Winston-Salem, North Carolina, March 4, 2014~

Dear Gratitude Journal~

Know this isn't the proper way to begin this, but holy moley!  Has it been three years since I last wrote in this thing??  Where did the time go??

No, nobody has died ... it's just that we've been incredibly busy with church, family doin's, sports ... y'know ... LIFE itself.  Please forgive me for not writing in my Gratitude Journal!

Jedediah Octavious Williams here.  Yeah, I'm still around, but now I'm twelve and am in 7th grade.  I go to Meadowkirk Middle School not far from my house; my main teacher is Mrs. Gadsby.  I also have Mr. Shillings, Mrs, Patrick, Mrs. Poe, Mr. Voisin, Mr. Kinjo, Mrs. Shea, and Mrs. Melchior during the day.  I am getting used to middle school, but I sure do  miss having one teacher per day instead of like six or seven, like I do now!  It's crazy!!

Daddy Johnny is still preaching and Mama is still singing in the choir every week (Sunday and Wednesday).  And  my brothers and sisters are still buggin' me and drivin' me crazy.  LOL  I still love 'em, though; God has been mighty good to our li'l family.  I am praying that continues.

I am grateful for so much: my family, my church family and church home, my abillities in drawing, singing, playing sports, and knowing how to say the right thing to someone who may be hurtin', and my friends, at school, church, or otherwise.   I am grateful for my cousins and my aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

But most of all, I am grateful to God.  He's gotten me through a lot, and He's blessed our family in ways that I can't even begin to describe.  God is Number One in my life and I am so glad that I know Him!!

Well, shoot, I gotta run; the last bell of the day just rang, and if I don't boogie outta here, I'll miss my bus!  LOL  I will write in here again soon; hopefully it won't be several YEARS before I do!  I have been such a lazy bones in penning in my journal!  Sorry 'bout that!  Take care!  God bless you as much as He's been blessing me!

~Jedediah.  :)