It’s early Sunday morning and I can’t imagine a more perfect day. This is one of my more enjoyable days here in beautiful Texas. The air temperature was crisp and refreshing and I wake so refreshed after a cool night. I don’t have to worry that it will be freezing cold during the day; we are supposed to have low 90’s this week. The only thing that could improve this weather would be a good long soaking rain. On the more plebeian or mundane side of this issue is the fact that I am saving electricity by having the windows open and the air off. So here I sit, a slight breeze blowing through my open window enjoying the morning calm and thanking God for such a wonderful day.I’m going to try to check on Glen this week. The man in charge of the program was on vacation and his voicemail box was full. I will not be comfortable until I know my precious puppy is in good hands. Although I will gladly take him back, I know he has a much greater purpose than sitting around a farm looking after old people. He is destined for greatness. I hope the news I hear is spectacular.I hate to gripe so early in the morning, but I am already having trouble with attendance at school. I don’t understand why parents think school is not important enough to attend regularly. I understand sickness. If you’re throwing up and running a fever, you don’t need to be in school passing on the germs. It is my belief that this pattern will flow over into the work environment, and it will be hard to keep a job. Aside from that, our school is penalized financially, the student misses out on teaching time and if they’re in a program to assist with their learning, they fall behind that as well. I don’t really understand why parents handicap their children in that manner. If you’re an A student you can afford to miss a day or two. If you are a struggling learner, you need to be there every time the doors open. There are very few teachers in Richland that go home when the bells ring. There is always help available, but if you as a parent don’t keep your student in school, then you are not helping to pave their way to success. So please parents, get your student to school on time and often.Russ has nurtured the rose in my back yard all summer. It was a new rose and the heat was putting it to the test. He was rewarded yesterday with these beautiful multicolored blooms that were absolutely breath-taking. I took a photo of the flowers to put in my flower book. Imagine our distress this morning to see the blooms gone, the plant eaten to the nub, and the new buds destroyed! It seems they were just too tasty for the deer to leave alone. Russ swears he’s going to uproot all the flowers and leave the deer with nothing to eat. Naturally I don’t like that idea much, but I can see why he would be so frustrated! I guess I need to get my dog back or get another one. Since I’ve mentioned dogs I guess I also have to mention that dogs are supposed to be kept in yards. We have at least three that make regular trips to school and stay all day long. They are nice natured dogs, but they don’t belong in school.Bev Cohn had a very special birthday gift last week. She went to Lake Conroe to celebrate her special day with her daughter Kathy and was surprised to find all of her children there to celebrate the super number 80! As she put it, they are scattered all over Texas and allover the country. It is the first time in quite awhile that all seven of her children were together. She also had a number of grandchildren to make the event even more special. She said sitting on the porch looking at that big blue moon made the whole week a picture book memory. Congratulations Bev.There will be a shower for Kendra Brockman and her young man next Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm at the Community Center. I hate to admit it, but I thought it was last Sunday and I was all prepared to attend. The good side is I am ready a week ahead of time and that will make Russell happy. He’s an early person. To him on time means at least 15-30 minutes early. To me it’s five minutes early no more than ten. We get four minutes between classes and that’s good enough for me. So I hope to see you next week. Kendra and Alex are registered at Sister’s Country Store, Wal-Mart, Target and JC Penney’s. I need to run by Sister’s Country Store and see what they have put up there. That is the neatest little store in town and the prices are reasonable.We still have many people fighting cancer in the community including, Paul Gibson, Charlie Capps, Ottis Richmon, Kenneth Powell, June McPherson, Sheila Fikes and my brother-in-law Dave Hopson. I’m sure there are a few others that I haven’t mentioned. It is a horrible disease that strikes suddenly, and the battle takes a horrible toll on the victim and the family. Another disease we have is the disease of divorce. We have so many broken families and children who are either angry or confused. It’s hard to explain to children even if the reasons are good. Please continue to pray for our leaders and the upcoming elections. I have to remind everyone that if you don’t vote your vote will count for someone else. It doubles the value of their vote. I understand that Jason Lenz was involved in a four-wheeler accident and was taken to Temple for treatment. I believe two more people were added to our prayer list, Joe Cochran and Joe Bob McDaniel. When you stop to pray, please remember our precious troops and their families.