Week 47

Cousin Karin thought her weekly bouquets were over. However, one hydrangea bush continues to produce blooms in different colors! The azalea plant blossomed again as well. Spring flowers are appearing and it is not even winter yet! What's up with the weather in Tennessee? Or, is God sending cheer at a time when they are caring for cousin Ed, her brother, who is so ill?

A pleasant surprise, to taste and texture, came this week when I learned about jícama, which arrived in a Misfits box a couple weeks ago, great by itself or in the lovely salad by Pioneer Woman. Can you pick out the jícama?

Another lovely surprise came when my neighbor-friend and I resumed what had been our weekly coffee date. Katie Rich moved her business to a much larger space, and delightfully decorated with so many nooks for us to explore in upcoming visits. 

Many photos surfaced this week remembering my brother Lynn, three years after his passing. Not long ago I joined a Facebook group sharing memories of our elementary school--EX ALUMNOS DE LA ESCUELA 42 DE DON BOSCO. I posted a couple of pics of Lynn's classes and got quite a few responses. In this one (1957) he is behind and closest to the teacher. 

What do you think of our school uniforms? White and starched, a nightmare for mothers! I just noticed that the boys are even wearing ties.

One of his classmates wrote that he was our neighbor and Lynn's good friend. He was sorry to hear of his passing. I had an unidentified photo and asked if he was the one with Lynn. Yes, he said. 

Now I need to ask Enzo whether this was the house he remembers. It was the first one we lived in in that town, Don Bosco, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

Stephan came early a couple of days to try his luck at hunting back in our woods. The deer sadly avoided him. But I enjoyed our breakfast chats after.

I spent a delightful afternoon with Rebecca. Her attention span is short which allows for a variety of activities. The Bible story this time was of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, an example of gentleness. Only one more fruit of the Spirit to talk about when Basics resumes after the holidays--self-control, which Rebecca referred to as strongness.

Michael was gone at the time, on yet another overnight camping trip, probably the last one of the year.

Saturday we were remembering Malachi on his 22nd birthday. Of the numerous photos I chose two: the professional cute toddler pic and a selfie of us on my first visit to him when he was a college freshman. He is now in his fourth year at Grace College.

Sunday we had the delightful visit of friends from nearly fifty years ago. We were together in Germany when I was pregnant with Stephan and Donna with her third. We shared many stories and tried to catch up on our growing families. We also taught them our favorite game, Splendor. 

Look who else came along! Kipper was so sweet and well-behaved.

That was most of our fun for the week. What about you?

 

Week 46

This was the view out of my loft window Tuesday afternoon when I sat at my desk to write.

The snow fell fast and furious Monday evening and we decided not to go to Stephan's dinner. The next morning very early we were on the road for Michael's cataract surgery scheduled for 6:45 a.m.! I was his driver on the way home. Thankfully, we made it back safely.

Most of the week the scenery was rather bleak and bare, except when a beautiful woodpecker visited the feeders.

Wednesday, November 13, the two-year anniversary of Lynn's passing, I thought about my brother and imagined him looking down on me instead.

Rita and new little brother Lynn 71 years ago

Another jaunt back in time happened as we attended the Ontario Systems celebration Thursday evening and walked down the hall lined with friends and coworkers from years ago. It was probably ten years ago that Michael walked out of there after twenty three years with the company. Large photos from the archives were displayed all around.

Promo photo of the dialer Michael designed

Ontario Systems Celebrates Nearly 40 Years of History and Community Impact

We especially appreciated the opportunity to greet and thank Wil and Ron for their example of integrity and the impact on our lives. Their vision statement was: "Passionate people, serving others, driving a strong economy." Faith in God and care for people were always evident. They strongly believed God would lead them into the good works He had prepared beforehand for them (Ephesians 2:10).

Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher, the founders

It took me most of the week to unpack the boxes and put away the pottery from the craft fair last weekend. In the process I rearranged and condensed the entire display.

During this week of surgery, post op visit, and a schedule of multiple daily eye drops, Michael has slowed down somewhat. 

Saturday was a long work day at the Matthews robotics headquarters. Some team members and friends converged there to move much of the equipment stored in the warehouse next door into the nearly renovated spaces.

Ever since the move from Madjax, it has been very difficult to find basic tools in the MESS that was the accumulation of many loads dumped there from the Muncie shop.

Storage area in contiguous warehouse

The next day when we walked through, I was amazed at the progress--a nice reception desk in the entryway, donated cubicles set up to section off areas, tools moved into the carpentry shop, carpet down, the playing field beginning to take shape, and the machine shop equipment mostly set up.

Entry; cubicles; carpenter shop; playing field; machine shop

And yet there is so much work to do before the first open house next week! 

So, what did I do while Michael was working in Matthews? I drove up to Grace Village for a short visit with Mother before going to Malachi's birthday celebration.

We visited friend and fellow-missionary "Aunt Margaret" in her Independent Living apartment. Her son David was there. He looks in on her every day. I asked him about his memories of growing up in Argentina. He related his joys and struggles. At one point Mother asked (using her talking machine): "Do you ever regret that you are a missionary kid?" He said that sometimes he had, especially as a teenager.

After I left Mother at her table in the dining room, I headed to the restaurant in Warsaw for Malachi's early birthday family celebration. Only Grandma Debby and I were able to make it.

Malachi will be 21 on November 21st! He may have been embarrassed by the all-restaurant version of the birthday song. Zion may have enjoyed the blowing-out-the-candles tradition more than the birthday guy :-)

But from my perspective, family times are always precious.

A new focus

A new year, a new beginning, a new presentation and a new focus--my word for 2019.

The new header, title and description reflect the change.
For years now, I felt increasingly compelled to gather and write down my life stories. Documents and resources have come to me and the memories bombard me faster than I can record them.
There are so many phases and layers to the long years and the many wanderings. Perhaps that explains my difficult progress. The task is overwhelming.
To aid in the process, I decided to take note of those reminders from the past as they come to me. In the first week alone, each day brought back a glimpse into a different time in life.
This transition from photo journal to memoirish posts will likely be gradual and experimental (it's hard to break old habits) and I may continue to include the memory-making highlights of the week.

January 1
The melody and lyrics of a Spanish hymn repeated throughout the day as a reminder of my life-long goal.

Jesús, yo he prometido servirte con amor.

Concédeme tu gracia, mi amigo y salvador. 

No temeré la lucha si tú a mi lado estás. 

Ni perderé el camino si tú guiando vas.

Jesus, I have promised to serve you with love. 

Grant me your grace, my saviour and friend. 

I will not fear the struggle if you are by my side. 

Nor will I lose my way if you are guiding me. 

That was the day we heard that Malachi became engaged to Lexi Meacham!

I thought about him and reflected on what he shared with the family during our family talent night. He is preparing for youth ministry, working toward an MDiv degree.
I could see him with his Bible and notebook, and wondered whether he keeps a record of each talk, date and place, like my Dad, his great grandfather.
One of the treasures I inherited is a large box of Daddy's sermons.

January 2
Michael discovered what had caused the "sonic boom" we heard and felt on New Year's Eve. The strong winds that night brought down a large tree that had the zip line attached to it. The cable in turn brought down, and broke in two places, the corner post holding up the deck. That was memorable.
He has been working every day since then to repair the damage.

January 3
My brother Lynn was born 71 years ago in Río Cuarto, Argentina. This is his second celebration in heaven, if such happens there! We are left here for awhile with only the memories.

January 4

We were reminded of the day 31 years ago when the first O.M. ship ran aground. Here is a good collection of photos and the story of that memorable event.
Before the M/V Logos set out on its first voyage, we were onboard for a couple weeks. Michael was helping repair navigational equipment.

January 5
Ivan, brother number three, was born sixty one years ago on this day. We were in the US for a year living with my grandparents in Pennsylvania. I was in eighth grade.

This is also a big day for the robotics team, the Kick-Off to reveal the 2019 game--Destination: Deep Space. Michael gave a fascinating presentation titled, "What's Up In Space?" Unfortunately, the brilliant sunshine pouring in through enormous windows made it impossible to see the power point on the big screen. Fortunately, it was readable on a tv screen on the side.

January 6--Día de Reyes (Day of the Magi, King's Day or Epiphany)
A memory, appropriate to the holiday, both sweet and sad, is this favorite photo of the foster grandchildren we were blessed to enjoy for sixteen months before they were relocated. They were dressed up as the Three Kings for our Nativity scene that Christmas.

We may never understand why they were taken away, nor ever know what became of them. We trust God to look after them, now teenagers.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Throughout the week communications arrived from different sources around the world, each representing a different era of my life.

Mari, from Yucatán, Mexico, sent a very meaningful greeting for the New Year. We met when I was teaching at Indiana Wesleyan University and took student groups to her small town, Xocenpich. She was a very bright and promising teenager. We saw her through college. She is now a manager at a large department store.

Her mother, Herlinda, was the cook for our team. She and I jogged together, talked and shared about faith and life. The little town has since entered the cyberworld and even the humblest have access to the internet. Herlinda signed onto Facebook as Linda, sent me a friend request, and later attempted a call. I am just as inexperienced using that feature, so our atempt at conversation was very awkward, but we did see one another after ten years!

Jazmine was a most helpful student assistant the year I was the only full-time language instructor at IWU. I wished her a happy birthday and she responded that she now talks about her experience as lab assistant in a Pilot Program that prepares students to survive college life. Many of them are headed to American universities. She lives in China with her husband and daughter.

Another chat was with Celia, who lives in southern Argentina. We were in the same graduating class and were paired for our student teaching experience. She sent me a photo of the note I wrote in her memory book back in 1962!

My life growing up in Argentina will be the focus from now on. My grandmother's five-year diary (pictured in the header) was one of the resources I started with.

Which of the stories mentioned will be included in Part 1 about my early childhood?

Which one of the eras or memories would you be most interested in reading about?

2018 Week 46: Ice Storm

Our first light snowfall was November 9, then Thursday this week a hard and lingering ice storm.

Sunday was friend Trisha's birthday. In the afternoon she was showered with gifts for her coming baby .

Monday, my friend Petey and I enjoyed  lunch at Payne's. Her Tuna and Walnut Bourriche was so beautifully presented, we both took pictures, simultaneously!

Tuesday, was the anniversary of my brother Lynn's homegoing. I looked back at the album I prepared last year. So many of the photos speak to me of sweet times together. These are only a few from the very early years.

The ice storm halted many activities and plans, even Taylor University cancelled classes till noon.
Our bird friends didn't seem to notice.

Friday we hosted two families from our community. Michael did most of the cooking. My role is to decorate and clean before and after. 

Saturday was a big day away. We had three people to see in Winona Lake--Ashley, Mother, and Malachi.
Michael's great niece's basketball team from Silver Lake College in Wisconsin played Grace at 2:00 P.M. Isn't she cute?

Mother was ever so surprised and pleased to see Michael. He's on his knees here replacing the batteries in her hearing aids. "I don't need them when I'm all alone," she said.

In the dining room Michael entertained the ladies with jokes and I took pictures and sent a selfie to Joene's daughter in Florida.
Can you believe these three widows represent more than 100 years of missionary service.

The final event was the final performance of Peter and the Starcatcher at 7:30 P.M. in Grace's Little Theatre. Malachi played at least a couple of roles--Mack and Hawking Clam.

It was a fun day. And now we look forward to more family togetherness for the Thanksgiving holiday! We are so thankful for each one and how God has been at work in our midst.

2017 Week 48: Celebration of Life

Another BIG week for our household and my family--I was sick; Mother fell, broke her hip and had  surgery; and finally the memorial service for my brother Lynn in Las Vegas.

Christmas cheer is appearing everywhere, but no visible signs in our home yet.
I was delighted to see a Christmas tree set up at Stephan and Karen's Monday, their largest ever and the first since moving to Dove's Crossing.

Mother fell Sunday and had surgery Tuesday. I am grateful for my siblings that live nearby and can look in on her and work on all the insurance issues and arrangements. We are so grateful that they were able to get coverage accepted by Grace Village and have her moved into their rehab area. Mother has surprised us with her good progress, yet we are well aware that at her age healing will take a long.

A sore throat hit me Sunday and worsened as I was teaching Monday morning. Our resident student has had the same symptoms all week. I saw the doctor Thursday because I'd be traveling Friday. Moriah finally went to the clinic yesterday. So we've been in survival mode, getting by with only the most important responsabilities. Three quiet homebound days allowed me to go scour the archives, read letters, and write some memories of Lynn to share at his memorial.

Michael has a touch of respiratory issues but nothing that holds him back. He's been intensely busy with the assembly and delivery of the first lot of BattHawks; meetings, problem solving, presentations to do with the joint PhyXTGears-Taylor University satellite project; and the long ago planned bi-annual Kochout scheduled for the same day as Lynn's memorial. As if that were not enough he had to try to unblock the kitchen sink and in the end called plumbers to fix the problem with their bigger tools. The weather was pleasant enough that he also got out for a bicycle ride twice! I think that's about to change tho', the weather I mean.
Michael was kind enough to drive me to the airport in Fort Wayne at "O'dark 30" Friday. We left a little after 4:00 a.m., the moon was bright.

A last goodbye at the airport

We raced from one end of the Chicago airport to the other, made the connection just in time to board and were up in the air for long enough in cramped conditions. At the end of the flight the pilot sys, "We hope you enjoyed the flight."  Ha!  

It was only mid morning when we arrived in Vegas, so we had a long day to fellowship and become acquainted with some family members we hadn't met yet and catch up with the others. People, food, and memorabilia from Argentina everywhere. Great fun!

Mmmm . . . mate and Mary's butter cake.

I'd never seen a yerba mate dispenser before. Nor had I ever heard of their strange Hand and Foot rules! 

Top: Alan, Micheal, Bambi, Philip, Ivan
Bottom left: Bambi and Rosalyn. Bottom right: Mary, Kathy, Priscilla

Saturday everyone was up unusually early, preparing and anticipating the memorial service. . . and reminiscing about Lynn.

It was a good service. I was able to share what I had written and only wished others had spoken up with memories.

After the fellowship meal we had the rest of the day to explore Las Vegas. Rachel, Lynn's only granddaughter, wanted us to see the Christmas flower display at the Bellagio. It was opening day and very crowded.

When we walked out, early evening, the moon was creeping up between the buildings and the impressive water shows had begun.

Ah! The grand finale was dinner at an authentic Argentine restaurant--Rincón de Buenos Aires--complete with live tango music. A deliciously nostalgic event.

Another loooong day Sunday--three flights brought us safely back to Fort Wayne via San Francisco and Chicago. I can say I saw Alcatraz. Can you see it?