We were commenting at church this morning about what a lovely day it was and how we were going to enjoy the sun until the next cold front comes in on Tuesday. I did enjoy it briefly, but now the wind has picked up and the clouds are rolling in to cover the sun. I’m okay with that as long as it brings a good rain, but I’m falling short of real appreciation if it is just cold and miserable! Last week was bitterly cold. It brought back bad memories of long winters in my native Canada.

I’m in the middle of my quilt and darned if I haven’t run short of one fabric! I went on line to the company to see if I could order more, but I’m not coming up with this particular pattern. That is not going to make me very happy! I’m making a quilt with six colors and one pattern instead of the thirty-seven colors and twenty patterns of the last one. I told Susan Luna it made me think of her. It was her positive attitude that kept me going on that humongous splash of color. I think I would have given up and thrown the thing away if it hadn’t been for her. It’s that same attitude that has kept her going with her health battles. Being around Susan is like being around a soothing splash of lemonade on a hot summer’s day. She is refreshing to the spirit, and I just love her to pieces. Please continue to pray for Susan as she fights to regain complete healing.

TAKS writing tests are just a few weeks away. I’m comfortable with the 7

th graders, but we are still learning our writing skills in 4th grade. I think we should be fine. Kathy Brockman is pushing her students to memorize those dratted math facts. Math becomes very tedious and daunting if you have to count everything out on your fingers. Please parents, make sure your students know those fact families and times tables. It makes the task so much easier. Mrs. Lane is excited about her mixed class this year. Her pre-K is grasping the same skills as the kinder kids, which means next year she can really count on an excellent class. Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Lewis are expecting great results from their kids. I guess Mrs. Burkhart is giving them a good grounding. We really do have a great group of teachers here in Richland.

Our horrible weather was also the backdrop for the tragic loss of the Ed and Lara Smith home. Their home might have been saved had the water in the hoses not frozen. They could only stand and watch helplessly as everything they owned burned. They were left with the clothes on their backs; all else was lost. Fortunately no one was hurt. Ed was treated for smoke inhalation, but was released on the scene. The community has responded wholeheartedly to their crisis. They are living temporarily at the Higgins home while they take stock of their options. A fund has been opened up for them in San Saba at the City National Bank. Donations are also being taken at the Coyote One Stop, Skelton’s Hardware Store and Ricky McKinnerney’s Real Estate office. In the five years I have lived here; I’ve seen this same scenario played time and again. This is a loving and generous community that readily responds in times of trouble. Ed and Lara are truly appreciative of all the love and prayers they have received since the fire. Someone asked Lara what she needed. In true Lara spirit, she replied, "When you walk in to Wal-mart, just look around. Anything you see I don’t have." I hope I can keep as positive an outlook in times of trouble! These are wonderful people and we will do whatever we can to assist them during this devastating time. You are loved and prayed for Smith family.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes will begin on Sunday at the school. It will be run by the Brands and our local churches will each take a week and provide food for the kids. I understand it is to be broken up into two different groups. I don’t have exact details, so the best I can do is to let you know it is going to happen starting Sunday evening. The Stars and Stripes Committee will have a chili supper at the fire station building on the 19

th. Team Kids continues on Mondays immediately after school. The Mike and Debbie Phelan work with our kids and the ladies, Eloise, Bev and Pansi make sure they are all well fed. Between the Word of God and the bread of daily life, we hope our students will grow to love the Lord. Ladies quilting and Bible study is every Wednesday starting at 4:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome, no matter your sewing skill level.

We have a few of our community members under the weather. Alfred Garrett is in Temple recovering from surgery on his feet. Jr. Evans is in the Brownwood Hospital. They are working to get his medications under control. Charlotte Conley, Sue Williams and Annie Granados are all fighting cancer and need our prayers. Wayne Powell is recovering from his leg injury, slowly but surely. Gladys is scheduled for surgery on her second leg in March, I believe. Jakaylee, Kay McKee’s granddaughter came to church in a coat she had made over the weekend. Kay is training that young lady up right! I hope she wins first prize at the fair! I’m now even sure I spelt her name right! Elisa Draper is under the weather, but happy that her son and his family were safe from all that weather in Queensland. Someone told me Ruth Lewis was not well last week. Ruth, I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m praying for you anyway. My son is in Alabama training. He is scheduled to head overseas later in the year.

Please pray for all our troopsthat are in harm’s way. The unrest in Egypt endangers them as well as the troops of other countries. We area great and mighty country, thanks to Almighty God. Please God, send us some rain, and keep our country safe. have a blessed week everyone.