Anticipating Christmas

 All the preparations for the Big Event we celebrate create eager anticipation, even longing. Christmas greetings coming in and going out - some in the form of cards, and increasingly more via the internet. 

An annual bike ride Michael enjoys is the Luminary, to see the Christmas lights in areas of Indianapolis. He decorated his bicycle for the occasion. There were only seven riders from Muncie who joined hundreds of others. Unfortunately, the people who used to serve hot chocolate and cookies were not there. 

 

As usual I spent time at my writing desk. This was the view one morning, the moon was still up. The trees are bare now, the weather is very mild for this time of year, and anyone wishing for a white Christmas will be disappointed.

Memories of past Christmases surfaced every day. Here a few favorites from last year. I had forgotten the one representing Mary, Joseph and the baby, which was intended for use as our next Christmas card. Sadly I totally forgot.

Below it you can see how much the babe has grown.

Anticipation took on different aspects. At Stephan and Karen's new house, work accelerated hoping to be ready to host the annual Christmas Eve Brunch and Koch family gift exchange. Read about it here.

If you got all the way through you learned that there was a change of plans. The family event was postponed for a week. The brothers were most definitely sleep deprived working through the night, and their dad spent many hours there as well. The brunch, however, was still on, with one difference - it would be a carry-in instead of the Chef's usual fare.

That's where my hours in the kitchen came in preparing: baked oatmeal, torta pascualina (Argentine spinach pie), Grandma Hoyt's fruit salad, Sharon's sweet potatoes in orange cups. 

So, we had a memorable last brunch in the old house, crowded but cozy and happy. 

I especially enjoyed having the families of our two greats there.

There was also a 16-day-old baby in the crowd. The protective mama allowed Karen the privilege of a few moments. That's when I came up with a question and my camera! She protested, "You can't expect me to answer and take a picture at the same time!" (Sorry, Karen.)

Then there was a tour of the new house to observe the progress and a few family photos outside.

Christmas Day is very different as empty-nesters.  It was a rather quiet time with only Diane here. I confess to feeling depressed. 

I treasured each glimpse into the home celebrations - the old and the new traditions.

Grandma Linda makes pj's for each of the grands every year and that is one gift they open Christmas Eve.

2020                 2021

Kayla's house looks Christmas-card worthy in preparation for the joyful family time. Thank you, Matt, for this snapshot.

On Instagram I followed the household celebrations at Sam and Kristie's and also Malachi and Lexi's.

These beautiful internet gifts ministered to my soul! 

And here's another favorite memory, one of the last Christmases with Mother.

Festivities are not over. The Koch family celebration is now scheduled for New Year's Day! 

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

Exciting Events

The iris explosion has begun!

They are so delicate and beautiful!

And the color to match Taylor graduates!

Moriah with her engineering friends

Sunday we attended Moriah's open house and once again marveled at the well-organized party in every detail. Note the famous cake-pops. Of course, we enjoyed most of all meeting and talking to many friends.

Monday was a very rainy day. 

Six guys converged at Stephan's and, defying the weather, "raised the barn"! They worked till dark putting up the trusses.

Meanwhile, here, the girls were packing their accumulations of years. Julia, Moriah's mother came along to help make her room ready for the next occupant!

We hosted two of Stephan's helpers, our dear OM friends from decades ago!  The young guys they brought from MI stayed at Stephan's and the two ice carvers from NY slept in their huge RV.

Breakfast with Dennis and Phil

The sun came out the next day and work progressed much more pleasantly.

Tuesday was also my birthday. The day before, Moriah had given me a turtle to add to my collection. It was made by one of her engineering friends with a 3D pinter. Very clever, indeed!

Kendra took me to a coffee house I'd never been to and we shared a huge brownie. 

Here I am debating whether I should go across the street and get a tattoo! Is she telling me to go ahead?

Stephan invited me to join the gang for dinner that evening to celebrate my birthday together. I marveled at the house progress as I drove in.

Stephan enjoys cooking for the guys since he cannot do as much of the work due to his fractured shoulder. It was a wonderful meal!

Early Wednesday we said goodbye to Kendra on her way to Massachusetts and later Pennsylvania. She faces exciting and overwhelming life transitions: Friday she welcomes her family from Cambodia after two years apart; Monday she begins an internship; and in the fall heads to Hollywood for her last college experience.

The four men from MI left Wednesday evening.

Thursday, the New York helpers and Stephan wore their Ice Boot Camp shirts for the farewell pic.
 

Somehow Stephan managed to find time to engrave this board for all to sign at the wedding. 

All day Friday and Saturday morning, he baked a dozen different cakes.

We had front row seats to this amazingly beautiful and meaningful event!

Lexi and Malachi Koch!

The beautiful couple run off into the sunset!

We did not stay to see this grand finale, so are grateful for all the lovely photos posted so far. One more collage of a few other family members present.

The groom's proud and grateful parents; best man Elijah; Uncle Stephan and his lovely wife;
usher Zion, flower girl Rebecca, ring bearer Jude; Kern family  

Can life get any more exciting?

Birthdays

Does your week begin on Monday, like Spanish calendars? If so, this is the appropriate photo. We were arriving at Stephan's for Monday Night Dinner and the sunset was so beautiful. 

Kendra and Zack came as well. It was a very enjoyable evening.

However, our calendar week begins on Sunday and we set aside that day for a weekly rhythm of corporate worship and are ever so grateful that we can meet together with our church family.

Sunday, February 28, was Zack's birthday. Kendra baked his cake of choice, one of her family favorites, Wacky Cake. Michael is giving her a hard time as usual, which she knows very well how to give back.

This bag Kayla gave me at Christmastime, is perfect for carrying my necessary items to Tuesday Bible study, but it's message may already be out of season. The sun is out and the snow is gone.

March has the most birthdays in our family circle. Wednesday, March 3, Lexi, Malachi's fiance was 22. I noticed on Facebook that he came from Winona Lake and met up with her at The Bridge Cafe in Upland! I had just been there that morning with a friend. 

We are eagerly looking forward to their wedding in a couple months.

Starting Wednesday, Michael has been helping Stephan every day. The first day they laid out the dimensions of the new house. 

 

Stephan is overwhelmed with everything coming together at the same time: sugaring, ice carving jobs, and house building. 

He collects sap from his 40+ maple trees, several hundred gallons by now, then boils it down into syrup.

Thursday's wonderful sunshine invited me to walk the mile or two to a friend's house to pick up a book she rebound for us. On the way back I met another walker. What a surprise to recognize Joy, someone I hadn't seen in more than twenty years. We had so many stories to tell.

The week ended with yet another birthday celebration. Destiny had experienced a Koch-style fondue meal early on in her relationship with Skye, so that is what she wanted for her birthday. 

I spent the day preparing and we were able to enjoy a "fun to do" fondue with two thirds of the growing Koch clan. It's a slow meal where everyone cooks their own meats and vegggies in either of the two pots of hot oil. Fondue fork squabbles and a race for the "floaties" are part of the fun.

Destiny also preferred the Krazy Koch birthday song.

Can you read her age on the brownie cake?

Come back next week for a very significant birthday in our family.