Ci et Ca Avec Belle

WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME...
(WE HOPE)........
January was definitely a cold, wet and miserable one. Now we have February to contend with. Many believe that this month will be the worst of our winter season. Hopefully this will not be true for this February. However, spring is on it’s way in a few weeks, so we look forward to warmer weather. We will see for certain as the days roll by. Please hurry up spring!

EXCITING MONTH....
….......February may be a short month in the number of days, but it is an exciting one with many things happening. We all watched with anticipation as the Groundhog made his annual prediction for more winter or spring. His forecast has not been reliable many years, so we will just wait and see what “mother nature” has planned for us.
….......Lovers are getting ready for a wonderful Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14th, a time to remind our dear ones of our love and appreciation for one another. It is the most romantic day of the year, and we hope that you husbands are planning some happy surprises for your sweet loved wife. As a woman, it is important that on that day of the year that you remind each other of the love and appreciation that you felt before you got married and hopefully continues even stronger today. It is a day for lovers. Hope you remember this or maybe be prepared to spend a few nights on the couch!
….......The President’s Day holiday, Feb.16, will provide a three day break for many as the birthdays of President Lincoln and Washington are remembered and honored. If you have the good fortune to work where this occasion is celebrated, then we hope that it will be a great mini-vacation for you and your loved ones. Have fun, but also remember the many things that these great men did for our country. One, Washington, who has been called the “Father of our Country” having fought for our independence and then elected as the first President of our new nation. Lincoln, had the misfortune being president during the most turbulent time for our country when the north and south fought each other in the war between the states, or the Civil War! It was a terrible time when family fought family depending on where they resided and ended with hardship, loss, and trying to recover after the residents of the south were faced with trying to rebuild their lives after the devesated losses they suffered. A very different outcome might have occurred if Lincoln had not been killed during his term in office. However, the end of the war did not erase the feeling of the survivers, both north and south.
….......The seventeenth is a fun day for most – the long awaited Mardi Gras celebration marking the end of the fun filled Mardi Gras season with its many balls, parties, parades and other exciting events.
This is a happy time whether watching the activities on television or attending and joining in with the many local celebrations in the area. Everyone of all ages, will have a great time until the clock reaches 12 o’clock midnight, when the Holy Lenten season begins with the solemm Ash Wednesday mass at the churches in the area. It begins a time of reflection, sacrifice, and a remembrance of the reasons for this holiest of holy seasons!
….......There is an important date this month that is unknown to most except those of us who lived through World War II. February 23, marks the anniversary of the raising of our great flag on Iwo Jima.
This battle was one of the bloodiest of the battles in the South Pacific which resulted in the loss of the lives of so many of our brave servicemen. However, it was a “had to win” battle on the road to victory over Japan. The enemy was entrenched into the rocky mountains and caves and our brave warriors had to advance inch by inch! The loss on both sides was tremendous and it looked as though our brave men could not be victorious. That is until some of our brave men advanced to the top of the highest point on the mountain and raised the tattered American flag. This event changed the course of those battles and gave our soldiers encouragement needed to fight even harder since victory could be theirs...and it was!!
The replica of the flag raising is an inspiring statue in Washington, D.C. Where visitors and veterans go and pay tribute to that occasion which was an indication of the fighting spirit of America and the drive to fight for freedom regardless of the cost. We honor all who fought and died in that terrible battle, and remember them with pride.
(Note: some of our precious Rayne young men were killed and/or wounded in the battle for Iwo Jima.)

GOOD HAPPENINGS...........
….......We were happy to receive a phone call from our oldest friend recently. Pat B. Hoffpauir is a resident at the Rayne Guest Home and has been having some serious health issues. We are not able to visit her in person since we cannot make it there due to our health issues that prevent us from doing so. Pat is eleven days younger than us, and she never lets us forget that we are her OLDEST friend.
She has been a wonderful friend to us through the years and we appreciate her, her assistance in many things, and most of all her wonderful sense of humor that make her special to all who know her.
Pat, we hope you will listen to this older and wiser person when we tell you that we love you. Please take care of yourself and stay in touch. Love and blessing always to you.
If any of you are at the Guest Home at any time just stop a minute and tell Pat hello...we would appreciate you representing us with a short visit. Thanks...it will make you day for sure!
….......We are enjoying traveling with our son, Bo King, as he is on a retired peer consulting assignment in Singapore. It is a two month tenure and his dear wife, Debbie, is planning on meeting him on his last month there. Deb is recovering from surgery on neck and is waiting for the doctor to release her so that she and Bo can do what they do so well...Having wonderful adventures together.
….......The past year had only eight named hurricanes, but none in the Gulf! That was a blessing since the National Weather Service had predicted an above average year in the number of named storms for this past year. We pray that 2015 will be another year that will not have any named storms heading our way!
….......The recent mattress sale at Rayne High School appeared to be very successful. There were many individuals taking advantage of seeing and trying out a variety of mattresses for sale.
It was a simple way to purchase one without having to go out of town and best of all, the sale benefited the Rayne High Girls’ Volleyball and Softball teams. This is the fifth year for this program which is highly successful and well supported by the community.
….......Our city became a happy meeting place for royalty, movie stars, mobsters and the rich and famous as they were here to celebrate a Night at the Oscars. A great Mardi Gras ball in our wonderful Cajun country. This was the 4th Annual Rayne Chamber of Commerce Grande Court Mardi Gras ball.
The ball overall chairperson was Jessica Houston. This year’s king and queen were Grande Court King IV John Jude Beslin and Grande Court Queen IV Claire Cramer Benoit.
It was a great evening with the members of the Court wearing great creative costumes to represent their characters. We loved them all, but especially loved the God Father, Marlon Brando, AKA Ray Lanthier. He really became the role as he was in costume complete with big cigar and a machine gun. We loved the cake on his table which was a chocolate horse’s head complete with “blood” looking like the one found under a bed pillow in the movie. All of the court had perfect outfits to highlight their designated celebrity. It was a great job by all and we say “congratulations” to all who worked hard to make this Mardi Gras Ball a huge success. It was a super night for the court, the guests and everyone in attendance. If you missed it this year, we hope that you will plan to attend next year. You won’t be disappointed.
….......We appreciated a lovely card and message from a log-time childhood friend that we miss. Margo Daboval Goertz is a member of one of the oldest families in Rayne, the Daboval family. Margo has many friends here and she was an important part of the community for years.
She reports that she is doing well, but misses her friends and her loved family home. However, she is happy living in Houston near her sweet daughters who reside close and enjoy visiting and being together. This, we know, is a blessing for them all.
Thanks Margo for the beautiful card and your thoughtful comments. Whenever you can head back this way, we would love a visit and relive memories of our past years growing up here in Rayne. We love you, miss you, but are happy that you are happy.
….......Another card that we received during the holidays was from a very long time friend who always sends us the first card of the season. We love hearing from her and keeping up with her and her dear family. Carita Martin McClatchey, resides in Marshall, TX, but still has family in the area and keeps up with friends in her hometown of Rayne also. Her card is always welcomed and upbeat, and we are sorry to learn that Mac is having some serious health issues. But, the positive Carita comes through in the message. This young lady was our brother, Dickie Boy’s girlfriend when they were about 4 or 5 years of age. That is another reason that we love Carita because she was so special to our little brother that we lost when he was only 8 years old. Ketsie, we will be keeping you and Mac in our prayers, and know that you will always have a special place in our heart! Love and blessings to you both!
….......We were also pleased to receive our annual Christmas message from Lou Butaud and his wife, Carol. Lou is originally from Rayne and his family was active in our town through the years. Lou resides in Boerne, TX and enjoys that beautiful part of Texas. We loved the Christmas pictures and especially the more formal one with Carol and distinguished Lou wearing his military uniform. Lou reports that his formal uniform was new since there was “not enough duct tape and bungie cords” to get him back into the one that he retired in”.
They have enjoyed traveling and having reunions with their children and families. We always look forward to their adventures which included visiting us in New Mexico several times. We are happy for their happiness together and pray that it will continue for years to come. Thanks for the message and Christmas pictures. We appreciate them and we appreciate your friendship.
….......We did not see official information, however, we heard from many sources that our dear and talented Jan Lewis had passed away. We understand that a memorial service was held for her recently in Rayne, but do not have any details. Jan contributed much to our community through her generous and artistic talent for many years. She created the adorable frog, Monseiur Jacques, that became the Tribune’s symbol for the Frog city. He graces the front page of the paper each week on top of the front page. This sassy frog became the Ambassador for the Frog Capital of the World. Elegantly dressed in his top hat, cane and dressed in his formal tux as he struts his stuff with a high stepping action.
Jan was generous with her talent through the years and provided art and designs for the St. Joseph Catholic church, for the school, for St. Joseph Altar, for Farmer’s Mass, and in many more events where her works of art were and are appreciated. Her black and white drawings of the local church were used on the bulletins and stationary. Jan was loved and admired by all in Rayne; however, her beautiful art work will continue to grace our world. God bless you Jan for all that you did for so many.
….......We want to acknowledge our appreciation to two fine members of the City of Rayne Police Force for officially coming to inform us of the passing of our husband and to be with us until others could come and stay with us during this difficult time. Wa Credeur and Matthew Scott were so kind and compassionate and provided the support we needed at that time. We know this was not a pleasant duty for them to have to do, however, they did more than ever expected in helping us. We thank you so much and we will be grateful and remember you and your kindness. Thanks to you both!

IN CLOSING.....
We appreciate all of you dear friends and readers for you recent messages, cards, emails, phone calls and memorial gifts. We are certainly grateful for those words and deeds that definitely helped to heal. They certainly got us through a difficult time!
We are surrounded by happy memories of the past 18 years with our husband, and with your support, we are truly blessed. Thanks to each of you and we pray that God will smile down and bless you for your wonderful compassion for us and others in need. Thank you with all our heart!

Until next time.........................Adios,
Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen