Happy birthday wishes to James D.Gregory, Dec. 6, Drakes Branch; John Gee, Jr., Dec. 7, Farmville; Louise Thompson, Dec. 8, Keysville; Sarah Vaughan, Dec. 9, Saxe; Daisy Williams, Dec. 9, Drakes Branch; Christina Friend, Dec. 9, Keysville; Darnell Jackson, Dec. 9, Nathlie; Anthony White, Dec. 9, Charlotte Court House; Brian and Ryan Craighead, twins, Dec. 10, Saxe; Aliyah Marable, Dec. 10, Charlotte Court House; Mary Foster, Dec. 10, Randolph; Sandra White, Dec.10, Connecticut; Lamont Hart, Dec. 11, Oxford, NC. On your birthday, lots of people are thinking of you. I just wanted to let you know that I am one of them. Happy birthday!

Anniversary wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Linsey, Dec. 7, 57 years, South Boston. I would like to wish you both, special times together, with lots of laughter and love. Stay blessed and happy. I wish you both a very happy anniversary. Happy anniversary!

Get well wishes to all of the sick and shut in. I hope you are well soon, up and about. You all are in our prayers and thoughts for a quick recovery.

Sympathy to all of the families who lost a loved one recently. Our heartfelt prayers and good wishes go out to all of you in your time of need. Sympathy to the families of Mike Douglas of Drakes Branch. Each of you through your loss have our deepest sympathy.

Thought for the week: We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so don’t stay mad for too long. Learn to forgive. Love with your heart. Have fun. Live your life. Don’t worry about the people who don’t like you. Enjoy the ones who do.

HOPE

Once you choose hope, anything’s possible. Love floods us with hope. Hope is faith holding out your hand in the dark. Hope is putting faith to work. The sudden disappointment of an unfulfilled hope leaves a scar, which the ultimate fulfillment of that hope never entirely removes.

Hope never abandons you, you abandon it. Some see a hopeless end, while others see an endless hope. Walk on with hope in your heart, and you’’ll never walk alone. Hope is necessary in every condition, the miseries of poverty, sickness and captivity would without this comfort, be insupportable. Always have hope and faith. Nothing is impossible, just have faith and believe.

News is due by noon Friday. Any news received after this time will not be included in this column. News can be submitted by calling (434) 568-0596.

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