EJ and ET's Blog

2009, FORGOTTEN HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING DAY

OL' E.T.Sez; In these changing times, let us be reminded of the beliefs held by our Founding Fathers, and remember them on Thanksgiving Day, 2009. PROCLAMATIONS OF THANKSGIVING by President Abraham Lincoln, 1863.  "It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.  We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world.  May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?  We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has grown.  But we have forgotten God.  We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.  Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. Quote, A.Lincoln, March 1863. It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice by the whole American Prople.  I do therefore invite my Fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. Quote, A.Lincoln October 1863      

Celebrating our 62nd year of marriage with family & friends around the world

OL' E.T.Sez; Let's talk turkey, gobble, gobble!! With Thanksgiving only two days away the question is, what have you to be thankful for? How about a song? "Thanks be to God for roses rare, for skies of blue and sunshine fair, for lovely night, for mystic fields with stars bedight, for love devine the hopes that round my heart entwine, for all the joy that now is mine". Or "Count your Blessings, name them one by one".  We are thankful for each new day and for the memories we have of times shared with each of you".  Maybe we should also call "Thanksgiving Day - Thanksliving Day".

OL' E.T.SE'Z: WERE BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

Where have the summer months gone?  We have been busy cleaning out accumulated files, looking for relationships that we may have missed in previous blogs. Also reviewing the eight family genealogy files that we are planning to post on a new web page for viewing by the hundreds of named persons who might like to know who their relatives are.

We have enjoyed the best gardening year ever with adequate rain fall, unseasonable low temperatures in July and a minimum of pests who usually like to eat before we do.  Fall corn & soybean harvest in now underway after a 1" snow & freeze last week with excellant yields being reported.

"Man is the only animal who blushes - or need to," wrote Mark Twain.  He could have added, "Man is the only animal that truly laughts, or needs to."  How solemn can God be if He endowed us with the priceless "Gift of Laughter"?  Keep smiling so others will wonder what you are "up to" and keep laughing until we blog something for you to laugh about.

Ol' E.T.Sez, Let's Laugh in May 2009

School is over, Oh, what fun! Lessons finished, Play begun.
Who'll run the fastest, You or I?
Who'll laugh the loudest? Let us try. Kate Greenaway, 1845-1901

Worry is like a rocking chair - gives you something to do,
But doesn't get you anywhere. #090515

WHY WORRY! There are only two things to worry about -
either you are well or you are sick.
If you are well, there is nothing to worry about.
But if you are sick, there are two things to worry about -
either you will get well or you will die.
If you get well there is nothing to worry about. 
If you die there are only two things to worry about -
either you will go to Heaven or Hell. 
If you go to Heaven there is nothing to worry about.
But if you go to Hell, you'll be so busy shaking hands with friends,
you won't have time to worry!  SO, WHY WORRY!

A LAUGH A DAY by: OL' E.T. SEZ

#090427 In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless person is a shame, two is a firm and three or more is a congress - John Adams

#090428 If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed. - Marl Twain

#090429 I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a person standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. - Winston Churchill

#090430 If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! - P.J.O'Rourke

BEGINNING; A LAUGH A DAY! by OL' E.T. SEZ:

"A GOOD LAUGH AND A LONG SLEEP ARE THE TWO BEST CURES" winks an Irish proverb. Laughter stimulates the circulation, tones the muscles, energizes the lungs and respiratory system, stimulates endorphins in the immune system, boosts the neurotransmitters needed for elertness and memory, increases motivation to learn and provides superb aerobic exercise.  Scientists continue to support what we've known to be true since biblical times: "A MERRY HEART DOETH GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE."
Laughter can be hazardous to your illness. Written by Richard Lederer, author and famed verbalist.
#1 Persons can hardly consider themselves a success now, unless they have to borrow money to pay taxes.

REPORTING FOR APRIL, MAY & JUNE, 2008

We have been busy editing the 2007 weekly blogs for publishing in a 100 page text and picture book.
"OUR HERITAGE STORY" will soon be posted on this site for you to read at your leisure.

MARCH 31, 2008

Finally a five Sunday winter month has ended with much ice and snow
for a total of 57 inches for the winter months. The ice caused much tree
damage in Indianola and other areas of southern Iowa. A yearly supply
of salt and sand mix used to keep highways open was completely used up
causing more accidents than usual. School closings exceeded the number
of days allowed resulting in longer hours or extended makeup days into June.

Eleanor's 84th birthday, February 19th and Gene's catching up with
her on March 28th were both celebrated with friends in The Village and
a combined dinner in Des Moines with Duane, Deanne & Pat and Tom
and phone calls from Scott & Pam and Taylor. E-mails and cards from
friends away were enjoyed as received.

We grew up without computers, radios, television, microwaves
and VCRs. In 1924 a loaf of bread cost 9 cents, a gallon of gas, 11 cents
and the Dow Jones average was $120.51!
As my Vinton Brenton Bank boss Paul Shain used to say on good days,
"It just doesn't get any better than this" and that's the way we have felt
about our Happy Birthday days this year.

We are looking forward during the week of April 17th to hosting
a couple from the Friendship Force family in Australia that we visited
in March 1984.

Love is like a garden. The seed of love is planted, but unless
someone tends it with tender, loving care, a strong plant cannot grow.

Words can build a relationship or destroy it. Let your words be
those that build honesty and love. Speak words of kindness and appreciation.

FEBRUARY 29, 2008

Thanks for an extra day in February this year and Happy Birthday to all you Leap-yearers.
INFORMATION ABOUT MY FAVORITE BROTHER MAX AVERY SMITH
beginning a new journey. He's still my Idol for more than 80 years of his full 89 years of exemplary living until we meet again.
THE WEATHER:
It's been a long cold winter with 50 inches of snow and several below zero mornings and Oh, that wind chill recording! Indianola Schools will need to make up at least 3 days in June. We missed going to church 2 Sunday mornings; one Sunday all services were cancelled for the first time in history. Since we're the last generation to remember 1934-36 winters, our succeeding generations can talk about the winter of 2008.
THE MOON:
On February 20th we did have a good view of the last total eclipse of the moon until December 20, 2010.
THE ECONOMY: Still waiting for indicators to decide where we are headed this year. The candidates wanting to become the next President of the U.S. seem to be able to collect milions of $'s to spend making promises for better days ahead. We can think of much better ways to use some of that money, can't you?
THE EJ and ET SMITH'S:
The "coughing" varity of head cold and flu caught up with both of us this month. We didn't accomplish much for 2 weeks and will try to avoid the other varities that apparently weren't covered by the preventive imminization. Easter comes early this year which gives us hope for an early spring and renewal in all things.
FOR ALL OUR FRIENDS, FAR AND NEAR:
I looked for my soul, but my soul I could not see.
I looked for my God, but my God eluded me;
I looked for a friend and then I found all three!
Thomas Blake

JANUARY 30, 2008

JANUARY 31, 2008

INFORMATION FOR ISU-YMCA ROBINS REGARDING DORIS REINHART PASSING
THE WEATHER:
A 25 year record amount of snow for parts of Iowa has been received.
Indianola area started the year with a 3 inch ice storm that did much damage to trees
and shrubs. 4 inches of snow cover has stayed on all month because of record below
zero temperatures. A January thaw appeared one of the last days of the month.

THE ECONOMY:
Record stock market declines for the first 10 market days of the year have signaled
a possible recession starting sometime during the year. The uncertainty of the national
election candidates and outcome has caused additional concerns.

THE EJ and ET SMITH'S:
We have been well and thankful for the strength and opportunity to help with
The Village programs that serve the needs of over 200 residents.
The 2007 Weekly Blogs will soon be published in book form for the benefit of our
3 grandchildren and hopefully future descendants.
Plans for A Cousin's Reunion with our family and about 15 cousins are in process
for May 16 - 18, 2008 at the Marriott Residence Inn Des Moines West at Jordan Creek
Town Center, West Des Moines, IA.
If you wonder what we do to keep busy besides reading books and napping, here are
some of the activities for January.
Gene: 1 hour men's breakfast and discussion group of 12, weekly at 7AM., Village
PC's(Personal Computer) 50 member group Chief Troubleshooter. Village
Men's Coffee 9AM, 1 hour weekly.
Both: Weekly Methodist Church Service at 8:30AM Sunday
" Village Wellness Exercise Program 1/2 hour 5 days weekly.
" Village Vespers 4:15PM Sunday & Bible Study 10:30AM Thursday.
Eleanor: Monthly P.E.O., Sarah Circle, Monday Club, Shakespeare Club, 2 Bridge
Clubs, Village Solarium & Landscape Committees and 4T's 10AM weekly
(Take Time To Talk)

AND FOR TOMORROW
Good morning - and a Good Day!
May all things happy come your way;
And may the light of this new dawn
Find all your cares and worries gone;
So much the simple words convey-
Good Morning - It's a lovely day!
Helen Marshall