FREE DECEMBER 2019 | VOL. 13 • ISSUE 12 | POVHOUMA.COM
for the Holidays HOME
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CONTENTS |
DECEMBER 2019 • VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 12
CONT HOME + LIVING
Page 18
16 THE OBSERVER Presence Over Presents
18 THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
Two Hearts Perpetual Adoration Chapel
FOOD + FUN
Page 24
24 CHATEAU CHIC: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Jay and Allison Clune; Marty and Kelly Boquet; Stephen and Amanda Morgan; Peter and Denise Cuartas; Marc and Heidi Acosta
December 2019 4 povhouma.com
MIND + BODY
Page 44
44 ONE DAY AT A TIME
Brylan Terrebonne defies the odds.
50 WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE
Maintaining Our Health for the Holidays
ENTS EXTRAS
ON THE COVER
WORD, YA HEARD
EFFERVESCENT 1. A liquid that produces bubbles 2. An active, excited and enthusiastic personality
WORD ON THE STREET “The champagne is effervescent, tickling my nose!” “Our effervescent child was the highlight of the Christmas program.”
Page 24
08 EDITOR’S NOTE
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care at the Boquets.
10 INTERVUE
Photo: Misty Leigh McElroy
Deck the Halls
Say What?
12 POV PICK
Louisiana Legacy Cookbooks
52 UNDER THE SCOPE The Legend of Christmoss
54 RENDEZVOUS
Where you need to be around town
56 SCENE IN
Look at ol’ so ‘n’ so!
59 LOOK TWICE
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Morgan Stanley Houma Area Financial Advisors
COMPREHENSIVE WEALTH PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR YOUR LIFE AND LEGACY GOALS
Santa needs to know. Naughty or Nice?
Tim Emerson CFA, CFP®, CIMA® Financial Advisor 1340 West Tunnel Blvd. Suite 405 • Houma, LA 70360 985-360-4049 timothy.a.emerson@ms.com NMLS #1255571
PUBLISHER
Brian Rushing Marguerite Knight CFP® Financial Advisor 1340 West Tunnel Blvd. Suite 405 • Houma, LA 70360 985-360-4044 NMLS #1290713
I can explain...
EDITORIAL
Bonnie Rushing EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mary Downer Ditch MANAGING EDITOR Drew Miller ASSOCIATE EDITOR ADVERTISING
Angela Denham
Financial Advisor 400 Convention St. • Suite 400 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225-237-3139 NMLS #1731299
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CREATIVE
Amber Duplantis SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nicholas Boutte GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nice! PHOTOGRAPHY
Kyle Eroche Misty Leigh McElroy Drew Miller Olivia Rose CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jaime Dishman John Doucet
OFFICE/CIRCULATION MANAGER
Michelle Ortego SUBSCRIPTIONS Point of Vue magazine is published monthly. Subscriptions are available for $36 for 12 issues. For more information, email mail@rushing-media.com or visit rushing-media.com/subscriptions.
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Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: mary@rushing-media.com Creative: graphics@rushing-media.com Sales: sales@rushing-media.com
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Copyright ©2017 Rushing Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of editorial and/or graphic content is strictly prohibited.
Business address: 6160 West Park Ave., Houma, LA 70364 985.868.7515 Point of Vue magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material such as manuscripts or photographs, with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. The opinions expressed in Point of Vue magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Rushing Media, our employees or any of our advertisers. No employee or family member(s) of employees of Rushing Media are permitted to partake in any contests, giveaways or sweepstakes.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S.,which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. CRC 2554967
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EDITOR’S NOTE |
MARY DOWNER DITCH • MANAGING EDITOR OF POV
DECK THE HALLS Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly… or at least that’s how the song goes! I have always loved decorating for Christmas. When we were kids, the first sign of the nearing holiday was Mom hauling the massive artificial tree box down from the attic. From what I can recall, her tree had a beautiful Victorian theme, with tiny doll carriages, porcelain-faced dolls and feathered birds. (She might correct me after this is published, but that’s how I remember it!) Her tree downstairs was majestic and formal. But upstairs on the landing was a smaller tree that was all mine and my brother’s to decorate. It was a colorful hodge-podge of homemade ornaments, plastic candy and popcorn garlands, and older ornaments from Mom’s childhood, too. This tree was all about family and memories. In my own house, my tree is still mix of old and new. John and I started collecting ornaments when we were just dating. We selected ornaments that represented fun things that had happened that year in our lives. His usually centered around ESPN or sports! Our most memorable ones are the bride and groom Mickey ears we got the year we visited Disney as an engaged couple, then the Groom Mickey and Bride Minnie we purchased when we visited the following year as a married couple. John’s favorites are the ornaments that my parents gift us each year from the Louisiana Capitol Foundation’s Christmas ornament collection. Jackson is not without his own memorable ornaments! He loves to help decorate the tree and hear the stories behind each of his own ornaments that were at first selected by us for him. His favorites are the Dumbo ornament that sings his lullaby, purchased when he was
a year old, and the record player ornament that plays “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” that he selected for himself last year. (That was his favorite tune from Christmas 2018.) In The Holiday Issue of POV, we are excited to feature our first ever Chateau Chic special section, Home for the Holidays! Starting on page 24, we step inside five amazing homes, beautifully decorated for the holidays. Each family shares with you their decorating style and what pieces are most special to them. Every little detail is carefully thought out and entire holiday themes are brought to life on our pages. Thank you to these local families for letting us into their homes at the holidays. As a Catholic, the most meaningful reason for the season to me is coming together to celebrate the birth of Christ. On page 18, we visit with Father Mitch Semar about the new adoration chapel at St. Thomas Aquinas. With the majority of funds raised through #iGiveCatholic, the Chapel provides a place for everyone to visit with Jesus, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In this issue, we also introduce you to Brylan Terrebonne and his parents Chelsey and Dillon Terrebonne on page 44. Brylan was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Chelsey shares with you her family’s journey of courage and hope with each procedure to help Brylan. This issue was a joy to bring to you. Visiting with each family during the holidays as we took these pictures was delightful. Hearing and witnessing the miracles of the Chapel and sweet Brylan touched my heart. It was wonderful to hear everyone’s stories and truly a privilege to share them with you. Merry Christmas to you all! POV
December 2019 8 povhouma.com
Season’s
Greetings
INTERVUE |
SAY WHAT?
What’s your favorite family tradition at Christmas?
SADIE “Riding in our car in our pjs, drinking hot chocolate, looking at Christmas lights. Then we come home and watch ‘Home Alone’!”
PATTY “Going over to my parents house on Christmas Eve for dinner and gift giving. It’s the one night of the year when the entire family is together in one place spending time together, making memories, and sharing the Spirit of Christmas.”
REBEKAH “Getting comfy in our family Christmas pjs and watching new movies on Christmas Eve.”
LANCE “Christmas is such a fun holiday for our family. We love getting together for the entire week visiting with family and friends for breakfast and dinners. There is a special tradition where my beautiful wife and I get together with the kids in our living room right before we head to Christmas Eve mass and we give the kids their Christmas present from us. We hang out for a little while just us, eat cookies and then get ready for Christmas Eve festivities before Santa makes his arrival.”
WWW.CY P R E SSCOLUM N S .CO M Cr yst al S a n d erson P h oto gra phy
December 2019 10 povhouma.com
POV PICK |
CURATED JUST FOR YOU
LOUISIANA LEGACY COOKBOOKS Thirty-seven years after the original was published, Thibodaux Service League has a new spin on their classic Louisiana Legacy cookbook. Louisiana Legacy Today offers a fresh take on the local, home cooking we all know and love. The new cookbook, which boasts all new recipe submissions ranging from current & past TSL Members to famous local chefs, will debut on December 7th at Reindeer Rowe. At this event, TSL will offer an exclusive Louisiana Legacy gift bundle which includes a copy of each of the cookbooks and a custom wooden spoon. After Reindeer Rowe, the new cookbooks will be available at pop-up shops throughout the community, as well as through any current Thibodaux Service League member.
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Dr. Tran joined Southern Eye Institute in 2018. She has been in practice as an optometrist for over seven years since graduating from The University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Tran is a member of the American Optometric Association, Texas Optometric Association and the Optometry Association of Louisiana. Dr. Tran can assist you with all of your medical eye care needs and specializes in contact lens fitting. Dr. Tran also spends time giving back to our community by performing exams for our Community Outreach Program, which provides eye care to patients without insurance. She also works with the Southern Eye Bank and Chabert Ophthalmology to offer specialty contact lens fittings for uninsured patients with corneal conditions. She is happy to serve you and your family in both our Houma and Thibodaux offices.
Check out our Christmas gifts in the Optical Department.
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December 2019 13 povhouma.com
HOME + LIVING
THE OBSERVER | 16 Presence Over Presents
THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY | 18 Two Hearts Perpetual Adoration Chapel
December 2019 14 povhouma.com
LET US HELP YOU
POWER UP
SOMETHING NEW
THE OBSERVER |
BY JAIME DISHMAN
PRESENCE OVER
PRESENTS It’s the same struggle every single year. Come Christmas, I’m asking the same question. “What am I supposed to give?” Somewhere, life forgot to give me a manual on gift-giving. A manual that would say the perfect gift for all the people on my list. In my college days, my friend and I Christmas shopped on Christmas Eve for my family. We had finished our shift at the restaurant where we worked, went to Walmart and did some good ole’ fashioned last-
TRACTOR minute Christmas shopping.
It was late at night, and I still giggle when I think about the gifts I came home with for my family. A Christmas-themed M&M dispenser for my dad. (Does he love M&Ms? Not really. But it seemed liked a good idea at the time.) A bike chain for my teenage brother. Did he even ride his bike very much? Not really. But every boy should have a bike chain. Slippers for my mom who never wears slippers. But I figured that maybe if I bought her some, she would wear them. Wrong. In their defense, my parents and siblings acted like they liked the gifts. They thanked me as I giggled and handed out gifts they never needed and would probably never use. Although, I must say…my dad hung on to that M&M dispenser for years. By the time I had children, it was still being brought out with their Christmas decor, with new M&Ms every year for my little ones to get treats at Mimi and Paw’s house. The thoughtless gift turned into a treasure over time. It was a similar story last year. We have five children. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would start Christmas shopping in July for five children. Not me. It was two days before Christmas, and my husband asked over and over again what the gift-giving plan for the kids would be. I mostly ignored his questions until Christmas Eve came, and the questions about gifts for our kids were unavoidable. (Last-minute tickets to see “Les Miserables” at the Saenger was a WIN, by the way. They loved their night out in New Orleans at the theater and dinner. Thank you Saenger for that one.) It’s not that I don’t like people. I do. I really do.
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It’s simply that I truly can’t ever figure out what the perfect gift would be. I think about the people I love, and my mind turns blank in the giftgiving department. It’s not just for Christmas; it’s birthdays, too. But Christmas involves all the people I love all at the same time, and it turns into one big overwhelming “what gift to give” session. This year, I have vowed to change that. If you see me during this December month, ask me how it’s going. I did buy fuzzy slippers for my
December 2019 16 povhouma.com
girls already. So that’s something. Right? If I’m honest, I just want Christmas morning to be time together, laughter and a little break from the everyday. I want to read the greatest story of all time, remember the greatest gift ever given and remember a God who called us close. How did the wise men decide what gift to bring to the newborn king? One gift for the greatest king of all time. What pressure that must have been, and how did they know? (Besides the obvious fact that they were wise men and had wisdom.) But presence is better than presents. Don’t buy me a thing if you’re not going to show up in my life. So we come to the king, giving ourselves, like he gave himself. He showed us how to give the greatest gift. This giving of ourselves is the greatest thing we could ever gift our loved ones. Being at their soccer games, watching their band perform, making it to their award ceremonies, playing cards at the house, sitting on the couch and reading together. We keep giving ourselves in a world saturated by too many things and not enough time. I’ll still give some terrible gifts this Christmas. Of that, I’m pretty sure. But I’ll give good gifts all year long. I’ll say yes to kids who ask for one more game of spades. I’ll say yes to watching my girls perform their selfwritten living room plays. I’ll say yes to listening and leaning in when I want to ignore and clock out for the day. And maybe I’ll never have the perfect gifts for the ones I love. But if they know they’re loved, I’ll consider that the best gift I could give. POV
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BY MARY DITCH | PHOTOS SUBMITTED
“Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!” On October 13, the Two Hearts Perpetual Adoration Chapel opened at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on the campus of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. What began as a vision of Father Mitch Semar was brought to life through local contractors, builders, artists, parishioners and the much larger giving community.
The Best Choice
IN SHORT TERM
REHAB
In 2018, the Catholic Church experienced its share of scandal and shakedowns. As Father Mitch explained, the community at St. Thomas responded to the news through prayer, talking about the atrocious acts and doing what they had to do to move forward together as a people of God. “We decided at that moment that God was calling us as a community to build a perpetual adoration chapel, a place where people can go 24 hours a day, seven days a week to see Jesus, to be with Jesus exposed as the blessed sacrament, to receive healing, mercy and protection,” recalls Father Mitch. The community of St. Thomas Aquinas set out to raise the money needed to build the chapel, with a main fundraising focus placed on #iGiveCatholic Giving Day in 2018.
MUSIC & MEMORY
Music soothes the soul, is therapeutic for the mind, and supports memory function for the residents living at The Retreat.
KITCHEN THERAPY
Kitchen Therapy, an insightful and fun-filled once-a-week cooking demonstration, teaching residents how to make three-ingredient meals.
According to their website, the first-ever online giving day created to celebrate the Catholic faith, #iGiveCatholic Giving Day, inspires individuals to “Give Catholic” on #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving. The goal of the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day is to rally Catholic communities throughout the country in support of their organizations and ministries. This year, #iGiveCatholic Day is December 3. Within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, there are 71 churches, schools or organizations registered, each with a different project they hope to fund. Some examples include school security cameras, a new roof, construction of a cry room for young families at a local church and new air conditioners. Visit igivecatholic. org for information on each organization.
Our residents enjoy concerts on-site twice a week by local musicians.
During the 2018 fundraising period, $230,000 was raised for the Chapel in the 24-hour timeframe. This total was the third most money raised nationwide through #iGiveCatholic. With this money, the Chapel became a reality.
Residents and their family members enjoy new experiences from a wide variety of off-site activities.
Throughout the building and planning process, Father Mitch truly felt the hand of God was at play. His original goal was to have the Chapel built and ready for students when they returned to campus in August. But torrential rains over the summer drastically impacted the building process. After sitting down with Lea Rutter and David Duplantis, Father Mitch inquired what the new opening date would possibly be.
Games and crafts combines interactive games and leisurely activities they can share with their families.
“Lea just looked at me and said, ‘Let’s shoot for October 13’,” shares Father Mitch. “I was like, ‘Ok that’s fine.’ I realized later the date’s significance. That was the last day of the apparition of our Lady of Fatima, when the Blessed Mother appeared to the children and the miracle of the sun dance occurred.” And so construction began. But of course, the hand of God moved again. The first wall on the chapel went up on May 13 – the first day of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. The entire chapel was built during the five months that the December 2019 19 povhouma.com
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Blessed Mother appeared to the children of Fatima in 1917. But God’s symbolism doesn’t end there. The church canonized Cardinal John Newman, the founder of the Newman Centers and patron saint of college campuses, on October 13, 1948.
"Since moving into the Suites our mother has enjoyed many activities. The one for which she is most grateful is attending mass and praying the rosary. We are thankful she lives in a community that cares for her like family and provides a time for her to continue to practice her faith."
MS. JANE 220 Valhi Blvd. in Houma 985.868.8400 www.SugarMillPoint.net
Since it’s opening date, adorners have been in the chapel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Not only parishioners, but also the student body of Nicholls have made a point to stop by and spend time with Jesus, stopping by between classes. The beauty of the Two Hearts Adoration Chapel is truly something that one must behold in person. Every piece of art that adorns the chapel is filled with symbolism and deep meaning. Father Mitch walked parishioners through the meaning behind the art selected during his homily on October 13. The painting of St. Joseph, depicted in his workshop, is titled “St. Joseph, the Custodian of the Two Hearts.” There is also a painting of St. John celebrating the Holy Mass. To one side of the chapel is a six-foot statue of Mary, the Blessed Mother that originated in Spain. Next to her is an oil painting of Jesus, also from Spain, depicting his heart on fire, burning with love for us. There also is an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that Father Mitch got in
Mexico City during a mission trip with students featured on your immediate left when you enter the chapel. On your right, you see an image of the Divine Mercy of Saint Faustina. The stained windows came from the attic of a friend of Father Mitch’s, originating from Germany during the 1800s. Inside the chapel, you will also find a beautiful high ceiling, covered with cedar wood. Centered on the main wall is a beautiful three-foot mosaic created by parishioner Dr. Anne Boudreaux. It features Mary as the Arc of the Covenant. In her womb, she holds Jesus as the Holy Eucharist. Mary’s beauty and glory come from her son, Jesus. Finally we come to the monstrance, the beautiful piece that holds the consecrated Host, which is ancient and whose history is unknown. Four golden angels that came from Spain surround it. The two angels in the front are each holding a heart. “I didn’t come to St. Thomas expecting to build an adoration chapel,” shares Father Mitch. “That was not in my plans, but it was in the plans of God. And that vision came true because of the generosity of our parishioners. And I know now that adoration chapel won’t be empty. It’s going to be you and me filling it up with Holy hands lifted up to God.” POV
December 2019 20 povhouma.com
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FOOD + FUN
CHATEAU CHIC: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS | 24 Jay and Allison Clune Marty and Kelly Boquet Stephen and Amanda Morgan Peter and Denise Cuartas Marc and Heidi Acosta
December 2019 22 povhouma.com
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FOOD + FUN |
CHATEAU CHIC
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS BY BONNIE RUSHING | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY
Christmas is a time when we gather ‘round with our families to celebrate and rejoice. Part of the beauty of the holiday is decorating your space to reflect you and your family’s traditions and personalities. Every home you step into is decorated a little differently, but each has such amazing meaning to the homeowner. Join us as we step into the homes of five local families and join them for Christmas.
SANTA’S
WORKSHOP HAS NOTHING ON OUR
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THE CLUNE HOME
President’s Residence • Nicholls State University
Home of: Jay and Allison Clune Built circa: 1950 Allison’s holiday style: “My decorations are very traditional. First, we’ve always had a large, live tree with family heirloom ornaments with red glass bulbs, gold ornaments and white lights. These colors work perfectly with those of Nicholls. Since we’ve been in the house, I purchased a silver tree and accents to go with the decor of that room. I also have to say that I love my Village 56 collection
my mother-in-law, Gretchen Clune, started for me 27 years ago. We drape the front door as well as the fireplace with garland graciously donated by Mrs. Marie Falgoust. We hang our stockings from the fireplace. There’s one for Jay, me, Gabrielle, Caroline and, of course, Boots. We display our family memories on the tree as well, with pictures of the girls in frames. Some of my favorites are the handmade ornaments the girls have made through the years.”
December 2019 25 povhouma.com
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THE BOQUET HOME Home of: Marty and Kelly Boquet Built circa: 2016 Kelly’s holiday style: “Great news brings shouts of joy and cheer like a child! If there is any time, Christmas is the time, to be a child at heart. It’s a time for whimsy and fanciful sights to steal the show! Since before I was born, my mother carefully chose and preciously tucked away ornaments from year to year and she scoured antique shops to put together the vintage old nativity that we cherish.
My hope is to create a garland of sorts…to delicately tie the thread of times-gone-by to the thread of new memories made. My children’s eyes light up and their faces shine the same as mine did and still does at the unpackaging of treasures we have added from their childhood and of course those precious old Christmas treasures. Some are missing a piece or two but even those are equally as precious. They all tell a story of love, thoughtfulness and are the continuing of a story of tradition. From decorating the tree as a family to
December 2019 29 povhouma.com
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May the magic of the season bring you peace, love and joy. Happy Holidays to an incredible community!
Mike Bednarz, Agent 907 Jackson Street Thibodaux, LA 70301 Bus: 985-447-6221 mikebednarz.com
Give Them
The Gift They Really Want
This Season. Darryl Brue, Agent 1950 Prospect Blvd Houma, LA 70363 Bus: 985-851-2584 darrylbrue.com
waiting until Christmas Eve to place Jesus in his manger bed, tradition remains central to our Christmas festivities. Silver tinsel garland, large vintage-colored lights, red velvet ribbon, nutcrackers and lots of color on the real tree and mantel is the key to creating an atmosphere for my family that brightens the heart and creates a warm sanctuary to reflect on the meaning of the season. ‘Noel, Noel for Emmanuel’, is the message I hope to convey in my home at Christmas!”
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Photos by Kyle Eroche
THE MORGAN HOME Home of: Stephen and Amanda Morgan Built circa: 1990s Amanda’s holiday style: “Incorporating our heritage into the holidays is the most enjoyable part of Christmas for our family. Stephen’s family is Italian and we celebrate with a traditional Christmas Eve celebration where we all gather together. Musical instruments are played, traditional homemade foods and treats such as fig cookies are enjoyed. The children entertain with a Christmas pageant depicting the Christmas story. We treasure this day, filled with so much joy and laughter and family.
My family is Scotch-Irish and to pay homage I’ve always enjoyed incorporating tartan plaid into our holiday décor. Our holiday décor is a classic mix with red and green tartan plaid, fresh greenery and holly. This year our halls were decked for a Christmas themed engagement party. We enlisted Meagan Stansbury to achieve our vision of an intimate and cozy evening with vintage inspired décor theme, ‘Meet Us Under the Mistletoe.’ Using our personal Christmas décor, Meagan added the perfect accents to fit the theme and honor the special couple. The fragrance of fresh ivory roses and cedar filled the air while twinkling birch branches and paper lanterns illuminated the path for our guests to enjoy an evening celebrating family.”
December 2019 32 povhouma.com
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Denise’s holiday style: “My style is different from year to year and that’s part of the fun! Our décor has been everything from eclectic, to whimsical to very traditional. I’m a bit of a textile collector and I love incorporating fabrics into decorating. Handmaking unique décor from year to year is one of my hobbies. I take an inventory of what I have, think of ways that I can utilize and repurpose materials and I create the décor myself. This year
I decoupaged my reindeer with fabric scraps, but every year I recover them with something new. I also hand make our stockings each year. Using non-traditional textiles that I’ve collected over the years while traveling or that were given to me by friends brings special meaning to our décor as well. I’ve repurposed a silk Indian sari as a tree skirt and even used trim from Indonesia as garland in our tree. My motivation each year is my family–my son loves when I decorate for the holidays and I treasure the special memories and traditions we are creating together.”
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THE ACOSTA HOME Home of: Marc and Heidi Acosta Built circa: 2014 Heidi’s holiday style: “I love decorating for the holidays and typically put my tree up right after Halloween! I want to enjoy it for more than just a month. I would consider my decorating style to be traditional with a whimsical twist. I use a variance on the traditional red and green by updating to a bright cardinal red
and a brighter, almost lime green. I have a ceramic light-up tree that belonged to my Maw Maw Marion that is especially sentimental to me. It reminds me of her every year when I set it up. My absolute favorite part of everything we set up is our tree. It’s the first thing you see when you walk in my home and it sets the tone for the Christmas season.” POV December 2019 40 povhouma.com
Thank you for a wonderful year, and thank you for voting Dishman Flooring & Interiors as the Best of the Best for Tile & Flooring Store. We are so grateful to serve this community that we love.
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MIND + BODY
ONE DAY AT A TIME | 44 Brylan Terrebonne defies the odds.
WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE | 50 Maintaining Our Health for the Holidays
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DINING
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Cut Off native Chelsey Terrebonne says she thought she was going to have a normal pregnancy. But those thoughts quickly changed after she opted to have a blood test at 20 weeks pregnant. Chelsey’s blood tested positive for a high risk of neural tube defects, which commonly cause spina bifida. After a level 2 ultrasound, her doctor determined her baby didn’t have spina bifida, after seeing the spine and brain looked normal, Chelsey says, but the medical staff couldn’t see the baby’s heart and face. “He asked me if I wanted to do another level 2 ultrasound in New Orleans with better equipment. So, I told him yes and went to New Orleans. At that level 2 ultrasound, we did a whole heart exam. His heart looked fine,” Chelsey remembers. “And then again, they did another full scan of just every part on his body. But the only thing [the doctor] couldn't see was his face; he kept hiding his face.” “Well, a lady came in and asked, ‘Who's all in the room with you?’ Right then and there I knew something was wrong,” Chelsey continues. “She said, ‘Well, what we think we are seeing is that he has a bilateral cleft lip and palate.’ When she told me that I was beside myself because I didn't know what that was.” “A cleft lip happens if the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. This results in an opening in the upper lip. The opening in the lip can be a small slit or it can be a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “A cleft lip can be on one or both sides of the lip or in the middle of the lip, which occurs very rarely. Children with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate.”
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“A cleft palate happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy. For some babies, both the front and back parts of the palate are open,” reads cdc.gov. “Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly and can have ear infections. They also might have hearing problems and problems with their teeth.” Chelsey says the day she found she went home and “cried the whole day away.” Thankfully her husband Dillon
Terrebonne and mother were there to comfort her, she says, and she worked up the courage to tell her family. After that day, she says her whole pregnancy changed. She had to frequently travel to New Orleans for doctor visits to see maternal-fetal medicine specialists. Complications soon arose as her baby stopped growing due to a lack of fluid intake. Doctors were forced to induce labor while Chelsey was 37 weeks pregnant. Brylan Terrebonne was born at Ochsner Baptist on January 11, 2018, weighing 5 December 2019 46 povhouma.com
pounds, 2 ounces. At first, Brylan was doing fine, Chelsey says, but because his palate was so wide open, they had difficulties feeding him, which caused their newborn to have a 30-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Determined to do what was best for Brylan and ready take their new baby home, Dillon and Chelsey opted to have a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) inserted in Brylan, which would be the first of several surgeries he would have. After they learned how to work the G-tube, the
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couple was soon able to take their baby home. The following three surgeries Brylan would have would be done by Ochsner’s Dr. Michael Friel, a pediatric plastic surgeon. Dr. Friel had actually met with the Terrebonne family before Brylan’s birth and visited them while Brylan was in the NICU. Chelsey remembers worrying about all the surgeries Brylan would have to go through, but Dr. Friel reassured and comforted her. At around 3 months old, Brylan went through the first of a series of surgeries
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TERIESINTERIORS
“Brylan’s parents certainly come to mind when I think of resilient parents. I've been very, very happy with how well he's come through each procedure and how well his parents have handled it. I admire their courage and their strength.” – Dr. Friel
to correct his bilateral cleft lip and palate, a cleft lip adhesion – the first step in a process to repair a baby’s cleft lip by sewing together edges of skin (tissue) on both sides of the cleft lip, according to nationwidechildrens. org, to help the gum line straighten and reposition the nose. “So probably around when he was 6 months, he got the formal lip repair, which was like actually doing work to his nose and fixing the lip,” Chelsey says. The surgery to repair Brylan’s palate when he was 13 months old, Chelsey
says, had the worst aftermath of all three surgeries. “That night, Brylan basically stayed up crying almost all night. He was in so much pain,” Chelsey shares. “I had mixed emotions because it was like I was so heartbroken seeing him in that much pain, but then I was so amazed at the work that was being done. He was like a whole different baby.”
Friel says. “I've been very, very happy with how well he's come through each procedure and how well his parents have handled it. I admire their courage and their strength.”
A few months later, he had another procedure to get his G-tube removed, bringing his total number of surgeries to five.
Even though he will have more surgeries when he’s older, Chelsey says, their son is currently doing great. He’s eating and speaking well. “Brylan is like a completely different child; you wouldn't even be able to tell he’s been through any of that,” she says. “There's nothing that stops Brylan; he's afraid of nothing.”
“Brylan’s parents certainly come to mind when I think of resilient parents,” Dr.
When Brylan was first born, Chelsey says she had such bad anxiety that there
December 2019 48 povhouma.com
Cater your
s a m t s i r h C were many family members she wouldn’t let see him. Now, she says she’s more open and even responds to messages from moms who just found out their baby is going to be born with a cleft lip or palate. “I always just tell them that it's not as bad as what it seems, but it is hard to watch a child go through that,” Chelsey says. “I always try to tell them to try and get as much family support that they can have and to just to be there for their child and love their child. And take it one day at a time and one surgery at a time.”POV
December 2019 49 povhouma.com
WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE |
BY THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
MAINTAINING OUR HEALTH FOR THE HOLIDAYS When you glimpse the first twinkling light or hear “Jingle Bells”, your heart may start palpitating, and panic can overtake you. The holidays often bring unwelcome guests, such as stress, depression, weight gain and financial anxiety. This year, count down with a bit more cheer.
might try these tips to help maintain your normal weight:
De-stressing and De-compressing Make a list and simplify as much as possible! Stress meters skyrocket when it comes to decking the halls. Set a date and time to put up the tree and gather others round to help. You may be entertaining guests without sufficient time to prepare. Consider letting someone else do the cooking, such as a grocery store or restaurant. Or pull out one-pot recipes to feed the masses. Guests will probably appreciate a Christmas gumbo or jambalaya.
•Reach for water frequently to curb hunger and offset alcohol consumption;
Setting a Budget You can be generous without breaking the bank. Make a budget and stick to it. Be creative. Make homemade gifts. Spend time with someone who needs a friend. Extend your generosity by making charitable donations in honor of friends and family. Lightening Your Bites It’s okay to allow yourself a few holiday treats, but don’t overindulge. A study released last year from Texas Tech University showed that the subjects studied gained about 1.5 pounds from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. While that’s far less weight gain than previously believed, you
•Have a healthy snack before parties so that you don’t overindulge on sweets and carbs; •At parties, limit yourself to three to five “polite” bites and sips;
•Get plenty of sleep; •Keep up regular physical activity; aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Managing Your Health The holidays can take an emotional and physical toll on you. If you have chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, remain vigilant about monitoring vital signs, taking medications and maintaining routines. Taking a Breather The American Psychological Association found that nearly half of all women in the United States experience heightened stress during the holidays. Along with causing them to overindulge on food or alcohol, it can also impact their immunity and result in colds, flu or other illnesses. Take time out to go for walk, watch a movie or treat yourself to a massage. Reach out to someone if you’re feeling lonely or isolated. Also, be aware of others whom you may be able to offer companionship or holiday cheer.
For information about Thibodaux Regional Health System services, visit thibodaux.com.
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FUN FACTS The holiday season is here and most people associate the holidays with giving and getting presents! Ever stop to take a look at the stats and figures of shoppers this time of year?
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• 850 million packages were delivered by the U.S.P.S. between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day last year.
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UNDER THE SCOPE |
BY JOHN DOUCET
THE LEGEND OF THE
CHRISTMOSS Some people say that it’s moss that hangs down from cypress trees. Some people say that it’s a commensal symbiotic epiphyte. But some of us know better. A long-long time ago on the bayou, all the people had little houses, and all the houses had little farms, and all the farms had little levees for when the high water came up. Everyone was happy, especially a group of three kids who took turns pulling a little wooden boat on a rope along the side of the bayou, singing the song they made up, “Jouons le bateau sur le bayou.”
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And even the sky was happy. It would hold up fluffy, white clouds every day and blow away clouds made up of the other colors. But one day, the other clouds got mad for always being blown away. They all got together, filled themselves up with water, and made the sky dark as night. And when the sky was dark, you could see mad light flash inside the angry clouds. And their low, mad voices rumbled across the trembling land. And when all the voices spoke at once, it made wind. And the wind blew hard-hard. None of the cypress trees could hold on to their leaves. All the egrets flew away. The walls of the little houses were blown down, and people hurried to hide under their roofs. The wind even blew water, and a wall of water came up the bayou from the Gulf. All their boats were wrecked. All the land and all farms were flooded. When morning came, everything was gone. Water was on the land and land was in the water. And the kids were not singing. Their little wooden boat on the rope was gone. One of them said, “We can’t play boat no more.” The second kid said, “Papa Noël will bring us another boat for Christmas.” The third kid said, “Papa Noël’s not gonna find us with no house and all this water.” While the poppas and mommas tried to find food, the kids tried to find their little boat. On the next day, some people in a boat rode the tide down the bayou and brought food and water. They brought clothes, and soaps, and some canvas and tools, and started building tents. Everybody got something, but there was no little wooden boat for the three kids. “We never gonna play boat again,” one kid said. The second kid said, “Papa Noël will bring us another boat for Christmas.” The third kid said, “Papa Noël’s not gonna find us with no house and all this water.” And none of the grand-pères and grand-mères, and neither the poppas and mommas, heard them. But there were some things out there that were listening. When Christmas Eve came, they still had high water. The kids had no hope for a visit from the man who brought presents. But they fell into a deep-deep sleep, and when they woke early-early on Christmas day it was still dark-dark and the moon was still out. One by one, they each walked outside their tents to see the starry morning. But they saw something else,
December 2019 52 povhouma.com
BRACES AND
too! All the egrets that flew away from the mad clouds came back—hundreds and hundreds of them—and they sat high and low in the cypress branches, tree-by-tree, from faraway all the way to their tents. When the moon shined on their white feathers, each one glowed like a coal-oil lamp. “Maybe they showed Papa Noël the way to find us,” one of the kids said. With the light from the egrets, they could see that the cypress trees had grown roots above the high water like the knees of a man or a horse. And some of the knees were muddy, like somebody walked on top of them. “Maybe Papa Noël walked on top of the knees and didn’t get wet!” the second one said.
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“And look!” The third one said. “Up on the branch!” He pointed to some stringy gray stuff up in the tree. “His beard got caught on that branch! Papa Noël passed for us! He was here!” The kids ran to their tents to tell their poppas and mommas what they had seen. And all the poppas and the mommas smiled. And inside each of their tents, each kid found a new wooden boat on a rope. “Thank you for finding us, Papa Noël!” said one kid. “We can play boat again!” said the second kid. “I hope your beard grows back!” said the third kid. And his beard did grow back, each and every year. A lotta-lotta years passed, and the kids grew up to become poppas and mommas themselves. And each Christmas Eve, they looked out from their houses with their own kids at all the stringy gray stuff hanging from the cypress trees near and far away to see how many times Papa Noël had remembered the bayou people for Christmas. POV
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WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AROUND TOWN
The Nutcracker Dec. 1, 1 p.m. & 5 p.m. Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
New Orleans Ballet Theatre presents two performances of The Nutcracker, a twoact ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, featuring several rising dance stars from our community.
Very Merry Christmas Tour Dec. 1, 6 p.m. First Baptist Church, Houma
First Baptist Church of Houma is hosting the “Very Merry Christmas Tour 2019” featuring NewSong, Citizen Way, and Mac Powell (formerly of Third Day) and The Family Reunion. Tickets are $25.
Downtown Houma Christmas Festival
DEC. 13 GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH FLAVORED VODKAS AND A SELECTION OF CALIFORNIA WINES
DEC. 20 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY LIQUEUR TASTING SAMPLE A WINE SELECTION OF HOLIDAY LIQUEURS ALONG WITH SOME GREAT RED BLENDS FROM THE GOLDEN STATE
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6307 WEST PARK AVENUE HOUMA, LA 70364
Dec. 7, 12-9 p.m. Downtown Houma
It’s time for your family’s favorite tradition, the Downtown Houma Christmas Festival! The free festival features Santa’s workshop, food and arts & crafts vendors, games, a live nativity, and holiday music. The Winter Wonderland Snow Fall will occur every hour. At 5 p.m., the annual Christmas parade rolls through the streets. The Tree Lighting, along with a Meet & Greet with Santa & Mrs. Claus, will take place from 7:30-9 p.m.
Reindeer Rowe & A Visit to Santa’s Land Dec. 7, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Warren J. Harang Municipal Auditorium, Thibodaux
Thibodaux Service League hosts this yearly Christmas market featuring unique holiday shopping from 40 local merchants all in one place. A Visit to Santa’s Land is the children’s portion of the day-long event and features crafts, games, snacks, and a visit from Santa. Admission to Reindeer Rowe is $5 or free with a Santa’s Land ticket. (Santa’s Land tickets must be purchased prior to the event!)
A Bayou Christmas Teddy Bear Tea Dec. 7-8, 14-15 Chez Felicite, Raceland
Santa’s elves are busy preparing for the third annual A Bayou Christmas Teddy Bear Tea! Enjoy a special teddy bear gift for all children in attendance followed by a teddy bear parade. Tickets are $35 for adults, $25 for children ages 2-11. Six tea times are available, seating is limited!
Papa Noël’s Cajun Christmas Dec. 14, 4-7 p.m. Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Gray
Celebrate a Bayou Country Christmas at Houma Travel’s third annual event. Enjoy an outdoor movie, create holiday arts & crafts and enjoy delicious snacks. “Shrek the Halls” will be shown at 4:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. Admission for this community event is free; however please take a moment to register each child for their photo time with Papa Noël to better help him plan his visit.
Visit with Papa Noël Dec. 14 Bayou Country Children’s Museum, Thibodaux
Bring your children dressed in PJs for some after-hours fun! Children can play in the museum, make crafts, play games, visit and take photos with Papa Noël, and enjoy cookies! There are 2 time slots, 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Admission is $8. There are only 200 spots; online registration required.
An A Cappella Christmas Dec. 22, 7 p.m. Ellendale Country Club, Houma
Lorna N Company presents Voces ad Opus: An A Cappella Christmas. Doors open at 5 p.m., with a cash bar available. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $55. For reservations, please call 985.868.1298. Seating is limited for this one night only show.
December 2019 54 povhouma.com
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Stop in or call our Mortgage Specialist, Annette Dupont. She will match you with the perfect loan to meet your needs.
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SCENE IN |
LOOK AT OL’ SO ‘N’ SO!
POV POP-UP: CELEBRATING LOCALS We recently hosted our second annual holiday event, PoV Pop-Up: Celebrating Locals! This shopping event showcased seven local artisans, presented and hosted by La Carreta in Houma.
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POV POP-UP: THIBODAUX TAILGATE Special thanks to Olivia Rose Photography & Designs, our event photographer for our Thibodaux Tailgate event!
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FUN FACTS
MERRY
December is National Bingo Month! Break out your colorful dabbers and learn a little more about this popular game.
Christmas h AND h
HAPPY
• Bingo cards were first used by the Germans in 1800s as an educational tool designed to help the students to learn multiplication tables easily.
New Year
hjh
• Bingo-style games can be traced back to the Renaissance era. In the 1530s, Italy was playing a game called Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia, the Game of Italian Lottery. • Americans spend an estimated $90 million on bingo cards per week.
• Studies show that bingo has proven effects in improving a person’s cognitive abilities and to alleviate stress. • 8 0 percent of all bingo players are women. •T he fastest growing age group of bingo players is individuals under 35. •A bout half of online bingo players play at least once a day.
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LOOK TWICE |
WIN A $50
COURTESY OF SYNERGY BANK
GIFT CARD
Find the six differences in this photo from our feature on page 24. Drop off your answers along with your name and daytime contact number at the PoV office, 6160 W. Park Ave., Houma. Stuck at the office? Email it to us at looktwice@povhouma.com. A winner will be picked by random drawing December 16. The winner will receive a $50 Visa® gift card courtesy of Synergy Bank.
Congratulations to Ken Brashier for winning last month’s contest.
Avoid the Christmas meltdown, give a VISA® Gift Card Available at all Synergy Bank locations.
985.851.2217 banksynergy.com December 2019 59 povhouma.com
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1 Added PoV Pop Up Poster 2 Changed the color of the lamp 3 Changed the season in the window 4 Removed artwork from frame 5 Added clip on basket 6 Added paper in tube
December 2019 60 povhouma.com