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!

Carl's Dorm in the Carlson International Center

What a day!

At Carl's request, we began the day going to worship at Dawn's church, where many of the congregation greeted him warmly by name. What a wonderful service. And they are such a welcoming group of people!

After a quick change of attire at Dawn's, we had brunch at Gustavus, and then proceeded to get Carl moved into his dorm. Vwaire, Carl's next door neighbor and suitemate, is a senior from Nigeria, who also happens to be his Collegiate Fellow (CF, f.k.a. Resident Advisor). He's a warm, fun, intelligent man who went out of his way to make Carl and all of us feel at home.

It was kind of a circus, trying to fit everything into his room. The wire mesh shelving units we had brought were not strong enough to hold Carl's printer and iHome clock radio, so Dawn and Liz ran back to her house and returned with a book shelf and low table courtesy of Grandpa and Grandma Nilsen's old Gramercy condo. They look great in the new room, the shelf supporting Carl's electronic gear and book collection, and the table holding up the fridge, microwave and providing storage underneath for the food box.

Carl left before we did, as he had an ice cream social and campus tour to get to, so we locked up after cleaning up the moving mess. When Carl called tonight, he seemed happy, tired, and excited to get started on his college adventure. He had been to dinner with the President, who then gave an "E Plurius Gustavus" speech to welcome the new transfer and freshman students.

We had one piece of bad news today. A family friend, Ken Treitline, who had driven a truck for us for many years, died last night. Ken was only 54 years old, and had a heart attack last evening. Two of his children are friends of Carl and Liz. In fact, Lindsey is on the MCW tennis team with Liz. On the way home, Liz, Joe and I stopped to visit with Zach, Lindsey, their older sister Michelle, and other members of the Treitline family. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to them! We will truly miss Ken.

Carl reports that he plans to set up a new blog to report on his Gustavus activities, so look for an email from him soon giving you his new link. In the meantime, have a safe Labor Day!

Liz Wins a State Fair Trip - But Has to Pass!

Liz took four projects to the Martin County Fair, and her Crafts project won her a State Fair trip - for the 3rd year in a row! This year, however, Liz has to pass on the State Fair trip - she has tennis tournies on the first and third days of the State Fair encampment. Liz takes her tennis very seriously! Here's a picture of Liz presenting her project to the judge, who promptly tried to convince her to go out for the school yearbook or paper, to go into graphic design or something for a living. Liz told her she just created it when she was bored one day! (Click on the picture for an up-close look at the project.)

The other photo is Liz and her friend Rebecca Steen.

Tennis schedule for this week - practice every day until the big Worthington Tournament (that's actually held in Pipestone!) on Friday. I'll post pictures of tennis as soon as I get some!

97 Degrees and "Raining"?

While the rest of Minnesota was sweltering this week, Phroggy and the Richfield Fire Department was providing some much needed cooling off for the kids in the Richfield Parks Summer Program. Dawn is the one at the top of the ladder! (Click on the individual pictures to see them full size.)

Home Waits to Welcome You, Carl!

Just a reminder of what home looks like after all these weeks! The house, the dog, and a lot of excited family members are anxious to welcome you back home! Even the apple tree (Liz's) got all decked out in your honor. (Only the grass is pouting that you were gone so long - it stayed brown and crunchy. Maybe you'll bring rain back with you from Peru.)

Liz's itinerary for Friday, Saturday and Sunday

So, what does one do in Spain over the weekend? Well, if you're Liz, it looks like this:

Friday, July 20, 2007, Madrid, Spain, Day 2

Bienvenido en España! Welcome to Spain! Upon arrival in Madrid, the lively and cosmopolitan capital city of Spain, your People to People delegation manager and coach driver will greet you. Enjoy your lunch at the Hard Rock Café Madrid!
Madrid has a seemingly unending supply of things to see and places to visit, many of which will be discovered during this afternoon’s guided orientation. Visit the world-famous El Prado Museum, where you can marvel at paintings by some of Spain’s most famous artists, among them pieces by Goya and El Greco. Your visit to Madrid would not be complete without a stop at the magnificent Royal Palace. This splendid structure contains 2,800 rooms! In the later afternoon you will head off to enjoy a fantastic People to People Moment. Meet players of the Rocena Youth League and enjoy a soccer match or other sporty activities together. Afterwards enjoy dinner together with the Spanish students and get to know them better!

Saturday, July 21, 2007, Madrid, Spain, Day 3

This morning it’s off to magnificent Toledo, the religious capital of Spain. Notice how the narrow, winding, cobbled streets all seem to lead to the wonderful cathedral. Inside, be sure to notice how the sun appears to magically shine between the cherubs behind the altar. Toledo is also famous for its swords, so you may wish to stop in at one of the many sword shops! Afterwards travel to a real Spanish Cortijo, also called bull farm and see how bulls are raised and horses are trained for the Spanish national pastime: bullfighting. Learn the various stages of the bullfight and find out what makes some bulls better than others. You’ll also see how young people train to become matadors. Later, return to Madrid, home to some of the country’s most important cultural institutions.

Sunday, July 22, 2007, Zaragoza, Spain, Day 4

Stop overnight in Zaragoza, the capital of Aragón, often said to be the most Spanish city in Spain. Explore the city during a guided orientation. Don’t miss the beautiful Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The cathedral takes its name from a pillar on which the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to St. James in 40 AD.

Wish we could all be there with her, but I'm sure she's glad we aren't!

Liz Heads for Europe

As Carl prepares to come back home on Saturday, Liz embarks on her new adventure! Europe, hang on, here comes the Trimont Tornado! Liz left this morning to head for Spain, France and Italy! She is traveling with People to People, an organization founded by Dwight Eisenhower, to promote understanding and peace amongst people from different nations.

Liz received some bad news this morning. Her good friend, Chelsea Johnson, who was scheduled to go on the trip with her, had her appendix removed late last night. So tonight, Chelsea is at home, instead of being on Delta flight 0108 to Madrid, Spain! Liz was disappointed, but handled it like a trouper. She and two other friends are bringing a teddy bear with them in Chelsea's place. They plan to photograph the teddy all over Europe, and put together an album and a journal to give to her when they return.

I left Liz at the MSP airport this morning, after she had checked in her luggage. She was excited to get started, and not at all sad to be leaving home. (Sniff!) She has an international cell phone with her, but she has been warned that she will only be able to use it a couple of times on the trip to call home. We just wanted her to have it in case of an emergency.

One of the parents from Liz's People to People group set up a blog so that the leaders and kids can let us know how they're doing as they go along. I'm not expecting any posts from Europe for a few days yet, but if you want to follow along, check it out at:

http://p2pjul2007.blogspot.com/

There are a few pre-travel posts, and some pictures on the blog already!

Carl called tonight. He is studying for his finals tomorrow, and packing for his trip home. He has to leave for the airport at 3: 15 am Saturday morning, so he'd better be ready! He's bringing home a loaded camera, and a computer full of journal entries, so check this sight next week for details of his trip! He can't wait to get home to unlimited internet access!

Guess who else came to dinner?

Your new "BOSS" in the Gustavus Chaplain's office thinks its time you returned home! She's awaiting your arrival as an apprentice this fall.

Yes, she brought her husband, Don, along...and about 20 others too. These pictures show Nancy and Rich Helgeson, Paul Aasen, Jan Jensen, Rachel and Don, and Monica Kraatz (oh, and me).

The doctors Baumgartner send their greeting as well. They were checking out R&L when the photos were taken.


First Lutheran's congregational council held a brief business meeting while standing in my living room. Once adjourned, we feasted on potluck treasures. What Lutheran gathering would be complete without hotdish? But we sacrificed...we had wine instead of coffee!

Great-grandpa's tool chest was the focus of their attention much of the evening, they all raved over its beauty.