"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Eads senior citizens gathered around yellow and white clothed tables with sunflower center pieces Wednesday for Gail Voss's wonderful lasagna dinner. While over at Haswell, Pam Lessenden, their new director, arranged a lovely 5:30 p.m. dinner.

A number of ladies of the community and several hospital staff met at the senior center last Friday to meet one of the three potential doctors who would live and serve here full time. Dr. Paula Rincon has studied in colleges in different states, but likes Colorado rural life. Dr. Rincon was raised in Hawaii on her parents’ strawberry farm. She was active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America and was the State FFA President. We were very impressed by her.

There will be another interviewee August 21, 2023, at the Eads Senior Citizens Center. The public is welcome.

Five of the Oswald relatives, whose grandparents immigrated from Switzerland many years ago, flew to Switzerland to visit relatives there. They were Donald Oswald of Haswell, Charles and Kelly Oswald of Kit Carson, Emily Oswald and Carolyn Oswald, graduates of Eads High School and daughters of Joe Oswald, who ranched near Rush Creek.

Scott and Maggie Oswald and daughters, Ava and Jolie, who ranch south of Kit Carson, toured Alaska while their youngest daughter, Charlie, stayed home with their grandparents, Charles and Kelly. These grandparents hosted their annual cook out on Main Street Saturday night. It is a grand affair, with tables, chairs, and grills set up on their property by the tall antique store Lumber Yard Square. Roger Evans manned the grill for the specialty meat cuts, while a Cheyenne Wells man provided the music for the evening. Another special guest was David Kelley and his family, who have been living in Florida. He is a 20-year veteran of the Special Forces, and the son of Julie (Oswald) and Mark Kelley.

Dusty Eikenberg made a lot of families happy by delivering Colorado western slope peaches to folks in eastern Colorado. 

When you read this, it will likely be less than two weeks before the Kiowa County Fair. Yea! But do you have your exhibits entered with Krystal Eikenberg in the County Extension Office? Have you filled out the entry tags? Have you reserved a vendor booth? Are you making plans to go to the Chamber of Commerce breakfasts September 7-8? Volunteer at the local fair, and maybe the barbeque too? You can have more fun, pleasure!

Terri Pettijohn shared that her mother, Pam (Lane) Hockett, has won seven major ribbons in various quilt categories at the San Juan County Fair.

Bettie Morris, formerly of Towner and Lamar, was a resident for some time in Weisbrod. Her funeral services were at her home church in Lamar recently.

Betsy Barnett's letter really touched many hearts of her readers far and wide about the sorrowful and worrisome cares of her family during the last year. For those of us who live around here and see Betsy and Marty working and coming and going, they probably wonder, "How have they been able to accomplish so much for their individual businesses and their property and watch their grandchildren's games, plant trees, lay cement, and numerous other obligations?" God bless their dear individual children and families.

This is Justin McLoud's 15^th year as the Eads golf coach. His team this year includes juniors, Brenden Framel who drives from Kit Carson, and Brentley Lenning of Eads. Other Eads golfers are Colin Nelson, Karsten Buller, Adyn Hough and, from McClave, Aaron Musgrave. They have had several meets already in August.

Do make your reservation for the Prairie Pines Luau August 26. The advertisement about the games, swimming, and entertainment sounds so fun, plus your $10 buys a meal and will help their Auxiliary fund more enjoyment at the Pines.

Several high school girls are traveling to Wiley the play on their softball team. These girls are Kara Wilson, Rachel Kopasz, Lexi Shotton, Anna Wollert, Baily Sierra, and Savanna Brown. Madison McDowell will be driving to Lamar for her fourth year to play on the Lamar team. I understand that most of these girls will be able the play in most volleyball matches if they choose too.

The 4-H members who participated in the New York Exchange program last year came to Colorado this summer and were hosted by Coloradoans. Alexa and Clayton Nelson of Haswell entertained several students recently.

Judy Hammer of Wild Horse was honored with a funeral service and dinner at Praise Community Church in Eads. She was buried in the Wild Horse Cemetery. My sister-in-law, Wanda Lessenden, and family enjoyed visiting with their Baker cousins.

Hearts of Lill Penn's friends and family have been sad after they heard of Lill's death. But in conversation, in the same breath, they tell me of how dear she was to them. Around eastern Colorado, we remember her as the mother of five daughters and being a marvelous oil painter artist and helping originate the Artists of the Plains Gallery where we artists loved to paint and fellowship.

Raina (Kliesen) Lucero wrote about two young ladies who are continuing their career path the help others in southeastern Colorado. Katie Johnson of Kit Carson is operating a much-needed grocery store in Kit Carson. I have precious years of memories of her in Vacation Bible School at Trinity Lutheran. The other young lady is my great niece, Rachel Buck Mattuski, an Eads graduate and Family Nurse Practitioner in the Wiley Clinic. Rachel and her husband, Bryan, and three children live in Eads.