Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 19 February 2012

Dear Family,

Happy Valentine’s Day - We hope all had a Happy Valentine’s Day with nice thoughts, cards and/or gifts from the heart.

Minor Matter Organized - While Mom went to her medical exam, Dad cleaned out part of the garage and threw out some old useless stuff. There is still much to be done, but at least, it was a start.

Vintage Vehicles - On their “Date Day” Mom & Dad went to the Henry Ford Museum to see the new “Driving America” exhibit.  It is well done and, of course, Dad photographed a few of the vintage vehicles. They had a BLT sandwich and split pea soup for lunch in the street car sized Lamy’s Diner. 

Mom reads about the Bugatti

1932 Ford V8

Mainly Mild - Tuesday morning Dad swept an inch blanket of snow off the driveway and sidewalks, however, the weather has continued to be relatively warm. So on Wednesday, Dad biked on the Clinton River Trail to get some exercise and to enjoy the outdoors.  Talking about exercise, on Monday morning, Dad, Jim and Ryan played two games of racquetball at “Courtland”. All three survived without any damage. Dad thinks he needs to develop a new strategy because these two are fast enough to get to and return his shots.

GM Boguses - Ryan stopped by after basketball on Thursday evening. He shared the irony of the GM employee bogus bonus process. After record profits, management decided to only give a part of the target bonus because “they did not meet the objectives”. It seems a little ironic that the management objectives were set by upper management and not met by upper management so they will discount the employee bonuses to make up for it. Oh well, at least, everyone is still employed.

Soggy Strength - Super Samantha displayed her excellent swimming form, strength and endurance, as she placed in several races and earned Jr Olympic times in four events and state time in one other event at a multi-club swim meet this weekend. GO Sam!

Ranger Rescuers - Mom and Dad were invited on Ryan & Maureen’s Saturday Date Night, which included a stop at the GM Tech center to install a new battery in the Ranger. After a chilly and expedited battery installation and a prayer, the Ranger started right up. Once again Ryan & Dad rescued the Ranger from an overnight stay in a lonely parking lot. They celebrated their successful rescue with dinner at “Pei Wei” and watching a DVD “Moneyball” .

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 12 February 2012

Dear Family,

Looking Good - Congratulations - Brother Stebar has successfully completed his cataract removal surgeries. He says can see so much better. Things are much brighter and clearer. Dad told, “You may be able to see better, but you don’t look any better.” They both had a good laugh. What are friends for anyway?

Tax Man - This week, Dad has spent the most aggravating part of his life’s annual routine - preparing Federal and Michigan state income tax returns. “This is worse than trying to work with the bean counters at Ford to make any logic out this tangled web of evil secret combinations. This is clearly the “Darkside.”

Date Day - Since Friday evenings are now taken with their Stake Service Missionary calling, Mom & Dad moved their date day to Thursday. This week they went to Cranbrook to see the “Life on Earth” exhibition (science mixed with the philosophies of men) and later to “Red Lobster” to share a shrimp and lobster dinner (praiseworthy and of good report).

Scout Committee - The Scout Committee was reorganized and Dad volunteered to help out.  He can’t resist. There a are number of good men to share the load and a large number of good boys to support.

White Knuckle Conditions - It started to snow as Dad attended Tyler’s basketball game, picked up a few things at Costco and drove directly home to pick up Mom to go to their ARP meeting. Afterward, Mom and Dad drove home in blizzard conditions with very slick roads. Being on the Lord’s errand has its advantages because they made home safe and sound without sliding off into the ditch.

Family Photo File - Mom and Dad scanned a number of photos from Mom’s Gatti and Sanchez families. It was fun to relive and share the stories about them. The photo below, taken about a century ago, is of Mom’s Grandparents - VoIta’s parents, Jose Maria Sanchez and Flora Christensen they were married in Argentina in 1895 and had six children. VoIta is their 5th child.

Hi Tech Spirit - Dad was sitting in Sacrament meeting today and felt like he needed to check his email via his iPhone. He found about the quorum instructor was sick and not able to attend. So, with the help of Mom and Heavenly Father, he was able to quickly prepare a lesson, which, thankfully, turned out to be well received. 

Happy Valentiners - Due to everybody/s hectic schedule on Tuesday, Mom & Dad hosted the annual Valentine’s celebrations with a dinner and, of course, candy, on Sunday after church meetings. They worked together all afternoon on Saturday, buying stuff, preparing the dinner (Peasant Pasta and home-made Gnocchi), and decorating the tables with red colored everything. Everything added to the festive mood, complete with candy stuffed in the short-stem glasses. Looking good! 

Clan Valentine Celebrators

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 5 February 2012

Dear Family,

Rembrandt - Mom & Dad finally found the time to take in the exhibition of  “Rembrandt: Faces of Jesus” at the DIA on Wednesday. It took them back to Amsterdam in mid 1600‘s and was very informative and well done - Mom & Dad highly recommend it, but, you better hurry, it ends on the 12th.

Sam’s 1st - Sam and family celebrated his first birthday at Dan & Lara’s. We all wish we could have been there to sing “Happy Birthday” and “Parabens a Voce” to the youngest clan member. Thanks to Dan & Lara for sharing the celebrations by taking and sending the video clips of singing to Sam and Sam’s cake eating technique. Happy Birthday Sam!

It’s a Bug’s Birthday - Saturday, Sophia (Bug) became 5 years old. The princess themed celebration at Ryan & Maureen’s was attended by Kulka’s and Papa & Nona. The fare of pizza and salad and “Tater Tots” were gleefully devoured. Sophia enjoyed her candle and sparkler bedecked cake and the presents and, of course the candy game. Of course, Papa took a few photos to commemorate this special occasion. Happy Birthday to Sophia. Photos of Sophia and Jacob B-ball: http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#101473

Rex, Ryan, Sophia, Jacob and Preston.

Grand Basket Ball Buddies - Papa attended and photographed Tyler on Friday and Jacob on Saturday playing basket ball. It is fun to watch them play; of course they are at completely different levels of play, but nevertheless,                      it is always entertaining. Photos Tyler B-ball: http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#101468

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad

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