Would you believe that I couldn’t find one thing to complain about our weather this week? We have had some warm, even hot, days but by evening a cool breeze would blow up and we never knew from which direction it would come. However, it really didn’t matter to me, just so it cooled down enough so we could get a good nights rest. We certainly have not had to worry about our air conditioning so far, just open the windows and a cool breath of fresh air took care of the thermostat. I just hope it continues. I really don’t care how hot the days are, just so it cools down at night. It really surprises me that the temperatures cool down into the low 60s every night and I am not complaining one bit. It just leaves me utterly confused as I am definitely not ready for fall! In fact, I am still having a hard time realizing it is summer. I have so many things I had hoped to get accomplished this summer, but time waits for no one. I had just better get on the ball and hope to catch up. The Art and Henrietta Boeve family spent this past week vacationing at Clear Lake, Iowa. Those enjoying the week together were Gregg and Anita Bosch, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Chad, Sheri and Mickayla Bosch, Ryan Bosch and friend, Amy, all from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Glen, Ann and Tara Boeve and friend Deric, Little Rock, Iowa, Matt and friend Andrea, from South Dakota, and Gary, Michelle and Riley VanWyhe, Rock Rapids, Iowa. Aaron was unable to be with them as he was with the group that went on the mission trip to Guatemala. Needless to say, a good time was had by all!Congratulations to Lance Van Der Weerd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Van Der Weerd, who graduated from the Mayo School of Health Related Sciences, Friday, Aug. 8, with a degree in radiology technologist.Robert and Dorothy Mulder, Firth, Neb., were weekend guests in the Henrietta Huenink home. Dorothy was Preston’s sister. Bernice Aukes and some of her family spent the weekend camping at Beaver Creek Valley State Park near Caledonia. Those enjoying the weekend together were Bernice Aukes, Mary Crawford, Lisa and Taylor Telford, Sioux Falls, Steve and Nancy Willers, and Shilo, Fairmont, and Tim and Tess Lynn, Houston. They returned home on Sunday. There will be an open house in honor of Pete and Jane De Boer’s 50th wedding anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Fellowship Hall of Steen Reformed Church. Joyce and Jo Aykens were Saturday afternoon visitors in the home of Paul and Carole Aykens in Orange City, Iowa, to visit with their daughter, Andrea Aykens, Cedar Falls. Her sister, Susan Veldkamp and daughter from Orange City joined them for the afternoon. Melba Boeve spent the weekend in the home of her daughter, Carla and John Overlander at their lake cottage near New London. Sunday, Melba and her granddaughters, Krysta and Megan enjoyed a tour of the Clemmens Gardens at St. Cloud which were beautiful. En route home Melba visited with Jessie Boeve at Edgebrook Nursing Home in Edgerton. She also visited with Bill and Janet Blyenburg who also make their home in Edgerton. Steven Bosch, Minneapolis arrived on Monday at the home of his parents, Dries and Laura May Bosch, where he will spend several days. Laura May was hospitalized for an angiogram on Tuesday. She planned to return home on Wednesday. Good luck to her. Pastor Dan and Karen Ramaker returned home Sunday evening after spending about a week visiting Karen’s mother in Wisconsin. Steen Reformed Church had a special congregational meeting Monday evening for discussion and approval of the recommendation that the parking lot in front of the church be hard-surfaced. The recommendation passed 58 to 3 in favor of the project. Word was received here this morning that Evelyn Tilstra passed away Tuesday morning at Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family. Monday dinner guest in the Dries and Laura May Bosch home was their grandson, Eric Bosch, from Sioux Falls. Marlin and Linda Elbers, Kristi, Stacy, Jeremy and Sonya Elbers spent this past week vacationing in Branson, Mo. For many years we have been hearing that we are living in "one world." With our transportation systems making travel so easily available it definitely shortens the distance between all of our nations. Many of us have even visited several foreign countries. However, because they are so easily accessible it doesn’t mean that every country is alike. Each and every one have their own way of doing things, their own priorities, their own form of government and educational systems. Even though our transportation system allows us to visit these different countries we do not or cannot understand their way of life. However, we can still become good neighbors or as in Bible times they were called "Good Samaritans." We can try to understand their ways and help them to understand ours. The following suggestions for being a Good Neighbor (or a Good Samaritan) were written by William Arthur Ward and I think we could apply any and all of them right here in our own United States as well. It is titled, "I will be a Good Samaritan."I will be sensitive to the needs of my fellowman and look for ways to befriend him. I will be aware of man’s suffering, get involved in his struggle and comfort him in his sorrow.I will withhold judgment of my brother, and attempt to understand his thinking, his attitudes and his behavior. I will forgive those who have injured me. I will forgive, I will forgive even those who have hurt those I love. I will not close my eyes or pass on the other side whenever there is need of my service, my friendship or my presence. I will lift someone’s spirits by giving them much needed gifts of a word of hope and encouragement. I will remember to be grateful to those who have been Good Samaritans to me in the past, and who keep me from falling into the ditches of discouragement, depression and defeat.I will be a Good Samaritan for the inner joy of serving, and because helping others is what the Golden Rule is all about. I will realize that my neighbor is anyone — and that my brother is everyone. I will feel so much joy, experience, so much growth, and receive such a blessing as a Good Neighbor today that I will be a Good Neighbor again tomorrow."Perhaps we could try to follow these suggestions and I will bet every person in the world would be happy that you cared.
