A few weeks ago, my parents and I travelled to a small town in central Iowa to watch my nephew Timothy’s final football game as a high school student. It was the coldest night we have experienced so far this fall, and a few snowflakes were flittering in the air.
We huddled under blankets, encased in our winter coats and armed with hand warmers tucked inside our mittens. I was pretty toasty sitting in front of my parents and sister, protected from the wind that blew on their backs. My feet, however, were not warm. I had worn my winter shoes, but my socks were thinner than I usually wear and my toes quickly started to ache with the cold.
We stuck it out, however, and I was so proud of my nephew who had several solo tackles and aggressively blocked from his position on the defensive line. His team did not win the playoff game, but I was so glad to be able to see him play one more time before he graduates.
My nephew Taylor, a sophomore, dresses for the varsity game, but did not play in this particular game. I look forward to catching a few of his games in the coming years as well.
Winter brings the wrestling season for my nephews and my niece, Tori, is out for basketball. I’ll have to check their meets and games and compare them to my schedule to see when I can catch them in action again.
Upcoming holidays
With the arrival of November, it seems the stores are already teasing us with holiday specials, but I’m not quite in the mood to shop yet.
However, I am getting in the mood to do some holiday baking. Part of this is due to a good friend taking up a baking challenge where she bakes something delicious every week, but it is also due to the fact that I love to make goodies and share them with friends and family.
I wandered into my kitchen last weekend to take inventory of my baking supplies and made a shopping list. I started cleaning my kitchen so I could get more organized before I began choosing recipes that I wanted to try this year.
Unfortunately, I did not make much progress as I soon lost my motivation and got lost inside the cookbooks I started perusing as I added things to my shopping list. I really do enjoy reading cookbooks and comparing recipes, but I need to commit to getting my kitchen ready so I can actually accomplish a few batches of cookies before the holidays arrive.
Books and more books!
I recently had the pleasure of taking photos at an event in Spring Grove that promoted early literacy, encouraging parents to read aloud to their children. The event was hosted by the Spring Grove ECFE and Houston County Public Health. There were crafts, games and story time. Thanks to a grant from the Houston County Collaborative, every child attending the event was able to take home his or her very own book. Parents were given information as to the benefits of reading to young children, including instilling a love of books at an early age, improving vocabulary and writing skills as well as creativity and critical thinking.
I recall days long ago when my own mother would read aloud to my sister and me, huddled together on a bed or a couch. I don’t remember exact stories, but I do remember a few coming from the classic Readers Digest condensed books that we received in the mail every now and then.
Not having children of my own, I always cherished the opportunities when I could read aloud to my nieces or nephews, sharing a good story with them. I was easily persuaded to “read just one more” at bedtime and I remember Joshua “tattling on me” to his dad, revealing we had been up much later than we should have reading books. Thankfully, it wasn’t a school night so I was quickly forgiven.
I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. I always carry a book with me “just in case” I have a spare minute or have to wait for someone or something. I have traveled to different states and countries through a good story and have learned about history and issues through novels and nonfiction selections.
I can only hope that the children of today can appreciate a good story, read aloud by their parents or enjoyed on their own as they grow.
Speaking of books, I just received word from librarian Rhonda Barnes that LeRoy has announced its “All-Town Read” selection for this winter. The book will be “Rush Home Road” by Lori Lansens. Reading is currently underway and the finale will be held on Monday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. in the LeRoy Public Library’s Palmer Room. A book discussion will be held and refreshments will be served. Please call the LeRoy Public Library at (507) 324-5641 for book reservations. While I have yet to join in the discussions for this “All-Town Read,” I have read each one and they pick great books each year. I look forward to “checking this one out” as well.
Thank you, veterans
Finally, I’d like to close with a simple thank you to those who have served or are serving our country. A reader in Spring Grove shared a piece from the Wounded Warrior Project that I, in turn, would like to share with you. It’s a list of good ideas of how to honor a veteran.
1. Attend a local Veterans Day parade or program.
2. Host a Wounded Warrior Project Proud Supporter Event.
3. Share the story of a local veteran on social media or in the newspaper.
4. Fly the American flag, especially on patriotic holidays, to honor those who fought for our freedom.
5. Organize a Veterans Day event.
6. Visit a wounded veteran at a hospital or in a nursing home.
7. Deliver a meal or care package to a veterans home.
8. Volunteer your service with Wounded Warrior Project.
9. Share a social post using a Wounded Warrior Project hashtag.
10. Never forget what our brave heroes sacrificed for us – honor them all year round because the greatest casualty is being forgotten.
I also think it is important to say thank you to those who have served at every chance we have. It is a simple, but important thing to do.
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