Ci et Ca Avec Belle

WE ARE # 1.....

According to a recent study by Harvard University and British researchers they have named the most Happiest State and Happiest Cities in the United States, and declared LOUISIANA to be the number 1...and has the five happiest cities in the nation.  No surprise, Lafayette is number one with Houma, Shreveport, Baton Rouge and Alexandria as the remaining top choices.  We could have saved them lots of time and money by just telling them which was the best!  Although it is nice that others see us the same way!  We are proud and happy that everyone in the nation will now know about the great things in our state. Hope they will come for a visit or come and stay!  

SCHOOL DAZE,

GOOD OLE GOLDEN RULE DAYS...

Where did the month of July go?  It seems the days just fly by and the months go even faster.  School just let out days ago, or so it seems, and now school is beginning again.  We think that probably the students are not too ready to go back, but know some of the parents are happy about the start of school again.  Most students are ready to go back.  For seniors, it will be their last year in high school with a new future ahead.  For the athletes, especially the football players, they are anxious to get the games underway with their eyes on a winning season.  For the students, many enjoy the new courses they will be taking this year and getting another year closer to being a senior! The teachers are ready to return to classes also and hoping that the year will be a good one for them and for their students. 

The most difficult part of returning to school is to get back into the routine of getting up early, going to class, having activities after school and of course, the dreaded homework.  And this was the feeling of the teachers, including us, when we taught.  The students also hate to give up their freedom of staying up late at night and sleeping late in the morning.  That is the best part of summer for most.  However,  after the first few days everyone gets back into the routine of school and begins to enjoy it again. 

We are hopeful that it will be a successful year for the faculties, the students and the parents.  We know that we will see many great things occurring during the year.  Good luck to you all!

OOPS.....SORRY.....

We have reconsidered our comments about the youth of today being uninformed on American History and love of country.  After looking at the last issues of the Tribune and seeing the many, many things our young people are doing, the honors that they have received, the variety of activities in which they are participating made us realize that this younger generation IS displaying the values of America and we are very proud of them.  It is a great reflection on their parents who encourage the youth to participate in these activities and to have pride in doing well and to love their country and its history.  So, we apologize to the youngsters and are very proud of them for their achievements.  These outstanding youngsters will be the leaders of our country in a few years and know that they will continue to encourage the values of America. 

With this being said, we still believe that there are too many young people who do not care for the history or presence of our leaders.  Their lives are filled with other values and things that they think are more important to them.  It is a challenge for all to help them become aware of the blessings of living in America and to be an example for their future families to do the same.  We wish them well on their search for happiness and knowledge. 

Our congratulations to the many young people being honored for many things they accomplished at school as well as the activities that they participated in during the past year!  We share the pride for you all with your parents, teachers, leaders and all who worked with you on these activities.  Great job and Keep up the great work! 

SAD LOSS.....

It was with a sad heart that we read of the passing of Tony Gwynn after a long battle with cancer.  Gwynn had a very successful career, a Baseball Hall of Famer, and an outstanding and loved player with the San Diego Padres team.  He had many, many great milestones in his career and continued playing with the Padres until he retired, however he still worked as a coach with his beloved team.  We admired him for his skill, but also for his working with other team mates and even with some of the opposing players, including Ted Williams.  His fans appreciated him and watched him achieve many of his honors in San Diego with the team he loved.  He never thought of leaving the Padres to play for any other team.  

We had an interest in him and watched him through the years.  We loved him as a player and a person.  We first saw him years ago in Houston when we went to a baseball game and sat in the stands close to where he was playing his fielder’s position.  We had our little grandson who was only about 4 or 5 at the time.  We were with his Mom and Dad, Debbie and Bo King and sister, Kerri,  and were enjoying watching Gwynn each inning making great catches and throws while he played his position.  Little Craig got really excited in one of the first innings and kept telling us something about the fielder (Gwynn).  We could not understand him at first, but finally we heard that he was telling us the player, Tony, had a TAIL.  We didn’t know what he meant until we looked closely and Tony had his batter’s glove hanging out of his back pocket and our little one thought it was a tail.  It was funny and all of the fans sitting near us laughed and enjoyed the moment also.  After that, we felt close to Gwynn even though we never talked to him.  However, we know that he would have enjoyed a good laugh about it.  After watching him through the years, we were proud of him and grew to appreciate his talents, his loyalty, and his generous and caring personality. We will keep his family, fans and friends in our prayers on the loss of this outstanding athlete and human being!  Rest in Peace Tony Gwynn! Your life is an example to many.

LET’S GO FROGGING....

There was an interesting article recently in the Morning Advocate with the above headline.  It was a story by Jonathan Oliver, special to the Advocate.  He wrote regarding the recreational opportunities for hunters as they search for this Louisiana delicacy.  He also provided information on the regulations as well as safety in frogging.    

It was an interesting article and provided locations for frogging and other important data for the frog hunters.  However, the hunters around here already know most of the things that Oliver included in the article.  Hope you hunters can catch many frogs and enjoy them in your favorite dishes. Have fun, but be safe in your night time “gigging”.

THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN.....

Football season is almost upon us.  The Canton Hall of Fame game will be held on August 3rd and will mark the beginning of the pro football season.  We love the games and hope that our beloved Saints will have a very successful year.  Be ready to cheer them on throughout the season. 

High School and college football games will also be underway and bring lots of pleasure to the fans and families.  Hope everyone will be ready to attend the games at Rayne High,  Notre Dame and Church Point varsity games as well as the Junior Varsity games.  We hope that our schools will have successful seasons with the support of the community backing in their quests for fun and wins. 

These students and coaches work really hard for the football season and we would like to acknowledge and thank them for their efforts.  Good luck to each of you for a great season! Hope everyone will support them in this new season. 

In addition to the high school games, our favorite college teams will be back on the field trying to achieve a winning record and other honors.  Naturally, being an L.S.U. graduate, that is my most favorite team, who will play their first home game on Sept. 6th against Sam Houston State.  It will be played in Tiger Stadium which, with a new end zone expansion, will hold 102,321 spectators.  This ranks 5th in the largest on-campus stadiums in the country. Michigan ranks first and Alabama is behind L.S.U. in 6th place.  

Also, our Rajun Cajuns, U.L.L. in Lafayette, are looking forward to another great season with their first home game being against Southern University.  They are also expanding and updating their stadium to hold more crowds that are following the Cajuns at every game. They are top ranked and are receiving attention from national, conference and sports newscasters and media networks. 

Regardless of which team you support, we hope that your favorite will have a successful season.(Unless you are a supporter of Alabama which is another story)  

Hopefully, this will be an exciting time for football fans everywhere!

ANOTHER STORY FROM OUR FAMILY.....

We enjoyed reading the latest feature from Sidney Stutes in the Tribune recently concerning the families and Devil’s Alley.  Through the years growing up, we heard many, many stories from our dad about the family adventures on this street which was on the side of the old Craig home.  Grandpa Craig’s home was a large two story structure on the corner of Section St. and Devil’s Alley.  The family consisted of six children, three boys and three girls, and they grew up playing on that street and having many adventures on it.  These six were adventurous and played many games popular in those early years.  Some of which are probably better not knowing.  Our Dad told us that the street probably was named Devil’s Alley for all the antics of the Craig children playing on it.  Which we never questioned knowing our Dad and all of the family who were well known for their sense of humor and practical jokes.  Of course, they had to work at the paper and the Opera House at an early age, so that limited some of the time playing together on the Alley. But, we have wonderful memories and dreams of past times thinking of our Dad’s stories about Devil’s Alley and our beloved family.

FEEL GOOD NEWS - GOOD

PEOPLE = MOTIVATION.....

Our heart went out watching a video of a dear little boy who was being bullied at school, until he did not want to go back any more.  Six year old Danny Keefe, who was born early and had complications including difficulty speaking and some motor skills. He was constantly being teased by his school mates.  He was always a very quiet little boy with a dear face and sad eyes. He didn’t want to go back to school because of the unkind classmates that bullied him. Until his parents bought him a suit and hat to cheer him up, which he loved and began wearing it to school every day.  The bullies teased him about his new clothes and yet, Danny loved his suit and continued wearing it even though it brought more troubles to him from some of his classmates.

 He loved watching the school’s football team after school and dreamed he would be able to play some day.  The team and the coach admired Danny and decided to do something to help him be accepted and not bullied.  The entire 11 year old Pee Wee football team and their coach come to school dressed in suits and accompanied Danny around school.  The bullies did not bother Danny! A number of others began dressing in their suits was soon numbered more than over 40 more students showing their support for this classmate. The team members told the press that Danny was “cool and normal” with no reason to be ridiculed.  They became known as “Danimals Army”.  Danny was invited to be part of the team, go to the practices and even got to play in a scrimmage game with them...all in their suits.  The Coach said that Danny is now the heart and soul of the team and is not bullied by anyone.  He has become a hero to many and admired and appreciated. He loves school and loves to work out with the team. 

We smiled when we read the difference in Danny after this wonderful support by the football team and other classmates.  It was the actions of the football team and other class mates that changed Danny’s life for the better.  We hope and pray that he will continue to be a part of the school as he progresses to other grades.  He deserves it and we appreciate those who came to help their classmate.  These good deeds resulted in a happy life for little Danny.,  A lesson that many can learn from this is to help one another and stop the bulling that hurts so many!  The power of Caring! 

.....News recently showed a record winner in the Ironman Triathalon competition.  A difficult feat to accomplish, but to set a new record is amazing.  It would be for any athlete.  However, this record was set by an 83 year old nun!  Sister Madonna Buder of Spokane, Wash., became the oldest person to ever finish the race consisting of swimming, biking and running.  As the old saying goes, “You are never too old” ! This is amazing and shows the dedication and determination on her part.  Congratulations to this senior citizen from this senior citizen! We really admire her!! 

.....Many great things being done in our community that bring good news to us all.  We congratulate Jeanette Leger for receiving the Bishop’s Devoted Service Medal...Also seeing Andrus Fontenot be honored as its Distinguished Citizen Award, by the Evangeline Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Ken Arceneaux received the Rotarian of the Year award...Maxine Trahan was honored as being the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for a Non-Rotarian member....Rayne High School’s Kameron Falcon was named to the state’s Composite Boys All-Academic Baseball team for having a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average....Also, Matthew Dore received the honor for being named to this outstanding team for having a 3.9524 GPA.......Proud of the Tribune’s own, Lisa Soileaux, who was given a state honor by the American Legion for the News Coverage Award for the Rayne Tribune for both the Legion and the Legion Auxiliary.  The tradition for receiving this award continues......So many of our dear citizens have received honors in the past few weeks and we congratulate each of you.  We have such great people who give much though their organizations and schools for the betterment of our city and we are proud of all of you. 

.....EARNED ANGEL WINGS...there have been many, many people who have assisted us in many ways these past few months...and this month, it seems that some have been working overtime to do things that we needed done, but were unable to get them accomplished.  Many did kindnesses or sent things to let us know that they are thinking of us.  They wanted us to know that they care.  The list could go on, however, we did want to thank Linda and John Arceneaux for the delicious yam cakes which, even though tired after a long day and long trip, stopped and picked up some of those goodies knowing that they are a special treat for us.

.....Lois Bell Prejean sent an adorable frog “cozy”  she made to go with our Couyon frog, Jacko.  She is very talented and generously shares her handiwork with many, including us. We thank her for thinking of us.

.....Naturally, we could never express enough appreciation to Sadie and Linda at Sadie’s flower shop, who generously share plants and flowers with us.  In addition,  the delicious homemade sweet dough pies that we enjoy and one can see why we love them since they have given much to help us and for being such great friends.

.....Shirley and John Quebodeaux, continue to help us in many, many ways.  Just them  calling to check on us is wonderful knowing that they are there if we need anything. This is very comforting to us. It is a treat to get some of their great food, garden veggies and other goodies they bring.  We especially appreciate having some very enjoyable visits with them. Thanks for your kindnesses.

.....After craving fresh figs for years, we have enjoyed eating them again thanks to Charlene and Patrick Richard.  They brought us some great fresh figs, and also brought jars of her delicious homemade fig preserves.  We have enough to share with family and they are anxiously awaiting getting them. You two are very special to share your time and talents in providing these goodies to us and they are greatly appreciated. Thanks so much. 

.....We have many to thank for recently helping to get our television working again!  Being in a quiet house is difficult and we are not used to that.  Too many children and family for too many years.  On a recent Friday, an 18 wheeler pulled down our TV cable for the 3rd time in less than 2 weeks and required Cox to again send repair men out to restring and reconnect.  In a day or less, it was pulled down again and this time we were again facing a long and rainy weekend and days with nothing to entertain and keep us connected to the news and weather.  There were many kind folks who began efforts to ensure that we would be reconnected and not be without the television for that weekend.  We appreciate the concern and possible solutions given by Mayor Boudreaux; the concern and suggestions of Lionel Guidry. The wonderful repairmen from Cox Cable, Matt and Chris,  great caring people who worked between the rain showers and redesigned our cable connection to prevent the big trucks from pulling our cable down again. 

UPDATE... Cox has again put my TV cable under the road, so it should not be a problem again unless another lighting storm. Only in Rayne would that happen!  We so appreciate them and all who helped!  What wonderful people to go out of their way to ensure that we would not be alone on that rainy weekend and long nights. 

.....There are many other kind people who assist us in many ways... to get in and/or out of the car, or into church, where ever, they go out of their way to assist us in many, many ways.  We don’t know their names, but want them and all others who help someone in need, to know that they are appreciated.......Love and blessings to all for you are all God sent.

IN CLOSING......... 

Our hearts are overflowing with love and appreciation. As we write this we are thinking of all the good things and good people that are in our life.  Add to that our wonderful and beloved family and we are overcome with gratitude!  We are truly blessed! 

We wish for you all.....“God’s sweet blessings, not in droplets, but a shower,

 To fall on you throughout the day and brighten every hour.”    Helen Steiner Rice

Until next time........Adios, au revior,

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