F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church in rural Albert Lea sponsored a bus trip Saturday, Dec. 1 to “Christmas by the Lake” in Clear Lake, Iowa. 52 people were on the bus.
Fifteen drawings for Deal-or-No-Deal prizes were held on the bus prior to arriving in Clear Lake. Winners were Bruce Stolaas, Alice Feurhelm, Bob Hanson, Nancy Harris, James Olson, Yun Young, son Justin and daughter Jiyun, George Kastelli, Anita Wood, Betty Patterson, Harry Larkin, Dorothy Larkin, Dorothy Kirsch and Eunice Hanson. Becky Boelter said “Deal!” on getting her lost earring back.
A Christmas stocking (litter bag) was given to each person on the bus including the Great Bus Driver, Marilyn Matson. An ice scraper from the Clear Lake Chamber, plus food coupons from Dairy Queen (thanks to Pat in Waseca and Genesis in Albert Lea), Arby’s (thanks to Debbie and Mrs. Bob Hanson in Albert Lea), and KFC in Albert Lea (thanks to Guyla in Albert Lea) were in the stocking litter bag.
There were many activities on Main Street which were followed by a lighted Christmas parade at 5 p.m., and then excellent fireworks from the lakeshore. (The parade and fireworks could be viewed from the bus.)
As we left, the GPS on the bus followed a great food aroma that took us to KFC in Clear Lake for a buffet supper. Kelli, Tammi and staff treated us like hungry people arriving and stuffed people leaving. Kelli even sent leftover buffet food containers to be raffled off on the bus.
As we left, Judy Menssen led us in singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to the KFC staff.
The evening concluded with many nasal sounds on the way back to Albert Lea by 9 p.m.
The next planned F.R.O.G. activity is a Valentine’s Day party with pizza, pop, and ice cream bar, with some Norwegian Bingo on Saturday evening, Feb. 9 at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.
The Christmas by the Lake bus trip in 2013 is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7.
At 4 p.m. Nov. 9, 2012, four miles east of Lerdal, Minn., banker Laura Worke of Albert Lea proved that persistence is worth the wait. For 14 years. at the end of the deer hunting season, Laura would say, “One more year closer to getting a buck.”
After shooting an eight-point buck, Laura was shaking so much that her dear hubby had to field dress the deer.
In response to your question: Yes, Virginia, there is a banker in Albert Lea, Minn. who faithfully reads this column.
In closing: “A Merry Christmas to All and a Good Christmas Season. Remember, Jesus is the Reason For the Season.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.