They came from Glenville, Myrtle, Northwood, Ellendale, Hartland, Maple Island, Albert Lea, New Richland, Blooming Prairie, and points in between. They came from next door, Norway by way of Glenville, Germany by way of Albert Lea. They came in vans, trucks, SUVs and cars.
They came to the F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God) Valentine’s Day party with Norwegian Bingo at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2. The food, fun and fellowship (the F.R.O.G. outreach mission) began after Wayne Indrelie brought in the pizza from Dominos and Bob Hanson gave the table prayer.
After the pizza, 12 games of Norwegian Bingo were played. The person getting Bingo picked out a free prize from a table of various prizes, then to the white elephant table to purchase a prize of their choice for a dollar.
After the last game of Bingo, those who didn’t win were able to pick a prize from the Bingo table and a prize from the white elephant table for a dollar. The prizes were then combined and sold four for a dollar. The prizes ranged from Valentine candy, puzzles, a Vikings football to match boxcars plus everything you really didn’t know you needed. It was very interesting to notice all the parents with many dollar bills to begin with and a few to end with.
After Bingo, a generous portion of vanilla ice cream with your choice of topping (chocolate, butterscotch, strawberries, whipped cream with a cherry on top—wow!) was served. Door prizes were drawn during the dishing of the ice cream with toppings. Winners were: Larry Krohn, teddy bear; Karen Erickson, big stuffed dog; Tyler Iverson, puzzle; Bev Indrelie, teddy bear; Dale Mrotz, snowman; Emily Griggs, photography session.
Barb Mrotz of Ellendale was a lucky Bingo winner. Her prize choice was a bottle of Old Spice men’s aftershave lotion. If you smell Old Spice in the Ellendale area, you know hubby Dale is out and about.
A great example of a random act of kindness was when Brad Bjerke and Bev Indrelie let a youngster replace them when they got a Bingo.
During the evening, each person picked out a Beanie Baby of his or her choice. Valentine cards for those not getting around so much were signed by the guests and after church the next day to be mailed on Monday along with food coupons.
The groundhog didn’t see his shadow this year, thus no more winter! This most certainly helped the fellowship as people had cabin fever after four days of below-zero temperatures confining them indoors—especially students who had five snow days.
Seventy-one people had planned on attending. The previous Thursday the Lord, according to Isaiah, announced, “I have called you by name, JoAnn, you are mine.” The clan of JoAnn Carlsen had planned on attending the F.R.O.G. Valentine party. The wisdom of the F.R.O.G. co-chairs made the decision to deliver the pizza, Beanie Babies, and some Perkins goodies to the clan.
The service of celebration for JoAnn Carlsen was held at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019.
P.S. The F.R.O.G. Valentine party on Feb. 3, 2018 was attended by JoAnn. Her name was drawn for a Perkins door prize of muffins!
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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.