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EDITOR’S LETTER

As the first tree came tumbling down on January 11, 2018, Crystal and I broke ground on our new home. Not even the most extensive Pinterest planning could have prepared us for what was ahead! After eleven months, and what felt like hundreds of major decisions, we finally settled into our brand new house. We moved just in time to put a bare Christmas tree in the corner of our unfurnished living room.

This wasn’t my first rodeo. I had a house built ten years ago, so I was overconfident that this one would go as smoothly as the last. Of course on the first build, I was a single, 25-year old, so I only had to please myself when making decisions and style selections.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that all the stress of our recent homebuilding experience was the result of marital disagreements. But I can tell you, when you have two people trying to make decisions about everything from paint colors to outlet covers, you’re bound to have a few hiccups along the way. I will preface that by saying I have to give my wife some major kudos! She worked tirelessly and held true to her guns, creating a finished project that we feel blessed to call home.

One time-consuming challenge we faced during construction was doing our homework on the current trends. The problem is that trends change – and often!

So unless you’re able to completely redo your home and furniture every five years, it’s just about impossible to keep up. Style isn’t eternal. Sometimes no matter how much money and time you invest in decorating your house, your décor can quickly become dated, and the look you once loved seems to fall short.

We made it our mission to try to be both stylish and timeless. We wanted our home to be trendy and beautiful 20 years from now, long after the current fashions have made their way to the thrift stores. We also wanted to create an environment that could easily grow and change along with us. I imagine that our house will look drastically different in five or ten years. Heck, knowing my wife, our home might look completely different five months from now!

That is were the theme of this edition of Saline County Lifestyles was conceived. As home styles continue to evolve, we are lucky to have some great local businesses to help us keep up with these everchanging trends. I believe that style is truly individual; so whatever your choice, it’s right for you! Your town. Your life. Your magazine.

JOSH ELROD Publisher & Editor

2019 Volume 12, Issue 2

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Josh Elrod

jelrod@ignite-mediagroup.com

ART DIRECTOR Krystal Neuhofel krystal@salinecountylifestyles.com

CONTRIBUTORS Contributing Writers Keith Brooks Carolyn Buckner Ed Buckner Charles Crowson Brent Davis Justin S. Elrod Jillian Jacuzzi Ashley Leopoulos Marietta McClure Dr. Tyler Nelson Phillip Miller Jamey South Dr. Sam Taggart Contributing Photographer Lela & Lyla Photography

IDEAS/COMMENTS If you have a story idea or comment, please email us at: feedback@salinecountylifestyles.com

ADVERTISING If you are interested in advertising in Saline County Lifestyles please email us at: info@ignite-mediagroup.com Saline County Lifestyles is published by:

Ignite Media Group P.O. Box 861 Bryant, AR 72089 www.salinecountylifestyles.com Articles should not be considered specific advice as circumstances vary per individual. Advertised products and/or services are not necessarily endorsed by Ignite Media Group.

2 • Saline County Lifestyles

CONTENTS RIGGS OUTDOOR

NOTES FROM DR SAM

WEATHER UPDATE

FITNESS TIPS

GW LIGHTING

FENCE BROKERS

FLOWERS & HOME

LITTLE ROCK LANDSCAPE

MY FURNITURE WAREHOUSE

HEALTH UPDATE

INSURANCE INSIGHT

FAITH FOCUS

NO CRYING IN BASEBALL

04 07 08 12 14 18 22 26 30 36 38 40 42

Saline County Lifestyles • 3

Work Hard, Play Hard EQUIPMENT FOR EVERY NEED

Remember going to the grocery store with your parents when you were a kid, and all you wanted to do was get to the cereal aisle? Everything from magically delicious marshmallow shamrocks to plain flakes made from corn was on display, eager to join you—in a bowl, at least—for Saturday morning cartoons. You could spend all day there, looking at the vast selection of boxes, tempted by the ones with a prize inside.

If you remember all of that, then you know exactly what it feels like to walk into the new Riggs Outdoor store at 20453 Interstate 30 South in Benton— except this cereal aisle is 25,000 square feet big.

4 • Saline County Lifestyles

For George Cress, Vice President of Branch Operations for Riggs, the decision to locate the store in Benton was easy. “Saline County is where the growth in Central Arkansas is primarily concentrated. Also, the majority of our workforce at Riggs is from Saline County. Therefore, we are very engaged in the

community here and wanted to have a physical location in the county.

Saline County has been a tremendous supporter of Riggs and we want to give back! Also, we believe Saline County needs a store like Riggs Outdoor. There is nothing like it in Central Arkansas and we wanted to be the first to create it.”

Posted in lights above the Sales and Rental counters is the slogan, “Work Hard, Play Hard”. For Cress and Riggs, this means having the right product for any need. “We rent all products that our customers need on their jobsites, at their farms, etc. We sell a number of products

that operate around the house: zero-turn mowers, side by sides, four-wheelers, motorcycles, dirt bikes, chainsaws—you name it.”

The lot outside the store, like the inside, is fully stocked. On sale are motorcycles from Kawasaki, KTM, and Husqvarna; Kawasaki side by sides; Caterpillar equipment, including the Cat UTV; Spartan and Husqvarna mowers; LS tractors; Husqvarna power equipment; Kymco scooters, motorcycles and ATVs; Kawasaki and Kymco fourwheelers; Banded hunting gear; a full line of Pelican ice chests, flashlights and more. They rent all types of equipment, including Cat products, aerial lifts, man lifts, light towers, air compressors, trenchers, ride-on skid steers, and the list goes on and on.

If you have an aging or wornout machine, bring it with you.

Riggs accepts trade-ins. “We have a full-time Finance and Insurance manager who works very hard to get every customer approved for financing,” says Cress. “We have a number of different avenues by which to get people financed.”

The store also offers a full line of apparel from Banded, Fly, Thor, Cat, and Speed & Strength.

To top it all off, the Service Department can fix both the products they sell and those of competitors. The Parts Department can handle any need for the products they sell and rent.

The store was conceived, designed and built to be a “destination,” not just another retailer. According to store manager Kelly Greer, “We want people to come visit, have some coffee and just hang out with us if they want to.”

Once you visit Riggs Outdoor, you’ll accept Kelly’s invitation faster than you can say, “java.”

In addition to selling quality products and

backing them up with great service, Riggs has built a company culture of involvement with their employees and with causes that make a difference.

Arkansas.” For each motorsports vehicle sold, Riggs donates twenty meals. With every piece of big machinery, the donation increases to 100 meals. A sticker marks each eligible item.

In addition to Kelly Greer, Jay Darr is the assistant branch manager.

“We want Bryant Phillips is the service manager. people to come Beau Thornton is the manager in charge of Finance and Insurance. visit, have some Riggs Outdoor had been previously coffee and just located farther to the southwest in hang out with us Benton, across the interstate from the Saline County Fairgrounds since if they want to.”

2016. JA Riggs goes all the way back to 1927; founded right here in Little Rock, it has grown into an international earth-moving giant.

“Our culture is described by The store is already open, but the phrase, ‘Moving Dirt, Moving plans are set for a Grand Opening People,’” says Cress. “Moving Dirt describes the heart of our organization. Celebration on April 6. By the way, that’s a Saturday.

For 92 years we have been delivering quality equipment backed by the best You might want to have service in town. Moving People means that bowl of cereal taking care of our employees first and early!  Brent Davis foremost.” To back up this claim, the company has a program titled the “Share It Forward Foundation,” which gives employees the opportunity to contribute to a fund that helps co-workers who are going through a rough time and need assistance.

They also maintain a partnership with the Arkansas Food Bank through a program called “We Build

FAMILY

Lifestyle

NOW

OPEN!

YOUR OUTDOOR HEADQUARTERS

20453 I-30, BENTON, AR | 501.776.0679 | RIGGSOUTDOOR.COM | 6 • Saline County Lifestyles

Good Day, I hope this note finds you well.

On some future day, I will see my last cycle of the seasons. I think I will miss spring most of all—when the winter wind, the ice and snow have come and gone, the temperature starts to rise, and it is time to put away the heavy coat. It is wonderful to watch as life emerges from its dormant state. It’s a cliché to say that early spring is a time of renewal, but the reason it is a cliché is because it is true. There is no better place to learn that than on a working rice farm.

As a small child on the farm, I watched my father spend his winters working in new ground: virgin ground that had been cleared of timber over the winter. Or, when the weather was too bad, he worked in the shop repairing the heavy equipment needed to deal with the mud of a rice farm.

As spring approached, he became visibly more animated. We would take rides in the truck to check the fields.

On these rides he would make an inventory of work to do: which fields to rotate to soybeans for the year and which to let lie fallow. He never failed to take notice of the fence-rows and ditch banks we passed as we went from field to field. The bright yellow blooms

of forsythia and the red blossoms of quince were sure signs of spring.

Late March and the last killing frost signaled the time for business. From then until early December, work on a rice and soybean farm began at sunrise and wouldn’t let up until there was no longer enough light to see.

It’s a cliché to say that early spring is a time of renewal, but the reason it is a cliché is because it is true. There is no better place to learn that than on a working rice farm.

As with gardening but on a grand scale, one of the most important tasks of the spring was the preparation of the seedbed, which for the planting of rice and soybeans required several stages. On a rice farm, the plows never furrow too deeply; the hardpan, about a foot under the surface, must toughen to hold water better during growing season. It is more accurate to describe what those plows did as disking. After repeated trips over the field with the disk, a harrow was dragged across it to break up the smaller dirt clods. Next, a survey team would plot out the levees

and begin the process of building the temporary dikes, which would hold a level of water to drown out the grasses and allow the rice to grow without competition. Massive pumps would then begin to fill the fields.

When I was small, a crop duster airplane broadcast most of the rice.

Within a few days, the rice would germinate and quickly begin to push its new sprouting leaves up through the water. Spring came upon us on an industrial scale.

Have a nice journey, Sam Dr. Sam Taggart is a retired doctor/ writer/ marathon runner in practice in Benton for the last 35 years. He recently published The Public’s Health: A narrative history of health and disease in Arkansas, published by the Arkansas Times.

His two other books, With a Heavy Heart and We All Hear Voices are available at your local booksellers or online at Amazon.com.

Saline County Lifestyles • 7

8 • Saline County Lifestyles

URBAN

Lifestyle

WEATHER WATCH Weather and Home

By Ed Buckner, THV11 Chief Meteorologist

We all have seen how the weather can take a toll on a home. Over the years, wind, rain, heat, and cold can reduce your home’s efficiency, deteriorate the outside, and cause landscaping to be washed away. All that damage leads to more money out of your wallet; but with planning and forward thinking, a little money up front may save you a lot more in the long run.

Let’s start with the wind. If your home faces northeast, north or northwest you are susceptible to cold winter winds entering your home. Cold drafts in your house make the heating work harder and your energy bills rise. The first thing to do is to look for any light that shines through your doors’ weather stripping or window seals.

A more accurate way is to put a dollar bill under your doors and windows.

If you see the bill moving, air is still making its way into your home. New weather stripping around doors and caulking around windows is an easy do-it-yourself project to seal out that cold winter wind.

Spring brings heavy rains and severe storms. Water that doesn’t flow away from the house can eventually

bring problems to the foundation and landscaping. Homes with gutters need to make sure the downspouts drain roof water away from the yard to a lower elevation. If they don’t then a French drain from the downspout

Come the summer, a well-insulated house can help quite a bit.

Consider checking your attic for total insulation coverage. to a lower area makes good sense.

If you don’t have gutters, a trench lined with rock in the lowest area of your yard will work well, but a French drain under the rock will make for a pleasant looking rock feature that serves both drainage and visual appeal. If the water still pools in your yard, consider a flagstone, river rock and Mondo grass makeover.

While most prefer the green of a summer yard, a little expense on the front end with stone drainage will ease up on mowing and fertilizer, saving you time and trouble in the end.

Come the summer, a well-insulated house can help quite a bit. Consider

checking your attic for total insulation coverage. Some newer homebuilders use a spray-on foam insulation that coats the interior attic roof with several inches of foam insulation. Also, just like winter, make sure your doors and windows are sealed.

You don’t want your airconditioning seeping into the summer air. Smart thermostats are always a good idea, and most are programmable from your smart phone. Keep the temperature at 76-78 degrees when no one is home and program it to start cooling down before you arrive home—again, a small additional price up front will end up saving you money.

In the winter, in addition to sealed windows and doors, be sure to cover all exterior faucets with protective covers to keep them from freezing. Store water hoses and furniture cushions away from the rain and snow.

This will extend their life.

And one more note— make sure you change your return air filter once at least every 3 months. Maybe even more often in the spring when pollen is at its highest concentration.

These are mostly common-sense tips— and with a little expense, you’ll benefit in the years ahead, enjoying a comfortable home protected from Mother Nature. Saline County Lifestyles • 9

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ACTIVE

Lifestyle

FITNESS TIPS

If You Don’t Take Care of Yourself, Who Takes Care of Everything Else?

By Marietta McClure, Head Trainer, McClure Fitness

It’s 2 AM. My 18-month-old has awakened me AGAIN. I spend about five minutes kicking my husband in the leg, hoping he will wake up and get baby Rex. But he is dead to the world (or at least pretending really well—the more likely scenario). So I run upstairs because I cannot listen to my baby cry any longer, and I spend 30 minutes getting him back to sleep. It’s now almost 3 AM, and the last thing I want to think about is

12 • Saline County Lifestyles

when I have to get up…at 4:20 AM. Why so early? Because that is when I work out.

At this point in my life, early morning workouts are a habit. I get up and go, whether I slept through the night or if I was up five times (which happened regularly when my twins were newborns). From my own personal experience, I can tell you that sacrificing one hour of sleep for exercise is the most

important thing I can do for ME. I try sleeping a little longer and when my alarm goes off I play that game: you know, the one where you talk yourself out of getting up early.

“I’ll just hit snooze one time,” or, “I’ll just go for a run this afternoon,” or, “Working out is overrated; I am happy with the way I look.” Yes, even I have those crazy early morning conversations with myself on why I should NOT wake up. But here’s the deal: when I do give in to the snooze button, I miss out on living life better.

Hear me out on this, mommas….

1. It is the only time in the day that I am alone. “Me time.” From the moment those children (and that husband) wake up, I am never alone and I am constantly needed. During your workout, you can zone out as you sweat out the anxiety and not think about the to-do list at home.

2. Kids are heavy and full of energy. It is hard work lifting and wrestling and tickling kids. It takes so much energy just to keep up with them. Have you ever chased a four year old that stole your phone? Those little suckers are fast. Exercise gives you energy and muscles make you strong. Work out to be a fun mom…especially if you have boys. Why do they never stop moving? Whyyyyyy?

“

FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT SACRIFICING ONE HOUR OF SLEEP FOR EXERCISE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN DO FOR ME.”

3. Mom guilt is a real thing. One of the biggest reasons I find that mothers do NOT work out is that they feel guilty about leaving their kids in order to do something for themselves. If this is you, find a time when your kids are sleeping.

For me, that is early morning.

But a lot of moms can work out when they put their kids to bed, especially if they have a good athome workout program to follow.

4. Social Interaction. For some stay-at-home or single mommas, the only time you might talk to another adult all day long is at the gym. While social media has bridged the gap of social interactions, it still cannot compete with looking someone in the eyes and talking. Remember when you see another mom to say hi, ask her where she got her cute leggings, tell her that her kids are so well-behaved, tell her she is a good momma— whatever it is you see in her, SAY IT! You never know what those few words will mean to another lonely, but never alone mom.

5. ENDORPHINS! These are your body’s natural anti-depressants. I probably, maybe, most definitely should have been on some sort of medication after I had my twins because that was the hardest thing I have EVER done. But I worked out everyday. I know that those workouts kept me sane.

Elle Woods said it best in Legally Blonde, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t shoot their husbands.” This might be my number one reason for working out. I am a nicer wife (remember me trying to kick my husband

ACTIVE

Lifestyle

out of bed?) and a kinder mother (less psycho screaming “GET IN THE CAR!”). To really catch an endorphin high you’ve got to do several sets of intense cardio; that means short bursts of sprints or Burpees several times during your workout. Simple strength training will not trigger those endorphins.

6. Confidence! Britney (Spears) said it best: “You want a hot body?

Get to work!” My fitness goals can be summed up in that I want to fit into my skinny jeans and not look too horrible in a swimsuit. I think most moms can get onboard with that, too. Exercise helps you lose weight, which helps you feel more confident, whether you’re willing to admit it or not.

7. Productivity! Just Google “exercise + productivity” and you will see that people who exercise make more money, are better time managers and just get more stuff done than people who sleep in (this is one reason I give myself when I am fighting the snooze button at 4 AM). Why? Because they have more energy. Exercise literally produces energy. Again, Google it if you’ve got one eyebrow raised.

8. Be the example, not an excuse.

When you make the decision to take care of yourself, those little eyes are watching. Your kids will assume that everyone exercises, because that’s what their parents do. At my house, we refer to fitness as something you do everyday that makes you feel good and stay strong. It has nothing to do with body image and the words “skinny” and “fat” are never used.

On the flip side of that argument, I have worked with countless women over the years that blame their mother for their size, saying, “I am overweight because my mom fed us unhealthy food and she never exercised herself.

I am still unlearning habits from my childhood.” Maybe that hits a little too close to home, and if it does, you can always start NOW. Throw out the junk, eat the veggies (you must eat them too!) and get moving.  Saline County Lifestyles • 13

G W LIGHT ING

Light the Way

14 • Saline County Lifestyles

“Our number one goal is to perform the necessary planning, consultation and discussion in the development of your lighting and hardware needs.”

Like the New Year, spring seems to be a popular time to make new resolutions and commit to change to our lives. You may find yourself re-evaluating those resolutions you made at the start of the year. People commonly seek to improve physical and lifestyle choices. Home design is also a good place to look for change.

One of the best ways to start such design is with the interior, and specifically lighting. A new fixture or positioning of lighting can prove an affordable way to make a big difference in your home with little trouble.

GW Lighting in Benton is a onestop shop when it comes to lighting design for your home. Led by Wade Keeter, the business—formerly known as Lewis Lighting—has been operating as GW Lighting for four years. Keeter, who’s called Saline County home for 45 years, brings 15 years of experience to the table.

“Our number one goal is to perform the necessary planning, consultation and discussion in the development of your lighting and hardware needs,” Keeter says. Through the years, the business has evolved from a more functional service to fulfilling “very custom” decorative lighting needs.

What sets GW Lighting apart from their counterparts in the industry is their knowledge and desire to assist clients, Keeter says. “We have a strong desire to help clients make decisions to meet their needs. Our goal is satisfaction for our client.” Their service goes beyond Saline County.

“We serve most of Arkansas with great delivery options,” Keeter says.

Just like any décor trend, lighting Saline County Lifestyles • 15

trends come and go, Keeter notes.

Lighting trends for kitchens in 2018, for example, brought hanging pendants in muted tones. This year brushed bronze fixtures and clean lines have gained popularity, he says. Clear or seeded glass and open cages are also on trend this year.

To spruce up for spring, consider adding new glass to bath lights or dining chandeliers.

New penchants are always easy to change as well, Keeter says.

For those with a tight budget, Keeter says a classic but trendy style to go with is the oiled rubbed bronze and brushed nickel colors.

“They may come and go, but they always seem to come back.”

For the bolder customer, lighting trends to look for and mimic (according to an HGTV article) revolve around aesthetics and technology—for instance, lanterns that perform their essential duty but also come equipped with speakers to play your favorite tunes. To cater to millennials, trends are leaning toward a more sculptured appearance.

LED lighting is also worth a look, according to HGTV. “Lighting companies are exploring the potential of LED lighting for interiors.

Specifically, they are examining the biological effects of the qualities of light and its ability to affect our overall well-being. By making it possible to control not only the light’s brightness, but also how warm or cool the light appears, recent innovations can create a lighting experience perfectly 16 • Saline County Lifestyles

suited for the mood or occasion, with just the turn of a dial.”

Design experts at Apartment Therapy share other illuminating lighting trends. More fun looks for the year include landscape or linear lighting. This arrangement spans the width of the room as opposed to the traditional vertical drop. White and colored marble bases for table and floor lamps add a touch of classic with modern.

Gold and silver hues seem to wend into and out of popularity. Silver has been the metal of choice, from jewelry to hardware, but gold has come back around. Gold is especially coming on strong in the world of lighting.

Wicker and woven grasses are in style for many different décor items, lights included. These textures have moved on from beach homes and are making their way into everyday living, adding a casual, Bohemian touch.

According to Apartment Therapy, sculptured shapes move beyond the millennial demographic. Lighting can be so decorative that it becomes a work of art. A sculptured lighting piece is an easy way to make a statement in a room without making a spectacle.

Indirect lighting can also prove just as effective as that statement chandelier. Shining light from under the counter or behind a mirror, or up-lighting a wall, for example, can create the perfect ambiance.

With all of these trends in mind, Keeter and his team at GW Lighting are ready to meet your needs and light up your world.  Jillian Jacuzzi

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Saline County Lifestyles • 17

fence brokers inc.

Many businesses and homes have them, but like a lot of fixtures we have come to know through familiarity over the centuries, fences may be taken for granted. Yet their use is worth noting and celebrating, both for safety and aesthetics. Fence Brokers, Inc. has been providing those things and more for nearly 40 years. From backyard fence projects to highsecurity fabrication, Fence Brokers boasts a wide range of products to suit all fencing applications.

Charles Walker opened Fence Brokers in 1982, his son Chris explains. His goal was simple: to make a living to support his family. “He was determined to make it work, and from there, our different products and sales line grew, which made us the statewide provider we are today.”

Located in Bryant near the SalinePulaski county line, the business is next to the Bryant Animal Control & Adoption Center. They are currently working on becoming a master distributor in the state, which would catapult them into a regional distributor, Chris says.

Chris started working for his dad and the company when he was just 14 years old. “I was making $2.50 an hour, and I had plans to move on after high school,” he says. After high school he pursued an education at the University of Arkansas with goals of becoming a coach and teacher. Those plans didn’t pan out when he graduated in 1991, so he returned to Fence Brokers and has been there ever since.

Looking back at his younger years, Chris says he’s thankful for the knowledge he obtained from 18 • Saline County Lifestyles

“No job is too big or too small. Whether you’re landscaping your backyard or you need to update security on your business property, we can help.”

his hardworking dad. “At the time, I thought, ‘I don’t want to do this when I grow up,’ but now I’m grateful for the lessons in work ethic I learned. I learned how to work, and that if you work hard, most of the time things work out.”

It’s a family affair. Chris now instills that work ethic he learned into his stepson, who’s 17 and works there in the summer. Chris also has an 8-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. Additionally, his brother-in-law Michael Hogue works at Fence Brokers.

People can get a fence anywhere, Chris says, but what sets Fence Brokers apart from the rest are its people. “We sell ourselves, make that phone call and go the extra mile. We have some really good experienced people—from our outside workers to the inside employees dealing with the customers.”

Fence Brokers serves many types of residential and commercial needs.

“We sell to everyone, from landscapers and farm stores to municipalities and alarm companies,” he says. They sell all types of fencing, even custom dog kennels and gates. Fence Brokers is a one-stop shop for residential or commercial contractors. They tout themselves for offering the highest quality manufactured goods on the market, with an inventory consisting of chain link (galvanized and vinyl coated), ornamental (steel and aluminum), round and square tubing, vinyl (privacy and ranch rail) access control for residential or commercial, and wood in pine and cedar.

“The best thing we’re able to provide is a quick turnaround,” he says. “We are able to get everything

SERVING SALINE COUNTY SINCE 1982

Saline County Lifestyles • 19

WHETHER YOU NEED A PRIVACY FENCE OR ARE LOOKING TO UPDATE YOUR CURRENT FENCE, FENCE BROKERS LIKELY CAN FULFILL YOUR NEEDS. out in two days or 48 hours, whereas other places might take a week.”

With spring on the horizon, sprucing up our homes with indoor and outdoor changes might come to mind. Fencing is no exception. Some current trends in the fencing world continue to be ornamental fencing, Chris says. “When factories started mass producing ornamental iron, the prices came down, so more people could afford it—and it continues to grow and become popular.” PVC (polyvinyl chloride) fences continue to grow in popularity as well, especially now that they are available in different colors other than white and brown. Their low price point is also attractive to buyers, Chris says.

To stay on the cutting edge, Chris and crew attend the FENCETECH exposition annually. It’s a learning opportunity with hundreds of vendors and industry leaders. Put on by the American Fence Association, the event takes place in Indianapolis in 2019. “We go each year to look for new ideas,” Chris says. Like new fashions you see on the runway at Fashion Week each year, sometimes the new ideas shown at Fencetech aren’t the most economical; but they are inspiring, and some stick, like different colors of a chain-link fence.

Changing your home’s fence has the same effect of making any upgrade to your home, Chris says.

“If you put up the right one or a non-maintenance one, it’s the same thing as adding to your home; it’s an investment to your home.”

Whether you need a privacy fence or are looking to update your current fence, Fence Brokers likely can fulfill your needs. They say it best on their website: “No job is too big or too small. Whether you’re landscaping your backyard or you need to update security on your business property, we can help.” Jillian Jacuzzi 20 • Saline County Lifestyles

Spring forward with a new agent!

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Saline County Lifestyles • 21

FLOWE RS & HOM E

Sprucing Up Your Space After the excitement of celebrating the holidays and ringing in a new year has passed, it begins to seem like the short, cold, gray winter days will never end.

But by the first morning of March, spring slowly begins to bud, offering a few minutes more of daylight each day and a glimpse at the color ahead, promising to find the right moment to blossom.

Springtime is nature’s awakening, its vibrant color nature’s gift.

The warmer days and the array of colors of spring invigorate the spirit and inspire us to begin a new chapter. Sprucing up your space by introducing new design elements will certainly pull you out of the winter doldrums and maybe even inspire a little spring-cleaning!

When it comes to making your house feel like a home, co-owners Tom Bynum, Monroe Cranford and their dream-team at Flowers & Home in Benton and Hot Springs have you covered. Flowers & Home offers a wide variety of services catering to any budget. Whether you are looking for fresh flowers to brighten up your dining room weekly or hoping to customize a piece of furniture to fit your unique style, Flowers & Home offers interior design and floral services that cover the spectrum.

Since 2012, Flowers & Home have provided beauty and joy to their customers. From baby showers and weddings, to anniversaries and Christmas, Flowers & Home has celebrated with their clients at every stage of life. “I worked in the architectural business for 22 • Saline County Lifestyles

“The love of this job is a personal drive—I get up every morning and go. Each year our team visits the Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas and Los Angeles markets to keep on top of the latest trends in design.”

28 years,” said Tom. “As a child, I would cut out furniture from catalogs and put together a design—I always loved doing this.”

Throughout the years, friends would ask Tom to provide interior design advice for their homes.

After nearly 30 years, he changed careers to focus on interior design full-time with his partner and coowner of Flowers & Home, Monroe Cranford. Monroe has obtained the highest certification awarded to a professional floral designer from the American Institute of Floral Designers, and was a freelancer before establishing Flowers & Home.

Now with two locations, one in Benton and a second in Hot Springs, Flowers & Home is a full service floral and home décor store.

Each location offers floral design using fresh floral arrangements—or for those of us who lack a green thumb, permanent botanicals.

From October to December, Flowers & Home is in particularly high demand with their holiday decorating services. Both families and businesses have sought design help from Tom and Monroe. The last four years, they’ve decorated the Arkansas State Capitol building for the holiday season.

Both locations also offer a wide variety of home décor items including furniture, artwork, lamps, accent pieces, pillows, bedding and much more. If you find yourself overwhelmed with the thought of updating or decorating a room, seek the support of Flowers & Home.

Tom and his team will provide an onsite consultation and create Saline County Lifestyles • 23

“We ask them to show us one of their favorite pieces in their home.

We focus on what they really love and we build off of this. a plan to meet your design needs.

“We walk through the client’s home and listen to what they would like to accomplish,” said Tom. “We ask them to show us one of their favorite pieces in their home. We focus on what they really love and we build off of this. We then offer suggestions to add or edit and make an overall plan for that client.” Whether you want to change the paint color in a room, or need help designing an entire house, Tom and his team provide their clients a road map for how they can achieve their design goals.

“Depending on the scope of the work, some projects take a couple of weeks and some take a couple of months,” says Tom. “Many clients will ask us to design a room at a time.

A year later, the road map we have created for them gives clients an idea of which room they could design 24 • Saline County Lifestyles

next. My team and I are here to offer a fresh eye for projects. We steer them in a direction that is cohesive.”

Tom’s Tips:

• Eliminate clutter; less is more when it comes to decorating a space

• Invest in statement pieces You also can’t go wrong by investing in your linens. Towels and bedding are items you use every day. You want to invest in pieces that are durable and comfortable, and that showcase your style.

“We love making joy happen for our clients,” said Tom. “The love of this job is a personal drive—I get up every morning and go. Each year our team visits the Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas and Los Angeles markets to keep on top of the latest trends in design.

When asked what he anticipates most this spring, he says, “I’m most looking forward to the life of spring, and the color.”  Ashley Leopoulos

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Saline County Lifestyles • 25

LITTLE ROCK LANDSCAPE Based in Alexander, Little Rock Landscaping has its roots deep in Arkansas soil, history and landscape architecture. The company originated in the 1940s when Mr. H.H. Heitman went door-to-door selling plants from his Model T Ford. He was one of only three landscapers and nurserymen in the Central Arkansas area at the time.

His son Lloyd started H.H. Heitman & Son nursery in 1949.

After two generations of Heitman’s running the company, Lloyd’s only daughter Marietta married Steve Knight in 1968. When Heitman retired in 1978, the third generation of the family took over.

Steve Knight changed the name to Little Rock Landscape Inc, and in that very same year received the contract to install the landscape and irrigation for the first phase of Little Rock National Airport. Today, Steve’s son Tony Knight runs the company.

It’s a family lineage four generations long, and their work has made wonderful improvements to landscapes all over the state and beyond.

Tony says that what distinguishes them from other companies is their four generations of experience and the fact that they are a “onestop shop.” Their expertise lies in all areas of landscape architecture, including landscape, irrigation, lawn maintenance and fertilization, weed control, wholesale/retail nursery, drainage, retaining walls, waterfalls, and LED landscape lighting.

26 • Saline County Lifestyles

Little Rock Landscape has left their mark on many other notable sites: the second phase of Little Rock National Airport; five different Wal-Marts, in state and out; five La Quinta Inns; five Bank of the Ozarks buildings; three Metropolitan Banks including the 40-story headquarters building downtown, now the Simmons Bank building; the Regions Bank Building downtown; McCain Plaza Mall; University Plaza Shopping Center; the original Worthen Bank building downtown; athletic fields in Little Rock and

“My dad and I attribute the success of our company to one solitary thing…God and His favor on us.”

Conway; Veterans Cemeteries in and out of state; numerous churches; two OBU dormitories; UALR Residential Housing; two Pulaski Tech campuses; and hundreds of other notable projects spanning sixty-five plus years of family-run landscaping and irrigation.

They have also been contracted to do the landscaping, irrigation, pavers and plants for the new Bank of The Ozarks Headquarters building off highway 10 in West Little Rock.

It’s a multi-million-dollar project scheduled to open in early 2020.

But they aren’t only there for the big guns.

Little Rock Landscape has plenty to offer the rest of us, including some generational wisdom. If you don’t have thousands or even hundreds of dollars to fix up your yard, Tony offers these tips: SEASONAL COLOR 1. Make sure when planting your seasonal color this year that you use the appropriate soil for best results.

Soil preparation plays perhaps the most important role in maintaining

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seasonal color areas. This begins with adding organic matter to obtain optimum aeration to the existing soil, and make sure you have proper drainage. Generally speaking, beds should consist of at least 50% organic matter for best results.

MOWING 2. There isn't really a specific date on which to begin mowing your grass in the spring. However, it does require monitoring the length of grass and waiting for it to reach the right height to have your first cut of the year! To avoid injuring your lawn by cutting when it's too short, we recommend waiting until it's at least 2 inches tall.

Doing this protects the roots of grass.

Also, avoid removing more than a third of its length in a single mowing.

FERTILIZING 3. The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the spring, when the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees generally. You'll know when the soil warms up to 55 degrees because the lilacs begin to blossom, and the grass starts growing. For

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28 • Saline County Lifestyles

most parts of the country, that means the first application should take place by about mid-April.

Like any successful company, Little Rock Landscape Inc. matches its expertise with its people.

Tony carries on not only a legacy of savvy entrepreneurship, but also that of approachability.

Tony remembers from his earliest years riding in the truck with the crew to work on projects with his dad. It’s been in his blood since day one. Today, Tony’s 16-year-old son Ben is doing the same thing with crews working on projects in West Little Rock. So, a fifth generation of this company looks to be

a certainty. Other than the company, Tony’s other loves are his family (3 kids, and wife Melody), his love of the Lord, and leading worship at New Life Church in Saline County. Both Tony and his dad are pastors, and their love for the church runs deep.

Tony was born and raised in Bryant and spent all his schooling in the Bryant School system. He has seen the growth of the schools and community and now his company is working on a landscape project for the new additions to Bryant High School. The adult Tony has returned to beautify and improve

his childhood stomping grounds.

When you talk to Tony you can hear in his voice his compassion and commitment to how he runs the company. He says, “When building relationships, handshakes and doing what you’ll say you will do go a long way.” That kind of work ethic is what brought Little Rock Landscape Inc. from an annual revenue of 500 thousand dollars in 2012 with 8-10 employees and 2 crews, to a multimillion-dollar business currently with 40 employees and 10 crews.

This success has led to their opening a brand new retail/wholesale nursery.

They are fully stocked and ready to serve Saline and neighboring counties.

Finally, in talking with Tony and hearing about the success of Little Rock Landscape, he states, “My dad and I attribute the success of our company to one solitary thing…

God and His favor on us. There is no way we could do what we do without Him. This is why we have on our company marquee, ‘To God Be the Glory.’ That pretty much says it all!”  Carolyn Buckner

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BEFORE

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Saline County Lifestyles • 29

MY FURNITURE WAREHOUSE

FURNISH YOUR LIFE

30 • Saline County Lifestyles

In this modern, Internet-surfing, mouse-clicking age of Walmart.com, Amazon and Overstock shopping, we can get almost everything we want from the comfort of our couch, or while propped up in bed.

So it can bring about a muchneeded sigh of relief when you come across a company still committed to face-to-face service and developing relationships with customers. That’s exactly what you’ll find with Darla and Colby Maness when visiting My Furniture Warehouse in Alexander.

“Those personal relationships are what set us apart,” Colby said. “I like knowing my customers and developing friendships with them.

I treat them the way I’d want to be treated: honest and up front.”

Founded in 2005 by Darla and her late husband, My Furniture Warehouse first specialized in selling mattresses.

But as word quickly spread, the couple and Colby recognized the inevitability of growth. “I’ve worked here since I was 12-years-old. Child labor laws don’t apply to family,” he laughed.

“This is pretty much all I’ve known.”

“After the success with our mattresses, we expanded to furniture and now provide just about everything,” he added.

Colby joined Darla three years ago as the store’s co-owner, and the two have maintained an unusually tight workforce of two.

“Yeah. It’s mainly just the two of us up there every day,” he said. “We have family who help from time to time, but when you walk through the door, you know you’re working directly with the owners, and we try to apply a personal touch.

“I know just about every customer who comes in,” he added. “I might not be able to remember all of their names, but I can remember their faces and what they’ve bought.”

Remembering customers and their differing tastes can present quite the challenge for the Maness’s, especially when you consider the constantly changing world of home fashion. So how do they remain ahead of the curve, and what trends do they see when dealing with home furnishing today?

“It changes every year,” Colby

said. “Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, it changes. There is no method to the madness.

“If you watch HGTV or DIY network, you’ll see a lot of designs.

Then, three to six months later, you’ll see a trickle down to the furniture manufacturers. Next thing you know, you’ll have customers coming in wanting exactly what they saw on television, and that’s always changing.

“The most popular stuff available today is anything rustic chic,” he added. “Barnwood, weathered or distressed furniture is really ‘in’ right now. With upholstery, greys are really popular. Grey leather.

Grey fabric. All of it is popular.”

Don’t be mistaken, though. When competing with the larger, chain furniture stores, the Maness’s don’t rely solely on their warm smiles and honest approach when attracting customers. Colby says one of his most reliable tools is social media. “[Facebook] has made the biggest change in our business,” he said.

“One of the gigantic benefits to our

“I like knowing my customers and developing friendships with them. I treat them the way I’d want to be treated: honest and up front.”

CENTRAL ARKANSAS’ PREMIERE WAREHOUSE FURNITURE OUTLET

16220 ALEXANDER RD. | ALEXANDER, ARKANSAS|501-455-0501 @MyFurnitureWarehouse

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Saline County Lifestyles • 31

AT A TIME WHEN WE SPEND MORE TIME SHOPPING FROM OUR PHONES, IT’S NICE TO THINK THERE ARE STILL SOME ENTREPRENEURS DOING IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY. store is that we do a ton of social media. I think we have close to 11,000 followers, and we do all kinds of stuff on there. Darla sometimes tells me I try to give away too much stuff, but it generates interest and gets people in the door.”

Colby says he’ll soon be expanding his social media marketing strategy to Instagram to try and appeal to younger shoppers, but when discussing My Furniture Warehouse’s established following, he and Darla already serve a wide range of clients.

“We have first time homebuyers, 18-year-olds moving out of their parents’ houses, all the way up to older adults,” he said. “I’ve had some customers come in and try to nickel and dime me on a $39 rug, and I’ve had others come in and drop $15,000 without thinking twice. We really do have something for everyone.”

The My Furniture Warehouse showroom is located in Alexander, between Little Rock and Bryant.

The 10,000 square foot building has been home to the company for 13 years, but as Saline County continues growing, Colby sees a chance for change in the future.

“I know that sometimes bigger can lead to a bigger headache, but I’d like to maybe one day move into a larger store, bring in more furniture and spread out a little bit,” he said. “Maybe we’ll be able to hire one or two workers and give Darla a chance to slow things down.”

Those changes may not come for a few years, but when they do, you can rest assured that the Maness’s will still rely on those same principles that have made them a success: honesty, integrity and that personal touch.

At a time when we spend more time shopping from our phones, it’s nice to think there are still some entrepreneurs doing it the old-fashioned way.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the best way.  Charles Crowson 32 • Saline County Lifestyles

S

SPRING CLEANING When the weather starts to warm up, it’s a sign to bust open your windows—and, perhaps less exciting, your cleaning supplies cabinet. Yes, it’s already that time of year again. To some, “spring cleaning” can sound like an insurmountable task. Spring isn’t over in a day, so why feel like your cleaning has to be knocked out in the same amount of time?

Take it a week at a time, giving yourself a month to set new habits, clearing out the old while keeping to a daily routine. Start where you frequent the most, so that constantly being reminded of where you’ve de-cluttered will inspire you to keep going. Use this to-do list, which includes all the spots you’ve likely neglected for the past year and watch your home become spic-and-span before you know it.

HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD

Clean Everything

Every Day

Every Month

 Make bed  Clean coffeemaker  Clean dirty dishes  Wipe down kitchen counters  Do laundry, as needed  Sweep kitchen floors  Wipe down bathroom surfaces  Squeegee shower walls  Sanitize kitchen & bathroom sinks

 Vacuum vents & woodwork  Dust & clean light fixtures  Dust blinds  Clean dishwasher/ laundry machines

Every Week  Mop kitchen & bathroom floors  Scrub bathroom surfaces  Clean mirrors  Dust furniture  Vacuum your floors & furniture  Change bedding  Toss expired food  Wipe down kitchen appliances  Clean inside of microwave  Sanitize sponges

Every 3-6 Months  Wipe down inside of fridge  Clean kitchen range hood  Wash shower curtain liner  Clean under & behind furniture  Clean patio/deck surfaces & furniture  Wash pillows & comforters  Vacuum mattress  Descale coffee maker  Freshen drains & garbage disposal  Clean inside of oven  Clean out freezer Wash car

Saline County Lifestyles • 33

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34 • Saline County Lifestyles

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Saline County Lifestyles • 35

HEALTHY

Lifestyle

HEALTH UPDATE MEDICAL CARE ABROAD

By Dr. Tyler Nelson, Internal Medicine, Bryant Medical Clinic

Several years ago, I was approached about going on a medical mission trip to Belize. It was something I had thought about before, but had never done. I did not know what to expect, in terms of disease processes I would encounter and how the locals would receive me. I quickly fell in love with the people of Belize and realized that there was not much difference between their medical needs and those I saw every day in Bryant. I did clinic four days of the week and saw about 100 patients daily, most of whom needed treatment for diabetes,

36 • Saline County Lifestyles

osteoarthritis and hypertension.

I have since returned to Belize on three separate occasions in the last two years. Each of those trips we did clinic in Ontario, a village of 3,000 about an hour outside the capital city of Belmopan. We set up in a local church in the middle of the village.

Clinic typically started around 9 AM, and many people stood in line far in advance, waiting to be seen.

In general, since the men work long hours, our patients consist of a steady flow of mostly women and children.

The majority need maintenance medications while others visit for cough- and cold-type symptoms.

A small number of residents from Guatemala speak only Spanish and require an interpreter, but most speak English, so visits go smoothly.

Belize has universal health care provided by the government. But while treatment is available to them, most residents say that the level of care is not good. If they have money, they will go to a private hospital instead. Although they can access care, only some can get to a provider on a regular basis.

Most residents of Ontario do not have vehicles, so they are reliant on public bus transportation to get to the closest provider, which is in Belmopan.

Unfortunately, most do not have the money to take a bus regularly. When they can get a bus ride to a clinic, they are still unable to get their medications sometimes due to a lack of supply.

Since much of Belize is rural, many of these areas have limited access to care. But even the greater accessibility of healthcare provided by city life does not present much advantage, since the quality of care is so low.

Last year, I decided to take my whole family with me to allow them to help with clinic. They were all involved with every patient by helping with intake and pharmacy.

It was an incredible experience for my family and me. As well as

HEALTHY

We are bringing about 300 pounds of medications, both prescription and over the counter. Bryant Family Pharmacy was kind enough to donate the prescription medications that we are taking with us. doing clinic in Ontario, we also did a clinic at a nonviolent offender youth prison, offering wellness visits to the residents at the facility.

We plan to return to Ontario this spring to do another clinic. My entire family will accompany me once again.

Our plan is to do clinic in Ontario for four days. I look forward to reuniting with those whom I have seen many times, as well as to meeting new patients now able to come see us.

We are bringing about 300 pounds of medications, both prescription and over the counter. Bryant Family Pharmacy was kind enough to donate the prescription medications that we are taking with us.

Ontario’s water quality has historically been very poor. Residents inevitably incur great expense to themselves in purchasing bottled water. While doing clinic in Ontario this trip, some members of our group will finish a well to supply clean, affordable water both to the high school on the church’s property and to the village of Ontario.

This well will significantly help the community by reducing their expenses. Additionally, we have always had to give out anti-parasitic meds to almost every patient while doing clinic; we hope that providing clean water can help decrease the rate of intestinal parasite infections.

To anyone who is interested, I highly recommend doing medical care abroad. You do not need a medical background in order to help. I have gone to Belize with Geyer Springs First Baptist Church for all my trips. We work with an organization called WGO that helps organize the clinics. They also do medical clinics in Honduras. You never know what good you can do until you take steps to find out! 

Lifestyles

HOSPITALIST GROUP Get to know your doctors at Saline Health System.

It’s a team of many experts with one focus: caring for you.

Michael Pafford, MD Director

Deborah Quade, MD

Ahmad Yousaf, MD

Adam Huang, MD

Zachary Morrill, MD

Regina Bennett, APRN

Jennifer Neighbors, APRN

Lauren McDonald, DNP

Brandon Faulkner, DNP

Amanda Gwin, PA

(501) 249-3717 | SalineMemorial.org

Saline County Lifestyles • 37

FAMILY

Lifestyle

INSURANCE INSIGHT Is Term Life Insurance Right For Your Family?

By Keith Brooks, State Farm Insurance

As a typical high school senior, my friend Steve seemed to have life under control. He was a good student and successful athlete whose tireless work ethic and passion had earned a scholarship to his state University to play intercollegiate sports. The plan was simple: excel in his field, get an outstanding education, and perhaps find continued success as a professional athlete. However, tragedy struck. Within a year, his mother unexpectedly passed away. Facing the challenging world of college can try any young person, but doing so

38 • Saline County Lifestyles

while losing the foundation of your family is certainly devastating.

While this heartbreaking situation understandably takes years to work through, Steve was blessed to have had parents who planned. Wise decisions made years before her unexpected passing averted potential financial devastation. Their thoughtful planning for life’s worst moment allowed him to continue to pursue his dreams and heal, without the fear of financial ruin that many would have faced.

Life insurance does not present the easiest topic to write about or discuss.

In fact, a majority of families simply ignore it. Research shows that 44% of families in the US do not carry any individual life insurance, and 70% of households with children under the age of 18 would have trouble meeting their daily living expenses if one of the wage earners were to die.

So, what about you? Are you starting a family? Caring for aging parents? Perhaps you have dependents counting on your income. In all of these situations, life insurance is more a necessity than a luxury. For families and other people seeking a particular period of coverage, a term life insurance policy provides financial security without requiring a lifetime of premiums. Here’s how it works: Coverage and Benefit of Term Life Insurance A term life insurance policy provides coverage for a specific period of time, or term. You can choose a policy for the stated term and pay scheduled premiums to the insurer during that time. If the unthinkable happens, and you should pass away while the policy is in force, your beneficiary receives the stated value of the death benefit.

Length of Term Life Insurance With Term policies, you can choose between 10, 20, or 30 years of level premium payments. At the end of

FAMILY

Lifestyles

Research shows that 44% of families in the US do not carry any individual life insurance, and 70% of households with children under the age of 18 would have trouble meeting their daily living expenses if one of the wage earners were to die. the level payment period, the policy is guaranteed renewable to age 95.

Although the policy can last until age 95, the premiums will increase significantly every policy anniversary and will likely become unaffordable.

Most term policies can be converted without evidence of insurability.

This means that during the level term period, and before age 75, you are able to convert regardless of your health to a permanent policy, such as whole life or universal life.

Permanent policies are designed to provide coverage for the entire lifetime of the insured person, not just a stated term. New premiums and other conditions may apply.

Costs of Term Life Insurance Term life premiums are determined by a number of factors, including age, gender, tobacco use, and health. For example, it will typically cost less to insure a 30-year-old nonsmoker in good health than it will to provide the same policy to a 45-year-old tobacco user.

Additional Thoughts on Term Life Insurance Unlike permanent life policies, term life policies do not provide cash value. The premiums paid to the insurer are simply the nonrefundable price of coverage for the stated term.

Term life is a sound insurance option for people seeking to provide for their dependents for a set period of time. For more information about whether term life is right for you, please reach out to my office so that I or a member of my team can discuss what your specific needs are, and ensure that you and your family are protected against all risks. 

You only live once.

That’s worth protecting.

Keith Brooks, Agent Insurance Lic#: 16679114 www.keithbrooks.net keith@keithbrooks.net Bus: 501-778-7243

1708142

A conversation about life insurance now can make a big impact on your family (and even your retirement) later.

LET’S TALK TODAY.

State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI)State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI)Bloomington, IL

Saline County Lifestyles • 39

FAMILY

Lifestyle

FAITH FOCUS

Resurrection: Foundational to the Christian Faith

By Phillip Miller, Pastor at First Baptist Church - Bryant

What are your family’s Easter traditions? Hiding eggs for the little ones, eating lots of chocolate bunnies and jelly bean eggs, or getting dressed up for Easter pictures amidst the beautiful spring flowers? I hope that one of your traditions is going to church on Easter Sunday morning to worship and celebrate the One who made this day famous—Jesus Christ.

His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Another Bible passage tells us “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). This is the Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter arrives on April 21st this year.

I like to call this holiday Resurrection Sunday because it is the time we especially remember Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead three days after His crucifixion. But every Sunday should be called Resurrection Sunday (and I hope you go to church every Sunday): churches meet on the first day of the week because Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. The resurrection is foundational to the Christian faith.

Because we are sinners, we all deserve death—both physical and spiritual. Now everyone, like it or not, must face death physically, but because Jesus died for us, in our place, we do not have to face the spiritual death of hell and separation from God eternally. Instead, God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us so that we can have eternal life by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and repenting of our sins. I hope you have received this gift from God.

To understand the resurrection, we need to understand the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death was not just the ordinary outcome of human mortality.

Instead this was Jesus’ destiny—why He was born. The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus died for our sins. You nay be familiar with John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave

The resurrection is not just a spiritual presence floating around in heaven, such as when Solomon wrote concerning death, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7). Instead, resurrection means that the believer in Jesus Christ will one day have a new body. Just

40 • Saline County Lifestyles

as Jesus’ tomb was empty on Easter Sunday morning, so our tombs will be empty when we too are resurrected with new and perfect bodies like Jesus.

I think that is awesome! But there is more. The Bible tells us that believers can live new lives right now, with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. With this power, we can press on amidst our difficulties and imperfections to live for Christ today.

This is living in the power of His resurrection today.

So yes, the resurrection is foundational to the Christian faith.

Romans 10:9 says “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Salvation depends on belief in the resurrection. Now granted, this presumes belief that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, but the Gospel is not complete without the resurrection. I hope that you believe in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. And I pray that this Easter Sunday morning you will attend church to worship your Resurrected Savior, who gave you life with His life! 

We have a casual atmosphere, great classes for Babies - 5th grade, and a *Special Needs Class during the 9:30am service! *Visit our website to Register for the Special Needs Class.

Check out our website MidtowneChurch.com

Saline County Lifestyles • 41

FAMILY

Lifestyle

NO CRYING IN BASEBALL By: Justin S. Elrod, Certified Elder Law Attorney, The Elrod Firm Tom Hanks was wrong. There really is crying in baseball. At least there was on July 4, 1939, when Lou Gehrig addressed Yankees fans (and the world) one last time in a moving speech from Yankee Stadium. Although the purpose of his speech was to say goodbye, he opened by saying, “Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.”

Gehrig earned the nickname The Iron Horse by playing in 2,130 consecutive games, a record that stood for almost 60 years. He was the definition of dependable. He didn’t just show up night after night—he came to compete. You don’t wind up with a lifetime batting average of .340 by just showing up.

But then, out of the blue, in 1938 his performance seemed a little off.

His hits were down, strike-outs up, and power numbers slipping. In 1939, he played in only eight games.

His seemingly superhuman abilities completely disappeared. Less than two years later, Gehrig died from ALS, now known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

He was only 37 when he died.

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In this space I usually encourage readers to plan ahead. “You Need A Plan” is not only my motto; it’s the title of my book. But I’ve been around long enough to know that you can’t plan for everything.

Who could have predicted The Iron Horse would be dead at 37, only two years after playing in his last major league baseball game?

Short of death, one of the most devastating things that could ever hit a family is the sudden need for long-term care. From a financial perspective, the need for long-term care can actually devastate a family’s stability even more than death. The average price of nursing home care in Arkansas is steadily approaching $6,000 per month. Very few families have the monthly income to cash flow those costs while also meeting other necessary expenses, so they’re forced to liquidate other assets to keep up. Sure, planning ahead is always better, but what if you didn’t? Is there any hope?

There is hope, even for those who fail to plan ahead for long-term care expenses. For most families, if they are armed with the right knowledge and information, Medicaid benefits

will cover a large percentage of a person’s nursing home costs.

And they can qualify for coverage without spending every penny on the nursing home first and without putting their home at risk.

For married couples with one spouse in need of nursing home care and the other spouse at home, the Medicaid spousal protection rules are far more generous than most people think as long as you use those rules in the right way. With the right planning, a married couple can protect the home, personal property, and virtually all financial accounts, and still obtain Medicaid coverage to help with nursing home charges.

For single individuals in need of long-term care, the spousal protection rules won’t prove of any use, but a strong understanding of Medicaid gifting rules often allows applicants to save anywhere from one-half to two-thirds of their assets and still obtain Medicaid coverage to help with nursing home charges.

The worst thing to do in either of these situations—single or married—is simply to privately pay the nursing home charges until the money has

FAMILY

Lifestyles

Short of death, one of the most devastating things that could ever hit a family is the sudden need for long-term care. nearly gone. But that’s exactly what many people think you’re supposed to do! You will always protect more, the more quickly you act. Incomplete and downright inaccurate information prevails in the area of long-term care Medicaid. Hearing that “you don’t qualify” from a friend, or even from a well-meaning individual who works in the industry, should not stop you from doing your research, talking to the right people, and exploring every possible option for coverage.

This is one of the areas where elder law attorneys, especially those who specialize in long-term care planning, can make a huge difference. If your family is already in the middle of an emergency, don’t wait. Call today to set up a strategy session at no charge. Saline County Lifestyles • 43

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