By Ivalien Reynolds

This has been a windy month. I saw some Easter lilies up tall and proud.

I was sorry to hear Mae Mabe is in the hospital. Keep her and Arlene Trent on your list of prayer requests. Then, my friend Linda Roberts needs our prayers.

Thanks to everyone for the pretty Valentines. They surely brightened my day. Mary Ann up in D.C. made me a beautiful Valentine.

I enjoyed the Valentine service at New Beginnings Church a lot. It was good to hear Mike Hall sing and to be with Sue. They played the Newlywed Game with three couples. It was so funny and kept everyone laughing.

If you didn’t go to the Black History Sunday at the Reynolds Homestead, you surely missed a blessing.  There was great music by choirs and groups. Also a great trombone player was there. The Rev. Burgie Penn is one of my favorite people – a godly woman indeed.

The Soup Kitchen did a lot of cooking this week. They had chicken and dumplings, tomato soup, pinto beans, bread, desserts and little wooden crosses made by a gentleman. My people were happy.

I stopped by to see neighbor Vera Plasters, age 101, and she was dressed in red right down to her socks and looked pretty. She is amazing.

I enjoyed a visit with my new neighbor Adrienne Hiatt when she came over to see me and brought me a Valentine and a box of shortbread cookies (my favorite) from her and her husband Jon. Thank you. That was so nice. I’m blessed to have good neighbors.

Happy birthday to Della Pilson up in Woolwine, a longtime friend. May God bless you with many more.

It was good to see Arlene Shough again on Wednesday night.

“Miss Claudine” Wood on the mountain is enjoying her Valentines and all the company that visits. She’s a remarkable lady at 96-years.

Mary Ann called from D.C. and said the weather was cold there and they had lots of strong winds.

Cooking hint: Things you can do with coconut oil: toss with cubed sweet potatoes before roasting; stir a bit in oatmeal instead of butter; spread on whole grain waffles; and season your cast iron skillet.

BANANA SMOOTHIE

1 c. orange juice or milk

1 c. canned peaches

2 sliced bananas, frozen

Dash of sweetener

Place juice (or milk) in blender. Add half of bananas and peaches. Blend. Then add the remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy. (Might want to add some blueberries.)

Food for thought

Let whatever you are going through at the present time draw you closer to the heart of Jesus.  Hebrews 10:22 says “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.”