Hard to believe that August is half gone. These mornings and evenings are cool now which gives a hint of an early autumn. I even saw Halloween stuff out in the stores.
Speaking of August, happy birthday to Mary Colwell, Ethan Absher, Erin Colwell, Heather Theriaque, Susan Cripps, Paulette Hendrixson McDonald, Denton Colwell, Lowell Robinson, Jack Loeb,Jeanine Cantrell, Gentry Harpole, Shea Colwell, Richard Judkins,Kathy Hendrixson, Holly Forkner, Kelly  Little, Betty Bailiff, Sarah Brown, Russell Ambrose, Emme Colwell, Gianna Owens, Dakota Waggoner, Linda Judkins, Hoyte Odom, Eric Pettis, Charmaine Mitchell, Margie Smith at the Webb House and my aunt Helen Trusty.
Get-well wishes to John Cain, Juanita Casey, Eddie Sutton and Caroline Caplinger.
Sympathy and love to the families of Jennifer Parsley Clark and Eddie Green. Wayne Hubbs left Sunday to attend the funeral of his favorite uncle, Duell Eads in Ohio. Meanwhile, Ann Morse and Bob attended the memorial service of her mother in Ilinois last weekend.
 A friend of the past surfaced last week when I received a letter from Helen Orrand who was a former resident here. She and her husband, Ray, were friends of my parents. She was inquiring about some of her friends still living here. She still receives the Smithville Review, by the way, and keeps in touch.
The Senior Citizens have a nice, big trip to San Antonio this fall. Call Wanda Poss, if interested.
 My husband and I took a small group out there several years ago. We stayed near the Riverwalk which was near the Mexican market. We enjoyed seeing and hearing the history of the Alamo.
Sam Houston, a Tennessean, was involved in the battle there. It's a delightful trip so go if you've  never been there. Get on board!
Again, the DCHS class of '54 will hold their reunion on Sept. 15 at the Methodist CFC Bldg.
It's a luncheon and classmates will gather at 11 a.m. to renew old friendships. Bill Hendrixson of Crossville, president, Sherry Bush, Fay Nixon, Roscoe Foster, Joyce Mullinax and I have gathered to do some planning toward this date.
The pre-school Staff at First Methodist gathered last Sunday morning during their worship service for a commitment service for the new school year. There are still some vacancies.
The staff includes Emily Bass, Director Jennifer Braswell, Ashley Redmon, Sharon Bell, Jennifer Chapman, Jane Groom, Joy Troncoso, Betty Hickey and Miranda Waggoner.
Then the second portion of the worship service was a dedication service honoring the new Youth Director Jenn Parrish. Former youth counselors and the youth gathered around Jenn as Dr. Carpenter led the dedication service.
By the way, I gave the wrong date for the first day at Headstart. The staff is in training this week and the children will gather on Aug. 27.  Congratulations to the new Center Director Cathy Lester, who has been involved in this program for 17 years. Last year's children will miss Mrs. Cheryl Owen, former director, who greeted these children every morning with a big smile and hug. Our best wishes to her in her retirement.
In closing, good advice I read somewhere. "Live simply, hug generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our God who loves us."  Amen.