News For the Week of May 16, 2018

Last Saturday around noon Bob asked me if I wanted to go to the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival. Well, I did want to go but my yard hadn't been mowed in two weeks and was looking like it, so I said no, I had to mow the yard. Well, after I spent twenty minutes out in the 85-90 degree heat, picking up toys and clutter so I could mow, and another ten minutes trying to saw up a dead tree Bob had cut down earlier in the week, I thought to myself, why am I out here doing this when I could be at the City listening to good bluegrass? So, I threw down my chainsaw that wouldn't keep running anyway, went inside and we got ready and went! We had a good time, saw Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and Kenny and Amanda Smith and the High 48s from Minnesota. If I hadn't spent so much time fuming around outside we could have seen Rhonda twice. I won't make that mistake again! We are going to try to go a few more times before the month is out.

We had a nice service on Mother's Day at New Mansion Church last Sunday. Our pastor's son, Josh Marsh brought the message and read several appropriate scriptures and told several funny and touching stories of growing up as his mom's son. He spoke of his wife and him being foster and adoptive parents and challenged us to not say “I could never do that” and instead to seek God's will and be willing and open ourselves to maybe go ahead and do what we thought we couldn't, not just fostering or adopting but in every area where we feel God may be speaking to us to do something. Pray and listen. Each mother present Sunday received a gift package from Bath and Body Works.

Bob and I, along with Jason and Alicia Crouch, Sue Jenkins, Carl Whittaker, Danielle, Jared and Eli Lee, and Hayden Crouch, enjoyed a lunch prepared by our daughter, Alicia Crouch after church on Sunday. I also spent time with Lynn Case and her sons, Kyle and Jessi and saw daughter Julie Lawson and husband, Scott and little boy, Garrett. Julie and Scott's other kids were asleep but I am sure I will see them today.

It was so good to see Dustin Gross at church last Sunday, walking, with a cane, but walking. He had been unable to walk for several weeks due to several herniated discs in his back. He is waiting to see if he will have surgery to help his back. There will be a special fundraiser for Dustin, who sings and entertains with the Baldknobbers Show in Branson. A concert will be held at their theater on Sunday, May 20th from 3 to 5 pm. You can call the theater for more details.

Congratulations to Cody and Bailey Combs on the birth of their son, Coy Allen. Lots of beautiful dark hair. He was welcomed home by big brother, Jess and big sister, Trey. I also saw a four generations picture of great grandmother, Elsie Combs holding him, with Ronnie Combs and Cody Combs sitting around them.

Congratulations to Nathan and Heidi Easley who also have a new son, Emmett Ross. The picture I saw of him was beautiful, lots of dark hair and being held by his beautiful big sister, Ellie. Looks like she is going to take the job of being a big sister very seriously.

Another baby was born back on April 24 and I got sidetracked and neglected to get it in the paper. Elsee Jayne Isaacs, beautiful little daughter of Aspen Isaacs made her appearance on April 24. Elsee weighed in at 7 lbs 11 oz and was 20.25 inches long. Congratulations on this little sweetie!

Donnie and Robyn Whittaker and their daughter, Sarah, made a trip to Oklahoma last week. They first went to see the drought conditions in western Oklahoma, then came back to Pawhuska, Oklahoma to see the Drummond Ranch and also the Pioneer Woman Mercantile. Robyn reported it was a lot of fun but she was glad to be home. Robyn also brought home an item from the Mercantile that she held a drawing for at Robyn's Treasure Barn. Rosemary Thornton was the winner of the drawing.

Robyn Whittaker also had a picnic with her mother, Betty Gentle on Mother's Day. She said that seven of Betty's nine children got to be there, along with several grandchildren.

That is all the news I have for this week. Please call, text, e-mail me or facebook me if you have news to put in the paper. Now I need to get out there and mow that hay field I call my yard! Enjoy life and be blessed!

News For the Week of May 9, 2018

The hummingbirds are humming, the red birds are cheery, I am working on getting my garden planted, the dogwoods and lilacs are fully bloomed out and my iris are starting to bloom. I even love the multiflora rose bushes that are such a pain to try to get rid of. I know they are invasive but I love the fragrance they have. I love springtime!

Last Thursday evening we attended the Spring concert at Bradleyville School. A great program was performed by all the kids in grade school, high school choir and the band. Mrs. Chris Sprague directed the program and once again presented an excellent program. One highlight was one group of 5^th and 6^th graders playing ukuleles. They did a great job. At the end of the evening the band played an oldie, “Land of a Thousand Dances” while the rest of the kids were encouraged to surrounded the band and dance while the band played. Such a fun way to end the program. The music was so lively and well-played that I wanted to get up and dance myself, and I am sure everybody was thankful that I did not.

Many friends and relatives gathered with the family of Clessie Hurst last Friday to pay their respects as she was laid to rest. Her son, Billy Joe Hurst and family and daughter, Jan Scantlin and family wanted everyone to know how much they appreciated all the calls, prayers, food and everything that everyone and all the area churches did for them during Clessie's illness and death.

Leon and Dot Combs made a trip to St. Louis last weekend to attend the wedding of their granddaughter, Jordan Combs to Jimmy Gericke.

Helen Maggard says her sister in law, Ruth Blair fell and had to have stitches in her head. Ruth lives in the Riverview Manor in Ozark. We wish her a speedy recovery.

We were privileged to get to hear grandson, Hayden Crouch preach again, this time at the Bradleyville General Baptist Church. Hayden preached there last Sunday morning and again that evening. His great grandma, Donna Sloan and his great aunt, Ginger Sloan were able to be there to hear him preach that evening, which they enjoyed very much.

I got to visit with Barbara Collins at church and she is finding out this week if she will be getting a hip replacement in the near future.

Just a reminder to everyone that the bridge over Swan Creek at Garrison has been shut down as of Monday, May 7^th to begin work on it to replace it. The detour will be down T Hwy at Oldfield to UU to get to Bradleyville. Hwy UU is really getting the traffic load with all the bridge replacements in the area.

Call me if you have news to be included in the paper. Have a good week, be happy and be blessed.

News For the Week of May 2, 2018

My internet has been off all morning until 20 minutes before deadline so news will be short.

I finally got my yard mowed for the first time this year over the weekend. Does anything smell better than fresh mown grass? I love it.

I have had a couple of hummingbirds visiting my feeders the last several days, and with only two of the little sprites they are already fighting over who should have the feeder all to themselves.

We also got our garden tilled, Bob tilled the garden while I mowed the grass. It hasn't been planted yet but hope to get that done before rain later in the week. I did notice Delbert and Lorri Johnson had their garden tilled two weeks ago, and planted too, I am sure. I don't think many have planted early gardens this year because of the unually cool weather, but I think it is time now.

Connie Haes wants me to remind everyone that Caney-Roberts Cemetery Decoration is Sunday May 6th with a dinner and business meeting at noon.

Please keep Clessie Hurst in your prayers. Hospice has been called in for Clessie and her children, Billy Joe and Jan have been staying with her also. Clessie and Bob's mom are first cousins, although my kids always called Bill and her Uncle Bill and Aunt Clessie.

Bob and I were blessed to attend worship at Mt. Tabor General Baptist Church Sunday morning, along with Jason and Alicia Crouch, where our grandson and their son, Hayden was bringing the message. It was the first time I had ever been to Mt. Tabor. It is a nice little church with some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. We went to church at New Mansion on Sunday night and heard our assistant pastor, Corby Lux bring another good message. We are blessed with good churches in our area and I know everyone is welcome at any of them.

Bradleyville's senior and eighth grade graduation will be Saturday, May 12^th. Please call the school for exact time.

While I was over at the Getaway Gift Shop last Friday, I started to leave and there was Dot Combs, former owner of the shop, sitting in her car talking to Sherry Guerin. I was very happy to see Dot and get to talk to her a minute, and she is looking very well.

If you have any news please get in touch with me. Be blessed.