midlands woman magazine

TM

MEET an INCREDIBLE SIBLING DUOwho prove that love is unconditional!

SURVIVINGand THRIVINGCherie Nettles shares herinspirational journey

Tim McLendon The local artist and musicianshares some of his work with us

SURVIVINGand THRIVINGCherie Nettles shares herinspirational journey

Tim McLendon The local artist and musicianshares some of his work with us

CELEBRATING, MOTIVATING, AND EDUCATING Real WOMEN

VOL 2, NO 4COMPLIMENTARY

MEET an INCREDIBLE SIBLING DUOwho prove that love is unconditional!MEET an INCREDIBLE SIBLING DUOwho prove that love is unconditional!

�www.midlandswoman.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFLori Samples Duncan

[email protected]

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVESTheresa AdamsCathy Williams

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSRuth Chapman

Pastor Mark CrumptonDenise Dickinsen

Lori Samples DuncanAshby Jones

Adrianna K. KleckleyAmy Neeley

Elaine Samples

COVER PHOTORobert Patrick Image Design

DESIGN Melissa W. Morris

PHOTOGRAPHYClark Berry Photography

Robert Patrick Image Design

In this Issue

www.midlandswoman.com

Find us on facebook!

7 Celebrate an Old-fashioned Christmas!

8 The Ashby Chronicle: Superstorms

9 We’ve Gone Crackers!

Professional10 Tim McLendon: A Tale of Two Talents

Unconditional Love14 Love Begets Love

Celebrating the Survivor in You!16 Surviving and Thriving: Meet Cherie Nettles

19 Dems Confetti Celebration Collection

20 Surviving the Holidays Charity Fashion Show

Health & Wellness22 The Heritage at Lowman Alzheimer’s Facility

24 Tips for Caring for Yourself

25 Fifteen Minute Fixes for Your Face

Business & Web Directory27 Contact our Advertisers

Personal Note28 Living in the Moment

From the Editor 2 Happy Holidays!

Events 3 What’s Happening?

Let’s Talk 4 Leave the Weapons at Home

5 Bless...Don’t Stress

Midlands Woman MagazineWoman 2 Woman Publishing

(803) 785-4475 602 Northwood RoadLexington, SC 29072

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume respon-sibility for errors or omissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. © 2012

14 16

Happy Holidaysfrom our family to yours!

— Midlands Woman Magazine Staff

� Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

hank you for taking the time to read Midlands Woman Magazine. It is a privilege to bring this work to you on a quarterly basis, and I don’t take that for granted. It’s that time of year when the New Year is almost upon

us, but before we celebrate that holiday, let’s take a moment to enjoy the current one.

We are very excited about this issue. There is something for everyone in this last Midlands Woman Magazine of 2012. No matter how you celebrate the holidays, Mast General Store has many wonderful gifts and collectibles to offer even the most challenging person on your list! If you are looking for a new home makeover or just perhaps a kitchen or family room makeover, consider Tim McLendon, a man of many talents. We’ll tell you about a few of those talents in this issue.

I love the story of Adrianna and her brother Rueben in the “Love Begets Love” article. It is the story of how a woman saw a need for something, and out of her desire to make the world a better place for her brother, she created a way to not only make a living, but a way to make a difference.

Every issue of Midlands Woman Magazine has a survivor story, and this issue is no different. Ms. Cherie Nettles is surviving and thriving, a Christian comedian, and the mother of two college students — this lady is a lot of fun. She talks about how facing a life threatening disease made her more de-termined than ever to laugh! All of our survivors inspire me to want to live my best life, to make a difference in the world around us, and to give back, even in the small things. Pay it forward as my good friend Paulette Criscione says. No task is too big or small when it brings a smile to someone’s face or a lift to their spirit.

Don’t forget to tell our advertisers that you saw them in Midlands Woman Magazine. They have made a commitment to you, our reader, to offer quality services and products. There isn’t a business in these pages that I would not refer to my own family and friends.

Thank you for being a Midlands Woman reader. I feel incredibly blessed to share with you the amazing men and women in these pages. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to shoot me an email or give me a call.

Until 2013,

Lori Samples DuncanEditor-in-Chief

T

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.—Dr. Seuss


Events

What’s HAPPENING?

Miranda Lambert “Locked & Reloaded” TourJanuary 17, 2013Colonial Life Arena, ColumbiaKnown for their distinctive styles of music, Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley kick off their “Locked & Reloaded” Tour. Miranda and Dierks bring to the stage scores of #1 singles, chart topping albums and trophies from The Grammy’s, CMA’s, ACM’s and CMT’s. Tickets are on sale now online through www.LMCTix.com, the Lexington Medical Center Box Office at Colonial Life Arena, Play It Again Sports in Columbia, or by phone at 855-4-LMC-TIX. USC Students can purchase tickets with their Carolina Card at the Lexington Medical Center Box Office at Colonial Life Arena. www.ColonialLifeArena.com

14th Annual Antiques in the Heart of Aiken Show and SaleFebruary 1-3, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. onFriday and Saturday, Noon – 4 p.m.on SundayAiken Center for the Arts, 122 Laurens Street SW, AikenServing delectable homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, and desserts! The show features more than 25 dealers from across the southeast with linens, jewelry, rugs, silver, porcelains, furniture, civil war memorabilia, and artwork. Also included are resto-ration/repair experts. The antiques show is a major fund raiser for the aiken center for the arts, which is celebrating more than 35 years of promoting arts and cultural education for the aiken area. Monthly exhibitions and art classes for adults and children are supported with funds raised from the antiques show and sale. Tickets for the show are $8.00 (good for all three days). The preview party will be held January 31st from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Call (803) 641-9004 to learn more or visit the website below.www.ColonialLifeArena.com

Advance Auto Parts Monster JamFebruary 8 at 7:30 p.m., February 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.Colonial Life Arena, ColumbiaMonster Jam returns to the Colonial Life Arena for their 10th consecutive appearance. This event is an incredible family-friendly experience starring the biggest performers on four wheels: Monster Jam monster trucks! These twelve-feet-tall, ten-thou-sand-pound machines will bring you to the edge of your seat, racing and ripping up a custom-de-signed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through! The biggest names in the sport are all here,

straight from their TV show on Speed and their pop-ular toy line from Mattel toys. Monster Jam provides a massive night’s entertainment tailored perfectly for your family’s budget. Visit the site below or call (803) 576-9200 for more information.www.ColonialLifeArena.com

Disney Live! Mickey’s MusicFestivalFebruary 22, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.Colonial Life Arena, ColumbiaMickey Mouse and friends rock the world with the stars from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Dis-ney/Pixar’s Toy Story in their new touring show Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival. Disney hits are remixed to the hottest sounds of today featur-ing hip hop, pop, swing, reggae, rock, country and much more! The irresistible lineup of performers, in-cluding Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy; Ariel, Sebastian and Ursula; Jasmine, Aladdin and Genie; and Woody, Buzz and Jessie; are among the more than 25 Disney stars featured in this jam session fit for the entire family! You can’t resist dancing, sing-ing, playing your air-guitar and laughing with this band of characters! Come join them at Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival for a lively concert experi-ence guaranteed to deliver enough rockin’ memories to last a lifetime. Visit the site below or call (803) 576-9200 for more information.www.ColonialLifeArena.com

www.carolinabehaviorandbeyond.com

Carolina Behavior & Beyond, LLCis a home-based early

intervention provider servingchildren with special needs

ages birth to five

Services available:One on one early intervention services

Service coordinationBehavior planning • Potty training

Parent support groupsFree developmental screeningsPlay groups • Infant massage

Adrianna Kleckley(803) 446-8113

Suzanne English(803) 447-8449

Office Fax(803) 808-7951

Your Journeyis Our Passion

Serving these counties:Calhoun • Lexington

Newberry • Richland • Saluda


N ow that it’s hunting season, let’s review the Lexington District One policy regarding weapons on school grounds (including cars

parked in the parking lot.) Don’t do it! All schools in Lexington One and across the state are under a strict no tolerance weapons policy.

by RuthChapman

Leave the WeaponsAT HOME

Let’s Talk

THEHAPMAN

OMPANYCC

F I N E J E W E L E R S

Specializing inOn-Site Repair

and Custom Design

www.thechapmancompany.com

803-996-5530903 North Lake Drive

Lexington(look for the black awning)

If You Dream It, We Can Build It

school property or to any school-sponsored or school-related activities on or off school prop-erty. This includes any type of firearm, knife, other sharp object or any object that could be considered a weapon including items that look like weapons (water guns, etc.) Students who possess, handle or transmit a knife, firearm or other object that can be con-sidered a weapon (including a look-alike weap-on) will be recommended for expulsion.’

So when the young man or woman in your home decides to go hunting before school, be certain that all of their weapons, pock-etknives, guns, etc. are removed from the vehicle and their person prior to arriving at school. A pocket check is highly recom-mended, i.e. always check pockets of jackets that haven’t been worn since last year. It is much better to find a pocketknife, box cut-ter, bullet, fishing hook or anything that can be used as a weapon at home when corrective actions can be taken. And parents constantly remind your sometimes bleary-eyed teenager on their way out the door in the morning to check their pockets.

A dumb mistake can change the course of their life, including your Honors student, and isn’t worth the risk or the heartache.

Recently, a student at a Lexington One high school inadvertently wore a pocketknife clipped to his pocket, the same pants coin-cidentally that he had worn the night before when fishing. Completely unbeknownst to him a teacher saw the clip, recognized that it was a knife and quietly, as required, informed administration. That child was expelled for one year, including being banned from any high school football games in the district, home or away, despite the fact that he had no disciplinary issues previously. All because he forgot that he had a knife clipped to his pants. There is no discussion when these issues hap-pen, nor is there any consideration given regarding intent. The rule is the rule and no amount of appeal can supersede the rule.

This scenario is repeated unfortunately across the state every year. Remember that even a butter knife in a child’s lunch box, regardless of the child’s age, is treated in just the same manner. There is no tolerance and therefore no exceptions made, so don’t do it.

The district rule, explicitly discussed in the school handbook given out each year says,

‘State laws (S.C. Codes 16-23-430 and 59-63-235 and Board Policy JICI) prohibit public school students from bringing any item capable of injuring another person or property on to

There is no tolerance and therefore no exceptions made, so don’t do it.


A nd Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen

that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

To quote a Christmas song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. But so many of us become stressed out because we are trying desper-ately to give so much of ourselves that we don’t enjoy much of the season. The primary reason we be-come stressed is because we over commit ourselves. Learn to say “NO”. It really is OK.

Say no to some of the time com-mitments (ie: all the Christmas parties) you don’t have to be ev-erywhere, slow down and focus on what is important, your family and loved ones. Don’t deprive them of

you in order to attend a party that you didn’t want to be at in the first place.

Say no to overspending. The fact is that most of us can’t really afford to buy gifts for everyone. However, the large majority do it anyway and cause themselves much undue stress that we will literally pay for all year long. Why not suggest that your family / extended family draw names or do a fun gift exchange instead. I have found that most people feel the same way and are relieved that someone finally sug-gested not buying everyone a gift.

Bless ... Don’t stress. When you learn how to say no, your family will be blessed to have a stress free, happy you to share the holiday with.

Another way to reduce stress is to give. Acts 20:35 “... remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is

more blessed to give than to receive.” With so many families affected by today’s economic situation it is not hard to look right around us and see a family that we can bless this Christmas. Most of us have what we need and we simply trade gifts that we often don’t use. What if you decided that instead of buying un-necessary gifts for everyone in the family that the family would buy less for each other and come to-gether to make this Christmas “the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” for another family. There really is something amazing and powerful that happens to us when we give from the heart, the way God gave His only son to us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)

Pastor Mark CrumptonLexington Church of God1228 S. Lake Drive, Lexington(803) 957-6675, www.LexCOG.org

by Pastor MarkCrumpton

Bless...Don’t Stress

Say no to overspending. The fact is that most of us can’t really afford to buy gifts for everyone.

The Crumpton Family

Let’s Talk


211 Gervais St. | Columbia, SC | www.edventure.orgTuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm

BIGGER &BETTER!OPENINGNOVEMBER 19!

All NEW cool family fun!

“Making the world a little bit KINDER one kid at a time” www.kinderkidscsra.com

Kinder Kids Academy • Translation/InterpretatEarly Intervention • Service Coordination

Physical Therapy • Occupation Therapy • Speech Therapy

AIKEN(803) 226-0525

P.O. Box 5158Aiken, SC 29804

CHARLESTON(843) 452-5933

P.O. Box 736Summerville, SC 29484


I n our modern times, we often feel that we don’t have time to slow down and enjoy the moment. But, that’s what memories are made of – moments that seem ordinary as they happen, but looking back, they had an extra

special meaning.

The Christmas season is filled with opportunities to string together moments into a festive garland for your family. Here are a few sugges-tions that you may want to incor-porate into your celebration.

The Victorian age was filled with games and activities. At Christ-mastime, children loved to take part in a game called The Christ-mas Cobweb. In one room in the house, gifts are hidden and the only way to find them is to follow a length of ribbon or yarn, which is wound around table legs, under seat cushions, and maybe even through a book or two until it gets to the package.

Perhaps the most vivid of memo-ries are based around food and conversations around the sup-per table. A certain smell or taste can trigger a warm memory from years ago….that’s why the kitchen is often the most crowded room during family gatherings. Put to-gether a menu that incorporates everyone’s favorite dish to make your Christmas dinner a meal that is looked forward to throughout the year.

Masters of the little details, a Vic-torian package would be gaily wrapped with brightly-colored ribbon and trussed up with silk ribbons and bows. There might even be a bit of hand-knotted lace added for extra flair. For your old-

fashioned Christmas, find an old picture of your gift recipient and scan it. Place it in a tiny frame and tie it on with the ribbon to be used as the “to and from” card. It may become a keepsake to share with their other family members.

Decorations and parties spanned the season. Evergreen roping and trees filled homes on the inside and the outside. In addition to the Christmas Tree, perhaps one of the best known old-fashioned holiday traditions is the kissing ball, which has now dwindled down to a sprig of mistletoe. Whoever was fortu-nate enough to end a dance under the kissing ball was lucky enough to share a kiss with their partner. You can make your own by gather-ing pine boughs, maybe from the trimming of your tree to fit in the stand, and sticking them into an apple or a potato. Tie a ribbon around it to hang it and affix some mistletoe to the bottom. You will enjoy the fra-grance throughout the season.

Charity was an impor-tant part of the Victorian Christmas celebration; a duty to remember and to help those less fortunate. As we scurry around looking for gifts for this one and that one, it is

easy to forget those who need our help. But, in making traditions that can be carried forward, this may be the most memorable and touching, and it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Prepare a meal for an elderly neighbor and spend some time just visiting. Get a group of friends together and go caroling at a nursing home or extended care facility. Work with your local so-cial services department to make the holiday special for a foster child and his or her family. A little thoughtfulness can go a long way for the receiver…and the giver!

The Mast General Store can help with your preparations for an old-fashioned Christmas. In the coun-try gourmet pantry, you’ll find the

Celebrate an Old-fashioned Christmas

makings for mulled cider, a mix for old-fashioned gingerbread, and cookbooks to help in planning your holiday menu. The mercan-tile department is filled with tradi-tional ornaments, some made here in the Carolinas, and candles that will help fill the air with a holiday bouquet. Throughout the store, Mast Store shopkeepers want to help you find the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones, and to provide an experience to make even the Scroogiest Scrooge smile.

To find out more, visit www.Mast-StoreColumbia.com.

A certain smell or taste can trigger a warm memory from years ago….that’s why the kitchen is often the most crowded roomduring familygatherings.


Let’s Talk


Have you noticed life is not really like the movies? Or novels? In movies and novels you know when to feel sad (the music is a cue, or the characters tell

you). You know when to feel elated – you have paid producers and writers and editors to tell you. Also, the book is almost finished or you are about done with your popcorn.

Life is not like this at all. The year is about done and there will be a celebration at the end. Enter peace, love and happiness.

The truth is, the holidays feel like clouds to many people.

Like the Wizard of Oz storm, we can unwillingly become swept away in the darkness, especially during the Holiday season. People, homes, bicycles - life passes us by as we watch. Smells are reminders of people who are no longer here. Family rituals are bittersweet. We are supposed to feel happy and don sparkly tacky sweatervests. We are supposed to cook cheesebiscuits and cheesecake and other things with cream cheese. We do what we are supposed to do. But the storms come anyway.

I watched a friend mow his grass in the pouring rain a few months ago. His wife, an avid reader, a mother of three. His wife, an exer-cise fanatic (and mother of three). His wife, a crackerjack accountant (and mother of three). His wife. She had passed away.

He didn’t really need to mow his grass in a storm. The men in our neighborhood had already me-ticulously blown leaves, cut bushes until they were bare, edged beside the driveway razor-sharp, carried off the trash, and planted things. It was sort of a pre-hurricane relief drive.

The storm still came, and the neighborhood men have not run for cover. They stand outside in the storm with him. And like men

do, they don’t mention that they are soaking wet. Instead, they talk about the Gamecocks.

I asked my friend Darra about future storms in my own fam-ily. Who would be there if the unthinkable happened? She said “Are you kidding? You would have a COVEN of women descend on your family.” It was an interesting word choice. I picture a group of witches with their brooms and their opinions, their energy and their silence, their prayers and their no-prayers . . . their wine. They would swoop in, sweeping away what they could, stirring the wind so that unnecessaries would disap-pear, cause lightening to strike the naysayers, and donning their best bedazzled shoes and striped stock-ings while they waited for the sun to rise again.

These women can be witches. But they are my witches.

This summer Maggie and I went to see Wicked in New York City. Before the show began, we dis-cussed (ok, I discussed, she eye-rolled) the meaning of the play. We/I discussed the revelation that the “wicked” witch was not so very wicked – just different. And that she sang this important song called Defying Gravity. A song about overcoming and breaking through, being who you are and living an honest life:

Too late for second-guessingToo late to go back to sleepIt’s time to trust my instinctsClose my eyes: and leap!

It’s time to try Defying gravityI think I’ll try Defying gravityAnd you can’t pull me down!

This was not a movie scene. Mag-gie and I did not have a soundtrack and I didn’t have half-eaten pop-corn. So, I didn’t really know it was a sunlight moment. But I do now. I realize the sun is sometimes hid-den just behind the clouds. If we are not afraid to get right there in the storm with the people we love, we will notice it.

I think about all the soaring that takes place all around me, all the time. Like my friend Amy who jumped out of an airplane to cel-ebrate survival. No broom neces-sary there. No need for sparkly shoes and striped socks. Just the air, the sun, and the moment. De-fying gravity.

Let’s grab each other this holi-day season. Hold on tight, push through those clouds. Let’s sweep away the wind, brush away the rain, and help each other see the sun. And when members of our coven struggle this season, let’s stand right there in the storm with them.

We won’t melt.

by Ashby Jones

Ashby Jones

photo by Clark Berry Photography THE ASHBY CHRONICLE:

SuperstormsSuperstorms

Let’s grab each other this holiday season. Hold on tight, push through those clouds.

Let’s Talk


Let’s Talk

the right hand and crossing arms to grab the cracker of the person sitting next door. Everyone pulls at once as the ring of crack-ers explodes. Out come the paper crowns, the joke, and in today’s crackers, a small toy. As everyone enjoys their dessert and coffee, they don their crowns and take turns reading their joke and playing with the little toy.

Why it’s taken so long for this bit of fun to make it over the Atlantic is astounding to us; especially since it includes explosives, but we’re just glad they’re here. It is a tradition we’ve adopted in our house and we encourage you to give it a try yourself. Just remember: that crown is very light.

The Christmas Cracker is the 1850 invention of Tom Smith, a London sweetmaker who decided he needed to liven up the delivery mode of his bon bons. While peering into a sparking fire one night, he got the idea to de-vise an exploding toy to make his candy eat-ing more of an event. And soon the cracker was invented. To give it a Christmas theme he inserted a paper crown, a symbol of the Magi; a riddle or joke just for fun; and of course his sweets. Once in the tube, it was wrapped in pretty paper, and rigged with a small “snap” similar to the explosive in a cap gun. To get to the goods inside, the holder must pull it apart with a bang to release the goodies. This toy had something for everyone and thus was an instant hit.

Nowadays, there are crackers for many differ-ent occasions including birthdays, weddings, New Year’s Eve, and any other commemora-tive occasion one can think of. But the most “crackery” day of the year is Christmas Day. A cracker is set at each place for the formal Christmas meal. Then at dessert, everyone opens their crackers together. This is done by each person holding the cracker in, say,

A combined feeling of dread and bemusement washed over me upon my return home from a busy December day. I had taken

some time from work to attend a Christmas party at one of my kids’ classrooms; then onto some late afternoon Christmas shopping before making it back to the house. As I hung up my jacket, I looked in the mirror next to the closet and there it was, pretty as can be, a crown made of bright pink tissue paper sitting right there on my head. I thought of all the places I had been since the afternoon party, and how no one had mentioned it, but had probably thought I was a little loopy. If you are familiar with Christmas Crackers, you may have a similar tale to tell.

WE’VE GONE CRACKERS!

by AmyNeeley

It is a tradition we’ve adopted in our house and we encourage you to give it a try yourself.

�0 Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

O pen several doors in Columbia’s bustling downtown and Vista business districts and undoubtedly you will discover the interior design talent of Tim McLendon.

TIM McLENDON: A Tale of Two Talents

McLendon’s commercial design projects comprise a wide vari-ety of restaurants and clubs; real estate developments; spas and retail, medical and other offices. Whether a single, private office or a large, public complex he brings his professional expertise to create an aesthetically appealing space that meets employee and custom-er functional needs. Take a walk downtown and step into McLen-don’s design in law offices. Pre-sale model units and re-designed pub-lic spaces, including Capital Places’ apartments and condominiums at the Capital I, the historic Kress and landmark Tapps buildings. A new Capital Place project is in progress to renovate the Berry Building condominiums across from Mast General Store on Main Street to represent a boutique hotel style.

In the Vista, McLendon’s diverse clientele includes the South Caro-lina Philharmonic Symphony, Cohn Construction headquarters and thriving hospitality sites such as J.T. Salon and M. Vista restau-rant. His next design task involves plans to revamp the Trustus The-ater bar and concessions area. Over the past two years McLendon worked with Jeff Balish of Dining Group South to set the design for the newest Vista dining venue, Co-la’s Restaurant, a lovingly restored 1930’s building formerly housing the regionally and nationally know Chero, Nehi and RC Cola bottling companies. Reviewing the project, Balish credits McLendon “for all the help and support he gave me in getting Cola’s up and going. Great advice on colors, fabrics and de-sign elements and just a good guy

to talk to when design issues got to me.”

In the realm of interior design, Tim McLendon’s artistic vision for the way he puts together space, lighting, décor, colors and textures is influenced by his vast experi-ences and excursions. McLendon comments that he has “traveled around the world and draws de-sign elements and imagery from everywhere I go.” Enhancing the complete visual environment, McLendon designs the look of a space through the application of paint, fabric, floor coverings, win-dow treatments, furniture, accesso-ries, lighting and other materials.

Where on lives defines their per-sonal style – in chic modern apart-ments, casual beach houses, up-

scale city – center condominiums, sprawling suburban family homes or unique historic residences. Whether designing new construc-tion interiors, redefining one or two rooms, or an entire house, McLendon transforms what was once “house” space into a stan-dard of living the one can truly call ‘home.’

McLendon develops deign com-ponents that range from the tradi-tional, to transitional and mid cen-tury modern design styles… and most anything in between. “The most important step in the design process is really getting to know my clients, so that I understand their vision, McLendon’s approach is to transcend his design beyond the expected. “ I like to take a foundation piece of a person’s or a

by Denise Dickinsenphotos by Robert Patrick Image Design

Professional

��www.midlandswoman.com

family’s life – it might be a treasured heirloom an-tique, a piece of fabric or contemporary art. The, I develop the design for their space from that in-spiration.” As a very per-sonal touch, McLendon often installs his original art which he crafts espe-cially for the project. A successful project comes together when McLen-don conducts the ‘re-veal’ to discover that he met his client’s needs by giving them new space filled with not only beauty, but also with comfort, energy and a sense of their personal spirit. McLendon notes that “Often, a client doesn’t know beforehand that their new space is actually what they’ve al-ways wanted.”

Studies show that professionally staged homes sell faster and for more money than non-staged homes. When staging each room for show, McLendon has the knack to look through a home buyer’s eyes and creatively edit and arrange the seller’s furniture, accessories and lighting to bring the home’s best features forward. For private home owners and real estate agents, McLendon’s successful hand and eye for staging minimizes days on the market while maximizing sales prices. In giving advice to sellers, McLendon notes that “The most important lesson – and one that is usually the hardest for the homeowner to do, is to edit their personal effects, collections and emotional items that clutter up a room. Great Aunt Edna’s heirloom trinkets and family photos may actually distract potential buyers from seeing a space clearly.”

McLendon’s design creativity, knowledge and practice has gained notability throughout North and South Carolina, Georgia, Miami, Manhattan, Denver and beyond to international destinations in Spain. When he’s not designing com-

mercial or residential spaces for the pleasure of others, McLendon spends his free time enhancing his personal residence in Elmwood Park. “The Store” as he affection-ately refers to his home, is actually a one-room neighborhood gro-cery store, circa 1913 which has been transformed into residential living space. His unique repur-posed space also serves as his cre-ative studio. A popular stop on nu-merous neighborhood sponsored home and garden tours, the Home and Garden Television (HGTV) featured McLendon’s home on the show ‘Building Character.’

McLendon was featured by the Columbia Museum of Art – Co-lumbia Design League’s ‘Meet the Designer’ series. As a creative de-signer, McLendon is known for bringing unparalleled value to both commercial and residential spaces. Yet, there is a second tale to McLendon’s creative spirit. Many of his clients are surprised to learn that he was first renowned for his original music as an exceedingly talented pianist, vocalist and song-writer. In the path of his design inspiration, McLendon played for the enjoyment of audiences at ven-ues all over the world.

Notable engagements include spe-cial appearances on ‘Paula’s Party’ with Paula Deen on the Food Net-work, international stages for Car-nival Cruise Lines flagships and

‘The Store’ as he affectionately refers to his home, is actually a one-room neighborhood grocery store, circa 1913 which has been transformed into residential living space.

Professional

�� Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women


ter roasts and black-tie affairs and for private celebrations and corporate events. Partnering with select musicians, ‘Tim McLendon and Su Band’ also offers a variety of performance groupings as a duo, trio, quartet or more with piano, bass guitar and drums, with multiple vocals. Whatever his location nor occasion, Tim’s clients respond that “He knew just how to ‘read’ his listeners to create a musically memorable event.”

McLendon’s latest behind-the-scenes venture is writing the story line for his original musi-cal, “Lizardo, A Musical Tail,” which is based in part on the urban legend of the Lizard Man from McLendon’s home town in Bishopville, SC. When finished, A Musical tail will bring his combined artistic talents to center stage for both music and set design. “I have so many musical numbers and set designs in my head, but there’s still a long way to go,” McLendon Comments.

So how does the tale of two talents end? McLendon hopes his story is timeless, “I look forward to transforming unique spaces and composing beautiful music as long as I can.”

For design consultation or music engagements, Tim McLendon can be reached at (803) 318-2691.

Crocodile Rock in the Vista; as well as perfor-mances with Disney; Opryland and the GMC Band. He masters an extensive repertoire cov-ering everything from jazz to rock, new age to classical, and all genres in between. His latest Cd, ‘Sundown’ receives rave reviews and is described as “Rich and buttery-smooth with a touch of spice that melts into your heart and soul, and swirls round, hitting all your senses.” Other accomplishments include his appearance in a Dolly Parton Video, A movie with Dick Van Patten and voice talent for commercial radio advertisements.

A recent claim to fame, McLendon indepen-dently wrote and performed the score for the indie file ‘My Sweet Misery, ‘ which won numerous national and international awards. Recalling the experience, he observes, “It was a unique and inspiring challenge to create music for a specific unseen scene that would evoke the feelings that the producer wanted the audience to experience in that moment.”

After traveling the world, McLendon now per-forms at home in South Carolina. He plays in the finest restaurants and clubs; at casual oys-

‘I have so many musical numbers and set designs in my head, but there’s still a long way to go.’

Professional

(803) 356-8080

www.midlandslandscape.com

SERVING THE MIDLANDS


by Adrianna K. Kleckleyphotos by Clark Berry Photography

LOVE Begets LOVE


Reuben Wade Kleckley was born March 22nd, 1984. He was named after four generations of Kleckley men and I’m sure my parents had dreams of him playing profes-sional baseball like my daddy and granddaddy did, but God had bigger plans for him.

When Reuben was two days old, he became very ill. Eight days later, he was flown to Johns Hopkins in Balti-more and was diagnosed with Propionic Acidemia, a rare metabolic disorder. At the time there were about 75 cases in the country. Most children didn’t live past infancy and those who did, typically had signifi-cant developmental delays. The latter proved true for Reuben. As a child, he had global delays, not walking until he was two or using phrases until he was four.

I think the question I get asked most often is, “Do you ever wish your brother was normal?” Some-times people are shocked when I say “no”. I mean, what is “normal”? I think about how happy Reuben is, how much he enjoys the simple things in life and how, at 28, he is completely unaware of the nega-tivity in this world. He’s had a lot of struggles, but he’s had so many more positive experiences! Having a sibling with special needs is not

something you wish for and it’s not always easy, but Reuben has given us so much more than we could ever hope to give him. Christmas mornings are still exciting, watch-ing him sing “Victory in Jesus”

always brings tears to my eyes and it’s because of him that I’ve dedi-cated my professional career to working with children with special needs.

For a long time I’d heard “you’re so good with Reuben”… so, my fami-ly wasn’t surprised when I changed majors my junior year at USC, to work with children with disabili-ties. Once I met my first child with autism, I was officially hooked. I became an Early Interventionist after graduating in 2003 and in November, 2011, I partnered with my colleague, Suzanne English, to form Carolina Behavior & Beyond.

Our company provides early inter-vention services to children with disabilities and developmental de-lays, mainly serving children from birth to age five. I love what I do and it’s truly amazing to see a child develop and transform before my very eyes. I found my purpose in life and I know without a doubt, I have Reuben to thank for that. He’s

LOVE Begets LOVEhen people ask me about my brother it’s impossible NOT to smile. He is such an amazing person! He’s friendly, strong, funny and has an infectious laugh. Reuben is completely

comfortable being himself. He doesn’t judge others and has the purest soul I’ve ever met. It doesn’t bother me that he can’t drive, that sometimes I have to “translate” what he’s saying to others, or that everything in his world is related to a sport’s team — that’s “Rube”, my baby brother and my best friend.

W

taught me that being different is not the end of the world, that there is wealth in every life if you have the heart to find it, and that you don’t have to be in the big leagues to pitch a no-hitter.

See the Carolina Behavior & Beyond ad on page 3.

I think the question I get asked most often is, ‘Do you ever wish your brother was normal?’ Sometimes people are shocked when I say ‘no’.


by Elaine Samplesphoto by Clark Berry Photography

W

Midlands Woman ce lebr ates the sur v ivor in you

hen Cherie Nettles found out that she had ovarian cancer,

her first thought was, “God, how can you do this? My children are so young - they need their mother.” And her next thought was, “Because my children need their mother, I am going to fight!” And fight she did.

SURVIVINGand THRIVINGMeet Cherie Nettles


It is said that ovarian cancer is the disease that whispers. Many of the symptoms are often dismissed (i.e., bloating, chronic indigestion, and change in bathroom habits). Cherie had all of these symptoms, but it was the unusual pressure in her right side that prompted her to make an appointment with her doctor. Through an exam, her doctor concluded that she had a benign (non-cancerous) tumor on her uterus. After a few more tests, she was sent to Dr. S. Terry Smith, a GYN Oncologist. Dr. Smith was aware of her test results, and he felt the tumor was non-cancerous.

As for how the process played out, I am going to borrow from the book that Cherie has published (Grow-ing my Divine Shrine: Your way to Live, Love and Laugh Through Life)…

“As a little girl I loved the nursery rhyme: ‘Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpy together again.’ Now that I was a big girl with a big diagnosis – I was literally falling to pieces… I was crying myself to sleep, and be-fore going in for additional tests, I was sobbing until my body had the snubs – you know, when you shake from head to toe because you’ve cried so hard. In my head, I knew the promises of God’s Word, but my emotions had taken over and my heart had no understanding. In preparation for a CT scan to de-termine what was going on, I had to drink that awful chalky mixture for the doctor to be able to see my insides. I took small sips, and cried between swallows. About ten min-utes after I finished drinking the required chalk, a technician hooked up the IV fluids, and asked me to lie flat on the table that would soon slide me into the scanner.

I couldn’t lie still. My snubs had caused my entire body to continue shaking. Tears flowed as I clenched my fists. The technician asked me

again to lie still, but I couldn’t. Fi-nally, she said, ‘What’s the matter?’ All I could do was open my fists, and when I did, two pictures fell out of my hands. They were of my two children. Distraught, I looked at her and exclaimed that question, ‘How can God do this to me?’ She quickly realized I wasn’t going to calm down, so she had the doctor order Xanax to help me relax. Have you ever taken Xanax? We would have world peace tomorrow if everyone took that pill!

My surgery date arrived, October 31, 2002. At the hospital, they once again gave me Valium … so I calmed down. They got me prepped for surgery and took me back to the O.R. Three and a half hours later, the surgeon came out to the waiting room and told my hus-band I had ovarian cancer, class 3C. My doctor informed my husband he had done a hysterectomy, the cancer had metastasized, and I would be-gin aggressive chemotherapy in two weeks. Through all of this, my hus-band had been reading the Psalms to me. I kept begging God for a word. God kept gently whispering in my heart, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ (Psalm 46:10) My hus-band left the hospital at 9:00 PM on November 5, 2002 to relieve the babysitters.

At 11:00 PM, he called and said, ‘Cherie, I have found your Word from God. It is Psalm 86. Read it.’ I opened my Bible and began to read Psalm 86, reached up for my journal and began to pen what I was reading. Somehow I know that Mike knew that I would journal. I love to write the Word of God and make it personal because the Bible is 66 love letters to us, and because of this journal … I have these words! I drifted off to sleep reading and journaling Psalm 86, the Word of God. NOW, HERE IS THE PART YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE.

At four in the morning, November

6, 2002, I woke up in my hospital room and heard a beautiful, still quiet voice saying, ‘Good morning, Cherie. I want you to be confident in Me and be at peace, for there is no more cancer.’ I fell back into my pillow and began to revel at what God had just said to me and He whispered, ‘You will not rest until you write it.’ So, in the small corner

of my Wal-Mart Composition note-book, my journal, I wrote 11/6/02 between 4:00 and 4:10 AM, God woke me up and said, ‘Good morn-ing, Cherie, I want you to be con-fident in me and be at peace, for there is no more cancer.’ I drifted off to sleep.

At 6:00 AM, Dr. Smith opened the door and in his exuberant way said, ‘Good morning! Cherie, I have good news for you.’ ... From the latest pathology, it was determined that my tumor was non-invasive. That’s huge. That means it can’t spread. If it can’t spread, it can’t kill you. I smiled and asked Dr. Smith if I could read my journal to him… Be-ing the God-fearing man he is, he said, ‘Absolutely!’ After reading my journal, he reached over kissed my cheek …and said, ‘God has smiled on you.’”

On the evening of my first contact with Cherie Nettles, she told me that she was going to meet some friends for dinner, only to be sur-prised that her husband, along with two of her best friends, had orga-nized a ten year “God has smiled upon you” party. In listening to her story, it became very evident to me that God was not only smiling upon his daughter, but He was us-ing her to smile upon others.

At the time of her diagnosis, Cherie was a full-time-stay-at-home Mom who was teaching the Bible to her two children, Alex and Ashleigh, 11 and 8 respectively at the time. “Cancer actually changed my Bible teaching to Bible teaching with comedy,” laughs Cherie. “And that is where my friends, ministry part-ners, and audiences dubbed me a ‘Christian Comedian.’ Genesis 21:6 says, ‘God has brought me laughter and everywhere I go and share my story people will laugh with me.’ So, cancer made me laugh … all the time. In Proverbs 17:22, it tells us that laughter is medicine to our souls. Truly laughter heals. Laugh-ter releases endorphins into our bodies, which are a bodies natural pain-killers. Laughter reduces cor-tisol level, which improves heart function and lowers blood sugar. Laughter gives us a better sense of well-being and promotes unity. So, who wouldn’t want to laugh? This past summer I became a Certified Laughter Leader. Now my passion is not just to make people laugh, but to teach people to laugh… Laughter is medicine to our soul.”

I wish I had the space to share with you more of Cherie’s story. She was truly an inspiration and light to me. And no doubt, she has touched countless lives as she shares her story, and this earthly journey. I will leave you with what Cherie says is her most valuable lesson from her fight against cancer, “I realized that every place the sole of my foot treads, God has given me. And that God is the giver and taker of life, and no diagnosis can change this.”

To hear more of Cherie’s story, you can find her book, Growing my Di-vine Shrine: Your way to Live, Love and Laugh Through Life, via her website at www.cherienettles.net.

This article is brought to you by Dems Fine Jewelers. Visit www.demsjewelers.com or call (803) 407-5290. See their ad on page 27.

Now my passion is not just to make people laugh, but to teach people to laugh…

Celebrating the Survivor in You!


Dems Fine Jewelers exclusive Bead It to BEAT IT program is celebrating 18 cancer survivors through custom beads that will fit the Chamilia, Trollbeads and Pandora bracelets and can also be worn on chains and earrings. The cost is $38.00, and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to SCOA Cares Foundation and Lexington Medical Center Foundation – The Crystal Smith Fund. Join them as the fight goes on to BEAT cancer! Every woman has a special story and each bead represents her fight against cancer. Dems is proud to celebrate these amazing women.

“Marian” | Grandmothers | Celebrate Special Bonds!Something magical happens when a mother becomes a grandmother! Blessed are the ties that bind generations.

“Debbie” | Vacation | Celebrate Memories!Travel to new places and enjoy new adventures. The memories we make together will last long after the bags have been unpacked.

“Janet” | Beach Life | Celebrate Simple Pleasures!Take time to bask in the sun, splash in the waves and relax in the sand. Life is all about simple pleasures...make them count.

“Cathy” | Summer Sunrise | Celebrate Beauty!Each new day begins with a sunrise that takes your breath away. Enjoy the spectacular display of God’s beauty and grace!

“Andrea” | Thank You | Celebrate Kindness!Thank you for being the kind of person who makes a difference in my world. Your kindness and thoughtfulness means so much!

“Paulette” | Cheers | Celebrate Life!Cheers to family! Cheers to friends! Cheers to heath and happiness! And cheers to a life lived to the fullest!

“Suzanne” | New Years | Celebrate New Beginnings!Every new year and each new day is an opportunity to delight in all of life’s wonders. Remember to always say “I Love You”!

“Winkie” | Valentine | Celebrate Love!A romantic dinner for two or a quiet night strolling beneath the stars, our moments together are precious! You are my Valentine!

“Amy” | Lucky Shamrock | Celebrate Wonders!For each petal on a shamrock, a wish for you! Good health, good luck and happiness...for today and every day!

CONFETTI CELEBRATION COLLECTION

“Cathy” | Easter Egg | Celebrate Blessings!If you put all your eggs in one basket, may it be a basket full of blessings; filled with bright feelings, joy and laughter!

“Sally” | Graduation | Celebrate Achievements!Black hats tossed in the air. Excitement, love and pride fills your heart. May your dreams always be limitless!

“Annie Ruth” | Fireworks | Celebrate Freedom!Light up the night sky with bursts of bright colors and twinkling sparklers as we celebrate pride in our past and hope for our future!

“Betsy” | Thanksgiving | Celebrate Family!Holidays are more than a savory feast. They are the celebration of togetherness! A special day to give thanks for our family and friends.

“Amanda” | Mistletoe | Celebrate Traditions!Twinkling lights and evergreen; caroling and mistletoe... moments spent with family and friends celebrating the magic of the season.

“Nichole” | Birthday Wishes | Celebrate Milestones!May your birthday bring a smile to your face, happiness to your heart and many blessings to your life. Warm wishes on your birthday!

“Teri” | Friends | Celebrate Friendship!The best part of the life is when your family understands you as a friend and your friends support you as your family.

“Beth” | Friday Nights | Celebrate Good Times!Be spontaneous... celebrate any and everything! All it takes is family and friends to make a party happen!

“Fran” | Anniversary | Celebrate Forever!With you, I celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday and the hopes and dreams for our tomorrow. Forever “I do”!


�0 Celebrating, Motivating and Educating Real Women

Gloria Thompson“I found out that I had breast cancer on July 31, 2004, I am 8 years out. It had made me slow down and enjoy life and I don’t worry about the small things, to take one day at a time.”

Brenda Osteen“This has taught me that every day is a beautiful day and after 65 years finally “it is all about me!” I have been given the chance to live each day that God has given me with joy, thanksgiving and knowing how precious time is and not to be wasted. Survivors soon learn what is important and what can be left behind.”

Cherie Nettles“Cancer has changed my perspective in every way… so if only a few sentences… I was released from my oncologist at the end of 2011… 10 years out. I am cancer free (as God said I was!) And, I realize life is too short to not live an abundant life… So, I believe in all we do we must live, love and laugh!”

Mandy Bowden“I am a 5 year breast cancer survivor with 2 boys, age 7 and 9. Surviving cancer has made me laugh a little louder, love a little deeper, and live more purposefully. I am passionate about showing other women that they too can do more than survive.”

Kayla Lucas“I have become a stronger person and even though I have still got a long road ahead I know with God’s help I will be fine.”

Jackie Foot“I am a five year survivor of breast cancer. It has afforded me the opportunity to become friends with some awesome women of faith! It has impacted on me the need to help others! The Bible says, ‘Faith is the assurance of things hope for.’ Without faith, my walk through this journey would have been much more difficult. Each day is a blessing and I have a deeper appreciation for the small things in life that we all take for granted!”

Amy Kinard“I found my lump on a self breast exam at 34, had bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and 1 year of chemo. I am now 5 years cancer free. I am the star of Lexington Medical Center Pink Glove Dance.”

Tonja Brimfield“I am a 6 year survivor of Breast Cancer, I’ve had many challenges, but the entire experience has enabled me to give hope and strength to everyone who is facing this disease. God has blessed me with a new family of dynamic doctors and wonderful survivors from Lexington Medical Center.”


Thank you to allof our models!

All clothing for our female models was provided by Mae’s on Main.Thank you to Connie Stuckey and her staff for their help!

Dee Morgan “Breast Cancer has changed me in so many ways. In June 2012, I was a 4 year survivor. Since my diagnosis I appreciate every single day of my life. Simple things like blue skies and a sunny day are special. Standing on my street with my husband watching the sunset is an event. My friendships are richer and family means so much. I thank God for each moment of my life. ”

Kelly Bauer “I was diagnosed August 2011 and I have survived with the attitude that I had cancer —It did not have me. I am so amazingly bless as it brought me closer to family and friends and taught me to pray every single day.”

Carrie Myers“As of June 13th, I am a 1 year survivor with a 6 year old girl and 2 year old boy. This experience has made me not sweat the little things and live life to the fullest. ”

Jessica Lanford“I am in my 5th year battling breast cancer. I was 26 when I was first diagnosed and it is still using my body as a home. I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and am currently taking oral chemo. Although it sounds scary I continue to be blessed with wonderful family and friends. Nothing will stop me from smiling.”

Kim Hamrick Watson“God has blessed me richly—I am thankful for 6 years cancer free! I am recently married and look forward to starting a family soon. Cancer is the best and worst thing that has happened to me. But what an awesome and unique opportunity it provides to reach out to others. I can honestly say that I got way more out of cancer than it ever got from me!”

Bambi Wise (and Kaylie)“I’m at the radiation part of my journey. I’ve had 8 rounds of chemo, bilateral mastectomies and ovaries removed. The way cancer has changed me is I feel like it is a blessing that I’m being used for a greater purpose. I also appreciate my family and my friends a lot more. And I take everyday as a gift from God. And I’m more of an optimistic person now. I feel like I can change someone else’s life. Be-cause my life has been changed by other survivors.”

Cathy Lindner“I was diagnosed on September 11, 2012, and have just begun radiation treatments. Having cancer has made me much more aware of my surrounding and realizing that most people that we meet in day to day life are dealing with something. I have trusted my faith in God, and drawn closer than ever to my fam-ily, and for that I am so thankful. ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to his purpose.’”


A fter my shower today, I tried putting my socks on before my undergarments. “So what?” you ask. I usually start from the bottom up. I tried this experiment because of something Denise Dickinsen said to me during

an interview about Lutheran Homes of South Carolina and their Reunion Memory Support programs for persons with Alzheimer’s. It made me uneasy to get dressed a different way than normal. It made me uneasy, yet I chose to do it this way. How much more frustrating is it for someone who can’t communicate the way they like to get dressed? Do they brush their teeth before they shower, or after? Do they eat breakfast first, or do they watch the news…

So many little things make up our days, the sum of which constitutes a life. For this reason, the Lutheran Homes takes special care in working with the families of their residents - because every detail is important to ensure that the best care is provided. Across the state, Lutheran Homes has four different memory support programs based on the same prin-ciples: only the physical address and actual building is different.

I sat down with a Mimi Morrill, Director of Memory Support, at the Heritage at Lowman and Denise Dickinsen, of Lutheran Homes to find out why the Heritage would be a place for a loved one.

Lori: Tell me what you love about the Heritage at Lowman?Mimi: One of the things I love about this particular building is its design. It was crafted to be condu-cive to dementia with an exterior

courtyard, so that residents can roam freely. This has really helped our elderly gentlemen not feel confined or trapped. The freedom of movement in and out of the courtyard is probably my favorite part of the physical building. An-other thing I love about Lowman is the longevity of the tenure of staff. We have staff members that have been here for 30 years, which is re-ally demonstrative of their passion and dedication. We hire based on personality and passion, and our CARES training is designed to en-hance both of these driving forces in our employees. Our caregivers genuinely care for our clients, and, based on the feedback we receive from families, it is evident that they notice.

Another thing that I like here is the programming: the activities and the fact that we have a full time life enrichment director who

thinks outside the box, and really reaches out and touches people who suffer from dementia. She of-fers unique activities such as kite flying, a remote control car derby, and a fair day, where our residents went outside as if they were at a county fair; complete with games, candied apples, corndogs and cheese corn puffs. It’s really excit-ing to experience first hand some of the atypical activities we offer, which are specific to the stimula-tion of people with dementia. We offer BeWell Brain Builders for enrichment programs which en-gage us with the residents at their cognitive level. Our residents can participate as much or as little as their level of comfort and no one has to feel excluded or uncomfort-able, because there is room for all levels of participation.

Lori: What is the CARES pro-gram? Mimi: CARES is a great staff strain-ing program. (The Alzheimer’s CARE program is a first-of-its-kind Alzheimer’s training program ad-dressing current and future health needs by offering caregivers a new approach to Alzheimer’s care. The

approach encourages engage-ment to help persons with dementia live successfully. Caregivers learn to immerse themselves in the mindsets of their loved ones to help

by Lori Samples Duncan

The Heritage at Lowman Alzheimer’s Facility

manage behavioral symptoms and facilitate daily care) All of our staff has just undergone training and received certification, and it makes a huge difference. I actually see it: I see them putting it into practice daily. The program is online so that caregivers and family members can complete it at their own pace. After completing the modules, participants test to become certi-fied in essentiALZ-by the national Alzheimer’s Association. Denise: Alzheimer’s eventually erases all levels of education, eth-nicity and personhood, … and caregiving in this situation is just hard. That’s why we require all of our staff, from our nurses to our housekeepers and maintenance people, to be certified.

Lori: Wow, so the entire staff is trained on this new program?Denise: Right. We are the only communities that we are aware of in South Carolina that have enrolled in this program. It’s also important for us to work with families. We find out who that person was before dementia and look after the person and their family. Sometimes a person trav-els back to who they were many, years ago. They may be 87 today, but in their minds they are 32 and living a very vibrant life that is much different to whom they are


Health & Wellness


Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is challenging. When you can’t do it alone, let Lutheran Homes of South Carolina’s certified Alzheimer’s caregivers help you continue to care.

Learn more.800.756.9443

Assisted Living Memory Support • Heritage at Lowman - Chapin• Rice Estate - NE Columbia

Alzheimer’s? We can help.

LutheranHomesSC.org

• Lutheran Hospice• BeWell Home Services

today. We try to get in touch with the family to find who and what brought them pleasure. It is the small things. Our goal is to help people with dementia be success-ful. We want them to feel at ease in our presence, to feel valued; to feel that they do make a difference and that they have purpose.

Lori: Is there an age limit or a cer-tain age for admission?Denise: Our age for admission is age 50+, but we make exceptions given the circumstances. One of the things we do that is different from most places is that we have a flexible assisted living program where people can come for a few days a week and go home as they

desire. It gives families a much needed break. Our goal is to help people with dementia be success-ful. We want them to feel at ease in our presence, and to feel valued; to feel that they do make a difference and that they have purpose.

Lori: It has to be depressive when you realize what you are going through.Denise: I remember a gentleman in a support group saying that Alzheimer’s is the longest goodbye. The minute you get the diagnosis that you have Alzheimer’s is the hardest part. I remember caring for my grandfather as a long distance caregiver. I was living in Washing-ton and Louisville and coordinat-

ing care in Illinois. I was always wondering, would my grandfather recognize me the next time I vis-ited him?

I remember another gentleman who said that he rolled over in the middle of the night in bed with his wife, and she didn’t know who he was. They had been sleeping in that same bed for 50 years. Unfor-tunately, what come about are be-haviors that are challenging, Rec-ognizing that challenged people are trying to communicate, we do whatever possible to help them be successful to live their lives.

Mimi: Some of our families come and exercise in our wellness cen-ter and use the pool. The facil-ity provides stress relief, which is something else we work on with our families, residents and staff. Everyone has to take care of them-selves before they can take care of someone else.

Lori: Does insurance pay for as-sisted living?Denise: Many long term care poli-cies cover assisted living. South Carolina’s Medicaid program does not pay for Assisted Living, al-though it does cover some home-based support such as our BeWell Home Services.

Lori: What is the importance of working with the family? Denise: We stress that caregivers really have to know who a person was and who the person is now; to tyro merge their past and where they are presently together. Our caregivers work their shift and then they may have rest and relaxation, whereas a family member is not al-ways able to do that. Love is a mar-velous thing, but sometimes it’s not enough. When a person moves to one of Lutheran Homes’ programs, the family takes on a new role. No more are they burdened with the physical chores of caring. Some-body else is there 24/7, to take care of those worries. Families can spend their time bringing happi-ness and joy when they visit. They are able to give hugs and love.

During a time that can be very stressful and uncertain, it helps to have someone who really cares about you and your family mem-ber. If your family is facing the possible onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia, you owe it to yourself to look into the Heritage at Lowman and Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. You can find them on the web at LutheranHomesSC.org or give them a call at (803) 732-3000 or (800) 756-9443.

Reunion Memory Support Director Mimi Morrill, LPN and Life Enrichment Director, Mary Shuford lend a hand to resident Mary Bickley

Health & Wellness


TipsforCaring for Yourselfn today’s fast paced world it is easy to push ourselves and our bodies to the limit. Before you know it, you have gone too far, done too much, and rested too little, resulting in stress. The holidays can turn out to be very stressful

for many people. We all experience a certain amount of stress every day, but beyond a certain point the stress can become harmful and can cause damage to your health, your mood, your relationships, your productivity and your overall quality of life.

the better your trip will be.

The results of having too much stress can manifest itself in many different ways physically. For ex-ample: persistent aches and pains, fatigue; gastrointestinal issues; headaches/dizziness; shortness of breath; frequent falls; and muscle stiffness.

The above tips are to assist you in caring for yourself with the inten-tion of showing you ways to reduce the amount of stress and its ef-fects. This, along with occupation-al/physical therapy, and aquatic therapy will help you build solid strength, stamina and flexibility. Contact Vital Energy Occupation-al Therapy & Wellness Center at (803) 359-1551 to learn more.

I

MaintainaBalanceBetweenRestandActivityIt is essential that you maintain a balance between getting the right amount of rest for your body and over exerting yourself. Learning how to relax is fundamental in maintaining your balance, physi-cally and mentally. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, medita-tion, and deep breathing will assist you in reaching a state of restful-ness as well as boost your feelings of joy and serenity.

Sleep is absolutely essential for your body and your mind. Not getting enough sleep can lead to a host of ailments (i.e., suppressed immune system, decreased mental acuity, irritability and many oth-ers). Maintaining the correct bal-

ance between nutrition, exercise/fitness and sleep will help you keep your body in top working order.

NutritionandExerciseEveryone knows that proper nutri-tion is required to maintain your body in top condition. Make an inventory list of the items in your pantry and the nutritional values assigned to each item to know just how much you are putting in your body of each. Learn the basics of proper nutrition and tailor your life around eating right. Fueling your body correctly will allow you to maintain your focus, stamina, and physical ability.

Exercise is also essential to main-tain your body’s performance. Exercise is also a terrific stress

reducer. Simply going for a walk, whether it be along a walking trail or just around your neighborhood, will lower your stress levels tre-mendously, if not completely. So maintain a regular exercise rou-tine.

Travel–LightenYourLoadThe holiday season is one of hustle and bustle where it seems that you never have enough time to get ev-erything completed that you have set out to do. If you are traveling during this time of year, make sure that you lighten your load. This simple step before you travel will prove to be most invaluable to you in the long run. Travel can be stressful enough as it is, the more you can do to minimize the amount of stress you experience,

WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR STRESS:

Health & Wellness


The holidays are a busy time. There are parties to attend and family to see. You want to look fantastic, of course. But with a hectic work, family, shopping and social sched-ule, time is limited. That’s where a number of procedures with Dr. Todd Lefkowitz at Lexington Plas-tic Surgery can help. Requiring little to no downtime and offering immediate results, these procedure can also be a great Christmas gift.

With prestigious training, years of surgical experience, a wide variety

of tools and a surgeon’s under-standing of anatomy, Dr. Lefkowitz provides a consultation, educates patients on their options and cus-tomizes treatment based on what is best for them. Botox® is the most common, non-invasive technique for rejuvenat-ing your face. A Botox injection works by halting nerve impulses to muscle, which relaxes muscles and softens or erases fine lines. Botox is most often used on the fore-head, between the eyebrows and for crow’s feet. Dr. Lefkowitz can perform a consultation and proce-dure in 30 to 45 minutes – making Botox a “lunchtime” treatment. It’s safe and effective, and lasts ap-proximately 3 to 4 months. Other wrinkles and folds can be

treated by a variety of fillers. A filler is a naturally occurring acid-based substance injected

Fifteen Minute Fixes forYourFace

L exington Medical Center recently welcomed its first plastic surgeon to the hospital’s network of care. Todd Lefkowitz, MD, offers plastic and reconstructive

surgery at Lexington Plastic Surgery, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice. Dr. Lefkowitz received his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina. He completed a residency in General Surgery at Saint Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York and a residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Louisville Hospitals. He also completed a fellowship in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery at The Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Institute, which is part of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Dr. Lefkowitz grew up in West Columbia and attended Brookland-Cayce High School.

Health & Wellness

into the skin to help give fullness, which reduces lines and wrinkles caused by time and gravity. These safe treatments can last from 6 to 9 months. Additionally, chemical peels can also help fight the effects of sun damage, aging and general wear and tear on the skin. Chemical peels refurbish and reorganize the fibers that give skin its elasticity and youthful appearance. They are also effective in exfoliation, helping to remove the top layer of skin and promoting increased stimulation of collagen, which helps to grow new, healthy skin cells. Downtime from a chemical peel ranges from 7 to 14 days. Dr. Lefkowitz uses a medical grade peel that he custom-izes based on your skin type and extent of skin damage. Lexington Plastic Surgery also of-fers Latisse,® a prescription drug

that makes eyelashes longer. You apply Latisse nightly to your eye-lashes. The product produces full-er, darker, longer lashes. At the end of the day, achieving beautiful, youthful skin is a multi-pronged approach, ranging from a doctor’s tools to lifestyle. “No matter what you’re starting with, there’s no substitute for a commitment to physical health and well-being,” Dr. Lefkowitz said. “Proper hydration, a healthy diet, regular exercise, sun protec-tion and no tobacco use is essen-tial to achieving a healthier, more youthful looking you.” Each of these FDA-approved pro-cedures can help you achieve your beauty goals quickly, safely and easily. In the meantime, Dr. Lefkowitz is proud to be back home in West Columbia. “I enjoy serving the needs of the community that helped raise me,” he said. “I have nothing but good memories growing up here. It’s a wonderful opportunity to give back to those who gave so much to me.”

At the end of the day, achieving beautiful, youthful skin is a multi-pronged approach ranging from a doctor’s tools to lifestyle.

Todd Lefkowitz, MD


Call 800.491.1764 to make reservations.

For more information visit HickoryKnobResort.com

or email [email protected]. McCormick, SC

Per reservation

PaCkage features Overnight stay in a lodge room

Friday night movie Saturday breakfast

with SantaPlus 3 Fun Activities

on Saturday Morning: Gingerbread houses

with Mrs. Claus Picture with Santa Story time

Friday, Dec. 7 — Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012

Includes Overnight stay, activities and Breakfast for up to 2 adults

( kids stay and eat breakfast free )

LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER BOX OFFICE,

855-4-LMC-TIX. ALL DATES, ACTS, AND PRICES SUBJECT

TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE

SERVICE FEES. TWITTER /FACEBOOK @ LIVENATIONNCSC

Colonial Life Arena

January 17


Business & Web Directory

heartsonfire.com

FINE JEWELERS1068 Lake Murray Blvd, Irmo, SC

803.407.5290 www.demsjewelers.com

THE RANGE...everything western. West of the Vista.

Apparel, Home, Equestrian & American Indianwww.therange811.com

(803) 334-8456 • 811 Meeting Street • West Columbia

JewelryDems ..........................................27www.demsjewelers.com

The Chapman Company ............ 4www.thechapmancompany.com

LandscapingMidlands Landscape ................13www.midlandslandscape.com

PhotographyClark Berry Photography ... Inside Back Coverwww.clarkberry.com

Robert Patrick Image Design .............Inside Front Coverwww.rpimagedesign.com

ShoppingMast General Store .....................6www.maststorecolumbia.com

The Curiosity Shop ...................... 9www.curiosityshoptea.com

ApparelThe Range ..................................27 www.therange811.com

Art & EntertainmentAiken Center for the Arts ........27www.aikencenterforthearts.org

Colonial Life Arena ................... 26www.coloniallifearena.com

EdVenture ..................................... 6www.edventure.org

Hickory Knob State Resort Park .................................. 26www.hickoryknobresort.com

Assisted LivingLutheran Homes of SouthCarolina .....................................23www.LutheranHomesSC.org

Child CareCarolina Behavior & Beyond ....3www.carolinabehaviorandbe-yond.com

Kinder Kids ................................... 6www.kinderkidscsra.com

Health ServicesLexington Medical Center .........................Back Cover www.lexmed.com

Lexington Oncology. ................ 18www.lexoncology.com

Vista Women’s Healthcare. ...... 26www.vistawomens.com

HotelWingate by Wyndham .............12www.lexingtonwingate.com 2013 SHOW AND SALE

February 1, 2 and 3Preview Party, January 31

Aiken Center for the Arts(803) 641-9094 • www.aikencenterforthearts.org

122 Laurens Street SW • Aiken, SC

Sponsored By: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, URS


A Personal Note

try to find moments in my life to share with you because I want you to know my family and I are like you and yours. Each time I bring a personal

note to you, it is just that — personal. I was eighteen years old when a friend of mine who I loved was killed in a car accident. Drinking and drugs were involved, and the driver was charged with manslaughter. As a senior in high school, I lost three peers and a fellow graduate. I believe this is when I began to realize that life is fragile and that tomorrow is not promised.

I try to be grateful for every moment of every day that has been given to me. If you have been reading Midlands Woman Magazine for a while, then you know that I am very thankful for my children.

Our oldest son just made SATB Allstate Choir and was starting right guard for WKHS Varsity Football team that just finished a *record breaking season. Trey is a young man who has had many accomplish-ments to celebrate over the last sixteen years. I would like to think some of that is because Trent and I are wonderful parents. The truth is that he is just an overachiever, and since he was a little boy, he has understood the relationship between hard work and results. He works very hard for everything that he wants, and his hard work always pays off.

Abby traveled to Myrtle Beach in October to participate in the SC Honor Choir weekend where, she was selected from a group of exceptional singers to represent CSMS. She was one of three students from last years 8th grade class who made the cut. She loves the new experience of being in high school and is continuing to be a great student this year. As part of our families journey to be healthy, Abby has begun running, and I love that she has made a commitment to do something for herself. She is one of two comedians in our house and makes me laugh daily.

Colton is growing up too fast, as they all are. He celebrated his tenth birthday on September 9th. He is my little patriot. I brought him home on September 11, 2002. He was wrapped in an American flag blanket, hand sewn by the volunteers at NE Georgia Medical Center to commemorate 9/11/2001. His love of history makes for interesting dinner conversations. He knows facts about our country and previ-ous presidents that leave me in awe. He was a junior groomsman in a recent wedding, and I wish I could share with you the video of him dancing out of the church. Colton’s love of life is infectious.

Ryan will be six in a couple of months. I can’t believe where the time has gone. He loves the fact that Ryan means “little king,” and he likes to remind us. I have told my friends about his love of being the boss. So while we are at a wedding reception in a large church, my friend asked Ryan, “Hey, who is the king of this house?” She fully expected his answer to be, “me,” because he thinks he is king of our home — King Duncan. He looked at her, pointed to a cross in the corner, and said with a grave expression on his face, “There is only one king of this house and he died on the cross.” I had to choke back the tears. Out of the mouths of babes sometimes comes great wisdom.

I hope to teach them all not to be so hard on themselves. I want to teach them not to get consumed about the future and appreciate today. I want them to enjoy who they are now in this moment in their lives. To be grateful for every day and with every gift with which they have been entrusted. What if we all live our lives less worried about what we do not have and more grateful for what we do have?

Your Friend,

Lori Samples Duncan

I

Psalm 118:28-29You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Ryan

Colton

Abby

Trey

photos by Robert Patrick Image Design

midlands woman magazine

Documents

love article

woman publishing803

midlands woman magazine

incredible sibling duowho

professional10 tim mclendon

local artist

time of year

new home makeover