2018 Week 14: Easter and more

 Despite lingering winter weather, some yellow lovelies dared face the world. 

Most family members showed up for lamb dinner and fellowship. Sam and three boys ventured out, but Malachi and Kristie, still recovering, stayed home.

We  celebrated Jimmy's birthday, belatedly--44 on the 26th. Did he like the crazy Koch song? Hmmm. . .

Here are some of the others in attendance, showing off their favorite girls.

Stephan and Karen; Uncle Skey and Rebecca; Skye and girlfriend Cassie

I do believe the day after Easter was our heaviest snowfall of the year, some 6". 

I enjoyed the beautiful snowscapes on my drive into Muncie. Sam had asked me to be there with Malachi for a few hours while the rest of the family was gone to school and work.

I was pleasantly surprised to find him enjoying the company of a couple of old friends. 

Ben, Malachi, and David

The snow was gone before I drove home. 

Tuesday, the trailer that had looked so pretty snow-covered the day before, made its way back to its home in the Madjax shop carrying precious cargo--Pixel the robot to be unloaded and upgraded. Now, 16th in the state, the PhyXTGears will be off to the 2018 Indiana State Championship, April 13-14, in the Kokomo Memorial Gymnasium.

Wednesday Michael's schedule was a bit more open so he suggested we take a meal to Sam's family. They opted for a Chick Fil-A carry-out. We loved spending time with them, and observing the amazing progress. In my mind I can still see sweet Lexi in the ICU, head bowed, sitting for hours next to unconscious, sedated Malachi. 

What a joyful contrast!

Homework duty

Just came across a photo of the older siblings some eight years ago.

Then and Now

The Thursday exercise session I attend for seniors, was quite different. Yes, we did work out some, but for a good half hour we helped support our trainer--Miss Spirit of Indiana! 

She won the title in February. The contests for the next level are in June.

Paige Harder

Her platform is "Promoting Exercise for All Generations!" so she wanted a photo with us her trainees. 

Her talent is the piano, so we persuaded her to play her competition piece--Solfeggietto. 

We may some day claim to have known Miss Indiana, or even Miss America!

Michael came home from robotics that night, late as usual and in quite a bit of pain. 

In the days that followed he concluded it was a kidney stone. 

After some research, he tried an olive oil/lemon juice remedy. 

Saturday was another even longer day at Madjax. He survived, barely. Only now is he feeling relief.

2017 Week 8: Craziness, Good and Bad

As quiet as last week was, this one was crazy, mostly in a good way.

Sunday I was privileged to get away mid morning to attend Malachi's baptism. 

Mike was sick, resting, trying to make it through robot build season.

Son Samuel and family attend The Gathering in Muncie, a very alive community of faith. The testimonies of the four being baptized projected on the large screens can be viewed here.

The baptisms were truly a congregational celebration and love fest. Each family participated in their loved one's ceremony.

I rushed back to our church for the luncheon and sharing time with our friends who serve in Indonesia. We knew Leilani years ago when she was a student at Taylor U. and were so privileged to host them Saturday through Wednesday.

Sunday evening Leah and family joined us at Ivanhoes. She remembered Leilani from youth group long ago.

Kevin and Leilani were very busy those days visiting and catching up with friends,
Mike and Team 1720 were intensely focused on getting the robot ready for Bag and Tag deadline Tuesday at midnight. They put in 16-18 hour days. Here are a couple screen shots I captured those last two days of craziness.

I decided to stick with my original plan to visit Mother in Winona Lake Tuesday. That was February 21st the fourth anniversary of Daddy's passing. Among the treasures I discovered this time as I looked through more of Dad's files, was this very brittle newspaper clippling--their wedding announcement.

I stayed up past midnight watching online all the houpla surrounding Robot Bag and Tag, and then several videos descibing the last minute craziness.
So I was quite awake amd aware that Mother was having trouble sleeping. She was up trying to find relief for stomach pain and nausea. Finally after the third or fourth time she asked me to take her to the ER.
The rest of the night was spent there undergoing tests. By early morning they admitted her, inserted a NG tube in hopes of resolving the bowel obstruction without surgery.
Ivan stopped by in the morning, Wednesday, and I drove home.

Meanwhile other family members faced illness. Kristie and Kayla ended up at the pediatrician's with their little ones. Rebecca was diagnosed with RSV and Jude the flu resulting in benign acute childhood myositis causing severe leg pain and trouble walking--scary stuff. Meanwhile my brother in Pennsylvania was hospitalized.

I spent a couple hours Thursday afternoon with the young'uns so Kristie could run some errands--always a joy and privilege to spend time with the grandkids.

Friday, Mike and I had tickets to a Josh Garrells concert at Taylor University! We've known him from before he became a sought-after awarded-singer, a good friend of our kids. Sam listens to his albums constantly. I could tell from watching the crowd response that they too have memorized Josh's songs.

We talked to him briefly backstage. He told us he'd been sick with respiratory issues for two months and didn't know if he'd be able to go on tour. He had only started singing again one day before leaving. He must have a lot of people praying for him as he travels and shares his powerful message in song. We thought his voice sounded better than ever.

Saturday I went back up to Warsaw to spend the day with Mother. There'd been progress in her condition. Here she is minus the NG tube, contentedly waiting for her second meal of the day. Even the liquid diet was a treat after all those days.

Today, Sunday, SIL Kim wrote: Mom is being released now and she's more than ready !

Bowel obstruction resulting from scar tissue adhesions is a common problem after bowel surgery. Mother had colon cancer in 2001. Almost exactly a year ago she was hospitalized and they had to intervene surgically. We are so grateful that was not necessary this time.

And now we hear that Sam, who is away on a work trip in New Jersey, is sick with the flu. So we pray for help and healing and his safe return.