Alive and Well

Hey all, it's the Lonely Man. Bethany is out in Colorado for Manager Training/Fun Camp. I talked to her on the phone Tuesday night and she was having a blast. She is being recognized for who she is, and that's a very good thing. I'll let her tell you all about it however.
I started my new job Monday as a commercial/residential door technician. Basically I found a great job that puts my mechanical knowledge to use, gives me more experience with a lot of tools and equipment I haven't had much experience with, and it's run by a good bunch of guys. Unfortunately one of them is named Michael L. Peterson... so I'm thinking of going by Larry so they don't pin "new mike" or #2 on me.. Anyway, back to the good stuff: I've come home the last two days feeling great about work and myself. Oh yes, and another plus is that I need to use quite a few tools I don't have, but wanted, so the job makes it worth it to get them now rather than later. So that makes me happy in and of itself. For instance, I had to organize my current tools in a NEW TOOLBAG!! (yes, I'm that easy to get excited.) Give me useful tools and I'm like a puppy.
Last new cool thing is that we have the internet up and running as of 7:00 Wednesday, so the blog will get more postings and you all can stay in touch easier. Give us an email or phone call if you want to. Life is still crazy around our new home so I know we haven't contacted everyone. Love you all, have a great day! -Michael

And Tuesday

So last night ended with Ryan getting me to run two miles. I'm fat, or old, or just out of shape. Someone colored outside the lines with me. I had to stop and walk like four times. And, in light of that, I took a new job running pizzas to peoples homes! No, I took a job for a commercial door place. The pay is good, they give me vacation so I can see family in January, and I'll have a really good excuse to buy tools.

That's me after buying boots for the job, and apparently I shopped at the enemy to buy a router so we can have internet! That means staying in touch will be so much easier. No more trips to the coffee shop only to have forgotten the camera cord.
Speaking of coffee shop, there's me just before typing these really long posts.

and here's the Traveler, Photographer, and my Chauffer for the week:

Yup, he's still here and safe, and hasn't died of flatness. Although his blood WILL be flatter when he gets back to Wisconsin. He was a good sport, enduring me trying on boots. Hey, Ryan sold shoes, so he did the work and the lady got money for it.

And last, Ryan with what we believe to be a scuplture of Jesus' hand

Pictures

So, Ryan the Traveler arrived Sunday, and brought with him RAIN! and some goodies for us...


So we went to seek shelter in our new favorite coffee shop,

Beth worked, :( Boo to work. while Ryan and I played chess
Then we made food. Food is always a good thing when guests come.
Here's the kitchen in our apartment. Exciting isn't it?

Then the next day, I took Ryan the Traveller to see some sights. Like our town square and giant waterwheel. The Red River of the North is a major part of the landscape (which is a big word for the flatness here.) and steamboats used to be a major part of the commerce. Hence a huge waterwheel.
Read this:
So they have turned most of the land in the city, around the river, into a huge park system. Part of that has a sweet (FLAT!) disc golf course that we partook in.
That was probably the hole that Ryan threw his disc way off into nothing having to do with the course. I think he was chasing birds with it. Ok, so I did it once or ten times too, but it was way funnier when birds came out of the trees that he threw discs into. I just sucked.
And then the next day came.

4th of July

Bethany: So after our whirlwind move to North Dakota it was time for me to work. I began working right away the second day we were here interviewing potential employees for the new Furniture Row that I have come to help manage. I have to admit that I was a little nervous about interviewing (I had never done it before!). There was no time like the present to learn so I jumped right in and wow, I should have written down the people I have met. I could write a book...but I won't...While I was interviewing my brother-in-law, Dan, Mom Peterson and Michael were busy unpacking our apartment. The boys were also busy taking long naps and playing chess by the pool. I know, its a hard knock life, huh? On Wednesday, the 4th, we headed out after I was done at work to check out the great celebration of Grand Forks! Woohoo! After eating too much fair food and listening to the two man band we caught up with my store manager, Michael, and a girl that I had met at the hotel that we are interviewing at, Alyssa and her boyfriend. It was nice to be able to spend some time with people from the area and feel like normal people. We camped out on a hill by the Red River and started watching the fireworks...unfortunately, it was soon interrupted by a scary looking storm that began to blow the fireworks everywhere and the lightening was challenging the fireworks display so we ran to our car. The worst fireworks display I've ever seen soon turned into the best as they decided to set off every firework off at once to avoid the storm. Talk about a grand finale!

The Journey Begins

Bethany: Hi to all of those we love! The journey to arriving in Grand Forks and been a whirlwind. Saturday, July 23rd I (Bethany) received a phone call for an offer to pack up all the we had and cause even more people to question our sanity. Of course, Michael and I are always up for a challenge so that next Wednesday, after accepting the offer two days after it was given, we boarded a puddle jumper plane to Grand Forks, ND. (I don't think jets are allowed...)

Michael: Upon arrival to Fargo, the people at the airport made an obvious paperwork error and gave us a Dodge Charger for the weekend. It made exploring the city and finding a church and apartment a lot faster! (Note: Bethany had tricked me into allowing her to drive the one hour to Grand Forks prior to seeing our vehicle. I think she somehow knew ahead of time. She also squeeled the tires first...) Did you know North Dakota has a 75mph speed limit? Yeah, it's great. And I don't think they have State Patrolmen on their highways either... Anyway, first off we found a great church. We haven't even been there yet and they have already contacted us four or five times to make sure we are doing okay and feeling welcome.

Bethany: Ok...Mike is off to take some pics for you all to see so I'll take over...
Three days in North Dakota was enough to make us feel at home. We quickly found an apartment: DW, two pools, playground, tennis courts, basketball hoop, volleyball pit, garage and....PLUG INs? Yes, that is right, we have to connect our car to an outlet at night or it will freeze in the 40 below weather this winter. Anway, God set it up- great manager to work with, apartment, church and even a friend I met at the hotel we stayed at (Alyssa). We loved the city and were actually sad that we had to go back and pack. So one week from the offer we were back home and packing up our apartment. We managed to get it all together with the help of our incredible family and friends. Kristen and Paul (sister and bro-in-law) and my nephew Anthony came to help from Milwaukee. Let me tell you, there is nothing like an almost 18mo old "helping". He especially like the vaccuum... "Auntie Beth? Noise?" and the boxes. "Auntie Beth, pack? Help?" As he would remove items from the box and put them on the floor. Many boxes and tears later we were on the road with Mom Peterson and Dan (Mike's brother). We were quite a caravan. Thank God for in-laws as insane as us :)


After a stop off in a skanky motel 6....hair in the blankets and all...we arrived in Grand Forks. After signing the lease, and setting up our electric it was time to unload. Two guys came over from the church (Ministery Joe and Minister Jeremy) and before we knew it all the boxes were in the apartment. Thank God. The church secretary called the next day to check on us and later dropped off a fruit basket. The church is Church of God in Christ due to a course of God arranged events it wasn't an A/G church. Maybe we should take a cue from their hospitality.