Happy New Year to all of our readers! We wish everyone a safe and healthy year as we start 2018.
The valley has been pretty quiet since Christmas. The family was all here for a big dinner on Christmas day, but Matt Cripps’ family had the flu. It was sad for his three little ones. They celebrated at their home in Murfreesboro, quarantined from spreading the sickness. Jeff and Meg Fuson, Alayna and Austin of Paris, TN made the trip home. Austin stayed the rest of the week with his grandparents, Buddy and Deborah Fuson to hunt and fish on Dry Creek. He stayed a few nights with Jerald and Lisa Cripps, Dismal and enjoyed feeding the cattle and hunting coyotes. It was sad to see Buddy and Deborah leave on Saturday. They stayed 22 days here with your writer. Buddy enjoys getting out and visiting, and Deborah just stays here on the creek with me. It is always a blessing to have them home.
There has been a talk of a lot of flu going around in Smithville. We noticed several people talking about loved ones that were diagnosed during the holidays. It must be a different flu type than the preventive shots that were given for so many people to have been stricken with flu this winter.
We were sorry to hear of the sudden passing of Bobby O’Conner. Woodrow and I often stopped at the O’Conner’s service station in Dowelltown years ago. The three boys were just little then, but we enjoyed seeing them working around the station. We send sympathy to his family and friends during this hard time.
It was good to hear that Kim Hale-Robbins was moved to NHC this last week. We know she will enjoy being closer to her family and friends. Kim graduated with our youngest daughter, Lisa. We pray that Kim has healing over her body, so she can walk again very soon.
We say hello to Mrs. JoDean Redmon who has been getting therapy at NHC after a bad fall that broke bones. It was good to hear that she is getting better every day. Please continue to lift this sweet lady up in your prayers.
We welcome into our DeKalb County community the new minister at the First Baptist Church in Smithville. May God bless his time serving here.
Saturday was the memorial service for Darwin Gard at his home church, Elizabeth Chapel Baptist. We pray for our dear friend Wanda and their family during these hard days following the loss of a dear mate.
Please help us pray for the following sick: Lisa Hale Caldwell, Jimmy Kimbrell, Boyd Cantrell, Danny Pirtle Jr., those that have lost loved ones, and all of those battling bronchitis and the flu.
The world is full of dangerous avenues to travel down, but the Bible says to keep ourselves pure. We should all watch carefully and think long on the choices made every day of our life. Sometimes we have to live with our bad choices for the rest of our lives. Spend some time thinking on that which is good and pure.
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 6:7
