How would you like to wake up every morning with this little one!

Almost every morning since July Lois and I have had the privilege of waking up to Lindsay calling out "Grandma!" or "Grandpa!".

Whitney and Colin have sold their home and purchased another. They moved into our lower level in July. It has been a multi-generational family experience that one rarely has these days. We have been blessed to hear the stories of the day from Easton and Gus.

Oh there are times when the decibels might reach high levels but the joy of having them in our home out weighs the noise.

We have expanded our TV menu to Peppa Pig, Mickey Mouse Club House, Teen Titans Go, Phineas and Ferb only to mention a few.

Family meals have been special. That's where we learn more about the day that was.

Late November they will move to their new home in Plymouth. It will be an exciting day for them and bitter sweet for us.

Love them all dearly.

In memory of Helen and Lester Drege 09.29.2019

In memory of Helen and Lester Drege: (Helen’s service was this past Saturday in Rugby, ND. She was 97 years young!)

Helen and Lester Drege were such good friends of my parents, Olga and Merwyn Ostrem. Yes, they were relatives but much more. Mom would wait for Helen’s Christmas greeting and if it was delayed for some reason she would call to check in with Helen and Lester. That’s what family does.

When Aunt Della Ostrem’s funeral service was held the winter temps in Rugby had dropped to -50 below zero without the wind chill. If you know North Dakota there is always a wind. They were reporting -90 degree wind chill at the Minot Airforce Base an hour away from Rugby. Our family was staying at the local motel and my truck was frozen solid. Lester came to the rescue and helped us get to the funeral service plus arrange for the truck to be thawed out. What gracious folks we were blessed to have as relatives. 

When my Mother, Bonita and I traveled together to Rugby, it would be one of the last times Mom visited Helen in her home. Helen was gracious as ever. 

When I think of Rugby and my Grandmother Gemina (Drege, Ostrem, Fossum) I always remember our visits to Ada and Sievert Drege’s home. Sievert and Gemina were brother and sister. I never had the opportunity to know my grandfather Anton Ostrem. I came to know a little about my grandfather as I listened to Sievert and Grandma reminisce about Anton. 

Helen and Sievert’s son Allen Drege (Lester’s brother) was a folk hero in the Ostrem household. He was known for such beautiful music he provided for so many.

Life has a way of pulling us apart from family. I wish we would have had more days and memories as kids to share as families. Maybe our memories are yet to come in the years ahead. Only God knows.

May God give us a perfect joy in knowing that our parents gave us faith, hope and love!

JF Jacks are Wild " Junior"

Today I had to say good by to one of the best quarter horses ever born. Junior was 24. He had a bowl obstruction and it was his time to leave us. I will miss him. He was an amazing horse who would go anywhere and never back down. A part of me died today. Love you Junior!

Amazing women of 2019

This past school year I have had the privilege of praying for three families who have children with cancer. Haakyn, Megan and Jake have been fighting for their lives. Ranging from a kindergartner, second grader and fourth grader. Their families have been through the emotional and spiritual ringer. So why would I single out the moms? As I read the journals of these "little warriors", as the moms put it, I was overwhelmed by the pain, frustration, sorrow, grief and fear that they willing shared with the ones reading the blogs.

In the midst of the "cloud of uncertainty" there was a "huge flame of faith!" They shared their love and compassion for their children, family, friends and most evident their God...Jesus the Healer! The hope-filled gut-wrenching words of these three moms brought tears to my eyes many times. I heard these words aloud in my mind as I read the blogs. "Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus"....not even cancer!!

Andrea, Katie and Tory you are amazing women of faith and love. Jesus dwells in you in a powerful way. Thank you for sharing with us all your journeys toward healing. Our prayers will continue frequently each day.

Pastor Tedd

KEEPING IT REAL!!

"NEVER STOP DREAMING"

Grandpa Hans Teodor "Ted" (HT) Anderson (my mother Olga's father) told his children to
 "never stop dreaming!"   Maybe this is what he meant…

Please take time to read the lyrics…We can change the world one moment at a time.
Tedd


Josh Wilson - "Dream Small" (Lyric Video) - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOBaLrItEyc
Lyrics
It's a momma singing songs about the Lord
It's a daddy spending family time
That the world said he cannot afford
These simple moments change the world
It's a pastor at a tiny little Church
Forty years of loving on the broken and the hurt
These simple moments change the world
Dream small
Don't bother like you've gotta do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Dream small
It's visiting the widow down the street
Or dancing on a Friday with your friend with special needs
These simple moments change the world
Of course, there's nothing wrong with bigger dreams
Just don't miss the minutes on your way, your bigger things, no
'Cause these simple moments change the world
So dream small
Don't bother like you've gotta do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
So dream small
Keep loving, keep serving
Keep listening, keep learning
Keep praying, keep hoping
Keep seeking, keep searching
Out of these small things and watch them grow bigger
The God who does all things makes oceans from river
So dream small
Don't bother like you've gotta do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Yeah, five loaves and two fish's could feed them all
So dream small
Dream small
Songwriters: Josh Wilson
Dream Small lyrics © Audiam, Inc