“Jesus said: ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” Matthew 11:20 (NRSUV)

The thought for the day question is “What burden do I need to hand over to God?” That is a good question for many people today who are burdened with worries about jobs, money, families, children, and other worrisome situations.

People in general in southeast Colorado in the Eads area have a lot to be thankful for. We have had much more rain than usual, our pastures are lush and green, many families are harvesting wheat or branding cattle and feeling blessed. I visited with my brother, Dwight, and his son, Tearle, at JJ’s Restaurant Tuesday after the Hospital Auxiliary meeting and asked him about his cattle. He said they are grazing and enjoying water from a pond from the additional rain, and his windmill pump in Cheyenne County is working better this year than last year up. My relatives and friends at Haswell and Arlington to the west, and friends to the east at Towner and Sheridan Lake, report better growing conditions. Sunday, Pastor Lane Gooden, who came up to Weisbrod to bring Church to us, told us of some of his families’ incidents with snakes! Right here in Eads, his wife, Debbie, had a close call as she was gathering eggs and heard a rattlesnake that was wound around the water feeder. On their ranch south of town, their son, Kennan, and his four boys had a battle with a rattlesnake. So, do be on guard for your safety.

The July 4 parade seemed longer this year. It was more special because they came by Weisbrod Health facility where we were waiting on the veranda. We liked the cars that Cardon and Joyce Berry drove, the music, and big motorcycle that our nurse, Amy Barton’s, friend drove. Thank you to Raina Lucero, Megan Herron, and Claire Miller Prince, who saved the parade when they heard that it was cancelled.

Last Friday evening was the third “Musical Bash night” on Maine Street in Eads. It was such a pretty evening to listen to the lovely singing of the young lady from Lamar, Katie Felon. Some people, including my Pastor Tom Barton from Lamar, came hoping to hear the blue grass band, but they were unable to come. I was pleased to see two former Eads High School students, Cameron Crow and Cory Miller, took the leadership roles of organizing the corn hole toss games across Maine Street. It was fun to buy gifts from vendors along the street. One of the young ladies moved to Eads this summer and is a good friend of our sweet Children’s Theatre Director, Morena Lowe. Another lady who had lots of good little gifts to buy was Ms. Swopes, a cousin of Kayla McLoud. I really like to look at all the new items in Trista Tuttle’s Country Elegance shop. This time I bought a black tee shirt with the historic design of the “World’s Smallest Jail” which is in Haswell. The jail was in fairly good condition when I was in it a few years ago. We surely enjoyed the wonderful cholate sundaes also. The next “bash” will be July 18. Do plan to come to hear Gina Trent from Oklahoma sing to us. Claire Lane was busy cooking wonderful foods that people could eat in her shop or out on the street.          

Joyce Marble Mayo’s birthday was July 4. It was nice that her daughter, Sheila, and her daughter, Savannah, and her two young daughters came to have lunch with her. They brought her a gorgeous bouquet of red roses that we are still enjoying this week. We had a party for Joyce Monday with pretty patriotic cupcakes made by Christina Wolfe of Haswell and the Eads Clinic.

The Haswell Community had a terrific 4^th of July evening party organized by Pamela (PJ) Lessenden and Christina Wolf. It began with outdoor games as people registered to vote on the homemade ice cream contest. Tyler Hill tallied after the votes were turned in. Then he announced that the winner was Donald Oswald, who is also one of our County Commissioners. The other ice cream makers were Glenda Stoker, Colby Hill, and Anna Strickland. The adults and children sat outside and watched or participated in several games like sack race, balloon toss, water balloon toss and marshmallow toss. After the picnic supper, they watched a movie in the gym ,and later went out to watch the light show.

The Cheyenne County Fair is July 11-19. They have many entertaining events planned at Cheyenne Wells.

Rock and Kendra Banyon of Kentucky were here last week to visit Kendra’s mother, Phyllis Nelson, and her family. They also visited her sister, Marie’s, family whose husband, Allen Watts’, funeral was Saturday. Allen worked on the county roads for years, and he will be sorely missed.

The Kiowa County Fire Protection District will host an event July 19, with a live band and a dance at 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Come at 9:00 p.m. for an adult-content comedy hour. There is a fee, and donations are welcomed.

The Eads senior citizen lunch is July 16 at noon. Come join us for good food and visiting.

I pray the Lord will continue to bless our people and nation.