Joshua Star (Joshua, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 27, 2012 Page: 4 of 10
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Burleson Area Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Burleson Public Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Page4A ★ Joshua Star ★ Thursday, December 27, 2012
www.joshuastar.net
GARDENING
COMMENTARY
Winter drought may
Remembering (simpler) Christmases of past
be reason to water
By ELAINE BELL
Special to the Burleson Star
'©tier
As everyone is
aware, we are having
a very dry winter. The
last time I had some
rain at my home it was
after 32 days of no rain.
And then what I re-
ceived was only enough
to dampen the dust.
Our yards are
definitely suffering.
Our trees and shrubs are also. We are having this dry
time after a very dry summer and a past dry winter so it is
building up to causing even more damage.
You have probably been continuing with your watering
program for the grass. If you haven’t, it will be best to start
again. You won’t water as often as the summer schedule
because there are no high temperatures, but no rain is still
no rain when you are grass or trees.
If you are like me and try to let the grass reach a natu-
ral brown for the winter time, do keep a water schedule
for your trees and shrubs. Grass is more forgiving of low
rain fall than a tree. We lost so many trees across the state
last year, you don’t want to add to the number.
Our trees’ roots still need a soaking even in December
and January. So water them in a way that covers their drip
line area. Try to get the soil damp to 5-6 inches. Test by
poking a screwdriver into the soil. If it goes in easily you
have moisture. If you can’t get it in that is very dry soil and
not good for the health of the roots.
Anyone that had planted pansies or snap dragons will
have noticed they wilt without some hand watering. This will
stay that way until some good soaking rains come our way.
You can find some good information from Texas A8zM
University that can help you decide how much to water. To use
the online-calculator tool, go to texaset.tamu.edu. Follow the
prompts to help you with our watering woes and pray for rain.
Elaine Bell ofGodley is a Johnson County Master Gardener
and volunteers for Texas A&MAgriLife Extension Service.
To those who point fingers...
To tho se who spew talking points...
To those who offer instant analysis
without knowing any facts...
To those who exploit tragedy to score
political points...
Do us all a favor...
Shut up and grieve.
Joshua-kStar
Volume 42, Number 39
10 Pages in 1 Section
(USPS-915-180)
Periodicals Postage Paid at
Burleson, Texas &
additional offices
www.joshuastar.net
817-295-0486
Texas Press i n
Association V* 4
AwardxWinner
The Joshua Star is an independent newspaper pub-
lished once a week on Thursday in the interest of
Joshua and adjacent areas by Graham Newspapers,
Inc., 319 N. Burleson Blvd., Burleson, Texas 76028. Any
erroneous reflection on any individual or firm will be
corrected if brought to the attention of the editor.
Address all correspondence to the Editor, Joshua Star,
P.0. Drawer 909, Burleson, Texas, 76097-0909.
The contents of each issue are protected under the
Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any portion of
any issue is prohibited without prior written consent.
Subscription Price $23.99
Per Year In Johnson & Tarrant Counties
Senior Citizens $16.99
Other Areas of Texas $30.99
Outside Texas $36.99
Robb Krecklow........................Publisher
News Staff
Brian Porter....................................Editor
Advertising
Amy Lovelace........Advertising Manager
Pat Poole.......................Advertising Rep.
Sharon Cregg........Classified Supervisor
Composing Staff
Eric Allenson...............Creative Director
Duane Boyd...........................Pagination
Coleman Driver.... Advertising Graphics
Troy Szurgot.........Advertising Graphics
Front Office
Allyne Middleton...................Manager
a liaMediaNews Group newspaper
Printed on recycled paper
Errors & Adjustments: Please check your ad the first day it runs to ensure all the information is correct. We must limit your financial respon-
sibilities, if any, to the charge for the space and cannot be responsible for incorrect ads after the first day of publication.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Joshua Star, P.O. Box 909, Burleson, Texas, 76097-0909.
COPYRIGHT© 2011 Graham Newspapers, Inc.
GET YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS ONLINEi
To receive current
hometown news everyday
subscribe on the web s\\S
by clicking the
Read the star online
left or by calling:
|^|17-295-^gg|
www.ioshuastar.net
The scent of the fresh cut
tree filled the room, the floor
radiator pushing the smell
of Christmas throughout the
small, two bedroom house.
Dad, my brother and I
had walked grandma’s farm
that cold, blustery afternoon
over a half century ago,
searching out the perfect
cedar, the center of a cel-
ebration soon to come. There
wasn’t a lot to choose from.
The job of decorating the
four-foot scraggle fell to my
mom and sisters. Garland
rings were made with brightly
colored construction paper.
Painted popsicle sticks, glue
and tons of glitter were the
ingredients for handmade or-
naments
to adorn
the limbs.
Later,
mom
and dad,
grandma,
Carolyn,
Jim, Linda
and I
Barnett gathered
around the
Texas Farm tree and
Bureau each of us
opened
our present. Yes, present, and
listened as Dad cracked hard
ribbon candy with his teeth
and told the tale of the Merry
Christmas Orange.
That was the prettiest
tree I’ve ever seen - despite
its shortcomings - and one
of the best Christmases ever.
I thought back on that
simpler time this week as I
scrambled to get ready for
this holiday season.
Every year since I’ve been
an adult has been a choreo-
graphed Christmas produc-
tion. The tree is huge, with ex-
pensive ornaments and lights
everywhere. It’s filled with
shopping, shopping, shopping,
wrapping a ton of presents that
circle three feet from the tree.
And yes, it’s beautiful.
But is it prettier than the
Charlie Brown tree we had a
half century ago? And does
everyone need five presents?
No.
Remember what this
season is all about. Christmas
isn’t making sure your kid or
grandkid has the latest Xbox or
newest edition of Call of Duty
or the newest iPhone or even a
Kindle Fire, although giving is
a big part of the season.
Christmas is the celebra-
tion of the birth of a very
special child, and the prom-
ise of hope and peace He
brings us all.
Make sure your kids and
grandkids know that.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Mike Barnett is the direc-
tor of publications for the
Texas Farm Bureau.
DEVOTIONAL
When life gives you trials, stand firm
If joy was a missing
person, would a TxDOT sign
display an Amber alert that
reads, “joy taken, last seen in
family circles.”
If I were to hum a tune
and sing “count your bless-
ings name them one by one.”
What comes to mind? Most
likely the list would include
all kinds of things, but very
unlikely that illness, tragedy
or death of a vision would be
among the list of blessings.
We desire that only good
come our way. But do we
settle for good rather than
receive or welcome God’s
best? Now, before casting
stones, consider the cross
and its extreme devastation
at the moment. Imagine
Mary’s pain and felt loss. As
the nation mourns loss of
innocent lives, we must keep
the faith of God’s plan to
prosper and not harm.
Consider this as 2013
unfolds, these days could
be the birth pains of revival,
new life, rebirth, healing and
spiritual awakening.
Counting trials as joy is
not a new thought. James,
the half brother of Jesus,
instructs us on the matter.
In the first chapter of James’
letter to the church scattered
abroad, we are instructed to
count trials and temptations
as joy. English uses two dif-
ferent words: trial and temp-
Veronica
Sites
Guest Columnist
tation;
Greek
uses the
same
word, so
we must
under-
stand the
context.
Trials
have an
outward
source,
while
temptations come from
within, and both serve to
refine faith.
Neighbor, count every
trial you face or walk some-
one through as joy. Johnson
County has experienced
many trials and tragedies
this year. Hearts are wound-
ed, grieving and need hope.
This can result in a extreme-
ly difficult holiday season.
James knew it well. He
wrote to those scattered as a
result of persecution. James
pastored Christ’s followers
scattered and uncertain on
how to proceed after the
resurrection. He encouraged
each one to stand firm.
Trials have no prejudice
and everyone faces tempta-
tions. How each one re-
sponds impacts faith. More-
over, individual response
impacts community. God is
up to something amazing.
Trial after trial, resist the
temptation to dim your light.
Shine! Light dispels even the
deepest darkness. Resist every
temptation, faith is at stake.
A little girl preciously
asked mom to purchase a
flashlight and at the register
revealed disappointment
when all the bright lights
overhead diminished the
impact of her light. Immedi-
ately she asked to be taken
to a dark place. It was there
that she could use the power
of her light. Faith is like
that. We are all a little, like
Peter who needed his faith
refined, even after all he had
witnessed during Christ’s
ministry.
James witnessed Pe-
ter’s trial and some time
between James wanting to
take Jesus back home for
crazy talk (Matthew 12:47-
49) and witnessing Peter’s
reinstatement, James’ faith
became refined so that he
calls himself bond servant.
Peter declared the refining
of faith is of greater worth
than gold. Both chose to
count trials joy and look at
the church now.
When fire falls from
heaven, there will be opposi-
tion. Stand! When trials test
faith, it is your chance to
shine. When temptations are
full on, faith is stronger, it is
merely under construction.
Historically, we are due for
spiritual awakening. It has
always come through young
adults.
I think it is interesting
that today, this is the scat-
tered group. Count the trials
as a joyous reminder that
God has not fully refined
anyone’s faith. I believe this
timeless promise, “To the
one that turns to me, I will
bless to a thousand genera-
tions.”
So with joy, wherever you
find yourself today, con-
sider if you will set resolu-
tions or will this year be
declarative? Declarations
are purpose driven action
plans, resolutions are good
intentions with desired
accomplishments. Let us
declare 2013, “the favorable
year of the Lord, to comfort
all who mourn, giving them
a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead
of mourning, the mantle of
praise instead of a spirit of
fainting.”
Arise and be called oaks
of righteousness, a planting
of the Lord and by all means
let this year launch to glorify
God. Let your light shine.
Neighbor, choose joy. Happi-
ness is in the heart. Joy is in
the Lord.
Veronica Sites is the
chaplain with Victim Relief
Ministries.
Letters policy
The Joshua Star welcomes letters to the editor for
consideration for publication.
Letters to the Editor are offered by the newspaper
to the community for expression of personal views on
matters of concern. Residents are encouraged to use
the column in a constructive manner, sharing their
views on subjects of interest with the newspaper's
readers.
Letters are individual opinions and not those of this
newspaper. Each letter must be original, limited to 300
words or less, signed by the writer and bear the address
and phone number of the writer. Only the writer's name
and the city will be published with the letter.
The Joshua Star does not withhold the writer's name
for any reason. Anonymous letters or letters signed by
an unidentifiable pseudonym will not be published. The
phone number and address are necessary for verification
of authenticity or clarification of content. Letters which
cannot be verified will not be published.
The Joshua Star reserves the right to edit all letters.
Letters deemed libelous, slanderous, unclear or otherwise
unacceptable will not be published.
Thank-you expressions singling out individuals or or-
ganizations will not be published. Poetry is unacceptable
as a letter to the editor.
During election campaigns, the Joshua Star will accept
letters to the editor discussing issues or offering endorse-
ments. The deadline for election-related letters is two
weeks prior to Election Day.
Address letters to: Editor, Joshua Star, P.O. Box 909,
Burleson, TX 76097. Letters may also be faxed to 817-295-
5278, or e-mailed to joshuastar@thestargroup.com. Faxed
and e-mailed letters must include the writer's complete
address and daytime telephone number.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Sorter, Dave. Joshua Star (Joshua, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 27, 2012, newspaper, December 27, 2012; Burleson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth823070/m1/4/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Burleson Public Library.