To say that Maggie, a gangly black-and-white Great Dane, is man's best friend would be an understatement. Darcy Maloney, of Wall, Texas, spends nearly every waking moment (and most sleeping ones) with the 6-year-old dog, who, for the past year, has worked day in and day out as her service pet.

Wine and family. Those two simple things are the foundations of the micro-winery Water 2 Wine, located in New Braunfels, Texas. They are what owner Brandie Jewell and assistant manager Johnny Reinhart value most. Wine and family are simple. Easy. Comforting. And for the guests of Water 2 Wine, they can easily relate.

As smoke rose from small fires, so too did the scents; earthy guajillo, pasilla, ancho chiles, and tough cuts. The aromas beckoned the empty bellies making their way to San Antonio’s Market  Square. This is where the action took place when the orange haze of the sun gave way to the subtle glow of campfires in the Texas moonlight. Vendors of wares, ranging from exotic birds to pecans and honey, venison, wild turkey, and beef, filled the streets of San Antonio.

In early 2007, Texas cheesemaker Susan Rigg, owner of the microcreamery River Whey Creamery, was working at a bookstore in San Antonio. At the time, she had no idea that less than ten years later she would be an award-winning cheesemaker, but big dreams often start with humble (or crumbly) beginnings.

While driving through the winding hills of Hamilton Pool Road, a progressive new brewery can be found within the beautiful countryside of Dripping Springs. Straying from the industrial feel and warehouse-style atmosphere, Family Business Beer is breaking the mold for typical breweries in an appealing and family-friendly fashion. Approachable beer crossed with passionate ownership, talented leadership, and proud Texas roots makes for one undeniably exceptional craft beer destination.

Following the Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm and is estimated to have caused $150 to $180 billion in damages, several dozen CHRISTUS Spohn associates deployed to Aransas Pass, Refugio, and Rockport, cities that were hit especially hard. “I was fortunate to participate in the cleanup efforts in Aransas Pass and see firsthand how our associates improved the lives of residents there and provided hope and healing to the community,” Doss said.

Call it fate, coincidence, or divine intervention, but when the floodwaters began to rise, fellow Texans rose to the occasion. One woman, 20 dogs, and three generous men with helping hands made for one inspiring story to come out of the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area.

Hurricane Harvey did not consider age as it brought its flood waters throughout the Houston area, as both young and old scrambled as best they could to find a safe place to stay. Many seniors, some with slow gaits, aches and pains, and confused thoughts, were forced to leave their flooded homes, seeking shelter. Fortunately for some, Conroe’s Carriage Inn Retirement Community welcomed new residents with open arms.

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Those words are the heartbeat of the community of Hope City. In a time of crisis for their beloved city of Houston, the Hope City family immediately stepped into action and has spent every moment since Hurricane Harvey hit rescuing people and rebuilding their community.

Few things turn mature, reasonable adults into giddy, wide-eyed kids faster than fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies. These gooey confections elicit feelings of comfort, nostalgia, and happiness at a moment’s notice. Just ask Tiffany and Leon Chen, co-founders of Tiff’s Treats, a bakery and cookie delivery service.