Happy belated birthday wishes to Julian Gee Jr., Feb.1, Maryland, grandson of John and Leslie Gee Farmville.

Birthday wishes to Estelle Haskins Cowans, Feb. 17, New Carrollton, Md.; Anthony Friend, Feb. 17, Drakes Branch; India Spencer, Feb. 18, Charlotte Court House; Deloria Friend, Feb. 18, Drakes Branch; John Foster, Feb. 19, Farmville; Alexis Davis, Feb. 21, Randolph; Jennifer Wilborn Williams, Feb. 22, N.C.; Joseph “Joey” Wilborn, Feb. 22, South Boston; Wilhelmia VanDyke, Feb. 22, Randolph; Marvin Vaughters, Feb. 23, Red Oak; Keith Spencer, Feb. 23, Charlotte Court House; Michelle Ferrell, Feb. 23, Keysville. A birthday is a lovely flower that blooms in life’s garden, and may that special blossom be bright especially today. Happy birthday!

Anniversary wishes to Michael and Mildred Culpeper, Feb. 23, 31 years, Concord. I wish you many more happy years together with God’s blessing.

Get well wishes to all of the sick and shut in. I hope you are up and well soon. You are in our prayers.

Thought of the week: When the world seems down and no one seems to be around, just remember there is someone up above looking down at you with love.

Inspiration

What you do today can improve all your tomorrows. You can’t expect to hit the jackpot if you don’t put a few nickels in the machine.

You are a great asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming and encouraging your greatest asset.

Be miserable … or choose to motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it is always your choice. Small opportunities are often the great achievements. If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you will fall into someone else’s plan.

And guess what — they have not planned specifically for you.

Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it cannot be done. Life is too short to think small. Every new day is another chance to change your life. Accept responsibility for your life and know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.

When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you. Some people want it to happen. Some wish it would happen. Others make it happen.

Saxe and Drakes Branch news is due to Virginia Freeman by Saturday.

Virginia Freeman is a community columnist for The Charlotte Gazette. She can be reached at vstars@pure.net.