Carl's Dream Come True!

Carl got the official news today - his summer internship with the Southwest Minnesota Synod of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) is officially a go! Carl will be working to build a new program within our synod to foster a relationship between the Hispanic/Latino community and congregations in our synod. He will be working with Bishop Anderson and Synod Minister Jeff Forsythe, traveling the synod and beyond to learn the needs and desires of the Hispanic community at large and to help build bridges between them and our local churches. 

Carl needed an internship to fulfill his Latin American and Caribbean Studies minor at Gustavus. This requires immersion in the Hispanic community. For those of you who don't know, Carl is passionate about Spanish as a language and Hispanics and Latinos as a community. His major is religion, and this internship allows him to explore both of his passions, explore what it is like to be on your own in an adult working world, and the make relationships that will help him decide where his future may lead. 

As a family, we are so proud of and happy for Carl. Even thought it means seeing him very little this summer, we understand that this opportunity is a great thing for Carl, for our church body, for our every diversifying community in SW Minnesota, and especially for the Hispanic community that lives here with us. Thanks, Carl, for working so hard to build bridges.

And please, drive carefully! :)

President Liz!

Newsflash: Liz is the new President of the Martin County West FFA chapter. She is so excited and honored to have been appointed/elected to this position. It was a total surprise to her - she was hoping for Secretary or Treasurer.

Best humor of the night: When Liz stepped out of her car as she arrived at home, Carl started singing "Dum-dum-dee-dum" to the tune of Hail to the Chief! Shades of Blazing Saddles, which is Carl, Liz, Dawn and Janis's favorite movie. 

Overall, it's been an amazing month for Liz. 2 weeks ago, she performed a solo and sang in two ensembles at our state subsection Solo and Ensemble Contest. All three of her performances received Superior ratings, and her solo was chosen "Best of Site", which means the judge marked it as the best performance he heard that day. (Mom was very proud!)

A few pictures from the evening: 1) Liz with two very proud "Ag" grandparents, John and Joyce Rabbe, 2) Liz and her godmother Karen Helvig, 3)Liz being sworn in by her "big sister", ag mentor, singing partner, and outgoing FFA president Sarah Manzey,  4) Liz's god-brother Dan Helvig and friend Nate Janssen, two of Minnesota's current State FFA officers, and 5) friend and new fellow officer Mattie Steen reciting the FFA creed.

The Sunshine Girls

Many thanks to Ron Stow who took this picture of Aunt Myrtle (left), Mom (middle) and Aunt Helen (right). These three sister left on February 14, 2008, to spend two weeks together in Arizona at Mom's condo. If their smiles are any indication, they're going to have a great time!

Carl quoted on Gustavus Website

Finally, news worthy of publication! At least on our blog.

As I was reading through articles on Gustavus' website, I was startled to find Carl quoted! If anyone is interested in reading it, here's the link:

Link to Gustavus Labyrinth Story


Carl has talked about Sacred Spaces and the Labyrinth all year. I finally understand what it is and what it hopes to accomplish. I think I'd like to try it sometime.

~K.

I Dare You!

Liz had a wonderful, exhausting week and weekend. First quarter grades came out, and she made the A honor role again. :) It was crunch week for the Martin County West production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, and there were many late night rehearsals preparing for opening night this past Friday. (More on the play when I figure out how to post videos on the blog - hopefully tomorrow.)

After 4 performances this weekend, Liz was exhausted and tempted to pass on the Martin County 4H Awards Banquet. However two of her fellow cast members, Blake and Caleb, are also 4H Federation Officers, and they persuaded her to come. Good thing they did! Kia Harries, regional 4H coordinator, presented Liz with the "I Dare You" National Leadership Award! This award was created by William H. Danforth, the founder of the Ralston Purina Company, and is given to people between the ages of 15 and 18 who demonstrate leadership capacities, while striving "to be their own self, at their very best, all the time." Liz was thrilled, to say the least.

Liz also gave a presentation with her friends Alexis Janssen and Karen Suter on their 4H project last fall, when they video taped Christmas greetings to the troops from our area who were stationed in Iraq. They made a DVD of the greetings, and sent it to all the local soldiers in time for Christmas. As a way of saying thanks, the troops sent each girl an American flag that had been flown over their base camp in Iraq, and a small "Alladin style" lantern. The three young women gave a great presentation on the project. They showed amazing poise and public speaking ability! It probably helped that all three had been on stage all week.

Congrats on an awesome week, Liz!

"Ringing" with the Winter Wonderettes

With harvest pretty much behind us, Joe, Liz, Carl and I escaped to the cabin for two days. Highlight of the weekend was definitely the performance of "Winter Wonderettes", performed by the Lakes Community Theater at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Spirit Lake, IA.

Community participation was a must! We laughed, sang along, and sympathized until the second act. Then the cast came into the audience looking for volunteers! Carl was drafted, even though he wasn't on the aisle. He was on stage ringing a bell whenever he heard them sing the word "Jingle" (or any derivation thereof!). Fortunately, I had my camera with me.

There's nothing like live theater, and we have never been disappointed by a production at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. We're looking forward to more theater there over the winter.

Speaking of home front...

Here's the front of my home!! haha

Awesome Day for Tennis!

Today was Liz's best tennis day of the year! Up until now, she's lost every match she's played. The coach has been trying different player combinations in doubles, and Liz didn't do well switching partners every other match.

Well, she's found a doubles partner that she loves to play with, Alexis Janssen. Alexis and Liz are already friends, and are in dance together, and their personalities really well matched.

Today Martin County West (our team - the Mavericks) played against Fairmont in "the Battle of Martin County". Liz and Alexis played awesome tennis, and won their match 6-2, 6-3. They were very evenly matched with their opponents, who also played well, but it was our girls' day. Overall, the Mavericks won all 7 of their matches today.

Even better, it was 72 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze. What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning!

Liz's New Baby

It doesn't become hers until the weekend before her birthday, but Liz has a car! We sealed the deal this weekend. Here are a few pictures for you to check out the new wheels!

It's a Chevrolet Cobalt. It has ABS brakes, airbags, and some nice features like a stereo system with controls on the steering wheel, and a console shift. Needless to say, Liz is a very happy camper. She has nicknamed the car "MJ", which stands for "Maude Josie". Named after her great-grandmother, because Papa Joe suggested it, and Josie, because she just think it looks like a Josie!

I especially like the "Thanks Dad" picture!

It's a Small World After All...

You know how I've always said that EVERYBODY knows somebody from Trimont? Well, Carl's roommate, Nathan, is no exception. His grandmother came along to help him move in, and she asked Carl, "Are you related to John Rabbe?" He answered, "Well, sometimes, he's my grandfather!" Turns out that Nathan's grandparents, Pat and Gary Stark, live in Mora, Minnesota, and know John's sister and brother-in-law Mary and Ron, and his cousin Tom Heuer. They, in turn, introduced Pat and Gary to John and Joyce in Arizona. The Starks winter in Fountain of the Sun, and have played golf with John in the past. They also attend the same church as John and Joyce in Arizona.

Carl says Nathan is quiet, like he is, and a nice guy. Tomorrow is the first day of class. Carl hopes to hook up with the statistics professor tomorrow and try to get into that class this semester. And just for excitement, Carl gets his second Japanese encephalitis injection tomorrow afternoon. Gotta be ready for future study abroad, I guess!