Ark Valley News - The View from Sunflower Gardens

The View from Sunflower Gardens
By Marilyn Bentley
Last Updated: April 23, 2015

Patriotic songs tell of our history

It's springtime! A time of daffodils and daisies and baseball games and kids riding bikes.

Our residents enjoy warmer temperatures as they take walks around our buildings. Winter is past and bird feeders have finches, blue jays, robins, sparrows and others in our yards.

The newspaper brings us news of people and nations and traffic and the economy. We see the same on TV sets, as time marches on in events of the U.S.A.

It's family time in spring as folks get together.

We welcome two new residents to our home, and "getting to know you" is a constant thing. Happy birthday to four residents here with April birthdays.

We still like our morning coffee chats, potluck dinners, parties, exercise days, Bible study, game nights, and sing-a-longs and Nancy's piano concerts.

Remember to keep in prayer all our troops and their families.

Last week was the 103rd anniversary of the April 15, 1912, sinking of the Titanic, a great ocean vessel from England, and the loss of over 1,000 lives.

In America, we have beloved hymns. Some we sing here with the Mennonite singers or on Friday sing-a-longs. Some of our favorites are "Dixie," "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Yankee Doodle."

We like patriotic songs like "America," the "Star-Spangled Banner," "America the Beautiful" and the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Julia Ward Howe wrote the words in 1862 after a visit to Washington, D.C., and seeing many Civil War soldiers.

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He hath loosed the fateful lightening of his terrible swift sword. His truth is marching on. Glory, glory, hallelujah."

Verse of the week (Philippians 4:19): "But my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus."

Did you know that in Kansas, like all things tend to do, farming and ranching have changed? Now it's more computerized. Even combines cost more. Technology has come to Kansas farmers.

In 1900, farms looked different. Then most farms had animals and grew crops to feed animals. Horses were in great demand. Farm tools and machines became more complex in time. Some modern farmers specialize with crops.

With 105 counties, each has different-sized farms in Kansas. Some dairy farms are large. We still like ice cream from Kansas cows' cream.

"Be kind, anyway." Mother Teresa.