Hang on to your hats everyone we’re in a dead gallop to the end of the year! I know December just started but I can already tell the days aren’t going to wait for us to enjoy them. Forget savor the hours; relax with the family; spend time with friends. HA! Those darn old days are going so quickly, you don’t even have time to catch your breath!

This Tuesday is YIL competition. Our students are headed to Brooksmith for the day to compete against area schools. We have been hard at work, but things like school work just get in the way! I’ve listened to poems, practiced dictionary skills, poured over maps, and who knows what else. Some day one of these students will compete at the High School level and perhaps win a scholarship to college. That is the end goal for all this madness. Mrs.Gossett has been drilling artwork and painters; Mrs. Miller has been prompting music. Mrs. Brockman, Mrs. Larrimore, Mrs. Burkhart and Mrs. Wyatt have been hard at work, as well as Mrs. Lane. Everyone is helping to get our kids ready for the big day. Mrs. Smith, aunt to Nelson Smith, has been working with the older students. Those of us who attended the Christmas play know they are good!

Did you find the time to attend the Preservation Society Dinner Theater? It was delightful! Ruth Lewis greeted guests at the front door while Becky, Thomas and Ann ran around getting the dinner and show ready. The play was produced by Melanie Smith and Lynn Green. The kids were cute as can be and the beef stew was the perfect touch on a chilly night.

Congratulations to everyone who participated. I know I’ve left out some of the society members because I saw them all there. Paul and Jewel Larrimer were there. Paul was in charge of that leaky tea container! If I missed you I’m sorry, but the bottom line was we all had a ball and the play was a success. All funds will go towards repairs on the bank building. This brings to mind another fact. Could the people responsible for breaking windows, please stop! Funds that need to be spent on repairs are continually being wasted on repairing the same things. Be proud of our building and tell those bent on vandalism, to go somewhere else!

We’ve had a rash of accidents in the last week or so. The bottom line is inexperienced drivers. They will get better as they drive longer but right now their inexperience is dangerous. We are all thankful no one has been killed. I’m going to say something that is going to make a few parents angry but I have to anyway.

Underage drivers should not be driving on the highway, and they most definitely should not have other passengers with them. We older folks have just stared dumbfounded at some of the crash sites, and praised God that no one was killed. Driving is something city kids don’t get to do much until they are of age. They have their own issues to face once they start driving. We, as adults, just have to make sure we set strict guidelines for driving and enforce them. We extend our prayers and best wishes for speedy recovery to all those involved in last week’s wrecks.

Gerald McKee sent out the list of competitors for upcoming stock shows. It looks as if a fair number of students will be participating. That’s another, those of us in the country take for granted. It’s a little more difficult raising stock in the city! Good luck to everyone. I hope you bring home all the ribbons!

Work on the Coyote sculpture and remodeling of the old fountain is taking shape. I can’t wait to see the finished results. Mrs. Shultz and Mrs. Lane are working with the students to accomplish this task.

The teachers and staff had their Christmas dinner on Saturday. We were all happy to see George Hill out for the event. We were glad to see Donna too, but we see her more often. George is looking a little thin, but he did a good job on that steak he ordered! The meal was scrumptious, the company very entertaining, and the gift exchange almost too tame. The Mask’s were the lucky recipients of the charming reindeer complete with droppings.

They are looking for a home for the darling creature, so just say the word, and you could be the lucky owner! I think they really do like the cute little stinker, and won’t want to part with their “potty” I mean party gift! Thank you, Mr. Winn and Mr. Fowler, for our lovely evening out.

Junior Evans was back at church with us this week. He was greeted with many happy cries of delight. I know we are always told we are special, but fact is some of us are more special than others. Junior and Bonnie are two such special people. It was a good Sunday for all.

The congregation celebrated the baptism of William King. I know both his parents were very proud. He did get his cast just a little bit wet. We’re praying for a full recovery for his hand. William is pretty tired of that cast I can tell you!

If I don’t get my lights up on the gate soon, I might as well wait until next year! I’ve had to leave it up to my poor husband. He has valiantly risen to the chore, but it’s not something he likes to do. At least so he says, but he is the one who bought the singing trees for the front porch! I am still jealous of the Snoddy house. I love this time of the year because of those lights! I love it because of Jesus too, but the Snoddys do such a wonderful job of spreading the light of Jesus!

Jesus is the reason for the season is a trite little phrase, but it is also true. We give gifts because we received the gift of baby Jesus. We put up lights, because the light of the world came down to stay with us. We join family and friends because he brought peace and joy into the world. Christmas is wonderful.

I hope everyone has a blessed week. Please pray for our nation, our Presidents old and new, our precious troops and their families, who are missing them at Christmas. We pray they will come home safe soon. Hug someone you love and let them know how special they are to you. Smile, the exercise is good for your face.