New Ebenezer Church will host a clean up day on Saturday in preparation for their dedication at the end of the month.

There is a lot of work to be done due to the construction process. There will be inside and outside cleaning.

Everyone is encouraged to assist with this extensive task. Members of the church and the community will be there all day helping with this project.

Please bring supplies and lots of energy!

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Please pray for the Richardson family. They have experienced a great loss over the holidays. This family needs a great deal of love and prayers.

Please keep them in your thoughts.

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We lost another member of our community family this week.

Mr. Joe Little passed away at his home this weekend at the age of 54. He lived in the area with his wife, Helen. His children are Rebecca Harris, who is married to John, and Lee Mathis, who is married to Tina. He has four grandchildren: Paul and Thomas Harris, and Austin and Hannah Mathis. Hannah was Joe's little princess.

Most of you have seen Joe at the school picking up his grandchildren and around Highland Home. His eyes lit up when they walked around the corner. His family will miss him tremendously.

Please keep them in your prayers through this difficult time.

"Papa Joe" will be greatly missed by all.

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Taylor Jordan will be celebrating his eighth birthday this week.

Taylor is in Ms. Eiland's second grade class at Highland Home School. This past weekend, he went dirt bike riding with his brother in Ozark. His birthday party is planned for this weekend.

Happy Birthday, Taylor!

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Please pick up the flyers regarding the Highland Home Volunteer Fire and Rescue this week. They have been placed in area businesses.

They are hoping to present a program at the next PTA meeting at the school. Everyone is encouraged to attend due to the severity of the issue regarding closure of rescue services.

This is a crisis for our community.

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Please pray for Mr. Ford Beasley of the Sardis Community. He has been in the hospital for a good while now and recently had surgery.

Also pray that Ms. Lillie and her family continues to be strong. This is a very difficult time for them.

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Well another year has passed in our community.

A great deal of changes occurred during 2004. Highland Home gained a library and many new businesses. We have welcomed new members to our town and said goodbye to many others. We cheered at ballgames and cried at funerals.

Looking back over the year with reflection, we realize what a great town we live in. When little Lane Leonard was diagnosed with cancer, the community pulled together to help his family. (He continues to be very sick and continues to receive chemotherapy).

When fire destroyed the homes of our neighbors, donations flowed in to help the victims.

Wherever there is a need, we banded together to address it.

During Ivan, property was damaged, but the structure of our community was not. It only became stronger.

As we remember last year, let's look to the next year with anticipation of great things to come. Many of us will make resolutions for this year. However, we should only be making one. That resolution is to be happy with our lives. If we are happy with whom we are and what we have, we can then focus on the other aspects that might need improvement.

Hopefully, we will all decide to help our neighbors as well as improve our community. Please pray for the people listed above. Most of us had a wonderful Christmas time. However, many people did not have this wonderful blessing.

Our prayers are with the ones who lost their homes, everyone who lost someone they love, and those who are having a difficult time.

Happy New Year!

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If you have any comments, suggestions or information you would like to submit to this column, call Mrs. Wilson at 537-4511 or e-mail her at pen122@mon-cre.net