Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 25 March 2012

Dear family,

Chicago - Wednesday, was filled with another successful round trip to the Brazilian Consulate, which yielded all eigh visas required for the Corless/Kulka Clan pilgrimage to the other side of equator, in the Brazilian deep south.  On the other hand, Mom’s continuing saga to reacquire her Brazilian citizenship was littered with a few more frustrating complications, which left Mom disheartened.

The Henry Ford - Thursday, Mom & Dad and Ryan & Maureen hosted a 14 person tour to the Henry Ford Museum and Rouge Factory for Jon (Maureen’s brother) & Jen Clark with their four children, who are visiting from Tennessee. It has been a great joy for all of us to have them here. 

Corless and Clark clans at The Henry Ford

Corless' at Henry Ford Museum

Jacob’s 8th - Saturday afternoon, the Corless, Clark and Kulka clans and guests arrived at the church for the baptism, but the font had not been filled. However, we instituted a fast fill process i.e. we all pitched in with a water brigade from the restrooms and kitchen, and saved the day. Even though the water was cold, the program, including a beautiful song by little Sophia, was a complete success, and Jacob was baptized and confirmed by his father. Counting aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, there were 19 relatives in attendance at Jacob’s special day of covenants, ordinances and celebrations.  Go Jacob!

Clark, Corless and Kulka Clans at Jacob's Baptism

Spring has sprung - The weather has been so warm and sunny for so long that the trees already have budded and flowered. It is beautiful to see! Dad has taken advantage of the nice weather and went biking on the Clinton River Trail twice this week.

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad 

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 18 March 2012

Dear family,

Passports and Visas - Monday was passport day in downtown Detroit for the “Kulka Krew”. Tyler was taken back with all the high security level, including an airport style X-ray and metal detector. However, all the people were friendly and very helpful and the process went smoothly. We also drove there to take the kids back to school when they had done “their part”, while Jim and Vanessa were still finishing the application requirements. Mom received her renewed passport on Tuesday and Jim picked up their passports on Wednesday. By no small miracle all the Visa application documents were ready on Thursday evening.

Visa Applications - Friday morning, Mom & Dad got up at three in the morning, left at 4 am, drove for 5 hours and arrived at the Brazilian Consulate in Chicago in time to apply for the eight tourist visas. The lady that accepted and processed the applications was, amazingly, from Mom’s home town and knew Mom’s father. She credited Dr. Gatti, for saving her mother’s life. Mom was overcome by emotion, specially when the the lady told her she looked like her father. No one can tell us this is not an example of Vo Gatti’ and Vo Ita’s heavenly inspired desire to firmly connect their children and children’s children together. “Divine signatures” everywhere.

Brazilian Citizenship  - Mom told the lady at the consulate how she hated to have to apply for a visa because she had given up her  Brazilian citizenship in 1988 to become a US citizen. The lady indicated she could now reacquire her citizenship by submitting a few documents.  By so doing she could register all of her children as Brazilian citizens and subsequently all of her grandchildren can be registered as Brazilian citizens too. This was sweet music to Mom’s ears, so Wednesday when they return to Chicago to pickup the visas she plans to submit her application to reacquire her citizenship.  She still only half believes it, though, since as she puts it “ I’ve walked this way before...”

Fixit Frolics - Dad and Ryan were at it again Saturday morning. Ryan had plastered and painted the basement wall where the wall crack had been repaired and he and Dad replaced the paneling thus completing the job and returning the wall to mint condition. They also repaired a kitchen cabinet shelf that had fallen down and Dad cleaned out a slow drain in the basement bathroom. Dad found that Grandma’s MKZ had a dead battery, but the Jeep and a set of battery cables was able to get it running in short order.

Ward Conference - Mom & Dad  spoke for 5 minutes plus showed two videos in their respective meetings during ward conference. It was a big hassle getting the DVDs to work in the players at church, but with persistence and the Lord’s help (they took the kitchen TV), it all worked out and the presentations went well.  They are grateful!

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad 

Dear family,

Brazil or Bust - Jim & Vanessa are doing everything they can to take their family to Rio Grande to meet all the Brazilian side of the family for a couple of weeks, while Mom & Dad will be there for 7 weeks. It is amazing, and a wonderful thing for Mom to see such love between each side of the family, and the effort to span the huge geographical gap between them. VoIta and Vo Gatti surely are smiling and doing whatever they can from the other side of the veil, to make this family connection. Needless to say the excitement is at fever pitch on both sides of the equator. 

Service - Doing what the capabilities allow  this week, included Temple worker on Tuesday, Scout Board of Review on Wednesday, ARP and Support group meeting leading on Friday, and Ward building cleaning, on Saturday. It is a joy to do the Lord’s work whenever and however it can be done.

Sinus Painus Dripicus - Buy stock in Kleenex.  Dad got over a sinus congestion and runny nose and Mom suffered with it through the week and is getting over it and Dad is now, suffering through a second bout of the same thing. Of course, the blustery Michigan March weather bouncing between the 20’s and 60’s is not helping. However, it give little time for Mom & Dad to watch 

“Courageous” a powerful video about fatherhood. 

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad 

Joshua (Steve Young) with Vanessa, Rex and Jim

Preston (Steve Jobs) Jacob, Ryan, Maureen and Sophia

Isaiah Baptism with his extended family

Valentines Celebration at Papa & Nona's

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 4 March 2012

Dear family,

Passport Panic - Mom & Dad tore the place apart, but could not find Mom’s passport. So we applied for a new one with an expedited process to be ready for our visit to Brazil. Mom & Dad now have scheduled flights to leave March 28th and return May 17th. This whole effort over two days left both Mom & Dad emotionally, physically and financially exhausted. Now the hope is that the passport comes in time to apply for and receive the Tourist Visa.

Wax Museum - Vanessa invited Mom & Dad to Miami Elementary on Friday afternoon to see the 4th grade “Wax Museum”. Each student picked a famous person to imitate in dress and appearance and as the spectators stopped by and pushed a “button” they would tell about the person they were imitating. Joshua was Steve Young and Preston was Steven Jobs, both did a fine jobs depicting their famous person.

Preston and his family

Joshua with his Mom & Dad and cousin Rex

Hole in the Wall Gang - Saturday while Myriam, Vanessa and Maureen were at the Stake Relief Society Conference, Ryan called and asked Dad to help him with patching the hole in the basement wall where the water leak crack had been filled. Dad picked up the drywall on the way over and they roughed in the patch ready for plastering. Papa got hugs from all the kids. Later on Mom & Dad visited Ryan & Maureen and family and played a couple of games. Tyler stopped by for a little while.

Better Times for Sam - This weekend Sam swam in a swim meet that she had to qualify to be in, and in the process bettered her one mile time, by 34 seconds, and her 200yd butterfly time, by .5 seconds.  She has been doing very well for a 13 year old in the 13 to 18 year old division. Go Sam!

Sunday Afternoon - After church Mom & Dad had the Fullmer family over for dinner and a game of Greed. The Dad is in Afghanistan with the Army for a short business trip. It was good to get to know them and share stories. Later, Mom & Dad visited Jim & Vanessa and started to play a game when a video call from Michael & Melanie came through. They took everyone on a guided video tour of their apartment. It was great to see and hear them. They are both doing well in school (all As). Michael claims this is the hardest semester, but says he enjoys the classes. He was invited to and is playing indoor soccer once a week as the goalkeeper. We all are glad that they are happy and doing well.

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad