Who Says You Can't Go Back Home?

Posting this from Wisconsin Rapids. "Home" for all my Junior High and High School years.

I'm sure I can't put in words what is in my heart. These folk are part of who I am. What fun it was to see them all again.

Vernon and Sharon

Dad performed their wedding ceremony during a driving blizzard. Looks like it "took" just fine!!!

Wendy

One of my special high school friends. We weren't in the same school, and she graduated before I did - - - but we were friends all through my high school days and she has a special place in my heart and in my memories.

Pat

"Adopted" us. We went camping in her garage, had paper air plane fights all through her house, and watched TV all night long. She loved us through it all.

Pam, Anita, and Me

Anita is Pat's daughter and the reason Pat was forced to "adopt" us. There was always a laugh involved with Anita - - - and she was on hand at my "near drowning" at Lake Wazeecha - - - but that's still another story.

Pam, Connie, and Me

We used to take Connie and her siblings to church with us. Now Connie is an amazing lady, one I wish all of you could meet!

Pam, Harvey, and Me

What a good sport! He consented to have his picture taken with us.

Pam, Connie, Jerry, and Me

Connie and Jerry were our youth pastors. They had no formal training, but they loved us and gave us leadership skills, and loved us, and put up with us, and loved us and loved us. I know I owe much to them for what I have become.

I Come to the Garden - - -

Here in this lovely garden spot - - -


On Burr Ridge near Hillsboro, Wisconsin,


Dad lovingly relinquished his years of caring for mom by personally placing the chest containing her ashes into the ground.


While many of us came to share with him in that moment - - - only he carried her ashes. He said he promised her fifty-six years ago that he would take care of her and that he intended to keep that promise to the end.

Commitment.

More Table Talk - - -

The Lord has blessed us with so much love. Here are some of those we love who came to the memorial service at Burr Ridge, and with whom we shared table talk.

Bob and Janice

We first met Bob and Janice at camp in Indiana. Now they live in Ontario, Wisconsin and pastor the Mount Pisgah Wesleyan Church. We count them among the dearest of our friends.

Faith

Faith's dad, like ours, was a pastor here in Wisconsin. We grew up going to camps together every summer. Oh the memories.

Shirley

Just beginning to show signs of the dreaded "Butcher" senior dementia

Kevin

Who brought his dad and dealt with the "Butcher" senior dementia with grace and humor.

Craig

I promised I'd make him a blog star. Want his autograph, girls?

Brian

This man can PLAY the piano!!!!

Just so you know it really WAS table talk.

To Rockford and Beyond - - -

Today Dad, Pam, and I traveled to Wisconsin for mom's memorial and interment here. That will be tomorrow - - - but today, on the way, we stopped in Rockford to see Aunt Kitty, dad's youngest sister.

About three months ago I posted that Aunt Kitty had been diagnosed with cancer. Now, it appears that Aunt Kitty is losing that battle with cancer, and unless the Lord intervenes she will not be with us much longer.

Today was the first time dad got to see Kitty since she was diagnosed with cancer.

But God is good - - - He has given us a precious new life, a perfect little boy, Aunt Kitty's latest grandson. What joy he is bringing to her, and to us, in this difficult time.

Aunt Kitty holding Caleb Michael

I TOLD you he was perfect!

Uncle Dave, the proud grandpa

Sister Pam chats with Uncle Dave

Two of Aunt Kitty's girls
Jenny, Caleb's mommy, and Joscey

Table Talk

One of my favorite parts of any family memorial is gathering to eat and fellowship together - - - table talk.

We were blessed with precious table talk yesterday - - -

Cathy and Jeanny

Jeanny and Keetha

Brent

Kayla and Korie

Uncle Paul and Aunt Virginia (Dad's brother)

Aunt Mary (Dad's Sister)

Linda, Bob Jr., and Albert Elmer

Phil and Linda chat with Aunt Alice Mae
Aunt Alice Mae is mom's cousin and dad's sister-in-law

Kent and Liana

Turner, Aunt Janet (mom's sister) and Karen

Keetha's and Pam's kids

From another angle

Friday Sky Watch

No words necessary.

And Then There Were Three - - -

Today we gathered to celebrate mom's life. Mom was one of nine children and dad is one of thirteen. That means there were A LOT of us. As the family processed into the sanctuary it seemed like it took a LONG time - - - which it did. And actually, those there represented only a smattering of both sides of the family.

I will have more pictures to post later, but for tonight let me just share a few.

Now we are three. My sister Pam, Dad, and me. But we are not really alone - - -


We seem to have proliferated!!!!


Somebody was just too cute for his own good!!! Every time there was a pause in the service he called out, "All Done!"


Hubby has purse phobia. He will NOT carry, hold, or even TOUCH my purse. Knowing this, I didn't ask him totouch my purse, I merely asked him to bring me the camera that was IN my purse. Oh - - - but THAT wouldn't have been any fun. Instead he made quite a production out of bringing me my purse while sticking to his manly resolve to never touch it.


Cousin Rich demonstrates that holding my purse will not cause sudden death of manhood.

(By the way, Rich's wife, Darla, was homecoming queen at IWU back in the day!!!)


And here are three of mom's little treasures that dad sent home with me. A pin with mother of pearl insets, a pair of gloves, and a necklace, which I wore today, so if you look carefully you will see it in the above pictures of me.

Tomorrow morning Dad, Pam, and I set out for Wisconsin, the final leg of mom's journey on this Earth.

I will take lappy and post along the way - - -

Wisconsin Rapids, WHO ARE YOU!?!

Somebody from my high school "era" has found my blog this week. I KNOW you've found me because my site meter shows blog hits from Wisconsin Rapids.

Oh PLEASE, OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE leave me a comment and let me know who you are!!!!


While we're on the subject of Wisconsin Rapids, let me talk about it just a bit. It gets its name from the fact that it's situated on one of the rapids in the Wisconsin River.


When I lived there, people who didn't know any better, used to try to tell me it was Rapids, Wisconsin. I guess they thought there were just too many Wisconsins in my address. But NOT - - - it IS Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.


It's a paper mill town. You can SEE the mill in this photo, but oh that you could SMELL it too!!!!! I shan't give you a description of that aroma here.

Don't know which section of the rails this is - - - but what a pretty shot.


Lake Wazeecha. My sister and I used to drive out to this lake to swim in the summer. I thought I was going to drown there once - - - but I guess that' a story for another time.


Nepco Lake

(I got all these photos from City-Data.com)

All in a Day - - -

Today.

First of all, remember the kid in the pool on the back of his pick-up truck? Well, he's at it again. He asked me if he could decorate "his" study carrel in my room. Since he was the first and ONLY student to ask, and since I thought it was quite creative, I said yes.

Here'S Evan with his masterpiece:

I'm tellin' ya, these kids keep me HOPPING!!!!

My friend Rhonda, who also happens to be the mom of two of my students, sent me THIS gift today:


Are you seeing this????? POP TARTS with NCAA football logos air brushed on the icing!!! How COOL is that?

I'll tell you what's even cooler - - -


When the first one out of the box is your arch rival and you can chomp right through it!!! Hope that is prophetic of how my Badgers will treat them on the gridiron this fall.