Family picnic pics from Nancy

Good evening from Geneva's first day of fall. After exciting weather last night (lots of warnings, thunder,lightning and wind but no rain) and an unexciting football game (so where was the West Coast offense? I'm sure mom was asking why they always run into the pile, just as she did all those Option years), today is clear, crisp and calm. I love this time of year.
Here are a few of my pictures from the picnic and after looking at my efforts, would really like some more from the rest of you. If you would email them as attachments, I would get some of them printed and add them to the albums. Our email address is snmeyer@galaxycable.net
I've added a picture from our trip to Maryville yesterday to see Beth. It's a 3+ hour trip, but the windshield time was worth it for us to see where she's living this year. We met one of her roommates who was at work, went out for lunch and made the obligatory stop at Walmart for groceries, etc. She is happy, knows what she wants to do (pre Occupational Therapy) and loves her dog, Milk. She and her roommate rescued her from the pound and named her Milk b/c that was the name she responded to after they tried many other words. I'd like to think it's b/c of Beth's roots in the dairy industry, but it's just a coincidence. She's living in a "new" house this year compared to the one from last year, built in 1873. She has two compatible roommates, unlike last year when one girl went to the police and alleged that the others, especially Beth, were threatening her. Actually, Beth was the only one who was still talking to her; the others had quit after a number of her bizarre actions. It's kind of scary to send your kids out there to who knows what....
She has two very part-time jobs--babysitting two little girls once a week and reading to Elementary students in the Read for America program. I agree with you, Mary Jo, that our kids turn out different from us; it's very interesting to watch all of the cousins' offspring and see how they're turning out. And since we have this letter, we can really keep up.
I showed Beth the Family Letter yesterday and she was impressed enough to bookmark it; thanks to you once again, Sue, for bringing us into this. Keep those posts coming!
Love,
Nancy

Update from Mary Jo

Back at my spot in the library...

Sue told you all Mom was in the hospital. John and David both reported to me that by Sunday Mom was in ALOT of pain and they thought I should come. So Monday morning I got ready to go to Omaha (and a meeting at my agency on W&Th if the outcome in Omaha allowed). By the time I got there mid-afternoon Mom was resting comfortably (pain meds administered "on demand")and she looked pretty good (color was good). By the time I left on Wed morning, she had been given two CT scans (one with contrast and one without), which showed nothing conclusive; a dye test to see if her right kidney was functioning (it was); an endoscopy, and a colonoscopy (both of which showed no blockage or other serious situation). Following the colonoscopy Wed AM John and I spoke to the GI doctor, and he surmised it might just be constipation, even though she didn't think that had been a problem??? She only has a partial stomach, and is never really hungry, so I can see why she might not be eating enough "roughage", but she tries to be aware of that and make good food choices. So, the plan was to introduce foods (she hadn't eaten for nearly a week at that point)and see what happened. So, I went on to Lincoln. Called Wed night, and nothing new to report. Called before I left Lincoln and Sue told me her tummy was sore again. Called John this AM and he said she had eaten supper last night and was reading the paper, watching TV and had good color when he visited her in the evening. Reen is going in this morning to try to quiz the docs. (For instance, when John asked her last night, Mom wasn't sure about the pain med...was she getting it, was it a continuous drip or only on her request.) So, in the absence of anything conclusive showing up in her blood work or all those tests, we don't know what's next. We don't want her coming home until she is pain free w/o meds, can eat and has a normal bowel movement. Hopefully, the doctors will agree. Looking at her in the picture sue took at the picnic and posted on the blog, wouldn't you agree she looked healthy at the picnic?

I need to go to the store now and buy groceries. The other two adults living in my home didn't do so well keeping the home fires burning. Well, in fairness, Paul had a couple of appointments, including with a "certifier" for the organic transition process on our farm, and Suzanne had a busier schedule at work, taking 2 full days of training on how to handle (and/or) manhandle unruly youth in her care. She seems to like this job, and I'm glad. It certainly wouldn't be my favorite occupation. But as I discover every day, my kids are surely their own people, which is how it should be. Andrew and his most recent job have parted company,(not sure of all the details...) but he already has some contract work lined up for a builder, and is doing some car repair, too. He seemed upbeat when he called this morning to ask for our e-mail address (he calls us rather than mails) so he could send a picture of the house he had lived in(before this farmhouse) that had burned to the ground last night. One of his friends from that area (the woman we met last year when we visited him last summer) called to tell him and sent him the picture by e-mail. She said they think it's arson. It made me feel sick even though it wasn't much of a loss and he is 100 miles away. I'm so glad he doesn't live in my backyard...But I am thankful he calls and keeps us up-to-date (I'm usually thankful, that is!)

September in Naperville

I decided to get away from the 9/11 special services for awhile, and chat with loved ones.

School began in late August. John and Kyle are now 6 and 4, so that means I have a few hours a week with an empty house while they are at first grade and preschool. First grade was apparently an exhausting adjustment for John, but we are into the swing of it now and are falling into a routine. Kyle misses him a lot during the day, which is touching.

I am very sorry that I didn't fly out for the picnic. My decision was very logical...I had just had a nice visit with Mom and Dad here in August, I was at the picnic last year...but this looks like the most fun you've had in years. Jim and Debbie planned lots of fun and the weather cooperated perfectly, it would appear. And attendance by the younger generation was great! Thanks to all of you who have shared pictures of the day.

Ed and I had a long weekend in Las Vegas early in August. We were actually there for our 33rd anniversary, coincidentally. He had work in the area, and I joined him. I was braced for the heat, but our heatwave here, at the time, actually topped their temps, at least when you figured the heat index. The dry, but hot, desert air actually felt refreshing compared to the hot, humid (about 85%)weather I left behind. Even so, it would be a more pleasant visit in the winter. WE pretty much hated the strip (sorry Suki, I just couldn't get into it), but LOVED the Cirque de Soleil 'O' show, Hoover Dam, and the Atomic Testing Museum. We also saw David Copperfield (Ed's choice. It was just like watching it on TV, so didn't do much for me, but was amazing.)

I just finished preserving peaches - freezing, canning, making jam. I don't get that done every year, even though it is our favorite canned fruit. We get Michigan produce at the local farmers' market, and the peaches this year were outstanding. I cannot begin to count how many I must have eaten fresh. Even though I find canning very gratifying, I'll be glad to get all the paraphernalia off the counters and packed back down the basement.

Love to all,

Janice

Family Picnic 2006...Sue

Hello,

Here's a few pictures from the picnic. I tried to load more, but it would only let me do five.... Nancy, I'll make prints of a few to send you for 'the book'...
and congratulations on getting those anniversary pictures posted! glad the instructions worked...

John's mother is in the hospital this weekend.... admitted Friday, came home yesterday morning and went back last evening.. several 'scoping' procedures scheduled for tomorrow..looking for some kind of blockage... her complaint?? tender/sore spot on her right side.. we'll keep you posted...

A few comments from MJ

I'm still at the computer in the library and the time left on my computer is running down, so I won't be able to go on and on like I might want. First of all, WAY TO GO, NANCY! Now that a "genetic Bull" has cracked to code for posting pictures, there may be home for all of us to follow suit. Of course, Paul and I still can't decide on our computer upgrade (which is why I am still reading these posts at the library). I know, we are pathetic...

It was so good to see you all at the picnic. I was so glad Nancy agreed to take over the family scrapbook. I was glad to revise and upgrade what Mom had maintained all of these years, but since Nancy contributed most of the pictures over the years, it seemed logical it would eliminate one step (her mailing them on) if she would agree to do it. Thank you, again. Actually, it was good to be able to go over 30 years of memories as I worked with the books. As Paul commented, our family is blessed and unique to be such a stable clan. In all of that time, only Grandma has passed away, and there's been just one marriage dissolve (Andrew's, which, of course, was a personal sorrow for us). But in the same amount of time in Paul's family, which I also think of being made up of stable people, there's been deaths of most of his uncles and aunts, his parents, the suicide of a cousin, and several divorces among cousins. Of course, his "older generation" was older than ours, but still.

It was good, too, to see the enthusiastic participation of the younger generation. I'm so glad to know all of you. Paul was pleased to visit some with Kelly and Paul. As he said, "They are such nice young people." Hope that makes the trip worthwhile, Kelly...

My Paul commented yesterday about how good he feels (as I was complaining about achey joints and a "BLAH" feeling.) So far the blood tests are coming out great. We know we have a ways to go before he can be declared "cancer free", but we are very grateful he is doing so well.

Suzanne seems to be enjoying her work with the chemical dependency unit and her night classes through Doane at GI College Park.

Bye for now.

Anniversary News from Nancy

Good evening, dear family,
I trust Sue (and her very patient lesson given Sunday at Debbie's) that all the jibberish above my typing will translate to pictures so that you can see some of what Stan and I did in Nebraska City for our 35th anniversary. We went with Ken and Mary and the guys played golf while Mary and I explored the many nice shops downtown. We went to Arbor Winery just outside of NC; it's a cooperative venture of 50+ grape growers in SE Nebraska and they make their wine and sell it from a former one room schoolhouse. It's charming.
After supper at the Lied Lodge (an impressive building filled with leather furniture and timber columns) we went on a carriage ride past Arbor Lodge. We were amused that Stan knew more than the driver did about J. Sterling's home. Sunday morning's brunch was wonderful (as it should be, since I'm told that the chef used to cook at the White House) we went on the Tree Adventure--a walk through the forest and up a tower. We ate lunch at Kimmel orchard and headed home. It was a pretty low-key anniversary (no cruises for us! :) but we enjoyed it a great deal and I recommend it.
The photo albums from the family picnic are here and I must say I am intimidated by the awesome responsibility of maintaining it. I will do my best because I know how important they are to everyone. If you have pictures you'd like included, send them to me, plz.
Love,
Nancy