A new year begins with the nighttime temperatures in the low thirties, cloudy and windy. We are blessed to be able to arise from our beds and go about our lives each day for there are many who cannot. May you be blessed as we begin this year and always be thoughtful of those around us who may have problems in their lives.

Those I know of who are sick either at home, in nursing facilities or in the hospitals are: Kasey Baker, Joyce Barnes, Colene Beasley, Lynn Brown, Linda Butler, Gertie Carroll, Spencer Clark, Robert and Pat Dickson, Jerry Edwards, Joe Garner, Ophelia Green, Darrell Hinson, Wanda Holloway, Debbie Johnston, Florine Johnston, Bobby Kilpatrick, Denny King, Monette King, Claire Elizabeth Mayberry, Brittany Mash, Doug Miller, Howard Miller, Jackie McFall, Joy Orman, Roger Pace, Harry Runions, Tina Sharp, Bobby Simmons, Johnnie Faye Skelton, Terry Stutts, Jeff Tatum, Diane Williams, Doug Williams, and Annette Williams. Prayers for these and others who are sick and suffering from some ailments.

We wish a happy late birthday to Joe Garner, Jimmy Barber, and Doug Johnston on January 1st, to Rachel Barber the 3rd, Keith Reeves the 4th, happy birthday to Kenley Bates and Jerry Roberson the 5th, Jacie Hinson the 6th, Helen Alkridge the 7th, Jack Dickey the 9th, and Kala Eastep the 11th, we wish for all these a very happy birthday and many more years to celebrate life.

Kaitlynn, Maria, and I along with many others from the area joined in with the Lomax group on Sunday evening for a singing and then fellowship meal followed by games for everyone, and the children especially enjoyed the evening. I don’t know how many stayed to see the new year in, but we came home about ten and there were several still there. I really enjoyed the time spent with my sister, Mary Ann and others, we don’t get to visit as often as I would like to. Times seem to change so fast as we get older.

Happy late anniversary to Rusty and Monica Dupont and Jerry an Cathey Roberson the 1st, and happy anniversary to Chad and Constance Clayton the 9th, we wish for all these couples a very many more years to celebrate life together.

Prayers for all those who have lost loved ones this past week. These are the ones I know about Barbara Pearline Kelley Smith Gambrell, Sarah R. Richardson, Brandon Nicolas Herrin, Dr. Mark Wayne Sigler, D C Neeley and Ronnie Lewis. Prayers for these families and any others about which I may not know.

There will be many families having the traditional meal of black-eyed peas and hog jowl for good in the coming year. Until lately I did not know the real meaning of this but it had to do with the war when there was so much destruction throughout the south and when they came to the fields of black eyed peas they thought that these were only fit for hogs and cattle so they did not destroy them and therefore many families had food they would not have had otherwise. I thought that was interesting information.

Please take time to remember those who cannot be home that are protecting our nation and say a special prayer for them. Prayers for your family to have a great new year and that health and happiness will accompany it.