By Don Moore, Resident of Harding Place, Searcy, AR No one has given a tag to this generation. What happened to shape their values and virtues? Are they unique? Facing some of life’s hardest challenges, their courage makes one wonder how these people came to be the people they are. They grew up in an era when there were no institutional provisions for the aged and infirmed. The elderly around them probably rotated from one child to another for their care. No government programs addressed their condition. People could save cash, but investment strategies and retirement programs were not possible for their parents or their grandparents. This may be the first generation to come to retirement sustained by their own resources rather than their children’s. Some of the conditions described in this article likely shaped their intentions and efforts to plan and prepare for their later years. Most of these people were shaped by WWII, since they were children during the war years. No family was spared military service, the rationing of essential materials necessary for war, and the loss of life. Large sacrifice was made by everyone during those years of uncertainty. Hand-me-down clothes met the need of growing children. Garage sales and the storage building industry had not been thought of. Shopping was many years away from becoming a favorite past time. How exciting do you think it was to order the children’s clothes for next year from Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogues. Besides, many families did not have automobiles to travel to distant towns. The first shopping center had not been built. Their parents “made-do” with whatever was at hand. That may have come from older siblings or cousins. Though likely unaware of it at the time, they grew up in a time of deprivation, struggle, and limitations. Even in the area of nutrition, many families would today be classified in a “food desert.” For many, meat once a week would be common, with dessert only on Sunday. Even that would often be shared with the pastor and his wife. Again, something of these realities put DRIVE into the rising generation to work toward a better life. With the obvious physical and financial needs, and the uncertainty of the outcome of the war, it was common for faith to play a role in the lives of families during this period of our history. Life was simple. Needs were simple, and faith was simple. Human need and a gracious God needed to be joined together to make it through. The sophistication of education and technology seen in the church today would have been very strange in the stark, raw days of human existence. Though economic and domestic advances have been staggering and the standard of living elevated to comfort, pleasure, and leisure, the faith of the fathers has not been abandoned. With WWII ending in 1945, the wheels of progress and economic improvement went into high gear. Most of these people had a car, indoor plumbing, and electricity by the time they graduated from high school. Education became a chief goal of life. It was to help them get from a menial subsistence to self-sufficiency. By this time their mother and sisters entered the war time workforce. Family life would never return to the one-income nuclear family known earlier. Women became the work force in the rapidly expanding, consumer driven economy. Soon the small farm, family-oriented, mostly rural economy switched to movement into the suburbs where industry, manufacturing, and growth were happening. So those people learned early to ADAPT to change. A change of vocation might require a change of location. These people in the productive years were “all over the map.” A quick visit with a dozen people here will take you from Florida to Alaska and regions on other continents. The varied jobs they did--from common labor to highly-skilled tasks to Chief Executive Officers, you will find it all with these people. For whatever reason and certainly with hard work and divine favor, they have come to the stage of life where their efforts have paid off, and they are able to live with a wonderful degree of comfort and their needs met. The field of battle has changed. Physical limitations, wheel chairs, walkers, braces, heart attacks, strokes, cancer have all taken a shot at these people. Dependency upon someone else for nearly everything is now the scene. Pride and stubborn willpower does not carry much weight in this arena. Competition that once drove them has been left behind. Pomp and circumstance will not fit any occasion here. They have climbed all of the ladders they are ever going to climb. They have impressed all of the important people they are ever going to impress. Yet, they press on with determination, courage, and vigor. The remnants of “The Greatest Generation” and the lessons learned in very hard times must have fallen on them. Now driven by COURAGE , these people are the “Hardy Harding Gang.” "Life was simple. Needs were simple, and faith was simple." Read the full issue below.

By Brandi Crossen In the heart of every community, there are behind-the-scenes heroes who stand ready to answer the call in times of crisis. One such hero is a long-time EMT from Antioch, Arkansas, who has dedicated decades of his life to serving others, Brandon Pruitt. With a background rooted in dairy farming, Brandon found his calling not in the fields, but out in the community, responding to emergencies and delivering critical support to those in need. Growing up in Antioch, he lived the quintessential life of a farm kid. In Brandon’s early twenties, a cousin and friend of his talked him into joining the local fire department. While working at the fire department, they began offering a class to train first responders. Brandon took the first step into his EMT career by signing up to take the class. Upon completion of this class, Brandon began running first responder calls for the fire department. In 1997 the fire department offered a class in training EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technician), and Brandon jumped at the opportunity. Once the class was finished, Brandon had to take a national exam to certify him as an EMT, and he passed. This was when Brandon’s career as an EMT took off. Brandon worked as an EMT first responder in Antioch for ten years while also working in a factory. Brandon finally decided to take the leap and put in an application with NorthStar EMS and was hired. He worked a little over two years at NorthStar as a part-time EMT before deciding to make it a full-time career. Brandon has now worked at NorthStar EMS here in Searcy for nearly two decades. Within those two decades, Brandon decided to further his knowledge by passing the test to become an Advanced EMT, which he has done for the last ten years. Brandon is also the lead field-training officer, Captain of NorthStar EMS’s honor guard, and a CPR instructor. Outside of his demanding role as an Advanced EMT, Brandon enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s fishing, hunting, or tending to his yard. At the heart of Brandon’s life is his family-wife, Kristen; his three sons, Brody, Eric, and Shane; his two bonus daughters, Ava and Alivia; and his six grandchildren, father, and mother and father-in-law. “It can be hard. With this job, you miss a lot of family moments most people get to experience. We miss a lot of holidays, birthdays, trips, and other things that most families get to enjoy. In this business, you have to have a family that understands what you do for a living and who are willing to adjust to life in EMS.” - Brandon Pruitt, Advanced EMT, Northstar EMS While Brandon has his family at home who are missed greatly when on shift, he also has a family at NorthStar EMS amongst his coworkers. For Brandon, one of the most rewarding aspects of being an EMT is the deep sense of camaraderie that comes with being part of the EMS family. “It truly is like having another family.” Whether it’s a routine call or critical emergency, the bond amongst EMTs is unwavering. “In this line of work, we always have each other’s back. If you have a good call or bad, there is always someone you can talk to and discuss what’s on your mind. We see things that normal people don’t, and it’s nice to have people who really understand what you do and see.” - Brandon Pruitt, Advanced EMT, Northstar EMS There were two things that Brandon wished everyone knew about to make EMTs’ lives a bit easier. The first was that when you see first responders coming (EMS, Fire Dept, Police, etc.), move over and let them by. Brandon went on further and explained the importance of not stopping on top of a hill due to the danger it opens up for everyone involved when they can’t see if anyone is coming from the other way. The second thing Brandon recommended was for the public to carry or have a list of medications, allergies, and medical history with you. In the event you need EMS services, having this information on scene allows them to help you in a more efficient and timely manner. “The quicker we can get any information on the patient and treatment started, is imperative,” Brandon emphasized. For those considering a career as an EMT, his advice is straightforward yet impactful; “If you are looking to get rich, this is not the job for you. People in EMS do not do it for the money. We do it because we want to be able to help someone in their time of need. You have to be a special person to work in EMS, and it’s not for everyone. It can be the best job you will ever have, but it can also be the worst. You see people in times of joy and times of pain.” Behind the sirens and flashing lights, there is love, sacrifice, pain, grief, loss, joy, hope, faith, tears, hurt, and fear, but most importantly, there are the people who are experiencing it alongside you. Thank you Brandon, for being one of the special people who wake up daily and choose to experience it with us. Read the full issue below.

By Pat Ferguson Music and Love . . . is there really a connection? Here is a wonderful love story that shows the connection is real! How music brought two wonderful people together . . . and how music helps them maintain their bond. Once upon a time there was a beautiful woman named Evelyn (Evie). She grew up in Arkansas, living in Little Rock for many years and later transferring with her work to Russellville, and then moving to Searcy after retiring. Evie’s first husband passed away in 2015, after 30 years of marriage. She loved to sing (soprano) and performed with groups at church and in concerts. She joined EdenSong Regional Chorale in 2003 and is still singing in the chorale today – 22 years later. EdenSong is getting ready for their Christmas concert in Searcy at the First Presbyterian Church at 6:30 p.m. on December 16th. Dee Spann was married and lost his wife in 2017 after 53 years. He grew up in North Little Rock and played high school football with Jerry Jones . . . yes, that Jerry Jones. Dee sang in the Ouachita Baptist University choir and in a number of church choirs before retiring to Searcy in 2002 – coincidentally the same year Evie moved to Searcy. While living in Fredericksburg, VA, he sang in a gospel barbershop quartet. Dee attended a performance of EdenSong in 2017 and immediately decided he would like to sing with EdenSong. Dee has a beautiful tenor voice. He was driving from Searcy to Heber Springs every week to practice for EdenSong and soon discovered that there was a carpool going back and forth for the weekly practices. He joined the carpool and found Evie. It sounded like it was love at first sight or first song . . . they both kept finding reasons to be together, in addition to singing together every Tuesday afternoon at EdenSong (Dee sat behind Evie in the chorale). In 2018 Evie asked for his help getting to a performance by her grandkids, and Dee was happy to help her; he also got to meet her kids. Later that year, Dee went to Ukraine to sing in a traveling choir and of course, brought her back some chocolates. In 2019 he went to Brazil to sing and face-timed with her everyday. It seems kind of obvious what was happening with these two love birds. Also in 2019, they went to a 50s party, where he asked her to go steady with him and actually gave her his high school class ring! How perfect! In October 2019 they went to a performance at Harding, and afterwards, they went out to a beautiful dogwood tree where he asked her to marry him. Guess what? She said yes. In December 2019 they were married in Searcy with 20 friends and family in attendance. They had a cellist play for the wedding, and Dee sang “I Love You Truly” to Evie during the ceremony. Music brought these two together in 2017, and today in 2025, music continues to bind them as they have Bible study together every morning and sing to each other. AND they both continue to sing in EdenSong . . . but now, they ride together as a couple. Please plan to attend EdenSong’s Christmas concert in either Heber Springs at Renew Church at 2 p.m. on December 14th or at the First Presbyterian Church in Searcy at 6:30 p.m. on December 16th to hear EdenSong’s Christmas concert and to meet these wonderful love birds. Music and love – the connection is real. EdenSong Regional Chorale, established in 1991, currently sings under direction of Dr. Tammy Burger of Heber Springs. The group is comprised of singers from Cleburne, White, and Van Buren Counties. Prospective new members are welcome to contact Dr. Burger for information (Call 501-206-8901). Read the full issue below.

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Across 4. CHOICE 6. WORLD 7. TENOR Down 1. FAITH 2. SUMMER 3. KIND 5. EMT Riddles 1. Horseback Riding 2. Sailing The Seven Seas 3. An Afterthought

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By Jennifer Webb Photos by Searcy Living Photography Kevin answered the knock at the door. On his doorstep stood a woman and a little girl with big green eyes, clutching her hand and looking up at him. They looked normal enough to the average onlooker, but there were subtle signs that Kevin knew all too well. He knew exactly why they had shown up on his doorstep, unannounced. He welcomed them in. As he led them to his office, he watched the surprised look register on the little girl’s face as she looked around. This was not what she had been expecting. It looked home-like and child-friendly. She still clung tight to her mother’s hand and remained silent during the short walk, but Kevin could see that the fear in her eyes was slowly being replaced with curiosity. They sat down in chairs across from his desk and started the first step in the process—a brief interview. He listened to their situation, asked if she had transportation, and asked if she could pass a background check and drug test. How old was her little girl? Were there any more children? He could hear the desperation in the mother’s voice. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, they had ended up homeless. Each story was different, and yet the same. They had been living out of her car for a few weeks, and then roaches started creeping in, relentlessly invading their last remaining “safe” space. The Mom was desperately trying to find a job, and they were on his doorstep because they had nowhere else to go. Could Jacob’s Place help? Though the above scenario is fictional, similar stories frequently play out at Jacob’s Place. Their mission is to get people into sustainable living situations. Specifically, Jacob’s Place is for anyone who has legal custody of a child or is pregnant. So far, they’ve helped over 600 White County families get back on their feet. They usually have a wait list and people contact them through a variety of ways--Facebook messenger, phone calls, or by showing up at the door. They are given a brief interview and have to be able to pass a background check with no history of violent crimes, no sex crimes, and no current warrants. They also have to pass a drug test. For those who are not currently eligible for help at Jacob’s Place, they assist in finding placement in other programs. Sometimes an individual needs a domestic violence program, drug rehab, or another focus to help them be more successful. Then, they can come to Jacob’s Place. Once drug tests and background checks come back clean and they have an opening, Kevin explains the rules of Jacob’s Place. It’s a place for them to help get back on their feet, but they have to work and do their part. It’s a hand up, not a hand out, and each family has to fulfill certain obligations. For many of their volunteers and for Kevin, their executive director, the best part is giving a new family a tour, which ends in their own room. Instead of metal bunkbeds, the rooms are designed to look and feel like home. The beds are made, it smells fresh and clean, and all the toiletries are there to get a shower. For kids, there is usually a small toy on the bed waiting for them. Many families tear up when they see their rooms. They give each new family a week or so to settle in, get used to the rules, and meet the other families living at Jacob’s Place. Then, they have a deep dive interview. There is no single cookie-cutter approach to getting families back on their feet. Each situation is different and often complicated. During the deep dive interview, they ask about the past, what situations led them to homelessness, what their goals for the future are, and look at obstacles they need to overcome to get back on their feet. Once they find out what the specific needs of the family are, they can get to work knocking barriers out of the way. The adult might need to learn to drive or might need a reliable vehicle to get to and from work. They may need help finding reliable childcare/daycare. They might need to develop skills for a job they are interested in. They might need to get a GED or attend training classes. Though each situation is different, Jacob’s Place aims to get each family back on its feet in approximately 90 days. “Jacob’s place is comforting, but not enabling. We are there to comfort someone in a really bad situation. The kids are safe and free to be themselves and to recover from trauma. But we are also not enabling. We have expectations for our families. The program is designed to meet the families where they are at. The combination of those factors is why it’s so successful.” - Kevin Boyce, Executive Director, Jacob’s Place One of Jacob’s Place’s other priorities is making sure the children of Jacob’s Place never feel like they are homeless. They don’t want them to feel that their lives are significantly different from the other kids they go to school with. They try to provide them with all the opportunities that any other kids have. If they need cleats for football, Jacob’s Place does its best to provide those. If they want to try out for the tennis team, then Jacob’s Place will get them the racket and the tennis shoes to try out. They may not make the team, but they believe each child needs the opportunity to try. That’s why each family gets their own room with their own fridge and cabinet. They want to keep dignity and unity within the family. “The reviews that mean the most to us come from the kids. When parents are out late at night, or when a child gets tired and asks, ‘Can we go home?’ and they are talking about Jacob’s Place . . . that’s our best review. That’s the review that we’re looking for.” - Kevin Boyce, Executive Director, Jacob’s Place The parents of Jacob’s Place attend parenting classes, as well as classes on resume building and interview skills. For that to happen, Jacob’s Place is always in need of volunteers. Volunteers cook meals, entertain kids, teach, and perform many other functions. If you want to volunteer at Jacob’s Place, they have a spot for you. Currently, they have one location that can house six families and are in need of more room. They are currently very interested in taking a donation of an additional house to help more families. There is almost always a waiting list. Sometimes, families’ circumstances change quickly, so they always encourage anyone who needs them to reach out. If you’d like to volunteer at Jacob’s Place, donate, or just learn more, check out their Facebook page (Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission) or visit their website at jacobsplace.org/ Hopeful, Stronger, And More Determined By Destiny Shadell In August of last year, my world fell apart. I was in a car accident that shattered my pelvis and left me in a wheelchair for months. Before that day, I had a steady life. I had a car, a home, and a small cleaning business I worked hard to build. I was proud of what I’d created for me and my daughter. But after the wreck, everything slipped through my fingers. I lost my income, my independence, and eventually, the roof over our heads. When I first heard the word “shelter,” I was scared. I pictured a cold, crowded space full of strangers and struggle. I felt ashamed, like I had failed my four-year-old daughter. But when we arrived at Jacob’s Place, everything I feared was replaced with peace. From the outside, it looks like a big house. On the inside, it’s warm, calm, and filled with kindness. We have our own room, our own beds. We share a kitchen with one other family, but it doesn’t feel like sharing, it feels like community. My daughter has made friends here. She laughs, and she plays. In the beginning, I didn’t know what to call it. I used to say, “We’re going back to the shelter.” But now I say, “We’re going home.” Because it is home. Not just a place to sleep but a place to rest, to breathe, to heal. Jacob’s Place has helped me put the pieces of my life back together. With my tax refund, I was able to buy a car again and slowly start rebuilding my cleaning business. But the real gift has been the structure and support they provide. They believe in preparing you for long-term success. They ask that 60% of any income earned while here goes into a savings account, so when you’re ready to leave, you’re not just starting over, you’re stepping into stability. They don’t just give you a place to stay. They help you dream again. They remind you that your story isn’t over just because you hit a hard chapter. I came here feeling broken and unsure. Now, I feel hopeful, stronger, and more determined for me and for my daughter. Jacob’s Place gave us more than shelter. They gave us the space to become whole again. -Destiny Shadell Read the full issue below.

By Jennifer Webb Photos by Searcy Living Photography This was no ordinary backyard. A Japanese maple towered over me in the front yard, a rare and expensive tree. This was the biggest one I had ever seen. I only recognized it because I still mourned losing the one in my front flowerbed five years earlier. Little did I know, the best was yet to come. My phone rang, and the voice on the other end beckoned me to come to the backyard. I felt like I had entered the Secret Garden when I passed through the gate. There was a heated spa, a beautiful sitting area, a shop, and everything else was immaculately tended flower beds. Pops of color stood out among green plants. I looked around, turning my head in every direction as I walked forward. It was entirely picturesque. This was the backyard of longtime master gardener, Mrs. Sue Ekdahl, who stood up to wrap me in a hug even before I finished introducing myself. I felt like one of “hers” before I even sat down. “Master Gardeners go quietly about making White County more pleasing to the eye.” – Sue Ekdahl, White County Master Gardener She explained to me that her backyard is one of five gardens on tour for the state-wide Master Gardener Meeting, hosted in Searcy this year. Several members, including her, maintain demonstration gardens at their residences. The Arkansas Master Gardener program is sponsored by the University of Arkansas and has chapters in many Arkansas counties. The county extension office serves as the head of each county’s Master Gardener Program. Their mission is to “extend research-based information through demonstration and education programs, using horticulture best practices, strengthening communities and families throughout Arkansas.” While that may sound rather dry, it looks spectacular in action. To become a Master Gardener, each volunteer must complete 40 hours of horticulture training and complete 40 working volunteer hours, and 20 learning hours in the first year. After the first year, each volunteer is required to provide 20 working hours and 20 learning hours. “My involvement with the Master Gardener Program began 15 years ago, upon retiring from my teaching career. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of learning from our talented White County group, as well as participating in workshops in various counties throughout the state. This program has been a truly enriching experience, and I feel grateful to have been a part of it for so long.” – Janice Stewart, White County Master Gardener The trainings are often done through zoom classes and in-person workshops on a wide variety of topics. The volunteer hours are usually completed on public projects around town. For White County you can find Master Gardener projects at Spring Park, The Presbyterian Garden, a hidden little flower garden at Unity Health South Campus, Pioneer Village, Black House Arts Center, Hope Restore, El Paso Library, Daniel Park in Beebe, and many more. A lot of blood, sweat, and effort is quietly put into each place. For Pioneer Village, the volunteers make sure that each plant that goes into it is authentic to the period. Volunteers spread mulch, plant, water, weed, and trim dead branches. It’s a lot of work, but it’s work that comes with great joy. They are always willing to mentor new volunteers, photograph projects, answer gardening questions for the community, collect soil samples in residential areas, help and judge the horticulture entries at the White County Fair, and often put on educational classes. Sometimes that looks like training for other master gardeners, and other times it looks quite different. Mrs. Sue once had a group with second and third graders at the park. She took several maple trees, and the kids dug all the holes and planted the trees. Most of the trees are still there, and it taught the students a lesson about taking pride in their work and hard work leading to results that you can see for years to come. Through their contributions, they form friendships and find people with like passions. Harding instructor and Master Gardener, Beverly Froud, says she often has students complete some of their required service hours with the Master Gardeners because they “paint such a good picture of aging well.” Master Gardeners are about giving back to the community and sharing their skill set through mentorship. The older Master Gardeners who are in their 70s, 80s, and 90s rejoice to see younger Master Gardeners come in who are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s (or younger). It’s about sharing their God-given talents and passions with others and knowing that they are leaving a place better than they found it. As I sat in Mrs. Sue’s backyard paradise while she shared her 20+ year journey with the Master Gardeners, I realized that it’s not about the outward beauty of the plants. It’s about finding peace, remembering loved ones, sharing knowledge, sharing passion, and showing God’s love to others. It’s about the opportunity to give back to the community and for each person to have an opportunity to make an impact on the world around them, leaving it just a little better than it was before. “There is so much to love about the Master Gardener group. They’re such a kind and welcoming bunch of people who provide a great source of community for those who choose to be involved. They’re always willing to teach and mentor those of us who are still learning, and they’re deeply committed to the various projects through which they beautify and give back to the community. If anyone has been considering joining, I would enthusiastically encourage them to take the leap and sign up for the next training offered!” -Beverly Froud, Master Gardener and Harding University Instructor Read the full issue below.

By Jennifer Webb Mallory had felt a bit “off” since Friday. It was probably nothing. She was probably just tired, but what started as a normal evening soon turned into a life-altering event. As an associate professor of pharmacy at Harding, a cardiology pharmacist at Unity Health, and mom to three beautiful children, life was always good but busy. She and her husband, Shawn, had just celebrated their youngest daughter turning two, gone to the lake with friends, and attended church and Sunday school. It was Sunday night, and Shawn had gone to his weekly pickleball game. Mallory went through her nightly routine of putting the kids to bed, and started her normal 30-minute workout. She hadn’t planned anything too strenuous but figured some light exercise would help her feel better. A few minutes in, she started sweating profusely in her air-conditioned living room. Fifteen minutes after her light workout, she felt a sharp stabbing pain start under her sternum. She tried to ignore it as she continued to pick up around the house. The pain not only persisted but intensified to the point that it made her sick to her stomach. It started radiating from her left arm up to her jaw. There was no ignoring it. As a cardiac pharmacist, she knew these symptoms - classic heart attack - and they were far too strong to ignore. It was 9:30 at night. She was at the house alone with three kids who were soundly tucked into bed. She tried to call her husband, but the call failed. She tried again, but it failed again. Starting to panic, she tried to call him a third time, but the call still failed. “Oh God, please let him pick up! Please let this call go through!” she prayed as she restarted her phone. The fourth time the call went through and he picked up. Shawn rushed out of his pickleball game as soon as she explained what was happening. He took her to the ER while a neighbor came over to sit with the sleeping kids. By the time they got to the ER, about 10:30 p.m., the pain had subsided to a dull ache. Even though she was a female under the age of 35 with no previous family history of heart disease, the team at Unity Health took it seriously and treated it as a heart attack. The initial electrocardiogram didn’t show anything significant, but they held her for bloodwork and monitoring. When the medical resident doctor came back in after the initial assessment, Mallory knew as soon as he walked in, with his eyes as wide as saucers, that he was about to confirm what she suspected. “You’re having a heart attack.” Her bloodwork came back about 1 a.m. with very high levels of troponin, which indicated heart damage. She was admitted to the hospital at 3 a.m. under the care of cardiologist, Dr. Evans. Since she knew she was in good hands, she convinced Shawn to go home, so he could be there when their girls woke up. Through the night her troponin levels continued to increase, and Dr. Evans decided to take her to the cardiac catheterization lab the next morning to see if she had a blockage in one of her arteries. “As ironic as it was as a cardiology pharmacist to be having a heart attack, it was also very interesting to be a patient in the world in which I work every day. I have so much appreciation for the cath lab staff and Joy and Dr. Evans. They were fantastic and took great care of me.” - Mallory Turner, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) survivor During the cath, Dr. Evans found that Mallory had a dissection in one of her coronary vessels. A dissection happens when blood collects between the layers of the artery, which prevents blood from flowing to the heart muscle. This results in pain and damage to the heart muscle. Most heart attacks are treated with a stent, but in Mallory’s case, Dr. Evans decided that hers would heal on its own with specific medications. As confirmed later by experts at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Evans made exactly the right call since stents with a spontaneous coronary artery dissection can actually lead to further artery damage. After six hours of bed rest following her heart cath, Shawn brought their girls to visit her in the hospital. He had explained to them that “Mommy has a heart boo-boo.” The girls had a great time! For Mallory, seeing them was the highlight of her hospital stay. They pushed buttons, raised and lowered the bed, and ate most of her food. Having them, her husband, and her parents there made her feel better than words could express. She stayed two nights in the hospital and came home on three medications. Two were antiplatelets, and the other was a beta blocker. She also had nitroglycerin, as needed for chest pain. While she had felt an almost supernatural peace in the hospital, the thought of going home filled her with anxiety. As a type A person, Mallory was not one to sit still for long, but when she first got home, it was all she could do. For the first few weeks, she couldn’t even lift her two-year-old or her three-year-old. She continued to have heart pain and heart palpitations, likely from trying to jump back into work and life too quickly. “I am so thankful for my husband who shouldered so much during this recovery time so that I could rest, my parents who are a blessing to us daily and helped out so much during this time, and to our church family who fed us for weeks.” - Mallory Turner, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) survivor Dr. Evans recommended that Mallory attend the Smart Heart cardiac rehabilitation program at Unity. Since her heart attack occurred after exercising, she hesitated to start back on an exercise program. Despite being active her whole life and being a college athlete, Mallory found that she was afraid to walk in her own neighborhood by herself or lift weights. The rehab was exactly the support she needed to step back into an active lifestyle. “While the physical recovery was challenging, I would say the mental and emotional recovery was the most intense and also took longer. Having a condition with the word ‘spontaneous’ in the name is very scary for a type A individual like me, who likes to plan everything. I am so grateful for my healing, but that does not take away from the fact that it is the hardest thing I’ve had to walk through in my life so far.” - Mallory Turner, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) survivor Since SCAD is not common, Mallory looked into learning more about it. She found some support groups online and learned that Mayo Clinic had a SCAD specialty physician. She was able to set up an appointment and learned that Dr. Evans had treated her exactly as they would have at the Mayo Clinic. She walked away from the visit feeling reassured and armed with more knowledge and tools to help her live a healthy, full life, despite SCAD. “Other things that have been helpful to me in my recovery, besides taking my medicines and listening to my doctors, have been my faith, therapy, cardiac rehab, support from friends and family, and processing the emotions that come with such a sudden shift in my health. They’ve all been present at some time or another - disbelief, grief, frustration, joy, sadness, happiness, anger, but mostly gratitude. Gratitude comes in waves, in the simple moments of life with my family and especially with my three girls - watching sunsets, watching it snow, seeing the excitement when they experience something new. This poignant gratitude often brings a tear to my eye, thinking, ‘I could have missed this. Thank you, God, for not letting me miss this.’” -Mallory Turner, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) survivor Read the full issue below.

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Across 2. HONOR 5. DREAMS 6. SCIENCE 7. SIMPLE Down 1. SPACE 2. HEROES 3. REST 4. BACK Riddles 1. Pineapple Upside Down Cake 2. Piece of Pie 3. Raincheck

By Jennifer Webb “‘Then David said to Goliath, you come at me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord God almighty...’ - this is the mentality that we have to have as we go out there and attack our opponent today. Together, with your brothers, with passion, with great love for one another.” — Coach Paul Simmons, Head Coach, Harding Bison Football “Yes, SIR!” the team enthusiastically chorused back. Honor God. Brotherhood. Warrior Mentality. Loyalty. Finish. Each young man felt it in his heart. Their goal was not to win, but to go out and fight for their brothers, on their field, in front of their people. Each had the heart of a fierce warrior and the gentle soul of a child of God. They were tough and driven but also tender in their love for God and in the love that comes with the brotherhood that defines the Harding University Bisons. “The biggest thing for us is that we’re going to continue to honor God. That’s been our goal every season and it will be our goal this upcoming season.” – Jhalen Spicer, Runningback Harding Bison Football Player This attitude begins on the first day of fall camp when they define their goals. Most football programs talk about winning games. They talk about winning in life. They spend the entire first day simply addressing the question, “ How can we do everything in our power to have the very best culture in all of college football?” What does that mean? How do we measure it? The answer starts and ends with trying to honor God in all things. “As Coaches, how do we Honor God with the way that we treat our young men and speak life into them?” – Coach Paul Simmons, Head Coach, Harding Bison Football What do they believe Honors God? Toughness, accountability, work ethic, loyalty, humility, passion, love for one another – the message is that all of these things Honor God and they have control over how they do all of these things. This makes for a culture of young men who can be counted on to consistently come through and the mentality is that coming through for their brothers today will help prepare them to come through as Christian husbands and fathers in the days to come. It looks like being loyal. In a sport where loyalty tends to be fickle - players “move up” or switch schools for a better position or scholarship, coaches take promotions and bigger paychecks, the players and coaches at Harding are committed to staying for the long haul. After winning a national championship and having an undefeated 15-0 season, the Bisons did not lose a single player or coach. Passion also honors God, especially when it’s done with a humble spirit. Humility and college athletics do not often go together, but doing things with a grateful spirit honors God. Humility and gratitude are very powerful themes within this special brotherhood. When players walk in the locker room, they do so not thinking about their own goals or stats. They walk in thinking about what they can do today to make the guys around them better. Their idea of leadership is that “Leaders eat last.” Leaders should lead by serving others and by putting the needs of others before themselves. The term “washing feet” is a very familiar term surrounding Harding football. “The beautiful part of that is when you do all those things well - when you lead, serve, wash feet, emphasize humbleness and you let love dictate the way you carry yourself, the scoreboard tends to takes care of itself. The wins come as a great by product of that special culture.” – Paul Simmons, Head Coach, Harding Bison Football In order to love your brother, you have to know who he is. You need to spend time with him, talk with him, get to know him, find out what he deals with, and what makes him the person he is. “Harding football has blessed my life tremendously, just in the way of being around guys who push me to be better more than anything. The best friends in my life that I’ve made have come from Harding football. It’s special to be able to do something with this culture.” – Will Fitzhugh, Fullback, Harding Football Player Coach Simmons very intentionally encourages his players to get to know one another. Going over to Coach and Kimberly Simmons’s house is a common occurrence. Kimberly prepares a meal, and the guys gather around the table eating and visiting with one another. They lounge in their living room, and lift their voices in song for player-led devotionals. This snapshot of the culture of Bison football culture is consistent with all of the football coaches that serve on this staff. The coaches are very aware that many of the young men under their leadership have never really seen what a Christ-focused home really looks like. The responsibility to model that well is taken extremely seriously by the entire staff and the role of the coaches’ wives as they love on these young men is crucial to the mission of Harding football. When you attend practice, the coaches’ wives and kids are often there. Harding Bison football is a whole family affair. They take an annual lake trip where they all go to Heber and jump off the cliffs into the lake. The guys overcome their fears of jumping in from high rocks, and they get the opportunity to support and encourage one another. They also just hang out - playing volleyball, and being silly. The whole team goes camping together and on float trips, making memories that last a lifetime. “If we fail when modeling authentic Christian manhood, then the rest of it was a waste of time. If our players win a national championship, and they graduate with a 4.0 GPA but as coaches, we failed to model how a Christian man is supposed to treat his wife and raise his children, then we have greatly failed indeed.” – Coach Paul Simmons, Head Coach, Harding Bison Football The guys come from diverse backgrounds. Some come from single-parent homes, some come from intact homes, some come from homes that are broken in many ways. They come from different states and in some cases, different countries. But what matters in this brotherhood is what’s inside. They are all brothers in Christ no matter the color of their skin or their backgrounds. They find a place where they belong with strong male Christian role models who care about them and are not afraid to tell them that they love them. “The greatest motivator in the world is not anger, fear, or hate, it is love. We want to be love-driven. I want my players to hear that I love them a ridiculous amount of times.” – Coach Paul Simmons, Head Coach, Harding Bison Football For Coach Simmons, the ultimate success is not a championship title, perfect score, or any game-related stat. Ultimate success is a knock on the door ten years later and finding a former player at his door with his wife and kids, wanting to let him know that his coaching had a lasting impact on their lives – wanting to tell him that they are a better husband, father and Christian servant because of the time that they spent with Harding football. If the coaching staff can have this lifelong impact and because of Harding football many more people can come to know the Lord, that’s the real win! For the Harding Bisons that’s their real secret to success - it starts and ends with honoring God and with loving others. “One of the best things about this place is that it goes outside of football. Every couple of weeks we go over to the coach’s house to eat. We share a meal and play with his kid, watch a game on TV, and just hang out together. It’s so cool to be together outside of football and the relationships grow. Every Wednesday night we have football church together. We meet in Coach Simmons’ house a lot of times. His wife fixes snacks and we open up the Bible and get into it and each other’s lives. Those things more than anything have been special.” – Will Fitzhugh, Fullback, Harding Bison Football Player “We care about winning and losing, but what we care about more than anything is having the best culture we can possibly have. When you’re part of a group that does things the right way, winning comes with that. Our focus is on being the best teammates and leaders that we can possibly be. What’s so special about Harding is that we just want to play together, work together, and encourage one another. We love seeing each other succeed. One of the biggest things about what makes our culture so special is that selflessness comes with it.” – Will Fitzhugh, Fullback, Harding Bison Football Player “A lot of cultures have the brotherhood as part of their mantra, but with Harding it’s real; it’s not something to sell to recruits. When you’re a part of this team you’re a part of a family. That comes with everything that being a part of a family entails. We rejoice together and celebrate our successes together but we also fail together. We are one with each other. That’s what a brotherhood really is. It shows throughout the season because when we are facing the best defense in the nation and the offense is having a hard time moving the ball, a family is going to pull together. They are going to hunker down and do the things it takes to pull out a win. It’s a blessing to be a part of a culture where entitlement is the last thing you see. Each player has a deeper role from the best player on the team to the guy that only walks on during practice.” – Jhalen Spicer, Runningback, Harding Bison Football Player “These guys are pushing me to be better in every aspect of life. I know these guys I came in here with are going to be my friends for the rest of my life. If I need something or if they need something from me, it doesn’t matter what time period of our lives it is, we’re going to be there for one another. I know that my teammates have my back and they know that I have their back. That’s more than just the football field. The football field is just a small time period of our lives. We know that we’re going to be there for each other throughout our lives.” – Will Fitzhugh, Fullback, Harding Bison Football Player “The coaches have us over all the time. Their wives are always cooking for us and making us desserts. On some of the games the moms get together and bake all types of cookies. The coaches are just as invested in the brotherhood as the players.” – Jhalen Spicer, Runningback, Harding Bison Football Player “We’ll remember games and moments of games, but the times that will stick with us and impact us the most are when we are together in the coaches’ homes or in the dorms. Those are the things that have impacted me most and really helped shape me into the man that I am today.” – Will Fitzhugh, Fullback, Harding Bison Football Player Read the full issue below.