Tis the political season

In early 1988 Mike was up and off to church for Sunday services.   About 7:30 he called home and said the Secret Service just called and Paul Simon is coming to worship at St Paul!  I hastily changed my plans and got ready for church and told our kids to get ready for Sunday School and I’d come home to get them. 

I remember sitting on the left side about 3 rows behind Mr. Simon.  He was in suit and bow tie alone in the pew. Seated in the pew ahead and bit to the left was a secret service agent.  Seated behind him and closer to the aisle was a second agent.  Both agents wore trench coats the entire service and had cords coming out of their ears and didn’t participate but were certainly alert.  

And there sat Paul Simon participating fully with liturgy and hymn singing …he knew his way around the hymnal!

Later I learned he was the son of Lutheran missionaries to China and attended college at Dana.  At that time, he was a U.S. Senator from Illinois and running for President of the United States. 

                                           

He withdrew from the race in April.

GOOD BYE DEAR FRIEND

Since June 11, 2000 we have enjoyed Uncle Don’s Dock.   On that day Jay brought the dock on country back roads to Loon Lake.

Uncle Don with expertise and design built a sturdy dock with a drive shaft so he could attach a motor and “drive” the dock in and out of the lake.  When their new lake home was built the distance between homes didn’t allow for the dock.  Hence the dock was available to us.

We have enjoyed it thoroughly and watched the grandkids grow up. 

Mike often used it for evening reading.  Fish were caught.  I enjoyed basking on a raft tethered to the dock with a dog leash in the summer quiet.  A lift joined the dock for boat rides. Sometimes someone was “bumped” into the water. 

One summer we had so much rain it allowed Mike to walk on water.

Each spring the dock would be evaluated for loose planks and painting if needed.  Our dear neighbor would bring his tractor over to raise the end and push it into the water. In the fall the process was reversed.  It sounds simple but really was quite a process.  Age (ours not the dock's) determined it was time to explore another way to have a dock.

The new owners are younger and have children and I’m so happy to know others will enjoy our beloved dock.

Measurement of Pandemic

It is June 4, 2020.  Since mid-March we’ve worshiped online.  It was suggested to have a candle and bowl of water for worshiping at home.  I found this 12 inch taper.  Now it is 7 inches. 

I’ve made masks.

Now both Mike and I have had haircuts.  Whew.

 

I had a medical checkup on schedule but by zoom.

Now I’ve had a dental checkup 2 months late with lots of careful prep.  I hope the providers are still healthy.

I’ve watched Buena Vista County where Mom lives stay at zero cases for weeks and then balloon to 850 cases and one death.

I haven’t visited Mom for 12 weeks.  I’m thankful my sister is there.

I’ve appreciated a 6 week wellness class.

It is great to sit in a lawn chair bundled up, 6 feet apart, and eat a sandwich with friends and last week we actually were getting sun.

What's the Password?

Myles was 5 1/2 and we were at Andy and Nicholas's home.  Myles found this portable manual typewriter.  He was eager to try it.  Nicholas put it on the floor and got paper and rolled it in.

Myles was ready and asked immediately, "What's the password?"

Picture Frames

In 2007 the barn on the farm was definitely aging. 

My dad explored salvaging the boards.  Dad and I went out to the farm and brought home a barn door.  

I taught at Storm Lake Middle School and Mike, the industrial arts teacher, was gracious (after roping him in) and cut the wood and created picture frames – 14 for the grandchildren of Marie and Adolph.  I used an aerial picture of the farm and gave them to my sisters and cousins.

Loon Lake Lutheran

(also pronounced Lootheran)

Throughout our 20 plus years at Loon Lake several times each summer we worship together at Loon Lake.  We sit on the couch, rockers, lawn chairs and the floor.  

Candles lighted.

We use the out of date hymnal currently the green LBW. 

Often a devotional book by Rueben Youngdahl will be brought out along with Egemeiers Bible Stories or the Spark Bible.

We have scripture and singing.

Often Mike will offer thoughts but not always.  

My biggest smile came when Myles age 3 asked Gretchen to take him to the nursery!

Danish Plates

When we were married fifty years ago my grandma gave us a Bing and Grondahl  Christmas plate.  

She then gifted me with a Royal Copenhagen Mother’s Day plate when our children were born.  

In celebrating  Grandma’s tradition we have gifted our children with B & G plates for their weddings and also Royal Copenhagen Mother’s Day plates when each grandchild was born.

And this year we celebrated our 50 years with a B & G Christmas plate.