“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it up to God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21

The scripture above was chosen by one of our graduating seniors from Eads this year. It is good for us all to remember as we deal with people in our lives daily.

I am beginning to write this news column on July 4, so I greet you, Dear Readers, with “I am so glad to be an American!” Let us all be more informed on what is happening in our country and world so that we can make wise decisions about voting and helping other people in the world.

Last Sunday night I was in the large dining room visiting Donna Eaton when her husband and son, Dain, came in to give her gifts and the happy news that both of their racehorses had won prize money and they were soooooo happy. Later Donna explained to me how the money is divided up to the jockey, the trainer, the family, the racetrack, and probably others. They have 13 racehorses! They are at the racetrack again this weekend, so I am eager to hear tomorrow how the weekend went for them.

Last Thursday we had our July 4 lunch out in the courtyard under those two large rectangle umbrellas as we ate our lunch on such a lovely day. The nurse assistants assisted everyone in wheelchairs down the long ramp to be seated and visited. When it was lunch time, they took the residents up to the veranda to select foods of choice from the smorgasbord which Marla and Alessandria had prepared. They then helped the residents back down to the tables where we enjoyed food, music, and visiting with each other and staff who came to the party.

We enjoyed seeing Joyce Marble Mayo’s daughter Sheila come with her granddaughter and three little children who were all “dressed up” and enjoyed opening Joyce’s gifts.

Friday evening, July 3, Brenda Leon, our Activity Director, who is always full of creative ideas for us, arranged that we would all be ready in wheelchairs to be pushed to the park south of the Horseshoe Park for supper and to enjoy the people. The hospital bought our suppers from our nurse assistant who also owns a food trailer, Claire Lane. I heard that she makes the best “home-made French Fries”. It was the largest crowd of visitors I have seen this year. Besides Claire, they could also buy food at Trista and Chad Tuttle’s café on the corner. I saw some people bringing their food from there and from the Hernandez Family Food trailer too. Another lady was making icy fruity drinks with a blender in the middle of the park. To my delight I found my niece, Glenda Stoker, and husband, Paul, at their tables with lots of her yummy cookies and candies and wonderful hand sewed or decorated items.

On down the parkway was Justin McLoud with his popular sport collector cards and men’s jewelry. Brystal Bletzacker was at the next table. She qualified to represent Colorado in the National Gymnastics finals in Iowa in August. It was fun to buy chances on three baskets of “gifts”. If I win one, I will have a lot of gifts to just give away. Oh, and the Ice Cream Shop was a great place to buy yummy ice cream from pretty Charlie Lowe.

On the side street there were lots of athletic folk tossing in the cornhole game. I think it was Cory Miller’s voice who was directing the games.

About that time, I met a nice, new-to-me couple, who have been here about three years living on Luther Street. They are caretakers for his brother, who was injured. I hope they will come out more often.

John Leon’s great singing rang out over the streets. I liked seeing the families and little children and of course the teenagers and senior citizens. The movie marquee posters look as if some good movies are coming to Eads. The next “Bash” will be Friday, July 17.

The happiest couple I talked to was Beatle and Sharon Koch when they told me how their children had surprised them with a big dinner party with lots of their friends for their 50th wedding anniversary. An 82-year-old Kansas friend sang as wonderfully as he had at their wedding.

Haswell Community had their traditional July 4 evening picnic and games without fireworks this year, as many communities had to cancel that because of fire dangers in Colorado.

That amazing Reese Barnett stopped by last week when she was walking around every street in Eads that day…just for fun! Her phone showed us where all she had walked! And then she said, “I may go golfing this afternoon.” She amazes me!

Two nice sheriff’s deputies stopped by to introduce themselves last week, Blake Miller, formerly of Eads and Kit Carson, and Dusty Nordyke of Holly.

Friends… PRAY for rain.