Are we still linked here?

Hey Everybody! I thought the family blog was a good idea, but I'd forgotten we even had it! Do you think it might still be useful?

HAITI February 5-12, 2013 pictures at
http://haitimission2013.shutterfly.com/
Andrea's Tanzania blog:   if you haven't been getting updates from Andrea's blog, please let her know and she will add you to the e-mail list... a.m.ahrendsen@gmail.com

My First Time in Haiti, 3 years after the 7point Earthquake of 2010, we get into the airport at 5 pm and it is getting dark by the time we are at Matthew 25 Guest house, which is only 1.5 miles from the airport. Port au Prince is a huge city (2.5-3 million in the metropolitan area) and very busy. People, people everywhere. It must be that afternoon schools have just let the kids out, because I see lots of uniforms. Lots of sidewalk vendors. Motorcycles and jeeps piled with people move along slowly. Our vehicle, piled high with luggage and people, moves at a walking pace. I can tell, because I have spotted 2 women walking along with big baskets on their heads, and we are almost playing leap frog with them. After leaving at 2 a.m., and sitting on planes until 5 p.m., I am so restless to get out and walk with them, but they won't understand me and I'll get lost. So I play it safe. There are some smooth roads, but the side roads are rutted, rocky and bumpy. Yes, much worse than the high school parking lot at it's worst. I would need off road experience to drive in Haiti. I see where people have set up housing in make shift dwellings(corrugated iron mixed with tarp or tent or whatever they can find- got a pic. Of a railroad car home), all along the road and it looks like it goes back from the road quite a ways. (I had seen places like this in Sao Paolo, Brasil, and Manila and Legazpi, Philippines) Mom would call them squatters homes.  No ownership or rental of land, just set up where there is space.  Matthew 25 guest house was wonderful to meet us at the airport with transportation and give us wonderful beds, food, water and fellowship.   We met a group from Dyersville with several teens who would head back to the US the next day.  They knew Mike Whitters.   Their mission had been at a school to the East, close to the Dominican Republic.   There is a creole prayer written on the wall, here, and Haitian proverbs written on the table, and beautiful art work all around.  Rony shared with us a saying he likes: "Koze mande chez":  conversation begs a chair.

Our interpreters were all lively and fun to get to know. What a job they had, for a week, away from their families and homes and whatever other jobs they have, and interpreting during church and clinics and during meetings and as we traveled.

Rony had been with the group last year. He's 26, showed us pictures of his young nephew-He says he likes to sing gospel and he has a good voice. I got him to sing the Haitian national anthem for me on the long ride to Anse Rouge. Since we noticed goats along the road, I sang him “Bill Grogan's goat”. He does a great Michael Jackson dance imitation. I asked him where he was during the earthquake.  He said he was in church, and it was not damaged.  His family was safe and OK, but it was very sad to see all the damage and the others whose lives were lost.   Many University students were taking a test at that time and they were killed when the building they were in collapsed.

Vladimyr was born in Haiti, but was in New York since he was 10, is now back in Haiti helping the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Organization. www.fcahaiti.org He has a wife and child, and 10 year old step son that he has just transferred to a Christian school.

Olrich – has been to Bible College for 2 years in Singapore. He had been working for “a foreigner” who wanted to cut his pay in half when he came back. He lives in PAP near the sea, he walked with his young daughter there lately. He was driving in a car with his brother during the earth quake.  There were 6 of his siblings, and all were out of the house except his sister who was a nurse.   Their house collapsed on her, but the iron door was wedged.  For a half an hour she cried for help.  When she realized none was coming she squirmed her way and pushed towards the door.  After that experience she went to live in Florida.  It changed her personality.   She sometimes gets debris coming out of her skin. Olrich said that after the earthquake he was in shock for  6 months.

Father Laneau Nicholais, having only been in this parish for 3 months, was very gracious and has good faithful leadership at daily 6 a.m. Worship. There is beautiful harmonious music made by both children and adults as they sing hymns and liturgy. I only wish I could understand the words. We did get so we knew when they were saying “The Lord's Prayer” and prayed with them in our own language. Women of the church are greeted us and were appreciative of our presence. Sunday service the children sang and there were drums and a saxophone accompanying them. The Our Lady of Assumption Church is beautiful – built with rock and Mortar - triangle shaped with ano/domini symbols.

The Lord's Prayer in Aysyen Creole:

Papa nou ki nan syèl la,

Nou mande pou yo toujou respekte non ou.

Vin tabli gouvènman ou,

pou yo fè volonte ou sou latè, tankou yo fè l nan syèl la.

Manje nou bezwen an, ban nou l jòdi a.

Padonnen tou sa nou fè ki mal,

menm jan nou padonnen moun ki fè nou mal.

Pa kite nou nan pozisyon pou n tonbe nan tantasyon,

men, delivre nou anba Satan.

[Paske, se pou ou tout otorite, tout pouvwa ak tout lwanj, depi tout tan ak pou tout tan.]

Amèn

The first day, at Terra Negra, I had finished taking blood pressures and I saw many children standing around and I wanted to relate to them some way. I knew we had some paper and crayons, so I got the construction paper, and gave each child one, and each one a crayon. They didn't do anything with it. I had them all write their names on one piece of paper. After that, I started folding. I made a hat. Ahh, they said, chapeau! And then I turned it into a boat. Finally, with another paper, I made an airplane. I tried to get them to fold their papers as I showed them. They didn't seem to be able to, so I made 6 airplanes. Then I got Rony and had him line them all up and throw the planes to see who could throw the farthest. 2 kids did the best and so they both threw again and the older girl won:)

One boy (Pierre Ephesien) did draw some pictures, but no one else would. He was the girl who won's competitor. I hardly had time to gather my things, but Jon and I did take a few pictures of the sea and the huge tall orange flowers growing out of aloevera plants before jumping on the loaded trucks to go back to Anse Rouge. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture as we drove away of many of the kids standing and watching us leave with airplanes in their hands. I did feel a bit like a renegade. What will she teach them next? To make spit wads? And isn't that a waste of precious paper?

This trip was very well organized. There was a solution to any concern that came up... do you think there might be bed bugs? We have a spray and powder you can put on and around your bed. Are you worried about food contamination? Have this clorox wipe to be sure the icewater is not getting into your system, and don't eat any fresh, unpeeled veggies or fruits. A wash basin with soap before we ate, and lots of sterile soap and wipes. Hungry? There are snacks of all kinds.

Our group was very easy going and tolerant. This was important because we had to sit very close together as we travelled. And at night, our sleeping quarters were partitioned off, but the walls didn't go to the ceiling, so we could hear snores, coughs and sneezes. The running water – 2 stalls with flushing toilets and 2 shower stalls were slightly separate from our sleeping quarters but were not far … across the porch.  The church is within a compound with a cement block fence all around it so I felt very secure.  in the compound is the church with dining hall at the back and a living space with toilet (Monica and Katy and Mickey stayed there), a storage building(the pastor lives upstairs)  a cooking place (has a store room, too)  and our sleeping place and bath area.   one side of the compound fence is shared by the school and you walk into their cafeteria when you go through the door there.

It was fun to have Tess Nagel, the youngest of our group, along. She kept us aware of the bugs and spiders and crabs and pushed us to ask for the dogs to be allowed to roam free.   It really was more peaceful when they were out of their kennel.  

Katie (Cooper) Legvold was supposed to meet us in Dallas, but her flight out of Wichita was cancelled because the flight crew had too many hours.   So she had to fly in the evening and stay overnight in the airport at Miami and catch the plane to Port-au-Prince the next morning.   Too bad we had to make an extra trip to the airport, but it wasn't too much out of our way to pick her up and then head out of town.      Katy Miller liked getting to know her.   She is an occupational therapist now and her husband is a lawyer.  She said he works in employment law.

Katy and her Mom (Mickey Cooper the Eagle Grove pharmacist) and Monica Staudt - a nurse and farmer - wife and mother, who works volunteering for hospice and the Catholic Church (she's the organizer of this whole thing) stayed in a separate sleeping place.   As did Jerry Temeyer (Catholic Deacon and retired)and Victor (a radiologist from Ohio)- they stayed in a room that is in the building where the priest has his apartment.

Monica Siemens and Tim Nagel and Perry - electrician, EMT, Brown's Landscaper from Belmond and Joan - Catholic from Jesup/Waterloo area. and JON.  complete the group.   Joan has short gray hair like me.  she goes on Ragbrai. A week  after this trip, she was going with her family to an Alabama beach condo.   in the summer they are going to tour Alaska.   she is very fit.  and lively and nice and fun. (she was my roommate)

Before we went to Tierra Negra, we toured the school connected to Our Lady of Assumption in Anse Rouge.   2-3 year olds - 6th grade.   uniforms.   seem to be nice teachers.  about 20 in a class...223 total students this year.   some years 3-400.  cement block building, desks, blackboards, notebooks and pens.   they each sang a song for us  translator told us 4th grade sang " Lord God of hosts, with your strength, give us energy and knowledge."  and we showed them where Iowa was on a quilt Monica Staudt had brought.   The Catholic Churches of Wright County have paid $$ to build the school and pay the teachers salaries, and feed the kids once a day.  They have sent treadle sewing machines, hoping to get women started on a trade.

Just be fore we left on Monday, Feb. 11, we took an exam table to the hospital that was just being rebuilt from a fire when they were there last year.  we met a young man (Dr. Jean Kenold Joseph) who was from Gonaives (population 300,000) and had trained in the Dominican Republic to be a generalist.  he was going to be there for just a year.   they had paper signs for "family planning"  "maternity"  .   This doctor and Katy talked because he felt more comfy with Spanish.

The food was OK, more spicy.  at first I was ok with it, but it didn't vary.   They put it in everything, it seemed.    rice and beans were usually available.  Broth soup was usually served. It had some veggies and ham like meat in it. it was nice to have fish, and lobster, and chicken.   I didn't like the goat that was a delicacy for them and supposed to be special.   Plantain soup for supper once – Monica described it as tasting like toasted marshmallows. Melon smoothie one day, Papaya smoothie another day.

While still in Clarion, before we left, I was talking to Evelyn Fibiker about her talent of crocheting doll clothes.  I asked if I could take one to Haiti with me, along with her picture.   She liked that idea, so we got 2 nicely dressed dolls and a picture and took them along.   I guess it was a hot item, because one doll disappeared, but I did get a picture of the leader of women workers as I gave her the other doll.  She seemed to appreciate the thought and the picture of Evelyn who made it.

1st day tues- flying to Haiti - Des Moines, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami, Port-au-Prince-Matthew 25 house:)
2nd day wed - riding in van and truck to Anse Rouge via Saint Marc and Gonaives
3rd day Thurs. - we got to sleep in!  what a kind Coordinator we have. 8 am breakfast, school next door in am, then to Tierra Negra (Katy rode in back of truck with some of the helpers) in pm.  4pm church service and 5pm Adoration service with supper following.
4th day fri- 5 am bell, 6 am church, 7 am brkfst...we went to Plaine de l'Arbre (I joined Katy in the back of the truck this time - it was a smooth ride partly along the beach and short - with Claudique, Mathique and Wilmique making sure we didn't fall out) where there is another church sponsoring our clinic. In the afternoon we mainly did Anse Rouge school kids - worming and  seeing if they had any health issues their parents wanted to talk about.   we went ahead and had the drs. see some parents while they were there.  Afterwards, about half of us walked thru town to the beach with a couple interpreters.  After supper we talked with Father Nicolai, asking how it was going for him, and what his needs were.  at the end of it, we sang "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow".  Father seemed pleased and said the tune was familiar to him from a gathering he had gone to. 

5th day - sat. 5 am bell, 6 am church, 7 am brkfst....  the plan was to only do a clinic for the adults.   then we went on a bumpy ride to a beach.  (Jon's turn in the back of truck) lots of trash in a line  where the water left it, but otherwise, beautifully clean clear water... (no dead fish) coral  sections to swim around, sandy bottom where the coral wasn't.  lots of opportunity for shell collecting.. not picked over.   found a sea urchin, and hermit crabs.   (I started to feel not too hungry.)

6th day-sunday, 6 am church, 8 am brkfst. - (me personally, no appetite at all and diarhea all day.   just drank water and the sugary colored water they call juice.)   Big church day.  Kids sang in church.   Jerry Temeyer preached and he had a couple of us read scripture in english.    then, they went to Terra Negra where there were to be 8 baptisms.   (I didn't go because I felt tired and loose stools).   Jon and Katy and Perry climbed the hill behind our compound.  I think that was fun... you'll have to hear from him about that. Sun pm. Father said the people that work at the church (cooking, laundry, cleaning) wanted a clinic.   so we did a clinic for them, and some others.   some had been thru before...trying to get as much as they can.    Sun. eve we had a meeting with each other first about what worked and what didn't and how we thought it could improve.   After a while, Father joined us and shared his concerns.  I guess there are 5 schools connected with the 8 churches that he is responsible for., 36 teachers, concerns about teacher inservices, and training of parish workers.   then he shared that he didn't know how the clinics would be attended and suggested that he'd have cards ready next time.

We didn't think there would be "bars" open on Sun. nite, but we heard music, and went to see what a "bar" was like.   it was the beginning of karnival - before ash Wednesday. There were a couple guys dancing, a light on a porch and music blaring, and others standing around.   Perry got us all a beer.    there was another music place with more people further away, but we didn't go there.   There are 2 cross streets that are paved with cement in this town of 3,000.

7th day - Monday – we took the exam table to the hospital and then left to go to Port au Prince.
8th day - Tuesday - flew out at 7 am to ft. Lauderdale, then Chicago, then Des Moines.  Katy was sick all day on the plane.

Thanks for listening.  Jon can tell you about all the medical stuff he saw.   I feel like there should be a school "nurse" for better need assessment and follow up, and we would come to train the workers.  clinics for those who are further out might find more needy people.  they could have used another doctor or PA and another translator.   I feel funny about giving out blood pressure meds without follow up.  A "Parish nurse" could be very busy here.

the weather was gorgeous, the area is dusty and dry.  Just before Anse Rouge there are salt flats where the people work to evaporate the water and gather the salt that is left.  at the beach we went to there was cactus everywhere.   pictures are at http://haitimission2013.shutterfly.com/

some Haitian sayings:  Dan pouri ge fas sou bannann mi.
                                      Rotten teeth have power over ripe plantains
                                    No one is completely powerless.
Pale Franse pa di les pri
Speaking French doesn't mean intelligence
Good speech doesn't mean one is smart.

Bonjour - good day
mayci (Merci)- thank you
Pa de qua - your welcome
suple  - please (sivouple)

la per avu - peace be with you.

Prairie State Job

After a few months of searching I am happy to announce I found a position I like, which, fortunately, likes me too. I interviewed last week with Prairie State Legal Services for a Staff Attorney position in Peoria Illinois. Yesterday I got a call from Prairie State offering me the job, which I accepted. Happy Valentines day to me! The position focuses on family law but I may handle other cases within PSLS's universe as well.




I start tomorrow, Thursday Feb. 16th. I will let everyone know how it goes!

Love,
Miles

239 Ears

Well hello family.

We had a pretty eventful day not too long ago, so I thought I would share it via photos and a little explanation.

On the second of August Mom decided that it would be pretty nice to have some sweet corn for eating right now and in the future. So, she and I headed out at 3pm to a friends farm to get the corn. We decided that we would pick 12 bags worth of corn, one for each month of the year. We had no idea how much corn that actually was. What started out as an enjoyable afternoon turned into a corn freezing marathon. And when I say it was a marathon it means that it was exhausting and lasted forever. One which was so exhausting Dad simply lay down on the living room floor at the end and took a nap. It was a lot of work, but we were finally done at 10:30 pm.

So, does anyone want any frozen corn?

A Great weekend at Conference Point

Trale Here!

It was so good to see everybody that made it up to the reunion at conference point last weekend.

I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with everybody and felt blessed by the chance to interact with such a diverse group.

I was particularly happy that many of the cousins' boy/girlfriends were able to join us; meeting new people and seeing different outlooks on life is always refreshing.

We are busy as ever here on the farm, harvesting, weeding, and caring for the animals.

for some current pictures of the garden and life on the farm in general, you can check out Margaret's blog.

Again, it was so good to see everybody, and I truly hope for more time together through the year with you, the members of our family, as our activities and involvements allow!

Family Reunion!

I just bought my flight's to the midwest for the family reunion in July and am SO EXCITED to see all of you!  So excited!!!  Nick will be coming as well and he's looking forward to meeting those of you he hasn't had a chance to yet. 
Everything is great in Texas! We've been having a lot of outdoor fun... a half marathon along the gulf, camping, gardening, etc.  We just got back from a fantastic trip to Colorado where we saw String Cheese Incident play and did some snowboarding.  Here are some pics:

 See y'all in a few months :)

Karl's life at BVU

Hey family, I have good news and I have bad news.

The good news is I will be making regular Vlog entries. The bad news is that I won't have time to update them here everyday. I will post my first video here but it's up to you to find the other entries. You can easily accomplish this by searching my name on YouTube. I should be updating it every other day. Here is the first video.

Hi! Here are the pics I said I'd send. These young people are all from China. Such fun and loving people.











This is a plant w/ a red flower (obviously). /
/
/





This is a tree w/ little red lights on it, and poinsettias blow it. Just wanted to tell you that we had a real good time this Christmas. Connie was off work the week following Christmas, so that was good.

Dad is fine, and doesn't have a cold any more.
So here I'll end what I have to say.

Love you all!!

Linda




Tree and poinsettias

HI all!!

Somthing about the blog makes me put exclamation points on sentences.... So here I am at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central, Chicago. I was there w/ 3 of our Christmas House International (CIH) students & Dad. We had a real good time there. In the picture, is a pond w/ Chihuly sculptures made of glass in the pond.



I'm going to get some more pics of us there, if I can get back to Picasa & import them.




Next 2 pics are also of the Conservatory. I took lots of pics there, making it more fun!

hi from Connie in Jan 2011

Thnks to everyone for the pics and th narratives

We Chicagoans are all well (mostly) and had a very lovely Christmas time.
Had two intl students: Robert from China and U Mich
and ByoungJu from Korea and SUNY Stonybrook

Some fun activities with them and the othr students, wonderful food-- too much, but the best thing was the warm feelings and th sense of getting to know someone unique and gifted

We were happy that Marli and Nick took the time to visit one Sun p.m. They are looking good, they had had time over the holidays with Nick's parents and the Bardells and one day, all of them together.

I wish I had the words of a poet, so I could convey my warm feelings for you , and/or some of the realities of life here. Good neighbors, good books, good food, God's comfort in ups and downs... my blessed life!

CONNIE

Update on previous blogs!

Dear Family,

Starting a new year sure helps to make me feel optimistic. I spent $100 today to get four half-hour guitar lessons starting next Monday. I also went down to the library and checked out a book! I've already figured out how many pages I have to read every day in order to return it before it comes due! I went down to Target and got myself a $15 radio that I can clip to my belt or wear on my sleeve. I really enjoyed listening to it while I worked out today. No need for that fancy MP3 player I was talking about! Yesterday I went dumpster diving with Chris. It didn't seem like we got much, but three plastic grocery bags full of deli meats and cheeses is actually quite a lot and I don't know how we're going to be able to consume it all. We need to find more potlucks to go to, like the one on Wednesday nights at the Existentialist Congregation. While we were out, we found a nice new book bag in the dumpster. I won't be needing a new book bag! One thing I could use is a pair of goggles for swimming. I swim four days a week, and I want to improve my form by actually putting my head in the water. I don't like to swim that way because the chlorine stings my eyes. But I'm too cheap to buy goggles. Now that I have insurance, I could discuss that issue with a therapist. I'm not sure I believe in therapists any more, if I ever did! I'm sure I'll work it out somehow.

Love,
Stephen

More gift ideas for Stephen!

Peace, love, blessings!

Nice picture, Lisa! When you learn to play an instrument, it's something you'll always have.

I've been trying to think of other things I might want to add to my list of things I might want to have for Christmas. I got my truck back from the mechanic the day before my birthday. I'd been doing without it since around Labor Day so I could save up some money. When I blew the head gasket in South Carolina, two mechanics told me to put radiator stop leak into the radiator. Apparently, that stop leak gummed up everything. The mechanics were able to clean it up to the point that it doesn't overheat anymore, but they couldn't save the coil for the heater and it would be a thousand dollars in parts and labor to replace the part. I've been doing without a heater anyway for a few years, because I didn't want to fix something else that was keeping it from heating. It's not like I need a heater in Georgia, but it would be nice to have a heater that I could plug in just for once in a while.

Then there's that green backpack that Joy and Michael have been telling me I orter replace. All the seams are coming unravelled and there's not much left to the top flap but the straps. Still, it serves it's function. I wouldn't mind getting a new one, though.

I was taking Spanish classes for a little while at the senior center until they found out I wasn't a senior and I haven't been studying Spanish at all for most of this year. I'd like to get back into it, but I don't have Spanish-speaking friends who don't speak good English, and there just isn't that much of an incentive, especially when I have other things to do. However, I would like to get a maintenance and construction Spanish-English dictionary: Terms for tools, hardware, materials, and procedures.

I guess that's all for now. I don't mean to be begging. I really can get all these things for myself. Talking about the material things that I might want and need seems like a good way to share a little bit about the way I live and the things I think about. I used to ask for big things. Now I'm more concerned about not having more than I can accommodate.

Wisdom and Happiness,
Stephen

AJ playing his trumpet

Here's a little video of AJ playing his trumpet with band. The parents were invited to sit with their children and see what they have learned since October. He goes to the Baptist School twice a week to practice. The American missionary that runs the band there has been here for over 25 years! It's great that she lets kids join who don't attend that school. This is beginner band and hopefully AJ will continue on to the intermediate next school year. So far it's really easy for him since he had lessons last year. Good he's not stressed about practicing.

Hope you are all well and are getting excited about Christmas. We're lucky to have neighbors with lots of decorations and lights!

Love,
Lisa

Greetings!

Dear Family,

It was a close game, but the Falcons came out on top of the Packers last Sunday. I was also happy to see the Bears beat the Eagles, even though it put the Packers in second place.

Thanksgiving in Atlanta turned out to be a beautiful and relaxing day. This weekend has been rainy and gray: Great weather for music and writing; not so good for scraping and painting.

I'm thinking about what I might like to have for Christmas or the Fourth of July. It's true that I have not replaced most of the tools that were stolen last March. I'm not that interested in having a big collection of tools again. I can get tools and hardware items at a discount, although they're still not necessarily cheaper than Wal-mart or Home Depot. One thing that I can't get at the hardware store, and that would be nice to have is a small compressor. A Bostich trim nailer would be nice to get to go along with the trim nails I still have, but that's an expensive item and not something I need right now.

I bought a mixer for my stereo at a thrift store for $6 and I finally got it to work last night, except that I can't get it to produce sound for the phonograph, which is the main reason I wanted a stereo in the first place. Chances are I will not get the mixer to work before next July, and I wouldn't complain if someone bought me a new one. Come to think of it, the tape player, which I bought for $4 only works on one side and it buzzes, so that would be a good thing to replace, although I have other tape players. I also have 5 CD players, but none of them work. If I want to listen to a CD, I have to listen to it on the computer. It also might be neat to have an mp3 player to listen to while I work out. The TV programs they have on at the gym are not always all that interesting. I'm not sure it's a good idea to listen to the radio while I ride my bicycle, but it would be nice to be able to listen to Prairie Home Companion on my way home from work Saturday night, and This Old House music program on Sunday mornings. I love bluegrass, Americana, gospel, and blues music. I seem to have so little of these in my tape collection. I heard a song by Ricky Skaggs recently. I wrote something like Gaither Gospel H- down next to his name, but can't read my writing very well.

I continue to play hymns and Christmas Carols on the piano almost every day. It would be nice if I had Clementi's Sonatinas and John Thompson's Third Grade book! Other piano books would be appreciated but I don't know how much I would actually play them.

I'm not a person who is very much inclined to take pictures, but it would be nice to have a digital camera; another item that was stolen.

I no longer get stock loss produce from the More House, as they have decided to implement a different system for processing and distributing it. However, I still think it would be useful to have a good food dehydrator with temperature control.

That's all I can think of for the time being!

Love,
Stephen

Happy Thanksgiving! from Lisa

Hello my Family,
How are you all this Thanksgiving week? It's still warm here in Jordan but the leaves on the fruit trees do change color which is pretty. I'm ready for some RAIN as are the farmers and fellow cloudy/rainy day lovers. We'll have Thanksgiving dinner with my friend Kristina and her family for the fouth year this year. This year is her house but we always share making the food.

Thanks for your Christmas wishes Becky. I'm up for waiting till Lake Geneva but will post some wishes in advance :). I'll take Trale's idea and ask for any old (or new) family pictures. Also, I'm interested in a subscription to Cook's Illustrated magazine that can be sent to our PO box in JO. I'm always up for a good book too. Speaking of books, there's a new website for books called bookdepository.com that ships anywhere in the world for FREE. I used it for the first time a few weeks ago and got the book within two weeks no problem. This is nice for anyone who wants to send books to freinds/family overseas and not pay for shipping.

Looking forward to hearing about all your Thanksgiving celebrations. I'm counting the months until Lake Geneva when I can see you all again.
Love,
Lisa

Christmas Exchange

I hate to be the first, but I can say that I stopped myself from ordering a cheese making kit that I read about in Barbara Kingsolver's book for making mozzarella. I've made a little cream cheese, and think it would be great to try others.

OR - I love to get good reading ideas - if you have a book you think is good.
OR - a back packing sleeping bag (at least to go as low as 10 degrees farhenheit)(for when Jon wants to use his and I don't have one)
OR - giving to a charity - I like the idea of providing an animal for a farmer...

I've just finished visiting Steve, and hiking in the North Georgia mountains. It was a beautiful time of fall, and the companions I had on the hikes made it all the more fun. Also, visiting Dad, Connie and Linda for a day in Chicago (and Ned) was a good boost for me. Family is wonderful:)

Germany 2010

Just a few more pictures.


Nadja's family at the famous Leipzig zoo. Nadja is tall blond in center, her mom (Katrin) is on the right and her dad is hidden behind. Her cousin, Peggy, and Christian - who is her partner are with us,posing

Liz and Michelle at fountains in Berlin. They left from Berlin to return to Iowa jobs.


Jan & Katja of Berlin, Karl and Alyssa.


Peter Kusel and his wife at their home. Peter had to leave this farm when East and West Germany were separated, and often walked to the Elb River to look across at it. He buried the papers in the barn that was changed to a dwelling, and was able to reclaim his property after reunification. Now he offers place for people and horses to stay as they travel through the countryside.


Martin's family

Outside Martin's home. His dad is far left, his mom's parents (Josephine and Heinz) live in the house that they are standing in front of. His mom (Angelika), Andreas (Martin's 13 y.o. brother), Martin, and his aunt (wife of mom's brother). You can see Martin's home behind the first home.

2010 Postcards of Europe, emphasis on Italy

After arriving in Frankfurt, July 21st, we wanted to
-(Jon) see as many countries (Lichtenstein, Austria, San Marino) as possible and
-(Becky)visit as many people as possible:
Renata(2005 exch-Milan),
Vittoria (2010 exchange at Gangestads-Near Venice),
Luca(2009 exch-Trento),
Nadja (2005 exch- Leipzig & the zoo there),
Jan (1998 exch-now a Medical resident in Berlin),
Peter(Jon's relative),
Martin (2008 exch-Heinsburg, & Belgium & Netherlands)
-(Michelle & Liz)see a bit of Rome and Pompei before
-pick up Karl and Alyssa in Rome
-See the castle that Disney castle is modeled after,
-visit a concentration camp of Buchenwald
-attend the Passion Play at Oberamergau
-eat gelato, (becky)see a beach
-(Karl) see a science center

Connie (sadly not pictured) Dad and Linda helped us get from the Iowa City-Chicago mega bus to a good night sleep and meals before the plane the next day. Here they are in front of Dad's station wagon he's enjoying. (It takes me back to my highschool years when he'd find cars for us to drive)

Renata is holding some wonderful grapes and apricots of Milan. Michelle Voigts is with her. She had made plans to travel to Spain with her boyfriend, but had to go to Track 400 hurdle Nationals on that date, so chose to join us, meeting us at the airport in Frankfurt.

This Duomo (cathedral) is what I try to imitate whenever I try to make a sand castle with as many drip towers as I can. It was so cool to climb to the roof and see the view, and the spires up close.
It was beautiful driving through the Italian alps to Milan, then Rome. A little confusing- road signs not matching the GPS signs or map info - and a little anxiety about having space for 2 more and their luggage in our little 7 passenger van.
Here we are at St. Peter's cathedral.
Of course, I have a few more pictures than what I'll put in here. Here is a link to shutterfly, if you want to see more of what we saw: http://italyandgermany.shutterfly.com/
Let me know if I need to do more to let you get in to that site.
Jon did a good job of finding us reasonable rooms (hostels, a bed and breakfast at pompeii).
a view of Vesuvius: somehow I like seeing volcanos.

We got Karl and Alyssa from their school group and started going north. We found ourselves wanting to see Venice which is close to where Gangestads were going to meet their future exchange student (here right now) and they said we could stay where they were staying. We had such an interesting accomodation at a vineyard.

First we found Vittoria's home and they seated us all for a fine dinner

Alyssa (In Karl's class, she goes to our church, Karl took her to prom, she hosted Luca last year. Her mom works with me at the library) by the grape vines

At 16, Vittoria was a great tour guide, taking us on the 1 hour train to Venice and showing us around there. We walked through to St. Mark's Cathedral, had a meal near there, and then took a motor boat to the glass factory island.
This pic just shows some gondolas. We were told 1 hour ride would cost 80 euros.

Liz and Michelle in our little van. Riding in the back with the luggage was not as uncomfortable as being 3 in the middle seat. Once in a while Jon or Karl would take their turn in the back, but never in the middle and they were usually in the front seats.
The day after Venice, Vittoria took us to a beach:) This was much nicer than the one we went to in Pompeii (just by following the GPS).

After some swimming, a sand sculpture project got started.

Here the sun bathing girls get into a discussion.
We left the beach and drove to Luca's home, about an hour west, into the Dolomites. Our GPS didn't take us to the right spot, but when they found us, we had a nice tour of their home and gardens, designed by his dad and finished just so they could move in when Luca was 6 months old.

We enjoyed the meal with them and then walked around the town - going to a fancy place for icecream and meeting some of Luca's friends as we walked.

Karl got a ride on Luca's motorcycle.

The next day we toured Trent(o) - right next to Luca's town of Lavis. One of the few rainy days we had.

Then we headed north, through Austria to Neuschwanstein (Disney) castle. We left Italy on July 29th. It was so nice to be welcomed by Renata, and given a taste of where she lives and how she shops. Reconnecting with Luca's family was nice. What a mountainous world he left to come to flat Iowa. We had met some new friends at the bed and breakfast in Pompei and in Vittoria and her family. We were just starting to hear recognize some Italian words, (like uscita, which means exit- at first I thought it meant University of Southern California, Italy). Now we had to switch gears to understanding German words and customs. (ausfart)

Marli & Nick

Dear Family,

Hello!

Marli and Nick have decided to live together as a loving couple!!Many of you already know this, -- it deserves more than a passing mention-- it DESERVES

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES!! MAY THEY HAVE MANY LONG AND HAPPY SEASONS TOGETHER!

Nick Malkewicz (mal like sal, ka like duh, wits) was Trale's friend at U of I a few years ago-- graduated at the same time. So- Trale introduced them, but "sparks did not fly" until just last year sometime.
Phil and I met Nick's parents, Phil and Kathy, at Willow. They live in Plainfield, IL; Phil is recently retired after a busy career as a food chemist-- Kathy enjoys work as an accountant in Chicago area.
They have 2 or 3 sons and 2 daughters, Jensene and Melanie. The sisters live with Marli,too.
I meant to say something publicly at the family reunion about the JOY of Marli and Nick together, but somehow did not.

So-- we have been gypped out of a party (wedding) but that may yet happen in a year or 2. Right now they are involved in "building something" (Nick's words)-- so - blessed building to you two!!

CELEBRATE! DANCE TO THE MUSIC!!

Love to all,
Pat and Phil

Bardells all together!

I was so very happy to be able to make it to Willow- our family folk festival tradition- earlier this month! It was great seeing both Miles and Trale (and of course Mom and Dad). My boyfriend, Nick, and I flew up to Illinois on Friday the 13th and were able to spend some time with his parents that evening and sleep at their home in Plainfield. On Saturday we popped in on my Dad at his farmer's market in Rockford and took some time to visit the farm before heading to Willow.
It was a beautiful weekend- great music, perfect weather, good company. We camped out, and had some delicious campfire meals. Nick and I took a walk up to the top of the valley and enjoyed the beautiful view of rolling fields, pastures, and the tiny little tents of Willow campers down below.

This was my first time back to Illinois since moving to Texas and it sure was a great visit! Life is going well down here. I'm on the job hunt again since my summer position ended, and looking forward to moving into a house next month where we will have a little more space. Love to everyone!

Marli