The Minute Magazine November December 2015 Issue online by The Minute Magazine

Nov/Dec 2015 Volume 10, Issue 6

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S E R V I N G N O R T H LO U I S I A N A F O R OV E R 6 5 Y E A R S

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Excellence.

Good news!

One of the Top in the Nation Three Years in a Row.

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excellence in performance on its accountability

quality services and the care of a dedicated staff. For

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visit NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com.

The Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® 2013

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issue

inside this magazine TIFFANY BYRAM

Owner/Publisher/Editor Graphics/Layout

VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager JUDITH ROBERTS CHALAINE SCOTT

Staff Writers

SHELLEY DURAN CONNOR DWYER JASON MCREYNOLDS

Feature Writers

JENNY REYNOLDS Founder

10 Welcome To The Farm by Judith Roberts

16 Neighbor's Table by Chalaine Scott

18 Neighbor's Table Recipes by Tiffany Byram

24 Holly Jolly Holiday by Jason McReynolds

30 Making Family

Chris Broussard Barbara Durbin Sara Enloe Winnie Griggs Wesley Harris Ashley Maddox Jason McReynolds Kathy B. Nelson Rachel Pardue Judith Roberts Melissa Teoulet

by Shelley Duran

34 My Time With The Pope by Connor Dwyer

Office Phone: 504.390.2585 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 Address: P.O. Box 961, Belle Chasse, LA 70037

FIND US ONLINE!

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

theminutemagazine@gmail.com

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.

am so encouraged by the stories in this issue. They are uplifting and honest. The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. A chance to focus on all that we are grateful for and blessed with. But sometimes the chaos surrounding this time of year can be a little overwhelming. The constant struggle to keep consumerism at bay and to teach our children what CHRISTmas is actually about. Our hope is that as you read this issue of The Minute Magazine you will be overwhelmed by a different sort of feeling. One of peace and compassion. There are so many people around you who are alone or hungry or tired. Make it a priority this winter to find those people who need some extra kindness and give it. Bake someone an Apple Galette. Surprise a neighbor in need with a few gifts for their children. Or maybe just talk to that person you think might need a hand to hold. "No home is too small that one more can not be invited. Cozy is the new grand." – Jen Schmidt

Tiffany Byram

Thank You From Your Wiggin'Out Board of Directors

Each year during the event we stand back in total awe at the amount of people who come together for the greater good. The community support is overwhelming and humbling. This year was unbelievable.

We have continued to grow each year and we are grateful to have added several new sponsors and individual supporters this year allowing for 2015 to be our biggest year yet. The Board of Directors would like to share with you, all donations received STAY in NORTH LOUISIANA and our entire board operates on a 100% volunteer basis. Aside from our annual fundraiser,all donations go to support those fighting cancer. Thank you does not seem to be nearly enough. TOGETHER we truly are making a difference. (Board Members Pictured L to R: Vicki Caskey, DeShae Pardon, Caskey Schexnyder, Tami Davis, Marisol O'Neal, Elizabeth Turnley, Jennifer Holtz, Patrick Walsh)

Speak It! written by Kathy B. Nelson

Remember & Celebrate

need each other sometimes, to help us remember – but it works.

Then Christmas! How in the world would celebrating the coming of our Savior ever be a reason for stress, anxiety, depression and grief? Have you ever wondered that? I think it is because we, who celebrate Christ, allowed a different focus to overtake the reason we celebrate. Strong, life giving reasons like: salvation, hope, forgiveness, unconditional love, mercy, grace, and redemption were replaced with: gift lists, family gatherings, decorations, what I want this year, travel, financial drain and focusing on what we don’t have this year. What weak replacements we have made. Let me be quick to say – I love giving gifts (and getting some, too!), seeing my family all in one room – even if for just one day, and decorating, oh yes!, and traveling to see my grandparents when I was growing up and now having my children and family travel to see me. But all of these are temporary. The things God sent to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, are eternal and never change. Yes! The gifts that come from this one gift from God will always be enough for me. I am so overwhelmingly grateful for all of the other gifts that have been given to me, but I am praying that I will never lose site of the most important one, the birth of Jesus, and therefore always have a reason to celebrate… and celebrate big!

here are not too many words that bring greater emotion than ‘Thanksgiving’ and ‘Christmas’. Oh, I know there are other words – and rightfully so – but these touch a place in our hearts and lives in so many different ways. There is joy and anticipation of gathering and spending time with your family, time off from work or that great school break! For some it brings a sadness and an acute awareness of someone that will not be there this year – for different reasons. Then, did anyone think of the word ‘stress’? Some will experience stress during these seasons of celebration because of tension in relationships, spending too much money or feeling you don’t have enough money to do what you want to do or what is expected of you. Or maybe you are the cook and the stress of producing these beautiful, large, great tasting holiday meals brings a bit of stress in your life. (To those in this category, we say ‘push through’, we need you, we love you, we celebrate you!) Were you aware that this holiday season, surveys say, brings depression more than any other time of year? For some, hope, joy, love and a sense of belonging are challenged and it is difficult to overcome. I have a word of encouragement for you. Thanksgiving, the act of giving thanks, always brings hope. Take a few minutes and let your mind roll through the things in your life right now that are good. I know there is at least one thing you can think of. The fact that you can even think about something can start your list! When you finish your list of things for right now, go back a few years, or even a lot of years, and remember some things, events, people or experiences that you are thankful came into your life. The bible is full of moments when people began to grumble, feel despair or hopelessness and their leader stopped everything and began to recount what they had come through and the victories they had won. It was always such a profound moment and would lead them back to hope and restoration. After you remember what you have to be thankful for, share it with someone. Say it out loud. Help someone else remember what has happened in their life that they can think about and be thankful for. We

Let’s choose to be thankful during these special days of celebration. Remember that on the days when you are struggling to celebrate, those are the times we most need to remember as well as help someone else remember what we have been given. Focus on the eternal gifts and be humbled by the magnitude of these gifts that keep on giving.

I have a great recipe for a big bowl of goodness that was first introduced to my family by dear friend Coreen Renshaw. She is a friend that makes the top of my “things I am thankful for” list every year. This "Puppy Chow" recipe may have evolved some from the original one she gave me, but it works and ooooh is it yummy! _______________________________

"Puppy Chow" Ingredients:

1 Bag of chocolate chips 1 regular jar of creamy peanut butter 1 stick of butter 1 box of Crispex Cereal (or any of the Chex cereals) 1 bag of powdered sugar

Directions:

Melt all of the chocolate chips, butter & peanut butter together in the microwave until smooth and blend together. Pour whole box of cereal in a large bowl, then pour the creamy mixture all over it and gently mix together with your hands (or a spoon, if you like to stay real clean) Pour half of the powdered sugar bag into a brown paper sack, then add half of the covered cereal mix into the brown paper bag and shake gently – enough to thoroughly cover all of the cereal with the powdered sugar. Dump that mix out onto some wax paper. Then repeat with the rest of the powdered sugar and the other half of the covered cereal mix. Then pace yourself as you enjoy eating it! _______________________________

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.

Friday, December 4, 2015 in Minden, LA Hosted by Minden Medical Center Rehab & Physical Therapy, this year we hope to get everyone in the Christmas Spirit! Running through Ridgewood Neighborhood we will enjoy thousands of Christmas Lights, Christmas decorations, music, caroling and if we’re good Santa himself will make an appearance. Following the race there will be FREE chili, hot chocolate and awards! Cost $25, After November 20th $30. Students $20. Early registrants will receive a short sleeve official Run T-shirt. Awards given to top finishers in each age category. IPICO timing system included.

Give back this Christmas! Unwrapped toys and books are being accepted for Minden Civitan Santa at the race.

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WELCOME TO THE

FARM The rolling hills opened up into acres of farmland, breathtaking and charming simultaneously. Pumpkins abounded in front of the little white house, Mimi’s Country Cupboard, which was built in the 1920s. The whole atmosphere breathes serenity, peace and charm; then again, I’m a country girl at heart, so maybe that’s why it seemed like coming home, even though this was my first trip to PaPa Simpson’s Farm. Jerry and Pam Simpson, better known as PaPa and MiMi Simpson, own and operate PaPa Simpson’s Farm, located at 961 Rich Road in Arcadia. The farm is an agritourism dream with pumpkins in the fall and a host of animals, including dairy cows, horses, ducks, geese, pigs, sheep, goats and more. But the greatest treasure, especially for the family, is just that: the family. The Simpson’s daughters, Holly, Ashley, and Summer, as well as their husbands and children, all have homes located on the farm. The three girls all went off to college – Holly and Ashley are Northwestern State grads like their parents, and Summer graduated from Louisiana Tech – and all returned home.

“The farm is also a tradition and heritage,” said Ashley Thomas. “The farm has been in our family for generations. The heritage of what it means to each of us can't be fully described. Our children and hopefully grandchildren will have a better understanding of tradition and what family means. My children already stick up for each of their cousins now. I like to think that living together on the farm has made them closer. They each have each other's back and know the value of family.” She added that the children have the chance to learn life skills as well as learn how to drive a tractor, plant a garden or fix a broken water line. Holly Spain said she thoroughly enjoys living on the farm with her family. “My husband grew up in the country his whole life so living on the farm was right up alley,” Holly said. “Living on the farm is wonderful. Being able to live on the farm gives you lots of things to do. You get to enjoy good fresh vegetables and fresh eggs. You get to see first hand where our food comes from. You get to see all the wonderful creations that God made. I think the best thing about living on the farm is raising my children there. It is so nice to be able to let them go outside and play without having to wonder about their safety.” Holly added that she loves the learning experience her children and her sisters’ children receive as well as the closeness of their entire family. “I love that my children get to see how close-knit a family we all are and how we all help out our family,” Holly said. “I think the best is that my children get to see how families were way back and how important family life is.”

Together, Holly, Ashley and Summer have eight children, and Jerry and Pam attribute the large family living close together to the love of land and the love of farming. “We tease all the grandchildren to pick the hill where they want their house built,” Pam said. Even though the Simpsons say they would enjoy one of the grandchildren taking over the farm eventually, Pam said she wanted each of her grandchildren to attend college. “We hope one of our grandchildren will want to take over,” she said. “We want them all to go off and get a good education. That’s not even a question; after you finish high school, you continue your education. We hope one will take enough interest in the farm that they will want to run it.” Summer Bourn said she loves the farm atmosphere and having her three daughters having more than one set of parents – they have an entire village loving and supporting them. “My hope for the future of our farm is to see it continue to grow and provide a fun, family friendly atmosphere for people,” Summer said. “I never realize what all I take for granted daily until I am telling stories of what my girls did today on the farm or how lucky we are that my girls have not only a mother and father at hand but the best PaPa and MiMi around, a greatgrandmother, two aunts and uncles that they adore and five other cousins to explore and grow with daily. Not many people can say that!” If one of the grandchildren does take over, that will be six generations of Simpsons who have farmed on this property. William Simpson stowed away on a ship from England in 1877 to escape the royal service to Queen Victoria.

“William came over as a stowaway,” Jerry said. “He had two sons born in Buckingham Palace, and he had a brother who had already come over here.”

that needs repairing, among other things. Pam, though, said he is a full family man and makes as many of his grandchildren’s events as possible.

The family story also has a mystery element, as William’s brother disappeared. One of Jerry’s aunt traced the family genealogy at one point and theorized that the brother ended up in Texas. William, however, settled in Louisiana and began to farm. Now, with Jerry and Pam’s grandchildren, six generations of Simpsons have lived on the farm.

“He’s not going to miss anything the grandkids are in,” she said. “He never missed one thing the girls were involved in. He was the perfect little girl dad. From school parties to dances – he never missed one thing.”

PaPa Simpson’s Farm hosts tours in the fall for schools and church groups, as well as families. “Five thousand to 6,000 school kids come through from October to the middle of November,” Pam said. “As long as we have some pumpkins left, they get to go to the patch and choose their pumpkin.” They have a variety of pumpkins available in the fall, also, including the stereotypical jacks, the orange pumpkins, but they also have baby boos, which are solid white pumpkins, and lil pokemons, which are white pumpkins with orange stripes. Jerry begins his day at 5:30 in the morning and milks the cows, waters the plants, feeds all the animals and repairs anything

The daughters now help out with the agritourism portion of the farm as well as working in the nursing field. “Plain and simple, we love each other and we love being with each other,” Summer said. “Sometimes the days get long and stressful. This is not a business that shuts down for weather or holidays. We have to keep everything going.” Pam echoed her daughter’s statements, but agreed that sticking together and their belief in God keeps the farm and their family going six generations strong. “Farming is tough these days,” Pam said. “Without God, none of this would be possible. Next would be family. Then faith – faith that God will see you through all of this.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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headlines & hemlines written by Rachel Pardue

Louisiana Girl Goes North

n this issue last year, I shared with all of you my nostalgic terror at the possibility of 2014 being the last year I live in Louisiana and spend the holiday season with my family for a while. That proved to be true as I am writing this article while looking at the myriad of red, orange, and yellow colors that paint a New England fall. Attending the college of my dreams is certainly not an occasion to feel distressed over, but buying a one way ticket and hugging my mom and dad bye proved to be a little more difficult. I was 2,000 miles from home in a completely new and foreign environment with no friends and no family. For the first time in my life, I was truly alone. This time of great uncertainty forced me to be certain in myself. Thankfully, I found a group of friends who very quickly became my interim family. We are diverse in every sense of the word as China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, France, and Haiti are all represented in my close friend group alone. If you were to listen into our dinner conversation, you would hear Mahrati, Hindi, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and English spoken over a single meal. We could not be any more different, and yet we could not get along any better. We are all thousands of miles away from our families, so at school we are each other’s family. We eat three meals a day together, we study together, and we live together. When we’ve had an awful day, the stress of such a demanding academic school is becoming too much, or we’re just in need of a hug, we turn to each other.

When I got sick for the first time without my mom there to take care of me, one of my friends refused to leave my side, and when she was scared I was running fever, she knocked on nearly every door on our floor in an attempt to find a thermometer. Whenever a concerned family member or person from back home asks me with a face full of doubt how I manage completely on my own so far away from home, I am able respond with a smile and tell them of true acts of friendship like this. From driving in the mad 5 o’clock Boston traffic to navigating new cities and starting a business in my freshman year, I’ve figured out a few things. To be this independent as an 18 year old girl is an incredibly empowering feeling, but what is even better is that although I can manage just fine on my own, I don’t have to because I have friends who have quickly proven that I never have to face anything alone. I am learning that in life if you truly throw yourself into the pursuit of your wildest dreams, you will be scared and pushed to your every limit, but it will be worth it. Furthermore, the process can be quite painful because new experiences cannot happen without first saying goodbye and growth cannot happen without great sacrifice.

I constantly find myself missing the little things like my dad waking me up in the morning with the warmest hug and my mom’s crazy sayings that make me laugh every time I absentmindedly use one in conversation now and my friend’s look at me like I’m not speaking English. I never believed the saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder” because I did not think it was humanly possible for me to love my family and my hometown any more than I always have. I’m not on the East Coast to “get away” or because I think Louisiana isn’t sufficient. On the contrary, leaving was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I am unbelievably grateful that I took this opportunity because my life has already been changed in a million ways that I will never be able to articulate in words. As amazing as my college experience has been thus far, home is still my favorite place in the world. Last weekend, I was able to make a quick trip back to Louisiana for a short break, and it honestly felt like Christmas morning. I cannot fathom the pure joy I will feel when I’m home and it really is Christmas morning, and I can’t wait to find out. _______________________________

Being away from my family for so long makes going home all the more special. Rachel Pardue is a recent graduate of Cedar Creek School in Ruston, LA. Rachel is an aspiring entrepreneur who is studying business at Babson College outside of Boston, MA. Babson is ranked as the #1 School for Entrepreneurship in the nation, and Rachel is attending as a Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholar.

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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

redeemed &

free indeed

written by Sara Enloe

Red Lobster Run-Ins & A Gift Giving God

s there a certain word or memory that pops into your head when someone says “Christmas”? I immediately conjure up a picture of my family laughing around the dinner table at Red Lobster. Isn’t that funny? When I tell people the Michigan Enloes (y’all know we are everywhere) have a tradition of eating seafood at a chain restaurant on Christmas Eve, they think I’m joking. No homemade meal? No fancy silverware? No Christmas ham?! No sir, homemade cookin’ is reserved for Christmas day! I don’t know how it became a thing. I am sure one year my parents said, “You know what? The kids are young. There’s no law that says we have to cook on Christmas Eve- let’s just go out” and what could have been a one-time thing transformed into a beautiful tradition. I texted my Mom to tell her what I was writing about, and she said, “Sometimes fun things turn into traditions without you planning on it!” She is SO right (and incredibly lovely, I might add). So to finish the picture I was painting, my family and I have quite the predictable routine on Christmas Eve: We stuff ourselves to the gills (bad seafood jokes can’t be helped), drive home merrily listening to Christmas tunes, change into our pajamas, and relax in front of the fireplace. We talk about what we are grateful for this year and how much we love one another. We watch a Christmas movie (Elf usually wins, as it should), and then my sisters and I open the gifts we bought for one

another. My parents look on and “ooh” and “ahh” appropriately as our gifts are revealed- they prefer to wait to open their presents from us until Christmas morning. And who could blame them? With the mountain of goodies they leave for their daughters from Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, and even the Grinch, it is nice for them to have gifts to open, too! When reflecting on the giving and receiving of gifts, it is impossible not to think about the ultimate Gift Giver and reason for the season: God. The Bible says in James 1:17 NIV, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” It’s so easy for the stress and busyness of the holidays to overshadow the awe-inspiring, lifesaving gift God gave to humanity at Christmas: Jesus. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 NIV. God loves us. His love looks like a miracle baby born of a virgin in a manger. His love looks like thinking about living without us for all eternity, and deciding

that wasn’t an option. His love is found in His decision to send His ONLY Son to the earth, KNOWING He would have to die a criminal’s death on a cross so that our sins could be forgiven. His love is found in His Word. His love invites us in and accepts us as we are. His love is a present, constant, never-changing, never-ending force that revives us, comforts us and compels us. His love gently convicts us to be holy as He is holy, and to walk and remain in love. His love is everything; it shows us who we are. And it is the gift that keeps on giving. This Christmas I asked God what I could give Him as a gift. I felt rather than heard His response: “Your yes.” He wants all of my heart as well as my obedience to His voice. He wants my “yes”, even when it is inconvenient and difficult and unpopular. So I am saying “yes” to the Lord in all areas; it will be my new tradition. And I pray, dear reader, that you would unwrap the gift of salvation if it is still sitting untouched under your tree. Abundant life is waiting for you through our good, good Father. May God bless you richly, have a very merry Christmas!!! ----------------------------------------------------

Fluent in Spanish and meow-ing, Sara Enloe is a Jesus-lovin' cat lady who traded Michigan winters for Florida sunshine. You can find her writing, singing, or laughing at herself. Follow her on Instagram: @quitesimplysara

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There is a saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;life can turn on a dimeâ&#x20AC;?, meaning things can change in an instant. Last year over the course of 11 months I experienced just how true this saying is. I began having serious health issues in February of last year. From February to December I required three ambulance rides as well as a ride in the AIR ONE helicopter. I am grateful to tell you my health issues are getting better everyday. Most importantly I would like to tell you how grateful I am for PAFFORD, their quick response and transport in my time of dire need. I chose some time ago to join the PAFFORD EMS AIR ONE membership program and I would suggest you join as well. One is never prepared financially for one health emergency much less four. The PAFFORD EMS AIR ONE membership is not expensive and the value in an emergency far exceeds the small membership fee. Take it from me, it is well worth it. So much so that my sister and her family & my Mom & Dad have joined as well. Thank you PAFFORD EMS AIR ONE. Kirk Cook Arcadia, LA

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thirsty southern soul written by Judith Roberts

Ten Years is a Really Long Time

his past September, my husband Kyle and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary. We married the month before I turned 22, three months after I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from college and five days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. A friend and I were talking the other day about how long 10 years really is. In the grand scheme of life, if you average 70 years as a lifespan, 10 years isn’t too terribly long. Plus, with medical advancements, 70 is basically the new 50. With that consideration, 10 years is just a drop in the bucket of life. But 10 years…10 years is also a really long time. When my husband and I looked back at these 10 years, we saw how far we had come from being these wide-eyed newlyweds promising to love, honor, and (maybe) cherish (I forgot my vows – no joke). We’ve gone through four jobs, three graduate degrees, three houses, one dog and one child. We’ve made the best of friends, mourned the loss of loved ones and celebrated the good times.

I’m not saying I don’t want to be at my parents’ for Christmas or that I don’t want us to be merry or that we shouldn’t give gifts. No – but the stress to make Christmas perfect is just too much. Sometimes we wake up Christmas morning with my parents. Sometimes we wake up in our house. Sometimes we wake up in New Orleans. But it doesn’t matter – being together is what matters. When our daughter Alice was born, I almost fell back into that trap of “what Christmas must be.” Where would she spend her first Christmas? What would we give her for her first Christmas? How would she remember it? Well, frankly, she doesn’t remember it at all because she was nine months old. We got her a white coat – that’s what I remember. And we celebrated Christmas in New Orleans, where she teethed on leftover boxes because that’s what babies do. This year will be her third Christmas to celebrate. Before she turns 10 years old, she’ll celebrate 11 Christmases. A lot will change in those years. When she celebrates her 11th Christmas, she’ll be 10 years old, a fifth-grader. I doubt her favorite books will be the Llama Llama series or Bill

Martin Jr.’s “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” I doubt she’ll be as cuddly as she is now, wanting me to rock her before she goes to sleep. Kyle and I often lamented our little girl growing up. One moment she was our little baby cooing, then she was crawling, then walking – then running! And now she speaks full sentences to us. We once mourned that she was growing up so fast, and I think all parents can attest to that feeling. But one of Kyle’s friends said something one time that stuck with me: we should want her to grow up. After all, we want to have conversations with her. We want to hear about her hopes and dreams. We want to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman. That’s a joy of watching time progress: seeing hopes and dreams take shape and come true. Ten years ago, I was a different person with hopes and dreams. I have different hopes and dreams today. Alice will have different desires in 10 years. She won’t want to wear her Elsa and Cinderella dresses every day. She won’t ask for an apple every morning. She won’t reach and plead for every Little People figure she sees. And that’s perfect; that’s a step in growing up that all of us take every day, no matter how old we are. In 10 years, Alice will be a different person. A good person, a kind person, I hope. And I hope I am, too.

The good times – like Christmas. We’ve seen good Christmases and notso-good Christmases. In fact, my whole take on Christmases has changed in the last 10 years. Ten years ago, I thought we had to wake up Christmas morning with my parents. We had to be jolly and cheerful and all that jazz. We had to buy each other thoughtful, creative and meaningful presents.

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.

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written by Melissa Teoulet Piece of (Cup)cake

’m really into cupcakes these days. There are so many different kinds floating around, they go way beyond the standard chocolate and vanilla flavors that we’re all so used to seeing. Recipes for root beer float cupcakes, Boston crème pie cupcakes, and coconut lime cupcakes sound amazingly delicious. I’ve collected a few recipes for some seasonal flavors that are sure to be a hit at the party. ---------------------------------------------------Lemon Meringue Cupcakes Cupcakes 1 box of Vanilla or Butter flavor cake mix and the ingredients listed on the back Lemon Curd 1 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 c. sugar 1/2 c. melted butter 2 large eggs Meringue 3/4 c. sugar 1/2 c. water 1/4 c. meringue powder 1 capful Vanilla Directions Make the cupcakes according to the box directions. Set aside and allow to cool as you make the filling. In a very large microwave safe bowl, combine the lemon juice, sugar, butter, and eggs. Microwave in 1 minute increments and stir to combine after each minute. When the lemon curd coats the back of the spoon and thickens up a bit, you’re done. It’ll take anywhere between 4 and 10 minutes depending on your microwave. Spoon it into a container and refrigerate until firm. Once the curd is cool, you’ll need to create a hole in your cupcake. To do this, you can use a cupcake corer if you have one but if not; an apple corer or even a large pasty tip would work. Just make sure that you do not pierce all the way to the bottom of the cupcake.

Carefully spoon the lemon curd into each cupcake and set aside. Now on to the meringue. Bring the water to a boil and dissolve the sugar. Cool until it is room temperature. Add the meringue powder and stir until it is dissolved. This next part requires a mixer. Start off slow and gradually increase the speed until you are on high. Whip on high speed until the meringue is fluffy like a cloud. That should be about 2-3 minutes. You’re looking for stiff peaks which means that when you dip your finger into it and pull away, the meringue leaves a peak that doesn’t flop over. It’s at this point where I add the vanilla, using a spatula to gently fold it in. All of your pieces are ready so it’s assembly time. Meringue pipes out beautifully but you can also dollop it on if you don’t want the trouble of dealing with a piping bag. Don’t smooth it out too much; you’ll want those peaks later for the browning stage. Place all of your cupcakes on a sheet pan and pop in the oven on the broil stage. Keep a close eye on them and pull them as soon as the meringue gets some color. It should only take a few minutes. That’s it, you’re all done and ready to impress. ---------------------------------------------------Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Buterscotch Frosting Cupcakes 1 box Spice Cake mix 1 1/3 c. pumpkin puree 1/2 c. vegetable oil 1 Package of vanilla instant

pudding mix (5 oz) 3 eggs 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 c. water Frosting 1/2 c. butter 1 c. brown sugar 1/3 c. heavy cream 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. salt 3 c. powdered sugar 1 to 2 tbsp milk Directions In a large bowl, combine all of the cupcake ingredients until smooth. Pour into a cupcake pan and bake at 350F for 18-22 minutes. Set aside to cool. Now on to the frosting. In a small pot, stir the brown sugar into the melted butter and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Stir in the heavy cream, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Return to a boil for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Remove from the stove and cool until it is lukewarm. Transfer the butterscotch to your mixer. At low speed, add in 1 tbsp of the milk, and powdered sugar. Beat until combined. Add in the other tbsp and beat until smooth. Depending on lots of different factors, you may need more milk to get the desired consistency. It should be smooth and silky, not light and fluffy. Finally, decorate your cupcakes with the frosting and enjoy this individual pumpkin dessert. ----------------------------------------------------

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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the journey written by Jason McReynolds

Holiday Work

ave you ever noticed the amount of work we put into the holidays nowadays? It’s exhausting. The holidays are all about cooking and being “on” for the relatives. You are either going to travel somewhere, or you’re going to get your house ready for those who are traveling to stay with you. I live in New Orleans and yet, in an ironic twist, I can’t stand cooking. Preparing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich wears me out. Not physically but mentally. I can jump into any sport and that doesn’t phase me. But slapping two pieces of bread together might as well be the same as walking into a mall with my wife who has 6 hours to kill. It sucks the life out of me. The holidays can be the same way. And yet we do it over and over and over again year after year after year. Why? I guess the better question is why does it wear us out so much? We get worn out at work every day. Why do we get worn out at home during the holidays? Is it because it’s work and we don’t enjoy it? Perhaps it’s because we don’t value what God has given us. Or maybe it’s because we don’t see the gift that a family really is. In our church we talk about spiritual gifts a lot. The bible explains that spiritual gifts are from the Holy Spirit when you begin a relationship with Jesus. There are a lot of gifts nobody has every single gift. Most may seem mundane, like serving, but they fulfill a vital role in the life of the church. In fact, what makes a church whole spiritually is having all the gifts out of the many different people who make up a congregation. When you actually use your gift it energizes you. The problem is that sometimes we think we know what our gift is and jump into it. Then we quickly realize it isn’t our gift at all and we become exhausted. I find that the same can go with holidays. We do things that exhaust us and we end up in a sour mood the whole time wondering how long it’ll take for January 2nd to

come so we can get back into our daily routine. Sure, we see people in the bible working hard. I’m not saying you shouldn’t. Mary and Joseph walked about 75 miles to get to Bethlehem and they didn’t even know Christmas was coming. But you don’t see people going out of their way to do things that have no meaning and do not point to Jesus. Yes, we all need to eat. Yes, the guys “need” to watch football (myself included). But what we really need is each other. Let me suggest a different approach to the holidays. Do what you love. “Yea, right!” you say. “That’s a pipe dream!” you say. I know that there are things that have to get done (that you hate), but do as little of that as you can. For the things that you dislike that have to get done, do them sparingly or take shortcuts. Aunt Ethyl only wants your cranberry sauce made from scratch? Tell Aunt Ethyl to get her rear end up and make it herself or be content with the canned kind! From that point there are a couple of options - #1. Leave the canned cranberry mold upright, still ribbed, and wiggling in the bowl so you can make your point that enough is enough. Or, #2. You can cut it up and mix in some other quick things that make it look like you worked hard on it to keep the peace. Prayer usually helps in discerning which route to go here! Don’t kill yourself over the little things. When you don’t stress over the little things, when you don’t try to make everything just right, when you don’t try to be the perfect host, it gives you freedom to enjoy your family. You’ll

stop and look around and see all the quirks and craziness that exists and it’ll make you smile and laugh. If you look around and nobody has quirks or nobody’s nutty, then it’s probably you! And that’s ok too! God made every family different and unique and you are part of that history, heritage, and craziness! But you can’t end there. If you do, you miss the point. There is a story in the bible about two sisters, Mary and Martha, and Jesus comes to their house. Martha is working her tail off making sure she is the perfect host while Mary is doing nothing but sitting with Jesus. Martha finally gets ticked off and asks Jesus to get her going. Jesus’ reply is that Mary is doing the right thing and Martha needs to slow her roll. Mary was spending time with Jesus while Martha was busy around Jesus. Mary was engaging while Martha was busying. Mary was present while Martha might as well have been on Mars. When you have that “look around the room and realize how nutty they all are” moment, take the time to give God thanks for them. Take the time to pray for them. Take the time to stop what you are doing and go and sit with them. After all, if you work so hard that you miss out being with your family when they are physically there, what’s the point of being there at all? Don’t be so busy with the things that stress you out that you miss out on your family! Engage with your family. Be present with your family. Pray for your family. And above all, give God thanks for your family. ----------------------------------------------------

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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written by Ashley Maddox Traditions

he holidays are full of traditions. For Halloween, my husband Jerry and I go to my cousin Jennifer's house to carve pumpkins, for Thanksgiving we make it up as we go since neither of our families do too much, and for Christmas we usually travel since our parents are spread out everywhere. Jerry's dad and his family are in Georgia, his mom is in Oklahoma, my dad is in Monroe, Louisiana and my mom is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. My favorite holiday tradition when I was growing up was going to get our Christmas tree. We always went to Curry's Christmas tree farm in Start, La. My dad owned a jewelry store so it was the busiest time of year for him but even if we didn't get a tree until Christmas Eve, we always got one to decorate from Curry's. I remember years when we wore jeans and jackets to pick out a tree and I remember years when we wore shorts and t-shirts. Regardless of the weather, my sister and I were always so excited to go to the Christmas tree farm to get a tree. We would pull up in the gravel lot and hop out, ready to get started. The Currys always had a dog around and some ducks which sometimes caused a temporary distraction but our main focus was the tree.

Once stopped, my sister and I would jump off the trailer and run around all willy-nilly searching for the perfect tree. I always wanted the tallest tree I could find (I still do to this day. Jerry has to rein back my enthusiasm for giant trees) and we both wanted a really full tree. No skinny trees for us. This process could take quite a while. Between me, my sister, and my dad we would eventually find the perfect tree. The guy on the tractor would cut the tree down for us and load it on the trailer. We would hop back on the trailer and head to the front of the farm.

Once back at the front of the farm, they would put the tree on the machine that shakes out all of the loose and dead tree branches and then put the tree through the netting. The tree would then be loaded in the truck and we would head back to the house, imagining where we were going to put our favorite ornaments. Before the tree was brought into the house, we had to prep the floor which involved putting down multiple trash bags to protect the carpet. Then we would drag the tree in the house and start trying to get it on the stand. Even

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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On a quick side note, one of the most memorable years when I wore shorts I wish I wouldn't have. Somehow my sister convinced my dad that we should bring her cat. (No idea why he thought that was a good idea but he did tend to spoil us). So the cat and I are in the back seat and the cat vomits slimy green stuff all down my leg. It was not pleasant. Needless to say, we never brought pets to the tree farm again. And now back to the story. We would load up in the back of the trailer and a guy on a tractor would pull us around the farm until we said stop.

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when we got the tree on the stand, it was never straight. We always ended up with multiple copies of Reader's Digest and other books under the tree stand legs to get it to stand up right. You would have thought our floor was on a 45 degree angle. Now that the tree was up a frantic search was made in the attic to get down lights and decorations. The lights were always a big ordeal because we had to see which ones worked and they were always all tangled up because we were all notoriously bad about putting them back in the box in an orderly fashion. My sister and I were also always convinced that there were more ornaments in the attic than what my parents had brought down. There weren't but we always thought so for some reason. We constantly worried that there weren't enough ornaments for the tree but there always were. After my dad got all of the lights on, my sister and I would begin placing the ornaments on the tree. Our favorites always went in the front so they could be proudly displayed and the well liked ornaments went to the sides and the ornaments we didn't like were carefully hidden in the back. We applied the tinsel with great care because our mom was quick to point out if you made clumps (even if she wasn't helping). When we were finally finished we would turn the tree lights on and the rest of the lights off to see how pretty our tree had turned out. In my eyes, it was always so beautiful, even when there weren't presents under it. I loved the soft glow of the lights and how the tinsel looked with the ornaments. Just the memory makes me smile. Even as an adult I am filled with content sitting in the dark looking at a Christmas tree.

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If you or a loved one is experiencing changes in For Quality the ability to cope with daily living, Senior Care at Minden Medical Center is here to help. For more information If you or a loved one is experiencing changes in or to living, schedule a free, the ability to cope with daily Senior Care confidential assessment, at Minden Medical Center is here to help.

As an adult, I still try to get a Christmas tree every year. One year when Jerry and I were living in Beaumont, Texas call us at 318-371-5646. Senior Care is available to persons age 55 and over with we had decided not to get a tree. We were both a little You have a choice when it comes to caring for your health. Make it a smart one, a mental or cognitive decline that hinders daily life, who depressed and didn't feel like dragging a tree up to our anddays choose the area hospital that one of the nation’s top performers Hope is only a phone call away. second story apartment. A few before Christmas, I was named has become a threat to self or others, or is limited in selfjust couldn't take it anymore. When I left workon forkey lunch I measures quality two years in a row. care ability. Our mental health professionals are available ran by Walgreen's and picked up ornaments, lights, and a through our 24 hour referral line to discuss treatment tree stand. Luckily, I had drivenWe’re Jerry's truck to recognized work that by The Joint proud to be Commission, the leading accreditor needs and are devoted to helping patients get back to day so as soon as I got off I headed to Lowe's (I was not of healthcare organizations in the nation, for our achievements in quality… but www.MindenMedicalCenter.com aware of any Christmas tree farms in Beaumont). It was a their optimal level of functioning. we’re even more proud to be chosen by you. Minden Medical Center cold day and had started drizzling. I was standing out in the #1 Medical Plaza | Minden, LA understands patients and their families – safe and area of the parking lot where they keep the what trees matters hoping most toOur services include: someone was going to show up. A gentleman up to providing the highest quality care possible, effective care. We showed are committed • Free initial consultation Management of secondary about 5 minutes later but he didn't work there. He was there along with the expertise and leading edge technology that you expect at • larger because his wife told him that if he came home without a • Thorough assessment medical needs all conveniently close to home. tree she wasn't letting him in. Needless to say,hospitals, someone • Customized treatment • Continued care planning finally showed up and helped me load a tree into the back plans and referral assistance of Jerry's truck. I was pretty soaked by this time so I ran • choose Group, individual, and Whatever your healthcare need, Minden Medical Center. in and paid and headed to our apartment. I backed Jerry's family counseling truck in under our covered parking spot (big pat on the back www.mindenmedicalcenter.com for me here as I am horrible at backing up and parking) and headed upstairs hoping that Jerry wouldn't notice the tree in the back of his truck.

Luckily, Jerry didn't notice the tree and was quite surprised when I asked him to help me carry something up the stairs and he saw the tree. We lugged it up the flight of stairs and got the tree in the corner of our tiny living room. Now I had picked out what I thought was a small tree. However, it was not. It would not fit in the tree stand I had bought. It was also big enough that when I stood behind it you couldn't see any part of my body. It was a true Ashley tree. It pretty much filled up an entire corner of our apartment. Regardless, we kept it. We went and bought a new tree stand and decorated it. Having a tree improved our mood and we still use the ornaments, lights, and tree stand from that year.

Senior Care is available to persons age 55 and over with a mental or cognitive decline that hinders daily life, who has become a threat to self or others, or is limited in selfcare ability. Our mental health professionals are available through our 24 hour refer al line to discuss treatment For more information or to schedule a free, confidential assessment, call us at 318-371-5646.

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rants of an

old hen

written by Chris Broussard

Shadowing 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 this 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. Last month, after fifty years I returned to Paris. Traveling with my husband, Rick, and our dear friends Kelly and Brian Carlisle, we rented an apartment in Montemarte historic district for twelve glorious days. Our apartment was situated at the base of a massive stone staircase that led up to 'the hill of Paris' and the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur. After arriving, we made our way to the many outdoor cafes and shops that line the cobble stoned streets. All the while knowing that this place inspired many of the great painters of the twentieth century, Salvador Dali, Monet, Picasso and of course, my favorite, Vincent Van Gogh, I kept pinching myself. It was our jaunt to Auvers Sur Oise that stole my heart. We traveled by train that day to the little village where Vincent lived and died. None of us had any idea what we would encounter here. The small village offered a stark contrast between the crowded streets of Paris. With a map from the local tourism office, we made our way up the hill to the cemetery. We were surprised to find that many of the homes and buildings that Vincent painted were still there 125 years later. Our first stop was in front of the Church of Auvers. Knowing that Vincent walked these grounds was awe inspiring to me. I couldn't believe I was really here. A dream of a lifetime coming true. We had stopped at the french market that morning and purchased flowers for Vincent's and Theo's graves. Venturing to Auvers to see Van Gogh's grave was the most incredible experience of my later life. Walking up the hill past the church and around the bend to the top of the hilltop cemetery was more than I could take in. An old wooden fence

between the little wooded area marked the way to the old cemetery. A field on either side of the road also marked the walk. We entered the old stone walls and metal gate with great anticipation. Not knowing which way to go, we saw two women had entered before us. Figuring they must be going to the same place, we looked for them. And there it was ~ against the stone wall covered in lush green ivy were the head stones of Vincent and his brother Theo. As I lay the bouquet of flowers on his grave, I paused to just take it all in when I heard the laughter and voices of children. I turned to see an entire class of elementary children about the same age as those I teach at Glenbrook. With notebooks in hand, they stopped in front of the graves and quietly listened to instructions given by their teachers. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I couldn't help but think about the many students I have taught over the years. And here I was standing in front of the burial site of the very person who inspired me as a youngster. It was an incredible feeling. After the children left, we stayed and took many shots and while taking one of my favorite photos of the trip, I saw a young photographer taking a photograph of us. Then the young Frenchman asked to take one of Vincent's tombstone. We moved to one side but he kept motioning for Rick to move forward. Confused and not understanding french, Rick hesitantly moved forward. And there it was! The shot that the young photographer saw. A shadow. A shadow that eerily resembled Vincent Van Gogh. As Rick moved forward, the young photographer captured it. A cast shadow on Vincent's headstone of Rick. The sun was at a perfect angle. We were both moved by the moment and the shadow caught on camera.

This journey back to France was life affirming. I am an artist and an art teacher because I was inspired by the bright colors and the sweeping brush strokes created by the man with a bandaged ear. My memory of standing in front of his paintings as a young girl and thinking to myself, “I don't know what this art stuff is but I think it's for me' came back in living color. Vincent Van Gogh lived a short life and painted his vast collection of incredible works in ten years. While he died never knowing what a legacy he would leave behind ~ that legacy being a trail of passion and pleasure for anyone to follow. Thank you Vincent. _______________________________ Photo #1-- Brian Broussard, Kelly Broussard.

Carlisle, Carlisle,

Chris Rick

Photo #2—Vincent's painting of the Church at Auvers. Photo #3—Standing in front of the Church at Auvers and the painting that Vincent painted 125 years earlier. Photo #4-- Rick Broussard's cast shadow on Vincent's tombstone eerily resembles Vincent. _______________________________

"I don't know what this art stuff is but I think it's for me." -Chris Broussard _______________________________

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.

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www. theminutemagazine. com a novel approach written by Winnie Griggs Building An Effective Author-Agent Partnership: Part 5

his is the fifth and final installment in my series on the AuthorAgent Partnership. In the first four I discussed whether or not every writer needs an agent, when in his or her career an author should consider acquiring an agent, how to research effectively to identify your dream agent and what the author’s responsibility is in this partnership. In this final installment I’ll discuss what to do when the relationship stops working effectively. Sometimes, no matter how much research you did on the front end, and how well the partnership may have worked in the beginning, things between you and your agent quit working. It may not be anyone’s fault - things change - with you, with your agent, with the industry. Your needs may be different now, or the compatibility you thought was there either wasn’t or it devolved. Or maybe the element of trust has been lost. And it could be none of the above. Sometimes things just change. It doesn’t mean she’s a bad agent or that you’re a bad client, it may just mean that you two have outgrown the partnership. Whatever the reason, you suddenly find that you and your agent are no longer in sync. If it’s not working, and frank discussions won’t fix it, then it’s time to severe the relationship. I’ve had to do this once in my career and I can tell you it wasn’t easy, pleasant or comfortable. As soon as you reach the decision, make the break - prolonging the relationship

isn’t in anyone’s best interest. Do it quickly, cleanly and professionally. Try to leave on amicable terms if possible. I’d recommend you do it via a registered letter. Doing it via phone or email is inviting an uncomfortable conversation and opening yourself up for emotional or adversarial debate. Confrontation is something I, for one, don’t deal well with. When you draft the letter, be both professional and final - stating something along the lines of “I am severing our arrangement as of this notice”. Don’t get into accusations or play the blame-game, simply state that you find that the two of you are no longer on the same page and that you are taking this step in the best interests of your career. Keep in mind the terms of the contract you signed with your agent in regards to dissolving the relationship. You may be required to give 30 days (or more) notice. Also keep in mind that your agent will continue to be the agent of record on any contracts she negotiated on your behalf.

Once the partnership is dissolved, take the time to really analyze what was at the heart of what went wrong, and factor that in when you are searching for your next agent. SERIES CONCLUSION The bottom line - in the beginning it’s all about knowing yourself and your needs well enough to identify an agent who is the right fit for you. After that, it’s all about the communication. Set expectations up front that there will be frank but professional and respectful communication both ways, and then work to make certain it happens. And remember, this partnership is all about getting your books published and in furthering your publishing career. A good agent whose business philosophy is in sync with yours, who offers you good advice, who advocates for you and who is focused on helping you achieve your publishing goals is an absolutely invaluable asset. Having such a person at your side and in your corner is one of the best advantages you can have in your efforts to building a dream writing career

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

Make All Your Holiday Wishes Come True

bringing back

the past

written by Wesley Harris Webster Parish Outlaw

ith a childhood as normal as any north Louisiana boy could experience, no one could have predicted Linc Waggoner’s future as a bloodthirsty killer. Born about 1865 on a small farm in a part of Claiborne Parish that later became northern Webster Parish, he attended a nearby school and labored on the farm of his hardworking father, John Waggoner. Waggoner’s first association with a murder arose from a perceived injustice to his family. Linc's brother, Matthew, had been killed in a quarrel at the home of a cousin, Tud Grider. A jury acquitted Grider, finding he acted in self-defense. Grider moved away, but a few months later he was shot and killed while plowing his field. Witnesses placed Linc Waggoner and his brothers at the scene. The brothers were tried and Linc was acquitted, but “Spank” Waggoner was found guilty and sentenced to life in the Louisiana state penitentiary. Linc's next known brush with the law occurred in 1890. Linc was with some friends, including Mun Newsom. A quarrel broke out and Linc pulled his pistol and fired at Newsom several times, killing Newsom's horse. Linc was arrested and tried, but was acquitted by the jury. He again had trouble with Mun Newsom, and the two men agreed to leave each other alone, with the understanding that if either man ever spoke to the other under any circumstances, such conversation would be considered a declaration of war, freeing either man to shoot the other on sight. Nearly two years passed before Waggoner and Newsom met at a country store. Newsom was drinking and offered Linc a drink. Waggoner responded with a Colt .45 revolver. He fired quickly and missed Newsom, who ran out the back door of the building. Linc went around the building and encountered Newsom. The two men fired several times, resulting in a serious wound to Newsom's jaw. Waggoner fled to Arkansas but returned in 1891 to surrender but not before the witness in the Newsom matter, Cam Bloomfield, was murdered. While Waggoner was in the Homer jail, a mob knocked a hole in the jail wall to get

at him. With warning of the impending raid, Linc had acquired two revolvers, either from the sheriff or another source. Waggoner greeted the would-be lynchers with a hail of gunfire, leaving several attackers fleeing with serious wounds. Linc was granted a change of venue to Lincoln Parish where he was tried and once again acquitted. One member of the Homer mob was outlaw Tom Kinder. For unknown reasons, Kinder was dedicated to killing Waggoner and the feeling was mutual. Waggoner tacked a note to a tree in the center of the community bearing the following message: "I am not here to harm a living soul, except Tom Kinder... if he continues to haunt me, I will make it lively for him as I stand six foot in my stockings, wear a number nine shoe, and cover every inch of ground upon which I stand." During the feud with Kinder, Waggoner was blamed for several unsolved killings in north Louisiana and south Arkansas. Evidence of Linc's role in most of the killings was weak but he was clearly culpable in one shooting. William Holland was home sitting by the fire, holding his baby in his arms, when Linc Waggoner fired a shotgun from a wooded area nearby, striking Holland in the shoulder and arm. Eventually, Holland lost the arm. After shooting Holland, Waggoner fled to Texas. He was hiding in Texas when he was captured and returned to Louisiana by Deputy Sheriff Reagan of Webster Parish. While Linc was in the Minden jail, his enemy Tom Kinder was brought in for killing a Mr. Tuggle as part of the ongoing Ramsey-Tuggle feud, a local dispute that rivaled the Hatfields and McCoys for the number of bodies it produced. The two enemies were placed in adjacent cells where

they could see and talk with one other. Waggoner suggested the jailer give each man a Winchester and save the parish the cost of trials. But Kinder died suspiciously from a dose of morphine. Concerns for Waggoner’s safety led the sheriff to transfer him to the Monroe jail. While Linc Waggoner was awaiting trial, citizens warned the Webster sheriff that when Waggoner returned to Minden, he would be killed. On Saturday, September 8, 1894, Waggoner was transferred back to the Minden jail for his scheduled trial on Monday. The following account of a mob of men forcing their way into the jail appeared in the Shreveport Times on Tuesday, September 11, 1894: “When citizens started out of their houses toward the jail they were met by armed sentries and forcibly driven back. On all sides the jail was guarded by armed men, who had taken possession of every avenue that led to it. One man, Mr. John Sandlin, avoided the sentries and went to the Presbyterian Church and rang the bell to arouse the citizens. He also fired his pistol several times. Deputy Sheriff Reagan was a mile away at his home and heard nothing of it. Before the Sheriff could be appraised of what was going on the mob had accomplished its horrible and most cowardly work. “A Times representative, who went to Minden yesterday, interviewed the three men who were in the cell with Waggoner, and learned from their own lips the story of the most brutal assassination it has ever been his misfortune to record. “After the mob had cut its way through the brick wall of the jail, six or seven masked men came through the aperture, all heavily armed, and made

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.

their way upstairs to the upper tier of cells. The attackers were led by a man who appeared to be perfectly familiar with the interior of the jail. In this cell, as in others, there was a triangular ventilation flue in one corner, which was constructing by riveting a heavy piece of iron across the closed corner of the cage. This piece of iron extended from the ceiling of the cell down to within 12 or 15 inches of the floor. Into this flue, Waggoner had squeezed himself and by standing erect and reaching up could get his fingers into some openings above that enabled him to pull himself up until his feet were almost out of sight. “The men, who had lanterns, flashed a light into the cell and asked for Linc. The other prisoners told them he was not in there. They went farther, and moved everything to show that Linc was not in there. The lynchers swore that they knew he was in there and threatened to shoot or dynamite the whole outfit if they did not produce him. Frightened to death, one of the prisoners gave away Linc's hiding place. “The prisoners were ordered, under pain of death if they refused, to drag Linc down, out of the flue. This, two of them proceeded to do, grasping him by the feet and by main strength pulling him until his finger holds above gave way. When they had him partially out, one man shot at Waggoner legs, and missed

him. Waggoner exclaimed: "Lord have mercy on my people, gentlemen let me talk." One man said: "Yes, if you will call no names on the outside." Another man objected to any talk. “Then followed one of the most heartless and diabolical murders that men could be guilty of. The other prisoners were ordered to stretch out and hold Linc close to the open bars within a few inches of the muzzles of the pistols of the two lynchers who had been delegated to shoot him. These two men were squatted on their haunches, with the muzzles of their pistols resting in the opening of the bars. Waggoner, helpless in the hands of two powerful men, one of whom, Patrick, had both hands in his powerful grasp and Linc's head securely under his left arm, and the other man holding both his feet off the floor, commenced to curse his executioners, and told them if they would give him a pistol and a man's chance he would whip the whole mob. “When the man holding Linc's feet was so exhausted he had to let go, the third prisoner was ordered to take his place. While this change was being made the executioners said: ‘Boys when you get ready, you will shoot.’ Patrick's hand had slipped down over Linc's left breast and he was told to move it up out of the way as they wanted to shoot Linc in the heart. One ball penetrated his heart. Twelve balls in all were fired into Waggoner’s body. When the executioners were satisfied their victim was dead, they told the prisoners to drop him and made them remove the clothing from the upper portion of the body so they

could see the wounds. "Then the few men who had come into the jail went out through the opening they had made, a signal was given and their captain called out: "Fall in by twos!" With military precision they marched out of town north by the Germantown Road. Out about a mile or more they mounted their horses and proceeded on north. “Parties who went out on that road next morning followed the trail for ten miles or more. While the men were marching out of town on foot, one citizen counted twenty-one in ranks. Whether or not there were more is not known, but it is thought there were not. The mob accomplished its bloody work in less than 30 minutes. “The citizens of Minden, while not doubting that Waggoner was a desperate and very bad man and probably richly deserved punishment, greatly deplore the manner of his taking off, and condemn the work in unqualified terms.”

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a collage of southern stories and recipes:

seasoned moments written by Barbara Durbin Winter Winds & Mulled Cider

devastated our natural trophies. Their latest tactics serve to give victory to the opposing side. It appears that even the winds were on their side.

inter winds will soon come howling, but for the moment the crispness of the ending harvest is upon us. Early morning cool gives way to mid afternoon warmth and the vivid colors of the season manifest themselves under the opening auspices of autumn.

With a huge sigh of regret for the work which is now completely undone, I take a running jump and land right smack dab in the middle of the last uncrushed heap. Mocking laughter from the enemy’s henchmen gives me the added leverage to throw caution to the wind and stuff their shirts full of autumn’s glory. Ahhh…sometimes loss can be sweet.

With each fallen leaf in wooded areas; God is weaving his winter carpet. The combined mat of leaves and pine needles provide the needed covering for the animal kingdom as they begin the weatherization of their homes. We humans, on the other hand, pull the rakes from storage and begin the seasonal combat of fighting a seemingly endless drift of white oak matter. Our yard tool assumes the position of a gun and kitchen matches become our ammo. Year after year, season after season, we attempt to win the war against these weightless, floating obstacles. It is a give and take battle. Sometimes the win is theirs, sometimes ours. After much back breaking work, we have several huge piles of raked leaves. These heaps are the insignia of our “Battle with the Oak.” Our symbol of a battle almost won.

Then as evening shadows invade territory, worn-out friend and foe mulled cider. Tiredly we watch lowering sun of today fade into purple horizon of tomorrow.

2 cups cranberry juice cocktail 2 c. pineapple juice 1 c. Tang powdered drink mix 3 c. water ½ c. brown sugar ½ t. ground cloves ¼ t. ground cinnamon ¼ t. ground allspice Dash of nutmeg Dash of salt Cinnamon sticks and butter

Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce- pan and bring to a boil. Pour into cups and dot with a small amount of butter. Add a cinnamon stick to each cup. ----------------------------------------------------

Barbara Durbin is a legal secretary and a published newspaper and magazine columnist. When not at her "real job", she works on her baskets filled with vintage books/china for "The Vintage Bee." She loves a walk in the woods and her time with God. Barbara and her husband have four children, five grandchildren and a dappled dachshund named Bella. Look for her on facebook and follow her

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As in any war, if we fail to reconnaissance our area, the enemy soon hits with a vengeance. Alas, all our hard work is to no avail, for once our backs are turned, our loveable, hyperactive offspring side with the enemy. Our earned medals become huge jumbles beneath the onslaught of laughing, screaming, jumping children as they joyously rake their hands and bodies through the dried foliage.

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On returning with another round of ammo, (matches) we find those lovely, adorable warriors have completely

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the sip the the

---------------------------------------------------Different Mulled Cider

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