The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to ever one in western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.
Thank you everone that gave positive comments on "Grandma and Grandpa's wisdom" in last week's column and also the previous week's column on "the Old Geezers" as well as "The World Needs". Your thoughts were very kind and encourage'n.
Crops
It's been kinda wet around these parts fer folks ta finish up on their soybean plant'n. If'n it dries out this week, I reckon most fellers will get aggressive to finish it up.
Most of the newly planted corn is up and grow'n well. The weather has been good fer the start of a satisfactory crop. Mid summer rains and heat, however, will be the final determinate as to how full our bins will be, come fall, and how long we will need to operate them grain driers.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a come'n up this weekend and I reckon most folk have some sort of plans to commemorate the event. I notice a good many grave sites at a number of different cemeteries are already be'n decorated. It has been said a feller can tell a great deal about folks in any particular culture by the way and manner they respect the deceased.
Fish'n
In case you were wonder'n with heavy thoughts on your mind, my calendar indicates the best fish'n days, fer May, to be the 14th through the 20th. After that it is predicted to be "better" and "good" as compared ta the earlier part of the month. The first three days of June are predicted to be the best once again.
So get out your cane poles, dig up some dew worms, and take some young folk fish'n. It's a good way to build long last'n memories.
Be'n A Kids Hero
When memories are mentioned what comes to mind is "How to be a hero fer todays kids" as told by Marty Wilkins, father of three, high school teacher, and coach:
...play catch, enjoy tea parties, or wrestle because the heart of a child is there and they set out to capture it.
...laugh till their belly hurts and tears fall from their eyes while secretly creating deep friendships and memories that last a lifetime.
...make mistakes but consider them to be wonderful opportunities to learn.
...place an out-of-tune preschool concert or a ten-year-old's baseball game on life's agenda because they are of infinite worth to those playing.
...love at all times, because love is a gift freely given and not a reward for service well done.
...listen eye to eye and with both ears even if it means getting on one knee.
...admit when they are wrong and work to make things right.
...hear about those in need and say, "Let's do something to help right now!" and set off an uncontrollable wildfire of generosity and kindness.
...give the credit to others and empower those they touch to succeed in all that they do.
...model love as action, commitment, and truth even when it hurts because they believe God can work miracles in even the hardest heart.
...love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind and know that the rest is just details.
50 Ways
Speak'n of love, Dr. Steve Stephens lists "fifty (50) ways to love your children" in "Stories For The Families Heart." See what ya thinks of em:
1. Hug every morning
2. Go to zoos, parades, and amusement parks
3. Hang their art and awards on the refrigerator
4. Create family traditions
5. Be patient
6. Apologize when grumpy
7. Go camping
8. Play tic-tac-toe and hide-and-seek
9. Always carry Band-Aids and gumdrops
10. Know their strengths
11. Compliment them
12. Encourage them
13. Appreciate them
14. Eat meals together
15. Slow down
16. Respect their privacy
17. Listen
18. Don't discipline in anger
19. Be consistent
20. Say "I love you" frequently
21. Let them be silly
22. Accept imperfections
23. Reward good behavior
24. Explain the rules clearly
25. Laugh often
26. Go to their favorite restaurant
27. Invite their friends over
28. Buy ice cream cones
29. Go on vacations
30. Know when to be gently and when to be firm
31. Make birthdays unforgettable
32. Teach responsibility and respect.
33. Choose your battles
34. Don't embarrass them
35. Help with schoolwork
36. Protect them
37. Build memories
38. Keep promises
39. Say "no" when needed
40. Don't yell
41. Give gifts
42. Model virtues
43. Pray with them
44. Pray for them
45. Talk with their teachers
46. Tell them you're proud of them
47. Reach out
48. Count stars together
49. Talk every bedtime
50. Let go with a blessing
Lunch
With those serious notes I'm a gonna end this week's column with a little humor. It has been called "The very first ever dumb blonde guy joke...and well worth he wait!
An Irishman, a Mexican and a Blonde guy were doing construction work on scaffolding on the 20th floor of a building.
They were eating lunch and the Irishman said, "Corned beef and cabbage! If I get corned beef and cabbage one more time for lunch, I'm going to jump off this building."
The Mexican opened his lunch box and exclaimed, "Burritos again! If I get Burritos one more time I'm going to jump off, too."
The blonde opened his lunch and said, "Bologna again! If I get a bologna sandwich one more time, I'm jumping too."
The next day, the Irishman opened his lunch box, saw corned beef and cabbage, and jumped to his death.
The Mexican opened his lunch, saw a Burrito, and jumped, too.
The blonde guy opened his lunch, saw the bologna and jumped to his death as well.
At the funeral, the Irishman's wife was weeping. She said, "If I'd known how really tired he was of corned beef and cabbage, I never would have given it to him again!"
The Mexican's wife also wept and said, "I could have given him tacos or enchiladas! I didn't realize he hated Burritos so much."
(Oh this is GOOD!!)?
Everyone turned and stared at the blonde's wife. The blonde's wife said, "Don't look at me. He makes his own lunch."
So there ya has it then, one on the men folks.
I apologize up front to Dessa fer I knows how badly she likes blonde jokes. This column demonstrates no partiality?!?!
Hope'n to see ya all in church this Memorial Day weekend.
Where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!'
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke