Catching up...

OK, I have been severely chastised for not keeping this site up better. Once I signed on to FaceBook and got connected to so many old friends, I have not taken the time to do all I was doing in the past. It has been a busy, busy year for all of us in Henley Harbor here on the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast.

1. "Winds over Bolivar," my book about Hurricane Ike's impact on our beloved Bolivar Peninsula, was delivered on my birthday and it hit the road running. We have now conducted more than two dozen book signing events and we are have just placed our seventh order for printed books here at our house. Ted has done a wonderful job of getting them into many stores locally on the peninsula and in Galveston, for which we are grateful. If you have not ordered your copy, you can do so today by simply clicking on Amazon.com

2. Steven began his junior year of high school this year. Where could this time have gone? He and the band he formed when he moved to Texas from Tennessee, Seaweed, released their first CD two weeks ago after winning several local contests. They are very pleased with the response and how their musical careers are going.

3. Nikki, my youngest child, married Clint Jones on July 2, 2011, at his parents' camp in East Texas and she is happier than I have ever seen her to be. They fish (and catch some really good ones) often, and soon it will be hunting season. They live in Mauriceville, which is much nearer to me.

4. DeAnna, my oldest, still works for the airlines and she is active in the church Brent pastored here in Texas. DeAnna sings and teaches a high school girls' class and mothers Callie Grace, my soon to be 13-years-old granddaughter. Jeff continues his work at Motiva.

5. Brent and Valerie moved to Florida where Brent pastors a wonderful church there. They have four children: Quinn, Collin, Madeline, and Grant.

6. Ted has been quite ill for the past two weeks and this comes as a shock to all of us. He had never been hospitalized as a patient until this experience. He has been diagnosed with Sciatica in his hip, leg, and calf and two medicines he was given for that conflicted in a man his age and caused his bladder and kidneys to completely shut down. He was rushed back to the ER and had a procedure and now faces prostate surgery. Please keep him in your prayers.

7. If all is well, we'll be heading to Georgia in early October for four different reunions, all at Unicoi State Park. The Forrest Hills Baptist Church Reunion will be October 1 in the Dogwood Banquet Room and we are excited about seeing old friends. We will host three family gatherings during the week, one for my Cole/Cannon/Long side of the family, one for the Stancil girls, including the ones from South Carolina, and one for friends, before my big Clarkston High School Class Reunion on October 7, 8, and 9. Good friends, good food, good fun and great fellowship.

8. A near hurricane seems to be brewing with one more forming behind this one, so pray we get lots of rain, but no real storm here on the coast.

9. I've been busy as a beaver and have a new book coming out in late September, "Morning Glories," also published by Amazon. This book has been in my heart and soul for many years and is a collection of quotes, inspirational pieces, articles I've written for the newspaper, Scripture, illustrations, and just fun, fun stuff. The reader can go through one a day for all 365 days of the year (and yes, there's an extra one for Leap Year) or read it straight through. I chose the name based on my memory of my Mama Cole's beautiful blue/lavender morning glories at the old white farm house in Georgia where I spent the first years of my life.

10. Much love to each of you and if you are on FaceBook, send me a friend request so we can keep up better with each other. If you are not on FaceBook, consider joining. It took a full year for DeAnna to convince me I should have a page there and I now love it since I have re-connected with so many old friends, family members and church family across the world.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda

Sorry - You must go to the Amazon site to get the page to open for you to read inside. Won't do it on this site.

Hot here in Texas

Today on August 4, 2010, here in Texas, we are told to protect all human and pet life and be careful to stay properly hydrated. It is to be somewhere in the triple digets this afternoon and I believe every word I hear about it. When I left the office to go to the post office, my car was so hot, I could barely touch the steering wheel or the seats.

One of my friends who is somewhat of a comedian said, "Last time she checked, it was hotter than the hinges of hell's doors." Don't want to ever know about that heat...

Lots of exciting things going on right now...

Brendan, Nikki's youngest son, is visiting for two weeks and we are so happy to have him here with us. He flew in on Saturday and we picked him up at Hobby. He will be here through the 24th. He and PaPa Ted have gone to the skateboard park today and to get haircuts.

Working every hour I am off on the new book, "Wind Over Bolivar," and it is coming along great now. Should be out by Thanksgiving if we can stay on course.

Also working on two reunions - one for my CHS graduating class - the big 50th - to be held at Lake Lanier Island Resort on October 1, 2, and 3, 2010. We are so excited to see everyone and we have four lake houses reserved plus rooms at the lodge. Butch and the Buckheads will play music of our era and it should be a lot of fun.

The second reunion is one that a dear old friend of mine, Jackie Vickery, and I have put together for old friends of Forrest Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. We have tried to reach out to all those who might want to attend. That one is October 9, from 1-3, 2010, at the beautiful Bethesda Park in Lawrenceville. We have reserved the Gwinnett County Senior Citizens Center for this event and are urging all of our old and dear friends to come on out and join us for the fun afternoon.

And, Nehemiah's Vision, where I serve as Site Director for Galveston County, is gearing up for a huge building project. It is anticipated that we will employ 80 people in the construction industry in conjunction with Texas Workforce. Interviewing, handling orientation, getting drug screening, and assignments to job sites will be hectic for a while, but will yield some wonderful results for the people of the area. We are so excited to see the hope of our people getting back into permanent housing after almost two years of waiting.

Steven will begin 10th grade in a few more days - Goodness, where did this summer go? I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by lately. My mother will be dead two years on August 26, and Hurricane Ike hit the peninsula on September 13, 2008. WOW!

Take care until the next page turns,

Brenda

Busy, busy, busy

Some of you know that I have started back to work, yet again, after retiring three different times. I had been talking with James Hall, Executive Director of Nehemiah's Vision, for about four months, here on the Bolivar Peninsula, concerning this position and praying about it with Ted and Steven. The home office located in Vidor, Texas, but we expect to keep the Galveston County office up and running for some three years. James is from Georgia originally, too, and last worked there for Through the Bible Ministries, where my nephew worked for a long time.

Nehemiah's Vision is a faith-based, non-profit organization that was initially begun by a group of Christian builders in the Beaumont and Southeast Texas area shortly after Hurricane Rita. They wanted to help in the disaster and recovery effort, but could not be away from their own businesses for long periods of time. They incorporated and employeed crew chiefs and builders and enlisted the aid of volunteers from across America to come into a disaster area and help to rebuild homes and clear debris.

Their efforts have been blessed of God and many people who literally have fallen through the cracks were helped to get back into suitable living quarters. The volunteers are simply wonderful people who also have a desire to help where needed most. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of them when they have come to Bolivar.

The organization needed someone who could help to write, do some marketing, publicity, case management, go out and meet the people, administer grants, keep records, and coordinate building efforts among many properties at one time. Living here on the peninsula and losing all we had to Hurricane Ike fitted me well to the task and I came on board full time on June 16.

It is so exciting to see a homeowner receive the keys to their newly refurbished home and know that they will no longer have to worry about where they'll be sleeping. God is good to this ministry.

I am also extrememly excited to be working on my class reunion planned for October 1, 2, and 3, at Lake Lanier Islands and Resort near Atlanta, Georgia. Many of my classmates from Clarkston High School's Class of 1960 (yes, I wrote that!) are going to be on hand and we have a fun weekend planned.

Following that weekend and while I am still in my home state of Georgia, several friends and I are planning a reunion of some of the old church family from Forrest Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. More details to be forthcoming on this adventure. We are hoping for October 9 for this event.

Take care until the next page turns,
Brenda

Here we go again...

Hello friends and family members:

Life is so good and so much of an adventure if we simply let it be...

I have begun yet another new and excellent adventure in my life, and thus far, I am enjoying it very much.

Nehemiah's Vision is a non-profit, faith-based ministry operating here in Southeast Texas. Their mission and goal is to go into an area following a disaster regarding hurricane, tornado, fire, flood, or other, and help the people rebuild their lives and their homes. The ministry was created by a group of Christian builders in Southeast Texas following the devastation left in our area by Hurricane Rita. Since that time, it has grown and expanded and has several full time staff members.

James Hall serves as the executive director of the ministry, and guess what? He is from Georgia where he was on the staff of Through the Bible Ministries where my nephew worked. Jim asked me to come on board and help in the area of writing, publications, advertising, marketing and supervision of construction details in Galveston County. and particularly the Bolivar Peninsula, and work with his crews and the outstanding volunteer groups that come to us from across the state and around the country. Every person I have met on the staff of Nehemiah's Vision thus far is dedicated to his or her work, cares about the people they help, and are very diligent workers. Some homes are repaired through grant funding, while others are paid for by the homeowner. In some cases, it is strictly a volunteer effort.

Today, we have people working at 14 different sites across the peninsula doing debris removal, painting, sheetrocking, plumbing, roofing, wiring, putting down carpet, and many other tasks. I work closely with Thomas Raley, our building superintendent here on the peninsula, and thus far, we are doing great. Thomas likes it when I cook dinner and share with him. His home is over an over away and he often stays on the peninsula for four or five days straight. He is especially fond of Georgia recipe homemade chicken and dumplings and strawberry cobbler...

In my spare time, I keep up with my writing for three newspapers, the Yahoo Internet Group, Bolivar BLUE, work in my church, volunteer on the peninsula as needed, and am now busily planning our big 50th Anniversary of our High School Graduation from Clarkston High School in the Atlanta area. We will be meeting on October 1, 2, and 3 at Lake Lanier Islands and we are hearing from so many old and dear friends. We are very excited! And, Ted and I fish when we can get the boat in the water...

Steven completed ninth grade and is going to church camp next week at the East Texas Baptist Encampment in Newton, Texas. Many of his close friends are going on this exciting journey with him and I'm praying that God does a wonderful work in the hearts of all attendees. Summer camp can be a wonderful time for the Lord to work in a different environment and many of these boys and girls have lived on the peninsula following Ike and have adjusted to things being different in their young lives. Please pray for the workers and counselors, speakers, musicians, cooks, and managers during these exciting weeks of ministry.

Steven is also still very involved in his music and his little band, Seaweed, has been given several opportunities to play in the area. They opened our 25th Annual Crab Fest on Bolivar, played at a big Memorial Day gig at Laguna Harbor, and have done other smaller events. I had rather these kids be involved in making music than wondering around looking for something to do.

All of our grandchildren are growing so quickly now that it is somewhat frightening. Ted and I are well and happy here on the Gulf and feel that our lives are being used to help others.

God bless, and let's keep our eyes and ears open to those who need our help, love, and encouragement.

Until the next page turns,

Brenda

The power of the tongue

Words Fitly Spoken…

The power of the tongue

By Brenda Cannon Henley

Senior Correspondent to The Examiner

Man, words are powerful things. They can bring joy, pain, laughter, tears, fun, sadness, comfort, unhappiness, and they can ruin a person’s reputation with just a few of them hurriedly strung together and shared. Words can also be uplifting, edifying, teaching, complementing, and godly, according to Scripture. A friend’s words are pleasant, but an enemy’s word can cut to the heart and soul of a person.

The tongue and its power is discussed broadly in the small Book of James. In only five chapters, we are given more truth than we can probably handle.

The Book of James was written in A. D. 45 to Christian Jews scattered from Jerusalem. The author was not the brother of John, according to scholars who know a lot more than I do about the matter. It was instead “James, the Lord’s brother,” according to Galatians 1:19 and mentioned again in Matthew 13:55, along with Jonas, Simon, and Judas or Jude who wrote the Book of Jude. James presided over the council at Jerusalem, according to Acts 15:2, 13-21.

The Book of James includes themes of faith versus works, the sin of the tongue, and healing in answer to prayer. A brief outline of the book could include: Chapter 1, 2 — Faith tested and proved by tribulation. 3 — The evil of an uncontrolled tongue. 4 — The rich are warned. 5 — Affliction, patience, payer of faith for healing. Wow, that’s a lot to cover in five short chapters.

I particularly like the passage in Chapter 2 where we learn we are not to have respect of persons because they are wealthy, wear bright, colorful clothing, or can help us. We are warned about becoming judges of one another and ignoring the less fortunate among us.

James 3:3 tells us that men put bits in the horses mouth to tame them and that ships are guided by small rudders, and yet, our tongues are very small parts of our bodies that can cause great disturbances. We learn that the tongue is like a fire and an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing and that should not be so. “Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”

Verse 16 teaches, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Our busy tongues fan the flames of gossip, cheap slander, untruths, and hurt. Chapter 4 teaches a vital truth to real Christianity. “Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw to you.” If we are diligently attempting in our daily walk to draw nigh unto God, we will have to be busy guarding those wagging tongues and keeping those “potty mouths” silent.

Going back to Chapter 1 of the Book of James, again we read in Verses 5 and 6, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth (does not scold one for asking) not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not vacillating). For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

In Sunday school classes the world over, pre-school boys and girls are taught to sing, “Oh, be careful, little mouth, what you say. Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see. Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go. Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do.” Might not be a bad song for all of us to sing again and mean it from the depths of our hearts.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at brendacannonhenley@yahoo.com.

Bio sketch: Brenda Cannon Henley is semi-retired from The Examiner and makes her home on the Bolivar Peninsula on the beautiful Southeast Texas Gulf Coast. She has enjoyed a long career in writing and has many awards and testimonies to her professional career. Read more at Henley’s blog spot at brendacannonhenley.blogspot.com. If your church is having a planned event or special speaker, please let Henley know and she will cover as many as time permits.

Dancing with the stars...literally By Brenda Cannon Henley Senior Correspondent to The Examiner This week's column is dedicated to the memory of Torchy Salter whose favorite parting to all was, "Wishing you the moon and stars." She's enjoying them now for herself. Buzz Aldrin, famed space pioneer, is best perhaps known to this generation as a beginning contestant on this year's Dancing with the Stars TV show. At 80 years of age, this true-to-life legend is a role model for seniors to get out there and do it...and enjoy doing it. Our school children know that forty years ago two human beings changed history on July 20, 1969 by walking on the surface of the moon. But what happened before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it. Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guidepost magazine. Others have told the story since that time, but it is still significant for all Christians to remember that this legend of our time thought it important to do. Aldrin was a dedicated elder at a Presbyterian church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his minister to help him. And so the minister consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine. Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the earth's orbit and on to the surface of the moon. He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: "This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way." He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened: "In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. "Then I read the Scripture, 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. "I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmastime. I agreed reluctantly." Aldrin said that he ate the tiny host and swallowed the wine. "I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements." And of course, it's interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the "love that moves the sun and other stars." The Bible teaches us in Luke 22:19, "As oft as you do this, you do it in remembrance of Me." What a place to remember the Lord Jesus Christ. Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at brendacannohenley@yahoo.com.

Well, hello out there...

OK, Millie, I apologize again for being absent from this blog, but with FaceBook, email, Bolivar Blue, and the like, and living in a

whirlwind, I just forget from time to time. FaceBook is the main stream it seems right now with all of my friends and believe me, I have been busy.

Things are really looking up on the Bolivar Peninsula. As I type, I can hear hammers and saws and other re-building and repair noises in the background. A group of 110 kids and adults are at the church next door. This volunteer group is with Nehemiah's Vision, an international group that has wonderful people go to help folks wherever there is a need or where a disaster has struck. They do their labor on a volunteer basis and these folks are kind-hearted and caring as they paint, nail, sweep, put up heavy sheetrock, clear debris and do whatever is most needed.

My cousin, Dr. Alan Baughcum, was here in February with a large group from the Belmont, Massachusetts Religious Council, where he pastors. Ted and I had the joy of spending with these 39 volunteers who gave up spring break to come and work here. I spoke to the group on Sunday night giving them a firsthand report of what it is like to have your home and all that you own destroyed by a major hurricane. Sweet, sweet people with big hearts.

Steven is still making his music and takes advanced drum lessons in Port Neches weekly and plays with his band, Seaweed, here locally for the residents and friends who come in to visit. He will be completing ninth grade at High Island High School in just a few weeks and is looking for a summer job (that he thinks he wants).

Take care and be safe until the next page turns,

Brenda

(Pictured above are my cousin, Dr. Alan Baughcum, and his volunteer group from Belmont, Massachusetts on Crystal Beach in Texas.)

Happy New Year from the Bolivar Peninsula of Texas

Ted and I trust that each of you had a very Merry Christmas and we wish you a Happy and Blessed New Year.

May God bless you in 2010 with health, happiness, enough income, something profitable and fun to do, and family members and friends to surround you and share your joys and trials.

Our weather is cool here on the peninsula and we heard last night that the forecasters are predicting the possibility of snow showers on Wednesday for us folks in Southeast Texas. How could that be? We are excited, of course, at the prospect and the kids think it is great.

For those of you who are keeping up, Ted and I, like so many of our neighbors and friends on Bolivar, are still waiting on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association to settle on our claim so that we can begin to rebuild our home and our lives. God has blessed our family with a nice leased home in Crystal Beach, and we realize we are so much more fortunate than many who cannot get back to the peninsula because of not having a home. It is been a long nearly 16 months now to wait this out, but we are trying to be patient. We, like most, have filed lawsuits now to try to get our money that is fairly owed to us.

Another body (or the remains of a body) was positively identified on Friday. It was Harry Bingham, 61, of Crystal beach, and his daughter in New Jersey has now been told. The Laura Recovery Center in Houston confirmed that DNA evidence made the news official and even though Harry's body had been discovered on September 8, 2009, near Smith Point, it took this long to get the confirmation. For many families, Hurricane Ike is still very close to the heart and not over by a long shot although it is considered "old news" to many now.

I have personally asked God to help me be more gracious to all I meet, keep my mouth shut more often, and to try to help those I meet along the way with a genuine and sincere spirit.

Steven has enjoyed his break from school and will go back on Monday. His band, Seaweed, played on New Year's Eve, after much practice here in our home. He loves music and is doing well on both guitar and drums. Callie Grace is also a budding musician and is now back home in Texas after a visit to Georgia over Christmas. Both Brent and Nikki now live in or near St. Petersburg, Florida, very near the Gulf. Brent pastors the Community Bible Baptist Church and Nikki begins a new job on Monday. Please pray for both of them and their families. Brendan is a fine young man and growing like a weed.

May God bless you until the next page turns,

Brenda

"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear..."

...couldn't be happening on Bolivar Peninsula lately.

Never have I ever seen such thick fog as last night riding the ferry home from Galveston. Literally could not see one car length ahead of me.

I've heard that old expression all my life, "It's like driving in pea soup," and I have now experienced it for myself. Without the white line on the right side of the road, I couldn't have known I was in the right place from the ferry landing to the house.

Wrapping Christmas gifts and listening to Christmas music. Does it get any better than this during this happy time of the year? Just received a basket of Christmas cards from friends and the older I get, the more I appreciate and enjoy them. Now, to display them somewhere in the house properly so all can enjoy them with me.

Merry Christmas, everyone, until the next page turns...

Happy Birthday to Me...

OK, OK, so I know that the traditional "Happy Birthday to You" is not thought of as a Christmas song, but it should be since we celebrate the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this case, the Happy Birthday song was sung a bit early last night as four beach neighbors celebrated our December birthdays together in the lovely home of Warren and Pam Adams.

Terri Ward, a special friend to Steven, Warren Adams (host), myself, and Michael Likos, all share December birthdays just a few days apart, so last year, shortly after Hurricane Ike, we started a good tradition of planning our own birthday party since they are so hard to come by in the busy month of December. Everyone is tired of shopping, going to parties, and they have little money to spend on birthday gifts. It comes with being a December child, though unfair.

We had such fun with the birthday honorees, and Jim and Cindy Srader, Ted Henley, Pam Adams, Michael and Laurie Likos, and John and Joni Harding, all good friends. Mike and Yvonne VanZandt were to join the group, but Yvonne got sick on Saturday during the day. Randy Ward was also unable to attend this year due to medical testing at the hospital.

The group enjoyed wonderful food with Warren doing prime rib for everyone on his fabulous new grill. The Adams also learned during the party that they had won first place for Christmas decorations on the entire Bolivar Peninsula so our congratulations to them for that achievement. Gifts, good food, fellowship, and fun was shared, as well as the four birthday honorees feeling very special. Can't wait until next year's traditional gathering.

Until the next page turns...

Warren also played for us his favorite Christmas song, "Christmas in Dixie."

The Candy Man Can...

I know we are supposed to lead off our blogs with lines or titles of Christmas songs, but after seeing a very good live presentation of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory last night in Galveston, I've been singing "The Candy Man Can" all day long.

Christmas time is a good time for the candy man, I think, too.

Merry Christmas to all until the next page turns...off to a Christmas party in Shoreacres (near Houston) tonight. Good wishes to all...Cold and dreary outside at the beach, but still nice.

I think Santa Claus is Coming to Town...

I realize some of you don't believe in Santa and don't want your kids to think he is real, but I, for one, still believe he is coming to see me.

Can't give that up!

I'm enjoying getting ready for his visit and trust he makes to the beach where we have sand instead of the traditional snow.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good day...Until the next page turns.

Ginger, I received a wonderful surprise gift in the mail yesterday afternoon. One of my favorite movies of all time and a nice, warm, beautifully colored throw to wrap up in to watch it here at the house. However, I have been creative and designed the throw to wear as a big scarf/wrap with an outfit tomorrow night to a huge Christmas party in Houston. It matched my outfit perfectly and I started out teasing about doing it, but goodness sake, it works! Thank you so much!

I promise, Daina, I've kept the December challenge

I just forgot and wrote it on my Yahoo Internet Site, Bolivar BLUE and several of the members there are doing it with me. I know I did "Silver Bells" on Monday and "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" yesterday and today I wrote "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" in my status.

OK, OK, so I'm in...

Others if you want to get in on the challenge, write something every day from now until December 20 using a line, title, thought from a Christmas carol, song, play, or writing. It is fun!

I've had some good ones on the group site including a clever one using "Go Tell It On the Mountain." To join or see Bolivar BLUE, simply go to Yahoo Internet Groups and type in Bolivar BLUE (spelled like this) and I'll approve you for membership. The BLUE is an acronym for Beach Lovers United Effectively.

Until the next page turns...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Today is December 4, and we are getting snow in Southeast Texas. This is the earliest date recorded. We got flurries last year on December 10 and it was beautiful in Galveston. We all rushed out to take photographs.

There is just something pretty spectacular about snow falling against the backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico.

We have a winter weather advisory and the snow is predicted to start at noon and last into the evening. Of course, our temps will warm up and it will be all gone, but it is fun right now and our folks are filled with anticipation. School and some offices have been dismissed for fear of icy roads.

I know our friends in Michigan (Jack and Laura Rounds) are laughing mightily at our excitement over snow when they have something like 7-8 inches and it will stay on the ground there until spring most likely. But for Southeast Texans, it is a novel thing.

Ted's niece has challenged everyone who blogs to begin on Monday, December 7 and go through December 20, using a line or the title of a Christmas carol or snow in their blog header. I said I would participate, so I'll try to be faithful.

Merry Christmas everyone,

Brenda

Until the next page turns...

Able to get a lot done today...

This week feels long already and tomorrow is only Thursday.  I keep thinking it should be Friday or maybe even Saturday.  We are planning on celebrating DeAnna's birthday on Monday, Labor Day, here at the beach.  She truly inherited the love of water from me and she gets out here as often as she can.  Happy Birthday to my oldest child, DeAnna Stancil Davis.

Steven stayed at school to play his drums for the city wide pep rally in preparation for the first football game of the season at Ball High School. He was excited to be asked to join the band for this occasion even though he has not been attending the before-school and after-school practices. Transportation back and forth to his new school on Galveston Island is a bit of a problem and no matter how you plan it, takes about three hours to get in the Bolivar-Galveston ferry line, ride the ferry over, do whatever you have to do on the island, and do the reverse to get home.  I left here tonight at 6:10 and we got home a little after 9:30 pm, which makes for a very long school day.  His bus picks him up at 5:45 am, when it is totally pitch black dark outside.

Thus far, he is doing well in his busy ninth grade classes and I am in communication with each of his teachers by way of email.  Boy, things have changed a lot since my children went to school!  He's carrying a heavy load of classes in the Advanced Placement program.  All he wants to do when he gets in the door in the late afternoon is eat and get a bath, chill out for a short while, and head to bed.  He is also involved in the Junior ROTC program, which is somewhat tough I hear.

Joni Harding, a friend of mine here on the peninsula, and I are volunteering tomorrow at the Children's Center, also in Galveston, for a mutual friend, Terri Ward.  She directs the Children's Center and Safe Place on the island and is in need of some help regarding a project. Joni and I are honored to be asked to help there.

I've been working all day on the Hurricane Ike Memorial and Anniversary Service/Celebration, planned for September 12, on the beach nearest Coconuts, beginning at 7 pm.  We plan to honor the ten known dead from Ike and the four still unaccounted for in a solemn service with tea lights and sending a live floral wreath out to sea in their memory.  An old ship's bell that survived the storm will be rung after each name is read.  We will also hear from some Bolivar Peninsula residents, property owners, vacationeers, and some of our talented musicians.

The general public is invited to join us and participate and we are hearing that many are planning to do just that.  It has been the most unusual year of our lives I think.  My mother was dead one year on her birthday, August 26, and Hurricane Ike hit our beloved peninsula and destroyed our home on September 12 and 13 of last year.  We are still waiting on TWIA to pay our insurance claim so we can rebuild or buy a new home.  Thanks be to God, we are in a nice leased property now and are quite comfortable.

My old and dear friend, Betty Cargal Nance, told me about her sister-in-law's gratitude journal, and I want to begin one of my own.  Every day my heart is touched with some small thing (and sometimes, large ones, too) and I want to remember those things in the future.  We get so wrapped up in living that we forget to enjoy the ride from time to time.  I think for me to list those things I am most grateful for will help to keep me focused and my eyes on the prize. Living where I do in my dream world of the ocean and beaches, I see things every day that are special and deeply meaningful to me.  

If you were writing in your gratitude journal today, what would you list? We have so much to be grateful for each day, don't we?

I am excited that Ginger (Bragg) Doster and Millie (Jones) Pincus, two of my oldest and dearest friends, are coming in mid-September to stay a week or so with Ted, Steven, and I here at the beach house. I guarantee there'll be a lot of front deck sitting, sand and surf watching, telling of old tales, playing of board games, cooking and eating, and good memories being made.  And, then, in late October, we are heading to Atlanta for another reunion of sorts with the Carpenters and the Rounds, more old and dear friends. Jack and John came to us at Forrest Hills Baptist Church from Bob Jones University when they were young college students.  Both have now matured, married, had families, and still communicate with each other often. It will be the first time we've all been together in quite some time and we look forward to hitting some of the old haunts in the Big "A" Town, eating at the Varsity, climbing Stone Mountain, visiting old friends and catching up.

God is good ... all of the time.

Until the next page turns,

Brenda

Today is the anniversary of Elvis' death...

OK, I know it is corny, but today is the anniversary of Elvis' death, and I don't feel so good myself.

It has been a trying week for many reasons.  DeAnna and Callie Grace came to the beach for the weekend and we had such fun, so it ended well.  Ted and I took DeAnna out on the boat into the bay and on the Intracoastal Waterway for fishing on Friday and she caught lots of "stuff," some of it wild, and some of it good.  On Friday, we went out again to the deeper, more beautiful water of the open Gulf out beyond the North Jetties.  I caught a shark right off the bat and she was impressed.  We had fun and then came back and took Steven and Callie Grace to the beach at our house to join some of my dear friends, John and Joni Harding and their grandchildren for a time of playing in the sand and surf.

The reason I can always remember when Elvis died is that the anniversary is on the 16th, one day before my son's birthday on the 17th of August.  I was in the kitchen icing his birthday cake when Teresa, my beloved sister in law, called to break the news.  I told her that what she said wasn't funny and a bad joke, and she said, "Oh, Brenda, he really is dead.  I'm not joking.  Go turn on the TV."  And I did and he had!  I couldn't believe it.  That man could sing and he will always represent a part of my growing up years.  There's lots more to tell, but I won't take the time to do that now. Happy Birthday, Brent.

When Brent moved to Florida to pastor Community Bible Baptist Church, he made a joke about hurricanes following him.  Everyone laughed. There's three building right now and two are heading for central Florida — Not so funny!  He and his family (and us eventually) have experienced way too many hurricanes here on the Texas coast and the church (Val Verde Baptist) had storm damage at least three times from weather related issues while he was there.

Ana, Bill, and Claudette are concerns right now for all of us.  We have been told to batten down the hatches, but it mostly is going to be rain — they think!  We pray!

Had some experiences this week that I would have liked to have avoided seeing.  Hurting people do hurtful things, and they seem to do it simply as a matter of their own existence.There is nothing uglier to me than a bitter, rude, embolden, older woman who speaks out of the meaningless heart she has emptied years ago.  When you have no joy in your own life (for whatever reason) because of your past actions, alcohol, drugs (prescription and other), lack of close family, not getting along with neighbors, and jealousy and envy, there is a tendency to lash out and hurt those who are more successful and certainly more happy. I saw that demonstrated twice this week by two different women who had no cause to be concerned about issues they chose to tackle.  You almost want to hold a life mirror up to their faces and demand that they stop and take a hard look at themselves, but of course, that would not be acceptable.

May God help them.  Dr. John R. Rice used to say often that "bitterness and envy eats up the vessel it is stored in...and quickly at that."  Dr. B. R. Lakin shared with us "If they're kicking you in the rear, you've still got the lead, so keep on going."

Ted and I ask you to join us in prayer for his only sister, Martha Ladd, of Beaumont, Texas.  She underwent open heart surgery in Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, on Wednesday, August 12.  She has had some complications and needs our prayers. These complications involve her heart, kidneys, lungs, being disoriented, and a staph colony.  She is at this writing in an isolation ICU.  Her husband and children are there with her and they all need our prayers.

May God bless all coastal residents during hurricane season — 2009 — and Happy Birthday, Brent!

Morning from the Marsh on Bolivar...

OK, Millie, so I've been slack about writing on my blog. Forgive me again. I'll do better, I promise. 

Life is too fast these days and moving much too quickly for me to stay on top of all my doings. Summer is running across the pages of the calendar and I don't get everything done I want to accomplish in any given day.

Still writing for The Beach Triton and two stories due today to beat deadline for printing.  Have the ideas now and will get that done asap. Jan, hold up the presses, please. I'll get right on the stories and get them in to you by close of business today.

Rather bad news at the eye doctor day before yesterday. Been having some bad headaches and Ted made an appointment and insisted I keep it. Left eye has lost ground over the years and the surgery I had on it in fourth grade was unsuccessful, which we already knew. New news was that perhaps treatment could have helped saved some of the sight in it. Was diagnosed as "legally blind" in that  eye with only 20/200 vision and eligible for some help and an extra tax exemption. Good right eye that has always had 20/20 vision now reduced to 20/70 (not good) and is tiring because of doing all the work for two eyes. The doctor explained that the brain sends out the signals for the eyes to see. Left eye won't so strain goes to right eye thus causing the headaches.

Got new, much more powerful glasses and a big black pirate eye patch for the left eye to help reduce the stress by having it try to work. Moral to friends and family – keep those eye doctor appointments and listen to what he or she says.  Great fun for friends with eye patch jokes...My Mom...the Pirate, Captain Wig Eye (courtesy of Brent), Aaaarggggg (in many different versions), Captain MaMa of the Seven Seas, and so forth. Creative friends and family of mine...

Decided I am way tired of being without my faithful dog, Anchor, and found one available from the same kennel where my original one was born and reared in Waverly, Tennessee. Ordered a direct descendant of Anchor from Kodiak, a pure bred Siberian Samoyed, and Steve, my son in law, will pick up and bring him down around the first of August. Attaching a pic of the quite beautiful and charming "Mr. Green," his unofficial name in the kennel, along with his brother. Kennel owner puts colored collars on new puppies to help tell them apart and owners choose "real" names when they are picked up or delivered. There's nothing quite like a Samoyed ball of fur that grows into a wonderful family pet that is not dirty and does not shed. Read up on the breed and you will love "the smiling dogs," too.

(Mr. Green is the sleepy looking pal on the left looking at the picture. His brother is on the right and more awake looking).

We've found a much larger and more comfortable home here on the Gulf to have until we can build again. Marsh cabin is nice enough, and we appreciate the use of it, but small for the three of us. Plans are to relocate by the first of the month with everyone's blessing. Will miss my view of the marsh and all of its inhabitants, but will still be on the gorgeous Gulf. Thank God for good people who care. We need room for family and friends to come and visit and for us to have enough space to do our own things such as reading and games.

Steven begins high school in late August and we are gearing up for that. Today, Ted has Steven and his good friend, Diego, studying the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution. Ever the educator, he doesn't want them to get out of practice during the summer months. Steven is enrolled in the AP or Fast Track program for college and will carry a full load, plus his music, in a few weeks now.

For now, we are enjoying the beach and the lazy, hazy days of summer. 

Until the next page turns,

Brenda

If you have had a change in your address since last Christmas (and many have), please send me a quick email giving me that change along with a current telephone number. 

brendacannonhenley@yahoo.com. Thanks so much. Ours remains Post Office Box 323, Port Bolivar, Texas 77650.  New home phone is (409) 684-7285.

Great fun and two big events...

Two important events have taken place in our lives in just a few days. My Aunt Anna Lee celebrated her 90th birthday and we happily made the trip to Georgia to surprise her and she was indeed!  We were so happy to have a part in her wonderful birthday party and hundreds of friends (literally) came by to say best wishes.  Her daughter, Ann, did a wonderful job in planning and conducting this gathering, along with the help of her friends.  Our thanks for a wonderful afternoon of fellowship with old and dear friends and family.

Upon our return to Texas, our grandson, Steven Alan Brown graduated from Crenshaw Middle School on the Bolivar Peninsula. We have come to call his class "the come back kids" because all of them have struggled in one way or another to come back to school and to the Peninsula following Hurricane Ike.  It was a special evening in their honor.

Steven was presented the Presidential Award for English and Language Arts and we are so very proud of him and his accomplishments this year. He is off to high school next year — where did these years go?

A favorite writing of mine seems to fit both occasions because Aunt Anna has always been important in my life and I appreciate her unconditional love, guidance, spiritual character, and kindness given so freely to me. Ted and I hope to offer Steven the same qualities and remain important to his young life.

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove; however, the world will be different because I was important in the life of a child."

Until the next page turns,

Brenda

(First photo is Steven and Kevin, a classmate, awaiting their turn to receive the all-important diploma and second is Steven and friends at the graduation party following the actual ceremony. The third is Steven in bright red cap and gown, fourth is processional, fifth is PaPa Ted, Steven, and Brenda and sixth is Brenda, Cousin Ann, and Aunt Anna at 90th birthday celebration in the Atlanta, Georgia area).

Safe back in the Country of Texas...

Ted and I had a wonderful trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and remembered again why we like the area since the beaches and communities were quite beautiful.  The beach was clean and as white as sugar sand and the water a gorgeous blue/green. We enjoyed fresh seafood and ate in some of our favorite haunts while there including The Shrimp Basket and Lambert's Throwed Rolls. Did a little shopping and made our way on to the busy Atlanta area.

Our trip took us on to the beautiful home of my lifetime friend, Millie Jones Pincus, in Lawrenceville, where we have our own floor in her great house.  My other "best friend" since third grade of school, Ginger Bragg Doster, came over and joined us at Millie's where we had fun and enjoyed being together again after all these years. We always have so much to remember and talk about and it takes a while to get caught up on all current events in our lives. The weekend flew by way too fast to suit any of us.  

We three also spent time on planning the 50th Class Reunion for the Clarkston High School Class of 1960.  Where has this time gone? We were able to make contact with more than a baker's dozen of our classmates to get the big ball rolling.  My, how we miss our old friend, John (Tommy) Barnes when we start on a new gathering.

We are meeting on October 1, 2, and 3 of 2010 in the Atlanta area and are excited about seeing all of our old friends. Please help us get this word out to our friends and classmates.

The reason for our trip to Atlanta was to share in the wonderful surprise celebration of my precious Aunt Anna Lee's 90th birthday.  She was overwhelmed with hundreds of dear friends and family members who came by to say Happy Birthday to her and to share in her wonderfully kind life.  Aunt Anna's daughter, Ann Lee, had done a great job of inviting and planning the event. Aunt Anna will never forget it and neither will we! 

Aunt Anna still lived at home at my Mama Cole's house when I was born and she has also been "my other mother."  Ann, my cousin, has never been able to figure out why I was able to be in her mom and dad's wedding pictures when she wasn't.  Not sure that she has ever forgiven me for that...

We thank the Lord for traveling mercy and for seeing that we arrived back home in Texas safely.  So good to share time with old friends and family.

Until the next page turns,

Brenda 

Happy and Safe Memorial Day Weekend to All

The Internet sites, which are usually so active, are fairly quiet because most of our family and friends are heading out for a long Memorial Day weekend. Traffic has picked up considerably here on Bolivar Peninsula, and even though thundershowers are predicted, the enthusiasm for seeing friends, eating good food, playing in the water, boating, fishing, and just hanging in does not seem to be affected.  

As we enjoy our time together, let us be reminded of why we celebrate this particular holiday. For some families, my own included, it is one of the most special we have. My dad was killed in WWII on New Georgia Island when I was six months old. I never saw him.  

I did have two photographs of him until Ike and I was given all of his medals, including the Purple Heart, but those are now lost to Ike, so I literally have nothing except memories.  

I was born on my dad and mom's third wedding anniversary and my folks had "liked each other" and "courted" since third grade of school.  

My mom was ill equipped to face a world without him and all of our lives were greatly impacted by his wartime death. She never got over it until the day she died last August. Many families fight the old wars every day of their lives. Some of us think of a little white cross on some faraway island that we've never seen in person.  

That's all we have.

Thursday Morning, May 21, from the Marsh on Bolivar

Hello friends and family: This is a very exciting day at our house because tonight is the much planned and anticipated Crenshaw Bulldog Annual Talent Show and Steven and many of his new friends will be performing. We have also enlisted some "professional" folks to help round out the program from our area. Kat, one of Steven's guitar teachers from Galveston Island, will be joining him on "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and Michael Stewart, another of his guitar teachers, along with local favorite Bucky Faggard, will be singing and playing. We also have Zak Perry of the Zak Perry Band out of Austin and Galveston and he will be doing two songs for the group.

Zak is something of a local success and has several recordings and a busy playing schedule to his credit. Kevin Bowling, associate minister and youth director, at Val Verde Baptist Church in Groves, will also be singing and Kevin is always a delight to every audience.

These kids have worked very hard on the program and are looking forward to performing tonight for family members and the community. I've dubbed them the true "come back kids," because so many of them have fought various battles and won since Hurricane Ike des

troyed their home and much of their life. Many still live with relatives or neighbors just to get to be in school and for that, I say, we should tip our hats. We have a wonderful program and look forward to the entire night. It's been a lot of fun helping to organize this event and we are so thrilled with the over $800 we raised to fund the eighth grade lock in and graduation ceremony, which is right around the corner.

My new little business has taken off like wildfire, too. I bought a Miche Bag type of franchise and have filled over $1,000 worth of orders in just a few days. The purses are now being advertised on TV and I had a lady stop me in the store yesterday. She grabbed my arm, and said, "Is that one of those purses I saw on TV, where you just pop the shell off and put another one on." I said, "Yes, it is, but I did not know they were being advertised on TV." She told me they were, took my shell off and put it back on, and ordered three bags and seven shells on the spot. I never said a word about her buying anything from me! Can't beat that!

The concept was invented by a woman named Michelle who spilled sugary coffee on her favorite fabric bag. She thought as she tried to wipe off the spill, "I wish I could just keep the bag intact and put on a new cover." She worked on her idea and together with a friend, designed the first Miche Bag. We have the basic bag in black or brown, different handles to suit your style and over 40 colorful and attractive magnetized shells. You can change your complete bag in less than three seconds and be on your way. If you are interested in knowing more or ordering a Miche Bag, just email me at brendacannonhenley@yahoo.com. You can also go to the Miche Bag Official Web Site and see color and design and tell me what you want. Glad to ship or deliver in the area. This is not a pryamid or enlistment scheme. Just fine looking, classy, fun bags for women on the go. You'll want several shells to enhance your outfits, I promise. My phone just rang with a big order - one mom, daughter in law, and two daughters!

Until the next page turns,

Brenda