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24 DECEMBER 07 - Keeping The Faith, Living With Hope!

It has been a month since I have been able to update our web site...and I missed it sorely.  I have lots to tell about my experiences, however I wish to start by pronouncing to the world that Christ lives, and loves us all!  Lots of folks would disagree with me, but He exists nonetheless.  How do I know?  Faith, life experiences, long talks with His Father, and miracles have shown me so.  Folks, if anyone in this life has had reason to doubt a loving God and Son, it has been me.  Chronic illness, financial burdens beyond the norm, bad luck throughout my life, near death experiences, and pain beyond the imagination have followed me for the last fifteen years.  Heavenly Father and I have had many heart to hearts, and many arguments.  A few times, I even cursed Him for allowing such pain in my life, both physically and mentally.  Every time, I had to apologize, and hoped that Christ helped smooth things over with our Father.  I was also sick and tired of folks telling me that all things work out for them that love God.  Yeah, right...I loved God, and have always tried to live the Commandments.  Never have I committed any serious sin, although all sin is enough to keep us away from Heaven.  Why, then, did I have to suffer so?  Why did God tell me to be patient and believe that things will work out?  I saw no proof of it, and argued this with Him, sometimes at the top of my lungs!  Nothing.  "Be patient, my son," was about the only thing I heard back.  Patience...can only wear so thin before breaking, and I broke too many times under the pressure of living. 

This last spring/summer of 2007 was a turning point in my life.  Physical pain and the lack of understanding of folks around me lead me to the point where I didn't want to wake the next day.  That was horrible thinking, in that I am a father and husband, and had responsibilities in this life that were mine alone!  Even so, I wished God, through Jesus Christ, to take my life quietly.  I could take living no more...my heart was in a million pieces, my mind was mush, and my body was a torture machine that I was trapped in.  I was at the very bottom...and it is nowhere to live.  Take me, Lord, please just take me!  Please...please...

Sometime the next afternoon, lying in bed, still alive and wondering why...I decided swallow my pride and stubbornness, and just follow the advice God had so many times told me...to be patient, and believe that all things work out for those that love the Lord.  I begged Jesus Christ to be beside me while I talked with our Father in Heaven, at which point I humbly apologized to Him, and asked Him for forgiveness. 

It was not even a week later that the debilitating pain stopped, that bills that were four months in arrears were mysteriously paid (by the community, I do believe...how they knew, I do not know), and doors opened to me that were shut for years!  All along, it was not God that had abandoned me...it was me that didn't have enough faith in Him!  Since then, I have had many heart to hearts with Heavenly Father, with Christ at my side.  Did life suddenly stop hurting, or did financial problems cease, or did my health approve to total wellness?  No...but my faith and knowledge of God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost has made me whole, again.  Christ does exist, Heavenly Father exists, and so does the Holy Ghost that serves me well.  They always existed...I just failed to believe in them totally.  And I am here to tell you that we must all keep the faith by keeping Christ alive, keep believing that things will work out as God said, and realize that this life is but just a drop in the bucket of eternity, but most important nonetheless!

Just after Thanksgiving, I went to the VA hospital drowning in my own body!  Breathing was almost nil, pain was incredible, and my kidneys had just had enough.  They shut down for the final time...and I was near death, once again.  To make a long story short, the VA took 32 pounds of fluids off me within two weeks time, all fluids and toxins that my kidneys failed to remove.  I am now much better, but dependent on dialysis three times a week to keep me alive.  Lots has changed in my life as a result...and I am needing help.  Still, I am going to live, with hope for my future, that this, too, is part of the plan of God...and that all things will work out for those that love Him. 

Already, my hope of better living has led a couple here in Cashion to open their hearts and make a very much needed donation towards the Rollins family Christmas.  I also put in a plea for help with rides to and from dialysis in the bulletin board when I was still in the VA, and some folks came through for me!  While I have not asked for specific help yet (my wife took me yesterday), I will be soon.  Unfortunately, I have to be at dialysis at 5:00 AM Monday, Wednesday and Friday!  Then I need another ride home approximately four and a half hours later.  I am trying to get the hours changed so that I could hopefully catch a ride with someone who might work near Mercy Memorial hospital where I get dialysis.  Of course, I would pay for gas.  If you can help, please call me at 2048, and ask for Chris.  In time, I hope to get my car fixed and get doctors permission to drive once again.  When those two things happen, I can start taking myself.  In the meantime, I am begging for help with rides...and even though I feel selfish asking in this forum, I am desperate.  Next Wednesday, for example, I need to be picked up from dialysis sometime after 9:30 AM and taken to the VA where I can get my chemotherapy.  My wife will pick my up after work late that night.  I have a ride to dialysis that morning, thank goodness. 

Folks, I have to live with hope...hope that things will work out, hope that I can still do for my family, hope that my life will continue with some normalcy in it.  I have hope in Christ, hope that God forgives my stubborn past and loves me, and a hope that the community that I live in will come through as it always has for many in need.  I am humbled beyond anywhere I have ever been, still worry about things, but confident in the hope I have for the future.  May God bless us all this special season, and throughout the year...and may you live with the hope of Christ.  This is my prayer, and hope...    

18 NOVEMBER 07 - Hope You Brought A Hankie, Thanksgiving Is Here!

Last Monday, the Cashion Elementary School and the High School band presented a fabulous Veteran's Day program!  I saw many new faces among the veteran's in attendance, and miss some others.  I sat next to a young lady who was attending her first program.  "I missed last year's program because of work, but I promised myself I would not miss this one!", she told me.  "I hope you brought a hankie," I said, to which she questioned, "Why?"  I told her never mind, and the program started.  It wasn't long before the kids began singing American Tears when she started tearing up.  The rendition of Taps, beautifully played and echoed by Dustin Buckner and Mr. Stallcup, did it for me.  Then, of course, the song and video program of those passed on also brought to me a profound sense of pride and somberness, all wrapped into one.  The young lady I sat next to was equally as delighted with the video presentation of each veteran, to which I assured her that her picture would be up there next year since they now had her address!  She smiled broadly, as if to say she would be very pleased at that!  All in all, it was a great and marvelous, and I thank Kimberly Stallcup and all the other people involved in making this Veteran's program such a heart warming and heartfelt event.  I simply can't thank you enough...

Thanksgiving is this week, and I sincerely hope everyone has someone to share this holiday with.  For my family, it is a time for great reunion and fun, fun times!  We eat like there was no tomorrow (last year, we had nineteen pies, numerous cakes and cookies, two turkeys, two beef roasts, two pork roasts, two hams, and countless side dishes that was enough to serve a small battalion of kids!).  Each family does a skit that was hopefully practiced at home before hand, we play numerous games inside and out, and usually someone finds fireworks or water guns or some such to burn off all the energy those pies gave the kids!  Unfortunately, I was in the VA hospital last year for five weeks, and missed out on Thanksgiving.  But, a friend of mine brought me a baby food jar of turkey and peas (as a joke) on Thanksgiving Day, while another family brought me the real deal (turkey, gravy, dressing, almond green beans, homemade rolls, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and two deserts)!  I had many nurses stopping in to check in on me after that, each drooling at the fabulous array of food!  But, at least I had someone to share Thanksgiving with, and I was grateful.  I sincerely hope and pray that everyone has.

Remember, the school kids have off three days this week...Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!

Well, they finally got the wheat fields planted around my house this year!  I have never seen it planted this late before.  Some has come up, some is still waiting for moisture, but many fields are not even planted around Cashion at all!  I do think that there is a bigger gambler in the world, besides a rancher, than a farmer...unless you count the grain coops!  Sheesh...

11 NOVEMBER 07 - Veteran's Day Program At School, According To Jim Strikes Again, PTO Meeting!

Tomorrow morning (Monday) is the Veteran's Day program at Cashion Schools!  It starts with a complementary Continental breakfast for all veteran's and their loved ones at 8:00 AM in the school cafeteria.  While there, a short questionnaire will be presented you to fill out.  At 8:45, the breakfast ends and the program starts in the auditorium.  Folks, I gotta tell you...there isn't anything as touching to the heart as this program!  There is nary a dry eye in the place after this event, old and young alike!  I missed last year's program because I was stuck in the VA hospital for five weeks, and I can tell you that I sorely missed that program.  Please, if you know of a veteran who might not know of this program, go pick them up and bring them to school.  If you know of elderly individuals that can't make the trip on their own, do them a favor and help them get to school and back home.  Make the effort to welcome veteran's to this program.  Speaking individually (but knowing the feelings of many others), I can tell you that this program is just what the doctor ordered for the veteran, and for the kids!  My daughter told me once that she never felt prouder of her Pops than she did at this program.  It brought to her a sense of realism that she had not experienced before, but was brought forth in this marvelous Veteran's Day program.  Tomorrow promises to be the best ever, and I, for one, am looking forward to it  :)

According to Jim has struck, again!  This time, it is Jack and Mary Ellen Simmons whom we have the distinct pleasure of learning more about.  As always, Jim gives us his take on the Simmons from his perspective which always makes it more personal to me.  Jim takes great pleasure in recognizing the stalwarts of the community, and his style makes his column very interesting reading!  So, pull up a chair and meet the Simmons today.  You will be glad you did!

There is a PTO meeting this Tuesday in the school cafeteria starting at 7:00 PM.  They will be discussing some PTO requests from the teachers, as well giving updates on the Fall Carnival and upcoming school supply orders for the coming school year.  Everyone is welcomed, whether you are a member of PTO or not.  I would encourage you to join, as it is really does affect your child's school experience in a great way!

Today was Veteran's Day.  I called a few fellow vets I knew, and wished them well today, including my father who served during WWII as an artillery Lieutenant in the South Pacific and Europe.  The stories he would tell...ahhh, but that is for another day.  I also called Bobby, a friend of mine in Newcastle who I got to know when he and I both were in the VA hospital in 2003/2004.  It shames me to say this, but he is one of those fellows who, at 63 years of age, is too disabled to do much else than exist.  Oh, we talk about going on a Caribbean cruise together, operating our wheel chairs down the Promenade deck, or going to the zoo to see what new exhibits are there, or perhaps once again traveling the highways and byways of America in one last trip.  We both know these dreams will never happen, but sometimes the pains of living are so severe, and the hope of doing something like in our dreams can pull us through sanely.  Of course, reality always comes back to us, and we are who we were once again.  I am fortunate...I have family around me.  Bobby has no one, a loner who barely ekes out living because of low income.  It pains me to say this, but without my help, he would not eat all month, would not have gas to get the VA to meet his doctors, and would have taken a few too many pills a long time ago to end things.  He is fortunate...I am there for him.  We found each other in the halls of the VA through life-threatening illness.  And although I am limited in how I can help him, I do, and he is ever so grateful for me.  Folks, the point I am trying to make here is that there are others out there like Bobby...veterans and non-veteran alike.  They need our help!  But I must tell you, that for a veteran who gave his/her all for their country, there is nothing quite as empty as being forgotten by American's...especially on holidays such as Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, or ever Christmas and Thanksgiving when others will have loved ones around to spend the day with.  If you know a veteran who you think just might appreciate a dinner, a few bucks, or even visit every now and again, try and find it in your heart to do so.  Believe me, it REALLY does the soul good, especially for the veteran on the receiving end  :)

4 NOVEMBER 07 - What A Parade, Cashion Methodist Church Celebrates 100 Years, W5YI Amateur Radio Group Meets, Kool Cars In Kingfisher, Veteran's Day!

WOW!  I mean, WOW!  I don't think I have ever been to a Cashion parade of any sort that was nearly as big as this last one!  Mother Nature gave us a marvelous day to gather, and the festivities all around Main Street gave was enough to keep everyone busy!  I particularly loved the peanut brittle (one of my favorites) for a dollar a big bag, while the family ate melt-in-your-mouth homemade fudge!  Of course, chili dogs, pickles, and a few other drinks and assorted junk food items were also had.  All in all, it was a great day for me and my family!  I only wish the crowd was bigger, although it was pretty sizable.  It sure made a fitting beginning to the holiday season, for sure...and I look forward to the rest of it!

The Cashion United Methodist Church is celebrating their 100th year in Cashion this coming Sunday, the 11th, with a celebration of sorts at their church!  They have actually been in existence 116 years, but originally started in Downs, as did the rest of Cashion.  The Kingfisher Times and Free Press has a wonderful second page story on the history of the church, and I recommend reading it if for nothing else but pure historical value.  Many of the old pastors have been invited, along with folks who have moved away but were a part of the Cashion community at one time.  The whole thing starts at 2:00 PM Sunday afternoon, with a program at 2:30, and ends at 5:00 PM.  Refreshments will be served, of course, with fellowship to be enjoyed by all!  Everyone in the community is invited to attend this 100 year celebration, a milestone in Cashion history  :)

The W5YI Amateur Radio Group will be holding the monthly meeting at 10:00 AM in the American Red Cross Building in Guthrie.  The address there is 210 South 2nd Street.  Anyone who is interested in amateur radio is invited to attend, and there are Cashion members who would be delighted to help you.

If you are an old car buff, then Kingfisher is the place to be this coming Saturday at the Fairgrounds!  Kool Cars In Kingfisher is being held all day long, and last year featured over 100 cars from every generation!  I believe this is the fifth year, and it has grown every year.  So, if you are a fan of the old 'stang, or goats, or whatever, come enjoy yourself!  It is free  :)

This coming Sunday is Veteran's Day.  This day is near and dear to my heart, as it is for many veteran's across the nation and the world.  It is a hallowed day, and is celebrated accordingly.  At Cashion Schools, there is a Veteran's Day program for ALL veteran's on Monday the 12th at the school.  There is a continental breakfast in the cafeteria for veteran's (and their beloved) from 8:00 AM to 8:45, followed by a VERY special assembly honoring those who served, starting at 8:45.  Veteran's are asked to call Cashion Schools at 433-2614 to let them know if you are coming.  Be sure to fill out the short form at the breakfast so that each veteran can be correctly recognized during the assembly.  This year, there will also be memorial services at the new Veteran's Memorial in the Kingfisher Cemetery at 2:00 PM.  Please folks...if you know someone who served in our military, take the opportunity to thank them for serving our great country.  Believe me, it DOES make a great difference in their lives...it really does  :)

28 OCTOBER 07 - Dianna Nail Appropriately Honored, Harvest Fest At Cashion Christian Church, Cashion Christmas Parade, Arts And Crafts Fair, Fifth Quarter, Halloweeeeeeeeeen!

It gives me great pleasure to bring you the following story about someone in our small community that was honored recently.  The Modern Woodmen of America honored Diana Nail as this year's Hometown Hero!  Mary Sowards, the District Representative for our area, said as many as 75 people showed up at a surprise dinner for Diana to recognize her outstanding efforts within our community on a civic and personal scale.  Her Methodist church family was there in support, as well as her own family.  Many, many folks from around the community showed up to tell their stories about Diana and the wonderful things she has done for them, without fanfare or praise.  Indeed, were it not for her and her husband, Rusty and Gregg and Kathy Miller, CashionOnline would not be on the Internet!  It was an evening to remember, and the tears flowed throughout.  Such was the praise for the woman who was honored to be this year's Modern Woodmen of America Hometown Hero!  She was offered a $100 gift certificate, which she then turned over to the PTO in support of their efforts!  Such is the heart of Diana Nail, and such is the heart of this great community.  Folks like her just make the world a bit closer to Heaven...and I appreciate her and others who walk the walk!  Congratulations  :)

The Cashion Christian Church is having their Harvest Festival at their church building this Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30.  It promised to be a spirit-filled evening with lots of food and games.  Everyone is invited and welcomed!

This coming Saturday is the states first Christmas parade of the year (as far as I know!).  The weather is looking promising for a nice day on hand, and I quite imagine there will be lots and lots and lots of folks coming out to enjoy the festivities and parade.  I am not privy to what is happening at this year's event, but my main attraction is the tractor parade (can you say coal powered Benda machine?) and the marching band.  Well, I like the horses, too, and the Girl Scout parading...and the Boy Scouts and the hot rods and the llama's and the candy and the...well, you get the point!  So, c'mon on out this Saturday to downtown Cashion, where the roads are paved, the food is hot, and there is a gunfight in front of the bank!  Yahooooooo!!!

The Fall Arts and Crafts Fair sponsored by the Cashion Christian Church will be held this Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  It will be closed during the parade, but will reopen afterwards.  There was such a good turnout at the Spring Arts and Crafts Fair that they wanted to offer the town of Cashion a jump start on their holiday shopping, and what better day than parade day!  If you would like to open your own booth at the Fair, you only need to contact Christie Tyler at 433-9088 to sign up.  Booths rent for $15.00, and tables can be rented for $5.00 if you need one.  So, whether you are selling or buying, be sure to come by and check our the Fall Arts and Crafts Fair at the church, which is right by the parade route.

Fifth quarter is planned this week at the Cashion Christian Church this coming Friday evening after the game.  There will be a small bonfire, and hot dogs and cold soda's will be served.  Much more is planned, and everyone is welcomed to attend. 

Okay, folks.  I take my life into my own hands now...because it is Halloween!  Yup...Halloween, the one time of the year that I allowed myself to "get crazy" with life, to do what I would never do any other time of the year, and to enjoy the rotten feeling I got doing the things I did!  My gosh...what did you do, Rollins?  Oh, nothing much, other than find old abandoned guinea nests full of 40 or so smelly eggs and release them in timely fashion at untimely targets.  Of course, life has a way of making you pay for your "crimes."  I had the misfortune of pulling the night shift at our local gas station on Halloween night two years in a row, and spent the night with a hose and a rag cleaning egg off customer's cars as they pulled in one after another!  Sheesh...did the ones hit with guinea eggs smell!!!  Oh, and there was the rope I tied up between trees to trip little Halloweener's, but later regretted when the angry tipped-off neighborhood parents made me clean up their yards of spilled candy and rope!  Oh, and let's not mention too much about the incidences with toilet paper...although there was this one year that...oh, never mind!  Suffice it to say that I was momma's true blue son for 364 days of the year, give or take.  But Halloween?  Ooh hoo...it makes my skin crawl with excitement thinking about it.  Not exactly sure how much I can get away with it from my wheel chair, though...  

21 OCTOBER 07 - Fire Department Annual Turkey Dinner, PTO Carnival And Bingo Night, Jim Stover And The Cashion Sports Connection Place To Be!

The Cashion Fire Department is holding their annual turkey dinner fund raiser this coming Sunday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  All are invited to attend a delicious turkey dinner courtesy of the Cashion Fire Department.  Donations will be gathered at the door.  If you cannot attend, but would like to donate, you can send in your donations in to Cashion Fire Department, PO Box 27, Cashion, OK, 73016.  We are certainly proud of our fire department, and for the outstanding ratings they have worked hard to achieve for the residents of Cashion.

The Cashion PTO is holding their Carnival and Bingo night this coming Saturday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the school cafeteria.  There will be lots of games and prizes for the kids, as well as a moonwalk and slide.  The bingo games are promising to be good games, with lots of nice prizes donated for winning cards!  So, if you have nothing to do this coming Saturday, bring the family out to the Carnival/Bingo night in Cashion!

Folks, I might as well throw in the towel when it comes to Cashion sports...and who better to throw it in for than Jim Stover and his marvelous CashionBasketball.com!  Not only is he reporting on the basketball season, he has made a marvelous site regarding the football side of Cashion sports, also!  The picture in the Picture Of The Week comes directly from his web site, and is but one of many pictures, stats, stories, etc. regarding Cashion football this season!  I gracefully and excitedly bow to the Master of online sports here in the area, and encourage you folks to check out his web site!  It is linked under the Cashion School menu on every page in this web site.  If you follow sports here in town, then you MUST go to CashionBasketball.com!  You will love it  :)

Well, I reckon we are finally getting a taste of Fall.  It sure felt like it this evening when I stepped out in the breezeway!  There was a definite chill in the air with those blustery north winds howling!  Hail and rain pounded our little house on the prairie from time to time while the winds caused it to sing its' prairie wind songs, only with a different melody to the music tonight.  The cat was sitting beside the back door, begging for food, but looking positively miserable against the chill winds!  I fed him in a secluded spot, and he took off down in to the storm cellar to get out of the chill!  Me?  I went back into the living room with the family, but not before grabbing a blanket to throw over myself!  It was chilly, but cozy surrounded by family.  It reminded me about why this was my favorite time of the year, despite hating the cold.  Yes sir...it'll soon be time to start serving hot chocolate and home made biscuits  :)

14 OCTOBER 07 - New Web Site For First Baptist Church, Fall Break, FFA/4-H Booster Bash, Personal Thanks To Student, Active Bulletin Board, Chris And Chemo!

I would like to announce the creation of Cashion First Baptist Church's new web site!  It is now linked under their name in the Church section in the menu.  I must say it is a fine looking site, and I am sure it will be a great blessing for those around our community!  With these new web sites coming online, it surely does make it easier and simpler for many folks to keep up with what's happening in and around Cashion!  A few clicks, and so much information is at your fingertips!

This coming Wednesday is Professional Day at school, while Thursday and Friday are the official Fall Break days.  However, school will be out all three days.  So, be sure to make arrangements for your kiddo's.  The Kingfisher pool is one suggestion for kids wanting to do something, and the new McDonald's has opened in Kingfisher.  Swimming and Happy Meals...what a combo (unless you have teenagers, then it is super sized everything)!

The public is invited this Saturday, October 20, to the annual FFA/4-H Booster Bash.  One ticket is good for two steak dinners with all the fixing's!  While tickets to this event are $100 per couple, almost all the tickets have been sold!  The reason is simple...there are lots and lots of prizes to win, including one $4000 winner, eight $500 winners, and ten $200 winners!  Numerous door prizes are being given away during the dinner, including two live pigs ready for the butcher!  It is being held in the basketball gym, and the doors open at 6:30 PM.  There are only fifteen to twenty tickets left, so be sure to get yours by calling Chris Carroll at 433-2575 or Karen McCoy at 433-2614.  Sounds like one exciting night to me!

I would like to take this spot and thank Lisa Anderson for a meal she prepared for my family last week!  She did this through a church service program at our church, and it came at the most appropriate time!  Not only did it come when I was so sick (I do all the cooking at our house), but she served us the most delicious and huge pan of homemade lasagna, cheesy garlic bread, broccoli, corn on the cob, Sprite, and the best apple pie I have ever put in my mouth!  It so blessed me and my family...and is so indicative of the kind of people you find in and around Cashion.  This is just the latest blessing I have received, and I personally thank Stacey for her loving spirit and her kind gift!  It was the right medicine at the right time  :)

The new bulletin board has been very active lately with announcements, requests for help, thoughts on school matters...and Liz finally got rid of her puppies (I reckon...she took down her post!).  All in all, I am quite happy with it, and hope to keep it on the up and up.  It seems to be attracting quite a number of viewers, and lots of folks have signed up with more coming every day.

Well, as you probably noticed, I was lax this week in updating the web site.  I think I need to explain a couple of things, and ease some folks mind.  The reason I was not able to update the web site was because of a chemo session I had last Thursday at the VA, and the severe side effects it had on me.  I take a chemo treatments every six weeks...but I DO NOT have cancer!  I know some folks wonder, and act a bit awkward towards me about it.  But, rest assured, that while I have my fair share of debilitating and potentially life threatening physical problems (excluding mad wife syndrome), I do NOT have cancer.  I take the chemo for severe psoriasis that has threatened to kill me more than once, and almost did four years ago when I spent five months in the VA hospital!  After this last round of chemo, I was very sick, very sore, and am still fighting an infection that set in due to my reduced immune system as a result of the chemo.  But, I am fine, for the most part!  So, I can proudly announce that I am not going anywhere...Chris has NOT left the building!

30 SEPTEMBER 07 - Bulletin Board Kudos', New Cashion Methodist Church Newsletter, Football Updates Starting, New "According To Jim" On The Way, Tears For An Old Man!

It is not often that I have had the pleasure of complimenting everyone on their behavior in the Bulletin Board, but this new board, with its restrictions, seems to have taken the bite out of folks who posted anonymously (and ugly).  Even though there was a serious issue that came near and dear to a lot of folks hearts within our school system, folks put forth their arguments in a civil and heartfelt tone...and it showed!  Community response was tremendous, and steps are now being taken to remedy the problem at hand, so I hear.  Bottom line...a civil tongue can bring about more changes than a foul mouth ANY day of the week!  Kudos', Cashion  :)

The Cashion United Methodist Church has their new October/November Newsletter ready for download from their web site.  As usual, it is a wonderful and delightful newsletter, full of stories of inspiration, pictures of past events, recipes, calendars, church business, and lots of valuable information for one and all.  I always enjoy reading it, and heartily recommend it to the good folks in Cashion!

Well, I have been VERY late in getting the football stories up and running, but I am now starting to reprint the newspaper articles out of the Kingfisher Times and Free Press.  I should have the first of the articles up and running this week.  Just look in the menu under school, then submenu Cashion Wildcat Football.  They will be a week behind, of course, but are still good reading on what happened at the games.  I will also attempt to go back and get the earlier games reprinted, but at least folks can now look forward to a regular weekly update on Cashion Wildcat football...and what a season it has been!  That State trophy could be sitting in the trophy case at Cashion pretty darn soon!

Jim tells me that a new "According To Jim" is on the way.  He has two in the works at the moment, but he has been one pretty busy fellow lately!  I, for one, really appreciate what he has done, and look forward to more witticisms from Jim and the folks he interviews!  And don't forget Jim's other labor of love for Cashion, and that is CashionBasketball.com!  It is linked there, and is also located in the school menu.  Already, there is much information about the upcoming season, and it is gathering a good number of viewers already!  As an added bonus, Jim has included Cashion football in his repertoire of items in his web site, including pictures, stats and other information on this year's season!  Thank you, Jim!

Well, folks...for me, today was a day for the record books.  I cried for the first time in a looooong time, and I HATE to cry!  You see, my daughter, Christine, is getting married in March.  We've all known that for some time now, and her fiancé even asked my permission back during the summer.  But, it finally hit me today, as I was talking to Christine about the wedding and how she expected things to go.  She was calmly telling me about the reception, the cake, the ring ceremony, etc.  Then she came to the part of the father/daughter dance.  "What?"  You see, folks, I have only been to one wedding reception, and that was two decades ago.  And even though I have played the piano or organ at a few weddings, I was not really privy to receptions and what happened there.  I didn't know there was such a thing as a father/daughter dance.  Well, I can't dance!  "But, Poppa, you HAVE to dance with me!  I can't get married unless you dance with me!"  Then it hit me, and hit me HARD...my baby girl, my first daughter, the tiny thing I cradled, fed, changed, burped, and held close through painful ear aches and upset tummies, the grade school girl I tried to console when her teacher, Mrs. Maxon, was taken from us, the teenager who looked forward to her first kiss, and the beautiful lady that another fellow took to the senior prom...was now asking me to take this momentous dance with her...and I couldn't choke back the tears.  The lump in my throat made it hard to talk, and without pause, Christine asked, "Are you crying?"  "Yes, I am...," at which point we both were bawling over something both loving and life changing.  After a while of back and forth words of love and tears, she finally said "All you have to do to dance is waddle, Poppa," which made me laugh, because surely I could get up out of my wheel chair long enough to waddle through a dance!  Then the tears started, again...and I haven't been the same since. 

Now, I know lots of you fathers have gone through this experience, too...but tell me, does it get any easier?  I have two daughters... 

23 SEPTEMBER 07 - CashionOnline at 100%, Cashion Christian Church New Web Site, Cashion Education Foundation Auction News, Fall Is In The Air (Or Is That Ragweed)!

Okay folks...you waited for it, and you got it!  Your web site is now back operating at 100%!  Judging by the number of emails and phone calls I got thanking me for my efforts, I reckon Cashion can get its local online fix once again.  Already, the new bulletin board is active with posts, and I am getting requests to announce this and that.  So, welcome back, CashionOnline.com  :)

I am proud to announce a new web site for the Cashion Christian Church!  They have gone out of their way to make a fantastic looking and very informative web site for their members and for the community!  They have so graciously allowed many community events not directly associated with their church to take place amongst their hallowed halls, and their web site does the community justice by having a news/events section for us all to use and plan.  There are, of course, schedules for services and such, inspirational messages, and soon to come photo's of events and such.  This is a work in progress, and is not entirely finished (does that EVER happen!?!), but judging by the quality and quantity of valuable information already posted, I quite imagine their web site to be a busy one, indeed!

Well, as usual, our community has surpassed expectations!  The recent Cashion Education Foundation Auction not only broke last year's record (which broke the year before's record), we broke it by nearly $3000!  Yes, folks, the preliminary results (official results still pending) put the grand total raised this year at $24,000!!!  Kudos' for the outstanding efforts of the Cashion community!!!  And what exactly do we get for our magnanimous efforts here?  The teachers can now request grants for supplies and materials they need in their own classrooms, and the Cashion Education Foundation board members will allocate money to fulfill those requests!  This is above and beyond anything they get from the school district, and benefits their classes greatly!  Not only do the teachers and students benefit this year, but a large portion of the money raised is invested, allowing interest raised to greater benefit future generations of students filing through the Cashion school system!  Where else on the face of the earth will you find a prairie town of 600 or so people support a community school in such grand proportions?  And it doesn't stop there, either!  Other school programs greatly benefit from the generosity of our churches, organizations, and individuals in our area.  Indeed, we ought to be proud of ourselves, and I, for one, salute you ALL for a job well done!  Or, to put it in my native dialect...Aaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! 

My favorite time of the year is fast approaching.  Well, if you must get technical, Fall was officially here the day before yesterday!  Nonetheless, this season coming has some of the greatest holidays ever, not to mention all the family gatherings being planned!  Halloween, my one day of the year to be bad (if you call toilet papering houses, egging cars with rotten guinea eggs, and running trip wires between the trees of the neighboring houses bad).  Huh?  You did what!?!  Uhhhh...I meant, I heard of others (ahem) that did such things...yeah!  Then there is Veteran's Day, a day specially remembered here in the Cashion schools starting with a marvelous breakfast and then a spectacular program for those who have served in our community.  I can tell you, without a doubt in my tiny, little mind, that the memories I received these past Veteran's Days at school are some of the most endearing and memorable days I have!  Even now, I am choking back a tear or two, remembering the wonderful celebrations, while remembering other memories when I served.  Then follows Thanksgiving, a time for our extended families to get together in a huge mass and remember family members lost this year, to frolic, and to eat like there is no tomorrow!  You cannot even imagine the amount and variety of food served (are we talking 19 pies last year, not to mention cakes?) We remember the roots of our great country by skits created by the kids, young and old!  Fireworks are always on hand, and almost like Independence Day, it is a patriotic day, for sure.  Then comes our beloved Christmas...the most special time of the year for me.  For me, Christmas is not just one day...it is the whole month after Thanksgiving...putting up the tree, shopping for that special gift, the festive and special music only heard then, the egg nog, the Christmas parties, the traditions we probably all have of visiting families, riding the train through Kingfisher in Lights on Christmas Eve, or whatever other traditions you may have.  And, of course, to celebrate, with family close, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...it is all the culmination of the year in a way that makes Fall my favorite season of the year!  But, were I not in Oklahoma to enjoy it all, it would not be the same... 

14 SEPTEMBER 07 - CashionOnline at 99%, Homeland Food Store Patrons Listen Up, Breast Cancer Awareness And Cashion, New Bulletin Board Up And Running, Cashion Education Foundation Auction!

Well, it's about time, Rollins!  Huh?  What?  Yeah, you heard us...we have been missing our CashionOnline!  What took you so long!?!  I am soooo sorry, folks, but I pulled a big one when I went down last month!  Like our good little voices always tell us, back up, Mister, or else.  Yeah, I will...one day.  Then one day comes, and I WISHED I had backed up the day before...

My computer took a hit during "Hurricane Erin" in August, and I had not backed up my computer files since June!  In the meantime, I had to get hardware problems fixed, then get to work on software solutions!  I finally got all problems fixed, so CashionOnline is back at 99% efficiency once again, with the Bulletin Board being the other 1% I need to deal with.  I will talk about that further down.

Ginny Miller has once again reminded me this year about the Homeland Food Store's campaign to help area schools.  Cashion schools has now been registered to receive money back from customers who patronize their stores!  Card members can simply give Cashion's NEW number to the cashier and the rewards start instantly!  Cashion's new number is 62035.  In order for this to work, there needs to be at least 25 people to register for Cashion before the schools are able to receive money back.  Now folks, how much easier can it get to support our schools!  I mean, we all eat, and if you patronize Homeland stores, well, you simply have no excuse!  Thanks, Ginny, for reminding us all about this marvelous program, and to Homeland for giving their support to this program.  How sweet it is...

Cindy Matteson, our "resident" representative for the Susan G. Komen For The Cure of Central Oklahoma has a special announcement to make regarding October and the Cashion community!  As you probably know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and a special effort is made to make more people aware of the risks and myths and cures out there regarding breast cancer.  There is a special contest going on now through October regarding dressing your yard in pink to help people be aware of breast cancer.  Cindy has prepared an informational page for you to read if you are interested, and all you need do is to Please Click Here to access this page.  There is also another page with a registration form on it if you want to participate.  To access that page for download and printing, Please Click Here.  Earlier this year, she put on a marvelous workshop of sorts, and over 40 people attended!  At the moment, she is working with the schools to present a breast cancer awareness program for our students.  Breast cancer can strike youth, also...it is just not a cancer affecting older women!  Indeed, MEN can get breast cancer as well, and I know a man who had to get a mammogram!  Unfortunately for the better half of our population, it is primarily a women's disease.  That is why it is SO IMPORTANT to be aware of breast cancer.  Early treatment does indeed relate to higher cure rates!  More will follow as we get closer to October, but the contest starts soon.  So, if you are interested, please check out her informational pages  :)

As you probably know by now, the Bulletin Board was taken down.  The wonderful benefits of having it did not merit the destructive and malicious posts made by some towards others in our community.  Reasoning DID NOT work, and with no other recourse, I took down the board.  However, so many good and meaningful posts were made in there that I wanted to bring it back.  And towards that effort, I have found another type of bulletin board that allows me to KNOW just who is posting and their email address.  I also have broader powers in this new board, which will allow me to put some teeth behind my plea's for sanity.  The new bulletin board allows anyone to peruse through it at any time, but if you want to post, you must go through a first-time registration process.  After that, all you need do is enter a password you set up for yourself.  You can also allow others to see your email address or you can hide it.  However, you need to know that such information WILL NOT be hidden from me, and I am still the benevolent dictator of this bulletin board.  I promise to lord over it fairly, though, and with an open mind.  So, we will try it once again, and hopefully, it will be a smoother ride this time around  :)    

It is that time of year again when the Cashion Education Foundation has its' yearly auction!  This is your opportunity to get some really great items and at the same time contribute to enhancing the education for our students.  Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday), the silent auction (over 90 items to be auctioned) starts at 4:30 PM in the school auditorium, and the live auction (over 100 items to be auctioned) begins at 5:30!  In conjunction with the auction, the Education Foundation is having two raffles.  A 50/50 raffle (50% of the gross proceeds are given to the winner and 50% is retained by the foundation) will be held, and a second raffle will be for a Nintendo Wii.  You do not need to be present to win.  Among the items being auctioned are two Hanna Montana tickets in section 120, two tickets to the Fall Out Boys, 25 tons of chipped gravel, King Size Lady Americana mattress set, just to name a few!  For a detailed sheet detailing the items being auctioned off in the silent and live auction, Please Click Here.  Feel free to spread the word and invite everyone you know.  Remember, the more money that is raised, the better the educational opportunities will be for your community's children!  If you have any questions or would like to purchase raffle tickets in advance, please contact Heather Wilson at 590-7082, or any of the CEF members.

Folks, we live in a marvelous community!  Sure, we have our problems...but our problems are not insurmountable as are those in the bigger towns and cities.  It all begins with our small town atmosphere and the closeness (for better and for worse) we all have for each other.  Pride in Cashion runs deep, while spiritual growth abounds!  We tend to look out after each other, and sometime stick our noses a bit too far into others folks business.  Still, that is the nature of a small town...and I, for one, appreciate the candor of it all, the security of knowing we are looking out for each other, and each others children.  The American spirit is alive and well in Cashion, USA...and I, for one, am so glad I live here  :)