Halito!  (That's "hello" in Choctaw Indian talk.)

      The year 2007 will always be one of the most precious memories in my life.  I am so proud to be your Most Worthy Grand Matron.  I will forever be grateful to you, my Sisters and Brothers, for making this first year of our Triennium so exciting.  Through the year of 2007 our primary and most important concern was the dedication in fulfilling our role as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star to the very best of our ability, so that from each of us would come the nurturing of growth, love, trust, and direction.  Your Most Worthy Grand Matron has a strong belief that families (and we are one big family, you know) should be united in an atmosphere of love and togetherness.  Wouldn't a lovely tribute to a lovely Order be "the members of the Eastern Star are as lovely on the inside as they are on the outside!"  Together we have shared many colorful and everlasting memories and it is my hope that we will look forward to every day of the 2008 year sharing our love of Eastern Star with each other.  Through the door of Service we enter the temple of fellowship.

      How cold was it in the winter months where you live?  It was so cold in Alaska that they were selling igloos with a life time warranty.  It was so cold here in Oklahoma that we opened our freezer to warm our house.  We now have a new verse added to its state song all because of the snow/ice.  SNO-klahoma, where the cold fronts sweepin' down the plain; and the piles of sleet beneath your feet follow right behind the freezing rain.  SNO-klahoma, every night my honey lamb and I travel home from work and hope some jerk doesn't wreck our car in passing by.  We know we belong to the land, but it could use more salt and more sand!  And when we say yeeow! Ayipioeeay, we're only sayin' you're slick and icey, SNO-klahoma!  SNO-klahoma, oy Vey!  It was so cold and snowy in Kansas that the chickens were mugging the sheep to get wool for sweaters!  February will not be so cold where we live and it is the birth month of great men.  The highest aspirations of our great leaders, Lincoln and Washington were to be of service to the people of our beautiful nation.  Lincoln said "You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong; you cannot help small men by tearing down big men; you cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer; you cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income; you cannot further the brotherhood of man by incuiting class hatreds.  You cannot establish security on borrowed money; you cannot build character and courage by taking a man's initiative and independence; you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.  Washington's prayer for America has always awed me.  I quote, "Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.  And finally, that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.  Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."   February is a short month but filled with so many holidays as well as events.  There's National Freedom Day, Ground Hog Day, and Valentine's Day. I remember when I was a kid that Valentine's Day was right up there on the most favorite list.  I liked those dumb little heart candies that had the dumbest sayings on them (which they still do)--you know like "Be Mine".  Happy Valentine's Day, my friends!

      Do you believe that living without laughing is not living!  I asked my "older" neighbor friend, "what are you doin' with that rope?"  and he said, "I don't remember whether I found a rope or lost my horse!"  At my age, I can relate to that!!!  Do you also believe that we could not live without our calendars?  Before the calendars we depend on so much today, Choctaw Indians would gather a number of sticks and throw away a stick a day to keep up with how long it had been or how long it still would be until a certain day.  The General Grand Chapter calendar includes our visit to Italy on March 25th through April 16, 2008.  The itinerary for Italy is finalized and the information can be obtained from Brother Haskell Clark, our Worthy Grand Chaplain.  His home phone number is 423-892-5578; cell 423-400-5803; e-mail hmc312@vol.com  You may also get the Italy information from the General Grand Chapter web site.  Hope you can go for all of the trip or any part of it.  For any additions or changes in the Benton-Owen three year calendar please refer to the GGC web site.

      My closing thoughts seem to be turning toward a prayer that has been on my mind--Great Spirit, you are everything, and yet above everything.  You are first and always have been.  Through you our children will have strong hearts and they will walk the straight path in a sacred manner.  Help me to walk the sacred path of life without difficulty, with my mind and heart continually fixed on you!  Amen.

      Eihoneysj (until we meet again)

                              Affectionately,