January 2013 Articles

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Just Rambling, January 2013

Just Rambling: As we start the New Year of 2013, I think back on the many blessings I have had during 2012. I would like to share the most important ones with you. As you read my list, I hope you will think about the blessings in your life and what you are most thankful for. My greatest blessing of 2012 would have to be the renewed health of my oldest daughter, Velvet. During the spring of 2012, she went through major cancer surgery, and then eighteen weeks of chemo treatments. It was quite an ordeal for her, but she remained strong—both physically and spiritually. She is doing well now and enjoying life to the fullest with her family, her friends, and the Lord. As she told me last fall, when she was having scans done to determine if they had gotten all the cancer: “Daddy, I will be okay.” Her trust is in the Lord, regardless of what may come.
Another great blessing of 2012 was the outpouring of love for Velvet from her family, her friends, and from the doctors and nurses. We all appreciated the flowers, cards, the calls and the visits, the food and the monetary help. Most of all, though, we appreciated the prayers from family, friends, and congregations, even the prayers from people Velvet had never met. The outpouring of love and kindness was overwhelming. Thank you all so very much.
The return of my son, Cody, from Germany was another great blessing of 2012. After ten months of teaching in Germany, he is now home working & preparing to attended graduate school somewhere in the U.S. That is the most important fact—it will be in the U.S.
A blessing I so often take for granted would have to be my wife, Donnette. Every day, I enjoy even more her companionship and the love she has for me and our family. She has such a compassionate and loving heart, and yet can handle life’s toughest hardships. She even treats this old man civilly, when so many times I don’t deserve it.
Another great blessing of 2012 would have to be my other four daughters—Brittany, Avery, Dana, and Blair—along with my three grandchildren—Dusty, Katy, and Savanah. You know, it seems I may be forgetting someone—oh, yes, my three son-in-laws: Johnny, Chance, and Jerome. How blessed I am to have five daughters, a son, three grandchildren, three son-in-laws, and my wife. I try to thank God every day for each of them.
As you can see, family is so very important to me—second only to that most important blessing: Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. In today’s society, Jesus and family seem to be becoming less important. May this trend change in 2013. I was and continue to be so blessed with a great extended family—sisters, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, father-in-law, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and cousins. A very large extended family, along with a great church family & friends. What great blessings, for which I am so thankful!
Has my Just Rambling article stirred you to remember your own blessings? I sure hope so. When I think about my greatest blessing, I can’t leave out the freedoms I enjoy in this great nation. The freedom to worship, the freedom to vote in a democratic society, the freedom to own property, and the freedom to work and pursue my dreams—so many freedoms we should cherish! May we never take these freedoms for granted. As we enter into the year 2013, may God always be our guide. May we never cease to pray to Him, may we enjoy our families, & may we always be thankful for our nation and the freedoms we are so blessed to enjoy. Van Bennett

Front Cover: The hunt this year has been quite successful for the ladies of our family and their friends.
Upper left corner—My daughter, Velvet Roberts, and upper center, my daughter, Dana Bennett with the wild hogs they killed.
Upper right corner—Michaela Bennett, daughter of Tommy and Beth Bennett, with her 3 point buck.
Lower left and right corners—Jayde Hughes, (Dana’s friend) with ducks taken on her hunts.
Lower center—Savanah Roberts and Dana Bennett holding the squirrels they bagged.