Gleanings from DeSoto

      We had our DeSoto Lutheran WELCA on Thursday afternoon, when Pastor Libby installed the WELCA officers for 2005.
      Our officers are; Jean Giese, President; Sonya Bohland, Vice President; Esther Stokke, Secretary; Joan Nasseth, Treasurer; Janet Mueller, Mission growth; Eloda Bohland, Mission action; and Publicity coordinator, Sheila Rodriguez.
      My deepest sympathy to Bernilda McDowell and her children and their families on the death of her husband, Elmer McDowell, earlier this week.
      In a couple of days February will be upon us, and things must march on. Of importance is the blood drive sponsored by the DeSoto Area Student Activities council.
      There is something new for people who are not able to stay in their own homes anymore. They are talking about "cruise ship care" where you can have living quarters on a cruise ship for about $3000 per month for a stateroom, but they would have walk in showers, housekeeping services around the clock, medical care. They also would have casinos and ports of call that will interest grandkids to visit them. There is also a new invention called "pull aid" which prompts the users when it is time for their medications.
      An 80 year old man was very lonely and put himself up for adoption. Surprisingly, he received many offers. He chose to live with a family of four. Things are going well and he has established himself as "granddad" with the family. That is a good idea as we who have lived with our grandparents found it to be very nice. We, youngsters, kept grandpa and grandma entertained and in the meantime, our parents had a "built in" babysitters.
      Sugar Creek Bible Camp is sponsoring a "Winter Fun Day" on February 20th.
      Some of our high school students are eligible for special awards; Ashily Main, a senior is the recipient of the Women's Sports Advocates of Wisconsin award of Excellence. On February 5th, she will be attending the Wisconsin Sport Advocates banquet in Milwaukee, where she will be honored as one of Wisconsin's finest high school athletes. She has been chosen as a four letter winner in basketball, volleyball, and softball. She has numerous awards in other school activities as well, and does a lot of volunteering.
      We want to congratulate two Seniors of DeSoto High School, who are now attending Luther College. They received letters in football.They are Jeff Clements and Brad Paulsrud.
      Helen Stearns, a former resident of the area, turned 94 on January 27th. She was honored with cake and ice cream, prepared by her daughter and husband. Janet and Larry Bolster's family at the Stoddard meal site, Valley View Senior Center.
      The DeSoto/Freeman Lutheran Churches and many other churches around the world have participated in "Souper Bowl" Sunday. They had soup pots in which you put extra offerings.
      Through the month of February, there will be "Soup in a Jar" for sale and this will help high school students go on a mission trip to Chicago.
      This Wednesday night, Lenten services will begin. During the month the WELCA circles will be serving soup at 6:00 before each service. The Freeman Lutheran Church will have their Wednesday night worship all during March, and Maundy Thursday that month. Good Friday services will be held at DeSoto on Friday evening. The "Soup in a Jar" will also be sold on February 13, 20, & 27.
      The Retreat United Methodist Church is having their annual soup and salad luncheon on February 12, 2005 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, they will also have desserts.
      Last night, CBS carried a movie: "On Ordinary Days". It was such an excellent movie. I wish Hallmark would have movies every week, so we can enjoy something that doesn't contain violence, police, or is sexually oriented. But it seems as though we have to wait several weeks for the next Hallmark movie.
      The DeSoto Lions will be having a Chicken Q on Sunday, February 13th at the DeSoto Community Center.