Well, we lucked out one more time! The forecast for the latter part of last week was very scary. Predictions were for freezing drizzle, snow and strong winds. What more could there be?Fortunately we received very little snow, some freezing drizzle and high winds. I think it was about 9 p.m. Friday when the strong winds began blowing at top speed and soon Steen and the surrounding area were without electricity. Believe me, I didn’t envy whoever had to go out into the storm to repair whatever had happened!I am not sure just what time the electricity came back on, but when I woke up in the night for the first time, my lights were on in the kitchen and also my dining room. We can be thankful the outage didn’t last too long. When one thought about all of the severe storms that raged across our nation that night, we have a lot to be thankful for. We’ve been so fortunate all winter to escape lots of snow. Here it is January that has only one more week to be with us. February is a short month, so when I think about it I think we need to "think Spring!"Gilbert and Henrietta Elbers, Luverne, Larry and Joan Moeller, Letcher, S.D., and Arvin and Cena Mae Tilstra enjoyed a potluck dinner supplied by them with Elizabeth Elbers at the Tuff Home in Hills.The Steen Opportunity Extension Club met Tuesday afternoon at the home of Lucille Schouwenburg. The lesson on crafts was presented by Henrietta Boeve and Lucille Schouwenburg. Lunch was served by Winnie Scholten. Henrietta Huenink was a Sunday afternoon visitor at the home of her son and daughter-in-law. Kenneth and Gwen Bodewitz, at Valley Springs, S.D.A film, "A Purpose Driven Life," was shown at Steen Reformed Church Sunday evening. They will have a study on this during the Lenten season. JoAnn Paulsen, who underwent knee replacement surgery at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls on Tuesday, has been transferred to the Luverne Community Hospital swing bed unit on Friday. Word was received recently of the death of Doug Hall, whose family lived in Steen when he was growing up. His father was Ernie Hall, who had a feed grinder which he drove to the farmers to grind their feed. Many in the Steen area will remember the Hall family and were surprised to hear of Doug Hall’s death. His obituary is published elsewhere in the Crescent. Ever since that fateful day in September when the Twin Towers were destroyed in New York, I have had many different feelings. Most of them are positive. I am so grateful that our president closed all of the airports that day or I think our entire nation would have been destroyed in one way or another. I am very disappointed in our nation’s citizens who are condemning the war and have said many other derogatory statements about the entire situation. I think it is time for the citizens of our great nation to think back to this nation’s beginning and what it cost those who fought for our freedom giving us all of the freedom we have today. I just hope we can continue to protect this freedom and be good examples for those who wish to be freed. When I read this article, "America On Its Knees," which was written prior to this present time, I felt we should share these thoughts coming from times very similar to what we are going through as a nation today. I hope you agree with me.America On Its KneesOur Father in heaven:We pray that you save us from ourselves.The world that you have made for us, to live in peace, we have made into an armed camp. We live in fear of war to come. We are afraid of ‘the terror that flies by night, the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that walks in darkness, the destruction that wastes at noonday.’We have turned from you to go our selfish way. We have broken your commandments and denied your truth. We have left your altars to serve the false gods of money and pleasure and power. Forgive us and help us.Now darkness gathers around us and we are confused in all our counsels. Losing faith in you, we lose faith in ourselves.Inspire us with wisdom, all of us of every color, race, and creed, to use our wealth, our strength, to help our brother, instead of destroying him. Help us to do your will as it is done in heaven, and to be worthy of your promise of peace on earth.Fill us with new faith, new strength, and new courage, that we may win the Battle for Peace. Be swift to save us, dear God, before the darkness falls.Amen.From "The Battle for Peace."An address by Conrad N. Hilton