Week 40

 

Week 40 seemed rather routine, until the exceedingly eventfull weekend. Not many photos to represent our daily activities.

Much of the time, I was intent on preparing chapter 15  of My Argentina and Mi Argentina querida for publication on Friday, October 1. It can be tedious work and results are not always perfect. These self-imposed deadlines may be stressful at times, but certainly help me accomplish some life goals.

Michael's focus was the ongoing installation of the heating system in Stephan and Karen's new house. That too, requires great perseverance--faulty parts to be returned, leaks that need repaired, constant checking, keeping on day after day. And finally, the documentation of the entire floor heating system! What an impressive document Michael is putting together! The end is near!

I took Leah to the Cancer Center this week, and after that we happened upon an opportunity for extra provisions for her household: a tailgate distribution of surplus items by Second Harvest. We waited over an hour (or napped) in one of the long lines of cars.

Among the items loaded in our car, were a great quantity of these cute little pumpkins. I microwaved a couple, scooped out the seeds and mashed the rest with butter and brown sugar. Delish! I imagine we'll have fun painting many of them.

I was fascinated by the bouquet at our table at The Bridge Cafe and learned about these blooms using my SEEK app. But more importantly, I enjoyed conversation with my friend Petey. I am so grateful for our friendship.

In the evening, I got to see Rebecca! It was the first meeting of Basics. Since she moved up from Basics Jr., I did too. It was fun being a volunteer, an errand person.

Now let me list the many events of the weekend:

--Friday, Michael and a dozen or more guys camped overnight on Stephan and Karen's property in the back open area close to the woods (and the outhouse!). They tented, cooked, played ball, some swam in the pool, and then gathered around the fire ring and shared man stories.

Michael prepared, brought and served a large breakfast the next day.

--Saturday afternoon, we drove to Winona Lake for one of the Grace Homecoming events, an alumni dinner. The sixth president, Dr. Katip, now in his last year, shared many interesting stories of his journey with Grace schools.

We will never forget the time Bill and his wife Debbie stopped to visit and pray with our family at the hospital after Malachi's serious accident. Even more meaningful is the fact that they were on their way back from a memorial for their eight-year-old grandson who died in a fire.

--We spent that night at my brother Alan's and got to visit and catch up with him and his wife Raquel and their two foster children.

--Sunday morning we were so blessed to go to church with Malachi and Lexi (they live next door to Alans) and then spend time with them afterwards.

There's more to the eventfull weekend, but I think I'll save that for the next post.

The promise of Deuteronomy 33:25 proved true again!

"As your days — so shall your strength be!" Deuteronomy 33:25

2017 Week 40: Love and Grace

Love has many meanings and degrees.  

For example, on a scale of 1 to 5:

1-like something
2-really like something
3-care about a person/s
4-be committed to someone
5-adore, reverence God. 

What number would I assign our Sunday evening Open House at Pastor Dan's getting to know the college students?  

Can you guess what we're roasting over the open fire

How would I rate the pie Mike baked this week? 

Our first watercolor class was so much fun. Jason and Kari Diller led us in several activities to practice a few techniques with washes and masking. The game at the end, a good learning exercise, resulted in some very strange creatures.

Our town experienced a police emergency that night, Tuesday, and into the next morning, until the two armed robbers were apprehended a half a mile from us. Taylor U was locked down and cancelled classes till noon the next day and Eastbrook Schools closed all day.

After tap class Wednesday we celebrated Kayla's 26th birthday with lunch at The Bridge.

Cousin Rosie sent me a couple old photos, just in time for Throwback Thursday. I "love #2" this one of my youngest brothers. They were best buds growing up and now, years later, work together at HP Home Rescue. 

Grandpa Mike was able to spend some time with Zion and Jude at Royerton School Grandparents Day. These two are also best buddies. Zion is in second grade and Jude in pre-school.

I missed the abuela-fun and traded it for alumna-fun at Grace homecming. I sat with Malachi in  Chapel, ate lunch with Mother at Grace Village, and then enjoyed the Grace and Winona Lake History bus tour (my fourth time!) with author and guide Terry White. He wrote the book: Winona at 100 Third Wave Rising. My neighbor friends joined us for the tour and the special treat after--a guided walk-through of the Billy Sunday Home.

In the Museum I was drawn to an old tandem bicycle, wouldn't ya' know. And, simply amazed by the global impact of this hub.

Sunday we celebrated Jude, an exuberant five-year-old who has brought so much joy since the day he was born.

How would you guess-rate all my "loves"?

I think a lot about # 4 as my youngest sibling faces the reality of the promise "till death do us part." I pray for strength, peace, a precious farewell, and a smooth transition.

2015 Week 39: Firsts

 A first for Rebecca: she climbed the spiral staircase to the loft all by herself! (Mind you, I was very close behind to catch her if needed!) And she did it her own way, placing her foot firmly on the next step and pulling herself up instead of crawling up on her knees--quite a feat for a tiny person.
The reward awaiting her at the top was the train table. Such fun!

Kayla and Rebecca visited us on Saturday and this collage was meant to be in last week's post, but I totally forgot--makes a great first photo for this week!

Sunday afternoon we went to support the Pray for Kelsie concert at the Lion's park and there was this lively attractive young lady taking donations.

We enjoyed the music, the atmosphere, the beautiful day.

The weekly teaching routine began Monday. The beautiful weather made grading papers outdoors more enjoyable.

Classes are going surprisingly well, for which I am exceedingly grateful--fifth week, eleven to go.

And I am still able to walk two mornings with whoever shows up at the Depot. We walk from there to Taylor and around the campus and back. Takes about an hour and a quarter and we get a lot of talking in too.

Back at the Depot, I noticed this interesting inscription on the brick. Who are Hombre and Majesty?

Leah called Wednesday to tell me the exciting thing that happened to do with her colorful girl paintings.

She loves her "girls" (and so does Rebecca who points to them!) Over time she has told so many people about her feeling that someday someone would be so drawn to these that they would suddenly notice and say, "I want one!" Sunday after the concert, one of the singers, a local acquaintance from way back, stopped by to visit, and that's exactly what happened!

Michael continues to be pain-free, rides his bicycle almost daily, has kept very busy preparing for next week's robotics team Open House, and many other things, as well as taking on two additional people-helping responsabilities.

Even so, he agreed to go with me on Friday to a few of my college Homecoming events. This was a first for me, I'd never been to any Homecoming. Next year will be my 50th year with the many accompanying celebrations, so I thought perhaps I'd give the experience a practice run.

Two learning institutions next to one another: McClain Hall where we had chapel and some classes when I was in college and/or seminary; and Jefferson Elementary where I went to second grade.

In the first one I found the wall of past presidents. I was especially interested in seeing Uncle Herman's plaque.

Our favorite activity of the day was the bus tour of Winona Lake, narrated by Dr. Terry White who wrote the most recent history of the town:

We enjoyed the fascinating stories. For me the ride stirred many memories.

The tour stopped at what used to be the Westminster Hotel--my first dorm room, and later where I waitressed at the smorgasboard and for many banquets during my student years. We visited the museum and listened to our guide play many old hymns popularized by Homer Rodeheaver whose music company was housed there.

Then we visited Mother, she treated us to dinner at the Grace Village cafeteria, and Mike set up her new iPad.

I can't resist adding some fun pictures of Stephan's weekend occupation--carving pumpkins. On Facebook he posted these large and strange specimens pondering what to do with each one.
Sometime later he shared the resulting creations.

One small step for Minion                                       Baby elephant                                                  Happy dance!

How creative have you been lately?
I picked sunflowers and arranged them. That's the extent of my creativity this week.

Although I suppose this blog post may be considered creative expression. I don't get much feedback anymore, comments are few, but I still feel the need to record our days and weeks by this means. Someday my descendants may be as fascinated by these notes as I am by what my ancestors have left behind.