Roberta's 2005 Moments

Okay so here's my top 10:

10. Doing unassigned in Minnesota! Highlights include bathing in OFF to repel the skeeters, and getting to practice my "witnessing to militant Pentecostals" skills. And of course slushy margaritas at the little hole-in-the-wall motel courtesy of the Blinstrubs' ice crusher and Josh's margarita mix buying skills.

9. My first experience witnessing to a possessed lady! It was quite the experience. Scary beyond all reason but yet all the more reason to rely on Jehovah. It was out of my door-to-door experiences the one that stands out in my mind as the most unique and unforgettable.

8. Napoleon Dynamite taking full hold in our little podunk North Dakota town. Thereby becoming the #1 quoted, viewed, and parodied movie in the Rugby congregation and henceforth much of the North Dakota circuit.

7. Sarah Jane getting married! I am now officially the old maid older sister, not that I mind. There are worst things I could be. This goes hand in hand with the joy of having a wedding you helped plan in less than two weeks go off successfully without much of a hitch.

6. Another year come and gone as a regular pioneer, and many more lessons and skills and coping mechanisms acquired along the way. Pioneering in North Dakota was amazing. Quite the education.

5. Car getting smooshed by tree! Unbelievably, something valuable belonging to me was destroyed, and I had NOTHING to do with it! North Dakota and her little tornado ego-trip collaborated to twist the biggest tree on the block out of the ground and drop it right smack dab on my little pioneermobile. It was the wierdest thing that ever happened to me.

4. This is going to sound lame but I'm listing it anyway. Eating at Famous Dave's. That place is awesome. Maybe it was my stranded-in-the-hotdish-and-jello-salad-capital-of-the-midwest mentality that made me so googly over the BBQ Rib Tips I ate there, but I swear I dreamed about their food for at least a month after enjoying it. It's probably nothing to the authentic Southern BBQ, but please remember I was in the Midwest. Where meatloaf is considered an adventurous exotic eating experience. Where salt and pepper are the only spices they dare use.

3. Unassigned in North Dakota! It was only 2 days of service but being down in Wishek with the Washingtonians and several of the Labrucheries was a blast. Who can forget the taco pizza? Or preaching to the baals (hay bales)? Or the smelly lake? Or gas for 3.50 a gallon? Or liberating Donia???

2. Having to say goodbye to my roommates, my job, and my first 2 really grown-up years in North Dakota. That was one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was very sad to go, but I just may return one day for more -30F weather. North Dakota was, like I said, amazing. I've never felt closer to a congregation, partly because it was so small and party because the people there were so wonderful. I can truly say that the Rugby congregation was my family. I will miss them a lot.

1. Moving back to Washington. Being able to be close to family for more than 5 days at a time. Getting in on the weekly Bible reading/Nertz sessions at Frank and Sarah's. Doing early morning with Bubba and the girls. And, most importantly, the coffee. Being close to the famously exclusive-to-Washington coffee stands has been a near-religious experience to me. Or maybe I'm just highly caffeinated.