The Superior Express -

Thanksgiving has always been a day to be thankful. This year two families have one more reason...a really big one! The Underwood family (Roger and Deanna of Esbon) and Grauerholz Family (Enos and Jill of Beloit) are proud to announce the engagement of their children, Gage Grauerholz and Lindsey Underwood! These two lovebirds have been dating for the past two years and decided to take the next step. Congrats and well wishes!

Alyce Gillett gave updates on Sunday's church service. Welcoming people to the Esbon Community Church on the 1st Sunday of Advent were Roger and Deanna Underwood. Acolytes were Mallory Underwood and Claire Walker with Jack Underwood helping to put them out at the end of the service. The Advent Wreath lighting and devotion was led by Alyce Gillett with help from grandchildren, Makayla and Cade L'Ecuyer. Lily Walker helped Pastor Rod with the responsive reading. Special music was a piano solo by Claire Walker and a piano duet by Lily Walker and Janet Kriley. Pastor Rod's sermon was titled "Is Your House Ready?" or would you be ready if Christ came again soon. Prayers were lifted up for those people dealing with COVID and having surgery. Guests in the service were Scott and Victoria L'Ecuyer, Makayla, Cade and Laynee from Valley Center.

I've talked with Kristen Rahe, Esbon. Did you know she has worked for THI foster care and child welfare services since 2015? This woman helps families get the support and knowledge they need to be able to care for children in foster situations. Kristen has a degree from Kansas State University in family studies and human services. In Kansas there are approximately 7,600 children who need a safe, loving environment to stay yet only 2,800 foster homes are available to place them. There is only one registered home in Jewell County. The average age of a child who's in need is 9.3 years old.

I asked Kristen what the cost and requirements are to open your home to these children. The first thing she said is that people must be able to love, understand, care for and accept a child they did not give birth to. The most common thing she hears people say about fostering is that they're not sure they could foster children because they'd get too attached.

Gage Grauerholz and Lindsey Underwood

I understand this thought process...but without missing a beat Kristen said these children are so deserving of love and attachment, why not foster? As far as cost there's a few things to be done for the safety of the children and the family requesting to foster, such as fingerprints and background checks. Kristen gives classes to help people through the process. Interested? THI is offering a virtual foster care information session from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.on Friday, Dec. 11. Individuals can contact Kristen to register or for any questions about fostering. She can be reached at 620-366-9610. Think how much love and energy just one child could give. There is also a need for homes who could place siblings. Ideally THI works to keep the children in their own county, so they can keep up with as much normalcy as possible, friends, teachers, church...with so few options it's incredibly tough to do that, so these children are completely removed from everything they know until they can safely be reunited with their parents.

Joe Pashia has installed new lighting to the community center stained glass Tiger, made and donated by Charlie Fischer.

A shout out goes to the Mizner family. Kim Davis caught them in action on Friday. The family was out with their John Deere 4055 tractor hanging the city's snowflake decorations.