Well, November has come and gone. What a delightful month it was--not too cold yet not too hot either. I think it has been my favorite month this year. Thank you Lord for November. I love Thanksgiving and this year we had a "Green Family Thanksgiving." I loved every minute of it. We even met in the Pontoon Baptist Church in Granite City. I have a saying "Once a Green Always a Green." Well, it is true-- I am proud of my "roots". Yes, November and all of it's "Goodies" are over, but the memories will linger in my heart all year. Now, December is here. I look forward to a fun-filled month. We are already decorated for Christmas. This is the month we celebrate the birth of Christ and His teachings. I see Him everywhere--I know you do too- and how I wish the world did. My nephew told me a few days ago that his little girls would discover for the first time who Santa really was. (He seemed sorta sad about it). I told him that the important message is that they learn who Christ is and learn the real meaning of CHRIST--mas. Well, here is my December Monthly News--some good and some not so good-- but you will enjoy reading about our "old BSU friends." I love you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas.

1. A NOTE FROM BOB MCDANIEL:
   Thanks for the nice newsletter. As a note, Avis and I meet with Darrell and Verona Highsmith here in Florida. Darrell is a college roommate, as is Harlan.. We introduced them to The Villages and Too Jay's deli. Got Verona to a "new" scrapbooking store. She can tell you more. Again, am sorry we were unable to get to reunion, have promised Darrell that we will make an effort for next year. Bob McDaniel, Doyle Dorm, 1952-57.
   
   
2. A NOTE FROM BOB MANN:
   Roselea is still exercising one of her most lovable faults: working too much to keep me comfortable. As I can no longer run, she is kindly waiting for me catch up with her in years. I will gain one this month 91) almost immediately after which she will exercise the womanly trait of changing her mind and race on ahead (93). (a tinge of chaurvism?) A few days later the two of us will hobble together as we we enter our 71st year. Would you believe that on my third time walking her home after a service at Walnut Street, she refused to let me buy her a coke, saying that I could not afford it (true)? She let me continue seeing her anyway. God has been good to us. As ever, BOB MANN
   
   
3. A NOTE FROM JOHN WHITMAN:
   Helen, I agree with Bill Jenkins about your attributes. We knew Bill and Helen when we lived in Alton and went to the church his parents and sister attended. Today, I want to write about Betty Weeks Medearis who attend the same country school I did near the village of Homberg. Homberg is about six miles southwest of Golconda. Her parents ran a country school in that community. I lived on a level spot on the side of a bluff north of town and Mariana Trovillian Thompson lived at the top of that hill north of our house. Imagine the three of us being BSUers at SIU at the same time. I think that I was in sixth grade when Betty started to school. She and my youngest sister were grade school friends. The store and school are long gone, but the Baptist church we attended is still there. Mariana's family went to the Brownfield church and attended a different school. She was two or three school grades younger than I. Her father was my 4-H leader and her mother was for my sisters. I have a pictrue taken from the air by Ned Trovillion, her brother, that shows the store in Homberg, our house on the hill side, and the Trovillion's house up high. I was able to see Mariana in the Peoria area when I visited relatives or was there on my work. Betty, Virgil Lascellas and I, and anothe BSUer I cannot recall, led a weekend revival in First Baptist, Golconda, during my junior year at SIU. I heard from her during the time her death was impending. She accepted her departure as a joyful reunion with her husband parents. Betty's brother Dale and Mariana's brothers Ned and Paul were three of my boyhood friends. ~John Whitman MR says Hello
   
   
4. A note from Sylvia Ellsworth:
   Helen, I enjoyed the pictures of the reunion. Wish I could have been there. Wanted to update you on my address. I noticed on the web site directory that it was incorrect. My current address is 26 Deer Creek Cove, Jackson, TN 38305. I would also like for you to include me in the maiden name list. My maiden name was Galles. Thanks for all you do. I enjoy the monthly newsletters. Sylvia Ellsworth
   
   
5. Mary Meek's name was removed From Directory (She died in October)
   
   
6. This is Verona and I have switched my email over to gmail, have never been able to get any new passwords to work on yahoo. I kept my same address, (can't remember too many NEW things at one time) You just have to erase yahoo. and add gmail. vluvs2quilt@gmail.com I still will be getting some help from family at Thanksgiving and getting facebook switched over, but so far it is working with help from Karen. I'm sorry for all the trouble. I think I filled out a fake form that looked official from yahoo. I guess I shouldn't have died my hair blonde! Ha Darrell doesn't have my complete list of contact or has some I didn't have, but at least this will help me get back on track. Blessings, Verona (She always was long winded hg)
   
   
7. A note taken from Facebook concerning Avah Shelby. So thankful that Avah's recovery from knee replacement surgery is going well. She is now one week post-op and doing very well. She is getting around well with her walker. Melanie and Lydia came and helped for four days over the weekend. Thank you, Melanie! We now have a clean house thanks to you. Thanks to all the folks from church and family who brought food too. So great to have family and church family who love and care.
   
   
8. Norma Highsmith Cancer Report from her daughter (This is her daughter, Charlotte.) . For those of you who may not have seen the update I posted earlier, she is spending the night in the hospital for observation due to some extra bleeding after her biopsy this morning. Biopsy results should be available tomorrow. Then maybe we can start getting answers to our many questions. (I am so sad about this)
   
   
9. Our dear friend Ada Ann Clemens has asked that my monthly news letter be sent to her Care -Giver. That way (she said) it would be read to her. Now, Kim I think she was trying to tell me that you were too busy. Well, I did what she said and I had a note telling me that she enjoyed every minute of the November News letter. I even shared the BSU pictures with the care giver. Ada Ann liked that too.
   
   
10. By the way, all of the recent BSU Reunion {pictures are now on our web site www.bsu-siu.com, Look under Reunion Pictures 2011 from the homepage. Some are very good. Don t miss these!!!.
    
    
11. Well, I must get this on the web site. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. I enjoy hearing from you. Last month I received 25 letters from BSU friends about something. You are my favorite people---after Meadow Heights Baptist Church of course--- See you on the web site. I love you all.
    
            1949 Graduate
           Your BSU President, Emeritus
           Helen Galloway
    
    The following quotes were written by Andy Rooney, a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words. Enjoy!
    
    

    I've learned....	That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
    I've learned....	That when you're in love, it shows.
    I've learned....	That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.
    I've learned....	That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
    I've learned....	That being kind is more important than being right.
    I've learned....	That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
    I've learned....	That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
    I've learned....	That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
    I've learned....	That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
    I've learned....	That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.