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!