My chickens have earned a reprieve. The last few days they have ventured into the front yard. I don’t know if they are catching grasshoppers, but at least they are not hiding under the shelter eating seed I put out. I don’t want them wandering out of the fenced area. The other night when I went to put them to bed, I heard a fox cough in the bushes. I think they are reasonably safe in the fenced area, but all bets are off if they go wandering in the pasture. I’m sure it is immature of me to believe if they can’t eat the grasshoppers that are eating my roses, I don’t need to get up early to let them out and feed them. After all, they don’t lay eggs either.
The kids are settling in to work at school. That makes the job of teaching a little easier. Hopefully, there will be no spikes in COVID, and we will be able to get rid of these masks. Friday, the football athletes left to play a scrimmage in Baird. When I left the school at 6:00 p.m. the cross-country girls were just returning from their evening run. Life will return to normal, and we will be well again.
Coach Burkhart has challenged all the classes to bring in food for the food pantry at the First Baptist Church. He has encouraged everyone to fill up the white trailer we have for hauling equipment. I think that is a marvelous idea. If anyone in the area would like to donate money or food items to this worthy project, please either call Mack Elkin at the church or Esmeralda Soto at school. Franky and Esmeralda are heading up this program, and we are pleased to report that many needy families are being fed at this time. To supplement the food boxes, we have the Farmers to Families program that is donating farm produce every Saturday. They do not always have the same amount of food available, so not everyone gets boxes every week. The food is a blessing. I’m not sure how long the funding lasts for this program, but I believe we can count on receiving boxes until October.
The Ladies quilting and Bible study is about to restart their Tuesday meetings. If you want to come and enjoy a good Bible study even if you don’t sew, you are welcome to come and visit. A note was sent home last week regarding Monday Church for the kids K-5. The note was to deter mine interest in the program on the day the kids have no school. Each parent was asked to pick a time frame. The overwhelming pick was the 10-2 p.m. time slot. Another note will be going home this week asking for names, contact information and transportation needs. If the time needs to be adjusted, we will do so. The program is for the kids, but it must work for parents as well. The start date should be right after Labor Day. Our community students have multiple opportunities to learn about our Christian religion. We have FCA on Wednesday mornings and Shiloh Youth Wednesday evenings, and First Baptist youth will be starting shortly. I believe they are trying to merge the nights for youth activities on one day if possible.
Fifth Quarters were discussed at the last business meeting. There was some concern about sharing food during this COVID time, but a compromise was reached. We will have our community meals in the Tabernacle until the pandemic has abated. No one wanted to abandon this old football tradition.
I can’t emphasize enough, the need to get out and vote this November. We are so polarized at this moment in our history, and we need a return to law and order. No one should stay home this year. Whatever happens, we need to have a fair and honest election with a clear-cut winner. So please, if you are not registered to vote, please do so. Then, on November 3rd, vote.
We have so much to lay before the Lord: George Hill is not doing well, Amber Moreno is fighting a return of her cancer, Will Robinson is taking bone marrow transplants for his illness. Heather McKee is headed for oral surgery. Bob Johnson needs prayer. Billie Behrens has been released from the hospital and is in rehab for the injury she received when she fell. Mary Kate Adams is also in rehab. My daughter, Tracy, is trying to get her kidney functions under control as she faces dialysis. Freddy Stewart is also in need of prayer. The needs in the community are many. Our President, our Congress, law enforcement officers, and medical personnel all need extreme prayer. Most of all, our precious troops and their families need prayer. We also need a good downpour to restore life to our area. Pray hard everyone and have a great week.