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We cared for this many hearts.
Just last week.
The numbers speak volumes. CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial cares for an average of 500 hearts each week and close to 30,000 hearts each year. Our experienced and compassionate physicians and staff, combined with the latest technology, are why more people trust their hearts to CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial. To learn more about the CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Heart Program, call 936-631-6780. Community Outreach Nurse Educator Nationally Recognized Cardiologists and Cardiovascular Surgeons
More Procedures. Better Outcomes.
Cardiovascular Diagnostic Imaging Cardiac PET/CT Cardiac Nuclear Medicine Echocardiography/Cardiac Ultrasound
Advanced Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories & Dedicated Open Heart Surgical Suites Cardiac Rehabilitation & Home Health
For more information visit chistlukeshealthmemorial.org
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Brookshire Brothers Helps Moms Help Their Families. Our FREE Prescription Delivery Leaves You Time To Take Care of Who Really Matters!
8 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
BROOKSHIRE BROTHERS GIVES BACK
Alzheimers AssociationBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Ana Guerrero, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
American Cancer SocietyBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Judy Sheffield, Amy Ross, Jennifer Webster, Dana Smithhart, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Angelina Arts AllianceBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Tracy Pinkerton, Jeff Chance, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Boys & Girls Club of Deep East TexasBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Chris Harkness, Jeff Woods,Tracy Mitchell,Arthur Bush, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
CASA of the PinesBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Natalie Thornton, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Friends of the Ellen Trout ZooBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Jamie Zayler, Gordon Henley, Dennis Rankin, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Angelina Alliance for Children/ Harold’s HouseBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Debbie Brown, Deanna Wallace, Steve Hogue, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
The Joseph HouseBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Neva Brown, Dianne Theillig, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Junior AchievementBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Jessica Brown, Michelle Green, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Mosaic CenterBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Donna Busler, Daren Hamaker, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Sarah’s HopeBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Dr. Guessippina Bonner, Anthony Watts, Rev. Bettie Kennedy, Bettie Kennedy Watts, Carol Pierre, Bob Inselmann, Dr. Pierre, Brenda Robinson, Sandra Houston, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Volunteer Services CouncilBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Lynn Hopper, Gale Wasson, Ellen Wood, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Carthage ISD Education FoundationBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Pam Goodson,Cynthia Harkrider, Mary Ella Sherman, Tate Barber, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Junior League of LufkinBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Renee Robertson, Susan Belasco, Shannon Kruk, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD Education FoundationBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Pat Clark, J.R. Shuttlesworth, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
Lufkin ISD Education FoundationBrookshire Brothers CFO Clay Oliver, Rebecca Chance,Kristi Gay, Brookshire Brother’s COO John Alston
president: Stephanie Oliver director of sales: Kim Iribarren kim@tjmag.com operations: Coran Clark office@tjmag.com managing editor: Beth Johnson editor@tjmag.com event photography: Lisa Crow layout and design: Macy Haffey ad design: Samantha Miller staff writer: Cheyenne Simpson cheyenne@tjmag.com marketing consultant: Gabrielle West gabrielle@tjmag.com contributors: Melissa & Tiffani Jessica Tinsley Bridges Sabrina Lumpkin Majal Minguez Angie Nichols
F
ebruary is the month of love, and my heart naturally draws near to those four babies of mine and their precious, yet ornery, daddy. But, as we celebrate our ten years, I cannot help but melt when I think of the team it takes to work day in and day out to get this publication off the ground and on the streets month after month. Pre-momma of four bambinos, I managed to wear many hats. With every addition to our growing family, I had to let go of a role and hire on an employee. Ten years later, we have the largest and best staff I could have ever prayed for. I still get the question, “How and why did you start the magazine?” And I still love thinking back and retelling the story. I love hearing someone say, “I never thought I would live in East Texas.” Because most people laugh and say, join the club. Once they are here and grounded, it is somewhere they could never imagine leaving. The family roots. The slow pace. The peaceful morning drives and evening commutes. It makes the small town life worthwhile. It took me a good three years to finally accept the slower pace. Once I did, there were too many good things not to share. Thus came, The Journey, A Magazine for Women. It was definitely God at work to bring this girl filled with crazy, random ideas to small town Texas. I loved hearing stories for the first time, and I loved hearing about everyone’s favorite hidden
eatery in town. So I merged all those ideas together into a monthly publication. Little did I know that I would offend so many men in town? Finally, we added a piece for the men—EAST. Today, we have merged everything good to become an East Texas Lifestyle Magazine. We love it and love what we do! This month of love, I want to share my heart and love with those who give so much. My right arm, Kim Iribarren. My magic eraser, Beth Johnson. My camera lens, Lisa Crow. My beauty maker, Macy Haffey. My creative juice, Samantha Miller. My country sales girl, Gabrielle West. My quick books queen, Coran Clark. All the hugs and roses in East Texas could not be enough to show my love and appreciation for each of you. You make TJMAG & CO what it is! LOVE YOU and here is to 10 more years!
STEPHANIE OLIVER
PRESIDENT
FEBRUARY 2015 photo taken by Samantha Miller
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HOME 14 Burlap & Besties 16 Design Tips 18 {DIY} Do-It-Yourself
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COMMUNITY 22 Art Gallery 24 Mission Statement 26 In the News 28 Heart Health Update 30 A Miracle at Play 34 Power Couple
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EDUCATION 38 Star Student 40 Superintendent News 44 Terrific Teacher 46 Athlete of the Month
47 LIFE
48 Fun Fitness 50 Foodie 52 Fashion 54 Something Abundant
57 CHILD
58 Leadership 60 Super Kids 62 Look at Me 64 Pretty Babies
67 The Pink Leopard Boutique | photo by Lisa Crow Photography
CONTACT US: Mailing:
PO Box 150537 | Lufkin, Texas 75915 Physical:
115 E. Shepherd | Lufkin, Texas 75901 936-634-7188 | advertise@tjmag.com
BUSINESS 68 Giving Back 72 In the Know 74 Awards
79 EAST
80 Agriculture 82 Hometown Hero 84 Sports 86 Fitness
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HOME 14 BURLAP & BESTIES | 16 DESIGN TIPS | 18 {DIY}
Party Tip
"This was my most favorite thing at Ty’s party. I borrowed a chalkboard from Tiffani and had fun with my chalk markers. It’s a great memory to be able to look back on in the years to come! I prefer the Chalk Ink brand of chalk markers and the chiseled tip is what I use most." - Melissa | Burlap & Besties
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BURLAP & BESTIES
by Melissa & Tiffani
Ty’s Tie Party
Sometimes birthday party themes are hard to decide on while other times it falls right in your lap! The latter is what happened when we were brainstorming ideas for my son’s 1st birthday. Since his name is Ty, we went with the obvious…ties and bow ties! Here are a few party décor ideas Tif and I pulled off for his special day.
Make Your Own Cream Soda A fun alternative to serving traditional sodas is a cream soda bar. Everyone really enjoyed mixing their favorite flavor and enjoying a sweet treat!
Supplies: • club soda • flavored syrup (we used Vanilla, Peach, and Raspberry) • heavy cream • 1 ounce measuring cup • fun stir straws 1 | Set out all your ingredients with cups and your measuring cup 2 | Put a sign up showing the recipe. (Ice + 1 ounce syrup + 1 ounce cream + club soda) 3 | I spiced up my bottles with a few bottle wraps that brought the theme over to this area. I also added a bow tie banner to my chalkboard.
Scrapbook Paper
Favors
We just can’t get enough of scrapbook paper! All the patterns and colors we now have to choose from are so much fun, and when you can snag it 50% off at Hobby Lobby it’s just extra fantastic. We used scrapbook paper everywhere at Ty’s party.
A party favor is a great way to say thank you to all your special guests. This was a fairly inexpensive and easy project and went right along with the theme.
Supplies: • • • • • •
• • • • •
scrapbook paper bow tie and tie pattern jute brown paper lunch sacks paper mache letters tape
baby food jars spray paint bow tie pasta hot glue gun jelly beans
1 | Remove the baby food jar lids and spray paint the outside.
1 | We used the bow tie and tie pattern to cut out our shapes in a variety of sizes and we used all different patterns and colors of paper. 2 | We taped some of them to jute and fixed them to a painted pallet as the backdrop to the popcorn bar table. 3 | We cut some plain, brown lunch sacks off to make them shorter then taped some ties and bow ties to them and used them as popcorn bags. 4 | We taped some to T and Y paper mache block letters to stand on the table.
Melissa is a housewife who loves her husband and son, Ben and Ty, more than anything else on earth. In a previous life, she was a CPA. Her passion for serving Jesus took her and Ben to Africa for two years where, among other things, she learned she can never pack too many crafting supplies. If you want to see a happy girl, give Melissa an old piece of furniture and a paintbrush then stand back and watch the magic happen.
Supplies:
2 | Spray paint the bow tie pasta in a coordinating color 3 | Use your hot glue gun to glue the pasta to the top of your lid. 4 | Fill the jars with some party colored jelly beans. We asked all of our guests to come wearing a fun, silly, long, short, wacky or sophisticated tie. We had a contest and gave out prizes to the winner in several categories. It was a huge party hit!
Tiffani Brantner is a part-time nurse and student, a constant crafter, party-thrower, "idea-comer-upper", and a richly rewarded wife and mother to Jeff and Cullen. Call her to come and get your old junk, she LOVES it! She'll turn it into something beautiful, create a theme, throw a party around it, and invite you as the guest of honor. You can reach Tiffani day or night at tifandmel@gmail.com.
DESIGN TIPS
I
t can be like stepping into another world......and so it should be. Decorating and designing a girl’s room is just so fun! Whether your little love is a brand new baby or a sweet and sassy teen, take some time and effort to plan an extra special space.
Consider this! - Age appropriate decor. - Staying power. - Personality and dreams. - Comfort and appeal.
D RE A M B I G
- Budget. - Storage solutions. Keeping these factors in mind help to start creating a dream inspired room. Think fairy tales, spunky princess, artsy eclectic or sweet and sporty!
iries’ *like stardust gliste ning on fa
by Sabrina Lumpkin, owner of Bellissima Home
It’s most important to decorate this area to suit her personal style. Invest in quality furniture. Bedding and accessories can be changed over time, but great furnishings can easily last through many stages of childhood.
A few trending styles we are adoring right now: - Rainbows of bright hues mixed with soft neutrals. - Modern pinks, both pastel and bright (think beyond tiaras and bows).
Protect Your Greatest Investment
- Looking for elegance? Create a color palette using 2 colors with a neutral accent color.
LIT TLE G I RL !
of magical things* wings, lit tle girl’s dreams are
Be encouraged in creating your girl the space of her dreams! These pictures include some of our favorite schemes and styles! Have fun and use your imagination. Blessings, Sabrina Sabrina Lumpkin is the creator and owner of Bellissima Home, www.bellissimahome.com, an online shopping experience offering hand selected, premium, designer inspired items for the home. Luxury you can afford!
Are You Covered? HOME AUTO LIFE HEALTH BUSINESS
At Davis Insurance we’ve got you covered. Protecting your home, your family, your future!
“Experience the Davis Difference” 3110 South First St. Lufkin, Texas 75901 (936) 634-2291
tjmag.com • 17 DavisDifference.com
{DIY}HOME DO-IT-YOURSELF TOUR
SAVING FACE I
n my quest to detoxify our home and get rid of the toxic household and personal care products we use on a daily basis, my research has brought me to a long list of toxic ingredients that the cosmetic industry lavishly uses in a lot of skin care and beauty products available in the market today.
Well, maybe you’re thinking, “If the department stores sell these beauty products, it must be safe; the government will test ingredients for its toxicity and they won’t allow these companies to use it.”
DIY FOAMING FACIAL SOAP You will need: • 8 oz Foaming soap dispenser • 3 Tbsp Dr. Bronner Liquid Castille Soap • ½ tsp almond oil • 5 drops Young Living’s Lavender essential oil • 5 drops Young Living’s Melaleuca Alternafolia essential oil (Tea Tree oil) • 3 drops Young Living’s Orange essential oil • Distilled Water Fill the soap dispenser with castile soap and almond oil. Add lavender, melaleuca and orange essential oils. Fill the rest of the soap dispenser up to 3/4 full. Mix well.
18 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
According to the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) the FDA has no authority to require companies to test cosmetic products for safety. The agency does not review or approve the vast majority of products or ingredients before they go on the market. With the exception of color additives and a few prohibited substances, companies may use any ingredient or raw material in their products without government review or approval. FDA has no authority to require recalls of harmful cosmetics. Manufacturers are not required to report cosmetic- related injuries to the agency and FDA relies on companies to report injuries voluntarily. These facts combined with the toxic ingredient list such as lead, formaldehyde, parabens, phalates, nitrosamines, dyes, 1,4 dioxane, triclosan, SLS, petroleum-based products and a whole lot more … really gave me nightmares! So as you go down the cosmetic and skin care aisle of the department store, please consider this: Beauty is more than skin deep. Our skin is the largest organ in the body, and everything you put on your skin is absorbed into the body. Do you really want to use these beauty products filled with toxic chemicals that are harmful to your health, unregulated by the government and concealed by advertisers competing for your dollars? Here’s a beauty secret I would love to share with you! There are great, safer and genuine alternatives, and you can MAKE YOUR OWN! That’s SAVING FACE!!!
by Majal Minguez
ESSENTIAL OIL WORKSHOP SCHEDULE March 3, 2015 and March 17, 2015 (Every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month) 5:30 pm @ 913 Ellis Avenue in Lufkin MAKE, TAKE AND LEARN Learn the basics of essential oils and experience the top 10 most commonly used oils. In this fun and educating workshop, each participant will Make and Take an 8 oz foaming hand soap, 8 oz household cleaner and 4 oz air freshener spray. Fee: $10.00 Reservations required.
TIPS:
Call Majal Minguez at 936.414.6434
• Instead of almond oil, you can also use avocado, jojoba or olive oil • If you want to splurge on essential oils, you can use Myrrh, Frankincense and Sandalwood essential oils … exquisite oils for your face! You can also experiment with your oil of choice • I order my foaming soap dispenser at www.abundanthealth4u.com • This homemade foaming soap will make a great gift
Majal Minguez and her family live in Luf kin. Her youngest son in on the Autism Spectrum. In their journey to recover him from Autism, the family has learned that detoxifying his body and their house are major pieces of the puzzle to Autism Recover. For more information, please follow me on Facebook at “WhollyMerry Majal Minguez” or email me at whollymerry@yahoo.com.
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PLACES & FACES
photographed by Lisa Crow
Bella Customer Appreciation
Interested in purchasing a photo you see? Visit lisacrowphotography.smugmug.com!
COMMUNITY 22 ART GALLERY | 24 MISSION STATEMENT | 26 IN THE NEWS | 28 HEART HEALTH UPDATE | 30 A MIRACLE AT PLAY | 34 POWER COUPLE
HEART ART “There is more than one perspective from which to look at the heart.” - C.S. Ellington
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ART HOME GALLERY TOUR
Heart Art /// Continued
The heart is a piece of art, both physically and emotionally speaking. It is a vessel of inspiration and creativity. It’s something that inspires local artist, Camille Ellington (a.k.a. C.S. Ellington), in more ways than one. Ellington, whose art pieces you might have seen hanging around local business, began painting in 2010 after moving to Texas from Santa Fe, New Mexico. “I suppose life slowed down enough that I found the courage to put paint to canvas,” Ellington said. She began by painting hearts and then eventually moved into more abstract pieces. However, her passion for painting has always been inspired by the emotional meaning of the heart. “Hearts are probably about 5% of what I have painted. I like the sentimentality of them,” Ellington said. Her inspiration to paint the heart is something that fuels the passion in her own heart, making her pieces that much more unique. “My favorite kind of art is inspired art. I hold back from referring to any of my art as work, as the best art 22 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
appears from a place of inspiration,” Ellington explained. Ellington grew up in a family where Valentine’s Day was not only recognized, but also celebrated. It fed her passion and inspiration for the heart. “Moments of affection were created and exchanged at home and school,” Ellington said. She also credits her inf luence to her neighbor, “For the f irst time, I am wondering about the effect living next to a heart surgeon in my childhood has upon my art,” Ellington said. Her neighbor also subconsciously taught her about the importance of balance when it comes to the heart, something she regularly thinks about when talking about the heart. “When I think about heart health, I think about balance. The heart surgeon who lived next to me ate Twinkies, but he also would run every day,” Ellington said. She commonly f inds that lesson of balance playing a role in her life, as she balances her life with her art.
“My life is not all about art; I wouldn’t want it to be. Art weaves together inspiration and life. It is important that an artist has a full and complete life,” Ellington explained. When Ellington isn’t in her home studio painting, she is running her realty business and traveling to different art shows to sell her work. No matter what she is doing, she is always using her heart to guide her inspiration and fuel her creativity.
“As long as an artist is creating, it is my experience, that an artist is generally happy. That process can take many forms,” Ellington said. Ellington is represented by, Orchid Tree Park and Gallery in Round Rock, Texas. You can find her work locally at Grandough Baking Company, Milagros Tea House and LiveWell Athletic Club.
“You Can Trust Truss”
(936) 639-3960 www.trussandsonplumbing.com
ROY TRUSS M-10366 RORY TRUSS M-21835
2204 N. John Reddit Lufkin, TX 75901
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MISSION HOMESTATEMENT TOUR
The Kirkwoods birth that God called them back to the states. “We believe God is sovereign in all things, and it was his plan for us to return to the states and serve in His church,” Justin said.
N
estled more than 5,000 miles away from Lufkin, in the city of St. Petersburg Russia, is an East Texas family on a mission, a mission to share the word and love of God with young disciples. Justin and Catherine Kirkwood started their mission in Russia 6 years ago after following a calling from God. “Catherine and I both felt a call to international missions before meeting each other,” Justin said. Justin, who is from Tenaha, and Catherine, who is from Beaumont, met while attending East Texas Baptist University. Soon after getting married, the couple took a vision trip to Poland to pray about where God wanted them to go. It was there that they met an international mission board leader who told them about the need for God’s word in Russia.
After moving back to Texas, Justin accepted a position as Student Pastor at Carpenter’s Way Baptist Church in Lufkin, something he says was very important to his relationship with God. “Our time at Carpenter’s Way was important for our relationship with the Lord, and we are thankful for the chance we had to be a part of the family there.” The Kirkwoods stayed at Carpenter’s Way for the next 5 years, spreading the word of God to the students at the church. During this time they had their second child, Abigail, who is now 5-years-old. “When we left (Russia) very suddenly after the birth of our first born son, we poured ourselves into student outreach and discipleship ministry, but our original call to serve in God’s Kingdom abroad never went away,” Justin said. His calling brought them back to St. Petersburg for the second time, where they still remain today.
conversations, teaching those students who are interested about the word of God. From there, they watch as God takes over and creates a ripple effect of contagious love through the students. “We get the privilege of witnessing young Russians hear and respond to the stories in God’s word for the very first time,” Justin said. The Kirkwoods plan on continuing to watch God’s love move through the students they work with and plan on continuing their mission as long as God will let them. “We would like for God to let us serve in Russia for a long time. We have tried to remain open to be used by God anywhere he wants us to go. Our plan is to serve in Russia until He tells us to go somewhere else,” Justin explained. If you would like to help support The Kirkwood’s ministry, you can pray, come, go, or give. • Pray for them and their ministry. • Come on a volunteer trip to help. • Go to Russia to help. • Give to their mission by going to IMB.org
They are among 6 million other people in one of Russia’s largest cities, but the hustle and bustle of big city life hasn’t stopped them from reaching out to as many young disciples as possible.
You can also be added to their newsletter to receive updates on how the mission is going and learn of ways you can pray for them. Send an e-mail request to the4kirkwoods@gmail.com
“We had to submit to God’s call with obedience, because that is what Disciples of Christ do. When God says go, you go, or you live in the sin and despair of disobeying God,” Justin said.
“Our main goal is to see God multiply these disciples and for small groups of people reading scripture for the first time to start a movement of small groups of new believers encouraging one another to live in Christ,” Justin explained.
The Kirkwoods are expecting their third child in May.
St. Petersburg is where they spent the next two years, sharing the word of God with young students. While there, Catherine had their first son, Gabriel, who is now 7. It was shortly after his
They work with the students and young professionals through various events that they host throughout the year. During these events, they engage in spiritual
It was shortly after this trip that the couple packed their bags and moved to St. Petersburg.
24 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
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IN HOME THE NEWS TOUR
1. Gladys Roberts, President of the Nacogdoches County Democratic Women’s group, donated toys to CASA of Deep East Texas. Kim Herman, Interim Director for CDET proudly accepted the donations on behalf of the children our program serves. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please call Kim at (936) 560-4711. 2. Members of the Leadership Nacogdoches 2014-15 class visit the CPS visitation room they plan to remodel for their class project. Pictured from left are Heather Vessels, Jeremy Higgins, LaTika Lawson, Claire Robbins, Samantha Mora, Bill Forbes, David Carrizales, R.J. Bohac, Vista McCroskey and intern Colin Price, Lacey Claver a nd Jun ior Guer rero. ( Photo by Jason Reina) 3. Wine Swirl. February 21, 2015. 6 PM – 10 PM. The 3rd annual Nacogdoches Main Street Wine Swirl will feature wine samples from Texas wineries, delicious fare from local restaurants, live entertainment, street performers, artisans and much more! Tickets go on sale January 1st. Limited tickets are available. www.downtownnacogdoches.com/about-swirl.html
4. The Polk Education Center at CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin was recently recognized by the American Diabetes Association for continually maintaining a quality diabetes selfmanagement education program. Ethel Ballenger, R DN,LD,CDE, Program Coordinator and Dietitian (left) and Gloriella Chong, LVN, Client Liaison (right) make up the highly dedicated staff at the Polk Education Center. 5. Board certified Cardiologist Ilyas Mohammed (right) looks over his patient Patricia Carter (left) after performing a complete right-side cardiac catheterization and left-side cardiac catheterization coronary angiogram via the wrist and elbow at CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Luf kin Cath Lab on December 30. 6. Students at HG Temple Intermediate collected 1,862 canned goods in a drive coordinated by the campus student Council to help support Diboll Christian Outreach and the community.
7. Nacogdoches High School Band member Ronald Brown has earned a spot on the 5A Texas A ll-State Band. He will perform with the group in San Antonio on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as part of the 2015 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention. 8. On March 26-29, Nacogdoches will host the National Azalea Society of America convention. The convention will be held in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building and will also include tours of all the SFA Gardens, a few private residential gardens, and the Nacogdoches Azalea Trail route. If you would like to volunteer, contact Barbara Stump at bstump@sfasu.edu or 936.468.4129. For more information, visit www.nacogdochesazaleas.com. 9. Dr. LaTonya Goffney, Luf kin ISD Superintendent, was named president of the Texas Council of Women School Executives at the organization’s annual conference in Austin. Dr. Goffney has served with the council for 7 years and as president elect in 2014.
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HEART HOME HEALTH TOUR UPDATE
THE HEART OF THE MATTER “Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the best method to prevent and get regression of disease,” Dr. Sees said.
I
t’s no bigger than the size of two adult fists, yet it is the most vital organ in the human body.
It’s biological make up and intricate wiring provides life to the rest of our bodies. It fuels our mind, body and soul allowing us to go about our day-to-day activities. However, more than half of the American population is at risk for heart disease because of their family history or life choices. “I tell my patients all the time, ‘You can’t control your genes- if you want to be healthy and prevent heart and vascular problems you have to control all the other risk factors,’” said Woodland Heights Medical Center Cardiovascular Surgeon, Dr. David Sees. Those non-genetic risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and smoking. “While all of these contribute to some degree, smoking is probably the number one factor I see,” Dr. Sees said. The current smoking rate in Angelina County is 22% for women and 27% for men. The obesity rate is 41% for women and 36% men. According to Dr. Sees, the most prevalent heart problem in East Texas is coronary artery disease, which leads to heart attacks, congestive heart failure and sometimes death. Indulging in these risk factors cannot only lead to an unhealthy lifestyle, but an unhappy one. “Patients with significant heart disease tend to have less active and fulfilling lives. They end up on lots of medications, have lots of medical tests and treatments, have frequent hospitalizations, and die at an earlier age,” Dr. Sees said. The only way to prevent this from happening to you is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and take care of the most important and vital part of your body.
Dr. Sees | Woodland Heights Medical Center 28 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
Dr. Sees advises you follow these 5 steps to help prevent heart disease:
Stop Smoking: Smoking is a choice- yes, I know it’s an addiction, but if you smoke you have made a choice to do so. You have to decide to buy cigarettes, you have to decide to light it, and you have to decide to puff it. So while it is an addiction, there is still a lot of personal choice that goes into smoking.
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Exercise:
Lose Weight: I hear all kinds of excuses why people can’t lose weight. I don’t eat that much to I exercise a lot and still can’t lose weight. The fact is if you eat more calories than you burn, you are going to gain weight. If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. Pretty simple.
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If you exercise regularly you get several benefitsyou’ll lose weight, your diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol will be better controlled.
Eat Healthy: Low fat & low salt
Control your blood pressure, diabetes & cholesterol: Take your medications as prescribed and talk to your doctor regularly.
Even if you are struggling with heart problems, it isn’t too late to turn your health around and get heart healthy. According to Dr. Sees, “It’s never too late. The best treatments we have are only temporary, so controlling the risk factors to limit the progression of the disease is hugely important to living a long and healthy life.”
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A MIRACLE AT PLAY
MIKE LIEBRUM
I
t was a Friday like any other at the Stephen F. Austin State University HPE Complex; the gyms were packed with echoes of basketballs and screeching shoes against the shiny wood f loors. One game in particular was coming to an end and the intensity was high as the game was tied with only 10 minutes left. Mike Liebrum, who has been playing basketball at SFA for the past 40 years, was sweating with exhaustion as he began to feel the pressure of the game wearing on him. “Fridays are our championship game, and being the competitor that I am I was determined to finish the game,” Liebrum said. Having been unable to play for two weeks prior and feeling under the weather, Liebrum, who was 62 at the time, still put all of his effort into winning the game. After attempting a shot and missing, another player rebounded the ball throwing it in for the game winning shot. Even though he missed the basket, Liebrum was glad the game was over. “I was really tired and lethargic before we started playing, but I just thought that was because I hadn’t played in a couple of weeks,” Liebrum explained.
30 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
As he walked off the court shining with sweat and joy, the unthinkable happened. Liebrum’s heart suddenly stopped beating. “I remember walking off the court and lying on my back. That is the last thing I remember,” Liebrum said. A light tint of purple began washing over Liebrum’s face as he lay unconscious on the sidelines. The sounds of basketballs and screeching shoes came to a halt as the sounds of sirens and chatter of CPR quickly filled the gym. Within moments, SFA graduate student Jeremy Abshire began performing CPR while SFA kinesiology professor Jay Thornton prepared the def ibrillator. “From what I have heard, everyone sprang into action the moment they realized I wasn’t breathing,” Liebrum said. Liebrum was unconscious for a little over 5 minutes before the defibrillator brought him back to life. “It was truly by the grace of God that my heart stopped when it did, because if I had been at my office or running down the street I might not be alive today,” Liebrum explained. He was taken by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center where he underwent a quadruple bypass surgery, something he thought he would never need.
“When I finally did regain consciousness, I was in the hospital. My wife was there and told me that I was about to undergo a quadruple bypass, and all I could think was do I really need that,” Liebrum said. Doctors told Liebrum that his sudden cardiac arrest was a result of a crack in his main aorta and that his platelets had formed a plug in the vein. They also told him how lucky he was to be alive considering 90% of people who have a sudden cardiac arrest die.
“I give all of the glory to God, because I came out of this whole ordeal perfectly fine with no damage to my brain or heart,” Liebrum explained. Eight weeks after his surgery, Liebrum was back on the court and back to feeling his normal self. Besides being, as he said, “Cracked open like an egg,” and having a scar down his torso, he feels great. “You know I can tell something is different, like someone went in there and re-worked the plumbing, but besides that I am doing great.” Before Liebrum had sudden cardiac arrest, he didn’t show any signs of heart problems and was far from fitting in the category of an ‘at-risk patient’. “My blood pressure was good, my cholesterol was fine and heart problems don’t run in my family,” Liebrum said.
He hopes his ordeal will teach others that no matter how active you are or how healthy you are, you should always listen to your body. “I have been playing basketball 2 days a week for the past 40 years, I ate and still do eat healthy. So, I really hope to be a living example of what can happen and to also be a platform to share God’s love,” Liebrum said. Since his accident on the court, Liebrum has set an example among his peers and has not only helped them realize the importance of heart health, but has also helped students learns the importance of CPR. “I went and spoke to some students at SFA that were learning CPR and I just wanted to be a living example for them to see that what they are learning in class can save someone’s life one day,” Liebrum said. But, one of the most important realizations that Liebrum had was the idea of letting go and letting God. “I see things differently now that I have a second chance at life. I have realized that some things are just out of my control and that what happens is completely up to God,” Liebrum said. He is also happy to have a second chance to spend time with his wife of 40 years, Patricia, and his two children, Michael Jr. and Amy. Liebrum has been given the green light by doctors to do what he wants. So if you want to watch a walking miracle, stop by the SFA rec center on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays to watch a one at play.
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MIKE LOVE
O
ne percent doesn’t seem like a lot, but to Luf kin businessman and lawyer, Mike Love, it was the difference between life and death.
In a matter of weeks, Love was once again back to day-to-day life, only this time he was more motivated than ever to get his heart health back on track.
Last October, Love began experiencing pain in his chest, something he blamed on indigestion, but since he had high cholesterol and a family history of heart problems he made a visit to the doctor to get it checked out.
“Nothing makes you motivated to f inally learn everything you can about preventing coronary artery disease like being told you have 99% blockage and need quadruple bypass surgery,” Love said.
“The cardiologist ordered the standard treadmill stress test and an echocardiogram. I passed both with no symptoms, so I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing,” Love explained.
He began doing anything and everything he could to lower his cholesterol and prevent another near death incident. In addition to his cholesterol medication, he changed his diet and began eating foods that would help him maintain a healthy cholesterol level. In less than two months he dropped his cholesterol down to under 100.
However, since Love had a family history of heart problems the doctor ordered him to get a heart catheter, something that would end up saving his life. The heart catheter revealed that Love had 99% blockage in his left coronary artery, which doctors described to him as the “widow maker” since he could have suffered a heart attack at any moment. His doctor scheduled him for an immediate quadruple bypass surgery. “It was a lot to take in. The last think I ever wanted to go through was heart surgery, but it was pretty clear that I didn’t have very much of a choice. When your doctor puts you on the top of his list for heart surgeries, you know it’s pretty serious,” Love said.
While family history is the number one risk factor for heart disease, Love said that’s even more of a reason for him to be proactive in his health and reduce the odds of him having another heart surgery. Something he also advises to those like him with a family history of heart problems. “Heart health is not something to ignore. Be proactive. If you have risk factors, it is not that difficult to make changes that can drastically improve your odds of developing CAD. Bypass surgery is not the way you want to take a month long vacation from work, and it’s a lot more expensive than a trip to Europe,” Love said.
At age 49, Love was the youngest person in his family to undergo a quadruple bypass. Fortunately for him, his age played a role in his ability to recover and get back to his day-to-day life.
This experience not only motivated Love to be more proactive in his health, but it also allowed him to get close with God and develop a fellowship with his family, friends, and church members, a feeling he said is hard to describe.
“I was up and walking the day after surgery. I wasn’t going to win any races and felt a little silly walking the halls in a hospital gown clutching a red pillow to my chest, but I was up and walking,” Love joked.
“It was all very humbling and yet intense and uplifting, in a way that is hard to describe,” Love said.
Within 3 weeks Love was back at work and feeling himself again. That quickly changed when he developed a staph infection in his right leg from complications with the surgery. A complication that he said was worse than the heart surgery itself. He explains, “Heart surgery is a cake walk compared to MRSA.” Love’s staph infection sent him back to the hospital for nine days, where he had to undergo additional surgeries.
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At the end of the day, even though he didn’t show any serious signs of heart disease, he is doing everything he can to prevent any further problems and suggest others do the same before it might be too late.
POWER HOMECOUPLE TOUR
Making Moore of a Busy Schedule They say it takes an army to raise a family, but in Ben and Melinda Moore’s case it only takes two iPhones, a laptop, and a synchronized schedule to keep their family on track.
T
o say that Ben and Melinda are busy people would be an understatement.
and Habitat for Humanity of East Texas. Needless to say, the wiggle room on her calendar is very slim.
“Both of us work a whole lot and we volunteer a whole lot. Somehow we still manage to find time for each other, our family and our kiddo,” Ben said.
Ben on the other hand has a less demanding job. As President of Moore Building Associates Inc. and Moore Asset Management Inc., his schedule is a little bit more f lexible, but not by much. In the free time that he does have outside of work, he spends it volunteering his time as First Vice President for the Luf kin Host Lions Club, Treasurer for the Pines Sporting Clays, Ambassador for the Angelina County Go Texas Committee and board member of Museums of East Texas.
Melinda, who is from Liberty, works between 50-55 hours a week as an IT Finance Lead at GE-Oil and Gas. Her job requires her to not only work long and odd hours, but to also travel around the world throughout the month. “Working on the go in an environment that is not always the most favorable conditions, fortunately, comes easy to her,” Ben added. Along with her busy work schedule, Melinda also volunteers her time with the Luf kin Junior League, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School Board, Museum of East Texas Guild
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“My folks always taught me to help others and give to the community. I guess you could say I took their advice to heart,” Ben joked. So, how do they manage all of this while also raising their 2-year-old daughter Madeline, you may ask?
First things first, technology is their best friend/ personal assistant.
Third, knowing that at the end of the day family comes first.
“We have calendar meetings at least once a week. We put all of our events/activities/hobbies/board meetings/ volunteer events/work trips on each other’s calendars. If it isn’t on the calendar, it might get missed or forgotten,” Melinda said.
“The most difficult part of raising a family with a busy schedule is making sure we slow down and realize who is important. Dinner time is our family time, and we make sure we sit down as family and enjoy each other’s company,” Melinda explained.
“If it weren’t for the 2 iPhones and the laptop, a lot of important tasks would never get done,” Ben added.
The Moore’s also said that if anything changes or comes up last minute, (which happens at least once a week) they just put in on their digital calendars so that they are both up to date on what is going on.
“My mother always told me, ‘Family first, then God, and work to keep it in that order,’ I always try and keep that in the back of my mind every day,” Ben said.
Second, the support of family and friends.
“I honestly have to say I could not take the credit for mine or Melinda’s success without first recognizing both our parents, Carol and Jerry Moore, and, Clara and Mike Coziar,” Ben said.
The couple also wants to give credit to their friends Paula Hughes, Andrew Moore, Kimberly Graham, Kelley Moore and Scott and Donna Ross, who have helped one time or another avoid a small crisis.
Fourth and final, a 50/50 relationship.
“We have always believed that our marriage comes first. It is a hard one to adjust to, but we must put each other first. You must take time and make time for each other,” Melinda said.
“In most successful relationships, each person must go at least half way. Melinda and I have always kept an open mind and we have always been straight up with one an other. Sure we poke fun at one another, even get crossed up from time to time just like everybody else, but in the end we always meet each other halfway,” Ben explained.
While the majority of their time is spent apart, the time they do get to spend together is a time they cherish.
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PLACES & FACES
photographed by Samantha Miller
Business After Five at Lufkin First Assembly
36 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
EDUCATION 38 STAR STUDENT | 40 SUPERINTENDENT NEWS | 44 TERRIFIC TEACHER | 46 ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
HANNAH
CARROLL “Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father above.” – James 1:17 When she isn’t playing the cello, hunting with her dad or establishing her art career, 7th grader and Luf kin native, Hannah Carroll is busy setting long-term goals for her future.
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STAR STUDENT
Hannah Carroll /// Continued
H
annah, who has been home schooled since she was in kindergarten, is like any other 12–year-old. She likes to participate in arts and crafts, cook with her mom and listen to music. “She enjoys her hobbies and passions and tries to do her very best in all that she is involved in,” said Hannah’s mom, Natalie Carroll. However, Hannah doesn’t just see her hobbies as fun activities, but instead as funding for her future. “Since she was very little, she always wanted to find ways to earn a little money here and there. She saves most of the money she has earned,” her mother said. Hannah’s main source of revenue is from her custom painted pictures and clay f igures, something she began selling after her mother posted them to Facebook. “I put a few pictures on Facebook and all of her pictures sold with orders to be filled,” Natalie said. Since then Hannah has been busy at work filling orders and doing what she loves to do best. “Hannah has always loved art projects. Her ability to draw started from a very
young age,” her mother explained. Hannah’s mother, grandmother and uncle are all artists and have been a big influence in her artistic career. Something she says is just gift from God, “God blessed my family with the talent of art and now he has blessed me with it, as well. My mom, my MaMaw, and my Uncle Alex are gifted with this talent. It’s in my blood.” While her main passion of creating art takes up the majority of her time, she does use the rest of her spare time to indulge in some of her other hobbies, like playing the cello with the East Texas Home School Stringed Orchestra and teaching herself to the play the piano. She also loves participating in sports like softball and hunting. Of the two, hunting is her favorite. Just recently, Hannah took an interest in cooking and has learned how to decorate cakes with her mom, another hobby from which she has made money. “Some of her family members have begun to pay her to make themed cakes for birthdays and holidays,” her mother said. With all hobbies aside, Hannah really enjoys the time she gets to spend in the classroom with her two younger brothers, Weston and Cayden. She
studies the Bible and indulges in her favorite subjects, math and creation-based science. When it comes to her future and what she wants out of life, Hannah has it all painted out. “When I grow up and go to college, I’d like to go somewhere local like Angelina College or SFA, so that I don’t have to leave the Lufkin area. I grew up here and would like to stay here, but my goal is to be a mother and an artist from my home, making and selling things to help provide for my family. I would like to stay at home with my kids so that I can be their main influence like my mom and dad have been for me.” Hannah’s artistic abilities and goaloriented mindset are what make her a star student.
OUTSTANDING ACADEMICS • PCA is a comprehensive free public charter school serving students in grades PreK-12th grade. • PARAMUS Early College High School students grades 9-12 take Dual Credit courses at Angelina College and can earn up to 60 college hours or an Associate’s Degree. • PARAMUS is the only ECHS designated by the Texas Education Agency in the greater Angelina County area.
PINEYWOODS COMMUNITY ACADEMY
College Preparatory Charter School Accredited Through Texas Education Agency
OUTSTANDING ACTIVITIES • UIL District 23 1A sports at the Junior High, Junior Varsity and Varsity levels including boys and girls basketball, track, cross country, golf, and tennis. • UIL Academics, Destination Imagination, and Robotics activities elementary through high school. • Award winning choral music and theater program.
OUTSTANDING ADVANTAGES • Class sizes of 20 students or less provide individualized instruction and a student-centered approach. • Students can arrive as early as 6:30 a.m. and stay as late as 6:00 p.m. to accommodate working parents.
602 S. Raguet • Lufkin • 936-634-5515 • www.pineywoodsacademy.org
SUPERINTENDENT NEWS
HUNTINGTON ISD FFA
Huntington FFA: Learning to Do, Doing to Earn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.
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he Huntington FFA has been very busy this year with events across the Nation and projects throughout their community. For example, the Huntington FFA Livestock Judging team went to Hempstead, Texas where they judged a variety of show animals and are now preparing for future contests. Later, the Wildlife team went to the district meet in Nacogdoches, where they qualified for the area meet in Ratcliff, which they will soon be attending. Then on October 28th Mr. Williams, Mr. Hunt and Mrs. Brock took seven members and officers to The National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. In November, a team of members went to compete in the SFA McGee Bend District LDE competition. The LDE’s consisted of public speaking, parliamentary procedure, radio and quiz, which a few students placed in individually. In mid-March the Huntington FFA proudly hosts the yearly McGee Bend District Convention. Some of the projects they have been working on are building greenhouses, working in an experimental forest, preparing the Ag arena, building projects for the Angelina County Youth Fair and restoring a tractor that was donated last summer. The group devotes a lot of time to their community and people in it. For example, the past few years they have adopted a stretch of Highway 69 where they pick up trash twice a year, and in November they assisted the Intermediate School in helping establish their outdoor classroom. The Huntington FFA show team has a variety of show animals this year. Students will be taking their animals to the Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston Livestock shows and the Angelina County Fair. As you can see, the Huntington FFA Chapter is very busy in their personal and community growth by taking on leadership roles. By following the FFA Motto, they are achieving their educational goals.
LUFKIN ISD LUFKIN MIDDLE SCHOOL by Logan Armstrong | 7th grader
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t was the first day of 6th grade. A fresh new start to my life begins here, I thought. I trotted down the hall, admiring all the pictures and new faces I had never seen before. I felt safe and secure with all these new people. I was proud that I was now an official Luf kin Panther! I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for me at Luf kin Middle School.
At LMS, I have grown mentally, physically and socially. I am now in 7th grade. I have amazing teachers that interact with us in many different ways. We have mini computers, calculators and smart phones that let us combine technology with every day learning. Our class gets to have hands-on activities, too like dissecting sharks and getting to do experiments! In some classes we get to perform plays and skits that help us visualize and remember the lesson. Additionally, we get to go on field trips to educational sites and museums. Sometimes, we get to take a break and go to the movies or to Six Flags for an end of the year field trip! In addition to the scholastic requirements, Luf kin Middle School also requires the students to participate in some sort of physical education. Athletics, tennis, dance, football, and cheer are only some of the many physical activities that LMS offers. I am currently playing tennis here, and I love it! We play games like Olympic Doubles, Jail, and my favorite, Burn your Butt! It is such a fun way to be active and healthy. I strongly believe that every kid should do some physical activity to keep in shape and stay happy. LMS has also taught me social skills that I will need when going out into the world. I have been taught teamwork as I work in class with partners on assignments and projects. I have met so many new people from many different backgrounds. I have black, white, Hispanic and Asian friends from many different cultures. I get to communicate and get exposed to talking with people so I will be ready to go out into world to get a job. I have been taught mentally, physically and socially here at LMS. I appreciate all the time the teachers and staff put in to make my learning experience memorable. I look forward to going to school every day to learn something new and catch up with my friends. LMS has provided me with many “purple and golden opportunities!” To help our students get to know each other before they get to LMS, LISD is hosting a team building leadership day for the Class of 2022. The event will be held at the Luf kin Convention Center on Monday, May 18th and will give the students a chance to get to know one another before going to 6th grade and before all becoming Luf kin Panthers.
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DIBOLL ISD
THE FINEST SCHOOL IN ANGELINA COUNTY by John R. Clements | Principal Diboll High School
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he high school principal’s position is said to be the hardest job in the educational community. However, what people do not know is it can also be the most rewarding. I happen to have been blessed with the opportunity to be the new high school principal at Diboll High School. Yes, I am a little biased when I say, “We ARE the finest school in Angelina County.” I would not say that unless I had the proof. The evidence is in three main (though not exclusive) factors: 1) the cultural diversity; 2) educational opportunity; and 3) a sense of pride our students, parents, and community continue to show. But these are just words on a piece of paper. As we all know, words are cheap. True proof is in the actions of our faculty, parents, staff, community, and students. DHS is very proud of the economic and cultural diversity of our student population. In fact, it is one of our greatest strengths. In our world today, one of the many goals of the educational community is to prepare our students not only to be competitive locally, but globally as well. We use our diversity as an advantage to provide our students a head start in that direction by learning to work together for a common goal in academics, fine arts, sports, and community events. We also expect our students to have the common character-building skills such as being polite, looking people in the eye, and speaking clearly. Though all of these are important, DHS teaches other skills including empathy, understanding, cooperation, and collaboration by working with students and community members who do not necessarily come from the same culture, religious, and economic backgrounds. The proof lies in the cultural functionality of the school itself. Clubs, UIL academics, and sports teams have proven that whether we win or lose, the positive outcomes of these activities are stronger bonds and the ability to adjust to overcome our differences. As it stands, more than 50 percent of our 510 students are involved in extracurricular activities in spite of their cultural and economic status. The high school has maintained a 96 percent attendance rate along with a 97 percent graduation rate. DHS is very proud of the educational opportunities available for our students. We currently provide a wide variety of Career and Technology Education (CTE) courses and endorsements specifically designed to prepare students to succeed in local and global workplaces. Within the CTE course sequence and in partnership with Angelina College, we offer students opportunities to gain certification in welding, phlebotomy, certified nurses assistant, pharmacy technician, and food preparation. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs are forthcoming and should be in place next year. 42 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
With our dual credit program through Angelina College and advanced placement courses, our students are capable of earning up to 21 college credit hours. As a campus, we made SAT/ACT prep a priority with PSAT testing of our freshman, sophomores and juniors, as well as, adding the SAT/ACT reading and math in our daily course assignments. Progress on this front has been noted in pre-, mid- and post-test data. This requires a high level of rigor and planning on the part of our teachers, but in the end, we stand by our plan to fulfill our mission. When I first came to Diboll this summer, one of the first aspects I looked for was a sense of pride in the high school from our community, parents, and students. Speaking with the parents and community, I learned from them that they wanted to see a high school strong not only in academics, but also that our students would feel the same sense of pride they had felt when they attended DHS. The parents and community members I spoke with offered to volunteer and support anything that would ensure that the students at DHS would have the same, if not, better experience. Proof of their commitment is in the amount of hours our community engages in supporting our mentoring program, junior achievement and senior project programs. After surveying our students concerning the mentoring program, more than 97 percent of students said these programs have made a difference in their ability to make post-secondary decisions. While cultural diversity, academic opportunities and community involvement are integral to our success, spirit building activities have invigorated our school climate. Our pep rallies have exploded with pride; our student athletes and coaching staff have stepped up and earned the respect they deserve. Our athletes, cheerleaders, band and Dazzlers dance team have stepped up as school leaders. Each has seen great success in their respected areas. Our football team is improving and doubled their wins from the previous year. Our cross country advanced to regionals. The volleyball team won district and also advanced to regionals. Band received all “ones” in UIL Band competition and continues to send students to state solo and ensemble contests. The Dazzlers continue to set the standard in pride and quality of dance. I personally call them “the internationally-acclaimed dance squad” at every pep rally. Little did I know, that when they chose to perform on a cruise, that they would sail into international waters. Students are filling up the UIL academic and club rosters. School pride is extremely high at DHS. The only way it has been possible is by the continued efforts and hard work of the faculty and staff, parents and community support. Otherwise, it could not be accomplished.
As I stated, actions not words are what define DHS. Student cultural and economic diversity is not a weakness, but a strength. It has taken hold of our students in profound ways. I believe it has given our students the ability to overcome anything life will throw at them. Robert Frost wrote a poem entitled “The Road Not Taken” in which he describes two roads: one that has been heavily traveled the other less so. One road everyone takes, and the other, few are willing to take because it might be too diff icult. It is the goal of the
community, parents and the district that our students, as a whole, have the wherewithal to take the road less traveled. And when they so choose, they will make a difference on a local, national and global scale. They will all be productive members of our society, and one day will be able to say without hesitation: I graduated from the finest school in Angelina County…… Diboll High School.
ZAVALLA ISD
in cash to ensure that the tipsters remain anonymous.
CRIME STOPPERS
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am so excited to announce that Crime Stoppers of Luf kin, in partnership with Zavalla ISD and Zavalla ISD Police Department, have developed a targeted program for bringing Crime Stoppers’ crime prevention and crime solving efforts to Zavalla’s campuses. Zavalla ISD students can use the Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers (DETCS) website, tip line, and text-a-tip service to report on-campus criminal activity and administration violations while remaining anonymous. DETCS will accept tips regarding any crime, but posters places around the ZISD campuses will give students an idea of the possible rewards for several crimes common to schools. For instance, the posters announce that reporting possession of tobacco on campus might be rewarded with $25 and a drug possession tip might receive $100. The reward amounts are not set in stone; type of event solved, number of people arrested/ disciplined, and the accuracy and usefulness of the information provided are among the factors considered when determining the amount of a reward. Rewards are paid only to tips that result in an arrest or administrative discipline for an on-campus offense, so a bogus tip or an attempt to get an innocent person in trouble will not lead to a reward. Tips are submitted by phone, (936) 639-TIPS, online www.DETCS.tips and by text message -text keyword 639tips and your tip information to CRIMES (numerically CRIMES is 274637). Tips are passed through a software program that masks all sender information. A randomized report number is assigned to each tip so the tipster’s identity is never known to Crime Stoppers or any law enforcement officer/investigator involved in the case. To pay the reward, Crime Stoppers Board of Directors will authorize it. Then the tipster will receive instructions for using their randomized report number to retrieve the reward. The process changes throughout the year and the rewards are paid
Sorry, I told you I was a little bias. Have a great day!!
“Crime Stoppers works,” Detective Smith said. “Anonymous tips to our program solve approximately 50 cases and lead to 70 or so arrests each year; these are cases and suspects that likely would have gone unresolved without Crime Stoppers tipsters.” Crime Stoppers of Lufkin/DETCS pays approximately $20,000 each year to anonymous tipsters. This fall, Zavalla High School had more students than ever taking dual credit classes. There were twelve 11th grade students and eight 12th grade students taking classes with Angelina College and 5 taking advanced math through SFA. Our five students who took the Phlebotomy certification class through Angelina College Community Services all successfully passed their certification exam. (Pictured are Summer Sanders, Briana Jordy, Kaylie Mitchell, Kaitlyn Hawley and Madison Porter) Thirty students from Zavalla Elementary received a new bicycle and helmet from Academy Sports and Outdoors. Fifteen boys and fifteen girls were rewarded for having good attendance. Elementary Principal Kathy Caton was recently presented with a $500 Exxon Mobil Math and Science Grant also sponsored in part by Brookshire Brothers and Polk’s. Zavalla Elementary also received the Angelina County Clean Campus award for the year. Mrs. Caton has the banner proudly displayed for all to see when they drive through the town. Zavalla ISD’s fall semester was a good one and I know we have many more good things to come.
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44 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
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46 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
LIFE 48 FUN FITNESS | 50 FOODIE | 52 FASHION | 54 SOMETHING ABUNDANT
ROLLER DERBY Mission Statement: The East Texas Bombers are a non-profit, skater owned and operated, all women flat track roller derby league based in East Texas. ETXB promotes sportswomanship, athleticism and empowerment of and for women, by participating in and producing family friendly roller derby. In addition, ETXB will foster goodwill and philanthropy in the community, providing outreach through activities, events and charitable involvement.
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FUN HOME FITNESS TOUR Roller Derby /// Continued
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he fastest growing women’s sport in America is rolling into East Texas and helping women get on the fast track to better fitness.
The East Texas Bombers, Lufkin’s only roller derby team, was started this past year after Mar y Catherine Breen (know to her skate sisters as M.C.) and Sarah Early saw a need for a women’s recreational/ fitness group in the Lufkin. “We both skate for the East Texas Bombers competition team in Lufkin and we realized Lufkin really need something like a roller derby team,” Breen explained. The East Texas Bombers is a recreational league and extension of the home team in Tyler. “We really just wanted to bring a chapter
48 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
here because Lufkin didn’t really have any recreational teams for women. Our main focus right now is to just be a recreational outlet for women who aren’t a par t of anything,” Breen said. Women ranging in age from 18 -years-old and older are welcome to join. There are no specific requirements, and you don’t have to have any experience. However, if you want to join the competition team you will have to pass a series of test ranging from rules to agility. “There is a skills and fitness test for those women who want to compete. It is pretty hard and usually takes time and practice,” Breen said. While women have the option to turn this recreational hobby into a competitive
hobby, Breen said the Lufkin chapter is just a good way for women to empower each other physically and emotionally. “We are a sisterhood, not just the Lufkin team, but around the world. It’s a derby love. We are there for one another, to take care of each other and encourage one another,” Breen said. Breen also added that roller derby, which is now known as flat track derby, isn’t what it used to be. In fact, it has turned into a family friendly event that is fun and safe for ever yone to participate. “Through the years roller derby has really gotten a bad name, but since making a come back in the early 20 0 0’s it has really calmed down and turned into a family friendly affair,” Breen added.
The East Texas Bombers is a non-profit organization, and all the money they do raise is donated to the East Texas Crisis Center. Since starting the team in September of 2014 the Lufkin chapter has grown to a group of 20 women. Anyone who has questions about roller derby or wants to join the team should contact Breen through their Facebook page: Lufkin Roller Derby. If you are just interested in tr ying it out, you can rent skates and equipment at Lufkin Skate Ranch, where they practice two times a week.
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HOME FOODIE TOUR
The Leaning Pear
CUSTOMER REVIEWS Christie Schiller Gee
photography | Tristan Rhodes Photo
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ost of life’s greatest moments happen around the dinner table. It’s where we connect, share, celebrate and reminisce about the most cherished parts of our lives. The memories we make around the dinner table are some of the most important ones we will ever have, which is why The Leaning Pear eatery in Wimberley, Texas strives to create a family friendly environment that makes you feel right at home. The Leaning Pear is a hill country-inspired eatery that serves unique, well-crafted, delicious food in an idyllic hill-country setting. Whether you are in the mood for a light lunch on the patio or an intimate dinner under candlelight, when you eat at The Leaning Pear you are sure to leave with a full stomach and a happy heart. Their menu ranges from Hill Country Cobb salads, Fried Green Tomato sandwiches, to a spin on chicken and grits. There is something for even the pickiest of eaters. Every item on the menu is made with locally grown produce and prepared by owner Matthew Buchanan, who studied culinary arts at the renowned Culinary Institute of America in New York. He and h is w ife, R achel, opened T he L ean ing Pear in October of 2006. Since then the restaurant has g rown into Wimberley’s dest inat ion spot for un ique wel l- crafted, del icious food in a serene hill-countr y sett ing.
If you love road trips and great food, be sure to watch for our new feature, "Foodie." Do you have a favorite eatery or getaway not too far from East Texas that others should know about? Email us at photos@tjmag.com and you might read about it in the months to come!
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“Great restaurant with a trendy, but romantic atmosphere. The food is delicious! The outside deck is huge with an outside bar, beautiful grounds with a view of the river. We will definitely come back next time we are in town!”
Debika Sihi “We had the best lunch here!!! The pear salad and pimento cheese sandwich are amazing!!! Our server, Audra A. was fantastic as well!!! So helpful and so, so nice!!! Definitely ask for her if you come to visit! We will be back!”
Judy Hubbard “Great food, great service, great atmosphere! Love the Leaning Pear Salad;)”
Sherri Davis Smith “Best pimento and cheese and ice tea!!”
Amanda Ramirez Seagraves “Food is delicious and we’ve had consistently good service. We also love the natural setting and the little goodies you can see while sitting on the lower deck. Keep your eyes open and you’ll see them, too. We have tried and enjoyed the cheese plate, meatloaf, huaraches, papaya salad, several soups, sandwiches, desserts- it’s all excellent...”
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FASHION
5 EASY WAYS TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR WINTER WARDROBE
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ust because the weather is gloomy doesn’t mean your outfit has to be. The cold winter months tend to take away any inspiration to wear bold, colorful pieces and suddenly we find ourselves dressing in headto-toe black, gray, and navy. While all those shades certainly have their place, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
From bright jackets, pops of color in scarves or even a bold handbag, adding some color into your wardrobe can literally brighten your day and change up your winter style.
1. HANDBAGS We all usually carry some type of handbag, so it might as well be a stylish and fun-colored one! You don’t have to spend a ton of money on a colorful handbag, just buy one that catches your eye. Even if you’re in a black coat and boots, a little pop of color is a great way to liven up your winter wardrobe!
2. PUMPS If you have a closet full of neutral colored clothing, pick up a pair of fun heels in a bright color. Bold pumps like these will be refreshing in a sea of dreary blacks this winter.
3. STATEMENT NECKLACES An easy way to brighten up your wardrobe is to add a colorful statement necklace. It’ll make an otherwise gloomy outfit a little more exciting. I love the necklaces with floral details; it reminds me that spring is just around the corner.
4. SCARVES Only looking to add a splash of color to your winter wardrobe? A scarf is a perfect, subtle way to instantly brighten up an outfit. Plus, it’s warm on cold days. Wear yours with a neutral coat to avoid overkill of color.
5. BLAZERS Blazers are a winter wardrobe staple, so they’re the perfect way to introduce some fun hues into your outfit. A nice blazer already keeps you warm during the chilly months, but wearing one in a color like a coral or yellow will make your outfit much cheerier. Wearing darker colors on the bottom half of your outfit will prevent it from looking too over-the-top and colorful.
1. Faux- Leather Crossbody bag, Old Navy, $24.94 | 2. JCP Knit Blazer, JCP, $34.99 | 3. Almond Toe Patent Pump, Target, $39.99 | 4. Mixit Multicolor Flower Statement Necklace, $32 | 5. Jessica Simpson Caldas Pump, Belk’s, $62.99 | 6. Bib Necklace, Target, $19.99 | 7. Janine Pointy Toe Pump, Payless, $19.99 | 8. Peplum Blazer- Mossimo, Target, $34.99 | 9. Jersey Fitted Blazer, Old Navy, $39.94 | 10. Solid Fringe Scarf, Target, $14.99 | 11. Towne & Reese Gwen Statement Necklace, Belk’s, $49.99 | 12. Crinkled Triangle Print Infinity Scarf, Target, $14.99 | 13. Reversible Faux Leather Tote, Old Navy, $34.94 | 14. Mixit Stone & Crystal Statement Necklace, JCP, $34 | 15. Jessica Simpson Malia Pumps, Belk’s, $49.99 | 16. Tote Handbag with Turnlock, Target, $44.99 | 17. Nine West Hadley Stud Tote Bag, Bealls, $63 | 18. Floral Gauze Scarf, Old Navy, $16.94. 52 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
by Jessica Tinsley Bridges
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Jessica was born and raised in Lufkin. She is in love with fashion, shopping & wearing high heels. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a Fashion Merchandising degree. She and her husband and son live in Houston with their 2 dogs. Jessica has worked for many retailers in the past but is now a full time mom to Landry and runs her online boutique out of her home. www.JessLeaBoutique.com photo by The Silhouette Studio
tjmag.com • 53
SOMETHING ABUNDANT
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Heart Health t’s probably your preference to read something happy and sweet today. Oh, and funny, because laughter is the best medicine for a heart-sick soul.
Some of the most important items in any bride’s trousseau to fight this illness of heart are:
Like me you surely can’t ignore that this world has gone ape crazy lately. A good laugh helps keep one drunk to the reality of hurt and heartbreak which seem to find us at every turn. However, today-precisely because I am heart-sick over the horrible state of affairs on the news, in the lives of dear friends, and in my own living room--I need a good dose of something good. Not the instant results, cheap distraction sort of candy drug we all crave, but the real no-painno-gain discipline of heart health God’s way.
• Jewels of gratitude. Thankfulness is most effective in initiating a spiritual tryst between bride and Bridegroom. Because it is hard to focus on gratitude when a million nagging and down-right tragic things are burning down around our feet, a grateful heart is irresistible. Finding gratitude isn’t something that should make us feel good about our meager and difficult circumstances. It isn’t meant to give us a little piece of respite in the midst of immense pain or to keep us going while we drudge through another day of monotony. No, gratitude opens the door to a secret meeting place where a human soul connects with the God of angel armies. It makes you alluring--f irst to the One called Faithful and True who died to give you hope and then to the watching world witnessing His glorious ref lection in you.
As the bride of Christ in this generation, we need to have a collection of tools to access in the daily wait for His return. Every bride of Christ needs a spiritual “trousseau.” Basically, a spiritual trousseau is a collection of must-have treasures from which to draw when the sky is falling and the enemy is using every heartbreaking circumstance to deceive you to believe Jesus doesn’t rescue and He might never come back. Or if He does, it won’t be for you.
• Perfume of praise. It is becoming (see Ps. 33:1 and Matt. 26:6-13). The surest sign that I need to praise my Creator, is praise being the last thing I feel like doing. But I’ve learned that if I will just start singing (however badly), something miraculous happens. Sometimes it takes one rebellious, reluctant arm to lift the other in the air. When the Name is on these lips, Jesus inhabits the sound with His fullness of strength and heavy joy soon follows. “For to God we are the fragrance of Christ...” (2 Cor. 2:15)
Jewels of thankfulness and perfumes of praise, these are like fine linen and lace. They are lovely and make a woman feel like a bride. We need the finer things to show the beauty of the One who chose us to reflect His light in a dark and down-right scary world.
trous·seau ۰ /ˈtro͞ oˌsō/ ۰ Noun: The clothes, household linen, and other belongings collected by a bride for her marriage.
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by Angie Nichols
God’s Way But we can’t afford to be naive. This life is war. It’s time we acquire experience with weaponry against a mean enemy who hates us because we are beautiful. That is why this treasure, while perhaps not as glamorous, is absolutely a must. A bride in our generation needs a weapon tucked away among the delicates. She needs a tent peg tucked in her lace. • A tent peg tucked in lace. There’s this great story in the Bible ( Judges 4:4-10 and Judges 4:18-22). It doesn’t get a lot of air time, but it is on my all time favorites list. See, there was this woman, Deborah. The Scriptures call her a “prophetess.” She sat under a tree named after her and judged disputes among the people and instructed the men in battle strategy. When the hearts of Israel’s men fainted, she inspired courage by going along for the battle but warned the enemy would be given over into the hands of a woman. After a sweeping victory over their oppressors, the commander of the enemy army f led on foot to the tent of another woman named Jael. As innocent as a dove, she welcomed him inside, gave him covers to lie down and milk when he asked for water. She lured him to sleep. Then shrewd as a snake, Jael picked up a tent peg and a hammer and drove the peg through his evil head and into the ground,”...and he died,” the Bible calmly states. I always want to insert a “Boo-yah! Whaaaat, WHAT!” Just two women knew how to f ight an enemy and bring peace to their land. We are well served to learn from them. Not so genteel as perfume or jewels, a tent peg tucked in the lace is just what the Great Physician ordered for His type of heart health. If you are looking to smash the head of an enemy in your current circumstance, I believe this truth just might be the weapon you need:
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for one another that you may be healed.” James 5:16a This weapon comes with a promise: Healing Friends, we don’t have time for comparisons, catty jealousy, or insecurity--all ploys of our enemy to steal the powerful healing Jesus was pierced to provide. We need each other. We need to be able to honestly expose our failures without the fear of rejection. You need to pray for a sister who has an ugly enemy inside her home and ask for her to pray for your fainting heart in return. The enemy is crushed dead in our ape crazy circumstances through this sort of battle on behalf of one another. It scares me to consider. But if I let insecurities and fear keep me from recently exposing my sin to a trusted friend, seeking her forgiveness of me while requesting her prayers for me, the enemy would still be drinking my milk. If you are in need of healing, pray for another. You just might have the sword to take the head off their beast and the key to a powerful truth that brings your own healing. That is heart health God’s way. This isn’t a song for sissies. Pray for another so that you may be healed. It’s like having a tent peg tucked in lace. “At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell--dead.” --The Song of Deborah ( Judges. 5:27)
Angie Nichols is the founder of Something Abundant Ministries, serving women through worship, ministry, and Biblical teaching and the author of Something Abundant: growing from a child of God to the bride of Christ. Her passion is for women to know the beauty of an abundant life knowing Christ as Bridegroom. She is married to Chris and they have one daughter, Mycah. For more information, to read Angie’s blog, or book speaking events visit: somethingabundantministries.org.
tjmag.com • 55
PLACES & FACES
photographed by Lisa Crow
2015 Lufkin Chamber Banquet
Interested in purchasing a photo you see? Visit lisacrowphotography.smugmug.com!
CHILD 58 LEADERSHIP | 60 SUPER KIDS | 62 LOOK AT ME | 64 PRETTY BABIES
Girl Scouts I
n March of 1912 Juliette Gordon Low started an organization that would later change the lives of millions of girls around the world, an organization know today as the Girl Scouts.
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HOME LEADERSHIP TOUR
Girl Scouts /// Continued
The non-profit girls’ group, which started in Georgia, quickly spread through the southern states and eventually into the piney woods of East Texas.
“I think it has been a great opportunity for our younger girls to learn from the examples of our older girls,” Adams said.
The East Texas area has grown into its own community of Girl Scout troops, each unique in their own way, one in particular is right here in Luf kin.
While it’s not easy managing a group of young girls, Adams said it is every bit worth it because they are able to impact the future leaders of our community.
Troop #1652 was established in 2008 by two East Texas moms, Kristy Adams and Carrie Shockley, who saw a need for a troop in the area.
“The mission of our troop is to teach the girls to be leaders in their communities, always help others, be self-confident, be happy with their selves, and be a good friend to others,” Adams said.
“I wanted my oldest daughter to be in Girl Scouts, but there were not any troops taking on new girls,” Adams explained. So, Adams grabbed her co-founder Shockley and started a journey that would soon grow into something so much more. “We started out as a brownie troop, but as our younger daughters grew up and other girl members who had siblings grew-up we added new members and created a mixed- level troop,” Adams said. Adams and Shockley now manage a troop of 12, all between the ages of 7 and 1. “This makes our troop unique. Most troops only have one level in their troop,” Adams added. Not only does it make their troop unique, but it also makes their troop that much more beneficial.
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In order to instill those values, the g irls volunteer their time and ef forts to giving back and helping the community. “In the past we have donated newspapers to the animal shelter, made and delivered Christmas care packages to the women’s shelter, made care packages to ship to soldiers overseas, and made blankets and taken them to nursing homes in our area,” Adams said. Of course we can’t forget about their annual cookie sell, which is a vital part in helping the troops give back to the community. “Successful cookie sales are vital to our troop, because this is our only fundraiser. The funds are used to buy supplies for our bi-monthly meetings, camping trips, workshops, service projects badges, and out of town trips,” Adams explained.
For every $4.00 box of cookies the girls sell they earn .60 cents to put towards their troop budget, so good thing you plan on buy 20 plus boxes! Troop #1652 has had successful cookie sells for the past three years and hopes this year won’t be any different. “The last three years our troop has sold just over 5,000 boxes to be one of the highest selling troops in the area,” Adams said. Adam’s scouts will be selling cookies through March at various locations throughout Luf kin. While you might be itching to go buy a box of the new f lavor cookies you have heard about (Rah-rah-raisin and Toffee-tastic), you might want to wait because they aren’t available in our area.
Troop #1652: Kyler Duren Senior
However, the girls will be selling a newer cookie called the “Trio” which is a gluten free chocolate chip, oatmeal cookie. However, it is only available online.
Abby Adams Cadettes
“[The Trio] has to be ordered online and in groups of 8 or 12 boxes at a time,” Adams said.
Hannah Scarborough Cadettes
Don’t worry, you don’t have to go online and search for the cookie yourself. The girls can order them for you and have them shipped right to your front door. “Technology has really helped boost sales. Girls can send emails to friends and families and take their orders over the web. Large cookie orders can be shipped to out of town family members directly from the cookie manufacturer,” Adams explained. You can even place your order through the troop’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. “Through the cookie sales program, girls learn what it is like to set goals, work toward those goals, and then enjoy the success of reaching the goal. We talk about marketing strategies and financial planning,” Adams said. Becoming part of a troop has many benefits and can be the base of what shapes the future of our community, which is why Adams encourages girls of all ages to join a troop and volunteer. “I think it is important for girls of all ages to know there is a place they can go and be accepted for who they are not where they live, how much money they have, or what race or skin color they have,” Adams said. All girls, kindergarten to adults, are welcomed to join a troop. Membership dues are $14 per year and financial assistance is available. You can join at anytime during the year, but the annual membership rally is in September and October of each year. If you are interested in joining troop #1652 you can contact the troop’s membership manager, Chris Robuck, at crobuck@sjgs.org.
Kaylie Kruk Cadettes Breanna Johnson Cadettes Jalyn Ferrara Cadettes Ashlyn Adams Junior Reagan Crow Junior Cailyn Crow Junior Brielle Smith Junior Addison Thompson Junior Halle Scarborough Brownie Marina Pinkerton Brownie Kenley Shockley Brownie
If you don’t want to become a member, Adams said they are always looking for volunteers. So, go out there buy a box of cookies or 20 and support your future leaders!
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SUPER KIDS
GIVING
from the
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HEART ne of the greatest characteristics you can have as a person is the desire to give, even when it means you lose something in return.
It’s a characteristic that can be found in the hearts of three Nacogdoches girls who decided to give a little piece of themselves in order to bring joy to others.
Hannah Grace Harkness:
Kindergarten/Age-5 Donated 10 inches to Locks of Love After watching a video on Facebook about a little girl who donated her hair, Hannah Grace was inspired to do the same. “She has always loved her own, long hair. The thought of another little girl, just like her, without any hair, touched her,” said her mother, Lori Harkness. Hannah, who had never had a haircut before this besides a few trims, was ready to give her golden baby hair to a girl who needed it more than she did. “At first, as a mom, I was very proud, but also apprehensive about allowing her to cut her hair. She always talked about wanting ‘Rapunzel’ hair,” Lori said. Lori waited over three months before f inally giving the green light, making sure Hannah understood what it meant to donate her hair and to make sure she understood that it wouldn’t grow back right away. However, Hannah wasn’t worried about her hair growing back; she was only worried about getting it to those in need. And that she did. Hannah donated 10 inches of her golden locks to Locks of Love and mailed it in with a heart full of joy. “She was excited and happy to be able to give something of her very own to another little girl,” Lori said. While the organization Locks of Love does not share who the hair is going to, Hannah knows that some other little girl out there is full of joy thanks to her small gift. Hannah is waiting patiently for her hair to grow back out so that she can donate it to another little girl in need.
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Lilly Montes:
Ella Furniss:
Her hair resembles that of Merida from the Disney movie Brave. Its fierce red color and curly form makes for a unique look, one that draws the attention of any crowd.
With a heart of gold, Ella Furniss didn’t even think twice when her mom suggested she donate her hair.
2nd grade/Age-8 Donated 11.5 inches to Locks of Love
“We could not go out in public without someone commenting on her hair,” said Lilly Montes’ mother, Jeni Montes. When Lilly decided she wanted her hair shorter, she knew she didn’t just wanted to throw it away, she wanted to share the joys of being a redhead with someone else. “She was very aware of how special her curly red locks were and when she decided she wanted it shorter, she thought someone else might enjoy the attention being a redhead brings,” her mother said. Through the heat of the summer, when she wanted to cut it most, Lilly waited for it to grow out just long enough for her to be able to donate it. So, when it came time to give her curly locks away, she decided to give them to Locks of Love because they work with people who have alopecia, a disease that hits close to home. “I have an adult friend that has been battling hair loss from alopecia since she was in high school; she wears a human wig. I think knowing someone personally helps, especially when Lilly can see how beautiful of a person Christi is on the inside and out,” Jeni said. Lilly donated 11.5 inches of her hair, and when she sent it off she was sure to include special instructions with it. “Lilly wrote a letter and mailed it with her donation telling the recipient about how her hair is best worn, down, curly, and full of knots,” Jeni said. One brave girl’s decision has created a chain effect and convincing other little girls to do the same.
2nd grade/Age-8 Donated 8 inches to Pantene Beautiful Lengths
“She has a kind, caring spirit and enjoys helping others. She was never hesitant about her decision and was very excited throughout the process,” said Ella’s mother, Crystal. Ella cut 8 inches of her hair and donated it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths and was beyond excited to mail off her ponytail where it will be combined with 3 to 4 other ponytails to make a full wig. Her mom said that even though Ella has a heart of gold and is generous all by herself, she hopes that this will teach her the true means of generosity. “We would hope that she has learned to be generous in all aspects of her life and that giving back isn’t always donating toys or money. It can also be donating your hair to show love and support for someone who is battling cancer,” Crystal said. While she doesn’t know if she will donate again, she does know she is truly grateful for the experience.
If you would like to donate your hair to Locks of Love or Pantene Beautiful Lengths visit their websites at: locksoflove.org pantene.com for more information. tjmag.com • 61
LOOK AT ME
LOOK AT ME! brought to you by
Smoothie King of Lufkin
4505 S Medford Dr. • (936) 632-5464
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4 1. Diboll Primary PreK 3 students in Mrs. Cole’s class work on Leap Pads that Mrs. Cole received through a Keeler Grant. (L-R) Jasmine Herrera, Addiemay Flournoy, & Jacolby Spencer. 2. Diboll Primary PreK 3 PM classes of Mrs. Daniel, Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Enriquez, the PPCD class with Mrs. Bowker, Principal Diana Moore, and PreK 4 students in Ms. Bradley’s, Mrs. Crawford’s and Mrs. Solis’ classes created a “work of heart” in honor of the Diboll ISD School Board Members! 3. Students in Ms. Bradley’s PreK 4 class performed the play “The Three Little Pigs”. There were learning about characters, setting, props, costumes, and sequence of events. (L-R) Nariah Moore (props), Ms. Bradley (Narrator), Mia Veliz, Melody Crager, Sophia Gonzalez, & Ayshia Dill Davis.
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4. Students in Mrs. Curtis’ PreK 4 class work on a number matching game in learning centers. (L-R) Kenzleigh Wilder, & Greyson Morris. 5. Diboll Primary PreK 4 Dual Language students in Mrs. Scott’s class create “hearts” in honor of the Diboll ISD School Board members! Their job is a “work of heart” and we appreciate them! (back-front) Valeria Laredo, Ximena Manzano, Sol Cordero, & Yareli Leon. 6. Students in Ms. Bradley’s prek 4 class at Diboll Primary School work on making patterns. (L-R) Mia Veliz, Miguel Soto, Kaidan Reagan, Jose Salazar, & Melody Crager.
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7. Diboll Primary PreK 3 students in Mrs. Cole’s PM class count objects onto 5 frames as they learn their numbers 1-5. (L-R) Back: Stephen Sanchez, Kylie Carnley, Kendalynn Bell, Jasmine Herrera, & Audrey Palacio. Middle: Janeli Yanez & Addiemay Flournoy. Front: Rosalyn Armenta & Keegan Kettering.
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PRETTY BABIES
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1. Nayeli Cateleya Castillo. 10/21/13. Proud Parents: Mayra & Roberto Castillo Jr. Proud Grandparents: Roberto Castillo Sr. & Ana Castillo. 2. Tristan Lee Collier. 11/23/14. Proud Parents: Robert & Kaylin Collier. Proud Grandparents: Bobby & Shelley Williams / Ronnie & Linda Collier. 3. Ian Mettsiah Guerrero. 9/23/14. Proud Parents: Eric Guerrero & Natalie De Jesus. Proud Grandparents: Alfonso & Mari Guerrero / David & Dinora De Jesus. 4. Gentry Sage Hand. 8/5/14. Proud Parents: Wes & Jennifer Hand. Proud Grandparents John & Eva Hand / Van & Wyndi Vaught. Photographer: Wyndi’s Photography.
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5. Maddox Leigh Mettlen. 8/18/14. Proud Parents: Jimmy & Michelle Mettlen (Lufkin, TX). Proud Grandparents: Jim & Peggy Mettlen (Lufkin, TX) / David & Melinda Willmon (Lufkin, TX) / The late Sharon Langford Johnson (Lufkin, TX). 6. Addie Elizabeth Powers. 11/1/13. Proud Parents: Blake & Amanda Powers. Proud Grandparents: Robert & Beverly Powers / Gary & Susan Forrest. 7. Mia Rivera. 2/6/13. Proud Parents: Hillary & Albert Rivera. Proud Grandparents: Amos & Melodey Wallace (Pollok, TX) / Sherry & Phillip McCaa (Lufkin, TX). 8. James Jet Tidwell. 12/10/14. Proud Parents: Cody & Kenna Tidwell. Proud Grandparents: James & Debbie Goodwin / Billy & Caryn Calhoun / James & KaCe Tidwell. E-mail Pretty Babies submissions to prettybabies@tjmag.com. Please include name, date of birth, parents & grandparents. Submissions are free of charge.
Committed. Great OB physicians. One wonderful place to have your baby. We believe babies and moms should be surrounded by comfort and care. With an average of 20 years of OB experience, our nursing staff knows how to make you feel at home. Amenities include spacious labor/delivery/recovery rooms with Wi-Fi, and a sleep sofa for guests. We even offer an on-staff lactation consultant. These are just a few reasons why we were voted “Best Place to Have a Baby” and “Best Nurse” by Lufkin Daily News readers in 2012. To find a physician or learn more, call 936-699-CARE or visit WoodlandHeights.net.
WoodlandHeights.net WHMC is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.
TJMAG&CO | an original since 2005 tjmag.com • 65
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BUSINESS 68 GIVING BACK | 72 IN THE KNOW | 74 AWARDS
Angelina County Youth Fair : tjmag.com • 67
GIVING BACK
Angelina County Youth Fair /// Continued
F
or the past 28 years the Angelina County Youth Fair has been educating the community’s future leaders on the importance of hard work and dedication through various agriculture projects. “We hope to provide a fair that will help the youth of our community build these character traits and then become great leaders in our community,” said Angelina County Youth Fair Organizer, Kody Jenkins. In 1987 the fair changed from a livestock show to a youth fair with the intent to reach more of the community’s youth and not just those showing livestock. Since then, the youth fair has grown to over 1,000 entries a year with the majority of them in the food and arts and crafts division. While the number of animal projects has declined in the past 10 years, they are still the main attraction of the fair, with the hog show being the most popular.
“Some of our exhibitors may find a career as they prepare to compete in our divisions of the fair. Many students learn how to weld and build as they prepare projects for the Ag Mechanics competition. Others may have an interest in forestry or lumber industry. Our Forestry competition will help develop their knowledge in that area. Even if our exhibitors do not plan to have a career in Ag or livestock, they may find a hobby in baking, photography, woodworking, welding or forestry,” Jenkins explained. Even if a child participates for only one year, they will still be walking away with a lesson in hard work. “Success takes hard work, dedication, education, and often a little luck. All of which they will have learned while raising or building projects for the fair,” Jenkins said. Whether the kids raise an animal, build an art project, or bake a cake, the kids have a goal in mind and that’s to be the best they can be.
“The Angelina County Fair is striving to bring family entertainment to our community while providing education about the everyday importance of agriculture in our lives,” Jenkins said.
Of course, this fair wouldn’t be successful without the volunteers that believe in the importance of agriculture, education and the future of the young men and women.
People from all over East Texas make their way to the youth fair every year, not just for the entertainment, but also to invest in the youth of our community.
“We can’t wait to see the community fill the stands again this year at our auction,” Jenkins aid.
“Every year business and individuals come out to the auction to bid on the kids, not the projects, the kids,” Jenkins said. The youth fair also provides an avenue for kids to learn about different careers and what it takes to achieve those careers.
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The Angelina County Youth Fair auction will be held Saturday, February 28th at 4:00 pm. If you are interested in getting your child involved in next year’s youth fair, you can contact Ryan Merrel at the county extension office or their school’s agriculture/ art teacher.
Fair Sponsors: Brookshire Brothers and Polk Lufkin Convention & Visitors Bureau The Advanced Financial Group Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen PID Services Allen Loggins & Sons First Bank & Trust East Texas Peltier Chevrolet Cadillac Chandler, Mathis & Zivley Attorneys at Law Polk Land & Cattle Co. – Ray & Carl Ray Polk Lufkin Creosoting Company Socia Septic Systems Swift Premium Meats Angus Pride Whataburger Hammer Equipment The Journey Magazine Safeco Security Diboll Correctional Facility Texas Forestry Association
New Event Registration: • Stick Horse Rodeo & Horseless Roping • Kids 9 & under can participate in barrels, flags, and goat ribbon • Kids 18 & under can compete in dummy rope, goat tie, and goat team rope
Register early, as there is limited time available
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AT INSIDE THE FASHION DISTRICT
tjmag.com • 71
IN THE KNOW
LOCAL NEWS & LEGISLATIVE UPDATES TRENT ASHBY TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE (Austin) -- State Representative Trent Ashby (R-Luf kin) has been selected to serve a second term on both the House Appropriations and House Natural Resources Committees, as well as being named to the House Administration Committee during the 84th Legislative Session. Along with the committee assignments, Rep. Ashby was also named as the Vice-Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. The House Administration Committee is responsible for overseeing the operations of the House, as well as its rules and procedures.
The Committee on Appropriations is known as the most powerful committee in the House, and is typically much sought after by legislators because of its impact on potential legislation. Its charge is to vet, debate and act as gatekeepers for all proposed funding measures, including the state budget.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have a seat at the table on these great committees for our district and our region of the state,” Rep. Ashby said. “These committees are certainly fundamental to the goals that we plan to accomplish during this legislative session; and I am extremely appreciative of the confidence that the Speaker has shown in me by enabling me to continue to serve on them.”
“This committee has a hand in everything,” Rep. Ashby said, “From our public schools and transportation, to our state parks and state-supported living centers, the Appropriations Committee will be the epicenter of this Legislative Session. I am certainly looking forward to working with my colleagues in order to pass a fiscally conservative budget that addresses our state’s needs, while protecting taxpayers.”
The House Committee on Natural Resources, which Rep. Ashby will now help lead as the Vice-Chairman, has jurisdiction over a vast scope of land and water issues in Texas. It will be pivotal, according to Rep. Ashby, in protecting propert y rights and economic growth in District 57.
Of his role on the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Ashby said he plans to be a “responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, by working diligently to ensure state funds are being spent in a prudent and judicial manner.”
“The Natural Resources committee plays a vital role in ensuring that our great state continues to f lourish,” he said. “Last session we worked to ensure that Texas had a viable, efficient water plan moving forward; and I’m excited to now be able to roll up my sleeves and
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help with the implementation of that plan. A leadership position on this committee gives me the opportunity to strengthen the water infrastructure in Texas and continue to be a strong voice for East Texas water rights.”
“Taxpayers deserve to know where their hardearned dollars are going,” he said. “My responsibility is to f ight for ultimate transparency throughout the appropriation process, and to continue dedicating myself to directing funds where they will have the most positive impact on our district and on the State of Texas.”
TRAVIS CLARDY TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE
BOB BROWN MAYOR OF LUFKIN Luf kin has so many positive events going on right now, it’s easier to overlook the cold, wet days that come with the first month of the year. We have a bustling downtown, a great shopping mall, great store front shopping centers, multiple screen movies in two locations, Temple Theater, Museum of East Texas, Texas Forestry Museum, Naranjo Museum of Natural History, Diboll’s History Center and plenty of activity at our Lufkin Convention Center. Our Parks and Recreation department is busy with basketball and getting ready for baseball, softball and other spring activities. The youth of our community are getting their chickens, pigs, rabbits, goats, lambs, steers, heifers, and horses ready for the Annual Angelina County Fair which begins February 24th and ends with a big sale on February 28th. Please come out to the George H. Henderson Expo Center during that week and encourage these 700 plus youth of our county. We have plenty of places for you to volunteer during these events. Please contact the Chamber for more information regarding the needs and resources to make this the best County Fair ever. Please look around and help us make this the best city possible. We stand ready to listen and want to make certain that we are continuing to make Luf kin the best place to live, work, play and worship.
With the beginning of the New Year, the Texas Legislature was sworn in to commence with the business of the State of Texas. I am excited to begin the 84th Legislative session as the representative of the citizens of House District 11. There are numerous critical issues our state faces including border security, continuing to address the need for adequate transportation and water infrastructure funding and providing our public school teachers with the best possible resources with which to educate our children. Among the projects I have been working on, with the help of Senator Robert Nichols, is House Bill 602: a tuition-backed revenue bond (TRB) that would go toward funding a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) building at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA). With passage of this legislation, we will continue to help the students of SFA by providing better resources for learning as they prepare for careers in STEM- related fields. This new state of the art facility has widespread support from the SFA community and business leaders throughout the region. Some of the other legislation I am currently working on this session includes: • A bill to outlaw K2 or synthetic marijuana and increase the penalty for users of the drug, • A bill to provide a tax credit for companies that offer internships to high school students in Career and Technology Education programs, and • A bill which reduces administrative burden on institutions of higher education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (HB 599). My wife, Judy, and I along with our family hope your New Year is off to a good start. I thank you for allowing me the honor of serving you and look forward to hearing from you as the session goes forward. To voice your opinion on issues being considered during the 84th session of the Texas Legislature, to ask questions or to seek assistance, feel free to contact the Capitol (512-463-0592) or District office (936-560-3982). As always, you have a standing invitation to drop by for a visit whenever you are in Austin.
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HOME AWARDS TOUR
photos by Lisa Crow Photography
95TH ANNUAL
ANGELINA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BANQUET
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displayed a lifetime of distinguished community service. This years Angelina Award was given to Lt. General Orren “Cotton” Whiddon.
In 1985 the chamber began The Golden Anvil Award, which is presented to an individual or organization that has displayed particular community service during the past year.
Two projects closest to his heart, which he helped develop form the ground up, are the PineCrest Retirement Community and the Salvation Army Adult Day Center.
or the past 95 years the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce has held a banquet in honor and celebration of the chambers leaders and accomplishments. Organizations and community leaders are also recognized for their various roles in the growth and development of Angelina County.
This year the Golden Anvil Award was awarded to the Harmony Hill Baptist Church Life Outreach Center, for their efforts in feeding and providing for those community members in need. They began their efforts 8 years ago in a small store on Frank Street., with a little more than $700 a month to use to provide a necessity of life to those in need. Today, with a budget of $3,000 a month, volunteers throughout the community and the church buy and deliver enough food for 360 families. The Church members and the volunteers hope they are not only feeding the bodies but also the souls of those in need. The second and final award to be awarded at the banquet was the Angelina Award. This award began in 1978 and has been given to a special individual who has
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Whiddon did not only serve his country well, but his community as well. After 35 years in the service, Whiddon moved to Luf kin in 1990 and wasted no time jumping into volunteer work.
Along with his work in the community, Whiddon never missed an opportunity to help educators and students. A s the most senior militar y of f icer to ever graduate from SFA, he is also a longtime supporter of the university’s m i l itar y science prog ram and was inducted into SFA’s A lumni Hall of Fame. His work in the community also includes serving on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, the St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School Board, the Methodist Retirement Communities board, and the Methodist Retirement Trust Board. He has also been a senior warden for St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church.
“Never doubt a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
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- AN EAST TEXAS TRADITION SINCE 1959 -
Now Serving Beer Rayʼs Drive-In Café • 634-3262 420 N. Timberland • Curb Service (Car Hops)
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PLACES & FACES
Academy of Gymnastics & Dance Presents the Nutcracker
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east 80 AGRICULTURE | 82 HOMETOWN HERO | 84 SPORTS | 86 FITNESS
AgriLife Extension Office
T
he Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Angelina and Nacogdoches County are the most vital resources in our community.
They help prepare our youth to be productive adults, build better families, improve health, and help families be more productive with outdoor activities related to agriculture, landscaping, and the environment.
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AGRICULTURE
AgriLife Extension Office /// Continued The office in Angelina and Nacogdoches county are extensions of Texas A&M University and work closely with educators to provide our community with the most up-to-date resources around. “With educators in 254 counties and support from subject matter specialists from the Texas A&M System, this educational agency has one of the largest networks in the state, reaching urban and rural communities alike,” said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent, Cary Sims.
The extension offices here in East Texas focus on three specific areas of the community:
1. The Family and Consumer Sciences: The Extension office offers programs that help improve communities and the lives of people. Classes offered ref lect needs that are identified at the county level and include health, nutrition, parenting, child and senior caregiver education, and home and money management.
2. 4-H and Youth Development: Known for a few traditional project areas, there are many areas for kids to plug in. The goal of 4-H is to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills of youth through experiential learning programs and a positive youth development approach.
3. Agriculture and Natural Resources: The Agricultural agency serves everyone from large livestock producers to the lady with a sickly rosebush. The thrust is to make solutions understandable and practical so that folks can have success. So, whether it’s a question about how to teach your kids to eat healthy or how to care for a sickly rosebush, the extension office can help you find the answer. “I’m not sure that people realize the depth of information that we provide. We collaborate with universities to provide current, relevant solutions to real work problems. We regularly access our colleagues from around the state to find solutions to difficult problems,” Sims said.
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2015 Homegrown to Homemade: Some of the most common questions the extension office gets are: • How can I have a better pasture? • What’s wrong with my yard?
The Art of DIY Living Date Topic January 19
Home vegetable gardening
1. Secrets to a successful garden
2. Preparing your homegrown produce
February 16
Small animal options
• How do I take care of my pond?
1. Rabbit
2. Goats
• What do I do to get more production from my farm/ orchard/garden?
March 16 Herbs
1. Growing
2. Using them in the kitchen
April 20 Questions that Sims said they are able to help you figure out through their 25 public seminars and programs that focus specifically on agriculture, landscape, and the environment. If you would like to start taking advantage of the free information the extension office has to offer, you can be put on their mailing list for their free newsletter. The newsletter will keep you up to date with all of the events and seminars going on at the extension office. Just call your local extension office:
Native plant seminar
1. Mayhaws, pecans, muscadines, blackberries
2. Jellies
May 18
Pond management/Fish production
June 15
Bees and honey
1. Managing a hive/ starting up
2. Cooking with honey
July 20
Food Preservation
Angelina- (936) 632-8239
1. Freezing
Nacogdoches- (936) 560-7711
2. Canning
3. Drying
August 17
Poultry production – Glen Rose
1. Meat or eggs?
2. Food safety/ butchering
September 21
Native plant seminar
To be announced!
October 19
Sausage & cured meats
November 16
Texas Cottage Law
December
No event planned
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HOMETOWN HERO
JOHN FONTENOT Proudly Serving Those Who Served With Pride
What he didn’t know at that time was that being cut from the job would lead him on a journey to his true calling in life.
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Fontenot moved to East Texas to try his luck at a higher education and enrolled at Panola College in Carthage, Texas. After realizing his potential, he packed up his books and set his sights high. rom serviceman to service leader, Stephen F. Austin State University Veteran Resource Center Program Director and Army veteran, John Fontenot, continues to serve his country even off the battlefield.
“I went to Panola College. The next thing I knew, I was doing wonderful in school and thought I would give SFA a try, as well. As it turns out, I was soon one of the top in my class and felt a sense of pride being a veteran as well,” Fontenot said.
Fontenot, who is from League City, enlisted into the United States Military in 1994. His titles included 5th Corps Special Operations Operator (Echo51LRSD) and Light Infantry Special Operations Ranger (Aco 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment).
In 2011 he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Rehabilitation Services and Psychology. While perusing his undergraduate degree, he was approached by the Director of Disability Services at SFA and was asked to build a framework and philosophy for a veteran center.
He was stationed in Darmstadt Germany for 3 years and Fort Benning Georgia for 3 years. He served in 2 tours, a time in his military career that he is proud to have done, but would rather leave in the past.
After 3 years of researching, planning, and discussing, the Veteran’s Resource Center at SFA was established and Fontenot was given the leadership opportunity of a lifetime.
“I don’t want to speak of my past tours,” Fontenot said, “I work from day to day to transition back into civilian world,” he added.
“My job is to make sure those Veterans, dependents of Veterans and ROTC members have a safe and positive hub to come to and network with others like themselves. All of our students are on some type of military benefit, with some exceptions that are handled case by case,” Fontenot explained.
Fontenot ended his enlistment in 2000 and began working odd and end jobs, trying to find his place outside of those Army walls. After jumping from job to job, he was hired on at NASA as an Underwater Simulation Specialist and then moved to a Houston home building company where he was the manager. However, none of these careers fulf illed his desire to serve and lead. “The problem I always ran into was that I was the low man on the totem pole because I never had a college education. When it was time to cut staff, I was in that first group of folks being cut,” Fontenot explained. 82 • THE JOURNEY • FEB2015
It’s a way for him to continue to serve his country. He explains, “This type of service that I provide is just as important as my actual service in the military.” Fontenot is currently f inishing his Master of Arts in Counseling and plans on graduating in the spring of 2016. While his time in the military is important to him, he said the most important part of his service now is being able to serve those who have served with pride.
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SPORTS
NATIONAL
Lufkin's
Keke Coutee
Lufkin's
Terry Mark
Texas Tech University Height: 5’11” Weight: 165 lbs
Lufkin's
Andrew Blackshire Tarleton University in Stephenville Height: 5’10” Weight: 165 lbs Position: Defensive Back
Position: Wide Receiver
Nacogdoches'
DeAndre Hooper McMurray University in Abilene
Colin Carrell
Height: 5’11” Weight: 165 lbs
Tarleton University in Stephenville
Position: Defensive Back
Height: 6’3” Weight: 270 lbs Position: Defensive Tackle
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Lufkin's
University of Houston Height: 6’2” Weight: 190 lbs Position: Wide Receiver
SIGNING DAY
Corrigan's
Keegan Mitchell Lamar University
Lufkin's
Height: 5’6” Weight: 170 lbs
Erik McCoy Texas A&M Height: 6’4” Weight: 305 lbs Position: Offensive Tackle/ Lineman
Nacogdoches'
Tim Meyers Stephen F. Austin State University Height: 6’0” Weight: 275 lbs Position: Center
Position: Running Back
Nacogdoches'
Ken Roger Nacogdoches'
Sam Morgan Stephen F. Austin State University Height: 5’10” Weight: 175 lbs
Stephen F. Austin State University Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 lbs Position: Receiver
Position: Receiver
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FITNESS brought to you by HAAS
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ATHLETICS | 2109 W Frank Ave, Lufkin | (936) 238-4023
imits-the point, edge, or line beyond which something ends, may not go or is not allowed. How do we find our limits?
We often limit ourselves to all type of stereotypes such as age, race, gender and size. In training or working out, walls and plateaus are hit that we think we will never overcome. “When you reach for the stars, you are reaching for the farthest thing out. When you reach deep inside it’s the same thing, but in the opposite direction. If you reach both directions you will have spanned the universe.” Vera Nazarian The human spirit is an amazing thing. It is capable of doing and becoming more than we ever recognize. The fact is that we never really know our limits in life until we are pushed into them or until we push ourselves beyond what we are currently doing. It is so easy to just do the same old-same ole. It’s so easy to get caught up in a routine day after day where you do exactly what you already know how to do and don’t push yourself
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to go beyond that. Typically, we will continue on that path until life throws us a curve ball that forces us to step up or until we finally reach a point of misery where we decide enough is enough and we force ourselves to change our lives by going outside our comfort zone. So often in life we think to ourselves as we see other people’s trials that are more difficult than our own, “I can’t lift that, I can’t run that fast or that I will never be able to lose this,” but when push comes to shove and you have no choice but to handle it, it is amazing that somehow you find a way to get through. You probably remember stories about a mother lifting a car off her child or a person who can’t swim jumps in a lake and saves someone from drowning. Our outer limits of what we can handle are well beyond what we seem to think. We are stronger and more capable than we typically believe we are, so it’s really a shame that it takes the negative trials to show us that. Wouldn’t it be so much better if we could push ourselves beyond our own limits without waiting for circumstances to force us there? We should always desire to push ourselves beyond our comfort zone and do more
than we are currently doing. Wake up each morning with a desire to be more than you were yesterday. Don’t allow any excuses that hold you back from making progress today. No more procrastinating. We have control of determining how much we will push our own limits in order to truly achieve our greatest potential in life. Don’t sit passively by waiting for life events to force you to go beyond your limits. Do it yourself first! It feels much more gratifying when you take charge and make it happen on your own. In the game of life, we all receive a set of variables and limitations in the field of play. We can either focus on the lack thereof or empower ourselves to create better realities with the pieces we have. So start pushing your own limits and discover exactly how far your limits can take you!!
PERSONAL INJURY | FAMILY LAW OIL & GAS | ESTATE & PROBATE
Let my family help yours. Rebecca C. Brightwell, PLLC | Attorney at Law 115 Gaslight Blvd, Ste B | Luf kin, TX 75904 | 936-639-2550 Not Certif ied by The Texas Board of Legal Specialization | Licensed by The Southern and Eastern District Federal Court tjmag.com • 87