I got to see my boys!

The day I arrived at Mom's house I was dropped off from Pastor Schaefer's car which was driven from MKE to Manty by Joel Ungemach. Pastor bailed on us at North Avenue where he met his wife and daughters in a Wendy's parking lot. He jumped in their van while the other two of us continued on our way home. Mom was at first worried I'd talk Pastor's arm off on the ride home but I hardly got a chance to do that! Anna's brother was in town so they were going to meet up with him for dinner that night and just hang out as a family until then. I didn't care who got me to Mom's, just so I got there!

Angelo in the car

Mom let Lynn know that I had arrived and she brought the boys over. I was so glad to see them again!!  Angelo is getting so big. He is practicing using the potty and says many more words than he had when I was there in March. He is so darn cute! 

My sister, Kerry, has a crazy, mixed-up schedule at work and is not sure when she can get here to Mom's for a visit. We had planned on taking the boys school shopping together but that might not happen. Lynn said we can go one day next week when she has the boys again so they can try on the clothes to make sure they fit. 

Today we went to the ice cream parlor and had a marvelous treat. My sister, Jill, is the manager there which never hurts either! I ordered my cone and then realized my other favorite flavor was there, so ended up with a double. Wow, that was almost too much to eat! Lynn said she will order a banana split and have that as her dinner because it's so filling. And healthy, with all the fruit on it!

No rest for the wicked

Usually our first place to go when I arrive in town is the Green Street Tavern. We chose instead to eat Friday night at Silver Valley which is easier for Mom to come and go. She fears the steps at the Green Street and dreads the being squished in the bar area as we wait for our table to be ready. Silver Valley was no wait and had great perch!  

       

As we sat at the table and waited for our food to arrive, I looked up and saw Linda and her family standing in the doorway. What a surprise!!! I had not communicated with her about this or anything, they just showed up, with Tommy spotting Lynn's car in the parking lot. 

Last night Lynn, Jill, Danny and I went to eat at The Green Street for dinner. It was delicious as always, one of the only places where I eat the salad because of their delicious French dressing. Don't know what it is about it, but I love the taste. We had an order of cheese curds for the table to share. I had perch, of course. Mom instructed me to not bring her anything from the G.S. so I obeyed her. It's her loss! The bartender/owner greeted me like a long lost friend, knowing I am in town from FL.  He even recognized me without my red coat on!

A perch sandwich and curds at The Green Street Tavern

At Christmas last year, Justin insisted on having a foam mattress pad delivered to Mom's for my sleeping comfort. It really makes all the difference on the day bed, allows me to sleep like a log. This is not so good because I don't get up in time to help Mom with her drops like I should. My sleep is such that I am well rested in the morning, snug as a bug in a rug. That is, until the train which sounds as though it's in the parking lot goes through. It has to toot its horn 16 times as it makes it way. Sleeping with the windows open has this as a downside---noise from outside!

Today I put the finishing touches on the church newsletter and got it sent off. It is somewhat abbreviated since I am missing content regarding the Bible studies and other info. I did get content from the preschool director with a wish list of things needed for the classroom. I also had to retype a report that the head elder had read the Sunday before I left. He didn't have it in digital form so I just typed it into the newsletter. That was a bit labor-intensive but I appreciate having submissions to the letter. Also, Terri wrote up something to be included regarding her time at the LWMS Convention. Her first time, subsidized by our Circuit, for the Send One Sister program. Very nice for her!  Anyway, next order of business will be The Palace Press newsletter to be written, but it can wait a day or two.

More photos from the Conference

Here is my bed in the dorm room. It was a terrible fight trying to keep the pad and sheets in place on that plastic covered mattress. Every time we moved, all the bedding moved. Judy and I both gave up trying to make the beds in the morning. 

A view of the dining room, which was "L" shaped and on the 2nd floor. Thankfully I found an elevator to use to get up there because the stairs killed me. Judy and I usually grabbed this round table close to the top of the stairs, and one of my friends, Colleen, declared me the official greeter of the Conference, as I enjoyed my cat bird seat!

Got to see some more friends from FL---had to go to WI to do so, however! Ruth and Stacy Vance, mom and sister of my friend, Mark, who is also father-in-law to Pete Prange. Ruth came to spend time with her son and daughter-in-law while Stacy attended the Conference (she is a choir director and church musician) and then joined us for the closing concert on the 25th. 

At the registration table, I found my former classmate, Eileen Fager Matty, who came from AZ for the Conference. We both lamented how our high school class had no reunion this year, our 40th, so we did our own!  It was wonderful to see her after not seeing each other for 10-15 years!

This was the good-bye photo taken with Diana at breakfast on the last day of the Conference. It was so good to spend time with her there in the flesh, instead of just visiting via the Internet. Her son was in Milwaukee with her sister, and had taken the tour of WI Lutheran High School. This will be huge for her and for him since they live in Canada. Nathe will live in a dormitory on the campus and they are hoping to benefit from some grants and other help to make this affordable for his education. I wish them the best!

This is the closing concert with our view of the orchestra. Oh my, what a wondrous event this was! We sang the "Hallelujah Chorus" with the gathered 1700 people in this chapel, and also  "Jerusalem, the Golden" as the closing anthem. What a way to end this amazing Conference! A couple rows in front of Judy and me sat the elder Prange's (he is turned in his seat in this photo) 

Good to be back in Manty!

Today I got to participate in worship and Bible study again at First German, true highlights of a visit to Manitowoc. There is nothing like the pipe organ accompanying the hymns and hearing a powerful sermon from the raised pulpit. Love seeing even more people I know (after seeing many folks at the Conference!) and being welcomed back to their midst yet again. I hadn't been there since March, when I came up for the Pathways to Christ retreat.

Mom, Lynn, and I went to Perkins for breakfast which was a treat for me. The waitress was surprised to hear that I didn't live here because she said she seems me there so often. It must just seem like often. I told her the closest Perkin's to us used to be an hour away but it closed, too, so now my potato pancake fix has to wait for Manitowoc!  I bought us a pie at the check out, a wild berry pie which looks fantastic. Can't wait to have a slice for dessert tonight!  

It's my boy's birthday!

Justin and I are celebrating his birthday 1200 miles apart. This a.m. I went with Mom and Lynn to have coffee, or soda, as the case might be, at Manitowoc Coffee while Justin was taking care of the church property. They didn't get to it during the week and had one more property to catch in Oakleaf so off he went by himself. So thankful he attends our church property twice a month on his own dime and today, on his own time. Often Mike S. meets up with Justin and Raymond to conquer the yard but I am not sure that happened today. 

Not only was Justin working today but was also going to help/observe his boss, Will, doing some welding on the equipment, sort of hanging out with him. He declared himself not a diva on his birthday by going to work and hanging out with the boss. Tonight is a big one for Jacksonville and the Jags as the new giant-sized screens at the stadium are revealed. Part of the night includes a concert by Carrie Underwood which is preceded by a soccer game involving a team owned by the Jags owner, Shad Kahn. Quite a show they put on for my birthday boy! Sadly, the rain dampened the guys plans for tailgating so they ended up at Mojo's BBQ. Justin paid for his own meal there, too. No diva he!          

                       My boy and I at Victory a couple years ago

Back in WI, we 3 ladies had some baked goods at the coffee shop and checked out the new gift shop which opened adjacent to it. Mom and I picked up sympathy cards to send our friend, Gretchen, who recently lost two of her dear cousins which were almost like siblings to her. Two in a week's time or at least within 10 days is quite hard to take. The gift shop is great and I can't wait for Linda to see it, especially the corner dedicated to items of sentimental nature. The proprietor told me she placed a box of tissues nearby for people like me!

Bought us each a brat at the stand outside of Festival. A lady walked up while I was there and said, "Well, hello, Florida!" She used to be a teacher at FG and her husband taught me in high school. That's what I love about small towns!

After the two shops we ladies went next to Festival where I stocked up on a few items I need when in town like puff caramel corn and the fresh sliced ham. We will have that for dinner tonight with the free rolls which come with it. I thought that was only available on Sunday but now it's ready on Saturdays as well. Also picked up some ingredients for making meals when at Mom's. Let the fun begin!

Photographic wrap-up of Conference

Judy and I arrived safely and without delay in Kenosha, WI for the WELS Worship Conference July 22nd. The part I enjoy most is seeing people I know and meeting those I did not know before. The music and special worship are also huge draws, and for me, I get much from the seminars. But, I really love seeing the people!

The single thing that made my time there on the campus of Carthage College doable was the ready access to the golf carts which would take us (me) from Point A to Point B. It was the same couple doing the escorting as served us at St. Olaf, which was wonderful. Their phone numbers were posted at the registration desk and I made note of them immediately. All I had to do was text or call, and a chariot would be waiting for us in the morning, or outside a building to take us to the next destination. God bless the Committee and Barb 'n Don for providing this service!!

Right off the bat Judy and I ran into Mary Prange in the dining area. The guy who hosts the Facebook page "Mary Prange Fan Club" had sent out his e-mail address for people to submit their 'Mary sighting' photos, and mine was the first one submitted and posted on her fan club page!

While Judy and I were seated and waiting for the beginning of the opening concert, Mary came over to tell me that someone at the end of our pew wanted to see me---Anna and Vic Prange, her brother. Oh, it was so good to see them, and, of course, Anna and I wept together. I would be able to see them several more times this past week, much to my delight, but this first night was extra special. 

We also met on our first night a friend we'd made at the previous Conference, Diana Widdefield. She and I are in contact at least weekly since 2011 when we met, but Judy hadn't seen or heard from her. They reconnected before the service got underway. We would spend time together the next few days and have several more picture opportunities. So great to see her in the flesh instead of only on-line!

 

On the left is Marlene Bruss, the wife of my classmate, Dean. I had met her at the Conference in 2011 and saw her again at the LWMS Convention in 2013 and at Pathways to Christ this year. She is with her pastor's wife, Natosha Cole, who also taught at First German this past year and with whom I became acquainted when visiting there. Tosha was the first one to greet us as Judy and I arrived at registration, and right behind her was Paul Prange!! Such great fun making all these connections! If Judy said it once she said it 25 times that she wished she could remember people like I do...Good thing I was there to help her out!

Anna, Beth, and Vic Prange pre-service

An unexpected pleasure I had was spending time with my friend/former pastor's sister, Beth. She is Pete's older sister and I had last chatted with her at Pete and Tarren's wedding in 2003. Beth and I got to visit a little bit during pre-service opportunities but got a better chat in when seated in the dining hall one afternoon. I so enjoyed our time together, and the kind things she had to say to me will stay with me for a long time. 

Pete with his aunts and uncle: Paul Sr., May, and Ann Lyon

During the Conference and its concerts and services, I would look around expectantly for Pete and/or Tarren. Somehow I missed them, even though I knew they were there. I guess 1700 people makes it hard sometimes for folks to connect. Well, when Judy and I were in our seats for a seminar, I turned around to see Pete come into the room. Up I dashed from my seat to hug and kiss him. That was the extent of our visit, since the session was about to begin. He was seated with his family members which made for the great photo op. 

More photos to come, as you might imagine...