Roan Mountain Magazine January 2026

Roan Mountain Magazine

Roan Mountain Magazine

Volume 2, Issue 5

January 2026

STAFF

PUBLISHER/EDITOR

Amy Thurman

amy@roanmountainmagazine.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Ericka Hughes

GUN TALK WITH JON

Captain Jon Strydom

NEWS FROM THE ROAN CeCe Studer

PEACE OF MIND WITH CHRIS

Christopher Adams, LCSW HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Cloudland High School Yearbook Staff

THE GRACE PLACE

Reverend Hunter Greene

SHORT STORY AUTHOR

Diana Tolley

THE LAST WORD

Noah Blair

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Faith Lynn

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Susie Phillips

susie@roanmountainmagazine.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Colleen Gainey

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Jay Rich

CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Alan Bunger

Tom Niziol

Copyright © 2026

All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission. Roan Mountain Magazine is published monthly and can be found at multiple locations throughout the Roan Mountain area, free to readers. For print subscriptions, please contact us for info. (423) 440-9012

Read the Digital Version at: RoanMountainMagazine.com

Visit us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/RMM_Facebook Roan Mountain Magazine is printed by the Elizabethton Star

Letters to the Editor:

We would love to hear from you! Questions, comments, ideas, or whatever you’d like to share, please send to Amy: amy@roanmountainmagazine.com

ARTICLES & FEATURES

15 Magazine Update

News and information about Roan Mountain Magazine.

19 Physical Therapy

Why physical therapy is a good idea, and not just after surgery.

20 Ice!

Tom Niziol shares some amazing photos of different kinds of ice formations.

23 January

An original poem by Ericka Hughes.

26 An Appalachian New Year

A short story about Appalachian traditions, by Diana Tolley.

Gun Talk with Jon Taste of the Roan

Peace of Mind with Chris Highlander Highlights The Grace Place

Fun Page

Lessons in Life/Landscaping The Last Word

ABOUT THE COVER:

Taken at the Rhododendron Gardens on our annual family visit to Carver's Gap on New Year's Day.

Photo by Amy Campbell Clark

Lessons Learned in 2025

Irealized recently that I’m happier and more content than I ever have been. In thinking about it, I think a lot of it comes down to lessons I’ve learned this past year.

Focusing on the Good

When I look back over 2025, I could dwell on the challenging times: dealing with hurricane recovery, the struggle to find a place to live outside the flood zone, juggling magazine deadlines with a stressful job, disappointments, hurt feelings, frustrations, and more.

But a lot of good happened, too. I did find a comfortable home outside the flood zone, my son moved here and his girlfriend is here now too, my oldest friends visited in May, my daughter-in-law and grands visited just before Christmas, I made new friends, the magazine has done well and y’all seem to enjoy it, I still have my health, and was able to pay my bills and do a little bit to help others in need. All good things, and when I focus on all that good, the rest fades in importance.

Patience

I have a bad habit of trying to rush the things I want. Like when I was looking for a new place to live. It was stressful and I worried constantly that I wouldn’t find the right place in time, which just increased my frustration. But God’s got a plan. And when I finally turned it over to Him and stopped worrying, the perfect place turned up, right on time, and exactly what I was hoping for. It was the same when my son was trying to move up here – I kept trying to rush it, but when he finally got here it was at exactly the right time for the job and house he needed. So I’ve stopped trying to rush everything – instead I just do the work that needs to be done and trust that it will happen when it’s supposed to. Which means far less stress and worry. And links directly to the next lesson:

Faith

It took me decades to learn the power of faith, but even then I still struggled to apply it when it was really important. This past year, though, I’ve been reminded frequently that with true faith, what’s meant to be WILL happen. I worried, initially, that I couldn’t make the magazine work, but look what happened when I let go of that worry and just had faith that it would work: we have a great team of people making it happen, local

businesses are supporting it, and you all seem to enjoy it. It’s working.

I now have faith, too, that this is the life I’m meant to be living, with all of its ups and downs. I have faith that I’m fulfilling my purpose – or at least working in the right direction. And I have faith that whatever challenges lie ahead, I’ll meet and overcome. Faith moves mountains.

Kindness

One of my resolutions at the start of 2025 was to stop being judgmental and to focus instead on kindness. We can’t know what any other human being is going through or dealing with, and judging others unfairly is just one big ball of negativity. But when we treat others with kindness, even when it doesn’t seem deserved, we walk away from the encounter without those negative emotions.

The funny thing is, when we start focusing on kindness, we find all sorts of new ways to be kind to others and each act of kindness leads to reduced stress and more happiness. Instead of getting mad at a customer service person, make them smile. Instead of not tipping an overworked server, give her a larger tip and tell her you hope her day gets better. You might be surprised to find yourself in a good mood, rather than a bad one.

Don't get me wrong – I still have bad days, still get mad, still say and do stupid things, still get my feelings hurt, and I still screw up and make mistakes and get things wrong. But by focusing on positives, I’m getting a little better at this thing called life.

Now, as we start 2026, I’m feeling positive, blessed and ready for whatever comes next. I hope you each start 2026 with faith, kindness and patience, and focused on all things good! Happy New Year!

See you ‘round the Roan!

Amy Campbell Clark Editor amy@roanmountainmagazine.com

Irecently saw someone stick a loaded pistol in the waistband of their pants. Without a holster. When I mentioned to our dear editor, Amy (who has a bit of experience with guns herself), that I intended to write about it, she asked to do the honors. Apparently, this is a pet peeve of hers. So here she is:

Back when I was a pistol instructor, I used to tell my students, “If I see you with an unholstered gun in the waistband of your pants, I’ll take it from you and beat you with it.” There are a lot of dangerous things you can do when handling a gun and that ranks right up there with looking down the wrong end of the barrel or “dry firing” a gun before checking to see if it’s unloaded.

I don’t even understand why anyone would do this. Are you pretending to be a thug in a bad gangster movie?

This is reason #247 why women live longer than men.

Any handgun you carry on your body should be in a holster. Period. The only possible exception is if the gun is unloaded, and why would you carry an unloaded gun?

Why is it so wrong?

• Because the trigger is unprotected, could catch on something and discharge.

• It could fall out of your waistband if you move wrong.

• In critical situations you might not be able to draw smoothly.

• If you must use the toilet, what do you do with it?

• If you’re involved in an accident, there’s a loose pistol on the scene without a holster to secure it in.

• Do you not sweat? Firearms dislike moisture.

• With the possible exception of immediately after you clean it, there’s bound to be lead residue in the nooks and crannies of your gun that can transfer directly to your clothing or skin.

Should I go on?

Sticking a loaded .380 in your pocket without a holster (even those with multiple safety features) is just

GUN TALK WITH JON

In Waistband Carry

By Captain Jon Strydom (aka African Jon)

as bad, for many of the same reasons, but in addition, pocket lint can cause your gun to jam at critical moments.

Even a cheap holster is better than no holster, but seriously, if you can afford a gun and ammunition, you can afford a holster.

Holsters serve multiple purposes:

• Protects the trigger from catching on anything

• Safely secures the gun to your body

• Allows for smooth draw and re-holstering

• Allows you to safely remove it and set it down when necessary

• Protects your gun from harmful environmental factors

• Protects you and others from “accidental” discharges. We all know there’s no such thing as accidental discharges, only negligent discharges. Meaning you screwed up.

• Protects you from being ridiculed and thought stupid by responsible gun owners.

So please, for the sake of your weapon, the safety of those around you, your own skin, and to prevent me from lecturing you if I catch you without one, use a holster. One that’s specific to your gun.

The addition of a sweat shield will provide further protection and prevent shirt tails from getting caught in the trigger guard.

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs ground beef

1 medium onion, finely diced

2-4 jalapenos with seeds removed, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

¼ cup chopped cilantro

24 oz low-sodium beef broth

2 cans Rotel Mexican

4 oz salsa (or salsa verde)

2 store-bought taco seasoning packets (or about a quarter cup)

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup heavy cream

2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Toppings: cilantro, diced jalapenos, shredded cheddar, or crushed tortilla chips

TASTE ROAN of the

Creamy Taco Soup

Submitted by Amy Thurman

Little is better on a cold winter day than a bowl of hearty soup! This taco soup has all your favorite taco flavors in a bowl - sprinkle crushed corn tortilla chips on top to finish it off!

DIRECTIONS

• Saute ground beef, onion, and jalapeno over medium heat until meat is done. Drain, then transfer to a soup pot.

• Stir in taco seasoning and minced garlic.

• Add beef broth, Rotel and salsa, then bring to a boil.

• Reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes

• When flavors have blended, add cream cheese in small sections, then stir until melted.

• Stir in heavy cream.

• Add shredded cheddar and stir until melted.

• Garnish and serve

Note: Can be frozen, but best reheated on the stove, rather than microwave, as cheese tends to get a bit clumpy.

And if you have a photo of the prepared dish, send that along too! amy@roanmountainmagazine.com

Since mental health is rooted in honesty and living authentically, the Bible, regarded as the ultimate source of truth, remains the best guide for maintaining mental well-being. It is superior to any self-help or psychology texts.

In pursuing mental health, setting boundaries is crucial. Several Bible verses offer guidance on establishing healthy boundaries. Proverbs 4:23 emphasizes guarding your heart as it affects thoughts, feelings, and will, influencing your overall well-being— good thoughts and actions stem from a pure heart, while corruption leads to evil deeds. Just as physical boundaries create order, emotional and moral limits are essential for a healthy heart. This verse urges us to protect ourselves to preserve emotional and spiritual health.

The most vital boundary is highlighted in the First Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3), stressing the importance of prioritizing God above all else. Matthew 12:30 reminds us that we must choose a side regarding Jesus—there's no neutrality. Within our families, setting boundaries is also vital. Matthew 10 states that Jesus came to divide families, emphasizing the divide between believers and non-believers, which can widen over time. So, the question is: which side do we choose—to stand with God or with our non-believing family members? It is written (and clear).

When we are adopted into the Christian community, we join a new, righteous family. Some ask: if God doesn’t love everyone, should we? It’s important to understand that God despises innocent bloodshed, especially harming children. Proverbs 6:17 lists "hands that shed innocent blood" among what God hates, typically condemning acts like murder, abortion, and harm to children. If God hates it, we would be wise to establish our boundaries accordingly.

Jesus also warned us in Matthew 7:16 to be discerning of false prophets and to judge people by their fruits—evaluating behavior and results, not appearances or words. God's word teaches us not to seek revenge or harbor grudges but to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). We should have compassion for everyone (but not at the expense of the Truth), even those who are lost; condemning them is not our role—this belongs to God, even if they attack us as His children.

Another healthy boundary concerns personal responsibility, as stated in Galatians 6:5: "each one should carry their own load," highlighting individual accountability in our spiritual walk while recognizing the importance of community support. This verse teaches that believers should help others bear burdens but must also be responsible for their own actions. Therefore, we should not coddle others but tell the truth and allow them to face their own challenges—

PEACE OF MIND WITH CHRIS

Setting Boundaries

By Christopher Adams LCSW Licensed Therapist

sheltering others from the truth is unhelpful.

Expect persecution when standing firm in truth, as Jesus explains in John 15:18-21, that hatred from the world stems from hatred of Him. Those not of the world will face persecution, just as He did. When persecuted, we are reminded not to seek revenge, for vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19). We are to trust His justice instead of acting on our own. Additionally, 2 Corinthians 6:14 warns believers against forming close relationships with non-believers, using the metaphor "unequally yoked," which originates from farming, where mismatched animals pulling together can cause problems. This imagery suggests that believers and non-believers are incompatible in values and faith, and such unequal relationships can lead to conflict and weaken a believer’s faith. These examples emphasize biblical boundaries that promote our walk with God (and our mental health, too).

Romans 12:2 urges us not to conform to worldly patterns but to be transformed by renewing our minds—discerning what pleases God through His Word. We must avoid replacing the Lord with human ideas or worldly systems. Proper mental health rests on trusting the Lord wholeheartedly and not relying solely on our understanding. To wander outside of God-given boundaries is at the peril of our mental health. We are to acknowledge Him in everything, and to obey His bounds. He will guide our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

If I can help anyone facing challenges related to behavior, motivation, emotions, relationships, or establishing/maintaining boundaries, I would consider it a privilege. I offer discounts to local cashpaying clients and accept many insurance plans.

Humbly yours,

Chris

January Issue MAGAZINE UPDATE

You've likely noticed that this issue is smaller than recent issues. Don't worry - we're still doing fine! January is a slow month, both for content and for advertisers, so we trimmed the page count down this month. We'll add more pages over the next couple months as advertisers return and there's more going on.

New Column Rotation

After much consideration and discussing it with all concerned parties, we've decided that the column typically on this page, "News from the Roan" will now rotate between Roan Mountain State Park, Roan Mountain Recreation Foundation, and the Citizen's Club. Each will now be able to share their news and information with us on a quarterly basis. Look for this rotation to start with the February issue.

Talent Wanted

This is your community magazine and we'd love to share more local talent on these pages. If you have an interest in any of the following, call or email Amy for details:

• Writing (news or human interest)

• Poetry

• Short short stories (around 1500 words)

• Illustrating (manually or digitally)

• Photography

We would particularly love to have hand/computer drawn illustrations to go with articles! If you have other thoughts on ways to share your talents, reach out! We're always open to new ideas. amy@roanmountainmagazine.com

1000 Facebook Followers!

We'd like to offer a very special "thank you!" to all of you who follow us on Facebook – print time, we have 999! Colleen has been working tirelessly to provide y'all with fun, interesting and useful posts and it's paying off.

To celebrate reaching 1000, we'll be doing a drawing from all 1000 names and the lucky winner will recieve a $30 gift certificate to the advertiser of their choice, and a one year subscription to the magazine! If you're not already following us, please check out our Facebook page for fun questions, local photos, tidbits from the magazine, information from our advertisers, and much more!

Thank you all!

The Grace Place Reminder

Just a reminder, we're working to make The Grace Place section more interactive and useful by including prayer requests and church news. But so far, we've had very little response. Please do talk with your church and ask them to reach out to Hunter to include your information. All local churches are welcome, as are prayer requests.

Email Hunter at hillbillytheology@gmail.com and help us make this page all it can be!

Useful Information

Advertising

Contact Susie susie@roanmountainmagazine.com for rates and other information.

Social Media

Contact Colleen gaineygirl@gmail.com or reach out to her by sending a message through our Facebook Messenger.

Church News

Contact Hunter hillbillytheology@gmail.com or send a message to him through our Facebook Messenger.

Distribution

For a list of distribution locations, visit our website www.roanmountainmagazine.com and click on the "Print Issue" tab.

To carry the magazine in your place of business, email amy@roanmountainmagazine.com or send a message to Jay through our Facebook Messenger

Writer Appreciation

It takes a special talent and a bit of courage to share what you're written with the community on these pages and our writers would love to hear from you! If you particularly enjoyed an article, please tell them. Reach out through the Facebook page or email any of us and we'll make sure to pass the message along.

Ideas, Questions, Etc.

For anything else, you're always welcome to reach out to amy@roanmountainmagazine.com or send a message through our Facebook page. We do our best to respond quickly and always love hearing from you!

Forever Youthful Rejuvenation Spa

Rejuvenation Services

Merriam-Webster defines the word school as, “1: an organization that provides instruction, 2: the process of teaching or learning, 3: a source of knowledge, and :- a group of persons who follow a common doctrine.”

To many people, when they read this definition or define school themselves, they tend to only think about or include teachers and students. However, a school is made up of many people who are very important parts of the learning environment and process. Examples include: bus drivers, custodians, superintendents, food service staff, school board members, administrators, school resource officers, school counselors, school nurses, teaching assistants, front office staff, and teachers.

Each month Cloudland High School participates in the UTrust Appreciation Program. This program’s main goal is to teach students the importance of recognizing the importance of others, especially their school staff. The UTrust organization creates a calendar and theme designed to honor each of these subgroups. In return, the CHS A-Team (Appreciation Team), made up of students and a few school leaders, select special appreciation activities, create banners, and purchase gifts to help show appreciation.

This school year the appreciation grant theme is BE BRAVE. Monthly themes included examples of bravery by comparing certain school personnel to brave characters in life.

September – Brave Vikings: Bus Drivers who bring our students to school safely every day.

October – Brave Firefighters: Custodians who extinguish germs by keeping our school clean and safe.

November – Brave Superheroes: School Superintendents who are the ultimate superheroes saving the day with vision, strength, and dedication.

January – Brave Pirates: Cafeteria Staff who ultimately prepare and serve secret treasure—delicious food!

February – Brave Knights: Principals who are valiant leaders in our schools.

April – Brave Cowgirls and Cowgirls: Support Staff who keep the ranch (and the school) running smoothly.

May – Brave Astronauts: Teachers who are on student’s planets and in their universes each and every day.

This school year, CHS has already dedicated a special day of appreciation and recognition to our bus drivers, custodians, school superintendents, and cafeteria staff. Throughout the remainder of the school year CHS will honor and recognize the other school staff.

Cloudland High School would like to extended another huge “Thank You” to everyone who makes our school an amazing place to learn and work.

Appreciation Days

By Cloudland High School Yearbook Staff

Physical Therapy:

Practical Medicine to Return to Doing What You Love

By Dr. Alan C. Bunger

Licensed Physical Therapist Owner, Fellowship Physical Therapy

In Northeast Tennessee, people tend to be practical. If something works, we use it, but if it doesn’t, we don’t waste time or money on it. That’s exactly how outpatient physical therapy should be viewed: not as a luxury or a last resort, but as a hands-on, commonsense way to get moving again and stay independent.

People often think physical therapy is only for recovering from surgery, but that is one of the biggest misconceptions. Yes, physical therapy helps after surgery, but it can often be a great alternative option altogether. Physical therapy covers a variety of conditions that may not even require surgery; for example, eliminating recurring back or neck pain, headaches, helping with arthritis, addressing difficulty with balance or walking, returning to work tasks, or just relieving nagging injuries. Our goal is simple: less pain, more function, and getting back to what you need and want to do.

Does It Actually Work?

Yes! And often better than pain medication alone. Research consistently shows the right physical therapist can reduce pain without opioids, improve strength and balance, decrease the need for surgery, shorten recovery time and even prevent future injuries. You don’t need to be an athlete. You don’t need to be flexible. You don’t need to be young. You just need to want things to be a little better than they are right now. Sometimes that means walking without a limp, being able to sleep through the night, climbing stairs without fear, or working without constant pain.

What should I expect in physical therapy?

A good physical therapist will listen to what’s actually bothering you. They should watch how you move and treat the root of the problem. This gives you the correct guidance on your journey to improvement rather than just scrolling through online videos or relying on artificial intelligence searches. The ultimate goal is to teach you what to do (and what not to do) at home so you become independent with your own recovery. You should also feel a little better each time you visit so that you can clearly see progress within a

few visits. This isn’t a “no pain, no gain” exercise gym. It’s problem-solving for the human body and getting to finally experience some needed relief.

A quality physical therapy clinic will not treat you like a number. Too often people are burned out by hospital/surgery center clinics that are extremely busy, denying needed time and attention. Also, people struggle with corporate clinics that are understaffed and overworked, or rotating young clinicians straight out of school. Not all physical therapy clinics are the same. You should seriously consider the company you choose. We recommend choosing a local/small business clinic that will pay attention to you, allow you to see the same physical therapist every visit, and provide you with the individualized hands-on care you need to successfully improve. No one wants to feel rushed or ignored!

If pain, stiffness, or balance problems are slowing you down, outpatient physical therapy is worth considering, because it works! In rural Tennessee, people don’t have the luxury of slowing down. There are jobs to work, farms to run, grandkids to keep up with, and neighbors who depend on one another. When pain or injury limits movement, it affects more than just comfort, it affects who we are. So if you are tired of the same old struggles and want a fresh approach then reach out to your local physical therapy clinic and return to doing what you love!

Fellowship Physical Therapy

Ice!

By Tom Niziol

Rime ice occurs with strong winds that blow "supercooled water droplets" that immediately freeze to an object, then continues to build up.

Rime ice is liquid-to-solid (from fog), denser, and needs fog/clouds.

Rime ice on a fence, in calm wind conditions.

Hoar frost, like this example on a twig, is vapor-to-solid, delicate, and needs clear skies to form.

Rime ice build-up on a pine tree on top of the Roan.

Needle ice forms when the ground stays above freezing but the air temperature drops below freezing. Water is drawn up from the soil by capillary action through tiny soil pores, the water freezes at the surface and builds delicate, selfsupporting ice columns that push upwards, often lifting soil or leaves as they grow into fragile, icy spires.

Sun dogs, the rainbow-like spots to the left and right of the sun, are a result of ice crystals. The sun's rays are bent as they pass through clouds made up of ice crystals.

A Poem byErickaHughes

The calendar flips like it always does.

Same hands, same dirt under the nails, same town waking up slow.

People stand straighter in January. They speak softer to themselves. They look at their lives like a field after frost not dead, just waiting. Promises hang in the air without ever being named. Unsaid things carry more weight anyway.

A man swears he’ll do better.

A woman decides to let something go. Someone else just hopes this year won’t take so much. The old year doesn’t leave quietly. It lingers in the joints, in the scars, in the habits we pretend not to see. But still, we step forward. Not because the clock says to, but because breathing demands it.

A new year doesn’t fix a life. It just turns the light a little so you can see what’s been there all along. And sometimes, That's enough to start again.

GRACE PLACE THE

By Reverend Hunter Greene

Monthly Bible Verse: Revelations

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” And he that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And he said unto me, “Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

My Nanny recently invited me over to go through some of my late Papaw’s belongings in his old tool shed. I immediately noticed that his shovels and rakes seemed to be heavier and more durable than any I had ever owned. They may have had some rust from the years of use, but I certainly had no fears that they were in jeopardy of breaking if I decided to use them again. I was also amazed at the old glass jugs, coffee cans, and wires that had been repurposed over and over again for storing nails, batteries, bulbs, tools, rags, and just about anything you could think of. As I went through his things, I couldn’t get over just how resourceful he had been over the years. “Trash” seemed like a foreign concept to his tool shed, as anything and everything could surely be useful if he had the imagination for it.

While being the heir to some of his gardening and work tools is invaluable to me, I’m also grateful for the ways his life and witness – even after his death – have continued to challenge my notions of what the “good life” is really about. That day in his tool shed I was reminded that newness and novelty are not always what they’re cracked up to be. Realizing that my grandchildren won’t likely have many of my possessions to inherit, mostly because they will have broken down and been trashed by that point, was lent credence to the popular adage, “they don’t make ‘em like they used to.”

I’m not really one to engage in intoxicating nostalgia or to overly romanticize some past that never actually

existed. I’m not convinced that everything was, in fact, better “back in the good ol’ days.” Yet, I do wonder what we have lost in our culture’s constant pursuit of the new and novel. We live in an age where we churn out and buy more cheap goods and products than we know what to do with, and it seems like our jobs, lives, and attention spans are becoming more and more automated by machines not of our making, every day. Dollar menus and affordability may have made us richer in some ways, but we’d do well to remember that such things also come at a cost.

If fixing and restoring (and perhaps even redeeming) seem to be relics from a distant past replaced by all things cheap, plastic, and shiny, what kind of newness can we trust? While it’s true that most folks today take the “out with the old, in with the new” approach when things get a little tough, I do think Jesus offers us a different way of seeing and engaging in a world often left for the garbage collector.

It is my belief that Jesus is making all things new – past, present, and future. But the beautiful thing about the newness Jesus brings is that it is always a restoration, redemption, and healing of that which was once useless or dead, not His discarding or disposing of what we might deem trash. To put it within the context of a few metaphors from the Bible, Jesus leaves the 99 for the one. He sweeps the whole house for His one lost coin. He is the gentle Father welcoming the prodigal son back home. He is the potter that never throws away the clay. He is the Savior who never saw a sinner He

didn’t love.

I don’t know about you, but to me, that kind of newness sounds a lot better than the hollow resolutions of “new year, new me.” What if Jesus doesn’t need you to completely clean house in your heart and life to be considered worthy of His love and grace? What if He is simply asking that you give Him what you’ve got, regardless of if it’s rags or riches? What if repentance is really about allowing Him to have what and who we already are and giving Him permission to mold us and make us in His image, come what may?

My prayer for you this new year is that you might find the joy of the Lord in old tool sheds, the lumps of clay, the things thrown out, the people kept out, and the kind of death that brings new life. May our hearts be set on the renewal of our communities and not their replacement. May our hands be about the work of restoration and not rupture. May our souls be open to healing and not severing. In 2026, trust that God is already working in your life, your home, and our community to bring the newness we actually need – even if it means learning to look at the old and the familiar like we’ve never seen them before.

Please send all general inquiries, church information, upcoming church events, and special prayer requests to Hunter at hillbillytheology@gmail.com.

Check out Hunter's Hillbilly Theology site: hillbillytheology.com/ (Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hillbillytheology )

Prayer Requests

Please pray for Larry Hicks and his family as he battles with cancer.

Please pray for peace for the Clark family.

Send your prayer requests to Hunter!

Photo by Faith Lynn

An Appalachian New Year

A Short Story by Diana Tolley

Old world traditions had been handed down in Mary Gray’s family for generations. In fact, a lot of them, though questionable at times, were quite a big deal to her family.

The young girl sat in the kitchen working with dried straw, straightening and evening the strands to make sweeping brooms. Every year, just before the clock struck midnight on the eve of the new year, Mary’s granny insisted they all take straw brooms and sweep all the bad luck and anything negative that would ruin the new year outta' the house. After doing all the chores that needed tendin’ to, because heaven forbid anybody in the house did work of any kind on New Year’s day. That was pure bad luck, according to Granny Gray.

January first was the day when they ate food prepared the day before and the farm animals basically took care of themselves. Mary shook her head as she gripped the top of the straw tightly. The old twine used to tie the strands together lay just to her right, and as she reached to pick it up, her eyes were drawn to the small bowl with silver coins in it. Of course Granny had already gotten that tradition ready. She considered it very important that every person in the family throw a silver coin through the door, right after sweeping what the broom had caught across the threshold.

Chuckling a little to herself, Mary remembered the year her daddy had rolled his eyes and quietly put the coin on a shelf in the living room. “He really shoulda

known better,” she thought to herself. “He’s been around his mama all his life and she knows thangs.”

The chuckle dried up a little as she recalled them gettin’ only one cuttin’ of hay outta' the field that summer, which meant Daddy’d had to go work for hay to feed the livestock that winter. It also just happened to be that the creek by the barn nearly dried up and they’d had to all pitch in and carry water from the well for the farm critters. And then, Blue Bell, their big, black Holstein, had gone dry, seemingly for no good

Granny swore up and down all that bad luck was because Daddy hadn’t thrown out that silver coin on New Year’s Eve. She’d also doubted that he swept good enough with the broom, but she hadn’t voiced it out loud. She’d just gave them all a nod and a knowing look

Mama came through the kitchen right about then, interrupting Mary’s wool-gatherin’.

“You ‘bout done with that broom, Mary Mae?” She asked. “You still got two more to go. I’ve finished washin’ and slicing up the hog jowls and I’m gonna get them to fryin’ soon. Granny’s done helpin’ your brother lay the fire wood in the rock circle out in the yard for tomorrow, so she’ll be in shortly to help us cook.” They’d be havin’ what Granny called “Hoppin’ John” (made with black-eyed peas and rice), collard greens, fried pork, corn bread and sweet taters. Topping it off would be pint jars of Mama’s cold apple cider, straight from the spring

house. Mary couldn’t hardly wait. The teenager shook her head, thinking about all the work that went into making sure they’d have a good year ahead. She reckoned it was worth it, but it seemed like a lot sometimes. Cooking all the food the day before New Year’s day; lighting a fire come sun up, that they’d keep burning all day long for good measure. (Granny had added that one in after the bad fiasco her son had caused. She wasn’t ever takin’ chances again.) Brand new straw brooms that’d just get burnt in the fire after they got done sweepin’ with them.

Mary sighed to herself. “At least there’s no chores tomorrow. It’s New Year’s day and nobody dares to do a lick of work.” That would just be plain, rotten bad luck!

As the family filled the house, all hands were busy, doing this and that, preparing for the next day. After supper was over and the dishes done, they all settled down to hear stories and tales passed down from those who came before. Tales of hardships and woe, but more than that, stories of strength, endurance, wisdom and pride. Those would always remain special to their entire family. Granny made sure that Mary and her little brother were clear on the details, so they’d be able to pass them along when it was their time.

Before long, big yawns led to nodding heads. Granny handed out the brooms that Mary had made earlier, and they all lined up in the back of the house. A few minutes before midnight, they began to sweep, each one doing their best to see who could get the most with their broom. By the time the old mantel clock began to chime, heralding in, not only a new day, but a new year, the Grays swept the last of the debris out the door. Along with it, all the bad luck, the ill will and harsh feelings, the hard times and worries, never to be seen or remembered again. As the chime hit ten strokes, every single one of them, including Mary’s dad, took a silver coin from the bowl and flipped it across the threshold and out into the yard. Making a show of dusting their hands, they hugged each other, wishing all a happy New Year, then headed off to their beds with grateful hearts and glad tidings.

Old world traditions may or may not be just superstitions or beliefs handed down from person to person. However, as Mary Gray closed her eyes to sleep, she surely was glad they’d done the work and taken the time to help make the upcoming new year a good one. Because who knew? Maybe all of that really did make for prosperity and happiness. Her last waking thought was, “if it worked for Granny, it would work for everybody.”

May the good Lord provide prosperity, peace and comfort, today and throughout the new year, to each of you!

Happy New Year!

Fun & Games

(For kids of ALL ages!)

January Word Search

Alaska

Aquarius

Benjamin Franklin

Capricorn

Celsius

Cold

Dolly Parton

Ellis Island

Elvis Presley

Epiphany

Farenheit

Full Wolf Moon

Hoar Frost

January

Janus

Lego Day

New Years Day

Perihelion

Resolutions

Rime Ice

Snow Crystals

Snowdrop

Snowman

Soup

Windy

Winter

Help the penguin find his mittens!

See how many words can you make from the letters in:

Benjamin Franklin

Winterizing houses is part of my work. Every fall, we get hired to make sure homes are ready for the cold that comes through these mountains. It’s not glamorous work. It’s the kind of job that goes unnoticed when it’s done right—but if you skip it, January shows you exactly what you missed.

A typical winterizing job isn’t complicated, but it takes attention. We shut down and protect outdoor water lines, insulate exposed plumbing, close crawl space vents, seal drafts under the house, clear gutters, and make sure water has somewhere to go when snow and ice melt. Heat tape gets installed where insulation alone won’t do. Drainage and grading are checked so thawing water doesn’t collect and freeze where it shouldn’t. It’s all prevention, all quiet work.

Most of the time, it’s straightforward. You move through a house and property, dealing with weak spots before winter finds them. Then there are the calls that come too late.

Frozen pipes don’t always make themselves known. The real trouble usually starts when temperatures rise just enough for ice to melt. That’s when water starts running through a split pipe. People often don’t realize the damage was already done when it froze—the thaw just makes it obvious. Water keeps moving until

LESSONS IN LIFE & LANDSCAPING

The Hard Times of Winter

By Ericka Hughes

someone shuts the main off, and by then, the headache is unavoidable.

I’ve seen it on jobs and I’ve lived it at home. I’ve been hired to winterize when it was already too late. I’ve had my own pipes split. I’ve crawled under houses, shut off water, drained lines, replaced what broke. Cold doesn’t care if it’s your work or your home. The lesson is the same: problems ignored don’t disappear—they wait, and when the pressure comes, they break where they were already weak.

That’s the lesson winterizing teaches: preparation matters. Doing the work ahead of time is always easier than fixing the mess afterward. Pipes insulated, heat tape in place, vents closed, water moving where it should—quiet, simple work that keeps everything running.

Life works the same way. Issues ignored don’t vanish. They sit frozen until circumstances change. When the thaw comes, the cracks show. That’s when the consequences hit—and there’s no one to blame but ourselves.

January makes it clear who prepared and who hoped for the best. Winter doesn’t make the weak spot—it reveals it. And the work you do ahead of time? That’s what saves you.

Lessons from Winterizing

Prep early. Don’t wait—insulate pipes and close vents before the freeze hits.

Use heat tape where needed. It keeps water moving and prevents splits.

Check drainage and gutters. Melted snow needs a clear path.

Cold exposes what’s weak. Ignored problems show up when it’s too late.

Prevention beats repair. A little work now saves a lot of headache later.

THE LAST WORD

Celebrating the New Year

By Noah Blair

One of my fondest memories from childhood stems from an unlikely source. As one of three boys in our house, bedtime was nonnegotiable and strictly enforced. Yet now, as a parent of two small children, I understand why it was so. My parents needed a break from the whirlwind of wrestling, sports, and Nerf guns that filled our days. And we needed to rest so we could terrorize anything in our way the following day. As strict as our bedtime was growing up, there was one night a year when we were allowed to stay up late: New Year’s Eve!

I remember as a young boy thinking the best parts of the night were drinking sparkling grape juice and watching the fireworks at midnight, while being grossed out by the sight of mom and dad kissing. I remember the countdown till the ball dropped and the excitement on everyone’s faces on the TV as we watched it all unfold from the comfort of our living room.

This year’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square was to include a patriotic themed ball to drop

as the clock strikes midnight, in honor of the start of America’s 250 birthday. This got me thinking about the history of the ball drop and other New Year’s Eve traditions.

For instance, the ball drop started on December 31, 1907 to welcome in 1908. It was initiated by New York Times owner Adolph Ochs, as a grand New Year's Eve celebration after fireworks were banned. It featured a 700-pound iron-and-wood ball with 100 lights, dropped from the newspaper's new building. There are other widespread New Year’s Eve traditions like kissing your partner at midnight or making New Year's resolutions and even shooting fireworks to welcome in the new year.

In other New Year’s Eve traditions, such as in Spain or sometimes Mexico, revelers eat las doce uvas de la suerte (12 grapes for good luck in the new year) to symbolize the hours on a clock. In Ireland, they bang pots together to scare off any bad spirits. Oysters and champagne are served in France as part of the traditional feast called Le Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre. In Denmark they throw plates, while hanging onions is common in Greece, and throwing furniture out of a window in South Africa.

Here in the Appalachians we have our own New Year’s traditions as well. The most common is a meal of black eyed peas (for luck), greens (money), pork (moving forward), and cornbread(gold and/or happiness).

Appalachians don’t stop there, it’s common practice to open doors and windows to let the old year out, not doing laundry (to prevent washing away prosperity), and even smacking the corners of the property with branches to ward off any misfortune.

Regardless of how you welcomed in the new year, I do hope that each of you has a blessed year full of hope, joy, peace, and love (remembering the only source these things come from). We are so blessed to live in our beautiful town and all of us at the magazine thank you all for your continued support. Happy New Year and remember Jesus Loves You!