 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2004-10-01 15:07:00
Thanksgiving
: Would you share some of your Thanksgiving memories?
ANSWER: The air is cool and the leaves have turned. Fall is fading fast and winter is coming on. It's November, and that of course means Thanksgiving. Permit me to reminisce a moment… and travel with me back, "over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house…" Oh what precious memories! We lived here in Wichita, but my Father's family all came from the Argonia, Anthony, Danville, Freeport areas. His family was large; eleven children. During the time that I recall, all were married and had children of their own. This made for a large gathering. The family farm was not a big one, but very typical during the 40's. My family would pack up the brand new 1940 Hudson, load it with all kinds of goodies, and head for the country. How many of you remember Old Highway 81? I am not talking about the Old Highway 81 that exists now, but the old, Old Highway 81. Yes, it was a two lane road…but barely! We would fly down the road past Haysville, Waco Wego, Wellington, on through Anthony, and then to Argonia. We'd turn off the highway and on to a dirt road that was usually muddy (no gravel at this time) and sometimes would get stuck. We would eventually see the old farm house sitting by a running creek, and surrounded by cars belonging to my uncles and aunts. (Most of the cars were new, because at that time family farming was more lucrative than now.) Part of the day was spent with each uncle taking everyone for a ride to show off his new car.Then the horseshoes came out and the men would play and talk about crops, planting, butchering, hunting, and the weather. Meanwhile all the women would be fixing and putting together the giant meal that was probably the largest any of us would see all year. I can still smell the food cooking; the turkey and pies (with the promise of homemade ice cream on top) blending in with the odor of the wood stove that set in the center of the room. I am sure many of you are planning Thanksgiving celebrations, and many will be large like ours was. Isn't it fantastic that God has allowed us to live in a country where bounty exists; that we can have good food and great families and tremendous memories? Happy Thanksgiving!
