It didn’t do us much good to think spring this weekend as Friday we received several inches of snow. I have heard anywhere from 6 to 12 inches and, of course, the wind had to blow. I think there was also some freezing drizzle mixed in as the roads were slippery as well as snow-packed which made travel very hazardous. In fact Interstate 90 was closed from Luverne to Blue Earth at one time. That doesn’t happen very often!By Sunday morning most of the highways were in good driving condition so everyone could get to their destinations. We should know if we are ever going to have bad weather it will be during the basketball tournaments. I have traveled in some very severe weather just to see my favorite team play in the tournaments. So the weatherman must keep his same schedules every year. Joan Hoogeveen, Lucy VanWyhe, Winnie Scholten, and Henrietta Huenink attended the Christian Women’s Club meeting at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids Wednesday afternoon. The theme was "Aprons" and many came wearing one. The speaker made it a very interesting afternoon. All moms of Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School students as well as ECFE families will host a Mom’s Night Out with Mom at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31. They will feature the movie, "Shark Tale." In addition to the movie popcorn and pop will be available. Have fun!Melba Boeve joined her sister, Wilda Pfeifer, Coffeen, Ill., for a 10-day vacation trip. They left on Saturday, March 5, for Sedona, Flagstaff and Sun City, Ariz. They returned home on Tuesday. March 15. Ann Tilstra underwent back surgery at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls on Tuesday.Don Schouwenburg will have heart bypass surgery on Thursday at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Dale Sandbulte family on the death of Jodi’s grandmother from Iowa who passed away on Tuesday evening. The Steen Reformed Church Women will host an Easter Brunch at 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 1. The offering will go for the Center of Hope. Joyce Aykens, Worthington, Mildred Keunen and Jo Aykens drove to Orange City, Iowa, on Monday to help Joyce celebrate her birthday which was that day. They enjoyed supper at the Pizza Ranch in Orange City. Paul and Carole Aykens, Andrea Aykens, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Susan and Jadeyn Veldkamp, Vince and Laurie Kurtz and McKenzie, joined them for supper. Happy birthday to Joyce!Easter arrives early this year. It falls on Sunday, March 27, when we have our Easter Sunday morning church services. Many churches and organizations have Easter sunrise services so thought you might enjoy knowing where that custom came from. Easter sunrise services are based upon an ancient tradition brought to the United States by Moravian settlers, with the first such ceremony conducted in 1741 near Bethlehem, Pa. Some early Christians believed the sun danced in the sky at daybreak on Easter morning. Sunrise services were often conducted on hilltops. Other awe-inspiring sites in this country where early morning Easter services are conducted include The Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs, Colo., and the Theater of the Red Rocks near Denver, the Hollywood Bowl in California and the Hawaiian Punch Bowl. Many of our churches today have sunrise services and I have attended many, but I never really understood how they came to be a part of our Easter worship. As we prepare for Easter we can appreciate many of our customs and where they came from. But let us not forget the real meaning of Easter is our risen Lord and Savior.
