Thanksgiving is almost here! Has anyone else noticed what seems to be an increase in Christmas lights on houses prior to Thanksgiving, this year? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for driving around looking at Christmas lights while eating holiday candy/cookies, drinking hot chocolate, the whole deal, but it just seems early, is all I’ m saying.
With Thanksgiving comes Black Friday and the official kickoff of Christmas shopping. Prior to your shopping, please consider snagging anAngel off of the Bulldog tree to get items for this year! The trees are already up at all 4 schools with lists ready to shop for.
Just a fair warning, similar to last year, I will be posting something about the Angel Tree probably every week until the deadline. Last year, it came very close to the children not all getting picked off of the tree. Some children would have been left with little to nothing on Christmas morning.
If you have never gotten involved in theAngel tree I would encourage you to just go take a look at the lists. Sometimes there is a toy or two, but often I see needs like shoes, a coat, socks, underwear, a sweatshirt, etc. Perhaps instead of getting people in your life their 10th sweatshirt or pair of shoes, we could all consider instead giving a child what might be their only pair of shoes or their only coat.
PrideofHoweBandSeasonRecap ThePrideofHowe marchingbandwrapped upaverysuccessful season,earningtophonorsacrossNorthTexas andfinishingamongthe state’seliteattheUIL StateMarchingContest.
Theseasonbeganwith momentumattheChris LovejoyMarchingInvitational,wheretheband captured3ABestVisual
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CityCouncilApproves ChangestoStreetNumber Visibility Ashley Husbands
ThisTuesday,theCity Councilgatheredfor theirmonthlyscheduled meetingatSummitGardens.
Tobegin,MayorKarla McDonaldsharedher “MayorBragMoment” regardingtheHarvey BlessingBuildProject. McDonaldgaveabrief overviewofthesituationthatledtothebuild, whichhasbeencovered previouslyinthispublication,andadded, “Overthenextnine months,something
beautifulhappened:individuals,contractors,businesses,andneighbors, fromeverycornerofour communitygavetheir time,theirskills,their resources,andtheir hearts.Becauseofthe incrediblegenerosityand lovepouredintothisproject,veteranHarvey Morriswalkedintohis brand-newhomeonFriday,November14,2025. Theprojectmanager askedthatIwaituntilthe DecemberorJanuary councilmeetingtoformallyrecognizeeveryoneinvolvedsothatas manycontributorsas
possiblecouldbepresent.Ifullyrespectthis request,butIcouldn't waittoexpresshow proudandgratefulIam forthiscommunity. Thisprojectismore thanahome-Itisatestamenttothecompassionateunity,andspirit thatdefineHowe,we trulyaretheheartof NorthTexas.”
DepartmentalReports weregivenbythePoliceDepartment,Fire/ EMSDepartment,the CitySecretary,thePublicWorksDepartment
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HoweISDSchool Board Announces Purchaseof 90+ Acres Ashley Husbands Thisweek,theHowe ISDBoardofTrustees heldtheirregularly scheduledmonthlymeeting.
Anupdatewasgiventhat theconcreteslabwas pouredlastFridayatthe SummitHillElementary constructionproject.The FallLibraryBookOrder wasapproved,andthe entirebooklistisavailableontheHoweISD website.The2026SummerMealProgramwas
decidedtobeexemptthis yearduetoconstruction andotherissuesmakingit difficultforstudentsto reachtheschool.However,duetothehazardous trafficconditionsin Howeneartheschools, anoveralldecisionwas madetoexpandthebus routes.Thefollowing wordagewasused,“The BoardofTrusteesofthe HoweIndependent SchoolDistricthasdeterminedthatahazardous conditionexistsbecause (Continued on Page 8)
Photo Credit: Band Booster Club Facebook
Photo Credit: Howe ISD website
Mayor Karla McDonald swearing in Jared Coffey to the Howe EDC Board Photo Credit:Ashley Husbands
Angie Liss
UpcomingEvents NOVEMBER17-21: SummitHill:AmericanEducationWeek–Writea“ThankYou”Lettertoateacherorstaff member
NOVEMBER21:SummitHill–SubstituteAppreciationDay
NOVEMBER24-28THANKSGIVINGBREAK
DECEMBER1-5:SummitHill–KindergartenGTScreening
DECEMBER4:SantaListDay–SummitHillElementary
DECEMBER5:KindergartenFieldTrip
DECEMBER5:FallPictureRetakes
DECEMBER11:HHSBandConcert
BasketballSeasonisUnderway! Boys’Basketball Ladies’Basketball Ashley Husbands
Theboys’basketballseasonbeganon November14thwithahomegame againstLiberty,followedbyanaway gameagainstBonhamonthe15th. Unfortunately,wedonotcurrently haveresultsforthesegames.
Thisweek,theboys’teamwillplayin theBlandTournamenttodaythrough November22nd.Anothergamewill beplayedathomeonNovember24th againstBoydHighSchool.
Ashley Husbands
TheLadyBulldogsplayedagainst CommunityHighSchoolresultingina winonNovember14th.OnNovember18th,theyplayedBonhamat home.TheBonhamgamewasanailbiterresultinginawinforHoweby onepoint,47-46!
Thenextgamesheldwillbeatthe PTAAFatetournamentonNovember 24thand25th.
Photo Credit: Michelle Carney
SnagYourBulldogAngelBeforeBlackFridayShopping ThisYear! SchoolBoardMeetingContinued (Continued from Page 1)
thereisnowalkway wherestudentsmustwalkalongor cross;U.S.Hwy75andaccessroads, StateHwy5(DennySt.),Spur381 (HaningSt.)andPonderosaRoad.”
Additionally,theHumanSexuality Curriculumwasdiscussed.Thesexualitycurriculumavailabletostudents ofappropriateagemustbeoptedin bytheparent/guardianviapermission slipforeachstudenttoattend.Priorto thematerialbeingpresentedtostudents,azoommeetingwillbeavailableFebruary24thfortheparentsto
viewthematerialtodetermineif theywouldliketheirstudenttoparticipate.
Last,butcertainlynotleastfornotablethingsfromthemeeting,the Boardannouncedtheyhavepurchased90+acresforanewschool site.Thefollowingwassharedby thecurrentSuperintendent,Mr.KevinWilson,“HoweISDispleasedto announcethatithasenterednegotiationwithSaddlebackVenturesto purchase90+acresonFM902fora futurehighschoolsite. Whileitwill likelybeanother5-10yearsuntilthe needexists,itisnicetohavelandset
asideandavailablewhenthattime comes. The2025Bondhadabudget forlandforfutureschoolsites,sothe bondwillcoverthisexpense.ConstructionatSummitHillPhaseIIis movingalongwithintheprojected timeline. WecompletedthefoundationpourlastFriday,soyoushould seethebuildinggoverticalinacoupleofweeks. TheprojectedcompletiondateisSummerof2026,sowe shouldbeontracktoopenschoolinit nextyear.”
ThenextSchoolBoardMeetingwill beaspecialmeetingheldonDecember2nd.Theagendaforthespecial
meetingcanbefoundonpage6of thispublication.Regularmeetings areheldeverythirdMondayofeach month,at6p.m.attheHoweISD Administrationofficeat105W.Tutt St.Howe,Tx.
SpecialSchoolBoardMeetingDecember2nd BandSeasonContinued (Continued from Page 1) and3ABestMusic,settingahigh competitivestandardrightoutof thegate.Theirearlysuccesscontinuedjustafewdayslateratthe ShowdownatStandridge,where ThePrideofHowewasawarded BestinClass3A.Thefollowing Saturday,thebanddeliveredanotherstandoutperformanceatthe DonHannaMarchingInvitational, onceagainearningBestinClass 3A.
TheirstreakofexcellencecontinuedastheyenteredtheCelina MarchingInvitational,garnering
awardsforBest3APercussion,Best 3AVisual,andBestinClass3A, whilealsofinishing11thoverall amongacompetitivefieldof3A, 4A,5A,and6Aprograms.
AsUILseasonbegan,ThePrideof Howecontinuedtoshine.AttheUIL Region25MarchingSSeContest, thebandreceivedFirstDivisionratingsfromeveryjudge,securingtheir advancementtoArea.Atthehighly competitiveUILAreaBMarching Contest,thebanddeliveredanother exceptionalperformance,earning
2ndPlaceandqualifyingfortheUIL StateMarchingContestforthe26th timesince1980.Howeiscurrently ranked2ndontheUILallclassificationleaderboardforthe numberofStateMarchingContest appearancesand2ndaswellforthe numberofStateFinalsappearances anachievementthatreflectsdecadesoftraditionandexcellence.
Theseasonculminatedonthebiggest stageinTexashighschoolmarching band,whereThePrideofHowe placed7thinthestate,anextraordi-
naryaccomplishmentthatreflects monthsofdedication,earlymornings,late-nightrehearsals,andrelentlessworkethic.Their7th-placefinishplacesthemwithinthetop3%of all3AbandsinTexas.
Thedirectorswouldliketoexpress theirsincereappreciationtoallthose whosupportedthisseason from theHoweISDadministrationtothe invaluablePrideofHoweBand Boosters,withoutwhosecommitmentandhardworktheseaccomplishmentswouldnotbepossible.
FIRSTWEDNESDAYOFEACHMONTH:HoweHumpDay:8-9a.m.atSummitGardens
SECONDSATURDAYOFEACHMONTH:BulkTrashPickup
THIRDTUESDAYOFEACHMONTH:RegularCityCouncilMeeting:6p.m.atSummitGardens
CityCouncilMeetingContinued (Continued From Page 1)
andtheCityAdministrator.
ChiefSullivanofthePoliceDepartmentsharedthattheDepartment did83hoursoftraininglastmonth, andrespondedto145callsforservice,a39%increasecomparedto lastyear.Forty-eightcitationsand 71warningswerewrittenlast month.ThePoliceDepartment tookovertheCodeEnforcementas ofOctober1st andexpressedthat thecommunityhasbeenthankful fortheopencommunicationthe departmenthashadwithcitizens. OfficerMcFaddeneventookituponhimselftocontactallofthelocal churchleaderstofindvolunteersto helptheelderlyand/orthosewith financialissuesthatwereunableto keeptheiryardsuptocodestandards,toactuallyhelptheminstead ofjustwritecitations.
ChiefManietoftheFire/EMSDepartmentreported71callsforserviceforthemonthofOctober.All full-timestaffhavenowattained bothFireandEMScertificationsto workincrossoverofboth.ThedepartmentiscurrentlyacceptingapplicationsforaParamedicposition.
MichelleHewitt,theCitySecretary reported$22,296.90receivedinthe courts,and9warrantsissuedin October.AnewhirefortheCity PermitClerkbeginsthisnextMonday.
MonteWalkerdeliveredboththe PublicWorksDepartmentandthe CityAdministratorreports.The PublicWorksDepartmentcarried out169serviceorders,4metersets fornewhomes,6meterleaksrepaired,potholepatching,5water mainleaksrepaired,12disconnec-
tionsformoveouts,40hoursofmowing,3sewermainbackupsrepaired, 45disconnectsfornon-paymentand 112hoursonwellsworkingonsampling,flushingandreporting.Atthis time,theCityhasbeenrunningonall ofourwellsforthelastmonthinstead ofthepreviouscombinationofwells andsurfacewater.
TheCityAdministrationreportincludedminorupdatesforeachdevelopmentcurrentlyunderway.This month,WalkerandthePublicWorks Departmentdecidedtouseapieceof equipmentpurchasedapproximately 12yearsagobytheCity,thatonlyhad 3hoursoftimeusedonituntilthis lastweek.Theequipmentiscalleda zippermachine-whichoperatesby grindinguproadandallowingforitto beeasiertosmoothroadsout.Sofar, theyhavetesteditonpartsofBlythe RoadandFarmingtonRoad,inhopes thatitwillbeawaytoimproveother roadsmorequicklyiftheprocess provestobesuccessfulandwithstandstime,rain,etc..
ActionItemsontheAgendaincluded severalitemsbroughttotheCouncil. Apresentationwasgivenregarding the2022-2023AuditReport,which canbefoundonthevideoofthe meeting.JaredCoffeywasswornin asanewmemberoftheHoweEDC Board.Anordinancewrittenoriginallyin1906wasupdatedregulatingand prohibitingthesale,useanddischarge offireworksandfirearmswithinthe citylimits.Previously,thefinewas $10,quiteachunkofchangein1906, buthasnowbeenupdatedtoa$2,000 fine.
Finally,adiscussionwashadbetween theCityCouncil,CityAdministrator, PoliceChiefandFireChiefregarding atown/citizensafetyissue.TheemergencyservicesofHoweare,attimes,
havingdifficultylocatinghousenumberswhencallsaremadeafterdark. Thewaythoseinvolveddecidedto handlethisissuewastocreateanordinancetoupdatethehousenumbers oncurbstobereflectiveatevery house.Citizenswillberesponsibleto dothisfortheirownhomes,however anyquestionsorconcernsregarding theprocessoraidneededtocomplete itarewelcometobebroughttothe CityorPoliceDepartment.Itwas expressedonmultipleoccasionsthat thesolepurposeofthisistomake emergencyservicesbeabletoreach citizensinneedasquicklyaspossible withoutconfusion.Moreinformation istobeexpectedontheCitywebsite soonregardingthis.
Asalways,morewascoveredinthe meetingthaninthisarticleandthefull videocanbefoundhere.CityCouncil meetingsareheldeverythirdTuesday ofeachmonthatSummitGardensat 6p.m.
XYZMeeting:Every2ndThursdayofeachmonth
Ifyouhavealocalclub/group/etc.thatyouwouldliketohaveeventssharedinthenewspaper,pleaseemail ashley@howeenterprise.com
GENERAL:
FARMERS’ALMANAC
RECIPES
COLUMNS:
MOTHERHOOD
BIRDWATCHING REFSEZ
TEXASHISTORYMINUTE
LIVINGONPURPOSE
Farmer’sAlmanac Ashley Husbands Myworn2025Almanaciscurrentlymisplacedanditislateintheyeartobuyanotheroneforthisyear.Thankfully,itlooksliketheFarmer’sAlmanacwillcontinuetoprinttheeditionsweuseforthispublicationfor2026.Hopefully,bynext weekthemisplaced2025editionwillbefound,untilthen–hereistheFall/ NovemberWeatherForecastfromtheFarmer’sAlmanacWebsite:
Novemberbringsthefirstrealtasteofwinterformany.SnowbecomesmorefrequentintheRockies,Plains,andGreatLakes,withwetsnowevenreachingparts oftheNortheast.TheSoutheastseesamixofrainandclearingskies,whilethe SouthwestandNorthwestexperienceunsettledconditionswithmountainsnow. Thanksgivingweeklookslikeameteorologicalmixedbag lightsnowandrain couldcomplicatetravelplansinthecentralandeasternU.S.,butmanyareas shouldseeclearingskiesjustintimefortheholidayfeast.
Throughouttheseason,thecoldestconditionswillsettleintotheNorthCentral statesandtheinteriorNortheast,especiallybylateOctoberandintoNovember. Meanwhile,theSoutheastandSouthwestwillenjoymilder,morestableweather, thoughnotwithouttheoccasionalstorm.
ThewettestregionsthisfallwillbetheGreatLakes,Northeast,andpartsofthe Southeast,whilethedrieststretchesareexpectedintheSouthwestandpartsofthe WestCoast.
Asforthefirstsnowfall?ExpectflakestoflyinthenorthernRockiesandMontana asearlyasearlyOctober,withsnowreachingtheGreatLakesandNortheastby midtolateOctober.ByNovember,snowwillbearegularvisitoracrossmuchof thenortherntier.
Recipes These recipes are from the yellowed, well-worn Valley View United Methodist Women’s Cookbook. If anyone can cook, it’s church potluck contributors!
CheesePockets
4pkgs.PillsburycrescentRolls
2lg.Phillycreamcheese
½cupsugar
1tbsp.flour
1tsp.vanilla
1egg,wellbeaten
½cupnuts,finelychopped
Mixcreamcheese,sugar,flourandvanilla.Opencrescentrollsandlayoutflat. Drop1teaspoonofcreamcheesemixtureonwideendofcrescentroll.Bring narrowendover.Tuckendsunderneath.Bastewithbeatenegg.Bakeaccording torecipeonpackage.Frosttopsanddunkinfinelychoppednuts.
Jeanne Cullington
BroccoliDip
1(10oz.)pkgfrozenchoppedbroccoli
1(6oz.)rollgarlicflavoredcheese
1(4oz.)canchoppedmushrooms
1(10¾oz.)cancreamofmushroomsoup
Completemicrowaveinstructions.Cookfrozenbroccoliinpackageonpaper plate5to7minutesonhighpower.Inheatproofservingdishmixbroccoli, cheese,mushrooms,soupand(ifdesired)fewdropshotpeppersauce.Serve withchips.AlsodeliciouswithWheatThinsorRitzcrackers.
Cindy Tilton
BeefTamalePie
1½lbs.leangroundbeef
¼cupvegetableshortening
1cuponion,chopped
1clovegarlic,minced
½cupgreenpepper,chopped
2(8oz.)canstomatoes
1(16oz.)canwholekernelcorn
1tbsp.salt
1½tsp.chilipowder
¼tsp.pepper
½cupyellowcornmeal
Topping:
1½cupsmilk
1tsp.salt
2Tbsps.Butter
½cupcornmeal
1cupgratedcheddarcheese
Brownbeefinoilinskillet.Addnext3ingredientsandcook2to3minutes.Stir intomatoes,cornandseasoningsandsimmerabout5minutes.Mixcornmealand 1cupwater.Stirintofirstmixture.Coverandcookslowlyabout10minutes.Pour intoshallow1½quartbakingdish.Pourtoppingaroundedgeofdishandbakein moderateoven(375degrees)about20minutes.Serves6.
Topping:
Heatmilk,saltandbutterinheavysaucepan.Graduallystirincornmealand cook,stirringgentlyuntilthickened.Removefromheatandstirin1cupgrated cheddarcheese.Stirinbeateneggs.
Velma Hudspeth
Motherhood EricaWells
Myoldestishomefromcollegefora littlebit.Inhersparetimeshe’sbeen takingsomebabysittingjobs.She sharedwithmetodaythatsheisso excitedtobeatoddlermomandfeels shewillbesogoodatit.Iagreed.I lovedbeingamomtotoddlers!She alsosharedsomeparentingstylesand tipsshehopestoadaptwhensheeventuallyhasafamilyofherown.
AsIlistenedtoherideas,Iwashappy forherchoicesandviewsandalsosad atmyownfailings. Oneviewshehas isthatshewantstoalwayslistentoher childrenandspoilthemintheaspectof thecareandlovingattentionshegives tothem.Itcausedmetothinkonthat, hadIdonethat?IknowIalwayswantedtoandhavealwaysfeltthatyoucan neverspoilachildwithtoomuchlove. Childrenneedlovefromtheirparents. Thetoddlerstageinmyhomehaslong sincebeengone. Thepreteenand teenageyearsfeltlikebattleafterbattle, andnowI’minthethickoftheteenage andyoungadultyears. Asmydaughtersharedherviewsandinsightsthe sadnessIfeltwasthatmaybesomeof mytimewaswastedandIwillnever getthatback.AsIsatinbedtonight reflectingonthisconversationandmy ownfeelings,IrealizedwhatIwanted tosharewithyou.Itisnevertoolateto loveyourkids.It’snevertoolateto stopwhatyouaredoingandlisten.It’s
nevertoolatetoshowloveandrespectforyourchildren.Cheerthem onnomattertheirage!Showup.Be there.Don’tbetoocritical,especially inpublicplacesinfrontoftheirpeers orotheradults.Bekindtoyourchildren-whethertheyaretoddlers, preteens,teenagers,youngadults,or marriedwithchildrenandevengrandchildren.Asaparent,it’snevertoo latetojustbekind!
BirdwatchingColumn Sue and Dick Malnory OnemorningasIopenedthegaragedoor,I thoughtIheardacaralarmgoingoff. Butno, itwasaWrenwhomIhadstartledfromhisor herovernightrefugeinthegarage.Wrenswill maketheirnestinthemostunexpectedplaces, sowearecarefultocloseanycontainersthat areofflimitstothem.
YoumayhavehadaWrennestinoneofyour hangingbasketsorplanterboxes. Onenested inadecorativewateringcanhungbyourback doorandanotherstartedanestontopofthe bristlesofapushbroomhungupsidedownin thegarage.
Weactuallymayseeoneofseveraldifferent birdsintheWrenfamily.Dickisthebirder andwhenIsaythere’saWren,hewilltellme whichparticularWrenweareseeing.
Ifyouseeasmallreddish plumpbody,
Ihadaflashbackfromyearsagothe otherdayandIthoughtIwouldshare thealmostDeju-Vuall,overagain YogiBerramomentwithyoureaders ofthisfinepublication.
Isometimesgettomixmydayjob andsidegigtohelppeoplewiththeir shippingissueswhentimeisofessence.Ononesuchoccasioninthe communitywhereIwasworking yearsago,thelocalhighschoolcoach contactedmeattheofficeandstated shehadbeentrackingashipmentof newuniformsthathadbeenbackordered.
Thesewerespecialuniformsforthe late-roundplayoffsscheduledforthe nextdayandtheboosterclubhad paidfortheseearliersaidspecialuniformsoutoftheirownpockets.
Thisyoungladywasalmostintears asshedescribedthehoopsshehadto jumpthroughtogettheokayforthese uniformsandnowshehadamust-do situationtoproduceorlookawfully badtoherAthleticDirector.
AsItrackedthearticle,Idiscoveredit wasduetobearrivingatmyoffice thenextdayandIinformedherof
thinbill,andatailsetatajauntyangle,you areprobablyseeingaCarolinaWren,our mostcommonWren.
WemayalsooccasionallyseeaBewick’s Wren. TheBewick’sisbrown andhasapale yelloweyebrow.Bothareyeararoundershere inNorthTexas.TheMarshWren,Sedge Wren,HouseWrenandWinterWrenmaybe seenduringmigrationseasonandinwinter butwouldbeuncommoninmostofourbackyards.
Wrensmaybeeasiertohearthantosee,as theyhavearichvocalrepertoire,whichvaries fromonetypetoanother.
Iftheycometoyourfeeder,theywillbeseekingsuettypeproducts;inthefieldtheyeat insectsandfruit. Theywillalsoenjoyyour birdbath. Keepyourfieldguidehandyso youcanrecognizeanyWrenvisitorsinyour
RefSez this.Herreplywasworrisomeassheknew herandtheteamhadtodepartforthiscontestby9:30A.M.thenextdayso,Itook downhernameandphonenumberandI wouldinformherofanychanges.
Thenextmorningourfirsttwotrucksarrivedandnoarticlesforthecoachwereon them.ShecalledmeandinquiredandI gaveherthesadnewsthatourlasttruck wasrunninglate.Idobelievetheyoung ladywasgoingtobreakdownandcryas shewastalkingtome.
Beingasportsofficialandbeingaround coachesovertheyears,Ifullyunderstood thepressurethisladywasunderandIsat thereandlistenedasshesadlylamentedthe situationtomeoverthephone.
Laterthatmorning,ourlasttruckarrived andloandbehold,theuniformsarrived!I quicklydialedhernumberbutwasinformedthatherandtheteamhaddeparted already.Myheartwasbrokenforher.
Suddenly,Iwasalertedtocometothefront counterbyoneofmyemployees.WhenI gotthere,therewastheyoungcoachand sheaskedifheruniformshadarrivedasof yet.Iquicklyretrievedthelargecontainer andtoldherIcouldcarryitoutduetothe weightofthearticleandshethankedme
formycourtesy.
Nowfolks,Iamheretotellyou thatthiswasinthenickoftime.I carriedthecontainerstraighttothe teambusparkedinfrontofmy officeastheywereliterallyon theirwayoutoftown.Theteam andothercoachesgavemea standingovationfromthebus.
Irememberedthisstoryfrom yearsagothispastMondayasI gaveanarticle(largebox)toa customer.Heinformedmethatit wastheAgJacketshehadordered quitesometimeagoandthey were youguessedit they wereback-orderedcausingthe delayandthestudentsneeded themforaneventthefollowing week-end.
Soasapublicservant/sportsofficial,weareneverwrong,just sometimeswearealittleslowon gettingitright.
Untilournextlap, THEREF
Wren
Photo Credit: Sue and Dick Malnory
TexasHistoryMinute Thanksgivingis approachingonce moreasthenation pausestogather withfamilyand givethanks. The nationwillmark Thanksgivingonce againonthisFourthThursdayinNovember. Itispartofalongtradition thathasspannedmanygenerations.
Oneofthemostwell-known andoneoftheearliestThanksgivingfeastswasthatofthePilgrimsat thePlymouthColonyonNovember 22,1621. Ithadbeenadifficultyear fortheEnglishsettlerswhohadarrived inMassachusettsthepreviousNovember. TheWampanoagtribe,which controlledmostofMassachusettsand RhodeIsland,madeoffersoffriendshiptothePilgrims,sharingtheirfood asthecolonistsstruggledthroughthe winterandthentaughtthemabout farminginthecompletelynewenvironment.
Afterabountifulharvestthat fall,thePilgrimsdecidedtoorganizea feasttogivethankstoGodfortheir goodfortune. Inthespiritofgratitude, theWampanoagswereinvitedtojoin theminwhatbecameathree-day feast. Themealwasquitedifferent thantheusualfareseenonAmerican tablestoday. Usingwhatwasavailablelocally,theyateswans,seals,deer, fish,andlobsters.
Suchcelebrationstogive thankstoGodwerenotunusual amongEuropeansingeneralduring thattimeperiod. Bythetimeofthe famous1621Thanksgivingatthe PlymouthColony,otherfeaststogive thankshadoccurredalreadyinother partsofthenation. In1565,Spanish conquistadoresledbyPedroMenendezdeAvileatthesettlementofSt. Augustine,Florida,heldaspecialRomanCatholicmassandlaterafeastto givethankstoGodfortheirsafearrival. Theyinvitedmembersofthelocal Timucuatribetojointhem. In1598, morethan500Spanishcolonistsled byDonJuandeOnatearrivedatSan Elizario,nearmodern-dayElPaso, andhadaspecialdaytogivethanks fortheirowngoodfortune. OnDecember4,1619,EnglishsettlersarrivingineasternVirginiaatBerkeley Hundredhadafeasttogivethanksto Godfortheirsafepassage. However, regularThanksgivingobservancesdid notcontinueintheseareas. Though eachcommunityclaimstobethesite ofthefirstThanksgiving,themodern holidaystemsfromthetraditionthat beganatPlymouth.
ThePlymouthcolonistsand thetribesdidnotrepeattheoccasionin 1622. In1623,afteradifficultyearof droughtsthatthreatenedthecrops,late rainsrescuedtheharvest. Asitproved tobemuchmorebountifulthanexpected,thecolonistsagainhadacelebrationtogivethanksthatNovember. Tragically,relationswiththe Wampanoagtribedeterioratedinthe ensuingdecadeswiththeinitialgesturesoffriendshipforgottenandthe tribeshatteredbywar. Nevertheless, NewEnglandresidentswouldcontinuetohaveperiodicThanksgivingobservancesintheyearsafterward, oftenorganizedbythelocalchurches.
Inspiteofafewinstancesof
Thanksgivingobservancesinthe South,itdidnotcatchonasanannual observanceasitdidinNewEngland. Thetradition,however,spread northwardintotheBritishcoloniesin Canada,whereobservancesremained mostlylocaluntilthelate1800s. It wasestablishedasanofficialnational holidayinCanadain1957,andbecauseofCanada’sshortergrowing season,onthesecondMondayinOctober.
NewYorkbecamethefirst statetodeclareThanksgivingaholiday,startingin1817. Effortswere madetomakeitanationalholidayin the1820s,ledbynotedwriterandeducatorSarahJosephaHaleofNew Hampshire. UpuntiltheCivilWar,the dateofThanksgivingwaslefttothe statesandmademoreofalocalobservance. DatesforThanksgivingrangedfromearlyOctoberthrough theendofDecember. In1863,SecretaryofStateWilliamH.SewardconvincedPresidentAbrahamLincolnto makeitanationalholidayonthelast ThursdayinNovember. Lincolnannouncedtheholidayasadaytogive thankstoGodfortheblessingsthe nationhadandaddedthatallAmericansshouldrememberthewidowsand orphansthewarcreated. In1941,the holidayofficiallybecamethefourth ThursdayinNovemberfromthatpoint onward. PresidentHarryTruman startedthetraditionofpardoningone turkeyforThanksgivingin1947.
OthernationshavealsoadoptedThanksgiving,inspiredbythe Americanexample. Liberia,which wasfoundedbyformerAmerican slaves,marksThanksgivingasthefirst ThursdayinNovember,datingbackto 1821. BrazilmadethefourthThursdayinNovemberitsThanksgivingholidayin1966aftertheirambassadortotheUnitedStatessawthe Americanholidayfirsthand. Inhonor ofthePilgrims,whohadcometoThe Netherlandsbeforeembarkingontheir voyagetoPlymouth,manychurches haveThanksgivingcelebrationsinthat samespiritofthanks.
Turkeysaleshavetopped$1 billionannuallyinthepastfewyears withtensofmillionstravelingtomeet friendsandlovedones. Theaverage costofamealwas$58.08in2024, accordingtoanalysts. AstheThanksgivingweekendmarksthetraditional beginningoftheChristmasshopping season,morethan$127billionwas spentatstoresthatweekendin2024, anaverageofmorethan$500perperson. Nevertheless,manychurchesand communitiesstillcontinuewiththe initialspiritofThanksgivingbyreachingouttothepoorandhomelesswith fooddrivesandcommunityThanksgivingmealspreparedandservedby volunteers. Thoughthecoronavirus pandemicmaydampenmanytravel plansandgatheringsoutofprecautions forpublichealth,millionsofAmericans,wherevertheyare,willstillpause toconsiderwhattheyarethankfulfor.
Seeingourreflectionin God’seyes Wehavebeen discussingthe needforChristianstobecontinuouslywillingtoexamine theirbiased opinionsabout lifeandtheBible.Remember thepersonwho boldlydeclared, “IamwhatI am,andthisiswhatIwillalwaysbe?”It’s sadtoimaginehowmanyindividuals actuallyfeelthiswayaboutwhatthey believeandwhotheyare.Humannature isstubbornandsneaky.Weseldomknow peopleontheinside,astheconscience oftenviewslifeasapokergame,holding certaincardsclosesothatnoonecansee them.However,humansfailtocomprehendthatthewayweliveexposeswhat webelievewearehiding.Weknowwhat isinthewellwillcomeupinthebucket, andbeingsecretivewiththeworlddoes notmatternearasmuchasignoringand beingindenialwithGod.
So,whyandhowdowerefusetorecognizeanddealwithourweaknesses?Simple;Weignoreanddenytheconvictionof theHolySpirit’scalltostepbackandsee ourselvesthewayGodseesus.Mosteveryonehasadeliberatehatredtochange, andoneaspectoftheagonizingattemptto discoverandre-arrangewhowereallyare, isapsychologicalproblemcalledThe Dunning-Krugereffect.It’sacognitive biasinwhichpeoplebecomeconfused andwronglyoverestimatetheirperception,knowledge,orabilityinaspecific area.Thiscanapplytoanysubjectandis basicallyalackofunderstandingreality alongwithaninflatedattitudeofpride, hinderingthemfrombeingareliableand respectedsourceoftruth.
It’snosurprisethatmanyindividualsrate theirintelligence,logic,grammar,and personalityfaraboveaverage.According tothesestudies,thosewhoperformedat thelowestlevelswereconvincedthey werehighlyintelligentandbelievedthose aroundthemperceivedthemasbrightand clever.It’sthoughtthatconfidenceisso highonourself-esteemlistthatpeople wouldratherpretendtobesmartthanrisk beingembarrassedorlabeledmentally inadequate.Inotherwords,theworldis notshortofpeoplewhoareknow-it-alls abouteverything,becausetheyareinsecureabouteverything.IPeter5:5-6says, “Inthesameway,youwhoareyounger, submityourselvestoyourelders.Allof you,clotheyourselveswithhumilitytowardoneanother,asGodopposesthe proud,butshowsfavortothehumble. Humbleyourselves,therefore,under God’smightyhand,thathemayliftyou upinduetime.”PeterreferencesProverbs 3:34toshowhowthechoicetobehumble isnotjustabouthumanrelationships. God’snaturalresponsetoprideistooppose,butHisreactiontohumilityisto rewardwithgrace.
Thosewhoareconsideredbrilliantcan alsobeplaguedwiththisproblem,ashavingintelligenceandknowledgeisnotthe sameasdevelopingandlearninghowto belikeJesus.Researchattributesthisattitudeto“metacognition,”theinabilityto honestlyanalyzeone’sownthoughtsand personality.Thosewithlimited knowledgeinadomainsufferadualburden:Notonlydotheyreachmistaken conclusionsandmakeregrettableerrors, buttheirincompetencerobsthemofthe
abilitytorealizeit.Whydopeoplethink theyknowmorethantheydo?Theyare oftendrivenbyadesireforrespectand admirationandtheneedtoappearsmarter thanthepeoplearoundthem.Whydo peopleoverestimatetheircompetence? This refers to the difference between what people think they know and what they really know.
I’mremindedoftheoldsaying,“The moreIlearn,themoreIdiscoverIdonot know”whichisamoremodestwayof perceivingourselvesandlifeingeneral. Sowhatdoesthishavetodowithour Christianlife?Everything.Ifweseeourselvesashavingnopersonalfaultsand thatGoddoesnotcareaboutoursins,we arelivinginanillusionthatispreventing usfrompleasingHim.Ifwebelievewe aredoingeverythingright,wedisregard ourneedtorepent,andthusaredrifting furtherawayfromGodeveryday.This twistedthinkingisaself-inflicteddeceptionthatrejectstheresponsibilityofadmittingwearesinnerswhodesperatelyneed Godeverymoment.TheApostlePaul speaksaboutthisinRomans12:3.“ForI say,throughthegracegiventome,toeveryonewhoisamongyou,nottothinkof themselvesmorehighlythantheyought, buttothinksoberly,asGodhasdealtto eachoneameasureoffaith.”
Dr. Holland is a minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.
KenBridges
Dr.BillyHolland
“And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NASB1995 CommunityBibleFellowship JeremyMoore,pastor
415SCollinsFwy,Howe,TX75459
Wednesday
6:30pm-FoodandFellowship
7:00pm-CommunityKids(ages3-
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10:30am-WorshipService
FirstBaptistChurchHowe RogerTidwell,pastor
100E.DavisSt.,Howe,TX903-5325504
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10:00am-WorshipService
3:00pmCubScouts
FirstBaptistChurchDorchester ZachPoling,pastor
11831FM902,Dorchester,TX 75459903-476-5525
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9:00am-Men'sPrayerTime
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SummitViewChurch BrettandDebHetrick,pastors
910SDennySt,Howe,TX75459 903-532-6828
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HoweChurchofChrist AaronAlsbrook,minister
1205NCollinsFwy,Howe,TX 75459903-532-6441
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The Patriot Pony CongressVotesonEpstein MBSGoestoWashington Congressapproveda billTuesdaydirectingtheJustice Departmenttoreleaseunclassified filesrelatedtothelateconvictedsex offenderJeffreyEpstein.TheHouse passedthebill427-1,whiletheSenateagreedtodeemthelegislation passedassoonasitarrivedinthe chamber.PresidentDonaldTrump, whoinitiallyopposedthemeasure,is expectedtosignitintolaw.
TheEpsteinFilesTransparencyAct directstheattorneygeneraltorelease recordsconcerningEpstein,hisformerassociateandconvictedsextraffickerGhislaineMaxwell,andothers referencedinEpstein'scriminalactivities.Informationtiedtoongoing investigationsorcontainingsensitive victimdatacanbewithheld.Trump hasurgedtheJusticeDepartmentto investigateprominentDemocrats andfinancialinstitutionsforpotential tiestoEpstein.
Thepushfortransparencyfollows thereleaseofmorethan20,000pagesofEpstein-relateddocumentslast week,someofwhichmention Trump.Thepresidentmaintainshis friendshipwithEpsteinendedinthe early2000s,beforeEpstein's2008 conviction.
PresidentDonaldTrumpwelcomed SaudiCrownPrinceMohammedbin SalmantotheWhiteHouseTuesday. ThemeetingisthefirstUSvisitby SaudiArabia’sdefactoleadersince the2018killingofJamalKhashoggi.
InOctoberofthatyear,ateamof SaudiagentsassassinatedKhashoggi aSaudidissident,Virginiaresident,andWashingtonPostjournalist. Theincidentsparkedadiplomatic crisis,takingplaceintheSaudiconsulateinIstanbul. USintelligence agenciesconcludedthecrownprince likelyorderedthemurder.Several Europeancountries,includingGermany,Denmark,andFinland,suspendedarmssalestoSaudiArabia. Trumpvetoedthreecongressional resolutionsthatwouldhavetaken similaraction.
Yesterday’smeetingsawPrinceMohammedpledgetoinvestupto$1T intheUS roughlythesizeofSaudi Arabia’sentireeconomicoutput andcameafterTrumpannounced planstosellF-35fighterjetstothe country.
FEMAResignation BangladeshDeathVerdict TheactingchiefoftheFederal EmergencyManagementAgencyresignedMondayaftersixmonths intherole,accordingtotheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity.David Richardson'stenurewasmarkedby scrutinyoverFEMA'sresponseto July'sdeadlyfloodsincentralTexas, whichkilledmorethan130people, includingchildrenatanall-girlssummercamp.
Richardsondrewcriticismforhaving nodisastermanagementexperience andforwhatcolleaguesdescribedas alackofaccessibilityduringtheTexasfloods.AformerMarineCorps officerwhoservedinIraqandAfghanistan,healsoservedasassistant secretaryfortheDHSCountering WeaponsofMassDestructionOffice.Richardsonhadtakenoveras FEMA'sactingheadafterhispredecessor,CameronHamilton, wasremovedfollowingoppositiontotheTrumpadministration's planstorestructuretheagencyand shiftmoredisaster-responsedutiesto states.
KarenEvans,whohasservedasFEMAchiefofstaff,willbecomethe newactingadministratorDec.1.
Adomesticwarcrimescourtin BangladeshMondaysentencedoustedPrimeMinister SheikhHasinaandherhomeministertodeathforviolentlysuppressing studentprotestslastyear.
TheUNestimatesover1,400people werekilledandthousandsinjured primarilybyBangladeshisecurity forces duringthreeweeksofprotests.TheunrestbeganafteraJune 2024courtdecisionreinstatedgovernmentjobquotasfavoring relativesoffreedomfightersfromthe 1971BangladeshLiberationWar. Althoughmostquotaswerelater scrapped,protestsexpandedto broadergrievancesoverstagnant private-sectorjobs,highyouthunemployment,andrisinginflation.The unrestbecamethebiggestchallenge toHasina’sgovernmentsinceshe securedafourthconsecutivetermin January2024,whichthemainoppositionpartyboycottedoverconcerns aboutariggedelectoralprocess.
Hasina,whosefatherwasBangladesh’sassassinatedfoundingpresi-
dent,hasreportedlybeenlivingin exileinNewDelhiwithherhome ministersinceAugust2024.India hassofardeclinedBangladesh’s extraditionrequest.
The Patriot Pony ChinaStrikesGold StolenStatuesinSyria TheChinesegovernmentFridayannouncedthatastate-runmininggrouphasunearthedthelargest golddepositfoundinoverseven decades.Thesiteisestimatedto yieldroughly1,444tonnesofgold, worthabout$193Batcurrentprices.
Thenewscomesamidarecentsurge ingoldprices,withthecostper ouncehittinganall-timehighofover $4.3Klastmonth.TheWorldBank expectsgoldpricestoriseabout42% thisyear,markingthestrongestannualincreasesincethelate1970s. Whilegold'svaluehassteadily climbedforseveralyears,thecurrent spikehasbeenlargelyattributed totheincreasedaccessibilityofgold exchange-tradedfundsandtoemergingmarketsseekingtodiversifytheir holdingsamidglobaleconomicuncertainty.
Chinahasbeengraduallyunload-
ingUSTreasurysoverthepastdecade,withholdingsfallingto$730.7B inSeptember thelowestlevelsince 2008.Meanwhile,thecountryproducedover377tonnesofgoldlast year,a0.56%increasefrom2023.
ThetheftofsixRoman-erastatuesfromSyria’snationalmuseum waslikelytheresultofanindividual, notanorganizedgang,investigators saidlastweek.Officialshavenot publiclyidentifiedasuspectormotiveasofthiswriting.
TheupdatecomesafterSyria’sministryofculturepostedimagesofthe missingpieces(seehere).Eachnude statuedepictsVenus,theRoman goddessoflove,andmeasuresbetween6and9inchestall.Themuseumdiscoveredtheyweremissing earlyMonday,Nov.10,whenstaff foundadoorhadbeenbrokenfrom theinside.Thecollectionisamong themuseum’soldestandmostvaluable,thoughexpertsmaintainthe pieceswouldbedifficulttosellon theblackmarket.
MonaLisaBible A15th-centuryBibleillustratedwith goldandAfghanlapislazuli wasunveiledinRomelastThursday. TypicallystowedawayinModena, thetwo-volumemanuscriptison displayintheItalianSenateuntilJan. 16fortheVatican’sHolyYear.
TheBible saidtobethemostexpensivebookofitstime wasmade byItalianRenaissanceartistsfor Borsod’Este,thefirstdukeofFerrara.ThemanuscriptfollowedtheEste familyfromFerraratoModena, whereitremaineduntilthefamily lostcontrolofthecityin1859and thelastdukefledtoVienna.TheBiblestayedamongnobleEuropean familiesuntilAustria’slastempress soldittoaParisianantiquecollector in1922.ItalianindustrialistGiovanni TreccanidonatedtheBibletothe Italianstateafterpurchasingitin 1923for3.3MFrenchfrancs.
TheHolyYear,aRomanCatholic traditiontypicallyheldeveryquarter century,drawstensofmillionsof pilgrimstoRome.
TheNationalMuseuminDamascus wasestablishedin1919andalso hostsclaycuneiformtabletswiththe oldestknowncompletealphabetsystem.Itreopenedfullyearlierthisyear afteryearsofpartialclosureduring Syria’scivilwar.
RedCupRebellion Roughly1,000StarbucksworkersbeganastrikelastThursdayat65 storesacrossmorethan40cities. EmployeestargetedRedCupDay oneofthechain’sbiggestpromotionaleventsoftheyear whencustomersgetafreereusablecupwithaholidaydrink
StarbucksWorkersUnited,representing12,000workersatabout550 ofthecompany’s18,000USlocations,saidtheprotestsareover stalledcontracttalks,demandsfor betterstaffingandhigherwages,and hundredsofunfairlaborpracticecharges.Starbuckssaiditoffers thebestcompensationpackagein retail,estimatingaveragepayand benefitsatroughly$30perhour, whichincludespaidfamilyleaveand tuitioncoverage.
Thepromotiontypicallydrivessome ofStarbucks’heaviesttraffic,with 2024markingitshighestsingle-day USsalesever.RedCupDaystrikes alsotookplacein2022and2023, althoughStarbuckshassaidthedisruptionshadminimaloperational
impact.Thereisnodatesetforthe striketoend.
