| The Giese Christmas Letter 2011 |
Dear Family & Friends:
Advent/Christmas 2011 greetings to you all!
Is it possible we’re coming up on our 7th Christmas at First Ogema
and First Westboro? “How time flies when you’re having fun!” I
never cease to be amazed how enjoyable and spiritually rewarding
ministry and life here in the northwoods are.
Here are some of the special things I’ve been involved with this
year:
+ Finished up my supervision of Jody Becker, Luther Seminary DL
student and had the honor of preaching at her ordination service.
She’s now pastor of Bethel Hawkins and Bethany Catawba.
+ Into my 4th (last) year as Dean of the Chequamegon Conference.
+ Still part of the CARE support group in Northbrook, IL that has
kept me sort-of-sane for 30 years now.
+ Still singing in the community ecumenical choir—part of a trio in
this fall’s presentation.
Advent/Christmas 2011 greetings to you all!
Is it possible we’re coming up on our 7th Christmas at First Ogema
and First Westboro? “How time flies when you’re having fun!” I
never cease to be amazed how enjoyable and spiritually rewarding
ministry and life here in the northwoods are.
Here are some of the special things I’ve been involved with this
year:
+ Finished up my supervision of Jody Becker, Luther Seminary DL
student and had the honor of preaching at her ordination service.
She’s now pastor of Bethel Hawkins and Bethany Catawba.
+ Into my 4th (last) year as Dean of the Chequamegon Conference.
+ Still part of the CARE support group in Northbrook, IL that has
kept me sort-of-sane for 30 years now.
+ Still singing in the community ecumenical choir—part of a trio in
this fall’s presentation.
+ Hiking and Biking. This was
my 25th RAGBRAI (bike ride
across Iowa). Besides hiking the
local woods in the winter, I did
numerous hikes in Acadia
National Park, Maine, with
Rachel and her friend Dan this
summer.
+ Went fishing in Northwest
Ontario with Jo and some of her
family and caught unbelievably
large walleyes.
+ Got the hovel garage set on a
concrete floor thanks to the
efforts of members of 1st Ogema
and winterized so our lawn
mower and tractor should stay
dry this winter.
+ Began supporting the youth
ministry in Thailand of Debbie
Meier (find her at Barefoot in
Thailand on Facebook), local
woman who was one of my
daughters in the play I was in last
year.
+ Accompanied Rachel on a visit
to Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
More on that later.
my 25th RAGBRAI (bike ride
across Iowa). Besides hiking the
local woods in the winter, I did
numerous hikes in Acadia
National Park, Maine, with
Rachel and her friend Dan this
summer.
+ Went fishing in Northwest
Ontario with Jo and some of her
family and caught unbelievably
large walleyes.
+ Got the hovel garage set on a
concrete floor thanks to the
efforts of members of 1st Ogema
and winterized so our lawn
mower and tractor should stay
dry this winter.
+ Began supporting the youth
ministry in Thailand of Debbie
Meier (find her at Barefoot in
Thailand on Facebook), local
woman who was one of my
daughters in the play I was in last
year.
+ Accompanied Rachel on a visit
to Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
More on that later.
| All photos on this page copyright 2009-2011 Bob Giese or Rachel Kellogg |
| At The Church of the Annuciation Nazareth, Israel |
Jo continues to work as after school
librarian at the Medford Area High
School. She’s also been busy
+ Reading. (She said the other day she
reads about 3 books per week.)
+ Sewing and quilting with the ladies
of the church.
+ Singing in the church choir and the
community ecumenical choir
+ Sewing on her new Baby Lock
Sewing/Embroidery machine. (If you’re
paying attention, you’ll have noticed
that’s an upgrade from the Brother
machine mentioned last Christmas.
Canning our wild grapes and apples
and whatever else she could find to
turn into juice, butter, jelly, etc.
Our two favorite trips this year were
our fishing expedition to Lac Seul (Ear
Falls), Ontario and to Acadia National
Park, Maine via Canada.
librarian at the Medford Area High
School. She’s also been busy
+ Reading. (She said the other day she
reads about 3 books per week.)
+ Sewing and quilting with the ladies
of the church.
+ Singing in the church choir and the
community ecumenical choir
+ Sewing on her new Baby Lock
Sewing/Embroidery machine. (If you’re
paying attention, you’ll have noticed
that’s an upgrade from the Brother
machine mentioned last Christmas.
Canning our wild grapes and apples
and whatever else she could find to
turn into juice, butter, jelly, etc.
Our two favorite trips this year were
our fishing expedition to Lac Seul (Ear
Falls), Ontario and to Acadia National
Park, Maine via Canada.
On our way back we met daughter Rachel,
husband Joe & his daughter Serina in the Black
Hills of South Dakota. We had a good time
exploring Jewel Cave and Crazy Horse Monument,
but our time together was cut short by Joe’s
cancer getting worse and a quick trip by them back
home to get the proper medication. In July we
participated in a benefit for Joe and Rachel in
Ionia, Iowa. That really helped them financially.
Thanks for all that many of you did to help!
husband Joe & his daughter Serina in the Black
Hills of South Dakota. We had a good time
exploring Jewel Cave and Crazy Horse Monument,
but our time together was cut short by Joe’s
cancer getting worse and a quick trip by them back
home to get the proper medication. In July we
participated in a benefit for Joe and Rachel in
Ionia, Iowa. That really helped them financially.
Thanks for all that many of you did to help!
Our July fishing trip to Lac Seul,
Ontario was with Jo’s sister Elizabeth
and husband Mark and Jo’s brother
Paul and son Paul. Mark is the god
general of finding big walleyes. We
usually had our limit of keeper walleyes
by 9:30 a.m. and just fished for the fun
of it after that. We lost count of how
many walleyes we had to throw back
because they were TOO BIG to keep.
Then we went back to our lodgings and
ate fish and enjoyed each other’s
company for the rest of the day. Throw
in a perfect weather and a few
northerns big enough to break poles,
and the week was perfect.
Ontario was with Jo’s sister Elizabeth
and husband Mark and Jo’s brother
Paul and son Paul. Mark is the god
general of finding big walleyes. We
usually had our limit of keeper walleyes
by 9:30 a.m. and just fished for the fun
of it after that. We lost count of how
many walleyes we had to throw back
because they were TOO BIG to keep.
Then we went back to our lodgings and
ate fish and enjoyed each other’s
company for the rest of the day. Throw
in a perfect weather and a few
northerns big enough to break poles,
and the week was perfect.
| Jo & Mark - Lac Seul - Ontario, Canada - July 2011 |
| Elizabeth (Bitsy) - Lac Seul - Ontario, Canada - July 2011 |
| Bob - Lac Seul - Ontario, Canada - July 2011 |
| Paul, Jo, Bob, Paul, Bitsy, Mark - Lac Seul - July, 2011 |
| Jo with Seminex friends Jane & Ted Guthrie Thousand Isles Cruise, St. Lawrence River Ontario, Canada - August, 2011 |
In August we headed east via Canada. First
major stop was to visit seminary classmates Ted
and Jane Guthrie in Brockville, Ontario. Then
we headed on to Mt. Desert Island, Maine and
Acadia National Park. Rachel was there working
as the A Christian Ministry in the National Park
ministry team leader and working a secular job
with a local outfitter. Rachel and I (and
sometimes friend Dan) hiked and biked while Jo
acted as our shuttle service—waiting for us at our
destinations while reading in one of the most
scenic areas anywhere. Imagine being able to do
a really strenuous climb that only takes an hour
and leaves you at the highest point on the east
coast north of Rio where you can see the ocean on
3 sides and crystal clear glacial lakes below you.
Incredible.
major stop was to visit seminary classmates Ted
and Jane Guthrie in Brockville, Ontario. Then
we headed on to Mt. Desert Island, Maine and
Acadia National Park. Rachel was there working
as the A Christian Ministry in the National Park
ministry team leader and working a secular job
with a local outfitter. Rachel and I (and
sometimes friend Dan) hiked and biked while Jo
acted as our shuttle service—waiting for us at our
destinations while reading in one of the most
scenic areas anywhere. Imagine being able to do
a really strenuous climb that only takes an hour
and leaves you at the highest point on the east
coast north of Rio where you can see the ocean on
3 sides and crystal clear glacial lakes below you.
Incredible.
| Rachel & Bob on one of many awe-inspiring hikes - Acadia National Park, Maine - August, 2011 |
| Jo with Seminex friends Jane & Ted Guthrie Thousand Isles Cruise, St. Lawrence River Ontario, Canada - August, 2011 |
Then on our way back from Maine, we
stopped to visit college friend Michael
Balamuth and his wife Jean in New
Hampshire. Michael was in our
wedding party 40+ years ago, and we
hadn’t seen him since his first wedding
way back in the 70’s.
Next stop was Jo’s brother Carl and
Kate and Corey in Glens Falls, New
York. There we had a magnificent
sailboat ride on Lake George. It was
quite windy and perhaps a bit
dangerous, which made it all the more
fun.
stopped to visit college friend Michael
Balamuth and his wife Jean in New
Hampshire. Michael was in our
wedding party 40+ years ago, and we
hadn’t seen him since his first wedding
way back in the 70’s.
Next stop was Jo’s brother Carl and
Kate and Corey in Glens Falls, New
York. There we had a magnificent
sailboat ride on Lake George. It was
quite windy and perhaps a bit
dangerous, which made it all the more
fun.
| Jean Balamuth - Jo - Michael Balamuth New Hampshire - August, 2011 Michael was one of our groomsmen at our wedding 40 years ago |
| Carl & Kate Zutz on their Sailboat on Lake George, New York - August, 2011 |
Rachel (and the rest of us) are healing well
after the death of her husband, Joe, in
2010. As a part of her search for her true
calling since Joe’s death, Rachel applied
and was accepted to work with A Christian
Ministry in the National Parks as park
minister and team leader at Acadia
National Park for the summer. (Jo and I
worked with ACMNP in four different
parks in the 1970’s.) As a result of her
experience in Maine and her soul-searching
after Joe’s death, Rachel recently visited
Luther Seminary in St. Paul to explore the
possibility of going to seminary beginning
fall 2013. She’s staying in Maine at least
through the winter. She also officially has
a boyfriend now, Dan Sieja. We got to
know him better while in Maine and met
his uncle and grandmother, who live just a
short distance northwest of Acadia NP.
after the death of her husband, Joe, in
2010. As a part of her search for her true
calling since Joe’s death, Rachel applied
and was accepted to work with A Christian
Ministry in the National Parks as park
minister and team leader at Acadia
National Park for the summer. (Jo and I
worked with ACMNP in four different
parks in the 1970’s.) As a result of her
experience in Maine and her soul-searching
after Joe’s death, Rachel recently visited
Luther Seminary in St. Paul to explore the
possibility of going to seminary beginning
fall 2013. She’s staying in Maine at least
through the winter. She also officially has
a boyfriend now, Dan Sieja. We got to
know him better while in Maine and met
his uncle and grandmother, who live just a
short distance northwest of Acadia NP.
| Rachel with Dan Sieja leading campground worship Acadia National Park, Maine - August, 2011 |
My Dad and Jo’s Mom & Dad are doing
pretty well for almost 90 year olds. Jo’s
parents were with us for Thanksgiving,
and hopefully we’ll be with my Dad at my
Sister Deb’s home in Minnesota for
Christmas.
Jamie is now living in Massachusetts with
Emilie. Brett Morgan is back in England
with her aunt and uncle. Shawn is living
with her sister Aeryn and family in Fort
Atkinson, WI. With any luck, we’ll see
them one of these days.
We are now into our 41st year of
marriage. We didn’t make it to New
Zealand for our 40th anniversary, but
probably we had more fun fishing in
Canada and hiking with Rachel & Dan in
Maine anyway. Chances are, it’ll be
another trip to Maine in 2012, but who can
say.
Love and God’s Blessings to You for 2012!
Bob & Jo Giese
pretty well for almost 90 year olds. Jo’s
parents were with us for Thanksgiving,
and hopefully we’ll be with my Dad at my
Sister Deb’s home in Minnesota for
Christmas.
Jamie is now living in Massachusetts with
Emilie. Brett Morgan is back in England
with her aunt and uncle. Shawn is living
with her sister Aeryn and family in Fort
Atkinson, WI. With any luck, we’ll see
them one of these days.
We are now into our 41st year of
marriage. We didn’t make it to New
Zealand for our 40th anniversary, but
probably we had more fun fishing in
Canada and hiking with Rachel & Dan in
Maine anyway. Chances are, it’ll be
another trip to Maine in 2012, but who can
say.
Love and God’s Blessings to You for 2012!
Bob & Jo Giese
| Jo and brother Paul with her huge walleye Lac Seul - July, 2011 - To give perspective on the size of the fish, Jo is just shy of 5'10' tall. |
| Bob riding on one of the carriage roads in Acadia National Park, Maine August, 2011 |
This is the “family” version of
Bob & Jo’s Christmas letter with
more emphasis on family
activities. For the “church”
version with more emphasis on
church activities, please go to the
link at
http://www. 1stfamily.
org/ov111202.html
for the on-line version or ask
Pastor Bob or Jo for a copy.)
We are all on Facebook, so be-
friend us if you want to keep up
regularly.
Bob & Jo’s Christmas letter with
more emphasis on family
activities. For the “church”
version with more emphasis on
church activities, please go to the
link at
http://www. 1stfamily.
org/ov111202.html
for the on-line version or ask
Pastor Bob or Jo for a copy.)
We are all on Facebook, so be-
friend us if you want to keep up
regularly.
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| Bob riding on one of the carriage roads in Acadia National Park, Maine August, 2011 |
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