Happy New Year 2013! We greet you with thankful hearts filled with praises to God for the many blessings the Lord has so bountifully bestowed upon us. Have you made your New Year’s resolution as some things you resolve to do this year? Oh, how blessed we are to have a chance to make changes in this year to see where we can have a happier life. May we consider new resolutions that will be helpful to resolve this year.

I resolve to do my best to be more patient with my family and friends. So often, we need to work on curbing our temper as much as trying to be more understanding of others. We are not perfect, so I shouldn’t expect that of people around me.

I resolve to do everything I can this year to deepen my faith. I want to become closer to God and gain the peace of mind that comes with turning problems over to the Lord.

I resolve to smile more and be a happier person. It’s too easy to get dragged down by problems of everyday life, and before you know it, I start to be depressed. Starting now, I will promise to first always thank God for his blessings of life, health and strength.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes to the family of Mrs. Joyce Stancil-Barden of Raleigh, who died Sunday, January 6 at Sunny Brook Healthcare in Raleigh. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9 at Mitchell Funeral Home in Raleigh. Burial will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park.

Mrs. Joyce Barden was the mother of Mrs. Kaye Morrison and the mother in law of Rev. Charles Morrison of Coats, the pastor of Chalybeate Springs Baptist Church.

Several relatives and friends attended the funeral on Saturday January 5 of Mrs. Carrie McKoy-Chance of Baltimore, Md., who answered the call to eternal rest at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 31. Mrs. McKoy was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Bullock and Mrs. Vernie Chance Bullock and the wife of Mr. Lenwood McKoy. Formerly, she was of Chalybeate Springs Community.