PICAYUNE —
Several years ago our youngest son, David, called us to announce that his Florida branch of the Watson clan was planning to celebrate Thanksgiving with us at the Spring Meadow farm. We were elated. This meant that we would be with David and Linda, their son Jason and his wife Heather with their little twin daughters, also their daughter Jill and her husband Tom and their two daughters, ages eight and five, for a total of twelve. This old farm house would come alive again with conversation, cooking, and the play of children.
To add to our pleasure Mark and Cheryl, daughter Amy and her husband, Casey Parsons, arrived with their little daughter and son. So, during the Thanksgiving holidays we were with five of our eight great granddaughters and our eighteen month old great grandson, Jack, whose energy and investigative skills are a thing to behold.
The test of a family is the way the members work together. I mention this because everything went great. Our guests insisted they wanted to do something useful for us but the house and grounds were in good condition so they moved out to the ceramic pouring shed and barn. These two buildings were jammed with years of discarded boxes, bags, worn out and useless stuff that needed to be trashed or recycled. But no longer; those buildings were soon organized and the trash gone.
In addition to a bountiful thanksgiving meal we enjoyed a variety of activities:
David and Tom trimmed back the limbs of the live oak tree that were touching the roof of the house. Jason hooked up the mower behind the old Long farm tractor and mowed wide paths in the weeds and bushes that had grown up since Katrina.
He also used the tractor to pull a flat bed trailer covered with hay and a crowd of laughing, singing children and parents for some honest-to-goodness country hay rides.
The children loved swinging in the tire swing that hangs under the big live oak tree in the south yard. They also played with two basketballs on the concrete half court in the north yard and eight year old Emma was able to put the ball through the 10 foot high goal with surprising accuracy. I noticed her skill when I joined her in shooting a few baskets. Someone bought a barbeque grill and we spent some very pleasant hours in the back yard visiting and eating burgers and hot dogs in the balmy weather we enjoyed while the kinfolks were here.
When they drove away to go home the rooms they had used were immaculate and our pantry and fridges bulged with more food than we were able to use for weeks to come. Naturally we urged them to come again- anytime. And as we watched them go out of sight I thought of Garrison Keeler's description of the good citizens of Lake Woebegone where "the women are strong, the men are good looking and the children are all above average."
Sometime during the week I resolved to write a letter of advice, admonition and guidance for the great grandchildren to be given to each one when they enter junior high school.
The power points for my letter were:
Love your country — it was established by Christian patriots who gave every citizen the freedom to practice his or her religion or life style as long as it remains legal .
Get a good education — it will contribute much to your personal development, open doors of service, and provide a better life style. It will also influence your philosophy of life, so please read and live by the Scriptures.
Take care of your body — never abuse it with drugs or alcohol. Get plenty of exercise and sleep, eat right, and cultivate an optimistic outlook on life. Take care of your body when you are young and it will take care of you when you are old.
Honor, respect and love your God — let nothing, good or bad come between you and the God who made you, the Savior who redeemed you, and the Holy Spirit who guides and protects you.
Be sure that your soul is in good hands — by accepting the salvation that God provided by the life and death of Jesus Christ. When you do this he will keep your soul — the real you — now and for all eternity.
Plan carefully for your future family — Find a mate you truly respect; one who sincerely loves you and marry him or her. Then build a relationship of open communication, respect, and love. Be assured that the basic purpose of the family is to bring children into the world and raise them as persons of character and faith. The finest way to raise your children is to make your relationship with your spouse the most important human relationship in your life because it will surely become the foundation upon which your children will build their lives.
"Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." Proverbs 17:6
Lifestyles
Good memories linger long after holidays
- Lifestyles
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Arboretum Paths
At the recent Master Naturalist training held at the Crosby Arboretum, Master Gardener Susan Swope discussed how using more natives in our landscapes can save us both time and money. She went on to describe some methods well-suited to lazy gardeners. One was to create planting beds in lawn areas. First, mow the grass as short as possible, then add layers of newspaper or cardboard, add a thick organic layer such as leaves, and there you go— less grass to mow.
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CBAC Did you know? program highlights dangers to senior citizens
Senior citizens face many dangers, said the speakers at the Did You Know? seminar at the Senior Center, and they sought to give the seniors information to help them navigate the risks. The Community Business Advisory Committee (CBAC) hosted the seminar at the Senior Center on Friday, May 17.
- 2013 Partners for Pearl River County By Jodi Marze The 10th class of Partners for Pearl River County celebrated its graduation at First Baptist Church on Friday, May 10, in the Fellowship Hall. The graduating class included: Jason Bounds, Nacole Dillon, Christy Goss, John Huck, Jeff McClain, Teenia Perry, Paul Reese, Brooke Rester, Eric Stafne, Richelle Stafne, Kristin Thibodeaux, Pat Tidmore, and Jim Walker. The staff is comprised of: Jo Woods, Tricia Knight, Shirley Wiltshire, Marilyn Bailey, Rod Lincoln and Scott Langlois (Program Chairman).
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Tami Harris takes state
Local business owner and community volunteer Tami Harris has won the coveted title of 2012 Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs-Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs (MFWC) Club Woman of the Year for the state of Mississippi. A member of the Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune, Harris is one of only three club members, along with Darlene Adams and Leslie Lincoln, to take the state title.
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Arboretum Paths
Last week, students participating in the 2013 Mississippi Master Naturalist Program visited the Crosby Arboretum for an all-day training. The session was part of 40 hours of field and classroom instruction they will receive, educating them about natural resource management and environmental stewardship, and is a part of their preparation to become Certified Mississippi Master Naturalists.
- Chamber Ribbon Cutting Children's International Medical Group held a grand opening and Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at their first Mississippi location, located in Picayune.
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Historic City Hall Dedication Friday
Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. the New City Hall will be dedicated on Goodyear Boulevard. This event will coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Old Historic City Hall building.
- PRC Community Band presents: An American Legacy The Pearl River County Community Band, under the direction of Johnny Baker, will present “An American Legacy: An afternoon of American music for concert bands,” on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the Picayune Memorial High School Auditorium.
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Arboretum Paths
On their recent tour, fifth grade students from Lamar Christian School in Purvis encountered a seemingly endless variety of wildlife, ranging from crawfish to inchworms, to writhing masses of spiny, newly-emerged caterpillars. There is no such thing as a “typical” walk around the Arboretum’s Pond Journey and Pitcher Plant Bog. Every venture reveals something new to every group of visitors.
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Beebe returns to Main Street
“I was excited when the Picayune Main Street, Inc. Board of Directors asked me to return as manager to the local Main Street program. Also, extremely grateful to Picayune City Manager Jim Luke, Mayor Ed Pinero and city council for their blessings and approval to relocate our office,” says Beebe. “One of my favorite sayings is ‘There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.’ I have to say, I had a blast working on committees, projects and events with the most dedicated staff and group of volunteers in Pearl River County from March 2005 to May 2010. I look forward to getting new committees in place and working with ‘seasoned’ volunteers as well as new volunteers who share the same passion and desire to keep Picayune moving forward.”
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