This past week we had a taste of spring. Do you suppose she is playing peek-a-boo with us? I always think of spring as a little girl with ribbons in her hair, peeking around the corner to see if it was time for her to come! And perhaps wondering what mischief she was going to get into. After all of our warm weather we had last week, the snow really melted, leaving little puddles in strange places. The ditches were filled with water as were all of the little creeks that had been dry for so long. And don’t forget about the mud puddles! All of these things should certainly tempt spring into arriving. With all of the strong winds we have been having we couldn’t have heard the "Rustle of Spring" or seen the beauty of "Springtime in the Rockies" as the old songs used to serenade us with.However, after hearing that the Asian beetles are back by the shovelfuls in the East, I am not so sure I am as anxious for spring as I thought I was. We probably shouldn’t get too excited about spring anyway as Monday morning the snow was falling and more is predicted. Oh well, we can’t win them all!The Steen, Hills and Beaver Creek communities were saddened to hear of the death of a long-time resident and teacher, Avis Hazelton, on Feb. 26 at Tuff Home where she had been a resident for some time. Funeral services for her were Tuesday, March 2, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Our sympathy goes out to her many friends and family.Sunday dinner guests in the Orrin and Bernice Aukes home were Lisa Telford and daughter Taylor from Sioux Falls.Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be in charge of the evening service beginning at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 21, at Steen Reformed Church. They will share their experiences from the Guatemala mission trip last summer. The Praise Team for the Steen church will lead the music. A fellowship hour will follow. Everyone is welcome.Mildred Keunen and Joyce and Jo Aykens were Saturday afternoon supper guests at the Paul and Carole Aykens home in Orange City, Iowa, to help Joyce celebrate her birthday. Paul and Carole’s family were also home. They were Andrea Aykens and a friend, Natalie Brown, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, Vince and Lauri Kurtz and daughter, McKenzie, from Aplington, Iowa, and Susan Kurtz and daughter, Jadeyn, from Orange City. Mildred, Jo and Joyce returned home that evening. Rock County Townships had their annual meetings and election of officers on Tuesday, March 9. Those elected from Clinton Township were Lowell Bonnema, township clerk, and Henry Zwaan, supervisor. Continuing in office were Larry Bosch, treasurer, Lewis Loger and Steve Top, supervisors. Many relatives and friends of Henrietta Huenink helped her celebrate her birthday on Saturday. However, many came prior to the day. Delwyn Huenink, Worthington, also came to help her celebrate.The Northwestern College Band Concert will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at Steen Reformed Church. Everyone is welcome.The Inspiration Hills annual meeting and silent auction will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 25. If you have any questions call Diane Diekevers or Glenda Bonnema. Everyone is welcome. We will observe St. Patrick’s Day this week. When I was a child living on a farm, all of our neighbors were Irish. Consequently, St. Patrick’s Day was always observed. At that time, I really didn’t know a thing about him and to tell you the truth, I didn’t ever learn much about him. When I came upon the story of his life I decided to share it with you as I found it very interesting. March 17 is supposedly the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. It is the day on which the Irish commemorate their great national saint. For more than four centuries, this same spirit of reverence for his memory has survived in the heart of Irish men and women in every part of the world. The first mention of him was when, as a young lad, he was taking care of a flock of sheep near his home in England. It was here that a roving band of Irish raiders took him back to their country and sold him into slavery. The next legend said he was a tender of hogs. Later, he was put in charge of a herd of cattle and then given the care of a flock of sheep. While tending the sheep he was permitted to take the flocks over the hills and valleys and where he learned to play the flute.During the six years that Patrick was a slave he devoted many hours to prayer and became subject to religious visions and dreams, making his years of servitude less miserable. He escaped from his cruel master. When he reached the coast he boarded a vessel going to France.Once again he was to have the care of animals, only this time it was a cargo of vicious dogs. Possessing an unexplainable power over animals he had no trouble with the dogs. Patrick escaped once more from another crew.After a long and painful journey, he made his way back to the home of his youth. However, according to legend, he did not remain long because of the recurring dream that he should return to Ireland to look after the Lord’s sheep and convert them to Christianity. It is said there were no Christians in Ireland when St. Patrick started his work, and no pagans when he died.
