Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Whether or not one’s Thanksgiving plans include gathering around a well-laden table with family and friends, take time to reflect on and to celebrate the many gifts that have been given so generously. Beyond the reasonable physical and mental health, quality friendships, work that is enjoyable and fulfilling, offsprings that are making something of themselves, ask oneself what is being done to lighten the load of others, those far away or close at hand who may be facing dire straits.
Be thankful! As with the first Thanksgiving, prayers of thanks are a given. So, the writer wishes to share some prayers of thanks:
“Lord God, our hearts are crowded with gratitude as we celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving. We have come to this our feasting table with great joy and eagerness, for we are truly grateful to You, our God, for all that we have been given. We pause now and, in silent prayer, do thank You for the great generosity of Your gifts”
“Dear God, Thank You for Your goodness and love. Thank You for life, health, and every blessing. Thank You for guidance, protection, and provision. May Your name be forever praised!”
“Thank You for the world so sweet. Thank You for the food we eat. Thank You for the birds that sing, Thank You God for everything.”
“Today we gather with grateful hearts, We give thanks for the food before us, The love of family and friends around us, And the many blessings we too often overlook. May this meal nourish our bodies, And may gratitude nourish our souls.”
“We gather today with hearts of gratitude, Thankful for the blessings of this past year. For the food on our table, For the love of family and friends, And for the grace that sustains us every day. May we remember those who have less, And may our hearts be generous and kind. As we share this meal, may your peace and joy fill our lives, And may our thankfulness be a light that shines brightly in this world.”
“Bless the food before us. The family beside us, And the love between us.”
It is the writer’s wish that each of her readers has a very happy Thanksgiving. Let the thankfulness spill out through the year!
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- Let someone in a person’s lane.
- Hold the door for the person behind one.
- Pick up a piece of trash.
- Tip the server.
- Encourage someone.
Rain showers fell Saturday night with all very much appreciated. Now the weatherman is calling for cooler temperatures. Time will tell.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude.” — Nigel Hamilton
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” — Maya Angelou
“If the only prayer you ever said in your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” — Meister Eckhart
“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.” — W. Clement Stone
“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sitting by the table is the best place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Wanda Pitsenbarger paid a visit Sunday afternoon to Erma Moats. The two ladies decided to visit with Sherry and Allen Wilfong. It was a lovely Sunday time to visit with friends.
Friday, Bob and Marti Fisher of Romney were visitors in the home of Willard and Judy Rader. They went to Monterey, Virginia, to enjoy a delicious lunch at the Curly Maple.
The Sugar Grove Rescue Squad’s Saturday night Thanksgiving dinner was very much enjoyed by approximately 200 hungry persons.
Judy Costello of Verona, Virginia, spent Saturday with her mother, Evelyn Varner. She was great help Saturday evening at the dessert table.
Donnie and Judy Smith of Bridgewater, Virginia, were visiting Evelyn Varner. Judy plans to spend several days with Evelyn, while Donnie does some deer hunting.
Nice to see the Wesley Puffenbarger family helping out with the dinner serving. Thanks to parents who include their children with volunteer efforts in the community!
The following are some historical trivia regarding Thanksgiving:
- Chief Massasoit led 90 Wampanoag men to join 52 Pilgrims for the first rescue.
- The celebration lasted three days.
- Featured menu items were fowl, deer, wild game, seafood and vegetables.
- The term “First Thanksgiving” was not used by the Pilgrims at that time.
- The modern holiday gained its association with this 1621 event through later historical interpretations, with the first major link made in 1841.
December birthdays include: Kipton Owens, Emma Puffnbarger and Harold Cupp, first; Josh Hedrick, second; Charlotte Thompson and Kathy Smith, fifth; Willard May and Rose Miller, sixth; Liz Bodkin, eighth; Daniel Propst, Gary Harrison, Gary Sheffer and Cindy Varner, ninth; Shanna Eye and Dennis Knicely, 10th; Kelsey Jamison, Benny Mitchell, Ed Parker and Eddie Simpson, 11th; Kathy Nelson, 13th; and Dinah Mitchell and Seth Bowers, 14th.
Concerns are for the following: Mike Adams, the George Adkins family, Charles Anderson, Alfred Armstrong, Joan Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, Bobby Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Larry Byers, Doreen Calhoun, Joyce Calhoun, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Kim Davis, Tommy Davis, Phil Downs, Steve Durham, Jennifer Errett, Isaac Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillispie, Nan Goland, Nancy Gonshor, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, the Loretta Jane Judy Harper family, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, Chuck and Tracy Hiett, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Karen Holsten, Julia Homan, Keith Hoover, Debbie Horst, Bob and Cynthia Hurry, Mike and Lisa Jamison, Linda Jones, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelley, Ruth Kile, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Donna Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Anna Mauzy, Ed May, Dave McConnell, Gene and Joan McConnell, the Mary Lea Hahn McCoy family, Gary McDonald, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Carroll and Dottie Mitchell, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Sherri Moyers, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Dominique Nelson, Dwight Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryle Paine, Terri Parker, Andy Pond, Wayne Price, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Vesta Ruckman, Bernie Sasscer, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Bruce Smith, Ed and Carolyn Smith, the Gaylon Sponaugle family, Natalie Stephenson, the Tina Stewart family, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Junior Waggy, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Patty Willis and Ann and Ed Wimer.
