Our weather has definitely cooled down. In fact, it even has a nip in the air that makes you wish for your jacket! The weatherman has definitely heard our plea for moisture. We have not received any large amounts but the showers are coming much more frequently. I haven’t had to water my flowers very often of late and they are really doing well! The lawns have turned green once more and we have them mowed and they look like an emerald garden once more. The weeds continue to thrive no matter what happens. A few farmers have been cutting silage but there has been very little fieldwork done other than that. With our cooler temperatures there is a nip in the air, which is our clue to get the plants in that you wish to keep and get at whatever else needs to be done before winter decides to make an appearance. I hope it isn’t an early one!Those coming from a distance for Elizabeth Elbers 95th birthday were Mr. and Mrs. Steven Dole, Gretchen Timmer, all from Denver, Colo., Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Withrow, Amarillo, Texas, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Timmer, Northfield, Neb. They are all nieces and nephews of Lizzie Elbers. Paul and Carole Aykens, Orange City, Iowa, Joyce Aykens, Worthington, and Jo Aykens, Steen, drove to Watertown, S.D., last Saturday where they visited the Redlin Art Gallery. En route home they stopped at Brookings, S.D., where they visited the Mc Crory Gardens before returning home. Kathleen Esselink entered Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls last Monday afternoon where she remains a patient at this time. Congratulations to Jennifer Sjaarda, daughter of Norman and Donna Sjaarda, and Josh Bornitz who were united in marriage Saturday, Sept. 20, at Steen Reformed Church. Those coming from a distance for the wedding were Jean Jansma, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Jansma, all from California, and The Rev. Howard and Linda Soehl, Howell, Mich.Mildred Paulson and Elzora Ott, Luverne, attended the South West District United Methodist Women annual meeting at Windom on Saturday. Sunday morning, Bernard Egersma, representing the Gideon Society, spoke at the Sunday morning service in Steen Reformed Church. A special offering was taken for their organization. Carol Zwaan and Melba Boeve went to Brandon on Saturday evening where they attended the presentation of "A Tribute to Hank Williams" at the Brandon Performing Arts Center. Others from this area who attended were Wilmer and Betty Elbers and Duane and Janice Klosterbuer. A 1 o’clock luncheon was Saturday at the Dries and Laura May Bosch home. Those attending were Paul and Diane Bosch, Brandon, Eric Bosch, Sioux Falls, and Heather Bosch and a friend from Omaha, Neb. Winnie Scholten, Henrietta Huenink and Joan Hoogeveen attended the Christian Women’s Society meeting at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids on Wednesday. The speaker was from Orange City and spoke on "Our Pumpkin Land."September visitors in the Florence Sandstede home were her son, Larry and his wife, Nancy Sandstede and family, Sherry and Tom, from San Diego, Calif. Arnold and Jane Bonnema moved from their home on the farm near Steen to The Oaks apartments in Luverne on Friday. They have lived there since the 1940s. We will miss them but wish them the best in their new location. Deric Ehde who attends college at Detroit Lakes Northwest Technical College, spent the weekend in the home of his parents, Rick and Lori Scholten. Perhaps many of us have not been concerned about our nation’s freedom and the protection of it. I have been very disgusted with some of the remarks that have caused me to think we do not appreciate what we have and how it is up to us to protect our freedom. I am going to share this article titled, "Citizenship Day" which was first granted on Sept. 17, 1787, and our responsibility to continue this freedom. I quote from the Sunshine magazine which, as far as I know, is no longer in circulation. "One hundred and eighty-five years ago, the Constitution of the United States was signed. The document, which guarantees each citizen priceless freedoms, represents the dreams and struggles of people all over the world during many centuries of recorded history. From those people who strived to teach America’s founding fathers, came the ideas of liberty and justice and human dignity. The dreams of long forgotten ancestors came true, at last in America and endowed us with a concept of government and a charter of liberty and courage for combining the wisdom of the ages. Former Pres. Lyndon Johnson in commenting on the Constitution, ‘It is still, he continued, ‘the protection from government — and by government. But liberty is a blessing that must be constantly nurtured.’This blessing, first granted on Sept. 17, 1787, can be taken away by those among us who are selfish or ignorant, by those who are too lazy to vote, by those who seem to prefer a socialistic or communistic form of government. Freedom-loving people everywhere must rededicate themselves, to the gift of liberty and to the Constitution of the United States, a symbol of man’s ability to govern himself within the laws adopted by his representatives to protect his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness."That is exactly the way I feel. It is our heritage and our responsibility to retain it for all future generations. We need a Citizenship Day!
