Hello, everyone! It is time for thanksgiving. This is the time of the year we have set aside to recognize and pay particular attention to the blessings we have all around us. I know it has been a rough year following more rough years for many of us, but on Thursday we have the opportunity to gather around us the people we value and focus on what we have as opposed to what we want. Maybe we should take a moment or two each day to do the same.

One of my many blessings is that I have a home in Rector. To me Rector has always been a special place and it has become more special since I moved here. For one thing it has produced some of the most wonderful people I know and has become home to many more. I hope each of you realize how terrific you are. Don't forget to be thankful that you are you.

Another blessing is the Community Thanksgiving Service. How fortunate we are to have an event where all of us can come together in love, thanksgiving and praise, regardless of religious beliefs, economic status or race. Although it was originally not so much a religious celebration as a time of melding different cultures, it is a splendid example of the love and acceptance of Christ as well as Buddha, Hari Krishna, and many other spiritual leaders throughout history.

Rita Frenkle can use our prayers right now. She is currently in the hospital in Paragould. Her daughter Carol Stone is spending some time in Rector so she can be close to her mother.

Paul and Cheryl Schwager are finally back from their latest trip to California. Their return was delayed by a bout of the flu. Cheryl is almost as good as new now, though. Fortunately they did get a lot of visiting in before Cheryl got sick. With three sets of children and their families in three different cities, there was some traveling to do.

Let's see. There was Michael and Jody Schwager and their children, Austin, Shane and Savannah. They even got to watch Austin play football. You know that was a high point for Paul. Then there is Phil and Cindy LaJeunesse and their sons, Christopher and Michael. And, of course there is Beth and Rob Lawrence and their daughters Jessica and Samantha. Now right there are a lot of blessings for Paul and Cheryl. Welcome home, Schwager's and Happy Thanksgiving!

Frances Haas has had more company recently. Her grandson, Staff Sergeant Ralph Morrel and his "wife to be", Leah Anderson visited for a few days on their way to Fort Riley, KS. Ralph is in Army Intelligence and has recently been transferred to Fort Riley. Frances really enjoyed having them around. No news is available about the wedding plans yet. Stay tuned for more. I am sure Frances will keep us informed.

I totally forgot to apologize for not having a column last week. I was in Little Rock. Jessie Malin, Lane Wozniak and I spent a night there to go to a concert by "Celtic Thunder". It is a male singing group with ties to Ireland (of course). They have beautiful voices, thundering drums and don't look bad in their kilts either. They also have groupies evidently, some of whom sat two rows in back of us and caused sufficient damage to our eardrums to have all three of us craving silence for a while. Where do teenage girls get those piercing voices?

Another reason for thanksgiving is that our soldiers are coming home! Yes here, but not just here. They will be coming home all over Arkansas next month. Now let's all get ready for them. We need ribbons and welcome home signs and lots of hugs. Yes, we will paint the town yellow! If you want ribbons or signs, contact: Sarah Burdin at: 870-595-4716, sarahburdin@razorbackbackers.com: or Kristie Hayes at: 870-215-1499, klhayes95@yahoo.com .

If you have a business window you want painted, contact Don Watkins at 870-450-0029. He is providing this service for the cost of his expenses. Oh, yes, we want them to come home to cheers and love and lots and lots of yellow. Let's get ready!!

Jessica Earls is in Pennsylvania for a few days, visiting with her family. I will entertain you with the particulars of her trip when she returns. Upcoming attractions also include another trip by Lane Wozniak and I hope lots and lots of Thanksgiving news.

We said good-by to Cecil McGinnis last week. He was a sweet, sweet man, a Rector institution, and now he has gone home. God bless.

In case you don't already know, Reno Smith as moved back into her cute little house across the street. I, for one, am glad to have her back.

Yes, we all have much to celebrate this Thanksgiving; family, friends, football and much, much more. Eat well, love much and let me know who visited whom over the holiday.

Well, I guess I had better go. Please share your news with me. Just give me a call or send me an email. My phone number is 595-3173 or you can drop me a note at 514 West 3rd St. My email address is: porchswing@newwavecomm.net.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!