Opinion
Cowboy Stew Recipe by Derinda Austin
“I have enjoyed making this quick and easy recipe for many years. It is a favorite go-to meal because it’s easy to keep the ingredients on hand for use. This Cowboy Stew was especially simple to prepare after church services when a quick lunch allowed more time to visit. One of the many favorites of Jeanette Brothers and myself,” acclaims Derinda Austin.
To The Presidents of the United States of America
The Falls County Republicans asked me to do a patriotic poem at their “Presidents’ Day” gathering. Often, I recite the Johnny Cash poem “That Ragged Old Flag” but this year I decided to scratch down a few words of my own to honor Presidents’ Day. I got to rub elbows with the “Bigwig Politicians” which included Falls County political aspirants as well as those running for Texas Senate District 22 and Texas House of Representative District 13. Senator Brian Birdwell represents Senate District 22 and is not seeking re-election. David Cook is one of the folks seeking that office. We talked and I was very impressed with his goals. Angelia Orr represents Texas House of Representative District 13 and has done an excellent job working for conservative Republicans of Texas. And I will assure you that she has Rural Texas close to her heart! My young bride Stella and I consider it good fortune to be friends with Angelia Orr and her husband Will.
Letter to the Editor
I write to you today, not only as your Republican County chair, but as a proud 5th-generation Texan and 7th-generation American who deeply loves this land, its history, and its people.
This Cowboy’s Prayer
February can be and usually is a busy month and this year is no different. As January ends, we have just cele-brated birthdays for three grandchildren that all turned “28” on the 28th of January. Well, you would say, “WOW!” That is exactly what we said when the triplets were born twenty-eight years ago. Their parents, our son Jimmy and his wife Carol are still reeling… well, at least Jimmy is. Carol has always been steady and along with the triplets, they allow Jimmy to be boss. We are talking about an Aggie family here. The triplets and their parents are all graduates of Texas A&M, Carol is a scientist at the Veterinary School Diagnostic Lab, and Jimmy is Associate Director of Texas A&M Natural Resource Institute. And my young bride Stella and I (Aggie graduates ourselves) are mighty proud of them. Yes, we are also proud of our daughter Frances and her family, but their success story is coming later. Valentine Day has come and gone and I sure hope you gentlemen treated your sweethearts right. I am sure you will agree that if Mama ain’t happy, nobody will be happy. At least that is what our daughter Frances posted on the refrigerator door! And she is right, because as we go through life, we find that a happy state of mind makes you immune to the difficulties of life. You see, if you are happy for other’s successes, you will find success in your own life easier to come by. The Bible tells us in Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” My old Daddy would say, “Son, just stop…and thank the Good Lord for your blessings and you will see them multiply to overflowing.” February also finds me spending a considerable amount of time preparing for spring, doing things like trimming and pruning roses and at the same time taking cuttings that will be started in small pots and eventually transferred to larger pots as time goes by. And of course, it is not only the roses that need to be pruned because as plants and trees become dormant it is necessary to shape and prepare them for the coming growing season. Sounds sort of like parenting don’t you think? February is a busy month, but, we all need to slow down and thank God for the blessings that He gives us so abundantly. I hope my poem will touch your lives.