ALL AROUND ANTON Donna Slaton, Anton Correspondent

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Hello, everyone. It has been another beautiful summer day in Kentucky and especially here in Anton. Hope you had a chance to enjoy the sunshine and stop and smell the flowers somewhere along the way. I enjoy the smell of honeysuckle. Do you remember the taste of that little drop of nectar off the end of the flower?

AO3 Andrew Stokes, that’s Petty Officer 3rd Class, has recently been promoted by the U.S. Navy and is one of the most junior personnel in his work center acting as night shift supervisor. He is responsible for overseeing all ordnance-related issues to get all aircraft ready for morning flights. That’s taking care of the firepower from machine guns to missiles. Ordnance is a tough job and a necessary one. He left the port of San Diego in May. Wife Jaymi and newborn daughter Aly were there to see him off. We thank him for his service and pray for him and the entire family as they support their young man in service to his country. Go Navy! Stokes is the son of Allan and Joy Stokes and brother to Sarah who shared the news with me.

When you hear “The Star Spangled Banner,” see the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance or watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July, remember our men and women in the armed forces and their families. Prayers for safekeeping and appreciation are always welcome.

Lou Adams sent me an update on the Lone Star Pentecostal church family. They have been very busy in June. They started out with a Summer Music Workshop titled “Survivor Babylon.” This was a musical that included a VBS-type curriculum with music and drama added. At the completion of the week the children gave two performances on Sunday morning and evening. The sanctuary was filled with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for both services.

The Elders are happy “campers” because in June and July they will be serving at the Junior, Family and Senior Church Camps in Summersville. They make the long trek ( two hours) faithfully every year to feed the campers and staff. But, of course, they have as much, if not more, fun than anyone else there. Junior Camp was last week and a total of 369 campers and staff were fed three meals daily.

Three of Lone Star’s members are recovering from recent surgeries. Richard Eagle and Debbie Adams Johnson are both home and doing well. Little Mr. Wyatt Oldham is still a “visitor” at Kosair where he has undergone multiple procedures since his birth last month. He is doing much better and continues to improve on a daily basis.

The Capps family enjoyed a trip to Canada recently where they hunted bear. Hayden and Chris each killed one while Robin videoed. In addition, David Hendricks made a trip with some friends and got two bears. Guess they’ll all be warm this winter. LOL as they say on the Internet.

The entire congregation of Lone Star along with Pastor Roy, Carla and girls are happy to announce that they are finally official Madisonville residents. They even have a phone with an actual phone number.

From Florida to Canada, Anton folks are getting around and having a great summer. Now I haven’t gone out of state but I have been from Harlan in eastern Kentucky all the way to Fulton in the western part with a visit to a bookstore in Bowling Green in between so I am enjoying my summer. Driving Kentucky four-lane roads on a beautiful summer day brings to sight some of the most beautiful vistas in the world. Even in times of high gas prices, it is good to reflect on how blessed we are to be able to travel so easily from place to place.

Enjoy the view around you and if you see some good news, be sure to give me a call or send me an email. Donna F. Slaton, 270-871-3719 or misspockets3@yahoo.com.