Forth and Back

When Karen and I first started this blog we intended it to be our diary, or journal of the adventure we were having here in the Northern Plains. I wanted to keep it in a chronological order as well. But, that didn't exactly happen and thus I got a little lax in doing any new posts. My desire now is to get back to blogging regardless of whether it is in order or not. I will be jumping around, forth and back, until I finally get caught up (if that ever happens). I invite you to follow my blog if you wish. If you don't, well that will not offend me in the least. For those who wish to follow it I have suggested that you take my link and save it to your favourites or bookmarks or your desktop, whatever works for you. Then check in every once in a while to see what is happening up here. I thank all of you for your support and care.

Campground changes

The PAPA/NANA Campground of Butte, North Dakota has undergone a change. With the trimming of a few branches, removal of a bush and the relocation of the fire pit, the campground can now accommodate three, maybe four campers. (Family reunion, anyone?)

In the photos, I have my camper parked next to the "guest" camper (AKA camper for the grandchildren) and another one can be parked on the other side of the flagpole where my pick-up is. Another one can be placed in front so as to "circle the fire pit" and with a little maneuvering, another camper can be worked in.

Water is available and coming soon, 30A electric hookups will be available. So far, sewer is not available but a dump station is two blocks away. Also, bathroom facilities are available in the house. And best of all, THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

The invitation is always open...just call ahead to see if I will be around. If not, the campground is still available and a key to the house is not far away.

A monumental day

Today (September 2009) was a "monumental" day for me. (See, I am getting my sense of humour back. And Karen would be proud of me for my play on words. We always tried to out-do each other in that respect.) Today the monument co. called and said they had it ready and would I like to be there while they placed it? So even though I had a ton of stuff to do I went out on the prairie to the Butte cemetery to watch it being set. I hope you guys approve of it as I put a lot of thought and prayer into it. As it turned out, the monument co. had this stone in stock and since blue and grey are our colours, I just knew that it would fit us perfectly. And I wanted to honour our grandchildren as well with the names by which we so dearly love to be called. Even though it kind of "creeps me out" to see my name on it, I guess it just makes me look more forward to the day I see her again in glory. But more importantly, I look forward to the day that I can sit with her at the feet of our sovereign God and worship Him forever. So why Hebrews 4:9? "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." First of all it is the scripture verse engraved on the headstone of my great-grandfather, Lorentz Petersen. He was the first person to be buried in the Bethel Cemetery by Powers Lake, ND in 1904. Secondly: I use, as my daily devotion, Charles H. Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening". I feel that his commentary on that verse (January 18th, AM) not only fits the believer of God in his eternal hope but is SO appropriate for the way Karen lived her life and the example that she set for ALL that came in contact with her. This commentary gives me so much assurance that Karen is now resting in her labours and those labours are now perfect. I thank God for this assurance and I look to the day that I too will take part in God's perfection. Here is Spurgeon's commentary:... "How different will be the state of the believer in heaven from what it is here! Here he is born to toil and suffer weariness, but in the land of the immortal, fatigue is never known. Anxious to serve his Master, he finds his strength unequal to his zeal: his constant cry is, "Help me to serve Thee, O my God." If he be thoroughly active, he will have much labour; not too much for his will, but more than enough for his power, so that he will cry out, "I am not wearied of the labour, but I am wearied in it." Ah! Christian, the hot day of weariness lasts not for ever; the sun is nearing the horizon; it shall rise again with a brighter day than thou hast ever seen upon a land where they serve God day and night, and yet rest from their labours. Here, rest is but partial, there, it is perfect. Here, the Christian is always unsettled; he feels that he has not yet attained. There, all are at rest; they have attained the summit of the mountain; they have ascended to the bosom of their God. Higher they cannot go. Ah, toil-worn labourer, only think when thou shalt rest for ever! Canst thou conceive it? It is a rest eternal; a rest that "remaineth." Here, my best joys bear "mortal" on their brow; my fair flowers fade; my dainty cups are drained to dregs; my sweetest birds fall before Death's arrows; my most pleasant days are shadowed into nights; and the flood-tides of my bliss subside into ebbs of sorrow; but there, everything is immortal; the harp abides unrusted, the crown unwithered, the eye undimmed, the voice unfaltering, the heart unwavering, and the immortal being is wholly absorbed in infinite delight. Happy day! happy! when mortality shall be swallowed up of life, and the Eternal Sabbath shall begin." I have since place a 'shepard's hook' next to our head stone from which I can hang a boquet of flowers. I vist her grave often and feel so blessed that the Butte Cemetary is within walking distance of our house.

At least we CELEBRATED it!!!

Yesterday, March 19, 2010 would have been the 27th wedding anniversary for Karen and me. We were in our late 30s when we were married and several years later it occured to us that if we would ever celebrate or 50th anniversary, we would both be in our late 80s...almost 90!!! Would we ever make it to our 50th? If we did, would we even KNOW that we did? We talked about that off and on for several years and as we approached our 25th anniversary we made a decision. We would CELEBRATE our 50th anniversary on our 25th! Then, if we did not make it to our 50th, we would have at least CELEBRATED it. So the plan was set. Now, we knew that this action would leave a lot of people scratching their heads and wondering--What are they up to??? But that was exactly the sense of humour that both of us had. Those who knew us well would appreciate this subtle oddity that we both shared. And those that didn't know us very well....they would be the ones left scratching their heads.

So, on a fine winter day of March 19, 2008, we ordered a cake, sent out invitations, and shared our day with family and friends over coffee at the Butte MiniMall. It was a wonderful time for us and we trusted that it was the same for everyone else. Judging by the turn out that we had, I'm sure it was. Little did we know that just a few short weeks after our 26th anniversary, Karen would pass from this life into her eternal rest. BUT AT LEAST WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE OUR 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!

'till we meet again....

Oh, I followed close behing her

Tried to hold up and be brave

But I could not hide my sorrow

When they laid her in the grave

Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, Lord, by and by

There's a better home a-waiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

In memory

I was standing by my window,
On one cold and cloudy day
When I saw the hearse come rolling
For to carry my lover away

Will the circle be unbroken
by and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

I said to that undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For this lady you are carrying
Lord, I hate to see her go.

Summer 2008

The summer of 2008 saw the highest prices for gasoline and diesel fuel in history. I know that, because on our trip to Powers Lake we fueled up and for the first time in my life it cost over $100 to put fuel in the pickup. That is one reason we decided to stay close to home for the summer of 2008. The other reason was that we had some maintenance work to do on our house before winter. We have steel siding on our house and it was yellow in color. Karen liked to call it a gold color. We wanted to have it more in the grey tone so I looked into the best way to paint it. The first step was to wash and scrub the whole house with a solution of TSP. Next came a coat of a high quality bonding agent and then the final two coats of paint. It seemed like quite a task for a couple of old timers like ourselves, but like Karen says, "How do you eat an elephant?... One bite at a time." So we took one section or one wall at a time and sure enough--before you knew it, the job was done.

The shingles on the gables are actually made of fibreglass so they didn't need as much prep work. All that was needed was a good cleaning and the paint job. Does the siding look gold or yellow?

The first coat of paint over the bonding agent. We are just about all the way around the house now. What a job! Can we go camping again now?