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MADISON • GLUCKSTADT • RIDGELAND • FLORA • CANTON

V 6#2 3.20

2 • MARCH 2020

Hometown MADISON • 3

4 • MARCH 2020

FROM OUR PUBLISHER

Regardless of the up and down temps,

sporadic balmy and chilly winds along

with DAYS of rain, I see the stacks of

soil compost and fertilizers growing

in yard and garden businesses. For some,

that stirs that green thumb syndrome

of which a lot of people were endowed.

I didn’t receive that endowment.

I do remember watching my granddaddy

work with soil - the tilling, plowing

and planting. I never had to ask him if

he enjoyed his work in that garden plot.

It was obvious because of the time he

spent and the sweat that confirmed

his hard work.

For me, the preparation of the garden’s

produce was my contribution. I would

sit near my grandmother with a dishpan

of peas in my lap while we watched

episodes of The Price is Right. This was

before pea-shelling automation - that

contraption that ended purple thumbs

and fond memories of pea-shelling.

Yes, I’m thankful for air-conditioned

offices, and a job where I meet and deal

with people in the business world. Even

though I didn’t take after my granddaddy’s

love-of-the-soil dedication, I am grateful

for his tireless and loving example of

hard work and optimistic outlook on

reaping what he sowed.

No matter what your religious

position, “reaping what you sow” is

actually a bona fide concept. It’s one

I would advocate, whether you’re

pounding the pavement or turning

over topsoil. Spring is coming; time

for planting. However, it’s always time

to sow seeds of kindness and respect

and help make our hometown the

place where its people love to live

and do business! l

HOMETOWN STAFF

IN THIS ISSUE

Reader Spotlight 9

The Beginning of Our Ever After 28

I’m Just Kidding 12

Seeing Double 36

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Tahya A. Dobbs

CFO

Kevin W. Dobbs

CONSULTING EDITOR

Mary Ann Kirby

If Love Could Heal 16

Hometown Goodness 22

The Chalkboard 50

The Time Coin 58

SPECIAL PROJECTS

MANAGER

Brenda McCall

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Lindsey Dees

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Jenna Nottingham

ADMINISTRATIVE

ASSISTANT

Alisha Floyd

LAYOUT DESIGN

Daniel Thomas - 3dt

SPECIAL PROJECTS

ASSISTANT

Meagan Pitts

SPECIAL PROJECTS

ASSISTANT

Caroline Hodges

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Othel Anding

...see you around town.

www.facebook.com/hometownmadisonmagazine. For subscription information visit www.htmags.com or contact us at info@HTMags.com / 601.706.4059 / 26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F / Brandon, MS 39042

All rights reserved. No portion of Hometown Madison may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The management of Hometown Madison is not responsible for opinions expressed by its writers or editors.

Hometown Madison maintains the unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted material. All advertisements are subject to approval by the publisher. The production of Hometown Madison is funded by advertising.


6 • MARCH 2020

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8 • MARCH 2020

READER

SPOTLIGHT

Amy

EDWARDS __________________

Why did you decide to make Madison

your home?

Madison is a growing community but still with

a small town feel. I opened an Allstate Agency

in Madison/Gluckstadt for those same reasons.

How long have you lived in Madison?

I first lived in Madison from 1995-1997. Then

after moving out of state and eventually to

Hattiesburg, I returned to Madison in 2017.

Tell us about your family.

I’ve been married to James for almost 26 years and

we have two children. Emily Grace is 22 and will

graduate from Mississippi State in December.

Dylan is 23 and is a CPA at Horne, LLP in their

Nashville office.

What is your favorite memory

of living in Madison?

Buying our very first home in a neighborhood off

of Hoy Road in August of 1995. This city has

really grown since then!

Where are your three favorite places

to eat in Madison?

Gosh! I can’t limit it! Angelo’s, Mermaid Café,

Railroad Pizza, Kristos, Zea, Caet, Sombra,

Soulshine. We are empty nesters so tend to eat out

a lot!

What are some fun things to do in

Madison on the weekends?

Listen to live music at Georgia Blue, attend events

in Livingston, shop, catch a movie, or go to one of

the local festivals or 5k races.

Share some things you enjoy doing

in your spare time.

Walking my dog, hiking and wildlife watching in

the Rocky Mountains, attending sporting events,

traveling, spending time with family and friends,

and being a member of Pinelake Madison.

What are three things on your

bucket list?

Go to Alaska. Travel to several national parks

in an RV (as a passenger!). And become a

grandmother one day.

Who is someone you admire

and why?

My husband and my mother. They have both

been perfect examples of excellent work ethic,

putting others first, and determination to

succeed.

Where do you see yourself

ten years from now?

(Professionally) Still an Allstate Agency owner,

but with locations in both Rankin County

and Madison County. (Personally) An active

member of Pinelake, maybe a grandmother,

hopefully smarter, healthier, and better at

snow skiing!

What is your favorite

childhood memory?

Spending time with friends at the Crossgates

pool, playing kickball in my cul-de-sac with

all the other kids, and riding bikes all over

Crossgates in Brandon!

If you could give us one

encouraging quote, what

would it be?

“For I know the plans I have for you,”

declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope

and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11


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10 • MARCH 2020


12 • MARCH 2020

“I’m just kidding!”

Susan Marquez

Every day, kids

use this phrase to

excuse their bad

behavior towards

others. It’s also

the title of a new

book for children

on the topic of

bullying by

Tina Lakey.

When asked why she wrote a children’s

book on bullying, Tina responded, “I love

kids. I teach children’s church, kindergarten

through second grade, and sadly, I saw

cases of bullying in our own church.”

Tina says it hurts her heart when she sees

children hurting other children. She went

home and asked God what she should do.

“I wrote the book in about three hours

on a Sunday afternoon. That was five

years ago. I held on to it, not sure what

to do next.”

Last year, the daughter of one of

Tina’s friends came home from school

crying. Her dad, who had pancreatic cancer, had died

on the child’s ninth birthday. After his death, kids at school told the child she must

have done something really bad for her dad to have died. “I’m not the most patient

person in the world,” Tina says. “I talked with a friend who had published a book to

learn how she did it. She advised me to be patient, and not be discouraged.”


Tina began looking for publishers of children’s

books online and the first one she saw was a

Christian faith publishing company. “I sent an

email requesting a packet and got a reply the

next day. The publisher told me it was such a

timely topic, and they accepted my manuscript.”

The book, which has sold hundreds of copies,

has resonated with kids and parents, alike.

Tina has done several readings at schools and

churches, with more planned in the future.

“It’s such an important subject,” says Tina.

Stopbullying.gov is a federal government

website managed by the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services. The site defines

bullying as “unwanted, aggressive behavior

among school-aged children that involves

a real or perceived power imbalance. The

behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be

repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied

and those who bully others may have serious,

lasting problems. For behavior to be considered

bullying, it must be aggressive and include and

imbalance of power (such as physical strength or

access to embarrassing information)

and/or repetition.”

“Sadly, children can’t just go home to escape

bullying,” says Tina. “It follows them home with

cyber bullying, which has become epidemic.”

Tina says her research shows that 160,000 kids

skip school every day, often to escape bullying.

“There are 282,000 reported physical assaults

every day in secondary schools around the

country, and 75% of all school shootings stem

from the shooter having been bullied.”

Tina says the book was God-given. “He gave

me a gift. I have always written my thoughts,

but I never thought I was worthy of being a

writer.

But writing is the gift God has given me.”

Tina has ideas for future books as well.

“I’d like to do a children’s book on appearances,

and because I write a daily devotion that

I post on Facebook, friends have encouraged me

to write a 365-day devotion book.”

Tina retired as district director for Center-

Point Energy in 2017 after 38 years with the

company. She has a passion for giving back to the

community and does so through her service on

the boards of several organizations including

the American Heart Association, The Salvation

Army, and the Methodist Children’s Home. For

the past ten years, she has served as chair for the

Ridgeland Chamber Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.

Tina lives in Madison with her husband,

Terry Lakey. The couple has four children, a

granddaughter, and eleven “grand pups” and

two “grand kitties.” l

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16 • MARCH 2020

If Love Could Heal

Leigh Ramsey

“Brother, if love could heal, you’d be healed right this second.”

Those words of encouragement and blessing, spoken by Pastor Rob Futral to Roosevelt Greenwood,

inspired the title of the book, If Love Could Heal. In the book, Mr. Greenwood, of Madison, Mississippi,

and his wife, Shay, share how their family survived a battle with stage four cancer.

In the summer of 2016, Mr. and Mrs.

Greenwood decided to go to the gym together.

After a round of weightlifting, Roosevelt noticed

a pain in his leg. Many methods were used to try

and help Roosevelt get some relief, but the pain

would not go away. His chiropractor suggested

that he get an MRI. Shay dropped Roosevelt off

for the procedure, while she left to teach a Bible

study, not realizing the gravity of the news she’d

soon be receiving.

Everyone assumed Roosevelt would hear that

he had a slipped disc or needed back surgery.

When she returned from the Bible study, the

doctor told Mrs. Greenwood, “Shay, Roosevelt

has cancer.” Specifically, prostate cancer.

Shay shared that busy days of being a

stay-at-home mom, homeschooling her children,

being an entrepreneur, and running her husband

to multiple appointments in search of answers

about the pain in his leg, had made her grow

weary. But this diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic

prostate cancer made that melt away. She had

been reading Fervent, by Priscilla Shirer. The book

prepared Mrs. Greenwood for her reaction to the

diagnosis. She immediately began to pray. Her

prayers included thankfulness for what God was

going to do through this trial. She was confident

God would use it for His glory and for the

family’s good, despite the horrible circumstances.

Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood knew they needed

to tell their five children. Bria, Chandler, Noah,

Jacob, and Adam, came to the hospital and were

given the news of their father’s diagnosis. The

children wanted to tell their friends. Roosevelt

and Shay were very open to people knowing,

because they knew that meant people would be

praying. Shay spoke about how important that

mindset was for helping them to persevere. “So

many people isolate themselves, when they get

a cancer diagnosis,” Shay continued. “I cannot

tell you how many messages we have received

over the past three years from people who aren’t

being open with anyone about what’s going on.”


18 • MARCH 2020

However, that was not the route that the

Greenwood family chose to take. They chose

to share the diagnosis and the updates of

Roosevelt’s condition, knowing they were

surrounded by people who would pray.

Roosevelt immediately began treatments for

the cancer. He took a chemo pill, hormones and

radiation therapy to kill the cancer. He took

several medications for pain. A normal PSA

(Prostate Specific Antigen) level should be

somewhere between 0-4. At the time of the

diagnosis, Roosevelt’s level was 1490. His level

after his initial treatment went down to a nine, and

the radiation helped him to be able to stop all

pain medications. With continued treatment, the

PSA level became undetectable by March of 2017.

Mr. Greenwood’s PSA level did begin to inch

back up slowly. November of 2017, he was put on

a very expensive medication called Zytiga.

Finances became an added stress as the family

walked through this trial. However, the people

that surrounded them found ways to ease some

of the burden. A friend named Lauren Swanson

planned a 5K in their honor. A few times, people

sent the family a check for their rent. Another

friend sold bracelets that said, “Greenwood

Strong.” That slogan was the family’s hashtag

on social media whenever they were sharing

updates.

Some of the medication that Roosevelt took

made him become diabetic. In the summer of

2018, he was diagnosed with diabetes when blood

tests revealed that his blood sugar level was 1,000.

Roosevelt now takes insulin daily, has altered his

diet, and exercises.

Through the trials, the family remained

strong. In addition to support of friends, Shay

shared ways she learned to cope.

“There have been

seasons where we

count our losses.

The enemy likes

to steal our joy.”

She imagines herself in a field of beautiful

flowers with Jesus’s arms around her. He’s

helping her count the flowers, which are as far

as the eye can see. Those are the blessings in

her life. She has learned to take every thought

captive. Shay, a personal stylist, continued, “I tell

people, if you see me with extra mascara on, or

I have on a darker lipstick that day, and my hair

is a little bit extra, you can just assume that

I’m having a really bad day. I feel better when

I look better.”

Roosevelt and Shay dreamed of writing a

book for a long time. They hoped to write one

on parenting, home schooling, or marriage.

They never dreamed that this would be the

book they’d write. Roosevelt’s brother, Maximus

Wright, a Mississippi native, who wrote a book

and feature film called, “Soul Damage,” coached

them throughout the writing process. At one

point he mentioned how amazing it was to watch

the community of love that surrounded the

Greenwoods. That statement reminded Shay

of the pastor’s quote, and gave them the title for

their book, If Love Could Heal. It is available on

Amazon or at www.shaygreenwood.com.

Roosevelt is currently in remission. It has

been over three years since the original diagnosis.

His doctor, Dr. Qu, recently told Roosevelt that

his original prognosis was that Roosevelt had a

year to 18 months to live. Roosevelt’s body

responded so well to treatment that he has

beaten those odds. The entire family has come to

an agreement that if a person is saved because of

their story, they’ll be okay with the fact that they

had to go through this. At first, Roosevelt would

ask, “Why me?” but he came to a place where he

was able to say, “Why not me?” He often says,

“I win regardless. If I live, or if I die, I win no

matter what.” l


20 • MARCH 2020

St. Dominic’s Family Medicine-Gluckstadt

Stephen C. Hammack, MD, FAAFP

Stephen C. Hammack, MD, FAAFP, is a

native of Canton, MS. He has over 12

years of experience as a family medicine

physician.

Call 601-200-4321

Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Walk-Ins Welcome

St. Dominic’s Family Medicine-Gluckstadt

286 Calhoun Station Parkway

Madison, MS 39110


Hometown

_____________________________________________________

Fresh Strawberry Cake

GOODNESS

• 1 box Duncan Hines Butter

Golden Cake Mix

• ¾ cup skim milk

• 3 large eggs

• 7 T softened butter or margarine

• 1 container of strawberry glaze

• 2 containers of fresh strawberries

• 1 large Cool Whip

(extra creamy is best)

Mix first four ingredients with mixer,

adding eggs one at a time. Pour into

three 9-inch round cake pans,

which have been greased and

floured. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes,

or until an inserted toothpick comes

out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes in

pans and then place on wire racks to

cool completely before frosting.

On top of the first cake layer, place

half container of strawberry glaze

and cover with sliced strawberries

(which have been washed and

stems removed). Stack and repeat

process for second layer.

Place the last layer on top and

cover top and sides of the layered

cake with Cool Whip. Use whole

strawberries on top of the cake,

then slice strawberries in halves

to arrange on the sides. Place in

refrigerator overnight or for several

hours. Enjoy!

Store cake in refrigerator.

_____________________________________________________

Espresso Mocha

Macaron with Salted

Dark Chocolate

Buttercream

SHELL

• 4 oz. almond meal

• 7 oz. powdered sugar

• ½ oz. espresso powder

• ½ oz. cocoa powder

• 4 oz. egg white

• Pinch cream of tartar

• 4 T of sugar

Combine almond meal and

powdered sugar in a food

processor to form a fine powder.

Sift three times into a large mixing

bowl. Set aside.

Place egg whites in the bowl of a

stand mixer (or large, metal mixing

bowl). Sprinkle cream of tartar over

eggs and hand mix with the whisk

attachment. Beat on medium speed

until foamy. Slowly add granulated

sugar until soft peaks form. Increase

the speed to high and beat until stiff

peaks form.

Sift one third of the almond mixture

into the bowl with the meringue.

Fold the ingredients together with

a large spatula until fully mixed.

Continue sifting and folding until

all the almond mixture is mixed

into the meringue and the mixture

should drip slowly off the spatula;

like lava flowing.

Transfer the batter to a large piping

bag fitted with a ½-inch tip and pipe

1 ⅓ inch rounds onto a baking sheet

covered in parchment paper, making

sure they do not touch.

Preheat oven to 325° F. Once all the

batter has been piped and the sheets

are full, grab the edges of the pan,

and drop the pans on the counter to

remove air bubbles in the meringue.

Continue, turning occasionally, until

no more air bubbles come to the

surface. Allow the macaron to rest at

least 30 minutes or more depending

on humidity. Once the tops are no

longer sticky to the touch, bake for

7-9 minutes. Rotate the pans front to

back and top to bottom and bake an

additional 7-9 minutes. The shells

should no longer wiggle when

moved, if they do, cook an additional

2-3 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to

cool completely before filling.

BUTTERCREAM

• ½ cup butter

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 4 T cocoa powder

• 3 T dark chocolate cocoa powder

• 3 T heavy cream

• 1 tsp. sea salt

Combine butter and powdered

sugar together in a medium mixing

bowl and beat until combined. Add

cocoa powders and cream. Continue

to beat until the mixture is light,

fluffy, and no longer grainy. Add sea

salt and stir until blended. Place the

filling in a piping bag fitted with a

plain tip and pipe the filling onto

one shell, almost to the edge. Top

with a second shell and allow to

rest before serving.

Makes approximately 24 macarons

____________________________________________________

Molten Chocolate

Lava Cake

• 1½ sticks unsalted butter, plus

more for buttering ramekins

• 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate,

chopped

• 3 T cocoa powder

• 3 large eggs plus 3 large yolks

• ⅓ cup plus 2 T granulated sugar

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• 2 T confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 450° F. In a heatproof

bowl set over simmering water, or in

the top of a double boiler, melt butter

and chocolate. Meanwhile, butter

four 6-ounce ramekins and coat all

with 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder; tap out

excess. Transfer ramekins to a baking

sheet and set aside. Remove chocolate

mixture from heat and set aside to let

cool slightly.

In a medium bowl, whisk together

eggs, yolks and granulated sugar.

Stir in reserved chocolate mixture.

Stir in flour and remaining cocoa

powder until just combined. Divide

batter among ramekins and bake

until cakes are firm yet soft in center

for 13-14 minutes (overcooking will

result in a dry and tasteless cake).

Transfer to a wire rack and let cool

slightly for 1 minute.

Invert ramekins onto serving plates

to release cakes. Dust tops with

confectioner’s sugar.

Makes 4 cakes

_____________________________________________________

Chocolate Pound Cake

• 2 sticks butter, softened

• ½ cup Crisco

• 3 cups sugar

• 5 large eggs

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp. salt

• ½ tsp. baking powder

• ¼ cup cocoa powder

• 1 cup milk

• 1 T vanilla extract

Cream together butter, Crisco and

sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs

one at a time.

Sift together the flour, salt, baking

powder and cocoa. Add dry

ingredients alternately with milk,

beginning and ending with flour.

Pour into a greased and floured tube

pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 80 to 90

minutes or until it tests done. Cool

15 minutes before removing from pan.

Variation: For an old fashioned

pound cake, omit the cocoa, reduce

vanilla to 1 teaspoon, add 1 teaspoon

almond extract and 1 teaspoon

lemon extract.

_____________________________________________________

Layered Brownies

• 1 package family size brownie mix

(18.3 oz)

Prepare brownie mix according to

package directions. Bake in a 13 X 9

pan lined with aluminum foil. Cool

for 1 hour.

VANILLA FILLING

• 1 cup melted butter

• 1 16-oz. box powdered sugar

• ¼ cup half and half

• 2 tsp. vanilla

Stir together the melted butter,

powdered sugar, half and half, and

vanilla. Spread mixture on top of

brownies and chill for 45 minutes.

GLAZE

• 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

• ¼ cup butter

Microwave the semi-sweet chocolate

chips and butter in a glass bowl for

1 to 2 minutes stirring every 30

seconds until melted. Spread over

the powdered sugar mixture.

Chill again for 15 minutes.

Lift the brownies out of the pan with

the foil and cut into 1 inch squares.

These are very rich!

_____________________________________________________

Snappy Turtle Cookies

COOKIES

• 1½ cup sifted flour

• ¼ tsp. soda

• ¼ tsp. salt

• ½ cup butter

• ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 egg yolk, reserve white

• ¼ tsp. vanilla flavoring

• 1/8 tsp. maple flavoring

• ⅔ cup pecan halves, cut in half

lengthwise

Sift flour with soda and salt. Cream

butter. Add brown sugar, cream well.

Blend in egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and

maple flavoring. Add dry ingredients

gradually – mix well. Chill.

Arrange pecans in groups of five on a

greased cookie sheet to resemble the

head and legs of a turtle. Shape dough

by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls.

Dip bottom into egg whites; press

lightly onto nuts so the tips will show

when baked.

Bake at 350 for 10-13 minutes, until

golden brown. Cool, then frost.

FROSTING

• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate

morsels

• 3 T cream or milk

• ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

• 1 T butter

In a small saucepan (or in the

microwave), melt the chocolate

morsels in cream or milk. Add

confectioners’ sugar and butter,

and mix well. Coat each cookie top

with the chocolate to resemble a

turtle shell. Cool.

2020 METRO JACKSON

Heart Ball

January 31 - Country Club of Jackson

24 • MARCH 2020


ANNUAL BANQUET

JANUARY 23

COUNTRY CLUB OF JACKSON

26 • MARCH 2020


The

Beginning

of Our

Forever

After

Susan Marquez

MASA KATHRYN PHOTOGRAPHY

28 • MARCH 2020


It’s as if they were destined to be together.

Audrey and Gage McCarty have known each

other since kindergarten. Both raised in Madison,

Audrey says she knew Gage, but didn’t really

pay attention to him. “To hear his side of the

story, he thinks I was ‘too cool for school’ to

talk to a guy like him.” In the tenth grade,

Audrey and Gage had several mutual friends.

“We both had late birthdays, so we were two

of the youngest students in our class,” explains

Audrey. “That means all our friends were

driving before us. I didn’t want my mom to

drive me to school when I was in the tenth grade,

so I asked a friend of mine if he could pick me

up each day. I didn’t know that Gage had also

asked him, so for several weeks, I rode in the

front seat and Gage rode in the back and we

didn’t really think much of it.”

One day the driver of the carpool was

having girl problems. “He stopped at Chick-fil-A

and went inside, pouting. Gage and I stayed in

the car and that was the first time we had ever

been alone together. We bonded over our friend

being so dramatic!” After that Audrey and Gage

became fast friends, but they didn’t start dating

until they were seniors in high school. “I’m so

glad I started paying attention to him in high

school,” says Audrey. “Gage is such a sweet,

good person, but the kind of person girls didn’t

pay as much attention to as they did to some of

the more outgoing boys. I got tired of how those

boys acted and fell in love with Gage’s sweet

disposition.”

Audrey and Gage went to Mississippi State

and dated throughout college. Audrey majored

in fashion design and merchandising. In May

2018, the same week she graduated from college,

she purchased The Bridal Path bridal shop in

Banner Hall in Jackson along with her mother,

Janie Jarvis, and her sister, Amelia Jarvis. That

December Gage accompanied the Jarvis family

for a vacation to the Jarvis’s ski home in Telluride.

It was during that trip that Gage proposed,

but Audrey didn’t see it coming. “First of all, I

invited Gage along on the trip, so there was that.

And Gage was waiting to hear if he was accepted

into nursing school,” she says. “Our friends were

absolutely consumed with wanting to know

when we were going to be engaged, but Gage

wanted to know where he was going to be,

and what he was going to do before taking that

step, and I understood that. I knew that he

meant well and only wanted the best for us.”

Janie had arranged for a photographer to

take family photos while they were in Colorado.

“That didn’t send up any red flags for me, either,”

says Audrey. “We always take family photos for

our Christmas cards, but we had not gotten

around to it that year. My mom said we could

do them and send cards out for New Year’s,

which made sense to me.”

The photographer came and shot photos

of the family. “My sister’s boyfriend was also

there, so we had the two boyfriends get in some

of the photos. Then the photographer shot

photos of just my sister and her boyfriend, then

me and Gage. I was sitting on a fence and the

photographer directed me to get down for the

next photo, and as I was hopping off the fence,

Gage went to his knee and pulled out the ring.

I was absolutely shocked, but I believe I said

‘yes’ before he even popped the question!”

When the family returned to the ski house, the

surprise was on Gage. Audrey’s parents, Janie

and Mike Jarvis, were in on the engagement

surprise. They had flown Gage’s family to

Telluride to share the couple’s joy. So both

families spent the next few days skiing together.

30 • MARCH 2020


32 • MARCH 2020

When the couple returned to Madison, Gage

surprised Audrey with an engagement party

that included all their friends.

Because she was in a bridal shop all day,

every day, Audrey felt confident that she knew

about buying a wedding dress. “I always

wanted a beautiful wedding dress, but in my

mind, I didn’t know what that looked like.

I went to market in April 2019 and found a

dress I liked from the season before, but it

wasn’t due to arrive in my store until June.

I met with Lazaro, my favorite designer, and

had a dress custom-made. I wanted to be true

to myself, and I wanted a dress that was

different from what I see all the time. I wanted

to feel comfortable and confident, like myself.

I had simply seen too much and knew too much

to settle for anything less. But just as important

to me was for my Bridal Path people to love it

as much as I did. When the dress arrived,

I tried it on and our seamstress, who has

worked in the store for over 30 years, said the

dress looked like me. That was the best thing

anyone could have said. It truly was the dress

of my dreams.”

The wedding took place in December 2019.

Both Gage and Audrey had 14 attendants.

There were three flower girls. “It was much

bigger than I had expected!” Amelia Jarvis

served as Audrey’s maid of honor. Audrey’s dad,

Mike, served as Gage’s best man. “Gage’s

father passed away while Gage was in college,

and he and my dad grew very close.”

The wedding was at Broadmoor Baptist

Church in Madison, with the reception held at

the Reunion Country Club in Madison. “Gage

and I made a pact to stay together throughout

the evening. I’ve been to too many weddings

where the bride and groom said they hardly

saw each other at their reception. We ate a

private dinner prior to the reception, then

stayed together all night.” The couple did a

“first look” and had wedding photos taken at

Reunion prior to the wedding. “That helps so

much in getting rid of any pre-wedding jitters,”

says Audrey. The only glitch of the day was

the lack of planning concerning transportation.

“After we took photos, everyone left to go to

the church. Gage and I were left at Reunion

with no ride. His car was there, so he stuffed

me and my dress into the car and we took off

for the church. We got there right before the

ceremony was to begin!”

After a fun evening at the reception, the

couple honeymooned at Playa Mujeres resort

in Cancun, Mexico. “It was truly like being

in a postcard in real life,” Audrey says. “The

weather for our wedding and for the first few

days of our honeymoon was perfect, then it

rained. That was nice as well, because it kind

of forced us to relax.”

Audrey says she feels she is even better at

her job since having her own wedding. “Things

I knew, I now know in a more relatable way.

I talked to lots of brides before my own wedding,

and they gave me their input. I also did my

own research. You can get so consumed and

stressed with wedding planning, but I

managed to avoid that.”

As wonderful as her wedding was, Audrey

says that she loves being married even more.

“The wedding was one day, the day we made

our vows to one another. The marriage is for

the rest of our lives.” l


34 • MARCH 2020


36 • MARCH 2020

“Twenty fingers, twenty toes–

plenty of work, heaven knows.

Four little arms to hold so tight,

four little cheeks to kiss goodnight.”

Have you ever wondered what it must be like to have someone look like you, be born the

same day as you and can finish your sentences and know what you’re thinking without having

to ever say a word? It’s a partnership in life with its origins at conception.

At first we thought it was our imagination but it is in fact true—more twins are being born in

the United States than ever before. As a matter of fact, according to a report from the National

Center for Health Statistics, the overall rate of twin births increased by 76 percent from 1980 to

2009. Today, one in every 30 babies in the U.S. is a twin. There are lots of factors that have

contributed to this phenomenon, many being related to the mere miracle of modern medicine.

Madison County is not without its fair share of twins. We visited a couple of elementary

schools and found several sets of twins. Some were identical, others were fraternal, but all shared

an indisputable bond that made those of us born as singles, see double with fascination.

We also found adult twins that had lifetimes of stories to tell of their unique connectedness.

We enjoyed getting to know our new twin friends! And we learned that being born together

gives you a best friend forever. .


Chad

& Shelby

Doiron

38 • MARCH 2020

What has been best thing about being a twin?

Chad Knowing you always have somebody who can be there for you.

Shelby Having all of our friends in the same age range. My brother’s friends

come to our house and hang out when my friends are there and it’s like one big

friend group that gets along so well.

What’s been the most challenging thing of being a twin?

Chad I would say the most challenging part about being a twin is not letting

a specific twin get the most benefit of the doubt.

Shelby The most challenging part about being a twin has been the

comparisons. Even though my twin is a boy, we are compared often. This

happened especially in high school when we were both student athletes and

there were comparisons athletically and academically.

Has there been a special attachment to your sibling that

you think is different as a twin?

Chad Yes, I feel like with having a twin there can always be a special

connection in many ways. Growing up, I know we did a lot together, and those

are times that I will never forget.

Shelby Being the exact same age as my sibling, we are walking through the

same stages of life at the same time, so we understand what the other is going

through. We have similar experiences at the same times.

Do you share an unusual amount of similarities,

likes or dislikes?

Chad We share some similarities by having some of the same friends and

the same friend group that we hang around. We both shared the similarity in

enjoying/playing sports. Growing up, we shared more things in common, but

over time and as we matured, we tended to explore new things. We still will

always have that same connection to each other.

Shelby Chad and I are similar because we both grew up loving sports and

playing sports. We share a similar athleticism and picked up sports at a young

age, easily. That has carried over into college and we enjoy going to football and

baseball games and tennis matches to support friends. My twin and I are

different because I love to travel and he enjoys staying at home and in

Mississippi. Chad loves to hunt and I don’t.

What piece of advice would you share with parents

having twins?

Chad I’d say when having twins, make sure you can always count on each

other. Be prepared to provide just as much for each twin in their needs, and

know that having twins can have a lot of benefits for the parents, too.

Shelby To parents that have twins, be prepared for them to be growing and

experiencing life at the same time. We went off to college at the same time and

our parents had to prepare to send off not only one kid, but two at the same

time. You will always have a house full of kids and friends hanging out, and our

friends have become our parents’ family in a way.


Erin McDill

Williams

& Emily

McDill Gonseth

As a twin, it’s important to have your

own identity. Tell us a little bit about

yourselves and some of the things

you enjoy.

Erin I’m Erin Williams, and I like to joke with

Emily that I’m the older twin (12 minutes makes

a difference, right?!). I live in Madison with my

husband Zach, who was also my high school

sweetheart. We have two children: a daughter,

Dallas, who is 2-years-old; and a son, Whitt, who is

2-months-old. Our crew loves agriculture, and we

spend a lot of our time wrangling cattle and both of

our wild babies at the farm. We are also members

of Highland Colony Baptist Church in Ridgeland.

Emily I’m Emily Gonseth, and I live in Brandon

with my husband Tyler and our 9- month-old son,

Brantley. We also have 3 dogs - Josie, Skye, and Bud.

Our house is obviously full of energy, toys, and dog

kisses, but we’d have it no other way. We are members

of Pinelake Church at the Reservoir campus.

40 • MARCH 2020

If you could describe your twin in a few sentences,

what would you say?

Erin If you saw Emily, you’d agree with me when I say she is drop-dead

gorgeous. However, she’s equally gorgeous inside. Emily is the quieter one of the

duo, and she is incredibly loyal, a great wife, mother, and avid dog-lover/ rescue

advocate.

Emily It is hard to fully describe all that makes Erin who she is. She has always

been outgoing and easy to talk to. I would say that Erin is also beautiful, loyal, a

great wife, and mother. She is the person that will always be there for you when

you need her, whether that is a simple text, a phone call/vent session, or a

meet-up just to offer support. She never fails to check back in on you either. Erin is

genuinely a good person with a very loving heart.

What do you think is the best thing about being a twin?

Erin I think it’s like having a built-in best friend. I didn’t always see it that way,

and I’m sure Emily would also agree. But now, she’s truly one of my very best

friends. I would be surprised if there’s been 3 days that have gone by where we

haven’t talked in the past probably 6 or 7 years. Out of everyone in our family, and

we are an incredibly close family, Emily and I probably still see each other and talk

the most frequently. I really appreciate the gift that being a twin is now.

Emily I agree that it is like having a built-in best friend, but maybe even better

than that. It is a unique relationship because this person knows you truly and fully

since you have spent your whole life together. This type of relationship provides

us with the freedom of being open and honest because we know each other so

well. We also are confident that at the end of the day we have each other’s backs

no matter what. We definitely talk several times a week, and we always manage to

see each other even if it’s just for a short time.

Having a twin also presents some challenges that others

may not understand. What do you think is the most

challenging part about being a twin?

Erin When I came out of those early teen years, it stopped being challenging

for me. But I think as a child, it’s challenging because you have to share so much.

We shared a room, a car, and way too many comparisons as children. You don’t

really get a chance to appreciate each other because you don’t get a chance to miss

each other. It was a treat to have 30 minutes alone in the room by yourself.

Emily I think the most challenging thing is just the younger years. When you

share most things and are so intertwined it can make you more frustrated or

annoyed at the person, rather than appreciative of them. We were so different in

our personalities and likes that I, thankfully, never felt like we personally were

“competing” with each other—though I did feel like it was easy for others to

compare us.

Have you each been close your whole lives, or have you

found that you’ve gotten closer as you’ve gotten older?

Erin We were always close in that we were sisters and we knew we had each

other’s backs like any sibling would. But we definitely bickered like close siblings

as well when we were younger. Like I mentioned above, we shared everything

so sometimes we just needed our own space. I think when we went to college

is when our relationship changed. Suddenly we both had some extra space and

grew up a little. Since then, we’ve been very close.

Emily We have always loved each other because we were family, but we didn’t

have the relationship that we do now. It was during college that we really began to

develop a close friendship beyond just being twins and sisters. Ever since then, we

have just gotten closer as the years go by.

What piece of advice would you give new parents who

find out they are having twins?

Erin Prepare for battles throughout the childhood years over things and space

because kids are kids and inherently selfish. As your twins grow, they will have a

wonderful bond. There’s literally nothing I wouldn’t do for Emily. She’s one of my

very best friends, but that type of bond takes time and comes with maturity. It’s ok

if it isn’t heaven from the very beginning.

Emily I would say just let them be themselves and grow at their own rate.

Although it’s easy to have the same expectations for both, just try to remember

that each is still their own separate person. Also, I would say to most definitely

prepare for battles. It most likely won’t always be that way–but some of that is just

normal as you grow up.

Sometimes twins often have special or unique quirks.

Are there any special quirks or moments you remember

with your twin that stand out?

Erin When we were little, we shared a room with twin beds. There were many

nights Emily would get scared and would yell out across the room for me to scoot

over and that she was coming over. Then, in the pitch black, I’d hear those little

legs running and she’d hop in the bed with me. We also used to tell each other

goodnight with this weird saying that we’d say as fast as we could. I can’t even type

it out it makes no sense–but it made sense to us!

Emily I would say Erin letting my little, scared self get in the bed with her is

one of the funnier moments I remember, as well. She always let me get on the

inside of the bed, by the wall, so that I was shielded from whatever imaginary

thing I was afraid of. I do remember how fun our birthday sleepovers were. We

were both able to have friends over so that made for one big fun slumber party!

What is your favorite trait or something you admire

about your twin?

Erin There’s a lot I admire about Emily – she’s such a genuinely good,

kind-hearted person, so that’s hard. Emily is very non-judgmental and tends to

stick up for the underdog, and I love that about her. She is very against racism and

anyone that is treated poorly, so I would say she has this fierce loyalty about her. If

she is on your side, that woman would jump through a barrel for you. She’s also

very independent, and I admire that! I could go on and on!

Emily Like I mentioned earlier, Erin is just genuinely a good person with a

huge heart. She is self-sacrificing and always there for her family. Erin is an old

soul, and she loves the country and anything related to farm-life. Though she is

mainly a gentle person, she also has this sassy, firecracker side of her that you are

lucky if you get to see it. Erin is funny, witty, sensitive, loyal, encouraging, and so

much more!


Lacey

Noble Higbee

& Brooks

Noble

42 • MARCH 2020

What has been best thing about being a twin?

Lacey Going through all of the major milestones together.

Brooks I agree. It was nice sharing life’s moments with each other.

What’s been the most challenging part of being a twin?

Lacey It was challenging growing up always being compared to each other.

One always outdid the other and it was always a comparison on who was

better at what.

Brooks The most challenging part of growing up as a twin was you never

really had that alone time that you needed. We were always together and

sometimes you just needed to be by yourself.

Has there been a special attachment to your sibling that

you think is different as a twin?

Lacey Twins have a special bond with each other that really started before

we were born. Even when we were not together we could always sense when

something was wrong.

Brooks During school we were always in separate classes. It was hard at

first since we were always together and after a while it just felt normal. But at

the end of the day we would always have to catch up and talk about each

other’s day.

Do you share an unusual amount of similarities,

likes or dislikes?

Lacey When we were younger we shared a lot of the same interests such as

golf, hunting, and fishing but as we got older we had a lot of different interests.

During our high school years we hardly did anything together. We both had

our separate groups of friends and always went different directions. We have

definitely gotten closer as we have gotten older, and now I think we are closer

than we ever have been.

Brooks I agree, we always did everything together and as we got older we

were like typical teenage brother and sister who despised each other. But now

that we are older, we have gotten a lot closer and do more things together. We

both still like to do a few of the same things and my brother-in-law also likes

fishing and golf as well, and it’s been nice to be able to do those things together

again. One thing that we are totally different on is patience. Lacey has our dad’s

patience, which is none, and I got our mom’s patience, which is a good bit.

And we both look at things with a different perspective. I look at a glass half

full and Lacey looks at a glass half empty.

What piece of advice would you share with parents

having twins?

Lacey Having twins is really a special blessing. The bond that they will

share growing up is something that not a lot of people will be able compare to.

As they grow up, treat them as individuals and not as a pair. I just found out

that I am expecting, just one. But if I found out that I was having twins, I would

love it because of the special bond that Brooks and I have and I would hope

that my children would be the same way. But at the same time, we were double

the trouble and that made for some very trying times for my parents.

Brooks Good luck! It does get better. And don’t dress them alike. But it

was great having a twin and sharing life together.


Jacob & Henry Bowie

MADISON AVENUE UPPER ELEMENTARY • 4TH GRADE

What do you want to be when you grow up?

JACOB - A Youtuber

HENRY - A Youtuber

What is your favorite restaurant?

JACOB - I don’t really have a favorite. I like a lot of fast food places.

HENRY - Me too, but I like Wendy’s.

Parker & Michael Frascogna


What’s your favorite food?

PARKER - Grilled chicken

MICHAEL - A hamburger

What is your favorite thing about your brother/sister?

PARKER - I like Michael because he doesn’t intimidate me so much.

MICHAEL - For me, my favorite thing is that she gives me money.

Madison & Makayla Frizzell


Which one of you gets in the most trouble?

MADISON - Makayla

MAKAYLA - Me

What is your favorite movie?

MADISON - I like “Fuller House” because it has twins on it.

MAKAYLA - “Some Assembly Required” is my favorite because

it’s funny, then it gets serious, and a kid takes over a toy shop!

Jack & John Carson Kelly


What is your favorite place to go?

JACK - to sleep

JOHN CARSON - Cazadores

What’s your favorite part of being a twin?

JACK - I get to beat him up!

JOHN CARSON - I only have to clean half of my room.

44 • MARCH 2020

Jude & Finn McHan

MADISON AVENUE UPPER ELEMENTARY • 3RD GRADE


JUDE - Our favorite movie is ”Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse“

FINN - “Woody the Woodpecker”


JUDE - Finn, because he can’t control his anger.

FINN - It’s me.

Adelaide & Cannon Kirk


What’s your favorite food?

CANNON - Pancakes

ADELAIDE - Pasta salad with chicken and ranch.

What is your favorite thing about your brother/sister?

CANNON - That when I’m lonely, Adelaide will play outside with me.

ADELAIDE - Yeah that, and if I forget my homework,

normally he’ll have it!

Maddox & Maddie Mooney


What is your favorite holiday?

MADDOX - Christmas

MADDIE - Christmas, too!

What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?

MADDOX - Karate is my favorite, because I like to try new things.

And I just love it.

MADDIE - I like gymnastics, because I like to do all the flips!

Lila Kate & Levi Moore


What do you want to be when you grow up?

LILA KATE - A veterinarian

LEVI - A PGA golfer

What is your favorite restaurant?

LILA KATE - I like the hibachi place, because I like to watch them

make it.

LEVI - I like Chick-fil-A because their chicken is the best!


Elizabeth & Christopher Parakkal

MADISON AVENUE UPPER ELEMENTARY • 5TH & 4TH GRADE

What is your favorite hobby?

ELIZABETH - Drawing

CHRISTOPHER - Probably playing football.

What do you fight about the most?

ELIZABETH - Who gets to sit in the front seat.

CHRISTOPHER - Yeah, what she said.

Ryan & Reed Sandberg


What is your favorite song?

RYAN - Probably ”Chicken Fried“ by Zac Brown

REED - ”The Hype“ by Twenty One Pilots

What’s your favorite school subject?

RYAN - I like recess. It’s fun and we don’t have to do any work!

REED - Yeah, recess is my favorite, too.

Walker & Russell Thomas



WALKER - Russell, for sure

RUSSELL - Yeah, me


WALKER - I like “Indiana Jones“, because there’s lots of adventure.

RUSSELL - I like “Jumanji”, because it has The Rock in it.

Reed & Lana Truesdale


What is your favorite place to go?

REED - To the baseball field

LANA - The beach

What’s your favorite part of being a twin?

REED - There is always someone to play with.

LANA - I like that we can go to the softball/baseball fields together.

46 • MARCH 2020

Brooklyn & BrysonYoung


What is your favorite hobby?

BRYSON - Soccer

BROOKLYN - Soccer

What do you fight about the most?

BRYSON - We really don’t fight at all!

BROOKLYN - Yeah, we don’t really fight.

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Spring

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Saturday

April 4th

Madison & Mason Yates

EAST FLORA ELEMENTARY • 2ND GRADE

What is your favorite food?

MADISON - Homemade tacos

MASON - Pizza

What makes you laugh the most?

MADISON - My mom and my brother Mason make me laugh the most!

MASON - Others making funny faces make me laugh!

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The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools

Madison Central

The Pawprint Yearbook Financial Staff hosted its annual Beauty and Beau pageant February 3-7.

Senior Beauties

Left to right: Mary Swayze Thornton, Meghan Thrash, Jalyn Kelly, Sydney Stokes, Libba Ewing, Most Beautiful Keely Young,

Ashley McGhee, Olivia Smith, Lauren Cooper, Anna Johnston and Allie Grace Bell.

Senior Beaus

Left to right: Ian Garrett, Brandon Strain, Clayton Fairchild, Wade McDougal, Most Handsome Randy Harris,

Justin Lairy, Caleb Martin, Connor McMullan, RJ Mack

50 • MARCH 2020

Junior Beauties Left to right: Ellie Hetzel, Adeline Walters, Payton Abner, Kellen Fairburn,

Ann Cabot Stockett, Marley Stover, MaryDale Mitchell and Taylor Boyt.

Junior Beaus Left to right: Joe Gallaspy, Rob Embry, Walker Rogillio, Chandler Welgos,

Justice Rose, Harrison Bruce, Robert Tickner and Christian Contreras.

Most Beautiful Keely Young

and Most Handsome Randy Harris

Sophomore Beaus

Left to right: Simon Tipton, Mack Gorton, Jackson Tyner

Sophomore Beauties Left to right: Annalise Ferrell, Ann Travis Hutchinson,

Leighton Barrett, Kendall Starkey, Sarah Kate Killens, Reid Hewitt

Madison Central is proud to announce its 16 National Merit finalists.

Left to right: Emma Grace Trammell, Allie Grace Bell, Lane Taylor, Jessica Shoemaker,

Sreya Maddali, Cameron Fowler, Jackson Joyner, Chandler Miller, Kaylee Hood,

Aswin Arunachalam, Sam Gaines, Eric Chen, Julie Luke, Drew Dunn and Amy Lin.

Not pictured, Annie Thomas.



Germantown

Germantown High School

recently held its annual

Night in the Spotlight

(Beauty and Beau).

12th grade

Front: Abby Vance, Claire Price,

Teana Neal, Olivia Irby, Cara Metz,

Amber Horton, Hannah Rae Britt,

Isabella Bissell, Mamie Ainsworth

Back: Tony Esquijarosa, Slade Rushing,

Graham Stephens, Austin Lee, Grice Fortenberry,

Reed Carpenter, Thad Stephens

11th grade

Front: Shelby Rainey and Chloe Carter

Back: Carson Buckner, Kaleb Joiner, Kendall Austin,

Colton Gardner, Houston Hailey

10th grade

Front: Kate Umphlett, Olivia Rabalais,

Kate Guillory, Peyton Davis,

Cassidy Watkins

Back Row: Ryan Augustine,

Carson Yoder, Brayden Cline,

Cannon Curtis, Colt Yoder,

Cole Burton, Hayden Simmons

9th grade

Laurel Mitchell, Isabella Nolen, Parker Gardner

52 • MARCH 2020

Alonzo Edwards Jr., senior at Germantown,

signed to play football at

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Pictured are Alondrea (sister), Meshia (mom),

and Alonzo (dad). Coaches Steve Metz,

Bruce Brady, Charlie Shearer, Bryan Pittman,

Tim Shramek (athletic director and head football

coach), Dustin Barrick, and Scott Brown.

Isaiah Wilson, senior at Germantown,

signed to play soccer at Jones Community College.

Pictured are Sheena Feist (mom) and

Brooklyn Wilson (sister). Coaches pictured are

Sid Lambert (assistant boys soccer coach) and

Steve Taylor (head boys soccer coach).

Dequante Peoples, senior at Germantown,

signed to play football at Copiah Lincoln

Community College.

Pictured with him is his mom, Katrina Peoples.

Coaches pictured are Steve Metz, Bruce Brady,

Charlie Shearer, Bryan Pittman, Tim Shramek

(athletic director and head football coach),

Dustin Barrick, and Scott Brown.

Ojavien Francis, senior at Germantown,

signed to play football at McPherson College.

Pictured with Ojaven are Tray McCullough

(brother), Maddox Ross, Michquel McCullough

(step dad), and Masheena McCullough (mom).

Coaches pictured are Steve Metz, Bruce Brady,

Charlie Shearer, Bryan Pittman, Tim Shramek

(athletic director and head football coach),

Dustin Barrick, and Scott Brown.

Jacob Greenwood, senior at School, is continuing

his football career at the United States Naval

Academy. Pictured with Jacob are Shay (mom),

Roosevelt (dad), Adam (brother), and Chandler

(sister). Coaches pictured are Steve Metz,

Bruce Brady, Charlie Shearer, Bryan Pittman,

Tim Shramek (athletic director and head football

coach), Dustin Barrick, and Scott Brown.



Shirley D. Simmons

Shirley D. Simmons Middle School celebrates student success! Students recently took the Case 21 test which prepares them for end of the year state tests. Awards

were given for most growth and overall highest proficiency. The 6th grade class won both awards for highest overall proficiency in math and English! We are so proud

of all of our students and the hard work they put in every day to achieve their learning goals! Keep up the good work!

Individual award recipients include: Xander Bell - Most Growth in 8th Grade English, Shelton Hayden - Most Growth in 8th Grade English,

Kendrick Jobe - Most Growth in 8th Grade English, Deja Weaver - Highest Proficiency in 8th Grade English, Patricia Evans - Highest Proficiency in 8th Grade English,

Christian Dawson - Highest Proficiency in 7th Grade English, Jakayla Page - Most Growth in 7th Grade English, Samecia Brinson - Most Growth in 6th Grade English,

London Lott - Highest Proficiency in 6th Grade English, Jakeliah Crowley - Most Growth and Highest Proficiency in 8th Grade Math and 8th Grade Science,

Terry Thompson - Highest Proficiency in 7th Grade Math, Jakelcey White - Most Growth in Algebra 1 and 8th Grade Math and Highest Proficiency in 8th Grade Science,

Salaria Chesser - Highest Proficiency in Algebra 1, Elijah Jones - Highest Proficiency in 6th Grade Math

MRA

Every third Sunday of the month,

MRA faculty and students visit

the Ronald McDonald House in

Jackson to cook and serve breakfast

to families who are away from home

while receiving care in the Jackson

area. The Ronald McDonald House

serves as a “home away from home”

for families of seriously ill children

who must travel to Jackson for

medical care.

Braden Watters, Whit Anderson

54 • MARCH 2020

WHEN THE

GAME ENDS,

WE KEEP GOING.

Conservative Values – Proven Results

Please Vote March 10

Republican Primary

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56 • MARCH 2020

LIKE

US!

TheTime COIN

Camille Anding

Martha turned off the evening news.

It was perplexing - just another

reminder that she was living in a

world of electronic wizardry,

creating a world of obsoletes.

and tongues. She smiled as she recalled her own

text training in learning standardized abbreviations

The small handheld device that she kept within

reach held the answer to any question she might ask.

Yesterday she had questioned Mr. Google about

converting liters to ounces, places to purchase her

favorite tea, the weekly grocery ad, and the latest

country attacked by the coronavirus.

Such technology caused her to marvel at the minds

of ancient theologians like Matthew Henry [1662-1714]

who covered the Bible, giving deep and divine insight

in his 2,064-page commentary. The marvel: there were

no electronic devices with Bible references to cover

every known topic. His “device” was his mind, fixed on

the treasures in God’s Word. His hunger for truth fueled

his mind’s “App.”

A familiar beep broke Martha’s train of thought.

Her well-trained reflexes reached for her iPhone

to read the message. It was a text from a friend.

Her previous thought pattern

resumed as she wondered what

happened to conversations, the

fingerless kind employing ears

and appropriate emojis.

Martha honestly had no viable solutions. Even

though she scolded her family members for using

their iPhones for entertaining their young, she knew

her warnings were passed over just like her set of

encyclopedias. The electronic gadgets WERE safety

nets and a needed means of communication. Or were

they? Who or what had programmed their dependency

into our lives?

There was a time when Martha and her family left

their landlines for vacation with only their suitcases and

a road map. And they found their way going and coming!

Conversations were audible, using names instead of

beeps. Family members looked at each other instead

of handheld screens.

Oh, Martha wasn’t too naive to understand how

totally enmeshed the iPhone is in the business world

and the conveniences afforded by such modern

wizardry. But she still sensed a heaviness in her spirit.

Are our real enjoyments, safety, and security entrusted

to our devices or our Creator? It was a difficult

question for Martha to answer. ●

58 • MARCH 2020


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