Highs and Lows

The fragrant dahlia, snatched from a bush by the side of the road, and placed in Leah's colorful decoupaged vase, brought me joy this week.

I have been accused of  portraying an unrealistically positive family life in my blog. True, I may be an incorrigible optimist. However, I must admit that we lived a most difficult and painful week, the kind that one does not talk about openly. 

I thought this post would consist only of the different wildflowers I discovered on my walk each day. However, as the week unfolded, meaningful memories surfaced, and serious struggles led to major victories.  

Monday evening as I drove into the Dove Crossing lane (Stephan and Karen's), I had to stop to admire the poppies and cornflowers (?) [Please add or correct names as we go along.]

Next, of course, is to notice all the progress on the new house, the work of father and son, including some tricky laying on roof maneuvers pictured in Karen's blog post More siding.

On our Tuesday walk, Jane and I admired these azalea bushes.

Wednesday, Rebecca and I walked through the woods. She wanted to get as close as possible to the pond in the back.

Thursday, was grandson-in-law Matt's birthday, which always reminds me of our house fire, June 10th 2011, ten years ago already! 

After the house fire, a post I wrote describes the clean up that followed and includes a photo with tall Matt in the back. We had paused for a wonderful lunch our friend Dane brought us from the annual Strawberry Festival going on in Upland--tenderloin sandwiches and strawberry shortcakes.

Leah posted this memory: among the ashes a reminder that God was with us.

Leah's most recent painting also reflects the concept of a stable core amidst the dancing fighting emotions we experience.

On my walk that day on the Detamore trail I encountered so many beautiful reminders of God's hand in nature and only wish I could also post the fragrances I enjoyed along the way.

Friday, I observed how death and new life coexist all around us.

In the afternoon we attended the memorial service for a well loved woman, our former neighbor, Hope Robinson. The church was packed with some of the hundreds of people she helped and cared for over the years, especially the foreign students she welcomed and provided for. They called her Grandma Hope.

Saturday, as usual Michael left to ride his bicycle with the group from Muncie. He was wearing the jersey from eleven years ago when he attempted the very challenging French Pyrenees. This time it was the 94 degree heat that was too much. Mid afternoon he called to be picked up in the neighboring town after completing 75 of the 100 miles.

Meanwhile, I put in my monthly shift at Helping Hand and afterwards enjoyed food, music, vendors at the Strawberry Festival.

Earlier Leah's family walked her dog Zeus in the puppy parade.

Oh, and I also attended the ceremony to honor two deserving members of the Upland community.

Later at home I watched a livestreamed Celebration of Doulos, our home for five years, 1978-1983. A good end to a difficult week.

Good Works

Cousin Karin's Sunday bouquet

I so enjoy the signs of life that spring forth from the earth and show their beauty poking through whatever is in their way.

One of Michael's contributions to Stephan and Karen's new house was to design and install the radiant floor heating system. This was the week to install the tubing. He worked there most days. So, for Monday Night Dinner, I just drove on my own and met him there. This is what I saw when I got there.

First the vapor barrier. (Karen explains and illustrates the process so well in her blog post "Radiant Floor Heating" in Meanwhile In Indiana.

Throughout the week 2700 feet of tubing were tied down with 2400 ties to cover an approximate 1500 square feet of floor. Exhausting work, hard on the knees. He did not keep a record of the countless ups and downs.

My greatest physical exertion of the week was to walk to a bridge nearby on Tuesday. Or, was it to scrub the floor? 

Wednesday was Basics Awards Night. Rebecca appeared in the program and met her leader in person! Every week Emily called and went over the lesson with her and chatted about their life and prayed together.

I stopped by Leah's two or three times this week. Thursday I got to see Kalani as well and even steal a few kisses from him. His Mom and Dad were on an important errand and we entertained him for awhile. I was reading a very funny book about Skunks. We laughed so much with each page. Afterwards, he began to pretend-laugh hard so we'd join in!

Friday afternoon we had another "shoot" to redo a scene that had not turned out well. 

Michael was able to finish up at Stephan's in time to come watch the process for awhile. He took this picture of us, film crew and actors. Kendra, on the left, is walking us through the emotions we need to portray with each line.

During a short break, I joined Michael and tried to explain the emotional weight of my part. 

Photo credit Kendra Copeland

Fridays I pick up the local paper, The Courier. Surprise, a photo and article about last Saturday's event.

Saturday, after working at the Helping Hand store in town, I stopped by Leah's and got to see the weekend project in progress--Jimmy and his brother Tony installing a new front door, along with all the surrounding changes and repairs.

One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." I am grateful every day for those things He's prepared for me, for us.

That was week 16. What has God prepared for us in week 17?

Birthdays, building, and filming

Here's another gorgeous bouquet from cousin Karin to brighten our days with varied colored tulips.

Our own area is blossoming with wild and planted blooms.

This last week of March was bookended with birthday celebrations--Kalani the first Sunday and his Papaw Jimmy the next.

Opening his many gifts was a slow process, tearing off bits of wrapping paper and handing them to us, or just sitting on the gift. Though he was shirtless and readied to dive into his special cake, he didn't make a big deal of it. And, of course, this one-year-old could not appreciate his six-year-old cousin's heart-felt birthday card just yet.

It was a joy and privilege to meet with my friend Petey for breakfast Monday. It seems our meeting times are not as regular now with increased grandmotherly duties.

Michael has significantly increased his fatherly involvements this week, still working some hours daily at Stephan's and also helping Leah's dream art studio become a reality.

Purlins, do you know what they are? And can you see the window frame he was putting together?

Tuesday, March 23, I was remembering Milt Koch, my father-in-law, who passed away on that day in 2003 at age 86 after a long ten years battling crippling illnesses.

Tuesday afternoons, when Rebecca is here, we walk the trash up the lane to the road for Wednesday pick-up. She insists on trying to pull it up on her own.

My adventure in filming began Wednesday. Kendra, our resident film major, needed a 75 year-old for her senior narrative, thus I became "Miss Holly" despite my age (76).

The setting for the first shoot was a bed and breakfast nearby with a lovely lake. There on the bridge my "godson" broke up with Quinn, his fiancee. He died shortly thereafter.

This was my place, at the table looking at a photo album of Jack's boyhood.

Here you can glimpse the crew but not the massive impressive equipment required. 

To transport, load and unload, set up, dismantle all that is already a major task. The team had three very long days  filming in different sets. The novice actors didn't make it any easier for them.

Michael gets out for extended bike rides again, some 40 miles Saturday.

Meanwhile, I was at Jack's "funeral" faking sorrow. Daughter Leah joined me as an extra. We don't look very sad here!

Sunday was our final March birthday celebration--a dinner out with Leah and Jimmy.

March is almost over, but life marches on relentlessly. What surprises will next week bring?

Birthdays and more camping

Karin´s weekly pic tells me the leaves are turning in Tennessee also, even though her flowers are more muted pastels. 

In our area, we had the most colorful week thus far--fleeting autumn beauty. We are making the most of the lovely weather for both work and play. Michael is steadily cutting and gathering wood for the winter. There is a plentiful supply of dead trees in our woods.

My research material is growing almost at the same rate as the wood pile. This week a friend in Argentina, who is also working on the history of the mission, heard of my interest and began sending me numerous documents. This valuable resource is comparable in quantity to the dead trees in our woods! 

There are two October birthdays in the family--our oldest and youngest grandchildren. Kayla was 29 on the 5th, and Jude eight on the 8th. We met Kayla for lunch on Monday, ever delightful. 

This photo of Jude when he was one may explain why he is an advanced reader now!

Two camping adventures completed our week. Michael went backpacking with a couple of friends in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness in the Hoosier National Forest. The 100 year-old ruins they came across must have fascinating stories to tell.

Last week, when abuelo got back from one of his camping trips, Rebecca asked if he would take her next time. We decided to have a practice experience in our woods Friday. We walked the trail, found treasures, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, and slept comfortably all night. 

However, Michael/abuelo was up early to go riding with his Muncie friends.

The weekend wrapped up Sunday with another concert in the park, a marimba ensemble this time. Can you guess how many instruments they brought?

Leah invited us for an evening meal of tacos. The red bush in their yard was perfect for a photo-op! 

That's all for Week 41. Only eleven more to go in 2020! 

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!