It was a pleasure to see so many friends and visitors at the Christmas Market on Saturday. There was at least a dozen different vendors. The market is an annual production hosted by the Beautification Committee. The president Paige Moats organizes this event, and the result is a terrific time for vendors and guests. The old bank building is opened to the public. This year the Sotos outdid themselves. Miranda has an excellent eye and Franky Sr. has unique building materials. The antique doors were a major draw. Santa was available for photo ops and once again the Lusty family donated sixty pounds of chili. Carol Bryant volunteered to serve the meal and local ladies donated some delicious desserts. Donations for the meal go towards the renovation of the old bank. If you missed them, there were beautiful coaters with an etching of the old bank for purchase. If you missed it this year, put it on your calendar for next year. Thank you to everyone who participated.
Most of us left the market and traveled to Dublin for the big game. It began a little slowly, with Oglesby and Richland trading scores. Perhaps the long break and overstuffing caused both teams to be slightly lethargic in the first quarter. Fortunately, the pace picked up, and our boys settled down to play. We were one goal short of a half time mercy rule, but a touchdown by Oglesby put us one point short of the mercy rule. Round about that time the front blew in and the temperature dropped. Fortunately for puny people like me, we only had to go a few minutes into the third quarter before our boys scored and secured the win. Our next game will be against Strawn in Stephenville at 5:00 PM. Please note, bags or purses must be clear to be allowed into the stadium. Hopefully, we will turn the tables on Strawn and avenge our loss from last year. Congratulations to all our coaches and players. Go Coyotes.
I’m told at least fifty people were served on Thanksgiving Day at the Community Center. This was a free event for the community, and the extended Skelton family offers this as a gift to the community. It’s an impressive gift of Christian love.
School has three weeks before semester testing and the Christmas break. If you don’t have a student, this doesn’t say much to you. If you are a parent, you know that means a ton of activities and many opportunities to fall behind in daily schoolwork. Please, parents, help your student stay on track.
I say this every year, but I want to point it out again this year. Although this is the holiday season full of cheer, many people have lost loved ones recently and the cheer is saddened by the loss of a loved one. Russ and I will have our first Christmas without our precious daughter Tracy. There are at least five others in the community that mourned for a loved one over Thanksgiving. God is there in our grief, but time will have to sooth the pain. Remember those friends and neighbors who are grieving.
So, as we approach Christmas and the marvelous birth of our Savior, be thankful, be considerate, be loving to those around you. We serve a great God. Pray for our sick community members. Valerie Barker is home, Sally Gosset is home from Utah, Bernice Adams has completed her cataract surgery, Danny Phillips needs prayer for cancer. Several others are fighting cancer. The families of the two National Guard soldiers who were shot need our prayers. Our world, our country and our attitudes need to have God’s love, grace and peace covering them. God bless America and God bless our precious troops and their families.