Memorial Day 2013

I knew before I went to bed last night, it was not going to be pleasant at the Memorial Day parade and ceremony at our cemetery today, but I went anyway. I drove through rain most of my way to Austin. About 10 miles north of Albert Lea, it was more of a downpour, and never let up. Driving to the downtown area of town, I thought, "There's no way they're having this parade!" But then, I saw older men in uniform, marching and holding flags. I found my family members and watched the remainder of the parade — holding my umbrella over me and my brother. At the conclusion, we walked to his car and drove out to the cemetery. For the first time ever, we sat in the car for the ceremony, which was held, per usual, with dedications of wreaths, 21 gun salute, and taps. There were many umbrellas circling those gathered around the flower arrangements.

Driving back to the cities I thought about this day – being miserable in the rain, temperature holding steady at 52 degrees (This is May 27, right?!). And then it came to me: Shame on me! Shame on me for feeling a little "put out" because it wasn't a beautiful day. My brother spent miserable days – perhaps even weeks, in the monsoons of Viet Nam.

Jerry went through many things of which he has never spoken. I can only imagine the horror he saw. He's not alone. Since the Civil War, there have been many wars, and millions have served and continue to serve, witnessing major atrocities. There are monuments in cemeteries, towns, and cities. There are parades and ceremonies across our nation. In some small way, I hope they speak of our gratitude for the sacrifices that have been made. To those I know personally: Hans, Jerry, Uncle Allan, Wayne, Chad, Keith, Pudge, Nathan, Charlie, Pete, Ryan, Phil, Jim and Merlyn – thank you!

Volunteer Day at the Office

Our office needed some sprucing up, so a "Volunteer Day" was scheduled for Friday afternoon. I was put in charge of the the indoor plants.

Nancy, putting new plants into larger pots

L to R: Ellen, Jennifer, and Carissa

Jim tightening screws on conference room chairs

Dave also tightened screws and oiled joints.

Steve applying bug spray to some of the indoor plants

3 VPs fixing the planters. Pictures on the floor waiting to be hung.

Others helped out, too, but I failed to get photos of them. 

Spring Planting

Some of my new plants

My forsythia with the flowering crab trees in the background

Nels is relaxing.

Now we have standing water! Ran, rain, go away.

Friday after work I shopped for the plants I wanted to grace the outside of my porch this summer. I put the containers outside the screened area, planning to pot them on Saturday. 

Thunder and lightning jarred me from sleep Saturday morning. Nels was cuddled up to me—storms make him uncomfortable. I thought about my new plants outside in this weather, so I donned my raincoat and some old shoes, opened my screen door and brought all of the new plants into the porch. Of course, this meant the porch was "off limits" for Nels until such time as the plants could go outside again.

In the early afternoon, the sun had come out and I got all of the plants into pots. I had them nicely arranged outside and spent some relaxing time looking at them and watching the robins gather twigs and dried grasses, flying off to their nesting sites. (My upstairs next-door neighbor has a pair of robins building a nest in the rafters of her unscreened porch.) 

This morning started out like yesterday. More thunder and lightning. So I repeated my actions and once the plants were safely in the porch, I climbed back into bed. I wasn't so careful to arrange them into groups once the rain stopped

I'm not sure how my plants will fare because there is more rain in the future—actually it's in the forecast for the next three days! With 2-1/2" yesterday and buckets coming down right now, they may float away.

Happy 9th Birthday, Josiah!

Nine years ago, I was visiting Heidi and Chad out in Seattle when Hans phoned to tell me Josiah Snelling had just been born. My first grandchild! Josiah has been a blessing in my life and today I wish him the happiest of days. Happy Birthday, Josiah!

Association

For the past week or so, I have had a craving for a Dairy Queen blizzard. Tonight I succumbed. I went through the drive-through, ordered a Heath blizzard, took it home, and enjoyed it ever so much.

On my first bite, it flooded over me—my memory of my dear friend, Cassie. Oh, how she loved Heath blizzards. Often she would ask me to pick up two and bring them to her home, where we would sit and enjoy every bite. I really miss Cassie. I miss our chats on the phone, in her home, and on little drives around Minnesota. I miss her stories – stories of her childhood on the farm in Wisconsin, tales of how she met both of her husbands (she was widowed twice), driving her around to see the Christmas lights, oh, and her delicious sugar cookies and apple pies. I always loved it that she called me her girlfriend.

I'm glad I chose this Heath blizzard tonight. I have loved reminiscing my memories of Cassie.

Mother's Day

I'm happy today because God has blessed me with three wonderful adult children and seven grandchildren. Thank you for all you mean to me, Hans, Peder, and Heidi. 

I'm content because each of my kids found and married wonderful partners. Rachel, Sarah, and Chad, your love is obvious and I'm grateful to you for the happiness you bring to all. My heart is full!

Tulip Time in Mount Vernon, Washington

Heidi knows tulips are my favorite flower. On Monday, she drove Marshall and me up to a town in Skagit County, north of Seattle, to Mount Vernon, for their tulip festival. We treated ourselves to lunch at a wonderful restaurant/bakery called the Calico Cupboard. This cafe has the best bakery!

Marshall enjoying his gingerbread man

This is one of the many tulip farms in the area.

Scene inside one of the buildings. These cut tulips were gorgeous!

While many of the tulips had already been topped (flower blossom is cut off once it begins withering to allow vegetation from the leaves to return to the bulb), we still saw millions of beautiful tulips in gorgeous colors.

Marshall holding two topped tulips (He did not pick them and we didn't get to keep them.).

Marshall got his face painted. It was so cute!

I loved how they used these apple trees to mark off the parking lot.

The Neighborhood

It's a given that when I visit Heidi's, I take Brian on at least one walk. He loves it, and I do, too. I brought my camera along because I knew we were going to see lots of flowers.

Marshall is getting the hang of his new scooter.

My Seattle Visit

A week ago today, I flew to Seattle to spend some precious time with  Heidi, Chad, Marshall – now 4-1/2 years old, and Brian. I was thrilled that the weather was gorgeous and there were flowers everywhere. This was such a wonderful break from the long, long winter we're still experiencing (places in Minnesota got over 18 inches of snow today and it's still snowing!). The first thing we did was get some lunch at Panera and then went to the Seattle Zoo. 

Which cookie should I choose?

Heidi and Marshall playing the drums

Marshall sporting his new sunglasses

Our Beautiful Country

In the past couple of months, I have been fortunate to travel to two lovely places — Arizona and Washington state. Both times, I had the privilege to fly over the Rockies and the Continental Divide. These snow dusted mountains are awesome. Then today while getting close to Seattle, I was fortunate to see five of the highest peaks of the Cascade Mountains: Three Sisters, Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and then the gem of them all, Mount Rainier – in all her beauty! All of these were covered in snow today, but without any cloud cover, they were clear as a bell. I have learned to sit on the left side (window seat, please) of the plane when going to Seattle, and on the opposite side when returning to Minnesota, just so I get the best view of the mountains. We just don't have that kind of view in the twin cities.

I'll post more later. Right now, I'm enjoying being with my family.

Helping the Robins

Wednesday early evening I witnessed my first robins of the season. While stopped at a red light, I counted 30 robins. Mind you, at that time, we had very little snow remaining. Seeing these sweet birds warmed my heart. Then came Thursday—with at least 8 inches of wet, new snow. These poor robins seemed so confused. Then Friday morning, when I was walking to my garage, I noticed 10 - 15 robins in the tree by my home. Again, snow was everywhere, and still falling. Where were these darling birds going to find anything to eat?

Driving home from work at noon and listening to the radio, Jim Gilbert, a local naturalist who has a fascinating radio show I listen to while getting ready for church on Sunday mornings, was letting us know that the early robins that arrived in Minnesota this week, are males. They migrate two weeks before the females, scouting out their territory for making a home. He said it would be very helpful if we would put out fruit for them to eat while the ground is snow covered. Immediately I thought, I have a lot of raisins, I'll put them out. Once in the house, I got the raisins out and then decided to cut up a bunch of dried apricots to add to them. Next I went out to the driveway – no snow there – and scattered the dried fruit. I was thrilled to see all of it was gone this morning! 

I just cut up two apples, chopping them into fine pieces, and scattered them on the driveway. Perhaps you could feed the robins in your neighborhood, too.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Joanie and me at Olive Garden　

I have known Dr. Joanie since the fall of 1992, shortly after Heidi and I moved to the Twin Cities. I met her when I hosted a "Supper 8" for the singles group at Wooddale Church, where she and I were attending. This is a supper where one invites 7 new people into their home to get better acquainted. Of those 7, Joanie is the only one with whom I became friends.

At the time of our meeting, Joanie was doing her residency at the University of Minnesota. Perhaps we hit it off because she was Dutch—and as you know, I love the Dutch: the windmills, the Delft, and the Netherlands itself. Also, Joanie was raised in south Chicago, not that far from where my Aunt Ginny and Uncle Allan lived at the time. My apartment building in the Twin Cities had a wonderful indoor pool and Joanie is a swimmer. She loved to come over to swim in our pool. To this day, if a pool is available, she swims at least an hour EVERY morning. Oh, and she's skinny as a stick!

Once she finished her residency, she invited me to join her for two job interviews. The first was a clinic in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin - at the south end of Door County. The clinic put us up in a very nice hotel and treated us to wonderful meals. While Joanie had her interview, I wandered around the area.

Her second interview was in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area. We drove there, driving up to Duluth, and all along the North Shore of Lake Superior, through Canada, and coming down through Mackinac Island—where we spent a day as tourists. I had never seen so many fudge shops in my life! Again, while in Grand Rapids, we stayed at a beautiful hotel and were treated ever so nicely. It was the offer from this second interview that Joanie accepted, and off she moved to Michigan.

Thirteen years later, I got a call from Joanie, and lo and behold, she had transferred to the hospital at the University of Minnesota! (I must note that we have spaces of years in which we have not corresponded because she was so busy and committed to her work.) She wanted to get together with me. This new job afforded her the opportunity to work many weeks in a row – for long, long hours, and then giving her a break of 4 or 5 weeks during which she could do mission trips with

Samaritan's Purse. To date, she has gone on 9 mission trips for them to places such as Kosovo, Afghanistan, Togo, Niger, Gabon and Rwanda. She’s happiest when she’s on such a mission.

Dr. Joanie’s specialties are pediatrics and internal medicine. She is a top-notch doctor who could practice nearly anywhere she wanted to. Presently, she is in transition to a hospital in Chicago. She is returning to her roots, to be closer to her family. Again, she will be working in a practice that will allow her to continue the mission trips.

Is there a doctor in my house? Yes, for the next 7 days she is staying with me!

Happy 1st Birthday, Leo!

A year ago today, Sarah gave birth to Leo (Leonardo Xavier). He is my 7th grandchild. I have known him to be a sweet, shy, happy baby – but not really a baby any more. He walks, climbs up stairs, and smiles a lot.  Happy Birthday, Leo!

It's a Wet Day!

  

Not only is it raining "cats and dogs" today, but I woke up this morning to find an inch or so of water under my kitchen sink. "This is not a good sign," I told Nels. Of course, he was curious as to why I was removing most of the stuff and sopping up the water. I thought about calling my boss to let her know I would be taking the day off, but then decided to try to handle the problem from my workplace.
 

Getting to work – feeling a bit frazzled – I had an inspiration: the son-in-law of one of my former co-workers is a plumber. Why not call him? What a blessing that call turned out to be. Not only could he come to fix it today, but he was in the area. He came by my office and got my house keys and then called moments ago to tell me the disposal needs to be replaced. He’s going to purchase a new disposal, install it, and come back to the office with my keys and pick up his check. This is a man I trust, and I am so thankful all of this could be taken care of while I was at work.
 

Note: the rain is still falling, and by tomorrow, it may have changed into sleet and snow—from 4 to 6 inches is the prediction!

Easter Weekend

Some of the flowers that graced our sanctuary this weekend. This photo was taken Saturday just before our rehearsal and warm-up prior to the first service.

Catching my friend, Bonnie, who is photographing the flowers and the platform.

There are times I like to travel over Easter — like last year when I was out in Virginia visiting Hans and Rachel and my grand kids. But many times, my choice is to stay home and sing in many or all of the worship services at my church. As in the past, this weekend included 7 services: 2 late Saturday afternoon and 5 this morning. It's a bit tiring, but very rewarding. How is that? Here are my observations.

First of all, we have the best seats in the house (God's house)! Our seats are always reserved. It is really a joy to see people in the congregation singing their hearts out.  Oh, there are some who just stand there, but most seem to be joining in and enjoying themselves. Looking out, I see people that I may not have seen for awhile. It's fun when we catch each other - eye to eye - and share that smile. One of the biggest joys for me is seeing the children. For most Sundays, the children are off in other parts of the building - in classes geared to their age and interest. But on Easter weekend, all classes are suspended and the kids are in the worship service. Today, at the 11 o'clock service – one of the larger attended ones – I noticed a family of 5 standing in the balcony - wondering where to sit. Two of the children were little girls - about 4 and 5 years old, I would guess. They were wearing identical lavender dresses with white sweaters and lavender hats. They looked adorable! Soon the dad took one of the little girls by the hand and they proceeded to cross the balcony—the other sister, little brother and mom following behind. While they were walking, I noticed the kids' shoes - all three pairs - were the kind that light up when moving. It was so cute!! Why can't the choir wear those for our Christmas Eve services?! During the sermon, I noticed two young girls who were quietly playing with their American Girl dolls. Darling! But the incident that topped that was at the final service. The choir had just finished singing Glory (Rimsky-Korsakoff, adapted Amend). It's an anthem with a dynamic ending. In dead silence (while the pastor was making his way to the podium) a small voice yelled, "Yay!" First there was laughter, which was followed with a long, spontaneous round of clapping. I loved it! The pastor loved it, too.

Singing at seven 45 minute services can be tiring, but care is given to us in the form of food and beverages which we can have between the services. It's really not that bad.

The hardest part for me is controlling my emotions as we sing the hymns telling of Christ's love for us and His incredible gift of dying on the cross for us, so that we can live with Him in heaven after we die. The best part is that He conquered death and arose after 3 days. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Trying to encourage "Spring"

With a blanket of snow and ice on the ground, it seemed appropriate to have a "winter" wreath on my front door. But last week the calendar announced it was "spring," and by golly, I decided to make my home more spring-like. Over the weekend I shopped for a new wreath, but didn't see anything that I liked, so I bought some materials and made one. I rather like how it turned out.

Vacationing in Arizona, Part 5

L to R: Sonja, yours truly, Sharon, Janet

On Wednesday, Janet, Pat, Sonja and I went to Sharon's home for lunch. She is another of our friends from years ago. I haven't seen her since her mother's funeral (Alice), about 12 years ago. 

Photo of Sharon's parents: Fred and Alice.

We talked and talked and looked at old photos.

Sharon with her pug, Portia.

Sharon's lunch was delicious, including this homemade strawberry pie - just like my mother used to make. 

L to R: Janet, yours truly, Sharon, Sonja

Sharon and I

Vacationing in Arizona, Part 4

Tuesday night we went to Arizona Opry, a family dinner theater in Apache Junction. I took this photo of the stage before the program began. The talented stars played nearly every instrument on this stage as well as sang. The dinner was just delicious, and the program was excellent! I told Pudge I definitely want to go there again next time I'm in town. This is so popular, reservations have to be made months in advance.