The rest of the week was one of goings and comings.
Sunday we traveled to Grace Village in Winona Lake to celebrate Mother's 91st, belatedly. Her birthday was July 29th, but we waited till one brother from South Carolina arrived for a visit.
I took two coconut cream pies, nine candles on one and a lone velita on the other.
My brother Lynn had spent a couple days there already so came back with us for a few days.
Mike had a dream that night that family members should sing and record music familiar to Dad so he could fill an MP3 player and try out an idea he came across where elderly folk, seemingly lost to the world, come alive and begin to respond when they listen with special earphones to familiar tunes. So, Lynn and I decided to find a few good songs to sing and play.
Also on Monday he and I got started sharing our ideas about a memoir of growing up in Argentina.
We did pause for lunch. The only photo I have for the day is of the last piece of pizza, one of Pioneer Woman's favorites. I tried to use up some egg plant I had from Victory Acres' share.
The guys had more good food that evening at Steph and Karen's but I had to go to a board meeting.
Tuesday Mike was up very early, couldn't sleep, and no more dreams either. I went looking for him and found him in the garage assembling a plane for the children's ministry float in our town Labor Day parade.
I got a photo of him being silly. The finished model was pretty cool but he delivered it to the church before I could get a picture.
Lynn got on a roll writing down his memories of life in Argentina. He had 14 pages worth by the time he left. If all five siblings did this, the result could be very interesting and varied. We are so spread out that each lived a different phase or place.
We chose some songs and practiced some each day. Wednesday we recorded what we had, such as it was.
After lunch, Lynn and I headed up north again for another celebration--Mother and Dad's 70th anniversary.
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| Three of the five Hoyt siblings with Mother and Dad |
I spent that night in the guest room next door to Mother's apartment.
Thursday I took Lynn to the airport in Fort Wayne on my way home.
When I watered the garden I noticed the come back of some lovely flowers that I had to replant in the deepest shade. In their first location the blooms and leaves had burned. I don't even know their name.
This is welcome weekend for Taylor students. Chaplain Randy had the annual bike ride for his chapel coordinators on Friday and Mike was invited to go along as bicycle expert and mechanic. I get to tag along on the tandem. We really enjoy these young people.
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| The mechanic |
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| Our waiting vehicle |
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| Group silly pic |
They could not linger, but I'm sure we will be seeing a lot more of them in the coming years.
I had a very productive morning attempting to preserve the bountiful seasonal produce.
Are those plants not a type of hosta? I can't see them very well, so maybe I'm mistaken.
ReplyDeleteAre those plants not a type of hosta? I can't see them very well, so I may be mistaken.
ReplyDeletewait a minute....mike?...being silly? :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got to meet Kaitlyn and tami!!! and that sculpture DOES look like her!
Only a few days till we get to see you!! Can't wait!!!
The plants in the foreground are Hosta. The ones in the background are Spathophyllum (Peace lily). Unfortunately, Peace lily are not winter-hardy in Indiana. However, they would be quite happy in your solarium in the winter!
ReplyDeleteGreat memories, and some great ideas, Happy Birthday to your Mom, Mike in the plane "priceless" :)
ReplyDeleteSo fun getting to see photos of the celebrations. I like the idea of stimulating dad's mind with music. I'd read about that too, and figured that was how he could play his horn as long as he did. Even with his "normal" memory gone, he could still recall music. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try and find some time to start writing down Ivan's memories to include in the family memoirs. When Aldo was here, we saw again how different the siblings' experiences were, because they all spent time in different places. Their tales would also be a good sequential record of dad and mother's ministry.
What fun things to celebrate. Wow for the beans. You will enjoy those all winter
ReplyDeletelooks like a nice get together for you and your family. celebrations are indeed a wonderful day to remember.
ReplyDeleteI love the silly pics - it's always fun to have a record of fun :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday & anniversary to your mom (& dad). LOVE the idea of giving him some music - I saw that story too. And the memoir is also a great idea - you know that your children & grandchildren (& me - ha!) would love to read it.
Biker slang: when we say "we flew low," we do not mean that .. (Mike inside the aircraft). kisses. ALberto
ReplyDeleteI think that Kim's idea of centering these memoirs on Dad and Mother's ministry, though it departs from your original intended purpose, may be just the thing that would unify the whole thing. That would result in fulfilling that same purpose for the whole family. A very good idea!
ReplyDeleteI think that Kim's idea of centering these memoirs on Dad and Mother's ministry, though it departs from your original intended purpose, may be just the thing that would unify the whole thing. That would result in fulfilling that same purpose for the whole family. A very good idea!
ReplyDeleteI think that Kim's idea of centering these memoirs on Dad and Mother's ministry, though it departs from your original intended purpose, may be just the thing that would unify the whole thing. That would result in fulfilling that same purpose for the whole family. A very good idea!
ReplyDelete