A North Dakota Piano

When I first moved to North Dakota I bought an old abandoned church building across the street from my house with the purpose of using it as my woodworking shop. Inside the church was the old original upright grand piano. This church was sitting empty and unheated for ten or fifteen years before I bought it and I only put heat on occasionally whenever I had some project to do in the winter months. Even when it was used as a church it's hard telling how often the temperature remained constant. In the summer months the building would get really hot inside because of the high ceilings, not to mention the fact that the building is well over one hundred years old. I don't know much about pianos but every once in a while I would open it up and plunk away at it. At times someone would come over who knew how to play and made the comment that it didn't sound too bad.

A few years ago when my daughter was out here visiting, told me that Abby would like to start taking piano lessons. That motivated me to load it up into my cargo trailer when I had to haul a bunch of stuff out to California anyway. We moved it into Scott and Lisa's house and Abbs got signed up for lessons. Even the teachers commented on how nice it sounds and that it really wasn't that far out of tune.

One of my highlights whenever I visit out there is to sit and listen to her practice. She is not only doing really well at playing but seems to really enjoy it too.     I KNOW THAT I SURE DO!!!!

My "TECHI" Grandson

Steven is my technical computer go-to guy. I wish I had a tenth of the knowledge he has when it comes to anything technical, whether it's computer, phone, camera, games, or you name it. Of course all the other kids know their way around the chips and screens as well.

On this January 2011 trip he convinced me that I need an ipod. At this point I can't even remember what the reasons for having one were, but at the time it sounded good to me. So the two of us went shopping for it one day and he couldn't wait to get home and teach me how to set it up.

Yes, I had a very difficult time prying it out of his hands. After all, the one I just bought was a generation 4 and his was only a generation 3!!!!!

I still don't know a fraction of what I can do with it but every time I visit out there I learn even more about it from one or all of the kids. It keeps my brain working for sure.

Winter in California

On this visit to California (January 2011) I stayed with my son because the last couple of visits in years past I had stayed with my daughter and family. I am always so thankful that both of them are willing to put me up whenever I visit.

One of the highlights of visiting this time was the routine of picking up the kids after school.   It amazes me how well they love school and all the activities that they are involved in. One afternoon we were waiting for Hope to show up at to the car and she wasn't there which was unusual for her. Then Leo said, “Oh, she must be on Safety Patrol today.” Like I said, the kids just love to be involved in school activities.

I was also privileged on this visit to be able to watch my grandson work out at his Taekwondo class. It always does my heart good to see how much the kids pour their hearts into their work.

Travels

Yes, even though I have been talking about journaling about my life here in North Dakota, so far this year (2011) I have spent more time traveling than I've been home. Therefore, from time to time, I will post a bit of my travels from this year just to catch up a little where I might have left off on my old blog.

My first trip this year was a quick flight out to California to see my family. It was another bad winter here in ND and I suppose a little cabin fever had set in. So in the middle of January I took a flight out to see my kids and grand kids for about two weeks.

The day I left home for the airport was a cold and snowy day with the north wind starting to pick up. I had been having a problem with a leak in the radiator of my pickup so I made an appointment with the garage to work on it for the two weeks that I would be gone. (That way I wouldn't have to pay for parking at the airport either! Pretty smart, eh?) I topped off the rad with antifreeze and headed out on the day of my flight. Sure enough! 12 miles from home my radiator completely blew! Naturally, I'm talking with God all the way asking for safe travels, not only because of the icy roads but that the radiator would make it to Minot. All I can say is, as with all things in God's perfect plan, that God had his hand in this since the radiator let go right in front a bar right in the middle of nowhere.

So does God have his hand in bars too? Isn't God Omnipresent? Does his providence prevail no matter what? Doesn't he watch over us no matter where we are and what we are doing? You answer that for me.... I already have. As it happened, when the rad blew and the temp gauge started to get dangerously high I shut the engine off and was able to coast right up to the front door of the bar. Now being out in the middle of nowhere I checked my phone and sure enough...no signal! I knew the bar had been closed for quite some time and the traffic past there was quite sparse. But wait! All of a sudden the front door opened and someone asked if I needed to use the phone. The place wasn't even open yet but the new owners had just moved in a day or two earlier to start getting the place ready for business. I went in, used their phone, they made a fresh pot of coffee and we had a nice chat. When the tow truck finally arrived I thanked my hosts for their help—but only after I thanked God for his protection, providence, and watch care in my LIFE. God is good!

It was still winter in North Dakota when I got home at the end of January as seen from the street in front of my house:

A New Life

So it is established that my title to the blog will be Dakota but what would complete the thought that I want to convey and still be a simple, complete title? I do love living here. I have a good life. Lots of new things are happening in my life. But mostly, God has been blessing my life so much. So why not simply use LIFE to complete the title? There! It's settled: The new title to this new blog is DAKOTA LIFE. In it I will attempt to journal what living in North Dakota is like and what it means to me as well as a little insight in to my life here. Above all, remember to hang on just in case the ride does get a little wild!

A New Blog

I have decided to start a new blog.  What motivated me to do this?  Well, I enjoyed writing my old blog and now there have been so many new things happening to me in my life that I feel like carrying on anew.  I don't want these writings to be a "bragging" thing but rather a history, a legacy, or a journal of what is going on with me up here that I can pass on to my family and friends. 

The biggest struggle I had was coming up with a new title.  I knew that part of the title had to be something to do with where I live:  North Dakota.  I was born in North Dakota and my heart has always been here.  When I lived elsewhere throughout my life I always had the desire to move back here.  I had several opportunities throughout my life to do just that but now that I have finally moved back I know that this is where I belong.  My writings will consist of what is going on with me here in Dakota and my experiences.  SO HANG ON!!  Because, as a very good friend of mine says, "THE RIDE MIGHT GET PRETTY WILD!!!!!"