Fact Or Fiction? (175)
F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God) is a mission outreach of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church of rural Albert Lea. The mission is to promote fun and fellowship.
With Bev and Wayne Indrelie, plus Genie and Bob Hanson (co-chairs of F.R.O.G.), a bus trip to Lutheran Night at the Twins was planned for Monday, July 21st, leaving from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea at 4 p.m.
As with all organizations, there must be a mission statement. Ours was, “Together we will come, together we will see, together we will conquer, together we will happily arrive back at our starting point.”
The “together we will come” was accomplished when 55 Twins fans boarded a 56-passenger coach bus with Marilyn Matson, the bus driver. As part of the “together” part, “Happy Birthday” was sung by all to Darlene Nicolai.
Coming together even more so was the drawing of various Twins prizes (21 in all). Evan Fell, Christopher Jamtgaard, Samantha Jamtgaard, and Nathan Vanek were selected to go out on the field and lead in singing the pre-game National Anthem. Brad Bjerke won a backpack; Gary Goodnature and John White each won a fanny pack; Milaya Thompson, Jerry Heideman, Tony Stevens and Rob Myers each won a water bottle; Bob Anderson won a Twins baseball cap; Dick Haug won a Twins cowboy hat; Diane Olson won a Twins ladies floppy hat; Bruce Olson, Lucy Grippentrog and Jenny Vanel each won a Twins bobble head; Lois Jamtgaard won a Twins bell (she was one great bell ringer); Chris Amorosa won a Twins ladies wrist watch; Steve Thompson won an old-time Twins bobble head; Sheila White won Twins printed material.
“Together we will see” was watching our four young people lead in singing the National Anthem. Darlene Nicolai was recognized as having a birthday that day on the Twins scoreboard. Central Freeborn Lutheran Church was also on the scoreboard in the fifth inning.
The “together we will see” was a great ballgame. Cleveland tied the game 3—3 in the top of the eighth. The Twins got a home run in the bottom of the eighth to pull ahead 4—3.
“Together we will conquer” was accomplished when Cleveland failed to score in the top of the ninth; thus, the Twins won 4—3.
“Together we will happily arrive back” fulfilled our together mission statement.
FYI – for your information – Genie and Bob Hansen were on their way to an E.L.C.A. Ladies Convention in Charlotte, NC, so they weren’t on the bus. Bev and Wayne Indrelie did a great job hosting (per my spies on the bus). Wayne apologizes to the two bus passengers that followed him as he made a wrong turn leaving the stadium.
The next planned activities are: the Social Even of the Year at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church in September, a soup and pie supper; Christmas by the Lake in Clear Lake, IA will be Saturday, December 6th with a bus leaving from behind Slumberland at 3 p.m.
Watch for flyers on the above events.
Thanks to Slumberland, McDonalds, Dairy Queen and KFC for the coupons on the Twins bus. They know how to promote “Minnesota nice.”
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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.
The following is a true story with a few modifications. It was sent to Genie by one of her retired registered nurse classmates of Naeve School of Nursing in Albert Lea.
A church in Atlanta, Georgia has honored one of its senior pastors who had been retired for many years. He was 92 at the time, and they asked him to preach.
After a warm welcome and introduction, as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high-back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself, and slowly and quietly, he began to speak.
“When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.
“The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me – the only thing that would comfort me was this verse: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know. Little ones to Him belong, we are weak but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me – the Bible tells me so.’”
When he finished, the church was quiet. You could actually hear his footsteps as he shuffled back to his chair. There wasn’t a dry eye in the church as everyone rose with a thundering applause and ovation.
Since then, a new version has been written just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For those of us over middle-age or almost there, and all you others, check out this “Senior Version of Jesus Loves Me:”
Jesus loves me, this I know.
Though my hair is white as snow,
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(Chorus)
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me
For the Bible tells me so.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in his I’ll go
On through life, let come what may
He’ll be there to lead the way.
(Chorus)
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart he puts a song
Telling me in words so clear,
“Have no fear, for I am near.”
(Chorus)
When my work on earth is done,
And life’s victories have been won,
He will take me home above,
Then I’ll understand his love.
(Chorus)
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say
That I love Him every day.
(Chorus)
In conclusion, if you think this is neat, pass it on to your friends. If you do not pass it on; nothing bad will happen, but you will have missed an opportunity to “reach out” and touch a friend or a loved one.
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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.
This is another “hopscotch” column – meaning it will be about many things.
If you’re in Audubon, Iowa August 1-3 celebrating the 50th birthday of Albert, a local celebrity, you might think it had something to do with birds or suchlike, because of the town name. You’d be wrong and that’s no bull! Albert is a 50-year-old Hereford bull standing 30 feet high and weighing 90,000 pounds (45 tons). He is the world’s largest bull, being nine times the normal size with authenticity right down to his toenails. Who said they grow ‘em big in Texas?
My nephew is the coach of a St. Peter, MN youth soccer team. His son is the goalie. At a soccer game against Albert Lea, in Albert Lea, some of my neighbors couldn’t understand why I wasn’t pulling for the local team. My Norwegian neighbors fully understood that “Blood Runs Thicker than Residency.”
The Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota will pick up certain donated items left at the end of your driveway. The items must be out by 8 a.m. I blew it and forgot that Genie had asked me to do just that, but I did get the items out by 10 a.m. Net result: too late, no pickup. I moved the potted pretty flowers from in front of to behind the mailbox. In front of the mailbox I put the Epilepsy Foundation items behind a big sign that said, “Free.” When all was said and done, Epilepsy Foundation got the donated items on their next pickup, Genie got new flowers around the mailbox, and somebody got potted flowers free.
Somehow Genie got an invitation from Royston Insurance CPU of Harrison, Arkansas to attend the retirement celebration of an associational missionary with the North Arkansas Baptist Association. She wrote them back a polite decline, as she was busy that Sunday.
In checking for knee-high corn by the 4th, it was well beyond that. I did not consider where there was no corn due to flooded out.
Give your county a fair shake. (Maybe even the next county over.) Genie and I plan on attending both Freeborn and Steele County fairs.
I’m in the Ellendale Café enjoying their great food. I notice about six ladies as they enter. The thing that got my attention was all the red they are wearing – especially hats. Their conversation was very interesting – I really enjoyed listening to the one they referred to as “Queen Mum.” Her most interesting statement was, “Sometimes I wake up Grumpy; most of the time I let him sleep.”
Trivia: At Farm and City Days Saturday, July 12 in New Richland, two pancake flippers flipped enough pancakes to serve a little over 400 people. They wore matching blue and white aprons. They even have the same last name. If you can call them by their first name the next time you see them flipping pancakes, they will make a specially-shaped pancake just for you! (This offer expires at the end of the Sommers Line.)
I never thought I would see portable potties on Main Street in New Richland, but I did on Saturday, July 12. With Steve Stadheim and Bud Tollefson as my witnesses, “This is most certainly true.”
They say that “Location, Location, and Location” are the three most important things about a house. The above-mentioned outhouses were close to the pancakes being consumed. I wonder if there is a “get-up-and-go” connection.
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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.
Genie and I attended the funeral service of Marilyn Nelson at Bayview in Albert Lea on Sunday, June 29. Her mother was Thora (Haug) Sunde. Thora was my godmother. My grandmother Hanson was a sister of Thora’s. Thus, many of the Hanson, Haug, and Sunde relatives plus friends from the New Richland area were there. Marilyn was also a graduate of New Richland High School.
We arrived at Bayview just before the service started – thus not many open seats. Genie sat in one row of seats and I in another. The row I sat in was five chairs. The first three seats were occupied by Haug relatives, a vacant seat and then a young lady whom I didn’t recognize. I introduced myself and asked if she was a relative on the Nelson side as I sat in the vacant seat. She informed me her name was Tracey and she was a nurse at Wellsted of Rogers, MN, and was with Marilyn as Marilyn left this earth for a room prepared for her.
I asked Tracey if she knew my old fishing buddy Floyd, of the AAL Fishing Team, for about 30 years, who was now a resident at Wellsted in Rogers. The answer was yes. She had been a nurse for Floyd until he moved to another building. She told me it had been a pleasure to know Floyd and be his nurse. Small world, isn’t it?
Tracey Cushing, you are definitely cut from the bolt of cloth that says: “For comforting, caring nurses only.” Marilyn’s family thanks you, Floyd’s family thanks you, and I thank you.
At the fellowship afterwards, I promised the cake server I would put in my column that he served the cake. Funeral Director Todd Dumke, I have now kept that promise.
Genie and I had a very enjoyable July 4th celebration. We talked smart, ate hot dogs, and drank pop while watching the July 3rd parade in Albert Lea. The NRHEG Marching Band, as usual, did a good job representing my old alma mater.
Thanks to Zion Lutheran Church for the food stand in front of their church on Bridge Street in Albert Lea during the parade. They even let you sit on the stops, so Genie and I ate their food and sat on their steps!
The night of July 4th, we listened to the Community Band and then watched the fireworks while sitting in Fountain Lake Park in Albert Lea. It was very enjoyable music, especially when they played all the military anthems. When the branch of the service you were in was played, you stood up. At the playing of “Anchors Aweigh,” I stood up, clicked my heels, gave a snappy salute and with a tear in my eye said, “I’m proud to be an American.”
From an old Navy buddy, who when he was alone looking for a place to sit would sit by someone he didn’t know, I learned to do the same.
While Genie was getting popcorn before the band and fireworks, I looked for a place to sit. I didn’t see anyone sitting alone, but I did see three ladies and a guy on one side of a picnic table and nobody on the other side. I introduced myself and sat down, and we were talking as Genie arrived with the popcorn. One lady says, “Genie” as Genie says “Susan.” As nurses, they worked together at St. John’s in Albert Lea about 35 years ago and hadn’t seen each other since. Small world, isn’t it? (Genie is retired and Susan is the school nurse at the Wells school district.)
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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.
This past week was very enjoyable compared to the previous week of rainwater on the basement floor. There were two kinds of basement floors in Albert Lea: those with water, and those without water. My rain gauge measured 8 ½ inches in four days. Genie and I managed to get into the “without water” kind late Saturday, June 21.
The enjoyable week began Sunday, June 22 with church service at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church followed by a bus trip at 11 a.m. to Church Basement Ladies at Plymouth, MN.
We got back to Albert Lea on Sunday night, in time to see that the Iowa Okoboji Lutheran Bible School teachers were settled in for the night at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church and the next four nights while they were at Edgewater Park teaching Vacation Bible School to grades one through six (Genie taught the 3-4-5 year olds). My job was gopher (“Go-fer” this, “Go-fer” that).
Nate Valen, Andy Rushenberg, Claire Garrison, Rachel Gustafson, Cydney Wahlquist, and Morgan Rauch were the team members with Morgan the leader.
I explained to the team about the church warning system between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. of an alarm going off at the police department if a voice was heard in the church building during those hours. The system worked, as they were sacked out before midnight. (For you readers, this really works, even if it is fiction.)
As director of the Vacation Bible School, Genie had lots of very good helpers. The helpers: Greg, Hanna, Diane, Amber, Kelsey, Kylee, Breanna, and Annette all did an excellent job. Trinity, Ascension, Salem and Central Freeborn Lutheran Church were the four sponsors.
The Vacation Bible School ended on Thursday evening with an excellent smorgasbord of food from KFC to patriotic red, white, and blue cupcakes. It was followed by a program put on by the team plus the VBS attendees. The program was well received by not only the participants, but also the crowd attendees. Thanks, Okoboji team!
As the team departed on Friday morning, I asked, “where to next?” They answered, “Ten-wa” as they pointed to the car license plate of Iowa. Now I know where the state of “10-WA” is. Do you?
It was a nice end of an enjoyable week with no rain!
At high noon on a Monday, Thor, the Norwegian god of thunder, lightning and rain performed a weather phenomenon in front of the dining room at Albert Lea Medical Center towards Fountain Lake. He drew an unseen line across Fountain Lake and on up to the dining room. He allowed it to rain on one side and not the other. The line was so pronounced, that people sitting and eating at tables outside neither got wet nor did they know it was raining behind them.
Physician’s Assistant Judy Sibilrud of Hartland, who is a lot younger, has good eyesight, and doesn’t lie, witnessed this event also. If you ask her to verify, she will conclude the tale by saying just what you hear at the end of a church sermon. “And this too is most certainly true.”
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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.
On Sunday morning, the first day of summer, June 22, at 11 a.m., 57 people got on a coach bus behind Slumberland in Albert Lea. The destination was Plymouth Playhouse Theatre in Plymouth, MN. The occasion was the Church Basement Ladies’ presentation of “The Last Potluck Supper” at their Lutheran church on a September afternoon in 1979 (Also their centennial celebration.)
As the bus departed, the passengers clapped and cheered very loudly. They told Marty, the driver, they would clap and cheer for him again when he got us back safely that evening
Genie and I looked at each other in disbelief, as this was not the conduct of Lutherans. We decided the non-Lutherans on the bus were a very good influence on us stoic Norwegian Lutherans.
Women of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church sponsored the trip. Genie Hanson was the ladies’ host. She introduced co-chair Gale Nelson and Donna Peterson. Mary Ann Atchison helped her draw two prize winners. Violet Hanssen and Betty Johnson were winners of red Jell-O, fruit cocktail and a tea towel, as passengers clapped and cheered loudly. (By now even most of the stoic Norwegian Lutherans were with it.)
Genie turned the mic over to long-winded hubby, me. I asked all the passengers to notice the freeway sign on their right of “Hope One Mile.” I brought it to the attention of the few still stoic Norwegian Lutherans that they had one mile to get with it or they would be just like the bus: “beyond Hope.” There was clapping and loud cheering.
With Marty in the driver’s seat and luckily no stop-and-go traffic, we arrived a half hour before the theatre opened.
The performance began just like a Lutheran church service, with announcements. Pastor Tim Drake, a non-Lutheran cast member, recognized the four Lutheran groups that were there. He wished a happy, that day, birthday to Ardie Madson, a member of the Central Freeborn group. (The bus passengers clapped and cheered loudly.)
The first act was of the September 1979 centennial celebration. The following acts were flashbacks of events leading up to the centennial. The centennial celebration was both sad and happy. Sad because the church was closing due to low membership and declining population in the rural church area – thus, an auction that day selling everything, including the church building. Happy because the buyer of the church was moving it to a museum location to be used for social activities.
The cast did an excellent upbeat closing with music as part of the recognition of “Moving On.” The bus passengers clapped and cheered loudly.
Everyone found their way back to the bus and we headed for a 6 p.m. buffet meal at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Owatonna. We sang “Happy Birthday” to Ardie – as usual those words “How old are you?” echoed through the bus. Ardie took the mic and answered, “I’m old enough to know you can have fun at any age. I hope after today you know that, too!” The bus passengers clapped and cheered loudly.
The buffet and service was excellent. In fact, so good that Lowell Elmer led us as he called out the KFC staff for recognition by us doing “Hip, Hip, Hooray” in unison three times with each time louder. The KFC staff clapped and cheered loudly.
As was promised, there was more clapping and loud cheering for Marty as we safely pulled into Slumberland.
This week’s column has a message to all you readers. Please re-read what Ardie Madson said as you listen to yourself clapping and cheering loudly.
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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.
Most of you are aware of the theory of “Best of the Bunch.” This can be determined by voting, whether it be for members of the 2014 All-Star Baseball Game or the Albert Lea Tribune Readers’ Choice Awards. The problem is, the result can be swayed by stuffing the ballot box, by one person voting numerous times, or by a group of people all agreeing to vote the same way.
The following is a survey of the 2014 Best of the Bunch in NRHEG Land. This survey was done by one old Norwegian. There being only one person deciding, the ballot box could not be stuffed. The results could be determined by bribery, but they weren’t, as I declined all bribes.
The survey says:
• Best School District: NRHEG
• Best Town Not on the Level: Ellendale
• Best Golf Course: Riverview
• Best Pharmacy: New Richland Drug
• Best Body Shop: Al’s
• Best Noisiest Door: Ellendale Café
• Best Small Town Under 500 Population: Tie between Geneva and Hartland
• Best (Hottest) Water in a Men’s Room: New Richland One Stop
• Best Café for Sale: Hartland Café
• Best Agricultural Structural Builders: Broskoff Structures
• Best Lake Without Lifeguards: Beaver Lake
• Best Bakery: Nancy Jane’s
• Best Blue House: on Highway 30 in New Richland
• Best Outside Saturday Night Entertainment: Ellendale
• Best On the Spot Appliance Service: Orrin Mortensen
• Best Buyer of Scrap Iron: Pooley’s
• Best Second-Hand Store: Lady Bug Consignment Shop
• Best Place to Buy Carpeting: Groth (Floors 4-U)
• Best Place to Buy Appliances: Sorenson’s Appliance & TV
• Best Landscaping: Sequoia Landscaping
• Best Home Contractor: Arlen Brekke
• Best Retired Electrician: Andy Mucha
• Best Newspaper: NRHEG Star Eagle
• Best Audubon Humorist: Al Batt
• Best Agronomist: Mark Bernard
• Best User of Non-Norwegian Words: Mark Domeier
• Best Keeper-Track of Birthdays and Anniversaries: Kathy Paulsen
• Best Worst Teller of the Truth: Bob Hanson
• Best Auctioneer: Tracy Holland
• Best Dental: Main Street Dental
• Best Waste Disposal Service: Thompson Sanitation
• Best Rebuilder of Boats: Bakken’s Boat Shop
• Best Sales and Service of Docks and Boat Lifts: Tom McCrady
• Best Reader of this column: YOU!
P.S.: If you want to be in the 2015 survey, bribes will be accepted.
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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.
The first part of May, Genie asked if I was going fishing with the guys for a week at Leech Lake. I responded with a loud, definite, “Yes.”
She then asked I would be writing about the trip in this column. I responded with a loud, definite, “Yes.”
Genie then reminded me our marriage was an equal partnership for life. To keep things equal, she was going to the mountains in Arkansas for a week in June with the gals at a mountain retreat. I responded with a quiet, sheepish, “Okay.”
She then informed me that, to keep things equal, she would be writing about the trip in this column. I responded with a quiet, sheepish “Okay.”
The following is Genie’s week of Equality, beginning on a Wednesday and back on a Tuesday.
I went on my road trip by myself. I drove to Arkansas in two days.
First day was beautiful. I played the radio loud and sang along. Enjoyed Public Radio, too.
First day ended in Bethany, Mo. Tired of driving, I went shopping, of course!
Second day it rained a lot, but I could still hear meadowlarks when the radio was off. I saw a doe come out of the woods with her fawn between showers. A grey fox slunk across the road in front of me. I enjoy going off the Interstate to see what I can see.
Twenty-one women gathered at a lovely retreat center in the Ozarks’ tree mountains, so lush and green outside Jasper.
We gathered to dance, Zumba®, tell stories, laugh, do crafts, EAT, play, go for walks, cook some, snack, sleep a little, and some cleanup. No fishing!
Saturday night we had a campfire and sang around the fire and shared stories.
Twenty of the gals were from Harrison and Jasper, Arkansas area. I came the farthest!
Sunday, 21 gals had breakfast at the Cliff House. This restaurant overlooks the awesome Ozark Grand Canyon! Hummingbirds wage battle to get to feeders all across the front deck of the restaurant. The food was good and we all left smiling.
Monday I drove in rain all the way to Marshall, Mo. Had a two-hour break in rain so, of course, I went shopping!
Tuesday I drove in rain until Indianola, Iowa, arriving that evening back in Albert Lea. I really enjoyed my drive.
That’s my story of a week of my kind of “No Fishing” and I’m sticking to it.
Still smiling,
Genie
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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.
I attended a funeral for a dad just before father’s day. The special music was a song, “You Can Let Go Now Daddy.” Part of the reading was an ode to the deceased father:
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew his masterpiece was complete,
And so, he called it “Dad.”
In this modern world, what used to be two things for certain (death and taxes) is now three things, with the addition of change.
When we purchased a cabin at Beaver Lake in 1976, the beach was one busy place. You had to get there early on weekends and holidays to stake out a place by putting down a big blanket. If you got there in the P.M., it was standing room only. There was a line at the concession stand three or four deep at all times. Parking the car was also a problem. The lifeguards were very, very busy.
Thirty-eight years later (with change one of the three certains) the beach at Beaver Lake will have (for the first time) no lifeguards. If you use the beach, you do so at your own risk. (Geneva Beach and St. Olaf Lake will have lifeguards.)
Speaking as one of the volunteers who recycle magazines at Mayo in Albert Lea, we need your help. Please leave your used magazines with the lady at the desk as you enter and we will distribute them within the facility. Thanks.
Many of us drink bottled water. We take it for granted that there is something special about the water – like from a spring or an Artesian well. One of the major brands states that the source is a municipal water supply. To me, this means out of a tap. I like Hope Butter, how about Hope water right out of the tap? What are your thoughts, Victor Mrotz, owner of Hope Butter?
How about those Twins? Granted they aren’t a first-place contender, but they are playing good baseball.
F.R.O.G. of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church will be sponsoring a coach bus to Lutheran Night at the Twins July 21, leaving from behind Slumberland in Albert Lea at 4 p.m. Seating is home plate view with the bus parked nearby. The cost is $45 per person paid in advance – no refunds. Call Bob Hanson at 373-8655 for reservations.
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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.
‘Twas an early Friday morning in May when four wannabe good fishermen left Owatonna headed for Leech Lake to catch mega walleyes. Paul Proft and Jonathon Proft of Owatonna, Bob Goetz of Austin, and Bob Hanson of Albert Lea were the four. Jonathon left Sunday evening, and Ross Heilman of Mankato joined us Monday for the rest of the week.
Many of you have seen the movie “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly,” starring Clint Eastwood. The following is our version of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of our week of fishing at Leech Lake for walleyes.
The Good:
1. We missed the stop-and-go bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-35 both leaving and returning to Owatonna.
2. Getting to the Blue Water Lodge (on a beautiful day) just south of Walker, MN.
3. Being met by the great Amy and made to feel like a VIP.
4. Seeing an osprey attack an adult bald eagle in mid-air. The osprey won, as the eagle dropped the perch it had in its claws.
5. The weather was such that we managed to fish every day.
6. All of us are now excellent cribbage players.
6. A meal of crappies plus bringing home our limit of 10 crappies each. Most of the crappies were over a pound, with the largest pushing two pounds. Excellent crappie fishing.
7. All of the lake ice on Leech was gone.
The Bad:
1. Walleye fishing was very slow. We caught about 12 in a week’s time.
2. Northern fishing was at a low – we caught one.
3. Big perch fishing was very slow, we caught about six.
The Ugly:
1. Having to wait until May of 2015 for our next annual week of fishing at Leech Lake (It will be the fortieth year as an AAL fishing group.)
In summary:
1. Being there with the group of guys was the most important thing. Fishing was secondary.
2. Any charges were according to how busy they are. We got a very good rate as we were there the week after fishing opening and just before Memorial Day. Amy can be reached at 218-56-0385.
3. The accommodations, the setting, the service at the Blue Water Lodge are ten on a scale of one to ten.
Looking ahead on my June calendar, a lot of things are happening.
The full moon is on Friday the 13th. I’m a little superstitious so I’ll avoid black cats and ladders.
Flag Day is Saturday, June 14. Remember, “This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land.” Please honor Old Glory whenever you see her flying. As a veteran, I’ll click my heels along with a snappy salute.
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 15. Living or deceased, a “Thanks, Dad” is the order of the day. Blessed be our Dads.
Tuesday, June 17 is daughter Deb’s birthday. From Dad in Minnesota to daughter in North Carolina, “A cell phone is a distant second to a hug.”
Saturday, June 21 is the first day of summer.
Sunday, June 22 is the bus to Church Basement Ladies.
Last but not least, say “Hi” to that great wife, mom and nurse. She goes by the handle of Amber Lewer.
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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.
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This week’s column is another “hopscotch” column.
As most of you know, Johnson is the most common last name in Minnesota, per the last census. One of the many VIP Johnsons lives in the Beaver Lake area. Her name is Margella Johnson.
When we moved from Beaver Lake to Albert Lea the year around, I took the weather stick with us. When it points up – no rain, down – rain, in the middle – maybe rain. It has been 100 percent accurate this spring.
Many thanks to St Theodore’s Catholic School in Albert Lea for inviting Genie and me to their Volunteer Mass and Brunch. Mandy Grzybowski and staff were excellent hosts.
Wayne Indrellie might have a problem. He is worried that he might lose his “man cave” or else build onto the house. Wife Bev’s team took first place in bowling to add to her many bowling trophies. The question Bev has is where to display all the trophies in one location. Good luck, Wayne.
Genie received a very interesting letter in the mail. By filling out a form, which she did, she might be eligible to vote in the primary and general election of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe at Bena, Minnesota.
Once again Liz LaFrance and Dr. Salazar in Urgent Care at Mayo in Albert Lea treated this old Norwegian like royalty. Liz even met me at the gift shop (along with a helper) to make sure I found my way to the front exit.
Modern technology is great. Most households have a computer but many households don’t use it much beyond email. Our household is most certainly of the “email usage only” variety. Even where Genie and I volunteer to teach Vacation Bible School in remote northern Canada villages, most households have a computer.
Did you know the scammers now have what they call a “Sucker’s List?” This is a listing of names that have been suckered into some sort of scam. This list is then available to anyone via the computer. It seems once scammed, a person is a good candidate to be scammed again. Thus the term “Sucker’s List.”
We think Genie might be on that list. The latest was a telephone call to her to renew her Guideposts subscription by giving her credit card number over the phone. Genie balked and asked for a billing in the mail, which they supplied, with an address in Virginia to send payment to. I called Guideposts in Harlan, Iowa, and was informed this was a scam. Now the scammers are threatening to turn Genie in for collection. Magazine subscribers beware.
Do you like the taste of fresh caught fish? If so, nice sized bluegills are biting on night crawlers at Beaver Lake in front of the beach in about eight feet of water over sandy bottom. I’m referring to 8” and bigger. Evening or a cloudy day is the best. The smaller bluegills are biting in shallow water by weeds.
Do fishermen lie? Only when they get caught!
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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.
During our March visit to relatives in Harrison, Arkansas, we scheduled a two-hour appointment with the Clintons at their home in Little Rock. We were most impressed with their hospitality plus the down-home feeling of being at ease while in their home. Carrying on a conversation also gave us the at-ease feeling. Even their two little doggies accepted us as a normal everyday occurrence. (I guess that’s all part of Southern hospitality.)
Our purpose for being there was our concern for the Democratic Party in the next Presidential election. Both Bill and Hillary confirmed that she wanted to run in 2016. They asked us not to mention our visit until after May 15, as they wanted to use some of our ideas in the Presidential platform Hillary would be running on (seems the Democratic Party chairperson had to give the okay).
Hillary called Genie and gave us the okay to disclose our ideas for a sure win in 2016. Here they are:
• Increase the minimum wage in every state to $10.25 an hour. (An interesting item is the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwa are currently at $10.25 an hour for all reservation employees in Minnesota.)
• Let Mexico plus Canada become part of the United States. How many states there would be in Mexico and how many in Canada could be decided by the current divisions in each country. (This would mean no more expensive border crossings or border controls. The residents of Mexico would be earning a minimum wage, as all the employers would be under the current Federal guidelines – thus no more illegal residents. This would also eliminate most items smuggled across the border, plus less of a difference in price.)
• A Foreign Aid policy of no money and no military help to any country that has a history of fighting with its neighbors or within its borders. (Think of the money and lives this policy would save. Our policy would still be, “If you attack us, you can run but you can’t hide.”)
• A tax of one percent on all sales to get us back on a balanced budget with the excess used to pay down the debt. (Remember under Bill Clinton the U.S. debt was reduced and now Hillary could do the same.)
• A tax of one percent on all our sales to help our transportation system – especially the freeways. (Both parties agree we have major road problems.)
In conclusion, to you the reader, even though Genie and I have voted Republican many times in the past, we submitted these ideas to the most likely Democratic Presidential candidate, as that party is more open to change than the conservative Republican Party. We feel the continual going-in-debt plus the loss of lives of U.S. military personnel on foreign soil have both got to be reduced. Amen.
P.S.: Remember this column is “Fact or Fiction: You Decide.”
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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.
The year of 2014 was a good basketball year in NRHEG Land. The girls were champs for the second consecutive year in the state of Minnesota Class AA. Senior Carlie Wagner was named the Associated Press Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year. She was the Albert Lea Tribune’s All-Area Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year for the third straight year. She competed at the Minnesota Girls’ Basketball Coaches Association’s All-Star Game at Carleton College in Northfield where she was presented with the Miss Basketball Award.
John Schultz was named the All-Area Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Pat Churchill was named All-Area Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year (These awards were from the Albert Lea Tribune newspaper.)
Mama Jane Wagner was named Girls’ Basketball Fan of the Year. Grandpa Bud Tollefson was named Boys’ Basketball Fan of the Year. (These awards were from the writer of this column.)
In related NRHEG basketball news: John Schultz announced his retirement. Do you suppose a member of his family will throw her name in the hat as his replacement?
June 6, 7, and 8, 2014 is the 50th annual celebration of Waterville Bullhead Days. As a younger fisherman I attended a few of the annual celebrations.
When Bullhead Days were at their highest popularity, about 100,000 lbs. of bullheads were caught in the area open water annually. The catch is now about 1,000 lbs. annually. Thus you can see how the popularity of bullheads has greatly decreased. Even so, Waterville is still known as the “Bullhead Capital of the World.”
Following are some true or false questions I’m sure you can solve.
1. The Bullhead Capital of the World is Geneva, Minnesota.
2. Neither St. Olaf nor Beaver lake have a bullhead population.
3. Bullheads are stocked in Leech Lake to feed the muskie population.
4. Bullheads have been known to stop at the Hope Tavern for a glass of tap beer on their way from one body of water to another.
5. Bullhead Under Glass is a favorite luncheon meal at the Ellendale and Hartland Café.
6. Bullhead is a happy hour drink at Hartland University, The Willows, and Geneva Bar and Grill.
7. Bullhead is the major part of a John Deere combine.
8. Paul Proft, Owatonna Thrivent Financial agent, will be the 2014 Grand Marshal at Bullhead Days.
9. Nate Hanson, Waseca Prudential agent, will be the 2014 Grand Marshal at Bullhead Days.
10. Jim Lutgens, owner, NRHEG Star Eagle newspaper, will be the 2014 Grand Marshal at Bullhead Days.
Poor Mama Robin, she will be going back to school this fall. It used to be she just had to know how to count to three snows on her back before she could nest. Times are a’changin’ as seen by the late snows last year and this year. It is hoped she can learn to count to six and thus be safe in nesting next year.
If you’re a bit of a bullhead – the answers are all false!
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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.
(This special column is being reprinted by request from our May 9, 2013 issue.)
Do you know what day is an important day in your life? Sunday, May 11, 2014. Living or deceased, it is in honor of a very important person in your life. If they’re living, a nice gift to that VIP could be a solar dancing flower. If deceased, how about, “Thanks, Mom.”
If you do nothing, quit reading, proceed to just north of the I-35-Hope exit, and you’ll be yourself “beyond Hope.”
Have you ever wondered why God did this or how God did that? I had some questions of this nature about moms, so I decided to get my answers from the experts.
I decided second grade Sunday school kids were the most qualified experts on the subject of moms. To get my answers, I posed the following questions to second grade Sunday school children at local churches.
Why did God make mothers?
1. “She’s the only one who knows where the Scotch tape is.”
2. “Mostly to clean house.”
3. “To help us out of there when we were getting borned.”
How did God make mothers?
1. “He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.”
2. “Magic plus super powers and a lot of string.”
3. “God made my Mom just the same like He made me. He just used bigger parts.”
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. “God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.”
2. “They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.”
Who’s the boss at your house?
1. “Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because Dad’s such a goofball.”
2. “Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.”
3. “I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad.”
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. “She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.”
2. “I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it, not me.”
3. “I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.”
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mother?
1. “We’re related.”
2. “God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.”
What kind of a little girl was your Mom?
1. “My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.”
2. “I don’t know because I wasn’t there. But my guess would be pretty bossy.”
3. “They say she used to be nice.”
Why did your Mom marry your Dad?
1. “My Dad makes the best spaghetti in the world, and my Mom eats a lot.”
2. “She got too old to do anything else with him.”
3. “My Grandma says that Mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.”
What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. “On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.”
2. “Diet. You know, her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.”
Readers, if there is any feeling of who the second grader reply might be from, it could be more than coincidence! Remember, those boys and girls are from area churches.
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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.