While visiting the St Croix River Valley we found the site of the first commercial sawmill in what became the state of Minnesota. Two lumbermen from Marine Illinois, David Hone and Lewis Judd, finding the area’s abundant white pine, decided to build a sawmill here. They named the spot Marine after their hometown in Illinois. […]
Recently our youngest granddaughter had a sleepover with us. We took her to a children’s museum. On the way home we started playing a game we had played with our children when they were little to pass the time on a road trip. My husband started by saying “I’m going on a picnic and I’m […]
A few years ago my husband and I bought our little granddaughter some toy zoo animals. We assumed she would play with them for a couple of years and then we would pass them on to another small child. We also assumed she would just play with them by herself. Were we ever wrong! From […]
In our worship today we sang about the Lion and the Lamb. Those two terms are often used in Christian circles to describe Jesus. But what a contrast! Think of a lion. The mighty king of the jungle. He is big, he has a tremendous roar. He symbolizes power and strength. Lions have often been […]
My husband and I are reading through the Bible this year in our devotions. Right now we are working our way through the book of Numbers. This morning I was thinking how the Israelites complained their way through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. They would face a difficulty, God would intervene […]
In 2017 my husband, along with our youngest daughter and our granddaughter made a trip to Casey, Illinois to see the small town that boasted: While there we saw nine creations by Jim Bolin that have made the Guinness Book of World Records. You can read all about that visit and see pictures of the world’s […]
Recently our youngest granddaughter had a sleepover with us. We took her to a children’s museum. On the way home we started playing a game we had played with our children when they were little to pass the time on a road trip. My husband started by saying “I’m going on a picnic and I’m […]
In the fall of 2002 I was diagnosed with an advanced and very aggressive cancer. Hearing my doctors words, “The odds are not in your favor,” I realized I was heading into the battle of my life. Would I live or would I die? Facing your own mortality changes the way you look at the […]
Confession time: I recently became angry at my husband for what I perceived as displaying insensitive and rude behavior to me. But then I was reminded by the Holy Spirit of my own actions earlier that week. They might have been perceived by him as being insensitive and rude behavior. Thinking on my actions vs. […]
In our devotion today my husband and I read the New Testament epistle 1 John. Written by one of the disciples of Jesus the letter is, of course, giving advice about spiritual matters. However, in light of today’s constant barrage of information from cable news, newspaper and magazines, twitter and Facebook accounts, I find his […]
Recently our youngest granddaughter had a sleepover with us. We took her to a children’s museum. On the way home we started playing a game we had played with our children when they were little to pass the time on a road trip. My husband started by saying “I’m going on a picnic and I’m […]
My husband and I are reading through the Bible this year in our devotions. Right now we are working our way through the book of Numbers. This morning I was thinking how the Israelites complained their way through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. They would face a difficulty, God would intervene […]
We Americans like to think how great and advanced our nation is – and we are. But during this cold snap I had a few scary thoughts on just how dependent we are on our great advanced technologies – and what would we do if something happened to them. The energy company that supplies our […]
In our worship today we sang about the Lion and the Lamb. Those two terms are often used in Christian circles to describe Jesus. But what a contrast! Think of a lion. The mighty king of the jungle. He is big, he has a tremendous roar. He symbolizes power and strength. Lions have often been […]
