Bride's Spring Edition 2013

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3

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TEXARKANAConvention Center

2910 S. Cowhorn Creek LoopTexarkana, Texas 75503

903.792.1065Weddings

Corporate EventsBlack Tie Affairs Galas & More...www.texarkana.hgi.com

[email protected]

TEXARKANAConvention Center

ALT Magazine May 201328

Holland & BrianHolland Kay Hickerson to Brian Lynn Harris

Wedding Ceremony: September 7, 2012Marty Leonard Chapel - Fort Worth, TX

Reception: October 6, 2012Northridge Country Club

How They Met...Brian and Holland met in January 2009, when they both attended a “get together” of a mutual friend. It was Brian’s quick witted

personality that caught Holland’s attention. Shortly after the encounter, the two started emailing and conversing by phone, and soon after, they started dating. Holland states, “It was an instant connection and we became immediate best friends. We were inseparable.” Holland continues, “Brian and I have shared many great moments together. One of my proudest moments is when I had the opportunity to meet

Brian’s daughter, Meagan Lynn Harris. I remember feeling very nervous, but just like with Brian, she and I became instant friends. My love has grown for her each day since. Later, we were blessed to share another proud moment together- that’s when Remington Lee Harris joined our

family. Since then, our love for God, one another and our family has built the foundation of our home.”

The Proposal...

Brian proposed before church on Mother’s Day, 2012. Holland can’t imagine a more intimate proposal than having both Remington and Meagan present when Brian popped the question. Holland remembers, “It was the perfect day, the perfect moment and the perfect outcome

for our family. Being part of a family means you are a part of something very special and wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life, no matter what. The love of our family will continue to flow strong and deep, leaving us all with memories that we will forever

treasure and keep!”

Wedding Party...

Parents of the Bride: David Hickerson & Kendra & Horace Jackson Parents of the Groom: Sharon LeeMaid Of Honor: Meagan Lynn Harris Best Man: Remington Lee Harris Groomsman: John David Hickerson

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Michelle & JacobMichelle Yvonne Rose to Jacob Daniel Woods

November 17, 2012First Baptist Church - Wilton, AR

How They Met...

Jacob and Michelle actually met about four years ago, when Jimmy Woods, Jacob’s father, became the pastor at FBC Wilton, where Michelle attended church. Jacob was an active member at FBC Foreman, so when his parents began pastoring at Wilton, he did not move his membership there but would visit occasionally. During these four years, various people would jokingly mention to Jacob and Michelle about dating each other. However, they never really thought of each other in a romantic way. Michelle, 31 years old at the time, had come to accept the fact that if God wanted her to be single, although that wasn’t her ideal plan, she would accept His will for her life. She just turned it all over to Christ.

In June of 2012, Jacob’s parents went to visit his brother, who is in the military. For some reason, which they now know was God, Michelle had a deep concern for Jacob being in town alone. During the time Jacob’s parents were out of town, Michelle crept on Facebook to acquire Jacob’s number to check on him. She texted him one afternoon to check and see if he was doing ok. Jacob normally would never respond to a text from a stranger, but, he replied to this message from an unknown number, which again, they now know was all in God’s plan. The two began texting each other a little as friends, and two weeks later, Michelle and Jacob went on a previously planned associational mission trip to Omaha, Nebraska with their churches along with several other churches. During the 13 hour bus ride to Omaha, Michelle and Jacob got to know each other even better. During the week of the mission trip, their friendship blossomed. At night, after doing mission work, people would get together and play games. One game popular game was The UnGame. Various people played it throughout the week, but Michelle and Jacob played every night. The UnGame allows people to get to know each other better using cards with various questions to ask, along with special cards where the player gets to ask his own question. One night, during the game, a young man got to ask his own question, and he chose to ask Jacob. The question that God led him to ask was, “Is there anything physical, emotional or spiritual that is keeping you from fully trusting God?” Jacob, twenty four at the time, answered by telling the group that he finally had come to the realization that if God wanted him to be single then he would agree to God’s will. He also was not fond of the idea of being single but wanted to totally trust God’s plan for his life. While Jacob told his story, which was almost identical to Michelle’s even though he didn’t know hers, Michelle began to cry. After this, Michelle and Jacob grew closer and closer, yet just stayed friends.

After returning home from the mission trip, Michelle knew she loved Jacob but didn’t want to run him off by telling him so soon. Jacob also knew he loved Michelle but didn’t want to scare her away. After about a week, Michelle started throwing out some really strong hints, as did Jacob. Jacob was planning to wait until August 5th, which was

first Sunday fellowship at Wilton, to ask Michelle’s dad for permission to date her. However, their love was so strong, he asked her dad July 6th, and they began dating. They knew they loved each other and that God put them together. They very quickly knew that they wanted to spend their lives together. So on August 5th, which was originally the day Jacob was going to request permission to date Michelle, he asked her mom and dad for permission to ask for her hand in marriage.

The Proposal...

On August 10th, 2012, Jacob planned a special dinner at his house for Michelle. When she arrived, he had cooked a very special meal. After eating, they went to the living room, and Jacob asked if he could give her a card and asked her to read it aloud. As she approached the end of the card, Michelle read the words, “I just have one question to ask.” As she looked up, Jacob was down on one knee, asking for her hand in marriage. Michelle, of course, agreed, and Jacob placed a beautiful ring upon her finger.

After Michelle gave Jacob his engagement ring, they went out to tell everyone. Before even getting engaged, they had already talked a lot about their wedding. They knew they wanted a November wedding because no one in either of their immediate families had a birthday or anniversary that month. They also knew they wanted their families to be a major part of their special day. Three months later, on November 17, 2012, they were married!

Michelle and Jacob say, “Our life may not be perfect in the world’s eyes, but we are so thankful that it is exactly what God planned for us. We are truly blessed. We are thankful that we waited on God to send us the one He made for us instead of settling. Our story is proof that God is in control and has a plan for each of us. We just have to be patient and wait on the Lord! Our prayer is that our story will give others comfort and hope in their lives! We would just like to say, whatever you are facing, give it totally over to God! He has a plan way better than any human plan. Once we step back and let Him take control, it is amazing to watch His plans unfold. God is truly amazing and we just want Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, to get all the praise and glory in everything we say and do! May God bless each of you!”


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Wedding Party...

Parents of the Bride:Roger and Yvonne Rose

Parents of the Groom:Jimmy and Tammy Woods

Matron Of Honor:Heather Rose

Bridesmaids:Jessica KonetzniKayla WoodsSarah Tucker

Best Man:James Woods

Groomsmen:Wesley WoodsRoger RoseTim Tucker

Flower Girl:Olivia Tucker

Honorary Flower Girls:Karis WoodsAutumn WoodsEmma Tucker

Ring Bearers:Hudson RoseEli Woods

Jr. Groomsmen:Dylan RoseJustice WoodsHunter RoseDawson Woods

Greeter:Chris Konetzni

Officiate:Brother David Tucker

Pianist:Susan Wheeler

Photography: Rockin’ G Photography- James (Hoss) and Brandy Gillihan

Florist: The Flower Shoppe

Wedding Cake: Sweet Rose Bakery- Heather Rose Groom’s Cake: Tammy Woods

Catering: Heather and Yvonne Rose

Wedding Dress: Traditions Bridal Tuxes: Squire’s

Bride’s Ring: Green’s Jewelry Groom’s Ring: Roger’s Jewelers

Bride’s Makeup: Merle Norman- April Davis Bride’s Hair: Tracy’s Total Image- Tracy Womack

Rehearsal Dinner: Medrano’s Mexican Restaurant Music: His Grace


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Ashli Hogan & Michael Sutton

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My ring is absolutely perfect, and Michael says that Micah was great to work with! My fiance was very picky

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George and Martha Merrill are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Melanie Renee’ Merrill, to David Carl Melson, son of Paul and Lori Williams.

Grandparents of the bride are Marshal and Layvone Lane of Taylor Arkansas, and Larry and Gundie Merrill of Hope Arkansas (both deceased).

Grandparents of the groom are Harold and Fern Williams of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, Norma Nix of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and Gary and Betty Nix of Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

Miss Merrill graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 2008, and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in 2012. She is employed by the Texarkana Arkansas School District at College Hill Elementary as a 2nd grade teacher.

Mr. Melson graduated from Liberty Eylau High School in 2007. He is employed by Darragh Company as a store manager.

The wedding will be held at Silvermoon on Broad, Texarkana, Texas, 2:30 p.m., on August 3, 2013. The couple plans to reside in Texarkana.

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Insurances

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Living trusts are one of the most prevalent estate planning tools in use today.1 Many people use

a living trust instead of a will to avoid probate, a court-supervised process for transferring assets to the beneficiaries listed in your will, which can be expensive and exposes your estate to public record. A living will does not avoid the estate tax but makes the settlement process much easier.

Living trusts are most appropriate for those with substantial assets or complex estates. In general, financial planners frequently recommend them for individuals or couples with an estate of $100,000 or more. Estates of this size typically are subjected to probate in the deceased’s state of residence, which

Simplify Estate Planning With a Living Trust

Submitted by Dustin StringerStringer Wealth Management

LPL Financialwww.stringerwealthmanagement.net

Find us on

can cost anywhere between 2% and 4% of the estate’s value in court and legal fees. Young couples without significant assets and without children, who intend to leave their assets to each other when the first one of them dies, may not benefit from having a living trust.

Naming a Trustee

When establishing a living trust, most people name themselves as the trustee in charge of managing the trust’s assets. You should also name a successor trustee, either a person or an institution, who will manage the trust’s assets if you ever become unable or unwilling to do so yourself. A living trust is not irrevocable, so you can amend it at any time.

Almost any type of asset can be placed in a trust, including savings accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate, life insurance, business interests, art, collectibles, and personal property. To fund a trust, you need to change the name or title on your assets to the name of the trust. Be sure to be thorough: Anything that remains in your name will not be considered part of the trust.

Spouses and Domestic Partners

Since a living trust can hold both separate and community property, it can be a convenient estate-planning vehicle for spouses and registered domestic partners to plan for the management and ultimate distribution of their assets in one document.

Wills Versus Living Trusts

Wills Living TrustsProbate Subject to probate

Become public record

Not subject to probate

Remain privateCost Generally cost less to create

but probate costs can be significant.

Generally cost more to create but avoid probate.

An estate planning attorney can advise you on whether a living trust is appropriate for your personal situation. This type of “substitute will” may help you transfer assets to your heirs in a way that maintains your privacy.

Source/Disclaimer:1The information presented here is not intended to be tax or legal advice.

Each individual’s situation is different. You should speak to a tax or legal professional to discuss your personal situation.

© 2013 S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications. All rights reserved. Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC


Antoinette & AlexAntoinette Royal to Alex Tucker

September 1, 2012Special Events- Texarkana, TXHow They Met...

Alex and Antoinette met in 2006, in speech class at Texarkana College. They went out together a couple of times, but that was all. Antoinette never saw herself getting married, but Alex says he knew, from the first day he saw Antoinette, that she was going to be the one he married. The two remained friends over the years, and Antoinette considered Alex as the one she had let get away. This all changed when they started dating in May 2010.

Proposal...

It was Christmas day in 2011. Antoinette thought she had received all her gifts from Alex. The couple was having a conversation in Antoinette’s house, when out of nowhere, Alex pulled out a ring box. Antoinette remembers, “I was in total shock. I could not get a single word out my mouth! This was one of the best days of my life.”

Wedding Party...

Maid of honor:Shante’ Jones Bridesmaids:Angela JonesDenise Tucker Best Man:Roderick Cooper Groomsmen:Jamal WardThomas Price Flower Girl:Annalyssia Britt Ring Bearer:Ahmari Spencer Bible Holder:Brandi Bradley

Photography: Le’Bells Fashions and Bridal

& Courtnay Christian

Wedding Cake:The Bakerman

Event Planner/ Coordinator:Le’ Bells Fashions and Bridal



say again as I have so many times before, DOGS KNOW GOOD PEOPLE. Joe, I guess it wasn’t just a stroke of luck for you with Killer…..but there is hope! HAHAHA Luke and I know you are an easy target and will attempt this again!

It’s been nearly a month ago that I took a call from a person asking about grooming

her “WOLF DOG.” This is a term I have not heard used. I said I have heard of virtually hundreds of breeds but this must be a

new “designer dog.” I was told that this was actually a wolf mix. Of course I had thought it was. I’m sorry, but Texarkana has city laws that prevent wolf hybrids or wolf mixes to be owned or have in one’s possession in the city limits. Therefore I cannot groom him. We talked a bit more about the wolf dog. I learned a great deal from our conversation.

I decided to do a bit more research on this breed mixture. I have come to the conclusion that I would not like to own a dog that has any amount of wolf in it, even if it was legal where I live. Some things are better left wild as God intended. Wolves aren’t good pets any more than a tiger or a bear. If you want a dog that looks like a wolf, get a German Shepherd. There are more than enough of those to go around and can be found in rescue. Why take the risk of owning something that your local law enforcement can confiscate? On a larger note why breed something like that and put it in a Facebook classified locally to allow that to happen to someone else? Makes me sad.

So to end this on an upbeat note, Mutley Crew, a local rescue, has German Shepherds. They are always tenderly loved by her and could use a loving home. Call Mimi and adopt one of her babies!

Christine Amos has over 30 years experience grooming pets and an owner of Georgia’s Pet Salon. She is a Certified Groomer, Master Groomer, AKC Canine Good Citizenship Evaluator, and Obedience Trainer. She is also Mom to Georgia (pictured), MoMo, and Annabelle!

If you’re not a groomer you might be surprised at some of the questions thrown my direction. I’ve decided to humor myself this morning and share some of those questions and stories. I’m sure this is one of many installments of stories I’m going to share. Some of them funny, some of them not so funny and then some of them, well, you decide. I will as always change the names to keep the guilty from any harm or shame whichever the case may be.

Ok, so woman comes in with her little male. Oh he is a really cute, fluffy little thing. We talk about how she wants her baby to look. She says that she bought him from this horrible person that raises all these different kinds of dogs. She goes on to say that they have Pomeranians, and Shih Tzu’s, and Boston Terriers, and Pugs. The people that they got him from were really bad to him. She wasn’t even sure he was pure bred. He is so handsome, even though he is missing some of his teeth from biting cages at the breeder before we got him. He has a terrible under bite and is an aggressive little bugger when we get him out. So here is where the story takes a twist. She tells me that she wants to breed little Ruger.

What do I say to this? I just smile and say, “Well, of course you know if you breed him that is a huge responsibility. Have you researched what is involved or talked with your vet?” She ponders this thought and leaves her little Ruger to be groomed. Upon grooming him I discovered something very important. Turns out that Ruger has been neutered! HAHAHHAHA! Yes siree Bob! I guess the basic research should have started there. I just stood there in laughter and shook my head.

I have this man in my life, I call him husband. His name really is Joe. You see, Joe comes to our salon from time to time. He gets his own hair cut by me and sometimes while he is there I manage to get him to bathe a dog or two. More often, when he’s here, he plays on my computer. I never have gotten into Bejeweled Blitz, but it’s a pasttime he enjoys on a computer and plays with my Aunt Sharon quite often. This particular day he came to visit, Luke and I had been laughing at this tiny little

by Christine Amos

guy I won’t leave nameless as his momma has already called him out on our Facebook page! The tiny Chihuahua is named “Killer” and justly so! For so much venom to come in such a tiny package makes one laugh but let me assure you ~ utmost caution is advised! Mary Ann brought him in for a bath and a nail grind. I did just that. He seems to be fond of me now so it’s a bit less challenging. He was in the crate drying

when I decided to ask Luke ~

nope, change of heart ~ looked at Luke and we both shared this “look.” I called out to Joe. “Hey, ummmm, would you stick your hand in that crate and check that sweet little dog? I need to know if he’s dry! Luke and I stood back waiting to see what was going to happen next.

For those of you that haven’t met my husband Joe, he’s a burly, manly man. Nothing foo foo about him, just the way I like him. To our disappointment NOTHING happened! Seriously….we needed a little entertainment and wanted to see Joe jump a mile high when Killer snarled. What! No snarl?! No growl under his breath? Killer you have forsaken us all! So disappointed! Mary Ann would’ve been so proud. I will

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Terri & TerryTerri Nicole Robinson to Terry Lee Tussey, Jr.

January 19, 2013Highland Park Baptist Church

Texarkana, TXHow They Met...Terri says, “When I was a young teenager, I used to go over to my mom’s boyfriend’s house, which was right next door to my future husband’s business, just to hang out and have something to do. While I was there, they introduced me to this short, really handsome guy who just happened to have the same name as me. I was always really shy and quiet, so he came in one day and just started talking and asking questions. As we got to know each other, we would sit around and watch the Andy Griffith show together all the time. I started coming over just so I could see him and hang out with him every day.”

Later on, Terry leased the Texarkana 67 Speedway and asked Terri to work there for him, but Terri was still too young for her Mom to allow her to date him, so the two continued hanging out when they could and getting to see each other as much as possible. When Terri turned 18, her Mom finally let her go on a date with Terry. The couple started going to the movies, out to eat and sometimes just hanging out and talking. When the new year rolled in that year, they went to one of Terry’s best friend’s house to watch them shoot fireworks. It was out in the country and the stars in the sky were beautiful, so the scene was set for the turning of midnight. From their New Year’s Eve kiss, Terri knew she was in love and wanted to spend forever with him.

Proposal...

The couple hung out a lot with Terry’s best friend, Greg, on the weekends. One particular weekend, they all went to the mall to get pedicures and, of course, the guys backed out at the last minute. After about 30 minutes or so, they came back and Greg looked at Terri and said, “That lady at Kay’s Jewelers is waiting for you.” Terry Lee just looked at Terri with a crooked little smile and grinned. Terri says, “Of course, we never do anything planned, it’s always spontaneous, so it was 10 minutes ‘til the mall closed!” Luckily they had just finished Terri’s pedicure, so she took off in a run for the jewelry store. There it was, sitting there waiting on her! Terri says it was “the happiest moment of my life (I thought) until the day that I said ‘I do’ to the man of dreams.”

Wedding Party...

Officiated by:Pastor Ronnie Freeman

Maid of Honor:Haylee Taylor

Bridesmaids:Sade WilsonMariah Shaeffer

Flower Girl:Marlee Moore

Best Man:Greg Garrett

Groomsmen:Jeremy TusseyDuke WhisenantCameron Holcomb

Ring Bearer:Ryan Miller

Noah Ramsey:candle lighter

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There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. John 1:9

by Anne Fruge

Chad Edgington’s story is anything but conventional. In his life he has played in a pop-rock band, pursued a music career, taught third grade at a private school, practiced law, and is now the Minister of Music at First Baptist Wake Village. However, through the twists and turns, Chad and his wife, Melissa, have learned to trust God with the uncertainty of everyday life, and now, looking back, Chad sees that God was preparing him for ministry through his whole life. “I’ve had a fun life and done a lot of different things, but it has all led me to this amazing opportunity to serve the church,” Chad says. Chad grew up in Bedford, Texas, where he graduated from high school and then attended Howard Payne University in Brownwood. After earning a B.A. in English, Chad questioned what kind of career he would pursue. He thought that maybe he should commit to the ministry because of his love for the Lord and the church, but felt that it would be unwise to commit to such a high calling without having the calling confirmed in his life. So, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, with a friend from college and started a band, The Luxury Liners. “My love for music was probably inspired by the fact that it might have been the first thing that ever caused me to feel,” Chad says. “My mother and father were both music lovers and the first singer I can recall loving was Buddy Holly. Music was a tremendous source of confidence for me as a young awkward teenager. I discovered through singing and clowning around musically that I could entertain my friends and other people.”For about four years, The Luxury Liners pursued success in the field of music while working odd jobs. Upon her graduation from Howard Payne, Chad married his college sweetheart Melissa, and she moved to Nashville. The two started working at a private Christian school, and Chad was eventually asked to be a youth minister at the Park Avenue Baptist Church.

“All the time we lived in Nashville, I continued to pursue music, but as our time there began to draw to a close, God took my love of music, which at times burned so white hot that it seemed to consume me, and put that desire on the back-burner to restore and develop in me a greater desire for His kingdom and His word,” Chad says. “Again at this time, I felt that I was faced with a decision. Should I go to seminary and commit to ministry? Knowing that there were

many other things I would like to do that did not involve serving as a vocational minster, I pursued the study of law and intended to have a career as an attorney while serving the church as a layperson.”Chad was accepted to Texas Tech University School of Law in Lubbock, Texas, with a full scholarship, and he and Melissa considered

this to be a “door which had clearly opened” for them. Melissa found employment in Lubbock ISD and in 2001, and they set off from Nashville to Lubbock for the next phase of their lives. While in Lubbock, Chad and Melissa attended First Baptist Church Lubbock, and Chad became involved with the Christian Legal Society. Then, in 2004, Chad accepted a job as an associate attorney with Wagstaff, Stubbeman, Seamster and Longacre, L.L.P., in Abilene, Texas, working primarily out of the satellite office in Eastland, Texas.

“I believe that I benefitted tremendously in regards to my spiritual, intellectual, and even my emotional development during my training, and as I practiced law,” Chad says. “I had many opportunities to serve Christ as a lawyer. I prayed with my clients. I also counseled many clients regarding spiritual matters as well as legal matters. It was important for me to practice law and to perform all my work in a way that glorified God. I endeavored to be the best lawyer that I could be as unto the Lord.”

His work in law actually gave Chad many opportunities to tell people about his faith in God and share his testimony.

“During my time in law school and as I later practiced, I never felt like I wasn’t a minister,” Chad says. “As a lawyer, I accomplished some things. I won some jury trials. I lost some. I learned how Christians can behave in the workplace without compromising. I sat with some very sweet people at the counsel table, and I also sat with the vilest offenders. Working for accused and convicted criminals helped me understand that ‘whatever you have done unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto me.’”

While living in Eastland Chad and Melissa joined First Baptist Church of Eastland, and in 2006 Chad was ordained as a deacon in


the church. He had declined nomination as a deacon while living in Nashville because at 25 he hadn’t felt spiritually mature enough, but with his second nomination, Chad felt like God was calling him to serve. It was also during this time that Melissa and Chad expanded their family to welcome Adelade in 2005 and Sawyer in 2008.

“Melissa and I loved living in Eastland,” Chad says, “I was excited about what God was doing in my life during that season, but I was also fearful. I had very strong feelings of loyalty to my employers. I had worked many years to establish myself as an attorney, and I was becoming more productive each year. I had a very secure job that presented great opportunity for the future. I didn’t have a seminary degree. Yet, I knew that God was calling me to preach.”

Chad spent weekends after work engaged in scripture studies, devoured books on preaching and theology, and listened to hours of sermons and lectures. In 2006, he began to preach on a supply basis to some of the smaller churches in their association who were without pastors, and he knew that, though he loved working in law, it was time to make a commitment to full-time ministry.

“I began to understand that God was finally setting me apart for church work and was confirming the calling with which I had long wrestled,” Chad says. “At that point, it was easy for me to see that I had not been ready at the other stages in my life when I had considered serving as a vocational minister.”

In the fall of 2008, Chad enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and took two online courses. He initially sought positions around the seminary which would allow him to continue his studies, and he and Melissa were determined to trust God for the right door to open. After months of waiting to see where God would lead them, First Baptist Church of Wake Village began to deal with him concerning an associate pastor position that would include the worship leading duties.

“Because I don’t have formal music training, it did not seem like the most likely transition into the ministry,” Chad says. “I wondered what kind of church would hire a lawyer to be its music minister. It seemed ironic to me that music, the very thing that had once occupied such a huge chunk of my life, would be one of the main responsibilities of this position.”

Knowing that God had a plan, Chad penned his resignation letter from his law position. His clients, the courts, other attorneys and his employer were extremely gracious as they helped him wrap up the one hundred or so open files on which he was working, and about a month after he had tendered his resignation, he was on the field in Wake

Village serving in the ministry full-time.

“Wake Village has been wonderful,” Chad says. “The best thing about my job is being able to work at FBC Wake Village and disciple people. This is an amazing church. I have the pleasure of working with great singers and great musicians who really have a heart for worship, and we have Bible study leaders who care about those people they teach.”

Chad has especially been inspired by the study of doctrine led by their pastor, Scott Neathery.

“A lot of people think doctrine is boring, but once I started studying doctrines and digging deep into the scripture, my entire life changed,” Chad says. “I fundamentally changed as a person, I became a better follower of Christ, a better husband, a better father. I had been in church my whole life and even taken Bible classes in college, but I didn’t know all that much about what I believed or why. I don’t think of doctrine as stuffy or boring, to me it is exciting because as we study the scripture and develop our doctrine we learn about the character of God, and that is a thrill. Of course, that is going to spill over into every area, especially in the music, where our worship is only meaningful if we know the attributes and character of the God we are praising.”

In May 2012, Chad and Melissa welcomed their third child into the world, Emerald Darling Edgington. Being a father has also inspired Chad’s goal to help disciple young fathers. Three years ago, Chad helped start a group that meets once a week for fellowship and Bible study.

“Over time, we have realized that when you disciple the father, he will disciple his family,” Chad says. “I tell the guys that they are the pastor of their families. Their home is their own little church.“

While working at Wake Village, Chad has also had the opportunity to help organize a mentoring “homework club” at Theron Jones Early Literacy Center, serve on the board for the Friendship Center Incorporated and Directed Path Ministries, and lead two mission trips to Connecticut to do outreach, lead worship and preach revival services.

“We have served in Wake Village since February 2009. These years, without a doubt, have been the greatest years of our married life,” Chad says. “We have grown spiritually during these years and have seen how God uses our lives to serve His church. Our desire is to trust him and to be available. We are looking forward to seeing what the future holds, knowing some days will be joyous and others will be difficult to endure, but that God will always be faithful.”

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Dear KendraDear Kendra,

I am in love with a man but can’t live with him because my family doesn’t like him and neither does my son. I love him so much but it causes so many problems with my family. I am so depressed! What can I do? Please help.

Desperate Times

Dear DT,

Airhug. I know it must be horrible to be in love with someone that your family and children don’t approve of. I am sure your heart is breaking, which do you choose, your family or your man?

First things first, why doesn’t your family like him? Has he verbally or physically mistreated you in the past? If so, your family is probably just looking out for you. It might be in your best interest to heed their warnings and let this man go. Love shouldn’t hurt.

If that is not the case, I would start by asking my family and my children what exactly they don’t like about him. Communication is going to be the key in getting their acceptance. When my husband and I first got married, we dealt with some backlash from our friends and families because we got married so quickly. (2 months after our first date!) Throughout our first year of marriage we were still getting to know each other and would fight about things that really didn’t even matter. I made the mistake of talking about it to my family, which was a mistake on my part. See, I was able to forgive him easily because I am so in love with him. But family doesn’t forgive or forget as easily. If you and your love are having troubles, try to work it out on your own before leaning on family, the less others are involved the easier it is to work it out. While trying to get to the root of why your family dislikes him, you might discover it was from something you got over long ago. Dig for the root of their dislike and work from there.

I can understand why you are depressed about this, when people you love don’t love each other-whew-it puts you right smack dab in the middle! That can definitely make someone want to stay in bed and pull the covers over their head. Hang in there, dig for exact reasons why they dislike him and work at resolving those issues. You can’t do this alone, tell him to put forth an effort and show your family that his intentions are pure. Good luck! ~Kendra

Dear Kendra,

I suffer from low self esteem because of things that have happened to me in my past. How can I build my self esteem and believe in myself again?

Not my biggest fan

Hi Not!

Déjà vu! I come from a place of low self esteem based on events in my past, so I completely get where you are coming from. Here is the simple truth of how to overcome low self esteem: START. Yep, START believing in yourself, START giving yourself a pat on the back for a job well done, START lifting yourself up when you are feeling down, START cutting yourself some slack when you make a mistake. START. If you want to have confidence in yourself then START doing it!

I started by taking the time to examine my life and get to the root of why I didn’t have high self esteem. For me, it was an incident in my teens. Once I was able to pinpoint the underlying reasons for my low self esteem, I was able to START working towards undoing all the damage it had done to me over the years. I looked at my past with a different set of eyes, eyes that saw me as a success, eyes that saw me as a strong, independent woman, eyes that loved me just the way I am. It worked! But, here is the kicker-it’s a daily process of reminding yourself that you are deserving of all that you desire that is for your highest good. Now maybe you will be lucky enough to have an instantaneous change in your thought pattern, it just didn’t work that way for me. I continually have to remind myself that I can do anything I put my mind to and that it’s ok to not be perfect.

I feel for you so much because I do get it. I know what it is like to smile on the outside but be so full of doubt on the inside. Find all the good things that you have done in your life and spend time focusing on those, forget the mistakes, only remember the lesson you learned from them. You can do this. Take it minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. Before you know it, your confidence will be higher than it’s ever been. Remember-you are the only one that can change the way you feel about yourself. Get started liking yourself today! Much love-Kendra


Dear Kendra is not a licensed therapist. The guidance offered on ‘Dear Kendra’ is intended for informational purposes only. Use of this column to provide guidance is not intended to replace or substitute any professional, financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require professional, psychological or medical help, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified specialist.

Kendra is a happily married wife with three wonderful children, two perfect grandchildren and two spoiled doggies. She bases her guidance on a life packed full of experiences and a passion to help others. Besides being Dear Kendra she is also an entrepreneur and On Air Personality on KKYR 102.5. You can “Like” her on Facebook by visiting www.dearkendra.com.

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Mollie & DustinMollie Wilbanks to Dustin Harrell

December 1, 2012Garrison Gardens- Texarkana, ARHow They Met...

Dustin met Mollie at his grandfather’s shop, American Electric, which was on the corner of College Dr. and Richmond Rd. Mollie’s dad, who worked at Texarkana College at the time, used to bring the company vehicles over to be serviced and inspected. One day, Mollie just happened to tag along with her dad to the shop, and that was the day she met Dustin. Mollie always thought Dustin was cute, but she was never seriously interested because she was only 16 and he was 21. Mollie says, “What I really remember is how he always stared at me and picked on me about how short I was. When Dustin tells the story, he says he thought I was gorgeous, but with all the teasing, I never would have guessed!”

Dustin began trying to call, text and email Mollie, but she never really paid much attention to him. He even left her an anonymous note once, and Mollie’s dad was the only person he told! About two years later, Mollie decided to stop by the shop and visit Dustin. Although she still doesn’t know what made her stop by that day, from then until now, Mollie and Dustin have been pretty inseparable.

Proposal...

Dustin proposed on July 14, 2008. Dustin knew Mollie had had a horrible day at work, so he brought her home a bag of candy from Candy Craze. Mollie says, “My favorites were the gummy octopus candies, so when I reached in and grabbed what looked like the only gummy octopus, I jokingly asked why he only got one of my favorite kind. Dustin yanked the bag out of my hands, sifted through the candy and pulled out another gummy octopus with a ring tied up in the legs! He got down on one knee and told me

Photography: Allie Marie Photography

Wedding Cake:The Bakerman

how much he loved me and asked if I would marry him. Of course, I cried and said, ‘Yes!’”

Mollie wanted a long engagement, but not quite as long as the one she and Dustin ended up with. She explains, “We did a lot of moving, growing up and job changing, and in between all of that, we had quite a few bumpy patches in the relationship. Finally, we both realized neither of us were perfect, but we were perfect for each other.”

Dustin had just started his second six-month deployment in Afghanistan through Red River Army Depot, when he called one night and said it was time to get serious and set a wedding date. The wedding was almost postponed when Mollie’s father learned he had colon cancer. “From the moment my dad went into the hospital, he told every doctor he refused to have any surgery because he promised to walk me down that aisle, and even though the day of the wedding he felt

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For 5’5” Klancy Johnson, now a 21 year old brown-eyed beauty with matching brown hair, that happiest place was discovered when she was three years old. She has never wavered in the decision she made as she sat on her Grandmother Nana’s knee and kept time to the music of Texarkana’s Oaklawn Opry. For over 20 years the Opry has offered opportunities to musicians of all ages to play, sing or dance to their country music favorites. Klancy’s grandparents, Nana and Paw Paw, have long been fans of the Opry and they took Klancy with them. “She had great timing,” Nana says, even though Klancy’s attention was drawn to the piano player. “I fell in love with the piano player,” she admits. Fortunately, that romance never blossomed, but Klancy’s love of music grew like an invasive plant. Klancy was also three years old when she began to take dance at Judith McCarty’s School of Dance in Texarkana. Founded in 1947, Miss Judy’s school introduced dance to most of the children in the city, and Klancy was one. “Tap was my favorite,” Klancy acknowledges, “but I still remember that pink tutu I wore in ballet, the backbone of all dancing.” As a result of her musical exposures at the Oaklawn Opry and her dance training at Miss Judy’s, Klancy knew that she wanted to be on the stage. “I wanted to sing and I wanted to dance.” Even though her grandmother worried about Klancy’s vocal ability, Nana and Paw Paw continued to encourage her performing. By her sixth birthday, Klancy entered The Little Miss Texarkana Pageant. She sang “Tomorrow” from ANNIE; and when she won the talent competition, her family cried. Little did they realize at the time their tears were shed in joy as well as hope. The win was the first of many that Klancy would earn with her singing. Shortly after the pageant, Klancy performed for the first time with a live band as she sang in the classic country tradition of Patty Loveless and Tanya Tucker, “’bout as country as you can get.” “It was a different feel,” Klancy explains. “There was a rush, and excitement I had never felt before. I was so nervous, but once I heard the music, the nerves went away. Music is something unique that touches people. I want to pull people into my song, so I just can’t stand still.” To reach audiences the way she wishes, Klancy has studied with Karmyn Tyler-Cobb, who began her career in Texarkana. Karmyn was classically trained, and her musical talent earned her the title of Miss Louisiana in 1995. Klancy learned a more formal

technique from Karmyn. That training did not stop Klancy from pursuing her own preferences, too. “I am a huge Elvis Presley fan,” she declares; therefore, she has studied his music. Her personal country music favorites include Miranda Lambert, Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynette who sings Klancy’s favorite country ballad “Till I Can Make It On My Own.” Because of her study, evolving talent and dedication, Klancy has won repeated talent contests. In 2005 she won Miss Teen Texarkana AR and the preliminary talent competition in Miss Teen Arkansas with her renditions of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “As If We Never Say Goodbye,” a song made famous by Barbra Streisand. “I won the talent competitions in Little Miss Texarkana every year starting in 1997-2002 singing those songs. Actually, I finished in the top 13 and won talent at Miss Teen Arkansas with “Broken Wing” by Martina McBride. I like having options,” Klancy admits, and her eclectic approach to her musical selections certainly equips her with alternatives. Music and Klancy? go together like peanut butter and jelly? Batman and Robin? Salt and pepper?…Song and dance—no

question here. At the same time she has studied music, her dancing skills have matured. In fact, she has earned her dance instructor certification and teaches children at Judith McCarty School of Dancing. Her expertise in ballet, jazz, acrobatics, drill team and tap has been demonstrated repeatedly. “My favorite is still tap. If I could tap dance all day, I would.” Meantime, Klancy is still a student herself, as she continues to study tap and now Spanish dancing. She is becoming skilled in the use of castanets (those curved pieces of hollow wood, usually held between the fingers and thumb and made to click together in sync with the Spanish dancer’s feet). The Judith McCarty School of Dancing group usually performs at the TATD (Texas Association of Teachers of Dancing) convention. Klancy explains, “I know of no one in Texas who still teaches the Spanish dancing. I think it’s beautiful.” Since her eighth birthday, Klancy has performed with the Texarkana Community Ballet in a number of increasingly demanding roles: a

clown in the Christmas collage; soldier in THE NUTCRACKER; a flower; her senior year a dream solo as the Arabian in THE NUTCRACKER; Cinderella and Coppelia. Her last performance in

by Jane Bouterse

MyHappiest Place


THE NUTCRACKER, Klancy danced the Maid. “That was lots of fun. I wore a huge, fake rear to be funny. I wanted to be sure the fake rear was a large one so that the audience would know it was not mine. I also got to help with the first act laughing challenge. The maid’s role is not affected by the 19 year old age limit of some of the other roles. I can be in THE NUTCRACKER as long as I want. That was a blast and for me the most challenging part I’ve danced. When I am performing—singing and dancing—I want to be a perfectionist. I have to let that go when it comes to the comedy side.” Klancy welcomes challenges in whatever she undertakes, but especially when she is on the stage—her happiest place. As a TexRep performer, she has appeared in OLIVER as an orphan, and in 2010 her friend Frank Poff contacted her to audition for the TexRep production of GREASE. “I was watching that cast, and I don’t know how they do the things they do. I was cast as Sandi, and I had never had lines before. Onstage I was standing next to too many pros. “Michael Cooper scared me to death. I have so much respect for him and I wanted to please him. Get that one little compliment. I worked really hard and had lots of fun.” “I can’t wait to go see SPAMALOT.”

All of her training in singing and dancing, her discipline, her poise and ability to represent herself well paid off for Klancy when on March 13 she was crowned Miss Texarkana Arkansas 2013 and now she is busily engaged in preparation for her Miss Arkansas competition in Hot Springs, AR. Although Klancy was born in Wadley Hospital, which just happened to be on the Texas side of State Line, “I bleed red” she unabashedly declares. Her heart lies in Arkansas, and she wants to represent Texarkana at the July 17-20 competition. Her goal is to be crowned Miss Arkansas and proudly represent her Razorback state at the Miss America Pageant. “This is a dream come true for me. When I started winning competitions, I told Donna Barry, the Director of the Texarkana pageants, that I was going to be with the big girls some day. I want to serve and to give back to my community. Texarkana has so much to offer. Watching Miss America is like

watching the Super Bowl for me.” Pageant preparations are grueling, according to Klancy, who is always thinking of how to improve that 1 minute 30 seconds of singing competition. “I want every second to count. I always have some kind of music in my head. If not singing, then tap dancing—always some kind of music—and I’m OK with that.” Regardless of how well prepared a competitor is, the unpredictable must be dealt with, like the first time Klancy was in pageant competition. “All the girls were walking up some stairs in long dresses, when a girl stepped on my dress. I fell face first down the stairs. I was so embarrassed. I didn’t even stop to consider if there were any injuries. Even worse in 2008 in the Miss Teen Arkansas pageant I was singing when there was suddenly a big crash and a loud boom in the audience. I was singing my heart out when the house lights suddenly came on and everything stopped. After everything settled down, I was given a

second chance to perform. “It’s important to recognize that pageants now emphasize the intelligence of women as much as talent, and the pageants provide money for winners to attend school. In Texarkana, a win means a $2500 scholarship to attend TC. Why go anywhere else when I can attend one of the top 100 Nursing Schools in the nation right here and stay at home with my family and do the things that I love!” As a Miss Texarkana winner, Klancy is doing as she said. In between her

singing lessons, dancing—taking and teaching--and preparing for Miss Arkansas, she attends Texarkana College where she is enrolled for 11 hours in the Pre- Nursing Program. “I hope to get into the nursing school next fall to earn my ADN (Associate Degree Nursing) (RN) then continue my education to become either a Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Anesthetist. …but…If Nashville calls me before then, so be it….(smile).” Klancy Johnson is a young woman to be admired. Her poise and presentation of herself and her ideas are confident, well organized and informative. She understands the benefits of these skills and gives the credit for her success in using them to her pageant experiences. She is obviously busy and interested in many things that make for a full, rich life. Her list of favorite items illustrate just that point:

Favorite Pageant events: Talent, using her soprano voice to sing, dancing and interviewing.

Favorite “Spare Time” Activity: “It’s nice to be a couch potato. I watch Netflix which is wonderful. You can go at your own pace. You may finish three years later, but that’s OK. I like to wear yoga pants and a big shirt and eat popcorn.”

Favorite Area of Interest: “I watched a whole season of “House of Cards,” a political drama. I do love politics.”

Favorite Private Time Activity: “I love to read. I like to read crime and suspense novels. I loved THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO trilogy. I get so wrapped up in it. I read the entire HARRY POTTER SERIES. I saw the movies, too, but loved the books more. When I have real time for myself, I read a book.”

Favorite Food: Sushi

Favorite School Subject: “Math. I’m quite the nerd. I really enjoy Anatomy and Physiology, too.”

Favorite Place to Be: Onstage or with my


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Favorite Kind of Feeling: “I like a feeling of well being, when I am nice and toned and my weight is where it should be. Clothes fit better then, too. I enjoy exercising. Right now lots of cardio exercises, but soon I’ll be working with free weights. Dance helps, too.”

Favorite Outcome: Winning when there is competition; Succeeding when the challenge is a personal goal. “I love what I do—singing and dancing. I love competing.”

Klancy has benefited enormously from her pageant participation and is an excellent representative of the pageant system. From her participation in pageants she has developed her voice and her singing repertory so that-- should Nashville beckon--she is equipped to respond immediately. She has cultivated an awareness of her body and its strengths and limitations and shared what she has learned with many of her students. Klancy has not allowed the problems sometimes associated with pageants to affect her participation. “Pageants,” she emphasizes, “are looking for well rounded contestants. They emphasize the importance of taking care of yourself, and communicating with everyone—from the governor to the children curious about your crown. They teach contestants discipline—self-discipline and behavior within the group. Pageants have been good to me and for me.

They have given me opportunities, and I am grateful.” Goals are important for Klancy. If she did not practice the discipline of setting goals, the courage to dream dreams and the willingness to work hard, her world would be very different. As it is, this 21 year old beautiful and talented pageant winner is well on her way to a successful, interesting life. She is a winner even without the pageants.

If given the chance, this is the way Klancy would like her world to look:

Be a nurse.

Have my own dance studio

Perform, i.e. get to sing, on stage in front of millions of people

Be Miss America from now until the end of time

Have a large family

Do it all perfectly

That’s quite a list, but Klancy Johnson can make it happen and smile all the while. For starters, we’ll wish her “Good Luck” at the Miss Arkansas Pageant, Hot Springs, AR, July 17-20, 2013.

Good Luck, Miss Texarkana 2013, Klancy Johnson.

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Growing grapes is not as easy as one might think. Well, if you really want to do it right… Today, growing grapes for commercial wine

production is a complicated, year-round task. While it is commonly thought that the planting of Vitis Vinifera (Root stock of Wine Grapes) began about 6000 years ago, around Persia and Turkey, it has take many millennia to develop today’s grape varieties and root stocks. First, Vitis Vinifera really needs the proper conditions to produce quality commercial quality grapes. If one follows the 45th parallel around the globe, you will notice that it runs right through the heart of Bordeaux, Northern Italy, Southern Germany, Washington, Oregon, Northern California and New York State. Move to the Southern hemisphere and the same parallel will transverse the best growing regions of Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Southern Australia and Northern New Zealand.

Next, grape roots really love rough soil with lots of rock, shale and limestone. Root stocks need to work hard and search for their nourishment. The rougher the soil, the more the root stock thrives. This is why ample spacing and seasonal pruning are so vital to the success of the vine. A poorly planted vineyard will produce poor quality wine; even in a great vineyard. On many occasions, I have been amazed by the steep slopes and the very rocky soil of a great vineyard. It was difficult to walk in the vineyard; let alone grow a vine type or plant! In fact, while video-taping a group of salespeople, in a very prominent Barolo vineyard, I slipped on a round stone and slid half way down the slope. Further, as I was sliding down the hill, I was trying to grab a hold of one of the vines (to stop the slide). The owner of the vineyard started yelling at me, not to hurt his vines (by grabbing hold of them)… They were too precious. My Gluteus Maximus was irrelevant compared to his spectacular Nebbiolo vines.

While the action below the ground is very important, the above ground maintenance is equally significant. Trellises are put in place to spread out the canes from the trunk of the vine. The trellis further allows the grape leaves to garner the maximum amount of sunlight to affect the photosynthesis needed for healthy plant growth and the quality of the fruit. The grape grower will also utilize the trellis to bear the weight of the fruit throughout the ripening process. When a grape cluster is completely ripe, it’s quite heavy and the weight would cause the canes to droop all the way to the ground. Obviously, this would not be very good for ripening and harvesting. Pruning the vines is one of the most important elements in promoting quality grape growth. Grapes need about 1500 hours of sunlight to produce commercial quality wine. That’s around 5 months worth of quality growth. By pinching off some of the buds and leaves, the vine will direct all of the water, nutrients and acids to a smaller group of grape clusters; giving the remaining grapes more complexities and higher tannins. Vines that are allowed to grow without pruning and proper spacing will yield a wine that is light and flabby. The wine will lack the proper acidity and be a very short lived wine.

Lastly, harvesting takes place once the grapes have reached the

desired sugar content. The standard for measuring the degree of sugar in the grape is called “Brix”. Once the degree of brix has been determined, the grapes will be removed from the vine either by hand (The best way to harvest) or by machine (for the large vineyards). The winery will try not to allow the grapes to be crushed by the weight of the grape clusters. So, they will put the newly harvested grapes in smaller containers. Remember, once the juice comes in contact with the skins, fermentation will begin. Based

on today’s winemaking procedures and the technological advances, we want to keep the fresh berries as whole as possible.

So, if you plan on planting a vineyard, make sure the grape variety is compatible with the soil, and the local climate will offer adequate water and sunlight. Then take two aspirin and call me in the morning. Be prepared for a lot of work.

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It is a response we hear repeatedly from those who are referred to Speech Language Pathologists. “Why do I need to see a Speech Pathologist? I can talk just fine.” Many people associate Speech Pathology or Speech Therapy as a need for those who have “speech” problems, such as stuttering, articulation deficits, and voice problems. And while all of these are treated by Speech Pathologists, there are many more areas addressed in the field of Speech Pathology in both adult and pediatric populations. Areas that are often addressed by Speech Pathologists may include language, as related to one’s ability to communicate, both verbally and nonverbally. Speech production can be affected by nerve and/or nerve weakness. Speech can also be affected by fluency disorders, such as stuttering. Cognitive function is also treated, as related to memory, problem solving, organization, sequencing, attention, safety, and judgment. Swallowing difficulties, also known as dysphagia, is also a rapidly growing area treated by Speech Pathologists. Below, you will find a short description of each area. Language encompasses the ability to generate and comprehend spoken or written words, pictures, and gestures. Deficits in language are often caused by strokes. Aphasia, as it is known, can cause difficulty with expression, comprehension, or a combination of both. With this disorder, it is often obvious that there is some problem with “talking.” Words will be mixed up. It can be as simple as switching one word for another, such as calling a rake a broom. It can be as severe as complete jargon, where the listener cannot understand any words. These deficits can be treated. Expressive language can sometimes be aided with

communication boards, in some cases, Augmentative/Assisted Communication device, or AAC. Speech production can be impaired by several things, including weak muscles function, impaired nerve function, and dysfluency. Difficulties with motor planning, or Apraxia, can cause significant impairment with expressing one’s self. These people often have intact comprehension, but cannot communicate their ideas effectively. Dysarthria can cause speech to have a slurred sound, harsh or nasal vocal quality, imprecise articulation, or variances with speech rate. Stuttering often has no known cause, but can affect one’s ability to produce fluent speech. These speech impairments can often be treated using oral exercise programs, electrical stimulation, and teaching compensatory strategies. Cognitive function is defined by many areas, including memory, problem solving, attention, judgment, safety, and sequencing. One’s ability to perform routine daily tasks is dependent on cognitive function. Cognitive impairment may be caused by many things. Stroke, head injury, anoxia, degenerative diseases, medication, and infection can also have an impact on cognitive function. Sometimes, a simple medication change or clearing of an infection will improve cognitive function. Other times, a more therapeutic approach is needed to improve one’s cognition. For those who experience dysphagia, there are some clinical signs and symptoms to look for. They are: Coughing or choking during oral intake, a wet gurgly voice, a runny nose, excessive drooling, holding food in the mouth, excessive chewing, or obvious struggle to complete the swallow, spike in temperature after oral intake, and a delayed swallow. These all

may be visible or perhaps just one or two. These are signs that a more comprehensive evaluation by an SLP is needed. Keeping it simple, the swallow is broken down into three phrases and there can be a problem in one, two or all three. The phases are the oral phase (chewing and transferring to back of the tongue), pharyngeal phase (as the food spills over the back tongue into the pharynx with the epiglottis folding over the airway flowing into the pyriform sinuses) and the esophageal phase. Dysphagia can have a number of medical diagnosis’ that result in an inefficient swallow. Some of the most significant are Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA or stroke), Head Injury, and Parkinson’s. Swallowing problems can be treated with specific techniques. At HealthSouth we are certified to utilize Vital Stim as well as Deep Pharyngeal Neuromuscular Stimulation. Voice disorders are referred generally by physicians specializing in ear, nose, and throat (ENT). Changes in one’s voice can be related to many things. Voice is measured by several factors including vocal quality, pitch, loudness, and breath support. People experiencing voice issues should see an ENT prior to any therapy to determine if there is a vocal fold pathology. In May we celebrate Better Speech and Hearing Month and wish to educate the public of the various areas of service speech pathologists provide. At HealthSouth we provide inpatient, outpatient and home health speech therapy. Our speech therapists are certified in Vital Stim, LSVT and DPNS treatment procedures. We also have capabilities for on sight Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies. Please call 903-735-5000 for more information. Speech Therapy is not just about talking anymore.

by Laura D. Jenkins, M.S., CCC/SLPJeannie S. Carter, M.A., CCC/SLP

“I Can Talk Just Fine”

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Bride's Spring Edition 2013