Category Archives: Family

While we were in the Country…

…our oldest kids flew to the big city of Los Angeles.

14102706_10210254954796219_7310944878050035681_n

While they were there for a quick weekend with friends to enjoy a special concert together they managed a getaway to see my pop, their Dzeda.

14068311_10210254910475111_8965237990858942342_n

They also managed to get all these cousins together for brunch.

14089048_10210254954956223_7821034161675210227_n

Beautiful girls. Two of my nieces with our dear daughter in love, Laura.

We are all back in our own homes again. Home from the big city and home from the country.

country scenes 005

This country scene is from our middle son’s neck of the woods.

14068068_10210470993719408_1418841963465624555_n

On our way home today we stopped at the scenic overlook of the Columbia River just before you get to Vantage. A selfie was in order. This is about halfway in our trip.

It’s good to be home after six days away. Watering was the first thing on my list to do and now I will relax till tomorrow. We are finishing up listening to a Bruno Chief of Police novel. On our trip to the country we finished Louise Penny’s The Cruelest Month.

Hope all is well whether you are in the big city or the quiet country.

The Weekend

This last weekend we enjoyed good times together with our kids.

2016-08-02 kids weekend

Our kids from the east arrived shortly after 2 pm and we had a snack of Pishkey-Russian Fry bread or (Rollkuchen-Mennonite Version) and watermelon. Next up was getting our son Dan’s Blazer on a car carrier so he could take it back to his own shop in Eastern Washington. Lots of discussion went on amongst the 4 men on the best way to do things. The ladies sat on patio chairs far away from the danger and kept Reyna (Dan and Jamie’s dog) entertained. Katie ventured over to the danger to take a GoPro video of the action.

kids weekend 022

Reyna enjoyed fetch while the guys worked and then had a little rest under the apple tree.

kids weekend 038

2016-08-02 kids weekend1

When the vehicle was safely on the carrier and strapped down we enjoyed dinner together. Brisket off the smoker, barbecue beans, and a fresh slaw of mango, jicama, and cabbage. Apple Cake for dessert. I didn’t get a photo of Laura before she had to leave.

djsounders

On Sunday Dan, Jamie, Josh and I enjoyed the Sounders game together. This was an anniversary treat for Dan from his bride of one year! It was such a good game even though we didn’t win but left with a tie.

Pictures54

On Monday morning more things were loaded up and Dan and Jamie carefully drove home. We picked pears off our tree for them to take home for canning. They also took the balance of our apples to prepare for canning. Reyna hopped in the back seat excited to take off with Dan and Jamie.

djblazer5

kids weekend 047

It was so good to see these two face to face. A happy anniversary weekend to them a month after their one year anniversary! We enjoy each of our children with their spouses. They are three very different couples with their unique qualities that blend well with each other. We love their uniqueness. We are so blessed to know that they have a common bond in the Spirit with our God and Creator. Unique but the same, bonded in the Spirit of the Lord. We thank God for his loving hand on them and pray for their marriages which are constantly under attack in our current world.

V is for Vera…

Vera is one of my older sisters. She was recently widowed and has moved into a 55 and over community not far from her old home. While I was visiting she had an open house to share her new home with friends and family.

Pictures52

Her manufactured home is open concept with 9 foot ceilings that give it a spacious feeling.

2016-06-05 H.B4

There are 3 bedrooms which include a large master suite with a walk in closet and large bathroom with a separate tub and shower. My younger sister Lana lives with Vera part-time when she is in Southern California working. Lana got to decorate her own room. Since Lana was in Washington while I was in California I got to crash in her room. My brother Leonard from Texas was also staying with Vera and he got the bedroom/office and the blow up mattress.

2016-06-05 H.B2

It was good to see some of our cousins and old friends during the open house. Vera used an old email list for her invites so if she missed you she apologizes.

H.B. 1&2 020

It was a nice day and we set up tables and chairs in the carport. I did not get photos of everyone, oops.

H.B. 1&2 027

On Sunday Leonard, Vera, and I met some of our family for brunch in Newport Beach at Sol Cocina.

H.B. 1&2 028

H.B. 1&2 039

Leonard and I got to meet our newest grand niece for the first time.

H.B. 1&2 090

H.B. 1&2 094

mohai42

Ellie with her Baba, my SIL Kelly.

13331058_10209773987534689_2190396939927595585_n

Later in the day some of my family gathered at Vera’s again for more food and fellowship.

2016-06-05 more of Ellie

more of Ellie 012

I’ve posted this photo before but I love it enough to post it again, Pop (dzeda) and Ellie. My dear old pop made it out to Vera’s twice and he lasted for several hours which was good for him.

2016-06-05 more of Ellie1

My pop with 5 of his 8 children.

Leonard and I managed to be with our pop for dinner at Kathy’s on Friday night, open house on Saturday, Dinner at Vera’s on Sunday and then we drove out on Monday morning to go out for breakfast with him and my sister Kathy and to say goodbye to him until we meet again. He got his 2 eggs sunny side up with hash browns, sausage, white toast and coffee and even though it was at Coco’s instead of Denny’s he said it was good. He also insisted on paying. He says he needs to get rid of his money. From breakfast we headed straight to the airport for Leonard’s flight back to Texas. I still had 24 hours left in California.

mohai44

The fun just kept coming. After I dropped Leonard off I met up with my BFF from my Russian Baptist days and we had lunch and a few hours of catching up. Would you believe from this meet up I headed to the third restaurant of the day, Zov’s, to meet my sisters for dinner?

mohai43

Kathy and I split our Kebob dinner and we all shared the dessert tray. Kathy, this could have been your late birthday celebration if my brain wasn’t completely fogged up by then! Oye!

When Vera and I returned home Dear’s brother and SIL stopped by for a brief visit since they couldn’t come to the Open House. It was good to see them face to face. BTW, Dear wasn’t with me in Southern California because he was working at a conference in Chicago.

I’m now home after flying first class and that’s a fun story all by itself. This post is way too long already. It’s good to be home and I thank God for watching over me and giving me valuable moments to treasure with my Pop, family and friends.

Since it’s Wednesday and ABC Wednesday is on the letter V this post will be linked up for V is for Vera! Thank you Mrs. Nesbitt and Roger with his team of ABCers.

An Interlude…

…a brief period of time that comes in the middle of something.

2016-06-05 H.B1

Spent some sweet time with the youngest in our family, my grandniece and with the oldest…

more of Ellie 012

our pop with his youngest great granddaughter.

When I get home I’ll share a lot more of my time away from the regular routine of home.

Five More Hats!

Five more hats that I have worn from college on…

# 1 ~ I was part of a Christian Rock group where I met Dear and we fell in love with each other and with Great Britain in the early 70’s.

img511

contemporaries004

“Hymns give way to Jesus Rock in morning assembly at St. George’s Church of England School, in Meadow Road, Gravesend yesterday. The concert was given by the Contemporaries, 14 musicians from the United States who are in the middle of a world tour. They have already completed a number of successful “gigs” in Liverpool. They are all professional musicians but they are giving their services free”…

Dear and I are in the center of the photo on the bottom row. 1974 was the last summer tour Dear and I participated in.

img521

img562

#2 – I was a bride and became a wife to Dear and changed my name in December of 1974.

img449

#3 ~ I was an elementary school teacher in the Montebello Unified School District until our first son was born.

Ventura7

#4~ I’m blessed to be a mother to these three children and my mother in law sheet is complete with two daughter-in-laws and one son-in-law.

i-hXBV9VJ-M

#5 I’m an auntie and great auntie to so many lovely human beings! I’m sharing a few photos so I can get all of the nieces and nephews and great nephews and nieces in. I haven’t met two of the latest greats in person yet.

BP03112012_586c

Our family and Dear’s brother’s family from Katie and Andrew’s wedding in 2012.

Nick's Funeral 140

Dear’s only brother’s family and our family in 2015 at Riverside National Cemetery (missing Jenna, Justin, Skylar and Travis).

Mom's services 172

My kids and nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews surrounding my pop at my mother’s memorial service in 2013.

Our kids plus my nieces and nephews with my youngest niece Hope and youngest nephew Andrew in 2015 at my brother-in-law Nick’s funeral. So let me count. 7 brothers and sisters. 7 brother and sister in laws. 19 original nieces and nephews. Many of those nieces and nephews are married now and I have 9 grand nieces and nephews. I have 4 nieces and 2 nephews who aren’t married yet.

I have one brother (out of my 7 siblings) whose family has estranged themselves from all the rest of us siblings and our families. They are not enjoying the love and support and comfort that the rest of us enjoy when we are together. I’m adding this truth here to let my dear readers know that things aren’t all rosy in my family relationship category. My brother and his wife have 4 kids and we know for sure 3 of them are married. We aren’t sure about our oldest nephew from this family. We have at least 3 grand nephews or nieces that I’ve never met. I also have never met two of my nephew’s spouses and the oldest niece’s spouse. They have chosen to cut off all ties and relationship with us. Haven’t seen my brother since 2009 and haven’t seen my sister in law since 2004. So sad but true. We pray that there will be reconciliation in the future. Gott Kann!

I have a few more current hats to share before I totally bore you to tears.

I’m linking up with Amy at Love Made My Home for Five on Friday and with Susanne for Friday’s Fave Five.

I’ll be on the road for most of Friday and hope to check in once we arrive at our son’s house in Eastern Washington for the weekend later on Friday. Blessings…

Sisters!

It’s been 5 years since we’ve had a “Sister weekend”.

We made some good memories then and it’s time for some more…

Last time on the first weekend of April 2011 we took the Clipper to Victoria for a weekend. This time we are staying in our homes in the Seattle area and venturing out from here.

Last time we were in Victoria we met up with Pondside and she gave us a grand tour of the area. My sisters and I loved spending time with her. She is a blogger that I so admire for her work ethic and her caring heart for all the people in her life.

I’m hoping to show my sisters our fields of daffodils this time around. Here’s hoping for decent weather and rows and rows of daffodils!

I’m getting things ready at this old house for my sisters. Trying to plan some easy meals in between our outings. I’m thinking about breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and desserts. I’ve got two guest rooms ready for my oldest sister Kathy and my next oldest sister Vera. My younger sister, Lana, lives walking distance to me. Kathy and Vera live in southern California. I’m picking them up from the airport on Friday morning. I hope to share some of our adventures on my blog next week.

SAD NEWS FOR BLOGGERS!

I was so sorry to hear that Sally of Smiling Sally Blog has passed away. She hosted Blue Monday for years. I participated in the past but haven’t for some time. She was always encouraging and positive and kind.  I love what bj said in her comment on Sally’s blog…

Bye, bye, Sally…you are now in the best BLUE of all….Blue Heaven.

On her blog she has this verse as her favorite so I know I will see her again in the future in heaven…

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:13

The Home At Peace

This post is all about this old house, the home that we have treasured memories in.

The Home At Peace

Here is a little world where children play
And just a few red roses greet [September];
Above it smiles God’s stretch of [autumn] sky;
Here laughter rings to mark the close of day;

There is no greater splendor far away.
Here slumber comes with all her dream supply,
And friendship visits as the days go by;
Here love and faith keep bitterness at bay.

Should up this walk come wealth or smiling fame,
Some little treasures might be added here,
But life itself would still remain the same;
Love is not sweeter in a larger sphere.

This little world of ours wherein we live
Holds now the richest joys which life can give.

~Edgar A. Guest

Our front door in the summer and our front door at Christmas…

Views of our house from the back.

finish work on house 005

Side yard with art details on the garage/shop.

Before the patio covers are up.

With the patio covers and before we built the privacy fence.

View from the house to the privacy fence.

 

New look 001

The living room of our home and the same room transformed for a Christmas dinner party!

before and afters 004

Looking from the family room to the heart of the home…the kitchen and eating area.

A view of our kitchen before the hardwood floors. And the table full for our Christmas breakfast 2015!

IMGP0629

All decked out for our annual fourth of July party in the past and this shot for our 2015 party…

Our daughter, son-in-law, niece and nephew. Our niece and nephew were visiting from Texas with their parents.

cropped-i-skpqxs5-m.jpg

Our family of eight. The most treasured part of our home!

I’m linking up to ABC Wednesday for H is for Home and to Tuesday Treasures.

Later in the week I’ll link this post to Thoughts of Home on Thursday with Laura at Decor To Adore.

Thank you to Mrs. Nesbitt and her team and to Tom at The Backroads Traveller.

Enrich:

:to improve the quality of (something) : to make (something) better, etc.

Our family has been enriched with the addition of another daughter in law this year. Dan and Jamie are a team that yield new things for our family to enjoy.

Snow 2016 013

Don’t tell anyone but I do not can. My mother canned but it’s not something I’ve tried or am comfortable trying. Jamie does can. Dan and Jamie plant a garden and they have fruit trees on their acreage in the country. They have apple trees. They use their bounty well by canning some of the excess.

Snow 2016 012

Snow 2016 015

Their salsa is amazing and we have gone through 3 of these large jars of it in the last few weeks. We are so happy they shared their canned bounty with us! Their land is not a farm at this point so instead of farm to table we’ll call it land to table!

We appreciate the fact that our son is not alone on his acreage anymore but has a lovely wife by his side to enrich his life and ours!

Absent from the Body…

…present with our Lord. Nick died late this afternoon at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, California.

Our brother Nick’s suffering has ended and he is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This next photo is of Nick and my sister Vera at our son Dan’s wedding June 27th.

Nick was my friend before he married my sister Vera. We were in youth group together at Bethany Baptist Russian Church in Los Angeles. His parents immigrated to the U.S.A. as did ours. Nick was engaged to my sister before he was drafted and sent to Viet Nam in the late 60’s. While in my first year of college (68-69) we exchanged letters while he was in Viet Nam. He returned to a world that did not appreciate his service. Nick and Vera were married November 22, 1969.

Not sure the date on this photo but it was shortly after Nick and Vera were married.

After Dear and I were married we spent many fun times with Nick and Vera.

Our first home that Dear and I bought was across the street from Nick and Vera. Our second home was around the corner from them. This photo is from our second home in Huntington Beach at a family gathering after Nick and Vera’s daughter Debbee was born.

This photo above was from a surprise anniversary party we had for Nick and Vera.

Debbee, David, Josh and Dan were such good buddies growing up. This next photo is in the backyard of our house around the corner from Nick and Vera in the early 80’s.

12046859_10207810983260809_2713719773995582101_n

Katie came into the family dynamics later in Ventura, California and soon learned of Uncle Nick’s antics!

Nick was a very generous and giving person and he was always willing to help a brother. We will never forget his acts of service to us through the years, the last being his help at our son Dan’s wedding.

I’m thankful I was able to see Nick and tell him that I loved him one last time before he died. We grieve the loss of our brother on this earth but we rejoice that He is with our Lord and we will see him again. Praying for my sister Vera and her kids as they navigate through their grief on earth…

Thank you to all of you who were praying for Nick…