Once again, we have lost a much-loved and much-admired lady of
the Short Mountain community.  That would be Nelda Joan Prater Pitts
age seventy-four.  We are deeply saddened by her passing.  I have
always thought so much of Nelda as have so many others.  Yes Nelda,
you will certainly be missed by us up here on the mountain.  Please
keep Nelda's family in your prayers at this time in the loss of their
dear loved one.
      Rick and Beverly Hubler have returned home from New Jersey after
spending Christmas with Rick's mother and other family members.  They
enjoyed the family get-together but were glad to get back to Tennessee
as there's no place like home because that's where your heart is.
      Gosh, is it ever cold this Thursday morning just a few days
before the New Year 2024 is ushered in.  We may have some snow showers
tomorrow mainly east of Nashville with maybe an inch of accumulation
on the Cumberland Plateau.  Even an inch of snow can cause problems
around here.  I don't think we need to get the shovel out this go
round but keeping it at the back door could be a good thing to do with
the cold winter weather coming to stay a spell.  We sure don't get the
big amounts of snow like we used to get when I was growing up.  I can
remember one time when "Aubrey" and I were dating and it had come a
huge snow and at the 4-way stop/or some called crossroads back then
Aubrey turned off the lights to the car (there was a full moon out
that night so you could see pretty good without any lights) and
started doing doughnuts there and having a ball doing it.  I was
holding on for dear life hoping I wouldn't get dizzy.  That was
Aubrey.  You never knew what stunt he was gonna pull.  No one to
compare to Aubrey then or now for the man he was and being called "Big
John" by so many that loved him.  There will never be another one like
him--just glad we were all blessed in having him for so long.  At the
cemetery on the back of our rock it reads: "More Honest Than The Day
Was Long."  That described Aubrey.  He sure made his mark, because
after almost thirteen years people are still talking about him.  I was
one lucky girl and I have so many beautiful memories to cherish of our
life together.
      I have two more birthdays for January:  Jimmy Hale 1st, and Gary
Harmon 1st.  Jimmy and Faye Hale have a wedding anniversary January
21st.
      Let's keep praying for the following people:  Cecile Ferrell,
Mary Melton, Sepal Pedigo, Tony Neal, Rose Watts, Charlie Mai Daniel,
Walter and Faye Ferrell, Jimmy and Faye Hale, Gracie Bratcher and the
families of Alene Ferrell, Dorris Estes, Cynthis Hill, Nelda Pitts and
the people of Israel.  Never cease to pray as our prayers work.  They
are such a valuable weapon that we need to use often.  Many a time
have I relied on God and the prayers of others to get me through a
difficult situation.
      It seems climate change is wreaking havoc all over the world
nowadays.  No one can deny that our weather pattern across the country
has changed drastically for several years now.  We are having more
earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, landslides, wildfires and also
droughts than ever before.  We're still in a drought here in
Tennessee, but we can possibly get up to two inches of rain in the
next few days. That will certainly help in our drought situation.
      I guess I'm sort of like the farmers this time of year just
itching for spring to hurry up and get here with the warmer weather as
I've got fields to plow.  Stop!  I got carried away as no fields do I
have to tend to just two yards to keep up, but I do so love the
outdoors after being cooped up in the house way too long and getting
cabin fever with the four walls seemingly closing in on me.  When you
can get outside and enjoy the fresh air, warmer temps, and the passion
you have when the spring season arrives to get projects done, you are
truly blessed of God.  Staying active is the key word here.  Doing
something is better than doing nothing.  Your health will be better
for it.
      If you have any news for the column, just give me a call at
615-563-4429.  Have a great day!
      Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2
Corinthians 5:17