Welcome to “The Little Town with a Big Heart”
Inspiration for the week: Twinkies and Root Beer – author unknown
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase.
He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted!
They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy? “
He replied, “I had lunch with God.”But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? God’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!” Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked,” Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?”
He replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” However, before his son responded, he added,” You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”
People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!
Although Dr. Cherry Clark and Wanda Dearing have retired from Hickory Clinic, the clinic will remain open. Doctors from the East Central Health Net Family Medicine program will provide healthcare for the whole family each Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Full medical services including lab, immunizations, physicals, health maintenance and treatment of chronic diseases will be availa-ble. There will also be walk-in coverage at their clinic in Meridian on Friday. More details will be available soon. Welcome to our new physicians!
Services were great at Grace United on Sunday morning. Vacation Bible school was awesome, with lots of children running around and enjoying learning about Jesus! It was wonderful at VBS this past week, and we had around 60 in attendance throughout the week. The VBS program was held on Sunday night.
Prayer requests go out for Brittany Beckham’s family, Annette Reeves’ family, Joe Crain, Odell Crenshaw, Andrew Cooley, Linda Acord, Hazel Stevens, Tony Grimes, William Billy Lon Spencer, Makenlee Wright, Ally Gressett, , Alana McMullan, Peggy Garrison, Donis Gomillion, John Patterson, Doyle Gibbs, Doyle McMullan, Cille Norman, Stephanie Roland, Janie McMullan and Stacy Stevens.
Shut-ins are Earline Everett, Johnnie McMullian.
Birthday request for the week for July 5 go out to Norman Nichols in memory, Alan Jones in memory and Linda Gressett; for July 6 to Kenneth Gressett; for July 7 to Chris Meaders and Minnie Burks; and for July 9 to Shirley May and Haley McMullan.
Anniversary requests for the week for July 5 go out to Josh and Kristen McDonald, Kenneth and Chestene Gressett; for July 6 to Jimmy and Mary Ann Hayes; and for July 7 to Larry and Terry Gressett.
Recipe for the week: 
Oreo Dirt Poke Cupcakes
Ingredients: 1 box Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix Chocolate Fudge, Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box, 1 jar (12 ounce) chocolate fudge topping, 1 box (4-serving size) chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix, 1 ½ cups milk, 1 container (8 ounce) frozen whipped topping, thawed, 1 package (14.3 ounce) Oreo chocolate creme sandwich cookies, crushed.
Directions: 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs until smooth. Spoon into muffin cups, filling cups half full.
3. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when gently touched. Cool in pans 3 minutes. Remove from pans; use end of wooden spoon to poke 3 holes into each hot cupcake.
4. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate fudge topping uncovered on High 20 to 30 seconds or until thin and pourable. Spoon over warm cupcakes, reserving about 1/4 cup. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
5. In medium bowl, beat pudding mix and milk with whisk about 4 minutes or until soft set. Fold in whipped topping with spatula.
6. Stir all but 1 1/2 cups crushed cookies into pudding mixture.
7. Spoon pudding mixture on tops of cupcakes. Top with remaining crushed cookies and reserved chocolate fudge topping. Refrigerate until ready to serve. You can make this in a 13 x 9-inch rectangular pan instead of as cupcakes. Bake at 350 degrees 30 to 35 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched in center.
Trash trucks will pick up all trash on July 5, so have it put by the road.
From the communities of Hickory, Berry, Sand Springs, and Mount Vernon and Poplar Springs, email: floraoverstreet64@gmail.com or call 601-479-9044 with your news.
