HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I had one 0f the best Christmases! Paula, the boys & I drove to North Carlina. It was wonderful to see my 2 brothers & my sister. Others within my family I was able to see, on my Mother's side: Aunt Sally Lou Gee, Aunt Catherine Britton & Uncle Robert Floyd. On my Father's side: Uncle Joe Kinnin, Aunt Connie Kinnin, Uncle Dallas Dixon, Aunt Nadine Kinnin and many of my cousins. I was also able to visit with many dear friends. My sons wanted me to show them where I went to school so I took them to Manning Elementary School, Chalenor Middle School, & Roanoke Rapids High School. We had a great time.
My wife and sister threw an "Over the Hill" Birthday party for me. I was thoroughly surprised and had a marvelous time with family and friends who came. It was at Logan's Roadhouse.
On Christmas Eve, I was able to go into my Grandfather's, Samuel Blick Floyd, old home in White Plains, Virginia. My Uncle Robert has not lived in it for 8 years. It has gotten very run down. He allowed me to get some things out to remenber my Granddad and to let my boys see where their Grandmother, Ima Jean Floyd Kinnin Newsome, grew up. I got a steamer trunk, a quilt and the most important were old photoes of the family. That evening there was a gathering of my Aunt Nadine and her children and we then went to a Candlelight Service at Rosemary Methodist Church where my nephew, Kelly Kinnin performed.

Christmas Day, we went to my sister's church, First Pentecostal Holiness, for morning service. We were invited to have lunch with Mrs. Edna Weeks and her family. That evening we all gathered at my sister's for gift opening. It was wonderful to be with them. Normally, I just talk to them on the phone after it is over, but to be there was very special.

The week was very full indeed! I will cherish the time I got to spend with my family & friends.

God truly blessed me this Christmas.

Father, help me to see others as You see them. Each with a special and unique place in Your Order of things. There are many of Your Children who are crying out for you and don't even realize or understand the yearning in their hearts. There is a void, and emptiness that most will not even acknowledge that it is there. They have suppressed it for so long that when it is addressed and brought to their attention, their reaction is to lash out and hurt or destroy that thing or person that has made them actually look at it. I want to be a man of compassion for them and to them.

What a gloomy day here in Brownwood. There has been a fine drizzle all day long.
I did have the distinct pleasure of my son, Samuel taking me out to lunch. His favorite fast food restaurant is Chicken Express. We dine there, as a family, regularly so we get the same thing every time. He is such a blessing now that he is older and is taking on more responsibility, for instance, when I left the house, he was planning to vacuum the living room for me and he had already dusted before I picked him up for lunch. I will be doing Driver's Ed. with him after Christmas and New Year's. I believe he will do very well. We will see.

Thomas sings for patients at skilled nursing facility

Just listened to my youngest sing at the Brownwood Skilled Nursing Facility with the Honors Choir from his school called "The Local Vocals". It was a great program full of moves and energy. The music director played "O Holy Night" on her flute. She played beautifully. It is one of my favorites during the Christmas Season especially when they get to the part "Fall on your knees, Oh hear they angel voices..... of the 1st verse. Magnificent!

Hope everyone had a great Wednesday!

It's a dreary Friday afternoon here at Walker Memorial Library on the Howard Payne University campus, but I am not complaining. We need the rain. The forecast for the next 4 days is rain. We'll see on close they got it right. This evening will be another time of staying in with the family. A Christmas movie would be ideal with some popcorn and a Coke Zero!
Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

How exciting! It's the first day of December, 2011. I am happy to have quite a bit of my Christmas decorating accomplished. What's left in the den, is the tree. I think I will put the lights on this year and let the boys do the decorations. It's time for them unleash their creative juices. Only one tree is going up this year because we are heading to North Carolina for Christmas. I have not been back there in 3 and a half years. It will be interesting to see my relatives and to spend time with old friends. Looking forward to it, but not the long drive. Louisiana has to be the worst state to drive through. The bugs covering the winshield and the constant bump, bump, bump of the highway is not something I am thrilled about.
For today, I can't wait for this evening! I get to spend it at home with Paula & the boys. They are what keeps me going! I love them tremendously. I could never imagine my life without them.