Snowbirds Make Their Way Back To South Mississippi
They're a unique group of birds who come down each winter to thaw out and get in a few swings on the green. Following Katrina, the snowbirds stopped coming down as frequently as before. But thanks to more lodging, and post-Katrina course improvements, golfers are making their way back to South Mississippi. Krystal Allan talks to some snowbirds who say they're happy to be back on the coast.

The Sun Herald | 02/06/2007 | Six South Mississippi teams in soccer semis

The Sun Herald | 02/06/2007 | Six South Mississippi teams in soccer semis: "Six South Mississippi teams in soccer semis
OLA hosts St. John; winner heads to Jackson
By JAMES JONES
jkjones@sunherald.com

Our Lady Academy meets a familiar opponent in its path to winning a possible seventh Class 1A/2A/3A girls state soccer championship.

The Lady Crescents (15-3-2) entertain St. John (11-4-2) in the 1A/2A/3A South State finals tonight.

OLA and St. John are two of six South Mississippi teams that reached the state semifinals. The state finals will be held on Friday and Saturday at Millsaps College for the second straight year.

'Is the third time the charm?' St. John coach Jackie Wright said. 'That's what we're hoping. We have to score first. Playing on top has helped us this season.'

OLA swept the Lady Eagles during the regular season, winning 1-0 and 2-1 to capture the Division 8-1A/2A/3A title."


My granddaughter, Jordan, is on St. John's team.

TIME FOR THE BIG GAME
Despite Urlacher's imposing play, Colts still the favorite
By DAVE GOLDBERG, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Forget the perception that the Chicago Bears are mere patsies for Peyton Manning.

Bittersweet Weekend

This past weekend was filled with various things that I could write about. All I had to do was choose one but instead I chose to touch briefly on a couple that impacted my life in some way. On Christmas Eve, a relative died in Texas ... a special cousin ... we found one another in a forum chat room. We sent messages, there was a visit and phone calls. I sent him an animated card on the 23rd. He answered and sent wishes to me and my family .. he died the next morning. I was shocked and wondered why our lives touched for such a brief time. Almost two weeks later, I received a call and an invitation to come to a memorial in Pascagoula for the cousin. January 21st at 2PM. When I returned to my hometown in 2003, there were my two brothers, a sister and their families but I wondered about the other relatives. Where were they? I didn't know their married names and I couldn't trace them. As the story goes ... the "others" didn't know that I was here. There is meaning to all of our lives. Sometimes we don't like or understand why certain things happen to us but in time we will know. When I walked into the roomful of people, I was home! Thanks Butch!

The poem below is not written by me. It is a version of one written by an unknown author.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need
you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part
or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered
and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON,
it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
those things you must build upon
in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson,
love the person/people (anyway);
and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

~Author Unknown

Now about the Saints... I am not a football fan per se but I like this team. They never give up, they can teach us all something about tenacity. I watched the last half of the game and my heart grew heavy for the guys. They slipped, fumbled, were penalized, BUT still they carried on to the end. I felt that they were playing for our storm ravaged areas. It took our minds off all the problems here. For a short time, everything was normal again. A local left a comment in one of our papers asking how we could be so foolish when there were more important things to be done here. I am sorry for that person because it is obvious that hope in that particular life for a future isn't alive.

I will take pictures during the week of new construction and anything else I find of interest. It has been raining every day and that makes it near impossible but I will be back!

The Saints

By now all of you know that the New Orleans Saints lost to the Chicago Bears. We in Mississippi have always loved New Orleans and their Saints. They were on a losing streak for about forty years but we were there for them, win or lose. Many fans would make a statement by sitting in the bleachers with paper bags covering their heads. I would laugh but I understood why. This time they almost made it. It was easy to see that they gave up when they realized that they couldn't win. They won all the way to the last play off and ALMOST fell into the Super Bowl. That's something to be proud of!

"GEAUX SAINTS"!

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Biloxi

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Biloxi: "Saints Fever Sweeps South Mississippi
Saints fever swept across South Mississippi Friday. Businesses, hospitals, and schools showed off their team spirit and support for the Boys in Black and Gold. They are pumped-up and ready to cheer the Saints to an NFC championship victory. Store employees, nurses, and teachers got a chance to dress down, and go wild over the Saints."

Saints Fans Grab Up The Black & Gold

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees' #9 jersey is among the most popular with fans this season.

Saints fans are snatching up all sorts of playoff merchandise for the exciting Saints-Bears NFC championship match this Sunday. Some schools are allowing students to wear black and gold on Friday, and several businesses are hosting Saints spirit day. Whatever the occasion, fans want to wear their colors with pride, ready to see the Saints gobble-up some Bear stew