SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS

It's that time of year again. Carrie and I decided we would plan to take in all of the Christmas programs in which our Superkids were involved this year. Can you imagine that with about a dozen kids, that meant 4 programs to attend? We made 3 of the 4, but opted out of one due to the distance and very cold temps. Yesterday afternoon was the rescheduled jr & sr high program at Deubrook in White. Excellent job by the choirs and bands!! We had not been to a concert there in years and were pleasantly surprised at the level of musicianship and crispness of the music. And it was fun to see so many friends and family members of the musicians that we knew. Great job--all of you musicians!!

A GREAT TRIP TO THE HILLS!!

Our annual trip to the Black Hills for deer hunting was a great time for both Annette & Justin. Justin got to hunt some with Dirk, and also with his lifelong friend, Leroy Larson. They began hunting on a Friday and Justin got a nice doe on the following Thursday. When he left that message on Nancy's phone we all set up a loud "PRAISE THE LORD!".

While Justin was hunting, I was enjoying the beauty of the area as Nancy and I shopped and took in lots of activities. We visited the fun Christmas stores--Mistletoe Ranch and Christmas Village, ate at Bully's Blends (always a treat), went to the hockey arena for Thor to get his gear for the upcoming hockey season, enjoyed meeting the young moms and their little ones in Nancy's interactive Bible study at church, worshipped with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Dove Christian Center,
took the quilt top in to the woman who will machine quilt it, and did lots of visiting!

Of course, interspersed with all of that was plenty of Grandma time. Liv got to know us better and rewarded us with good-bye hugs when we left last Saturday.
Anika and I played American girl dolls, and we played games with both Thor and Anika. I even was there to see Thor recognized for making the 4.0 honor roll this first quarter of school. Thor is already in 4th. grade. Like Nancy says, "he's nine and that's halfway to eighteen!" Yikes!

We enjoyed balmy temps in Piedmont, but it's almost as nice here right now. We were interested to see how much harvest has been accomplished during the week we were gone. There is still lots of water standing in fields all along the way in East River. We thank God! for the balmy days we are having now to help the harvest along.

Soon it's Thanksgiving. We love this season of fall weather and enjoy every day when the sun shines and the air warms in the afternoon.

A PERFECT OVERNIGHT TRIP

I'll have to explain the title. Carrie and I took an overnight trip to Minneapolis this past Thursday and Friday. Our first destination was the Mall of America. Carrie had never been there before and especially wanted to visit the American Girl store. It was great "girly" fun to view all the dolls and their accessories! From there, we did a bit of browsing, especially enjoying the kid stores, including the Build-A-Bear store and the Lego store. (Guess I am a true Grandma!) We didn't see all of the mall by far, but really had fun (a very surprising thing for me--I'm not much of a fan of mall shopping). Amazingly, the freeway traffic wasn't even too bad going from there to visit and stay overnight with our friends, Dick, Kristi, Mia & Shayla. The girls are as cute as ever and had a great time dressing and playing with their American Girl dolls with Carrie.

We had a wonderful time of sharing about things of the Lord with our friends.
Friday morning we left Minneapolis in the rain, even drove through some snow, and were thankful all of it quit before we were 50 miles out of the city. In Hutchinson I truly exercised my "gift of shopping" when we spent 2-3 hrs. in the Joann's Fabric store! Christmas is coming and there are 5 grandkiddies to prepare for!!

We arrived home a bit after 6:00 p.m. and Justin was burning branches from the big old boxelder we had had sawed down a couple of weeks before. Carrie and I grabbed rakes, added leaves to the pile and helped him finish the project. It was good exercise after hours of sitting in the car.

After making the trip, we wondered why we had waited so long to drive to Mpls.
What an easy trip--4 hrs. at 60 mph. We won't wait so long before doing it again.

What we did see all the way on our trip was thousands of acres of unharvested corn and beans. We are praying according to the Scripture where God promises seedtime and harvest as long as the earth remains. God is faithful--the harvest must be brought in!!

PROCESSING APPLES---

It's Monday morning and my usual time to call Mom Lillian, catch up on our weekend news and receive communion together. We have an extra-long visit this morning while my apples bake in a slow oven. (The goal is to get them really mushy so I can put them through my cranking strainer and make homemade applesauce, which we love!). After our phone visit is through, I open the oven door to see how my apples have progressed. WHAT A SIGHT!!! The apples in both roasters have been happily cooking over for some time. There is cooked apple on the bottom of the oven (not the whole bottom, but probably a third of it), hanging from the roaster lids and on the sides of the oven racks!! Obviously, the apples are done!

I laughed--what else was there to do. You'd think I'd never done hundreds of quarts of applesauce in my life before. One good thing is that the oven was only on 300 degrees, so the apples were not burned to the bottom of the stove, just sticking in some places. I NOW HAVE A CLEAN OVEN!! And the batch that's cooking in there right now is doing so at a bit lower temp. So much for years of practice in the kitchen!!!

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE - Paynesville, Mn. - KEEP YOUR FORK!

Last weekend Carrie & Annette joined Pastor Joyce and a friend from Russell, Mn., to attend a women's conference at beautiful Lake Koronis near Paynesville, Mn. Despite driving through pouring rain for part of the trip, we arrived safely (thanks to Cathy's careful driving). We were joined by about 80 other women from 15 AFCM
(Association of faith churches & ministries) churches. Our speaker was Brenda Thomas, from the bay area of California. She and her husband pastor a church in Hayward. It was interesting to hear her testimony of how, when she was a teenager, God showed her faces of people from many nationalities, especially Asiatic. She began then to pray for the people she had seen, doing most of it in tongues, since she didn't know just how to pray specifically. She said she was just a young teen in Oklahoma who had never traveled the world, but surmised God had called her to be a missionary, probably somewhere in the Orient.

Well, that didn't happen. She met her husband, Mark, at Bible school in Oklahoma and they began pastoring in Minnesota. In 1982 they moved to the San Francisco area.
When they drove to this area, she saw the faces she had seen as a teen; the presence of the Lord filled the car and she began to weep. Her husband wondered why she was crying. She answered that these were the people she had seen decades earlier in prayer; she knew she was "home" and this was their calling--to minister to the many different ethnic groups of people in the bay area. So their church is a kaleidoscope of nationalities. Isn't that a great testimony of the leading of the Holy Spirit?

Despite not getting the greatest sleep the first night, we enjoyed our time at the conference. The weather was perfect! We had time to take walks around the campground and enjoy the mild air, sunshine, gorgeous Lake Koronis, the good and ample fare of food, and the meetings.

The speaker had brought her daughter-in-law with her, who shared her own testimony of redemption. The young woman's parents "stood in the gap" for her during the years she spent in rebellion against God and His call on her life. After her testimony an altar call was given for those moms who have wayward children for whom they are praying. It's always unnerving and sad to see at least one-third of the women respond to such an altar call. That is when I thank and praise God that I never had to go through the agony these moms are experiencing as they pray for their kids and watch them struggle against God.

Pastor Brenda left us with this reminder: KEEP YOUR FORK--THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
She reminded us that God is not done on this earth yet; He has not forgotten this nation; He will answer our prayers for deliverance. When we eat a company meal, and the hostess tells us to "keep your fork", it means there is still something else coming that will taste REALLY good. And that's what she was reminding us of--we should "keep our forks--THE BEST (with God) IS YET TO COME!!"

I was home by mid-afternoon on Sunday. It's good to be unpacked and know I can stay home for awhile now. It's still my favorite place to be!

More party news---

I keep thinking of more things I neglected to include (that's what happens when you compose at the keyboard, I guess).

Anyway, Justin WAS at the celebration. He came Saturday morning in time to have the brunch late. And he enjoyed two sessions of target practice with the guys both Saturday and Sunday afternoons before leaving later Sunday. It was a highlight for him. Since we live in town now, it's not so easy to come up with a place for target practicing.

Another favorite treat of the weekend was Justin's homemade fudge! Somehow the pieces seemed to disappear from the plate. He's gained a reputation for this one treat he makes in the kitchen!

Addendum to last posting...

Not only were 7 grandchildren & their families not able to attend. Mom's sister, brother-in-law and brother were also home in California and we missed them. Thanks to Uncle Chuck, who again rose to the occasion and wrote an original poem for the celebration! We know all 3 of you were with us in your thoughts & prayers. Thank you for staying in touch with Mom so faithfully! WE LOVE YOU ALL!! --Annette

MOM LILLIAN'S 90TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Where do I begin to tell about our full weekend in N.D.? Carrie I joined the family at the home farm (where Wendell & Judy live, along with their son Aaron, Angie, Hailey, Lexi & Jacob on Friday evening. My sister, Ramona, from Frisco (Dallas area), Tx., and older brother Duane & Linda from Yukon (Ok. City area), Ok., were already there. (All four of us don't get together more often than every few years, so it's a big event when it happens.) Ramona was staying with Mom in her cozy apartment in Hillsboro, but the rest of us had very adequate accommodations in the old Berg house with Wendell & Judy as gracious host hostess.

Late Saturday morning we all were together again for a sumptuous brunch. Judy & her fun daughter-in-law, Angie, had the table beautifully decorated. Carrie and Annette provided the ample fare. The pumpkin-chocolate chip muffins and melon-berry fruit trays were some of the favorites servied.

Celebrating continued all day. A highlight for all of us Berg kids was the opportunity to visit with favorite N.D. auntie, Jeanette, who now lives in Luther Memorial Home in Mayville. Her daughters, Juliet & Sonia, brought her out to the farm. She stayed in the car, but each of us had a change to greet her, love on her and visit with her a little. We may not have understood everything she was saying, but she clearly understood where she was, and we were so thrilled and thankful that she seemed to recognize us and could visit with us a bit! Jeanette is 98 and is aware of that! She even enjoyed her "afternoon coffee" with goodies before her daughters took her back home. As a rare treat, we 6 cousins who had grown up together had our picture taken. I don't know when that has happened in decades, or ever for that matter!

In the evening it was time for sweet corn & grilled burgers (thanks to our talented generation of grandchildren--Aaron Berg & Lance Morrison!), with fresh peaches for dessert. Lance's family joined us in the mid-afternoon, so the farm was bustling with kiddie activity, besides the visiting in various areas of the yard and in the two homes.

Carrie was in charge of making a birthday banner for Lillian, and she did a great job over in Aaron & Angie's mobile home. The great-grandkids helped color in come of the letters and did themselves proud decorating the banner LIBERALLY with stickers! (Can't you just see it?)

Lance's family stayed overnight with the Aaron's Berg's. Don't know how much sleep the adults got, but they all had a fun time together!

Sunday morning it was time for the church service on the farm. Wendell had lined up the order and was in charge. Special music was a hymn by the 4 Berg children (something we do every 10 or 15 years or so), brass duets by Linda on trumpet and Wendell on baritone, and a song by the great-grands with Wendell. Brother Duane (the most right reverend [as he teasingly likes to be addressed]) spoke to us from I Cor. 13, the love chapter, and challenged us to chage our thinking concerning everyone we meet. We could all examine ourselves to see where we need to line up our thoughts, words & deeds with God's ways.

Four of Mom's special friends were invited to join us for the church service: her long-time former neighbor and dear friend, Ida Mae Overmoe; her adopted neighbor-sister, Marlene Fugleberg; and her adopted grandchildren, Rob & Rae Bell. Marlene also brought her sister-in-love, Nannette Bagstad. What a delight! We all went to country school with Nannette and love her!

Following a delicious dinner of beef & chicken kabobs (grilled by Lance & Aaron again), there was more visiting. By mid-afternoon Justin left; then Duane & Linda.
By evening there were only six of us in the farmhouse to enjoy an intimate conversation about the goodness of the Lord to our family through challenging times in past years. It was a warm time of fellowship for Ramona, Mom Lillian, Wendell & Judy, & Annette & Carrie. God has been very good to us!

By Monday morning we were all headed home, thanking and praising God for a wonderful family celebration! We had remembered the heritage of our loving, praying Grandpa, Rev. Alfred Andersen, and could see the thread of answered prayers through the generations of the Berg family.

There were 7 children who could NOT attend the party. They were missed, and I couldn't help but think what a LIVELY farmstead it would have been if they had all been there with the many grandkiddies! They are Duane & Linda's kids: Lowell, with wife Tammie, sons Karsten & Clayton; Colin & his son Preston, & Karen with husband Michael & sons Nolan & Conner. Justin & Annette's son Dirk, wife Nancy, with Thor, Anika & Liv could not come either. Also Ramona's sons, Mark & wife Lisa, with stepson, Austin; and son Erik & Diana & Brett & Ashleigh. And finally Wendell & Judy's youngest son, Brian with his wife Susie & adopted daughter, Melina. We missed you all, we thank God for you, and trust you will enjoy this "epistle" of our time together! WE LOVE YOU!!

THANK YOU, WENDELL & JUDY, FOR HOSTING MOM'S BIG CELEBRATION!!

MOM LILLIAN

Brian & Susie - Quebec - A Great Trip!!

I'M HOME AGAIN!!
What a trip we had!! Wendell & Judy, Mom Lillian and I left Hillsboro early Monday morning, June 22, on a foggy day. The fog stayed with us most of the day, so we didn't see as much of Duluth, Mn., as we would have liked. We traveled across minnesota and Wisconsin into upper Michigan, staying overnight in a small town called Seney. The next morning we crossed into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie. Wendell had our passports in hand, answered a couple of questions and we made the crossing without incident. After changing some of our currency into Canadian and buying some groceries, we were on our way farther east. (Ontario seemed like a wide province to cross--especially when all we saw there, as well as much of upper Michigan, was trees, trees, trees on both sides of the road.) Eventually the trees gave way to more farmland, so we could see the lay of the land. The closer we got to Montreal and Sherbrooke, there were hills and round-topped mountains.

Despite a more-than-an-hour delay in Montreal (due to an accident & construction) we arrived at Brian & Susie's apartment by early afternoon on Wednesday. We were all overwhelmed with gratefulness to God as we saw His goodness manifested in a beautiful, completely furnished place for the new family of three to live! Wow!!

We found Susie's parents to be engaging, delightful, so eager to get to know us and understand us, despite the fact that their first language is French. We enjoyed the groom's dinner, the rehearsal, a tour of the Eglise Sur Le Roc's beautiful & functional new church building, the joyous wedding, the big celebration reception! and
the uniqueness of being in a French-speaking nation. It was an amazing experience!

We left Sherbrooke after worshiping with the church family (in French, except for the message), and enjoyed a leisurely, picture-perfect trip through Vermont with its winding roads, mountains & trees, old churches with tall spires, old-world architecture, & even saw the dome of the capitol at Monpelier! Mom and I loved it!
We continued into New York and spent a night at Utika. The following day we made a side trip to Niagara Falls and viewed the Canadian Horseshoe Falls (a lifetime dream of Mom's). The day was perfect, with sunshine and not too hot. It was a multi-sensory experience to get almost drenched by the mist coming from the water that falls (say good-bye to any sort of hairdo!), and hear the roar of the cascading torrent of water. We left satisfied and continued on through New York, along a border of Pennsylvania and into Ohio. We saw lots of BIG water on this trip, including several of the Great Lakes and others.

The second night we bedded down in Elkhard, Indiana, and made it all the way home on Tuesday. Actually, the other three left me off at Minneapolis, where Justin was attending the annual Family Reunion of our family of churches. There I joined him at at the Tuesday evening service and we enjoyed lovely accommodations at the airport Holiday Inn Express. Justin loved being close enough to the airport to watch the planes land and take off. Since we were in view of the Mall of America, we took part of an afternoon to stroll around the Mall.
Now we can say we've "been there--done that". We're not big mall shoppers. We did, however, visit the American Girl doll store, knowing Carrie would have wanted to do that if she had been there. And I found a
little gift for her doll.

We were home by early afternoon on Friday. Time to unpack, unpack & unpack, deprogram, and refocus.
After clothes washing on Saturday and taking in the 125th. anniversary pageant at Toronto in the afternoon,
my Saturday was complete.

Many thanks to Wendell & Judy for inviting me to join them on this once-in-lifetime trip! Mom reveled in it all and did fine the whole time. What a great adventure for an almost 90-year-old!!

Logan's 3rd. birthday

Justin, Carrie & Annette made a quick overnight trip to N.D. last weekend to belatedly celebrate Logan's 3rd. birthday. Carrie slept at Grandma Lillian's cute apartment on Friday evening; Justin & Annette were at the farm with Wendell & Judy. We had good visits all around.
Saturday was celebration day. Gretchen served us an ample brunch and friends were in and out, along with family, during the afternoon. With Aaron & Angie's 3 kids added to the crew and another little friend, the apartment was "active" and the kids' bedrooms basically trashed when all was said and done. The gifts centered around an unplanned dinosaur theme. Logan was happy with it all, and I'm sure both kids hit the bed exhausted at the end of the day.
Lance served delicious chicken & beef kabobs for supper; Gretchen had a straw-berry-rhubarb pie in the frig for dessert--could it be more perfect? We 3 went home satisfied in every way.

Plans keep being finalized for the upcoming trip to Quebec for Brian's wedding.
Annette will be riding with Wendell, Judy & Lillian, and it will be an interesting
trip. I should have a good report after that week and a half.