Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Saturday, April 7, 2012, 5:19 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Gratitude Journal~

Howdy from North Carolina!  This is your friend, Jedediah O. Williams, writing!  I hope and pray that y'all are doing good; I am indeed blessed and doing great myself!

For starters, tomorrow is Easter.  One of the biggest days on the church calendar.  That means that our little church is gonna be packed with people and more opportunities for Daddy Johnny to minister to those who don't believe or aren't saved.  It is always a thrill when a person comes up to the altar after Daddy has preached, because I know what that means: that person wants Jesus in their life, and that is always a very good thing! :)

Tomorrow I am singing a special solo during the adult service.  I am gonna sing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow", one of the oldest gospel songs around.  It was originally done by Ethel Waters, who was a really famous gospel singer (she's dead now); lots of other people have sung it.  And tomorrow it is my turn.  I have really been practicing hard; I hope I do the song justice!

I want Mama and my Daddy to be real proud of me.

I love Easter, not only for the extra candy and treats we get before we head on over to church, but because we celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the cross.  He is still alive today and people celebrate that one Sunday a year during the spring; it is one of the biggest, most important holidays for us Christians.  We get gussied up real fancy in our best church-going clothes, we eat a light breakfast, and then head over to the church, where we spend a good part of the day.  Then we go out to eat (usually later afternoon); we usually go to Denney's, Shoney's, or Golden Corral.  

Then we rest for an hour or so and then go back to church, where we have our evening service, then are usually home by 9:30/10:00 most Sunday nights.  Sunday is always our busiest days, especially for my pastor-daddy.  Mama is busy too 'cause she sings in the choir.  We kids go to the kids church, but tomorrow we get to join our parents for big-people's church, which is always a huge blessing!

Well, I gotta go.  We gotta get to church now for our last practice, then tomorrow is the big day!  I can't wait; just pray I do my solo without making a mistake!  I'm a bit nervous; this is the first time I've sung a solo in front of everybody!  Take care and may God bless y'all really special!  Happy Easter/Resurrection Sunday!  Remember, it's not so much about the Bunny: it's ALL about JESUS rising from the dead!!  Jesus is ALIVE!!

~Jedediah.  :)

~To be continued.~