Minute Mag NOV/DEC 2012 Issue by The Minute Magazine

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have been wanting to print this issue for three years now, but every time I considered making the trip to our area Children's Homes, a feeling of fear swept over me. Would I be strong enough to keep from crying when faced with children who needed homes and supportive families? Would I be immediately thrown into a tail-spin and begin spending my days working on adoption paperwork and/or Foster Parent applications? In short, I was afraid that I would never be the same again after visiting the children that we planned to feature in our ADOPTION & FOSTER PARENTING issue. And I was partially right--though my experience with adoption began years before the moment that I first stepped foot on the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home in Monroe. When I was nine years old, my parents called a family meeting to discuss a little blue eyed boy who needed a family. I remember the conversation very vividly. He was five, very ill, and my parents had been asked to adopt him. The collective "yes" was the easiest decision that our family had ever made. I remember the first day that my new brother came home. I can't imagine what it must have been like for him, a five-year-old in a house and with a family that he didn't know at all. What thoughts went through his head as he was introduced to his new brother and sisters? Did he have any idea what was really happening? At age five, he probably didn't realize the life-altering decisions that all of the grown-ups involved had made on his behalf. I wonder if he understood that everyone involved was trying to help him, not frighten him. As the holidays grow near, I can't help but think of all of the children who need permanent homes. From a half a world away to only a few blocks from your home, there are children who need you. If you've been seriously considering becoming adoptive or foster parents, I challenge you to move forward with your plans. Your child is out there somewhere, waiting for you to find them. Read the articles in this issue to see how you can make a difference--even if you can't take a child in to raise. These kiddos need our help, and I know in my heart that the readers of The Minute Mag will know just what to do to help them.

Jacquelyn Lewis 5

article and photography by Jacquelyn Lewis

"We

gave up and moved on," said a mistyeyed Nicole Jowers, a mother of three who lives with her husband Gregg in Choudrant, Louisiana. "After nine failed adoptions in three years, my husband Gregg and I had decided that the process just wasn't going to work for us." Gregg nodded in agreement. "I told Nicole that she shouldn't get her hopes up again, and even when we were on the way to Alabama I was still nervous." Less than two months before, Nicole had turned to Facebook (see above photo for her post) to make a very special last-ditch announcement. The Jowers' had decided to give adoption one more try before stopping their attempts to add to their family of four. Within a few days of Nicole's post, the couple recieved word that a woman in Alabama was planning to give her unborn child up for adoption; a Facebook friend very quickly made the connection and realized that Nicole's recent Facebook post might be the missing puzzle piece in the birthmother's search for potential parents. "Technology made it possible for us to connect," says Nicole less than three months later. "When I first learned about the baby, I stayed quiet and waited for a while. After a few weeks I sent my friend a birthmother letter, and Michelle passed on the letter a few days later. Baby Avery's mother read it and said that she was very

interested in our family, and that's when I started to realize that this might happen." By mid-September, Nicole and Gregg learned that their potential birth mother had chosen them for the adoption. Nicole admits, "My friend Michelle texted me the birth mother’s attorney information, and almost immediately the attorney told me that she didn’t think the birth mother would actually go through with the adoption--but I felt like I should follow through anyway. Greg and I began the paperwork for the required home study and had six weeks to complete all of the paperwork before the baby’s due-date. The process usually takes six months, so we had to do everything very quickly. And all the while, we knew that the adoption could fall through at any given moment." As the days and weeks passed, Nicole found that her nerves were rattled. "I texted our birth mother and asked her if we could talk on the phone. I called her and said that I had some concerns I wanted to talk to her about. She immediately gasped and said, 'Oh no, I was so afraid that y’all are backing out.' I said, 'I’m not backing out.' I explained that I was a bit concerned because she wanted to keep the baby in the hospital room with her after the birth, and I thought that she’d want to keep her child if that happened. Gregg had been reminding

me that I shouldn't get excited yet, that the birth mother could easily change her mind. We'd been down that road before. I was terrified that something might happen and the adoption fall through." But in the end, Nicole's worries hadn't been necessary. "Our birth mother said that she understood the concerns, but that she wanted to hold her baby and love her, so that she knows she wasn’t just getting rid of her. There was a special circumstance there, and Avery’s birth mother wasn’t giving her up because she didn’t love her—she was giving baby Avery up for adoption for completely different reasons." Avery was born on October 17th, a little over one month after the Jowers' found out that their family had been chosen for the adoption. Nicole recieved word by text message. "Our birth mother wrote, "She’s here. She’s beautiful. She was born at 8:34, she weighed 5 lbs and 14 ounces," remembered Nicole. "And later, she sent a picture to me and a text that said, 'I couldn’t stand the idea of you not having a picture of your daughter.' I cried." Gregg says that the next few days were a blur. "We still had a social worker coming for our final adoption appointments, so we had to stay at home until everything was finalized. I woke Nicole up at 4:00 am the next morning and said that we needed to drive to Alabama." Nicole smiled and added to the memories of that day. "We cleaned the house, packed the car, and waited for the social worker. When our social worker pulled out of the driveway after finishing our final home study appointment, we pulled out too and headed toward Alabama. We were so nervous. We understood that things could still change—our birth mother was in the hospital holding baby Avery, after all. She never let the nurses take the baby out of her room." When the Jowers reached Alabama, they went straight to the attorney’s office and signed the paperwork with their birth mother’s lawyer. Nicole explains, "After we signed, Greg asked me why I was crying, and I said it was because nothing made sense. As a woman, you understand the emotions of having a child. But when you’re adopting, you can be 'pregnant' for years and years. At the hospital, we sat in the waiting room and I cried some more, wrenched my hands, and finally at 1:30 the attorney came in the room and said, 'The birth mother would like to meet y’all.' I said yes and we went to a conference room. Our birth mother was sitting there waiting for us—she took Avery from her arms and put my daughter into mine. The nurse came in and gave us a parenting class and we were officially the parents of a newborn. The whole time, the nurses were telling me that they had never seen anything like it before. Our child’s birth mother had even bought Avery a dress to wear as we left the hospital. She was amazing." With three week old Avery in her arms, Nicole has plenty of advice for potential adoptive parents. "Tell everyone you know that you're wanting to adopt. I don’t care if it’s a stranger in Wal-Mart—tell everyone that you’re looking for a child." Gregg has plenty of advice, too. "Live off of one income and start putting money back, because the legal fees are expensive. And be patient—understand that it’s going to take a long time. But when it does finally happen and it’s right, your adoption is going to be fast." "But most of all," says Nicole, "you should pray. That's what got us through. This baby girl is an answer to prayers--a lot of them. And I believe that's why she's here."

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The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, Ouachita, Webster, Lincoln & Orleans Parishes in Louisiana. They are FREE for you to enjoy. Take a few to your friends, relatives or anyone else that you think might need a refreshing, enlightening “minute.” For a list of locations near you, visit www.theminutemag.com today! For article suggestions, email Jackie at lewisfamily1908 @bellsouth.net

JACKIE LEWIS & TIFFANY BYRAM Owners/Publishers Regional Editors Graphics/Layout

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JACQUELYN LEWIS

Feature Story & Cover Photography

JENNY REYNOLDS Founder

Circulation & Distribution: Jacquelyn Lewis Contact Information: Office Phone: 318.263.8350 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 2232 Highway 533 Arcadia, LA 71001

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However, you can have it mailed to you for $20 a year to cover postage & handling. Call us at 318.263.8350 and we’ll put you on our mailing list!

Anita Goodson Laura Horton Jackie Lewis Ashley M. Nygaard

The Complexities of Adoption by Jackie Lewis Remembering my Foster Sister by Jeri Bloxom From Ruston Peaches by Chalaine Scott Cooking Simply by Melissa Teoulet

You Never Know by Laura Horton Louisiana Girl Revelations by April Timmons Seasoned Moments by Barbara Ellis Durbin On the Spectrum by Lela Robichaux Antique Junkie by Donna Arender LCBH, Established in 1889 Weeder's Digest by Anita Goodson Never Waste a Minute by A M Nygaard

Copyright 2012. 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.

contributors Donna Arender Jeri Bloxom Tiffany Byram Vicki Caskey Barbara Ellis Durbin

ion t p i r

6 10 12 15 17 23 24 26 29 31 32 42

Lela Robichaux Chalaine Scott April W. Timmons Melissa Teoulet

cover Our cover photo was taken by Jacquelyn Lewis and features Nicole Jowers and her three week old daughter, Miss. Avery.

hen people ask me how many siblings I have, I usually sigh and think for a split second before reluctantly answering two. “I am the oldest of three girls,” I typically respond as memories of another sister flow into the forefront of my mind. When I was a child, my parents, already raising three daughters, ages 13, 11 and 7, decided to become special needs foster parents. After they attended classes, passed the home visits and medical check ups, my parents received a call. Zoe*, a six year old diabetic who had repeatedly suffered from seizures and was mentally handicapped, needed a place to stay until medical accommodations could be arranged. My parents were told Zoe’s stay with our family was going to be brief, due to her severe medical needs. She only knew two words when she arrived in our home; both words were profane. Zoe did not have bladder or bowl control. She could walk, but often stumbled and fell. She had emotional outbursts frequently, throwing fits and wailing often. She had many emotional and physical developmental delays. In Zoe over the course of her time with us, which turned out to 5 years before the state took her from our family to what we assume is a residential hospital, an amazing changed occurred in our family. Because of the time needed to take Zoe to all her various therapies and doctor appointments, my

mother was constantly running the roads and run down, both physically and emotionally. Her relationship with my dad and with her daughters suffered for the care of Zoe. You might think that my sisters and I would resent my parents for the decision to bring such a high needs person into our home, but the truth is that we don’t. There are many things children may grow to resent in their parents, however, the love and responsibility we were shown by our parents with their fostering of Zoe helped us mature in ways most children are never exposed to. By our parents showing us how to have an unconditional love of someone, how to dedicate time and energy to another’s well being, and how to sacrifice our wants for another’s needs, my sisters and I grew. Zoe never learned how to use the toilet, and didn’t learn to speak past the stage of a three year old. She didn’t learn how to jump rope or write her alphabet. However, she did learn to eat with a spoon, and how to get in and out of the vehicle on her own. She learned that there were people in the world who wanted to spend time with her. She learned what it meant to be loved and taken care of. I loved Zoe just like my other sisters. I would take her to the restroom and help dress her. I loved doing her hair. The course texture of her African American hair was not something I had had the opportunity to play with before she moved into our home. She also enjoyed playing with my hair, causing more knots than she did to style it, but it was

worth it because of the joy she got out of being included with us girls. In turn, Zoe became a joy to us, especially while doing our kitchen chores. We would have the radio up on the oldies station, the four of use girls singing and dancing, acting wild and silly. Laughter was always present as my two biological sisters and I taught Zoe new words or taught her how to play games and with toys. When Zoe came to us, she was mentally at the age of 18 months. When she left she had made so much progress. In some respects, Zoe was still a two year old, while in others, she had grown and achieved more than anyone expected from a baby who had spent the majority of her first years left alone. Zoe learned how to hug others. She learned how to say ‘Mom’ and ‘Love you’. She learned to be a part of a family. My sisters and I learned things I can’t articulate- things that I can only feel. When my sisters and I get together for a family dinner, Zoe is usually a part of our conversation. We talk about much fun she was, and how much we love her. How we wonder where she is today and how she is doing. Sometimes we even wonder if she is still alive. My sisters and I talk about the system--the bad, the red tape, the stereotypes. But we also talk about the good that came from it--the lessons we learned, the life we know was improved, the potential good that was done. I have wanted to be a foster/adoptive parent since shorty after Zoe called our

mother ‘Mom’ for the first time. It was a central point of focus as I dated and found someone to spend my life with. I have three children of my own now, and my husband knows that one day we will open our home to at least one other. Right now my children, ages 8, 7 and 2, are not ready to have me devote my attention to someone else, but they will be soon enough. I am hopeful that with care I can teach my children the same lessons about love and life that I learned from my parents and from Zoe. Every now and then I get anxious to open our home and get on the Internet to look at the faces of children in Louisiana who are available for adoption. I can’t help but swell with emotion as I think of what their stories might be, and think of how I might can help. I wonder how many lives could be improved, or even saved if more people understood the wonderful things the foster/adoption system is capable of. If people focused on how they can help, and not on the stereotypes of abuse and a broken system constantly reported in media. I wonder how many Zoe’s are out there who need adults in their lives to take care of them, who need sisters to laugh with. I wonder how many families are out there that need Zoe’s to remind them what it means to love unconditionally, to sacrifice for another. -------------------------------------------* Zoe’s real name has been changed to protect her privacy.

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Magic -----------------------------------

oats are zipped all the way up, scarves hug necks, gloves-fingers, socks-toes. A glowing angel adorns the tip of a chopped down evergreen tree. Bright colored lights and ornaments of all shapes and sizes embellish its branches. Candles illuminate from windowsills, wreaths hang from doors. Boxes are covered and wrapped in decorative paper, topped with tied-together ribbon and perfect bows. Children write out wish lists. They send letters to a man dressed in red driving a sleigh who separates their names accordingly under columns of those deemed naughty, and those deemed nice. December has once again crept back into the year and into our lives, and we feel it as our bank account decreases and that number staring back at

us on our scale increases. December is a wonderful time in the American way. Traditions are renewed, pies are shared, gifts are bought, cocoa is brewed, houses are decorated, memories are made; Hope is restored. Perhaps it’s the sparkling white lights hanging from neighborhood roofs, a familiar Christmas carol humming through the speakers of your car stereo, the refreshing scent of pine needles carried throughout your home, the background of a crackling fire glowing behind the stockings hung on your fire place, or the reminder of why we celebrate, and the remembrance of a little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. Whatever it is, we welcome it, and we embrace it, and we hold on to it for as long as we can. It’s too bad though, that December is the only time that stirs up these emotions. There was once a time it was all we knew. A time we believed in the cliché lectures of reaching for the stars and shooting for the moon. There was a time when we actually believed that, “the sky’s the limit,” and we chased after that dream with all our might. We’ve aged. We’ve acclimated; but we’re still chasing. We’re all still chasing something. We

long to feel that rush, to welcome the sensation of feeling alive and to try and find that one thing that will engross the void we spend our entire lives trying to fill. The truth is, we all want to believe. In something, in anything. Maybe that void is meant to keep us alive. To keep us dreaming, pushing, hoping, going. Maybe that void is meant to be satisfied and depleted over and over, to keep us striving to find the fill. The truth is, it is in the most fortuitous moments that our void’s brim is truly replenished. We spend too much time trying to find and plan these moments, rather than just live them. When we wipe our eyes from the clouded vision we’ve allowed ourselves to become accustomed to, and forbid the world’s tragedies to steal the magic within our hearts, it is then we feel it. Maybe magic is what we all really need a little more of. A dash of fairy dust sprinkled within our soul, a twinkle in an eye. Wouldn’t it be beautiful if we could restore our whimsical belief in fairy tales, in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus? In the belief that anything is possible? Wasn’t life better when we plucked a dandelion to blow the seeds from its stem as we wished, watching the remnants float away in

the wind? More seamless when we weren’t saving one last breath for a birthday candle that would make that dream come true? When we weren’t waiting on that shooting star to someday come? We all want to believe, we all long to believe. The fact of the matter is, we all love this time of year because it ushers this feeling back. Christmas escorts the believing back into our souls. Maybe it’s the thought of the sleigh landing above your head while you sleep, the sound in the distance you can faintly hear of the hooves of Dancer and Prancer gliding through the sky reigned by Jolly Old Saint Nick, Rudolph and gang landing beside your chimney, or the picturesque first view of our living room Christmas morning when we wipe the blur from our eyes and encounter that all too familiar feeling that Santa has come. Christmas helps our vision clear. Christmas gives us hope. Christmas brings the magic. Christmas fills the void. Pick out a tree, sing a carol, throw a snowball, wrap a gift, give a gift, hang a stocking, make a wish, and believe. After all, isn’t believing the reason why we celebrate? -------------------------------------------I am a simple girl rooted in family, friends, the Bible, and my mama’s chicken casserole. At my best, I’m loved and respected; at my worst, I am saved by grace. I am a girl removed from the country life of belt buckles and boots placed to blend in with the city life of stilettos and suits. From the quiet back roads of Louisiana, to the busy avenues of New York City, I am still just a girl in love with the simplicities: cuddles with my labrador retriever, game night with my family, laughs with my best friends, and a new pair of stilettos adorning my closet. I may be off chasing my big dreams in the big city, but my heart is always home. Follow me @Chaleezy --------------------------------------------

Always

Me Goodnight (Keep Infants Sleeping Safely)

October is SIDs Awareness Month 8 tips to lower the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and keep your baby sleeping safely BACK TO BED. Babies should always be put to sleep on their backs. FIRM IS BETTER. %DELHV VKRXOG VOHHS RQ D Ã&#x20AC;UP PDWWUHVV ZLWK D WLJKWO\ Ã&#x20AC;WWHG VKHHW NOTHING IN THE CRIB BUT THE BABY. 1R SLOORZV VWXIIHG DQLPDOV EODQNHWV RU FRPIRUWHUV BABY FACE. Babiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; faces should be uncovered for easy breathing. NO SMOKING ZONE. ([SRVXUH WR FLJDUHWWH VPRNH LQFUHDVHV WKH ULVN of SIDS. SLEEP ALONE. Your baby should sleep in a separate crib, cradle or bassinet close by. KEEP IT COMFORTABLE. Use a one piece sleeper instead of blankets RU VKHHWV .HHS WKH URRP DW D FRPIRUWDEOH WHPSHUDWXUH OFFER A PACIFIER. $ SDFLÃ&#x20AC;HU XVHG GXULQJ WKH Ã&#x20AC;UVW \HDU RI OLIH PD\ lower the risk of SIDS.

ZZZ 0LQGHQ0HGLFDO&HQWHU FRP #1 Medical Plaza | Minden, LA

• • •

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What's your favorite BISCUIT RECIPE? -------------------------------------

don’t know about you, but I grew up with Pillsbury Grands biscuits. We didn’t make homemade biscuits and why would you want to when those delicious Pillsbury ones are so quick and easy. My favorite flavor was the short-lived blueberry. Fresh out of the oven, they were so so good. Now as an adult, I’m more concerned with preservatives in processed foods. Recently I began my quest for a biscuit recipe that was similar to Pillsbury Grands. Most biscuit recipes, while certainly tasty, crumble too easily and that was not what I was ultimately looking for. Eventually, after many failed attempts to discover what made those store-bought biscuits so different, it finally clicked in my head. The answer I was looking for was yeast. Yeast changed the texture of the biscuit, making it more bread-like and… exactly like Pillsbury’s! I felt like I had found the Holy

Grail. It was surprisingly simple, and yet it took me an embarrassingly long time. So now that I had a yeasty biscuit recipe I could work with, of course I had to play with it a bit more. I wondered if it would be possible to cut some of the fat out of the biscuit too. Around this same time, I started noticing that people were talking online about making a “faux” greek yogurt by straining regular yogurt. This makes the yogurt really thick and creamy. It also seemed to make it a bit more tart but that could have just been my imagination. I was able to use the strained yogurt in place of half the butter/shortening with no loss to flavor or texture. Here are 3 biscuit recipes for you; all using strained yogurt as well as buttermilk. To make strained yogurt, layer cheesecloth in a colander and place the colander over a bowl. Spoon a large carton of plain yogurt into the cheesecloth. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

• • •

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Cheddar Thyme Buttermilk Biscuits

Yeast Biscuits

This recipe will make a biscuit that is as close to a Pillsbury Grands biscuit as you’ll ever get with homemade. • • • • • •

2 packages active dry yeast ¼ c. warm water ½ tsp sugar 4 ½ c. all-purpose flour 1 tbsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda

• •

2 1/2 tbsp sugar 1 tsp salt ½ c. butter, cut into small cubes ½ c. strained yogurt 1½ c. buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 425°. Line a piece of parchment on a baking sheet. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and ½ tsp sugar in the warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Meanwhile sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt into a large bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter and yogurt into the flour till the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add in the yeast and buttermilk and stir to form dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead till the mixture is no longer sticky. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to a ½-inch thickness. Use a 2-inch biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits. Brush the tops with extra buttermilk and bake for 15-20 minutes. Makes 24 biscuits.

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A classic buttermilk biscuit with the addition of cheese and herbs • • • • • • •

4 c. all-purpose flour 4 tsp. baking powder 1 tbsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 2 c. finely shredded cheddar cheese 3 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

½ c. butter, cut into small cubes ½ c. strained yogurt 1½ c. buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425°. Line a piece of parchment on a baking sheet. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, and baking soda. Stir in the cheddar cheese and thyme. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter and yogurt into the flour till the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the buttermilk and stir to combine. The dough will be very lumpy and sticky. Turn out onto a floured surface and gently roll the dough to a ½-inch thickness. Use a 2-inch biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits. Brush the tops with extra buttermilk and bake for 15-20 minutes. Makes 24 biscuits.

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Sweet Potato Biscuits A great fall treat

• • • • • • • • •

2 c. all-purpose flour 2 tbsp brown sugar 2½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt ½ tsp baking soda 2 tbsp butter, cut into small cubes ¼ c. strained yogurt 1 c. mashed sweet potato ¾ c. buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425°. Line a piece of parchment on a baking sheet. Microwave 2 sweet potatoes till cooked and scrape out the potato into a medium bowl. Whisk in the yogurt and buttermilk and set aside. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter till the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the sweet potato mixture to the flour and stir to combine. Turn out onto a floured surface and roll out to ½-inch thickness. Use a 2-inch biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits. Brush the tops with extra buttermilk and bake for 20-25 minutes. Makes 12 biscuits. -------------------------------------

... 4... 3... 2...1... Happy New Year! Ring it in with resolutions that will help you strengthen your financial position and set the stage for long-term success. Here are goals you can set and start working toward today: Save for a house. If a home

purchase is in your future, check your credit report now. You'll be able to review your credit history and report any errors or omissions to the credit bureaus. You'll also have more time to improve your credit score. A good credit score can improve the rate you get on your loan, which can save you thou-

sands of dollars in the long run. Be budget-savvy. Identify where and how you are spending your hardearned dollars so you can plug money drains. Software and apps such as Quicken, Microsoft Money and www.mint.com make budgeting and tracking ex-

penses easy. Reign in credit card debt. Review your card statements to see which debt you can tackle first. Get a feel for the payoff amount using this online calculator. Get insured. As a young professional, your biggest asset is not your retirement account, but your ability to earn money. Protect your paychek by obtaining disability and life insurance coverage. Disability insurance coverage replaces a portion of your income if you cannot work due to a disabling accident or illness. Life insurance offers longterm security for you and your family if something unexpected were to happen. Contact me to learn about Insurance and Financial Review and what it can mean for your long-term goals.

Wiggin’ Out 2012 The Minute Magazine would like to thank our event sponsors, table sponsors, ĂŶĚ ĂƌĞĂ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŐĞŶĞƌŽƵƐ ĚŽŶĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͘ Brightly colored wigs and costumes of all shapes and sizes filled Squire Creek Country Club for the 2nd annual Wiggin’ Out Event held October 11, 2012. Brainchild of The Minute’s own Vicki Caskey, this event was created to provide wigs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who may not be able to afford one otherwise. Wiggin’ Out is a joint effort of The Minute Magazine, Louisiana Tech Athletics, Northern Louisiana Medical Center, The Ruston Daily Leader, Squire Creek, and Donnie Belle Design. Amy Avant, this year’s Wiggin’ Out spokesperson and cover model for The Minute‘s September / October issue, gave a

beautiful and rousing speech about her journey and the impact that events like Wiggin’ Out can have. “To see so many people caring and working for this cause is overwhelming.” Avant said. “This event will mean more to some people than many of you will ever know. It’s a wonderful cause and there isn’t enough thanks for everyone who put this together and for those who came out to support this cause. It’s a night to remember.” We couldn’t agree more. So from all of us at The Minute to everyone who participated in this amazing event, thank you!

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possibly be from my own personal experience.) 5. Stuff to fix up her truck especially if she doesn’t own a truck. 6. An electric razor - it’s just tacky. 7. A vacuum cleaner/mop/ or broom - unless you have included the live in maid that goes with it. 8. A card - I’m sorry but it’s not the thought that counts. 9. Cubic Zirconia - they aren’t your best friend.

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Public Service Announcement -----------------------------------

ow guys, today I’m talking directly to you. I know that a lot of you haven’t done your Christmas shopping for your wife or girlfriend and you will become a holiday statistic. They will call you last minute shopper man. I know that you will wander into a department store in the wee hours before Christmas with that look of desperation on your face. The sales people will shrill with delight when they see you coming. They are trained like soldiers to sniff you out and prey on you. They will convince you that you have two choices: a) you can sell them your soul and promise your first born son and they will let you walk out with a nice gift under $500 or b) you can beg them for their mercy and they will sell you what is left on the shelf for under $50. Either way, you will not come out of with your dignity in tact. What you will get her will not be what she wants and she will know you forgot about her again. She will not be amused

since she has devoted the last 4 weeks of her life to finding you and your children/mother/ father/everyone-else-onthe-list the perfect gifts and wrapped them so beautifully and then baked Christmas cookies. She will be close to snapping, watch her closely; she is probably starting to twitch. Now, since I am such a devoted public servant and don’t want to see any of you mess this Christmas up, I have decided to give you some advice. First of all shop now. No, not tomorrow, or tonight - right now! Second - get her something she will like. Since I can’t tell you what to give because I don’t know her likes and preferences, I can’t tell you what exactly to get. But what I can do is give you a list of some things NOT to give her. If you give her any of these things on this list she will know immediately that you shopped at the last minute and you will be in more trouble than a Duke boy on a Hazzard county road.

with the word “girdle”) 3. Pots and Pans - ask my dear ole dad about this one - it caused him to eat sandwiches for 3 years 4. An office chair - She does not want one - believe me. And you probably wouldn’t pick out the one she wanted any way. (This one may

10. Nothing - please please please don’t do this. Fake an illness if you have to - just don’t make this mistake. If she said she wanted “nothing” for Christmas - she lied. And she is testing you. You will be punished. Now, get to shopping boys! And Merry Christmas and Good Luck. And may God have mercy on your souls.

Docked at Sci-Port...

through January 20, 2013

REMEMBER THESE ARE THINGS NOT TO BUY!! 1. A gym membership. - I don’t care how many times she says she wants one- if you give this to her you might as well get used to hearing “So you think I’m fat”. 2. Spanx - refer to #1 (and if you aren’t familiar with Spanx, maybe you are familiar

www.sciport.org/Titanic On the downtown Shreveport riverfront

www.sciport.org

www.sciport.org (��) �� 23

Filling: • 1- 29 oz can peach slices • 1 stick margarine • 1 c. sugar • 1 t. cinnamon • ¼ t. nutmeg Crust: • 1 c. self rising flour • 1 c. sugar • 1 c. milk • 1 t. vanilla

----------------------------------Simply Life Peach Cobbler -----------------------------------

grew up watching my mom make cobbler. Depending on the season, it could be dewberry, peach or pear. Before quick was ready she could have one in the oven and half baked prior to lunch preparation. By the time she placed our meal on the table; the coffee was perked and the cooled cobbler sat awaiting service to us on the dining room sideboard. When I think back to my childhood, it appeared we had little in worldly goods. I wore “feed sack” dresses which I washed on a scrub board, and I kept those handmade garments in a chiffarobe which stood against an unpainted wall. The spread on my iron bed was called a counterpane, (from Old French, contrepointe, meaning stitched quilt), and other than the sunlight which beamed through the window; that bed covering was the only bright point in a basically dull room. Compared to others in the southern 60’s era our possessions were insignificant. Our value on the totem pole of the world was basically on the bottom. But the values held in our family far outweighed any

treasures of the world. The principles taught at Mother’s knee were a lasting legacy which “outfitted” me for life. Life is simply not sweet as peaches. It has a way of littering our path with unforeseen pits and peelings. Unanticipated circumstances affect existence as we know it and bring a halt to our familiar routines. Our reaction in an unfamiliar situation pinpoints our maturity level and the world tends to watch how we face the unexpected. Our attitude in difficult times affects everything we do and it influences the people around us. It determines what we will accomplish and how effective our life is. Inward joy and happiness should never depend on outside circumstances. It is foolish to expect people or things to fulfill and keep us in trying times. As a general rule, man seems to think his spiritual life is better when he is successful. Successes should not be the basis for joy. Neither should the tough times be a basis for us to complain, be offended, or not keep our joy. We must have a positive attitude in successful and tough times in order for our life to stand out and be a light for others. How can we say, “Follow me,” if our spiritual light doesn’t show a clear path to the presence of our Creator? While we cannot make life all peaches and cream, we can choose how we go through it. Let your

gentleness be evident to all. A calm, gentle attitude comes from knowing who is in control of all situations we cannot control. We have no control over the circumstances of life but we can choose to say, “It is well with my soul.”

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Peach Cobbler

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt margarine and pour into a 9”x13” baking dish. Place peaches, sugar and cinnamon in a small pot and heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Pour into the baking dish with the margarine. In a mixing bowl, stir until smooth the flour, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Place batter by spoonfuls throughout the peach mixture. Place in oven, bake 15 minutes or until crust rises to the top. Remove from oven and swirl knife throughout. Sprinkle entire pie with sugar and return to oven. Bake an additional 30 minutes or until cobbler is bubbling and crust is brown.

Dr. LaTashia Upton

Obstetrics & Gynecology

MINDEN MEDICAL CENTER & THE WOMEN’S CLINIC ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME THEIR NEWEST PHYSICIAN Dr. LaTashia Upton chose to become part of Minden Medical Center and The Women’s Clinic because of the strong spirit of service and dedication to the community. “There is an undeniable close-knit, positive work environment which I look forward to being a part of.” %W ER EHZSGEXI JSV [SQIR´W LIEPXL (V 9TXSR [ERXW XS TVSZMHI LIV TEXMIRXW [MXL E WIRWI SJ GSR½HIRGI ERH empowerment through education as well as personalized, quality care.The Women’s Clinic provides a full range of obstetrical and gynecologic services including: Annual Well-Women Exams, Bone Density Screenings, Contraceptive Counseling, Laparoscopic & Minimally Invasive Techniques including Hysteroscopic Guided Sterilization with Essure® devices, Urinary Incontinence Treatment, Menopause Management and Prenatal Care throughout Pregnancy & Delivery. Dr. Upton is accepting new patients at The Women’s Clinic located at 431 Homer Road in Minden. Appointments may be made by calling (318) 377-8855. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology American Medical Association Louisiana Medical Society and American Chemical Society

EDUCATION MEDICAL DOCTORATE DEGREE LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine INTERNSHIP & OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOY RESIDENCY LSU Health Shreveport, Chief Resident

PERSONAL Dr. Upton grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana and enjoys reading cooking, volunteering, church activities and Pilates in her spare time. She is genuinely committed to encouraging her patients to live a healthy lifestyle at all stages of their lives and emphasizing the importance of preventative care.

www.mindenmedicalcenter.com #1 Medical Plaza | Minden, LA 71055 | (318) 377-2321

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Our Crazy Lives -----------------------------------

ou know what really sucks? A husband with a broken leg, a cat that has decided the house is her litter box and, sometimes, even autism. To say the last few months have been hard in our household would be an understatement. Back in August, my husband was in a motorcycle accident. We have had to cope with so much surrounding this event in our lives that we’re starting to regret letting some of my son’s issues fall through the cracks. You know, when Really Important things happen and you have to focus all of your attention on them that the Moderately Important things tend to pile up? Well, that’s kind of what’s been happening at my house. When my husband had his accident and broke his leg, it turned our world upside down. At first, he couldn’t do very much for himself and had to have A LOT of attention. Literally, he could not move from one room to the next without assistance. He still has to have assistance, but he can move around on

his own. He still has huge metal pins and wires and bolts attached to his leg and it’s a chore just to take a shower, but he is more self-sufficient. In the midst of all of this, my son started school and some of the things we normally would be right on top of, fell by the wayside. He started getting used to being on the computer waaaay more than he should. And we just let that happen because, you know, we were busy making sure my husband’s leg wasn’t rotting away and falling off (oh, wait, that was just me worried about that). After I had been home from work about 30 minutes, it was time for dinner, and then it was time for The Shower. It took an hour and a half, from start to finish, bathing my husband and doctoring all the wounds. Then it was bedtime. Now, in between all of this, I had to make sure my child did his homework, his chores, took his meds, took his own shower and got to bed on time. Needless to say, there were some chores that fell through the cracks and some homework that went undone. In ignoring things like chores and homework, here’s what tends to happen: the unfed animals will chew on wires and other such important things around the house, one of the cats will decide her litter box isn’t quite tidy enough

so the clean clothes that didn’t get folded make for a nice new litter box, and a child who discovers you aren’t scrutinizing their homework will tend to not do things or say they did them when, in fact, they didn’t and bad grades creep in. It has been hard trying to right all the wrongs that have cropped up in the past few

months. I can’t see how any of it could have been done differently because I was sometimes, literally, dragging because I was so tired of care-giving for everyone, home-making for everyone, cooking for the masses, bringing home the only paycheck we’re getting and holding on to my job by the most frayed thread you can imagine. Some of those things are still happening, but there’s some sunlight at the end of this tunnel. I can see my husband getting better (although there are still bad days intermingled) and getting back to work before the end of the year. The cat seems to have decided it’s much better to use the litter box than to be pelted with water from The Water Bottle. And, the child...well, he’s a teenager, I can’t say he’s really learned anything but mastering the art of arguing about doing homework instead of actually DOING homework.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

5K Run /Walk 8AM

Enjoy the hilly scenic course beginning and ending at Minden Medical Center Outpatient Physical Therapy at 1120 Homer Road in Minden. Participants will run/walk through neighborhood behind Pine Hills Country Club. Cost $15, After November 16th $20.Student Price is $15 at all times. Early registrants will receive a long sleeve official Run T-shirt. Awards given to top finishers in each age category.

Registration: $15-20

Brunch Fundraiser following Race to benefit the family of Emilee Holloway. Tickets sold separately.

MindenMedicalCenter.com/RehabReindeerRun 318-382-7371

----------------------------Storing Up Treasures -----------------------------

f you’ve been reading my stories you know by now that I’m not only an Antique Junkie, but I’m also a sentimental ol’ fool. I don’t consider myself a pack-rat or hoarder because I usually have at least one garage sale per year to get rid of “the clutter.” But there are some things that I’m emotionally attached to, and I have a hard time “letting go” of these precious possessions. Yet, feeling a little overwhelmed at the amount of “stuff” that just kept accumulating in the shed, I decided that it was time to re-evaluate the things I was holding on to. It wasn’t an easy task for me to do, because the things that I had in storage were like milestones; from the time my children were born until they left home. Now, before you think that I REALLY am a

hoarder, let me explain. I’ve always had garage sales and passed along my children’s clothes and toys as they outgrew them. We also get rid of things we aren’t using around the house. But for some reason, I just found it almost impossible to let go of McKensie’s Barbie’s and baby dolls or Michael’s Ninja Turtles and Hot Wheels cars. As I sorted through years of sentimental treasures from when they were toddlers to teenagers, tears flowed down my cheeks as I traveled back in time. Even as my children got older, there were things that somehow got tucked away inside a box labeled “keep.” It seemed as though each phase they went through had some kind of keepsake that came with it. Some things made me laugh as I would remember a funny story that went with them and others... just a smile and another fond memory. Nevertheless, I made the decision that it was time to “let go.” I chose a few small things to keep from each of my children and then marked all the rest for a garage sale. I have come to realize that “the stuff” may remind me of special times with my children, but the memories are tucked

deep inside my heart. I won’t be able to take “the stuff” with me when my time on earth is done, but I will take those precious memories. This year has been one of many changes for me; breaking free of the bondage of alcohol after more than 30 years, and then going public with my story, and taking a Leap of Faith, I truly believe that God is de-cluttering my life for a reason. I know that letting go of “my material treasures” is also part of the transformation in me. I have photos to go along with the memories, which means I don’t have to hang on to “all the stuff.” Everything that I have is a gift from God; He is the owner & I am entrusted to be a good steward. This means that I will only keep

some things “for a season,” then it is someone else’s turn. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to go “treasure hunting” and find good junk & antiques. Actually, it’s the time spent with the ones I love, the fellowship and fun, that I really treasure... not the material things. I love the way Randy Alcorn puts things in perspective in his book The Treasure Principle. He says; “You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul. Why? Because you can’t take it with you! When you leave this world, will you be known as one who accumulated treasures on earth that you couldn’t keep? Or will you be recognized as one who invested treasures in heaven that you couldn’t lose?” Getting rid of “the clutter” in my life has allowed me to focus more on the things that God has planned for me. As we prepare for the Christmas Season, remember... our greatest gift isn’t found wrapped in pretty paper or placed under a tree; it is that God gave His son, Jesus Christ, so that we could have eternal life. So I leave you to ponder this question, “Where is your treasure stored?” Do Not Store up for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:19, 20)

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eth Green's eyes seem to sparkle when she talks about her job. "I love it," she says. "Here at the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, we connect children in need with Christian families and churches that care." And Beth, who serves as Director of Church & Community Ministries, was not exaggerating, either. The LBCH in Monroe, Louisiana is equipped with ten cottages, full time counselors, fully certified cottage parents, a medical facility, and even has its own double brake-pedaled vehicle for teens learning to drive. In the 113 years since LBCH was founded, the needs of children have changed drastically. And Dr. Perry Hancock, President & CEO, is actively preparing LBCH for the future. “The last three years we’ve really been reinventing the Children’s Home. We ask, 'Where are the children who need us and how can we meet their needs?' Forty years ago, the answer to that question was different than today. Today, there are approximately 4500 foster children in our state, staying in about 2200 foster homes. These children are our modern-day orphans, and we feel that we are needed to help these children." Marc Eichelberger, Director of Development & Public Relations, is excited about what LBCH is accomplishing for children in need locally. "We are recognized by the state as a foster care community. So we are caring for children in the foster care system from our region of the state on our campus." LBCH also routinely houses homeless children and their mothers. A Christian Women’s Job Corps program provides these moms and other women in the community with life skills, job skills, and certified GED preparation.

LBCH receives no state or federal funding. But how can such an organization afford such charity? Dr. Hancock says that about ten percent of LBCH’s budget comes from the Louisiana Baptist Convention, eleven percent comes directly from local churches, twelve percent comes from a small endowment, and another thirteen percent comes from various sources. The remainder of the money needed to run LBCH, fifty-two percent, comes from individuals—friends of children— who generously support the work of the Children’s Home. Dr. Hancock says that most people don’t realize how much good LBCH does throughout the community, the state, and in strategic areas around the world. “LBCH is a licensed adoption agency, facilitating both domestic and international adoptions. We do home studies, follow-up visits, and the certification of homes. We can handle most steps in domestic adoptions, but we also connect adoptive parents with one of several different international adoption agencies if they choose to go that route.” “We have been steadfast in our mission of offering love, care and a positive Christian witness to children who are hurting and in need. Whether it is a child or teen that needs a safe home environment or a homeless child and mom who need a new start, our caring ministry team is here to help,” Dr. Hancock shared. “We are grateful for all our friends who help us provide a place where God’s love takes you in.” For more information about LBCH or foster or adoptive parenting, visit the Children’s Home online at www.lbch.org.

relationship between our native flora and wildlife. If you are curious you can visit the chat group online. www.lnps.org , or visit Briarwood, the Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve, located outside Saline, Louisiana. For more information on plants that are hardy for your area check out the book, “Gardening with Native Plants of the South”, by Sally and Andy Wasowski.

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Natural Gardens & Native Plants -----------------------------------

I never have to measure the pH of the soil or ask myself whether it is too wet or too dry for a particular species to do well. I don’t have to worry about whether a plant is set too high or too low in the ground, whether its roots are damaged or potbound, whether or not it should be staked. I don’t have to worry about hardiness or winterkill. And the price is always right. ~Roger B. Swain, Groundwork: A Gardener’s Ecology, 1994

o you allow yourself to appreciate nature? What is in the woods will amaze you if you take the time to look. Don’t allow yourself to be sucked in to nursery driveways looking at all those black pots lined up. If you do, you will find yourself with a whole new set of problems. The nursery’s spray for bugs and disease. Who can know what else they put on those plants to speed up

the growing process. Most are hybridized varieties, guaranteed to grow fast, but how long will they last after the transplant or with the ph soil change from the nursery. Many plants will be pot bound. Who want’s a full grown plant anyway? What’s the fun in a mature plant? I love getting a cutting from a friend. It’s fun to place the cutting into the soil. Watch the plant grow new leaves & wait… right I said wait. Place that cutting off to the side & wait for it to root. Place the cutting in a small pot with clay based cat litter!(It holds the moisture better) Soon you will notice that it is putting on a new leaf or two. You then can gently give it a tug. This means your new cutting will be putting on roots making you a new plant. I can’t say how long it will take for your new baby to grow enough roots to be placed in the ground… It all depends on the variety of the plant & most of all the weather and season it is. Now is the perfect time to root many plants from cuttings. This gives you a chance to study. Don’t worry about it. Just do it! Yes, you will have some successes and/or many failures. It is similar to the weather man. You know it is going to rain, but when? Books help, but pure natural experience is the best teacher.

Fall is the time for planting salad greens in Louisiana. The cooler months of fall and winter provide the perfect weather for lettuce, kales, Swiss chard, mustard, & arugula. Harvest and enjoy these nutritious vegetables from October thru April. You’ll be glad you did. It’s also time for garlic and cabbage to go in the ground, either from seed or plants.

Have you ever heard of the Louisiana Native Plant Society? This is a wonderful organization founded in 1983 as a state-wide, non-profit organization. Its purposes are to educate people on the value of native plants and the need to preserve and protect rare and/or Remember to Reduce, endangered species. They Reuse, & Recycle. Happy also educate people on the Gardening!

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tis the season to be Jolly! -----------------------------------

'Tis

the season to be Jolly! Or is it!? The autumnwinter season hosts a wealth of opportunity, especially in lieu of spending time with those you love the most. This time of year centrally engulfs the idea of appreciation. Appreciation is seen symbolically through baking sweet treat gift tins, hosting seasonal parties, and primarily through gift giving. Though we all understand what the founding and most important reasons are for celebrating our holidays, it seems that we sometimes lose focus on the true importance behind such special days. Recently, I read an article in which the American Psychological Association found that well over half of Americans find this time of year to be primarily more stressful

than anything, reporting that lack of time, lack of financial means, and great amounts of pressure to give and even receive gifts are among the top three reasons Americans are unable to truly enjoy this time of year. After reading such reports I began to recall moments in time when I too felt the holidays were much more stressful than they ought to be. I have come to find that many individuals know the true foundation and meaning of our holidays; yet without any conscious or deliberate action, people tend to focus more upon the physical meanings and ideals of these holidays. The idea of getting the perfect gift or even receiving the perfect gift elates children and adults alike as it has become a social norm for American culture. It is rather easy to become wrapped up in the idea that everyone you love must receive a gift of monetary value or that the family dinner table should look like a freestanding, five market buffet. I find that in true times of joy we are not showing expression towards physical objects or fancy food; but rather, appreciation of one another amongst the time spent together. Especially presented with such a notion that the most

valuable gift which can be given is essentially time itself. The greatest gift you can give yourself is appreciation and the greatest gift you can give others is your own time. Appreciation is formed through the opportunities provided throughout the holiday season and

furthermore characterized by the experiences through time spent with others and love within each memory created. As we all know, time is our most precious commodity and I believe that memories are simply a metaphorical photograph of given moments in time. As the holiday season provides countless opportunity for the creation of memories, it is a time to reminisce in the gift of time with one another. Do not fret or stress over menial superficial gift giving, but relish in the true gift of life this holiday seasons. We must consistently be aware that time is our most precious nonrenewable resource and it is our responsibility to live reflectively, especially during such a merry time of year. Give your time and you will gift yourself memories and rich appreciation, the greatest gifts time has to offer!

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