Shellie is the fun-loving host of the All Things Southern podcast who lives to help hungry hearts feast on Jesus through humor and storytelling. Shellie is a popular humorist, speaker, and country cook. She’s the author of the award winning nonfiction humor titles Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On and Sue Ellen’s Girl Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy! Jeff Foxworthy calls her humor work “Laugh out loud funny!”

Shellie is from Lake Providence, Louisiana (near Monroe)
Her website is http://www.belleofallthingssouthern.com (lots of good info on it about her)

Faith of a Cowgirl was started as an effort to bring women together for a day of fellowship. In our busy lives, women need a day to stop and catch their breaths in the presence of other women. To enjoy their company and to worship the God we all serve. Each year we try to encourage woman by sharing that we are all trying to get through life and that we need each other for comfort, support, and guidance. Although our walks may be different, we all struggle with tough steps. In the mist of our busy lives, Faith of a Cowgirl gives us the opportunity to refocus and gain the strength to get through another day.

This year is somewhat different. The theme is Southern Daughters of The King. We will laugh at ourselves being Southern Women. We will be reminded what it means for us Southern Women to be loved and adopted as Christ’s daughters. We will also talk about the struggle of being mothers and daughters in our world today. In addition to hearing personal stories, we have a fashion show planned. It will be a fun way to help old and young to know how to present themselves as the Southern Daughters of The King we all want to be. As always, there’s southern gospel music with Becky Kniffen and lunch will be provided. This is the 6th Annual Women’s Conference. We are excited to bring women together for another year of heartfelt fellowship, laughter, and praise.

The 6th annual Women’s Conference will be held at Red River Cowboy Church on Highway 1 at Lake End January 19th from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm.

The Bulldogs brought home the championship trophy and three tournament MVPs from the Doc Edwards Invitational Tournament last week. Saturday night Red River dominated Denham Springs in the finals.

The Bulldogs earned a trip to the semi-finals on Thursday night by defeating the North Webster Knights 81 to 35. They faced a challenge from the Raiders of Huntington in the semi-final game at noon Saturday but prevailed 70 to 64.

The final game Saturday night saw a determined Denham Springs team come in ready to play. They gave Red River a challenge but couldn’t get their game going. The Bulldogs enjoyed an 18 to 20 point lead most of the game. Final score was 57 to 44.

Red River had three players selected to the All-Tournament team. Receiving trophies were Emareyon McDonald, Jesse Davis and Jalen McDonald.

The Lady Bulldogs did not fare as well in the Doc Edwards Tournament. They let the Huntington Lady Raiders slip up on them in the first game. The Lady Bulldogs won their other games including the Consolation Final.

The Bossier High Tournament begins tonight. The Bulldogs’ first game is at 5:00 pm versus Booker T. Washington. You can listen to the game on Journal Sports beginning about 4:45. A link will be posted on The Journal’s website and social media page shortly before airtime.

Did you have your black-eyed peas and cabbage yesterday? It is an old wives tale or superstition about a formula for success and good luck in the coming year. However you celebrated or marked the turning of the calendar, The Journal wishes you much success in the coming year.

This area has received a tremendous amount of rain in recent days. The forecast is for more rain this week. Heavy rainfall to the north of us has caused the Red River to rise. And that lead the Red River Waterway Commission to close all boat launches on the river. They have been open, then closed, then open again recently as the water level fluctuates. We’ll keep you posted.

This week wraps up the holiday vacations for school children in the parish. Teachers return next Monday, and the kids come on Tuesday. So enjoy the remaining days of your vacation.