“Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged” Joshua 1:9

We were allowed to have the monthly November senior citizens Thanksgiving dinner for those who wanted to come. The ladies delivered some meals to the frequent couples who are in their nineties. Director Gail Voss baked a turkey and her son-in-law, Darrel Stolzenberger, smoked the other turkey for us. Gail said that Marsha (Schmitt) Mousel and Pam and Brent Stoker brought the turkeys down in their black stretch limousine. Several of us have seen such a vehicle around town so that may account for this unusual happening. Marsha had carried on the generous tradition of her father, Joe Schmitt, by giving us a Thanksgiving turkey. Gail had decorated the room, with the assistance of Raylynn Riley, with yellow and orange table cloths and centerpieces of ceramic Pilgrim men and women which were painted many years ago by the ceramic class ladies. During the meeting, we decided to not attempt to move to the new center until January when the flooring resurfacing is finished. A generous farmer said he would donate the ham for the December noon dinner. A committee was set up to review the guidelines for use of the new center. Gail plans to set up a Christmas tree in both centers.

Schools in Kiowa County are having their teachers teach by the virtual methods, where the students are in their homes and log in to each class session to listen and participate. This is a time when parents need to prepare and support a good peaceful place for their children and teenagers to learn. When I asked my housekeeper, Anna G., who is a single parent of five children, how on earth does she or her mother help them, she told me that they know if the older children have to call her that the three younger ones are not on task, they know that when Mama comes home, they will be in trouble. I asked her if they had to rent tablets or computers for school. She said, “No, when I worked at the hog farm, every pay check I bought a child a tablet.” I told her that I, “am glad she chose to take care or people rather than pigs now.”

Saturday was an exciting day for football teams of the Kit Carson, Eads, and Crowley County teams who were playing in the Colorado State Football payoffs. My friend, Henry Ashida, of Ordway came by to spend time with me before he drove to Julesberg to photograph the Crowley team.

A week ago, locals enjoyed the three different musical movies play at the Plains Theatre. Last week, three different faith-based movies were shown at the Crow Luther Culture Center. We surely enjoyed seeing those movies. Friday, it was good to see Janelle Crow and Becky Rittgers volunteering in the concession stand. Samantha Courkamp was busy in the ice cream store, too. November 27-29, people can watch three free different comedy movies.

Areta Laird showed me some heartwarming photos of when some of the ladies of the Stitch in Time quilting group delivered the Quilts of Valor to veterans in their homes. Gloria Peck and Marilyn Hagins delivered the quilts for Lowell Johnston and Earnest Johnston in Ordway last Sunday. Hopefully some of the photos can be collected to print in later issues.

Word has been received that Tracy Smith is improving in ICU as of Saturday morning. Tracy is battling cancer and pneumonia. Her family shares that they appreciate prayers for her.

Congratulations to Kit Carson school Homecoming King, Alex Arroyo, and Queen, Tess Johnson. Others in the royalty court were Cally Booker-Rady, Stephanie Framel, Gabby Horn, Rowdy Koch, Daniel Arnold, and Sonny Farmer.

People in our neighborhood are interested in watching the progress of remodeling going on at A. J. Bolin’s home with the help of his friends, and at the two homes that Cindy Lowe and her children are restoring. Friends and family are so very important to a person. Let us all reach out more from our own comfortable circle of friends.

The AKE Fyre Extinguisher company flew Teri (Nelson) Ellis to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to learn the trade of selling fire extinguishers. I am eager to have her hang my new three-pound chemical sprayer that I will actually be able to use all by myself!

My former neighbor, Mike Arth, celebrated his 40^th birthday with Larry and Carla Gifford at a special new pizza shop in Colorado Springs November 17. He has to wear a neck brace yet but has less pain. He is hopeful that treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota will help him.

It is delightful to see the growth in Rachel (Buck) and Bryon Mattuski’s twins, Willa and Wyatt, when their grandmother, Dreama, has time to show us her videos and photos.

The Parade of Lights on the night of December 12 sounds wonderful! There should be social distancing, and many people could see it if they followed the parade pattern that Diana Flory designed for the Mother’s Day parade that the Hospital Auxiliary promoted.

Shane and Pam Lessenden of Haswell went to Lamar Community College Friday to watch Brooklyn Jones in her performance on their horse that she had used this year. She is excited that she will be an intern at Larry and Arnitha Frazee’s stables in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Happy Thanksgiving!