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Postcards Magazine

Lake Conroe

January 2026

Sean of the South's Sean Dietrich • Boomer Financial Group

Contents January 2026 | Volume 15, Issue 1

Features

A Special Conversation

Sean Dietrich

Favorites

Calendar - Making Tracks..................... 32 Dear Gabby............................................ 22 Glorious Grandchildren ........................16 Mustard Seed Moments ....................... 34

Lake Conroe | January 2026

Milestones ..............................................21

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Pet Pals .................................................. 24 Puzzle Solutions.....................................31 Snapshots ............................................... 9 Sudoku Marketspace .............................31 Tasty Bites ..............................................18

Postcards Magazine

Community. It's what we do!

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If you would like to receive our magazine and are not currently on our mailing list, subscriptions are available. DIRECT-MAILED to select postal routes in Willis, Conroe, and Montgomery. FREE rack copies at advertisers and businesses in towns listed above. Owned and Published Monthly by Altom Consulting & Marketing, Inc. PUBLISHER

Karen Altom EDITOR

Wes Altom OPERATIONS MANAGER

Marshall Altom

ADVERTISING TEAM

BUSINESS FOCUS

Tammy Farkas Nancy Jolly

Columns

Garden Post ..........................................20 Medical Matters .................................... 29 Publisher’s Post ...................................... 6

Sean of the South .................................. 14

On The Cover 2025 Postcards Photo Contest 1st Place Winner Creative Edits

Boomer Financial Group

Cover Photo by Cade Crippin

DESIGN TEAM

Mary Partida April Key Online: www.PostcardsLive.com Address: PO Box 690 Huntsville, TX 77342 Call our Office: 936.293.1188 We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of any material without written preauthorization. No material from Postcards Magazine™ can be copied, scanned, faxed, electronically, or otherwise used without express written permission. Publication of articles, advertisements or product information does not constitute endorsement or approval by Postcards Magazine™ and/or its publisher. Business Focus stories printed in Postcards Magazine™ are drawn at random from contract advertisers. © 2026 by Altom Consulting & Marketing, Inc., All rights reserved. Printed in Texas by Shweiki Media

Publisher’s Post Home is Where the New Year Begins

Lake Conroe | January 2026

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’m lying in a hotel bed, wide awake, listening to New York City slowly come to life. The steady hum of traffic begins first, followed by delivery trucks idling below our window. The clang and bang of trash trucks making their rounds, and eventually the unmistakable sound of horns beginning to honk with purpose. It is only a few right now, nothing like the overwhelming cacophony of yesterday’s arrival, but it is unmistakably New York. I’m here with my mom and two of my dearest friends in the world, my college roommate and her sister. This trip is a Christmas gift for my mom, and all three of us absolutely adore this woman. We are celebrating her by taking her to Radio City Music Hall to see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular (during their 100th anniversary season), something she has never gotten to experience. Watching her excitement reminds me that the very best gifts are never things. They are moments, memories, and time together. In just a few short weeks, this city will be packed wall to wall with people ringing in another new year. The famous ball will drop, and crowds will gather shoulder to shoulder in the cold. Compared to that, the Christmas crowds we have already navigated will seem mild. There is something electric about it all, and I do love visiting New York. It energizes me and reminds me just how big the world really is. But every time I’m here, it also does something else. It makes me deeply thankful for our sweet corner of the world back home. For quieter mornings. For familiar faces. For community events where you know the people standing beside you. We may watch the ball drop, but I will be more than happy to do it from the warmth and comfort of my own home. As we step into a new year, I hope we all find time to appreciate both the excitement of the world beyond us and the beauty of the place we call home. Here’s to a fresh start, meaningful moments, and another year of community, connection, and gratitude. Happy New Year!

Find time to appreciate both the excitement of the world beyond us and the beauty of the place we call home.

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Celebrating 40 Years Home & Garden

Landscape

Event Venue

Introducing the Mansion at the Top O’ the Hill

Event Venue

opening February 2026

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Service, Excellence, Quality & Integrity since 1985

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

The Mansion will be closed in January as we transition to an event venue, for opening in February. All the decor you know and love will be in the expanded Garden Center. Bookings for weddings, private parties, corporate and sponsored events will begin in February of 2026.

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Lake Conroe | January 2026

VOTED #1 FOR A REASON!

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8 TIME FOR NEW SIDING? SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE TEXAS REMODEL TEAM! Communication was effortless. Any questions were immediately answered in a way that made us feel like a friend of the family. The quality of materials and workmanship Texas Remodel Team provided on our siding replacement has made our home more structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. Our Family highly recommends the Texas Remodel Team for any of your home'sconstruction needs!

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Share Your Photos with Us!

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Seen from the deer blind - Submitted by Hunter Jolly

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

Huntsville physician Dr. Lane Aiena was recently installed as parliamentarian for the Texas Academy of Family Physicians

Snapshots

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Postcards Lake Conroe | January 2026

SPECIAL P A CONVERSATION

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

Sean Dietrich

Meet a writer, storyteller, artist, musician… and all-around encourager.

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BY KAREN ALTOM | SUBMITTED PHOTOS

have interviewed a lot of people over the years—singers, cowboys, comedians, cooks, and small-town heroes of every shape and size. But I have never sat down with someone and secretly thought, “That’s who I want to be when I grow up.” Until Sean Dietrich. You may know him as Sean of the South—the man who spins long, winding sentences into stories that somehow land right in the middle of your heart. He writes about front porches and funeral homes, church ladies and baseball, dogs and grief and God and the quiet decency of ordinary

people. He can make you laugh and cry in the same paragraph (which ought to be listed somewhere as a superpower). I first met Sean in person in Lufkin, visiting with him backstage. I told him how I follow his work. How I hurt for him knowing how as a young boy he lost his father to suicide. How I read along daily as he and his wife Jamie walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. How on the day he wrote the short piece about leaving his father’s hat at the cross, I sat at my desk and sobbed like a baby. Part of it was the power of those few

words. Part of it was knowing people all over the country were praying them through that journey. And part of it was simple gratitude that someone out there is still telling stories that remind us to let go, to hang on, and to look up. In January, Sean and Jamie are coming to Huntsville to spend an evening with us at the Old Town Theatre. Before that happens, I wanted Postcards readers to get to “meet” him the way I did—not as a celebrity, but as a real southern gentleman who is honest about brokenness, generous with grace, and very sure about who the real Author is.

I write a column once a month, and sometimes it takes me weeks to figure out what I’m supposed to say. You do this every day. How?

Lake Conroe | January 2026

In the newspaper world, they call it “the daily miracle.” That’s pretty much what it is for me. You sit down and say, “All right, God. Is there anything for me to write? What do I need to say? What happened to me?” I think writing more often takes some of the pressure off. It is harder to write less frequently, because the pressure builds and builds. I can get it wrong for days in a row, and it’s okay. When you do it every day, there’s less pressure to get it perfect, and more room to just show up and explore.

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I followed you and Jamie all along the Camino. When you wrote that very short piece about leaving your dad’s hat at the cross, I bawled. Has that “letting go” stayed with you? Oh, yeah. I’ve got a picture of that hat at the cross sitting on my mantle right now. We printed it and framed it. Leaving it there was powerful. Everybody out there is carrying something, and that spot on the trail becomes a tide of people saying, “Let’s let it go.” I worked to get to that place. My legs were taped up. I kept walking away from the cross and then turning around thinking, “Maybe I should keep the hat. Nobody cares if I leave it or not.” But that little voice kept saying, “You need to let it go. Keep walking.” After I left it, pilgrims I had never met kept sending me photos of that hat. For days and weeks. Then, months later, somebody emailed and said it was gone. So, maybe now it’s on someone else’s head, at the beginning of their journey. Maybe it’s doing some good instead of just holding pain.

But in sixth grade, I had a teacher who did something nobody had done before—she treated my writing like it mattered. Not as a cute hobby for kids, but as something important, something worth our time. She put my work on the wall. She told me to stop doing other things so I could write. Most writers I meet have a voice on their shoulder saying, “This doesn’t matter. This isn’t your job. This doesn’t take care of your family.” That voice wears them down. My teacher gave me a different voice. She let me know what I was doing had value, that I should spend time on it. A teacher who can change the way you think can change your whole life.

You’re a different kind of “triple threat”—you write, draw, sing, and play a small orchestra of instruments. How did the music part begin? Music is my earliest memory, really. My mother says the neighbor lady used to watch me through the window when I was raking leaves. She couldn’t hear me, but she could see my mouth moving because I was always singing. They took me to talk to the music minister at church, and I started singing there around age seven. It was a small church, so once they realized I’d do it, I was up there all the time.

Your life story is fascinating, but I’m especially drawn to your education story. I left school about the middle of seventh grade, tried to go back a little in eighth, and then that was it. One minute I was in school, the next minute I wasn’t.

Sean & Jamie on the Camino de Santiago

My dad bought a piano out of the classifieds for my ninth birthday. I wanted lessons. He said, “No. I already spent everything we had on this piano. If you want to learn how to play, you’ll learn how to play.” So, I watched the church pianist, went home, tried to copy what she did, and over time it clicked. Piano is still my main instrument, but I play guitar, fiddle, banjo, accordion, flute, mandolin… I try to put them down before people realize I don’t know what I’m doing. I just love having a place to put all that. When you have interests and no outlet, they wither. I’m grateful I get to use them.

How did the writing and the music turn into these live shows you do now? Like a snowball you didn’t see coming. After I went back to school and finished, I tried to get into a big university to study music and writing, but it fell through at the last minute. We’d already rented an apartment near campus, stocked it with furniture, and then the school said, “We can’t let you in. Your transcripts won’t work.” I went home with my tail between my legs and started painting. That led to selling paintings, and then I started writing little pieces to go with the paintings. People paid more

Sean performing at the Grand Ole Opry

I love to make people laugh. I love to make them feel good. That’s my goal, whether you’re reading something I wrote or sitting in the theater. This world is tough. It’s hard to find joy. If I can help nudge somebody toward a little bit of happiness for one evening, then I feel pretty good myself. My favorite part is hearing the

You said something during our conversation I can’t stop thinking about. I asked how many people you think you touch, and you answered with a pen analogy. Will you share that again? If you read a really good book and it blesses you up one side and down the other, it would be silly to go to the author and say, “Can I hold your pen? This pen has changed my life.” The pen didn’t do it. I’m just the pen. Pixels on a screen. Full of ink. The Author is the one doing the real work. I’m humbled to be part of it, but I know who’s really writing.

Someday, when people talk about you, what would you most like them to say? I wouldn’t hate being compared to Mr. Rogers. I love him. When people talk about Mr. Rogers, they don’t really talk about him—they talk about the people he loved on his show. The kids he cared for. The time he put his feet in the pool with a black police officer to cross a

barrier. They talk about the helpers. He removed himself from the center of the story, and that left a big space for people to look up. If anyone remembers my name, I hope they remember the people I pointed to. Other than that, they don’t have to remember my name at all. For more information, visit www.seandietrich.com

Come Sit with Us! On Friday, January 30th at Old Town Theatre in downtown Huntsville, Sean will walk out onto stage. There will be multiple instruments. There will be music. There will be stories. There will be laughter that turns into a lump in your throat before you know what happened. Most of all, there will be a gentle reminder in a world that can be loud and sharp around the edges, kindness still matters. Small towns still matter. Your story still matters. I hope you’ll come sit in the room with us. We are also excited to let our readers know that starting now (with Sean’s permission), Postcards will feature one of Sean’s columns every month. Take a moment to read it. But know that in January, you’ll get to hear it live, feel it in the shared silence, and maybe even leave a little lighter than you came.

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What is your favorite part of those shows?

laughter and then hugging necks after the show. Jamie and I stay and hug everybody. I love hearing their stories. That’s important to me.

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

attention to the writing than the art. So, I started a blog. Folks said they looked forward to reading every day, which was a shock to me. One Christmas, I printed 150 books and gave them away. People figured out how to pay my wife on PayPal, and we used every bit of that money to print more copies and give those away. After a few years of that, a library in Dothan, Alabama, asked if I would come speak. I told them, “I’m not a speaker.” They said, “Come anyway.” So, I went. I stood there and said, “What do you want me to do?” They said, “Tell us a story.” Then, “Read us something.” Then, “Play us a song. We didn’t know you did music.” We never advertised after that. We never announced, “This is a thing now.” But people kept calling and asking us to come. That was about ten years ago, and we’ve been doing it full-time ever since.

Sean of the South Sean Dietrich

Lake Conroe | January 2026

What the Bag Boy Said

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let him help me out to my truck. He was a supermarket bag boy. Maybe 19. Nice kid. Reddish hair. Warm smile. He spoke with a significant speech impediment. I could not understand what he was saying, per the impediment. The cashiers had decided, apparently, to ignore him. This had to be embarrassing, but it never stopped the kid from trying. After he bagged my groceries, I could faintly understand him say: “Do you need help out to your car?” As it happens, I DID need help with my groceries. Namely, because a few days ago, I went tubing on the lake with my goddaughter. For those of you who don’t know what “tubing” is, this is a full-contact water activity not meant for middle-aged men with extremely high copays. Tubing is when you ride on an inflatable tube attached to a speedboat by a ski rope. My goddaughter had a marvelous time tubing. So did I. Until I dismounted. Whereupon I flew off the tube at high speed and “slightly” bruised my ribs. At least that’s how the doctor put it. “You will experience slight discomfort,” the doc said with a slight smirk. Sleeping on my on my side has been “slightly” fun. Sneezing sends you into the Fifth Circle of Hell. Pushing a heavy shopping buggy becomes an extreme sport.

So I replied to the bagger, “A little help out to my car would be nice.” The boy pushed my cart through the parking lot. It was a hot day in Alabama. The boy unloaded my heavy bags, sweating through his clothing, and he was talking up a blue streak. I felt bad because I couldn’t figure out what the boy was saying, I had to keep asking him to repeat himself. Finally the boy used all his fortitude to say the following sentence: “I know you can’t understand me, I’m sorry.” “Don’t be sorry,” I said. “It’s not your fault you’re forced to make conversation with a banjo player. You’re doing great.” He smiled. I attempted to lift one bag of groceries, and the kid saw me wince in pain. “Are you okay?” he stammered. “Define okay,” I said. The boy asked what had happened to me. So I told him that I had been dragged by a moving vehicle. “Seriously?” he said. “Sort of.” Then he said something else. It took a full minute for him to actually say it, but it touched me deeply. “Can I pray for you?” he asked. I felt a little weird, letting a young supermarket employee pray for me. But he was so genuine. So I agreed. The kid bowed his head. So did I. He said words I did not understand. The only thing I could make out was the final amen. When he left me, I watched the young man walk into the supermarket, collecting stray carts, smiling at customers. I hopped into the truck, turned over the engine, and noticed that my ribs actually did feel a lot better. Which means that Someone out there can understand the kid just fine.

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January 2026 | Lake Conroe

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Lake Conroe | January 2026

Glorious Grandchildren

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Share Your Photos with Us!

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Wyatt & Landry

Jack Harbor

Hank & Duke Sherman

Grandchilren of

Grandchild of

Grandchildren of

John & Kim Sanders

Jeb & Vanessa Dotson

John & Julie Knight, Greg & Rhonda Ellisor Smith, and Billy Sherman

Postcardslive.com DRIVE INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH CONFIDENCE

From The TOYOMASTERS family January 2026 | Lake Conroe

CLOSE TO HOME

From pediatric visits to adult wellness, SHSU Physicians offers complete primary care for every stage of life.

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BETTER HEALTH

Tasty Bites Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Lake Conroe | January 2026

INGREDIENTS

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1 (14 oz) can chicken broth 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chile peppers 1 (1.25 oz) package taco seasoning 1 ¼ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast 2 (15 oz) cans great northern beans 1 (15 oz) can white corn, drained ½ cup sour cream ½ cup shredded pepper Jack cheese, or to taste

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Layer chicken, great northern beans, and corn in a slow cooker. Step 2: Mix chicken broth, condensed soup, chile peppers, and taco seasoning together in a bowl. Pour broth mixture over top. Step 3: Cover and cook on low until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 8 to 10 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees. Step 4: Transfer chicken to a cutting board. Shred with two forks or cut into bite-sized pieces. Return to the slow cooker. Step 5: Stir in sour cream and pepper Jack cheese; cover and cook on Low until cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes. COOK’S TIP

If you use cooked, chopped chicken in Step 1, you can cook it on low for 3 to 4 hours.

Tasty Bites Crispy Tiger Butter Bars INGREDIENTS

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 (11 oz) pkg white chocolate chips ½ cup butterscotch chips ¾ cup crispy rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies®) ½ cup peanut butter DIRECTIONS

COOK’S TIP

You can use chunky or smooth peanut butter as desired. Store in an airtight container.

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

Step 1: Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Step 2: Place semisweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl; heat in microwave until melted, about 1 minute. Stir chocolate until smooth.

Step 3: Combine white chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a separate microwave-safe bowl; heat in microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir mixture until smooth. If chips aren’t completely melted, continue heating in the microwave in 10-second intervals, stirring after each interval until smooth. Step 4: Stir crispy rice cereal and peanut butter into white chocolate-butterscotch mixture; pour into the prepared baking dish. Step 5: Spoon semisweet chocolate in lines across the peanut butter mixture. Run a knife in the opposite direction of the chocolate lines to achieve a swirled, tiger-stripe pattern. Cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, at least 10 minutes. Cut into small squares.

Wishing you prosperity and peace in the year ahead. With a new year come new challenges. If any of your challenges involve a legal matter, give us a call for a Free consultation.

Park Law Firm 227 TX-75 Suite 230, Huntsville, TX 77320 (936) 291-6660

With a combined 50+ years of experience in Personal Injury Mediation

Civil/Business Disputes Automobile Accidents

Criminal Defense Wills and Probate

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Happy New Year!

The Garden Post New Year’s Forecast

Kim Bius President, Kim's Home & Garden Center

Lake Conroe | January 2026

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elcome 2026! The weather forecast is mild from now until spring with only a few nights in the low 30s. The weather has been amazing, and the roses are still in full bloom. There is a tinge of frost burn on annuals, and the desire to remove and replace is real. Do we prune or throw away? The tomatoes are still producing, and the garden is thriving…so, what should we do? If we fertilize and cold weather returns, new growth will be damaged...or, do we cover, prolong the growing season, and roll the dice? Personally, I am rolling the dice, fertilizing lightly, pruning, and covering as needed. The plumeria will leaf out again, the bananas will produce this summer without dieback, the bougainvillea will not need replacing, and the bird of paradise may bloom this year...and the citrus are producing like “gangbusters.” If the weather stays fairly mild (which is temps above freezing), what do we do in January? We plant fruit, shade and nut trees, roses, and other deciduous plants. Blueberries, grapes, avocados, citrus, figs, and blackberries are also good choices for planting in January/February. Where do we find these plants? At independent garden centers! Independents know their regions and what grows well when; they also bring in the right selections for the chilling hours your area receives. The term “chilling hours” is garden lingo for the amount of time (hours) plants must receive before 43 degrees to set blooms. The Woodlands/Spring area is 400-450, Conroe

is 500-600, Huntsville and 30 minutes north is 675-775. What does this tell us? It tells us that a Tex prince peach with a chilling hour of 400 will thrive and produce from Galveston to Conroe, but with a low chilling hour, the plant will bloom out early in mid to late March and a late frost will kill the spring buds…..thus a higher chilling hour of 650 is recommended for the Walker County area to avoid “bloom out” too early before the last freeze date. Check with your local favorite “garden center” and join the email list for upcoming workshops and seminars on roses and fruit trees. January/February is generally the timeframe, and most have a VIP list that receives first notification. January is also the month the first shipments of fruit trees and roses arrive at garden centers, and you can get the best selection. Remember, if you see the blooms or the fruit, you missed the planting season! Looking forward to an amazing 2026 and celebrating 40 years of service in the garden/ landscape/and home industry. It has been quite the journey!

Share Your Milestones!

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Milestones

Florence Weatherly

their 35th Anniversary

her 101st Birthday

celebrating

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

Gregg and Nancy Jolly

Anniversaries, promotions, new beginnings, every milestone deserves a beautiful reminder of your journey. At Elliott’s Jewelers, we design jewelry that reﬂects your strength, your love, and the unforgettable chapters you’re writing. Honor the moment with something meant just for you.

By Appointment Only. Book Your Private Jewelry Experience 6 Days a Week ElliottsJewelers.com | Call: 936-284-5656 | Text: 936-661-5363

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Celebrate How Far You’ve Come

Dear Gabby Welcome back to the January 2026 edition of the Dear Gabby advice column. December is history. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but 10 extra pounds on my hips, thighs and rear. The only New Year’s resolution I’m making is to write 2026 instead of 2025. Resolutions are a waste of time. At my age, bones and resolutions break pretty easily. Last year went by so fast, I didn’t even have time to lose weight! Send me your questions by clicking on Dear Gabby at www.PostcardsLive.com/share. May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions! DEAR GABBY I was excited to drive to an unfamiliar neighborhood in a strange town for my new boyfriend’s family Christmas dinner. My dessert contribution was carefully packed in the car, and my outfit and hair cooperated in a most unusual fashion. The address was plugged into the navigation screen. What could go wrong? Three guesses: G…P...S. I arrived late. Need I say more? LOST IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY

Lake Conroe | January 2026

DEAR LOST

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Enough said. I am a human GPS: Generally Poor Sense of direction. My ancestors navigated the ocean using the stars,

and I miss exits with audio play-by-play directions. It was a real shock when I arrived at a cemetery to leave some flowers a while back. My GPS announced that I had reached my final destination! I bought a cheapo GPS for my last car, but ‘You’re getting warmer’ or ‘You’re getting colder’ just didn’t do it for me. This time, I bought the senior citizen version GPS. It not only tells me how to reach my destination, it also tells me why I wanted to go there. It still overestimates my ability to comprehend 600 feet, though. I chose Matthew McConaughey as my GPS celebrity voice. He sounds terrific, but now I can’t turn left! He keeps saying alright, alright, alright. GABBY

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January 2026 | Lake Conroe

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Lake Conroe | January 2026

Pet Pals

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Share Your Pets Photos with Us!

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Cruzer & Bailey

Gringo

Gus

loved by

Anthony & Cecilia

Cody & Kirbie Traylor

Jason & Haley Hatthorn

Postcardslive.com LONG-TERM PEACE OF MIND STARTS TODAY Protect your retirement assets and income. Protect your spouse and family. Have a plan for the care you want.

Let’s start the conversation. LONG - TERM CARE PLANNING 713-705-3433 boomerfingrp@gmail.com Don & Brenda Brady January 2026 | Lake Conroe

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McCAFFETY Licensed

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Boomer

Financial Group Lake Conroe | January 2026

Coverage for long-term care is more needed…and more affordable than you may think.

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BY RUTH FIELDS | PHOTOS BY TOM MILLER

bout 15 years ago, Don Brady and his three sisters convened to address their father’s need for long-term care insurance. At the end of the discussion, Don urged his youngest sister and her husband, Kathy and Jeff, to consider longterm care insurance, too. By this time, Don had been a financial advisor for about 11 years and was convinced long-term care insurance was a sound investment. Kathy and Jeff agreed. About ten years later, when Kathy was just 62 years old, she was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia. Jeff and Kathy were understandably pleased they had heeded Don’s advice. Discussing the need for long-term care insurance, Don says, is an uncomfortable conversation for many people. Most tend to believe they will always be able to care for themselves. Unfortunately, history tells a different story. According to the U.S. Department of Human Services, 70 percent of people who survive to age 65 will need some level of paid care during their lifetimes. The statistic for married couples is even more alarming. “There is a 91 percent chance one of them will need assistance or long-term care,” Don says. The good news, however, is it can be more affordable than people think. “Everybody assumes it’s just too expensive,” Don says. “And that’s not the case.”

A change of heart

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

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Don, who is one-quarter Cherokee Indian, attended the University of Oklahoma with financial help from the Cherokee Nation and a partial tennis scholarship. After earning a degree in finance, he worked in downtown Houston in the oil and gas commodities trading business for 20 years. He was successful and, admittedly, a little arrogant. Then something changed. “In 1992, my youngest daughter was born with a severe genetic disorder that caused massive brain damage,” Don says. “That’s where my life started to change.” Don likes to quote Mark Twain, who once said, “The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Don found out “why” in 1992 when Lainey was born. “My purpose in life is to take care of my angel daughter,” he says. “I changed into a much more compassionate, empathetic person.” Don had been contemplating a career change, and in 1999, he took the leap and became a financial advisor. Initially, he did a lot of work counseling the parents of patients at Texas Children’s Hospital. He ultimately worked for two major companies, and started his own company, Boomer Financial Group, in 2015. Many clients thought he named the company after the “Boomer Sooner” tradition of the University of Oklahoma, but Don actually had a different kind of boomer in mind. When he worked in the oil and gas commodities trading business, most of his colleagues were older than he was, so he named his business after baby boomers. Although Don works with many people today who are not a part of that demographic, the name has stayed the same.

About a year ago, Don shifted gears. He and his wife Brenda moved from Houston to Walden on Lake Conroe to pursue a more relaxed way of life. At about the same time, he sold the wealth management side of his financial advising business so he could concentrate solely on providing longterm care insurance for his clients. Brenda joined him in the business, lending her valuable administrative and organizational skills. Don & Brenda Brady

Don is passionate about helping people address their long-term care needs, and has given more than 100 seminars and workshops on the topic. “I am surrounded by the need for it,” he says, noting several of his family members are now receiving longterm care. Knowing people are often reluctant to discuss the need for such coverage, he likes to say, “Let’s start the conversation.”

Lake Conroe | January 2026

Counting the cost of care

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One thing that often shocks Don’s clients is the staggering expense of long-term care. Depending on the level of care needed, the cost can range from $5,000 to more than $10,000 per month. Dementia—the leading catalyst for long-term care—is typically diagnosed between eight and nine years before a patient’s death. Eight and one-half years of care at $10,000 per month totals more than $1 million—a sum that can cripple many retirement plans. “Medicaid doesn’t pay for it; Medicare doesn’t pay for it; Obamacare doesn’t pay for it. It literally comes out of your pocket unless you have insurance,” Don says. “It’s the second largest destroyer of retirement assets next to divorce.” Don also knows what can happen when family members choose to shoulder the entire burden of care for relatives who cannot care for themselves. When his stepfather became disabled, his mother cared for him. “It wore her down; it took a massive toll on her physically,” he says. “It can destroy a person even more than the person who is sick.”

Meeting the need

Fortunately, Don also has good news to impart. Most of his clients are pleasantly surprised, he says, when they discover they can acquire long-term care insurance, thereby protecting their financial assets, without writing huge checks. Boomer Financial Group does much of its business with One America, the fourth-largest mutual insurance company in the country. One America holds a unique patent that allows qualified clients to pay for long-term care insurance with tax-qualified funds, such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). For this reason, Don doesn’t use the term “purchase” when he talks about acquiring long-term care insurance. “It’s mainly a repositioning of a financial asset,” he says. There are varying degrees of benefit coverage, Don says, with many ways to customize the financing of premiums. “The template monthly benefit is about $6,000 a month,” he says. “If you can’t afford to do that, $2,000 to $3,000 a month is still a huge help once the

time comes that you need that care. Some coverage is better than nothing.” Interestingly, once a policyholder needs long-term care, policies pay the full monthly benefit amount, and spouses or other family members can receive payment for caring for the insured family member. Also noteworthy: perhaps because husbands and wives tend to watch out for each other, Don says, joint policies are surprisingly affordable. He also reports heart disease, cancer and diabetes are not necessarily disqualifying health conditions. Although many clients put off discussing the need for long-term care insurance, Don says, they are happy and relieved when they mark the task off their mental to-do lists. “The satisfaction

they have is amazing. It’s restful sleep,” he says, noting numerous clients who have acquired long-term care insurance have made claims and are now receiving benefits. “Families are grateful when the time comes that they thought to get the coverage back when.” For more information, contact Don at boomerfingrp@gmail.com or 713-705-3433 The Business Focus is chosen each month by random drawing from among Postcards contract advertisers.

Medical Matters Glenda Read, MD Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics

Heart Health in the New Year:

Simple Steps Make a Big Difference

Move a Little More You do not need expensive equipment or intense workouts. Even 20 to 30 minutes of walking most days of the week can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve heart function. Healthy ways to begin include: • Walking around your neighborhood, park, or property • Taking shorter, more frequent walks if mobility is limited • Choosing activities that fit your lifestyle, such as gardening, dancing or playing with grandchildren If you have joint pain, underlying health conditions, or concerns about starting a new routine, talk to your doctor first.

Choose Heart-Healthy Foods More fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, lean proteins (including poultry, fish, or beans), limiting salty snacks, fried foods, processed foods, and high sodium packaged meals can make a big difference. Staying hydrated and choosing water more often than sugary drinks also makes a difference. Manage Stress and Sleep Well Chronic stress and poor sleep can raise blood pressure, increase inflammation, and take a toll on your heart. Try setting a consistent bedtime, limiting screentime in the evenings, and finding enjoyable ways to unwind, such as reading, stretching, or light outdoor activities. The Bottom Line Better heart health starts with small, steady changes that fit into your everyday routine. Working with a primary care physician helps ensure your goals are safe, realistic and tailored to your needs. A strong heart supports a stronger year ahead.

29 Postcards

Know Your Numbers Some of the most important indicators of heart health are silent. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar often have no symptoms until they cause serious problems. A simple office visit can help you modify risk factors by evaluating and tracking: • Blood pressure • Cholesterol levels

• Blood sugar and A1C • Body weight and waist circumference • Family history • Lifestyle factors like smoking, diet and exercise habits Knowing your risk factors gives you a clear starting point and helps your physician guide next steps.

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

eart disease remains the leading cause of death and one of the leading health concerns for adults in Texas. In communities like ours, many families balance busy lives, outdoor work, longer commutes, and less convenient access to specialty care. As we begin a new year, small steps toward better heart health can make a lasting impact. Whether you are managing high blood pressure, trying to improve your cholesterol, or simply wanting to feel better day to day, the new year is an ideal time to check in with your primary care physician and make a plan tailored to your needs.

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Sudoku #3 9 2 6 5 7 5 8 4 4 1 3 7 1 9 2 6 8 7 5 3 6 3 4 8 3 8 7 9 2 6 9 1 5 4 1 2

1 5 7 6 8 9 2 4 8

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1 2 3 6

8 1 9 3 6 4 2 7 5 6 9 8 4 3 7 1 5 2

8 1 9

Sudoku #6 8 3 7 6 5 2 1 4 9 1 5 3 4 7 8 6 6 2 4 9 8 1 3 7 5 7 3 2 9 6 4 1 4 9 1 8 7 5 6 2 2 8 6 1 3 4 5 9 1 6 9 5 2 3 7 8 7 1 9 2 5 4 6 8 9 3

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January 2026 13

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3 Lake Conroe | January 2026

HUNTSVILLE

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Thru 4

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3-31

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10-11

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“Dear Jack, Dear Louise”

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33 Postcards

Songs of Transformation: Jason Vest and Ingrid Keller

January 2026 | Lake Conroe

Mustard Seed Moments By J.R.A.

Drinking from the Wrong Wells L

et anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. - John 7:37

Lake Conroe | January 2026

Jesus was talking about more than just water in this verse; he is also talking about our spiritual thirst and the temptations we face every day, things only he can help with and satisfy.

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How often do we wake up in the morning, brush our teeth, comb our hair, get dressed, have a cup of coffee, and step into the day without even a thought of the God who created us and the Savior who died for us? When we forget God, we soon find out we are drinking from the wrong wells. In John chapter four Jesus comes to a city in Samaria and sits down at a well, known as Jacob’s well. When Jacob dug this

well, little did he know it would be the meeting place of Jesus and a Samaritan woman, and this meeting would change her life. You see, this woman had been drinking from the wrong wells. In the conversation, the woman told Jesus the well is deep, and you have nothing to draw with. Jesus told the woman, “Whoever drinks this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst again.” This got the woman’s attention, so she asked Jesus for this living water. She soon found out Jesus knew all about her past, as he told her about her five husbands and the man she was living with at the time. She left her water pot to go tell others, but she left with living water in her heart. She came to the well to draw water that day, and she met a man who walked on water and gave her thirsty soul much more. The living water from the deep well of the presence of Jesus can change lives. In II Samuel chapter twelve, we find what God said to David through the prophet Nathan. David had slept with Bathsheba, so he had her husband killed. David drank from the wrong well. He should have been at war with his armies instead of lusting after a married woman. We see that even a man after God’s own heart (see Acts 13:22) can fall to temptation. God reminded David of all he had done for him. He had let him defeat a bear and a lion and the giant Goliath. He had made David king and given him riches. Then God said if that had been too little, I would have given you more. The wells of God’s grace and mercy are deep and never run dry. Grace: getting what you don’t deserve (an unwarranted gift) Mercy: not getting what you deserve (judgment, and wrath) Just like David and the woman at the well, we need help with our temptations and desires of the heart. They are deep wells that produce bitter water, for they separate us from God. The Bible is clear: we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Pay close attention to this verse, for if we do not see ourselves as sinners, we may not see ourselves as needing a savior. Are you thirsty? Do you need a drink? Let the Man that walked on water give you a drink from his well. Father in heaven, let us come to your well of grace and mercy and drink. Help us to pray, being honest about our desires, wants and temptations. Let us see that our temptations identify our deepest desires so we can lay them at your feet. Amen.

“She Saved My Life” submitted by: Alyson Bayer, Acupuncturist Montgomery resident Dawn R. had been living with the painful effects of Peripheral Neuropathy for years. “My feet and legs were extremely painful,” she recalls. “My doctor told me there was nothing they could do — that I’d have to take Gabapentin for the rest of my life.”

time-tested science of acupuncture combined with advanced technology originally developed by NASA to increase blood flow and accelerate healing, Alyson is achieving remarkable results for those suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy. “Now when I go to bed at night, I don’t have those shooting pains,” Dawn says with excitement. “I don’t have that burning sensation or pain running up my legs. I can wear socks and shoes again!”

Peripheral Neuropathy causes pain, discomfort, and numbness resulting from nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system. For Dawn, even simple daily tasks like opening doors or using the bathroom became overwhelming.

Today, Dawn and her sister run a successful dog-walking business, often covering up to five miles a day. “It’s life-altering,” she says. “As far as I’m concerned, she saved my life.”

“How can you live the next 30 years,” she wondered, “when you don’t even want to get out of bed to do simple things?”

A Commitment to the Community

She described the burning, numbness, tingling, and sharp pains that so many neuropathy sufferers know all too well. “It’s equivalent to walking on glass,” she said. Dawn hadn’t worn socks in five years and wore shoes two sizes too big so nothing would touch her feet. Sadly, Dawn’s story is one shared by millions. More than 3 million people in the U.S. live with Peripheral Neuropathy. Each patient’s story is unique, yet the struggles are familiar — sleepless nights from burning pain, difficulty walking or shopping, fear of falling, and frustration from medications that bring little relief and often cause uncomfortable side effects. A New Path to Healing Four months ago, Dawn found Clear Choice Acupuncture and Wellness, where Licensed Acupuncturist Alyson Bayer and her team are helping patients find hope and healing without invasive surgeries or lifelong medications. Using the

Alyson and her team have been serving the senior community for nearly two decades, offering cutting-edge integrative medicine focused on chronic pain cases—especially those once labeled hopeless or untreatable. What was once a missing link in senior healthcare is now readily available to residents of Montgomery. If pain has caused you to miss tee times or avoid volunteering because you’re afraid of falling, it’s time to call Clear Choice Acupuncture and Wellness. Let your golden years truly shine. Call (936) 703-5040 today to schedule your complimentary consultation, or visit www.clearchoiceacupuncture.com to take advantage of the New Patient Offer.

Clear Choice Acupuncture & Wellness 21105 Eva St • Montgomery, Texas Located in the Heritage Place at the intersection of Hwy 105 & 149, across from the old Methodist Church

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