For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSVUE)

The thought for the day is: “I will rejoice in the surprises God has for me.”

One of the first surprises for me on this Tuesday morning was to have Nurse Chelsey C. Bolin announce, “Doris, you have a visitor.” It was Jim Garner, my former Prairie Queen 4-H member, and then my High School Science student. He had driven down from Arvada-Denver to stay at the Cobblestone Inn and to visit me and attend Scott Briggs funeral Wednesday. He had reserved a lunch at Prairie Pines Assisted Living Community Tuesday to visit with friends and staff there.

Saturday was the annual Weisbrod Hospital Bazaar held in the Kiowa County Community Building, which had been organized by the ladies of the Weisbrod Hospital Auxiliary many years ago. Linda Trosper was the key lady who held it to gather for over 37 years. Citizens and hospital and nursing home staff are grateful to this group because, through the years, they have purchased a number of needed items. Some of those items are pretty curtains, wallpaper borders, nations window blinds, black window blinds, furniture, patio flowers and plants, books, films, tape recorders, and other items. We have also used funds or foods and beverages for parties for the residents. We are grateful to Linda Trosper, Mary Lou Williams, and others who have worked too much during the years for the sake of people who came to live at the Weisbrod Health Extended Care unit.

The second surprise just happened that God arranged: Charlene Gifford and her third grader students walked up here in the brisk weather to bring us the pretty Thanksgiving placemats that they had finished coloring for us, and they gave us a lovely sturdy little glass vase with silk autumn leaves, red berries, and shiny gray rocks in the bottom. What a lovely surprise for us because we did not know that the lovely third grade children we going to come to visit us.

Now I am wondering - what the third surprise will be instore for today?

Diana Flory and Mary Ellen Englehardt were the good ladies who stepped up to help take vendors’ calls, and the Auxiliary President, Alice Glover, was also assisting all she could. The room was full of great booths of foods, cards, toys, crafts, and other goods to buy. In fact, there were at least two vendors outside that I saw when we went in. One was a young man, and another was Pam Lessenden of Haswell. Pam had a really nice enclosed white trailer to her lovely necklaces, earrings and bracelets on display. It looked as if Shane was the greeter and supplier of refreshments from inside,

In the kitchen, Tim and Gloria Trosper and daughters, Catherine and Hailee, were serving three kinds of soup, three kinds of sandwiches, as well as sweet foods.

The drawing is a highlight of the day where the leaders have brought numerous gifts from local business people and individuals, like the local lady who always donates one or more gorgeous afghans because she is so grateful for the years of her father’s care at Weisbrod.

Connie Crow Shotton came to me to say “Sheri Woods Lyons and Marilyn Berger Bower think you didn’t recognize them. Could you go to their booth and visit them? ” I was shocked, and then so surprised, because I did see a lady whom I thought looked similar to Renee Woods. Her daughter, Sheri, lives deep in Oklahoma. Dave had driven them 500 miles up here, and they were going to drive back after two o’clock so Sheri could cook a big meal for company. Sheri is battling cancer, but she is determined to make the most of the days she has left. Marilyn is nearing retirement in a year or two. I used to enjoy these girls so much in Science Fair and homemaking classes. My, how the years speed by, but we do have happy memories.

Most students and families are looking forward to two days added to the Thanksgiving break. That could be a blessing,

Next week, school sports practices will be in full swing. Oh, we have some exciting games and matches to look forward to watching in southeastern Colorado.  

Praise Community Church hosted the annual community Thanksgiving service last Sunday evening. According to my friend, Robin Musgrave, it was a pleasant, good service. Pastor Mark Imel told us when he had a church service for us at Weisbrod and at Prairie Pines that Mr. Gooden and he planned their messages around the topic of “gratitude.” Reader friends, won’t you think about and write down at least three things you are grateful for now?

As I am writing this, in have just had my third major surprise today. I had a call from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area with the good news that one of my great nieces had twin little girls. So that means we have four sets of great-great nieces and nephews in our family. Let us thank the Lord for all our blessings here in America!