Seder Meal

​Yesterday my friend invited us over for a beautiful Seder Meal with her and her 6 kids. Lamb, egg, matza bread, butter herbs, haroset, & vegetable as well and 4 glasses of ‘wine’ (sparkling grape juice). We reclined on pillows, followed along with the prayers lead by the male head of household, sang songs, and relived Jesus’ last supper together. It was simply beautiful! I highly recommend we do this again. 🥰

Beach Time With Friends

 Beach time with the Hodapp kids today.

Pics From Ely Trip

99° in the sun leaving the Ely beach

If I can keep the bunnies out I’ll have a good garden this year. Lots of heat & waterig.

Oh! Our Susie💖

BBQ!!!

Happy 4th of July. 

Mom, Earl, & us girls

Goodbye Father Don

Last night we went to a prayer service (wake) for our friend, Father Don Braukmann.  He was diagnosed with ALS December 2017 and (thankfully) died of a heart attack July 17, 2019. He told us he watched a friend/parishioner die of ALS and prayed that, of all things he would die from, that God would spare him from this disease. Well, he got it. BUT he was spared that last leg of ALS that is the worst; mentally cognizant but physically trapped in your own body. He was in a power wheelchair, able to type on his weekly caring bridge post, in a nursing home due to his level of cares needed. We brought him lilacs (his favorite) and chocolate milkshakes. He blessed Elizabeth’s first communion crucifix. He loved dogs, but was also fond of our chickens. :) Last night singing “I’ll fly away” and closing prayer, we did a group rosary with the knights of Columbus. Felicity finally saw his body in the casket and it hit her hard—this was her friend.  During the rosary I had a vision of Fr Don in heaven, Mary’s hand on his shoulder and Jesus’ scarred hand holding Fr Don’s. Fr Don always had a quick remark for everything and I heard him say, “wow, that sounds great up here,” referring to the acoustics of our rosary heard up in heaven.  Fr Don went to seminary with Bishop Robert Barron. Here’s the bishop’s email I received today: “Friends, today we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Our Gospel says that Mary came to the Lord’s tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week. Let’s place ourselves there: it is still dark—just the way it was at the beginning of time, before God said, "Let there be light." But a light is about to shine, and a new creation is about to appear.  The stone had been rolled away. The stone, blocking entrance to the tomb of Jesus, stands for the finality of death. When someone that we love dies, it is as though a great stone is rolled across them, permanently blocking our access to them. And this is why we weep at death—not just in grief but in a kind of existential frustration. Undoubtedly, Mary Magdalene thought that a grave robber had been at work. The wonderful Johannine irony is that the greatest of grave robbers had indeed been at work. In the book of prophet Ezekiel, we hear this: "I will open your graves and have you rise from them." What was dreamed about, what endured as a hope against hope, has become a reality. God has opened the grave of his Son.”

Longtime Childhood Friend Gone :(

Ryan James LaBine

            Ryan J. LaBine, 34, Rush City, formerly of Nashwauk-Keewatin area died Saturday, February 4, 2017 in Rock Creek, MN.  He was born on May 14, 1982 to Michael LaBine and Suzanne Erickson in Hibbing, MN.  Ryan was employed as a maintenance mechanic for Polaris in Osceola, WI.  He graduated from Eveleth Technical College completing a two year program in maintenance mechanic training. Ryan attended and graduated from N-K High School in 2000. He was a member of the Dirty Riders ATV Club, he loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, boating and riding his ATV.  Ryan was such an outgoing, easy to get along with man who could always make you smile.

            He is survived by his wife, Jena LaBine, Rush City, MN, two children, Nolan (12) and Meranda(9) LaBine, both of Rush City, his father, Michael LaBine, Keewatin, MN, mother, Suzanne  Erickson, Coolidge, AZ, his grandmother, Theresa LaBine, Hibbing, and two nephews, Devin Eskeli and Caleb Hunt. 

            He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Dennis LaBine, grandmother, Jean Jensen, and grandfather, Mason Kirk.

            Funeral services for Ryan will be 11:30am, Thursday, February 9, 2017 at Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.  The Rev. Mr. Richard Johnston will officiate.  Visitation will be from 10:00am until the 11:30am funeral service at the funeral home on Thursday.  Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.

Gym Bin!!!

Emy, Ady, Felicity, & Elizabeth jumping on the giant air filled "raft" in front of rock climbing wall. It's a huge indoor park and gym for gymnastics. 

Jumping in the block foam 'swimming pool'.

After naps and dinner my gf from Hibbing was going from Crookston to Hibbing and stopped by for a play date. Miss these Guys!

March 2014

Elizabeth's first selfie:

Kate Ann @ her baby shower, 7 wks to go until baby girl makes her appearance. 

Felicity in Momma's tushy-ruffled outfit. 

Showered w/ Gifts on Our 1st Outing

One lucky girl: we had our first outing to see the girls @ work and were absolutely surprised by many sweet & thoughtful gifts. Not only did they spoil Mommy & Elizabeth with pre-baby gifts last month, but today Felicity got her own gifts (& of course Elizabeth got a few more, too).  Thanks girls. You are truly blessings. 

Vikings Game Night BBQ with Friends

Maki Family

Elizabeth pushing Isabella

Good Pass, BooBoo

Does this really require a caption? How about:"How Cute"

Isabella pushing Elizabeth



Elizabeth: "Quick Bella, you distract him while I take his trike"

Bella: "What do I do again? Stand here & look cute?"

Mission Accomplished - Actually Brecken shared very nicely :)

Thanks Father Ryan!

Our very dear Friend and Priest, Fr. Ryan is leaving our parish and moving on to another. He was only with us a few years, but surely touched a lot of lives in such a short amount of time. He is very gifted, talented, knowledgeable, and spiritual. He has such a zest for the Lord and is on fire for Him. I always kidded him, saying that he has the background and knowledge of a priest, but the enthusiasm of a protestant. I think he liked that. He did not say goodbye, only “thanks”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the congregation during his last homily, at least not amongst the women as we wiped away tears. Maybe someday he’ll come back. Until then, we’ll be praying for him and God’s Will and eternal blessings for him and all our priests. (Here pictured is Elizabeth pulling out his Roman collar.)

Summer Wedding

We went to a backyard wedding this weekend. (You always have to get pics together when you're all gussied up, right?)

2010 at Candise's Cabin

2010 Party at Candise's cabin last night. OMG I laughed so hard last night my belly hurts today. Those girls are just too much fun. I look forward to this every year, and I get more educated every year as well. This year I learned about licking eye balls, Turtle days, and Judy's new catch phrase, "Shut the back door". Ahh, making memories. Good company, good food, good friends, good times. Thanks girls. (Mom not picture b/c she's going Sat night.)

Girl Time

Kari Z. and I finally met up for coffee after work on Wednesday. We've been promising to do this for the past year or so, but we finally said, screw the schedules, lets just get together! I forgot how much a woman needs her girlfriends. Life is just too short for excuses. Take the advice of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and phone a friend. You'll feel like a millionaire at the end of the day when you have friendships this good!

Movie: Grown-Ups

We went to the movie "Grown-Ups" with Jer & Stacey and Lenny & Jodi last night. It was surprisingly clean and it had some pretty good one-liners. It also has a few big names from the old Saturday Night Live Show. I'd definitely recommend seeing it, but wait until it comes out on DVD. Afterwards we went for beers (pass the Shirley Temple please) and pool. All in all a good night with friends and a great chance to catch up.

Class of 2000 10th Reunion

Saturday morning I got all my house hold chores done with the help my my DB (dearly beloved). My laundry, dishes, floors, and bathrooms were clean before heading out to weed and plant the garden. I had the garden tilled last week, but ... hmmm. :) After planting, we cleaned up, ran to town to drop off a rented movie, and headed to my reunion at the country club. Great food. Great time. I know everyone is on their best behavior, but I graduated with some really nice and genuine people. I forgot how much I liked them. A few of us promised that we would keep in touch better. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many people still live relatively close to us. All in all, we had a lot of fun and thoroughly .
Here's a pic of me and Angel (Arsenault) Nelson. She's 21 and I'm 19 weeks pregnant. Lovely Baby Bumps, huh?
Billie Jo (Lorence) Doyle, my four-wheeling Goodland buddy.
Cari (Latvala) Salmi -- My girl!
My Primo To'Mas.

Krazy Kamls

01/01/2010: Friday night as we caught up with our friends at the annual get-together (Temp: -15.6). The guys even dug a huge snow fort for the kids, but spent more time in it themselves. We stayed plenty warm with lots of layers & the bon fire. It was well worth the fun!

Brecken Edward

We brought the new family pizza last night and got to meet the newest member of the family. Pretty cute little boy...with LOTS of hair and beautiful dark eyes! Brecken was fussing in his crib so David picked him up. He was out again in a flash. Dave has that effect on babies. First time Mommy & Daddy, Stacey & Jeremy are holding up well and learning their little man more every day. Congrats guys!

Superior Mother Battling Leukemia

http://www.fox21online.com/healthreport/superior-mother-battles-leukemia
Please pray for Kara (Drewelow) Rozowski & her family as she fights leukemia.

Saturday Party

Stacey Rodorigo's friends & family threw her a beautiful baby shower this weekend. Baby was due first week in December, but has been moved up to Nov. 21st. Stacey received some very sweet and thoughtful gifts. Can't wait to finally see that little one, Rodorigos!

The Fearsome Foursomes

Since Hubby Hubie doesn't do his own blog, I'll blog for him. Here you see Lenny, Ben, Hubie & Chris @ our wedding 05/05/2007.
Below is Lenny, Jeremy, Troy, & Hubie @ his bachelor party end of March 2007.