Today I am thankful for ...

A - absolutes - there are certain and positive things that are truth regardless.

B - books - what would the world like be without them!

C - computers!  Need I say more?

D - divine interventions - I could never trust my own way!

E - enthusiasm - that keeps me looking forward!

F - family - oh, how special they all are to me.  Whatever would I do without them?

G - God's Word - my source, guide and encouragement.

H - hands with fingers - how limited one would be without them.

I - innocence of children - don't you just love it?

J - Jesus, my Savior, who purchased my salvation.

K - kindnesses - keeps us believing for the good in people

L - laughter - it does good like medicine, is so good for the soul.

M - many friends - he is so rich who has them.

N - nighttime - I can sleep so much better when it is night and dark.

O - open communication - it's worth so much!

P - prayer - our hot-line to heaven, and such a reliever!

Q - quiet times - times to pause, reflect, and refresh.

R - rest - so wonderful to rest when tired and exhausted.

S - sunshine - how it brightens one's spirits! not to mention what it does for the earth and growing plants.

T - trials - uh, yes, because they cause me to grow.

U - uncles and aunts - how much I have gained from those dear people!

V - vehicles - my car allows me to get out and about and do for others.

W - a warm house - some don't have that, you know.

X - xtra grace that God gives, xtra strength, xtra forgiveness etc.

Y - youth - their energy and vitality and enthusiasm for life.

Z - zest - for life or for whatever task one may face.

So, what is your list today?  I am also very thankful today for the promise of heaven.  One more friend is there today.  He went to be with the Lord yesterday morning very suddenly although he's had serious heart problems for many, many years.  He is now free of pain, praise God!

Two of my grandsons are playing with their marching band today at the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago!  What fun for them.  They are with the band from the Kouts High School in Kouts, IN.  Great kids!  Not sure I can get WGN on my TV down here though.

Have a wonderful day!  ...  and be thankful.

Three years ago this morning, my best friend, my husband, left the cacoon of a sick body and took his flight to eternal joy and freedom!

Today I am thankful for the 531/2 years I was priveleged to spend with him as his wife.  This was our 50th anniversaray picture.

His 74th birthday surprise that the church gave him.

This is just a few of the things I loved about him!

His deep love for Jesus, and his ease in sharing that

The way he loved me.  Every day he told me and he also acted it out.

His deep contagious laugh

His care and concern for people.  He loved people! 

His work ethic, he enjoyed hard work

He always loved playing with the children - he disciplined them but it was balanced with play

His love of nature

His love for his children and grandchildren - before his death he made it his goal to pray personally with and for each one - that finished, he died

He was a prayer warrior - fasting and praying regularly for our family

He was non-complaining - even to the very end when I know he felt miserable, he didn't once complain

His humility - he would apologize and ask my forgiveness (something difficult for a lot of men to do!)

I loved that man and I know he loved me!  I am thankful today for good memories.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  (Rom. 15:5)

I believe He was glorified tonight as we met together in a community Thanksgiving service at one of the black churches in town.  It was packed out with a mixed crowd and wonderful Christian spirit!  The program included people from Oak Grove Baptist, United Methodist, Emmanuel Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Cornerstone Community (my church), Faith Mennonite, and First Baptist (heh, what can I say, we live in the south and every other church is Baptist!!  )  We had music from handbell choir to a duet and a black choir, a challenging message and just a plain old good time with food and fellowship afterward!

I continue to be amazed at how many faces I recognize but can't remember names, even after seven years of living here.  Bad, bad! People come up to me and speak my name and inquire of my well-being and I can't say their name.  Sometimes embarrassing - often times! 

What a wonderful week as we recount our many blessings. I am praising God tonight for the fellowship of the saints!  What will heaven be like?  I can't even begin to imagine!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

It's that time of year again -

when the YMCA gives their annual fall production.

This time they gave "A Christmas Carol", a musical.  My granddaughter had a number of friends from her school in it.  I always enjoy going and we sure were not disappointed this time either.  I couldn't get good pictures but Mr. Scrooge played his part SO well!  He was so funny.

One unusual thing was that he did it all from a wheelchair!  He needed knee surgery and doc said it can not wait until after the play, so they gave the play a little different twist!  They had this really antique looking wheelchair and a note in the program explained the situation adding that being in a wheelchair made him 'all the more grumpy'! 

On a different note....

This morning I met a small group with some "friends of the library" and they led us down "Memory Lane".  We walked down the main street in our little town and they told about what was there about 40 years ago.  I can't believe the changes.  What was then a bustling small town full of locally owned shops and businesses, with lots of traffic going through town, now has lots of empty buildings and the "by-pass" has taken most of the traffic around town.  Above Mr. Senter tells about his store which has been in his family for over 100 years - on the main street in town.  I love Senter's store!

I was intrigued with this little outside drinking fountain on an old station, which is now being restored to make into a museum - and which I neglected to get a picture of!

Our historic court house.  I think it is lovely gracing the center of the block as you come into the south end of town.  It was by these steps the community had nightly prayer gatherings during the whole time Tommy Hammil was in captivity in Iraq several years back - maybe about four years ago?? - until he miraculously escaped and came back home.

At the one corner is a statue of a Confederate soldier, around which they used to tie the horses and let them water from the tank now filled with flowers!

Across the side street from the court house stands the public library.  But it was not always the library!  It was the county jail.  The sheriff lived on first floor and prisoners were kept upstairs.  One lady mentioned seeing prisoners watching out the windows when you walked down the street.  A unique feature in the library is that they still have the trap door for hanging criminals!  But I understand they never used it because the prisoner asked to be hung on the courthouse lawn instead, and they granted his wish.  Still, it is sort of a gruesome reminder of former days.

Here's a shot of a few nice buildings in the historic district.  Too often we just drive by and don't look up to see the pretty upper level!  (That strange looking white arm belongs to someone behind and out of view, and there were a couple mannequins peeking out that upstairs window!)

These youngster did great standing around listening to the adults tell stories which didn't interest them!  They found the flagpole at the post office a nice diversion - and pushing the stroller!

The Post Office used to have offices below and still has a steep outside stairway.  It's just on the other side of that holly bush.  Some were saying it seemed 'spooky' to them as a child.

It was a fun and interesting walk recalling times years before I lived here.  It was hard to believe how much it has changed in only 40 years!  The big hotel next to the post office has burned and was never rebuilt and times are now SO different!  One of my black friends was telling me later today about the time she came from Chicago to visit her grandparents as a young teenager. I believe this was more like in the late 50's. She and her cousins were walking uptown and came upon several white children about 6 years of age who were jumping rope on the sidewalk and called to them "Get off the walk, nigger".  Her cousins took her back to the house.  It was her first time being called that, and she was ready to respond but for their intervention.  Blacks were not allowed to vote back then either, nor sit at most of the lunch counters.  I am thankful there have been changes, but there are still lots of underlying bad feelings toward the opposite race in this area, sad to say - on both sides.  With the help of Mission Mississippi, we are trying to change that "one relationship at a time".  I have chosen to help with that ministry and their goals.

Have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow.  We are having our annual "Harvest Meal" at the church following our morning service.

Where is....the turkey?

I think the problem is much more than not being able to find the turkey!

I'm wondering ...Where is Thanksgiving?

It seems it's been relegated to some back corner or something, and is almost non-existant.  I went to our "shopping town" (one a little larger than our small local town) the other day and the Salvation Army bell ringers were out ringing their bells, the stores are all decorated for Christmas, and Christmas music is playing in the stores.  Everything was shouting "Come."  "Buy".  In our little town too, stores are decorated and "Frosty Frolic" (a Christmas open house) is this Saturday.

Thanksgiving hasn't rolled around yet, but there were no harvest decorations  - just Christmas.  Christmas things were coming out even before Holloween!  Now, I love the excitement, the anticipation and especially the music of Christmas, but...What's the rush?

It made me sad.  Thanksgiving is such an important day - not for all the feasting that is made so important - but for taking a break to especially remember all our blessings.

It made me wonder - what does this say about us Americans?  At least today at our monthly "Ageless Wonders" gathering we celebrated Thanksgiving by putting together over 50 fruit baskets for shut-ins, and delivered them to local residents, nursing home, and hospital patients.

"Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your many blessings, see what GOD has done."  And may we take the time during these pre-Thanksgiving days to do just that!