Mitch Carnell » thankful

Thankful Thursday – Carol Carnell

Mitch — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:00:02 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday and every day, I am thankful for my wonderful wife, Carol. Most of you think that this is St. Patrick’s Day, but it is much more important than that. It is Carol’s birthday. Carol grew up in Huntington, West Virginia and attended Marshall University before moving to Charleston, SC. She graduated from what is now Charleston Southern and then obtained a Master’s degree from USC. She then went back to USC for thirty more. She taught at Brookland Cayce High School for many years before I came onto the scene. We were introduced by Germaine and John Carney. She bakes an out-of-this-world almond pound cake, which is off limits for us now and her macaroni and cheese is fantastic. She is the proud mother of Tawnya who is married to Chris Pike.

: Mitch and Carol

Carol and Tawyna at Magnolia’s

After coming back to Charleston, she taught at Morningside Middle School and West Ashley High School. In nine years in Charleston she had three brand new computer labs. She is the only person I have ever known who received a larger grant amount than she requested. She sings in the choir at First Baptist Church and loves it. A few years back, she was invited back to the annual Brookland Cayce Foundation’s annual banquet as a guest speaker. That school’s foundation is a fantastic idea. Carol didn’t like traveling until she met me. Our Alaskan cruise solved that problem. Since then we have made many wonderful trips all over the world. Carol gave me my life back. She is my reason for getting up every morning. On this Thankful Thursday, I know that God brought Carol into my life and she is a blessing beyond belief.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to recognize the importance of someone to our lives. Let her or him know of your gratitude. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter. You will be glad that you did.

Thankful Thursday – Ann Cheek

Mitch — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:00:51 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for Ann Cheek. Ann is a music teacher in Charleston County Schools and a member of the choir at First Baptist Church. She was a member of the Sunday school class that I led for many years. On January 30, 2011, I had the privilege of participating in the ordination of Ann as a deacon. Not only is Ann a gifted and tireless musician, she is a committed Christian who loves First Baptist Church. Ann conducts many special programs with her music students and chaperons them on trips to Disney and Washington. Right now Ann is having the most fun being a grandmother. What a gift her grandchildren have in having a grandmother who is so creative and so talented. Ann is also a devoted sister to her brother, Charles (Chuck). On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for the presence of Ann Cheek in my life.

Thankful Thursday is a day set apart to recognize someone who is important in our lives. Let her or him know of your gratitude. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter. You will be glad that you did.

Thankful Thursday – Dr. Arthur Caliandro

Mitch — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:00:18 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday, I am grateful for the contributions of Dr. Arthur Caliandro to my life. Carol and I listened to him on the Hallmark Channel for many months before we heard him in person at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. When we met him after the service we were delighted that he was just as warm as we imagined him to be. When he came to Charleston with wife Sandy for the Hamrick Lectureship, a group of us went for dinner at Magnolia’s. Everyone said that it felt like a family reunion. Of course, his lectures were filled with spiritual insights on how Christians are to behave, treat one another and treat nonbelievers. He stressed that Christianity is incompatible with a negative attitude. He reminded us that we can never be sure that others will hear our words the way we intended them to be heard. Every minute we spent with him was a blessing. He told me on the telephone, “If I get to heaven and they are having a meeting, I will know that I went in the wrong direction.” When he left we felt that we had made a friend for life. He has since retired and divides his time between New York City and his beloved Maine. I am thankful for the contributions of Arthur Caliandro to my life.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to recognize the importance of someone to your life. Let him or her know of your gratitude. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter. You will be glad that you did.

Thankful Thursday – Sally Cook Christian

Mitch — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:00:39 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for Sally Christian. Unfortunately Sally moved to Columbia several years ago with husband, James, who was perusing graduate work at USC. Sally was a member of the Sunday school class I led at First Baptist Church of Charleston and of the Charleston Optimist Club. She worked for an insurance company but is much better known for her generous hugs. The daughter of a Boy Scout executive, she was born in Dothan, Alabama and moved to Greer, SC when she was three. She graduated from Hartsville, SC High School and went to Winthrop for a year. She moved to Charleston and then to Houston. Good sense took over and she moved back to Charleston. Several years ago I was invited to her home in the middle of the summer for a Thanksgiving feast. Sally and James had friends visiting from Australia who had never experienced an American Thanksgiving. Now they have. What a great idea. Everyone loved it. A few years back, Sally started giving me, Annual Guideposts, which is a devotional book, as a Christmas present. Thankfully she still does and I start every day with its great messages. Sally is a positive, cheerful, gracious ray of sunshine to everyone who knows her. She is still missed very much in Charleston. On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for my friend, Sally Christian.

Thankful Thursday – Stuart Cohen

Mitch — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:55:38 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for Stuart Cohen. Stuart and I worked together for twenty-two years at the Charleston Speech and Hearing Center. If you looked up the word integrity in The Oxford Dictionary of the English Language, there would be a picture of Stuart Cohen. In this day when there are full page newspaper advertisements for hearing aids that are grossly overpriced, I am reminded of the many times that I sat in my office and listened to Stuart talking some older patients out of buying one. I meet people on an almost weekly basis who tell me about the great contributions of the Speech and Hearing Center to the community and about Stuart in particular. In those many years together, Stuart and I discussed a world of subjects and always in a civil manner. Stuart is married to Susan, who is a nurse of the highest order as well as a wonderful person. Susan has the great distinction of teaching me how to make a green bean casserole to take to many functions during my bachelor days. I have known Josh, their son, all of his life and he is a wonderful young man with a thriving veterinarian practice in Rock Hill, South Carolina. I am very proud that I was instrumental in bringing Stuart and Susan back to Charleston. On this Thankful Thursday, I am very thankful for the contributions of Stuart Cohen to my life.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to recognize someone who is very important to your life and to let him or her know about your gratitude. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter. Who are you thankful for today? Let her or him know it. You will be glad that you did.

Thankgul Thursday – Clyde Shokes

Mitch — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:14:46 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday, I am very thankful for the gift of Clyde Shokes to my life. Clyde has been a member of First Baptist Church of Charleston for his entire life. He is a fixture at the front door as a greeter. If Clyde is absent, everyone inquires about him. They miss his gift of a hard candy, but they miss his warm greeting even more. If I am absent, I know I will get a cheerful telephone call from Clyde telling me how much I was missed. He and his wonderful wife Millie and Carol and I share the same wedding anniversary, not the year, but the date. Although she has been homebound for several years now, Clyde remains cheerful. He is quick to tell you how God has blessed them. Clyde loves the Lord’s Prayer and is pleased every time the congregation prays it. On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for the presence of Clyde Shokes in my life.

Thankful Thursday is a day to express gratitude for those who have contributed so much to our lives. Select someone and let him or her know of your gratitude. You will be so glad that you did. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter.

168 Ways To Communicate Better Now – 48 – 49 – 50

Mitch — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:48:06 +0000

48. Be thankful.

Say thank you often and mean it.

Send notes of appreciation.

Share.

49. Be thoughtful.

Look for ways to be helpful.

Give assistance before being asked.

Be inclusive.

50. Be thorough.

Uncover the facts.

Do more than expected.

Plan ahead.

Check your work.

Thankful Thursday – Margaret (Peg} Madsen Whitaker

Mitch — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:53:11 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for Peg Whitaker. Peg is a rare combination of educator, business woman, gardener and hostess. She grew up on John’s Island, South Carolina and graduated from St. John’s High School. After graduation from the College of Charleston, she met and married her Air Force husband and moved to New York City. She received her Master’s degree from New York State University and her Ph.D. from New York University. She became the director of curriculum in the Long Island, New York School System. After her artist husband died, she came back to John’s Island to take care of her mother and later restored her home with its magnificent views. She worked for a time with Tidelands Realty where I first met her. She and I served together on The Community of Readers organization, a group to promote reading in the public schools. Peg’s dinner parties brought together an interesting, lively cast of characters where food was wonderful but conversation was paramount. Peg is one of the most thoughtful people on the planet. She does not have E-mail so tell her about this post when you see her or call her. Of course, I am mailing her a copy.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to say thank you to the people who have contributed to our lives. It is a day to let someone know how much you appreciate him or her. You will be glad that you did.

Thankful Thursday – Christopher Smith

Mitch — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:03:50 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for my grandson, Christopher Smith. Christopher, son of Suzanne, is working toward a Master’s Degree in Spanish at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He completed his undergraduate degree at UT Knoxville a couple of years ago and spent a summer in Mexico. He is an artist, Renaissance reenactor, and he fences. He has established himself as an outstanding employee at the Panera Bread Company. His goal is to become a teacher. He carried on the tradition of the Carnells, skipping me, Fries and Gossetts by becoming a Mason. My dad would be so proud of that and so would Liz’s dad. On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for my grandson, Christopher.

Thankful Thursday is a day to recognize the contributions of someone to your life. Let him or her know how important she or he is to you. Develop an attitude of gratitude. You will be so glad that you did.

Thankful Thursday – Martha and Don Gardner

Mitch — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 04:00:56 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday I am grateful for Martha and Don Gardner. They were two of the first people we met when we moved to Charleston and part of a very involved group of young professionals at FBC. They were members of the Sunday school class I led for many years. They would leave my class and go listen to Bob Boston at Circular Congregational Church. When LeAnn was born, the Sunday school class took Martha a pecan pie to the hospital. Don thought that she was the only daughter that was ever born. I think he probably still does. After Hugo Don cut up a huge tree in my backyard and helped haul it away. I worried that one false move with that chainsaw and his career as a dentist would be ended. Martha telephoned me at all different times of the day and night after Liz died to check on me. Her cheerful voice always lifted my sagging spirit. I could write about either of them individually, but they form a terrific couple and represent what family is all about. When I stop to count my blessings, Martha and Don Gardner come quickly to my mind.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to recognize those who are important to our lives. Who are you thankful for today? Let him or her know of your gratitude. You will be glad that you did. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter.