Remember the “reason for the season”

Merry, Merry Christmas to everyone!  I hope all of you have a blessed Christmas season and enjoy being with your loved ones at this special time.  We should all remember to give thanks to God above for "the reason for the season."  God sent His own beloved Son to this earth as a precious, tiny baby knowing what would happen one day on the cross and who would be on that cross.  "Oh, how He loves you and me."
Raegan helped me decorate my tree this year.  In all my ornaments I have collected two tree toppers over the years (I really can't remember why).  I decided that I would put the lighted angel on the top, but she said, "We have a star on our tree, you have a star, too; I want the star to go on top."  I said, "Well, sure, that is fine.”  So, I started fastening the star on the top of the tree.  In my younger days, the angel would have gone back in the box and back in the basement, but as I get older, I start using things anywhere in the house.  Just because it was made for the top of the tree, doesn't mean it has to be used for that.  I always put some lighted garland on our deck to make things look more festive.  I would really like lights all on the eaves of the house, but neither Bruce nor I have the energy or the fortitude to tackle that!  After the angel came down, I started thinking about where I could plug her or him in.  Suddenly it came to me; I would put the angel right at the top of the steps on the railing of the deck and there so happened to be a plug-in at the end of the garland where I could plug it in!   We now have a guardian angel to greet us as we come up the steps and I am sure I know who it is.  All of this was pre-ordained this Christmas season.  I know Jake probably would not like to be referred to as an angel, but he was this Grandma's angel who grew up to be a handsome young man and he is still very much with us in spirit.  I can feel him many times and that Christmas angel is a symbol of our guardian angel who is now living in heaven.  I do believe that there are indeed angels among us, sent to us from God above, to help do His work here on earth.  Jake is ours.  I needed a sign and that is mine.  There is indeed an angel among us.

We have many in our community, both Bethany and Fairview, who have some health issues going on. Hazel Jordan is back at the TCU here in Madison and will be there for a couple more weeks; Tony Stephens came home last Wednesday after additional surgery, but is doing good, just needing to take it easy for several weeks; Nancy Christian-Phelps Welch, the wife of Lee Welch, is still at St. Mary's after suffering a stroke last weekend. Luann Hardeman underwent total knee replacement on last Wednesday, but is doing good. Raynor Cathey is also doing good after her total knee replacement and is having home health for a while; and Dave Newell suffered a heart attack last week, but is doing good after having a stent put in.  There is a lot going on, and we want them to know that our thoughts and get-well wishes are with each of them.
We offer our sympathy to the family of Gerald Hilsman, son of the late Addison Hilsman, who passed away on last Monday at his home in North Augusta.  He was a cousin to Junior, Jerry, Donald and David Hilsman and to Emily Brewer and Joan Gilbert and others of that family.

Michelle Cathey of Roswell has been with her parents, Tommy and Raynor, this past week, being a good nurse taking care of Raynor while she is recuperating.

Gerald Cathey and Andrea Miles traveled to Alabama to visit with Edna Bearden and other family members last Wednesday to bring her some Christmas cheer.  Gerald and Andrea will be married at Buckhead Baptist after Christmas.

Antioch Baptist Church in Godfrey will have their Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. and everyone is invited. Madison Baptist's is at 6 p.m., and I am sure the United Methodist's Church will have their's also to which all are welcome to come.

Printed in the December 27, 2012 edition