Ditte and Jonas move NORTH

Marty's Party

Happy 60th. April 25th, 2016.

 Indistinguishable number of Inextinguishable Candles.

Marty reaches drinking age.

Remembering Ruth

April 24th and 25th, 2016

 Ruth 1947.
 
Sisters Sorensen.

 Sorensen descendents mostly.

Beth and Janice reviewing history.

 Sterners and Steinlicht.

Sterner and Wilsons.

Paul's Surprise Party

Paul is turning 60 this year, so Wendy threw a surprise party for him at Lucid Brewery in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. There were neighbors, co-workers and lots of family in attendance. (Click on the pictures for a closer view.)

Paul at Lucid Brewery.

Wendy cutting the cake.

Kristen and Bryan.

Kathy, John and Steve.

Kristen, Mike and Kate.

Karin and Paul.

Anne and Paul.

Playing Giant Jenga.

Remembering Ken

A comic I've had bouncing around in my head since Ken's passing. Thanks to Paul Eric for suggestions and help. (And thanks to Wendy for the original idea!)

A new website celebrating the craft of Singlade Balls

After lots of thought, and encouragement from others, I've decided to make a website documenting those stitched balls that Grandpa made. Here is the web address:

http://singladeballs.weebly.com

Please have a look! My concern is that this is a dying folk craft, and it needs to be shared or it will disappear. I would love to get as many photos up there as possible of the balls that Grandpa made. Will you please contribute? Send me photos of the balls that you have from Grandpa, and of any balls that you have made, too!

So far I have Martha's and Ruthann's collections. (I'll make a page for mine, too, but I'm just getting started.) I'd love to get a page up for you, too! You can use a cell phone if you don't have a camera handy. I've had good results with that.

Thanks, cousins!

Kate

Kate Carries on Grandpa Sorensen's Family Tradition!

April Fool's Day?  Absolutely not!  Rather, it's cause for our most recent family celebration!  

This week we in Rhode Island received a remarkable mailing from Kate,
which included these 5 freshly crafted, personalized, and exquisitely colorful yarn ball,
in an upbeat style very reminiscent of Grandpa Sorensen's own creations.
As an added bonus, you'll see that Kate tucked each precious yarn ball
into it's own hand-knitted sack to ensure safe keeping.
Amazing, right??

HURRAH!
THANK YOU, KATE!

Introducing Annika Joy Soule

January 23 2014 brought us all Joy in this very small, precious package!

She arrived weighing 6#9 oz.  and 20 inches long, a bit longer, yet lighter than her sister, Isabel.  
Congratulations to the proud parents, Chelsea and Tom!

Anna Greta Sorensen Steinlicht

November 26, 1925 - January 18, 2014

We were blessed to have a vivacious, talented, generous, loving mother.  We miss her!  But we are reassured with the thought that she and Dad are dancing up a storm together in each other's arms again, at last.

                                  Featuring flowers from Denmark!  Thank you, everyone for joining us in this beautiful way!

This photo shows most of the dinner crowd after funeral service and interment ceremony (brrrr!).  Missing: Dane and Mitchell Steinlicht (who were solving a tricky technical problem!).

The threatening weather sent our traveling guests on their way earlier than planned.  Paul and Janice Godtland headed back to South Dakota.  Danny, Chelsea, and their three daughters hoped to still attend a wedding in the Twin Cities.  Robert and Stephen Wilson and their families made it safely homes, as did Martin and Becky Sterner, Annie and Jerry Hanson, and Kate Sterner.  We're thrilled they could all spend the day with us in a wonderful tribute to our mother.  Thanks everyone!

There have been requests to have Paster Vern's Remembrance posted here.  YOU'LL FIND THAT ON HIS PAGE HERE.

Furthermore, Paster Vern asked if we could include the family tributes made.  He had wanted to do this himself, but lost a thread or two.  So they follow.  Feel free to spread the word.  The German relatives have already shared how much they've enjoyed this English lesson.

1.  Greta loved music.  Everyone who knew her at any stage in her life could clearly see this passion.  She wanted to share her passion when ever she had the chance.  Early in her life she taught piano to children.  She played the organ in church, first in her hometown of Lincoln NE, then in Rochester at this very church, Zumbro Lutheran.  She met her husband to be, Howard, accompanying the church choir at Zumbro.  She and Howard were also both involved in the church's decision and acquisition of the marvelous Aeolian Skinner organ we are listening to this morning. Thank you to our special guest organist, a close family friend of Greta, Merrill Davis III, for sharing his talent with us today.  

Music was also a legacy she left with her children.  There is truth to the urban legend that a family with five children can, indeed, each practice piano for half an hour each day before breakfast. To make it easier, there were two pianos and one weekly off-site piano lesson included in the plan.  

In later years Greta and Howard enjoyed music with their feet!  Round dancing became almost a lifestyle for these two in their retirement years taking them across the country in pursuit of the "perfect caller."  Their love of dancing was so strong it drew them to actually living in a "dancing community!"  They danced everyday of their lives...what a beautiful thought.  I'd like to think they are dancing right now, in heaven.

2.  Mom was always walking, even when she was über-dimensional, in her 9th month carrying full-sized twins, such that her neighbors kept watch as she walked by.  But most often, she had company while she walked.  When we were young, she brought us five kids along with her during the evenings to tire us out before bedtime.  She taught us all types of songs and marching ditties during that time.  

But Dad was her favorite walking companion.  They walked daily until it was no longer physically possible. Through parks and neighborhoods, in an airport or mall, along the beach, wherever they were, they walked and talked and prayed together.

One reason that this seems important is that we never saw our parents quarrel. Theirs was a united, seamless presence of support and guidance.  Certainly they weren't always in agreement.  Every evening in those early years as active parents, they walked together, sometimes longer than others, but they didn't come home until they had reached consensus. 

This unity was a wonderful example for us in so many ways. 

3.  Finally, Mom's sisters, Ruth and Martha (yes, of the Sorensen Trio) deserve a special mention to acknowledge our thanks and praise for their phenomenal gifts of love and attention to our mother, all of these years. Their bonds were tight and true. That they too live at Madonna Towers speaks volumes.  That they cared for Mom on a daily basis is just amazing, and has always been so appreciated.

Big Muddy Rendezvous -- Wedding Reenactment

Annie and Jerry Hanson renew their marriage vows in Winona

Thanks for hosting this party, Annie and Jerry!  It was such fun to see the family all decked out, and enjoying the elements.