Peggy's Ponderings at the lake

Today I had the opportunity to speak at the ribbon-cutting and dedication of the Espo Center at Wolf Creek. It was a sunny, beautiful day and a well-attended event. This wasn't my first time speaking to a crowd or with dignitaries in attendance, but I was definitely a little bit nervous for this one. Here is my little take, but check out The Grove Sun and Sheila Stogsdill/KSN-KODE , plus other social media pages have lots of photos. Dana Able had the building set up for ideas of different types of events. The Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau is definitely who you need to talk to about more information. I'm still grinning from ear to ear! I had my speech in hand and practically memorized it too! I just wanted to make a point with this speech. I want more of our citizens to be happy. If a person takes the time to appreciate the Expo Center, they will come to realize how it's so much more than a place to hold an event. And as visitors continue to come, I hope they conti...

Celebrating Valentine's Day is just about sharing a little LOVE. It doesn't have to be about spending a ton of money. It doesn’t have to be a big, spectacular thing. And it’s not just for romance and couples. Although my wonderful husband always thinks of me on Valentine's, he also thinks of his mom, his grandma, and our daughters. Same for me. I will send a wish to my son and treats for all of our grandchildren.  Valentine's Day has always been celebrated in my house in some fashion. When we were young, my mom and dad gave us the boxes of Sweethearts. I don’t remember them being a big deal, but I remember always having them.   It wasn’t until elementary school that the pressure was on. Would I get any Valentins? This was before it was required to bring enough for everyone in the class, and before everyone was required to bring Valentine cards to exchange.  I remember this is when I started practicing and caring what my signature looked like. It needed to be cute b...

Barn on 7th Street Hello everyone! Have you been watching the forecast? Get ready for some SNOW! I love snow and can’t wait for it to come this weekend. Some of my favorite memories and pictures are from snowy days here, like the old barn down the street. It’s so peaceful and timeless. The barn is beautiful, and I need to thank them over and over again for saving it. I love what the owners have done to the old original house and property. But back to snow!   According to AI, Loving snow, a trait sometimes called being a chionophile, means finding joy, peace, or magic in winter landscapes, often linked to childlike fun, quiet beauty, or a chance to slow down from daily stress. It can represent purity, new beginnings, or the coziness of winter activities, activating a sense of wonder and nostalgia for simpler times, says Stylist and Time Magazine. Ok, fine. I am a chionophile. Joy and peace? Count me in! Dirt road in Grove covered in snow Snow is why I will always own a Je...

Hello again, my few but loyal readers, this is another happy to be in smalltown Grove. Happy, positive, feel good Pondering. Giving you a warning from the beginning. It's Grateful November after all so get ready for lots of greatefulness! Friday, my grandsons and I waited downtown for the parade of buses with football players and coaches, and the caravan leading and following them to their playoff game 4 hours away. Schools were closed. The streets were lined with people and kids, and the Cheerleaders were right in front of us! How much more traditional can this get? Talk about a Hallmark movie! Just as we all get excited as we hear the sirens from the many fire trucks and police cars in the parade, my phone rings. It’s my son calling from California. I answered the phone, and he asked what I was doing. When I told him he first said what? It’s a Friday. Don’t the boys have school? I said welcome to our small town honey! Our varsity football team is in the state playoffs! A...

Hello my few and loyal readers, Here is an old Pondering that didn't get posted... "I am so thrilled to have won the seat on Grove's City Council. I was sworn in last week and tomorrow is my first official meeting. Last night I read through the agenda and the over 100 pages that came with it. No on said this would be an easy job and that's ok. I am still excited for it. There are so many things happening." This draft has sat waiting to be published since April. I'm not sure what else to say. I am honored and blessed to say the least. Now it's November. We had a meeting last night and as I sat at the podium looking out into the audience I am still full of gratitude that citizens of Grove voted to put me there. I love all the excitement around the new buildings - the Fire Station, Police Station and the Event Center at Wolf Springs Park. And the excitment is building for the new 42 acre park with a ground breaking in January I think. It's a bike p...

When the  American Revolution   broke out in 1775, the colonists weren’t fighting united under a single flag. Instead, most regiments participating in the war for independence against the British fought under their own flags. In June of 1775, the  Second Continental Congress   met in Philadelphia to create the Continental Army—a unified colonial fighting force—with the hopes of more organized battle against its colonial oppressors. This led to the creation of what was, essentially, the first “American” flag, the Continental Colors . ( https://www.history.com/news/what-is-flag-day ) Does this sound familiar? There are many conflicts in our country right now. COVID 19 and how to deal with it, Trump vs Biden, Democrats vs Republican, racism, kneeling during the national anthem, and much more. It saddens me to think that today, as in 1775 we are back to fighting under our own flags and not united under one. We still are a country of the free and the brave. ...

I spent a lot of time in 2019 with my face in books or on the internet. Reflecting back on the year I feel fortunate for all that I learned. I figured out how to be a neater person by focusing on loving what I have. Taking care of what we have makes us more grateful.  Live the life you have now. Be in the present. Love what’s around you. The wants and wishes will fall into place when it’s time. It’s true. I’ve had clients back out of purchasing homes and others that fought hard to get a home. Everyone has a different situation and like the song says, Sometimes you cant get what you want, you get what you need. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. I think it’s because by loving what we have we stop worrying about what we don’t have and appreciate what we do have more. For example, if I clean the slobber off the sliding door, I shake my head at the grossness but still love our dog, Buddy. I then notice the birds in the cypress trees chasing each ot...