Boxes in the basement

Charles has begun the organization of buttons not currently on the button display panels. Wesley was checking on Charles' progress and seemed to be showing some concerns about the sudden appearance of moving boxes! For the record, we are NOT moving!!

More art on display

Vårförnimmelser (green painting by window)

"On Green Mountain" (to the left by woman's head)

The Silent City (multi-colored piece)

Charles is among several dozen members of the Albert Lea Art Center who have pieces in the current Annual Members Show. He has three pieces in this show plus another seven in the Featured Artist exhibition.

Underway in Glenville

We began the New Year with the Glenville UMC family with worship on a very cold and windy day!

Featured Artist!

Charles is this month's "Featured Artist" at the Albert Lea Art Center! This is Charles' first exhibition in quite a while and is a wonderful way to get the year underway.

The Year in Review: July - December

Glenville UMC

July: We begin our time with Glenville UMC; Charles volunteers with the Art & Garden Tour; Belinda's time at Thorne Crest comes to a conclusion; Charles goes with Thorne Crest residents to the county fair.

Big job at Itasca Rock Garden

August: Charles volunteers at Itasca Rock Garden cleanup; Belinda gets hired by the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce; We take part in the Glenville Days parade with GUMC; Jackie's memorial service via Zoom; Charles bangs up his truck in the Thorne Crest garage; A trip to the Minnesota State Fair.

Belinda is on fire as Spiritual Growth Coordinator

September: Labor Day road trip to Harmony and Lanesboro; Charles' truck is listed as totaled; Church burger meal with Glenville firemen; We attended the United Women in Faith District Fall Gathering in Blue Earth; Belinda is elected to be the Spiritual Growth Coordinator of the Prairie Winds District of the United Women in Faith; We get a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee as our replacement for the recently lost pickup; a drive to four fall festivals near Emmons; We make a presentation to Glenville City Council on behalf of GUMC.

Belinda (second from left) is on the job
with the Chamber of Commerce!

October: Pastor Appreciation Month at Glenville UMC; Belinda attends the Minnesota Conference's UWF annual meeting in Alexandria, MN; Art Walk in Albert Lea; 150th anniversary for Alden UMC; Belinda oversees the Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting event; Belinda's birthday!

Dale, Sandy, Mom, Charles, & Joe
at Bay Pines National Cemetery

November: Charles has procedure done at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Austin; Two craft fairs and a wonderful lunch for veterans at Ellendale UMC; We observe Veterans Day in Albert Lea; Jackie's service at Bay Pines National Cemetery in Florida; Charles' button collection crosses the 10,000 mark; Our 28th anniversary; Church bazaars; the first snow of the season begins on the 28th (we get 9"); Worship service at Glenville UMC is cancelled due to weather on the 30th; Charles attends Glenville UMC's Charge Conference in Mankato. 

Christmas in Albert Lea

December: More church bazaars; UWFaith lunch and melodrama; We mark one year in our cottage; We get a snowblower; Christmas Pageant in-a-bag at Glenville UMC and Thorne Crest; Christmas Eve services at Thorne Crest and GUMC; Charles' birthday; 6" of snow.

The year in review: January - June

January: We get our Minnesota vehicle tags; A visit to the Freeborn County history museum; We see trucks driving on Fountain Lake; We got a space in the Thorne Crest garage; Charles is featured in the local paper; It was -17 (Jan. 20); Visiting Christ Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, & Salem Lutheran Church. 

February: We got 5" of snow; Charles attends "the Big Freeze" event; An appointment in Mason City, Iowa; We buy a couch; Visits to Alden UMC & Grace Lutheran Church.

March: 8" of snow; A painting is started; outdoor painting projects; Wesley gets some treats and toys; Late winter snow; New windows in the living room; Charles' first golf outing in Albert Lea; We get together with Judy Clark in Blue Earth; Visits to Austin UMC, Community Lutheran Church, Ellendale UMC, & Glenville UMC.

April: We see ducks in the backyard; Charles volunteers @ St. Theodore RC's dinner ministry; Holy Week at Thorne Crest; Water in the basement and trips to the dump; Charles is appointed to the City of Albert Lea Human Rights Commission; Visit to Moscow Lutheran Church.

May: Volunteering with the Art Center; Charles goes to Nebraska for a 5-day Academy; Belinda oversees the sump pump installation; Visit to Osmond, Nebraska; worship at Winside UMC; Work done in front yard; Our AC is installed; Visit to First Lutheran Church (Glenville); Painting started on side of the house; We meet with Glenville UMC leadership; painting the back deck.

June: Back deck is finished being painted; Charles' sister, Jackie, dies in her home in Missouri; Belinda attends the Minnesota Annual Conference in St. Cloud; Charles is selected as chair of the City of Albert Lea Human Rights Commission; delivery of Jackie's things to Charles' nephew, Joshua in Wisconsin.

Wesley's Year

Wesley has had a good first year in Albert Lea, finding lots of places to nap and explore. He is also enjoying watching the wildlife that passes through our backyard.