) March 9-10: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Play presented by Blackbird Academy of Arts @ Antioch Baptist Church; March 9 @7:00 p.m., March 10 @ 2:00 p.m. www.blackbirdacademy.org (G)
March 3: Pictures at an Exhibition presented by Conway Symphony Orchestra @ Reynolds Performance Hall; Art Activities @ 6:00 p.m., Concert @ 7:00 p.m. www.conwaysymphony. org (G)
March 10: Season Launch Party for Blackbird Academy of Arts @ Antioch Baptist Church; 3:30-5:00 p.m. www.blackbirdacademy.org (G)
March 4: TAO: Drum Heart @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/ reynolds (PG)
March 10: Percussion Festival @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. www.uca.edu/music (G)
March 5: UCA Concert Choir/Chamber Singers Concert @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/music (G)
March 10: Composer and Percussionist Michael Burritt with UCA Percussion Ensemble @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall; 5:00 p.m. www.uca.edu/cfac (G)
March 6, 20: Adult Writing @ Faulkner County Library; 6:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (A) March 6: Justin Cook- UCA Faculty Trombone Recital @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/music (G) March 7: UCA Faculty Chamber Recital @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/music (G)
Rating key G – Suitable for all ages PG – Suggested for ages 7+ PG13 – Suggested for ages 13+ A – Suggested for Adults 18+ 34 WOMEN’S INC. / MARCH 2018
March 10: UCA Department of Music Gala @ UCA McCastlain Hall Ballroom; 8:00 p.m. www.uca.edu/music (G) March 13: Alex Lapins Tuba Recital @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/music (G) March 13: Home Free @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/reynolds (G) March 13-15: Where No Man Has Gone Before: The Gene Rodenberry Story @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Black Box Theatre; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/theatre (PG13)
March 15: Open Mic @ Faulkner County Library; 7:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (G) March 15: Composer Frank Ticheli Gala Concert with UCA and Hendrix College Wind Ensembles @ Reynolds Performance Hall; 5:00 p.m. www.uca.edu/cfac (G) March 20: Tim Donar Book event and slideshow @ Faulkner County Library; 7:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (G) March 22: Hungrytown in Concert @ Faulkner County Library; 7:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (G) March 23: True Alisandre Rhythmic Interactive Experience @ Faulkner County Library; 2:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl.org (G) March 24: Brother Norm Storytelling @ Faulkner County Library; 2:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl. org (G) March 30: Andrew Cooperstock Piano Recital @ UCA Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall; 7:30 p.m. www.uca.edu/music (G) March 31: Acting Workshop for ages 7-12 @ Red Curtain Theatre; 9 a.m.-12 p.m. www. redcurtaintheatre.com (G) March 31: Daniel Suits Book Signing @ Faulkner County Library; 2:00 p.m. Nancy@fcl. org (G)
Jennie Strange is the founder and Executive Director of Blackbird Academy of Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality performing and visual arts education. She lives in Conway with her husband, Statler, and a random assortment of dogs, goats, and chickens. To submit your Arts Calendar events, email Jennie@blackbirdacademy.org
WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 35
book review
The Awakening of Miss Prim
By Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera Reviewed by Susan O’Keefe 36 WOMEN’S INC. / MARCH 2018
It’s a war story but not a war as one might typically imagine. In this debut novel by Spanish author Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera, the characters declare war on the modern world and its ways. There is an intentional restriction of cell phones, internet access, and global opportunities to connect. In its place, there is a utopian sort of community with neighbors who know one another’s names, and business owners who might leave the doors unlocked for patrons if the need arises for them to step away. Into the midst of this quiet, remote, French community steps Miss Prudencia Prim. She is an outsider. It is apparent from the first page. Sticking out like a sort thumb, Miss Prim makes her way to San Ireneo to answer an advertisement for a librarian. The ad specifically states that the applicant must be without degrees and certifications. On this requirement, Miss Prim slightly bends the truth. She is a woman of high intelligence, achievement, and accolades. The Awakening of Miss Prim is the charming story of eccentric characters with a fresh, articulate view of life. They are self-described exiles in a flourishing colony seeking a simple, rural life. Conversations center on philosophy, sociology, theology, and psychology. Then there are the humorous, very opinionated, and evenly matched verbal exchanges between Miss Prim and her employer, the
susan o’keefe
Prudencia Prim is a young woman of intelligence and achievement, with a deep knowledge of literature and several letters after her name. But when she accepts the post of private librarian in the village of San Ireneo de Arnois, she is unprepared for what she encounters there. Man in the Winged Chair. (Spoiler alert: She is hired for the job!) The Man in the Winged Chair, as he is so curiously referred to throughout the novel, has several children under his charge. No matter their age, he reads to them from Dante, Dostoyevsky, and Virgil. He exposes them to classic artists, and he boldly espouses his unconventional educational ways. “But unconventional to whom?” pleads one reader. “Are we so closed-minded that we cannot consider the good in classic read alouds?” Miss Prim, never one to shy away from sharing her opinions, initially reacts with astonishment to most choices by the villagers. As the novel unfolds, there is a maturity in Miss Prim, as she awakens to the world of flesh and feelings, not just the world of books and head knowledge. The Feminist League, the quest for a husband, the local monastery, and the quest for the meaning of life all play pivotal roles in this story of relationship and redemption. Over cups of steaming hot tea and perfect pastries, Miss Prim reluctantly opens herself to lively conversations. In a community where people
take priority, there are infinite encounters of exchange. There is discussion. There is debate. And there is discovery. Readers criticized Miss Prim for being soft-hearted, perhaps too tender. Yet others viewed her sterile exterior as a protective shell. “For me, the story was about Miss Prim getting out of her neat and tidy little box. It was about getting out of her head and into reality. Life isn’t as spotless as it seems on the pages of books,” shared one reader. With perfectly pleasing prose, Sanmartin Fenollera has succeeded in striking a chord between past and present. Expect lively discussions regarding the villagers’ desire to firmly root themselves in the past while controlling how much of the present or future they will allow in their daily lives. In a frenzied world of global connections, readers wonder if this simple community is a fantasy. Is it even possible? Compared with generations ago, are we preserving? Are we seeking and exploring truth, beauty, and excellence? In the fictitious San Ireneo, residents offer a deliberate affirmative answer. Perhaps, that is part of the awakening.
Susan lives in Augusta, Georgia, where her husband, Jack, is the Augusta University Men’s Golf Coach. Susan originally hails from Kentucky and graduated from the University of Louisville with a major study in Communication and a minor study in Health and Wellness. Susan enjoys the adventures of motherhood as she parents Lucy, John-Freeman, Henry, and Hogan (plus Oxford, the family’s black Labrador).
New Writers. New Features. New WINC. Coming Next Month! WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 37
faith
An Unlikely Proposal
By Andrea Lennon
are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover The story of Ruth, as recorded in the Bible, is inspiring! his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” (Ruth 3:2-4, Following the death of her husband, Ruth moved from her home NIV) country of Moab to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi encouraged Ruth to place herself in a position where Once in Bethlehem, Ruth was dependent on God and His she would be accepted or rejected. There would be no middle people to help her during her time of need. Ruth was from ground. Ruth may not have known that the stakes were high, but Moab which carried a stigma. One day Ruth found herself in the I have a feeling that she did. Either way, Ruth listened to Naomi field of Boaz and picking up leftover grain. God orchestrated the and responded with whole-hearted obedience, answering, “I will events of the encounter and before long Ruth heard the followdo whatever you say.” (Ruth 3:5) ing instruction from Naomi. I wish we could go back in time and watch Ruth walk to the “Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative threshing floor. Maybe she thought about her former life, in of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing Moab, with her first husband Mahlon. I wonder if she rememfloor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. bered how Mahlon had courted her and proposed marriage. I Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you wonder if she thought about the tears that she had shed since his death. As Ruth made her way to the threshing floor, going over every detail Naomi told her, I wonder if she thought, “Am I ready for this again?” Once at the threshing floor, Ruth approached Boaz and lay down at his feet. During the night, Boaz was startled and noticed a woman. Boaz asked, “Who are you?” (Ruth 3:9) Ruth revealed her identity, saying, “I am your servant Ruth.” (Ruth 3:9) Do not let the word “servant” fool you. Ruth was not relating to Boaz as one of his servant girls who worked in his field. The word translated “servant” referred to a much more personal type of relationship. With this introduction, Ruth set the stage for her bold request. She said, “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” (Ruth 3:9) When Ruth asked Boaz to spread the corner of his garment over her, Ruth was asking Boaz to marry her! Once the request was made there was no turning back. Ruth put herself and her future on the line. I imagine that one question resounded in Ruth’s heart. “How will Boaz respond?” “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run 38 WOMEN’S INC. / MARCH 2018
ANDREA LENNON
after the younger men, whether rich or poor.” (Ruth 3:10) Boaz used the word kindness or hesed to describe Ruth’s action. Hesed represented one of the most important concepts in the Old Testament. God used this word to describe His own character. It meant mercy and faithfulness. Hesed is central to Ruth’s story, as well as our own. We are all in need of God’s strong, faithful and loyal love. I can picture Ruth letting out a huge sigh of relief when Boaz affirmed her bold move. Boaz continued, “And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.” (Ruth 3:11) Boaz did not applaud Ruth for her beautiful appearance (although personally I think she must have looked amazing.) Conversely, Boaz did not discourage Ruth because of her questionable Moabite lineage. Instead, Boaz recognized the beauty of her heart as well as the boldness that she displayed in her unlikely proposal. I would guess that none of us have been in the exact same circumstance as Ruth. However, I think we can all relate to some aspect of her story. Are you in a season of life that only God can redeem? If so, know that God is at work. Do not allow the discomfort going on inside of you or around you to stand in the way of your obedience. Take the necessary steps. When you do, your actions will demonstrate what you believe. Like Ruth, your “unlikely” season will bring glory to God. Also through God’s faithful love, you will experience redemption in your life.
Andrea Lennon lives in Conway, Arkansas, with her husband, Jay, and sons, Jake and Andrew. Andrea ministers to the women of Arkansas through a speaking and writing ministry called True Vine Ministry. To learn more about this ministry, access Andrea’s website at www.andrealennon.net. WWW.WOMENSINC.NET 39
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