The Journey Magazine June/July 2012

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2 / The Journey - June| July 2012

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Welcome

Lisa Crow Photography

I

hope as you are reading this, you are sitting down and are able to take a deep breath and relax for a minute!

I think if any momma and/or grandmomma made it through the month of May with her sanity, she is doing great and deserves to relax! May is a crazy month filled with everyone telling you where to go, when to come and when to leave, and by all means, don’t forget to send in the permission slip!

With all that fun now behind us, we can officially welcome on the summer fun! I know the summer months are usually busy too, but at least they are busy on your own time and own schedule. Even more than all the fun to be had, summer reminds me of the anniversary of the magazine. It is crazy to think that this issue begins our seventh year! So much has happened in those seven years, and every year keeps getting better and better. The ideas are

endless, and there are so many new, exciting plans for the upcoming year. Now is the time to share your ideas and interests with us, because we want to include them in our plan. People often wonder if I will run out of Inspiring Women to feature. The answer to that is 100%, positively no. I am still amazed at all the wonderful people our community has right in our own backyard. There again, we get 90% of our Inspiring Women from suggestions and referrals from you. Who inspires you?

Last but not least, I would like to thank the team of people who work tirelessly day in and day out, month after month to make The Journey what it is. None of this would be possible without our advertisers. We have met some amazing small business owners along the way- many that we now call friends. So far, it has been an amazing ride and has turned into something so much bigger than I ever dreamed.

Here is looking forward to another seven more!

Stephanie oliver

president

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4 / The Journey - June| July 2012

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CONTENTS | JUNE2012 YOURHOME

7

Home Tour: the Lucas Home Decor & Design: Kid Friendly Travel In the Kitchen: Blueberry Dishes Your Pantry: Blueberries Abound

8 10 11 12

YOURCOMMUNITY Stretch Marks: Birthday Party Etiquette Calendar Inspiring Woman: J.P. McDonald

YOURLIFE Words of Wisdom: the Partains My Time: Kathy McGough Fitness: Yoga Family Health: Keys to Protecting & Preserving Your Vision Women’s Health: Healthy Habits

YOURCHILD Pretty Babies Parent Thoughts: Summer Staycation Look at Me Birthday Bash: Carter Jinkins Why I Love Being a Mom: Erin Wyatt

8 11

15 16 20 22

25 26 27 28 31 32

33 34 36 37 38 39

36 10

22

Stephanie Oliver President Beth Johnson | editor@tjmag.com Managing Editor Kim Iribarren | kim@tjmag.com Director of Sales Terry Campbell | office@tjmag.com Office Manager/Accountant Macy Haffey Layout and Design Lisa Crow | lisacrowphotography@gmail.com www.lisacrowphotography.com Event Photographer Mike Floyd | mike@tjmag.com Media Consultant

Contributors Kelly Finnerud Angela Larson Melissa Lee Dr. Robert Lehmann Kathy McGough Amy McLeod Jane Shepherd Erin Wyatt Distribution Lisa Crow Janet Glover Jarod Thompson

Contact Us: Mailing: P O B ox 1 5 0 5 37 L u f k i n , Tex a s 75 9 1 5

Cover Photo by Lisa Crow

P h ys i c a l : 1 1 5 E . S h e p h e rd L u f k i n , Tex a s 75 9 0 1 936-634-7188 advertise@tjmag.com

Your Home home tour 8 decor & design 10 in the kitchen 11 your pantry 12

photographed by Anna Krystine Photography tjmag.com / 7

YOURHOME | HOME TOUR

A

the Lucas Home

fter a lot of TLC, the Lucas’ have transformed this nearly condemned home into the 2011 Nacogdoches Preservation Award winner. Houston natives Carole and Ken Lucas have family in the East Texas area, so it only made sense for their son to attend Stephen F. Austin. While coming to visit their son off and on throughout his four years in Nacogdoches, Ken Lucas found this dilapidated home. Behind the boards and the

brush, he saw the true gem the home really was. He contacted the home owner, Don L. Jolly, and asked if he would be interested in selling. To his surprise, Mr. Jolly was interested. Mr. Lucas immediately began working on the home, restoring it to its original beauty plus some. According to the Lucas’, the home has a long way to go before it is completed. When it is complete, they hope to retire here.

{before}

{after} According to Brian Bray at the Nacogdoches Preservation Center, the house is one of the original structures within the Virginia Avenue Historic District. The architect was Deitrich A.W. Rulfs. Presently, there is no known single significant event involving the house.

Some of the home’s special features are: 1) Simple Queen Anne construction 2) Single family wooden structure 3) Originally built without an indoor restroom Toilet in house is dated 4/13/1936 4) Windows are 1 over 1 pane glass 5) 11’ ceilings in all original rooms 6) Semi-wrap around front porch 7) Triple faced fireplace in center of the house According to Mr. Lucas, when homes would have a hole in the frame or flooring, family was known to use tin cans to nail over and cover the hole. There was a tin can found on the front of the house and Mr. Lucas decided to keep it for nostalgia.

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by Jane Shepherd

YOURHOME | DECOR & DESIGN

KID FRIENDLY TRAVEL

S

ummertime means travel time, and that means searching for creative ways to keep your little travelers busy. Some families have DVD players in their cars, but even those lose their flare when it comes to keeping a child’s attention for long periods of time. I am always thinking of ways for my daughter to entertain herself on long trips.

Recently, I put together a kid-friendly road trip kit and made games for my daughter to play. I found a project keeper at Hobby Lobby. I chose this one because the lid was attached, and it is easy to open and close. The top is flat, so it also doubles as a lap desk and fits nicely under the seat in the car.

I decorated it with paint pens, stickers and a wooden label. Then I began gathering things that I knew would keep her entertained. I included things my daughter likes, but you should gear it to your child’s interests. Fill it with action figures, DSI accessories, books, stickers, small Lego sets or whatever your children love that can be done in the car. In addition to this, I like to include a flashlight, window markers, wipes, crayons and coloring books and surprises like a little toy or new craft kit.

Children also love using glow sticks for night driving.

Inside the box, I used clear pencil pouches to organize everything.

I saw a game on line that I wanted to buy, but it was a little expensive, so I recreated it! We like to find license plates, and this game keeps track of the license plates you see on your trip. I found a cute map of the United States that was small enough for my daughter to hold on top of her box. Before your trip, laminate the map.

Go online and find a picture for each state’s license plate.

Print them off as small as you can, laminate them and cut them out. Use a permanent marker to write each state’s name on the back of their license plate. Lastly, put a small piece of sticky back Velcro underneath the state’s name. Now, put the license plates in a baggie and fold your map to fit in the box. When we have played, my daughter leaves it out on the seat next to her so she can see what state she needs next.

Let your imagination flow and use this summer’s travel time to have fun and build relationships with your children. Consider converting your family’s favorite board game to one that can be played in the car. However you keep yourselves entertained, think about turning off your cell phone and IPAD and enjoy the company of your family.

Jane Shepherd grew up in Diboll. She went to Savannah College of Art and Design and majored in fibers. Shepherd has been teaching for 7 years. She has one daughter, Hazel, who is in 2nd grade.

10 / The Journey - June| July 2012

IN THE KITCHEN

| YOURHOME

blueberry DISHES Blueberry Equivalents One dry cup (8 fl oz.) of fresh or frozen blueberries is equal to: • 90-129 large blueberries • 130-189 medium blueberries • 5 ounces by weight (3 cups to a pound) • 2/3 cup pureed • 1/2 cup pureed and strained • 2/3 cup after simmering 5 minutes with 2 tbsp. water • 1 cup frozen blueberries = 2/3 cup thawed blueberries BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST SALAD Ingredients 2 pounds mixed, torn salad greens Blueberry Vinaigrette (recipe follows) 4 cups fresh blueberries 4 cups fresh orange sections or canned mandarin oranges, drained 2 cups granola

Instructions Toss salad greens with 1-½ cups of the Blueberry Vinaigrette.

Divide the dressed greens among eight large plates.

Arrange ½ cup orange sections and ½ cup blueberries on top of each salad.

Sprinkle each salad with ¼ cup granola.

Drizzle remaining dressing on top.

Serve immediately.

BLUEBERRY VINAIGRETTE Blueberry Vinaigrette Yield: 2 cups Number of servings (yield): 8

BLUEBERRY CRANBERRY RELISH Yield: 16 portions (about 2 tablespoons each) Per portion: 50 calories, 7 g carbohydrate, 2 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat Ingredients 1 can (8 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans Instructions Place cranberry sauce in a medium-sized microwave-safe dish.

Microwave on high power until melted (60 to 80 seconds).

Remove from microwave.

Fold in blueberries and nuts.

Serve warm, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Instructions In a food processor container, combine 1 cup olive oil, 1 cup frozen blueberries (thawed), 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 teaspoons minced shallot, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground white pepper and ½ teaspoon paprika Process until mixture is smooth Chill at least 30 minutes to blend flavors

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by Amy McLeod, RD, LD

YOURHOME | YOUR PANTRY

Blueberries Abound at the 23rd Annual Texas Blueberry Festival Look for me at 9:00 am as I kick off the series with a luscious and cool recipe for Blueberry Vanilla Frozen Yogurt. Each demonstration will be followed by “Cowboy Max” – an entertaining roping cowboy the kids will enjoy.

J

oin us Saturday, June 9 in downtown Nacogdoches for the 23rd annual Texas Blueberry Festival. The family friendly event, sponsored by Brookshire Brothers, showcases blueberries as the flavorful fruit known for its many health benefits. The festivities begin at 8:00 am with homemade blueberry pancakes prepared by the locals.

Take a stroll over to the Commercial Bank of Texas lobby at 9:00 am for a series of cooking demonstrations using fresh blueberries.

Cooking Up the Blues:

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Celebrity chefs will cook up some tasty blueberry delights during cooking demonstrations in the Commercial Bank of Texas lobby.

Demonstration times are 9:00 am, 10:15 am and 11:40 am. During each session, one lucky audience member will win a jar of Blueberry Jam! Sponsors: Texas AgriLife Extension Service & Commercial Bank of Texas

9 a.m.

Cookin’Up the Blues Guest chef Amy McLeod RD, LD, Brookshire Brothers 9:40 a.m.

Cowboy Max 10:15 a.m.

Cookin’ Up the Blues Guest singing chef Season Ammons 11 a.m.

Cowboy Max 11:40 a.m.

Cookin’ Up the Blues Guest chef SFA’s Dr. Darla O’Dwyer, PhD., RD, LD 12:15 p.m.

Cowboy Max 12 / The Journey - June| July 2012

If you are a pie maker, you still have time to perfect your blueberry pie for the Brookshire Brothers blueberry pie contest.

Registration forms are available at your Nacogdoches Brookshire Brothers stores and the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce.

The Texas Blueberry Festival is a day filled with good food, kidfriendly activities and family entertainment. Bring your friends and family to join in the fun at the 23rd Annual Texas Blueberry Festival, sponsored by Brookshire Brothers – A Celebration of Family and Community!

TOP 10 REASONS TO EAT MORE TEXAS BLUEBERRIES 10. Fun to eat and delicious!

9. Quick, natural snack.

8. Loaded with Vitamins C and A, potassium and fiber. One cup of fresh blueberries provides one third of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Vitamin C. 7. Eating blueberries may help reduce disease risk for certain cancers.

6. Low in calories.

5. High in fiber.

4. Eating blueberries daily is thought to boost memory.

3. You may freeze fresh berries up to 6 months for future use in muffins, quick breads or pancakes.

2. Convenience.

1. Locally grown Texas blueberries are found at your local Brookshire Brothers May through July.

BLUEBERRY NUTRITION FACTS A one cup serving contains 80 calories, 1 gram of fat, 22 grams carbohydrate and 4 grams dietary fiber. Fresh blueberries are loaded with Vitamin C, potassium and soluble fiber, which is linked to lowering cholesterol. The United States Department of Agriculture notes fresh blueberries are higher in Vitamins C and A than frozen blueberries.

Amy McLeod, RD, LD is a registered dietitian and Healthy Living Spokeswoman for Brookshire Brothers Food and Pharmacy.

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PLACESANDFACES

Nacogdoches Medical Alliance Fashion Show

14 / The Journey - June| July 2012

Your Community stretch marks 16 calendar 20 inspiring woman 22

Neches River Rendezvous | photographed by Lisa Crow tjmag.com / 15

YOURCOMMUNITY | STRETCH MARKS

BIRTHDAY PARTY ETIQUETTE

L

ast month I stood at a birthday party on a Friday night because I love my children. That’s the only reason. It wasn’t because the little girl having the party was Remi’s best friend. (Although, she was.) It wasn’t because I love the parents and they are sweet friends of ours.

(Although, they are.) It was for the love of my children.

Why else would I - a full-grown woman with adequate social skills and a good number of friends on Facebook - choose to spend a Friday night, at the mall, .at the bounce houses?

Trust me, I wouldn’t.

So there I stood thinking the same thing I do at every party, “Ohhhhh Attorney General, may your life in heaven be a continual child’s birthday party and may the sweet Lord ask to oversee the whole

thing.” That’ll get him! But really I just sat around and admired his ability to convince me that there are “a world of things at home I could be doing if you would let me stay home, and besides I will be the only dad there and you know it.” And he’s right. Well, except for that one poor dad (it’s a different one every time) that comes at the belaboring of his wife. Of course you don’t get to talk to him much because he stands like a statue in the corner and sulks while his wife cuts herself a piece of cake and silently mouths the words, “I’m sorry babe, I didn’t know...” But truth is she did know and I make a mental note to later pat her on the back for her mastery in manipulation. I figure later her and I will become good friends. So off she goes to the corner to offer him a piece of cake as a peace offering. It’s going to be hard

for him to eat with those folded hands, but eventually he lowers them for a piece of Grandoughs. Who wouldn’t?

Later on that Friday evening I found myself standing with a group of moms who felt much like I did, “Isn’t there Olive Garden to be eaten? Redbox rentals to be rented?” There’s a deep conditioning treatment that isn’t going to place itself on my hair. So there we stood, our Friday night full of screaming children, an owner who continued to interrupt us with “your child keeps taking their socks off and that’s a no-no,” Cheese Puffs and Fruit punch. And thats when we made a list. A list of the things that we - the parents of the child you are inviting want you to know. Here is that list in no particular order. I call it:

Birthday Party Etiquette for People Throwing Parties for Kids from the Parents of the Kids Who Will Be Attending That Party (Catchy, huh?)

1. What day does your child’s birthday fall on? If it falls on a Monday-Thursday that is pretty awesome because we would prefer to take our child to a birthday party on a school night. Why? Because we didn’t cook dinner anyway, so eating your pizza will be a treat. Also, because we know it’s a school night – so it can’t go on forever. Oh, and also, because it totally rocks when our kids are so worn out they don’t argue when it’s time for bed.

2. If your child’s birthday falls on a Saturday, please pray about your decision to hold a Saturday party. We have two little league games to get to, a carwash we have to help sponsor, a garage sale we promised we would stop by and a dog we have to pick up from PetSmart grooming. At some point we’d like to use the restroom and grab some Chik-fil-A. So perhaps, you could convince your child that Tuesday nights are super fun. That would really help us all out. Thank you.

3. If your child wants to have a swim party that is awesome. Just do not add “Parents, bring your swim suits too!” Because you know we won’t. Why would we? Why would we ever choose to get into a swimming pool with our kids when we could sit in an air-conditioned space with other adults and eat cake?

4. If you child wants to have a swim party that is awesome. Please make sure there is an air-conditioned area for adults and some cake provided.

by Melissa Lee

5. Upon entering your child’s birthday party never approach us with the question, “Where’s Mark?” or “Where’s Bill?” or “Where’s the Attorney General?” They are dads. And they are not coming.

6. Please start now telling your kids that if a gift is wrapped in a Target plastic bag then it probably is awesome. Because you and I both know we pulled into that store and grabbed that gift ten minutes before we got to your house.

7. And last – but certainly not least – please be aware that starting around age 5 it just makes the most sense (for both you and I) that you hold a party that our child can be dropped off at. You know you don’t want to stand around and make small talk with us parents. You have too much to do. And we get that. So let us help; we will show up at your house, drop our kid off at the front door with their gift and we’ll show back up in two hours. This seems to be a win-win all the way around: we don’t see what kind of junk they’re eating, you don’t have to spend a whole bunch of money on fancy cakes because kids like brownies just fine, and we get two hours to go to the grocery store. Oh sure, it sounds like a lot of work for you but you have to remember, someday it will be my kids birthday party and I promise you I will do the same thing for you. This is a I’ll-scratch-your-backyou-scratch-mine kinda thing.

So take a long look at these rules and think about it. We, together as a community, could make these happen. I think we can people!

And I give you my word, if you put these into practice I will never send a gift to your child with 200 small pieces. Promise!

Melissa Lee uses her maiden name so her husband, the Attorney General, will not be mortified on a daily basis. They have two children, Remi and Rocco, you have probably seen their picture in the Most Wanted list at your local schools. She loves movie popcorn, telling her friends what to do with their hair and being the center of attention. You can find her anytime at melissa@lufkin.org.

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YOURCOMMUNITY | CALENDAR

calendar of events

May 29 – August 17

June 16

June

Art Camp

Women in the Outdoors

The Museum of East Texas. Ages 3-14. $25 to $55/ week. The week of August 13th is for 3 year olds only and is from 9:30 – 11:00a.m. All other weeks are half day sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm. or 1:00p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call Ann Reyes at 936.639.4434 or email annreyes@metlufkin.com.

7:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. at the Pine Island Hunting Club. Contact Kim Brock at pineywoodswito@ gmail.com.

Nacogdoches Public Library Family Movie Matinee

June 8 Food Preservation Workshop The Angelina County Extension Office. 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. For more information, contact Christie King at 936.634.6414.

June 9 The 23rd Annual Texas Blueberry Festival Downtown Nacogdoches. Festivities begin at 8:00a.m. and run through 4:00p.m.

For more information, visit www.texasblueberryfestival.com.

June 11 – 22 Camp Centerstage Angelina College. Students entering grades 4-10.

9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. Cost is $250. Call Tracy Pinkerton at 936.633.4504 or email tpinkertson@ angelina.edu.

June 11 – 15 Vacation Bible School First United Methodist Church in Lufkin. Ages completed kindergarten through 5th grade.

8:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. Contact Carol Brink at 936.639.3141.

June 13 – 15 Tree Art Classes The Texas Forestry Museum. This session focuses on drawing and watercolor of leaves. Offering child classes for ages 6-12 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and adult classes ages 13 and up from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cost is $45. Contact Laurie Vaughn at 936.632.9535 or email info@treetexas.com.

June 14 Diabetes Support Group Memorial Medical Center in Livingston. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $2 fee to attend. Light lunch provided.

To reserve your spot, call 936.329.8253.

June 16 Free varicose vein seminar The Surgery Center in Lufkin. 117 Gaslight Medical Parkway. Presented by Board Certified Surgeons.

For more information, call 936.637.8688.

June 16 Juneteenth Day Parade and events Festival Plaza in downtown Nacogdoches. Parade starts at 11:00 with festival events immediately following and continuing until 5:00p.m.

June 18 – June 22 ECO Camp with Angelina Beautiful Clean First Presbyterian Church. 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.

Ages K-4th grade. Cost is $5. Contact Amanda Anderson at 936.632.5326 or email Anderson@ lufkintexas.org.

June 18 – June 21 Gourmet Kids Camp

Every Saturday at noon. Free snacks and lemonade provided. For more information, call 936.559.2970 June 2 - Joyful Noise, PG-13, 118 minutes June 9- One for the Money, PG13, 91 minutes June 16- War Horse, PG13, 146 minutes June 23- Scooby Doo: Music of the Vampire, G, 79 minutes June 30- Born to be Wild, G, 40 minutes

July 7 Christmas in July Market & Little Miss Firecracker Pageant Huntington High School. Tickets $5 at the door.

Proceeds benefit the Huntington High School Cheerleaders. Vendor or event information contact Tracy Kieth at 936.876.4150 or email tkieth@ huntingtonisd.com

June & July Lufkin Mall Story Time with the Chick-fil-a Cow Each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the party rooms at the mall. Ages 7 and under. Event is free of charge. Contact Ramsey Parr at 936.632.2333.

June & July Kurth Memorial Library’s Summer Reading Club.

The County Extension Office in Lufkin. Ages 8-14 years. 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Cost is $30. Contact Christie King at 936.634.6414 or email at cyking@ ag.tamu.edu.

Ages 0-18. To register, call Martha Coleman at 936.630.0566 or email mcoleman@cityoflufkin.com.

June 19

June & July

Women’s Power Lunch

T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library’s Summer Reading Program.

Memorial Medical Center in Livingston. 12:00p.m. to 1:00p.m. in the cafeteria. Lunch is provided.

RSVP to Melissa Crager at 936.329.8290 or email mcrager@memorialhealth.org.

Ages 2-5 and 5-11. Contact Chaunta Jolly at 936.829.5497 or email cjlibrary@consolidated.net.

June, July & August June 20 – June 22 Tree Art Classes The Texas Forestry Museum. This session focuses on drawing and watercolor of fruits. Offering child classes for ages 6-12 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and adult classes ages 13 and up from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cost is $45. Contact Laurie Vaughn at 936.632.9535 or email info@treetexas.com.

Camp Lion St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School. Ages 3K – 5th grade. $80/week includes lunch. 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Call 936.632.1720 or email www.saintcyprians.org

To submit your event for the August issue, email your event to calendar@tjmag.com by July 20th.

PLACESANDFACES

Yvette Alverson’s Beautiful Things at Carpenter’s Way

photographed by Lisa Crow

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“What can you say about a woman who has touched so many lives? Known affectionately as Mama JP by the children who have grown up at the Museum’s Art Camp, JP McDonald loves the Museum of East Texas with a passion that can be seen in her eyes. It’s not only a job but the mission of her life to create artistic programs, exhibits and classes to expose and educate the men, women and children of East Texas. In doing so she has managed to touch the lives of thousands in our community and surrounding communities changing the cultural landscape of our part of the state.”

-Becca Chance, former Board President & daughter of one of the Museum’s founders, Emily Shelton

22 / The Journey - June| July 2012

INSPIRING WOMAN

| YOURCOMMUNITY

J.P. McDonald

J

.P. McDonald has served as Executive Director of the Museum of East Texas for the past 21 years. Under her leadership, the Museum has continued in the direction set out by its founders and has also expanded beyond their wildest dreams. If you have ever stepped foot in the Museum, you have no doubt met this inspiring woman who has dedicated her life, heart, and soul to the betterment of this institution and to improving the lives of those she meets. Museum visitor and friend Suzy Childers says of McDonald, “I have never met someone who so openly expressed her love for others.

It’s her trademark.”

The Museum of East Texas was founded as the Lufkin Historical and Creative Arts Center by the Lufkin Service League (now the Junior League of Lufkin) and was dedicated in January 1976 as a Bicentennial Project. The Museum was housed in St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, a Gothic Style building built in 1906, originally as a wooden frame structure. It was bricked over in 1929 and served the community as a church until a fire gutted the sanctuary in 1969. When the Episcopal congregation elected to build on a new site, the City of Lufkin acquired the property. The Lufkin Service League, assisted by interested citizens, obtained a lease from the City for the purpose of establishing a museum and creative arts center. Lufkin Service League members literally scooped the soot and scrubbed the interior of the burned walls of the historic St. Cyprian’s Church to create what now stands as the Mrs. E.W. Leach Performing Arts Center of the Museum. The Museum opened to the public on January 20, 1976. In 1985, the official name was changed to the Museum of East Texas. In doing so, the Museum broadened its emphasis beyond the Lufkin city limits to include the surrounding counties. As a result, the scope of visitors and school tours greatly increased.

McDonald says, “To have the opportunity to walk in the shadow of those great women who founded the Museum, their husbands and families, has without question been a remarkable experience.

These dedicated citizens recognized that families, especially the children of deep East Texas, should have the same visual arts education and culturally enriching opportunities as those in urban areas.”

During her tenure, McDonald has developed and expanded programs that have become traditions for children and families in the East Texas area and beyond. These include Super Saturdays, Art Camp, Traveling Trunks, and more. Anita Caraway, a Museum Board member, stated, “To say that J.P. is passionate about The

Museum of East Texas is truly an understatement. After working with her as Board President last year, I was amazed at the commitment she has to art and to East Texas. Her compassion for children and vision for all of the children’s activities, especially Art Camp, has touched the lives of so many kids, including mine.

She is always looking to the future and will continue to work to keep the Museum a mainstay in Lufkin.”

Approximately seventeen years ago, a former psychology professor at Stephen F. Austin State University asked if the Museum would organize an art program for children who lived in federally funded apartments in Nacogdoches. Invigorated by the thought of bringing art to children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to create, McDonald put together and led a crew that brought art supplies, refreshments and snacks to the apartments every Saturday. McDonald reminisces, “It was so rewarding to watch the children--many who had never been exposed to art-expressing themselves through paint and colored pencils. All these ordinary tools became almost magical in the hands of those not often exposed to these mediums.”

Little did that professor know that he was planting the seeds for Art Camp, “A place where children come together in a friendly, safe environment and are encouraged that coloring out of the lines and thinking out of the box is good. They learn that oranges are not always perfectly round, and, like people, are different, yet the same,” explains McDonald. “Art Camp is a fun-filled, educational place to spend time with friends, make new friends and be proud of their artwork. This is evidenced in the annual closing exhibition of over 1,000 works created during the summer.”

The program that grew into Art Camp “greatly changed my professional life from being immersed in art and artists to recognizing how important art is to the growth and well being of children through self-expression,” said McDonald.

Since its beginning 15 years ago, the price of tuition has never increased and has been kept to a minimum so that everyone can participate and have a hands-on art experience. Classes are open to children ages four to fourteen from June 4 through 29 and July 9 through August 10. Additionally, Wee Art classes are available for three year olds and a parent or guardian the weeks of May 29 through June 1 and August 13 through 17. Adult classes are also offered in ceramics and painting.

tjmag.com / 23

photographed by Lisa Crow

The women of the Lufkin Service League envisioned a place of learning and culture as they stood in the ashes of a burned church. Thanks to the guidance of McDonald and countless volunteers throughout the years, their vision has been realized. Museum Board President Misty Croley says, “J.P. is so dedicated to the Museum. It is not a job to her; it is her life, her passion. She gives 200% to every aspect of the Museum.

Her true commitment is to educating children about art and allowing them to experience mediums from pumpkin painting and paper Easter bonnets to more traditional art such as water color and photography. Our community is so fortunate to have a Museum of this quality and J.P. at the helm.”

McDonald explains, “The Museum of East Texas was blessed in its inception by the love, dedication and hard work of those great

women who founded the Museum. Throughout these almost thirty-six years, we continue being blessed by the phenomenal women and men who serve as Trustees, our incredible docents who are excited by sharing knowledge of art and history with children, and our amazing Guild members who prepare memorable foods, plan our annual Gala to honor our members, and create the spectacular Festival of Trees. I am inspired by the dedication of Museum Trustees, staff, volunteers, administrators and educators of Lufkin Independent School District, Art Camp instructors, children and families having so much fun at our Super Saturdays, artists and scholars, and parents, including my own, who teach children by example to serve the needs of their community.”

Throughout the Museum of East Texas’ history, its galleries and classrooms have been filled with children and their expressions of wonder while experiencing art, history, historic artifacts and photographs on display. We invite you to come and meet this inspiring woman and become a part of the Museum’s magic yourself. For more information about the Museum, please visit our website at metlufkin.org, call 936.639.4434 or visit the Museum at 503 N. Second Street in Lufkin.

J.P. and her husband, Dr. Darrel McDonald, are the proud parents and grandparents of Kendall, Robert, Ember, Amaris, Sam and Chloe, and continue to be inspired and amazed by them.

Your Life words of wisdom 26 my time 27 fitness 28 family health 31 womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health 32

photographed by Anna Krystine Photography tjmag.com / 25

YOURLIFE | WORDS OF WISDOM

M

the Partains

arriage is no doubt one of the most challenging events in life. Listening and learning from those around us can be one of the best tools out there. After thirty-four years of wedded bliss, Bruce Partain and Dr. Linda Thorsen Bond have learned many lessons along the way. Here is a Q & A session with the Partain’s regarding marriage.

Q: What was a memorable stage in your marriage?

youngest son. He may not have appreciated it, but it worked for me!

Bruce: In the mid-1980s our family moved to Australia for a year through a Rotary program.

By that time we had three boys. It was a lifechanging event for all of us. We each had unique, new adventures, but we relied on each other a lot. We made new friends, but there was a bit of “It’s us against the world, together.”

That helped us grow as a family.

Linda: Make sure your children and husband do their own laundry.Never iron. Housework is not your job. It’s everybody’s house.

Linda: Our marriage has also been marked by the times we were getting college degrees, three each. In 2008, I was driving back and forth to College Station three times a week and teaching full time here at SFA. That was a stage, all right!

Bruce: I have learned four foreign languages, written three best-selling novels and completely organized the garage. Oh, wait, that’s what I said I’d do. Honestly, the pace may not be as hectic, but life has a way of filling in any free spaces!

Q: What is your advice to couples in the busy stage of trying to balance marriage and parenting?

Bruce: Be sure you have a date night at least once a month, off dad. I am so glad I coached youth basketball, baseball and soccer. For the non-athletic dads, your big chance is Boy Scouts. Become an assistant scoutmaster. Go on the campouts. I even took vacation time to go to summer Boy Scout camps with my

Q: What have you and your wife been able to do with the extra time on your hands, post children, that you did not get to do when you were busy raising them?

Linda: I think the whole concept of extra time is illogical. We only have time, none of it is extra.

Q: Looking back, what do you know now that you wished you knew then?

Bruce: I’ve always been a plan-what-you-can, but live-for-the-day type of person. So, just as I wouldn’t appreciate an 80-year-old version of myself whispering advice to me now, I

wouldn’t have wanted a 2012 version of me offering suggestions to the 20-something version of me either.

Q: Who do you go to for advice?

Bruce: My parents and Linda’s parents always were our role models and confidants. That has been a blessing. Linda’s mom is our next door neighbor now, and we like running around together doing things as a family, too.

Q: What would you say is the best part of marriage?

Bruce: My joy is that I am still very much romantically in love with my wife, and she’s also my best friend. I know not everyone has that experience, so I treasure it.

Linda: My joy is being married to a man who says that sort of thing.

Q: Any last words?

Bruce: The wise husband keeps his keenest observations and most helpful suggestions to himself.

Linda: And yet he consents to do this article...

(left)1980s Partain and Bond: Shelby Bond, Dan Partain, Bruce Partain and Linda Bond.This is probably 1985. Midland , Texas.(middle) Australia, Jan. 24, 1986. Stepping off the TransAustralia flight from Sydney to their new home – Townsville, Queensland , on the northeast coast of “Down Under.” From left: Bruce, Linda, Dan, Shelby and Alan. (Alan was a teenager who lived with them for a few years.) (right) Wedding 1978: From left: Bill Thorsen, Linda T. Bond, Shelby Bond, Bruce Partain and Peggy Thorsen. Midland, Texas. April 22, 1978.

Bill and Peggy are Linda’s parents. Bill passed away a few years ago, and Peggy now lives next door to them in Nacogdoches.

MY TIME

R

| YOURLIFE

kathy mcgough

etirement! Let me tell you about retirement! I’d been thinking about it for a couple years – especially when my older friends kept telling me that I should! I thought that I would have to wait until I was 65, or now 66, in order to “retire!” But it’s just a word. There’s no set date that you have to push your chair back and leave your office. In fact, the friends of mine who are mathematically inclined, explained to me how the money works out with Social Security.

If you start getting your money at age 62, it reduces what you would get if you waited until full retirement, but if you do the math – all those monthly payments for four years really adds up!

Simply put – why not “get out while the gettin’s good?”

I am now one of those ladies who can take her time in the grocery store – go down each aisle and see what bargains are there! I don’t have to rush to meet my friends for lunch and only have 30 minutes to gulp down my food and talk nonstop at the same time. I can fill up my car when there isn’t a long line at quitting time. I have the privilege of stopping to chat with people and not feel torn to hurry back to work. I can schedule repairmen anytime during my choosing. And I can SHOP! Really shop! I can spend as much time as I want looking and touching and trying on! There are so many stores in Nacogdoches and Lufkin that I’ve never had the chance to really SEE! My shopping existed of “quick glances” and only for a minute here or there. Perhaps the best part of all of these little things is NOT setting the alarm clock! Halleluiah! To be able to open my eyes when my body decides it’s time to wake up is heavenly! I’ve stayed in my pajamas long into the morning hours. When it was pouring rain the other day, I was curled up on the couch with a magazine I’d gotten in the mail that day with two dogs snuggled up at my feet! Bliss! “I can get used to this!”

Well, all those mundane things are great, BUT the main reasons I decided to make some more time in my schedule are: Christopher, Chandler, Noah, Cooper and Hannah! Four or five years from now “Mimi” won’t be near as much fun as I am now! Their ages range from 3, 4, 5, 9 and 12 years! That’s prime time in kid years!

I can still run and jump a little, and my house is full of candy, cookies, popsicles and ice cream! I’m lucky enough to live right behind my daughter and her three, and I can jump in the car and drive three hours to the other two! I recently had the pleasure of teaching one of my grandsons how to ride a bike! It was while his folks were out of town, and we flooded the airwaves with videos and whoops and hollers! He was so proud! And after those four wonderful boys, our little girl, Hannah, came along and melted our hearts. All she has to do is say, “Can I go to Mimi’s house?” and the world is her oyster! The next few hours are completely directed by her every whim! Am I the happiest Grandmother around? You bet I am!

Kathy and her husband, Byron, at her retirement party.

Kathy with Dr. Lehmann and Kathy Lehmann after she was “roasted and toasted” at her retirement party!

tjmag.com / 27

YOURLIFE | FITNESS

YOGA Y

oga may be new to Lufkin, but it is definitely not new. What is Yoga? Yoga is not a religion. It’s an exercise class and a lot more.

It’s about stretching, becoming more flexible, becoming stronger, and learning to relax and to quiet your mind. It’s about improving your quality of life regardless of where you are physically. Yoga has been around since the 15th century where it was utilized to aid in meditation and to improve health.

The Yoga practiced at KB Yoga & More includes three parts. First is learning to breathe correctly.

Second are the postures or poses, and third is learning to calm your mind and let your body truly relax. All are equally important and easily learned with practice.

KB Yoga & More uses a form of Hatha Yoga.

Regularly practicing yoga poses will in crease your muscle flexibility and bone strength

28 / The Journey - June| July 2012

KB Yoga opened in Lufkin in October and several students have reported losing weight and dropping clothes sizes. All have seen improved flexibility and strength. Some have been able to discontinue pain medication and have seen improvement in arthritis symptoms.

Yoga is truly amazing at the results it provides in a relatively short period of time. Most students surprise themselves by achieving poses they didn’t think were possible, regardless of their age. Yoga is the exercise that you can, and should, continue all your life because it will improve the quality of that life.

along with other benefits such as developing will power and concentration. Yoga is also known to relieve stress and pain, improve circulation, help with weight management, increase strength and improve cardiovascular conditioning.

Controlling the breath, or Pranayama, is important because it is believed that the way to control your mind is by controlling your breath. Regular practice can help you to calm down during stressful situations, relieve tension and enable you to deal with anxiety and depression. Pranayama can help manage asthma and bronchitis.

The practice of Hatha Yoga poses can massage and tone your internal organs, helping to prevent diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension. They can also bring balance to internal and glandular functions.

KB Yoga offers classes throughout the day including 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. All classes are a mix of abilities. Yoga is not a competitive workout, and emphasis is always placed on listening to your body and knowing when to stop. Students only do what is comfortable for them. Yoga should never hurt. A Gentle Yoga class is available for those students that have difficulty with floor postures. The class uses chairs and a slower pace of modified poses. A men’s class is held at 7:00 p.m. with an emphasis on sports related yoga. Professional athletes from golfers to football players have recognized the benefits of yoga and now these same benefits can be achieved locally.

This summer KB Yoga will offer Yoga for Kids from 10-11 a.m. The same yoga format as the adult classes will be used with a combination of poses, breathing exercises, and learning to relax. Children respond well to yoga, and it has been proven to aid in improving body image and increasing their attention span as well as all the benefits listed for adults. Summer classes will begin June 4. Contact information can be found at www.kb-yoga.com or on facebook/ KBYoga.

tjmag.com / 29

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30 / The Journey - June| July 2012

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5300 North Street Nacogdoches, TX 75965

by Robert Lehmann, MD

FAMILY HEALTH

| YOURLIFE

Keys To Protecting & Preserving Your Vision

O

ur eyes truly are ‘Our Windows To the World.’ In fact, our eyes help us process over 90% of the information our brains require for normal daily activities. With proper care and the right dose of preventive measures, our eyes can serve us well for our entire lives. However, if we neglect our eyes, preventable vision loss can occur.

Fortunately, dramatic breakthroughs in diagnostics, laser technology and lens implant designs now allow us to better protect, preserve and restore the precious gift of sight.

Will we all eventually develop cataracts and how serious are they?

Cataracts are simply part of our body’s normal aging process. So yes, if we live long enough, we will all develop cataracts. A cataract is the aging of the natural lens inside our eye. When we are young, the lens is clear and helps us focus at all distances. As we enter our middle ages, the lens begins to stiffen and lose some of its clarity. This causes us to need reading glasses in our 40s and 50s. As we approach age 60, cataracts can start to affect our ability to see in low light conditions, drive at night or even perform normal daily activities.

Because the aging of the lens in our eyes occurs so gradually, many people do not notice they have a cataract until it is time to be removed.

An annual eye exam can detect a cataract and allow us to properly judge the severity of the condition.

What is Laser Cataract Surgery?

Laser Cataract Surgery is the latest breakthrough in the treatment of cataracts. It involves the use of a Femtosecond laser (similar to the one we use for our iLASIK procedure) to help us not only remove the cataract but also to treat astigmatism at the same time. Here at Lehmann Eye Center, we offer patients the LenSx Laser Cataract Surgery procedure, which is the first of its kind in East Texas. The LenSx laser allows us to use the Femtosecond laser to replace the mechanical cutting portions of the cataract procedure. It is designed to provide surgeons a superior level of precision and accuracy, while providing patients unparalleled safety. Traditional cataract surgery remains one of the most common and successful surgical procedures performed in medicine today. Femtosecond laser technology is anticipated to become more widely available and to provide our cataract patients an unprecedented level of benefits.

and diagnostics have taken LASIK and laser vision correction to an unparalleled level of safety, precision, accuracy and results. Given the predictability of outcomes we can now achieve with LASIK – and the advanced levels of safety and precision – the US military and NASA see the benefit LASIK can provide to astronauts and military personnel.

Why is Glaucoma called the ‘Sneak Thief of Sight?’

Glaucoma continues to be one of the world’s leading causes of preventable blindness. It is called the ‘Sneak Thief’ because there are typically no warning signs for patients who have glaucoma. The danger of this disease is that without early detection and treatment, vision loss that has occurred is irreversible. Glaucoma may also be hereditary. Glaucoma is most common among the African American and Hispanic portions of the population, but can occur at any time in any ethnicity. This disease in itself is reason enough to advise an annual eye exam.

What is the difference between iLASIK and LASIK? The iLASIK procedure we perform here at Lehmann Eye Center is the same procedure approved by NASA and the US military. It is an all-laser procedure that combines the safety of the Femtosecond laser (to create the protective flap) with the accuracy of the VISX Excimer laser to treat the cornea. The custom iLASIK procedure uses advanced Wavefront diagnostic technology to scan the entire optical system that gives us a customized treatment plan for your eyes that is unique as your fingerprint. Traditional LASIK uses a blade called a Microkeratome to create the first portion of the procedure, which we feel is inferior in precision and accuracy to the iFS IntraLASE Femtosecond laser we use at Lehmann Eye Center.

Why did NASA and the US military approve LASIK and laser vision correction for their personnel?

2012 represents the 20th anniversary for LASIK worldwide. During the past two decades, tremendous advancements in laser technology tjmag.com / 31

by Angela Larson

YOURLIFE | WOMEN’S HEALTH

L

healthy habits

ooking to shed a few pounds before baring some skin in the summer heat? Rather than crash dieting, create healthy habits to keep you looking and feeling your best that will take you far past the summer months. Practice these 10 tips to help curb those cravings and lose those last five stubborn pounds.

2

1

Brush your teeth after dinner.

A great way to discourage boredom driven snacking in the evening is to brush your teeth after your evening meal. You’ll be a lot less likely to reach for that bag of chips if your mouth feels clean and minty fresh.

3 Eat without distractions.

Eat at a proper table and focus on your meal rather than eating mindlessly while on the computer, watching television, or at your desk. Practice mindful eating by savoring the sight, smell and taste of each bite.

7

6

Ditch the high-calorie snacks.

Instead of snacking on chips, chocolate bars or cookies, choose fresh fruits, veggies, low-fat yogurt, string cheese, popcorn and high-fiber granola bars.

Better yet, reach for a glass of water when you feel a snack attack coming on. It is easy to mistake thirst for hunger, so drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and prevent overeating.

4

Create an environment for success.

Keep unhealthy foods out of the line of sight and keep healthy foods at eye level in pantries and cupboards.

To help control portion sizes, eat from salad plates and smaller bowls and drink from tall, slender cups rather than short, wide ones. Instead of heading for the refrigerator when you get home, head outdoors, tidy up the house or practice other activities. This will help prevent habitual snacking.

5

Eat a high fiber breakfast.

Fiber has no calories and helps us to feel full sooner and stay full longer. Plus, eating a healthy breakfast can help to jumpstart your day and prevent overeating at lunch.

Start at the grocery store.

Fill half your cart with fruits, veggies, and whole grain foods. In turn, your plate will reflect your good shopping habits! While shopping, make a list and stick to it to avoid caving into last minute temptations.

Eat smart on the run.

Pre-portion healthy snacks or buy individual snacksized portions of nuts, dried fruits or baby carrots to curb hunger and keep energy high. Choose “junior” sized portions at fast food restaurants and skip the soda.

10

8 Keep a journal.

Write down your progress in your journey toward good health. Journaling helps promote accountability and also keeps track of what works best for you. Track calories using a free smart phone app, such as LiveStrong Calorie Tracker, or use an online calorie tracking tool like MyFitnessPal. com. Tracking calories for just a few days can help spot problem areas in your diet.

Keep moving.

Trick yourself into getting more active by intentionally making things a little less convenient. Always take the stairs; don’t go to the trouble of getting that great parking spot. Get up out of your chair to talk to a coworker rather than e-mailing or calling.

If you work at a desk, set a timer and get up to move around at least once an hour. Activities like cooking, gardening or playing with your kids are also great ways to burn a few extra calories each day.

Remember that living healthy is a lifestyle, not a quick fix for weight loss.

Practice patience and remember that gradual weight loss is best for your health and long-term success. Start practicing these healthy habits today and sail into summer looking and feeling your best!

32 / The Journey - June| July 2012

Angela Larson, MS, RD, LD Clinical Dietician

Fill up on fruits and veggies.

Fruits have only 60 calories per ½ cup serving and fresh vegetables have only 25 calories per 1 cup serving! Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables at meals to keep higher calorie starchy foods under control.

9

Your Child pretty babies 34 parent thoughts 36 look at me 37 birthday bash 38 why i love being a mom 39

Boykin Springs | photographed by Lisa Crow tjmag.com / 33

YOURCHILD | PRETTY BABIES 3

1 2

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4

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1. Hayze Gordon Bell. 12/21/11. Proud Parents: Josh & Salena Bell. Proud Grandparents: Phillip & Charla Jones / Raymond Bell / Darlene & Sandy Kirkland. 2. Ella Kate Brown. 4/4/12. Proud Parents: Erik & Callie Brown. Proud Grandparents: Danny & Kathy Alsbrooks / Murry & Kathy Brown. 3. Jordyn Raelyn Chauvin. 6/24/10. Proud Parents: Lara Tullos & Bryant Chauvin. Proud Grandparents: Rene & Chad McMullen / Steve & Chris Tullos / Janice Chauvin. 4. Mason Kyle Cole. 2/13/12. Proud Parents: Joe & Tara Cole. Proud Grandparents: Arthur Murrell & Linda Jones / Bobby Joe & Melenda Cole. 5. Harley Grace Jones. 6/4/11. Proud Parents: Brad & Jessalyn Jones (Chester). Proud Grandparents: Mike & Betty Davis (Chester) / Sammy & Mary & the late Nancy Jones (Montgomery). 6. Grayson Wayne Lanier. Proud Parents: Nikolai & Shawnette Lanier. Proud Grandparents: Mitch & Carylon Benge / Larry & Judy Lanier / Roy & Debbie Richardson. 7. Laura Moody. 1/18/12. Proud Parents: Justin & Sarah Moody. Proud Grandparents: Sylvia Willoughby / Billy & Tammy Williams / Preston Moody. 8. Gunner James Porter. 9/7/11. Proud Parents: Chris & Delma Porter (Lufkin). Proud Grandparents: Jim & Debra Porter.

E-mail Pretty Babies submissions to prettybabies@tjmag.com. Please include the information seen above. Submissions are free of charge.

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OUTSTANDING ACADEMICS

PINEYWOODS COMMUNITY ACADEMY

College Preparatory Charter School Accredited Through Texas Education Agency

• PCA is a comprehensive free public charter school serving students in grades PreK-12th grade.

• PARAMUS Early College High School students grades 9-12 take Dual Credit courses at Angelina College and can earn up to 60 college hours or an Associate’s Degree.

• PARAMUS is the only ECHS designated by the Texas Education Agency in the greater Angelina County area.

OUTSTANDING ACTIVITIES • UIL District 23 1A sports at the Junior High, Junior Varsity and Varsity levels including boys and girls basketball, track, cross country, golf, and tennis.

• UIL Academics, Destination Imagination, and Robotics activities elementary through high school.

• Award winning choral music and theater program.

OUTSTANDING ADVANTAGES • Class sizes of 20 students or less provide individualized instruction and a student-centered approach.

• $ 4.5 million dollar building expansion project slated to begin in Summer, 2012.

602 S. Raguet • Lufkin • 936-634-5515 • www.pineywoodsacademy.org

by Kelly Finnerud

YOURCHILD | PARENT THOUGHTS

Summer Staycation Here are other local family-friendly bed and breakfasts.

I

BUGSCUFFLE INN There are 5 newly built cabins plus 6 rooms in the spacious lodge. The swimming pool, horseshoe pit, volleyball court, badminton, croquet and hiking trails provide fun for the entire family. There’s also cane pole fishing in the pond or rod and reel across in the lake. www.bugscuffleinn.com | 13579 Hwy 84 W, Cushing t’s already summer, and I’ve realized that a big vacation just isn’t going to happen this year. I’ve heard of staycations but always assumed we needed to live in a big city with plenty of nearby places to go and see. I did some searching, and boy was I wrong!

Within 30 miles of Lufkin/Nacogdoches, there are many kidfriendly bed & breakfasts, cabins and campsites!

My husband and I had an opportunity to visit one local bed & breakfast, so we loaded up our 3 yr old and her best friend and headed 10 miles west of Nacogdoches to the Stag Leap Country Inn. The host, Mattie Collins, met us at the main house and we hopped into a golf cart (which every guest gets during their stay). Mattie was so excited to show the property, and we soon saw why! The first magical place we stopped was Antlers Log Cabin. This beautiful cabin sleeps up to 12 with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a sunroom, private outdoor jacuzzi tub and plenty of living space both indoors and out. The girls were delighted to explore the rooms and balcony! As we rode to the next cabin, Mattie told us (between squeals of “Wheee!” from the girls) the story of Stag Leap Country Inn. Her husband built the 1st cabin for their son during college, then later built a 2nd cabin for a friend of Mattie’s with a young child. After their son finished college, they decided to rent his cabin out, and their dream was born. Both he and Mattie’s friend have returned to work at Stag Leap.

Mattie took us to several more secluded cabins. They all have a kitchen, outdoor grill, satellite TV, DVD and WiFi. We passed a separate building with washers and dryers for guests to use. Each cabin is far enough from the others that we always felt we were alone in the beautiful woods. The owners have done their best to leave as much nature as possible untouched.

At the north side of the 200 acre property, Mattie pointed out the adjacent Pine Creek Lodge, where they’ve opened the trail so guests at Stag Leap can drive their golf carts to dinner at the Pine Creek restaurant. Soon after, the little girls laughed as our cart splashed over the creek where kids can play, and we passed by the large activity field with basketball, soccer goals, archery, horseshoes, frisbee golf and a volleyball net. We finished our tour with a visit to the new RV facilities, and Mattie showed us where we could stay if we’re truly adventurous and want to camp without electricity and water.

With all the activities available, including 100 acres of hiking trails and a scavenger hunt for families with prizes, Stag Leap Country Inn is the perfect place to start when you’re looking to stay close to home! www.stagleap.com | 2219 FM 2782, Nacogdoches Kelly Finnerud and husband, Ryan, have 3 energetic kids, Aidan (7), Trace (5) and Emmy (3). They have been married 10 years. Ryan is a worship pastor at Grace Bible Church in Nacogdoches, and Kelly has a music education degree and has been a band director in the area until staying home with young children. Kelly writes for ParenThoughts.com, an online resource sharing local activities, parenting stories and anything else kid-related in our area.

ESTATE HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST There are 9 beautiful rooms to choose from, including 1 room with two beds.

Built on 18 acres, there’s plenty to explore. This B&B includes a delicious country-style breakfast, swimming pool, fishing pond and basketball court. www.estatehousebandb.com | 507 FM 226, Nacogdoches FAIRBREEZE COTTAGE This private cottage with a queen bed and pull out twin sits just west of Nacogdoches. It has a kitchenette with teas, coffee, orange juice, milk, sweet rolls, biscuits and breakfast bars. It also includes a jacuzzi bath and gorgeous views! While this will only accommodate a small family, I had to include it for the many outdoor trails and rolling hills where children can explore. www.fairbreezecottage.com | 4741 CR 724, Nacogdoches LLANO GRANDE PLANTATION This property includes two private, historic houses, each with room and beds for several people. The kitchens come stocked with homemade bread, bacon, eggs, venison sausage, cereal, milk, coffee, tea and much more! Located on 700 acres of pineywoods just north of Nacogdoches, guests can enjoy the peaceful surroundings, walk in the woods, fish, bird-watch or just swing on the porch to unwind. www.llanogrande.com | 433 Phillips Rd., Nacogdoches PINE CREEK COUNTRY INN Most rooms sleep 4, and amenities include a pool, fishing pond and much more. Guests enjoy a continental breakfast basket on weekdays and a complimentary country breakfast weekends. There is also a full service restaurant on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You won’t ever need to leave the property! www.pinecreeklodge.com | 341 Pine Creek Rd., Nacogdoches SAM RAYBURN LAKEHOUSE They have 2 small bed & breakfast rooms as well as several full cabins. There’s a fishing pond, a gym for basketball and lots of room for running outdoors.

Some rentals sit right on Lake Sam Rayburn. www.samrayburnlakehouse.com | 528 Boonwood | Huntington SOUTHERN STABLES This property offers a theater room, a game room with a pool table and stables where you can help feed the livestock. Guests also have full access to the adjacent RV Resort which includes a pool, fishing pond and playgrounds. www.southernstables.net | 3500 N. Medford Dr. | Lufkin Perhaps you’d like a night out without those sweet children. The beautiful, historic Hardeman House Inn in Nacogdoches is giving away a free night stay! Rooms have king-sized beds and private bathrooms, and breakfast is served every morning. Enjoy a relaxing night on the wraparound porch or pick a movie to watch in your room. (www.hardemanhouse.com) Visit www.ParentThoughts.com by June 30 to enter to win!

LOOK AT ME

| YOURCHILD

2012 Lufkin High School graduates, Zach Watson & Abby McCarty. Their proud mothers are sisters.

Zach is the son of Van & Karen Watson of Lufkin. Abby is the daughter of Kevin & Mary Gail McCarty, also of Lufkin. Zach plans to attend Texas A&M University in the fall where he will major in Petroleum Engineering. Abby plans to attend Stephen F. Austin State University and major in Interdiciplinary Studies with a minor in Special Education. Abby recently made SFA cheerleader and will be cheering on the Jacks this coming fall.

Zoie, headed to kindergarten graduation!

Loren Huffstetler, Hudson Senior & 13 year perfect attendance award winner! Daughter of Sam & Charlotte Huffstetler.

Charlotte Deaton. Kindergarten Graduation. Parents: Jennifer & Ryan Deaton Braxton Riley Farrell, 2012 Peavy Primary Kindergarten Graduate!

Charles Fullerton graduated from Lufkin High School in May 2012!!

Son of Jeanne Fullerton & Jimmy Fullerton

Landon Duncan. Kindergarten Graduation. Zavalla, Texas.

Shelby Marie, we are as proud as any parent could be of your many talents and accomplishments. We look forward to watching you grow in your walk with God as He leads you through your life’s journey. As you go forward remember to find strength in your life verse: Joshua 1:9. We love you to the moon and back, forever and ever!

Send a photo of your child & information to photos@tjmag.com.

Submissions are free of charge.

YOURCHILD | BIRTHDAY BASH

CARTERJINKINS

T

ake me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd! Leslie and Jamie Jinkins wanted to do something special for their son, Carter.

They wanted him to enjoy what little boys enjoy most: baseball, popcorn, and friends! The Houston Astros offer birthday party packages that are always Home Runs with the kids! Carter and his friends enjoyed wonderful seats and one on one attention. Everyone received Astros tattoos and a goody bag stuffed with Astros memorabilia. Carter Jinkins 7th birthday was one to remember at â&#x20AC;&#x153;the old ball game!â&#x20AC;?

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WHY I LOVE BEING A MOM

| YOURCHILD

ERIN WYATT

As I’ve said, I knew things would change after Paul was born, and they did—just not in the way I expected. I knew that I would be giving up lots of free time. I was no longer in charge of how I spent my days…or nights. I was expecting to feel a lot of sadness when I would have to put Paul’s needs in front of my wants, but I was surprised to find that in the moment I didn’t even hesitate to do whatever it was that would make Paul happy. I didn’t even do it with resentment; I did it with joy. I had this drive inside of me to protect and care for him; a drive that had definitely not been in my heart before. This drive was most surprising at night. I had this crazy 6th sense when Paul cried at night. At the sound of his first little coo, I would be up and walking into his room ready to feed, change or just hold him. I morphed from someone who needed nine hours of sleep at night to a mom who could get by on just a few hours of good rest. I was proud of how I took care of him during those first few months of his life. I’m still proud of that!

Now I don’t mind missing my TV shows. I can’t remember that last time I read a novel for fun, and I don’t care. Paul helped me change from a self indulgent child to a mother with a servant’s heart. Paul helped me grow up.

S

ome women joyously embrace motherhood. They dream for years of how they will dress their tiny babies, how they’ll rock them and sing to them, and how they’ll help them grow into beautiful children and adults.

I was not one of those women.

When I found out I was expecting all I thought about was how much time a baby would take out of my day. I love to sleep, watch TV, read books for days on end—all things that I would have to limit if I was in charge of another person. Don’t get me wrong—it wasn’t like I dreaded being a mom, I just wasn’t all that excited about it.

And then it happened. Nineteen months and 4 days ago, another human slid out of my body, and I officially became Paul David Wyatt’s mom.

Not only was I pleasantly surprised with my new mommy sense of self, my relationship with my husband changed after Paul was born. Shortly after meeting my John, I fell head over heels in love with him. He is one of the funniest, most handsome, most talented and most righteous people I’ve ever met. Seeing John as a dad gives me a whole new reason to love him. I love how he makes Paul laugh. I love to see him comfort Paul when he is upset. I look at the two of them snuggled up in the living room chair watching baseball and clapping and cheering, and I thank God that I get to be a part of that family.

And speaking of God, now that I’m a mother, I finally understand that verse in the Bible that talks about God answering our prayers.

“Which of you, if your child asks for a loaf of bread will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish will give him a serpent. If you being evil know how to give your child good things, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask?” I love to give Paul good things! Cookies that he doesn’t even need!

Toys that are just for fun! I love to say yes to Paul, and now when I pray I know that God, my great Father, loves to say yes to me!

Not because He has to but because He wants to. I never got that before.

I knew being a mother would change everything, but I didn’t know it would change everything for the better. It’s been the best surprise of my life. tjmag.com / 39

40 / The Journey - June| July 2012

tjmag.com / 41

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44 / The Journey - June| July 2012

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JULY2012

47 48 50 52 54

| CONTENTS

YOURHOME Home Tour: Pollok Countryside Decor & Design: Bike Baskets In the Kitchen: Pop Up Healthier Snacks Your Pantry: the Facts About Gluten Free

55 YOURCOMMUNITY 56 59

Hometown Talent: Dottie Loo Inspiring Woman: Tiffani Womack

Stephanie Oliver President

63 YOURLIFE 64 65 66

Beth Johnson | editor@tjmag.com Managing Editor

Stretch Marks: the Avengers Women’s Health: When Wounds Won’t Heal Fitness: Ask the Experts

Kim Iribarren | kim@tjmag.com Director of Sales Terry Campbell | office@tjmag.com Office Manager/Accountant

67 YOURCHILD 68 69 70 72 73

Macy Haffey Layout and Design

Pretty Babies Parent Thoughts: the Perfect Babysitter Look at Me Birthday Bash: Landon’s Circus Why I Love Being a Mom: Tiki Perkins

Lisa Crow | lisacrowphotography@gmail.com www.lisacrowphotography.com Event Photographer Mike Floyd | mike@tjmag.com Media Consultant

56

Contributors Kelly Finnerud Melissa Lee Amy McLeod Tiki Perkins Jane Shepherd Jennifer Stevens Distribution Lisa Crow Janet Glover Jarod Thompson

50 52

72

Cover Photo by Morgan Greer-Due

Contact Us: Mailing: P O B ox 1 5 0 5 37 L u f k i n , Tex a s 75 9 1 5

59

P h ys i c a l : 1 1 5 E . S h e p h e rd L u f k i n , Tex a s 75 9 0 1 936-634-7188 advertise@tjmag.com

Your Home home tour 48 decor & design 50 in the kitchen 52 your pantry 54

photographed by Anna Krystine Photography tjmag.com / 47

YOURHOME | HOME TOUR

Pollok Countryside

T

hese seventy-six acres of rolling terrain with breathtaking views is surrounded by gorgeous forest land. The land is diversified with twenty acres of mature timber, excellent hunting, 6 acre lake that is over twenty feet deep stocked with fish and ideal for swimming and jet skiing, and forty acres of pasture for horses and cattle.

The property, off an oil top road, sits on the beautiful countryside of Pollok. There are many additional buildings sites with breath taking views of the entire property. This environmentally friendly home site was built entirely without the use of toxic materials.

The beautiful home is a 2,675 square feet, three bedroom beautiful custom home complete with a gourmet kitchen, loaded with state of the art appliances. The home has a beautiful view of the property with oversized covered front porch and back patio. Also located on the property is a 2,160 sq. ft. detached garage, 480 Sq. Ft Brick Greenhouse, 358 sq ft. two story playhouse with hardwood/tile flooring, 120 Sq. Ft. Well House with water filtration and Generac generator. Another added bonus are 8 orchard trees, (â&#x20AC;&#x153;irrigated garden bedsâ&#x20AC;?) grapes, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and many other organic herbs and vegetables.

This property is for sale. To tour and see this property first hand, call Courtney Gould with American Real Estate. Courtney.gould1@ gmail.com or 936.414.5322

tjmag.com / 49

by Jane Shepherd

YOURHOME | DECOR & DESIGN

bike baskets

It’s that time of year when you see children out riding their bicycles up and down the neighborhood streets. Here’s a great craft idea to help add a little bling to your child’s bike. Get creative and have fun!

1

To make the basket: Find a small plastic bin that has a woven texture that will allow you to slip a ribbon through it. Secure it to the handlebars with a sturdy ribbon. Weave colorful ribbons around the edge and hot glue chip board letters on the front.

2

To make the streamers: Gather ribbons and yarns and cut them in twelve inch lengths. Fold them in half and tie them together with a small ribbon. Tie a screw to the end of the small ribbon. Push the screw into the hole on the handle bar.

Secure a jewel on top of the screw with hot glue. This will help to hold everything in place. To make the pom pom, use a pom pom maker from Hobby Lobby.

Jane Shepherd grew up in Diboll. She went to Savannah College of Art and Design and majored in fibers. Shepherd has been teaching for 7 years. She has one daughter, Hazel, who is in 2nd grade.

50 / The Journey - June| July 2012

Permanent Cosmetics

by Lynanne

Permanent Eyebrows Eyeliner ~ Lips Before

After

Lynanne Alsbrooks

936-631-1755 www.getanewlook.com

tjmag.com / 51

YOURHOME | IN THE KITCHEN

POP UP HEALTHIER SNACKS! G O O D A N D G O O D FO R YO U • Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup; oil-popped popcorn has only 55 calories per cup.

• Popcorn is a whole grain, making it a smart snack choice.

• Popcorn contains fiber, which your body needs every day.

• Popcorn is naturally low in fat and calories.

• Popcorn is ideal for between-meal snacking since it satisfies and doesn’t spoil your appetite.

• 3 cups of popped popcorn equal one serving from the grain group.

Power Packed Popcorn Cookies Yield: 4 dozen cookies

1/4 cup whole wheat or all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup toasted wheat germ 1/2 cup oatmeal 1/2 cup flaked coconut 3 cups popped popcorn 1 cup raisins, dried cranberries or other dried fruit, chopped 1/2 cup sunflower seeds or chopped nuts, optional

Directions: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside.

In small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, soda and salt; set aside.

Cream butter and sugar together and add egg and vanilla; mix well.

Stir in flour mixture, wheat germ and oatmeal until well blended.

Add coconut, popcorn, raisins and sunflower seeds, if desired, and mix until well blended.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto baking sheet, with 2 inches between cookies to allow for spreading.

Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Allow to cool on pan 5 minutes before removing to racks to cool completely.

Cheesy Popcorn

Yield: 10 cups

2 tablespoons garlic flavored oil or vegetable oil 1/2 cup popcorn kernels 1 tablespoon melted butter, optional 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (found at health food stores, it adds a cheeselike flavor without the calories or fat) 1 teaspoon curry powder, optional Directions: In large, heavy-bottomed pot (with a lid), place oil and about 3 popcorn kernels.

Heat over medium-high heat until a kernel pops. Add remaining popcorn; cover.

Once corn begins to pop, shake pot constantly over heat.

When popping slows, remove pot from heat and transfer popcorn to a serving bowl.

Pour butter over popcorn, if desired, and toss.

Sprinkle yeast and curry powder, if desired, over popcorn and toss to distribute evenly.

52 / The Journey - June| July 2012

Serve immediately or store in an air-tight container.

PLACESANDFACES

Mother’s Day Celebration at the Farmer’s Market

photographed by Lisa Crow

tjmag.com / 53

by Amy McLeod, RD, LD

YOURHOME | YOUR PANTRY

C

The Facts About Gluten Free eliac Disease is a lifelong inherited autoimmune condition that affects both children and adults. An estimated three million Americans have celiac disease and up to 21 million may have some level of gluten sensitivity. When people who have celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, it causes an immune reaction that results in damage to the small intestine and does not allow nutrients to be properly absorbed. The disease makes it difficult to absorb important nutrients such as carbohydrate, protein and fat.Currently, the only treatment is following a strict gluten free diet.

Anyone from Hollywood stars to worried moms is hopping on the gluten free bandwagon. Even if they haven’t been diagnosed as having Celiac Disease, many report feeling better when they avoid gluten. However, many remain confused about the facts regarding gluten and the proper diagnosis of celiac disease. The gluten free food category is exploding and manufacturers are developing more gluten free products. Many grocers are promoting naturally gluten free products to help consumers who are trying to manage the disease navigate the supermarket. A variety of gluten free products are available at your neighborhood Brookshire Brothers.

WHAT IS GLUTEN? Gluten is the common name for the proteins in specific grains that are harmful to persons with celiac disease. These proteins are found in all forms of wheat (including durum, seminola, spelt, kamut, einkorn and faro) and related grains rye, barley and triticale. All must be removed from the diet.

GLUTEN FREE GRAINS There is a common misconception that people diagnosed with gluten intolerance like celiac disease must avoid all grains.

However, that is not the case. Grains which are naturally gluten free include amaranth, buckwheat, flax, millet, corn, oats, mesquite, quinoa, white rice and wild rice and sorghum.

SYMPTOMS Classic Symptoms of celiac disease may include abdominal cramping and intestinal gas, bloating of the stomach, anemia, unexplained weight loss with large appetite or weight gain and chronic diarrhea or constipation. For a complete list, visit the Celiac Disease Foundation website, www.celiac.org.

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, a person can only know a sure diagnosis of celiac disease with a positive antibody test and a positive small bowel biopsy that identifies any damage to the small intestine.

TIPS FOR GLUTEN FREE SHOPPERS Double check items with gluten free tags and call outs. Companies like Frito Lay™ have implemented a gluten free campaign with analytical testing of products.

Choose nutrient dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean cuts of meat, poultry and fish, low-fat dairy, beans, nuts, seeds and heart healthy oils.

Choose gluten free whole grains like those made from corn, quinoa, brown and wild rice, buckwheat, amaranth, millet and sorghum. Double check labels for wheat, rye or barley.

Sources: National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, 2012. Whole Grains Council, 2012.

Amy McLeod, RD, LD is a registered dietitian and Healthy Living Spokeswoman for Brookshire Brothers Food and Pharmacy.

54 / The Journey - June| July 2012

Your Community hometown talent 56 inspiring woman 59

tjmag.com / 55

YOURCOMMUNITY | HOMETOWN TALENT

dottie loo

S

ewing and handmade items are nearly a thing of the past. Very few people still carry on those skills that many of our ancestors had to be knowledgeable in before the era of technology. Jennifer Conn with Dottie Loo is one of those women who were taught to sew by her mother and grandmother.

“From the time I was very young, I remember my Grandma and my Mom teaching me how to sew, and teaching me all kinds of crafty things. It wasn't until I was in college that I really began to appreciate all I had learned from them.” Her mother and business partner, Kathy Conn, continues to teach her more every day.

Her fulltime day job is kindergarten teacher. Dottie Loo is a fun hobby. Crafting was always something Jennifer always enjoyed. She says,“I started making things for friends. Their friends would see it and would want something, too.” She loves kids and is always around little ones, so naturally those were the first products.

“The company started as children’s clothing line. Cute little ruffle skirts, onesies, baby bibs, baby bags—whatever someone wanted, I would make!”

One area of her company that makes what she does great is the personalization.

Most of her pieces have a personalized piece to the outfit or gift. Since the children’s line, she has added new gifts. “I love to paint, so canvases and other pieces of painted art is something I have added to Dottie Loo.” This spring Jennifer got engaged, so all the orders and projects have been a blessing. “All the money earned will help go towards my wedding in December.”

To see more products or to place an order, visit www.DottieLoo.com or on Facebook by searching Jennifer Conn.

5th Graders Travel to Washington D.C.

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1865 W Frank Ave., Lufkin, TX 75904 (936) 632-1525 Amy Jo Looney, owner www.merlenormanstudio.com/mn-4016

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R E S I Z I N G A N D C U S TO M A clear zone of 1/2 the heigh No text or graphic elements not be stretched or manipul

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CASA 5K Superhero Run

58 / The Journey - June| July 2012

INSPIRING WOMAN

| YOURCOMMUNITY

Tiffani Womack

I

n the story of our lives, there are always ups and downs. There are also times when we need to be rescued, miraculously saved from a threatening situation.

diction. In her adulthood, her drug of choice was prescription pain medicine. She was enslaved to this until she was forced into rehabilitation. Today, she is 2 ½ years into her new life of being drug-free.

Tiffani Womack has been dramatically rescued twice; God has pulled her from the chains of addiction and spared her from a medical nightmare.

Tiffani was grateful for her accomplishments and enjoying her life with her two daughters, Holland (age 12) and Ireland (age 6), and her boyfriend, Lance. This past Christmas, they were preparing to celebrate the holiday together with friends and family, but their plans were quickly changed.

For the better part of her teenage years and young adult life, Tiffani struggled with ad-

It was Friday, December 23, 2011, and Tiffani and Lance were going to her house to watch a movie. As soon as she arrived home, she began feeling a discomfort in the base of her neck and an intense headache; a pain like she had never experienced. After refusing to go the emergency room, the pain became so excruciating that she knew something was wrong. At 10:00 p.m., Lance took her to Woodland Heights in Lufkin, and by that time, she could no longer tolerate light or sound. tjmag.com / 59

YOURCOMMUNITY | INSPIRING WOMAN

Tiffani’s mom, Jan Selman, joined Lance and also brought Tiffani’s oldest daughter, Holland. Tiffani’s dad, Gary Selman, stayed at home with Tiffani’s youngest daughter, Ireland. Jan, Holland, and Lance took turns sitting with Tiffani while the doctors worked to find the source of her pain. She was in so much pain, but because of her past addiction, did not want to take pain medication. She shared with the doctor about her past addiction and remained hesitant about reintroducing the drugs to her body. She says, “As a recovering addict, I was terrified this might mess up my rehabilitation.” It wasn’t until her boyfriend convinced her she was under

The CAT scan revealed devastating news. Her mom walked to her bed, leaned over her and whispered, “You have blood on your brain and an aneurism. You need a neurosurgeon as soon as possible.” Immediately, the emergency room staff began busying themselves with finding a doctor in Houston and scheduling her to be air lifted as soon as possible. This moment changed everything.

There were a lot of things going on around Tiffani about which she was not aware. She remembers, “I told the nurse I didn’t have time for this; we had a Christmas Eve party planned!” He

“I will never forget that I’ve been rescued. I live because of Him, & today, I live for Him.” doctors’ orders and needed to listen to their advice that she decided she needed the relief. It turns out her pain was so intense that morphine didn’t even touch it. After another type of medicine, her pain eased enough for her to whisper to her family. Tests revealed that her red blood cell count was extremely high and doctors were trying to rule out spinal meningitis. Next, they took her for a CAT scan. While they waited for the results, Tiffani began to worry about the Christmas Eve party she and her mom were planning for the next evening. She was wondering how this would affect everything when her mom walked in the room. Tiffani remembers, “She had that deer in the headlights look about her.”

60 / The Journey - June| July 2012

laughed and told her she would not be attending that party or a New Year’s Eve party and that she probably wouldn’t be going back to work for a few weeks.

She says, “I remember looking at my mom, my daughter and Lance’s face; they knew something I did not. They were scared.” The nurses had told her mom they should begin to pray because this was very serious; there was blood in several places on her brain. Her daughter, Holland, went outside to be alone. Later, she told her grandmother she was praying to God that her mom would not die.

The helicopter arrived and the pilot asked them to say their good-byes. The

family was staring into the eyes of Tiffani, not knowing if they would ever see them open again. Tiffani, not fully aware of the seriousness of her situation, continued to tell them she would see them in a couple of hours. Her mom remembers, “I couldn’t let go of her; I couldn’t bring myself to tell her good-bye.” The pilot kindly took Jan’s phone number and promised to call as soon as they landed. Both of Tiffani’s parents headed to Houston to meet her there.

No one will ever know exactly when it happened, but somewhere between the CT scan in Lufkin and the preliminary scans in Houston, the blood in her brain began to clot. Doctors tell her now that this is probably what saved her life. Tiffani is quick to point out that God was beginning to answer the prayers of many friends and family.

Doctors in ICU at Memorial Hermann in Houston formulated a plan for Tiffani. They would do an angiogram first, and if that didn’t work, Tiffani would need brain surgery. All the while, hundreds of people were calling, praying and texting words of encouragement.

The angiogram did not work, and on Christmas Eve morning, doctors began a six hour brain surgery. Tiffani’s mom remember, “I sat there waiting and telling myself I just didn’t think I could live without Tiffani.” The long hours slowly passed, and then Jan saw the surgeon walking towards them. She says, “He had the biggest grin across his face and told us she had done great.”

God continued answering prayers. Tiffani’s aneurysm was on the outer layer of her brain, not the inside. The blood from the rupture had seeped into her brain and would cause intense headaches for several months after surgery.

The doctors were also concerned that

photographed by Morgan Greer-Due

Tiffani might experience slight brain damage or seizures and would probably need several weeks of therapy. God had different plans. Other than the post operative headaches, Tiffani has not experienced any of these side effects.

When Tiffani woke up from surgery at 6:00 a.m., her nurse looked at her and said, “Merry Christmas!” Tiffani says, “I thought, what?

Merry Christmas? I have to get home and be with my girls to open presents.” The last she knew, it was Christmas Eve and she was having tests run in a Houston hospital. She had no idea her body had just been through major brain surgery.

to get better. I was so exhausted from the life I had been living. I couldn’t go one with drugs, and I didn’t see how I would be able to go on without them. I didn’t know what to do.” Her strong family support helped her through recovery, and now Tiffani spends her time encouraging others who are going through difficult situations, especially those struggling with addictions.

breaks my heart, but I can live and be an awesome mom today.” She values her time and is grateful to be here. Countless people have lost their life to addiction and many die from sudden aneurysms, but God has allowed Tiffani to survive both. She says, “I will never forget that I’ve been rescued. I live because of Him, and today, I live for Him.”

Tiffani says, “Today, there is hope. Today, I get to have a relationship with my babies that I missed out on for several years. It

Close friends had come to stay with her while her parents went to a hotel to rest.

They explained to her the events of the past hours, and Tiffani immediately asked for a phone to call her parents. Her mom says, “My phone rang just after 6:00 a.m. and when I answered, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! It was Tiffani asking when I was going to be up there and how were her girls going to have Christmas.” In that miraculous conversation, God was gently letting Jan know that everything was going to be okay; Tiffany would come through this. Jan says, “That short phone call was my Christmas miracle.”

Although the doctors projected she would be in ICU for 2 weeks, Tiffani went home New Year’s Day, just nine days after brain surgery. Looking back, Tiffani and her family are grateful to the many friends and family who prayed, stood beside them, called and visited. Tiffani says, “I can’t believe that people would drive all that way at Christmas to see me; it gave me great joy to see how much they cared for me.”

Tiffani’s journey has been a struggle at times, but she is thankful for the lessons learned. For her, the path was made straight when she was at her rock bottom. She says, “It was necessary for me to go to the bottom

tjmag.com / 61

PLACESANDFACES

George H. Henderson Expo Party

62 / The Journey - June| July 2012

photographed by Lisa Crow

Your Life stretch marks 64 womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health 65 fitness 66

Daena Rowe tjmag.com / 63

by Melissa Lee

YOURLIFE | STRETCH MARKS

THE AVENGERS “But either way The Avengers reminded me a lot of my happy, little family.”

P

erhaps you were under a rock a few weeks ago, locked away in an Iraqi war prison, or being admitted into a hospital under doctor’s orders, but a little movie came out. It was called The Avengers, and a few (billion) of us went to see it.

We missed you!

The Avengers was a good movie, I will admit. I’m not usually one for movies where there’s a lot of fighting or war, not because I am at all above it or find it damaging to the human spirit. No way. It’s because my eyes aren’t what they used to be, and I find myself repeatedly asking The Attorney General , “I thought he died?” “Wait, he’s alive again? How did that happen?” “Now who is he again?” “Who’s the bad guys and who are the good guys?” I’m a doll to go to the movies with, but don’t even think about asking me to watch a movie that happens on a Submarine…..I’m lost from the first second.

But The Avengers? That’s a different story. I was entertained. Maybe it was the special effects. Maybe it was mega-movie stars doing their thing, or (who are we kidding) perhaps it was just Thor. But either way, The Avengers reminded me a lot of my happy, little family. And here’s why…

He may have been played by Jeremy Renner in the movie, but in our house, Rocco is our Hawkeye. He might not can wield a bow and arrow from 40 paces, but he can walk in the house and know instantly whether he will be eating tonight’s dinner or not (and its usually not.) If anything – and I do mean anything – is out of place, Hawkeye notices it. A car pulls up he doesn’t recognize? Prepare for war. If dad gets a haircut without telling us. Prepare yourself. If you get more fries in your Happy Meal? Before you can even taste them, Hawkeye has counted them, re-sorted them, and feasted on about five of them. And I beg of you, don’t even attempt at re-arranging the furniture. I’m still exhausted from that debacle. Last week I got a pedicure and the first thing Hawkeye noticed when he got in the car? My feet. “Why didn’t you tell me you were getting your toenails colored?” “Uhhhh…because you’re four. And you’re freaking me out.”

Someday my daughter is going to read this and kill me, but since she’s just now learning to read I’m going to go ahead and say it – she’s The Black Widow. It is any wonder why St. Cyprians has not called Child Protective Services on me. Praise the Blessed Lord they haven’t, because they would certainly think they had a case with all the bruises you find on this child. But I assure you – it’s not my doing. If she’s not flipping, she’s falling. If she’s not falling, she’s jumping. If she’s not jumping, she’s tackling. If she’s not tackling, she’s throttling. If she’s not throttling, she’s saddling up. Be it a dog or a grandpa a daddy or a cousin, Bubba, she is climbing and kicking and “avenging” ALL over them. She is full-out.

Non-stop. Push-play. Let ‘er rip. From morning till night. The scene where

The Black Widow flips the chair over, takes out four grown men, headbutts one into unconsciousness, unleashes herself from the ropes on her hands and picks up her cell phone and continues talking? Remi saw that scene and said, “I’ve done that.”

Aaaaahhh, The Attorney General. The fact that I call my husband The Attorney General might lead people to assume he would be Thor; a man who really likes to lay down the hammer on injustice. Uhhhh….no. Who would he be? Really? You have to ask this question? If you do then you’ve never met him. If you have had the honor of meeting him then you already know….He’s Iron Man. Can he fly? No. Is he a Billionaire Philanthropist Playboy? No. Is he so good building things that he can fashion his own flying suit to lead him into battle? Uh, no. But the man can iron. The man can certainly iron. I may be married to the only man on earth who walks in the door from work, sets up the ironing board and begins ironing the next day’s work clothes. His favorite part of the week is going to the cleaners and picking up his freshly pressed clothes. They are his superhero costume, of sorts, all pressed and wrinkle-free. On the weekend I tell him, “It’s just Target, you don’t have to iron your shorts to go to Target.” Because even superhero’s need a day off.

And last, but not least.

Hi. I’m The Hulk. I will now tell you in 50 words or less why my family thinks I’m the Incredible Hulk. It’s embarrassing, so I don’t plan on spending a lot of time on it: I try to keep my cool, really I do. I once tried yoga, but I couldn’t get my body to move into all those positions. I invest in bubble bath, but then get angry at whoever used all the hot water. I don’t like it when people spill a sno-cone on my newly mopped floors, and I’m not a fan of lying out in the pool while small children jump on top of me as a form of torture. Spending four hours making a meal to hear them say, “Nonie already fed me pizza,” does not a patient mom make. But I try.

I breathe deep. I say things like, “Serenity now…Serenity now..” But sometimes, under much stress and not-being-able-to-take-it-one-moresingle-second, I flip out. Totally. Flip. Out. My face turns green. My hands get huge. And my feet start pounding. I’ve never known my clothes to fly off (God is good) but I won’t be surprised if they one day do. I can go into Hulk mode in just a few seconds flat. I applaud all you moms out there who get massages and pray for peace. But sometimes, one too many Avengers in a little house is all this mom can handle.

And I go Hulk. I can go Hulk all over you.

So there, I said it. I’m the Hulk when I’m angry. I’m not proud. But at the very least I can rest in this: The days my clothes do start to explode off my body? Iron Man’s got it covered.

Melissa Lee uses her maiden name so her husband, the Attorney General, will not be mortified on a daily basis. They have two children, Remi and Rocco, you have probably seen their picture in the Most Wanted list at your local schools. She loves movie popcorn, telling her friends what to do with their hair and being the center of attention. You can find her anytime at melissa@lufkin.org.

by Jennifer Stevens

WOMEN’S HEALTH

When Wounds

Won’t Heal

F

rom mending those scraped knees of childhood to adulthood illnesses and injuries, our bodies have complex and remarkable healing capabilities. However, sometimes we may suffer an injury that is difficult for the body to handle, and those natural healing processes need a helping hand. Difficulty in healing may happen because of the severity of a wound or a health condition that compromises the body’s ability to heal.

Wounds that won’t heal, also known as chronic or slow-healing wounds, are a significant health concern. When you’ve been injured, are ill or have undergone surgery, an important part of your successful recovery is not only taking care of the original illness or injury, but also the proper healing of any wounds associated with your condition.

Nearly 7 million people across the United States suffer from chronic or slow-healing wounds. Wounds fall into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute wounds are related to an accident, injury or surgery. Chronic wounds can also be related to an injury or surgery, but are most often a health condition that impedes normal healing. If a wound does not heal within a month and requires medical intervention, it is considered a chronic or slowhealing wound.

Certain chronic conditions can complicate the healing process and lead to serious health problems such as infection or nerve damage.

These conditions include diabetes, peripheral neuropathy (nerve disorders affecting the hands or feet) and circulatory system disorders, as well as a variety of other health issues, including:

| YOURLIFE

The good news is that a variety of medical treatments are available to help wounds that won’t heal. Many hospitals offer specialized care for chronic wounds and their underlying causes, such as inflammation, infection, or chronic disease.

A leading treatment for wound care is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which can speed the healing process and rebuild skin integrity.

With this treatment, the patient lays inside a sealed, high-pressure chamber while breathing pure oxygen. The pressurized chamber – similar to one used for an MRI exam – surrounds the body’s tissues with concentrated oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the concentration of oxygen in the bloodstream. This improves circulation of blood to damaged tissue and ultimately promotes faster healing.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was originally used to treat disorders related to diving, so a treatment is sometimes referred to as a “dive.” The process is painless; some patients will experience pressure in the ears at the beginning of treatment, similar to that of flying in an airplane. Each treatment is typically two hours long.

During a therapy session, patients read, sleep or listen to music.

Chronic wounds that are often treated in this way include diabetic skin sores, pressure sores, persistent skin irritations, vessel disease wounds, surgery wound breakdown, traumatic wounds, burns, venous insufficiency, radiation injuries, spinal injury wounds and other non-healing wounds.

Your doctor will generally refer you to a wound care treatment team for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Treatment usually begins with tests to learn about your medical history, including any circulation issues, infection and other conditions that may affect wound healing.

•

Autoimmune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus)

•

Inadequate or poor nutrition

•

Cancer treatment/effects of radiation or chemotherapy

Woodland Heights Medical Center provides specialized care for chronic wounds in its Wound Care Center, which is under the medical direction of Dr. Rick Martin and program director Deana Wilde. The center offers the latest in technology for healing complicated wounds. The Wound Healing Center is located next door to Woodland Heights Medical Center at 10 Medical Center Boulevard, Suite G in Lufkin. For more information or to make an appointment, call (936) 63-WOUND (639-6863).

•

Vascular (vein) disease

Learn more at WoodlandHeights.net/Wound.

•

Congestive heart failure

•

Peripheral arterial disease

•

Traumatic injury

Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.

These diseases affect blood flow and nerve sensation, which slow healing. Certain medications can also suppress the normal healing response.

Sources: National Institutes of Health, www.nih.com, American Academy of Family Physicians, www.familydoctor.org, WebMD, www.webmd.com.

tjmag.com / 65

YOURLIFE | FITNESS

ASK the

I

Q. After having babies, can that loose skin ever be flat or turn into muscle again?

A: Many mommies who are also fitness professionals around the world, have proven that, yes, the mommy tummy can be returned to muscle again. You cannot spot reduce. You have to work out your entire body as a whole. Doing 100 crunches a day won’t do it. Conditioning, weight training, clean eating, and above all, patience, will get you the tummy you desire.

–Kim Pember, Art of Fitness Q. What is the best way to eat, 3 meals a day or 5 small meals a day?

A: I eat 4-5 meals a day, because I have found that it keeps my energy levels more consistent. I will eat smaller meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and then I have one or two snack meals that will typically consist of some form of protein and veggies or a piece of fruit. The biggest thing is keeping fuel in your body throughout the day and eating when you are hungry. Choose foods that will provide steady energy to your body.

–Jason Skinner, LoudHouse Crossfit

EXPERTS n the midst of the “workout season” many of you had questions that needed answers. We asked your questions to two local experts. Here are their answers.

Q. What are some ideas a busy mom can do to try to squeeze in 30 minutes a day of cardio? Even if it is 15 min 2 times a week--at least they are getting something right?

A: As a CrossFitter, 90% of my workouts are less than 30 minutes, and some are less than 5. Only 5 minutes a day? Do 50 burpees.

They are a great exercise that will work your entire body. The key here is to look for something that will give you the most bang for your buck. A great example: 3 rounds for time of a 200 M run, 10 pushups, 15 sit-ups, 20 air squats. That workout will take less than 15 minutes and you will accomplish more than most accomplish in an hour in a typical gym.

–Jason Skinner, LoudHouse Crossfit Q. When is the best time to work out?

A: My initial answer is early morning. Once a person’s day begins, the chances of them actually making it to the gym declines due to unseen occurrences and problems the day brings. Doing it first thing in the morning, you are less likely to be interrupted –Kim Pember, Art of Fitness

Q. What do you eat before and after a workout?

Q. How do I start? Do you focus on diet or exercise first?

A: I will typically have a small meal an hour and a half to two hours prior to a workout, and then I will have some form of protein immediately following the workout. The two things to consider are enough energy to fuel your workout and then energy stores post workout, with something that will repair your muscles (protein).

–Jason Skinner, LoudHouse Crossfit

A: I believe focusing on your diet must be a priority. First determine exactly how many calories a day you are currently consuming, and then subtracting at least 500 from that will produce a weight loss effect. Adding a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 times a week, for beginners, can and will help tremendously. It can be as simple as walking 15 minutes in the morning and at night. But, if you continue to eat the way you currently do without changing those habits, you will more than likely be running around in circles. Diet is 80%. Exercise is 20% –Kim Pember, Art of Fitness

Kim Pember, Art of Fitness at Crown Colony Personal and Group Fitness Instructor AFAA kimpember@yahoo.com 66 / The Journey - June| July 2012

Jason Skinner, LoudHouse CrossFit 2003 Atkinson Drive, Suite 107, Lufkin www.loudhousecrossfit.com 936.632.5423

Your Child pretty babies 68 parent thoughts 69 look at me 70 birthday bash 72 why i love being a mom 73

Elly Dillard

YOURCHILD | PRETTY BABIES 1

4

2

3 7

5

6

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1. Rylan Cotton. 2/6/12. Proud Parents: Justin & Lacy Cotton. Proud Grandparents: Carlene Williams & Scott Ritchie / LouAnne Wooderson & Leonard Cotton. 2. Reagan Lynette Dixon. 8/24/11. Proud Parents: Mark & Carrie Dixon. 3. Adrian Wade Gonzalez. 7/17/11. Proud Parents: Sgt. Jacob & Meggan Gonzalez. Proud Grandparents: Wade & Holly Bridwell. 4. Hartlynn Grace and Heston Noah Graham. 1/31/2012. Proud Parents: Kent & Jesica Graham. Proud Grandparents: Wayne & Vicki Collins / Don & Benita Graham. 5. Kylar Casey Hannah. 11/6/11. Proud Parents: Chase Hannah & Brittney Jordan. Proud Grandparents: David & Leigh Anne Jordan / John & Susan Hannah. 6. Imia Analee Hernandez.

12/27/11. Proud Parents: Jose Eduardo Hernandez & Melissa Tang (Lufkin). Proud Grandparents: Virginia Aguilar & Ruben Hernandez / Deanna & Leng Tang. 7. Kennedy Grace Lopez. 4/26/11. Proud Parents: Tony & Erin Lopez. Proud Grandparents: Jesus & Paulina Lopez / Rick & Jennie Freeman. 8. Reagan Lynn Tucker. 8/3/11. Proud Parents: John & Megan Tucker (Nacogdoches, TX).

E-mail Pretty Babies submissions to prettybabies@tjmag.com. Please include the information seen above. Submissions are free of charge.

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by Kelly Finnerud

PARENT THOUGHTS

the perfect babysitter

| YOURCHILD

We’ve had a lot of requests at ParentThoughts.com to put together a list of local babysitters.

While I love the idea of helping parents have grown-up time, I don’t think it would be wise to endorse sitters I don’t personally know for families I don’t personally know. So in lieu of publishing names and numbers of mostly teen-aged, local girls on the internet, I’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks for parents and babysitters-to-be.

FOR THE PARENTS

FOR THE BABYSITTERS

How to find a local babysitter:

How to get started:

Ask other parents you know like neighbors, friends, coworkers you trust and friends at your church.

Get involved in the children’s programming at your church or somewhere in the community.

Ask other parents at your children’s activities such as sports practices, MOPS, day care and school events.

Ask to tag along with an experienced sitter.

Get to know high school/ college students who are already working with children at church, scouts, Boys & Girls club and the rec center.

Consider starting a babysitting co-op. In a nutshell, a babysitting co-op is a group of parents who trade babysitting hours on a point basis. Request a sitter to spend points and sit for members to earn points. This is a great way to save money on babysitters, and since there’s usually a monthly meeting, you’re using only sitters you know and trust.

Check out www.SittingAround.com to start a co-op for free!

Tip 1: Interview potential babysitters. For a list of questions to ask a potential babysitter, including what you should pay them, Google “how to interview a babysitter”. There are many great ideas out there!

Always check references!

Tip 2: When you leave, set out a “Babysitter List” with emergency contacts, safe neighbors and house rules. Don’t let the kids be the ones to inform the sitter of your rules. “Yes, we always get marshmallows before bed!” and “Of course Daddy lets us dig through his closet.”

Tip 3: If you don’t have a home phone, be sure the babysitter has a cell phone. Leave yours or your spouse’s if needed. If you trust her with your kids, you can trust her with your cell phone.

Tip 4: Come back early occasionally. Drop in unannounced.

Ask neighbors/parents you know if you can watch their kids while they’re home.

Take a babysitting class! There’s a Red Cross Babysitting class taught by Erik Cozadd with everything you need to know to start a babysitting business. He’s planning a class in August, so give him a call at (936)560-6844.

Tip 1: Know what age children and how many you’re comfortable with watching.

Tip 2: Decide what your time is worth and have that discussion before you show up. Either state your rate, explain what other parents pay you, or you can ask, “What do you usually pay sitters?”

Tip 3: Ask what is expected. Some parents just want a night out while others expect light housework done. Either way, always leave the house at least as clean as it was when you arrived!

Tip 3: Make sure your own parents know where you’ll be and allow them to meet your clients if they wish.

Tip 4: Arrive early so parents can show you around. Show that you respect and listen to the kids by speaking to them at their eye level. This makes them feel special and helps with obedience.

Tip 5: Use your intuition!!! If something feels wrong, it probably is. It’s ok to say no to a potential client.

Tip 5: Use your intuition! If something feels wrong, it probably is. It’s ok to say no to a sitter. We’re talking about your children.

Coming Soon: We’re having Potty Talk, and we want to hear from YOU! Log on to ParentThoughts.com/pottytalk and tell us how you manage public restroom visits with young children. Your ideas may be featured in an upcoming article!

Cheryl Suiter, MD & Jana Davis Brazil, WHNP Pineywoods Obstetrics & Gynecology

936.699.7575 We’ve moved!

Our new location is 402 Gaslight Blvd Lufkin, TX

Kelly Finnerud and husband, Ryan, have 3 energetic kids, Aidan (7), Trace (5) and Emmy (3). They have been married 10 years. Ryan is a worship pastor at Grace Bible Church in Nacogdoches, and Kelly has a music education degree and has been a band director in the area until staying home with young children. Kelly writes for ParenThoughts.com, an online resource sharing local activities, parenting stories and anything else kid-related in our area. tjmag.com / 69

YOURCHILD | LOOK AT ME

Lt. Anna Catherine Alvis, Lt. Katelynn Walker, Capt. Jennifer DuBose, Lt. Mollie Taylor, Lt. Macy Rawls

Chase, Zoie & Nate at field day!

Hudson High School New Image Choir.

Lauren Glass Hudson Cheer

Crown Colony Jr tennis team at regionals in New Braunfels, at Newkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. They did great and finished in 6th place.

L-R back row: Garrett Coleman, Noah Vier, coach Zack Rogers, Jackson Vier, Jace Mahan and John Ellis L-R front row: Kristina Johnson, Sarah Bates, and Caroline Chance.

Send a photo of your child and information to photos@tjmag.com.

Submissions are free of charge.

70 / The Journey - June| July 2012

Mallory Jordan Kennedy will be a sophomore at Hudson High School. This was her Freshman Soccer pic from 2011-2012.

PLACESANDFACES

Junior League of Lufkin Spring Market

photographed by Lisa Crow

tjmag.com / 71

YOURCHILD | BIRTHDAY BASH

L

Landon’s Circus

andon’s 5th birthday was a three ring circus! His parents, Morgan and Brett Due, created the look and feel of a circus for all to enjoy. The circus was held at The Rock House in Lufkin. Classy Clown and characters brought joy and excitement to the kids’ faces creating fun balloons to enjoy.

The face painting was a big hit with a long line of kids waiting patiently for their turn. Of course, the party was complete with circus food: hot dogs, popcorn, gumballs, and peanuts. Landon’s circus party was for all to enjoy and a day for him to always remember!

72 / The Journey - June| July 2012

WHY I LOVE BEING A MOM

I

| YOURCHILD

TIKI PERKINS

t was a posh event, and I had to scramble through my closet to find something that didn’t scream “Mom”. I was placed at a table with a district attorney, a couple of city councilmen, a doctor and a few other highly accomplished leaders of East Texas. De ja vu. I had been there before, only it was in another time and another place. Then, since my voice was heard on a couple of thousand radio stations daily, people knew my name, or at least my voice. But that was then. This time, when the eyes of the table were on me and the inevitable “what do you do?” question was asked during the introduction phase of the conversation, my answer was simple: “I’m a stay at home mom.” What wasn’t simple was the irrepressible smile that broke across my face when I said it, because all I could think was, “I know you guys have great lives, but I’ve got the best job in the whole world”.

Simply, I love being a mom because I get to spend the better part of my time with the most awesome people in the world, my kids. My

mom told me it would be this way.

Never to be one who wanted to babysit or hold babies, I once told my mom that I was worried I wouldn’t be a good mom; I wasn’t’ a “kid” person. It was the first time I heard those words, “Honey, there is nothing like your own children.” Mom was right, and I have encouraged countless expecting moms with those very words.

Truly, it would be easier to say what I don’t like about being a mom.

I don’t like that our kids are growing so fast. I don’t like having to discipline them. I hate to clean our boys’ bathroom, and I’m not too crazy about our skyrocketing grocery bill and laundry piles. But that’s about it of the things I don’t like.

Here’s what I love. Giggling with them about one of their latest antics, tickle-tackling sessions on the floor, serious talks about the world view, morality, or lack of, of the latest movie we just saw or book we read, praying together as a family at night, devotions in the morning, going to their ballgames, watching them struggle through making hard decisions, (yes…I really do like that, it always reminds me of how God is working in their lives!), exploring with them through travel, teaching them, hugging them and watching them grow.

The kids and I got into what appeared to be a silly argument the other day. We had gone swimming the day before, and the next morning at breakfast my two younger ones said, “Mom doesn’t ever go off the diving board”. They really seemed to believe it! I was indignant. How had they forgotten all the “follow the leader” jumps, flips and dives I had performed while playing with them over the years? As ridiculous as it seems, I was truly hurt that they couldn’t remember! Why? My husband new the root cause immediately. He told the kids my frustration really had nothing to do with diving off a silly board and everything to do with my desire to want them always to remember how I truly enjoy them. And I so do…enjoy them.

Every now and again someone asks if I miss being a newscaster, grinding out national news every hour on the radio. I really did love that job. It was fast paced, always changing and never boring. Kind of like raising 4 kids! But my answer is usually, “No, I don’t miss it.”

I think it’s because I am having too much fun now with the most awesome people in the world! tjmag.com / 73

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