On the Road

September 21, 2011

HELP...I can feel it...autumn is biting at my heels. The temps are dropping fast here in South Dakota. The wind displayed its 40-50 mph strength all night long. Thankfully, however, it was just wind and NO SNOW! Let me see, it seems this year we had a full blown winter, a hiccup of spring, and a short heat blast of summer. It makes one wonder what fall is going to be like. I am sure I will soon find out. This is the first time in almost 46 years of ministry, we have been around "home" this long due to Larry's recovery.

September 21, 2011

Let me see, it seems this year we had a full blown winter, a hiccup of spring, and a short heat blast of summer. It makes one wonder what fall is going to be like. I am sure I will soon find out.

This is the first time in almost 46 years of ministry, we have been around "home" this long due to Larry's recovery. He was at therapy yesterday and the therapist gave him a good report as to where he should be physically at this point in time. Believe me...he wants to get on the road! He is smitten with "EF" (evangelistic fever)! He still has many restrictions on him as it has been only nine weeks since surgery so the necessity to be careful remains.

Our plans are to leave on the road around October 1^st. Our first service will be in a little town close to Bozeman, MT, which is 800 miles from here. We will then go to the Billings area. Due to Larry's limitations, we will call ahead and request help to lift gear and set up. The churches are so kind to help accommodate us.

We will carefully and slowly be ministering in a few services en route to Arizona.

Wow...this Mom is going through another emotional roller coaster. It is a great one, but wild! Our daughter, LaDawn, who Larry, LaDawn and Myanna

lives in Minneapolis, has just been promoted and transferred to Nashville, TN, for Verizon Wireless. She and her daughter, Myanna, will leave October 1^st. Her son, Dante', will continue to remain in the Minneapolis area as he attends a community college in Inver Grove Heights. The thought of her being so far away is very emotional for me, but we are on the road a lot and now she will be close to her two siblings, Donovan and LaShawn and her husband, Liam. They will all be in the same city. She has prayed and waited for this opening for years and God has shown her favor. She is excited but at the same time overwhelmed by the two week turnaround to pack, move, locate housing, secure schooling for Myanna and on and on the list goes. Please remember them in your prayers during this time of transition.

As most of you know, I have nine brothers. They are all very, very special and we enjoy close relationships with each other. Four of them came to our home last week for a day and blessed us by giving our yard (which was taking on likeness to Sherwood Forest) "a shave and a haircut" as a rural South Dakotan would call it. The trees and bushes were totally out of control. They brought all of their gear along with a pickup and flatbed and proceeded to clean it all up. Thanks, Glen, Bill, Dale and Rick for working so hard!

I brought my mother to the house so she could sit on the deck and watch her sons do their thing as well as spend precious time eating around the table. I rewarded them all with a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I so seldom get to see my brothers so it was truly special and fun to have them here for the day. Larry has felt so trapped not being able to accomplish this task this summer. You should have seen his smile and look of joy once it had been completed.

Our daughter, LaDawn, made a fast dash home to see us and her Grandma Julie because Nashville is about 1800 miles

from us (oooh...that hurts). Anyway, I had Grandma Julie, who is almost 96, at our home for the afternoon. After dinner, we sat around the table. Larry had retreated to his office which just left us "girls" there. The joy of those precious moments engulfed me when I realized the four of us represented four generations....Mom (almost 96), myself (67), LaDawn (40) and Myanna (13). Mom was sharing about loving God, answers to prayer, and God's faithfulness. She challenged us, encouraged us and in turn, we laughed, listened and shed tears. It was one of those "lifetime" moments that we will cherish forever. It was so comforting to have the covering of my mother with us. The time around the table was a Deuteronomy 6 playback... "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

She has truly lived those verses. How wonderful it has been to have a great woman of faith pouring forth into our lives. It has been (and continues to be) such a joy and privilege to have her with us all these years....such wisdom and insight flows from her.

Let me encourage you, if you have Godly grandparents or parents...allow them to pour forth into your lives. Seek them out and receive the "gold" they have to offer. They have walked a lot of miles, crossed a lot of valleys as well as scaled mountaintops. Remember, when they know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, they are not old---they are gold. It is all free to us...what a gift!

May you be blessed and we will talk to you again in a couple weeks...from the road...Lord willing!

Gloria

QUOTE

"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about."

~Angela Schwindt

CHUCKLE/REFLECTION

A grandma told her 4 year old granddaughter that she was growing up too fast and needed to slow down. "But it isn't my fault, Gramma," she replied. "It's my mom's fault. She keeps giving me all those birthday parties."

A 3 year old came into the kitchen and asked Grandma, "Old lady, would you help me wipe my hands?" Grandma was taken aback and the child's mother asked her why she called Grandma that. The child answered, "Well, she calls me 'young lady."

Grandma asked her granddaughter if she knew what her whole name was. Proudly she stated, "Mary Louise Johnson Come Here."

PIC OF THE WEEK

RECIPE

Pecan Pie

1 unbaked pie shell

1 cup pecans

3 eggs

½ cup sugar

1 cup corn syrup

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pecans evenly in pie shell. Set aside. In a bowl, beat eggs; add sugar, corn syrup, salt, vanilla, and butter. Pour over top of pecans. Bake 50 to 60 minutes.

HOUSEHOLD HINT

Crumple newspapers and like the veggie compartments of your fridge for fresher and crisper veggies.

September 8, 2011

Greetings from Sisseton. We just wanted to post a quick note and update. We are home again. We have consistently traveled for the past two months-not in evangelism, I wish it were, but it has been non-stop doctor appointments, therapy, etc. I am happy to be home for a week or so again.

September 8, 2011

Larry is gaining strength daily and working hard at his therapy, but it bothers him that his energy is below par. I keep reminding him to be patient and to remember, he had two major surgeries at one time and that was only seven weeks ago...although it seems like months. I encourage him to be patient as it will take time. He wants to do a lot of stuff and he can't so this is hard for this tall Swede.

Yesterday I found him sitting in the chair paging through his ministry and booking calendar. He looked up at me and said, "I'm anxious to get going, but I don't know if I have the strength." I readily agreed, "I don't think so, not quite yet." His voice is getting a little stronger and we are praying that he will be able to sing once we are back on the road. Thank God he still has his sense of humor and his joking. If he didn't have that I'd be worried.

Just as these hay bales reflect the signs of a harvest completed, we are so excited to once again gather a harvest of souls!

We are ever thankful for the love you have shown!

We thank you for holding us up in your prayers. It means more to us than you'll ever know. Our times of encouragement have been when we have been able to sit down and read your cards, letters, and emails. You brighten our days.

God bless you. We'll keep in touch.

Gloria

QUOTE

_{"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."

- John 4:35 (NIV)

PIC OF THE WEEK

"Walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? ...If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers-most of which are never even seen-don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?" Matthew 28

RECIPE

Refrigerator Pickles

7 cups sliced cucumbers, unpeeled

1 cup diced onions

1 cup diced green peppers

Put in a large bowl and set aside.

2 Tbsp salt

2 tsp celery seed

2 cups sugar

1 cup white vinegar

Bring to a boil. Pour hot mixture over the cucumbers, onions and peppers. Mix well. The mixture will produce more juice as it sits. Put in refrigerator. Let stand 24 hours before eating.

HOUSEHOLD HINT

Save lemon and orange rinds. Store in freezer and grate as needed for pies, cakes, bread and cookies. Or the rinds may be candied for holiday uses.}

August 24,2011

What a beautiful fall-like day in Rochester, Minnesota! We're here for a series of checkups for Larry.

On Monday we drove to Abbott Northwest in Minneapolis for Larry's follow-up checkup with the surgeon. I was so happy that his incision had just closed up 3 days before his appointment. That is a great milestone so we don't have to tip-toe around worrying about infection. His energy level is low and his fatigue level is high. That makes two of us...and I didn't even have surgery - ha! Larry's in good spirits as usual, he just gets frustrated with low energy. The surgeon is pleased at Larry's recovery...but they keep reminding him of one word, "patience". It's still a full time job making sure and reminding him he can only lift 10 pounds this month.

August 24, 2011

What a beautiful fall-like day in Rochester, Minnesota! We're here for a series of checkups for Larry.

On Monday we drove to Abbott Northwest in Minneapolis for Larry's follow-up checkup with the surgeon. I was so happy that his incision had just closed up 3 days before his appointment. That is a great milestone so we don't have to tip-toe around worrying about infection. His energy level is low and his fatigue level is high. That makes two of us...and I didn't even have surgery - ha! Larry's in good spirits as usual, he just gets frustrated with low energy. The surgeon is pleased at Larry's recovery...but they keep reminding him of one word, "patience". It's still a full time job making sure and reminding him he can only lift 10 pounds this month. It was five pounds. The other day he moaned, "I can lift this...it's not that heavy." And I nag, "No, it's more than 10 pounds." Then I chuckle and chide, "Listen...don't worry...I have a long list of pushing and lifting and lots of work for you to do when you are well...so enjoy the vacation." He just chuckles and gives me that look of "Oh no, she always has a come-back answer". You know what... he's right! This Norwegian wife always has an answer...it may not be the one he wants - but yes, I always do have an answer.

His therapy is going well and they are increasing the exercises to rebuild muscle loss and movement of his head, neck and motor skills. He was so happy 5 days ago that he was able to get behind the wheel of the car and drive after being grounded 5 ½ weeks. I kept reminding him, "You keep doing your neck therapy so you can turn your head, and then you can drive." He did it. When I would drive, he would immediately buckle his seatbelt and look like he would love to have a tranquilizer for the trip. Now, when I get in with him, I buckle up and wish the same thing - ha!

We do have one more medical concern, concerning the double surgery on his neck. It has affected his vocal chords somewhat. He can speak and talk in a normal tone now, but when it comes to singing, he is limited. Of course, this frustrates him. We questioned the surgeon about it and they expressed that they were extremely happy with his talking voice and informed us that with this double invasive neck and spine surgery often times the patients don't get their voice back or will only have a whisper or a gravelly voice - so we rejoiced again for God's goodness that his talking voice is strong. He can preach! And that's what was important to him. They think it may take 3-6 months or more for the vocal chords to heal. We are going to believe and ask you to join with us in prayer that God will restore his singing voice and range. We are so grateful for all the prayers, phone calls and cards that friends and partners have sent. We so appreciated our extended family.

On the lighter side:

The night before we journeyed to Minneapolis, I was busy doing laundry, packing, loading the car, finishing office work, mail, etc. I didn't have an ounce of energy left in me when the doorbell rang - I couldn't imagine who it could be. I opened the door to this gentleman standing there and before he could talk I said, "You're back here again?" He responded, "Do you remember me?" I said, "Yes, you are the guy that keeps trying to sell me a headstone for the cemetery...and as you can see...I'm still alive!" I chuckled, "I know I don't look like it and I look terrible, but I'm not ready to buy a headstone." He whined, "But don't you need to plan ahead?" I assured him, "I have the plot and that's all I need for now." He whimpered, "You're sure? We have a family business and I need to sell..." I interrupted, "And I'm tired and need some sleep - so have a great evening. I'm sure you'll be back." And off he went. With that in mind, Larry and I always start the day every day with telling each other, "It's so wonderful to wake up - and to wake up together!" What a gift from God. So many things we all take for granted, but I never take God's love and His faithfulness for granted. He is always there. May you have a blessed week!

Gloria

QUOTE

_{"When circumstances seem impossible, when all signs of grace in you seem at their lowest ebb, when temptation is fiercest, when love and joy and hope seem well-nigh extinguished in your heart, then rest, without feeling and without emotion, in the Father's faithfulness."

- D. Tryon

CHUCKLE/REFLECTION

Garden of Eden

Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so
God asked Adam, "What is wrong with you?"

Adam said, "I don't have anyone to talk to."

God said, "I will give you a companion and it will be a woman." He
said, "This person will cook for you and wash your clothes, she will
always agree with every decision you make, she will bear your children
and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of
them.

"She will not nag," God continued, "and will always be the first to admit
she was wrong. When you've had a disagreement, she will never have a
headache and will freely give you love whenever needed."

Adam asked God, "What will a woman like this cost?"

God said, "An arm and a leg!"

Adam said, "What can I get for just a rib?"

AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

RECIPE

BBQ Chicken Roll-ups

6 cups coleslaw blend (cabbage slaw mix)
1/2 cup KRAFT Light Ranch Dressing
1 small each green pepper and red pepper, cut into strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1/2 cup KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce
6 flour tortillas (12 inch), warmed

Toss coleslaw blend with dressing; set aside. Cook and stir vegetables in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat 3 min. Add chicken; cook and stir 3 min. or until no longer pink. Stir in barbecue sauce; simmer 3 min. or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally. Spoon chicken mixture down centers of tortillas. Top with coleslaw mixture; roll up. Cut diagonally in half to serve.

HOUSEHOLD HINT

To keep butter from sliding around on the butter dish, heat the dish with hot tap water, dry off and then put the butter stick on the dish and then into the refrigerator. It will melt just a little of the butter which will freeze when put in the fridge. This way it doesn't slide around the next time you are trying to get some butter.}

August 10, 2011

Greetings from home. First of all, Larry and I want to thank you for all your prayers and get well cards. You truly have encouraged us, knowing you care! It was great getting back to our own home in Sisseton, SD after nearly a month in the Minneapolis area. Our daughter LaDawn was so gracious and insisted we stay with her so we would be near Larry's doctors just in case we ran into another speedbump.

August 10, 2011

Greetings from home. First of all, Larry and I want to thank you for all your prayers and get well cards. You truly have encouraged us, knowing you care!

It was great getting back to our own home in Sisseton, SD after nearly a month in the Minneapolis area. Our daughter LaDawn was so gracious and insisted we stay with her so we would be near Larry's doctors just in case we ran into another speedbump. Thank you LaDawn.

Larry made the 280 mile trip home better than I expected. I think just having me drive...took his attention off of his pain (chuckle). We both gave a sigh of relief knowing we had three weeks behind us since the surgery. Larry had the stiches taken out of the back of his neck on Monday and we left for home on Tuesday. Actually, the doctor was going to take out the stiches 5 days earlier, but the incision looked too "iffy" and suggested we keep them in a few more days. He informed us that if an infection were to set in...it's usually at the three week milestone. We arrived home Tuesday night and on Wednesday the incision began to gap and drain some. To be honest I did panic a bit and began praying that nothing would go wrong, being 5 hours away from his doctors in the hospital. We have been nursing that wound for five days now and it's just starting to look better - praise the Lord. I've kept him quarantined (chuckle) so he won't pick up anything to cause further complications. To be honest, this past month has been a bit nerve shattering, and as for me, I sure can use and would appreciate no more speed bumps.

Larry has experienced some balance issues and lightheadedness so I don't allow him too far out of my sight and try to stay close to him. I laughed and told Larry the other day, "You are a handful to keep out of trouble when you are healthy and well...but this is another story." Now I think I know what his dear mother went through when he was a toddler. She must've worn out the phrase, "No, no". In fact his mother often told me that she used to put him in a big crib when he was a toddler and when she left the bedroom he'd shake the crib across the wooden floor to get into some mischief. Hmm...not much has changed - ha!

This week, Larry started his first session in physical therapy. They are working and trying to get him to be able to move his head a bit. He has a long way to go on that. The incision and stiches in his front and back of his neck has had him at a standstill for awhile. He took the therapy good and of course, kept his therapist, Dan, in stitches with jokes. Dan commented, "I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting case, but fun." We are also instituting a 5-7 block walk to strengthen his legs and balance. Ya...it may not sound far to you, but it is for him starting out.

I'm definitely kept busy with full home care and regular office work and mail, but I'm so thankful we are in our own home where Larry is comfortable. We thank you for following us on this unexpected journey. We feel so loved and appreciate the love and prayers of family and partners.

The first part of Psalm 23 has become more real for Larry during this time, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures...He LEADS me beside still waters and He RESTORES my soul." For Larry, this unexpected shutdown time has become his green pastures. It's a great quiet time where God can speak to his heart and restore him to good health. He is an "on the road" guy...and his heart is in ministry and is anxious to get back out there - but it will be awhile. Please pray for patience for him in this waiting room. Have a great August!

Gloria

QUOTE

_{After two days in the hospital, I took a turn for the nurse. ~W.C. Fields

I learned a long time ago that minor surgery is when they do the operation on someone else, not you.

~Bill Walton

CHUCKLE/REFLECTION

Fried Eggs

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly her husband burst into the kitchen, "Careful...CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Watch it! You're cooking too many at one time! TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Watch it! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They are going to STICK! Careful...CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you are cooking! NEVER! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!"

The wife stared at him. "What is wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?"

The husband calmly replied, "I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving."

PIC OF THE WEEK

These gave us a good chuckle on our way home.

RECIPE

Peach Crisp

2 (30 oz.) can sliced peaches, drained

1 cup sifted flour

½ cup butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 ½ cup brown sugar

Arrange peaches in the bottom of an 9x13 buttered pan. Blend sugars, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over peaches and bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes or until done. Serves 6.}

HOUSEHOLD HINT

If you've got some leftover regular black tea in the teapot - you might want to give your garden a bit of a boost by watering the tea right over the plants. So, enjoy that cup of tea, and then share a little with your plants to see an increase in them thriving.

July 28, 2011

Last night I lay in bed, totally exhausted but thanking and praising God for another day of answered prayers and victories. Even though this has been a little setback again, a little speed bump, we trust God for steady improvement and healing. We count on your prayers, and we believe His Word when He says, "I am the Lord that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26)

July 28, 2011

Yesterday, Wednesday July 27, Larry and I awoke to a beautiful summer morning. A storm had moved through the night chasing away the burning heat and unbearable humidity.

It was also our granddaughter Myanna's 13^th birthday! Her mommy, LaDawn, is in Chicago for a business meeting and even though we were house-bound here, we were going to try and make it a special day. We had bought her first dozen roses and planned on getting a cake and having pizza. We planned for a laid back, special 13^th birthday until her Mom gets home and then we'd all celebrate.

At 8:05 am, that day Larry was slowly getting dressed and I could tell he was pain-weary, and so I set him down in a high back chair near the bathroom sink and tub and just told him to relax and take his time to wash up. I hear this concerned statement, "I feel light-headed." I panicked, "Are you okay?" I'm thinking 240 pounds of "light-headed" wasn't good news. Again, I asked, "Are you okay?" He replied, "I don't know." I wrapped my arms around him and the back of the chair holding him tightly...just in case. The next thing I knew he was struggling to breathe and like a bullet he lunged forward, out of my arms and down, hitting his head hard on the tub and then the wall and ended up in the fetal position with his head between the wall and stool. Terrified I reached for a wash cloth and towels as I saw blood dripping off his face and head and he wasn't responding. I knew I couldn't lift him. All I could do was cry out, "God, You've got to help us." He hit everything so hard and fast I didn't know if he had re-opened his incisions on the back or front or had been injured anywhere else. I sped to the kitchen and got ice packs and ran back to place them over where it was bleeding, until I heard him speak. He was probably only passed out about 30-45 seconds, I don't know, it seemed like a lifetime...but I was so relieved. In fact, when he passed out in my arms before he fell I feared he was having a heart attack and I remember thinking, "Oh dear God, is he dying in my arms?" As Larry reassured me that he could talk, I grabbed my cell phone and called his brother Leon who is just minutes away. Larry heard me say I was going to call the ambulance and he whispers, "I'm okay...don't call the ambulance, I'll be okay." I went back to wipe the blood off his head and face and keep him still as I didn't want him to move. Of course, that's a "man thing." Tell them not to move and they will! Larry's famous line is, "I'm fine" - I've tried to believe him, but one thing I've learned over the past 9 months is that his definition of the word fine is totally different from mine. I proceeded to put the ice back on the cut on his eyebrow and against my better judgment he began to inch his way out of that corner and assured me he was okay. Myanna and I inched him to the bed and began to wash out his wounds and put more ice packs on while we waited for his brother to come. He also had two big goose-eggs on the top of his head. In a few moments we rushed him to Park Nicolette Hospital where they brought him in and a neurologist rushed him down for a CAT scan to be sure he had no bleeding on the brain as he hit his head so hard. Good news - no bleeding! Relieved again. His neurologist called the spinal surgeon over at Abbott Northwest and he instructed them to rush him over to get an x-ray of his spine to make sure he didn't cause any further injury where he had surgery 13 days earlier. They showed us the x-ray and everything was all intact - praise the Lord. We knew from the first call for prayer when he first fell, early in the morning, that within minutes we had hundreds of people praying. God had honored their prayers. That's what's wonderful about serving the Lord. You have a support group like no other that in one call the word spreads and they hit the Throne Room. According to what could've happened, his cuts and bruises are small stuff. They didn't put stitches in the cut across his eyebrow and nose as it would leave more scarring that way. Any scars that remain will be souvenirs of God's mercy to see us through that episode.

We returned to our daughter LaDawn's nine hours later. Larry had looked battle-worn, weary with band-aids and pain, but we were overjoyed that there were no more permanent or added injuries.

The mystery yet is why this episode happened. So today, Thursday, at 2:00 p.m. we go back to Park Nicolette to the heart clinic to rule out anything with the heart.

May you have a blessed weekend and we pray that our following reports will just get better and better!

Gloria

CHUCKLE/REFLECTION

Trust In God

Trust in God when the sun sets
when the moon lights up the sky.
Trust in God for your dreams
as the darkness passes by.

Trust in God in the morning
when your day needs a fresh start.
Trust in God for protection
to place a hedge around your heart.

Trust in God through the daytime
when the pressure gets to you.
Trust in God for His guidance
and His Will will see you through.

Trust in God when the sun sets
and there you will find a friend.
Trust in God with your life
until the very end.

- Amanda Radandt

A SPECIAL MOMENT

Our bright spot in the day, Myanna turns 13 and got flowers from Grandpa

July 26, 2011

We are on Day 13 since Larry's surgery. We thank God these thirteen days are behind us. We have walked miles of emotions, concerns, tensions, smiles, questions and at times, near tears.

July 26, 2011

Hello from Gloria's "home care service"! HA!

We are on Day 13 since Larry's surgery. We thank God these thirteen days are behind us. We have walked miles of emotions, concerns, tensions, smiles, questions and at times, near tears.

No, I am not on a PITY run; we are on a REALITY walk. Before Larry had the surgery to relieve the compression of his spinal cord, my optimistic Larry thought and voiced, "In two weeks, I'll feel much better and in four weeks, at the most, I'll be back on the road!" It sounded good, but it definitely isn't possible. He has been in such good health that until this saga began about nine months ago, he didn't know what weakness and this kind of pain was. If he were honest, I think at this point, Larry could write a "mini-chapter" on pain.

On Sunday morning, our granddaughter Myanna and I were getting ready to go to church, and Larry had been sitting in a chair for about 15 minutes before the pain and discomfort forced him to lie back down. I tiptoed up to the side of his bed, smiled and chirped, "Hey---Hey-Hey-Hey, Hey, Hey! You can't be laying there. We have a church service in 45 minutes!" Then I giggled, "Wow, Larry, aren't you glad you aren't on duty this morning?" He wearily responded with a tinge of sadness, "Yeah." There are very few Sundays that he is not preaching so I knew this was hard for him.

So many dear friends, family and partners have e-mailed and inquired about his therapy and recovery. For these first four weeks, they want him to walk as much as possible to regain his strength and balance. Yesterday we rejoiced that we were able to walk three blocks. It doesn't sound like much to an athlete or avid walker/runner, but since his surgery and this journey, this was a real victory.

We are staying at our daughter, LaDawn's, townhouse. To go for a walk, our first challenge is to walk down a flight of 16 steps before we get to the landing to proceed outside. It often wears him out by the time he gets down there. With the extreme heat wave last week, I drove him over to Sam's and I offered assistance as he walked the long aisles. Larry doesn't fight to go to Sam's to walk as I have a great reward program. "You walk these several aisles and you will get your treat!" (Those with pets know this trick...you bribe to get the outcome you desire!) With Larry, this works very well. When he gets to the end zone of his walk and the deli and snack center comes into view, he smiles real big as I order a four berry sundae. He feels the walk is worth it!

Due to the surgery on the back of his neck and the incision on the front where they inserted a titanium piece to secure his spine, his stitches and his throat incisions are still swollen so he still needs to eat little bites of soft food that he won't choke on. He adds...."The four berry sundae will definitely help make me healthy." HA!

Larry describes this current pain challenge, "I feel like I am trying to balance a 100 pound bag of potatoes on my head, and it really hurts." As of yet, he is still only able to sit for about 15 minutes and can only stand about 5 minutes unless he's walking. He struggles to lie down and find a comfortable position for his neck and head without experiencing pain.

The good news is however....everything is going to get better! So far today, his eyes look better, his voice sounds better and he's cracking jokes....all positive signs of healing!

I just want to add this... when we start our journey to go down those 16 steps, I have to admit I am very nervous and concerned as he cannot bend his head down to see the steps. I'm thankful there is a handrail from top to bottom to balance and support him. Since I am his nervous Norwegian nurse, I have to be sure he doesn't fall. I don't go down the steps before him as he might fall on me (that has happened once, and we don't want that to happen again; we both would end up in body casts in a care center). I let him hold the rail with his left hand and I hold his right arm to steady and balance him.

Yesterday as we were descending the staircase, I was a bit nervous and I felt God reassuring me, "Gloria, don't try to go ahead of Me as you may stumble and fall. Gloria, don't lag behind Me or you won't hear My voice. Stay right close by My side where you can feel the warmth of My presence and hear My encouraging voice. Rest in Me, and I will see you two through this long recovery." I needed that holy moment and the visual it provided to calm my spirit.

This morning, I was comforted by the verses in Psalm 46:1 and 10, "God is our refuge and strength-a very present help in trouble. " "Be still and know that I am God." I take those verses personally and they minister to me!

Whatever you are facing today, know that God is waiting for you to come close to His side, listen to His voice and rest in Him.

Gloria

QUOTE

_{"Patience is a grace as difficult as it is necessary, and as hard to come by as it is precious when it is gained.. "}

~ Charles Spurgeon

CHUCKLE/REFLECTION

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old fellow who always prayed, "Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side." After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall. Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time. I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.
Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't .

So we need to pray, "Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''

PIC OF THE WEEK

"Be STILL and KNOW that I am God!"

RECIPE

Golden Glow Salad

1 (3 oz) pkg lemon Jello

2 cups water

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained

grated carrot

Mix Jello with hot water as directed on package. When cool, add ddrained pineapple and grated carrot. Pour into a flat pan of Jello mold to cool. Serve on a lettuce leaf.

Beat together 1 cup cream and add a little salad dressing for topping the Jello mold.

HOUSEHOLD HINT

Lemon juice on bananas is fruit salad prevents darkening.

July 18, 2011

Greetings from Apple Valley, MN. First of all, I want to thank all of you for all of your phone calls, texts, Facebook posts and most of all, your prayers for Larry. It has been such a support and blessing to us.

Monday, we left the hotel that was near the hospital and have moved over to our daughter, LaDawn's, home where we will stay for the next 8-10 days as the Dr. suggested we stay somewhat close until Larry gets his stitches out. Just the ride across town was, in itself, an adventure as so many roads are under construction....the vibration shook him around quite a bit causing pain to flare. I think the hardest part of this recovery will be to keep Larry patient and not doing what he's been used to doing for 68 years---at least until we are down the road a few months.

July 18, 2011

Monday, we left the hotel that was near the hospital and have moved over to our daughter, LaDawn's, home where we will stay for the next 8-10 days as the Dr. suggested we stay somewhat close until Larry gets his stitches out. Just the ride across town was, in itself, an adventure as so many roads are under construction....the vibration shook him around quite a bit causing pain to flare. I think the hardest part of this recovery will be to keep Larry patient and not doing what he's been used to doing for 68 years---at least until we are down the road a few months.

With the 5 inch cut down the back of his neck and the 4 inch cut on the front of his neck along with the titanium hardware keeping his spine in place, he has many limitations such as turning his head, raising his head, lowering his head, no pushing, no lifting, placing no pressure on his spine or back, being cautious when sitting or moving, doing steps, etc. This is certainly a whole new game for him and he's not too happy with the rules. Come to think about it...I'm not either! I have become the one who has to watch him and "bark" at him enforcing the rules. I am sure he is already grown weary of me saying "Don't", "Be careful", "No, you can't", "Don't do that", "Don't turn", "Don't push on that", "Don't lift that computer", etc. I know he's not quite feeling up to par when he turns down food and his coffee and even sweets, but certainly this is worth the outcome.

Right after surgery, Dr. Negib, took another MRI and it showed that the spinal cord was full and plump again rather than 90% compressed. How thrilled we were to see that MRI! When we were preparing to leave the hospital, I told Larry, "How blessed we are to be able to walk out of here." When you look around this floor and see all of the head traumas, brain tumors, epileptic patients , you realize many will not walk out of this hospital or it may be a very long time. We know God guided the hands of the surgeon to give us this successful surgery.

Yes, the recovery will be longer than we would like. As I said before, we will probably need to cancel three months of services the way it looks now, but time will tell. This discourages Larry as he loves being out there preaching the Good News and is concerned about the finances of the ministry. I keep reminding him that God has always taken care of us and will continue to do that. Hopefully we will make it back to Sisseton in two weeks if all goes well.

So many have contacted us wondering why Larry had to have surgery and inquiring about how it all went. I am simply unable to reply to everyone so we are sending out this update, as well as, these links for people to be updated on what is taking place.

Reason for Larry's surgery, click below:

http://www.larrylundstromministries.org/articles_view.asp?columnid=1624&articleid=75534

Update after surgery, click below:

http://www.larrylundstromministries.org/pages.asp?pageid=108140

Thanks, again, for everything! Words cannot express what it means to us!

Gloria

QUOTE

_{"Relying on God has to start over everyday, as if nothing has yet been done. "}

~ C.S. Lewis

CHUCKLE/REFLECTION

Just to make you laugh on these HOT days!

I pulled up to the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant and ordered coffee. I asked the clerk to put some ice cubes in the cup so that I could drink the coffee more quickly.

At the window, there was a delay. Finally, a teen-aged girl came to the window looking frustrated.

"Sorry for the wait," she announced. "The ice keeps melting."

PIC OF THE WEEK

_{***NO PICS THIS WEEK...SORRY}

RECIPE

BBQ Cups

1 lb ground hamburger

1/2 cup BBQ sauce

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp instant minced onion

1 pkg refrigerated baking powder biscuits

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese or more if needed

Brown hamburger and all ingredients in skillet except cheese and biscuits. Separate the biscuits and place one in each ungreased muffin cup. Press dough up sides to edge of cup. Fill each cup with meat mixture. Sprinkle to cover each cup with cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Makes 10 cups. Dish can be prepared ahead, baked, cool and either refrigerate or freeze until needed. Reheat in 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

HOUSEHOLD HINT

When preparing a casserole, make an additional batch to freeze for when you're short on time. Use within two months.

July 6, 2011

Happy July to you!

I cannot believe July just arrived and it is already the 6th of the month. We hope you enjoyed the long weekend of celebrations, fireworks, family get-togethers and endless eating...yes! Yummy!

We were home in Sisseton and felt privileged to spend a few hours with some of Larry's family. On the evening of the 4th, we were able to spend time with several of my brothers and families as well. Needless to say, we ate a lot; we told a lot of stories (which many of my siblings added extra stories to them); we shared much laughter. It was so special for my mom to look around and have 8 out of her 11 children surrounding her. We ended the fun-filled evening joining hands and praying for and with each other. That's what families do...what they are all about.

July 6, 2011

Happy July to you!

I cannot believe July just arrived and it is already the 6^th of the month. We hope you enjoyed the long weekend of celebrations, fireworks, family get-togethers and endless eating...yes! Yummy!

The Originals...Lowell, Gloria, Larry & Connie Lundstrom

We were home in Sisseton and felt privileged to spend a few hours with some of Larry's family. On the evening of the 4^th, we were able to spend time with several of my brothers and families as well. Needless to say, we ate a lot; we told a lot of stories (which many of my siblings added extra stories to them); we shared much laughter. It was so special for my mom to look around and have 8 out of her 11 children surrounding her. We ended the fun-filled evening joining hands and praying for and with each other. That's what families do...what they are all about.

Last Sunday evening, Larry and I were invited to sing at a special July celebration weekend in a little rural...I mean rural....community of Roslyn, SD. Maybe you have never heard of it---but many have. Roslyn is nestled in the NE part of South Dakota just 30 miles from our hometown of Sisseton. It is famous for three things: home of Myron Floren who was part of the long standing and still re-playing Lawrence Welk television show, the famous International Vinegar Museum which displays vinegars from all over the world, and for The Creamery which is an old historical brick building built in 1926. It was a Farmer Cooperative owned business famous for its Roslyn Pride butter. In 1970 it shut down and all the equipment sold except for the gigantic redwood butter churn which still occupies and decorates the interior. The Creamery is now a meeting place for special events, music jamborees and special Sunday night concerts.

We were invited by Wes and Sharon Monshaugen to do a concert and Gospel presentation. The atmosphere is so unique! They serve great food. We had wonderful fellowship and a lot of fun. The greatest moment of all was when several made decisions for Christ...that was the crescendo of the evening!

The weekend before we were delighted to minister in Mora, MN with Pastor Bob Bernard and his lovely wife, Rachelle. We did a special summer outreach. Several months ago, Pastor Bernard called and said, "One day I was praying and God told me to call you to come and preach at our church. We need a soulwinning service."

Altar call at Living Hope Church in Mora, MN

We went and we were thrilled to see what God did in and through that outreach.

"We had a tremendous Sunday with Larry and Gloria. They connected with every age croup and their entire ministry time was so incredibly engaging. Best of all, when it was time for the invitation, the altars flooded. We had several miracle salvations! Thanks for coming to Mora!"

Rev. Robert Bernard III

Living Hope Church

Mora, MN

May God bless you and have a wonderful week!

Gloria

QUOTE

_{"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. "}

~ C.S. Lewis

CHUCKLE/REFLECTION

~A Cup of Tea ~

One day my Gramma was out, and my Grampa was in charge of me. I was maybe 2 1/2 years old.

Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a gift, and it was one of my favorite toys. Grampa was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought him a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Gramma came home.

My Grampa made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' Gramma waited, and sure enough, here I came down the hall with a cup of tea for Grampa, and she watched him drink it up.

Then she said, (as only a gramma would know), "'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water, is the toilet?"

PIC OF THE WEEK

GLORIA'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

My special 4^th of July surprise happened while I was in The Creamery when Alvina Opitz walked in---I gasped and addressed her, "Alvina Opitz!"

In her fun-loving way she said, "Yes, I'm here! And don't forget, I delivered you!"

I gasped again and chuckled, "Yes you did! It's written on my birth certificate that you were the attending nurse to Dr. Peabody when I was delivered May 17,1944, Tekawitha Hospital, Sisseton, SD."

She is now 90 years young! She is still sharp, active in her community, doing physicals and volunteer work. I LOVE THAT!

Thanks Alvina...you were the first one to greet me coming into this world and we are both still up and running! HA!

RECIPE

Peach Upside Down Cake

4 cups peaches, chopped or mashed

1/2 cup sugar

2 Tbsp cornstarch

2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp lemon juice

Mix together and cook until it thickens. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan. Mix a white cake mix according to package directions. Pour on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Enjoy!

HOUSEHOLD HINT

Perk up soggy lettuce by soaking in cold water with some lemon juice. To store place in a zip lock bag with paper towel to absorb moisture.

July 8, 2011

Have you ever been driving down the street oblivious to what might be coming down the road and before you knew it, you hit a speed bump that jars you? You realize that you have been forced to slow down or you are going to tear your car up. Well...I guess that is the best introduction I can give to what I am about to say.

Larry and I have been sailing down the road of ministry and God has been so gracious to allow us the privilege of representing Him in services, rallies and events sharing the simple Gospel message. In the last few months, hundreds have responded to the altar calls. It has been thrilling!

In the middle of all of this, I noticed Larry begin to physically walk slower and then he began to complain of weakness in his legs as well as struggling with balance to the point of tripping easily. He was experiencing extreme muscle spasms followed by muscle loss. It was apparent his motor skills were definitely being affected.

July 8, 2011

Larry and I have been sailing down the road of ministry and God has been so gracious to allow us the privilege of representing Him in services, rallies and events sharing the simple Gospel message. In the last few months, hundreds have responded to the altar calls. It has been thrilling!

In the middle of all of this, I noticed Larry begin to physically walk slower and then he began to complain of weakness in his legs as well as struggling with balance to the point of tripping easily. He was experiencing extreme muscle spasms followed by muscle loss. It was apparent his motor skills were definitely being affected. As a "blonde" (chuckle), I groaned, "Oh no...is this age creeping up on him?" He has always been so quick, sharp and on the move. We continued taking our daily walks and the last few weeks I noticed, it was becoming a struggle on him so I backed off.

Being half-minded, I thought the walking would strengthen him but we seemed to be getting opposite results. Urgency gripped me and I tried for six months to get him into Mayo Clinic or any clinic to no avail. I thank the Lord, through my sister-in-law, Connie Lundstrom, we finally got him into a neurologist in Minneapolis, MN. One glance at his walk, Dr. Tran knew something was seriously wrong. They proceeded to run a battery of blood tests and an MRI which revealed four vertebrae pushing on his spinal cord. One (which is C4-5) was almost cutting off his spinal cord. The doctor immediately scheduled us with a neurosurgeon. We were referred to Abbott Northwest in Minneapolis to Dr. Negib. He was alarmed at the situation and reworked his full surgery schedule to get Larry in for surgery on July 14^th. They instructed us to protect him from falling or bumping his head as with the current state of his spinal cord, it could cause him to be paralyzed.

We rejoice that God gave us the favor with the doctors and surgeons to get him in so quickly. We would ask for your prayers for him that God would guide the hands of the surgeon and that it will be a successful surgery. Please pray the recovery will be quick, complete and he will be up and running soon. We will be anxious to hit the road again and do what God has given us the call to do and the love to do---reach the lost and hurting.

This surgery will cause a speed bump in our schedule for a few weeks causing the road schedule to slow down but we will definitely be busy in our home office answering prayer requests, letters, phone calls, etc.

Thank you for allowing me to share our prayer request with you. You are "our" family and friends. I know we can count on you for prayer for Larry! We will keep you updated by e-mail and our monthly newsletter.

God bless you,

Gloria

P.S. I would love it if you would send an e-mail to llmin@venturecomm.net or a letter to the ministry if you would commit to praying for Larry as I desire to build a circle of prayer warriors around him. Thank you so much!

June 22, 2011

Greetings from Minneapolis! We just drove in from a wonderful and exciting Father's Day service and weekend in Glenwood, MN. Of course, Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes....it truly is beautiful! With the unusually cooler weather and abundance of rain---the grass is plush and green.

With the onset of summer, the holiday and vacations, we were not sure how the attendance would be, but we were pleased to see so many of our partners and friends who drove in from the surrounding areas.

June 22, 2011

With the onset of summer, the holiday and vacations, we were not sure how the attendance would be, but we were pleased to see so many of our partners and friends who drove in from the surrounding areas. A special surprise was a couple left their home at 4:30 AM Sunday morning and drove in from Orange City, IA. It was over 400 miles roundtrip...how sweet! There were also several friends who attended who have joined us for Fun and Fellowship tours as well as a couple who attended one of the Lundstrom Television tapings in Nashville, TN, way back in 1972. Aren't friends great! It was like a family reunion.

Altar call at Minnewaska Assembly of God

When the invitation was given to receive Christ, a lady who was 80 years old responded. It was the first time she has ever made a spiritual commitment. How precious to see her daughter standing by her holding her hand as they prayed.

As always, it was good to be back with Pastor Mark and Kathy Geselle who have pastored the Minnewaska Assembly of God church for several years now. It is always special to see their children as we have taken great joy in watching them as little children grow into teens and now as young adults attending college.

It is always a joy to see families like Duane and Wendy Jergenson's come to our rallies. They shared this with us,

"One year ago when we went to Branson with you, you really impacted our lives. It was truly a great experience!"

The weekend prior, we had a service in Wahpeton, ND, at Harvest Outreach Church. We were overjoyed to be with Pastor Sam McKay and his wife, Jenny. They were new to this pastorate and we had not met them before but it took just minutes to become fast friends. Larry and I are so honored to have the privilege to work with such wonderful pastors through the years. We also had many friends drive in for the service in Wahpeton.

The most important guest, of course...was our Savior, Jesus Christ. He ministered to the hearts of the hurting, discouraged and the lost without Christ. There were several young adults along with many others that responded to the invitation. After the service was over, one parent came up to us shedding tears of joy and said, "I have prayed so long for this moment for our son in college that he would make a decision to follow Christ, on his own, not because we wanted him to." When I looked up and saw he and his girlfriend respond, needless to say it was a time to rejoice!"

Let me repeat this statement, "Larry and I never grow tired of seeing people's lives change."

Last week, Larry, I and his family finally undertook the task that we have been putting off for several years! We have endeavored to get Larry's parents four story farm house cleaned out, but with all of the Lundstrom brothers' schedules, we had not yet gotten it tackled. His father has been gone for 15 years and his mother has been gone for 10 years. Much of the house's contents had been shoved up into the attic so it was filled to the brim with----well, you name it, we saw it and we carried it down three flights of stairs. There were treasures, stuff and junk from way back to the 1940's: old dressers, antique chairs, tables, bed frames, mattresses, lamps, trunks, classic radios, guitars, banjos, precious dishes, records, and books that appeared like they came over on the Mayflower. There was fishing gear, hunting gear, mammoth framed pictures, photos, an antique Singer sewing machine, camping equipment, kitchen gadgets and truly vintage clothing amongst the overwhelming mounds of stuff. Guess what? I even found a couple of our wedding gifts that we put up in the attic three days after we were married since we were going on the road and inadvertently never did see them again....there they were! All I can say is "Uff da...what an experience!"

We also went through a half of a straight truck that was loaded with boxes and boxes and more boxes that had been stored for years. We rented a hall and had a massive garage sale. I can't even tell you how relieved we all felt when we got it all cleaned out. We could all breathe easy knowing we had a big burden lifted off our shoulders.

I like to equate that whole episode to forgiveness. Often in our lives we are hurt, misunderstood, mistrusted, used and abused. We allow these things to pile up in our lives like in that old attic. Rather than asking God to help us clean out or forgive those who have offended us, we let it fester until it begins to nag on us, irritate us and we are ready to explode. Like the attic, we are filled to the brim with unforgiveness and haunting memories that can and will eventually destroy us stealing our joy, peace, love, family relationships, marriages, churches....you name it!

Prayerfully we come to the day that we know we have to clean out the stuff in order to be set free from all of this.

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36 (NIV)

Now the choice is ours. If we choose to forgive, we live. We will feel better, be happier and God can give us a new lease on life like we never had. But like I said, the choice is yours and the choice is mine. How do I know? I've been there! I've been imprisoned by hurt and unforgiveness. I have also cleaned out and been set free by choosing to let go of the past hurts, forgiving others, forgiving myself and making things right. Wow...the joy and peace He gave me as a result! It really works.

Today...choose to forgive...choose to live!

Gloria

QUOTE

_{To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.}

~ Lewis B. Smedes

CHUCKLE/REFLECTION

The Window from which we look...

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean", she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a Nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

PIC OF THE WEEK

Mother Goose!

RECIPE

Swedish Rice Pudding

1 cup rice

2 cups water

1 tsp salt

6 cups whole milk, heated

1 1/2 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Cook rice and water about 14 minutes, add the salt and four cups of the milk. Cook until the rice is done and thick. Add 1 1/4 cups of the sugar. Beat egg yolks and add the rest of the milk. Add to the rice mixture and cook until it thickens again. Add vanilla and stir. Pour into a glass casserole dish. Beat egg whites until stiff and add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Top with meringue. Brown meringue in 350 degree oven.

HOUSEHOLD HINT

Natural mosquito repellent...

Dab lavender oil on your pulse points; it smells great on you but repels insects.

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