Summer's Last Hurrah

Here's an update on what we've been up to the last few weeks to wind up the summer. I'll start with the most recent and move backwards, since that is the way the pictures got inserted! Last Sunday we tried to repeat the CBCH Golf Tournament but got rained out, as you can see in the photo. We assembled at Jane and Chuck's after church to munch and watch the Vikings (our first mistake - they lost). It wasn't raining until AFTER the game. We should have skipped it altogether. Oh well, we had fun anyways. Here are the teams that didn't get to play: Ted, Jenna, Phebe and Chuck. I'm sure Phebe would have been a marvelous help to Grandpa Chuck and Uncle Ted!
Joyce, Jane, Heidi, Corey and Maddox. I think our team has the most members, but Corey and Heidi would have taken turns playing with Maddox so it would have been fair.
Andy, Pat and Paul - don't they look color co-ordinated?
A sad looking bunch as they watched the Vikings lose.
Maddox and Phebe didn't care who won the football game - they just had a super time with all the attention from the crowd. Aren't they cute?
This is the bed and breakfast we went to down in Red Wing after VBS, a mid-week get-away to relax after an exhausting week! It was built in 1932 by the owner of Red Wing Shoes and was really a great place to stay. Our room had an extra sitting room with cable TV so we could keep up on the Olympics, and a porch where we could sit outside in the morning and have our morning coffee and devotions before heading downstairs to a sumptuous breakfast in the sunroom.
After breakfast we headed out to play golf on Wednesday at Mississippi National and then The Jewel in Lakeville on Thursday. Both courses were beautiful, but very different. We did much better at the Jewel - maybe because we practiced so hard the day before?We were blessed by my friends Joan and Tim, as they invited us up to their cabin the weekend after Julie's death. It was great to spend time in the beauty of God's creation with caring friends. Joan and I shopped while the guys went - not fishing - GOLFING!

It was actually a cool weekend - only in the upper 50;s and low 60's so we didn't get in any swimming. The pontoon rides were a treat - loons and eagles and Tim.

You can see why we appreciated the time away - doesn't God give us just what we need when we need it? The trick is to wait patiently, and then recognize God's hand in what we have received.
Thanks, God.

Saying Goodbye to Julie

Most of you know we lost Paul's sister, Julie, in a bicycle accident on August 15. She was heading up north with a group of friends when it happened. Julie was always full of energy, ready to try new things, positive about everyone, and lived her life to the fullest. We will miss her organizing family get- togethers and innovative recipes. Here are a few memorable photos of Julie that we scanned for the memorial service. They are all different sizes, and have gaps between them, so keep scrolling to the end.Julie - the last of the flower children!
Mom Nora and baby Julie - the middle child of 5 and the only girl. Roger (Paul's dad) said at the memorial service that when she was born on Halloween he had announcements printed that said "I finally got a treat!" Bob and Paul must have been the tricks. God gave Paul the strength to lead an amazing memorial service that was a celebration of her life.
Here's the whole family - Roger and Nora with Bob, Paul, Julie, Mark and Phil.
Julie married Jon Sandberg and they had two kids - Brenner and Tessa. Brenner is 26 and just bought a fixer-upper of a house and will miss his mom's very creative advice in the decorating process. Jon and Julie spent a lot of time over there this spring and summer cleaning, painting and training a new homeowner. Tessa is 23 and recently graduated from college with an art degree. She has a great job in St. Paul at one of the famous downtown hotels.
Julie was special to all of us, but to Grandpa Roger, she was his little princess. Her cheery voice on a phone call was always a bright spot in his day. There is a great article in the Excelsior newspaper about Julie. Check it out at their website at www.mnsun.com.