April is just around the corner. What happens the 1st part of April? For one thing, April 1st is well known as April Fool's Day.
Why April 1st being April Fool's Day??? Many of us have no problem looking like a fool any day of the year. I know that includes me and maybe you too!!
For now, I'm going to continue looking like a fool whether the date is April 1st or any other date. I've got a hunch the old saying “There's no fool like an old fool” has a huge membership. I'm certain there is an even larger number waiting to be “old” members.
Another early April date is opening day of baseball for the Twins at home in Minnesota. The date is April 6th.
F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God) is sponsoring a “Guess when all the snow will be gone from the west side of the parking lot” at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church rural Albert Lea. The winner for the exact date receives $20 in cash.
(An interesting observation is “Some years the snow is gone before the Twins opener and some years after the Twins opener.” Genie guessed the snow would be gone before the opener and so did I – but we didn't guess the same month!!)
Lutheran night at the Twins is August 15, 2023 this year. F.R.O.G. Of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church rural Albert Lea plans on taking a coach bus from behind Hy-Vee in Albert Lea. 8 people from the bus will go out onto center field and help in singing the national anthem. If your firthday is August 15th and with your permission your name will be on the score board. It is dollar night for hot dogs. Seating is home plate view rows 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Watch this column plus brochures for details (cost, time leaving, etc.) to be determined by mid June.
Genie and I have always been of the mindset Don't snipe and gripe – be involved first and then if warranted snipe and gripe. One example was Good Earth Village, Spring Valley, Minnesota. By Genie being the camp nurse in the summer, my attending some of the activities plus staying over night at Good Earth Village we have nothing but praise for the camp.
We attended the annual meeting the first Sunday in March, 2023 at Good Earth Village. Our conclusion was as other years, “Outstanding.” Les and Lois Anderson from Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Amy and Mike Yocom brought their Pastor Ryan from Emmons Lutheran Church, all of us were in agreement as to “Outstanding.” (I'll admit it took a statement from me “One of the Board of Directors of your employer and I are members of the same alumni” to convince Mr. Yocom.)
By the way, Al Batt is the featured speaker at the 4-18-23 Lunch and Learn program at Good Earth Village. Al will not be talking about being on the board of any banks but he will be talking about birding. If you're interested in attending contact Good Earth Village. Phone # 507-346-2494.
Ask any local resident of NRHEG who is currently the most talked about person of the school district. They will tell you Annabelle Petsinger, that's who. Annabelle just brought home the first Girls' State Wrestling Championship in NRHEG school history. My reaction, “Wow.”
Have you ever noticed being nice is contagious? Natives of Ellendale, MN are very contagious when even at work in a different city. I'm referring to a native of Ellendale working at the Southeastern Minnesota Oral Surgery on Hillcrest Avenue in Owatonna. This person is a classic example of the contagious bug from Ellendale that will hopefully infect both you and me and even have some of the bug left for others.
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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 New York. 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.