Last week of October

 We do enjoy the cozy feeling and fragrance of candles on autumn evenings.

Autumn decor

Fall changes happened almost suddenly. These two pictures of what I see out of my window as I write, compare the color differences between the beginning of the week and the last day. 

Michael went out to blow the leaves that blanketed the driveway. No longer had he finished when it was covered again. We looked out and saw them falling like rain.

Stephan reminded us Monday at his dinner table of his great disappointment when he was a small child. I don't remember this, but he said that I explained that it was the first day of fall, which is when the leaves fall. He looked longingly and hopefully at the trees, but nothing was happening. That memory stayed with him to this day.

For lack of photos, here are two oldies. Christmas cards we sent to family from those early days in Germany.When we arrived at Mike's brother Terry's, he had them sitting out for us.

Christmas 1971, and 1973

I've noticed that often when disposing of old photos and letters, they are returned to the sender. Do you do that too? In my case, I find them meaningful, the messages I wrote long ago help me put together the puzzle of different periods of our life story.

I cam across this photo last week, and it was especially meaningful because my dear cousin Ed, we called him Eddie, passed away October 29. He was only four months older than me. He was recently widowed, and leaves behind a young daughter.

In this photo taken at the time of my parents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration, he is holding our granddaughter Kayla who is now 30-years-old.

Here is a great article and photo: Former Union College President Edward de Rosset Dies at 77.

Michael keeps busy all the time, but lamentably I have no photos to show of his work. The heating system at Stephan's house is complete now! Michael is now feeling the need to begin gathering in wood for our winter supply. Hopefully a couple weeks of decent weather will help.

Saturday I was scheduled to work at the Helping Hand store. I had fun interacting with the clients. This is a Taylor University Korean student who so enjoyed shopping and finding all kind of items that will help him survive his first Indiana winter. Here he is wearing or carrying them in bags or pockets. 

Mid morning, when the crowd had died down, I had a surprise call from a high school classmate in Argentina. What an interesting conversation after sixty years!

I had already agreed to help Kayla with the library Halloween party she was in charge of. Sadly, she was in quarantine and couldn't be there. However, she had planned and prepared so well that we seven helpers were able to pull off a very successful community event.

I was in charge of the station where kids had fun digging for hidden gumballs eyeballs in the spaghetti mess of brains.

Of course, one of my favorite moments was watching great grandson Kalani kicking around the balloons Tamara and I had painstakingly blown up. That was all he was interested in. A future soccer player perhaps?

Rebecca could not be there, of course, but dressed up anyway. I stopped by after and handed some goodies through the door. 

Sunday, we enjoyed a Moriah-meal. Ever since someone gave us these unique plates, we've enjoyed "plated" meals. 

We had a lot of catching up to do. The young engineer is "adulting" quite well! And, of course, we had to play a few rounds of Splendor. 

Transitions

This week I was made aware of a these lovely pink lilies popping up everywhere, Lycoris squamigera, rightfully referred to as Surprise Lily or Resurrection Lily, also naked ladies ;-).

All of our family young ones are in school now. Sam and Kristie's boys in Greenfield system, where she works as an ABA (Applied Behavior Analyst), began in July. Karen started a new teaching job, 8th grade English in Alexandria, on  August 4, one day before her birthday.

July 29: Elijah (11), Zion (6), Jude (3)

Rebecca enjoys riding the school bus this year.

August 10: Rebecca (2)

A good article appeared in the Chronicle Tribune a couple days later. Surprise, Rebecca on the front page!

Students, staff, smiles return to Eastbrook

She also started ballet lessons. Piano has not begun just yet because her teacher just had a baby! 

Wednesday we did meet little Reuben and delivered a meal and gift. 

Thursday was Moriah's final move, the last items out of her room here and all into her own apartment in Indianapolis. Her job at Allison Transmissions begins Monday the 16th.

Friday I took Leah for her long delayed hernia surgery. And, surprise!, the surgeon found a second hidden one nearby. The double repair was successful, no mesh needed. Leah is glad to have that over, but she's dealing with the pain now.

Saturday, the 14th, was Rebecca's 7th birthday. Matt and Kayla are wonderful party hosts. The occasion has become an annual ALL family gathering with cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents, several great grandmas, even one 91 year-old great great grandparent!

As life moves on from one season to another, through many transitions and changes, both good and bad, joyful and painful, I am reminded that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Heb. 13:8)

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.

Houses, birthdays, life

Karin's Sunday bouquet, May 23

Sunday afternoon, I drove up to Winona Lake for a very special birthday party. The missionary neighbor we called Aunt Margaret, turned 100 May 25th. Jim and Margaret Marshall moved in next to us in a big 15-room house in La Carlota, our first location in Argentina. I was only five or six. The last couple decades of their lives brought the two couples together again in the same neighborhood and during their final years they lived in the same health care residence for seniors. Margaret survived them all. She always said she wanted to make it to her 100th birthday.

It was so good to see her again after more than a year!

My friend Darlene also had a birthday this week. We don't get together very often, so it was good to share lunch and conversation at Payne's.

Michael had been coming down with a serious head cold. He rested Sunday, but Monday was back working on Stephan and Karen's house. When I went there for the weekly dinner, my phone was dying so I only managed to get one photo of the progress.

I borrowed this photo from Karen's blog to show what Michael has been doing all week. He cut the metal siding to fit and install around the nine windows. The urgency is to complete all the high work with the lift and avoid renting the expensive equipment for another week.

Michael is unstoppable, even when fighting a cold. If he was home and it wasn't raining, he found time to mow. Look closely and you will see him in this pic.

Robotics slowed down considerably, which allows him to give so much time to the house-building.

Meanwhile, I try to make the most of all the time alone, walk most days, meet with friends, write and more.

Jane and I enjoyed the rhododendrons and other blooms on our walk together Tuesday to the bridge over the Mississinewa River.

Wednesday was Michael's 50+27 birthday, as he prefers to call it,emphasis on the 50! He caught up with me, but I cannot keep up with him! He worked all day, of course. So, I invited Moriah to stop by for a quiet evening. We played an extension of Splendor, and we let him win! ;-)

We heard from our other girl, happy to be reunited with her family and enjoying her assistant editor internship job.

Kendra and little sister Katie; Kendra, Katie and Zach

When I visited Leah on Thursday, I was introduced to three new kittens. She runs a well organized cat maternity hospital!

On my daily walks, I see interesting sights. Honeysuckle always reminds me of childhood, sucking the honey from the blossom. On a rainy day, I found this interesting puddle. Best of all is the time to think and pray.

Sam has been working on his house to finish and make it PERFECT (he has very high standards!), but now it is for sale as they plan to move nearer to the Greenfield schools area where Kristie works.

House for Sale

After many weeks of fewer TV evenings (or at least ones when we were awake enough to watch an entire episode) we finally finished the Foyle's War series.

This week I also listened to Eric Metaxas' biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer--powerful warning for our times.

Award ceremonies

Another Sunday bouquet from cousin Karin in Tennessee--rhododendrons and a couple irises peeking through, peach and purple.

Sunday afternoon, we hiked part of the Three Falls Trail by the Salamonie River.

There were lovely spring blossoms along the way, very different from the last time we were in the area.  I believe we tromped through snow then.

Monday, Kendra allowed me to help set up and arrange her table at the film majors exhibit. Fun! 

Monday Night Dinner was not cancelled, Stephan and Karen pulled it off yet again with another tasty meal. The fractured shoulder and bruises are still causing Stephan considerable pain. However, he remains unstoppable.

The house-building has not come to a halt. Stephan does as much as he is able. See below how he picks up and carries heavy boards with only his right arm. 

Progress was notable throughout the week with helpers, "the Young Apprentice, the Father-in-Law" (as Karen refers to them in her blog), and a few others that drop by. 

I am learning new terms: purlins, joists, rafters. 

We rushed home from the dinner so we could watch the livestream of the 2021 Senior Show of the Film and Media Production department. Kendra's speech went very well and she was recognized for academic excellence among other things. Both girls won leadership awards.

Twice in the week Moriah talked about her role in the senior engineers' project - the Mars Habitat Printer. Michael was able to attend the in-person event, and got these photos.

Who would've thought this kid from the robotics team would soon be among the elite group of female engineers working in an industry (still TBD)!!! 

Wednesdays after lunch at the Senior Center, I have fun visits with Leah. I like to keep busy while we chat, so she assigns me an area or task. This week we cleared off the table and washed it down. Later she decorated it with a bouquet and candles.

Michael spent long hours at the team shop this week as they prepared to attend a competition this weekend, the only one so far this year. 

Saturday was a very full day. Michael left at 4:10 a.m. for the Ram Robotics Invitational in Hamilton, OH, and arrived home after 11:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. was my starting time tor the World Vision Global 6K for Water. One hundred from our church participated in the event and we had beautiful weather.

As soon as I got back home, I found the schedule and link to watch Team 1720's performances throughout the day. They were running behind so I had only missed one match. 

The rest of the day, I managed to keep track of most of the wins and losses in between attending a bridal shower and watching Lexi's graduation online. 

Most exciting was when final scores were announced and Team 1720, the PhyXTGears' alliance won!

The grand finale of the day was to be allowed to attend the official screening of the films produced by the four teams of majors in the department. 

It was not easy, however, to watch Miss Holly in Jack, the Town, and I. My performance may have been adequately believable, but I sure looked old!

2021 Film majors (Kendra far left)

Finals next week, then graduation, and the end. Goodbyes are what some students dread the most.