Merits from Mothers Endure a Lifetime
Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Mother’s Day brings a pang to my heart, as the writer’s mother and mother-in-law have gone from this life. A good mother is a precious gift. When one is a small child, she is the comforter and nurturer whom one needs. As one grows older, she fills the roles of nurse when one is sick or hurt, a disciplinarian, correcting one’s behavior and sometimes meting out punishment. She is a counselor, and one’s comforter when one suffers a broken heart. She cooks nutritious meals, launders clothing and makes the home a pleasant place to be.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the writer’s readers.
The following poem is penned by an unknown author:
Mother
My Mother kept a garden,
A garden of the heart.
She planted all the good things
That gave my life its start.
She turned me to the sunshine
And encouraged me to dream.
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rain came,
She protected me enough.
But not too much because she knew
I’d need to stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example
Always taught me right from wrong.
Markers for my pathway
That will last a lifetime long.
I am my Mother’s garden.
I am her legacy.
And I hope today she feels the love
Reflected back from me.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- Return shopping carts.
- Learn to say “No.”
- Encourage others.
- Never drink and drive.
- Seek out positive people.
The pause of warm temperatures allowed for showers to refresh the soul. The countryside is sweet and has a verdant variety of greens adorning the hills and mountainsides. Even the welcoming “Happy Smiley Face” has had a shave and a haircut. Those fabulous volunteers who continue to pick up along the roadsides, have picked up 90+ (and on-going) bags of trash in the Sugar Grove district. No wonder the countryside seems to be rejoicing with this Earth Day continuation, which makes this community a better place in which to live. Temperatures are forecasted to be that of being warm to hot. Homeowners will be planting flowers to add to the beauty of the area.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“Every time you get upset at something, ask yourself if you were to die tomorrow, was it worth wasting your time being angry.” — Robert Tew
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” — Mark Twain
“I had only one superstition. I made sure to touch all the bases when I hit a home run.” — Babe Ruth
“Take your kids to a farm so they don’t think food comes from a box.” — Willie Nelson
“Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important.” — T.S. Eliot
“The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret to tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.” — Maximilien Robespierre
Sitting on the porch is the best place to hear the “Talk of The Grove.”
Carl Larry of Virginia Beach, Virginia, spent the weekend with Wesley and Becky Puffenbarger and family.
Phil Downs enjoyed attending the South Fork Fireman’s and Auxiliary banquet last Saturday. The volunteers do an outstanding job.
Sunday evening found Brenda Fisher and Willard and Judy Rader enjoying the McDowell Mennonite Church’s gospel music.
Nashland and the neighborhood are rejoicing over Helen Nash’s return home. She had been in the hospital, followed with a few weeks of therapy at Pendleton Manor, and now she is free.
Mark the calendars for 2 p.m. May 26 in Sugar Grove. The occasion is the Pendleton County’s Historical Society’s presentation of “Our Five Boys.” Brenna Mitchell will be presenting the program.
The wild phlox is preparing to put on their beauty pageant along the banks of the South Fork. The variety of lavender colors will be a stark contrast against the variety of green shades of the wooded hillsides.
Remember to vote this coming Tuesday. There is no room for complaints if one doesn’t vote!
May birthdays include the following: Norma Cunningham and Logan Godfrey, 17th; Sharon Jamison and Andrea Williams, 18th; Nancy Pultz, 19th; Bobby Kimble and Charlie Burgoyne, 20th; Cynthia Hurry, 24th; Alma Mallow, 25th; Skyler Grogg and Bruce Hoover, 26th; Dani Ruth Hoover, 28th; Kayla Woolcott, 30th; and Marvin Hartman, 31st.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Cats have four rows of whiskers.
- Every dog has a unique nose print with no two alike.
- Between 1788 and 1856, 157,000 convicts were sent to Australia. This is only one-third of the total sent to the United States.
- The world’s first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in the United Kingdom in 1840.
- That tiny front pocket in a person’s jeans is meant to hold a pocket watch.
Concerns for this week are as follows: Bob Adamson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, “Bo” Boggs, the Sheldon Bowers family, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Christian Dasher, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Grace Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Tim Hively, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adelbert Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Ginger Knight, Tracie Knight, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Wanda Pitsenbarger, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Stanley Propst, the Clem Rader family, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, the Richard Ruddle, Sr., family, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Phyllis Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Stanna Smith, Tina Stuben, Elizabeth Terry, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Raymond Varner, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Rene White, Judy Williams, Ann and Jerry Wimer and Margaret Wimer.
