"Be Strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Jimmy Brown invited a number of musicians from southeast Colorado to come to Eads April 25 for an “old fashioned hymn sing.” The memory of the beautiful music and glorious singing has kept me uplifted and humming tunes all week. It was reminiscent of years ago when Philomene Liesen gathered teens and families to hymn sings in the 1950s and 60s. Honeybelle Dixon’s parents, the Thatchers from north of Kit Carson, used to call it “brush arbor singin” when we had church with them in the nursing home on Sundays. Local musicians were Cory Crow and Jamie Crockett on guitars, and Derek Shotton on electric drums, Kyton Gooden with his tambourine, and Annetta Maxcy and Jimmy Brown at the piano. Vocalists Sylvia Weeks, Mary Eikner, Cheryl Wyatt, Ashley Gooden, Brenda Fickenscher of Eads sang. Barb, a lady I knew as a good high school athlete from near Stratton, sang “Ave Maria” beautifully. Local people who shared their own moving testimonies were Marilyn Baxter, Tom Davis, and Deborah Gooden. Annetta Maxcy and Joel Maxcy of Kit Carson testified also. There was not a written program, so I am not sure of the names of some people who gave testimonies, but I know one was by a pastor from Limon, and Pastor Burry Beisee, now of Burlington. Marilyn Boswell and her daughter from Cheyenne Wells played two lovely duets on the piano. A number of people were there from Lamar, Wiley, Burlington, Flagler, Vona, Haswell, Towner, Sheridan Lake, and Eads. The singing was so wonderful. I thought, “Maybe this is what Heaven will be like!” Afterward, the Praise Community Church family hosted a sandwich and dessert meal, which was a delight to get more time to visit with such lovely new and older friends.

The first Eads Middle School track meet was last Thursday. It was the first experience for some youth. I talked to a number of proud parents and happy kids. Their next track meet will be Thursday at Granada. 

Last Tuesday, there were more than usual tornado sightings in Kiowa and Cheyenne counties. Michael Zimmerman, north of Galatia, posted a number of tornado videos. He said, “they were interesting to watch but a little too close for comfort.”

Thursday evening, families and friendly buyers enjoyed a delicious dinner served by the freshmen members of the Eads Future Farmers of America in the Eads gym. This year the officer team of President Ally Spady, Vice President Hatch Nelson, Secretary Rhealie Rittgers, Treasurer-Maggie Haase, Reporter-Samantha Corkamp, and Executive Committee Taygen Ferris, were seated at tables on the stage with their Advisor, Miss Konig. The stage was decorated with green and dark gray backdrops. Mrs. Nancy Walker managed the stage audio while Principal Brian Bohlander was there to greet people. Rob Morlan of Prairie Queen was the auctioneer for the 31 students who hired out to earn money for the chapter averaged between $250 to $300 or more dollars. Three ladies, Pam Cole, Braylynn Eder, and LaKota Roberson made alumni pies that were auctioned off for scholarship funds. I was blessed to buy the number one pie by LaKota, which was a snickerdoodle pie. It is so yummy and cake like that I am pretending it is my birthday cake. Through the years, the adult FFA members who have always helped the FFA advisor so much and regularly are Rod and Pam Cole and Tim and Gloria Trosper. Thank you for your dedication to our youth! 

All around town there are such fragrant trees blooming in white, pink, burgundy and lavender colors. Sometimes I wish God had created them to stay these colors all year, but then we wouldn’t have any apples, pears, or cherries.

We discovered that they are reconstructing the highway toward Lamar on the bridge over the canal. It doesn’t seem as “unsafe” as when one drives north over the Rush Creek bridge. There have already been too many truck accidents there. We may have to endure this until July.

I had the pleasure to be invited to stay for lunch at Prairie Pines last Tuesday after Bible study. I sat with four men who were fun to visit with. It is good to get to see and visit with these dear men and women that I haven’t been able to see for over a year because of the Covid closure! They are looking forward to being able to sit outside. Maybe they can plant seeds in the planters. A visitor still needs to sign in and have their temperature taken, but the visit is worth it. A week ago, I was glad to see Vicki (Cook) Lewis there, where she often comes as a hospice nurse. She was mentoring another nurse.

Some events you may want to attend are the senior citizen brunch at 10:00 a.m. May 6 at the enter and, that evening at 6:00 p.m., is the school Academic-Athletic Awards Program. The health fair at Eads Elementary School will be Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon each day. Track meets will be away at Swink and Holly Friday and Saturday, but one can watch the baseball game at 6:00 p.m. Saturday in Eads, or attend the movie too.

Let’s pray for rain.