Once again I find myself surprised at the date I am typing. I know it’s not just my imagination because the kids were all surprised that it was progress report time again. This year is almost over. Our holiday season is upon us. I always find the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday period speeds by quickly. Before you know it the deadline for mailing packages for Christmas will be upon us! I know it’s time to get our shoeboxes ready for the Graham drive. I have mine ready to go, so I feel good about that. I’m not sure how this year will go, I haven’t heard from all my children yet. Many of you know how difficult it is to get multiple families together at one time, in one place. I went into one store that had all three late season events, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It makes for a very confusing shopping trip! I went to the 2nd annual Trunk or Treat event Saturday. I don’t know how it compared to last year’s event, but it was a blast for me. I had most of my face covered so my students wouldn’t recognize me, but they knew almost immediately. After about the 5th kid, I asked how come they knew who I was. The answer was the same from each one. They recognized me by my eyes. I don’t know how, but I borrowed a pair of sunglasses and put an end to the problem. We could have used a few more games and trunk filled cars, but there was plenty to go around. I went because we never get kids at our house, we live too far away. This is a great time for all you big kids at heart to get your car down to the Tabernacle and join in the fun. Why not put it on your calendar for next year. We had about six-eight cars and games for the kids; we could use at least another four to six next year. Not only does it give the kids something to do; it gives the family a great night out together. I don’t know who came up with this idea last year, but it has my applause and that of the community members that attended.I watched two young bucks tussle with each other this morning just down from the house. They pushed and shoved for about 30 minutes. I don’t know who won, but the ladies had disappeared into the woods long before they were through. Two of those same ladies raided my rose bush last night. Since it was the one right outside my window, I woke up and scared them away before I had nothing left. It looks a little sick, but still has some leaves and flowers showing. They’re supposed to be eating the acorns, not my roses. My sister sent me a video from her front yard. It seems a yearling buck has found his way into their yard. He is very tame and will even play with them and let them rub his ears and antlers. I hate to think how vulnerable he will be to the first hunter who spies him wandering around in broad daylight! Making pets of wild animals is not a good idea. It is hard to let a fawn die once its mother has been killed, but the outcome is never very good for the little one anyway you work it.We had a light turnout for the 5th Quarter last week. I guess the cold weather kept everyone home. The boys had to work a little harder for this win, but they pulled it off before the half. I was afraid we would all freeze before the game ended. I was in the only warm spot at the game, the concession stand. The 8th grade boys worked that night. I have to give them a shout out since they had to work the entire game with no relief. We’ve had a run of intestinal bugs that have kept a few students and adults down for a few days.The Cowboys are having a horrible game again. Russ is calling for the coach and quarterback to be fired. He gets madder than a wet hen when he sees Tony Romo smile after something has gone terribly wrong on the field. You wouldn’t know it to talk to him, but he is a different person when it comes to competition. His mom told me that the coaches could always count on mild mannered Russ to become a raging monster on the football field. It’s 110% with Russell if you’re going to compete. No bad days are allowed. The good thing is only I can hear him shouting for the firing of the quarterback and coach.Team Kids meets every Monday after school. Mike and Debbie Phelan run the program and wonderful adults in the community pitch in to assist. They tell me over 30 kids are showing up to take part in the activities. My kids all call it Monday church. Whatever you call it; I love it. Ladies quilting and Bible study is meeting Wednesday evenings at 4:00pm. We’re all trying to piece this giant star quilt together. I have to rip out one section of the border, but other than that it looks almost good. You are welcome to attend even if you don‘t quilt. We have several ladies who just come for our study. We are reading from a Max Lucado book this session. It was good to see Billie George out last week. She always adds to our knowledge base when she attends. So does Naomi Smith for that matter. Newbies like me need the wisdom many of our older Proverbs women possess.The new school website should be up and running. Each teacher will be able to post class activities and special notices. Parents can enter through the parent portal and either see pictures of their students at work, or see what work is expected of them that week. It means I will have to do some boning up, but the kids will help me “get ‘er done.”Please pray for the sick in our community, for our approaching elections, our government and especially for the families of those murdered in Benghazi. Please send up extra prayers for our troops in harm’s way. May God richly bless the families of those young men who gave their lives to rescue the embassy staff. Thanks to them some 30 people lived to tell this horrible tale. May God bless our country and bring our soldiers home safely. Have a great week everyone.