“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NRSVUE)

That has been one of my favorite verses for many years. I have felt it is so true of those who love the Lord Jesus. I have loved Father God since childhood, and I know that He watches over me and answers my prayers. I have a good life. Oh, yes, there have been a few challenges along the way…but there is a reason, and I learned to cope.

Many lives around the community of Eads revolved around the homecoming activities last week. If you have access to Eads School Facebook, you may see some of the comical or surprising costumes. We have seen about six or more senior students from Eads around here working with the staff members they are shadowing, as they care for residents or outpatients who come for therapies or care.

I have observed that the many young men and women who come from Eads High School appear to be older and more capable than many young people. They have certainly endeared themselves to many people around Weisbrod and Prairie Pines and downtown.

At the homecoming activities, the older or more mature poured a lot of gas on the dampened wood to get a good fire going, and the cheers started louder. Because of several serious injuries in football, our Eads football team didn’t have enough players to continue the season. So we are grateful that the other young men could finish the season by playing with the Wiley team.

Those who did go to the bonfire were able to see the crowning of the king and queen and to see the royalty court. I was gratified to see photos of the pretty dresses and attire of the students. Congratulations to those students who were chosen by their fellow students. Anna Wollert was crowned queen and Weston Mitchek is the king of EHS. Two fine young people!

The Eads girls easily won the volleyball games Friday. Saturday evening, they could go to the homecoming dance. Adults, do you remember those days?

I have heard many people upset and disgusted because there are only two main roads or streets to get into the north part of town. The Maine and Rittgers streets railroad crossings have been closed since September 18, while they lay two new railroad rails across those streets, and they are now waiting for asphalt to be laid.

Saturday morning dawned with sunny weather, unlike most of the cloudy weather that we have had all week. I was so glad for the guests of Tyler and Colby Hill of Haswell, who hosted a big birthday party for their young son, Trace, at the Eads Senior Citizen Center. Both rooms were filled with their extended Stoker-Lessenden families and then lots of Colby’s school friends, many of whom went to Tennessee to Ty and Colby’s wedding. Those friendships have grown and enlarged since Tyler and Colby moved to Colorado. Of course, our family is so happy to have Colby back here in Colorado. Tyler assures me that he really likes to live here when I have said, “But it is so green and lovely back there.” He assures me that the temperatures and the lack of bugs and moist heat are important factors to him. He is a jewel too.

When I came home from the birthday party, I joined the ladies on the balcony deck to listen to the wonderful piano music. In a few seconds I recognized that it was Burl Scherler from over southwest of Sheridan Lake. They loved to hear him outside, and there were even more gathered around him inside at the piano! We loved having him to sing with and hum along. Afterwards I assured him that if he saw my tears, they were not for sadness but for happiness to hear how beautifully he plays such wonderful, powerful, loud runs on the keyboard, and for my memories and thankfulness to God.

Friday evening, Gail Voss brought a book to me that was written by Gary Shotton, his autobiography. It is wonderful, so inspiring, with photos and such wonderful sharing of his life in Kiowa County. I always think of him as one of my “star” science fair students who continued on to graduate from the Colorado School of Mines. Gary continued to be a successful geological engineer and then a Christian businessman who spoke and inspired people in 35 countries. Gail also included a program from his funeral in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in August of this year. People can check this book out at the senior center after October 1.

The Praise Community Church in Eads hosted the Melton family of gospel singers from Illinois Sunday evening. They are a family of parents and twin daughters age 16 and a daughter age 21, who were lovely in harmony and presentation. During the service Betty (McKnight) Clark and D.L. and Judy Weeks were presented with community awards and flowers to honor them. Most moving and heart-touching to me were the letters that were written and the spoken words that were shared about how wonderful these people have been in our communities and with their families, schools, churches, and organizations, as well as occupations and family life. Judy Weeks was age 5 and I was 12 when we were in the same Pueblo hospital wards for polio care. That was a painful and tearful time, but we were survivors.