Best Wishes for the New Year!!
     From:  The Novelty Senior Center

I'VE LEARNED..............

As 2016 draws to a close, the words of Andy Rooney come to mind: a man who had the gift of saying so much with so few words. 

 
I've learned....
That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned....
That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned ....
That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned....
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful
feelings in the world.

I've learned....
That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned....
That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned....
That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help
him in any other way.

I've learned....
That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a
friend to act goofy with.

I've learned....
That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to
understand.

I've learned....
That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I
was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned....
That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it

goes.

I've learned....
That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned....
That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....
That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned...
That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated
and loved.

I've learned....
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

 

I've learned....
 That when you plan to get even with someone,
 you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

 I've learned....
 That love, not time, heals all wounds.

 I've learned....
 That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself
with  people smarter than I am. 

I've learned....
 That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
 

 I've learned....
 That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

 I've learned...
 That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

 I've learned....
 That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you
miss.

 I've learned....
 That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

 I've learned....
 That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before
 she passed away.

 I've learned....
 That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he
 may have to eat them.

 I've learned....
 That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

 I've learned....
 That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his
 little fist, you're hooked for life.

 I've learned....
 That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the
happiness  and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

 I've learned....

 That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.


Give me enough Knowledge to know the extent of my Ignorance.
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, a smooth road all the way to your door & a crawfish supper waiting for you.
Joie de vivre     
                                Have a very blessed New Year!!!!! From Novelty Senior Center and   
                                 "The Grandmas' Club" Coffee Ladies!

More PHOTOS from WAA

Here it is Thursday, just 5 days since the Wreaths Across America ceremony.  The pictures show how much snow has left.  If only the weather last Saturday had been like today.  We finally got all the wreaths out today.  all veterans in 3 different cemeteries were covered with a wreath.  That is 150 veterans that were honored in that way:  plus those that were purchased as "grave-specific" which went to 9 other cemeteries in our county/local area.  

Now for some rest time before beginning a new year and thinking of this project again.  :)

Novelty Senior Center   12-22-16

The Ceremonial Wreaths at the Cemetery.  If you're in the area, drive by and notice them. 

A wreath for each branch--Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and POW/MIA

The Novelty Cemetery today, showing some of the wreaths--and not nearly as much snow!

May you all have a very blessed 2017!!!!!!

TO: You and Your Family

FROM:  The Novelty Senior Center

    

Photos....December 17, 2016

Wreaths Across America Ceremony, Novelty, Missouri

Master of Ceremonies - Lt. Col. Ret. Keith Gudehus

National Anthem by Natalie Clark

Mike Fox laying ceremonial wreath

Pvt.C Brady Johnson laying ceremonial wreath for Merchant Marines

Commissioner Evan Glasgow paying respect. 

REMEMBER. HONOR. TEACH.

Photos by April Franke

Wreaths Across America  - 2016

Thank you for all of your support.

Saturday started with an executive decision to have the

ceremony or to postpone.

The weather was getting worse by the hour and emotions

were running high. 

This was a cumulative effort of

the community...and would they be there for the

first ceremony in Knox County??

The decision was made the night before to take the ceremony

inside to the Christian Church, a few blocks West of the cemetery.

A very wise man wrote to me " I'll do my utmost to get there if you keep the ceremony "on".  I think we have to be emotionally prepared for a very small crowd of attendees. Like you said, it is what it is."  Thank you to Lt. Col. Ret. Keith Gudehus for the encouragement and a job well done.  He made the event extraordinary.

Yes, the church was not full, however, they braved the sleet and snow to be there.

I am sorry the rest of community missed the emotional presentation

Well, maybe "I" was the only one getting emotional.

Seeing the veterans in attendance, honoring them, their service

and their sacrifices, gave that sense of patriotism and pride.

This is what the day was all about. 

This is what over 1,200 sites were doing across the US and abroad.

Some had to postpone, some had to cancel and some endured, as we did.

Thank you to everyone who braved the cold.

Thank you to everyone who placed wreaths on Novelty and

Locust Hill Cemeteries.  It was greatly appreciated.

What a wonderful sight to see people, (freezing),placing wreaths on veteran'  graves. 

They will remembered.

Please send photos to splitends4@gmail.com so we may share

them with the national organization and on our blog.

Thank you from Wende Wagner - Location Coordinator

Photos by April Franke

Wreath Ceremony as Planned is moved to Church

It is a pretty wonderland this morning in Novelty, Missouri.

The Wreaths Across America ceremony is as planned at 11:00 AM and
has been moved to the Christian Church on 156 HWY just a
few blocks West of the Cemetery.

This was just received from New Jersey:

"We got three inches of snow last night but at 530am I received a call from our 95 YEAR OLD WWII Army Air Corp Veteran who said "the people who care the most will be there and for us Veterans, the weather was never a problem...what time should I be there"  "

Happy Wreath Day - Sara G

We want everyone to join us, but we would rather have everyone SAFE!!

Thank you for all of your support.

Wende Wagner - Location Coordinator