Spring

Robins have been seen even on snowy days, promising warmer weather. Indiana, however, is known for frequent climate changes.

Like the weather, my writing project does not spring forward as steadily as I would like. However, signs of hope pop up like the robins. My writers' critique group reviewed the chapter I rewrote and had very helpful and encouraging comments. I am so grateful for their feedback.

I keep finding old photos that now mean so much more as I connect them with the letters I am going through. Here is the kitchen my parents put together in our first home in La Carlota. Dad made all the cabinets from the crates that contained their belongings. One container was lost for months. They had nearly despaired of ever recovering it, and were thrilled when it was found and brought to Argentina by a returning missionary. 

The arrival of the famous box was like an early Christmas. Many of my toys were there, pieces of fabric for Mother to make our dresses, and Dad's valuable study books. The high chair Daddy made before leaving the US was in it, as well as the handles for the cabinets. 

An interesting note about that kitchen: Mother commented that some said theirs looked like ones you saw in the magazines, "It’s not quite that but it is nicer than most of the missionaries have and it didn’t cost as much."

The mother who made all my clothes and was so good at decorating each home is now, at age 97, still making lovely art. I visited her this week and saw two recent pieces displayed at the entrance of the Health Center.

I chose that day, March 7, to combine my visit with a birthday celebration for my youngest brother - Alan (56). His sons prepared the meal, I brought the cake. I so appreciated catching up on their lives. We'll have to do that more often!

One of my siblings wanted to know more about our Hoyt grandparents. As I searched my files, I was reminded that Grandma Hoyt's birthday was also in March, the 10th. She would have been 135. 

Anna Leola Dorsey Hoyt

I also found handwritten notes about the grandmother I never really knew. Photos and people tell me I look like her, probably true, both short, round faced, not slim. I have very sparse memories of her. She lived with us some when my parents were in seminary and cared for me while Mother was in class. However, I was only an infant. One photo of grandma reflects her joy as she holds me, her very first granddaughter after ten grandsons. I have a memory of playing with treasures in her lower drawer--buttons and trinkets. On our first furlough, when I was seven or eight, we visited her in her little house in Tennessee.

I do remember my father's sadness when his mother passed away at age 73 in December 1957. I was in eighth grade. We were on furlough living with our Hirschy grandparents in Evans City, Pennsylvania. Daddy was the only one who attended her funeral in Indiana. Mother was only a few weeks away from giving birth to Ivan, child number four.

I came across another bit of "Hoyt history" as I searched the archives. It happened in 1939. The family moved from Ashland, Ohio, to Winona Lake, Indiana. Grandpa Hoyt had already abandoned them. They were following Herman, the oldest, now the acting head of the family. The younger four boys made the trip on bicycles, sleeping in cornfields at night. Nowadays biking is a popular sport or leisure activity. What would it have been like back then? What kind of bikes did they have? How long could it have taken them? So many questions and no one to ask, all four--Garner, Lowell, Solon, Bud--are gone.

Memorable moments of the week:

Rebecca invited me to her tea party! And, of course she had to show me her clean room, introduce me to all her Barbies and horses, model her dinosaur feet and head piece (accompanied by a dinosaurish roar), and read library books including How do dinosaurs learn to read, by Jane Yolen.

Don't you just love all her expressions?!

The big event of the week was Team 1720's first competition. Michael was gone Friday through Sunday. I didn't go to this one, but followed them closely from afar. They had a great start and remained number one the first day. As often happens, the robot lost some functionality and they dropped to third place, which was still amazing. In the playoffs they lost to alliance #7 who went on to beat #1. 

Elijah performing scouting duty; mechanic mentor Mike operating on the Space Walrus

So proud of the two Kochs on the team!

2017 Week 52: Christmas and beyond

 We had a white Christmas indeed, though not necessarily or intentionally dreaming of one.

However, I was praying for a "Christmas miracle,"  i.e. family togetherness and love no matter where each of us is on the journey of life.

Sunday, Christmas Eve, began with our church family. We love our community so much. Then we went to Stephan and Karen's for their annual brunch where friends and family come together for wonderful food and fellowship. We love this gathering of regular and sporadic Monday Night Meal attenders.

A few hours later, the Koch-clan trickled in to our home bearing gifts and food. All members present and much fun, laughter, and love, was the answer to my prayer.

The mountain of gifts and Elijah, the photo-bomber.

The program, in an attempt to include everyone:
1. Zion and Jude's jokes and riddles session (Jude was usually overly eager to give the answers ;-)
2. Zion shared Christmas customs in other countries from a booklet he made in school. (Our spiral staircase becomes the stage.)



3. Poems read by Karen, Stephan and Malachi (our family thespians) focused on: Mary's inner struggles of how to tell Joseph, her betrothed, that she was pregnant; Joseph's turmoil after the angel lets him in on what's going on--the ridicule and shame he must endure for not putting her away, and the utter unworthiness he feels for this holy responsibility.
This part always reminds me of years ago, the one year we lived in Omro, Wisconsin, and Mike got roped into playing the part of Joseph in a community Christmas pageant, with a very young Mary (highschool age) riding on a donkey. He grew a beard for the occasion, and has kept the mustache ever since.
Beyond that memory, I think of the men who take on the task of raising someone else's child and caring for their mother. I am grateful for those in our close circle.

Jump ahead in the story of Mary and Joseph to their arrival in Bethlehem. Enter the villain (Malachi's most recent theatrical role)--the innkeeper who has no better room for them than the stable.

4. The baby is born! Each of the children were given a missing baby Jesus to replace in one of the  Nativities scattered around the room.

5. Celebration--Jesus our Saviour is born! Elijah played two Christmas songs on his trumpet, and the other children made joyful noises using wrapping-paper tubes.

6. The long-awaited gift opening (at least for the littlest ones)! Starting with the youngest and on up, we focused on each one in turn, letting them open all their gifts before moving on to the next oldest. We really enjoyed this system, even if it did take time. The short-attention-span young'uns could move away and begin playing with their toys while the rest of us enjoyed the reactions and comments of the giving and receiving experience. (For more photos go to Christmas 2017.)

I love our kids' creative handmade gifts. Stephan gave each of the guys a pocket knife with their name carved in the handle. Sam made beautiful cutting boards. Kristie makes her own soaps and wraps them so beautifully. Leah spent countless hours coloring, designing, coating colorful bottle/vases for each family, and each with meaningful symbols. Mine included a heart and a key, my role in the family, according to her. And for her Dad a very unique rustic art piece with sculpted faces. She didn't know what meaning to give it. I named it Voices.

Oh, and two families had the same idea (Pinterest?) and made specialty butters! Other gifts are meaningful and funny.

I've only covered one day and we haven't gotten to Christmas yet! You may want to read this blog in stages, a day at a time!

Christmas Day:

We took Diane home and headed on up to Winona Lake to spend time with Mother. The plan was to eat with her and Ivan and Kim in the main dining room at Grace Village, but when we arrived around noon Mother was at her regular table in the Health Center and had already begun. It is hard for her to remember even what day it is, and for the nurses to keep track of everyone's plans, especially on Christmas Day. 

No problem, Ivan and Kim were running a bit late returning from Christmas with daughter Tina's family. So, while Mother ate and we waited, I played Christmas songs on the piano nearby as I had done a couple of times before on my visits there. I usually get a sitting ovation, they are very grateful even if they can't stand ;-). This time one woman insisted on the aid bringing her over to talk to me. I stopped playing. She took my hand very firmly and told me that the first time she heard me play, she thought, "Some mother brought her child to practice here." Then when she learned how old I was, she thought, "How quickly she learned to play."  Yes, I do make mistakes, ha! Whatever the dear lady said, I understood it as a very sweet thank you.

We spent a couple hours with Mother putting together a photo-puzzle of when we celebrated her 96th birthday in July. Then we tried to take a selfie, ha!

Ivan and Kim live nearby and have a guest room we are welcome to use anytime and we like the bed!

After a siesta we had a wonderful meal (Kim is the ultimate hostess!) with our nephews (Alan and Sharon's sons) and great fun playing Hand and Foot. 

Practice round teaching Daniel and Nicolas

The next morning we prepared to leave and the car wouldn't start. The guys worked in the frigid weather to charge the battery while I sat in the car and looked out on this wintery scene. 

During this relatively lazy week several of the photo-puzzle Christmas gifts were assembled. First Stephan's, carving in Canada, I believe; Karen's (the only photo I can take credit for) Dove's Crossing, their home; Mike's, the celebration of our 47th anniversary in January, (photo credit Ashley Martin). 

The above were all 252-piece puzzles. Jude also completed his 52-piece one this week.

What a surprise to learn that the first colleague I worked with at Indiana Wesleyan University some twelve years ago, had moved back to the area. We got together for coffee the very next day!

When she left the department, I was the only full-time language prof left. She passed on two mandates, one was to start a study abroad program. The two years before I left IWU we took students to Xocenpich, Yucatán, Mexico. Here Sandra peruses the album of those many and varied experiences.

Another visitor was a student from my first Ivy Tech Spanish class seven years ago.

Saturday, still snowing . . . I think I'll postpone the cousin/grandma shopping trip.

Sunday, bitter cold but sunny and the roads okay, so the older grandboys and I went on our annual shopping trip. We met for lunch at Culver's and one of the highlights of our day was to share that time with Sam and the other boys (Kristie was home sick)--they are such a fun and silly bunch. I think that's why I couldn't decide which pic to post.

The End of 2017

Blessings in 2018!