Sunday, November 27, 2011

Corless CLan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 27 November 2011


Dear Family,
Thanksgiving Feast - Mom set the tables in  her usual extraordinary, praiseworthy and of good report manner and Dad baked 18 pumpkin pies and prepared the turkey for roasting in his usual ordinary, but tasty  manner. Everyone brought something yummy to eat and we all enjoyed the feast together.  

Ebenezer - As part of the Thanksgiving festivities, Mom organized an Ebenezer (Stone of Help) activity, in which everyone wrote or drew on a rock something they were grateful for. The stones will be added to in the future to be part of a ‘‘rock gratitude garden” in the back yard. 

Christmasified - After two days of hard labor and much attention to detail, the home is completely decorated inside and out with Christmas trees, lights, garlands, and, of course, the 6 nativity scenes. 

Handyman's Corner - This week Dad helped Ryan fish wiring through wall and trim his basement around the projector screen. Dad, also, to Mom’s satisfaction, repaired and refinished the second of two corner shelves, which now stands in the corner next to the piano, filled with pictures of grandbuddies.
Traumatic Thanksgiving Trip - Michael and Melanie drove most of the way to Denver to spend Thanksgiving with Ryan & Rachel. Unfortunately, in the middle of a cold and windy night, Michael’s car stopped halfway between Rawlins and Laramie (definition of the middle of nowhere) and had to get towed 46 miles to Laramie for repairs. They stayed the night with Duane & Pat Rhoades (longtime friends). Rachel drove to Laramie to bring them to Denver because the repairs could only be done by Friday.

Turkey Bowl - Dad photographed the high level of expert footballers, which included Ryan, Jim and Tyler plus a bunch of alumni from Jim’s high school. They all had a good time. Dad and Jim worked together by the afternoon to get the 124 edited photos on Facebook for all to enjoy. See the Photos - http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#101363

Love y’all,
Mom & Dad

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Corless CLan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 20 November 2011


Dear Family,
Mom is Red Eye - Mom’s right eye is swollen and red - after a few phone calls back and forth she got an appointment with an optometrist. He didn’t real know what it was, but prescribed some steroid eye drops, which hopefully, will fix the problem. Talking about being “red eye” (Ready) - Mom has organized more of the myriad of details in preparation for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and The M&M Wedding. Dad, hampered by a fever and clogged sinus, has been working on his “Honey Do List”. He refinished one of the two corner shelves to better match the new furniture in the family room and insulated the garage door.
Veteran’s Day Observed - Monday, Dad helped Ryan finish installing a plywood floor and about thirty feet of shelving in their attic for seasonal storage.
Attic Storage Project
It may not have the best way to honor our veterans, but without their sacrifices we probably would not have homes or the freedom to improve them when we see fit. Thank you to our veterans!
Power Outage - While Mom & Dad visited Ryan & Maureen on Monday, the power was off for about 6 hours at home.   This a very rare occurrence, but it tests how ready we are for an emergency. Dad went on his scheduled home teaching visits anyway. Later, Mom & Dad made the best of it by going out for dinner. Thankfully, the power came back on and all is well.
Double Temple - Mom & Dad served in the temple baptistry on Tuesday evening and saw Jim & Vanessa. Wednesday evening Dad served in baptistry with the youth from our ward and saw Ryan & Maureen. It is a joy to serve, and it is double joy to see our children with their spouses in the temple.
Tough Mudder - Saturday, Dad missed going to watch and photograph Ryan run a 12 mile obstacle course “Tough Mudder” in Indiana this weekend. The good news is that Ryan not only survived the cool, windy, cloudy, 50 degree, weather, but finished the race covered in mud with only a mild case of hypothermia. For info see: http://toughmudder.com/events/indiana-2011/
Look under MEDIA for videos and photos .These events have raised over $2.3 Million dollars for the Wounded Warrior Project. http://toughmudder.com/wounded-warrior-project/
Go Ryan!  You are awesome, a little crazy, but totally AWESOME!
Ryan pulls himself through a Pipe
Tyler’s 15th Birthday - Jim & Vanessa hosted the annual Tyler birthday party. With lots of food and fun and good times. It is such a joy to see them all have so much fun together.
Tyler’s Party Crew
Love y’all,
Mom & Dad

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 13 November 2011


Dear Family,
HUH? - Suspicions confirmed. Dad has officially been hearing tested and found with significant hearing loss in the left ear. He was told he is a candidate for a hearing aid, but he is way too cheap and impatient to fool around with one. Besides, “I can hear just fine.”  (Famous last words...)  The next morning he had an Auditory Brainstem Response test which was 30 minutes of a little jack hammer pounding in the one ear then the other just to find out if the ear and brain are connected.  I wonder if there is a test to see if the brain and mouth are connected?  :-)  
Wedding Planner and Doer Extraordinaire - With only 7 weeks to the wedding, Mom has lengthened her stride and quicken the pace and gone beyond exhaustion. She has been on the phone working out details with caterer, scheduling of the temple ordinances, purchasing stuff, preparing and mailing 109 invitations, over seeing the decorating plans and preparations, etc. If her desire and effort are any measure of success, this will be an awesome affair. Go Mom your are awesome! And thanks to Maureen, Ryan, Vanessa and Samantha for their help. 
Free at Last - Mom has officially turned over the reins of Relief Society President to the new President and was released today. She has been very loving and caring to the Relief Society sisters and they love her back.
Cool Biking - The weather has been much cooler, but not so cool as to stop biking. For instance, Saturday morning Dad picked up Vanessa and her bike and they biked a total of ~ 10 miles along the Clinton River Trail and back.  Proper attire is key to keep warm, but not too warm.  The leaves are mostly all fallen which puts a thick carpet on the forest floor.
Addiction Recovery - Nothing is as simple as first appears.  Mom & Dad are still learning to be ARP meeting leaders and grateful for the patience of Brother & Sister Rich. It is, in many ways, different than leading a leadership meeting, speaking, or teaching a lesson. The process has a language of it own, which needs not to be violated. Some situations can be very delicate depending on who is at the meeting and the individual problem(s) each individual is struggling with. However, it is, as with any church meeting, the Spirit who must be allowed to guide. It promises to be a challenging and rewarding opportunity to love and serve others in need (if we can get it right).  ;)

Mr. Fixit - Dad hung three mirrors for Grandma Nilace, repaired the electrical short in the basement stair light fixture, replaced a broken electrical receptacle, replaced the broken bracket in basement shower, replace the shower stem with brushed stainless in the master bath, cleaned the disgusting mouse mess in the basement cupboard, helped Ryan put a floor and shelves in his garage attic, and, believe it or not, all of this without using any duct tape - what is this world coming to????
Family History Photo - 
This Gatti Family & friends photo was taken during the 1950‘s at the stone wall on beach of Cassino. It shows the wind driven rail cart that still is used to propel people to end of the stone wall.  Mom’s father (Vo Gatti) is standing above Amelita, (Mom’s Sister) and Armando (her brother), with Sister Suzana seated on the far right


Love y’all, Mom & Dad

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 6 November 2011


Dear Family,
Halloweening - Papa, Nona and Grandma joined the Halloween festivities hosted by Jim & Vanessa including Trick & Treating in the neighborhood with Ryan & Vanessa and the grandbuddies. Unfortunately, Preston was diagnosed with strep throat and had to stay home. However, many kind neighbors and Nona had treats to take to him.  A bounty of delightment, excitement and “candiment” prevailed in the evening.

Enlightenment Week - Mom & Dad as part of their new calling attended: a Stake committee meeting Wednesday evening; an Addiction Recovery meeting on Friday evening; four hours of training in Lansing, for all the service missionaries in Michigan, on Saturday. It is becoming clearer as to what needs to be done and how to do it. Hopefully, with the help of the Lord, Mom & Dad will not only survive this refining process, but help many others and themselves become much better, in other words, more prepared to return to our Heavenly Father. Also, Mom hosted a luncheon for the sisters after a RS temple trip on Thursday, and taught the RS lesson on Sunday.  It all turned out really well. She is grateful!


Family History Photo - Skill Tradesmen
This photo was taken in 1951 at the Shelley Processing Plant in Burley, Idaho. Pictured are Dad’s Grandfather Bert Corless (70 yrs) (far left) and his father Ross Corless (26 yrs) second from the right and Bob Carrier (Ross’ nephew) on the far right with their co-workers.









Love y’all, Mom & Dad