“Luck, joy, happiness” in 2013

Well, here we are into 2013. What will this new year bring to us? Good luck, joy, happiness? Is it what we make of it? Some will waste it away, others will do well, but what else? We are sure to find out and I feel very soon.
I trust that my readers had a good beginning to the New Year. It's bringing lots of promises to our family and church family.
 Sunday was a nice day to be winter, not too cold, with a good crowd Butch began his message by reading an old favorite passage of the Bible, one we are all familiar with, Psalm 23. As David tells this familiar story, we are reminded that God is our shepherd and our protector. Those without a protector or shepherd have no hope at all and David knew that without his Shepherd he had no hope.
 Immediately after our services at 1pm was the memorial service for Don Patterson, and what a memorable occasion with full military honors and a mini-sermon from Butch. It gets me every time, when I hear "Taps."
After the service family members of Don and Wendy enjoyed a dinner prepared and served by the ladies of our church. Both Don and Wendy come from large families. Again, Wendy, our love and prayers as well as our sympathy goes out to you and your family.
 As those services ran so late it was decided that we omit our Sunday night service and as usual, James and I treked off down to Lone Oak where we enjoyed hearing Dennis Nalley preach from the Book of Daniel.
 As we are already studying Daniel on Wednesday nights it was easy to follow along with him.
 Again Antioch Baptist College will be offering a course on Christian Ethics beginning on Jan. 7 at 7:15 p.m.
 Don't forget, supper is served at 6:30 p.m. for a small fee of $2 each. 
 We had a large crowd here in our home beginning  Friday, way back in December, with family members from North Carolina here for the wedding of my grandson, Curtis Arwood, and Roxana Bollinger. As I've mentioned, it was a small family wedding, but so beautiful and inspiring. Rev. G. Paul Pittard Jr. was the minister in charge and his words were meant just for the bride and groom. After the wedding the couple headed to Destin, Fla. for a few days, returning here to our home on Saturday. They are now back at home in Matthews, N.C. to begin a new life as husband and wife. Many prayers have been directed in their direction. Congratulations to both of you. With this wedding, now all my grandchildren are married. Makes an old gal like me feel even older.
 After the wedding on New Year's Day about 20 gathered here in our home for our peas and collards dinner.
 All the bowls were scraped clean– what joy.
 Roxana's mother Betty Bollinger and daughter Renae from Tuscon, Ariz. stayed a night with us. Then my dear friend, Glyn Shackelford, came in for a few days. She was called away before her visit was over due to the death of a good friend in Spartanburg. I send my sympathy to members of this family.
 The band Against the Downpour played at Harvest Time Church on Sunday.
 The Inspirations will again be at Calvary Baptist Church in Statham on Jan. 24. More on this later.
 There's not much going on at this time so there's not much news. I don't like to let this column be full of information about me or my family. Please, Blue Springs community and our church family, pass on anything going on with you and yours.
 Always pray for our sick. We have some serious illnesses within our church family.
 Happy birthday to Sandy Martin on the 15, Jack Waddell and Nathan Waddell on the 17.
  So until next week, may the Lord bless you real good.

Printed in the January 10, 2013 edition