Family Holiday Week

There is a week in August when Susan and I celebrate our wedding anniversary, and Abigail and I both have our birthdays. Abigail and Hillary both happened to be home for that week this year! (The school year has started in Tennessee for Suzanna, so she's back in teaching mode.)

Med school student Abigail has finished her year of clinical rotations at hospitals in New York City, so she drove home on August 7 to spend the next year living with Susan and me while applying for, interviewing for, and crossing her fingers for a residency with a hospital somewhere in the country. A residency would start next summer, so Abigail will spend this year teaching online college classes in anatomy and physiology.

On August 8, Hillary drove home instead of flying here, in part to have her vehicle with her so that she can haul some more of her belongings from our house to her townhome in Tennessee ... and in part to attend a college friend's wedding ... and in part to be here for two family birthdays and an anniversary!

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On August 9, my sister Sandy and our dad spent the day with us in Dickinson for an early birthday celebration. 

Sandy, Dad, and me

Hillary, Grandpa, and Abigail

Sandy brought homemade angel food cake, strawberries, and whipped cream; and Susan made a chocolate/zucchini cake with vanilla ice cream.

On August 10 (my birthday), we celebrated with Mexican food and margaritas at one of our favorite restaurants, El Sombrero. On August 12 (Abigail's birthday), there was mini-golf, food, and ice cream in Medora followed by supper in Dickinson: Thai food from another favorite restaurant, Upin Thai.

August 14, our anniversary, was a full day of back-to-school teacher workshops for Susan, so we saw a movie that night but delayed our dining out until the next day. Today we celebrated some more with dinner with Susan's family (her dad, Roger; his girlfriend, JoAnn; and Susan's brother, Jerrett) at The Lodge at the Stadium Sports Bar in Bismarck ... followed by supper at LongHorn Steakhouse with just the girls.

Abigail, the anniversary couple (32 years!), and Hillary

Tennesseans in North Dakota

Since moving to Tennessee, Suzanna has made an annual road trip back to North Dakota in June or July during her summer break from the school year. She drives so that she can bring her sweet dog, Zoey, to visit us, too! Here are some highlights from Suzanna's two-week stay with us this summer.

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Suzanna and Zoey arrived on Saturday, June 21. On each visit, it takes Zoey no time to get re-acclimated to our house (and the sound of the refrigerator's cheese drawer opening in the kitchen). Zoey alternates between being rambunctious and cuddly. I love playing with her, but I really love snuggling with her.

We know Zoey is here for a visit when we see the pile of dog toys and canine paraphernalia stacked up in front of the china hutch. Here, Zoey has the tennis ball ready for a game of keep-away, if only I will put down the camera.

While Suzanna was here, she and Susan, both secondary school educators, attended a professional development workshop for teachers. It was offered by Bismarck State College and involved three days (June 24-26) of hands-on experience in a variety of career areas, like robotics, unmanned aircraft systems (drones), cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and mass communication. The aim was for teachers to be able to help their students make decisions about their career options after graduation.

One of those nights, the college gave participating teachers tickets to a Bismarck Larks baseball game. Susan and Suzanna took me as their guest, and we had a meal and some drinks at the Bismarck Municipal Ballpark while enjoying the game. (I've got my cap tilted to use the lid to block the setting sun.)

Suzanna's fiancé, Jacob, flew in to Bismarck and spent a long weekend with us. We had a delicious meal at Huckleberry House, a restaurant in Bismarck that serves Nordic fusion dishes and creative cocktails. It's located on the Missouri River, right where people board the Lewis and Clark Riverboat for evening cruises. (The next night we ate at El Sombrero in Dickinson so that Suzanna could have her favorite: P5, which is grilled chicken on rice with queso ... ¡such bold Mexican flavors!)

On Saturday, June 28, we spent the day in Medora. We started south of town at Badlands Ministries, the Bible camp that all three girls attended for years ... and later worked at for years! Then we explored the town and drove up to the amphitheater where the Medora musical is performed nightly throughout the summer--a perfect spot for a photo. We ate at Boots Bar and Grill, a dog-friendly restaurant where our server fawned over Zoey.

The drizzly morning turned into a sunny afternoon, which we spent driving around and hiking in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We saw wild horses in the distance and bison and prairie dogs up close. Our photo folders are full of scenic pics like this one ... but I'll spare you the comprehensive slideshow.

Jacob, Suzanna, Kevin, and Susan in the Badlands

The next day (Sunday, June 29), we went to church in Dickinson (St. John Lutheran) and then took Jacob back to the airport in Bismarck. First we met Susan's dad, Roger, and his girlfriend, JoAnn, for dinner at Laughing Sun Brewing Company, another dog-friendly restaurant that made Zoey feel welcome.

Suzanna and Zoey had a low-key week in Dickinson, and then we spent the Independence Day weekend in Tioga with my dad and my sister Sandy. I had to work, so I drove separately ... and before I got there, Dad took Susan and Suzanna to Dakota Drug Company in Stanley for a Whirl-a-Whip. It's a whipped ice cream treat, like a Dairy Queen Blizzard or a McDonald's McFlurry, but made using a vintage machine that once was common at drug store soda fountains and ice cream shoppes.

I grew up 35 miles from Stanley but never had a Whirl-a-Whip as a child ... or as an adult, for that matter. Dad has taken all three of his granddaughters for a Whirl-a-Whip and now his daughter-in-law, too, but never his son. It's an outrage.

On the 4th of July, we gathered at my cousin Jon's for what in recent years has become an annual get-together for the Moberg cousins, aunts, and uncles. We spent the night trying to shield Zoey from the sounds of the fireworks being shot off by Dad's next-door neighbors on both sides.

On Saturday, July 5, Susan joined Suzanna and Zoey for the road trip back to Tennessee. Susan will spend a week there helping Suzanna with preliminary planning for the wedding (which will be in October 2026). I will fly down at the end of the week to join them there.

Meanwhile, I stayed in Tioga and joined Sandy in the Freedom Fest parade. Sandy works for Hess Corporation, an operator of oil and gas processing plants and infrastructure in northwest North Dakota. I donned a Hess T-shirt and joined her in following the Hess entry in the parade while tossing candy to the spectators.

Today Sandy hosted Dad and me for dinner on the family farm, where she lives. The three of us hopped in her UTV and drove around the farm, touring the property and listening to Dad's tales about his childhood on the farm and admiring Sandy's work at upkeep. This photo was taken out on her deck before I departed for home.

Mother's Day Weekend at My Father's

My sisters and I spent part of the weekend in Tioga, ND, with our dad, helping him sort through photos, documents, and other items while we were all together. We ran some errands in Williston on Friday but spent Saturday at his house, reminiscing as we looked at old photographs, programs from our high school events, and other gems from the archives around his home!

This morning I made an early-morning departure so that I could get to Dickinson, ND, in time for church and brunch with Susan for Mother's Day. In the afternoon, we had a family video call with our daughters, who live in Tennessee and New York; and we ended the day with supper at El Sombrero.

By the way, Susan's Mother's Day gift from me was 13 bottles of wine: a variety of her favorites and potential new favorites, based on what I know she prefers. Why 13? Well, she will have 13 weekends off from school this summer, which means 13 opportunities to sit outside on our veranda on a Friday or Saturday evening, enjoying the summer weather and each other's company while sipping a beverage.

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The siblings: Sandy (middlest), Kevin (youngest), and Cathy (oldest).

The patriarch: Dad (oldest-oldest).

The western sky looked awesome Thursday evening when I arrived at Dad's in Tioga.

I took a walk around the neighborhood Thursday evening and enjoyed this view of my cousin Jeffrey's house with its lighting matching the sky behind it.

On Friday in Williston, we had a delicious dinner at Gramma Sharon's. These cheerful cattle greet patrons in their parking lot.

Cathy looks excited to start sorting and organizing.

It's always fun to hear stories from Dad about the days of yore. He wishes his memory were better for remembering recent conversations, upcoming appointments, or other short-term details. However, seeing an old photo or letter can trigger memories from decades ago, which he can retell in great detail. We love hearing those tales and continuing to learn more about our dad, even after having known him our whole lives!

I had had flowers delivered to Susan at work on Friday so she could enjoy them until I could get to town on Sunday. Happy Mother's Day!

Farm Photos

Susan and I spent Easter weekend in the Tioga/McGregor area with my sister Sandy and our dad. Here are some pics:

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Sandy serves as musician for several area churches, including First Lutheran in Tioga. We joined her for Easter morning service.

Before the service, the women of the church served a breakfast in the fellowship hall--so we arrived early and enjoyed a meal first.

We had spent the day before with Sandy. She lives on the family farm where we grew up. Note the Easter treats that she had waiting for us!

We enjoyed playing with her friendly cats.

Cool pattern of shadows on the deck.

The evergreens in front of and behind the house and surrounding the yard are the only signs of green so far.

Well, I guess there is a little green coming up in the yard, too.

Sandy took us out in her side-by-side (UTV) to explore the countryside.

When I was a kid, our dog and I used to "explore" and play in the pastures, tree rows, and hay fields of our farm. Might not look too exciting here, but this was one spot for many adventures during my childhood.

When we slowed down to take photos, we scared away the waterfowl from this creek north of the farm.

Pretty early-evening sky.

A Celebration of Lives

Last November, my aunt Rose passed away--and the next month, her husband, my uncle Elton, passed away, too. They were such a loving couple, married for 67 years and so caring toward one another, their own family, and all of us in their extended family. I have only fond memories of the two of them.

Rose and Elton lived in Colorado, as did most of their children and all their grandchildren. This weekend their kids and grandkids traveled to North Dakota for a memorial service for Rose and Elton in Battleview, where Rose and my dad (her brother) and their family first lived--and where Rose and Elton later were married.

Rose had let her kids know what she wanted at the funeral, and they honored her wishes. It was such a meaningful ceremony. Rose and Elton's kids are all great musicians, and they and some of their children provided all the music for the service. Each of Rose and Elton's kids spoke, too, sharing beautiful memories of their parents. It was all so touching and perfectly expressed just how great Rose and Elton were and what an impact they had on others.

After the service and burial in Battleview, we all gathered in Tioga at Neset Consulting, a business with a large community room that groups can rent for events. Regina Lalim from the Side Street Diner catered, so everyone could focus on visiting and catching up on one another's lives while sharing stories of Rose and Elton. It was not only a celebration of my aunt and uncle but also a demonstration of the closeness of our extended family.

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Rose had six siblings, three of whom had already passed away. The remaining two are my uncle Alden (left) and my dad, Arlo (right). Next to Alden is my aunt Connie, widow of my uncle Ray. Next to Dad is his cousin Tammy, whose mom, Bea, was a sister to my grandma, Olga. (Also in attendance but not pictured: my aunts Goldie and Janet.)

My Moberg cousins: Rose and Elton's kids, nieces, and nephews. We were missing five: two who had earlier attended Rose and Elton's memorial service held in Denver, two who could not make it from out of state, and one who has passed away.

Rose and Elton's children and grandchildren except for one grandchild, his wife, and their child, who were not able to attend. In the front row are Rose and Elton's kids, my cousins Randy, JoAnn, Renae, and John.

(Post-)Christmas on the Farm

Susan, Hillary, Suzanna, Zoey, and I hit the road on Friday and headed to my dad's home in Tioga, ND. My sisters (Cathy from Belgrade, MT, and Sandy from McGregor, ND) were already there. We ate supper together and finalized plans for our weekend.

Yesterday we drove out to our family farm, where Sandy now lives. She has a side-by-side (UTV), and she used it to pull us on a sled through the snow drifts in the alfalfa fields and down the gravel roads surrounding the farm. It was the same metal sled upon which my sisters and I used to pull each other behind the snowmobile when we were kids!

Afterward we made a taco bar for our (post-)Christmas meal and then retired to the living room to open our Christmas stockings (yes, Santa visited us again, this time on the farm!) and visit by the Christmas tree while enjoying our margaritas. It was fun to hear Dad tell so many stories from his youth.

This morning we attended church in McGregor, where Sandy is the organist (as our mom used to be!) and where our family went to church while I was growing up. The church served soup and sandwiches afterward, so we stayed for the meal and visited with community members and relatives whom we don't see often. Then we went to Tioga to see Dad one more time before returning to Dickinson.

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Saturday was a beautiful day to be outdoors.

Sandy is in the cab of the side-by-side to drive. This is Susan, Hillary, and Suzanna, sitting in the back to monitor me on the sled (being pulled by that chain).

And here I am on the metal sled, ready for Sandy to hit the gas!

This is Hillary taking a turn on the sled. We were near my uncle's house--those are his trees behind Hillary. He lives a quarter-mile up the road from the farm.

A family photo in two unstitched parts (this one and the next pic). Sandy is the selfie taker. There I am, raising my margarita glass next to Cathy, Susan, and Suzanna.

Hillary is seated to Suzanna's left, and Dad is seated to Sandy's right, which completes the family meal photo.

Sandy's Christmas tree ... with Zoey in the foreground looking on!

Sandy at work, playing a prelude before church on Sunday.

Hillary and Suzanna with their grandpa (and with Zoey).

St. Maarten Vacation, Day 3

A few yards away from Abigail's apartment building is a French pastry shop called Jule's, where we had fresh pastries for breakfast. Then she took us on a driving tour of the island. The southern third is Sint Maarten, a Dutch country that is one of four comprising the kingdom of the Netherlands. The northern two-thirds is Saint-Martin, an overseas "collectivity" of the republic of France. They share the same island of Saint Martin. Got that?!

Abigail's apartment, her medical school, and the island's international airport are on the Dutch side. However, traveling to the French side to look around was easy because the border between countries requires no stops or customs check-ins--it is like driving across state borders in the U.S.A. And the entire island is just 34 square miles.

English is widely spoken on both sides of the border. We did overhear some people speaking French in Saint-Martin, but we have heard no Dutch at all spoken in Sint Maarten. Also, although the euro is the official currency of Saint-Martin (and France), and the Netherlands Antilles florin is the official currency of Sint Maarten (whereas the Netherlands itself uses the euro), the American dollar is accepted across the island. In fact, on the Dutch side, businesses list their prices first in the dollar and second in the florin!

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This is Bell's Lookout Point on Cole Bay Hill with a flagpole flying the national flag of Sint Maarten. At the base of the hill is a statue of William Henry Bell, Jr., whose family once owned this plot of land.

A view from atop Cole Bay Hill. By the way, in the center of the photo are two tall apartment buildings that are located near Abigail's medical school and her own apartment.

We toured the ruins of Fort Amsterdam outside Philipsburg, the capital city on the Dutch side. We got rained on a lot, so not many photos of the fort itself ... but the ladies did pose for a pic during a pause in precipitation.

We also toured the ruins of Fort Louis in Marigot, the capital city on the French side.

I won a game of king of the hill, clearly.

We ate at the Sunset Beach Bar on Maho Beach. The restaurant is situated at the end of the airport runway, so it is a prime spot for viewing low-flying incoming planes as they appear to be just a hand's reach overhead!

And, of course, another trip to the beach to frolic in the ocean.

We ended the day with a video call with extended family! My sister Cathy (upper left) was in the Mountain time zone; my sister Sandy and our dad (third row) were in the Central time zone; and the rest of us were in the Atlantic time zone ... three hours later than Cathy. Makes it tricky to schedule a call!