Our most favorite place ever

On a recent visit to Walker MN we took a little side trip about 25 miles south 

to Hubbard county where lies  Pine Haven Christian Assembly on Long lake. 

The Lodge

cabins

It's a piece of heaven on earth, such a beautiful, serene setting for a church camp. 

My Husband grew up going to church camp here, as did all three of our children. 

Our two oldest chose to be baptized in Long lake.

Our family has many wonderful memories as we spent 20 years 

vacationing here with several families from our church. 

During our particular week at Pine Haven (3rd week of August), 

there were no camps being held, so we basically were allowed to use the facility

 and all that goes with it. My three kids were able to share in this week with there friends and cousins..... Aug 1999

It was the best week of the year for 20 + years!

 Rick and I walked around the camp, we reminisced and talked with
 a few friends that were up either as part of the staff or
just visiting as well. It's quite possible that our grandchildren will be
 attending camps here...a 3rd generation. I love that.

The Chapel (photo from 2011)

 The oaks were starting their change

 Just 4 miles north of camp is Park Rapid, a beautiful little town, which also 

holds many memories for our family including the fun trips to the candy stores.

On this day only one of the candy stores were open, it was busy place. 

It was very tempting to grab a handful of this carmel corn made fresh

 in the candy store, but I restrained myself  :)

Downtown Park rapids  

 

The sidewalks have these little mosaics of all the lakes in the area,

 this one is Long Lake...our lake!

Ethnic Festival, Walker....Part two

While Rick and I were wandering the streets of Walker last Friday evening, 

we noticed posters in the store windows advertising an Ethnic Festival the next day.

 There would be vendors selling their goods, a parade and 

ethnic foods in the park....SCORE!!!

 Something fun to look forward to while we were visiting this little community 

We listened to this Ojibwe Indian as he gave a presentation

 and played some beautiful tunes on his flute. 

The Ojibwe bands moved into the region during the mid-to-late 1700's.

The reservation is SE of Bemidji with Walker just outside on the SW corner.

The Vendors...

 Beautiful handmade goods

 Working on her craft

Hand painted window hangings

 Loved this dress

Couldn't resist this photo, 

their mama was selling baked goods and was close by

My social butterfly (Left) striking up a conversation with

 a guy selling Djembe's (african drum)

The parade ...

Off with the hat...

I love how there is still respect when the national anthem is being sung!

 I'm half Norwegian so I especially liked this float...

"Eat Lots of Lefse" I love Lefse!

 The elderly showing they can still play a good tune!

 Oh, I just loved this beautiful sweater,

(and her cute little over the shoulder bag)

These long wooden horns produced a beautiful sound...they stopped right in front of us to play. 

Does anyone know what ethnicity this represents?   Danish perhaps?

 Pow-wow float

This little guy was quite proud of his heritage, his dancing showed it!

 More dancing

Did I mention there was food.....

 Rick and I shared a Gyro, It was delicious

We decided that it was a big partaking to eat this messy morsel, 

so we sat down with a fork at a near by picnic table and visited with some locals 

while we enjoyed our lunch.

"Up North"

 "Up North" typically means anything north of the Twin Cities.... 

Rick and I love up north!

We will be doing out annual north shore trip in a few weeks but this last weekend we felt we needed a little pre-trip to the north country to another area we love, today I will highlight Walker MN

We love to sit out on the marina and look at the activity on Leech Lake 

It was a bit nippy this weekend so there wasn't a whole lot going on

 but the lake was pretty just the same! 

we spotted this pretty little natural wood sail boat...just cute I guess  :)

There are plenty of shops to browse...and we do
  

Love this wooden pelican that sits atop the "Bayside bar & grill"

A favorite place for dinner, Zona Rosa

More on Walker in an upcoming post :)

Whew, glad that over!

photo from a few years ago during a "call weekend"

It was a l-o-n-g weekend of "call" at the hospital, I was there more than I was at home. 

It all started with Friday I worked my regular 8 hour shift but ended up staying

 4 1/2 hours over time with call cases. 

Friday overnight was quiet, got to sleep all night, I was thankful for that.

Saturday, I was back in the saddle again at 7:30am and went home at 4:30pm, only to return a few hours later for an emergency case. UGH! Again I was able to sleep through the night Saturday, 

undisturbed, I was thankful for that. 

Sunday we were in at 7:30am, and left about 1:30pm. I got home, did a few things around the house and just sat down to catch up in the newspaper and my phone rang.... In to work I go again.  

Back home in time for supper and a quiet evening with Rick.

Sunday night I went to bed hopeful for another good night sleep, My hopes were dashed...

 Monday morning at 4:30am (2 1/2 hours before my call weekend ended) the phone rang, that familiar ring tone that tells me it's the resident calling me to tell me we "got an emergency case", ugh! 

It would be my last case of the weekend...

 On my way to the hospital I prayed for the Lord to give me strength, peace, compassion and the energy to get through one more case!  I give myself a pat on the back,  and a, "you got this girl", 

but most of all I put myself aside, and remember the patient on the receiving end!  

That human being that is scared, nervous and in pain....they really needed me.  

I  remind myself that I am there to serve, I am the gentle touch, the reassuring voice and 

the "drug pusher", as some call me  :)  

An emergency case can be soooo  challenging for the only nurse in the call team of 5. 

There is much to do before the patient arrives in the chilled dark procedure room. 

I have to look up pertinent information on the patient that can affect my care... vitals signs, heart rhythm, labs, patient history, have they eaten, what are there allergies. Is there blood hanging, is the patient co-operative, can they lay flat, can they be still. Age makes a difference.... call the nurse in the ICU to get a brief report, call the anesthesia resident to let them know I am there in case I need their help. Get my drugs ready, hang and IV bag, start up the anesthesia machine, Make sure I have suction, oxygen mask hooked up, monitor on. Get the consent form ready for the doctor along with orders I need signed. I'm not done yet....

The ambulance arrives with the patient (and his wife who rode along) I stop what I'm doing, take off my game face and smile..... 

I'm the one who takes the patient's wife out of the procedure room after they kiss goodbye. We walk, my arm around her as she sobs, so scared for her husband, all my technical cares leave me for a minute, I comfort her as we walk side by side to the dark cold waiting area at 5am....not a soul to be seen, there we depart with a hug I reassure her that we will take good care of her husband... she thanks me, and I turn to get back to business... 2 hours later, the procedure ends, My co-workers are straggling in for the start of their regular work day, I'm glad to see them, I'm not alone anymore... at 7am my co-workers 

take over for me in the recovery room, I'm thankful to be done with this long weekend. 

Done with the dreaded"Call weekend" forever !

I say FOREVER because...

 I have a new Job starting in October....NO MORE CALL SHIFTS, DAY HOURS, NO WEEKENDS, NO HOLIDAYS....

 A fresh new start to what I think will be the end of my nursing career.

More to come on my new position in the near future  :)

She is ready...

My first grandchild started Kindergarten today.....

Seems like only yesterday she was itty-bitty

snuggling in my arms...so sweet

Then she grew some more and it took a little coercing to

 get her to sit still for a photo.

Now she's older and always has a hug for grandma....

my sweet girl the night before kindergarten

I sent this to my daughter the this morning,
I knew it would be hard to see her little one go off to school
so I wanted to encourage her with this sweet devotion,
"First day of Kindergarten"

And so it begins... she is ready!   (photo compliments of Brianna L.)

Labor day weekend....

Our Labor day weekend started off with our son Brice, his wife Jennifer and 

baby Scarlett coming for a visit and some weekend festivities...

Brice offered to grill up some burgers for dinner Saturday night. 

They were scrumptious, he is quite the grill master!

Scarlett was just begging me to take her photo....

She is so so sweet.

Already 8 weeks old, with lots of smiles and coo's

Our daughter Brianna was working the holiday weekend (12 hour shifts)

 but was able to rush over after work to bond with her niece, brother's and sis in law.

She's been dying to get her hands on her new niece.

Carson giving kisses to his new cousin.

Uncle Brice always has time to play with Audrey

Uncle Chris and Aunt Brianna 

Audrey loves her new cousin, by this time next year Scarlett will be crawling after Audrey

 Sunday morning.... mommy and daughter having a chat   

* ~ ~ ~ *

Sunday afternoon we gathered to celebrate a 60th wedding anniversary...

 These two started it all..... 

Wayne & Joanne (Rick's parents)

Grandma Joanne with her granddaughter Brianna and 3 great grandchildren. 

 Uncle Brice....playing with Carson this time.

 Oh the giggles  :)

 It warms my heart to see my boys love on their nieces and nephews

 Uncle Gavin chillin' with Scarlett.

Now it's September and as you might guess I'm thrilled with the prospect of Fall being right around the corner. Labor day was a beautiful day (once the rain stopped)  I got 5 loads of laundry washed and out on the clothes line. I got the overgrown lawn mowed, then ended the day with a date with my guy.

 I hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend.... anyone want to share what you did?