Pray More - Worry Less

"This is so easy to write...

but much harder to actually do."

“Pray more, worry less.” This is so easy to write, but much harder to actually do.

In English both of these words are verbs, however, “to pray” and “to worry” are diametrically opposite. To worry is to constantly fret and to be in an agitated mental state. However, prayer is not just sending your worries to a higher power or finding a new way to worry; it is the act of surrendering. It is resting in the truth that God is who He says He is. He says that His word is true and He promises us this, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

One problem for me is that I don’t always recognize when I’m worrying; sometimes it starts out as “planning” or “being responsible”. In my mind at least. Several years ago, I was sitting in a sermon where a pastor said that worry was a sin because it means we are not fully trusting God. This completely changed my view on life - before, I worried habitually, actually viewing it as being a responsible human and Christian. This new crystal-clear view of what worry really was, set me free.

Some things that have helped:

1. I try to turn my worries into prayers. As thoughts run through my mind, I work at identifying when I’m worrying, then capture it and turn that worry into a prayer.

2. Last year, after talking extensively with my doctor about my health, she diagnosed me with anxiety (among other chronic issues) and recommended that I go on a medication. I believe that medication is a tool and a gift from God - so I’ve been using it. I can’t begin to tell you the difference it’s made in my life! The daily little worries that we all fight are still there. But the dark weight, the constant feeling of impending doom, the panic attacks are pretty much gone. It’s made my interpersonal relationships better and God has definitely grown my faith over the last year.

So my friend, I hope some of this has encouraged you. Pray more & worry less. 💗

Stillwater Lumberjack Days 2017

Log Rollers, 1921
Art Credit - Philip R. Goodwin

The St. Croix River and Lumberjacks have historic origins; starting out together all the way back in the early 1800's! Logging camps and Lumberjacks started cutting the timber from Minnesota's lush forests long before it was settled as a state. Stillwater sprung up as the first city in MN due to this extensive logging activity and the convenience of the St. Croix River for transporting massive amounts of timber.

The 83rd Stillwater Lumberjack Days celebrates the rich history of the River and its people! This multi-day celebration from July 21st to the 23rd features food, live music, a parade, a medallion hunt, vendors, a downhill derby, Lumberjack competitions, and of course - log rolling, a traditional Lumberjack sport! View the full schedule below or on the Lumberjack Days website.

The St. Croix Valley – A National Historic Waterway

Did you know - the beautiful St. Croix River is a National Historic Waterway as well as one of the cleanest rivers in the world!

Learn more at the official National Park Service website, currently celebrating their 100 year anniversary.

"The Scenic St. Croix River Valley invites you to escape from the world for a while – explore the hiking trails, go fishing or boating, head to the beach… visit historic river towns - explore the galleries, shops and enjoy fine dining, theater and music. In the St. Croix Valley you will find those wonderful secret places that provide a lifetime of memories.

The St. Croix River Valley is just 30 minutes from downtown St. Paul and 45 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Once you’ve been here, we know we’ll have the pleasure of seeing you again. The St. Croix Valley is a destination you will never forget.

Choose Your St. Croix Valley Summer Adventure...

Natural Beauty isn't the only reason to explore the St. Croix Valley. Take in summer festivals, artist studios, concerts, parks, camping, history, wineries, and more!

Step Away from the Ordinary & Discover the Unexpected...

Historic River Towns Offer Great Shopping, Dining & Accommodations

"The historic small towns that dot the river-front and countryside offer a variety of activities for all ages and interests. Start your exploration of the Valley in the South, where the St. Croix meets the mighty Mississippi then traverse your way up one of the scenic state highways or county roads that lead to quaint small towns, pristine parks, artist’s studios, galleries, antique shops, wonderful restaurants or local cafés. Your visit may include staying at a cozy bed & breakfast, pampering yourself at a spa, or shopping for antiques or gifts at one of the Valley’s scores of fine shops and galleries.

The St. Croix River Valley offers Spectacular Scenery and is a Nature Lovers Dream

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy bald eagles soaring between rugged cliffs and rock formations on the Upper St. Croix, meadows of wildflowers dancing in the wind, quiet landscapes, beautiful vistas, and wildlife viewing from roadways, waterways, railways, and trails. In winter, take in the Hudson’s Hot Air Affair hot air balloon festival, traverse the snowy landscape via skis, snowshoes, snowmobiles, dogsled or spend the day skiing at one of the Valley’s ski resorts.

The Scenic St. Croix Valley is an ideal place to find respite from everyday living. Enjoy the events and attractions as thousands of others have. Your choices are many – just follow the River." - via  StCroixRiver.com

And, of course, the boating is excellent!!

You can explore some of the websites listed above in the links, or please feel free to stop by our office for a St. Croix River guide, with our compliments.

Gerry Spiess – Across the Atlantic and Pacific in 10′ Sailboat “Yankee Girl”!

Originally posted on the Bayport Marina Association Blog - 2.3.17

EDIT 4.18.19

A tribute song was written in 1991 about Mr. Spiess' epic journey with Yankee Girl by The Captain & Squire Hogg. They saw the original post below and wanted to share their music! Take a listen to the song "Yankee Girl circa 1991."

Song Lyrics:

Sail across the ocean. Sail across the sea. A 10-foot boat and just one man. Making history.

The water carries, carries me away. The winds are blowing, that’s all you’ve got to say.

A lone man going down to White Bear Lake. His Yankee Girl below him, and both their lives at stake.

He built her one summer out of nails glue and wood. She’s only 10 feet long.

He’s taking that girl across the sea, that’s why we sing this song.

He took his girl down to Chesapeake Bay. Launched her one morning and began to float away.

Heading out toward the warm gulf stream. A storm brewed up behind them. He thought it was a dream.

The seas kicked up and tossed them both around. His Yankee Girl capsized.

He got his boat right side up, but he nearly died.

There goes the thunder. There goes the rain.

Here comes the sunshine to take away the pain.

Sail across the ocean. Sail across the sea. A ten-foot boat and just one man. Making history.

The wind starts blowing. Her sails begin to fill. The sun shines brightly to take away the chill.

The winds and current carry them along. His Yankee Girl is running free, and nothing could go wrong.

Thirty days passed as they crossed the sea, and both could see their destiny.

The Port of Falmouth came into sight- a shadow in the twilight.

They don’t want glory. They don’t want fame.

A ten-foot boat crossed the ocean, and Yankee Girl is her name.

Yankee Girl Yankee Girl. Yankee Girl is her name.

---

Many of you may have heard of school teacher Gerry Spiess, the Minnesota native from White Bear Lake who sailed crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 54 days and the Pacific Ocean in 153 solo, all in a small 10' sailboat, named Yankee Girl, that he designed and built himself in his backyard!

Yankee Girl is the smallest craft to have ever crossed the Atlantic from west to east in 1979 and Spiess' adventures are well documented across the web. BUT, did you know that our own Tom Matson, in the Bayport Marina Canvas Department, created the boat's cover and seat cushions for Gerry Spiess' Yankee Girl? The boat now resides as an artifact at the Minnesota Historical Society.

You can also view the blue seat cushions Tom made on the Minnesota Historical Society website here and here, and pictures of the boat and cover here!

On this website, you can read an excerpt of his travels and on Press Pubs White Bear, you can read the article "37 years after his trans-Atlantic voyage, where is Gerry Spiess?". Also, be sure to take a look at the pictures below!

If you would like Tom, a multi-award-winning canvas and upholstery Certified Master Fabric Craftsman, to work on YOUR boat - visit his page on our website today! Or you can reach Tom via phone: (651) 342-2264 or by email: tom@bayportmarina.com

 

Love Your Melon – An Interview with Jackie & Robbie Ellingson About Their Passion for Helping Pediatric Cancer Patients!

Originally published on August 19, 2016

Today we are sharing an interview with Jackie and Robbie Ellingson, who most of you know as part of our amazing Fuel Dock team. What you may not know is that they are also key volunteers for Love Your Melon, a national group that raises money to fight pediatric cancer! LYM was founded at the University of St. Thomas, and still operates out of Minnesota!

Photo Courtesy of Love Your Melon

Read on the learn more about their work and how you can be involved:

Q. Can you tell me a little about yourself? What is your background, what are you interested in or pursuing in school?

Robbie: Heading into senior year is a crazy thought!!! But I have loved every step of the way. I am a marketing major at UST, and have absolutely loved my classes!  I am also a Spanish and Environmental Studies minor, so my classes are varied and keep me on my toes.  This summer I was interning at a digital marketing agency in Minneapolis a few days a week, riding horses and spending as much time on the river as I could!  I am still not exactly sure what I want to be doing in the future, whether it would be working with an environmental agency saving the rainforests (haha, somebody has to!) or in the field of ministry, or nonprofits.

Jackie: At St. Thomas, I am pursuing a Mathematics degree, and am thinking about going into teaching at some point! This summer when I am not at the marina, I am also a math tutor part time and have really fallen in love with working with the kids…and the math!  Giving back to others and using my gifts and blessings is something that I love to do—so whether it is helping students with math, or being involved with Love Your Melon to help spread awareness and host “superhero adventures” for kids has been wonderful.

Q. How would you describe Love Your Melon’s work?

Jackie: Love Your Melon is an apparel brand dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in America as well as supporting nonprofit organizations who lead the fight against pediatric cancer.  Love Your Melon has partnered with 736 college campuses around the U.S. to help reach more families and children, and this number is continuing to grow!  Making personal connections and face-to-face hat deliveries in the hospitals and to households is something that LYM really focuses on.

Jackie & Robbie with Love Your Melon Founders, Brian Keller & Zach Quinn!

Q. Why and when was LYM founded?
Robbie: Love your Melon started with two boys who had to create and market their own product in an entrepreneurship class in 2012 at the University of St. Thomas (learn more about the founders here!)… Little did they know that in a little over three years they would have more than 736 different schools around the nation helping them continue their mission of putting a hat on every child battling cancer in America.

Q. What attracted you to the cause?

Robbie: I was attracted to LYM because of the mission and drive that they had to truly bring a smile to the pediatric cancer patients.  The LYM adventures, hats and volunteers brought such a light into the hospital room.  The joy that LYM was able to instill in these children is why I wanted to join and help be a part of giving them a glimmer of fun when doctors and appointments cluttered their days.   I am so glad that I became a part of this corporation, as it has brought hope, smiles and memories to others, changed their lives, and has also changed my life at the same time.
Also since LYM started at the University of St. Thomas where we attend, it was easy to get involved!!

Jackie: I also really wanted to get involved with the organization because I wanted to have a direct impact on the families, and the numerous events, helicopter rides, hospital visits, “superhero adventures” and many other things truly mean the world to the families.

Q. What is unusual or unique about LYM?

Jackie: Love Your Melon is now a for-profit company, where 50% of the proceeds from merchandise go to two companies who LYM has partnered with.  One of them being Cure Search, which is a research organization, and the other one being the Pinky Swear Foundation.  Pinky Swear works with families financially to provide support during chemo or while their child is in the hospital. This is what makes LYM so successful – because not only are they making quality products, but they are also continuing to give back to cancer research and have an impact on the families.

Q. How did you get started volunteering with LYM?

Robbie: We grew up in Stillwater, and have had numerous friends and friends’ family fight a battle with cancer, and knew we wanted to help.  Zach Sobiech, who wrote the song “Clouds“, was in my and Jackie’s graduating class.  So we heard of Love Your Melon right from the get go.  And since we went to UST, where Love Your Melon started, we were eager to help out and volunteer.  Becoming friends with the founders, and helping out whenever we could, got us connected and able to see the behind the scenes turn into great success over the last 4 years.

Q. What has impacted you the most while working with LYM?

Jackie: I have definitely been the most impacted by the families my crew has been able to meet and get to know over the past few years of being a crew.  One event the St. Thomas LYM Crew organized was for an 8-year-old girl, Berkley.  Berkley has been battling Stage 4 Neuroblastoma cancer.

So being able to have a special day planned out was very meaningful to Berkley and her parents.  We were able to send her up in a helicopter and then have a superhero/princess themed pizza party afterward.  Hearing from Berkley’s parents about the day-to-day tasks and what it is really like to go through a round of chemo with an 8 year old was devastating. Having the opportunity to get connected with Berkley’s family allowed our whole crew to truly see how cancer affects families first hand.  However, even though Berkley had a chest tube, go in for bone scans, spent countless sleepless nights in the hospital, and had to have her levels checked multiple times a day, she still managed to run around with her sister, play hide and go seek, and be a smiley princess – now that is a superhero to me (: Being able to get plugged in to see how families have to change their way of life when they find out their child has cancer has been extremely impactful and LYM has inspired me to continue to fight against cancer.

Q. Do you have a newsletter or other way you keep in touch with people who are interested in this cause?

Jackie: Check out the main Love Your Melon website and Facebook account, but also stay updated with what Robbie and I are doing with our specific crew at St. Thomas!  Our personal Facebook account is “University of St. Thomas Love Your Melon Campus Crew,” and our Instagram is “ust_loveyourmelon.” Give us a follow or like!

Q. If someone wanted to get involved with Love Your Melon – how would you recommend they do that? 

Robbie: To become involved with LYM, I’d say that they best way to do so would be to purchase a hat or the new merchandise that is constantly changing on the

Love Your Melon website. This way your dollars are going to help fund cancer research and financial aid for the families impacted by cancer, and not to mention you will look stylish!! The LYM apparel truly gives back, so you can know you are making a difference through your purchases!

Join our story and the fight to end childhood cancer.

Princess Berkley at her superhero party!

We would like to thank Jackie and Robbie for taking time to share with us! If you would like to make a donation or purchase apparel that will help pediatric cancer patients – visit the Love Your Melon website!

Be sure to credit The University of St. Thomas when you make your purchase!!

Photo Courtesy of Love Your Melon

Take a look at the Love Your Melon social media pages:

 Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube

Below are more articles featuring Love Your Melon and the wonderful work they are doing for children with pediatric cancer!

• Q&A: Love Your Melon started as class project

• Love Your Melon: Hats and Hope

• Power Millennials: ‘Love Your Melon’ Helping Kids Fight Cancer

• Love Your Melon Unveils Partnership with Pinky Swear Foundation

• CureSearch Partners With Love Your Melon

All photos courtesy of their respective owners, Jackie and Robbie Ellingson, unless otherwise noted.