Cross Country...

It was a beautiful day for a cross country meet and Nagawicka Park was especially decked out with fall colors at their peak. I originally went just to be outside to enjoy the weather, but I also wanted to watch some of my "kids" compete. Kevin, Rachel, Josh, Sam, and others. I saw the Physics teacher there. He was doing the same thing. Something he said is still ringing in my heart... "It's all about relationships, isn't it?"It has been fifteen years since I last attended this big meet and the memories came flooding back. At that time I went to watch my own kids run. I loved those days and I especially enjoyed the cross country meets. I was always an enthusiastic parent spectator: I'd begin at the starting line watching the runners take off; I'd dash up the hill to the next vantage point; run across the park to another spot where I could see them as they emerged from the woods; then it was down to the finish line to cheer them in! "Push it!" "Go!" "Lean forward!" "Catch the one ahead of you!" "Faster!" "Pass her!" "Now go get the next one."
Today I went to watch my "school" kids. They were surprised. Delighted even. Hearing me on the side of the trail, they would glance over at me and I would see a tiny flicker of recognition. I even sensed that they pushed just a little bit harder then. Afterwards, "Wow, you came!" "Thank you!" "Did you see me catch them right after that turn?" "I was off my personal best, but my knee was really hurting."
"But you finished strong! You did a great job!" I shook their hands, met some parents and came away proud of each and every one.
"You're right Mr. V, it's all about relationships!" The teaching will come later......

Dear "Birth Mother"...

Somewhere in Wisconsin is a lovely young woman and, though I don't even know her name, I already love her. I thank the Lord for her and have promised myself to pray for her. Having nurtured new life for nine months - all the while praying for wisdom - she made the beautiful decision to place her baby girl in the loving and capable arms of my friends Sara and her husband Chris. She could not have made a better choice and, if I could talk to her today, this is what I would say:
"I met tiny Emma Grace on Friday. She was only 9 days old, slightly less than 8 pounds and nursing sweetly from a bottle. In spite of her diminutive size she had already turned her new home "upside down"! Though quiet, the joy in their home was palpable. Sara was so graceful as she lovingly tended to Emma; Chris showed fatherly pride in his baby's charm.

"She is so calm!" I remarked. Emma stretched and yawned and curled her tiny arms about her round face. She peeked out of her sleep to see the new faces, rolled her lip down and blinked in the light. Her beautiful hands, long arms and legs, and slender feet were so delicate. Sara glowed and Chris smiled; their love for their tiny daughter shining in their faces. It was beautiful, natural and utterly complete! Thank you for your courage and your love."

Anniversary Celebration...

A full weekend of fun was planned for the family's celebration of our 40th Wedding Anniversary. All our girls as well as Mimi came home for the occasion and there was no shortage of food, fun and celebration! We traveled in style in a 12-passenger van! We ate in the "Pope's Room" at Milwaukee's famous Buca di Beppo restaurant. (The Italian food and the Red Velvet cake were out of this world!) We tailgated at Miller Park and took in a Brewer game. (they lost...) The guys golfed at Rainbow Springs while the girls "showered" Julie with baby items for her little girl which is expected to arrive in October.
Phil enjoyed the "experience" of grocery shopping with the pros - Julie and Lori. We took walks and runs and sat around in the yard. Some of us enjoyed a late night campfire while others of us enjoyed the early mornings with Owen... We enjoyed hanging out in the kitchen making breakfast together (we used our new griddle) or snacking on "Skinny Cows" (are they really legal?) We tried Calimari, tasted non-alcoholic beer, played pool and even tried a new "softer" t.p. (Thanks to Julie and Lori.)

Slightly short on sleep, everyone has headed back home and to work, remembering the fun times and wishing they didn't fly by so quickly! Our Fiftieth will be a calmer affair...?

Rog & Rach, MB, Jewlie 'n Todd, LoriJo and Constantin
Front Row: Owen MM and Phil

Forty Years...

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY!

A tribute to 40 years...too many memories to even begin to mention. To tell you the truth, we just can't imagine that it has really been that long! Where have the years gone?

Thankfully we have our health and strength, our family and EACH OTHER. We have meaningful and satisfying work, great kids, places where we like to travel and a lovely place to call "home". God has blessed "exceedingly and abundantly, above all we could ask or think!" I guess we will trust Him for the next year or forty more!

"Meem Dawg"...

Don't you think that Mimi looks cute with a doggie?



Just look at how this one loves to jump on her lap!



See? She knows just where to scratch him!



Does Mimi need a doggie?

Let's vote!

Your vote counts!!!!

Vote early and often!!!



YES or NO

"MY WISH"...

Happy Birthday, Mary Beth!


"My Wish"
by RASCAL FLATTS
I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.
But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big ....

...never stop dreaming

...I'll LOVE you for always!

Last Day...

It was hard to think that today (Friday) would be our last full day of vacation in Colorado, but we kept playing and working - enjoying every minute of it. You sure stay busy at julie's house!

She got her Dad to make a trench to bury the barn electric wire and even Owen enjoyed seeing Phil run the backhoe. (Only one telephone wire was broken in the process! oops!) We got in more biking and walking and playing on the 4-wheeler. The "kids" made a tent for Owen to play in.
We also played some more with the ponies!

Aimee and Shane made it up here in time for dinner. Aimee showed us her new bike.
(Grandma was happy to have some time with Aim!) Then we all celebrated Julie's birthday (again) with steak on the grill and a red velvet birthday cake! mmmmmmmmmm Mimi placed the candles on the cake and, fortunately, we did not need a fire extinguisher before Julie blew them out!

The days have been warm and the nights have been cool. I guess that is how it is in the mountains. We will certainly miss this beautiful place and our family here, but have been blessed to enjoy them all so much this week.

Colorado fun...

She loves "those wide open spaces"... and we have all certainly enjoyed them too! The landscape surrounding Olsen's Handlebar Ranch is scenic and spacious.

The mountains rise in every direction and the Blue River flows in the valley below. We have enjoyed walking and biking each way on Kit Carson Drive - (County Road 1001).








Kremmling, the closest town, is 10 miles north. Home of the Mustangs and a lovely park and playground. Owen loved the Vietnam era helicopter and the eagle sculpture; i.e. the "hopicopter" and the "hummingbird". We all enjoyed the water pad with fountains, sprays and arcs of water in which to cool off.
We were so lucky to be able to watch a mountain bike race in the outskirts of Breckenridge. Todd raced in the Expert Division over a course that was 19.5 miles long! We were able to cheer him on over the final "lap"! Owen yelled for Uncle Todd - "woo hoo"!

Phil's favorite thing all week, besides the day of fishing, was the tour of the Country Boy Mine! We went into the cold, wet tunnel about 1000 feet to learn of the miner's life and work in Summit County in the late 1800's.
The tour ended with an opportunity to pan for gold! Phil has often talked about trying that, and he was happy to finally have the chance. Several of us tried our hand at it, some of us discovering tiny golden particles in the sand at the bottom of our pans!

Colorado Vacation...

It has been a busy couple days here at Todd and Julie's house! There is so much to do and we want to do it all! Thanks to Rachel and Owen for getting our day started with Yoga stretches.

Thanks to Julie for getting a little bike and tow-behind burley so Owen and Rachel could join in on the fun.

Some of our vacation activities include:

breakfast with Todd before he leaves for work

picking up rocks in Sadie's and Geri's pasture

reading

napping

playing with ponies

playing on Todd's tractor

and learning to run a dump truck and backhoe

sucking on "juicecicles"

relaxing on the deck

swimming in the big "blue" pool

and soaking in the pools at Hot Sulpher Springs