 | 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
2011-10-24 13:53:02
Remember...
Q: November memories?
A: I’m kind of like Charlie, the Publisher of this publication. All you have to do is ask me, “What’s new?” “How I am?” or “Do you have any memories?” and I’ll let it rip. I’m not sure who enjoys it more…Charlie or me…but I know we both enjoy it a lot.
November is the month when we begin getting ready for the holiday seasons. This is, of course, the month for Thanksgiving, a time we count our blessings and the good things God has given us, although we need to be thankful every month of the year.
I can remember so much about this time of year: the leaves falling, weather changing and dressing warmer. Back in the late 30’s and early 40’s, my Dad would light the old coal stove we had in our home, as he would say, “Let’s just take the chill off.” My parents would put on the extra blankets and quilts, which always felt so comforting.
Thanksgivings of the past still stand out in my mind. We would go to the store and buy groceries and then my mother and grandmother would work in the kitchen and prepare all kinds of great food for us to take to family reunion. My father’s family consisted of 12 children and, of course, they married and had expanded into families of their own, so when we all got together, there were it seemed at least 150 of us trying to move in one house. To begin our trip for the family reunion, we would have to pack all of this pre-prepared food into the family car. We would lift the trunk lid up on our ’38 Buick which you may remember was actually longer than the car and square in design. We would place the pies very carefully on one side, then the casseroles and all the items for travel that the family would need for a one-day trip.
Then, it was off to the farm…through Harper, Argonia, Danville and Freeport. The vision of the farmhouse was always inviting because I knew there would be waiting for us the glorious home cooked food. Someone would pray a Thanksgiving prayer, thinking back about what our heavenly Father had provided. The dishes were all placed cafeteria style and the ladies would be very watchful that their family would choose their dish and recipe. After dinner, horseshoes outside for the men, cleaning and washing dishes and straightening up for the ladies, and playing in the barn for the kids. This would go on until the sun began to set and then we would head the old Buick back home north on Highway 81.
When I was older, a buddy and I made it a tradition to go hunting on Thanksgiving morning. We would get up early and go out to some of our friends’ fields where they had wooded and rough terrain.
Maybe some of my memories have spawned some for you. I hope so. The Lord has blessed us all greatly and we give Him our thanks as we celebrate Thanksgiving.
