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!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
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!!
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!!
Monday, July 6, 2009
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!!
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!!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Family Times
I must be a delinquent blogger! I keep putting it off, thinking I'll have more time the next time
I sit down at the computer. Meanwhile, the weeks slip away and the news I should have posted
gets pretty old.
Justin & I did have a wonderful week with Dirk's family over Thanksgiving. Annette was able to attend a grandparents' day at Thor & Anika's school, we shopped & shopped, we enjoyed two
stops at a favorite downtown eatery in Rapid City (Bully's Blends), we played hide the thimble
(or whatever else we would choose to hide), and we made gingerbread houses! Yay--the kids
would probably say that was the highlight.
Justin & Dirk spent almost a week hunting, with Dirk shooting one deer and the rest of the shots proved to be more practicing at shooting in the hills. Justin says it is different than prairie hunting and I believe him.
We had a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast at the home of Nancy's brother, Ted and his wife Jan.
They make great hosts, have a cozy & beautiful home, and Jan and I got to talk quilting a bit--fun!
CHRISTMAS
This past week Lance's family and Grandma Lillian joined us for two days of celebration. All the ladies pitched in with the cooking, dishwashing, cookie baking & decorating, so everything went smoothly. Carrie prepared her first turkey and it was delicious! Tori & Logan got to initiate the new kiddie air mattress sets Grandma Annette had bought. Tori's was "Princess" and Logan's was "Cars"--winners both!
Christmas Day evening was the highlight as Grandpa Justin read the Christmas accounts from Luke 2 & Matthew 2 while Tori, Logan,
Carrie & Gretchen acted out the stories using Annette's large ceramic nativity. I guess even Lance helped out by holding a star
above at the appropriate time (we snitched one off the Christmas tree). Annette brought a violin out from behind the couch, Lance
tuned it and refreshed his playing from years ago. The fiddling came back pretty quickly--Annette was pleasantly surprised. So with Lance on the violin, Carrie on guitar and Annette at the keyboard, we sang and played "Silent Night". It was a precious memory to me and one I will never forget.
We even enjoyed THAWING TEMPERATURES while Lance & family were
here. What a welcome treat after the frigid and stormy days we have had this month. Warmest Christmas greetings to all who read this blog.
I sit down at the computer. Meanwhile, the weeks slip away and the news I should have posted
gets pretty old.
Justin & I did have a wonderful week with Dirk's family over Thanksgiving. Annette was able to attend a grandparents' day at Thor & Anika's school, we shopped & shopped, we enjoyed two
stops at a favorite downtown eatery in Rapid City (Bully's Blends), we played hide the thimble
(or whatever else we would choose to hide), and we made gingerbread houses! Yay--the kids
would probably say that was the highlight.
Justin & Dirk spent almost a week hunting, with Dirk shooting one deer and the rest of the shots proved to be more practicing at shooting in the hills. Justin says it is different than prairie hunting and I believe him.
We had a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast at the home of Nancy's brother, Ted and his wife Jan.
They make great hosts, have a cozy & beautiful home, and Jan and I got to talk quilting a bit--fun!
CHRISTMAS
This past week Lance's family and Grandma Lillian joined us for two days of celebration. All the ladies pitched in with the cooking, dishwashing, cookie baking & decorating, so everything went smoothly. Carrie prepared her first turkey and it was delicious! Tori & Logan got to initiate the new kiddie air mattress sets Grandma Annette had bought. Tori's was "Princess" and Logan's was "Cars"--winners both!
Christmas Day evening was the highlight as Grandpa Justin read the Christmas accounts from Luke 2 & Matthew 2 while Tori, Logan,
Carrie & Gretchen acted out the stories using Annette's large ceramic nativity. I guess even Lance helped out by holding a star
above at the appropriate time (we snitched one off the Christmas tree). Annette brought a violin out from behind the couch, Lance
tuned it and refreshed his playing from years ago. The fiddling came back pretty quickly--Annette was pleasantly surprised. So with Lance on the violin, Carrie on guitar and Annette at the keyboard, we sang and played "Silent Night". It was a precious memory to me and one I will never forget.
We even enjoyed THAWING TEMPERATURES while Lance & family were
here. What a welcome treat after the frigid and stormy days we have had this month. Warmest Christmas greetings to all who read this blog.
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