2016 Week 34: Schedules and Storms

Several scheduled appointments punctuated the week: hair, car, dentist, classes, meetings, amid the steadiness of daily goals and routines.

Monday I was back for a third year in the familiar spaces of Ivy Tech, in the same classroom with ten new students and a different schedule--four hours once a week.

Michael was glad to finish the time consuming task of painting the railing and has moved on to other areas. Some require bleach treatment before the paint.

Wednesday, I was enjoying a quiet time in bed, when I suddenly remembered I had an airbag recall/replacement appointment in 20 minutes! I jumped into the clothes laying on the floor and rushed off, just in time!
I strolled over to my friend Viola's favorite restaurant for breakfast. The memories of our last time there motivated me to go visit my bedridden friend. We can no longer have conversations like before, but she enjoys it when I read Guidepost stories to her.

That evening we joined other PhyXTGears families for their fundraiser at Culver's restaurant.

I was delighted to discover some of our own family members there, enjoying one of their favorite places to eat and supporting the team!

Team 1720, the PhyXTGears, are hoping to move October 1st into their new shop in the makers' space now renamed Madjax. The new walls are progressing nicely and look sturdy enough.

However, on this very day a line of severe storms came through our area. Tornadoes touched down in several spots.  One of the families invited us over and we stayed in Muncie until 11 p.m. so as not to cross the path of the erratic clouds on our way home.  We taught them Hand and Foot while waiting.

We didn't notice much damage on the way home. When I walked through our woods the next day, not much either. One tree came down some time this week.

A city some 35 miles away suffered considerable loss. A Starbuck's was flattened among others, but no loss of life!

The next days have been calm with spots of rain. These young'uns came very close to our house. They are not yet wary and skittish.

 Hmmm, where's their mama?

2016 Week 32: Robotics students, Rebecca's birthday, and cousins from afar

 Some weeks it's hard to choose between so many photos.

In August we make our annual trek to the State Fair, usually prompted by Diane (Mike's younger sister). This year, however, we planned it around the events that a couple of the robotics students were involved in. That was Monday all day, and then we went directly to Stephan's meal.

Jeremiah, the 2016 champion!

Jessica and Destiny

Notice the intricate braiding. It took Jessi's sister more than three hours to do mane and tail.

We were amazed at what these kids have achieved and all that they accomplish in addition to the many hours they put into building robots!

Wednesday Mike was back at the pottery studio at the Red Barn for the first session of the new school year. After that we joined the cuatro amigos for a surprise birthday meal at Moriah's house.

Moriah's 18th; piano duet with Hannah; lighting the decorated oreo ice cream cake; little brother Isaiah's piano entertainment

Not to be outdone, Moriah also has animals, very small and unusual pets: a pair of geckos, male and female; and a couple degus, twins.

Hannah, the future vet, feeding the male gecko

Speaking of living creatures . . . these young deer stared at us as we drove down our lane.

My writing focus this week was to process what I had learned at the conference last weekend, which ended up becoming my first newsletter as a writer--"The Strangest Things Happen at a Writers’ Conference . . . and what I learned." (If interested, write me a comment.)

We had two more fun events to look forward to and prepare for: our great-granddaughter's second birthday; and a special visit from my New Zealand cousins.

Mike and I worked on a gift for Rebecca. My father had made a little doll bed for Leah many years ago. Mike took the remaining parts, that have survived innumerable moves and the vicisitudes of life (just wanted to use that big word), replaced some missing pieces, rebuilt, and painted it. And I made a mattress, pillow and sheet so it would be ready to pass on to Nanna Leah's favorite granddaughter!

The headboard remained intact.

Saturday at noon, Matt and Kayla hosted the many guests in their new home: four grandparents; four greats; one great great grandmother (!); and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. 

Waiting for matches to light the candle

Oops! Coudn't wait till the end of the birthday song to blow it out.

The last of many gifts

Bruce and Lois arrived just in time for the party and thus were introduced to many all at once! Family crowds are not new to them. Both come from large families (7 and 8 siblings respectively) and they themselves have eight children and 37 grandchildren. One of the main purposes of this summer travel to the US was to attend a family reunion (my uncle Lowell's clan) with more than 80 in attendance.

We went to Ivanhoe's that evening, which we do with every one of our guests, and took the obligatory photo by the Garfield statue. I insisted Bruce stand next to the ice cream because his family, when asked how much, has perpetuated the saying, "Way too much!"

Another robotics-graduate sighting--Jordan, working at Ivanhoe's and soon to start at Taylor U!

Later that evening I got out the 1997 photo album to recall one of Hoyt-family visits to Upland. All those young'uns with them on that trip are grown, married, and multiplying. Liana in the upper left corner has seven children, including baby girl twins.

The very next page in the album recorded the visit of their cousins to check out Taylor University. Hannah, lower left, is getting married next Saturday in TN. That will be Bruce and Lois' last family event before flying back to NZ next Monday.

We also enjoyed singing hymns, or listening to their beautiful booming voices. It was interesting to learn of their family's involvement (along with many others) in putting together and publishing this new hymnal for their denomination in NZ. What an enormous project!

A funny thing happened Sunday after church. They were approached by one of the choir members and invited to join, not realizing that they were only passing through.

We were privileged and blessed to have Bruce and Lois with us. Their visit was brief, but packed with sharing memories and getting caught up.

2016 Week 4: Robot, Spanish, Birthday

I chose a guiding phrase for this year.

Oops! Not this kind of adventure! Poor Michael spent quite a bit of his precious robot-time trying to locate the blockage in our drain.

Afterwards it was my turn to take precious lesson-preparation time to clean the mess accumulated in the kitchen.

Monday these photos appeared on Facebook. Rebecca is growing, and her hair is long enough for cute poneytails.

Wednesday, January 27th, was Elijah's birthday, so I chose just a few old photos to post along with his birthday greeting.

We were talking about Puerto Rico in one of my Spanish classes, so I pulled out a favorite picture taken when we were there in 1981. Perfect find for a TBT post on Facebook! So far more than 50 people have responded. They remember our kids when they were that age living on the ship M/V Doulos.

A group of five deer slowly graze their way around our land in a southeasterly path almost daily.

Other wildlife that unwittingly delight and entertain us, are birds of many kinds. Michael fills their feeders faithfully.

Mike also decided to scatter the walnuts we had gathered over a year ago. Sure enough, the squirrels discovered the stash. It is great fun to watch their speedy shelling process. 

Today, Saturday, was Elijah's party with friends and family.

And I got my Rebecca fix!

Being in Muncie, I decided to stop by Team 1720's shop to see the progress on the robot. The place was buzzing with activity. They were hoping to begin building their second spare robot today.

Mentor Mike investing in the lives of young future engineers.

It's Mike's 11th robot-build season. Early mornings and late nights, robots on the brain 24/7--that's his life.

Will there be time and opportunity to celebrate our 46th anniversary tomorrow? I'll let you know next week.

2016 Week 3: Keeping on keeping on. . .

Last weekend Stephan posted a photo of this beautiful sculpture. Don't know what the occasion was, only that it holds special meaning for us who lived on a ship for five years.

Mike and I are very focused on our current committments, living in survival-mode--only basic cleaning and house hold chores. However, I did "undress" the Christmas tree.

Just as I had enjoyed the sparkly fruit so much on the tree, I continued to  like what I saw as the colorful pile waited on the coffee table a whole week before it made its way to the attic. The bare tree patiently stands.

Having a good book to listen to helps me get a lot more done.

This is the most recent read/listen--a very moving and powerful story of how God can take a horrible tragedy and make something good and beautiful by his grace and through those who choose forgiveness over bitterness.

We are so privileged to live in this beautiful setting where we can watch: deer bedded down in the morning, . . .

. . . and grazing in the sunshine the next day; squirrels scampering; birds feeding. . .

After the long day of teaching, it was fun to meet mi hija Leah at Ivanhoes for great food and a shared chocolate-covered-strawberry sundae.

Saturday afternoon I hung out with grandson Elijah to go shopping in celebration of his upcoming 11th birthday.

Elijah: "First we'll go to MC Sports. Look, they have a big CLEARANCE SALE banner out front!"

The coolest soccer cleats were pricey, so only one more smaller item allowed. Two other shops. Found nothing of interest. Saw lots of Star Wars stuff and laughed remembering our family joke at Christmas-time, imitating little kids' references to Stah Wahs."

Elijah: "I'd like to see it again."
Grandma: "Let's go see if it's on."

Went next door to AMC. 3D version showing at 4:00. We were two minutes early! Perfect!

Elijah under his #1-favorite-soccer-player poster--Lionel Messi from Argentina!   Grandma and Elijah 3D Star-Wars gazing.

So this old grandma understands a little more when people talk about Stah Wahs!

2015 Week 48: Giving thanks

This week in the USA we emphasize giving thanks. 

Great numbers travel distances to gather with their families and feel most grateful for relationships.

My brother Lynn came from Las Vegas to spend a couple weeks with Mother. We invited all our Midwest family to join us on Thanksgiving Day. 

Mother surrounded by three of her five children--Lynn, Alan, Rita

The matriarch herself

I had to teach Monday. After that I was able to worry about focus on the fact that we were expecting 28 for Thanksgiving dinner. I'd wake up in the morning trying to work out seating arrangements in my mind. Working steadily, slowly, area by area, everything came together. I was so happy when I figured out how to arrange the many plants in the solarium and make room for three guests. Next I set up the table in my craft room with its three inserts.

I was very intentional about staying out of the kitchen in order to focus on hostessing--welcoming and interacting with everyone. Mike wanted to cook and others offered to bring food. The big day arrived. Ha! So much for my resolve. Mike was sick and unable to participate!

However, Stephan and Karen had come very early so he could have one more opportunity to hunt. So they helped me prepare as well.

Karen even went out for a run in the nice weather.

Here she comes!

Earlier in the week both Mike and Stephan brought in some venison for the winter. Can you tell how many?

In the end, only 26 showed up and found a favorite spot. Kayla's little family in the solarium made such a pretty picture in the sunshine surrounded by greenery. I went outside to look in and get a photo. Not until I looked at the photos online did I see the photo-bomber!

Neice Tina came all the way from Elkhart to spend the day with us. We anticipated the encounter between Rebecca and Simon, almost two. Sure enough, she went to give him a hug and kiss. He would have no such thing, and was happy to escape up the stairs and play with the train set.

Another little one, Tina's two-and-half-week-old Betsy, made the rounds, getting acquainted with her extended family.

Hmmmm. . . are Sam & Kristie being inspired to try for a girl?

There is a saying in Spanish: "Muchas manos en un plato hacen mucho garabato." Literally, "Many hands in one plate make a mess." No mess here! The many hands worked together to clean up after the meal. By the time everyone left, there was not much left for me to do.

Diane and I played a game she enjoyed a lot.

The next day Sam and Kristie dropped off Elijah to spend a couple days with us while they went away for a deserved getaway.

We watched movies and played games and enjoyed our tall ten-year-old grandson.

He learned some chess strategies, but was unbeatable at Hand and Foot!

Tomorrow it's back to work, grateful for these few lazy days.