Happy birthday wishes to Stanley Vaughters, Jan. 23, Clover; Jermaine Boyd, Jan. 23, Drakes Branch; Jamal Williams, Jan. 24, North Carolina; Zaria Spencer, Jan. 25, Charlotte Court House; Treyanna Spencer, Jan. 25, Charlotte Court House; Kharia Jenkins, Jan. 25, Charlotte Court House; Cole Toombs, Jan. 25, Randolph; Paul Hamlett, Jr.; Jan. 26, Saxe; Harvey Walker, Jan. 27, Appomattox; Valeria Faulkner, Jan. 27, Baltimore; John Craighead, Jan. 29, Saxe; Cameo ‘Monte’ Cosby, Jan. 29, Chesterfield. 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!

Get well wishes to all of the sick and shut-in hope all of you are well soon up and about you are in our prayers and thoughts.

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. You have our deepest sympathy. May God comfort each of you and ease your pain. Our prayers will be with you.

Thought for the week: When you feel life everything is gone, remember God is always with you. He will never leave you.

APPRECIATION

The aim of life is appreciation. There is no sense in not appreciating things and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them.

Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that’s necessary. Life can be seen through your eyes but it is not fully appreciated until it is seen through your heart.

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.