“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Jesus replied.

The highlight of the week for many of us was the “Mother’s Day Drive–By Parade” Friday morning, May 8. It was the “brain-child” of Linda Trosper who proposed the idea to the Weisbrod Hospital Auxiliary. Since we couldn’t go into the nursing home this year because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, where often honor the mothers with a tea or fashion show or some kind of flower or plant, Linda called the health authorities as well as the elder facilities and rounded up Sheriff Casey Sheridan to lead us along with a big fire truck and two ambulances around town. We knew we could count on five to six vehicles, so we were pleased to have 25 or more vehicles join the drive-by which also included six or more classic cars. Eboni Nash made signs for the vehicles which also included some open-air vehicles. There were a number of residents and employees outside or by windows at Weisbrod as well as Prairie Pines. Even though it was a chilly morning, it was gratifying to see so many people come out of stores, the Little Learner’s Child Care Center and many homes. We especially hoped to bless some of our senior citizen-age friends. There they were outside or in their doorways! A number of mothers and babysitters were outside on their porches to watch the noisy parade go by. From a personal point of view, it was so refreshing to see humans after being in my home for so many weeks. We left fresh red carnations at the facilities for the mothers. No doubt many relatives did acts of kindness for their mothers last weekend to bless and thank their mothers or women who had been significant in their lives. 

Because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, most area high school graduation ceremony dates and sites have been changed.

As I write this column, the graduation ceremony for area schools are:

Plainview will be holding graduation May 17, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in front of the Plainview School.  Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, only family will be allowed to attend and must remain in their cars at the parking lot in front of the school.

The Eads students will graduate now Saturday, May 30, at 6:00 p.m. at the football field, (north end of Maine St). Graduates families only will be allowed in cars at the football field. After the ceremony, the graduates, in their cars, will parade down Maine Street. There are plans to broadcast the graduation exercise over a local radio station, so you may sit in your car along the parade route and listen.

The Kit Carson students were going to graduate May 10, but that has been changed to Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m. in Prairie Park for just the students and a few family members. However other well-wishers are asked to park on Main Street to watch the graduates be celebrated as they pass by on a flatbed trailer. 

Note: all graduation plans are subject to change.

The Kiowa HealthMart has a great opportunity for those who want to give graduates a gift, they have ten totes for each of the Eads graduates. The staff will get these gifts to the graduates. It has been a tradition for many years to have large laundry baskets at the back of the gym to place gifts in for each grad, so this is a nice idea. My heart aches for all the students of the nation who haven’t been able to experience the customary prom or graduation, or happenings they had hoped for. However, we are blessed to live in America where we have all kinds of “things and goodness.” We will live through this and we can be much better people when we pass out of this time. It is a choice. Daily I thank God that my ancestors came to America on a ship and that I am now an American and can vote and at least this year we are living the “good life.” It is an adventure.

Franci (Stavely) Cain, formerly of Haswell, shared that their son was in college seven years ago when he called his parents to tell them that he had cancer. Their son had operations and chemotherapy and lived. She rejoices that he is a survivor and is now a Doctor of Radiology.

A number of years ago when I was judging at the Lincoln County 4-H Fair, I met Aspen Bellefeuille, who was a charming child from Walk’s Camp north of Limon. She wrote an article for the Range Ledger which I will summarize her three points for a “calm home.” In these times of stress and home schooling, these may help:

1. TIDY UP—by cleaning de-cluttering your rooms.
2. SCENTS are related to memories and moods. (I brew French Vanilla coffee or burn candles). It helps.
3. PLANTS can refresh and purify the air. This may help some frustrated parents and students as they finish homework for the end of school. 

Some of my family surprised me with a delightful lunch in my home on my birthday. It was so good to see people, especially people I love a lot!

Beware - rattlesnakes sneaking around. Shane Lessenden found a huge bull snake by his truck, which he transplanted somewhere else.

The prairies are brown and dry. Beware of causing a fire. Please pray for rain to fall in Kiowa County.

Shalom, my friends.