Several members of the Sumstad family gathered together at The Farm at South Mountain  in Phoenix, Arizona.  As I sat under an umbrella on the patio of The Farm Kitchen eating lunch, I couldn't help but consider that it was a farm in Norway that united each one of us.  Sumstad, Sor-Trondelag , Norway was the birth place of my paternal grandfather.  This was the place where he was born and raised before leaving with his younger brother Konrad for a new life in the United States.  I am a descendant of this family. Bill and Sharon Sumstad were visiting …

Spring is in the air.  Don't forget that I live in Phoenix.  Yes, it's March but it's a beautiful time of year out here.  Baseball spring training is happening across the valley of the sun.  It was such fun to attend a baseball game with my aunt and uncle who were visiting from California.  The LA Angels were playing against the Chicago Cubs.  Sorry Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bob but the Cubs won 4-2. My pastor is retiring.  It's sad as I will miss him.  He has been such a source of encouragement to me over the years.  But we got to hear the p…