One Year Anniversary Open House

One of daughter Leah's great signs

 Before the warm memories fade and smolder to extinction, I need to revisit the Big Day.
The event was so grand and spectacular that few references and photos could never do it justice, but then neither will this dedicated post.

From the early days after the house fire we determined to celebrate God's goodness to us, His protection and provision from day one to the completion of the new beautiful home. Ever since we moved in, January 10, 2012--seven months to the day after the fire--we have sensed an urge to be more intentional about hospitality. A ceremony of dedication was in order. To that end, we asked our pastors to be take part in our Open House and lead in prayers of thanksgiving and dedication.

As soon as the anniversary-celebration idea was born, we asked our chef-son to cater the event. He had nearly a year to ponder and plan. However, we had no idea what he was going to do until the very day. What a grand production it was! He set up a staging area in the garage, made several trips to deliver ingredients and tools, and work on various stages of food prep. Finally the ice sculpture arrived and was unveiled unwrapped section by section. The dining room table was opened to its full length, 9 feet, to accommodate the base, three slabs of ice, the pedestal holding a shelf  and finally the phoenix atop, emerging as from the flames. Stunning! And very practical as well. The ice served to keep the food fresh--servings of ceviche in dainty clear plastic cups lined the top shelf, while a variety of fruit adorned the lower left ice level and gravlax on the right.

Other menu items were still appearing when the first visitors arrived, neighbors Bobby and Glenda bearing a very thoughtful gift--the black marble stone she had rescued  from the rubble and had engraved with our name.

Next came our first pastor, Jay Kesler and his wife Janie, designated to pray for the 2:00 o'clock crowd.
Over the months and weeks of anticipating and planning the event, the idea came to have an official welcome and prayer at the top of each hour. As time passed and the day approached the plan became clearer in my mind, even so it took courage to step up, take leadership, do and say what I felt needed to be said. The two times I followed through were very special. However, the last hour slipped by without pausing to address that new crowd and we regretted that oversight disobedience ever since.
This is what God laid on my heart to share:

"Welcome and thank you for coming! 
The purpose of the Open House: to thank the community for their support; celebrate God's protection and provision; and have a prayer of dedication of the new house for His service and glory.

Before the prayer by .... ...a few things to note:

--the tree sculpture, designed and carved by our son Stephan (professional ice carver) to focus on the blessings of our lives. Pick up a leaflet that explains all the icons and symbols, the story of our life as a family."
At this point I read the paragraph that accompanied the initial concept drawing. Stephan's words:

I believe a simple iconic image such as this cup running over symbolizes our constant receipt of God's provision. God has bountifully given and provided not only for our basic nourishment but in fact He has given life abundantly. Our cup indeed runs over with friends all across the globe, with kindness from people at church, family, international friendships. God continually blesses us with every good thing. 
The porrón [I could not find an English equivalent anywhere for this item which was in our household from our world travels] symbolizes God's provision--provision without end--provision that is more than we could ever need (even if we never close our mouths while drinking from it)...

I tried to demonstrate how it is used. Then Stephan stepped out of the kitchen to add that experienced porrón users can swallow continuously with their mouths open.

...the grapes can refer to the wine of the new convenant or to the wine of the eucharist, the cup represents us as the vessel for God's provision, the flow can be the totem canvas for either country flags, place symbols, or both. 
This is both a dynamic and symbolic image to be appreciated from afar as a stirring silhouette and from close at hand with smaller images.

I put together a brochure to explain the symbols and our life story. Pick one up if you haven't yet.
[Readers may request one, I had many printed.]

--the original house was built by Mike over a period of three+ years, the replacement house by Bruce Sebestyen and crews on the same foundation.

--the spiral staircase is from the original house, refinished and restored by son Sam who also built all the cabinets, vanities, and the dining room table.

--radiant floor heating is a unique and efficient feature of the house.

--Downstairs is the Klaytivity studio and display area--Mike's hobby/business.

Welcome! Enjoy! Ask questions. Sign the guest book if you haven't yet.

Pastor Jay led in a beautiful prayer the first hour, and Pastor Mark the second. One reason I did not call everyone to attention at the 4:00 o'clock hour was that we had no pastor present to pray, faulty thinking added to my lack of confidence.

People came and went for over three hours. The guest book registered 130. We were so honored and blessed by everyone--neighbors, friends, family--and only wished we'd had more time to spend with each one.

Stephan and Karen worked non-stop replenishing the food. Unbelievable, not one photo of the amazing display! The entire counter was covered with artistically arranged focaccia bread, flan, and Yucatecan cochinita pibil with all the trimmings. Someone said it was like traveling the world! Very fitting menu by a chef who's been to 30+ countries! Despite little or no sleep, he enjoyed the event enough to suggest, "We should do this every year!"  A great plan--celebrate God's goodness in style annually!

Busy Anticipation

You'd think our one big focus of the week would be preparing for the long planned-for and anticipated event--the Open House on the anniversary of the house fire. But NO, somehow our week was filled with other God-planned happenings. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Ephesians 2:10. I know I can trust God, that He will lead and give strength for whatever He puts before me!

So, Sunday we were still away from home, relaxing, enjoying our surroundings and our time together.

After breakfast stroll

Getting ready to get back on the road

The 40 mile return trip was longer and harder due to riding against the wind. We had a minor accident while coming out of an Arby's parking lot turning onto the main road. Mike said I panicked seeing the oncoming traffic and stopped pedaling which didn't allow him to unclip and put his foot down. I wasn't aware of this. So much for pedaling by sight and not by faith! Fortunately, we just toppled over gently, got a couple of scrapes and unfortunately lost the sun-clips for my glasses. I didn't realize this until a couple hours later. When I called the restaurant, they were kind enough to search and even go out on the road and look. They did find the mangled and broken remains. I believe that was only the second time we've fallen over the years and hundreds of miles of tandem travels.

Monday I bought flowers to fill the window boxes Mike built.

 We enjoy them from the outside and from indoors.

Michael was mowing and sprucing up our woodland over a period of several days.

He continues to be involved with ceramics at the Red Barn over the summer but only two days--Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4:00-6:00.

One of the more experienced students is bent over the wheel carefully shaping a piece. Reminds me of us as clay in the potter's hand, Isaiah 64:8.

So, where did Thursday go? I can hardly remember. Probably a blur of further preparations and errands.
We were getting ready for overnight guests, an informal gathering in our home Friday night and the Strawberry Festival in town Saturday, as well as the Open House Sunday.

We met Randy and Kim Grebe two years ago at the OM Ship's Partner weekend in Bermuda.They served for three years on the Logos Hope and now represent the OM Ship ministry and are based in Florence, SC. Their daughter and son-in-law live and teach in our local school system.
We invited people to come hear amazing stories of God at work in many lives in other countries through the unique platform of an ocean-going vessel carrying 400+ Jesus’ followers.

We found that our home is very adequate for such gatherings and had a wonderful time.

Saturday dawned bright and beautiful for the town festival. Mike went over early to set up the tent and ceramics display, and then spent most of the day practicing his latest interest, sculpting faces, this time with a live model, the above mentioned student. She loves throwing on the wheel, enough to sit and work in the heat for hours. She accomplished quite a lot before she had to leave for work at the local pizza place, eight pieces or more.

The Strawberry Festival will always remind me of the day after the house fire, our first time back to survey the mess and begin the rescue and restoration process. Our friends, Dane and Laurie, worked with us. At noon Dane went downtown and picked up huge tenderloin sandwiches and strawberry shortcakes for our lunch. We sat back in the picnic area away from the ugliness and enjoyed a wonderful meal together.

It is Monday already, I am late again. We are still recovering from and basking in the glow of our wonderful Sunday event. But you will have to wait for that story, which actually deserves a post or two of its own, if I can find the time.

Little by little

Poco a poco ...

Every day we make progress in the settling in process. Some days more than others.

Counters, especially large ones like ours, tend to become work tables or dumping areas. Sundays are a good time for a fresh clean start.

The clay cobbler-man still sits on the counter waiting for some of his pieces to be glued back on. He is originally from our travels in Peru, a survivor of multiple breaks.
Later that evening Mike assembled my bookshelves while I worked on connecting all the cables between the computer and the power source. He thought that would be easy and that I couldn't go wrong. I wasn't so sure.

It was fun to take my neighbor-friend to Monday Meal. Mike can't go during robot build season. They meet every evening except Fridays, although that may change toward the end of the six weeks.

Glenda regaling us with stories of her birthday trip

Steady plodding all day Tuesday until evening when I left for a brief meeting. This is what I saw when I drove in after dark. The tree sculpture is lit up at night now.

Tuesday two family members stopped by to see the progress: Karen, after an interview at the high school; and Kayla after her last class.

DIL showing off her interview shoes

Granddaughter's beautiful hands (and Pinterest-inspired nails)

It snowed in the afternoon and there was a winter advisory, so Kayla stayed all night--our first overnight guest! She then got me started on Pinterest, but I haven't done much with it yet. Her nails, BTW, have words--newsprint applied.

Thursday Sam delivered our beautiful new dining room table. Two inserts allow for a 9 foot extension.

I moved the small table we had been using to the solarium. I've been told it was the first one my parents had. I need to learn more about its history.

Friday, I took a couple packets to Muncie to be delivered to my friends in Xocenpich. At the church I met a couple ladies who've traveled with the team for more than twenty years now. 

When I saw the suitcases all lined up ready for their early morning flight, I was reminded of seventeen years ago. Mike and I went to Cancún on our 25th wedding anniversary and encountered this church group and their bright orange marked luggage. Years later, I was privileged to go several times with students and meet some wonderful people.

In the evening my friend Jane and I went to a ladies' weekend at a nearby retreat center.
We awoke the next morning to a snow scene, lovely while it lasted.

The fellowship with women of all ages was rich. A weekend not soon to be forgotten. :-)
However, I missed out on grandson Elijah's 7th birthday party. :-(

And now, back home, I'm trying to catch up.

Steady Progress

I checked my camera last night and discovered that the week has gone by with only  four (4) photos to show for it, so I went around and captured a few more. I may borrow from the past or other sources as well in an attempt to adequately represent this week.

Last weekend, Stephan was competing in an ice carving event in Northern Michigan.

Great Blue Herons (sculpture and photo by Stephan Koch)

And this weekend he is judging at the Plymouth Ice Festival.

Youngest son, Sam, brought over another piece of his artistry which has already proven very useful.

Kitchen Island

The kitchen island has: a butcher block top, a huge drawer that holds most of the cooking utensils; stemware and Terma Serrano (Non-Alcholic Bitter, Herbal Beverage from Argentina's Sierras) underneath; and at the bottom, wonderful storage space that I haven't decided yet how to use.
For the most part the kitchen has been conquered, except for remembering where I put things. For now I have sticky-note labels on every door and drawer.

Monday, our host in the Basque Country sent this link: Guest column: Consider worker co-operatives. The article speaks of a Corporation we visited and claims, "Spain's famous Mondragón Cooperative has been rated by Forbes magazine as one of the 10 best places to work in Europe."

Tuesday, Mike was up very early. This is what I saw when I came upstairs.

He had set up his basic electronic equipment on a couple folding tables. However, the desk he ordered arrived earlier than expected and was all put together as of Friday.

My writing space is still very much in progress, slow but steady. Meanwhile I use my little Netbook on the kitchen counter. I do love to journal by hand and my 2012 Blurb-made journal arrived this week! So, actually I have more notes than photos.

Twice this week we have been blessed with desserts from Dream Creations, the daughter's budding business. I just had to serve the apple cheese cake on fancy dishes with tea.

We were about to partake of another of Stephan's Christmas pizzas when Mike said, "Aren't you going to take a picture?" I was glad for his reminder and especially to note his support of Project 365!

Mike is so eager to get back into his pottery studio that even after a Saturday of work with the robotics team, he went out in the night, plowed a path through the snow and raced back and forth on the four wheeler to bring in the stuff he had stored in the pole barn after the fire.

The pictured work table and shelves he built Friday after finding the large drawers we concluded had been lost.

Today we finally located the ceramic canisters I purchased for my new kitchen from fellow-ceramist at the neighboring festival.

I keep plodding steadily--unpacking boxes, finding and moving things around, adding decorative touches, reading instruction manuals, learning something new every day.
This weekend I used my new bright and neatly finished laundry room for the first time.

We save a lot by having off-peak electricity. This means that we heat water and use the dishwasher,  washer and dryer only at night or on weekends.

Here I sit by the window in wonder and write this post.

Starting Over

The big move took place this week, over a period of several days, just before the snow storm!
We slept in our home again seven months to the day after the house fire.
Preparations intensified as the day approached. Work at the house continued through the weekend, everyone finishing up their part and a lady cleaning up after them. Sunday afternoon and evening our custom-wordworker son was at it again, even after a late night so his family came out later to spend some time with him. We all found places to sit and enjoy Kristie's wonderful meal of chili and cheesy rolls.

This scene reminds me of Christmas 1990 when family members gathered in the same spot.

Monday the inspector toured the place, big furniture items were delivered, the carpenter was still working on the deck, and Mike and two helpers (son Sam and friend Larry) loaded and unloaded the U-Haul truck several times to transfer our belongings from the temporary home to the new house.
Mike had to rush off later to mentor the robotics team (the six-week build season started Saturday), and I was glad to get away from it all and go to Monday Meal. I had the pleasant company of two Taylor students who asked to go along--cousin Bethany and friend Jessica.

It was the monthly Cooking Through the United States meal, this time featuring Washington.

Washingtonian pumpkin soup is delicious!

Tuesday Mike loaded up the car multiple times and I continued to clear out areas and pack.
"You wouldn't know we had a fire! Have we accumulated that much since?"
It wasn't till around 9 p.m. that I finally drove up to my home-sweet-home. A full moon shone through the trees.

Since then we have kept at the overwhelming task of settling in: assemble some of the furniture pieces; unpack and find the right place for each and every item (and then remember where you put it!); read the care and instruction manual before using an appliance (they have changed so much!). All the while I am thinking about how to arrange and decorate. Throw-pillows on the sofa was the first and easiest decision.

Sam has been in and out almost every day this week. Thursday we shared a pizza lunch together. It was the first use of the new oven. We tried one Stephan's gourmet frozen pizzas he gave us for Christmas--chicken artichoke. Wonderful! So much so that we had nearly demolished it before I thought to take a picture.

 

Friday Sam got stuck in our driveway so Mike got out the four-wheeler and plow and has used it a couple times since. I caught this when I looked out the window to see what was happening.

Sam installed the drawer insert for the cutlery, an extra piece that he made and gave us for Christmas.

I set up and used my new sewing machine, after reading the entire manual I'm proud to say.

I needed to mend the hem of a pillowcase before returning it to our 'other' home.
Glenda, my neighbor, and I spent most of Saturday cleaning and sprucing up the other place.

I stood at the sink where I had spent hours and hours over the 214 days of 'exile' and said goodbye to the dear neighborhood.

Welcome 2012

Elijah's self-photograph (while doing a hand stand?)

Three grandsons helped us welcome the new year.
Saturday morning we packed up all the Christmas decorations and ate lunch at Ivanhoe's.

Malachi washing down a Big Panther

The older boys went with grandpa to the New Year's Eve festivities in Muncie where the robotics team put on their third annual ball drop. Each year there is some glitch. This time the ball did not light up till it was down.  :-(
Sunday, among other things, I did (sort of) play Christmas carols (a few) with some help. Didn't quite accomplish my yearly goal--to play through all the carols.

Zion and grandma duet

It was good to be back with our Monday night friends and the meal was excellent--Sticky Chicken, rice, popovers and tart tatin.

Tart Tatin

Tuesday Kayla had to say goodbye to Matt who headed back to SC for the second half of basic training.

Leah and Skye stopped by on Wednesday to show off their new looks.

New style

New glasses

And how do you like her fingerless gloves? That's my current knitting kick.

All week I've been intent on preparing for the move: pulling stuff out of cupboards, closets, and drawers; piling, sorting, purging, packing. (NO photos of the mess!) I said goodbye to my cherished family of geese (gifts from the grandkids, damaged by the fire). It's time for a new theme in the beautiful new kitchen.

Mike has been working at the house e.v.e.r.y spare moment. Even as I speak write he is there still hanging lights and putting handles on doors and drawers. And that after a long day at FIRST robotics Kick-Off! For the next six weeks Team 1720, with a lot of help from their mentors, will be designing and building a robot to play this year's game Rebound Rumble.

Friday night, however, we took time out to meet with  a new acquaintance, the lovely harpist, Sarah, the same one pictured in this previous post. Mike is fascinated by the artistry of harp playing. We learned a lot throughout the evening and asked Sarah to strike a pose. We don't know what involuntary action produced this interesting effect, but I like it.

So here it is Saturday evening and soon we will be moving into our new home!!!