Detours...

Detours... I am not sure of the definition but I'm defining a detour as anything that takes you from the path you want to follow. The path we wanted to follow this summer was to spend time on the water in our boat. But...


My broken arm was certainly a detour, but it is nearly back on the right path.


Mike was up to the University for a "routine" visit with his cardiologist and he ended up having a stress test a few days later - a detour, but all turned out well.


A yearly visit to my doctor in Maplewood netted a high reading on a couple of tests and so I returned a week later for a retest... another detour, but all turned out well.


Mike's scheduled and then rescheduled hernia surgery took 4 trips to Mayo to accomplish, definite detours... but it is now done, he was home the same day and is now resting for a week or so.


And then there are the road detours... St. Peter's main drag is a mess and so it was a detour we took to a family reunion last Saturday. Lauren posed by her great great grandmother's wedding dress that was on display for the occasion.

My Uncle Harold enjoyed his role as the oldest (and wisest?) person there.

Today, it was another detour that took me to another family reunion. Here the first cousins pose with mom, the oldest and wisest family member there!

Sometimes, on detours, you find something that makes the different path worthwhile

I learned to be less self-conscience and that a little weight loss really does improve overall health. Mike learned that he is heart healthy and will soon be free of hernia pain.

And at Ma's funeral and then the reunions, we both learned again, the importance of staying connected with family.

Oh, and I found a couple of cool places to take pictures on the highway 60 detour to Faribault. Doesn't this guy seem to be saying "What cha lookin at?" (Bobby, I was practicing taking pictures of eyes.)

So, we have only been on the water a couple of times this summer. But, that's ok. The detours have been worthwhile.

Ma Has Been Called Home

Sometimes people who read my blog tell me that it seems like our life is all just a lot of fun. And yes, most of the time it is. These past two weeks, we have experienced some great times and we have lived some very emotional times.

Mike's mom has been living in a nursing home for over 25 years. Within the past year and especially the last month, her physical health had deteriorated. Since the end of June, she had been hospitalized a couple of times, and we had recieved frequent calls from the nursing home. It seemed that the end was near for Ma. After stopping in every day for a week, we got a call last Sunday telling us just that.

When we got into the room, Ma was sleeping, her head turned from us. I knew that Mike had some things he needed to tell his mother, so I left them alone and went down the hall to ask some specific questions of the nurses. When I returned, Ma's eyes were open and expressive, but she was not able to speak, although she was trying very hard. At one point, she gestured for Mike to come closer and. with great effort, she spoke her last words, "I Love You". It was loud enough for me to hear, several feet away. What a precious moment!

Ma died on Tuesday late afternoon and her funeral was Friday. The service was conducted by Pastor Shelly from Our Savior's and it was a beautiful tribute. The luncheon gave us a chance to talk with relatives we don't often see.

I will miss Ma! I only knew her as a person in a nursing home, I didn't know the young vibrant woman in the pictures we displayed. I only knew a small part of Ma, but my visits with her always brought me peace. This gentle woman is now Home. That brings me comfort.

Independence Weekend

In Minnesota, as in much of the nation I suspect, the Fourth of July Holiday means parades, fireworks, water activities and beer... I am proud to report that we had it all!

Our Tucson friends are camping with us for a few days before heading back to 'the land of dry heat", so on Friday we took them on a tour of New Ulm... what better place to start the weekend then at Schells Brewery!

If you have been there, you know that peacocks roam the grounds freely - well, it is mating season and this young fellow was really showing off for the female... who wanted nothing to do with him!He had everything puffed out!
And she was more interested in us!
Oh yea, and we sampled the beer, too. When in this great German town, we also stopped to see Herman the German...We sampled German Cuisine for lunch, bought Swiss chocolate at Domeiers...And then headed home... But not before our friends checked to see if the corn was going to meet 4th of July standards.

On Independence Day, we enjoyed the parade in Elysian - It had fire trucks and floats, Shriners and candy, and lots of Honor Guards from neighboring towns; it was a very good parade. This young man came prepared for candy... but he was even happy to get a ruler!In the evening, we enjoyed fireworks from the pontoon and the shore - they are fun to try and photograph.

On Sunday, we enjoyed church, a pancake breakfast, car show, flea market and then a pontoon ride and later a fish fry (using our walleye from South Dakota). I love these pictures of Bob and Corky doing the cooking - a typical couple working together... The fish was wonderful, the company and stories even better. Overall, it was a fine Independence Weekend. Hope you all had a similar experience.

P.S. I exceeded by June total of pictures in just three days - I must be feeling better!