with Vickie Ellis
Hello everyone!
I hope you all had a good week. Sunday was 92 degrees with a heat index of 99. The sun was shining, and the sky was a light blue with puffy, white clouds. There was an occasional slight breeze. The weather forecast shows temperatures mostly in the 90s and nights in the 70s this week. We still have some warmer weather ahead, and the humidity has returned. July was a HOT month.
We are seeing more butterflies now, mostly yellow and some black and blue. Birds are actually using the birdhouses James made. He loves to watch them poke their little heads out. Next year, if we plant a flower bed, I think I will use lantana, zinnas and coneflowers. Birds and butterflies love them all, and there will be a lot of color. These flowers do not require a lot of attention or water. Marigolds by the fence with birdhouses work great. James plans to expand his garden. He had a beautiful tomato that weighed over a pound, and another was almost the same. Better boy plants have been our best. We also plan on having our soil tested before next year.
We lost another sweet man recently – Mr. Leon Carroll. We knew him from the garbage dump close to us and from Friendship Baptist Church. He was a sweet man. He always tried to help us if we needed him to when we took the trash off. He was friendly and sociable and smiled. His health began to fail, and we started missing him at church. He has now gone on to glory, leaving his family and friends to travel a different path without him. Praying for God’s comfort, strength and peace of mind now and in the days ahead.
Please pray for all our students and the school staff this year. Pray for their safety from the virus and that they will learn a lot and make new friends. Friends mean a lot, and there is so much unexpected in this life. I hope they all find some joy in this unusual school year. God bless and protect them all.
I spoke with Mr. Jim Ruth recently. He wanted me to thank everyone who has sent cards to him, including Friendship Baptist Church. I thanked him but also explained that with the virus we have been unable to attend church in our “normal” way and cards have not been sent. We are hoping that this virus subsides and that we can return to regular activities. He also would love to hear from others. He is in the nursing home in Covington, and with the virus, they can not even leave their rooms. Solitary is hard even when at home. I hope you will take a moment and reach out to him and send a little sunshine his way. He has given me his address and phone number to publish in hopes of response – Mr. Jim Ruth, Covington Care, 765 Bert-Johnston Ave., Covington, TN 38019; phone number is 901-288-3588.
I continue to think of the youth that were killed in the motor vehicle accident in May. I think of the parents, siblings, grandparents and other family and friends who miss them. I know they still do and will. They will not be forgotten. I am sad that we travel the same journey of child loss. Prayers continue for Kristen’s improvement. Please know others do care and have not forgotten.
I am also disheartened like many others over the COVID-19 virus. It seems like forever since we could go anywhere and do anything – no movies, playing cards with friends or regular church services. So many things I would never have contemplated in my lifetime have changed. God teaches us patience. We must pray and know that God is in control. There is a purpose for everything, but we may never know the reason. Pray for those sick from the virus and their families and also all the staff that tends to their care. God bless them all.
Happy belated birthday to Rachel Ellington and Don McLemore, 8-1; Tyler Smith and Tanya Morris, 8-2; Regina Priddy, Nancy Taylor and Paul Bozza, 8-3; Darla Gaugh and Aiden Seaton, 8-4; Josh Zimmerlee, 8-5; and Joyce Brewer, 8-7 .
Happy Birthday to Pat Jones and Jeremy Ellis, 8-9; Timothy Berry, 8-10; Justin Bishop and Pat Connor, 8-11; and Teresa McCaskill and Colby King, 8-15.
Happy belated anniversary to Bliss and Shaun Swayne, 8-8.
Happy anniversary to Carlis and Margie McGhee, 8-15, and Nancy and David Morris, 8-14.
Please continue to remember these in prayer Lynn Allen, Denise Armstrong, Brinson Biggs, Sheila Berry, Charlie Brewer, David Brewer, Beverly Butler, Maverick Butler, Frances Carroll and family, Faye and Pat Connor, Diane Cross, Kristen Daniel and family, Joie Freeman, Johnny Hays, Ann Hinson, Braelyn Ellis, Jeremy Ellis, Emma Hopper, Danny Jones, Nancy McCaskill, Doris McKinney and family, Nancy Morris, LaVelle Page, MaryAnn Priddy, Pam Priddy, Donald and Doris Rowlett, Doris Sells, Dalton Seratt, Kenny Stevens, Kristi Taylor, John Webb, Sue Williams, Peggy Zimmerle, Adam Wise and the family of Owen McKinney. Also, please pray for our military, law enforcement, our country and its leaders, those affected by the virus and first responders. There are many sick and hurting. Please say a prayer for those; even if you do not know their name, God does.
“Those in Blue” by Diane Ranker Riesen – “Such chosen people clothed in ‘blue’/who guard our streets with all they do/They change their fates to keep us safe/who walk the walk – and offer ‘faith’/We need acknowledge all their trials/as they protect us all the while/our “officers” who give their all/they saw the need and took their ‘call’/To those who serve our country proud/we must remember – PRAY out loud/that they stay safe in troubled years/when danger stirs with so much fear/God gives us all a destined ‘choice’/and in each one a mighty VOICE/our men in blue – such tireless souls/who risk such pains we’ll never know/We need to stand and thank them all/they need our prayers as they stand tall/and may we each be grateful true/for all their help and all they do!”
I pray you all have a wonderful week, and may it be filled with love, joy, peace and blessings. Remember: if you have news, please email me at mimmiepots@gmail.com. I would truly appreciate any news. People from here and those who have moved from our area but still want to keep in touch through the newspaper are hungry for news from home.
Until next week, Happy Trails to You.
