For the First Six Weeks of the School Year
A Honor Roll

First Grade:  Layne Brown, Jada Dean, Adyn Garza, Kylee Gray, Courtney Hannah, Zoey Henning, Dayz Hinds, Rowan Holley, Addison Jonas, Jaxson Key, Logyn Middaugh, Layla Myers, Christina Ragusin, Sharinna Rebollar, Kyle Staggs and Kevin Turner

Second Grade:  Jasmin Banda, McKenna Boedeker, Maci Bryan, Caden Clendennen, Briley Christensen, Layton Davenport, Braylyn Galloway, Natalie Hunt, John Jacobs, Alex Mallory, Mackenzie Moncrief, Trevon Ragusin, Neveah Rangel, Katelynn Rosser, Ethan Saenz and Lily Waghorne

Third Grade:  Rhiannon James, Trinity Morgan, Jonathan Nguyen, Braeden Ragusin, Annabelle Thurman and Natalia Zarate

Fourth Grade:  Treston Canales, Eda Gilliland, Vivian Ledesma, Ayden Maddux and Jacob Nguyen

Fifth Grade:  Noah Estrada and Hector Rodriguez

Sixth Grade:  Christopher Salinas & Ireland Williams Gray

Seventh Grade:  Keegan Brumfield

Eighth Grade:  Heather Glover, Krislyn Key, Danielle Morales and Anna Sachtleben

A-B Honor Roll

First Grade:  Kingston Cady, Cody Castillo, Gunner Evans, Cadynce Gonzalez Yuliana Hernandez, Madilyn Webel and Dylan Wright

Second Grade:  Taylor Blevins, Brilee Crittenden, Kylee Green, Mina Harrington, Ariel Henson, Francis Hoang, Karlye Jordan, Kyle Koliba, Dillon Morales, Sabrina Nguyen and Destiny Starkweather

Third Grade:  Andrea Hataway, BreAnn Kelley, Athyn Morales, Edgar Munoz, Nevaeda Munoz, Sydney Rasmussen, Mia Salazar, Tyler Salinas, Diem Tran and Phillip Vazquez

Fourth Grade:  McKenzie Bierschwale, Christopher Boyce, Ryan Cain, Anjelica Cleary, Aron Cleary, Zayda Estrada, Creasie Gohlke, Kathy Huerta, Desi Miller, Tim Pham, Hector Rodriguez and Nate Saenz

Fifth Grade:  Scott Esch, Lysette Estrada, Avery Flood, Nick Guerra, Emily James, Aaron Jonas, Iliana Jaramillo, Maritza Jaramillo, Ethien Nguyen, Jada Nguyen and Natalie Rodriguez

Sixth Grade:  Spencer Allen, William Bales, Karime Castillo Martinez, Taiton DeBoer, Shaley Edwards, Katherine Frazier, Caleb Gregory, James Hartman, Kinley Lowery, Fernie Mendez, Stormy Mills, Matthan Morgan, Jason Nguyen, Jacob Ruiz, Jacob Vivas and Joseph White

Seventh Grade:  Dylan Beaver, Madison Bierschwale, Emily Cain, Ashley Hockett, Brenda Ledesma, Ethan Mikolas, Hunter Mitchell, Danny Munoz, Alyssa Reyna, Morgan Sanders, Liliana Torres, Abigail Vallejo and Casey Wooldridge

Eighth Grade:  Haley Bales, Kellie Blevins, Andrew Chavez, Karley Gregory, Cierra Harper, Ahniwake James, Joseph Thigpen and Chloe White

For the 2nd Six Weeks of the School Year

A Honor Roll

First Grade: Layne Brown, Jada Dean, Kylee Gray, Courtney Hannah, Zoey Henning, Dayz Hinds, Rowan Holley, Addison Jonas, Jaxson Key, Logyn Middaugh, Layla Myers, Christina Ragusin, Kyle Staggs and Kevin Turner

Second Grade: Jasmin Banda, McKenna Boedeker, Maci Bryan, Briley Christensen, Caden Clendennen, Braylynn Galloway, Natalie Hunt, John Jacobs, Alex Mallory, Mackenize Moncrief, Trevon Ragusin, Ethan Saenz and Lily Waghorne

Third Grade: Andrea Hataway, Trinity Morgan, Jonathan Nguyen and Annabelle Thurman

Fourth Grade: Vivian Ledesma

Fifth Grade: None

Sixth Grade: Ireland Williams-Gray

Seventh Grade: Keegan Brumfield, Ethan Mikolas and Casey Wooldridge

Eighth Grade: Heather Glover, Krislyn Key and Anna Sachtleben

A-B Honor Roll

First Grade: Kingston Cady, Cody Castillo, Gunner Evans, Yuliana Hernandez, James Ledesma, Sharinna Rebollar and Madilyn Webel

Second Grade: Taylor Blevins, Brilee Crittenden, Layton Davenport, Kylee Green, Mina Harrington, Ariel Henson, Karlye Jordan, Dillon Morales, Sabrina Nguyen, Nevaeh Rangel and Destiny Starkweather

Third Grade: Eric Anzaldua, Cody Frias, Rhiannon James, BreAnn Kelley, Athyn Morales, Edgar Munoz, Nevaeda Munoz, Braeden Ragusin, Sydney Rasmussen, Mia Salazar, Tyler Salinas, Diem Tran and Natalia Zarate

Fourth Grade: McKenzie Bierschwale, Keaton Cady, Tres Canales, Arin Cleary, Eda Gilliland, Kathy Huerta, Ayden Maddux, Jacob Nguyen, Harley Peeler, Hector Perez and Tim Pham

Fifth Grade: Scott Esch, Lysette Estrada, Noah Estrada, Avery Flood, Destiny Garza, Emily James, Maritza Jaramillo, Ryder Morales, Taysia Navarro, Jayda Nguyen and Hector Rodriguez

Sixth Grade: Taiton DeBoer, Alexander Flood, Caleb Gregory, Caleb Lehtinen, Kinley Lowery, Fernie Mendez, Jason Nguyen, Christopher Salinas and Jacob Vivas

Seventh Grade: Madison Bierschwale, Ashley Hockett, Brenda Ledesma, Hunter Mitchell, Danny Munoz, Liliana Torres and Jasmine Wooldridge

Eighth Grade: Haley Bales, Kellie Blevins, Andrew Chavez, Karley Gregory, Ahniwake James, Daniel Martinez, Danielle Morales, Joseph Thigpen, Enrique Torres and Chloe White

As you read the title of this article, no doubt the Thanksgiving holiday flashed into your consciousness. Your deduction was of course correct, since Thanksgiving Day will soon be upon us.

The practice of giving thanks to God is advocated over and over again in the pages of the Bible. For instance, Psalm 105:1 & 2 says, “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works” (KJV). These verses encourage us to call to mind God’s goodness and graciousness, as we “…make known his deeds,” and “talk…of all his wondrous works.” That’s what Thanksgiving is all about. In short, this holiday is set aside as a time to acknowledge our dependence upon the benevolent kindness and provision of God.

However, let’s be careful not to relegate thankfulness to only one month a year, for Ephesians 5:20 says that we should be, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse would seem to imply that being grateful is as much an attitude of heart as it is an action.

I admit that“…giving thanks always…” isn’t always easy. Life can present us with some situations that might seem to defy an attitude of gratitude. Perhaps you’ve heard the following story:
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it.

Terrified, the one shouted to the other, “Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!”

John answered, “I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life.”

“But you must!” implored his companion. “The bull is catching up to us.”

“All right,” panted John, “I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ‘O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.’” 1
All humor aside; learning to be thankful in everything, as Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, is both necessary and doable. God would never require something of His children that wasn’t possible by relying on Him. The following true story illustrates my point:

In a sermon at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, Gary Wilburn said: “In 1636, amid the darkness of the Thirty Years’ War, a German pastor, Martin Rinkart, is said to have buried five thousand of his parishioners in one year, [an] average of fifteen a day. His parish was ravaged by war, death, and economic disaster.

In the heart of that darkness, with the cries of fear outside his window, he sat down and wrote this table grace for his children: ‘Now thank we all our God /With heart and hands and voices; /Who wondrous things had done, /In whom His world rejoices. /Who, from our mother’s arms, /Hath led us on our way /With countless gifts of love /And still is ours today.’” 2
Here was a man who knew thanksgiving comes from love of God, not from outward circumstances.

May God make us truly thankful for His lovingkindness, mercy, and grace, as we celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday. We have so much to be thankful for.

1Acquired from www.sermonillustrations.com.
2Illustration submitted by Don Maddox at www.sermonillustrations.com.

The Lucia Ornelas Foundation will be holding its first annual Jingle Bell 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk/Run on Saturday, November 29, at the Bauer Community Center in Port Lavaca. The Race will start at the Bauer Community Center and go down Broadway to the Bayfront Peninsula and back to the Bauer. One Mile Run/Walk will go ½ mile down Broadway and back to the Bauer Community Center.

Along with the run and walk, there will be a costume contest, BBQ, Bake Sale, Raffle and Auction. Find some time to bring your family out to celebrate the upcoming holiday season!

Race divisions will be: 19 & under; 20-29 years; 30-39 years; 40-49 years; 50 and up. Awards will be presented to the top three males and females in each age group. T-shirts will be given to all participants, however late registrants cannot be assured of size. Cost of registration is $35/Walk; $45/5K. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Chavana 361/652-1723 or Sarita Bonuz 361/676-0204.

Register online for the 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk/Run at: http://www.active.com/port-lavaca-tx/running/distance-running-races/lucia-ornelas-jingle-bell-5k-run-walk-2014 or pick up a registration form at Coastal Barber Shop, Downtown Cleaners or Mid-Coast Fitness in Port Lavaca. Late Registration will begin at 7:00 a.m. at the Bauer Community Center.

All proceeds raised will go to families in need. This holiday season the Foundation will provide 40 needy families in Calhoun County with Thanksgiving meals and groceries and 500 needy children and families will be given gifts and a meal for Christmas.

Lucia Ornelas Foundation Mission Statement: To enrich the lives of needy families by providing them with temporary support of monetary value and prayer. Purpose: To give individuals the value of self-worth and to enable families to overcome the obstacles of life. Our primary purpose is to give and help those in need.

These Port O’Connor Students received the following art awards at the County Fair:

Pre K
Landy Resendiz-  1st Place Collage

Pryncess Few- 1st Place & Reserve Grand Champion Misc.

Kindergarten
Shelby Wheat- 1st Place Textiles

Kenya Resendiz- 1st Place & Grand Champion Oil Pastel

Kyndra Carriles- 1st Pace Misc.

1st Grade
Blake Bowman- 1st Place Oil Pastel

Tanner Pittman- 3rd Place Oil Pastel

Lyric Lopez- 1st Place Misc.

2nd Grade
Rylie Ragusin- 2nd Place Oil Pastel

Christopher Richter- 2nd Place Watercolor

3rd Grade
Kaitlyn Lashley- 2nd Place Mixed Media

Alex Lopez- 2nd Place Collage

Cody Branch- 1st Place Oil Pastel

Ayden Brown- 3rd Place Oil Pastel

4th Grade
Adiala Gossett- Honorable Mention Collage

Leah Lucey- 3rd Place Mixed Media

Elizabeth Carriles- 1st Place & Grand Champion Oil Pastel

Jayden Van Dusen- 3rd Place Oil Pastel

5th Grade
Anthony Luna- 2nd Place Marker

Tarah Munsch- Honorable Mention Oil Pastel

Maddie Hawes- 1st Place Oil Pastel

Sarah Doggett- Honorable Mention Mixed Media

Thank you to all library supporters and lovers! “Friends” has started our Capital Campaign appeal 2014 and are on our way to building the new Library/Learning Center. Please consider us when making your end of the year contributions as all donations are tax deductible!

The Chili/Gumbo Cook-off at Hurricane Junction to benefit Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Inc. was a huge success. See Sue Kubecka’s write up for details on that fun filled event!

T-shirts and Friends of the Port O’Connor Library coffee mugs are available and will make great Christmas gifts! Place your order either at: 361.746.4544 or 361.983.4910 or send your requests via email: libraryfriendspoc@gmail.com

Thanksgiving is almost here and “Friends” wishes our Port O’Connor community the best one yet!

Virginia Dell Lichac, President

Even Witches, Spooks and Goblins Love to Read!

Friends of POC Library was well represented by Advisory Board member Anne Monnig and daughter in law, Ashleigh, at Halloween Carnival POC. They gave away 135 children’s books and made bookmarks with children. One child was heard to say: “Books are way better than candy!”

For more information on Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, you can access the website at www.friendsofportoconnorlibrary.com.