Rae Larson Piepho

Butch and I have been married 46 years. Have lived in Lutsen on the beautiful North Shore for 36 years. We have 8 terific grandchildren 16 months-17 years. I have been a REALTOR 21 years and counting. Have been active in my church and community. We have loved the north shore and all it has to offer, and welcome anyone of you who come up the north shore to visit us; just 2.9 miles up the Caribou Trail.

After we sent Franken to Washington I became actively involved in the Tea Party movement. We had one last year on tax day on our courthouse steps, and again this year. Life in our beloved country has changed very much since the 50's in which we were very blessed to grow up. I am very concerned for the country we will give to our children and grandchildren, and willing to work hard to put good people in office locally, in our state and nation.

I still love music, and live in an area with lots of gifed musicians. Butch and I love to dance, but don't get to do that as much as we would like to. We both enjoy the many amenities our area as to offer with the X-CO (Butch downhills at Lutsen about 3 times a week) hiking, fishing, camping. And we love attending our grandchildren's music programs, hockey and baseball games as often as we can.

I have been active in Christian Women's Cub for years, and have guided their Friend Bible Coffee studies. We have done many Beth Moore studies, too, and just finished the terrific study in the book of Daniel.

Would love to hear from any of my classmates. Am so looking forward to seeing all of you at our big 50!

I found the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour at a Billy Graham Crusade in St. Paul in June 1967 during the six Day War. He has changed my life (is still working on me!) and given me purpose and meaning in my life. I know that "What have you done about Jesus?" is the most important question any one will ever answer. and "It is by grace we are saved, through faith,and that not of ourselves. It is a gift of God so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9

Sock Hops! the 50's music; so fun!! A great class, and one I am so thankful to have been a part of. Pep Club, and cheering 'til we were hoarse at the football and basketball games. School pride. Our great athletes! Ray Cronk, Billy Lawrence, Fred Swenson, and others on our State Champion Basketball team. Potlucks; slumber parties, "dragging" Beltrami Avenue, bells on our cancans during the holidays (that did not last!) lunch at the mileage: mashed potatoes and gravy and a coke! Hernando's pizza. Proms and campaigns for Homecoming (Sylvia you won!) Homecoming Dances, The Melody Shop, Chocolate/lemon cokes at City Drug, learning shorthand (I still use it in a pinch),. Orchestra, turn up the heat!, and fun Mr. Berg. Slacks (no jeans) on Fridays and game days. Bemidji State boys our senior year! Pretty carefree and innocent days. Great memories!

Mercy! Where does the time go? It's December and all of the fun, busy, traditions of the Christmas Season are here. Butch and I have made two batches of Lefse. One was not so hot, the other was delicious! (I used a cup that held 1/8 cup more of hot mashed potatoes than it called for, so after using the required 4 cups and the added1/2 cup my Aunt Dottie's famous recipe doesn't call for, it made a big difference in the taste. We will make more next week, and I will be very careful about measuring!
Butch and I went Christmas tree hunting on Tuesday and found a beauty for our church in the Hwy 61 right-of-way. The one for our deck we drove around Caribou Lake for a few miles to find. Some of our kids and grandkids, 13 of us (Karla, Kelly, Luke and Desi live in B.C. and only get here for Christmas every few years) will be at our house for Christmas, and Butch feels having a Christmas tree in the house with that gang including two yr. old Titus, a very busy guy, would be a bit crowded. He put up the outside lights yesterday. I love Christmas lights! Daddy always had lot of lights up the enire the month of December and even into January. Daddy is gone now, but Mother puts up the outside lights for hunting opener, and her tree is up Thanksgiving night. We will be decorating the church tonite, and all the helpers will start with pizza at Sven & Ole's! I'm eager to get going on decorating inside. The community "Messiah" concert is this weekend, and that is always a wonderful way to begin the Christmas season. I have sung in it many years, and would much rather sign the wonderful music than just listen. However, I have guided a Bible study on Monday nights for the past two years, so will "just listen" again this year.

How very sad to learn of Sharon Beliveau's recent passing. How good it was to see her at our reunion. I have so many happy memories of seeing and visiting with classmates. The hardworking committee did such a great job, and the time at Ron & Lin's was great! What terrific hosts, and what a lovely home and property. none of us knows what our future holds, so I hope any of you who cannot answer yes to the question, "Do you know for sure that if you died today you would go to Heaven? (the question Billy Graham asked when Butch and I trusted Christ as our Saviour in 1967, and to which I knew I could not answer "Yes!", then my prayer is that you will consider why Jesus came into the world. He came to die. He came to pay the price for my sin and yours. Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:10-13. Those verses can lead you to salvation and knowing that your answer to the question is "yes!" Ephesians 2:8,9 tells us there is NOTHING we can do to inherit eternal life with God. He has paid it all. It is a gift that we cannot earn and we do not deserve. Thank God for His mercy.

I am eargly looking forward to my retirement from real estate! After 22 years, I am retiring this December 22! I look forward to all that the Lord has for me in my "New Beginning!" More time with my hubby X-Co skiing, fishing, camping, dancing, .. and with children and grandchildren, for sure. Hope to do some volunteering in the school with kids who need help with English and reading; singing at the nursing home once a month all of the old songs my family has sung for years; leading and attending Bible studies (I love those!); continuing in the weekly meetings we started over a year ago to be informed on local, state and national issues and political candidates, etc. I do not know what the future holds, but, Praise God, I know He holds my future!

Wishing you and yours a Blessed Christmas and Joyous New Year!

Rae

Lincoln

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