Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
There is a secret to happiness. It is called gratitude. All happy people are grateful, and ungrateful people can’t be happy. There are many things that play into this.
- Character. One’s character is defined by who one is when no one is looking. It sets the tone of one’s life. Character is finding a wallet and returning every dollar in it. Character is telling someone that they have given too much change. Character is doing what’s right when one doesn’t want to.
- Humor. A sense of humor is being able to laugh at one’s self, oftentimes it being the escape valve from much of life’s difficult situations. Never allow the sense of humor to show at the expense of someone else’s feelings.
- Confidence and humility. Don’t be afraid to admit when one needs help. Be sure of one’s self in whatever is said and done.
- Work ethic. Work harder than the person next to one. Get to work early and stay late if that is what it takes.
- Sports. As one gets older, sports become less important in life. Surround one’s self with good people.
- Health. Take good care of the body. There is only one per person. There are a lot of bad things done to the body, especially when young.
- Temper. Control it. A temper out of control brings unhappiness. “Thank you,” I’m sorry” and “I love you” will bring happiness.
- Honor. One’s word is a personal promise that tells a friend or stranger that “you can trust me.” A handshake of agreement should mean no less than one’s signature.
- Compassion. Care about people who are less fortunate. Have sympathy for those who are sad. Without compassion, the soul becomes cold and dark.
- God. There is a God and He always loves and watches over a person.
- Spouse. The most important decision in one’s life will be who one decides to marry. Look for someone who will be a life partner, through the good times and the bad times.
Being happy is not a given in life. It is something that only one can seek for one’s self. It will not just come. One has to work at being happy.
Life’s little instructions to make every day happier include the following:
- Always write a thank you to the sender of a gift, or money for a special occasion. It is the right thing to do.
- Always put something in the collection plate.
- Life will sometimes hand one a magical moment. Savor it.
- Never wash a car, mow a yard, or select a Christmas tree after dark.
- Hold oneself to the highest standard.
- Don’t stop the parade to pick up a dime.
Intermittent showers have brought about sustainable growth to the gardens. Evenings are cooling down following days of sultry temperatures. Birds continue to chirp their symphonies, whilst cattle graze in the pasture. Dog Days will begin in a few days, and then dogs, and people, will become lazy. Pidge Anderson has been having a bountiful supply of tomatoes and cucumbers while Brenda Fisher got her first tomato and is enjoying several cucumbers.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“There are two kinds of people in the world. Givers and takers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better.” — Marlo Thomas
“I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.” — Marie Curie
“The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” — Andy Rooney
“An ounce of sauce covers a multitude of sins.” — Anthony Bourdain
“The best fathers have the softest, sweetest hearts. In other words, great dads are real marshmallows.” — Richelle E. Goodrich
On these hot, sultry days, swinging on the porch swing is the best place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Margie and Ken Roberts are moving their daughter and her family from Birmingham, Alabama, to Raleigh, North Carolina. They have found that the conditions are very hot!! Over the fourth, they were celebrating this holiday with their son-in-law’s pinning ceremony in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has now become a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, a rescue helicopter pilot and instructor.
Cary Hevener retired July 1 from Tactical & Survival Specialties. This was the culmination of 40 years of a finance career. Cary started her career in public accounting at Deloitte Haskins & Sells in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her next steps were still in public accounting with Naron and Wagner in Hagerstown, Maryland, followed by a stint at McGladrey & Pullen in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Cary left public accounting for a controller position at Hartman Motor Sales followed by another controller position at Dynamic Aviation. Her final position was chief financial officer with Tactical & Survival Specialties. Congratulations, Cary! Hope the new journey is very exciting.
Little Stony Run has some celebrations going on. Ronnie and Christene Bowers have celebrated their 51st anniversary. Congratulations to this happy couple!
Motoring from Charlotte, North Carolina, to spend several days with Tom and Paula Mitchell were Janelle Mitchell, Destiny and Natalie.
Gary Simmons of Rawley Pike, Virginia, surprised his sister, Diana Kenny, with a 65th birthday party on June 26th, which happened to be her birthday, at Traditions Restaurant in Harrisonburg Virginia. It was enjoyed by family and friends and those who were unable to attend were greatly missed. Good job, Gary, for pulling off this surprise.
Recent visitors of Rosalee Grogg were Steven Grogg, Marleta and Junior Wimer, Terri Grogg and friend, Claude, Bill and Diane Kuykendall, Leana Leap and Clint and Addie Davis.
Phil Downs was a visitor of K.D. and Verla Puffenbarger this past week.
Nancy Enyart spent four days at Oceanview Beach with Mary Frances Wadsworth. The ladies had a fun and relaxing time.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Michelangelo took 4-1/2 years to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
- Food canning began in the late 1700s when Napoleon offered a prize for a simple way to preserve food.
- The growl of the male howler monkey sounds like the roar of a lion.
- In the summer about 500,000 tons of water plunge over the Niagara Falls every minute.
- Whales shed tears to protect their eyes from the salt in the sea.
Other July birthdays include Dale Kile and Jordan Hevener, first; Asher Mauzy, third; Vicky Losh and James Ryan, fifth; Jimmy Rexrode, sixth; Patricia Rexrode, ninth; Blair Mitchell, Terry Ryan and Jerry Lambert, 12th; Bruce Smith, 13th; Deloris Simmons, 14th; Garry Harman and Janet Judy, 15th; Eberly Gumm, 16th; and Ken Wilfong, 17th.
Concerns for this week are many. They are as follows: Charles Anderson, Dinah Beverly, Bill Brackman, Scherry Chambers, Charlotte Copley, Jeff Craig, Jeff Evick, Lee Roy and Ina Evick, Mary Eye, Ron Gilkeson, Barry Gordon, Lola Graham, Marlene Harman, Ramona Harman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, George Hevener, Gary and Jackie Hills, Rose Hinkle, Virgil Homan, Jr., Charlie Marie Hoover, Lorena Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Bob Hurry, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Margaret Kiser, Rex Landis, Vickie Losh, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Neil McLaughlin, Naomi Michael, Joe Moats, Lincoln Moore, Ernie Morgan, Aaron Nelson, Kathy Nelson, Ken and Ruth Nelson, Bennie Nesselrodt, Cheryl Paine, Sutton Parrack, Alda Propst, Betty Lou Propst, Kara Propst, Linda Propst, Sheldon Propst, Verla Puffenbarger, Pam Rexrode, Donna Ruddle, Bernie Sasscer, Barbara Simmons, Emily Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Charlie Sites, Ona Smith, Stanna Smith, the Steve Smith family, the Berlie Sponaugle family, Patricia Swecker, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Jack Vogel, Judy Waggy, the Dottie Warner family, Amby Waybright, Jr., Ron White, Judy Williams, Larry Wimer, Carol Windett and the people of Ukraine.
