

“ANOTHER YEAR IS DAWNING” (Frances Ridley Havergal)
BY VANCE CHRISTIE Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was a popular English poet and hymnist. Many of her poems and hymns emphasized devotional closeness to Christ and dedicated service to Him. Those were primary emphases Frances sought to cultivate in her own life and to promote to other believers. Such consecration is clearly seen in her best-known hymn, “Take My Life and Let It Be,” as well as in some of her other well-known hymns which are still sung today: “Lord, Speak t


FAMILY friendly
COMFORTABLE AND ELEGANT DAILY LIVING INTERIOR DESIGN : URBANOLOGY PHOTOGRAPHERS : MATTI GRESHAM AND NORMAN YOUNG The homeowners needed more space during the pandemic and happened upon a house for sale on one of their evening walks. The clients love organic and sculptural pieces, so the design reflects just the right mix of those elements, coupled with comfortable furniture for the family to relax. BOLD & BRIGHT // The vast plaster arch, curved sofa, and contrasting chairs sta


HEAT things up
TEXAS CHILI FESTIVALS BY CHRISTINA GARCIA Photos: Yaga’s Entertainment, Lori Herries, and Tolbert Cookoff The colder months are the best time of year to tuck into a steaming hot, hearty bowl of deep red chili - named the official Texas state dish in 1977. Luckily, the Lone Star State hosts many Texas chili competitions, known as cook-offs, each winter. Follow your nose to these now decade-long, belly-filling traditions to explore the land, meet people from around the globe, an


TOUCHDOWN tastes
WIN THE CROWD OVER WITH THESE SUPER BOWL APPETIZERS BY JENNIFER BAJSEL Bratwurst Bites With Beer Braised Onions SERVES: 10 | PREP: 15 MIN. | COOK: 30 MIN. | TOTAL: 45 MIN. INGREDIENTS: 1 pkg. of Bratwurst | 2 medium sweet onions, sliced | 2 garlic cloves, minced | 3 Tbsp. butter, divided | 1 bottle of beer | 1 tsp. thyme | 1 Tbsp. brown sugar | ½ tsp. kosher salt | ¼ tsp. black pepper | 1 pkg. of top sliced hot dog buns | Whole grain mustard DIRECTIONS: BROWN the bratwurst in

Timeless Pieces
Refresh Your Wardrobe with a Classic Coat this Season Dillards Stores


Be In Control
5 STEPS TO MEASURE BLOOD PRESSURE According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all American adults have high blood pressure or hypertension. About 75% don’t have it under control, and many may not even realize they have it unless they experience other complications. High blood pressure is a leading cause and controllable risk factor for heart disease and stroke, as well as other issues such as kidney failure and vision loss. However, the America


HEALTHY habits
FOCUSING ON YOUR HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR BY PETE ALFANO First things first: We will not call these New Year’s resolutions because we all know they are usually made to be broken, often by February. Instead, these suggestions are intended to be habit-forming in a good way. And to be a part of the change to a healthier lifestyle. Adopting new habits doesn’t mean going from zero to sixty on the first day. It is a process that should be done over time. This will improve the chances


Mouth Matters
Shape Up Your Oral Health BY ANNETTE BROOKS New Year’s resolutions usually include eating healthier, getting more exercise, and losing a few pounds. Well, here’s something different to think about — start the year off right with a visit to your dentist. It’s one of the easiest resolutions you can keep. Modern dentistry isn’t just about “drilling and filling.” Your oral health is connected to your overall health. Below are a few components of healthy teeth and gums you should


Get SmartWearable Tech Trends
Wearable Tech Trends BY ANNETTE BROOKS Gaming Wearables Are couch potato gamers becoming a thing of the past? Advanced gaming devices with enhanced virtual and augmented reality, like Meta Quest 2, encourage activity and physical participation while offering a completely immersive, dynamic experience. Transported to virtual worlds, players move their bodies in the real world, increasing their physical activity level and boosting coordination and balance. Plus, with cloud-base


Meeting Of The Minds
BY AUDREY SELLERS Can people really be right-brained or leftbrained? Maybe you’ve taken an online test to determine your dominant side. Those tests may be fun, but they’re not factual. Science says it’s a myth for people to be right-brained or left-brained, and brain-imaging technology hasn’t found any evidence of right or left-brain dominance. However, science does show that the right and left sides of the brain specialize in different tasks. The left side of the brain helps