Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 29 January 2012

Dear Family,

Yumanized - Mom & Dad flew with Grandma Nilace to Yuma. They helped her get settled in her winter residence. Dad, power washed the dust off the house and cleaned windows, pruned the dead branches from the grapefruit tree, replaced a weed strangled rose bush and cleaned out a ~20 year old mess in the shed/shop. Dad met and pestered neighbors to borrow space in their garbage bins to get rid of all the accumulated trash and yard waste.  Dad thinks he and Mom need a rest after this “vacation”. However, it was good to help Grandma get settled in for her warm weather winter in Yuma, and to be comforted knowing she has good neighbors and Jim & Amy to watch out for her. Photos:  http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#101437

Grandma’s Winter Residence on Senita Drive in Saguaro Estates

Grandma “triking” in Saguaro Estates

iPad-er - Grandma Nilace, after seeing what Mom’s iPad could do, had to have one of her own. Of course, the fact that her twin brother has one probably had something to do with “I got to have one.” Mom & Dad helped her get it set up and showed her how to use it. Also, Dad downloaded all of her digital pictures on to her laptop computer. There some photos from our Egypt, Jordan, Israel trip in March of 1999.

California Connection - Dad drove the Fusion 240 miles to the Sorenson home in Chino Hills. It was great to re-connect with Uncle Nile and Aunt Charlene. They are great hosts and a joy to be with. It was easy to feel at home there. On one very special occasion Uncle Nile brought out the latest draft of “The Way Things Really Were” (his life story) and both he and Grandma took turns reading the first several pages of it. The most touching part was at age eight when their father, after being ill for a couple of months, died from Typhoid (Salmonella Typhi). 

Myriam with Sorensons - Chino Hills, CA

Cousin Connection - Dad’s cousins, Michael, and his wife Nancy visited on Sunday evening and Nile Jr. and his wife Breta, visited on Monday evening. It had been 5 years since seeing them, and it was good to re-connect through sharing stories about children, triumphs, challenges and adventures. They are great relatives to have in our family tree.

Gratitudes - Thanks to Jim for shuttling the Explorer back home from the airport. Thanks to Grandma for the airline passage and room and board in Yuma. Thanks to Sorenson’s for their warm & gracious hospitality. Thanks to Br. Stebar for the pick up at the airport and the delivery home. You all helped make the trip possible and enjoyable.   

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 15 January 2012

Dear Family,

The Acid Test - Monday at Henry Ford Hospital Downtown, Dad had an esophageal pressure measurement taken by stuffing a probe up his nose and down his throat to see how his “swallower” is functioning, which seemed to be OK. Then they stuffed an acid gage up the nose and down the throat to measure pH level in the esophagus for 24 hours to quantify the acid reflux. He really looked pathetic with a wire sticking out his nose attached to the recording device.

Clan Annual Journal - Dad finished and forwarded The Corless Clan 2011 photo journal video featuring the family members and the events of last year.  Hopefully, it will  bring the family closer to one another, specially for the Brazilian family to know more of the North Americans. Also, Rachel started with Mom an album of Michael & Melanie’s wedding and Mom & Dad finalized and ordered it from Costco. We hope it turns out nice.

Tyler Basketball - Dad photographed a couple of Tyler’s basket ball games. They were mini reunions with Jim & Vanessa and Jim’s Mom and Jack watching them win two more games. Go Tyler!

Olivia’s Baptism - Grandma delayed her “snowbird flight” to Yuma so we could all attend and celebrate Olivia’s Baptism and her eighth birthday on Saturday afternoon. Jim’s Mom, husband, and Sister attended. We all went to their home afterwards, for the family birthday party.

Up in the Air - Sunday the 15th, Mom & Dad are flying with Grandma to Yuma. They plan to stay there for a few days and drive to California to visit the Sorenson Clan. Their plan is to soak up some sunny, warm weather before returning on the 25th. 

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 8 January 2012

Dear Family,

Undecor - With mixed feelings and many helping hands the home was returned to the pre Christmas condition inside and out in short order. Mom & Dad really appreciate the help on this big job. Thanks to Rachel and Ryan, and later to Dan for the take out Chinese dinner - it really tasted good after working all day. Dad helped Grandma put away all her indoor and outdoor Christmas decor. Dad & Mom have been cleaning and returning borrowed stuff - in other words, getting the myriad of post wedding “matters organized”- like table cloths, tuxedo, photos chosen and printed, hitch carrier,  child car seats, Jeep, etc.

Basketball & Birthday - Dad with Ryan & Mia met Jim & Vanessa at Tyler’s basketball game on Wednesday. Afterward, we had a short impromptu birthday celebration for Vanessa.

Tyler goes up for the shot

Happy Birthday Vanessa

Burn - Dad and Ryan H. played Racquetball for an hour, and Dad biked on the Clinton River Trail and ellipticalled to burn off the collection of calories from the seasonal overeating. Mom took in a couple of Zumba sessions with Rachel,Vanessa & Maureen. 

Returners - The airport shuttle service was up and running this week. We miss their sweet presence, but are grateful that Dan & Lara and Ryan & Rachel and their tribes arrived back at their homes safely. It has been a great joy having them here even if it was for such an event-filled, short time. 

California Pizza Kitchen

Lydia & Mia ready to travel.

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 1 January 2012

M & M Wedding Photos - http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#101376

Dear Family,

Happy New Year

Decor Day - Wednesday, with support from our family and the parents of the bride, the church cultural hall was transformed like never before into a most beautiful palace worthy to celebrate M & M’s forever connection. Mom & Dad were so very grateful to see the family all pitch in and help and work together so smoothly to make a very special memory for Michael &  Melanie.

Covenants - Thursday evening, the family attended and participated in the Endowment session for Melanie. It was wonderful in every way to have sons and daughters and their spouses participate together in the ordinances and ceremonies only available in the House of the Lord. We all stayed in the celestial room hugging, sharing thoughts and feelings with one another, way past the normal closing time, soaking in every drop of joy we could take in.

Wedding Day - The Spirit was poured out upon us all during the sealing ordinance and ceremony.  It was a cold, dark, dreary and rainy day, but once again, no words can describe, no standard can measure, and no photograph could capture the light and warmth of the joy in our hearts for being in the temple and witnessing the sealing of Michael & Melanie - Myriam & Rex, and all of the sons and daughters sharing that supernal moment.  

Reception - It is safe to say that the reception at the church, fulfilled the dreams of Michael & Melanie, and was very well received by all of the attendees.  They said that the decor set new, higher standards for beauty and awe for all.  It was a great joy for Mom & Dad to see sons & daughters and spouses, all work together to create something that turned out in a magnificent way. “Elegant”, “beautiful”, “classy”, “fairy-tale like”, “magical” and “filled with pixie dust” were some of the words heard used in describing the felling in the room.  Beyond that there was the great joy to see 17 of the 21 grandbuddies together, thoroughly enjoying one another.  Indeed, the Lord once again greatly blessed our family. Praise be to Him the Author of all good things.

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad