Corless Clan Connection - 30 January 2011 - Michigan

Dear Family,

The Dreary and Bright Sides - Wintry clouds, cold and light snow dominated Michigan weather this past week making it a bit dreary, but the pure white snow on the evergreen trees was a beautiful display of Heavenly Father’s handiwork.  Dad made the best use of it by getting out to sweep and shovel the snow off the driveway and sidewalks a few times and by taking a few photos.

 

Knee news - Pedro Armando continues to improve and is looking to being home again this week.

Sports - Tyler’s three basket ball games this week marked the completion of his season. Jim starred in the basketball game on Thursday against Walled Lake by scoring a career high 30 points. He was just filling in for Ryan, who was ill and could not play. All the other family athletes survived their soccer and basket ball games; even Dad survived another Friday morning racquetball and breakfast outing.

History & Creativity - Mom & Dad visited the Detroit Institute of Art to fuel their minds with a history lesson from ancient art and fuel their bodies with a grilled chicken sandwich and green salad.  It was mentally stimulating to see the similarities and contrasts of the ancient American,  Egyptian and Greco-Roman beliefs about the afterlife to each other and the teachings from the Restored Gospel. It was a great date.  Photos- http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#100817

The Archaic & The Eternal Beauty - Kresge Court - Detroit Institute of Art

Love y’all

Mom & Dad 

Corless Clan Connection - 23 January 2011 - Michigan

Dear Family,

Portuguese - Tuesday night, Mom & Dad coordinated baptisms, and, on an impromptu basis, helped a Brazilian lady through a session. It was a bit of struggle, but they were successful and everyone was smiling. 

Eagles R Us - Tyler is getting prepared for his Eagle Scout Board of Review. Dad was asked and wrote a recommendation letter for him. Tyler will be the 6th Eagle Scout in our family and Nathan, who is also getting close, is on schedule to be the 7th.

For Health of it - Mom and Dad have had medical check ups and blood tests to qualify for the “Enhanced” medical insurance. Dad got a score of 100/100 and his cholesterol level dropped again. Eating good stuff in the right amount and exercising is paying off.  Go Dad!

Auto Show - After Dad played racquetball, Ryan, Mom and Dad attended and had a great time together at the Auto Show in Detroit’s Cobo Hall. Mom loves the new 2011 Explorer. Ryan shared his expertise with Mom & Dad. Dad took over a hundred photos (http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#100801). Afterward, Mom & Dad went with Ryan & Maureen to Porto Vallarta, a Mexican restaurant, for a fajita dinner and then on to shop at Costco.  

Joshua’s Birthday - Joshua is turning 9, and the family celebration took place Sunday afternoon. Jack, Jim’s Mom and Sister, and our family brought gifts to give, voices to sing and mouths to eat cake and ice cream. Happy Birthday to Joshua, a precious grandbuddy.

Kneed to Know - Pedro Armando’s knee is improving. He is still in the hospital, but the fever is gone and he is able to get up and walk a little with a “stick” (crutch?). His road to recovery includes 3 months of convalescing and medication at home. Keep him in your prayers. On another sad and somber note, two of Mom’s cousins that she just visited in Uruguay, past away a couple of weeks ago. Mom is so glad to have gone to Uruguay and been able to reconnect with them. Mom was 16 years old the last time she went to Uruguay - she had not seen them for ~45 years!  Her trip turned out to be a great blessing.

Love y’all, 

Mom & Dad

Kulka Klan at Joshua's 9th Birthday celebration

Corless Clan Connection - 16 January 2011 - Michigan

Dear Family,

Audio & Visual - Thanks to the internet and computer technology Mom & Dad thoroughly enjoyed video conferences with the Mills and Hreinson families this week. This seeing and hearing is a Hi-Tech way to turn the hearts of the children to the Fathers and the Fathers to the children. 

Snow Swept - This week’s snowfall has given Dad a few more opportunities for outdoor, fresh-air exercise. Armed with a new, outdoor push-broom, Dad has made quick work of clearing the snow from driveway and sidewalks around the house.  

Un-decorated - Mom & Dad, with a lot of time and effort and mixed emotions, have returned the house to the pre-Christmas look, by taking down, packing and storing the Christmas tree, garland, wreaths, nativity scenes and all related decorations, inside and out.

Michigan Missing - Ryan took Michael to the airport on Monday to catch a Delta flight to Salt Lake City. Michael started classes on Tuesday. Grandma is settled in a Yuma with plans to enjoy the nice weather there for the next few months. Dad has been finishing the new cabinet to match the existing woodwork in her bathroom and shoveled a few inches of snow from her driveway.

Knee-monia - Pedro Armando has been suffering from a severe infection in the knee that has a plastic/titanium joint.  He will be in the hospital for a few weeks with hopes to save the joint. Meanwhile, he is experiencing a lot of pain and uncertainty. Remember him in your prayers!

Sports R Us - Dad played racquetball; Ryan & Jim played basketball; Vanessa played indoor soccer; Tyler played basketball; Samantha swam; Jacob played soccer; Olivia played soccer; Preston and Joshua played basketball; Olivia and Sophia danced...  One busy bunch! 

Sabbath - Dad spoke in Sacrament meeting on the “The Family Proclamation”.  Mom invited the Bentley family to share our Sunday chicken & pasta dinner. She told her Uruguay family history exploits, and entertained and inspired us all.

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad

Corless Clan Connection - 9 January 2011 - Michigan

• Sunday 9th - Dear Family,

Yumafied - Monday Dad took Grandma to the Post Office to send five boxes of stuff to Yuma and to get premium forwarding set up for her mail. Monday afternoon Dad took her to her Doctor’s appointment for a check up. Tuesday morning Dad took Grandma to the airport to catch her flight to Yuma, where, for next couple of months, she can soak up the warm, sunny weather and relax after her exhausting move to Michigan. 

Tubbed - Three days this week Dad went to grandma’s condo to let the electricians, plumbers and carpenters in to install her walk-in tub. During the tub installation, Dad organized matter in the garage, put all the file cabinets in the basement, and organized and labeled some of the stuff in the storage/sewing area in the basement. Now the camper trailer is in Grandma’s garage for safe-keeping, and both cars are in Mom & Dad’s garage, out of the miserable, bitter cold weather. What happened to global warming?

Indian Dinner - Mom & Dad went with Sidhu’s to Rangoli’s for authentic Indian cuisine. The exotic food and friendly company added up to a very enjoyable evening.

Olivia’s Birthday - Mom & Dad went to Kulka’s Saturday afternoon, for the celebration of Olivia’s 7th birthday with a genuine Jet’s Pizza party. The main entertainment was Wii dancing, where all participants worked up a healthy sweat trying to out dance one another.  Fun!

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad

Corless Clan Connection - 2 January 2011 - Michigan

Dear Family,

Christmas Celebration Continuations - Monday we went to Dan & Holli’s for a pancake, egg and sausage breakfast and gift sharing in the morning. The festivities continued into the afternoon with gift sharing with Ryan & Maureen and family (returned from Tennessee) at Jim & Vanessa’s.  The good side is that a little more individual attention was available with a smaller group.

Racquetball - Tuesday morning, Dad & Ryan played a few games of racquetball for fun and exercise and celebrated with a vegetable omelet and breakfast burrito breakfast.

New Year’s Celebration - Like last year, Jim & Vanessa hosted the New Year’s Eve party with food and games and dancing from 9pm to 2am. Good news - 2011 had a better start than 2010 because our home was not burgled this year. :)  Mom & Dad hosted the New Year’s day ham dinner for 16.  Eating, College Football Bowl games and Flip Up card games were the main attractions. We also squeezed in the traditional birthday songs and celebration for Vanessa’s birthday. The Grandkids didn’t want to leave because they were having so much fun together.

 

Happy Birthday Vanessa

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad