Minnesota trip #4- Anniversary & Lakeside

And now, after a long absence due to busy life (we've been living our life--not blogging it!), computer problems, and long hours at work, we'll try to post the last pictures of our trip to Minnesota. It seems hard to believe that was almost a month ago now! Time flies...

On Saturday, I (Marilyn) left my reunion in Minneapolis early so that I could join my family who had already traveled north, for another milestone celebration. My little country church was celebrating their 125th Anniversary and we were happy that we could be there for this event.
Small, but beautifully familiar, it is always a joy to walk into this sanctuary where the Word of God is still preached with conviction and clarity. I thank God for the privilage of growing up in a family and a church where Jesus is loved and served. The Saturday evening service was mostly a time of music and sharing of memories. Many former (or associated) people shared their memories of what Jevnaker Church has meant to them as they grew up and through the years since. The highlight of the evening was the stringband, now called the "Loose Strings." Music has long been a tradition in this little country church and we always enjoyed singing and playing musical instruments together. I was even invited to join in on the piano for the last song! My Mother and her sister singing with their harps...

My Father, almost 87 years old, was the star performer with his harmonica solos...

Thanks Mom and Dad for always making music such an important part of our lives when we were growing up. (Maybe that's why I love music so much today???)

After staying the night with my sister and her husband, we drove back to the country church for the morning worship service and a potluck dinner. It was so enjoyable to meet old friends again and visit with so many cousins, aunts and uncles. But, we were anxious to see my brother also! Rayn was already at his lake home and waiting with his pontoon boat ready! As we headed for the lake, we drove past the farm where I grew up. (Our farm on the far left, and my maternal grandparents lived right next to us on the farm to the right. Years later, my brother bought that farm and had a dairy farm together with my dad for many years until dad's retirement and Rayn's desire to leave farming.)

Shortly after we arrived, our trusty captain, Rayn, took us on his pontoon boat for a ride around the lake. Jayden had his first boat ride!His mommy also relaxed and enjoyed watching great grandma loving the presence of her first great grandchild.It was wonderful to enjoy the clear sky and water of the Minnesota north country.Enjoying the ride...Margaret and Dave (Marilyn's youngest sister)

Siblings together: Marilyn, Rayn, and Margaret

Family photo-opMom and DadJust visiting and enjoying the afternooon together. My mother's two sisters and their husbands were also with us for the afternoon, so it was great to spend a bit more time with my aunts and uncles before we all went our separate ways. Unfortunately, Rayn's wife was unable to join us for the afternoon, so we missed her. Aunts Harriet and Helen and my motherAunt Helen and Uncle DonUncle Bill and Aunt Harriet
Great Grandma savoring every minute with Jayden!
"Grandpahood" looks good on you, great uncle Rayn!

Minnesota trip #3- Deac Reunion

On Friday, June 20th, Jim and the kids left for northern MN and I (Marilyn) stayed behind to attend my 35th nurses' class reunion. (Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing) That evening I was able to spend time with my two best friends from class: Margie and Margarethe. After a fun supper, "the three M's" visited for several hours in a quieter place in the Mall of America. The conversation was so great that none of us were even tempted to shop! It was wonderful to catch up on each other's lives and spend that time alone before we met our other classmates the next morning. "Blessings on your heads, dear friends!"On Saturday morning, about a third of our classmates gathered at Sandy's (far left) house
(view from the deck behind her house)
There were many hugs

and lots of catching up on the past five years...

looking at our graduation pictures...
...and remembering "back when"
We sang our class song...
"We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender.

We go not forth alone against the foe.

Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,

We rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go."

I am so happy that I was able to attend a nursing school where the Word of God was central to all of our work and learning. Our instructors began class with prayer; each morning we worked in the hospital, we would have a short devotional in the chapel and then walk as a group to the different floors where we would sing a couple of hymns for the patients who were hospitalized. We were taught not only to marvel at the beauty and intricacies of the human body that God had created, but also to regard and respect each one of our patients as a unique and precious creation of the Lord. We are so blessed! Several classmates could not come to the reunion, but they sent greetings and updates

And of course, there was plenty of food!

We enjoyed the beautiful summer day on Sandy's back patio...

and continued to share our lives and memories with each other.

Unfortunately, the hours went by far too quickly for me, and soon I had to leave with my friend Joanie for another reunion celebration further north!

So, a last good-by to Margarethe...

...a stop by Joanie's son's house so she could hug her sweet grand-daughter one more time...

And then we were on the road for the next events of the weekend!

Joanie and I enjoyed a wonderful 3-hour visit while we drove. It was so good to re-connect again and we enjoyed sharing the joys and sorrows of our lives over the past 2 years since we were last together. How we thank God for wonderful friends!