Seasonal Changes

I started my New Year's resolution 9 months late. Kind of like a pregnancy...had to let the seed take root and come to fruition 9 months later. I started a weight training regimin. I did this years ago and saw good results. I can do this at home with my very own weight bench. It has been kind of fun even though various muscle groups are in states of ache.

I do this in my upstairs room of my 2 story home. I get to look out on the cornfield behind my home. When I started this journey the field was a sea of green with sparkles of gold. Watching the wind play across the tops of the corn is as delightful as watching the ocean. Thank you, David, for pointing that out to me!

Yesterday, as I looked out, I could see some of the corn was maturing - turning gold! It came as a big surprise to me that "field" corn isn't picked green - it has to mature and dry out. Then is is harvested and stored in silos until needed. We have an ethynol plant in Torrington so some of this corn might feed our cars bellies instead of cow's bellies.

Today as I was grunting through my weights I looked out and overnight the mostly green field is now gold with bits of green! Wow, that happened fast! When it is time to mature in the corn world it seems to do so overnight. Always learning something new.

This Wyoming

I am not a Wyoming native. I was born in Colorado. A few months after my birth, we moved to Wyoming. My dad worked the oil field so we moved at least once a year. By age 8, we were mostly in Wyoming so I consider Wyoming my home.

UNTIL: After 18 years of marriage, my husband moved his family to Littleton, Colorado. I wasn’t sure I had the sophistication for big city stuff but after a few years, I could handle traffic and annoying drivers with the best of them. I was enjoying big city living.

UNTIL: My husband retired, the kids moved out and hubby was longing for home – Wyoming. He was a native and except for a few years in his childhood and the 9 years we spent in Denver; Wyoming is where he belonged. I begged to stay in Denver Metro, I loved the front range weather and the airport that can take me anywhere I want to go without great expense. Tom found a place in Wyoming where the weather is mild and there was an airport just 40 minutes away. I caved and we moved to Torrington, Wyoming.

It’s been over 6 years now and I have discovered that I do have the character it takes to live in Wyoming. Torrington still has harsh winds and conveniences aren’t just down the street. Yes, I can fly out of Scottsbluff, NE but the times don’t often match with the connecting flights out of Denver and it does cost more.

STILL: There are days in Wyoming that take your breath away. My city friends come to visit us and can’t believe the vastness of the skies and the emptiness of the horizons. I say it is scenery to cleanse your visual palette. After living in the busy-ness of a city, the stillness and emptiness gives your visual acuity a rest. Your auditory acuity gets a rest, too, because you don’t hear a lot of traffic. Instead, you can hear the geese honking overhead, maybe a coyote howling in the distance, and the crickets chirping at night.

The night skies generally twinkle brightly with endless stars, the sunrises (not that I really see many of those) and the sunsets glow with pinks, reds, oranges and purples, each one unique. It is those moments that make up for the times the wind blows endlessly and the blizzards or the dirt storms make traveling hazardous.

We try to take in the wonderful days of Wyoming and appreciate everyone. Recently, we were camped near Glendo Reservoir. This body of water is famous for it’s walleye fishing and often you have to share the space with half of Colorado! During the week, though it is pretty quiet with fewer people. This year, 2010, it is even quieter because Glendo flooded and messed with the walleye. Fishing isn’t so great this year. However, my husband and I gave it a good try. During the morning it was cool but calm. We saw 3 other boats on the water. There was a light breeze, enough to rough up the water just enough. Clouds were dancing across the sky and we could see Laramie Peak playing peek-a-boo with the hills surrounding Glendo. We weren’t catching fish but I was enjoying the quiet, the view, and watching the pelicans doing their aerial acrobats. What a wonderful day in Wyoming!

The next evening, Tom and I went out to check on evening fishing. Maybe we were hitting the wrong time of day. The breeze was a bit stiffer and anybody else in any other part of the world would have called it windy but in Wyoming it was just breezy. We found a spot on the lake that was out of the worst of it. We got our poles rigged and in the water and were quietly trolling along the shoreline enjoying the evening. I was wishing we’d brought a bottle of wine and cheese and crackers to enjoy this evening even more. Yet, even as those thoughts crossed my mind, Tom spotted a couple of buck deer near the water’s edge. We rounded the corner of a cove and saw 3 more. Delightful! Another wonderful day in Wyoming.

I didn’t think I had enough character to live in Wyoming again. I miss many things about my years in the city, but it is rare that a person can experience the wonderfulness of Wyoming as often as we do. And it’s the character building days that drive the riffraff back to the “civilized” states from which they hail. As a Wyomingite, I'm okay with that.

Thanks, Charlie Dog

Charlie Dog

It all started with my daughter, Karyn’s, love of critters. She had some wonderful success training our knucklehead Boykin Spaniel, Tip. 4H fine tuned those skills. Tip, alas, is no more but other dogs entered our lives before Karyn struck out on her own. She owned a Basenji, a wonderfully, crazy dog that I am truly relieved belonged entirely to her. Finally she settled on a little Brittany. Her main competition in 4H dog obedience was a couple of Brittanys. We knew of their kind temperament, a perfect match for a young, growing family with kids. Aida, the Brittany, was a pleasure to be around.

Karyn, with family and dog in tow, went to visit her brother, our son, David. He, too, was quite impressed with the Brittany temperament. When he began looking for a dog, he thought he’d start with a Brittany. That took him to Brittany rescue. He was fine with adopting an “older” dog, but instead one of the Brittanys had a litter of pups. He adopted on of them – Charlie.

Charlie joined David, almost two years ago. He was shorter haired than most but had the Brittany pink nose and the white coat scattered with orange markings. As Charlie grew, he started looking less like a Brittany and more like an English pointer – except for his docked tail and pink nose.

David and his girlfriend were quite consistent in training Charlie so he became a very well behaved dog. Life changes and David had to move from his house with a yard to an apartment with no yard. He went from employment that demanded his weekends but left his weekdays mostly free, to just the opposite. It didn’t look like Charlie was going to fit into this life style very well.

I don’t want dogs. I love dogs but I am at a time in my life when I don’t really want to care for critters. I don’t like picking up poop, I don’t like vacuuming dog hair, and I don’t like nagging people to take care of their pets. Well, I caved. Rather than David finding someone else to take care of Charlie, I said we’d foster him. Karyn was the logical choice for caring for Charlie, as he and Aida were great pals. However, Karyn had adopted another Brittany. 3 dogs, a bird, numerous fish, 2 boys, and full load of college class work seemed to be on the verge of overload even for a critter lover. Besides she lived too far away.

So Charlie came to live with us. We have a very large yard but can’t fence it in due to covenants. We put in an underground electric fence which works great. We live on the edge of a farm field so there is plenty of running room. I insisted that, if we took this dog, that Tom and I both would give him 2 walks a day. He is a sporting dog, after all, and needs to run. David was hoping that Tom’s skill at training a hunting dog to hunt pheasants might also be a plus for both of them when hunting season rolled around. I decided it was imperative to get Charlie in shape for an all day hunt.

We brought him home with us the end of March 2010. We have been diligent walking him nearly every day although not always twice a day. It has been a boon for us, too, as we needed the excuse to get off our butts and do something outside.

The other day as summer wanes and the days are getting shorter, I was out with Charlie. The sunset was gorgeous, the cornfield behind our house is taller than me and I reflected on the changing of the seasons. I have to thank Charlie Dog for demanding his walk everyday. I have connected with the outdoors this year as we walked across bare ground at the end of winter, avoided the field as the crops came peaking through in the spring, and now play hide and seek up and down the tall corn rows. Thanks, Charlie – maybe I did want a dog after all.

Wyoming District LWML Convention

At the 2010 Wyoming District LWML convention held in Gering, NE, I was reminded again why I am an LWML'er, an acronym for Lutheran Women's Missionary League, which is the official woman's organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). One of the first women I met was Joan Anderson. Joan and I were members of an LCMS mission congregation in Wright, Wyoming, beginning in 1980. Our chapel was a small trailer house. Our first lay pastor was Jim Dittman who was helped in this mission by his wife, Donna. They were the age of our parents so not only did we respect them for the work they were doing but we respected them as we would our parents.

Joan and I were both pregnant the year Donna called a meeting for all woman. Most of us were in our 20's and first time mothers but we showed up to avoid being grounded! Donna explained that our mission congregation needed to form an LWML society. I knew of LWML because my mother was a part of one. She even borrowed one of my Barbie doll imposters to make a display for one of her meetings. I wasn't sure I wanted to be part of an organization that was for "older" ladies. Poor Joan didn't know anything about the organization but I don't recall that she asked many questions. I'm sure Donna explained a little bit but mostly she indicated that we needed officers. Who wanted to be President? Not only was I pregnant but I also had a little guy at home. I was pretty sure I was too busy to make Barbie doll displays. I guess everyone else thought they were too busy, too. Donna just waited and looked at us each in turn. In the back of my mind I was thinking, "Well, Donna, if you think this organization is so important why don't YOU be president", but she was like my mom so I wasn't going to get sassy with her. I looked around the table and everyone looked as stubborn as I felt. I looked at Donna and she looked back at me, without knowing what I was doing my hand went up - all by itself! I hear a huge sigh of relief from my left. Joan muttered, "Oh good, if you'd waited one more second my hand was going up." I hold the honor of being the first president of the Rebekah Guild LWML at Hope Lutheran Church in Wright, Wyoming. Which sadly, is no longer a congregation.

When I let my mother know I was president she passed on a bit of history. It seems she had been president in her local society and furthermore, her mother had also been a president for her local society. It seems I was following in some wonderful LWML footsteps. While Donna would not be the first president she was a wonderful mentor and our society was up and running in no time. We had our struggles but we had our joys. As no one had gone before us, we were able to establish our own traditions. We made many banners and even submitted a design for the International LWML Convention being held in Rapid City. Much to our surprise our design won! To our bigger surprise, we were required to make it. We did. Ruth Kerbel carried that banner during the processional of the first International LWML convention that Joan and I attended.

My family moved from Wright in 1994 to the Denver area. I was still in LWML and still attended district conventions and a few national ones. I held offices in the local society but didn't aspire to higher callings in the organization at that time - although it was in the back of my mind that I MIGHT like to be a district officer SOMEDAY. In 2003, we sold our home and returned to Wyoming - this time to Torrington. We were immediately welcomed by Our Savior Lutheran Church. I meant to be a quiet little mouse and just be a worshipper for a while. That worked for about 5 minutes and soon I was on my way to being a part of LWML again. I have held the office of President and in one weak moment agreed to run for office at the Zone level. Yes, I was elected but instead of being President, I am recording secretary. I did explain that we travel a lot and I might not make all the meetings but everyone seemed to think that would work.

Remember I travel a lot and this winter we were working in Tucson, AZ. We lived in a lovely mobile home/RV park that was formerly a working orange grove. I had 4 orange trees in my little lot and I was able to pick an orange anytime I wanted. I felt like I was in paradise! One evening Melvina Dillman called me. She was on the Wyoming District LWML nomination committee and trying to fill a VP post. She explained that she was despairing of whom to call when she prayed one evening at a Lenten service that God guide her to find the right people. Somehow God put my name on her heart. Ah. I must have just consumed a fermented orange because I told her to send the job description and I would consider it.

The position she was nominating me for was way too complicated for a Newbie. However, the VP of Human Care looked promising. She did have my Zone President's name as a nominee but I figured Barb Schaer would willingly trade places with me if she had to. I called Melvina back and said she could put my name down for VP of Human Care. A few weeks later I looked over the nominee list and much to my surprise Barb and I were running for the same office. Melvina and Judy Christianson were running for the VP of Servant Resources - the original post I was asked to run for.

Now some of this might seem rather Godless at this point and coincidental. I did pray about taking the post and was really hoping God would give me a good excuse to say no. Instead He caused me to remember the convention I attended in Dubois. I was able to see some of the women I would be working with in action. These women were Christ Filled and Funny! I love funny. I could do this job if I could be funny. I sent in my bio - as understated as I could make it and sent in a reasonable likeness of me. I did pray a few times asking God to help me be willing if need be but Barb would do the job better. Hint, hint.

2010 Wyoming District LWML convention arrived and it was only 30 minutes from my doorstep in Gering NE. I decided if I was going to attend I was taking it all in! I even signed up for choir for the opening Divine Worship Service. I was a bit late for choir practice so I was off by myself in the choir loft. Nobody asked what I wanted to sing so I thought I'd try alto. I kind of read music but that doesn't mean I match pitch. After one stanza of the first hymn, I knew I was out of my league. These folks were good! I would've tried to slink out of there but I'm tall; it's hard for me to slink. So I suffered through and sang very, very, very quietly. With all those strong voices around me, I was pretty sure they would drown me out.

We took a break and this was my opportunity to not return. However, Joan - who has a beautiful voice - did see me there. A few members from my zone saw me there, too. I was pretty sure if I didn't show up, I'd probably get ribbed so I went back up to that balcony and prayed for the best. I learned something important up there. Sometimes God just needs my willingness. I opened my voice and tried to sing quietly but somehow the notes that came out sounded pretty good. I won't say I belted out a tune, but I did gain some confidence in my singing and the angel that sang for me added to that angelic choir. That's where the similarity to heaven stops - it was very hot up in that balcony and even with fans running it was not a heavenly temperature.

Our President of the Wyoming District LCMS, Rev. Richard Boche, gave the sermon. His words touched me and while I had gained confidence in singing I was starting to think maybe I could be VP with God's help. I was near tears when I humbly asked Jesus to be there and help me do this job if elected. Making LWML a priority and following through with my duties would be required. I would need to be inspired. I would have to be willing to make some sacrifices.

It seems that the entire convention was then an answer to my prayer. Every Bible study, every speaker, everyone who knew me was encouraging me. Everyone who knew me was also campaigning for me. But maybe the one person that inspired me the most was my mother, Kathy Struble. My mother was at this convention. She is 78 and to my knowledge has never held an office beyond her local LWML society. Our District LWML President, Gerry Neereimer, was a member of her congregation. She had asked my mother to be her parliamentarian. My mother has a lot of respect for Gerry, maybe that was one of the reasons she agreed to the position. My mother was up on stage next to the President and confidently reading her part. I was so proud of her for being up there. I could see that the other board members loved and respected her. After all, she is just my mom; this was new to me! Through my mother, God started working on my heart and my enthusiasm for this job I hoped NOT to have.

The business at hand was taken care of in good order. We were in the WORD together, we sang together, we laughed together, we selected our mission grants, and we shopped at the Christian store sponsored by Concordia Publishing House. We heard reports from the various committees, and we laughed at the skits performed. We were renewed when our Young Women Representatives, Karen Lininger and Jennifer Scheel shared their excitement about LWML. LWML isn’t just for Grandmas! We shared meals together and met new friends and renewed old friendships. Joan and I got caught up on the last 16 years and shared a few laughs as memories rolled over us. We made plans to get together to encourage Pastor Dittman and his wife, Donna, facing the challenges of cancer.

One evening was set aside to meet the nominees. Was I going to campaign for myself or for Barb? I decided to be gracious and just meet and greet and let the Lord move in the hearts of the delegates. Was I going to vote for myself or was I going to vote for Barb? As a delegate for our society, I had to decide. I marked my ballot and handed it in. I prayed, "thy will be done". We voted in the morning and wouldn't have the results until the afternoon. Drawings for door prizes helped with the wait. My mother was the first winner. It was fun seeing her surprised expression. And as God would have it, I was the last winner. She won a Jade cross; I won raspberry tea. I love raspberry - it was all good.

Finally, the results were counted and my name was announced. I am the new Vice President of Human Care. I know a little bit about the job, but I do know I take over for an organized Evie Miller who will be a wonderful mentor. God's sense of humor even has a twist. Melvina Dillman who wanted me to be a nominee for Vice President of Servant Resources now holds that position. We are both looking forward to this! God is working in my heart, I am excited to have this position and I can't wait to get to know my fellow board members better. I am pretty sure we'll have a fun time together but more importantly we get the honor of being available as God works His wonders through our marvelous organization.

10 Year Graduate

In 2001, our daughter, Karyn, enrolled in community college. Her first classes were mostly for fun but she did pick up some early childhood classes. Then her education was interrupted a bit as she learned to be a new wife. After a few years, she and hubby, Rick, and brand new baby, Timmy, moved to Seward, NE. Rick was beginning his studies at Concordia University, a private Lutheran school. Karyn began to pick up a few classes at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. It seemed becoming a teacher would be the career choice. Another little baby, Daniel, was added to the mix, and the new mom took some time off. Rick graduated in 2008 and Karyn began her college experience again - this time as a full time student.

On May 8, 2010, Karyn graduated from Concordia as an elementary teacher who can also take a call as a Lutheran teacher. Hallelujah! Timmy and grandma spent most of the baccalaureate crying because we were so happy for her. Daniel cried because his mommy was across the aisle and not with him. That was an easy fix - we let him go to her.

We are so grateful that God has given this family the strength to persevere and complete their education. Our prayer is that they will use these gifts to His Glory and be in a place to share the love of Jesus with all they meet. I look forward expectantly to see the many lives Karyn will touch as a teacher. She seems to have a real knack for it and knows how to pull l the students into the excitement of learning. Some of her students from her "student teaching" class wrote her thank you notes. Each student mentioned how much they loved science with her. One kid even said, he used to hate science but he likes it now.

So go forth, darling daughter, be creative in your teaching, be tender in your relationships and always share the saving grace of Jesus with your students and co-workers.

Almost Spring in Arizona

And we have to leave. The job has come to trickling halt. A few things still to do but they can be done remotely. Our son, David, has a new job and needs to move from Longmont to Colorado Springs. Parent's Moving Extraordinaire will be pulling in soon. Actually, I think the move can happen without us but Charlie, the grand-dog might need some grandmotherly love and care.

The desert is starting to bloom - I had hoped with all the rain it might bloom faster. The orange blossoms are just now trying to bud out but I think we will miss them, too. I fertilized the orange trees and put a new drip system around them. We hope to come back next year for fun and relaxation this time. I'm sure my tender loving care will help the trees bear wonderful fruit!

We went out on the desert yesterday and saw some ocotillo blooming - such beautiful vibrant colors. We just made a reservation for a stopping place in New Mexico, the attendant said the poppies are popping so perhaps we will get to see the desert in bloom.

I hope the coyotes serenade us tonight. We haven't heard them for awhile or maybe we have become used to them. I found a hummingbird nest on Friday and joy of joy I got to see the adult feeding babies!

Part 2 - several months later -

Our trip back home was wonderful. We stayed at Rock hound State Park outside of Deming. There were a bunch of birds and I tried to take a few pictures. It was a beautiful setting, I'd like to go back. Our second night was at the Wittington NRA Center outside of Raton. It was cold and we had the place to ourselves. Again, it was beautiful and a herd of deer roamed by our camping spot that morning.

We got Dave moved into his new accessible apartment in Colorado Springs. He gave us a tour of the Olympic Training Center and we were able to meet some of the athletes he will be training. An exciting time for him. He tried to keep Charlie, the dog, at his apartment but that was working. We are now foster dog parents. Charlie likes to take us for walks and he is very well behaved. Loves to point birds - especially robins. Don't tell anybody, but it is kind of fun to be a dog owner again.

Arizona Winter 2009-2010

We are still wintering in Arizona. I am pretty sure Tom is going to have to hog-tie me to get me to leave. I have so thoroughly enjoyed my lit bit of a paradise. I guess I'm kind of quirky. I think this older mobile home/RV park is delightful set as it is amongst citrus, dates and other green stuff. There is plenty of cacti around and we are just a few minutes walk from desert. We have had friends come visit with their RVs but they don't want to stay here. Somehow they think living in an RV park that resembles a parking lot is more pleasant. I will give you that a heated pool and nicer shower room might be a draw. I have found that few people swim in Arizona in the winter even if the pool is heated. AND I really don't want to gather my stuff to go shower where so many others have gone before if I don't have to.

We are heading into spring which means more rain. We have had lots of it and discovered our slide-out leaks. We got on top and saw how nasty our poor old roof has become. We ordered new seals and Tom, the handyman, will install it as soon as it arrives and time and sunshine allow.

Looks like the job is winding down. Another employee from the outfit that Tom consults with will be down tonight and they will hammer out the last of the program in a few weeks. Then Tom offered to leave for a few weeks and come back and catch any bugs from the program. Then I think we will be heading home. Maybe it will be springtime in Wyoming by then. I have had a taste of warmer weather here and while so far it has been pleasant I can imagine how hot it must get - maybe Tom won't have to hog-tie me after all!

Stay tuned - there might be more to come.