This time of year is one to give thanks for our many blessings, including unexpected ones.

Guynell Smith of Natchez is looking forward to her son, Gabe’s return home for Thanksgiving from college at Mississippi State. And she’s grateful, too, that in her son’s absence, she has been comforted by his Christmas present from when he was 13 years old — a miniature schnauzer named Slugger. Slugger, it turns out, was as much a present to Guynell as he was to Gabe.

Happy Thanksgiving to the Smith family, Slugger included.

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We have until Dec. 1 to sponsor a wreath with the National Wreaths Across America Day program.

The wreaths and bright red bows will soon sit at the base of each headstone in the National National Cemetery, said Home with Heroes president, Mark LaFrancis.

The wreaths are a way of remembering fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters who served our country in the armed services.

LaFrancis and his group are working to fund wreaths for all 8,000 graves in the Natchez National Cemetery.

If you can sponsor a wreath at $15, please contact LaFrancis at 601-442-0980 or email gmarklafrancis@hotmail.com.

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Thank you to all involved for the work that goes into refurbishing and recreating the former International Paper Company Christmas decorations for all to enjoy again.

The decorations will be located along the south end of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center parking lot and will be ready for all to see on Friday.

Those decorations mean Christmas for so many who grew up in Natchez, their parents and grandparents who worked at IP. Christmas always included bundling up with blankets and a thermos of hot chocolate, piling in the station wagon and joining the long line of those who drove through the magical display at the IP plant here.

We are grateful to those who had the foresight to save those decorations and make that magic happen again for younger generations.