The Minute Magazine July August 2015 Issue by The Minute Magazine

July/August 2015 Volume 10, Issue 4

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inside this

issue

magazine TIFFANY BYRAM

Owner/Publisher/Editor Graphics/Layout

VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager SHELLEY DURAN SARA ENLOE CHALAINE SCOTT

Feature Writers

JENNY REYNOLDS Founder

10 The Road to a

Simple Life by Shelley Duran

16 Unplug to Recharge by Chalaine Scott

17 4 Reasons to Cut

the Cord by Tiffany Byram

21 Catch Your Breath by Sara Enloe

Chris Broussard Winnie Griggs Wesley Harris Liz Hines Ashley Maddox Jason McReynolds Kathy B. Nelson Rachel Pardue Judith Roberts Melissa Teoulet Rosemary Thomas April Warford Timmons Darla Upton

30 Family Date Night Ideas Office Phone: 504.390.2585 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 Address: P.O. Box 961, Belle Chasse, LA 70037

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For a list of locations near you, or to catch up on past issues, like us on Facebook or visit

www.theminutemag.com Interested in writing for The Minute or have a great feature story idea? Email Tiffany Byram at

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The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, Ouachita, Webster, & Lincoln Parishes in Louisiana. They are FREE for you to enjoy. Take some to your friends, relatives or anyone else who needs a refreshing, enlightening “minute.” Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permission. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials. The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted.

rom decluttering to date night, this issue can be thought of as a how to guide to simplifying your life and building it from the bottom up. Simplicity is complicated. We all know ways to make life simpler but acting on that knowledge can be hard work. I learned that lesson first hand when I tried to pull the plug on my cell phone attachment as Chalaine Scott talks about in her article "Unplug to Recharge". My fingers itched to check text messages and emails. My brain constantly reminded me that my phone was in another room. But you know what else I learned? I learned that technology can wait, I've got better things to spend my time on. “Simplicity is complex. It's never simple to keep things simple. Simple solutions require the most advanced thinking.” ― Richie Norton

Tiffany Byram

a fresh perspective from rosemary's kitchen

written by Rosemary Thomas It's Gotta Go

don’t know very many people who don’t want – and need – a more simplified and organized life (myself included). But wanting or needing is different than having. Most of us want things to be organized. No one likes to be frustrated first thing in the morning because the car keys are lost on the counter among grocery store flyers, last month’s magazines, old bills, school papers and catalogues of stuff we can’t afford. The floors of our closets are piled with shoes, our dresser drawers are filled with tangled jewelry, our linen cabinets are stuffed and bulging and our pantries are overflowing with food items we bought last year. Our garages and carports are a hot mess as well as our desks, closets and counters. The problem is a lack of organization, yes. But the real problem – the ROOT of the problem is that we have TOO MUCH STUFF! We have too much. We just don’t have room for all that stuff. It is choking the life out of us. All that clutter robs us of our peace of mind, our time, our sanity. It has to go. Really. Only after getting rid of a large percentage of our stuff can we get – and stay – organized. I happen to be in M.P.M. (Major Purge Mode) right now. We are planning an extensive house remodel, so basically we have to pack up the whole house. It is challenging, but it is a great opportunity to start fresh. I am trying to follow all the advice out there from professional organizers and ask myself hard questions about things I think I need to keep. OK Self…. These are the questions:

Do you LOVE it?

Notice this is "capital L" love. Not do

you think it's pretty or do you like it or think it is neat or sorta love it. If you say you love it, then ask yourself another question , like “If I love it so much, then why has it been on the top shelf and this is the first time I have seen it in 3 years?” Doesn’t sound like love to me. That sounds like you ran into an old boyfriend that you had all but forgotten about and he is looking pretty good… but you know you can’t keep him. Mike Golden is history and so is that pretty etched trifle bowl.

What about Do you NEED it?

This is tough for me. I MAY need it later. I may start hosting elaborate dinner parties and need 12 sets of cornon-the-cob holder thingies. I may need to keep that 2nd coffee grinder just in case the one I use breaks. Probably not. Justin Case does not live here anymore. He left with Mike Golden.

Ask yourself Do you USE it .. or WEAR it? Those 2 sizes too small

linen pants may be gorgeous but the zipper on those puppies has not had a complete workout in several years. They gotta go. Same is true for the 17 thousand baskets you have collected and the sewing machine that was last used to stitch a halter top in 1975. Yes, you did look mighty fine in that halter top, but trust me – those days are gone and they aint coming back. Let Mike and Justin carry that heavy sewing machine with them when they leave.

And then there is the guilt situation. Sometimes you feel guilty getting rid of something that was a gift, or that has some sort of sentimental value. One time, many years ago, I threw away a small ceramic painted unicorn box Sara had painted for me when she was 4 or 5 years old. This thing was ugly. Hideous. I kept it on my nightstand for years and years, but finally threw it away. Sara asked about it and I was foolish enough to tell her the truth. Wow! You would have thought I had tried to sell one of her kidneys. She had a fit. I felt bad – for awhile – but it still had to go. She claims she is still scarred from the knowledge that I threw it away, but I think she will be OK. Lesson learned. Next time, I'll just say it broke. Bottom line – you gotta be tough. Be brave. How many sets of sheets or towels do you really need? How many ink pens, plastic bowls for leftovers, frying pans, soup ladles or sandals do you actually have to keep? I know I may have stepped over the line with that last one. I know shoes fall into a whole different category for a lot of people). Purge Baby Purge. Keep your eye on the prize. Less clutter… less stress… less frustration. Unclutter your space, your mind, your emotions. Purge Baby Purge.

Rosemary Thomas is an avid cook and gardener who enjoys the challenge of owning a restaurant and working with her daughter. She is an RN and continues to work several days a week in Shreveport where she lives with her husband, three dogs, two cats and 80 chickens.

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rants of an

old hen

written by Chris Broussard

Rediscovering Vincent

rom the time I was twelve years old and stood in front of one of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings, I have been in love with that man and his art. As a preteen, I had the unbelievable privilege of being able to see his art at the center of the art universe….Paris, France. And now nearly fifty years later, I have rediscovered Vincent. A few months ago, I was standing in front of one of my little kindergarten classes at Glenbrook when Jonathan said, “Mrs. Chris, when are you going to tell us about Vincent Van Gogh. You said you were going to tell us about him.” I’m sure some of the parents of my Glenbrook students will tell you that no one escapes the story about my favorite all time artist.

with such passion. While his life was cut short, his vast collection of paintings and the more than 700 letters to his brother chronicle his life and leaves behind one of the most important

legacies of painting ever to enrich the world. This fall, I will return to Paris, France with the love of my life and my dearest

So, I set out all my props….the painting of Vincent’s Starry Starry Night, the storyboard…everything I needed to begin my story about the world’s greatest artist. Halfway into the story, Jonathan comments, “You know his birthday is March 30th!” To which, “I replied, how did you know that?” I certainly hadn’t shared that and actually, I didn’t even remember that. I turned to Jonathan and the other kids and said, “You know what?” …. And almost as if it were rehearsed, you could hear them all say “Let’s have a party for Vincent.” I went home that evening and got out my book about Vincent and began to admire his work for the millionth time. And it occurred to me that the little guys might have come up with the best idea yet. A party for Vincent. It had merit. It has possibilities. By golly, we’re gonna do it, I thought. I’ve spent this summer reading up on Vincent life including the hundreds of letters he wrote to his brother Theo. My love for Vincent and his devotion to his art has grown even more. I am fascinated by this man’s drive to create and paint his world. His letters to his brother are incredible. He describes the colors in his landscapes in such detail that you begin to understand why he chose to paint in striking colors and

Chris Broussard, co-founder and chairman of the board of Cultural Crossroads is an artist, an entrepreneur and currently the art enrichment teacher for Glenbrook. She started writing down her personal accounts of whimsical and heartfelt experiences in a blog called "Rants of an Old Hen." And will now share her favorites with Minute readers.

friends. It will have been fifty years since I will have seen the Eiffle tower or walk down the Champs Elysees. I can't wait. We plan on visiting the graves of Vincent and his brother Theo and view the room where Vincent took his last breathe. It's the only item on my bucket list. I'll let you know how it goes. Left: Vincent Van Gogh's iconic Sunflowers painting. Bottom: This painting “Chicken Van Gogh” was painted as a tribute to the impressionistic artist as a birthday present when we celebrated Vincent's 160th Birthday at The Farm during “ChickenStock,” our annual festival for the arts.

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The Road to a

Simple Life

he road to a simple life can sometimes be dramatic. At least for me, it can. Like all the others, I too make "resolutions" when New Year’s rolls around. I’m quoting the word resolutions because they are usually not very thought out. This year they aren't even complete sentences. I took some time to write down things I’ve been thinking about, or know I need to think about, or ideas that I need to wrap my mind around. This year’s ramblings are as follows: 1. Enjoy the process 2. Healthy inside - Healthy outside 3. More vs less 4. Genuine joy 5. Be there 6. Knowledge This is my unpaved road to simple living. I write them down on a chalkboard painted window hanging on the wall (because: Pinterest) where they are regularly visible in my home. I love when new people ask about them, because it serves as the best glimpse into who I am at this moment. At the end of the year, I hope I can look back and see how much I’ve learned about myself. I hope I can see how far I’ve traveled down my road. I hope the destination becomes clearer. If I’m honest with myself, all the hard things I’ve endured this year could fit into one or more of these half sentenced resolutions. It's a simple and present reminder for me that what I intend to work on this year is going to take place. Life purposely lays out all our lessons for us. Again and again. All the choices we make, down to the itty bitty, all contribute to a sense of self. If reading food labels makes you feel more

empowered, do it. If walking with your person (furry or human) at the end of the day makes your long days easier to bear, then head outside. If all you want to do is order Chinese food and watch ‘You’ve Got Mail’, please don’t let me stop you. Actually, could I join you? The point is, your road to the simple life is all yours.

No one knows your destination except

you. If we can listen to the instructions we’re given in life, our destination will become more focused in our lives.

Since my simple road is unpaved, it sometimes feels like I’m getting a little car sick from the ride. But if I can enjoy the process (#1), gain some knowledge (#6) along the way and be there (#5) in conversations with the people I love, I will experience genuine joy (#4) and figure out what my more vs less is (#3). Cheesy, I know. Shelley is a twenty something gal twostepping in Lafayette, Louisiana. When she's not working as a Marketing Manager for the Chamber of Commerce, she can often be found running through her neighborhood in order to enjoy Cajun cuisine on a regular basis. Her beloved dog, Olive is often by her side. Follow her rants and quips on Twitter @shellbellduran.

1. Enjoy the Process

2. Healthy Inside Healthy Outside 3. More vs Less 4. Genuine Joy 5. Be There

6. Knowledge

The Road to a Simple Life 11

strangers at my

coffeepot

written by Darla Upton

Simple Life Ain't Always So Simple

veryone I know speaks of this thing called a simple life. They tell tales of how gardening or sewing or playing more with their kid gets them centered. They speak of how giving up materials and embracing simple rewarded them with so much. Frankly, it is never as simple as it seems for me. If I decide gardening will relax me and I plant one plant, and if that one plant is successful then surely 10 more will be too! That's how I end up with a garden I can't keep weeds and bugs out of and I develop a tic because the garden that was supposed to relax me instead stresses me out. If I try to play more with my kid he picks games I can't play. My poor hand eye coordination leaves me wanting to throw the Xbox controller across the room. Instead of feeling centered he and I both feel like he has the dorkiest mom on the planet that cusses too much. When I attempted sewing I came to the realization that I have no idea how to thread a bobbin and that machines have changed a lot since my 1984 Home Economics class. I love to cook. It does not mean I know what is for dinner every night. Being the cook became being menu maker, shopper and health guru. It all left me too tired to cook. Some people aren't cut out for a simple life.

A couple of weeks ago I wanted to paint my new front door. We bought a new house and I wanted to brighten it up a bit. I had already bought a color that should have covered the old color completely--no stripping or sanding required. So, I take my water and my sponge out to clean the door before painting. Just cleaning. Nothing harsh. A mild soap and some water. An hour later I am scraping paint off the door because the "simple" act of cleaning it caused the paint to start chipping. A morning project turned into a two day project complete with scraping, sanding, priming and painting. Painting THREE times! And that's just one example. Crap like this happens to me all the time! At the new place I wanted another door to be half glass. I contact the glass company. They will be on another job right by my house. All I have to do is cut the hole in the door and they'll come down and measure it for glass and the hole will be filled in two days. Easy, right? I hire the guy to cut the hole, I call and leave a message that it is ready for measuring. The glass people never show up. I call again and discover they

never got the message and are now gone from my area. They will be back in two days. In two days the Memorial Day holiday was upon us and thus delayed my glass order another 5 days. I had a hole in my door for over a week rather than 2 days. See how simple that was? My friends and family would say I make things more complicated than they need to be. I do tend to overthink things, I will admit. However, I believe they don't think of all the things they need to address before embarking on any given task. If I go to the waterpark I will overpack, need a locker, go buy sand shoes, take a first aid kit, and call the park to see if we can bring our own lawn chair that has a fan attached to it. I like to be prepared and often feel like I'm the only one preparing! While everyone else is having a simple life in their favorite lawn chair with shoes that keep their feet from getting blisters on the hot sand someone like me is in the background preparing for a simple life. I think you'd have to drop me off in Amish country to force simple life on me, and even then I'd agonize over the quality of my butter.

Darla lives in Jefferson, Texas, where she raises her eight year old son, Atticus Gregory with her significant other, Hugh Lewis II. Hugh owns the AlleyMcKay House Bed & Breakfast. Atticus Gregory is the Eloise of the McKay House. Prior to being a self-employed, stay at home mom she was a Civil Litigation Paralegal for a defense firm in North Carolina. She eventually returned to her hometown of Texarkana, Texas, where she met Hugh while working at the Texarkana Gazette as a production assistant. Girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy, girl has a baby and gets a bed and breakfast? It happened. So, she was smart and professional at one time and now she can't find her keys, has more toys in her purse than pens, can't decide if she should color her hair again and sometimes she burns the bacon. Luckily, no matter what life hands her, she has a good sense of humor, vodka and her typewriter.

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headlines & hemlines written by Rachel Pardue

The Simplicity of Authenticity

s teenagers, and more specifically, as teenagers who have just graduated high school, there are certain expectations surrounding a senior trip. As my friends and I prepared to leave for our eight day unsupervised taste of independence, our parents gave us the standard speech: no alcohol, behave, and call them if we have any trouble. We laughed. Since age four I have been unbelievably blessed with a truly unique group of friends. Somewhere between kindergarten and graduation, we welcomed many new faces to the mix, but throughout high school I was surrounded by the same eight wonderful people. I am naturally a social person, and as a result I have had many different friendships throughout my adolescence, but despite every change and the occasional burned bridge these eight remarkable kids remained. In our little hodge podge of nine, we have two valedictorians, an aspiring actress, future doctors, engineers, businessmen, and even a pilot. Our friend group makes no sense, and that is precisely why I love it. In high school friendships can be shallow, and they often resonate from one common interest. We, however, have almost nothing in common except for our huge dreams and authentic love for one another. Because my friends have grown into inspirational young adults with impeccable morals and devout work ethics, we stay busy. In fact, we all bonded the most in one of our AP classes where we debated ethics and discussed ways in which the teachings of classic literature still hold true centuries later. This experience lead to a truly one of a kind friendship in which we are playful and joke around, but we also have long conversations about

theology, right and wrong, and most recently how to cope with change. So as we said goodbye to our parents only days after graduation, we left for the beach full of excitement and nostalgia knowing this would be our last week together. As I mentioned earlier my friends are the definition of go-getters, and as a result we will hardly get to see one another before we scatter across the country to pursue our dreams. One of my friends will be counseling kids at church camps across the nation for the duration of the summer, while another will be studying acting at a prestigious theater school in New York, and another will be taking full college classes this summer although he is already beginning as a sophomore, the list goes on. For this one-week, however, we were able to forget about our many obligations and hectic schedules and have fun--well, our kind of fun. We all stayed in a yellow beach house that we affectionately referred to as The Bali House, and we spent our days doing nothing more than enjoying each other’s company. From entire days spent on the beach, to massive volleyball tournaments, to shopping excursions, concerts, etc. we made more memories than I can count-all without one drop of alcohol or entering a sketchy tattoo parlor I might add. I have always known that my friends were special, but it wasn’t until I spent every waking second of eight days with them that I truly comprehended how lucky I am. We never got tired of each other, the laughter never ceased, and

none of us were prepared for it to end. On the last day we all woke each other up and walked out to the beach to sit together and watch the sunrise. No one said a word. There was a true depth to that morning that can only be expressed with silence. After we packed up and said our goodbyes one of my friends sent this text to all of us, and I cannot think of a better way to express the rarity of our friendship. He wrote, “You guys have been an incredible group of friends. I can’t wait to see where life takes you all. God has great plans for each of you with everything that you do. When I have children of my own one day, I pray that they have a group of friends like I was blessed with. I love you guys and wish you all the best with careers, family, dreams, and goals. May God bless you on our new journey”. This is the kind of simplicity I hope to maintain in my life forever, the simplicity of authentic relationships. I have no desire or patience for shallow acquaintances. I want friends like the eight I grew up with. I want friends who have a deep love for one another. I want friends who know each other’s strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and fears. I want friends who will talk for hours about the complex challenges we face as our lives change completely. Most importantly, I want friends who can sit together in perfect silence when a moment is far too special to ruin with words. _______________________________

Rachel is a senior at Cedar Creek where she is Student Council President, Vice-President of the Key Club, Secretary of the National Honor Society, Co-captain of the dance line, and a member of the Lady Cougar Basketball team. Rachel will graduate in May and will soon be deciding which college to call home.

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By: Chalaine Scott

I knocked on the door

, waiting eagerly for my Mom to answer. I had told her there was a package on its way for her birthday; little did she know that package was me. I hid behind the pink and purple flowers tied together in the pretty bouquet I’d just bought her. “Coming!” I heard her yell from one of the back bedrooms. And when she opened the door, the neighbors heard her, too. A scream followed by random babble and then a flood of tears as she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. “You’re supposed to be in Detroit!” But there I was, on the welcome mat of our front door at my home in Louisiana, hugging my mama. And then I got mad at myself because I forgot to record the whole thing. It seems I’ve become so obsessed with technology that I have to have a recorded picture or video of everything in my life. From corn on the cob to show my favorite summer snack to feet dangling in water to show my favorite summer hangout, my phone is a record of the daily happenings of my life. But why? What do I need to prove to myself? If I’m living those moments, surely I know they’ve happened. Somehow, I think I’ve become so obsessed with taking a picture of the moment, that I seldom live the moment how it’s meant to be. In the moment when I hugged my mom, I saw her eyes. I saw the way they lit up when she first saw me. I saw her hands start to shake a little and then come towards me. I saw the smile on her face and the tears on her cheeks and I felt her hair brush my skin as she clung to me. I didn’t watch her through a glass screen or worry about focusing a lens to record her reaction. It was just she and I. And later, I was glad I had no video. I was glad to have experienced the moment with no phone in hand. I lace up my running sneakers and open my apps on my phone. I need my miles tracked and my music on. I can’t run without my phone secured into my armband and my earphones in. But, I decided recently to take a walk without it. I clipped the leash on my dog Jeter’s collar and set off in my neighborhood. I heard the birds chirping. I sang a song in my head. I met a greying Labradoodle named Ralph and his owner Sandy. They’ve lived in their lake house for 10 years. I pet his wet fur and listened to Sandy tell me how much he loves jumping off the dock in their backyard. Jeter and Ralph exchange sniffs and a few playful

paw hits. Sandy collects her mail and tells Jeter to come visit again and go for a swim with Ralph. He wags his tail like he’s excited about her invite. On the way home, we stop to sit and watch the sunset over the lake. My phones at home, and I think about the texts and Snapchats and Facebook posts I’m missing. What a world, I think to myself, that I’m so obsessed with a device that I feel anxious without it in my palm. I’ve gone on 2 more walks since then without my phone. Jeter and I have met a huge bouncing Greyhound and watched another sunset over the lake. It’s peaceful, in a sense, to be unconnected for a time. It’s like being unplugged actually recharges you. I challenge you to shut your phone off or leave it at home and go for a walk. Enjoy the sounds you often miss, the people you overlook, the sights you don’t see. Enjoy life the way it was made to be lived, through the eyes God has given you and not a screen that man has created. Breathe in the air and enjoy a summer night. Surprise someone you haven’t seen in a while. Hug them. Really hug them. See the way their skin wrinkles as they smile, feel the way they hold you in the moment. Sit with someone you love and watch the sunset from your porch. See the way the sky and clouds and stars meet and mix like a painting drawn from God himself. Laugh and cry and smile and just be in a moment. Don’t miss it trying to make sure you get it on camera or share it with your friends. The texts and the pictures and the posts can wait. A copywriter, novelist, and columnist, Chalaine lives by her pen. She is always traveling and never settling, making memories wherever she roams. Living off her dog's cuddles, her brother's humor, and sweet iced tea, she is just a girl in love with the simplicities. Mostly though, she is just a mess in stilettos, living off God's grace and living to serve Him, welcoming inspiration from wherever it comes and pursuing her dreams with whatever it takes. Follow her @ Chaleezy

By Tiffany Byram Bad Bedfellow

Can't go to sleep without your phone? Using your phone to unwind after you crawl under the covers can actually have the opposite effect. Electronic stimulation like watching TV or scrolling on your phone right before bed has been shown to interfere with sleep patterns. Falling asleep and staying asleep are hard enough these days. If you have to get online before bed, set a time limit and try to keep it out of the bedroom. Compulsive cell phone use, especially in routine settings like bedtime, puts us into default mode. Default actions are when we automatically open an app or feed out of habit without even thinking about it. That's why it sometimes feels like you are chasing a rabbit down a hole. Establish set time limits to re-train your brain to make conscience decisions about your online activity.

Relationship Ruiner

It's hard to communicate with someone who is constantly on their phone. Technology limits person to person interactions by distracting from what's right in front of us. It cuts into family time and can strain relationships. Parents can lose tempers faster with children because they feel interrupted. Children express frustration and anger at their parents because they feel ignored. Couples and friendships can also struggle with this same cycle. Be more strategic in your usage. Pay attention to when and where you are using your phone. Start by cutting out technology at the dinner table. If you have kids, dock your phone during playtime. Think about turning off your notification for texts and emails. If something is that important, they'll call. Schedule blocks of time to check and return messages so they dont pile up and you don't miss something time sensitive. Just make sure to stay on task.

Attention Hog

The more technology we introduce into our lives, the shorter our attention spans get. We go to take a photo, notice a text instead and end up responding to a work email after watching a video about the new contour makeup trend. Why are simple tasks so difficult? Because we are holding the ultimate multitasker in our hands. The efficiency of having an all in one product is undeniable. But learning to use your cell phone instead of letting it use you is vital. Try to limit yourself to a single task, do it and get out. The world will not end if we miss out on an Amazon deal of the day or that super important post about 5 things you should never do with ground beef.

The Junker

Think of the internet like junk food, it's all about moderation. Yes, the internet is a wonderful place full of interesting and intellectual content that can enrich our lives and grow us as individuals. Long lost connections can be made with your best friend who moved away in second grade. Friendships can blossom online that would not normally exist otherwise. But the internet is also full of some of the most ridiculous, IQ draining material you will ever see. And our Facebook pages are a never ending stream of foodie pics, selfies, and my-life-is-better-than-your-life comparisons. This unrealistic portrayal of perfection can cause unwarranted damage to our self-esteem and contributes to the superficial, need to please others mindset. In the grand scheme of things, how many cats do you really need to see that can play piano or sit on a roomba. Plus the new trend online is to force advertising into every possible nook and cranny available so now we're wasting even more time waiting on a video to load that we don't really need to see anyway.

the journey written by Jason McReynolds

Simple

I’ve got the easiest solution for you to simplify your life. Here it is: Turn off your radio in your car. Ok, one more thing. Turn off your radio and pray. There are all kinds of things we can talk about when it comes to prayer… our motivation for it, how Jesus prayed, our discipline to pray, giving thanks in our prayers, how to ask God for things, how to pray Scripture, how the Holy Spirit is involved, how fasting is connected to prayer, God’s role in prayer, confession, adoration, and how God answers prayer. You probably didn’t know there was so much to prayer, huh?!?! Prayer should be time consuming but it doesn’t mean you don’t do anything else. First let me talk about why and how we pray. Everyone has patterns in their lives. You have a daily pattern. Work patterns, recreation patterns, social patterns, family patterns, etc. but what about your relationship with God? What is your pattern or routine with God? If it is not a pattern then chances are it is because you don't have a consistent prayer life. You don't talk to God on a regular basis. Jesus spoke to God on a regular basis. If you’ve ever been in a high or liturgical church chances are you’ve heard the Lord’s Prayer. Let me give you the modern English version with some translation in parenthesis: “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (Seek God’s presence with a worshipful heart.) Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Seek God’s priorities over you own.) Give us this day our daily bread. (Seek God’s provision for your daily needs.) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Seek God’s pardon for your sins.) And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Seek God’s power to overcome temptation.) For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Here’s the thing… God doesn't need your prayer. Yes, He knows what you are going to say. Yes, He knows what you need. Prayer isn’t for Him. Prayer is for us! Of the five things that you see in that verse (Presence, Priorities, Provision, Pardon, Power), which do

you need most and why? He says He’ll provide that. What is the one basic thing that makes a relationship a relationship? Communication! God designed us to communicate w/ Him! And the way we communicate is the simplest way ever devised! We don't have to pay $80 for a plan, we don't have to renew every 2 yrs, & we never have any dropped calls! No matter where we are at or what we are doing God is there w/ us & we just have to have a focused talk w/ Him. That's what it means to seek God... to focus on Him and listen to Him. God doesn't have voicemail! He always picks up. He always hears you. He always answers your questions w/ yes, no, or wait. A coach doesn't sit his best player the whole game. Why would you sit God on the sidelines in your life when He is right there ready to go to work? On one of my young boy’s baseball team we’ve got 3 kids who are really good, 3 who are decent, and 6 who would rather see how many times they can spin around before they get dizzy and fall over. What do you think happens when I put the best kids in the best positions (pitcher, short, and 1st base)? We win the ball game. This is God. He’s the best thing in your life. And when you seek Him, focus on Him, & make Him the priority of your life, He will lead you to a win. The other side of talking to God is listening to God. You can’t just talk all the time. You have to listen. Let me flip my coach analogy around now. You need a coach. God is your best coach & He will never bench you. We need to get advice from Him. Now there are several ways that Scripture tells us to listen to Him. 1. By being still and

turning off all the noise. At one point several years back I challenged people to go an entire week without turning on their radio in their car. It was harder for our congregation to do that than it was to not watch tv. In the car it’s just you and God. And for whatever reason, God was really speaking to people when they were in their cars! God primarily speaks to us through His Holy Spirit and Scripture. 2. We hear Him through wise Godly people whom He has placed around us. 3. We hear Him through circumstances like answered prayer which is a little of what Jesus is referring to here - daily needs and overcoming temptation. When these things happen you know He is speaking to you through them. Now, you can talk to God however you want but if you want some structure I’ve often recommended the ACTS formula. It’s helpful to me when I get stuck in prayer, or don't know what or how to pray, or when my prayers become dry. It stands for adoration, confession, thanksgiving, & supplication. This isn't the way to pray b/c God doesn't care as long as we are focused on Him. He just wants us to talk to Him because it furthers our relationship w/ Him. So why do we pray to God? Because we were designed to communicate with our Heavenly Father. How do we pray to God? By having a focused conversation with Him by talking to Him and by listening to Him. Anyone can do this! That’s what makes it so amazing! Anywhere, anytime, you can talk to God and listen to God. It’s so simple and it makes your life less complicated and much, much, simpler. _______________________________

Jason McReynolds is the pastor of New Orleans Community Church. He and his wife, Liev, have two boys and one little girl. Jason enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, watching and/or playing any kind of sports, and taking his wife out on dates. To learn more about him, or NOCC, visit: www.neworleanscommunity church.com

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Catch Your Breath Written By: Sara Enloe It's not until you stop to catch your breath that you realize how fast you've been running. At least that’s how it felt to me when I left the corporate world of advertising to pursue a career as a full-time nanny. I loved the people I worked with and the company I worked for, but I felt unfulfilled. I knew I wanted to work with children, and I knew I had to step out in faith to make that happen. So I signed up for Care.com, fell in love with a family of five, and made the move. I’m pleased to say that there was a reward to the risk: I’m beside myself with joy. For the first time in forever, I wake up in the morning and look forward to going to work. The day flies by as I take the kids on walks, feed them at snack and meal time, change diapers, wash dishes, and keep them engaged with play time. It hit me that it really is the simple things in life that matter most: Little hands tugging at my shirt because they want me to pick them up. Little heads falling asleep on my shoulder as I sing them to sleep. Little gurgles as the soundtrack to my day. My heart is full and I’m one very happy lady. Now that you know a little bit about me, I have a question for you: When was the last time you did something you enjoyed? Not something you had to do, but something you chose to do just because it made you happy? I’m not talking about something extreme; I’m talking about the simple things. If you enjoy nature, when was the last time you went on a walk outside? If you like reading, when was the last

time you read a good book? If writing is your favorite pastime, when was the last time you took out your old journal and let your creativity flow? I firmly believe that making time for yourself is good for your soul and a blessing to those around you. I know from personal experience that if I don’t take the time I need to do the things I love, I’m a grouch. I need time alone in the Word of God. I require a nap every once in a while. I benefit from the occasional spontaneous dance party with just my silly self and my favorite upbeat song. I relish bowling nights and movie marathons with my family and long talks with my close friends. I make time for these things because they add value to my life. I implore you to do a little soul searching and see what simple things you need to make time for in your life. It could be as easy as lighting some candles and taking a long bath, or hugging someone you love. Breathe in what makes you happy, and breathe out all your worries and anxieties. Tomorrow is not promised, so enjoy life today. You’re worth it.

Fluent in Spanish and in meow-ing, Sara is a Jesuslovin' cat lady from the mitten state. You can find her singing, leading worship, writing and correcting you on your grammar (sorry about that). Follow her @SaraEnloe

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written by Ashley Maddox The Night Shift

work night shift at a hospital. I see all sorts of interesting things. For instance, every time there is a full moon, the emergency room is packed with patients. Don't ask me why but it's true. I see kids, young people, and old people. Some people are angry, some are in pain, and some are just scared. I see life and I see death on a regular basis. I still remember my first night a patient died in the emergency room. I had to walk right past the body on my way to another patient. It was such a strange feeling. Even though this happened months ago, I still remember the feeling. It's a feeling of sadness and wondering what could have been done to change the outcome. My heart went out to the deceased patient's family and to the emergency room doctor who had to give the family the news. I perform computed tomography (CT) scans for patients. I have seen people vomit and I have seen people cry, among other things I won't discuss here. Some people just want to know what's wrong with them. Others are hopeful nothing is wrong and still others are sure that there is something wrong.

I am not a doctor but I still see what is wrong with the patients many times. I can tell if you have kidney stones or a gall stone. I can tell when a patient has a hernia or a bleed in their brain. Some of these things aren't a big deal but some of these things can mean a patient is not going to make it or the outcome will be bad. The worst thing about my job is knowing when a patient is not going to make it. Most patients come to the emergency room over things that cannot be helped. Appendicitis, heart attack, etc. However, we do see patients who are in the emergency room due to things they can control. I have seen several instances recently where a patient's life could have been saved if they had just taken their medication properly.

People seem to think that they don't need to take their blood pressure medication or diabetes medication on a regular basis as their doctor prescribed them. You do. Your doctor didn't order these medications, among others, just so you could take it when you feel like it. These are just two of the most common examples. Chronic illnesses are no joke. Taking your prescription medications is no joke either. It could mean the difference between life and death. If you or someone you love is not taking their blood pressure or diabetes medication as they should please talk to them. It doesn't matter how young or old you are, take your medications properly. If you won't do it for yourself, please do it for your family and loved ones.

Ashley is originally from North Louisiana but now resides in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her experiences growing up in the country and being transplanted to the big city give her a unique perspective into life's quirks and hilarities. She is active in the New Orleans lifestyle and she has a great group of friends from which to draw her inspiration. She is a member of the Krewe of Nyx, attends numerous Mardi Gras Balls, runs, and enjoys reading and ice cream. She is married to her loving husband Jerry (who may or may not have written this bio).

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Speak It! written by Kathy B. Nelson

Simple Doesn't Always Mean Easy

growth each morning as I drink a cup of coffee. My “simple pleasure” has come after much hard work.

We recently enjoyed having one of our daughters, her husband and our little granddaughter in our home. The morning was filled with the simple pleasure of just hanging out and swimming together as a family. It did not cost us anything financially or take much effort to walk out our back door and go jump in the pool. And it was certainly a simple thing to just laugh and play all morning. However, having the water clean after rain storms, making sure the chlorine level is right, the water level is good and baby flotation devices are available was the hard work and sacrifice that came first. The actual swimming was the simple part, but someone did some “not so simple” things to make that happen.

ho remembers commercial jingle?

this

little

“Simple pleasures are the best, All the little things that make you smile and glow, All the things you know, Life's simple pleasures are the best, Are the best, In all the world.”* I was so surprised when I looked this song up and found what product it was promoting! Even after all the years since that commercial, I clearly remembered the song. It came to my mind fairly quickly as I meditated on the impact “simple” things have had on my life. So, I confess, I believe these lyrics to be true for me – life’s simple pleasures really are the best. However, my reality bite was realizing that all of the “simple pleasures” in my life didn’t just happen by accident or coincidence. Many of them, if not all of the simple things I enjoy, came as a byproduct of discipline, sacrifice or loss in someone’s life. Well, that statement took this sweet thought of the “simple” joys in a different direction, didn’t it? Currently I am enjoying the simple pleasure of watching the growth of a few vegetable plants we have in our backyard. While watching is a simple joy, I am aware that someone bought those plants and gave them to me as a gift. We then purchased good, organic fertilizer and rounded up some rich mulch for developing the healthiest plants. Carefully, we selected the best sunny spots to plant them in just the right amount of soil, mulch and fertilizer. Then, believing they would be thriving plants, we staked them all up. NOW, I have the simple pleasure of putting a little water on them and checking their

I think about smiling – now, that is a simple act that anyone can do, right? Don’t you know smiling is an intentional act. Yes, even smiling involves sacrifice and discipline. I smile because I genuinely love people and when I see them I spontaneously smile. The heart of person generates a smile. At some point you have to decide that blessing others is more important that what you may be feeling. That is discipline and sacrifice on some level. So even a simple, free, easy to do act like smiling comes from a deeper, not so simple, place.

The most powerful relationship I have is the one with my Savior, Jesus Christ. The command the bible gives us is that if we want to be a disciple of his, we must die to what we want to do, and devote our lives, every day, to living like him. A simple command to “be a disciple” comes with tremendous sacrifice, discipline and death to our old way of living. But the yield is a life filled with power and peace. Simple instructions, but not so easy response. I am sure by now you have thought of other simple joys of life that required something that wasn’t so easy in the beginning. Simple doesn’t always mean easy. May you see and experience the simple things that bring great joy this summer! And I encourage you to be quick to show gratitude and appreciation to whoever made them possible. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 *”Life’s Simple Pleasures” was featured on the Van Camps Pork & Beans commercial in the early 70’s _______________________________

Kathy is an author and speaker that loves to bring a word of encouragement to anyone that will listen. Founder of Speak It Ministries, she has been sharing her faith and teaching God's Word for over 30 years. She is a wife, sister, mom and Mimi to some great people and loves spending time with each of them. You can follow her on FaceBook, Twitter @cckahy, Goodreads and Wordpress. She is best described by having a desire to live life, love people and laugh out loud.

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DEALER NAME Dealer Street Address City, State, Zip Phone Number Installment Promo – 1.9% for 36 Months [2.34% APR*]. $0 Down | 1.9% interest rate | $28.60 per $1,000 Financed. *Example: On a purchase where the Amount Financed is $7,500, your Down Payment is $0 with 36 monthly payments of $215.92 each. Interest Rate is 1.9% [ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE is 2.34% (E)]. For other Amounts Financed, the payment would be approximately $28.60 per $1,000 financed. Note: The above financing programs are offered by Sheffield Financial, a Division of Branch Banking and Trust Company, Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Other financing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. An origination fee of $50 will be added to the amount financed in the above example. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Offer subject to change without notice. [“E” means estimate.]. Offers only available in the 50 U.S. states and District of Columbia. See your authorized E-Z-GO dealer or visit www.ezgo.com for details. Offer not valid with any other offer, discount or promotion. © 2015 E-Z-GO Division of Textron Inc. All rights reserved.

thirsty southern soul written by Judith Roberts Summer Time, Slow Time

arly mornings, iced coffee, and the smell of sunscreen – these are the things my summers are made of. Summertime just makes you slow down. I blame it on the heat mainly, but something about summer just urges everyone to go slower, to drink one more glass of sweet tea, to savor the sound of friends’ laughter and the bright light of fireflies. The first summer I was a mother, I spent the majority of the time on maternity leave, and one morning in particular sticks out in my mind. My husband Kyle and I were sitting outside drinking iced coffee, and our two-month old Alice was playing on a musical play mat in the grass. The heat of the day hadn’t quite arrived yet, and we were savoring the silence of a morning not quite ready for activity. “You know,” Kyle said, “I wish I didn’t have to go to work today. This is so perfect. I could do this every day.” “You’d get tired of it,” I said. “No, I wouldn’t,” he responded seriously. “This is perfection. I could spend every morning like this, and I wouldn’t have enough.” We’ve recreated that morning many times since then, and he is right about one thing – even if we did it every day, I don’t think we’d ever get tired of it. Fast forward to last summer. We never did get tired of drinking coffee outdoors, and our little baby turned into a walking toddler. Last summer, Alice, our Olympicchamp sleeper, had a bad night. And when I mean a bad night, I mean a wake-up-every-hour-and-wants-to-play night. And, of course, if she has a bad night, all three of us have a bad night. So the next day, I wanted something easy, something where I could just laze around while she went a million miles a minute (despite her own lack of sleep – go figure). I found some sidewalk chalk, and my little one-year-old had a blast playing with the sidewalk chalk. I wrote her name, drew pictures, and she jabbered away while drawing on herself, the

concrete, and her clothes. We were both covered in sidewalk chalk, dirt and sweat when the afternoon was over, but it didn’t matter – that lazy, hazy afternoon sticks out in my mind as one of my favorite’s. This is our third summer with our little one. I’m not sure what this summer holds, but I’m excited about all of the possibilities. I’m excited about the smell of chlorine, picking blueberries, and running at 5 a.m. with daylight emerging. I’m excited because the end of this summer holds my ten-year anniversary, because we’re trying to move into a new house, and because I

can’t wait to find out what Alice says or does that makes me laugh. I have no vacations planned. Currently, my only out-of-state planned day trip is a family reunion in Arkansas. I have vague plans of taking Alice to the zoo, going swimming, and, of course, drinking iced coffee. She’s walking and talking now; she’s no longer the little baby who played happily on her play mat, but she’s still our little girl. The three of us have coffee dates planned all summer. Outside. As a family. Watching the world wake up.

Judith Roberts is a journalism instructor at Louisiana Tech University and a born and raised Louisianan. She is an alumna of Tech, Grambling State, and the University of Southern Mississippi. She and her husband Kyle have one gorgeous and feisty child, Alice, and they are members of Temple Baptist Church. Judith has run three half marathons and also enjoys reading and writing -- but not arithmetic.

a novel approach written by Winnie Griggs

Building An Effective Author-Agent Partnership: Part 3

his is the third in a series of articles about the Author-Agent Partnership. In the first two I discussed whether or not every writer needs an agent, when in his or her career an author should consider acquiring an agent and some things to think about before you do. In this article I’ll be discussing how to research effectively to find which agent might be best for you and your work. Here are some resources you can use to create your initial list: • There are print directories such as the Guide To Literary Agents and The Writers Market, both published by Writers Digest • There are free websites that give information, reviews and/or warnings of industry professionals such as AgentQuery.com. and the Preditors and Editors site (www.pred-ed.com/ pubagent.ht) • You can sign up for Publishers Lunch the free version will provide you with an abbreviated list of the current reported deals, the paid version has much more detail as well as a searchable database. Note - not all agents report their deals here. • Writers’ Organizations such as RWA and SFWA compile agent lists and a file of complaints lodged against agents • If you have access to editors and trust them to steer you right, you might want to ask their opinion • Check with friends who are or have been agented for recommendations or cautions - just don’t be surprised if the responses are general rather than specific.

Once you begin to focus on specific agents, here are additional steps to take • Most agencies have websites now. Look through them for indications of their client load, what types of works they currently represent and are looking for, and hints about personality and style. You might even check to see if individual agents have a facebook page, twitter accounts or personal blogs you can take a look at • Check out any industry blogs or interviews they’ve appeared on, again trying to get a feel for their personality. Shameless plug: I have a ton of industry interviews on my website (www.winniegriggs.com). • If at all possible, try to meet, or at least observe them in person. Go to writers conferences and attend any panels or workshops they participate in. Also try to get an appointment with any you want to learn more about. Once you’ve done your research, look over your list and pull out a short list of your top choices. The next question is whether or not you should submit simultaneously to multiple agents or submit to one at a time. Opinions are split on this, but I will tell you that when I was looking I took my 4 top picks and submitted simultaneously to them. If I

had been rejected by all four of these I was prepared to send out another batch of four. Fortunately, my current agent, who was in that top 4 group, offered me representation so I didn’t have to move on to that next step. Once this agent and I reached an agreement, however, I did immediately contact the two agents I hadn’t yet heard back from and withdrew my submission. Always avoid burning bridges where possible. There’s no telling how long this process will take or how many submissions you’ll make before you connect with the agent who is right for you. Every author’s journey is different. When you get a rejection, take a deep breath, pout over it with friends if you must (but not for long), evaluate any feedback you may have received to decide if you want to make any changes to your product or process, and then move on to the next name or names on your list. Once you have an agent interested in working with you, DO NOT immediately jump to the acceptance. Step back for a moment and ask to set an appointment where the two of you can chat and get to know each other before signing. This is hard to do, but believe me, an agent who is interested in you enough

Winnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her friends thought of as the back of beyond. She and her siblings spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou. Once she ‘grew up’ she began capturing those wonderful adventures in the pages of her notebooks. Now a multipublished, award winning author, Winnie feels blessed to be able to share her stories with readers through her published books. You can learn more about Winnie at www.winniegriggs.com or connect with her at www. facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author

to make an offer of representation will not __ change her mind simply because you want to discuss the proposed partnership in more detail. You want to have a frank exchange where you discuss communication styles, expectations of both parties and your short and long term goals. You want to make certain you are stylistically and temperamentally compatible and that you each understand how the other likes to operate. You want to know, as much as possible, that you and the agent you sign with will make a good team, that this partnership has the makings of a productive, solid, durable partnership.

This is, after all, your career. If you don’t get the right vibe from your discussion, there’s nothing wrong with walking away. Again, remember, no two authors are the same and no two authors want or need the exact same thing in an agent. No matter how high profile an agent is, still the best agent for YOU is the one who meets YOUR needs. Just make certain, if you do walk away from the offer of representation, that you do it as graciously and professionally as possible - again you don’t want to completely burn any bridges if you don’t have to. That’s it for now. Next time around we’ll discuss what responsibilities you have in this business relationship. _______________________________________________

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Choose Your Battles

hen they told me the theme for this issue was “The Simple Life” I literally laughed out loud. Nothing about my life is simple. I like to think I am a pretty simple person. I’m easily pleased. I don’t need extravagant vacations, gifts, clothes, or designer bags. A great Saturday night to me is a porch, cold beer, and some good company. But my life seems to invite chaos at every turn. Like oh yea, let’s move to NYC. Shouldn’t be the big of a deal or that hard, right? I turned 30 last week. I realized this week that it has literally taken me all 30 of those years to figure out that trials and frustrations (get ready) really do make you stronger. I am in the middle of one of the most frustrating, unfair, irritating, and infuriating situations I have faced in my life. Something I would most certainly not be dealing with had I not moved to NYC. For the first few months I thought, “Well, this is ridiculous. I’m not putting up with it, and I’m gonna SHOW THEM!”. Once I had some time to cool down, I have realized that fighting back is not always simple, nor the best choice. Sometimes just deciding you’re going to deal with it, and work around it, can make life a lot easier. It may not change the situation, but you will be happier for it. And in the end your happiness is really the only thing you can control, right? It took me all these years to learn the TRUE meaning of “choose your battles”. I have never chosen my battles. I fought them ALL. Pulled out in front of me? You’re getting a long, loud horn honk. Push me on the subway? I’ll push you back. Throw me under the bus at work? I’ll do the same. I had not entirely learned how to just let things roll of my back. I actually envied people that could do that. Over the last two years here I have learned (slowly) to just let it go. Is

popping off to someone really worth it? Does it truly solve anything? Does pushing that person back on the subways really teach them to not push? Nope. It only makes ME more frustrated when they don’t see it from my perspective. It only affects ME. So is it worth it? The way I started to decide what battles to fight was to ask myself a few questions. Will it matter this much to me tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Next year? If not, I let it go. When I started letting go of other people’s problems, my life got a lot simpler. A lot happier. A lot easier. Who cares if you pushed me? Clearly you’re

having a worse day than me.(I still snap a little sometimes!) What does it really matter if the train is delayed or my computer at work crashes? I will make it to happy hour. My computer will be fixed. It really will all work out. I’m sure those that are older than me are reading this and thinking “Um, yea, we all figured that out a long time ago”. Well I didn’t. And I didn’t listen to those who told me that every fight is not worth fighting. So from a fire-tempered Southern Belle New Yorker, take my advice: Life is a lot simpler if you just live your own life and not everyone else’s. _______________________________

Liz is a typical southern girl that decided to take on the big city. After taking the scenic route through college she packed everything up and decided to try out life as a New Yorker. Her dog, Charmin, is adjusting well and meeting lots of city dogs in Central Park. Liz is living her dream and is bringing a little southern charm up to the Big Apple.

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Creating a

Capsule Wardrobe

Written By: Shelley Duran

I don’t know about you

, but all of my fashion blogs are turning to the capsule wardrobe. What is a capsule wardrobe you ask? Quite simply, it’s paring down your closet (each season) to carefully selected pieces that you love in order to simplify choices and force creativity. Some bloggers add rules to the mix: the amount of items (37), the amount of time (3 -4 months), and when you can/can’t buy clothing (before/ after – not during). Most of the response I’ve seen is how much easier it is to get ready in the morning. That alone sounds appealing, but since I work in a creative field, I thought trying this out would be an easy way to start the creative juices flowing for the day. After a quick Google search and looking at photos for inspiration, I pretty much just started winging it – I’ve never been great at following directions – ask those who try and cook with me. Some suggested writing down words to describe your style or what you wanted your style to be before attacking your closet. I didn’t do any of those things, mostly because I was overly confident that I knew my style and what I wanted. Turns out I am super attached to my clothing. I chose laundry day to start the process, since things would be moving in and out of my closet. With Louisiana weather being a little wonky (an understatement), I hadn’t really taken any of my winter clothing out of my closet. Narrowing those down came fairly easy. I have multiple closets at my disposal, a pro of solo living, so I didn’t worry about purging my closet through this process. Once those pieces were gone, I went to my dresses, since I am an Advocate for the Dress and will proudly display a car bumper sticker saying so. This is where things got confusing. My job can be fairly corporate but I'm only twenty seven. Wanting to look professional, yet youthful, yet creative while streamline seems easy when you’re not counting clothing. Let me confess that I have WAY MORE CLOTHES than I ever realized. After three rounds of moving items from one closet to another, I assumed all this new space meant I was close to the 37 item goal. NOPE – I still had 40 dresses alone I had kept in my main closet. Insert various emotional meltdown emojis here. I took small breaks through this process. Having a fresh eye and cleared head helped me be more discerning. I didn’t really need so many tops in the same color…

which of these white tops did I really like? How much do I really wear jeans anyway AND in Louisiana heat? I picked my favorite and moved the others. Slowly but surely, my “style” revealed itself. That’s the best way I can describe it, since before this, I would have described my style differently than what was before me. I like mostly solid things, but am not afraid of color. I must like texture and detail, enough to make a top or dress seem just the right amount of different. Currently, I have narrowed things down to sixty items total. They are as follows: 9 skirts 4 pants 3 jeans 24 dresses 12 sleeveless tops 8 tops with sleeves Looking at those numbers seems ridiculous, but over time I’m hoping to continue narrowing things down using the hanger flip method. The first day, I was a little nervous about how I would pick my outfit for work. I tried to mentally decide while brushing my teeth and I couldn’t even remember what made the cut and what didn’t! Surprisingly, I chose a top and a skirt in seconds. While I’d never before put these two items together, I liked them both very much as separates and figured I’d like them together. I was right. All day, I caught myself looking at this outfit, wondering how I never thought of putting them together before. Most of the days have been easy picking out clothes. There have been times when unexpected outings come my way, where I panic, wanting to venture to the other closet for more options. Each ending has been a pleasant one, and I’ve been happy I didn’t give up. This experiment has been a great way to humbly realize how much money I am throwing in my closet and not using. It’s made me aware of how much I don’t need that new trendy thing, and how much versions of the same type thing I tend to buy (instead of investing in one really nice thing I love). My look feels more consistent as a whole, while feeling like “me”. It’s the small things we do that really add up to big change. I challenge you to take a look inside your closet – a simple step that will hopefully lead to a simple lifestyle.

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cooking simply

simply cooking

written by Melissa Teoulet

Southern Jello Poke Icebox Cake

'm spending this week back home, only I don't mean my hometown. The word home has always had multiple meanings to me. I still call the house where I was raised home even though it no longer exists. Likewise, home is also my parents' current house, my sister's house, even my house in New York along with countless other locations. For this particular definition, I'm using home in a general and broad sense because I'm talking about the South. The house I live in may be called home but I don't think I'll ever call New York my home. I'll probably always consider myself a visitor regardless of how long I'll stay, plus I love the South in a way that I don't think I could ever love the Northeast. I breathe better in the South, I talk freer here, I definitely eat more heartily here. People don't eat nearly as much up North. I feel like there's no one judging me. It's probably all in my head but it's a hard thought to shake. Of course, they may just be watching the amount of food I can pack away in astonishment too. This week, I'm in the Carolinas and loving it. We only arrived yesterday but so far I've eaten a chicken that was killed that day, drank a couple of Bloody Marys, and enjoyed the sound of cicadas while relaxing in front of a backyard fire. Did I mention that we ate dinner outside? Eating dinner outside, while common in the South, seems to be a rare thing up north. It's a shame too, because the summer doesn't get unbearably hot there like it can here. And mosquitoes, what mosquitoes? But enough about that, I have a recipe for you that you may have already seen but here it is in case you haven't. I call

it a jello cake because that's what my family always called it but other names for it are poke cake and icebox cake. The term icebox cake is usually used for any cake that needs to stay in the fridge and is not defined as a specific dessert. Perhaps this cake should correctly be called a jello poke icebox cake. In my hometown, kids used to make this as a cool treat for summer and because it was so simple, I just assumed that the kids all over the country did the same. That belief was trampled when not a single person from work had ever even heard of it much less tasted one. They basically forced me to make one so they could satisfy their curiosities. Once I did, they pretty much swooned over it and vowed to make one as soon as they got home. Just in case this is something unique to my hometown and you aren't familiar with it, here is the recipe. It's super simple and like I said earlier, children can easily make this. ---------------------------------------------------Jello Cake or Poke Cake or Icebox Cake or Jello Poke Icebox Cake 1 box of cake mix, any flavor but carrot cake or spice cake is probably not a good idea here Any ingredients needed for the cake, usually oil, eggs, and water 1 small box of jello, any brand or flavor 2 cups water 2 small boxes of instant pudding, any brand or flavor 3 cups whole milk First, prepare the cake according to package instructions and bake in a

9x13 pan. Let cake cool for 1 hour. When the cake is cool, heat 2 cups water to boil and stir in the jello until fully disolved. Do not add any cold water. Using a fork, poke holes all over the cake and immediately pour the jello over the cake, making sure to fully saturate the entire cake. Let the cake cool for 2 hours. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the pudding with 3 cups of whole milk. Chill in the fridge until set. After the cake is cool, spread the pudding over the cake like you would an icing. The cake should stay in the refrigerator and be enjoyed as a cool and creamy dessert to get you through the worst summer heat. Some of my favorite combinations are vanilla cake with lime jello, vanilla cake with orange jello, lemon cake with strawberry jello, chocolate cake with raspberry jello, yellow cake with black cherry jello, and lemon cake with raspberry jello. My favorite pudding flavors to use are chocolate, vanilla, and cheesecake. There is no limit to the flavor combinations you can experiment with. The one I made for the ladies at work consisted of lemon cake, raspberry jello,1 box of vanilla pudding and 1 box of cheesecake pudding. ----------------------------------------------------

Melissa is a happy-go-lucky, thirty-something from Chalmette, Louisiana who recently moved to Long Island, New York. She studied culinary arts at the Chef John Folse Culinary School at Nicholls State University. Between spending time with her family and immersing herself in books, she lives for exploring new places, bringing smiles to everyone she meets and sharing her passion for Southern cuisine with that unique Cajun twist.

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written by Wesley Harris The Root of All Evil

n the 19th Century South, every youngster grew up learning crime does not pay and “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Yet, some still had greedy hearts, leading them to take what belonged to others. For the victims, the price was often high. John Cloud Rogers and his wife Elizabeth were respected citizens in 1884, living near Cadeville in southwestern Ouachita Parish. Rogers was 73 and Mrs. Rogers was 67. A married daughter lived about a mile away with one neighbor a bit closer. On Saturday morning, March 8, the daughter went to her parents’ house and found both dead. She returned home, barely able to tell her husband of the discovery in her grief and shock. He collected some neighbors to accompany him to the scene. A Monroe newspaper called what they found “a spectacle, horrible and pathetic beyond description.” John Rogers lay across a chair in front of the fireplace, with a bullet hole entirely through his head, and his skull smashed in by some blunt instrument, probably an axe found nearby. Elizabeth Rogers was also lying across a chair near her husband with a bullet wound to the head. The newspaper described the scene in graphic detail. “The floor was a lake of blood. The room was in great disorder and the bed torn to pieces. The old man's pockets were rifled of their contents. The mattress had evidently been ripped open and searched for money, two thousand dollars of which was hidden in it in a canvas-belt, but which the murderers failed to find. Trunks, boxes, and every article that could afford a place of concealment for money, were bursted open, and the contents scattered around. Two horses, one a colt recently gelded, were missing, and also a man's and a woman's saddle. The old man's gun was gone, besides various other articles.” The crime suggested the perpetrator knew the old couple and two men were immediately named as suspects. John Mullican and John Clark were seen walking toward the Rogers house on

Thursday evening, March 6. They were wanted men, having stolen three mules in Lincoln Parish a day or two before. In 1883, Mullican worked for Rogers for about six months, living in the house as one of the family. As the investigation progressed, a Mr. Stuckey, the nearest neighbor, reported he heard two pistol shots from the direction of the Rogers house on the night of March 6. The same night another neighbor heard two horses pass his house at a rapid gait. Mullican and Clark had both disappeared. Ouachita Parish Sheriff J. E. McGuire began efforts to apprehend the men who already had a two day head start. Descriptions were telegraphed in all directions. Mullican was about 33 with dark hair and whiskers. Clark was described as about 35 but looking younger, more “genteel in appearance than his companion.” Both were known as men of “hardened character.” Louisiana Governor Samuel McEnery, a native of Monroe, offered a $1,000 reward for the arrest and delivery of the murderers. A posse was already in pursuit of the men for the mule theft. A respected lawman led the group. James G. Huey had served as Jackson Parish sheriff before his Vienna home was taken in by the recently formed parish of Lincoln. It is unclear if Huey was a Lincoln deputy sheriff or a Vienna officer at the time or simply a man doing what had to be done. He would later serve as Ruston’s chief of police. Word reached the pursuers that Mullican and Clark were spotted Friday, March 7 southwest of Cadeville, about eight miles south of Vernon in Jackson Parish. The two were headed toward St. Maurice, the ferry landing on the Red

River across from Natchitoches. They had told someone who saw them that they were in search of horse thieves. The posse turned their attention south. Guards were posted at the ferries along the Dugdemona River which the killers would have to cross if they continued to the southwest. If they crossed the Dugdemona and the Red River, they could be out of reach of all but the most persistent posses. When one horse stolen from Rogers was recovered in Winn Parish, it was clear that was the suspects’ intent. Meanwhile, two men passing through Delhi to the east of Monroe were suspected to be Mullican and Clark, and another posse was organized to pursue them. A telegram from Natchitoches reported Mullican and Clark passed through the town on Saturday, March 8, the men inquiring how to reach Longview, Texas. A posse led by the Natchitoches Parish sheriff was in pursuit. The trail grew cold in east Texas. Another posse had joined the chase, this one led by John Rogers, son of the murdered couple. The various posses lingered in the Marshall-Longview area hoping another sighting would put them back on the trail. The direction of the killers’ travel now to the northwest indicated they might be headed to the Indian Nation, a wild and ungoverned territory beyond Texas that could quite possibly ensure their successful escape. On March 19, the posses received telegrams reporting Mullican’s capture in Pulaski, Texas, a tiny town on the Sabine River southeast of Marshall. Yet another posse was supposedly pursuing Clark from there. Only after the captured man was hastily lynched

Wesley Harris is a native of Ruston. Among his books are FISH OUT OF WATER: Nazi Submariners as POWs in North Louisiana during World War II and GREETINGS FROM RUSTON: A Post Card History of Ruston, Louisiana, available from amazon.com. Check out his Louisiana history blog at http://diggingthepast.blogspot. com. He can be contacted at campruston@gmail. com.

ethod n-Staff Private

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Wound oms-IV

was it discovered he was not Mullican. A tragic misidentification had occurred. The James Huey posse cornered Clark near Terrill, Texas on March 19. Learning Clark was holed up in a house, heavily armed and prepared to resist, some posse members approached pretending to be surveyors and asked for water. A constable with the party followed the woman who greeted them into the house and found Clark asleep. The officer jammed his revolver against Clark’s head and took him into custody without protest. The posse led by John Rogers captured John Mullican at Marshall, Texas. During the exhausting elevenday chase covering two states and hundreds of miles, both stolen horses and John Rogers’s shotgun were recovered, having been traded along the way for food or assistance. With the captures in Texas, a Monroe newspaper noted, “This is no occasion for lynching, and we hope the indignation aroused by a horrible crime will not hurry our citizens into an act in violation of the law, which will surely be vindicated if the parties suspected are guilty. The moral effect of a legal conviction and punishment will be much greater than any that a mob acting in violation of the law could inflict.” Separate trials were granted and

CLAIBORNE REHABILITATION

the Ouachita Parish courthouse was packed each day as the proceedings were held back to back. Mullican’s trial wrapped up on the evening of Thursday, April 24 and Clark’s ended at noon April 26. Both men had testified, implicating each other amidst stories filled with obvious lies. The juries found Mullican and Clark guilty of murder. The sentence—execution by hanging. After the verdicts were in, both made confessions Saturday evening. They stated the plan had been to rob Rogers, and if need be, to kill the couple. Mullican was to shoot the old man and Clark the wife. They made no effort, however, to get the money before killing them. Clark said Mullican shot the old man, and before he could draw his own pistol which had caught on his pocket, Mullican turned and shot Mrs. Rogers as well. Clark admitted taking the axe to John Rogers’s head. Early on Sunday, April 27 between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm, a mob estimated at 50 to 150 men quietly gathered around the parish jail in Monroe. Four masked men went to the room of Deputy Charles Brooks in the courthouse attic and demanded the jail keys. Brooks refused and the gang told him resistance was useless; they had come for the keys and were going to have them. Brooks threw them the keys and watched through a courthouse skylight as the mob went next door to the jail and removed

Mullican, Clark, and a young black man named King Hill, charged with the murder of Nick Milling, the assistant manager of the Magenta Plantation on Bayou Desiard. The three prisoners were bound and gagged. King was hanged from a tree to the left of the sheriff's office door. Mullican and Clark were hanged on the tree to the right of the door. After lynching the three men, the mob freed a white prisoner charged with murder in Madison Parish. It was all done quietly and matter-of-factly. Sunday morning Monroe awoke to find the three still hanging from the chinaberry trees. A Monroe newspaper reported, “Opinion is divided as to whether the act should be condemned, or the mob thanked as public benefactors. The mob has cheated the law and justice of a full and complete vindication, but at the same time it has saved the people the spectacle of a harrowing, revolting public execution. Yet we desire, for one, to put the seal of our condemnation upon the act as unmistakable terms. It is hurtful to the material interests of the parish, in that it conveys the impression abroad that we are a lawless people, and consequently such acts impede our material advancement. It robs the law of its sanctity and the respect of the people for it, and morality and society of the good effect - the purifying atmosphere - that would have followed a vindication of outraged justice.”

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revelations

written by April Warford Timmons Give It Your Best Smile

A few years back I would frequent a popular (and by popular I mean one of the only) fast-food restaurants in my area on a regular basis. It was just your ordinary run of the mill, fast food, one million drink combo's, extra-long coney, burger joint. There was nothing really special about it, except one girl. This girl, no matter what time of the day you went, or what day it was, she was always smiling. And I don't mean politely smiling because she felt obligated to do so. I mean smiling the most beautiful teeth showing grin you’ve ever seen. Now let’s get honest, most fast food joints aren't known for their stellar customer service. They are selling you fast - not good. They are selling you efficient -not niceness. They are selling you a meal not nutrition. I'm sure like all other establishments there are "rules" and "guidelines" the management tries to enforce. I am sure there is a handbook somewhere that outlines exactly how the original owner wants them to treat every customer. But we all know how it really goes you pull up and wait about 4 minutes before someone rudely asks you what you want - you bark your order back at them - twice because the first time is wrong- then you hope that it didn't come off as too ugly because in the back of your mind you know the possibility of you getting served a sneezer is highly likely. You get dirty looks or even worse no thank you or come again. Then one day you come upon a bright light, a 100 megawatt smile, and sweet soul that just makes your day better. This girl was the absolute best thing this fast food place had going for it. When she came to work she came with the best attitude, the best smile, and to put it plainly- her best self. This beautiful young woman was always smiling and she would leave you scratching your head on how you know her because that is how she treated you - like you and she were old friends and she was welcoming you home. She always had a friendly word and a thank you. When she told me to have a good day - I believed her. I wanted to have a good day for her. I saw her do her job with integrity and professionalism.

She knew something that most people in any workforce didn't. She knew that putting your best smile on and doing the absolute best you can will make all the difference in the world.

make a difference. Your situation may not be in your control but your attitude and what you do is. You can choose to spit out hate or you can choose to smile and make the best of what you have.

I could probably argue that this is what is wrong with the whole world – people don’t try. There is an old saying – “if it’s worth doing then it’s worth doing well” and basically that just means – do it right!! I don’t care what job you have, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Excellence in your job may not mean making lots of money and sadly it may not mean getting a lot of credit, but I can promise you that if you are doing your job great and to the absolute best of your ability – someone is noticing. You can dig a ditch and

I doubt that my favorite carhop will make a career out of the fast food business, but you can bet wherever she goes, so will her work ethic. You can bet that she didn’t feel like smiling every single day and telling everyone to have a great day, but she did, and for that I thank her. She has no idea that she was selling much more than drinks and burgers. Tomorrow when you go to work, whether you are a doctor saving lives or checking out groceries, give it your best, smile, and be kind. You never know whose life you could change.

April is a wife and mom living in Sarepta, Louisiana. When she's not working as a dental hygienist, she's out taking pictures or just following her two cute kids around. Find out what she's up to by following her blog at lagirlrevelations.blogspot.com or follow her on twitter @lagirlrevs.

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SHREVEPORT GIBSLAND SHREVEPORT GIBSLAND (318) 688-7005 843-6228 (318) 688-7005(318)(318) 843-6228

ATHENS ATHENS (318) 258-3123 (318) 258-3123

ARCADIA BOSSIER BOSSIER ARCADIA (318) 752-2727 263-8477 (318) 752-2727 (318)(318) 263-8477

HOMER HOMER (318) 927-5075 (318) 927-5075

MINDEN

MINDEN (318) 371-9910 (318) 371-9910 SIBLEYSIBLEY (318) 371-9465

(318) 371-9465

REWARD QUALIFICATIONS: Have at least 15 debit card purchases post and settle; Have at least 1 direct deposit or recurring ACH payment post and settle; Be enrolled and receive e-Statement notice.

*APY=Annual Percentage Yield. arecard accurate as of 07/01/2013. Rates may change after account is opened. Minimum open is $100 for GBT Hometown Rewards Checking $1.00 forand GBT Hometown D QUALIFICATIONS: Have at least 15APYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debit purchases post and settle; Have at least 1 direct deposit or torecurring ACH payment post and settle; Beand enrolled receive e-Statement REALSaver. For GBT Hometown Rewards Checking: if qualifications are met each monthly qualification cycle: (1) Domestic ATM fees incurred during qualification cycle will be reimbursed and credited to account on the last day of monthly statement cycle; (2) balances up to $15,000 receive APY of 4.11%; and (3) balances over $15,000 earn 0.51% interest rate on the portion of the balance over $15,000, resulting in 4.11%

nual Percentage Yield.APY APYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are accurate as of 07/01/2013. change after account is opened. Minimum to open for GBTREALSaver: Hometown Rewards Checking and $1.00 for GBT to 0.57% depending on the balance. If qualifications are Rates not metmay on GBT Hometown Rewards Checking all balances earn 0.15% APY. is For$100 GBT Hometown If qualifications in GBT Hometown Rewards Checking are met each monthly qualification cycle: (1)met balances to $25,000 in GBT Hometown REALSaver receive an APYfees of 1.51%; and (2) balances over $25,000cycle in GBT Hometown REALSaver and earn credited to Rewards Checking: if qualifications are eachupmonthly qualification cycle: (1) Domestic ATM incurred during qualification will be reimbursed r. For GBT Hometown rate on of balance $25,000,receive resulting in 1.51% to 0.55% APY on the over balance. If qualifications not metinterest on GBT Hometown Rewards Checking, balances over in GBT$15,000, Home0.51% interest ay of monthly statement cycle; (2)portion balances up toover $15,000 APY of 4.11%; anddepending (3) balances $15,000 earn are 0.51% rate on the portion of theallbalance resultin town REALSaver earn 0.15% APY. Rates may change after the account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings. Qualifying transactions must post to and settle GBT Hometown Rewards Checking account APY depending on the balance. If qualifications are not met on GBT Hometown Rewards Checking all balances earn 0.15% APY. For GBT Hometown REALSaver: If qualifications in GBT Ho during monthly qualification cycle. Transactions may take one or more banking days from the date transaction was made to post to and settle account. ATM-processed transactions do not count towards ecking are metqualifying each monthly qualification cycle: (1) balances up to $25,000 GBT Hometown receive an APY of 1.51%; and one (2) day balances over $25,000 in GBT Hometown REA debit card transactions. "Monthly Qualification Cycle" means a period in beginning one day priorREALSaver to the first day of the current statement cycle through prior to the close of the current GBT Hometown Rewards is based APY on compounding interest. Interest earned in Hometown Rewards Checking automatically transferred to GBT Homestatementofcycle. The advertised erest rate on portion balance over $25,000, resulting inChecking 1.51% APY to 0.55% depending on the balance. If GBT qualifications are not met onis GBT Hometown Rewards Checking, all balances in town REALSaver each statement cycle and does not compound. Actual interest amount paid may be less than advertised GBT Hometown Rewards Checking APY. The GBT Hometown REALSaver APYs LSaver earn 0.15% APY. Rates may change after the account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings. Qualifying transactions must post to and settle GBT Hometown Rewards Checking account may be less than GBT Hometown Rewards Checking APYs. Other bank ATM fees will be calculated to the best of the bank's knowledge based on the incoming data received from the bank's EFT procesTransactions may take one or more banking days from the date transaction was made to post to and settle account. ATM-processed transactions do not count towards onthly qualification sor forcycle. fee refunds. debit card transactions. "Monthly Qualification Cycle" means a period beginning one day prior to the first day of the current statement cycle through one day prior to the close of the current cycle. The advertised GBT Hometown Rewards Checking APY is based on compounding interest. Interest earned in GBT Hometown Rewards Checking is automatically transferred to GBT HomeLSaver each statement cycle and does not compound. Actual interest amount paid may be less than advertised GBT Hometown Rewards Checking APY. The GBT Hometown REALSaver APYs ss than GBT Hometown Rewards Checking APYs. Other bank ATM fees will be calculated to the best of the bank's knowledge based on the incoming data received from the bank's EFT procese refunds.

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