2015 Week 28: Remembering & Celebrating

Lots of remembering and lots of celebrating this week.
Expect many photo collages.
Also lots of rain this season--flooding, lost crops, damage.
Strange weather patterns. It is pouring as I write.

So how did we celebrate the 4th--Independence Day?
We joined Leah's family in her back yard.

And watched the guys create fire-art and the kids (or young at heart) at play.

They extended the holiday another day because they enjoy fireworks so much.

But we stayed home Sunday evening to watch an exciting soccer game. Can't help but feel sorry for Japan though. They put up a good fight.

Monday was a catch-up day. One accomplishment--a third album of  Benson Sculpture Park  photos.

Tuesday morning walk--only two of us again. Fun conversation and sights along the way. (My walking partner is far more photogenic than me.)

Wednesday, I posted the fourth and final album of the Benson Sculpture Park and  the following on Facebook:

I was just reminded that Grandma Hirschy would have been 127 today, July 7th.When she died at 96 she had 43 great grandchildren. She sent them birthday cards with $1 bill as long as she could. When she could do it no longer, she had someone do it for her. She also wrote and kept track in her diary, and toward the end told someone what to write.

Thursday, on Leah's adopted birthday, I posted another memorable photo .

Here's what she said on Facebook:

Feb. 4th was the day I was born.The day an unwanted pregnancy became an unwanted baby abandoned never once being touched by a mother's hands or looked on by a mother's eyes BUT TODAY that child was officially wanted. A mother hugged and kissed this baby. A father and Mother and a brother WANTED this baby !! Today is my favorite day,the day I became part of a family. A day I was wanted, loved. 

Today is my ADOPTED birthday heart emoticon

In the afternoon, three grands came to visit. I noticed right away that Elijah has finally surpassed me. This is now the last of many measuring sessions. He achieved his goal. In no time we will all be looking up to him. 

The little ones have a ways to go, but can already run faster than Grandma.

We saw different kinds of mushrooms on our walk. Don't know much about them. Any edible?

Before the day was over and after both of us had said goodbye to the young uns' we each were babysitting, we snuck off for a special Mother-Daughter dinner at Payne's. Leah needed to eat well, stock up before the midnight fast began.

Friday, Leah's dreaded oral surgery--one almost penetrating the sinus cavity, and three wisdom teeth. I posted these on Facebook and she had many praying for her. The procedure itself was the quickest and easiest in her long dental journey--over before she knew it! However, the recovery is not as smooth. 

So, where was Michael all day--8:00 AM-midnight? At the PhyXTGears shop. Not Yet, the robot, is living up to its name, not quite ready for the big competition coming up next weekend.

Fortunately Mike could sit most of that time and avoid some of the pain that plagues him.

Saturday he was gone again, where he's been most of the week. I'm sure you guessed it.

I kept busy with Saturday chores (including getting ready for a Sunday family get-together!) until it was time to check out Chef Steph's catering at a special welcome for friends who live and work in SE Asia. (BTW, the food was delicious.)

Sunday we celebrated Leah's Adopted Birthday.

At times you'd think the party was for Rebecca.

Leah had planned a Father-Daughter lantern-launching celebration for earlier in the week. Due to rainy weather it was postponed, but Sunday evening was good.

One of them did not go very far. We lost sight of the other one.

(Did anyone read this far?)

2015 Week 27: Part B

Most of this week I have been processing the photos and experiences of our trip to Colorado. 

I have finally come to the homeward-bound part. As wonderful as vacations are, it is always good to get home. 

I was happy to see the new flowers by the mail box and have enjoyed bouquets from the abundant wildflowers.

Looking back--Monday morning we were on the road again.

I read most of the way. This time a very different kind of book. Mike's cousin has been a regular contributor for Hunting and Fishing Collectibles magazine since 2000. His most recent column "Back Shelf" appeared on the last page. Ron's fourth book--Behind the Back Shelf-- is a collection of his bimonthly articles published between 2006 and 2012 with the added bonus of background stories for each. 

We enjoyed his humor immensely. I learned more about Mike's family background and gained insight into the world of water-fowling. Ron claims he is "foremost a duck hunter and everything else is just something to pass the time between seasons."

We were highly entertained all the way from Cozad, NE, to Normal, IL, where we spent the night with a dear couple who were with us on two Circle Tours of the Basque Country, both of them cyclists. Life has changed considerably for them with the arrival of their first baby eight weeks ago.

 Tate and Chelsea were very gracious to host us even in those chaotic first weeks with a newborn.

Meeting Ainsley Claire

Tuesday we arrived home around noon, in time to get organized enough for the next activities on our calendar--Mike was off to the regular Tuesday robotics meeting, and I to the Fort Wayne airport to welcome a young Basque friend and her cousin, visiting area families for the month.

Irati y Marta

Wednesday we enjoyed hanging out with one of our young pastors and his delightful family.
(Great motivation for me to clean house all day ;-).

Thursday morning I joined the walking group that meets at the depot twice a week. Only two of us this time.

The local garden club does such a wonderful job of caring for the flowers there.

Later I was the lucky babysitter! It was a first time for this great grandma--abuela.
Rebecca is so active now that this was the only moment I managed a get a photo, surprisingly, as even bottle time is busy with feet and arms flailing about.

Friday was Jared's last class. He was back earlier than other days and we managed to fit in one more game of King's Corner and an Ivanhoes' dessert.

Saturday we saw him off  at Cracker Barrel where he caught the shuttle to the Indianapolis airport on his way to Arizona to see his parent's new home for the first time.

So, I am finally caught up with a rough summary of the week.
And I've also posted photos on Facebook: Part II of my walk through the Benson Sculpture Garden.

2015 Week 27: Part A--Sunday

Still processing our Colorado trip. . .

Aldo and Alice have been in Denver for 31 years. He pastors the Grace Brethren Church. This was a specially meaningful Sunday for them as three of the grandchildren were baptized--Eliot, Jeffrey, and Savannah.

We stayed for the celebratory carry-in meal and visited a bit longer with each family before we started out on our return trip home.

Andrew and Joy with their children--Savannah, Jeffrey, Olivia, Eliot

Abby and Gene and their children: Brian and Erin

Amanda and John and their two boys: Jadon and Azariah

On our way out of Denver we sighted the Broncos stadium. Somehow we feel a bond with it now that Peyton plays there (or is it sadness?).

Our friend Dave Babcock told us about the Benson Sculpture Garden, which claims to be America's largest, so we headed to Loveland for a bit of sightseeing on our way.

The park has over 130 sculptures. I walked the path rather quickly and photographed most of them. Mike drove around (to avoid his besetting pain) but got out a few times to take a closer look.

Michael admiring another woman

I began processing my many photos. If you want to virtually walk through the park with me, go here for Part I.

2015 Week 26: Part D

Saturday morning we found Aldo enjoying his CNC router.

Aldo's hobby

 At breakfast we visited with two more great nephews and niece Ana. The cousins, Brian and Jeffrey, had spent the night at Grandpa and Grandma's.They were very interested in Mike's stories from the time he built special vehicles for travel into Eastern Europe.
Niece Abigail came to pick up her son Brian. She has a high level Black Belt status and was on her way to learn from a Master.

Mike going for the dulce de leche spread. Brian and Abby (love his smile!).

We thoroughly enjoyed these leisurely mornings together, and were so privileged to be with my brother's family that weekend of special events. Saturday was great niece Savannah's open house.

Andrew, Dad and "chef";                                             Savannah, the graduate;            graduation quilt

There was quite a spread. I overheard that Andrew stayed up till 0'dark 30 cooking the various meats.

We walked over to the party next door and stayed awhile before leaving for the retirement celebration of our friends and fellow-workers in Germany and Austria many years ago--Dave and Brenda Babcock.
We met before they were married. In fact I first met them in Mexico during the Christmas crusade of 1969, just before our own wedding in January.
Later we ended up on the same team in Germany where they were married. We were witnesses at their civil wedding and I played a special piece on the organ for their church ceremony.

June 1971

When we arrived at the Greeley Wesleyan Church, a photographer was trying to gather and situate the many family members. I took advantage of the moment. (Is it really possible that everyone is looking at the camera and smiling?) Then I walked around and admired all the table decorations depicting Dave and Brenda's favorite things, which was the theme for the celebration.

Our table; one of several articles displayed; the grand surprise gift
Extended family

The children planned the event and honored their parents in wonderful ways. The family sang a song "These are a few of their favorite things" to go along with the theme.

Most of the time we mingled with friends we had not seen in eons and attempted to get caught up.

Mike initially confused Annette (Wright) with the Babcocks. Their families grew up together and have always been so close. 

And we met new friends. There were three retired teachers from the Vienna International School that the Babcock and Wright children attended, who decided to meet at the celebration and thus have their own little reunion after 25 years!
The saying "It's a small world" or "El mundo es un pañuelo" proved true once again as the teacher in lower left is from Dayton, TN, knows my cousins who live there.

After the program, the fellowship continued at the restaurant and then in Dave and Brenda's new home.

We finally pulled ourselves away after dark, but the house was still buzzing with conversation, stories and memories while the little ones slept downstairs in their sleeping bags.

2015 Week 26: Part C

Aldo and Alice, my brother and SIL, had a very busy weekend, but were so gracious to let us crash every night at their place. This allowed for some visiting times each morning before we set off to see friends in the area.

Friday morning, great nephew Eliot--Andrew and Joy's son, who lives next door--entertained us with a couple magic tricks. The sticker on his shirt says "Magic Tricks 25₵." Hmmm. . . guess we still owe him 50 ₵.

After a leisurely breakfast we set off for Golden, a lovely drive into the hills.

 

In good time we arrived at the Orloffs. Steve, the son, lives uphill behind his father Phil's place.

Phil is 85 now and his wife Norma is in a nursing home. They were in the church in Wisconsin where Mike grew up and moved to Colorado some fifty years ago. We visited them here in the early '80s. There was much to talk about. Most of the people we knew from the Oak Creek Baptist church where we were married are now gone to eternity. We also learned that the church burned down at some point and was rebuilt. So much we did not know.

Phil's son Tim lives with him now. We went out to Olive Garden for dinner and more wonderful sharing and fellowship.

Instead of heading straight back for the night, while the evening was still young, we did a bit of sightseeing. Mike wanted to take me to Red Rocks Park.

As we drove through I tried to take pictures. So many interesting rock formations at every turn. One of the unique features of the park is a natural amphitheater. There happened to be a concert that evening. Hundreds even thousands of cars filled the many parking areas and lined the sides of the road.

We even caught glimpses of wild life. Can you see it?

Another good day.

2015 Week 26: Part B

Wednesday
On the road, all day long, all the way to Kansas City.
Hours and hours of monotonous flat land.

Great opportunity for me to keep my eyes off the road and read out loud.

My cousin Rosie sent us this historic novel back in February shortly after we visited her in Chicago on our way to Wisconsin. It's been in Mike's car so I could read to him anytime whenever we drove somewhere together.

. . . the story behind the Gerasene demoniac of the gospels of Mark and Luke.

I do so enjoy reading expressively, interpreting the different characters' voices. Legion's lines nearly ruined my vocal chords. However, that did not stop me. We almost finished the book that day.

Thursday
We had contacted friends that we hoped to visit. Finally, mid afternoon, we heard from a couple in Fort Collins from our early years in OM.

Arriving at Donnigans

We spent a delightful few hours with them and heard many stories of their life, starting with their OM wedding in London. Perusing their albums we saw young versions of a good number of mutual friends which brought back countless memories.

Al and Nancy

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and by nightfall it was time to make our way back to Denver and find my brother Aldo's place which became our home base for three days.

2015 Week 26: Part A

In last week's post I mentioned we'd be away. We left Wednesday for our road trip out West. We experienced so many wonderful encuentros, meetings with friends, that I've decided to break it up in sections.

Before the trip

Sunday, Father's Day was a quiet one, good for Mike to recover from the robotics competition in Ohio. Read all about it here: CORI.

 I posted some Daddy/Baby and Dad/Daughter photos to remember and celebrate the wonderful father of our children.

Monday I caught sight of a fat and rather slow-moving creature ambling up toward the house. I took my time locating the camera, went out on the deck, and was surprised that it was still there and not bothered by my curiosity. It just stood there eating grasses and eventually ran into the wood pile.

Then it was time for me to run  pick up Leah and Rebecca for an evaluation appointment with an oral surgeon.

While Leah was being examined, x-rayed and informed that not one but FOUR molars needed to come out, I was having fun with Rebecca.

Selfie Attempts

Tuesday was a day to wrap-up things here and pack for the trip.
And Mike worked like usual with the robotics team all evening.

Part B tomorrow.