Joy to the World!....This is Advent Season, the four weeks while we await the day to celebrate the birthday of the Savior.”

Congratulations to Bill Dawson, who was married to Aurelia Pirtac in early November. Bill has often returned for visits in Romania, which is one of his favorite countries where he has traveled. He entertained Aurelia in America several times. She is indeed a lovely, well-educated lady who likes his homes in Colorado and Nebraska where he is a medical helicopter pilot.

Hatch Nelson, Eads freshman, won the gold medal for first place in the District FFA Creed speaking contest. Lindsey Todd sponsored the traditional “no name game” night for all those exuberant FFA teenagers Thursday night.

Welcome to new Eads residents, Ken and Dianna (Pearcy) Flory, who moved here from their career home in Florida. They bought her family home. We are excited to have this dear couple return to us in Eads.

Thata and Gary Hart mailed a 1971-1992 alumni book to me last week since she is

de-cluttering her Texas home. The gold cover of an eagle was designed by Phyllis (Watts) Mosher and Verta Belle (Koch) Simpson. Thata’s letter was so delightful as she reminisced some of her early childhood memories of family friends around Eads when she was in first and second grade. Then, as an adult, they bought the Bowen house where Shae (Cordova) and Cody Johnson live now. Here are some names she recalled that brought back so many memories to me. Ted and Verna Kunzie and the mulberry trees, Andy and Mamie Blooding, June Blooding and her daughters, Vi Koch, Gloria Barnett, Art and Flora Covey and Elaine, Jack Gardner, Bill Benner and Zelda who they became reacquainted with in Texas, Virgil and Ida Lessenden, and Laverne and Ilene Eder, She said that they enjoy reading the Eads newspaper so much. “They are like letters from home.” Thata closed saying, “We hope to visit sometime and have a Charlie’s Tacos and a scoop of ice cream with you, Doris.”

Lawrence Oswald, formerly of Kit Carson, sent me such an informative article about the Viet Nam Wall. One can search any town in the USA to see who may have died in the war. When I searched Eads, it reported that SFC Robert Glen Wimp had died there. After I looked for his name in the alumni book that Marty Miller indexed for readers I learned that he was in the EHS Class of 1951. The site is:http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm.

The streets in Eads and Kit Carson where filled all day with vehicles and people as shoppers walked from store to store enjoying so many specials on “Small Business Saturday.” The stores were decorated for Christmas. What a special feeling! When we returned from Kit Carson, there was still a lot of activity on Maine Street. It was nice enough that we could eat Charlie and Mary’s delicious smothered burrito meal outside around the silver tables.  Thank you, to the Eads school FBLA for the flyer featuring the businesses.

It is gratifying to experience being blessed by former members of our church. Our Lutheran ladies group is planning to be a vendor at the December 8 Kit Carson Bazaar so we were happy when Norma Troue Emerson mailed a big box of crocheted and sewed items for us to add to our wares. Recently Ann Klieboeker Crowell arranged that we could order two large sets of CD hymnal accompaniment for her sister, Jenness’ memorial.

Dwight and Bonnie Lessenden and their children and the Spady and Lessenden families are thankful to people praying for Bonnie’s health. Her life has been in a balance for four weeks. After four surgeries, she is somewhat better. We are encouraged.

Another family who is grateful for prayers is Opal Miner and her children. Susan, Scott, and David have taken turns for many weeks to come from Texas to stay with their mother.

Jeff Campbell, that wonderful storyteller and researcher, shared many interesting facts about the Sand Creek Massacre 153 years ago from the Plains Theatre Stage last week. Terri Jobe, National Park Ranger, introduced this expert speaker on the history of our county and some of the people involved. The Park Service hired caterer Charlie Vasquez to prepare trays of colorful finger foods.

Charlie Howard formerly of Eads passed away in Cheyenne Wells November 30. His graveside committal was scheduled for December 5. 

Jim Baxter called me last week from Anchorage, Alaska. It is always so good to hear from him. My great niece, Mychal (Hirsch) Lorette, and her husband, Scott, who is a military officer, flew to Anchorage last week with their infant baby, Silas, to find a home for their new assignment.

Thursday, December 7, will have so many fun things to attend for seniors and others too. Coffee Hour at the Weisbrod Extended Care Unit begins at 9:00 a.m. Then we hurry over to the Center at 10:00 a.m. for brunch. At 2:00 p.m., we celebrate Harvey Hollis’ 100^th birthday at the ECU dining room. At 6:30 p.m. is the Elementary and Middle School concert, which is a bustling joyous occasion.

Basketball fans can see home games Friday December 8 beginning at 4:00 p.m. with Springfield. December 9, they will travel to Bethune and our co-op wrestling team with McClave will travel to Limon.

For a cultural and spiritual experience, one could certainly be blessed to hear the annual Christmas Cantata at 6:30p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Eads.