Schirm Cousins: summer

Dear Family,
Here is the latest from Aunt Leslie!
(I took it from the e-mail)
~Eve

From: Leslie Houston
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:10 PM
Subject: RE: Grandkids are all back home now....

Hi Minnesota Family

Thank you for a wonderful summer Schirm camp experience. Thank you all for sharing your beds, couches, showers, events, cars and most of all your happy faces and funny real selves. You’re the best you knowJ

My kids were indoctrinated when we first arrived at Bethel college for our annual meeting. They had a special kids program the theme was “ Minnesota Nice” best California can do for a reputation is “California Casual” oh yes and they do have, the sun and the ocean and yes there are few benefits to living in CA. I was so happy about the MN program they had posters of all four seasons, they highlighted the famous people and products of MN, told them who the sports teams in MN are so they can cheer appropriately Jand the grand finale was a contest “Are you smarter than a Minnesotan” contest I don’t know how they fared. The kids got to go on a Mississippi River boat trip and a picnic on Harriet Island. So my kids were able to get a little education on their mom’s MN heritage and find out why she is so “nice” most of the timeJ Than Havilah and Jameson were transported off to Appleton to see how “Nice” Minnesotans really are well Gigi and Papa certainly are they took great care of them in Appleton.

While Steve and I were whisked away to the Wisconsin Dells to meet with 8 other Intercultural Missionaries for our first retreat together. We stayed in 1906 B&B overlooking the river it was beautiful complete with homemade caramels like the ones mom used to make. It is so nice that these meetings coincide with our anniversary we get a free trip out of the deal even if we have to share our special day with 8 other couples. We are at 19 years married and counting. On the 1st they had scheduled a Riverboat cruise supper so wasn’t that a nice way to celebrate. Leah called me on the boat so we had a good chat overlooking the dells. Very nice place if you need a vacation.

We than spent one day in Barron WI with a couple doing small town Somali ministry helping and sharing God’s love to the 700 Somali’s that live in this town the size of Appleton. We were informed at our meeting in WI that there are 1000 Muslim missionaries located in MN. In Barron, WI there were J.W. dressed up in full Muslim garb distributing Somali literature and one of the Christian ladies explained to her Somali friend that they were not sharing the truth about the Jesus of the Bible. They were not happy that these ladies were dressing like them and The Imam called a special meeting in the school house to “warn” the Somali’s about these JW’s. and to question them. The J.W.’s answered differently some saying what they were supposed to say and others saying what they really believed this caused confusion. So our Christian friend explained the difference he said, “you see I tell you I am a Christian and what I believe and I am not hiding anything from you know this. So the Somali friend wanted our friend to share his Christian believes to everybody gathered at the school but the Imam would not let him. This made the Somali friend not happy. So that is what is happening in Barron, WI Interesting.
America is def. changing

Than back to Appleton to find our children happily swimming at the pool and eating corn on the cob. It was about knee high by the 4th of July. Mary did a great job of planning the day of the 4th with a very special trip to the Bohlman petting zoo. I am sure mom will fill in the details more colorful than I would. Scott has some beautiful horses and very nice boys. One of them stands just like Scott. Scott’s memory of Correll and the Schirms – Of course we heard the drama of Cindy and the horse attack. Very scary. His other memory was that mom would take all the Correll kids to swimming lessons in Appleton in the red station wagon he mentioned that some milk was spilled in the 90 degree heat and the car smelled like it for some time and that he always made sure he had the window seatJ His house is so nice complete with wonderful horse décor and an awesome view like really GREAT! She even had homemade caramel rolls on the counter.
Pam memories of babysitting us was that Cindy said, “When I grow up I am going to have lots of maids.” As for me, she remembers my comment when mom brought another baby home, “ When you’ve seen one baby you’ve seen them allJ’

Cindy heard your reunion was small but cozy so that it felt like a bunch of friends sitting around a living room talking. About 20 people were there. The night before I guess Brad V had a party at his house for anyone who wanted to go. Scott did not attend – This is the mixed report from Taylor Tubbs and Karin Rorem second hand reporting from Darcy RheingansJ

We had a very fun fourth with the Keith and Mary and kids and grand kids! What a great family! Very fun to see them all – the grand kids put on a parade through the trees and we had fireworks and a good time. Mindy makes mothering twins look like a snap. Stevie was kind enough to saddle up the horses for us all to take a turn have some good up and coming riders. My little horse lover pal, Havilah showed great confidenceJ even when she tripped over a rock when she was leading the horse she just looked up at him and jumped right up taking charge as she does in all thingsJ James preferred the 4 wheeler dirt bike.
I love the wind in Minnesota.

Steve did the sermon and shared the ministry at the Artichoke Baptist Church. The Sunday happened to match the 125 anniversary of Clinton MN. So Mike, Steve and Kathy Jorgenson were gathered from their far away homes for the event. It was a good group lots of relatives. They have fixed the Big Stone Camp for Christ camp up with new buildings and a new cafeteria so they are all ready for some more campers next summer. They had an over flow of a lot of kids coming in this past summer so it continues to be a Gospel spreading place for many kids in the community. The church has a really nice couple has part time ministers they are from Ortonville and you can tell they really love Jesus. He came to the Lord when he went to college in Saint Cloud of all places. Dad and mom knew his folks from sports when they were growing up. Mike Jorgensons twins are really cute and very busy! They would of loved to have seen Cindy, Leah, Lita and of course George! I did the best I couldJ but not the same with out you guys the real Big Stone camp alumni and counselors..

Steve went on home on the 8th. Did a switch at the airport Steve traded in for Leah, Courtney and Caleb mom did the big drive in and out of town in a day all by herself…quite the bus driver! They got to catch the All Star Action Starring Sammy Cantin. I missed out on that fun! However, I did get to see the shiner he was sporting at the wedding. What a cute fellow he is… don’t suppose you can put him on the plane for the “California Casual Cousin Camp” in a few weeks? Sometimes they have last minute “deals” I am sure Hayden would love to have a buddy! Consider yourself welcome.

So the next batch arrived for more Appleton fun and cousin drama and lots of pool time. Jameson dove off the board pretty good for a little guy.
The kids all waded in the Appleton River has we walked home through the new paths. The paths by the park with the high grass is really quite pretty but I still like the lake, island, waterfall version that we had growing up. Nonetheless they had a good time playing in the mud and showering off at the campsite. 4 Kayaks came flying through so tourist tip you can rent a kayak at the Holloway Liquor store for $10. Nanny if you go out for second cousin camp week you ought to look it
Into that it looked like fun. Wish I had known about before the night before we were leaving or when Steve was still here.

Than off to the wedding in a caravan of three cars a pit stop at Georges where Cayden treated us to the Schirm family video. Cindy you had some serious energy! Did you know Grandma called you the “human vitamin pill” they would have had you medicated todayJ You sure were cute! We were able to catch the grand finale of the BBQ the Johnson’s hosted and to get the severe storm weather report. Nanny I know Grandpa Ron would have been proud of you monitoring the situation and I know he would of loved that machine you had. The sky put on an impressive display of very serious weather as mom and I proceeded to get lost and drive around to Lita’s house. Sorry we missed you Randy that is two summers in a row this is not good! Don’t forget you are the life of the party! Good thing Doug Showed up so between Doug and Kerm there was def. life at the partyJ

That was a BEAUTIFUL Wedding service – everything was very, very lovely the wedding party, the words, music etc. Very, very nice!
As Lita mentioned Hillary’s Allan looks like Uncle Dick across the eyes. He def. did – so handsome and so happy together. What a blessing to see Kerm and Nancy’s girls find such really nice husbands that adore them! Very cool. God does a great job when the parents prayJ I’ll have to remember that and oh yes you need to have Kerm around to keep the bad ones out and to encourage the “good guys” of course they were looking for someone like there daddy know wonder they did so wellJ

Side note sisters – the ring bearer of Nan and Kerms wedding was there remember cute Mark? He is all grown up and his son was at the wedding and looked just like him so I took a picture of him and Steph Jr. aka Maddie together.

The reception was a lot of fun to watch the cousins run around and explore the grounds in the background. Courtney and I agree the highlight was when somebody snuck in and opened up the room that held the giant maze and slides. It was dark and the slides were big and dark and it was FUN. Of course Leah and I had to go up and “supervise” we had a blast! Whipping around in our skirts on the slides. Of course we had to get kicked out but it was fun while it lasted and the security man let us stretch out the action.

Didn’t see who caught the bouquet but look forward to the next family wedding!

Thanks again to all that hosted the Houstons in MN!

We love you!
Les for the family.