Presents and Presentations

Baby shower decor

For Memory Monday, I chose to remember a former professor and family friend who passed away this month--Dr. John C. Whitcomb. 

How I remember him

This week also marks the seventh anniversary of Daddy's passing. How sweet to imagine them sharing stories together in heaven.

Monday was also the day Kristie received her board certification, even completing the challenging exams a week early. Congratulations! (Effects added for emphasis.)

Tuesday, my new sister-in-law, Raquel, and I had a sweet visit with Mother. We also had an appointment with the same Elara Caring Hospice representative I'd met with some months earlier. Mother's decline is noticeable and this time around they had sufficient documentation to prove eligibility.

Raquel showing Mother photos on her cell phone; Mother re-reading Dr. Whitcomb's obituary

Every time I visit there is some significant change. The surprise this week was that Mother is now eating in a different dining room with aids that help the residents by feeding or cuing. Mother has lost interest in food and/or her brain/swallowing muscle connection is failing.

I greatly missed sharing the mealtime with her former table mates: Margaret, fellow-missionary in Argentina; Bev, long time missionary in Africa; and Vi. The last time I was there we had so much language fun--Bev teaching me phrases in Sango, Margaret saying things in Spanish. The papers that wrap napkin and cutlery are useful for little notes. "Aunt Margaret" has always amazed us with her prolific correspondence. And lately as her friend Kathryn could no longer use her voice, she'd write notes and shove them across the table.

Margaret's note; Bev's Sango lesson

January Taylor University Lighthouse mission trips gave their reports this week in Chapel and individual presentations in the evening. I was able to attend Thursday when Moriah and her team shared about their time in Central Asia.

 The culminating event of the week was to host a baby shower here Saturday for our second great grandchild--Kalani, Skye and Destiny's baby boy due in a couple of weeks.

 

Little shoes, booties, and a beanie

 For weeks now I've been having fun combining yarn scraps with interesting results. This creative outlet all began trying to knit items for the baby. This activity keeps my hands occupied late evenings when we finally sit down together to unwind and watch something before bedtime.

 

As competition season draws near, Michael spends more and more time at the shop. Saturdays are always very long work days. 

After the baby shower and everyone had left, Moriah helped get the house back in order. I think she took pity on me knowing I still had many alone hours ahead. We went for a walk together in the woods, and later she even took me to a very popular concert at Taylor--Nostalgia Night. Thank you, Moriah!

This was the exciting day when all the robot parts came together and they were able to produce a video for Robot Reveal. Teams all over send in 90"clips of their progress in anticipation of the competitions. 

Can you detect any resemblance to an animal?

Sunday afternoon we went to another presentation. Hannah, a Ball State student and PhyXTGears alum, needed an audience to witness her talk "Antibiotic Resistance"in order to pass a class. So, her good friend Moriah, arranged for that to happen in the Euler Science building (Moriah's second home!).

We had to show Hannah the unique features of Euler--the huge rotating mirror that lights up the mosaic four floors below.

And, of course, we had to take our visitor to Ivanhoes!

Love Week

Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal

For Memory Monday, a timely and appropriate old photo--Nick Roseberry and our son Sam. They were best friends. Nick passed away January 31st. At the viewing Monday, among the many photos, this was the only one of them together. Sam says they did not like to have pictures taken and would usually hide behind their skateboards.

Sam says that he asked him to be his best man, but Nick was too shy to stand up with him. His brother Nils took his place. Here they are twenty plus years later, mourning a deep loss.

Sam and Nils

Sam spent a lot of time with the family during the difficult days of letting Nick go and crafted a very special skateboard in his memory.

Wednesday, Michael surprised me with an early Valentine's gift--a dozen roses! And we joke, "It pays to stay married for 50 years!"

That evening, Rebecca and I stopped at Leah's after Basics Jr. and got to see the crib ready and waiting for baby Kalani, due a month from now.

Valentine's Day we awoke to the beauty of fresh snow . . . and the need to plow.

In the evening, three grandsons came to spend a couple days with us while Sam and Kristie had a work and study related Valentine's getaway. Sam had found a great deal on windows for their house remodeling project in Ohio and Kristie needed to study on the trip for her certification exam coming up.

The boys and I went to the Eastbrook High School basketball game to watch Rebecca in her first cheer leading performance at half time.

The cousins

Saturday we took Elijah to his soccer game in Muncie, and then to robotics on the way back.

At the shop we not only ate lunch with the team, we also got to observe the many different activities.

One kind mentor gave the young boys a lesson on leverage as they tried out the new structure on the playing field.

Somehow, our resident engineering student found time to help out like old times.

Moriah and her brother Caleb working, Elijah watching

We were also very privileged to be there for the presentation of the State House of Representatives Resolution honoring the team. 

Back at home, the younguns enjoyed playing with grandpa's Segway, taking turns riding it or running alongside.

That night, as we waited for members of our household involved in robotics, we watched them via the YouTube Live view cast on our TV screen. Michael's white head and Moriah's reddish hair were easy to spot.

Both mornings Zion chose to prepare his own breakfast eggs. Apparently he enjoys cooking. Perhaps he should apprentice with Uncle Stephan.

Sam and Kristie arrived back Sunday afternoon, and we said goodbye to the boys after three fun-filled days.

Now we are recovering! That's our privilege as grandparents--enjoy them for a while, then send them back home.

47 - 25 - 13

The kitchen nook where we kept Save the Date and Lighthouse-trip prayer cards, has traded the latter for Moriah's spring semester class schedule. Time moves on.

Birthdays remind us of the unrelenting passing of time. Tuesday was Leah's 47th. However, the big event of the day was a follow-up doctor appointment. Though not the preferred way, I did get one wish for this year--to spend time individually with each family member on their special day. I am very glad to be able to accompany daughter-friend on each step of this journey to better health. She even declared me her new "health care provider." Ha! We are grateful that her blood pressure is now in a normal range.

A favorite photo some years ago

Michael and I were privileged to attend a celebration in Warsaw on Wednesday. I was especially glad that he could go with me to the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony for Global Auto, a long overdue recognition of my youngest brother's business.

Chamber president (left) introducing Alan

Chamber and staff members witness the ceremony

The Warsaw Times Union reporter was there beforehand to interview the owner, my brother, whose full name is Norman Alan Hoyt.

The article that came out the next day tells the backstory and also served to advertise the big event--Global Auto Celebrating Anniversary With Car Giveaway planned for the weekend. Read toward the end to learn what the number 13 refers to in the title of this post.

Another article, Global Auto in Warsaw celebrates 25th anniversary, included a photo of a second ceremony that took place upstairs in the auto mechanics training area. 

Bankers presented Alan with $2,000 to purchase two NAPA tool kits for interns

Before heading home, Michael and I visited Mother in nearby Grace Village Health Care, Winona Lake. The residents were gathering for Wednesday afternoon Bingo. I sat with the ladies through one game, then we headed home trying to avoid the coming snow.

Margaret (left) was especially surprised to see us

Thursday was a "newsworthy" day at robotics. A radio reporter and freelance writer interviewed students, mentors, and the team president. I put in a couple hours of cleaning tile floors to make a good impression on these special guests. I doubt they even noticed as the place was buzzing with activity.

So Saturday was the big celebration day for Global Auto.

Having food and a car giveaway really brings out the crowds!

Next to the garage, on the second level, is Resolve Realty, my brother's real estate business, and the automotive technology training center.

Raquel and Alan's corner desks in the real estate office; 7 bays for the cars students work on

Leah's family joined the festivities and dropped off a car for the students to work on--Skye's Sebring.

Skye and Jimmy preparing to tow the Sebring

 I left the party before it was over so I could have lunch with Mother and the ladies at her table. I always enjoy entertaining them a bit. This time we had language fun. Margaret was saying things in Spanish and Bev taught me some phrases in Sango, and we laughed a lot.

The week ended with a Central Asian treat. Moriah brought a honey cake she made with a couple J-term trip friends. Yummy!

50 years

This is the week of the actual wedding anniversary--January 31, 1970. The celebration has continued all month, it seems. But, hey, a Golden Anniversary is worth it!

A few of the cards that have come in

First let me tell you, because many have asked, that my eye condition is improved, thanks to antibiotic drops and warm-egg wet-cloth compresses.

Memory Monday

I have inherited a large box of Dad's sermon notes, decades-worth. For this week's theme I set aside one, a folded half-sheet titled Bodas de Oro (Golden Wedding). He was asked to speak at don Humberto and wife's celebration. I don't remember or recognize who they were. My brother Lynn would probably know and have stories to add, if only he could whisper them to me from heaven.

Dad considered it a privilege to honor them as they celebrated God's hand upon their lives. His main  points were:

1. God's hand in bringing them together.
2. God's protection
3. God's salvation
4. God's mercy

The same outline and Bible quotes could apply to our story.

Another Monday note: Stephan made sopapillas for our dinner which reminded us of a popular restaurant years ago in Muncie--One Accord. How many locals remember it, and the flags at each table that went up to signal "We need more sopapillas!" 

Tuesday was an interestingly loooong day. I took Leah to her long-awaited dreaded doctor appointment. From there she was sent to Med Express where they confirmed malignant hypertension and sent her to the ER. She may be smiling in the photo, but the four tell-tale lines on the monitor spoke of the turmoil going on inside. After a complete cardiac workup and repeated attempts to bring down her blood pressure, she was admitted for a 23-hour observation period.

The next day, my younger brother Ivan was passing through after business in the area, so we met at the hospital. We had a nice visit in Leah's room, Michael and Kayla there also.

What, did you think I was his little sister?

The two positives of ending up in the hospital:

• the efficiency of having many tests in one place, at one time.
• Dr. S's energetic,entertaining, educational (he had a student present) and thorough analysis of Leah's situation.

One of the hardest aspects of a hospital stay is the waiting. Everything takes f o r e v e r. 

One rough moment was the attempt to draw blood that ended up blowing a vein. 

We finally made it home by evening. Leah has a full schedule just monitoring her blood pressure, taking meds, keeping calm, and scheduling the many next steps in the process of  determining the underlying cause.

"I can't wait to get home!"

That night very late (or was it the next day?) Moriah's team arrived back from their J-term experience abroad. Because it was so late and after so many hours of travel, she crashed here before going home the next day.
She brought back a couple souvenirs: a coaster for Mike, and a sweet little turtle for my collection.

Friday, our 50th wedding anniversary was finally here! However, I was feeling puny all day. We had no special plans, just a quiet day together. Michael, however, went out of his way to make flan desserts. That was very special.

Our family celebration a month ago lingers sweetly in our memory. I think fondly of each member's contribution to the special event, and also the letters and many congratulatory messages from friends all over the world. 

One blessing-in-disguise of these weeks of being a "robot widow" (as some call it), is more available time on my own. Saturday, with nothing else scheduled, and no plans or emergencies with Leah, I realized I was free to attend friend Dorothy's 85th birthday party. There I met several other people I knew and enjoyed an hour of delightful music.

With Dorothy Schultz and Alma Thiessen

Janet Friesen and Ace Holsinger

Sunday, some family members asked to watch the Superbowl with us. Michael prepared a whole lot of food and we had a fun time. What was your Superbowl experience?

Meanwhile, our hearts are heavy for Sam and Kristie as they grieve the loss of a dear friend and help the family through the ordeal.
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