Most mothers and grandmothers will be busy this week planning their menu, shopping, housecleaning for their families.  It's holidays like this that I miss my mother. She took great pride in having her family around the dinner table on this turkey day.
The Community Thanksgiving service at  First Methodist on Sunday evening was very inspirational. A sense of religious unity was felt as six ministers participated in the service. The choir was awesome with Anthony Rosolowski as the director. A big crowd was there to confirm our thankfulness and praise for this holiday.
Don't forget to get out and shop on Black Friday.
Sympathy to Jen Sherwood and family in the death of her step-father, Herb Lewis, in Arizona; the families of Bill Summers and Jane Alexander.
Put Nov. 25-27 on your calendar. The Appalachian Craft Center will host a Holiday Festival. Unique gifts for all!  Jack Loeb, husband of Betty Turner, will be displaying his art work on Sunday, Nov. 27, 10-2 p.m.
My former Country Treasures consignment shop was a great place to meet new folk and renew old friendships.  Billie Ann Patterson Odom and her sister, Judy, came by every week. Billie Ann was telling me about her family's singing career.  She said that sisters Nell and Audrey with their father, Olan Patterson on the guitar, made up the singing Patterson family.  She said that they sang in most of the revivals at the churches in this area.  They made a record in the early 50s.  They won first prize at a singing competition at the Fox Theater and then another first prize at  the Channel 4 show, "Pride of Voluneer State."  Then they made a CD with two gospel songs with Ricky Scruggs. Fay Redmon Fuqua joined them later when Audrey left to get married.  So we have some celebrities in our town!
Sunday was also an awesome day for our family. My great-nephew, Derek, came forward and had his three children christened at church by Bro. John Carpenter. It involved Kiana, Taylon and little Robert. It took most of the family members to tend to the toddlers. Later, they said, "My preacher got my hair wet!"  For these events, we are thankful.
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise his name."  Psalm 100:4
Reminder that next Sunday, Nov. 27, is the first day of Advent. Amen.