Sunday 18th -
Dear Family,
It has been an interesting week for us.
Mom's Relief Society has been coming apart at the seams with two sister's relatives - one husband and one father - being hospitalized with serious heart attacks, and another one with a funeral of her mother. Mom has been extra busy plugging holes to keep the Relief Society afloat. We are sure this wave “shall come to pass” and the Relief Society will return to an even keel. No dull moments with this stewardship.
Thursday evening, Mom had a leadership meeting at the Stake center so Dad went to the family history library to find out more about her ancestors. Get this - Mom's grandfather, Ambrosio Gatti, was born in 1859 when the Austro-Hungarian Empire ruled what we call today Como, Italy; therefore, he very likely was born Austrian. However, in that same year (1859) Como was liberated from Austrians as part of the “Italian Unification”, which is basically the Italy we know today as shown on the political maps. He might have never known anything about this since he was only a few months old at the time, and always considered himself Italian as he grew up. Unfortunately, I was not able to find any birth records from that area (Como) in that time frame.
Saturday afternoon, was a busy time with picking up Samantha at the roller hockey rink and taking her to her last soccer game and taking Joshua home after his roller hockey game after picking up Preston from a birthday party. Confused? - believe it or not Dad did the whole thing without getting lost. Later, Mom and Dad watched Preston, Jacob and Sophia while Ryan & Maureen went to a wedding of one of Ryan's high school friends. We enjoyed our time with them - took them to a McDonald's with a big corkscrew slide. We stayed there until they were all tired and then took them home and put them to bed. The strategy worked - they went right to sleep. Sunday morning, we made them a pancake-and-egg breakfast and got them ready for Aunt Vanessa to take to church. We then went home and got ready for and went to church where Mom conducted the Relief Society meeting. One of the less active sisters she visited came to church for first time in many years.
Mom talked with Suzana this week and she seems to be improving i.e. she was more like herself than before. Based on what her daughter Danielle says, we are hopeful that she will be completely recovered in the next few months.
Love y'all, Mom & Dad
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sunday October 11th - Sterling Heights, Michigan
Sunday 11th
Dear Family,
Weather - It was gray and rainy much of the week, but the weekend was beautiful, sunny and cool.
Sports - This week we went to a couple of 7th grade football games and took a few pictures of Tyler playing quarterback. Dad took a few pictures at Josh's roller hockey game on Saturday. We attended Jacob's soccer game - he scored 9 goals in the rain.
Home Improvement - Dad helped Ryan deliver 91 rolls of insulation to his basement and on Saturday afternoon started to insulate his basement. Dad finished the seemingly never-ending saga of the repair job on David's mirrored closet doors. We sure hope it sells.
Bed & Breakfast - Friday night we were visited by a couple from Corpus Christi, Texas that we had met during our mission. They stayed the night (also a young-adult age daughter) and had breakfast with us before going on to Niagara Falls and New York. It was great to get caught up on news and see some of our friends from Corpus Christi.
Church - Mom “successfully” (she is not quite sure of that) conducted her first meeting in Relief Society and Dad taught the High Priest Group with only 4 hours notice. We hosted a priesthood fireside at our home in the evening. We did an endowment session in the temple on Thursday and Dad got some of the family history records corrected.
Love y'all, Mom & Dad
Sunday, October 4, 2009
4 October 2009 - Sterling Heights, Michigan
Dear Family,
This week we had the opportunity to serve others, enjoy each other's company, appreciate creativity and to contemplate the most important things in this life.
Mom's birthday - after lunch with Vanessa and Maureen, we went to Birch Run for some Christmas shopping and a chicken dinner at Frankenmuth.
Tuesday, while Mom was visiting some of the Relief Society sisters, Dad went on some visits with the missionary Elders, including a Rio Wraps lunch.
Wednesday, Mom had her Relief Society Presidency meeting and Dad took David's closet door mirrors to be replaced.
Thursday, we went to the temple and were able to do some service for our own family members and a few others and clarify some of the family records
Friday, we went to the Detroit Institute of Art, for several hours; we enjoyed some marvelous works of very talented and creative people. Some obviously, were divinely inspired.
Saturday & Sunday we watched & listened to and were inspired by the General Conference talks.
We celebrate, with the rest of our Brazilian family, that the Olympics will be in Rio de Janiero in 2016, but more importantly, we are grateful for Suzana's continued progress as she recovers from a stroke. Suzana, we love you and pray for you.
We love y'all, Mom & Dad
This week we had the opportunity to serve others, enjoy each other's company, appreciate creativity and to contemplate the most important things in this life.
Mom's birthday - after lunch with Vanessa and Maureen, we went to Birch Run for some Christmas shopping and a chicken dinner at Frankenmuth.
Tuesday, while Mom was visiting some of the Relief Society sisters, Dad went on some visits with the missionary Elders, including a Rio Wraps lunch.
Wednesday, Mom had her Relief Society Presidency meeting and Dad took David's closet door mirrors to be replaced.
Thursday, we went to the temple and were able to do some service for our own family members and a few others and clarify some of the family records
Friday, we went to the Detroit Institute of Art, for several hours; we enjoyed some marvelous works of very talented and creative people. Some obviously, were divinely inspired.
Saturday & Sunday we watched & listened to and were inspired by the General Conference talks.
We celebrate, with the rest of our Brazilian family, that the Olympics will be in Rio de Janiero in 2016, but more importantly, we are grateful for Suzana's continued progress as she recovers from a stroke. Suzana, we love you and pray for you.
We love y'all, Mom & Dad
Sunday, September 27, 2009
September 27th - Sterling Heights, Michigan
Sunday 27th – Sterling Heights, Michigan
Dear Family,
Today Mom was sustained as the Relief Society President of the Sterling Heights Ward. Mom says she is “freaked out” by this new responsibility. However, we all know she will do the best she can to do the Lord's work. Go Mom!
We also had a family party after church with with local family members including Jim & Vanessa and Ryan & Maureen and their tribes. Thanks for the phone calls from family (she even got two from Brazil); it was awesome. Mom really appreciated the heart-felt letters from the family members of USA and Brazil that Dad received and put into a book. The book, also, had some pictures from Mom's childhood with her brothers and sisters. Everyone enjoyed it. Vanessa and Ryan and Samantha read their letters to Mom, which added a special personal touch. She feels “my cup runneth over”... “Thanks to everyone”.
Love y'all,
Mom & Dad
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday 20 September 2009 - Sterling Heights
Dear Family,
It has been a sick week.
Family Allergy Alert! After taking Mom to two doctors on Wednesday it was concluded she had an allergic reaction to sulfa. According to Amelita, Vo Gatti had an allergy to sulfa as well. Her symptoms were a prickly red rash from head to toe. Also, the fever and blood tests pointed to a viral infection, but she has dropped the fever for last few days and, thankfully, is feeling fine now. The rash has faded a lot, but she is still taking medicine for awhile. We hope all the sicky stuff is past.
Meanwhile, Suzana is recovering with several signs of improvement from her stroke and aneurism surgery and is staying at Christine's home with 24 hour nurse care. Actually, the lady who watches her during the day remembers Suzana from when they were children. Her mother was a maid at Vo Gatti's home and Suzana , being a little older, watched out for her, bringing her treats and giving her her favorite clothes. She is so happy to be able to help Suzana, saying “Suzana took care of me when we were kids so now it is my turn to do the same for her”. “Cast thy bread upon the waters...” Also, her children have arranged for her, when she is ready, to live in the same condominiums as Christine and Renato so she will always be close. Mom actually talked with Suzana and we are much relived to see the progress she is making.
Saturday, Dad helped Ryan with his basement finishing project by finishing plumbing, wiring the central vacuum system in the basement and helping with the electrical wiring. He enjoyed the pizza for dinner.
Celebration of Ryan's 33rd birthday was held Sunday evening. We attended since Mom's quarantine was over Sunday night. We had a good time getting together with kids and grandbuddies. Next Sunday we are getting together to celebrate Mom's 60th birthday.
We love you all,
Mom & Dad
It has been a sick week.
Family Allergy Alert! After taking Mom to two doctors on Wednesday it was concluded she had an allergic reaction to sulfa. According to Amelita, Vo Gatti had an allergy to sulfa as well. Her symptoms were a prickly red rash from head to toe. Also, the fever and blood tests pointed to a viral infection, but she has dropped the fever for last few days and, thankfully, is feeling fine now. The rash has faded a lot, but she is still taking medicine for awhile. We hope all the sicky stuff is past.
Meanwhile, Suzana is recovering with several signs of improvement from her stroke and aneurism surgery and is staying at Christine's home with 24 hour nurse care. Actually, the lady who watches her during the day remembers Suzana from when they were children. Her mother was a maid at Vo Gatti's home and Suzana , being a little older, watched out for her, bringing her treats and giving her her favorite clothes. She is so happy to be able to help Suzana, saying “Suzana took care of me when we were kids so now it is my turn to do the same for her”. “Cast thy bread upon the waters...” Also, her children have arranged for her, when she is ready, to live in the same condominiums as Christine and Renato so she will always be close. Mom actually talked with Suzana and we are much relived to see the progress she is making.
Saturday, Dad helped Ryan with his basement finishing project by finishing plumbing, wiring the central vacuum system in the basement and helping with the electrical wiring. He enjoyed the pizza for dinner.
Celebration of Ryan's 33rd birthday was held Sunday evening. We attended since Mom's quarantine was over Sunday night. We had a good time getting together with kids and grandbuddies. Next Sunday we are getting together to celebrate Mom's 60th birthday.
We love you all,
Mom & Dad
Sunday, September 13, 2009
13 September 2009 - Sterling Heights, Michigan
Dear Family,
Thankfully, we arrived home safely. We left Boise on Tuesday morning and drove to Ogalala, Nebraska that night. Wednesday, we met Stebar's, who were on their way to Utah, in Lexington, Nebraska. It was a short, but good visit. We drove on to Michigan arriving at home about 3:00 am Thursday morning. We accomplished our purpose of getting Michael settled in an apartment and started in school in Utah, and to visit Grandpa Corless in Heyburn and Dan, Lara, Abby, and Sarah in Boise, Idaho. It was great to see everyone.
We hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day. We celebrated it in Idaho - Dan cooked up some burgers while Abby & Sarah played in playground equipment at Liberty Park in Boise.
Saturday, after a haircut, Dad helped Ryan with the basement finishing project. Both Mom and Dad attended Samantha's soccer game at Delia park.
We enjoyed Stake Conference this week end.
It is great to be back home again.
Love y'all, Mom & Dad
Thankfully, we arrived home safely. We left Boise on Tuesday morning and drove to Ogalala, Nebraska that night. Wednesday, we met Stebar's, who were on their way to Utah, in Lexington, Nebraska. It was a short, but good visit. We drove on to Michigan arriving at home about 3:00 am Thursday morning. We accomplished our purpose of getting Michael settled in an apartment and started in school in Utah, and to visit Grandpa Corless in Heyburn and Dan, Lara, Abby, and Sarah in Boise, Idaho. It was great to see everyone.
We hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day. We celebrated it in Idaho - Dan cooked up some burgers while Abby & Sarah played in playground equipment at Liberty Park in Boise.
Saturday, after a haircut, Dad helped Ryan with the basement finishing project. Both Mom and Dad attended Samantha's soccer game at Delia park.
We enjoyed Stake Conference this week end.
It is great to be back home again.
Love y'all, Mom & Dad
Monday, September 7, 2009
Boise, Idaho - 6 September 2009
Sunday 6th – Boise, Idaho
Dear Family,
We, The travelers, survived the journey from Provo to Boise on Tuesday. On the way, we visited Grandpa Corless and went to Burger King for lunch. It was great joy for us to see Abby and get to know little Sarah, who didn't take long to warm up to us. These two are very active little girls – they keep us all hopping.
Monday, we attended the orientation with Michael and his roommate, Kyle. We, the parents, went to a session with President Richards and were impressed with the facilities. people and educational/learning model, which is very much similar to the “Preach My Gospel”.
Thursday we went to the Zoo, where met up with Dan's mom and step dad. They had finished their assignment as temple workers for the day and joined the tour to the animal exhibits for a couple of hours.
Saturday, Dad, Lara, Abby and Sarah went to Bogus Basin for a hike, a picnic and a few photos. The girls were able to get completely dirty and eat some dirt and collect a few rocks. Mom decided to stay home when Lara told her she had gotten a bit motion sick when riding those switch back roads before.
Saturday is a good news day in sports - Brazil defeated Argentina 3-1 in Rosario, Argentina to officially qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. BYU upset Oklahoma 14-13 in the football season opener. The home state teams of Michigan and Michigan State won their season openers. Also, between Dan, McAfee and I we defeated a hoax antivirus that attacked the laptop while Mom was on the internet.
Sunday after church, we went to New Plymouth to visit Dan's family. They made a yummy steak dinner with fresh tomatoes and corn on the cob for us. Lara made a berry pie that was great. We had a good visit and the girls enjoyed playing with their cousins and cats.
We have enjoyed our visit with Dan & Lara and Abby and Sarah J.
We love y'all
Mom & Dad
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