“Do not forget to do good and share with others.” Hebrews 13: 16 (NIV)

Spring break has begun for most area schools. For Eads, it was a day earlier than scheduled on the yearly calendar because our Lady Eagles basketball team won the right to play in the Colorado state tournament in Greeley on the University of Northern Colorado campus. We were glad to hear that after the school sendoff rally, that the team bus would come by the hospital and extended care center. We wrapped up in blankets and sun hats to go out to wave to our team and to wave our signs at their pretty faces as they waved to us from their new-looking long yellow bus. It was even more exciting because the fire trucks and Sheriff William’s white pickup trucks preceded them with their screeching sirens! Three of the team girls - Kara Wilson, Bailey Sierra, and Lexi Shotton - are dear to us because they work and volunteer here. Others are daughters of employees (Peyton Eder and Bailey Sierra) and resident Betty Crow’s granddaughter, Jordynn Turcotte, plays on the team as well as nurse Darci Johnson’s daughter, Tailee Weeks-Johnson, a senior, is on the team. As I waved to them, happy tears streamed down my face as I was recalling happy days from the many years that I sponsored Pep Club girls and some boys to cheer at state. No doubt those students have good memories of our state trips to Denver, Greeley, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Pueblo, and the hotels which were often their first experiences. Good memories.

At the state tournament, the first day we were sad when our girls lost the first game by two points, and our tablemate Lucy Barnett’s, granddaughter, Reece Barrett, went down in the first game from a leg injury. Reece is a freshman who has shown excellent skills. Other girls stepped in and, by Saturday, the Lady Eagles earned and captured third place in the state tournament.

Many of us residents gathered in the small dining room to listen to the McClave basketball games at state with our fellow resident, Betty Crow. Her granddaughter, Myla, is on the team, and Myla’s mother, JaLynn, is the assistant coach. She is married to Dr. Sean Oquist, who comes to Weisbrod to give chiropractic adjustments to people who come from wide distances for his care. He is really appreciated for coming to Eads each Wednesday. I have known for years - since the 1950s - that chiropractic care is best method of healthcare, with no medicines for me to maintain my best health.

Congratulations to the McClave and Cheyenne Wells basketball teams, were first and second, respectively, in the boys Colorado state basketball tournament. Southeast Colorado did well again this year in the competitions.

Last Monday, a group of ladies gathered at the Eads Senior Citizens Center for the weekly coffee hour. We had lively discussions remembering past good times, and current topics.

The annual Eads Health Fair will be hosted in the Eads Elementary School Friday and Saturday mornings from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. The tests are by selection to pay for and others are free. I know there are men and women whose lives have been saved because they took the time to take diagnostic tests that are checked and the results returned shortly. The Eads Education Association always has good breakfast entrees for sale with beverages, so you can have a good breakfast - especially if you came for a blood test which should be done on an empty stomach. This is a fund raiser to build the scholarship fund.

Patti Rees, who is one of our newer residents, was hosted with a lovely birthday party for which Benda Leon set long tables with red clothes for Patti and her husband, Mark. At least six ladies, who were her sisters or nieces, some of their husbands and other relatives, and her pastor from the Lamar First Baptist Church, sat and visited around the tables. Mark said they had been married for 64 years. They are a loving couple.

A number of young girls and women attended a two-day quilting class in Eads at the senior center. The classes that were organized by the Kiowa County Extension office were filled with young and older students. Extension Agent Tearle Lessenden was assisted those two days by his secretary, Krystal Eikenberg, and Pueblo West 4-H member Eve Clark, who helped with setup and cleanup as well as sewing machines. The outstanding teachers were those wonderful ladies, Carole Spady of Haswell and Mary Rhoades of Kit Carson, who have quilted so many Quilts of Valor for men and women all over eastern Colorado who are military veterans. The staff and students are grateful to Dorothy Ellicott for donating lots of fabrics for the quilting projects.

Gail Voss, who represented Praise Community Church for our church hour, was here at Weisbrod Sunday. She shared God’s word with us, and we sang a many hymns from the hymnals purchased by Pearl Hainer for Weisbrod Hospital and nursing home.

According to the March 6 Kiowa County Press, 40 years ago the Plainview girls were undefeated at the Class II district v basketball tournament. How exciting for them. I wonder if there are any local ladies who were on the team living in the county?

Don’t you enjoy looking at the interesting and pretty photos by Ruth Fees in the Press? I often wonder, “what are their names?”

Please be praying for the safety of America and the concerns of farmers for oil and goods. Let’s pray for peace.