“Lord, My God, I called for Help, and you helped me.” Psalm 30:2 NIV

One evening last week, Mark Kelley came to both our dining rooms to visit us. We were so glad to see him. Before his mother, LaVerle Kelley, died, Mark and Julie spent many days and hours here, so we became more well acquainted. With his long days and nights working at the helium plant south of Cheyenne Wells and their ranches at Arapahoe and high in Nebraska, they were always on the road. Mark showed us photos of Julie’s many goat nannies and kids at the Nebraska ranch. Meanwhile, he was busy setting hay bales in rows with plank boards laid on them for seats at the wedding of his tall grandson, Kavika, who were to be married to Vivian in May. Kavika grew up on Hawaii, but after spending summers on his grandparent’s ranch, he chose to move to Colorado, too. He has a job with the Kiowa County Road and Bridge crew at Haswell. Vivian is employed at Crow’s Stop and Shop in Eads.

Mark also showed us photos of the wood floor that they nailed together for a dance floor on the prairie on their ranch, plus the meal and other accommodations.

Linda Hopkins brought 30 huge pink peonies blossoms from her yard to decorate six tables with these gorgeous blooms. We really do like fresh flowers.

Dennis Pearson was honored to a lovely retirement party with decorated tables and beverages in the Commissioners meeting room at the Kiowa County Courthouse. Dennis retired from the Social Service office after working for over 30 years. He has also been the Chamber of Commerce President for a number of years, and served on the town council. Thank you to Dennis for all the good things you have done for people in our county and other places.

Rhett Uhland and his band have been playing at many places in Texas and adjoining states since he graduated from college. We are glad for him. His hometown folk from around Kiowa County do wish him the best.

When Jodi Stolzenberger returned to work Monday where she reported to us that their Voss-Michael family had such a good time in Oklahoma last weekend. It was the best family time they had experienced in over three years since her father, Larry, and brother, Bart’s, funerals were in the last two years. Gail Voss’ grandson, Ty Michael, was married in Kenton, Oklahoma, to a sweet young lady, Raylee, of Boyce City, Oklahoma. They live in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Ty has a job in housing construction. The gathering was more complete because Gail’s oldest son, Brett, and Stephanie Rusher and daughter’s family came down from South Dakota and northern Colorado.

Some residents went on the “walk and roll” experience Wednesday morning. I thought 52 degrees was quite chilly, but it was so good to see the store fronts, traffic, flowers, trees and just everything. It is so good to just out to see our little town and its people.

Sunday afternoon, we were glad to have Lane and Deborah Gooden come to share God’s word, and to sing from the hymn books donated by Pearl Hainer years ago. They are always so refreshing to visit with about past good memories and families. The next day, Lane brought his two aunts up to visit one of the residents, Quintella McClaren. She was one of their classmates from Pritchett. Lane’s aunt, Daleta, lives in Lamar and aunt, Sue Jo, resides in Oklahoma when she is in the USA since she has served as a missionary all her life.

We were excited to hear the first Bash Concert Friday. The next concert is scheduled for July 18, and will feature Brianne Echols of Kit Carson.

June 26, Brenda Leon, our Activity Director, is organizing the residents to be in a fashion show from garments from the local Salvation Army store. Visitors may join us in the fun in the dining room during the community coffee hour.

The Weisbrod Health Physical Therapy Department has become so popular with patients coming from long distances for therapy that our regular therapists are really overloaded with people needing therapy. I am glad to see that another part time therapist has been added to the staff, Jared Smith. The college student, Connor Wollert of Eads, is getting a lot of daily experience from our long time therapists, Dr. Dennis Bartha and Joe Zinger.

I have received an interesting magazine for a few months, Vibrant LIFE, America’s oldest health magazine since 1856. It is easy to read, and not filled with advertisements. It is wonderful in easy-to-read articles. For example, in the July-August 2025 edition on pages 34-35 is an article on “Growing Older Growing Bolder.” Here is a list of eight suggestions to do as one grows older:

1. Don’t ever believe that you are “done.”
2. Talk to friends of all ages.
3. Let little things make your day.
4. Have the courage to be authentic.
5. Have the courage to do things you love.
6. Move your body, rest your mind.
7. Don’t get stuck in negativity.
8. Do what you need to do.

Aren’t these some great ideas? Let’s try to practice some or all of them.