News from the Mountain

By CAROL GUNTER

A beautiful Monday morning here on the mountain. Hope everyone had a really nice weekend and that you got to spend some quality time with the Lord, family, and friends.

Short Mountain Church of God will be having a "Family and Friends Day" on Sunday, October 27th. There will be lunch for everyone to enjoy after the service. Invite your family members and your friends to attend the service and enjoy the delicious meal afterwards. What a wonderful time to thank the Lord for your many blessings and for the great fellowship and great food to be had by all.

Had a chance to stop by Glenda's (Dekalb Market) today and talked to Debbie, or "Deb", as Aubrey referred to her. He always would give people he cared about a nickname. That was our "Aubrey". Janice was "Spider" and Jackie was "His Yankee". He loved and treasured you girls so very much.

Talked with Betty Gunter on Sunday after church and her and her family doing well and so are Miss Kitty and Misty, too. They are her kitty cats.

Visitors on Saturday that I got to enjoy some time with were Lynn and Brenda Underwood and Rick and Beverly Hubler. They are good friends to have.

When I get the chance to sit on John and Mildred's porch, in front of Aubrey's and my house, I've got this magnificent view of the mountain and the beauty of it all. (Well it is sort of like that Calgon commercial from years ago) it takes you away and quite an experience to relish. I do take advantage of times like these because they are extra special to me.

James Hayes, a neighbor up the road from me, stopped by for awhile Saturday, also. It is always good to spend time talking about the Lord. No better subject in my opinion to talk about.

Some interesting happenings have been going on at the Short Mountain Church of God the past few weeks. Talking with Dorothy Morrison, she told me that on Saturday, September 21st John Haugh and Misty Brandon were married at the church. Congratulations John and Misty. Also, another couple that was married at the church were Josh Hunt and Hayle Clemons on October 5th. Congratulations to you guys, too. Also on Saturday, October 12th, the church had a fish fry. Several attended and had a great time of fellowship and getting to eat some delicious food.

Please keep Denise Stanton, Dorothy's daughter, in prayer. It has been a really rough road for Denise the past few years.

Carlon Melton not feeling well enough to be at church Sunday. Sure did miss you Carlon. You are in our prayers. Glad Mai Nell got to be there.

Wayne Gunter called on Thursday and we had a good time talking about the Lord and how good he is.

Got a delightful call from my friend Donna Lawson Wednesday. She is still doing better and I was so glad to hear that good news. 

What a beautiful phone call I received from Mary Ann Daniel on Thursday morning. The memories really came flooding back in my mind about working alongside this extraordinary lady in the office at Colonial Corp. of America's Office in Woodbury or as everyone called it the "shirt factory". Sad that is it no longer there but as with me, I'm sure everyone has a story or stories to tell about it. From Leonard Friedman to Naomi Milligan to Howard Stringer, to the countless others, it would fill up a whole page to list them all. Mary Ann was such an asset to Colonial. She was always quite the hard worker and got the job done in payroll. Thank you, Mary Ann, for giving me a call and telling me how much you enjoy reading the column. You, for sure, made this girl's day. You said you were doing well even though you were getting older now, and I chimed in I'm older too, but like Minnie Pearl, so proud to be here and you know Mary Ann we are just going to grow old gracefully. You told me you loved the stories I told about the tuna and the crackers. They are really true because as they say "you can't make up stuff like this". Bobby has told Debby she is the "ring leader" in all this, so I guess I must be the "innocent bystander". I can live with that, just can't though live without my tuna and crackers. Of course, I am now happy with those crackers and cans of tuna in my cabinet. Life is good here on the mountain.

A few Sundays ago, a good friend of mine, Evelyn Underwood, gave me a beautiful blue hat that she no longer cared for. She knew how much I loved wearing hats to church and that I appreciated it. Since September 22nd was the 1st day of autumn, I quit wearing my summer hats. I told Evelyn I was sort of like the gunslingers of the Wild West, when they were giving up their guns and hanging them and their holsters up to use no more except that in my case, I will take the hats down out of the closet and start wearing them again come spring next year. After all, some of the ladies at church call me the hat lady. I can't stop this tradition as I have always loved hats and I can't let the ladies down on this matter can I? 

Jo Motley and Greg Motley, her son, came up to the mountain on Sunday to put flowers on Med's grave at the Gunter-Grizzle Cemetery. Med was quite a true gentleman in every aspect of the word. You will always be loved and missed, Med. I only wish there were a million more like you.

Please give me a call if you have any news for the column at (615) 563-4429.

The only true friend you can have in this life is Jesus Christ.