Norma “Lou” Reed Guice of Seadrift, Texas gained her angel wings on October 13, 2023. Lou was born on July 25, 1942 in Lambert, Mississippi to James and Mable (Caine) Reed.

Lou’s favorite place to be was in her kitchen. She was known for her wonderful baking and delicious meals. A person never left her house hungry. When not in her kitchen you could find Lou on her lawnmower zipping through town. Lou also enjoyed decorating for the holidays and she usually had a yearly garden behind her house. Lou loved life, her family, friends, pets, and her community.

Lou was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years, Gene Guice; and her parents and grandson Joshua Foster. She is survived by one brother Harold “Fuzzy” Reed (Sue) of Locke Station, Mississippi and one sister, Judy Reed Massey (Charlie) of Houston, Texas. Three children: Daughter, Karrie Guice of Stonewall, Louisiana, Daughter, Rebecca McCullough of Spring Ridge, Louisiana, and Son Rodney Gene Guice Sr. (Robin) of Seadrift, Texas. Lou also leaves behind seven grandchildren: Ashley Hadwin (Derek), Lauren Baker (Jason), Rodney Guice Jr., Vanessa McCullough, Daniel Foster, Emily Foster, and Sara Guice-Garza (Noel) and six great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Service were held on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Richardson Colonial Funeral Home in Port Lavaca, Texas.
Lou’s last request was for her and Gene’s ashes to be blended together and placed beneath a big oak tree on their land in Spring Ridge, Louisiana.

Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.richardsoncolonial.com.

This is a hard one to write, that is if I’m going to be honest in this space.

It’s a couple weeks or so until Thanksgiving at the time of writing and the next two months plus will be the Christmas holiday season, maybe even sooner as the ads on television seem to think it started at midnight on Halloween.

So I can take the high road or the low road and I really have no idea who will come to clarity before the other depending on which path they take.

On the high road we have this is a time of thanks, of peace, of love, be it they buy into the true message or not (not to mention they can love and promote peace year around too, but shhh I think it’s a secret), it just is, if I truly chose love over hate, then it should be an easy path to walk.

That low road though, it’s so honest, it speaks of days passing by without purpose, it shows how the cupboards are empty more than anytime before in my life, shows how many things I just don’t want but I need, from basics like clothing or a haircut to other ‘basics’ like a hug or a real moment with someone in front of me in real life I can ‘feel.’

These are not the whims of some Christmas list but real needs.

Some things are byproducts of the past, like anyone’s life, some are new avenues of being brought on by the last couple years of struggle…at times I chafe on the material, I pull on the chain in worry or fear, I want to vent it all out but I can’t most times for fear of being exposed, which would be unwise as a plan for survival.

I want that high road, I need it. I try to not step onto the lower road, I give my gratitude for having what is here, it could indeed be worse. I try to conduct myself in a manner that impedes or hurts no one, but nothing is perfect of course.

I’m also no fool in knowing much work is to be done and even if I had all the basics and even more I’d still have so much to do before I’d feel honest in declaring this life to be lived rather than mostly being a waste.

So I am grateful, I am loving…I do even choose myself even though in some ways I’m very much a stranger to myself, especially when it comes to acceptance and love for that man which I admit may take time as I’m kinda new at that and the weather has been pretty rough lately.

Which roads are you on?

Do you ride the curb this season, do you choose to take the best path you can?

We all step off the road at times, but what is your ultimate destination?

Can you give thanks for the road regardless, can you be so free as to feel this upcoming holiday season, actually feel it rather than just saying it or worse still, trying to buy it?

Richard “Ricky” Irving Kolar, 70, of Seadrift, passed away on November 2, 2023. He was born on October 29, 1953, to Irving Louis Kolar and Claudia Wyatt Kolar. He is survived by his wife, Andrea Wiggins Kolar, son, Harley Louis Kolar, brother, Martin “Marty” Kolar, sister, Linda Kolar Rivera (Augie Rivera), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by both of his parents. Richard was a graduate of Calhoun High School.
He was a retired construction worker who traveled to many states, erecting radar towers. Richard was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church of Seadrift. He had battled cancer but had been cancer-free for many years. Ricky was a devoted Tennessee Titans fan who enjoyed watching football and cheering for his team. He loved taking trips to Louisiana to gamble with his family and spent many hours on the bay: fishing, water skiing, hunting, shrimping, oystering, swimming, and tin boat racing during his earlier years.

Richard will be cremated, and there will be no visitation or service. His cremains will be interred at the Dewville Cemetery alongside his parents and at his favorite fishing spot on San Antonio Bay in a private service.

How do you sign off your letters? Maybe you end them with “love,” or “sincerely,” before signing. As a teenager I ended most of them “Signed Sincerely, Jack,” referring to a song I loved back then. A bit redundant, but it held meaning for me as a teen!

The Epistle to the Romans, also known as the Book of Romans, is the longest of Paul’s epistles. It holds many critical readings necessary to understanding the depth of the Christian faith, and it’s believed to serve a specific purpose: to explain that salvation is offered through the Gospel. Romans is a powerful read, and one that’s filled to the brim with messages of salvation, transformation, and – hope.

Paul signs off multiple times through the epistle- sometimes with words resembling a benediction, and other times with an urge or a request. But the one that calls my attention today is found about halfway through Romans 15. In verse 13, Paul writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” And what a sign-off that is! A necessary one these days.

Anxiety rates are rising, and there’s no surprise why. We’re fed constant streams of bad news and tragedy online; the world’s becoming more expensive by the year; and division all over makes it more difficult for us to feel connected in peace and joy. But Paul’s sign-off gives us a different perspective that lifts my heart and fills me with hope and joy. He didn’t tell us we’d receive these blessings from just anywhere, but somewhere – someone – specific. As it says: “may the God of hope fill you” with the blessings above.

God used Paul, and this letter, to inspire hope for all back then, and today. Something as simple as signing off on a letter still sparks positivity and light thousands of years later. How much more can God use us today to spread these messages of hope, joy, peace, and more? We could encourage one another in conversation, on social media, or any number of places by reminding one another that our hope comes from the Lord – from the God of Hope. I pray you’ll give it a shot in your own life this week!

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

Jack Cochran
Pastor – Seadrift UMC
Please join us on Sundays at 11:00 a,m,

Costume Contest Winners
The Dolphin is sorry that due to an error in the photo program, we were not able to print all the photos.
Age Group: 0-3
Best Costume: Enzo & Carlo Morales, age 9 months, as The Claw
Most Original: Zander Garcia, age 2, Russell from “UP”
Scariest: Roman Garza, age 1, Beetlejuice
Age Group: 4-8
Best Costume: Layla Pena, age 4, Fairy Princess
Most Original: Brooklyn Vasquez, age 8, Jelly Belly
Scariest: Elijah Velazquez, age 7, Shadow Demon
Age Group: 9-12
Best Costume: Brandi Vincent, age 12, Clown
Most Original: Zavien Garcia, age 10, Miguel from “COCO”
Scariest: Charlie Ayres, age 11, Ghoul
Age Group: 13+
Best Costume: Kidron Lehtinen, age 17, Ghost Cowboy
Most Original: Angie Starkweather, Backwood Barbie
Scariest: Elizabeth Edwards, Beetlejuice Bride (Lydia)
Best Costumed Pets
Best Costume: Annie Vasquez, led by Benny Vasquez, Pumpkin
Most Original: Rozey Morales, led by (I think Rudy) Morales, Birthday Girl
Scariest: Bubba Johnson, led by Ramiro Padron, Bat Dog