Presser/Christiansen Family: September 2013

Last week we left on Friday morning and flew to Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was our grandson Ashton's birthday and Baptism on the 7th of September so it gave us a reason to be there. I was really afraid that we would not be able to go because we were really in a financial bind since we both retired. When Jake asked if we could come I really thought there was no way but then Larry got assigned classification as a Disabled Vet and we were able to get a monthly paycheck plus back pay from when he filed almost a year ago and that really made it possible. It was truly an answer to prayer. However we had to miss Mom's 86th birthday party because Ashton was born on Grandma's birthday. She said it was very nice.

Nikki and her parents came to pick us up. Jake and Nikki also allowed us to stay with them. The baptism was on Saturday about 1:00 p.m. Their church that is just around the corner is being remodeled to a stage 2 building and so they had to travel about a half hour to the Cottage Grove building for the baptism. His grandpa Brent Taylor baptized him. Nikki is Primary President and so she had to get there early for the baptism that they were having with Ashton's to make sure everyone had baptismal clothing and that things were set up, so we went a little early. It was a good service. Lexie talked on the Holy Ghost and Larry was able to be a witness for both baptisms. The other baptism was a girl but I cannot remember her name, her grandpa talked on Baptism and his name was Mark Jones. I got several picture before and after the baptism that I will post.

Ashton standing in front of the baptismal font

Ashton, Abbie and Lexie with Abbie in Forrest Gump's big shoes

After the baptism we went to Mall of America for dinner and the kids and Jake and Nikki went on the amusement rides while we walked the Mall. We went to a place called Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. It was really good and again we were able to get a pail of seafood for not very many points that was very satisfying but their buckets have the water from steaming still there so it is a little more messy than at Joe's Crab Shack. It is patterned after the fact that in the movie Forrest Gump he is a shrimp fisherman with his buddy for awhile in the movie. The food was good and the kids seemed to like it.


Myles standing by the glass in front of the baptismal	font

The next day Nikki's parents Brent and Dawn Taylor left to go home as they had already been there for a week. Even though they went to the Cottage Grove ward for the baptism they had made an agreement with the Seventh Day Adventists in town to rent their building for services each week. It was interesting to see the building and it was a good meeting. The contractor for the building spoke with some other people in the ward. They have a ward that is really growing. Mark Jones, the Grandpa from the baptism, was the Gospel Doctrine teacher so that is why I can remember his name.

After lunch and resting and watching Myles start to walk with things we decided to show Larry Lake Pepin on the Mississippi. We all crowded in Jake and Nikki's van and drove around the lake. It is a really pretty area with a lot of greenery and vintage homes from when it was settled. Jake stopped in the town of Pepin, Wisconsin on the other side of the river and showed us the lock and dam there. We learned about the 27 lock and dam's that were built to even out the river from the top to Missouri in the 1930's by the Army Corp of Engineers. It was interesting to see. Later in the week he also took us to see the lock and dam by Red Wing where they live. I noticed in Pepin and Lake City, Minnesota on the other side they have several of the old homes for rent. It might be fun to spend a weekend there with the family.

Ashton with his parents before the baptism

The kids had to go to school on Monday. They leave early like the students here in Utah. Lexie is in High School there and she had to leave at 7:00 am to be there. Ashton and Abbie had to be at the bus stop at 8:15 am

Back:Lexie, Nikki holding Myles, Christ, Jake, Front: Abbie, Ashton

After the kids left we played with Miles for a while and talked and then Jacob and Nikki took us to see Xcel Energy where he works. It is about a half an hour from Red Wing but that is a much shorter drive than he had here in Utah. While we were out there he showed us the lock and dam by Red Wing. It is within walking distance of the plant but not too close. He said that in some emergencies that he would have to come there for water.

Close to the plant is the Treasure Island Indian Casino. It is on the Indian land there. Jake and Nikki took us there for lunch and it was a great buffet, even had artichoke hearts on the salad bar.

In the evening they canceled the kids soccer games because it was too hot. In the 90's that day so we had a relaxing evening and Nikki made some yummy taco's. Every evening they read scriptures, and some evenings if it was not too late they read a story from the friend and a chapter from a classic book. This time they were reading The Secret Garden.

June in front of the big boot at Red Wing

Larry in front of the big boot at Red Wing

Tuesday morning we went into downtown Red Wing and saw the giant boot at the RedWing shoe store and factory outlet. It was interesting to see the shoes that they had. They have some shoes that are made in America but they are about $330.00. The also have a line that is less expensive that are made overseas. We ate at a place called the Sub House there in Red Wing and then they took us to the airport.

At the airport I almost didn't make my flight because they didn't want to accept my temporary driver's license that I got when I renewed my license. They went through all my things and rubbed it down to make sure it did not have traces of explosives and of course they had to pat me down. It would have been better if our Gate was not G22. We literally ran through several layers of moving escalators to get to the plane at 11 minutes before take off. Kirsten picked us up from the Airport and we got to see Taylor also.

Ellie at her birthday party with cake

When we got home we were scheduled to go to a Financial Peace University class here in town. By the time we got to bed I was a grumpy tired.

Larry and I worked on paper work and I wrote curriculum on Wednesday. We also picked what peaches were left on the tree, in the wind, so they could be canned. They were almost too ripe. Heather had picked some on Monday and canned for us and her family.

Thursday I went over to Heather's to can peaches. We were able to get 5 bactches done from 10:30-4:00. I felt good about all that work but I was disappointed to find out that the Active link that we wear for Weight Watcher's did not count standing for that long as an activity. My body counted it as an activity though. It was good to get them done so fast. Larry stayed home and worked on paper work he had to do. I was able to play with Ryker for a while before I went home. He loved to toss the ball over the slide and roll it down the slide on his other Grandma's swing set.

Friday was our Mission at the LDS Employment center. I was able to help two people find leads on work and get signed up online in addition to my regular duties. Friday night we ate popcorn and watched a movie on Xfinity called Epic. It was cute, and it was fun to have a relaxing date night.

Weston and Deanna's new baby Zoey Kate Hadlock

Friday the 13th was also Ellie's 4th birthday. Maren sent the above picture of her smiling in front of the cake. Maren said that when she got my card she told Ellie, "Grandma sent you $25 that you can spend on Amazon." Ellie then said to Gauge, "I have $25 Amazon dollars from Grandma." Of course then Gauge said, "I want $25 Amazon dollars" Maren had to explain to both Gauge and Brinlie that they had got their money for their birthdays.

Yesterday we were able to go to the Ogden Family History Conference. It was a great conference and it is free. We are thinking that we may go there more often. Larry got inspired to do some 4 generation work getting all the sources he needs. That is not a problem on his line but he also wants to get Diane's four generations and that could be more work. I enjoyed some of the classes on telling stories. Maybe that is why I am taking time to write this.

This morning we read lesson 18 in the Lorenzo Snow manual. I felt like I was being chastised. I began to search my soul for whether I was trying to help people with the gospel because I wanted the glory or if I was seeking for the glory of God. In church today I had two experiences where I felt like the Lord guided me to talk to people who needed my help so Larry agreed with me that maybe I had been guilty of this in the past but that I was working for Christ now. It was a wonderful feeling to be able to help someone that wanted the help you had to offer.

Nathan texted me several times this week and he is doing so much better. The doctor's told him that he could swim now but he has to go to Fort Sam to do that so they have not taken him yet. It is fun to beable to text with him and talk about stuff. Larry and I are excited to go stay with them in October 3-10th.