wise family magazine december 2011

Inspiring Parents, Motivating Kids, Celebrating Life

www.WiseFamilyMagazine.com

PRICELE$$ December 2011

Fun &Games

You BetterWatch Out!

SeasonsGreetings

GetCaught

Crafting

DaveSays

2 WISEFamilyMagazine.com • 940.210.1769

Braylin Dean, daughter of Sara Borchardt.

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940.210.1769 • WISEFamilyMagazine.com 3

The Family Album

Raleigh Peters, daughter of Joni and Josh Peters of Bridgeport (15 months).

PhotobyHeatherThetford(BarbedWireandHalopHoTos)

Madison Barnett celebrating her 7th birthday.

The Family Album

Dylan McLaughlin at Lonesome Dove Ranch Harrison and Henry Oberg (with Santa) wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas for 2011

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Laying Dow

n the LawMerry Christmas! May all of you be blessed with

the happiest of holidays. The holiday season is a time of celebration, however, some people are out to spoil it for the rest of us. For some reason, the holidays are an excuse for some to break the law and act inappropriately. Recent events during Black Friday were an example. People stampeded and acted crazy just to buy a TV on sale or get that George Foreman grill half off. I get it, who can live without a Foreman grill, but seriously people are you willing to assault someone to get it? Certain crimes are committed with greater regularity during the holidays. Domestic violence and theft are generally the most common. What can you do about it? Domestic violence unfortunately occurs year-round but now is the time to get involved if you know of a victim. Keep an eye out for physical or mental signs and don’t look the other way. I have talked with the friends and family of victims and almost all of them say they saw signs of abuse. All of them wished they would have done more. Do something. The national hotline for domestic violence is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Theft is always a problem, but with people on vacation and away from their homes, the thieves

show up in droves. You can’t look after everyone’s home but you can look after yours and those around you. Besides leaving lights on a timer and activating security systems, your eyes are often the best remedy. If you are in town, open your eyes and look more closely at your neighbors and surrounding houses. If you see something out of the ordinary and suspicious, report it. Let your neighbors know what you are doing and encourage them to do the same. Many times local law enforcement catches thieves in the act as a result of a phone call that initially seems like nothing. Motor vehicle burglary can also be limited by keeping items out of sight and locking your car. I go by the rule: “If they can’t see it, they can’t steal it” I am looking forward to another year with Wise Family Today. What a wonderful source of information and inspiration. Thank you so much for reading my articles. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.■

James StaintonWise County Attorney

You better watch out!

December, 2011

In our 7th year of ‘Making A Difference’P.O.Box521•Boyd,Texas76023

940-210-1769

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Wise Family Magazine is published monthly by TinkInk LLC and distributed free of charge through localmerchants.Wise Family Magazine reserves the rightto edit, reject or comment editorially on all materialcontributed.Opinionsexpressedbythecontributorsarenotnecessarily theopinionsof thepublication.Tink InkLLCassumesnoliabilityorresponsibilityforanyclaimsmadebyadvertisers in themagazine.Reproduction inwhole or part without express written consent of thePublisherisprohibited.

In This Issue:LayingDowntheLaw. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6DearReaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7DaveSays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9Women’sOccupationalWorkshop. . . . . . 10ChristmasonaBudget. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16LifeSkills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18GetCaughtCrafting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Fun&Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21WiseMerchants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

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EMERGENCY NUMBERS:Wise County Sheriff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 940 627 5971Severe Weather Updates . . . . . . . . . www .weather .comEmergency Preparedness Info . . . . . www .redcross .orgwww .MissingKids .com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-843-5678National Child Abuse Hotline . . . . . . . . .1-800-422-4453National Poison Control Center . . . . . . . 1-800-222-1222National Substance Abuse Hotline . . . .1-800-662-4357National Runaway Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-786-2929

You can pick us up from here and take us home…

Grocery stores, Fred’s, Chili’s, Wal-mart, Pizza Hut, Dos Chiles, Starbucks, Plaza Cinema IV Movie Theatre, Wise Regional Hospital, North Texas Community Hospital and many more places throughout our great county! Thank you!

1957-2010

Founder: Kim Tinkham

On The Cover:SlaydeandhisdaddyTonyShieldsplayingsuperman.Two Chicks That Click Photography Studios


The Snow...by Scott Tinkham

Seasons Greetings Wise County,“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!“ ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836 Its 7:45am December 5th in Wise County Texas as I write this and it’s snowing. I love snow and as in the quote above it brings me back to the wonderful delusions of my childhood. I was born and raised where it started snowing in October and we didn’t see the grass again until mid-April. So memories of Christmas, family, friends, and love I associate with snow. That would be love found and love lost. Dec 7th 2010 was love lost. I want to thank our readers and our advertisers for allowing me to keep Kim’s labor of love, Wise Family Magazine going. In her December 2009 issue Kim wrote: “This is my gift to you Wise County; a magazine that focuses on all the goodness of our rural family lifestyle” Last year, for the first time in my life, I didn’t celebrate Christmas. Now almost 12 months later the memories of the 22 Christmases with Kim are flooding my heart and my head and it feels really good. Take this advice. This Christmas day if

you are fortunate to have friends and family around you. Stop, step back into a corner of the room and take the scene in, look out over your kids, your parents, your spouse and your friends and just take it in. Burn it into your memory. I believe this is what Heaven on earth looks and feels like. I miss you Kimmie…it stopped snowing.

“This Christmas let’s add to our memories of past Christmases. Be sure to take in all the sights and sounds of Christmas but more importantly let’s all try our best to give the most precious gift to those we love. Let’s give the gift of our time, attention, smiles, hugs, kisses and laughter. Those are the gifts that cannot be bought and will not be forgotten. Merry Christmas.” Kim Ponder-Tinkham, Wise Words December 2008 Wise Family Magazine.

From our Wise Family to yours,Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Bargain master!Dear Dave,Can you share some tips on bargaining, whether for a used car or even a washer and dryer in the classifieds?- Ray

Dear Ray,Bargaining is one of my favorite things to do, but it’s a little harder for me to get away with it these days. There are three points to remember when it comes to getting a bargain. The first is that whoever has the most information wins. This means you need to shop around, do some online research, and become an expert on the value of the item you want to buy. Number two, don’t be afraid to flash the cash. Money, especially cash money in your hand, is an emotional thing. Lots of times it will motivate someone to accept your offer—even if it’s a little less than what they want for the item in question. The third thing is patience. Don’t get all hot and bothered about a certain item at a certain place. Calm down and be willing to wait for a deal. You lose your ability to negotiate a great deal—not to mention your walk-away power—if you get all worked up and married to something before you know what else is out there!- Dave

What is unsecured debt?Dear Dave,What is unsecured debt?- Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,This is a great question! You’d be surprised how many people don’t know the difference between “secured” debt and “unsecured” debt. Unsecured debt means that someone loaned you money, but they don’t have a lien on anything. Credit cards and student loans are good examples of unsecured debt, because there’s nothing they can directly repossess if the borrower doesn’t pay. Now, if you don’t pay, they can sue you and get a lien against something after they sue you. Lots of times this is done against your income by garnishing your wages. Examples of secured debt would be a car loan or even a home mortgage. A home mortgage is secured by the home, meaning they take a lien against the home. If you don’t pay, they can foreclose and take the house. It works the same way with a car loan. If you don’t make your payments, they can come get the car. Remember this, too. Unsecured debt typically will be the last debt you pay if you’re in financial trouble. In other words, you’d make your car payment before paying on your student loan, and you’d make your house payment before paying on a credit card. In a worst case scenario, like bankruptcy, unsecured debt is wiped off. The creditor gets nothing. But a car

loan or house payment either gets made, or you give up your car or home. It’s easy to see how a lender making a secured loan is in a much better position than one making an unsecured loan, isn’t it?- Dave

Will paying early help?Dear Dave,Will it improve my credit score, and help my ability to buy home later, if I pay my rent 30 days early for the next two or three years?- Tanner

Dear Tanner,No. Your landlord probably isn’t going to report early payments to the credit bureaus. Just make sure you pay it on time. It is smart to pay a few days early, though - maybe seven to 10 days ahead of time, but for a different reason. That way if something goes wrong at the bank, you’ve still got time to fix the problem. Chances are your credit score won’t be impacted by your rental payments unless you’re late, and especially if you have several late payments. That could sure become a black mark against you later! I’m not a big fan of the FICO score, because it doesn’t measure things like assets, income or net worth. It’s really just an indicator of your interaction with debt. This is one of the reasons why it’s really dumb for companies to base lending decisions solely on a FICO score. Fortunately, you can still find lenders that provide mortgage loans based on manual underwriting procedures. But they’re getting harder and harder to find!- Dave

Do car titles go to teenagers?Dear Dave,Our 15-year-old has saved his money, and he’ll buy a car next year. When he buys it, should the title be put in our names or his?- Laura

Dear Laura,When my kids hit that age, I put the titles in my name. The insurance will be much less expensive if you do this. Plus, you don’t want a 16-year-old under the illusion that they’re in control of their lives. As their parents, you should love them more than that, because they’re just not ready to be in full control. You want them to be in control of some parts of their lives, so that when they leave they have a clue about life and don’t boomerang on you. But at that age, you should be guiding them, and you don’t need an ownership document to a car confusing them about who’s in charge. I turned the ownership over to my kids when they turned 18. In each case, I knew

Dav

e Sa

ys


Dave Says

For more financial help,please visit daveramsey.com

Dave Ramsey

I could trust them, and they were ready for that level of control. So, once they’re ready—and you know they’re ready—if it’s going to be their car, all the accompanying responsibility should be theirs, too!- Dave

Enough for retirement?Dear Dave,I’ve heard you tell people that having $90,000 to $100,000 saved up for retirement isn’t enough. That’s what I’ve got set aside right now, and I’m pretty sure it’s all I’ll ever need. Why do you think everyone should have a million or two saved up?- Tom

Dear Tom,The amount you’re talking about isn’t enough to retire on with any kind of dignity. If you make 10 percent off your money over time it means you’re living on just $10,000 a year. That’s below the poverty level. Don’t misunderstand my message. I’m not about being greedy, and money is not the key to happiness. Money is good for three things – personal security, helping others, and it’s good for fun. You need to do some of all three.

What I am about is changing my family tree. With money we can create and leave behind the training and resources to make a huge positive difference in the world. I want good people to have big piles of money in order to do good things. This is true of my own family, too. I don’t want to leave my kids in a situation where they have lots of money and no sense of responsibility. I want to train them to be responsible and generous so they can really bust loose with that big pile of cash they’ll inherit one day. I want them to be able to have an impact three generations down the line in our own family and to impact the world around them in a fabulous way!- Dave ■

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Keitha Story-Stephenson, Ph.D. owner of BlueSky Wellness Center, provides private consultation for individuals and corporations in Nutritional Wellness, Weight Management, ADD/ADHD Nutritional Management, and other Alternative Health Care. Services are available by appointment in Decatur at 506 West Walnut. Call 817-239-9525 or visit us at www.BlueSkyWellnessCenter.com for more information. Follow us on our Blog, www.DrKeitha.com or www.MerchantsCircle.com . Also, tune in to Christian Radio, KDKR 91.3fm, on Saturdays at 1:30pm, for “Feeding the Family-Mind, Body and Spirit” or go to KDKR.org for live streaming of our broadcast.

Keitha Story-Stephenson, Ph.D.W

omen

’s O

ccup

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nal W

orks

hop Discovery - The Passage to Self

“And of all illumination which human reason can give, none is comparable to the discovery of what we are, our nature, our obligations, what happiness we are capable of, and what are the

means of attaining it.” - Adam Weishaupt

As we approach the end of the calendar year, it is a good and fitting season to pause and spend some

time in pensive reflection concerning who we are, what we desire, where we envision ourselves going in the future and what we are willing to offer to meet those new horizons. With the rush of the holidays, we often tend to fail to consider moments spent quietly as important and truly necessary to our development as human beings and business leaders. Remember, time spent in self-development is never wasted. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, the best place to invest your time and money is in your self. Make yourself more valuable. To be true to our purpose, we must take time to discover who we are. Do our activities match our potential or goals? Are we simply busy about the business of being busy? Have we lost our true self in the rush of daily demands? Stop. Breathe in. Breathe out. Consider what has brought you to this place. The uniqueness of who you are defines your position in your family and business. You are important and vital to the success of all ventures that surround you. Learn to prioritize your opportunities. Do not let work get the best of you and your family the rest of you. Balance leads to joy. Be you, completely. Do you know what you desire? Most people I observe do not know an answer to that question. They are simply working hard at working hard. Because they do not have a clear definition of what they seek, they are restless and forever yearning for the intangible, the elusive. Even to the sake of their health, their loved ones, and their peace of mind. You must clearly define your desires. Then, they can direct your future, your steps to success. This leads you to successful step-by-step planning that enables you to reach well thought out goals and plans. Achievement is a process of small successes; built one

upon another toward an expected result. Plan to succeed. Prepare to win. Keep your goals in mind. Effective planning takes the pressure off. It provides a blueprint upon which success can be built. Well thought out planning also acts as an effective time management tool for daily living. Having direction, preplanned, can make your daily tasks more efficient and productive. You will have more control of time and be better able to take advantage of it. A word to the wise, there is always a price to pay. What are you truly willing to give up to make your plans come true? After consideration of that question, I offer a list of costly offerings that should be considered off limits. Do not risk your quiet time with your Creator, your health, your joy, your time with family, your sense of humor, your rest, your play, your time with friends…getting the message? Weigh the value of all things in your life and rank them as to importance. Remember, at the close of life, we rarely cry out for one more moment at work.

This truly is the season of discovery. Take a careful look at you. Like what you see and feel? If so, I applaud you. If not, thank God you are a human – you can start over tomorrow and be all you see before you. ■

To-Go and Call-Ahead Waiting

940-627-2519Follow us onjoin us on


Family Album

Berkley Jones at the Botanical Gardens in Fort WorthTwo Chicks That Click Photography StudiosRiggin Fields


Can Cold Water Clean Dishes? This is for all the germ conscious folks that worry about using cold water to

clean. John went to visit his 90 year old grandfather in a very secluded, rural area of Saskatchewan. After spending a great evening chatting the night away, the next morning John’s grandfather prepared breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. However, John noticed a film like substance on his plate, and questioned his grandfather asking, “Are these plates clean?” His grandfather replied, “They’re as clean as cold water can get em. Just you go ahead and finish your meal, Sonny!” For lunch the old man made hamburgers. Again, John was concerned about the plates, as his appeared to have tiny specks around the edge that looked like dried egg and asked, “Are you sure these plates are clean?” Without looking up the old man said, “I told you before, Sonny, those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them. Now don’t you fret, I don’t want to hear another word about it!” Later that afternoon, John was on his way to a nearby town and as he was leaving, his grandfather’s dog started

to g row l , a nd wouldn’t let him pass. John yelled and said, “Grandfather, your dog won’t let me get to my car!” Without diverting his attention from the football game he was watching on TV, the old man shouted, “Coldwater, go lay down now, yah hear me!” Meet Coldwater...

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The Family Album


The Semmelmann FamilyTwo Chicks That Click Photography Studios Ryan Barnett on a Pirate adventure in South Padre Island.

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Wall of Hope

The JOY Christian Academy Drama Group of Decatur,

worked and raised $18,000 for the May 22 Joplin Tornado Victims; specifically the Stained Glass Theatre that was completely destroyed and lost 3 lives. The drama group performed 2 benefit shows here in Texas and than traveled to Joplin, MO where they performed and also volunteered towards the disaster recovery efforts throughout the city. Photo at right was taken in front of the “Wall of Hope” a wall covered in graffiti and signed by disaster volunteers. To learn more or to donate please visit stainedglassrelief.blogspot.com.

Back Row Left to Right: Jameson Taylor, Lauren Smith, Morgan Hoover, Wilson Garrett, Wesley Vaughan, Zack Anderson, Wesley Popkess, Sarah Vaughan, Zeke Vaughan. Front Row: Robert Hagen, Julie Hagen, Jo Vaughan, Anna Smith, Madison Hoover, and Rebecca Roberts.


Family Album

Brilee - daughter of Jason Evans & Teela Mills.Hannah and Alia SmithTwo Chicks That Click Photography Studios

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Woodhaven National Bank800 Hwy 287, Suite ARhome • 817.638.5111Woodhaven National Bank6750 Bridge StreetFort Worth • 817.496.6700Mansfield Community Bank1700 E. Broad StreetMansfield • 817.473.5979Ridglea Bank3325 Fairfield Ave at Camp BowieFort Worth • 817.731.3361Woodhaven Bank Northeast4607 Colleyville Blvd.Colleyville • 817.656.7755Mercantile Bank2229 A Park RowArlington • 817.277.2225Woodhaven Bank6301 N. Beach StreetFort Worth • 817.489.6500

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Chri

stm

as o

n a

Bud

get

Christmas often comes at a high price. Between gifts, wrapping paper, travel and parties, making

Christmas happen can spell financial ruin unless you go into it with a plan. But this year can be different. With some intelligent cost-cutting and creative thinking, Christmas need not drain your wallet this year – or be any less satisfying than in years past. Read on and apply these 12 tips for enjoying a great Christmas on a small budget!Chop Down Your Christmas TreeChristmas tree farms offer a tremendous holiday savings opportunity to anyone willing (and able) to put in work. For a low fee – often as little as $25 – a family can chop down its own tree from a Christmas tree farm, strap it to their car or truck and take it home. A ready-cut tree, on the other hand, can cost anywhere from $75-$100 according to ChristmasTreesNow.com. Aside from the savings, there are few bonding experiences quite like a father and son cutting down the family Christmas tree together on a brisk winter afternoon. The tree you take home will create memories that outlast any of the gifts underneath.Buy Gifts For Fewer PeopleResist the urge to dismiss this tip as unkind as it is anything but. The reason to buy gifts for fewer people is not Scrooge-like stinginess, but sheer practicality. Face it – most of us, looking back on everyone we’ve bought gifts for in the last five years, can probably name several people that could have been harmlessly skipped over. For example, is it really necessary to buy a tacky, $15 “at least I got him something” gift for a distant uncle you never see? Would Christmas self-destruct if you only gave to those you truly felt compelled to? No, not at all. But the extra cash you save from not buying pointless gifts could make a real difference come the New Year. As you decide whether to buy for various people, always keep in mind that gift giving is voluntary. There is no need to buy for anyone you don’t want to.Develop a Gift Budget For Those You Do Give ToThe biggest reason people implode financially during Christmas is failure to plan. In contrast, someone who decides what they can spend in advance and spends only that is never caught off-guard when the bills come. This, then, is arguably the most important tip of all. No, it’s not sexy. You can’t brag about disciplined spending the way you brag about deferring payments for a year or finding an exclusive sale. But simple adherence to a realistic gift-giving budget will virtually guarantee that you spend less and minimize stress throughout the holidays. Come up with a number and stick to it – it’s that simple.Go Shopping SoloSome of us will need every motivational trick in the book to stick to the budgets we create. For these people,

shopping solo is the smartest approach. Something about shopping with a companion inspires us to spend more, whether it’s to out-do them or merely because having them along takes your “eye off the ball” that is your Christmas gift-giving budget. Instead, do your Christmas shopping alone for the same reason you go grocery shopping alone: because it gets you in and out without any “surprise” purchases.Buy Online When PossibleBuying Christmas gifts online makes sense for innumerable reasons unrelated to price – convenience and comparison shopping foremost among them. However, online shopping is also generally the most cost-effective way to buy your gifts. Online retailers like Amazon offer prices you wont find in any store, and many of them offer holiday coupons, rebates, and discount codes for the shopping season. And provided you don’t wait, you don’t even need to pay extra for speedy shipping. Instead, use this handy Postal Service tool to find the “extra 4 digits” of your ZIP code that route mail to you faster. Once the tool spits out your complete ZIP code (say, 06614-5026), use that when ordering online to get your order up to 2 days faster than before. (Most people don’t know about or use this at all!)Take Advantage of Free Gift Wrapping From RetailersFor gifts you can only or would rather buy in person (like clothing or candles you want to smell first), inquire about free gift wrapping at the store. Most retailers provide this service from the beginning of December all the way through Christmas Eve, and it’s one less thing you need to buy. Plus, let’s face it – wrapping gifts is a real pain in the neck. Foolish is he who passes up the chance to save money and avoid this cumbersome chore all in one shot!Aggressively Seek Out Sales & CouponsOne of the simplest ways to save money during Christmas is aggressively searching for sales, discounts, and coupons. Many of us talk a big game about “shopping smart this year” only to go into stores and shop in the same haphazard, indiscriminate fashion we do every other year. If you want to save money, you have to behave differently than people who waste money. First and foremost, this means clipping coupons (when they actually represent true savings), utilizing coupon codes, and taking advantage of known sales even when it means disciplining yourself to wake up early for them. Whatever pains you incur now will be worth it when Christmas is over and tens or hundreds of dollars remain available for other things. For more tips and tricks please visitwww.billshrink.com.

12 Tips for a Great Christmas on a Small Budgetby Jonathon Rivers


The Family Album

1st Grade Jacob Haynes. Bristol Goines hanging out on a fall afternoon.

Wise PediatricsA Specialist for your children as they grow!

940-626-4400

Accepting Most InsurancesCall if you have any questions

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Attached to Wise Regional Hospitalwww.WisePediatrics.com


Life SkillsHoliday Entertaining – Part 2

Entertaining is not exclusive to the holidays, but the holidays do invite more opportunities to entertain.

For some, entertaining is as easy as breathing. For others, the thought of inviting guests into their home for a meal is breath-taking! All the cleaning, shopping, cooking, and then cleaning again become overwhelming and stressful. It is simply easier to go to a restaurant and let someone else handle the details. As lovely as a meal out can be, however, it can never replace the warmth and intimacy of a meal shared around a family table. To entertain with style does not require the best linens, perfectly set table, finest cuisine, or grand home. What it does require is a host and guests who are kind and thoughtful, and understand that true hospitality is a gift given from a generous heart. The Gracious Guest A happy host loves a gracious guest, someone who understands that being invited into a home is an act of generosity and hospitality and would never treat such an invitation lightly. She is quick to let the host know if she is able to attend – RSVP – and, once she has accepted the kind invitation, would not think of being late, not showing up, or bringing an uninvited tagalong. A gracious guest never arrives empty handed. If she was not asked to bring a part of the meal, she brings a small gift that the host will enjoy as a way to express her gratitude. She comes prepared to participate in the conversation and any activities the host has planned. She looks for ways that she can assist her host, such as, making other guests feel comfortable, or giving a helpful hand in the kitchen. She is positive, kind and thoughtful to all.

She never overstays her welcome, and never forgets to send her host a handwritten note expressing her gratitude. Successful entertaining requires both a happy host and gracious guests. Life today is overscheduled, overspent, and filled with stress – especially during the holidays. Being invited into someone’s home to enjoy a meal and pleasant conversation may be one of the best gifts you receive. This holiday season, schedule time to open your home and your heart to those you love. It is a priceless gift. ■

Deborah King is President of Final Touch Finishing School, Inc. which she founded in 1989 in Seattle. As a certified image professional, with over 30 years of experience, she presents her programs nationally and internationally for youth and corporate clients. She is co-author of “Image Power” and “Executive Etiquette Power” and developer of several education tools. www.finaltouchschool.com.

Deborah King, AICI CIP

“It requires as much skill and genius to entertain friends as to defeat an army.” - Paulus Aemilius, Roman General

VENTURE SCOUTSOpen for teenagers 14-18. camp, fish, climb and hike. Monthly overnight campouts. Join us at the Decatur Lions Club 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings at 7 pm or call Jennifer Prentice 817-891-5063 for more information.

Let’s make a positive impact on our children’s future by saving our environment. Please recycle this magazine when you are finished reading it. Thank you!


Now that my sons are teens, except for gingerbread houses around the holidays, it’s not easy to get them

crafting. But young kids adore creating anything, and the developmental benefits of art and crafting are endless (fine motor skills, imagination, math, abstract thinking). There are some great new books on the market that at first glance may not have you thinking the kids and I could DO this! But if you leaf through them and let their magic soak in, you will be convinced there are projects here that kids will adore.Whimsical FashionThe author of a new book of clever clothes and accessories says her projects are “for kids who explore and giggle and run wild,” which basically has our names written all over it (although “ jog wild” may be a tad more accurate considering the knees today). Chock full of personality and whimsy Sew Tina: 30 Cute Projects and Adorable Décor Items for Kids by Tina Givens includes the author’s signature go-with-the-flow method. Inside are flying pigs, soft books, puffy necklaces, and swing-y dresses made for twirling. Givens’ imagination combined with Lynne Harty’s dreamy photography will have you and your children swooning.Creative UPcyclingFabric Remix: Repurpose and Reecorate by Sandy Stone will steal your family’s heart with its sewing and upholstery projects. Ever spied moneybag pillows? What a genius project for older kids! And doesn’t every parent DESERVE a shopping cart hamper with vintage laundry bag? Stone teaches us how to turn vintage fabric, recycled clothing, and old furniture into stylish projects (some of us are more skilled at dragging the stuff home than repurposing it). Another favorite project from the book: vintage scarf pillows which make such a unique statement with such little effort.Holiday GiftsUnless you’re the bionic crafter you’ll need time to complete those handmade goodies so perfect for holiday gifts and decking the halls. Some awesome new books are perfect for gearing us up. Vintage tablecloths or tea towels become sensational new items in Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Tea Towel by Nathalie Mornu. Mini skirt? Check. Japanese baby doll? Totally! Doggie backpack? Yes,

please. The projects inside this volume of innovative deliciousness will inspire you to create projects using all those sweet linens you snag for pennies at yard sales and the flea market. Even if you and the kids are shy about sewing, you are destined to fall in love with this eco-friendly guide for repurposing old textiles.Felt FabulousnessAnother nifty book to get ready for the holidays is Big Little Felt Universe: Sew It, Stuff It, Squeeze It, Fun! by Jeannette Lim. If you have never worked with felt, you’re in for a surprise. These super sweet projects in Lim’s book won’t break the bank and kids will adore them. I am partial to the girly girl felt purse project complete with cherries appliqué and squishy felt lipstick, and you may sigh upon glimpsing the fruit topped cake—YUM! In all you’ll find 12 “felt sets” containing easy projects to make for your squeezing enjoyment. Bonus: the patterns are mostly full-sized so no enlarging required. Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio is for those of us who aren’t expert seamstresses but love the idea of crafting festive felt projects. From gift tags to wreaths to thrifted holiday trees, your brood will have a blast making the season jollier with handmade goodness. If you choose only to make one project from Fa La La La Felt consider Gingerman and Sugar Friend on page 68. You will feel as though you’ve hit the holiday jackpot with this clever felty guide, and your friends and family will have you begging for their own Sugar Friends. Beyond adorable and guaranteed to bring ear to ear smiles, be sure to check out the projects in these irresistible new books! ■

Resources:Carestio, Amanda. Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations. 2010. Lark Books.Givens, Tina. Sew Tina: 30 Cute Projects and Adorablel Décor Items for Kids. 2010. Lark Books.Lim, Jeannette. Big Little Felt Universe: Sew It, Stuff It, Squeeze It, Fun! 2011. Lark Books.Mornu, Nathalie. Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Tea Towel. 2010. Lark Books.Stone, Sandy. Fabric Remix: Repurpose and Redecorate. 2010. Lark Books.

Michele Ranard, M.Ed.

5 Clever Crafty Books With Projects to Create With Kids

The writer? A lover of felt and vintage fabulousness, a freelance writer, and blogger at hellolovelychild.blogspot.com and hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com.

Get Caught Creating


The Family Album

Decatur 6th Grade Blue Superbowl Champs!

Sienna Kostelecky enjoying tap and dance at the HIgher Purpose Dance Studio

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.Ruth Ann Schabacker

Happy 1st Birthday Julian!! Love, Mom, Dad, Jorge, Devanhi & Joseph

Brayden Del Rio (cow), Stetson Davis (rodeo clown)Fall Fest Bridgeport 2011


Fun & Games

Down1.Attentiongetter2.Engrave3.Heart4.With53down,singerfrom

Across1.Holidaypie6.Santa’sload10.With‘the’,syndromecausingmissedputts14.Keyorcorner15.“HolidayInHarlem”singer16.Youngland?17.Papermoney18.Itmaybefoundin25down19.Blue-collarname?20.Crechefigures23.Longestdivisionofgeologicaltime(var.)24.Noice25.Dot’sfollower,often28.Homelessones30.Panorama34.WestPoint,i.e.(abbr.)36.Big__(Cal.)37.Lots38.Holidaydecoration41.Holdups42.Rangers’org.43.Dam’sopposite44.Wipeout45.Timebeforelife47.Indianbread48.Organiccompound50.Anthemopener52.Holidaysong,“Oh,little...”59.Gooveramanuscript60.Bignameindetergent61.Mountainridge62.Penny__63.Tech.grad.64.Girders65.Onewhoogles66.Negatives67.Fills

Chicago5.Sibling’sson6.Elementfoundinphotocells7.Succulentplant8.Performerswithalotofmake-up9.“DawsonCreek”actor,Holmes10.Holidayseasons11.Detail12.Coat13.Tibialocale21.Goodnaturedteasingses-sions22.Enjoy25.Placefor18across26.Earthycolor27.WestSideStorygal29.__Kafka31.Killed

32.Aquariumfish33.Verypale35.Objector37.Wise-looking(likeHarryPot-ter,perhaps)39.Officeworker40.Quickdrinks45.Whiteelephant,forinstance46.Chunneltown49.Manytimes51.__Buena(evergreenplant)52.Distantprefix53.See4down54.Kiringredient55.Slightadvantage56.Miamihoopsters57.French101verb58.GI’schow

puzzles.about.com


Wise Merchants AssociationMembership Benefits

The Wise Merchants Association was founded in June 2009 by Kim Tinkham to help local businesses weather the recession. The goal of this Association is to allow merchants to share ideas, problems and solutions with other merchants. Our Association meetings are structured to provide information, education, and motivation for business owners, as well as networking opportunities. We believe in having local merchants support each other and in keeping shopping dollars local. Our Association does not compete with the local Chambers, and actually partners with them on occasion for special events. We are a unique Association with the only goal of providing business owners information they need to grow their business!Membership Benefits:• Motivational speakers • Training• Informal meetings • Networking opportunities• Excellent sponsors • Supportive members• Business owner focusedAdditional Business Benefits:• Highly recognized by the Wise County

Clerk and Wise County Attorney• Recommended by many local

organizations• Discounted advertising in Wise Family

Today Magazine• Discounts on member’s products or

services Our meetings have included training for business owners in marketing, networking, social media, business goal setting, sales training, and business etiquette. We also have informal, after-hours Mixers that are a great opportunity to bring guests. Thank you to our members and we encourage you to take advantage of all of your membership benefits.

If you are not a member, we invite you to join us at www.wisemerchants.org!

Name Company WebsiteRuby & Michael Carreiro A Day Away Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.adayawayretreat.com Cathy Morris . . . . . . . . . . Aesthetic Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.TexasCosmeticDoc.com Kathy Redwine . . . . . . . . Aflac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.aflac.comJim Tumlinson . . . . . . . . . All-American Water . . . . . . . . www.allamericanwatersofteners.com LaDonna Koerner . . . . . . Avon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.youravon.com/lkoerner Greg Roberts . . . . . . . . . . AWL Home Inspections. . . . . . . . . . www.awlhomeinspections.com Keitha Story-Stephenson DS .BlueSky Wellness Center . . . . . . . . www.blueskywellnesscenter.com Debbie Johnson Crall . . . Boot Camp Academy 101 . . . . . . . . www.bootcampacademy101.com Laura Marshall . . . . . . . . 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Gold and Silver Perfection . . . . . . . . . . . . www.numisnetwork.com/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . goldandsilverperfectionKaren St. John . . . . . . . . . Hampton Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.hampton.com Dave Jackson . . . . . . . . . . Jackson Excavation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.jacksonexcavation.com Jack Bullion . . . . . . . . . . . Juice Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.jackjuiceplus.comBonnie Kohnert . . . . . . . . K-Double-K Promotional Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kdoublek.comLynn Self . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karl Klement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.klementdecator.comDeborah L. Mann . . . . . . Mann Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.mannair.com Laura M Shaffer. . . . . . . . Mary Kay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.marykay.com/LauraShaffer Lisa Chapman Brown . . . Mary Kay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.marykay.com/lbrown Melissa McAlister . . . . . . Mary Kay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.marykay.com/mmcalister John Lanier . . . . . . . . . . . Parker Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.parkerpropertiestexas.com Kathy Fisher. . . . . . . . . . . Parker Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.parkerpropertiestexas.com Sherry Williams Layton . Parker Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.parkerpropertiestexas.com Misti Pearman . . . . . . . . . Pearman Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.pearmanins.com Maria Carrillo . . . . . . . . . Photography by Maria . . . . . . . . . . . www.photographybymaria.com Peggy Powell Lampkin . . Powell Insurance ConceptsDennis Emett. . . . . . . . . . Pre-Paid Legal . . . . . . . . . www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/dennisemett Karla Maxwell . . . . . . . . . Premier Designs Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.premierdesigns.comRobin Miller . . . . . . . . . . Robin Miller Tax Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.robinmillertax.com Brenda C. Morgan . . . . . . Sagebrush Steakhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.stagecoachsteaks.com Bandy Hicks. . . . . . . . . . . Scentsy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.scentedchick.com Suzanne Smith . . . . . . . . . Smith Investment GroupDebra Smith. . . . . . . . . . . Smith Seminars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.smithseminars.com Cary Bohn . . . . . . . . . . . . State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.carybohn.com Steven M. Williams . . . . . Steven M. Williams, Attorney . . . . . . . . www.stevenmwilliams.com Shawn Mitchell . . . . . . . . Swimming InstructorMickey Doyle. . . . . . . . . . Synrge Marketing Strategies www.SynrgeMarketingStrategies.comTammy Kelly . . . . . . . . . . Tammy Kelly Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.tammykelly.com Kathy O’Dell Hughes . . . Tastefully Simple and Celebrating HomeDawn Taylor. . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Made Graphics & Signs . . . . . .www.taylormadegraphics.org Texas Insurance Agency. . Texas Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.texasins.net Debi Porter. . . . . . . . . . . . The Edge in HR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.theedgeinhr.com Kayla Prock . . . . . . . . . . . Timeless Graphics & SignsMatt Kramer . . . . . . . . . . Voice Mapping For The Life You Want . . . . www.mkvoicemap.comDebbie Males . . . . . . . . . . Warner-Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.warner-radio.com Paula Null . . . . . . . . . . . . Willow House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.paulanull.willowhouse.com James Stainton . . . . . . . . . Wise County Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.wisecountylaw.com Sherry Lemon . . . . . . . . . Wise County Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.wisecounty.org Tayler Ponder . . . . . . . . . . Wise Family Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . www.wisefamilymagazine.comValerie Dickerson. . . . . . . Workforce Solutions-North Central Texas. . . . . . www.dfwjobs.com


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wise family magazine december 2011

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