By Misty Strieff Prine “Sometimes God redeems your story by surrounding you with people who need to hear your past, so it doesn’t become their future.” – Jon Acuff Have you ever wondered why you have gone through some of the things that you have in your life? Maybe people have told you that God had a plan to turn all of it into something amazing...but you just can't seem to find exactly what that "amazing" is yet. Life has beat you down and you feel like you have nothing to show for it. Friend, let me tell you something from firsthand experience. I've been there, done that, (still go through that). No one is immune to it. I can tell you that if you don't try on your part to search out that purpose that God has for your life and be willing to embrace the glorious mess that you are, you will find yourself spinning your wheels every single day of your life. You cannot expect to find your purpose if you are too bitter to believe that you have one. Let's be honest for a moment. We bring so much mess upon ourselves all because we are so scared we are going to find something good in the midst of something bad. Some of us just like to wallow in our mistakes and our past because we want that excuse to be miserable. Some of us use our past as a crutch in order that we can continue to make mistakes and blame it on our past instead of stepping up to the plate and admitting that we are simply making continuously bad decisions. Instead, we need to realize that WE made a lot of bad decisions (and quit putting the blame on others) along with some really good ones thrown in the mix too. All of them combined give us a testimony that is unique to us. If we humble ourselves and admit to God that we realize that we've messed up, ask for forgiveness and pray that He uses us to help others, He will do amazing things in our lives. He's waiting for us, we just have to be willing to let Him and allow ourselves to be used for Him. We are surrounded with a mighty mission field every single day that the Lord allows us to see. Somewhere in the midst of those people we cross paths with is someone who really needs to hear your story...about how you lived, how God forgave you (and that He will do the same for them), how He has changed your life completely and how right there in that very moment, He is using you to help them. Our minds would be completely blown if we could see just how many people are truly facing similar giants that we have faced, or are currently facing, that are literally sitting right next to us. We have no way of knowing the hearts of those around us...but God does. You may be the very one God has chosen to minister to them because your stories, if the layers are pulled back, would match theirs identically. You are called to "come as you are" and God will do the rest. God is able...are you willing? The choice is yours. **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way. I’d love to see you there!

By Bob Garver Poster Credit IMDB It’s an odd choice to do a sequel to the 2018 heist movie “Den of Thieves” in 2025. The first film made less than $50 million at the domestic box office and to my knowledge doesn’t have much of a cult following. I didn’t see that film at the time, but I did see it on Max to prepare for the sequel, and was unimpressed. There was some competent action, but the story and characters were unoriginal and unengaging. I would have given it a C-. For such a bland movie to get a sequel at all seems unlikely, let alone one that goes to theaters and isn’t dumped on streaming or Video on Demand. For all I know, that was the plan and then some studio executive noticed there were no wide releases scheduled for this past weekend, so they just threw in whatever they had. The tactic worked, the film took the #1 spot away from the fourth weekend of “Mufasa,” but this is not a movie that I could see succeeding through any means other than a lack of competition. Gerard Butler is back as L.A. detective Nick O’Brien, still in pursuit of the elusive Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.). Donnie and a crew stole $30 million from the Federal Reserve in the first movie in a job that left both cops and criminals dead, with Donnie himself getting away scot-free. Nick seems more concerned with avenging his own humiliation than any fallen comrades. Whatever his motivations, he tracks Donnie to France, where he and another crew are about to ransack the World Diamond Centre. Nick could just arrest Donnie, but he makes another play: joining in on the heist himself. What follows is your standard heist movie protocol: Nick gaining the trust of the Pantera crew led by Jovanna (Evin Ahmad), pushing out those that don’t trust him, doing some light bonding with Donnie and the faithful members of the crew, manipulating the technology and staff of the WDC, and getting on the bad side of the local mafia for an inevitable third-act twist. Then there’s the heist itself, which is so smooth that the movie barely remembers to throw in a few wrinkles to keep viewers from falling asleep. Clocks tick, cars are driven. There’s never really a question of whether or not the crew can evade the WDC’s security, the suspense comes from wondering who’s going to betray whom and how violent it will be. The film is R-rated and the first movie was pretty violent, so things could get messy. As with the first movie, this one just doesn’t make much of an impact. Neither film ever rises above coming off as a “Fast & Furious” knockoff. This film admirably tries to give some much-needed depth to the Butler and Jackson characters, and the actors are fine, but even with the fleshing-out, these characters are completely standard for a movie like this. A third movie is heavily teased, and I won’t exactly say no to spending more time with the surviving characters, but the studio is going to have to find another deserted weekend if it wants me to have any enthusiasm. And getting one of these movies down to under two hours certainly wouldn’t hurt. After I saw “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” my friends asked me if I liked it. When I told them I didn’t, they all asked some variation on, “So it didn’t live up to the original?” No, the original was too disposable. This one is only mildly disposable. I can see the game being upped a smidge. It’s not to a point where I give it a recommendation, but for a sequel to a movie that was easy to dismiss seven years ago, it’s surprisingly hard to dismiss now. Grade: C “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” is rated R for pervasive language, some violence, drug use and sexual references. Its running time is 142 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Special to Wesson News   The Mississippi Board of Animal Health (MBAH) has been notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory that poultry from a commercial broiler chicken flock in Copiah County has tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza.   USDA does not release the exact location of the flock.  It is the first outbreak in Copiah County since February 2023.   Samples from the flock were tested at the Mississippi Veterinary Research & Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.   This finding is the second case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry in Mississippi since the spring of 2023. Since November, HPAI has been detected in migratory waterfowl in multiple areas of Mississippi. The poultry industry was notified and put on high alert to increase biosecurity and surveillance for HPAI.      The State Veterinarian has quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the property have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock have not entered the food system. The MBAH is working closely with federal animal health officials in Mississippi on a joint incident response.  The MBAH is actively working with the poultry industry to increase monitoring of flocks statewide. USDA APHIS reports 210,000 birds are affected by the outbreak which remains active.   Hobby poultry owners are encouraged to practice good biosecurity and be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death in birds in the MBAH Online Reporting Form.  Information will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Mississippi for assessment. Dead birds should be double‐bagged and refrigerated for possible testing. Precautions should be taken when handling sick or dead birds including proper handwashing, using gloves, wearing masks, and sanitation of surfaces that come into contact with sick or dead birds to prevent the spread of avian influenza to people.    Avian influenza in birds can cause sudden death; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; incoordination; and diarrhea.      Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk.  Poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the public health risk associated with avian influenza in birds remains low.  The proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.

In anticipation of prolonged frigid temperatures and winter precipitation next week, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is cautioning residents to take steps now to ensure safety later. Freezing temps, snow/ice, and loss of power or water present hazards to your health, food and safety. Here is what you need to know:   Stay safe from carbon monoxide poisoning Heaters that burn fuel, such as a furnace, generator, or gas water heater, produce carbon monoxide that can contaminate the air, causing nausea, dizziness, headaches, brain or heart damage. Never use generators, gas or charcoal grills indoors. Outdoors, keep them away from windows. Never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented properly. Never heat your house with a gas oven. Do not warm your car up in a closed garage. If your garage is attached to your house, close the door to the house while you warm up the car. Stay healthy from food poisoning Food in your refrigerator will be safe to eat if power is out for less than four hours. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold longer. After four hours, pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice or a Styrofoam cooler. Freezers can keep food safe for up to 48 hours if they are full, 24 hours if they are half-full. Bottled, boiled, or treated water is safe to drink when you are under a boil-water alert. Watch for boil water alerts specific to your area. Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute to kill harmful bacteria and parasites. If you are under a boil-water alert, do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula. If possible, use baby formula that does not need to have water added.   Stay healthy outdoors Drink warm liquids that do not contain caffeine or alcohol. Watch for signs of hypothermia (shivering, slow speech, memory loss, stumbling, sleepiness). Watch for signs of frostbite: Your skin may feel like "pins and needles" followed by numbness. If you think you have frostbite or hypothermia, don't eat or drink anything containing caffeine or alcohol – they can worsen your symptoms.   For more information, visit  https://msdh.ms.gov/winter Stay up to date on news and updates at  www.msdh.ms.gov .  and on social media:   facebook.com/HealthyMS ,  twitter.com/msdh  and  Instagram.com/healthy.ms

Send any responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com   Years ago, a young couple left their almost-two-year-old son with his favorite baby sitter, Miss Elva. A few days later, she laughingly told them that he had come to her that evening, dragging his diaper bag behind him. Paul was a unique little boy who disliked speaking. He simply refused to talk unless he was forced by circumstances beyond his control. And that didn’t seem to happen very often. Most of the time that intelligent, determined tyrant resorted to manipulation, pointing, and outright sulking to convey what he was thinking. But there was another thing that child detested. Feeling sogginess next to his little hiney. So that evening he simply brought the bag to her and stood there, mutely asking for a change in attire. Amused, Miss Elva told him to get a diaper out and hand it to her. Paul quickly set the bag down and dug clear to the bottom. After finally locating the lone diaper that was sent, he handed it to her and broke his habitual silence with this loud and clear complaint, “I’m gettin’ sick and tired of Momma sendin’ me only one diaper!” Now, before you get yourself into a tizzy, those parents were very aware that their stubborn little son was quickly approaching what approximates the “elderly years” in potty training.  They were trying  to get him potty trained. But you have heard of people who march to their own drumbeat, and do things on their own time table? They definitely had one on their hands. No amount of coaxing, teaching, bribing, or discipline tactics moved him from his own set course. Consistently using a potty chair was going to happen when he said so, and not before. Yes, he certainly was too old to be constantly relying on diapers. His problem? That little toddler preferred to just blame someone else for his problem. And have someone else fix it for him. Learning responsibility for his own uncomfortable-ness wasn’t on his radar. He simply didn’t want to stop playing and take care of business. Miss Elva laughed at the incident. Paul’s mom and dad sure didn’t. They were aware what it could mean down the road for a child to be able to talk but refuse to be toilet trained. Had they failed to teach him to take responsibility for his ‘personal habits,’ then how difficult would it have possibly been to teach him personal responsibility for his actions in the years ahead? Moreover, it stands to reason that if he had been allowed to ‘roam free’ in childhood, he could have also struggled later in life to teach his own kids to accept responsibility for their own actions. If a not-my-problem mindset doesn’t get changed, a child can easily become just a baby grownup. Unfortunately, sure sounds familiar today. I think our country is dealing with a whole bunch of baby grownups. Bring on the potty chairs.

By Kara Kimbrough Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is the perfect way to help get the daily recommended amount of vegetables, vitamins and antioxidants. Equally important, it's hot, filling and delicious.     Don’t get me wrong, I don’t actually "love" freezing cold temperatures, icy roads and sky-rocketing electric bills as a result of the first two factors. However, now that cold weather seems to have arrived – after all, it’s officially been “winter” for a few weeks now - it’s time to start thinking about ways to keep warm. That goal extends to meals...after all, we know there’s nothing better than hot soup with a skillet of cornbread to ward off the aftereffects of a cold, dreary winter day.    I’ve always loved making and eating soup, but my favorites haven’t always been doctor-approved. After reading about healthier versions filled with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, I became more intentional about the soups I was eating.      Here are three recipes to get us through the current arctic-like weather – two would pass health experts’ tests; one is “not exactly healthy,” but too delicious to leave out.     Here’s to weathering Winter 2025 in a healthier way! Winter Detox Soup (this soup contains a lot of ingredients, but is so easy; everything is thrown into one pot and cooks together) 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil5 cloves garlic, minced or 1 tablespoon of minced garlic from a jar2 yellow onions, diced1 red and 1 yellow pepper, diced 5 stalks celery, chopped 1/2 head green cabbage, chopped 5 carrots, peeled and chopped 2 zucchini, peeled and chopped 1 pound green beans, trimmed and chopped (can use frozen) 12 cups chicken stock 1 can crushed tomatoes 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon 4 cups fresh spinach, trimmed and chopped 1 cup dried couscous     Sauté garlic in oil. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add in all other fresh vegetables (except spinach and couscous) and sauté for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.     Add broth, can of tomatoes and bouillon to pot. Simmer for 3 hours. Add couscous 30-45 minutes before serving; then add spinach 5 minutes before serving. Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup 1 pound orzo pasta 1 teaspoon olive oil 3 medium carrots, chopped, or more to taste 3 ribs celery, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon dried oregano Salt and ground black pepper to taste 1 bay leaf 3 (32 ounce) cartons low-sodium chicken broth ½ cup fresh lemon juice 1 lemon, zested 8 ounces cooked chicken breast, chopped 1 (8 ounce) package baby spinach leaves      Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Stir in orzo and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered until partially cooked through but not yet soft, about 5 minutes; drain and rinse with cold water until cooled completely.      Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion; cook and stir until vegetables begin to soften and onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Season mixture with thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper; continue cooking another 30 seconds before pouring chicken broth into the pot.      Bring broth to a boil. Partially cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until vegetables are just tender, about 10 minutes. Stir orzo, lemon juice, and lemon zest into broth; add chicken. Cook until chicken and orzo are heated through, about 5 minutes. Add baby spinach; cook until spinach wilts into broth and orzo is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Crockpot Lasagna Soup 1      pound ground chuck 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes 1 (32 ounce) carton beef broth 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, or more to taste 5 lasagna noodles (add more to taste; I always do!) Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 4 dollops ricotta cheese (optional)      Crumble ground chuck in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Drain. Place beef in the bottom of a slow cooker. Add bell pepper, onion, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, mushrooms, and Italian seasoning. Cook on low 4 hours.    Add broken lasagna noodles. Cook on Low until noodles are tender, about 45 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add mozzarella cheese a few minutes before removing from heat; stir until melted.  Serve with ricotta cheese for those that want to top off their bowl with it. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com .

Special to Wesson News   A permanent history museum that tells the story of Wesson -- a dream of locals since the town’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 2014 when a temporary museum whetted appetites for an ongoing one that honored life here, may soon become a reality under the auspices of Friends of the Library (FOL) with volunteer assistance and funding provided by Home Depot.   Work is scheduled to start on January 20 to begin creating the museum space at a building adjacent the Wesson municipal park on Beech Street that a local Boy Scouts of America (BSA) troop used for its activities.  The Town of Wesson turned the building over to FOL for the museum after it fell into disuse with BSA inactivity in town.   The “Keep History Alive in Wesson” Team Depot Volunteer Project will utilize ten Home Depot volunteers and five nonprofit volunteers from the community for initial remodeling of the building.  Funded by $9,500 from Home Depot Foundation in the form of e-gift cards, they will acquire and lay new flooring, install a backdoor access ramp for disabled persons and purchase a dehumidifier.  In the future, other funds may be required for insured contractors to do electrical, roofing, plumbing and HVAC work, among other things   The Brookhaven Home Depot store is the project sponsoring facility, and Elishia Howard is the sponsoring captain.   In applying for Home Depot assistance, FOL members Marilyn Britt, Librarian at Wesson Public Library, and Dr. Steven Liverman noted “the history for City of Wesson is stored in several areas that are not the best environment for safety” and that FOL is seeking to create one location that will allow for safety and continued preservation of the historical items.   It was in 2014 as part of the Wesson Sesquicentennial celebration that Dixie Thornton started encouraging locals to take the town’s history out of their closets, unpack boxes and donate historical items for public display in the temporary museum she created for the occasion. From its opening in April, 2014, until July, more than 1000 persons, including children, groups from Wesson Attendance Center and out-of-towners who savored history, visited the temporary museum in which Thornton strived for “authenticity” in exhibits that featured clothing, artifacts and document from out of history rather than reproductions.  The exhibit highlights included:   Clothing made from the cotton and woolen fabrics produced at the textile mills which operated in Wesson from the 1860s into the 1890s and spurred development of the town   Late 19th Century garments worn by Rilla Oliver Rae, daughter of Captain William Oliver -- one of the early mill owners   Artifacts from the Wesson mills, including machine parts, keys to buildings, and corporate stamps   A photo of Wesson mill employees in front of one of the factory buildings in which they worked   Cotton bales -- raw material for the mill operations   A 19th Century baby buggy   School jackets that reflect the progression of Wesson schools and development of Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin)   A World War II military overcoat   The bell from the old Wesson grammar school   Pictures and memorabilia from the pre-NASCAR racing career of Wesson resident Ikey Jerome, including his driving suit   The temporary  museum occupied two buildings on Spring Street off Highway 51 across from City Hall, one loaned by its owner, Mayor Alton Shaw, as a private citizen, to the Wesson Chamber of Commerce that housed a series of partitioned exhibits organized to tell distinct stories about different aspects of the life of Wesson -- the mills era, evolution of Co-Lin, churches and religion, commerce, etc. -- through  artifacts, photos, and documents; and an adjacent structure owned by the Town of Wesson next to the public library that featured displays focusing on daily life of townspeople -- a late 19th Century kitchen and bedroom, a garden with a manual plow, home spinning wheel, quilts, the printing press that produced the Wesson Enterprise   weekly newspaper in the 1950s and 1960s, among others.   "The people of Wesson demonstrated that they wanted the unique history of their town preserved and shared by removing items from storage and contributing them to a museum that displays them  in a meaningful way that truly tells the story of the town," Thornton said.  "The temporary museum was a tourist attraction that conserved the past in the present for people who appreciate the importance of history, promoted business development by building traffic for merchants, and boosted sales taxes that help pay for town services."   Since the temporary museum closed, officials have been searching for ways to bring a permanent one to Wesson.  In creating the temporary museum, Thornton worked with Wesson residents steeped in the town’s history -- Sonya Cowen, Carolyn Graham, and Mike Hux -- to identify authentic documents, photos, and artifacts and solicit them from donors and lenders.  Mark Hamilton, former minster of music at Calvary Baptist Church in Silver Creek, worked closely with Thornton, picking up contributions, transporting them to the museum site, and building the museum exhibits.  More than 30 persons contributed as donors and lenders.

By Bob Garver   Poster credit IMDB          Robert Eggers is one of those directors that always puts out exactly the movie he wants. I’m not saying that as a comment on his professionalism or his attitude, I’m saying that because he clearly has the ability to shut down naysayers. If he didn’t, we’d never get the archaic dialogue of 2015’s “The Witch” or the grainy imagery of 2019’s “The Lighthouse.” Here’s another idea that must have sounded ludicrous to his financial backers: a remake of a groundbreaking vampire film from over 100 years ago, a film whose legendary status makes it practically untouchable. The original came out five years before groundbreaking talkie “The Jazz Singer,” and there must have been a fear that Eggers’ take on the material would be about as well-received as the 1980 Neil Diamond version of that film (which is to say not well). But because Eggers puts out only what he wants, we have this sexually-tinged horror movie competing with Christmas blockbusters at the box office, and admirably holding its own.             The film tells the tragic story of Thomas (Nicholas Hoult) and Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), a young couple living in Germany in 1838. Real estate agent Thomas is on the verge of a promotion by his boss, Herr Knock (Simon McBurney), who needs him to do just one thing before securing his future: travel to Transylvania and get a signature from a wealthy client, an eccentric count. Ellen (who dabbled in summoning supernatural spirits when she was a teenager) doesn’t want Thomas to go, as she’s having weird dreams and fearing that her past may not be done with her. But Thomas needs the promotion, so he leaves Ellen with friends Friedrich (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Anna (Emma Corrin) and sets out to meet the mysterious count by the name of… Orlok (Bill Skarsgård). Yeah, we know it’s really Dracula, but the 1922 film couldn’t get the rights to the book, so we’re stuck with Orlok.             Orlok is as imposing as he is bizarre. He lives in the creepiest castle imaginable, drinks questionable beverages (an Eggers staple), and sleeps in a coffin all day. Thomas takes care of business and later gets into a fight with Orlok, which both parties barely survive. He flees to what he thinks is safety at home, unaware that Orlok is already traveling there to seize control of Ellen, herself becoming more sickly as Orlok grows in power, much to the distress of her caretakers. The vampire (or “nosferatu”) wants her all to himself, and he’s willing to bring a deadly plague upon the entire country, not to mention harming her loved ones, in order to have her. Thomas’s only hope lies with controversial doctor Von Franz (Willem Dafoe), who is an expert on vampires in theory, but has no practical experience. Things get really icky as Orlok unleashes his powers further, including using hypnosis to get victims to violate some serious taboos.             “Nosferatu” is certainly a competent movie. Eggers is seeing his vision through to its full potential in areas like production design and performances. His drive and eye for detail are required of any filmmaker that wants to take on the challenge of such a cinematic institution. I can’t think of a filmmaker that could have done a better job with this material, I just question how badly we needed this job done at all. I would have been fine with leaving the 1922 classic alone and not subjecting audiences to some of the more unsavory aspects of this movie. Indeed, Robert Eggers has once again put out exactly the movie he wants. I just can’t say that it’s the movie “I” want. If you’re not in the mood for something so dark, serious, and occasionally stomach-churning, then this probably isn’t the movie “you” want. Grade: C "Nosferatu" is rated R for bloody violent content, graphic nudity and some sexual content. Its running time is 132 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

by Misty Prine   “There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book.” - Unknown – To live like Jesus, you may have to turn some pages, close some chapters, and even start a new book…                 There comes a time in your life when you have to turn the page or close the book. When you decide you need to turn the page, you have to realize that enough damage has been done for one day. You need to turn the hurt over to the Lord, stop fighting the fight and turn the page in your life, picking up on a more positive, different road the next day. Take a breather and let the bad day pass. If the good Lord gives you another day, make it better than the day before. Put some effort in making better decisions. You have to be the one that wants to make the change. Change is a mindset that you have to get in. Sometimes, the change needs to be more dramatic. If the book needs to be closed, that means that you need to separate yourself from the toxic person, group, or even situation you are around or in that are not helping your cause at all. In those times, you just have to take on a different outlook on life, surround yourself with people and an everyday environment of others who love the Lord, pray for you, love you and are willing to help you get your life turned around. After all, your life (book, page or chapter) is a product of what you surround yourself with. Toxic people bring toxicity. Positive people bring positivity. See the difference? You are a product of your environment after all. Again, it starts with a change on your end. You have to make that first step. Look at your life right now. Do you need to turn the page or close the book? It’s your choice. Let the Lord take over and live your life for Him. Make good decisions and write a story that will encourage others who are “reading your story” by watching the way you live your life. It’s a new year. Let it be a new YOU. God brought you this far for a reason. Live your life as a testament of what He’s done in your life. Sometimes it just takes getting your surroundings right to do it fully and wholeheartedly.                 **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Do. Not. Give. Up.  Giving up creates hopelessness. And hopelessness creates a huge black hole of depression and deadness in you. When you quit caring about anything in life, you stop living, even though your heart continues beating. Living in hopelessness means having to keep walking a step at a time when you don’t have a destination that even matters anymore. There is no food to listlessly put on your fork and carry into your mouth that will give you a rush of pleasure. No amount of sleep will relieve you from the aimlessness and dread of facing each new day. There is no sparkling sunshine and perfect temperature outside that will even really register on your dulled brain. You start to live life as if you are simply not alive. Hopelessness also opens up an entire new bag of potential physical ailments. The medical field tells us that stress in itself is not a bad thing. Your body and mind thrive on contemplating possibilities and problems you need to solve - when you convince yourself to feel confident that it will all work out in the end. But dis-stress is the actual problem, when you allow yourself to give in to the belief that you have no way of winning. The human body and mind take a very dim view of you deciding there is no hope in sight, and they tend to let you know they disapprove. In ways that you can’t miss. But how does a person avoid hopelessness, when your world has slid slowly but definitely downward and you are afraid there is no way back up? When someone dear to you tragically dies?  When the business that you poured your entire life into abruptly shatters into splinters, leaving you with nothing but debts and painful memories? When you drastically and permanently lose your good health? When life no longer feels like you are living. Know this : You have to make a choice, a very definite, firm, conscious choice. A choice to not let yourself sink into that seducing, sucking, tempting hole of hopelessness. That is the first step. Realize this: Unless you decide to commit suicide, you HAVE no choice but to keep living. You have to find a way to keep living. So, 1) grieve your loss, fully. Then 2) look for some small interest that will at the least help you stay existing each new day, until finally you can 3) grasp at a new beginning. One that will allow you to start over and give you a real reason to walk, to eat, to laugh, to make plans. Hang on in faith: You have to tell yourself that countless others have walked this same road, you can do it also. Although it looks impossible, you will find a way with time. That God really is in your corner, He wants to help you survive what this broken world has thrown at you and to keep walking.

Please pray for the Garrett Maxwell family and please share this post to family and friends. Garrett Logan Maxwell Garrett Logan Maxwell, 23, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away in the early morning hours on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, Texas after a 5-and-a-half-month battle with Myocarditis. Garrett was born on November 29, 2001, in Plant City, Florida to Brian Maxwell and Melanie Griffin Maxwell. He attended elementary and middle school in Plant City, instantly making friends and excelling both academically and in sports. Upon moving to Mississippi, he continued playing baseball in the local leagues, and football at West Lincoln School. He transferred to Franklinton High School in Louisiana for his final high school years and was not only a standout on the baseball field, he also graduated at the top of his class. He was currently a senior at LSU and would have graduated in December with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance as well as a second degree in Information Systems and Analytics. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, a former member of the Student Council and the Association of Information Technology Professionals. During his free time, he could be found on the golf course or honing his skills at Top Golf. His piercing blue eyes, trademark grin, and outgoing personality made him easy to love. He truly never met a stranger and was a friend to all. While he excelled at many endeavors, his single most devotion for the last few years was his beloved Taylor. She and her family were so special to Garrett, and their devotion to him the last few months made him happy as he could be, even during his most challenging days. Most of all, Garrett was a child of God, and a member of The Church of Christ, having been baptized by his grandfather many years ago. Garrett was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Howard Griffith of Brookhaven, and Ronnie Maxwell of Plant City, Florida, his maternal great-grandmother, Eva Nell Laird, and his paternal great-grandparents, Elwood and Janet Mobley of Plant City, Florida. He is survived by his mother, Melanie Griffith (Adam Waldon) of Brookhaven, his father, Brian Maxwell (Kristina) of Rochelle, Illinois, his grandmothers, Wanda Laird Griffin of Brookhaven, and Linda Maxwell Welch of Bell, Florida, his brother, Hunter Maxwell of Hammond, Louisiana, his sisters, Courtney Maxwell Temple (Ryan) of Brookhaven, and Cadie Maxwell Cole (Chris) of Union Church, his nieces Charleigh Temple and Alyvia Bacot, and his nephew, Eli Cole. He is also survived by special uncles and aunts including Tre’ and Amy Griffin of Bogue Chitto, Jeff and Kaci Griffin of Natchez, Kevin and Robin Laird of Brookhaven, and Scott and Wendy Maxwell of Bell, Florida. Also surviving him is his girlfriend, Taylor Mayer, her parents Eddie and Shelley, and her sister Emery, all of Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Visitation will begin at noon with services to be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel on Natchez Drive with burial to follow at New Salem Church of Christ Cemetery on Jackson Liberty Road. Memorials can be made to the Berean Children’s Home or the American Heart Association. The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, UMMC, Kindred Hospital, Diversacare, and Methodist Rehabilitation for the compassionate care Garrett received over the last few months. To the many who prayed for Garrett and each of us, you will never know how much it meant.

By Kara Kimbrough Chicken parmesan at Mario's Italian in Hattiesburg, pictured here, is one of the best dishes I've ever tasted. While I don't have the exact recipe, the printed recipe is similar to the ingredients used in Mario's dish and is quick and easy to make. I often hear from readers who fall into different categories: 1. They don’t cook, but instead, rely primary on restaurant or takeout meals; 2. They’re proficient home cooks and chefs who prefer preparing their own meals; and 3. Traveling the country and world is a favorite pastime, so they enjoy hearing about my travels. In an effort to make everyone happy, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite finds that may appeal to home cooks, regular restaurant patrons and travelers (and some may fit into more than one category).   Here are a few of my favorite restaurant meals, supermarket finds and travel products of 2024 - I'm hoping you may enjoy experiencing a few for yourself in 2025: Chobani Creations Greek Yogurt with Dessert Flavors   - I’ve “tried” (emphasis on tried) to eat healthier this year, including choosing healthy yogurt as a snack instead of my favorite potato chips. Making the choice even easier this year is this brilliant product from Chobani. It combines all the benefits of yogurt with the delicious flavors of apple pie à la mode, bananas Foster, cherry cheesecake and mocha tiramisu. Even better than the taste is that it's made with natural ingredients and real fruit, but no artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives. And, each container comes with 10 grams of protein. Safe Catch Wild Pink Salmon  – Salmon is always on the list of the world's healthiest foods, but I’ve always been a little leery of its high mercury content if eaten on a regular basis. This year, I tried the canned products and learned they contain the lowest mercury level of any salmon brand. It’s safe for children, pregnant woman and others with compromised immune systems. Safe Catch hand selects and tests every single salmon to insure its mercury limit is 25 times lower than the FDA’s recommended limit. Oh and here’s the best part: it’s the freshest, best-tasting salmon I’ve ever sampled. Krog’s Scout Travel Luggage Tag  – After having several luggage tags either cut or pulled off during airline travel, I ditched the flimsy pieces of faux leather and switched to the “world’s smartest luggage tag.” Scout Travel stores my contact details digitally in the sturdy tag that easily attaches to my luggage. My personal information is accessible if necessary via a QR code but is not "out there" for strangers to view.  And, it pairs with my Apple iPhone’s "Find My" app, allowing me to track my belongings at all times. Scout Travel also features a motion-sensitive alarm, providing an extra layer of security. Pacific Foods’ Organic Bone Broth  - Speaking of healthy eating lists, you might have noticed the addition of bone broth on many of them. I’d never used it until this year, but now that I’ve discovered Pacific Food’s version made from non-GMO, organic-certified ingredients like unsalted chicken and beef cooked with vegetables, herbs and cider vinegar, I may never go back to regular broth. With 9 grams of protein per serving, I feel good about adding it to soups, stews, casseroles and other dishes. Sugar Pop Baking Co. in Waveland  - It might seem odd that this small, unassuming bakery and restaurant with a limited menu made the list this year, but once you experience it, you’ll understand why. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s in the Ground Zero Museum, which showcases the damage done by and reconstruction after  Katrina. Or, it could be due to the building's architecture harkening back to a bygone era. Actually, I believe it’s the amazing cakes and pastries created by the talented owner and staff as well as the delicious smash burgers and other sandwiches served at lunch. Experience it yourself the next time you’re on the Gulf Coast. Check out the website to see photos of some of their creative offerings and learn about hours of operation and specials at: sugarpopbakingco.com . Tyson Restaurant Style Crispy Wings  – Every now and then,  a craving for crispy wings can't be denied. This new frozen product is the perfect antidote. As someone who doesn’t like heavy breading or wings with soft, chewy skin, this product fits the bill. The ultra-crispy wings come in a variety of flavors; my favorite is rotisserie-seasoned. 7. Bigelow Green Tea with Elderberry  – I love a mug of hot tea in the afternoon, but preferred a fruit-flavored version like peach, blueberry and apple. Despite its high nutrient content, I’ve never cared for the taste of green tea. After reading just how good green tea is for the body (improvements in brain/cognitive health, heart, inflammation, digestive, blood sugar, stress, skin and with a hearty dose of antioxidants for good measure) I decided to give it another try. Thankfully, I ran across a green tea flavored with a hint of berry and other woodsy flavors.  makes. It makes drinking a daily glass of the healthy tea much more palatable. 8. Favorite restaurant meals of 2024  -  I was fortunate to sample a delicious array of meals at home in Mississippi, in nearby states and in New York City. A few memorable dishes included: chicken parmesan and garlic rolls at Mario’s Italian in Hattiesburg; pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup at Bubby’s in New York City; Italian meatballs at Teatro Bistro and chili at Tolbert’s Chili Parlor, both in Grapevine, Texas; shrimp po-boy and gumbo at Taranto’s in Biloxi and shrimp cocktail at Grand Central Station’s Oyster Bar in NYC. Yes, 2024 was a great year for supermarkets, restaurants and travel, but I have a feeling this year will be equally memorable. Email me with your favorites in these three categories. I’ll do my best to try them out in the coming year. Happy New Year! Most Used Recipe of 2024:  Easy Chicken Parmesan 4 boneless chicken breast halves Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 2  large eggs 1 cup panko bread crumbs, or more as needed ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or more if needed ½ cup olive oil for frying, or as needed 1 cup prepared tomato sauce (more to taste) ¼ cup fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes ¼ cup chopped fresh basil½ cup grated provolone cheese 2 teaspoons olive oil Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken breasts between two sheets of heavy freezer bag on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound chicken with a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/2-inch. Season chicken thoroughly with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over chicken breasts, evenly coating both sides. Beat eggs in a shallow bowl and set aside. Mix bread crumbs and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese in a separate bowl, set aside. Dip a flour-coated chicken breast in beaten eggs. Transfer breast to the bread crumb mixture, pressing crumbs into both sides. Repeat for each breast. Let chicken rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Heat 1/2 inch olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Cook chicken in the hot oil until golden, about 2 minutes per side. The chicken will finish cooking in the oven. Transfer chicken to a baking dish. Top each breast with 2-3 tablespoons tomato sauce. Layer each chicken breast with equal amounts of mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and provolone cheese. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan over top and drizzle each with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is browned and bubbly and chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center, 15 to 20 minutes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkrpco@yahoo.com .