Corless Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 27 June 2010

Dear Family,

Grandbuddies - While Maureen and Little Rex attended her brother’s wedding in California, Papa & Nona watched Preston, Jacob and Sophia during the day. We went to the pool once and to the zoo one afternoon with them. One day Papa took them for a bike ride. Good news - there was 100% survival rate of grandbuddies and Papa & Nona.

World Cup Soccer - We all have been watching as many games as we can this week. Dad would text the scores to Michael at work so he could update his Mexican co-workers.  Brazil and the USA both went on the “Knock Out Round” of the top 16 teams. But the USA lost on Saturday ending their bid for the cup. Brazil plays tomorrow (Monday). 

Projects - The work continues on Ryan’s basement with the repair of the nail gun compressor and the installation of more trim and paneling. Holli and Papa took the week off of the chest of drawers - Daniel, Holli and family went on a vacation. Grandpa Corless was happy to report they had visited him for a couple of hours. 

Condo Hunters - Grandma Sparks’ land is scheduled to be sold by July 7th and Mom & Dad are looking, via the internet, at some very nice Condos for her to buy and set up a summer residence in Michigan. 

Stake Youth Conference -  Friday afternoon, Dad taught six 25 minute classes to about 20 of the stake’s youth each time.  The topic was “I Nephi 10:17”- See, Hear, and Know. 

Samantha’s Birthday Party - On Saturday, the now 12 year old Samantha, invited the family to celebrate her birthday  with pizza and swimming.  The weather was just right and everyone had a great time.  She is so excited to go to girl’s camp next week. Go Sam!

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad

CORESS CONNECTION - Streling Heights, Michigan 20 June 2010

Dear Family,

Bad news - Good News - The week started with Jim’s Birthday. Unfortunately, Jim got food poisoning and was sick the whole week. On a more positive note Lara, Abby and Sarah arrived on Monday from Denver and the party began with Ryan & Maureen and their tribe. Pizza, canoe rides, campfire and the water fountain provided the food and entertainment. 

Pool Party - Papa actually went swimming with the grandbuddies in the Partridge Creek pool. There was food, fun and sunburns.

Wild Life - Abby & Sarah went on a wildlife observation expedition with Papa in the canoe. They saw seven turtles and two baby ducks.  

Anniversary - Saturday marked Mom & Dad’s 39th wedding anniversary. The celebration included a Tuscan Grill dinner at “Brio” with Jim, Vanessa, Ryan, Maureen, Lara & Michael. Dinner was followed by two games of Bocci (right there at Partridge Creek), boys vs. girls - the girls won both games.  There was a band playing  and we listended and some (Ryan/Maureen, Michael/Vanessa) danced to the music as the sun set.  It was a wonderful evening!

Matter Organised Projects - Holli and Dad worked on the chest of drawers, which is getting close to the staining/finishing phase. Dad helped Ryan install the cabinets and the baseboards in the basement on Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon. Soon it will be time for carpeting.

Church - Our Stake had a Special Stake Conference for no special occasion, (except that there was a training session for bishops in Ann Arbor with Elder Bednar on Saturday, and a member of the quorum of 70’s attended our Sunday meeting) but it was nice - except for the cooling in the building which was not functioning and made it very uncomfortable for everyone.

Happy Father’s Day - Papa was honored after church with a dinner by the family.  The Grandbuddies got another canoe ride to visit the turtles and baby ducks in the pond.

Love ya, Mom & Dad

Corless Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 13 June 2010

Dear Family,

Another event filled week.

Pleasant to the Eye - Mom & Dad planted more flowers in the yard and looks nice. Our painter/philosopher “Vic” painted the whole outside of the house and parts of the inside - it looks really nice again. Friday, Mom & Dad went to St. Clair to walk along the river and have dinner witht the Stebar’s.  It was a very beautiful and pleasant time.

Project Progress - Dad helped Holli with the chest of drawers project on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. It is almost ready for finishing with the drawers in and the oak exterior attached - it looks good. Dad helped Ryan install more paneling in the basement on Saturday - it will be ready for carpeting very soon. Dad replaced a rotted board on the deck and stained it and fixed the collapsed bed in Rachel’s room.

Cough Counsel - Dad met with another doctor who indicated what he is doing is the right medical regime to follow, but it may take months to clear up.

Service - Mom has been very involved with Relief Society - Activity Night preparation and execution; listening to the sisters; visiting new mothers; preparing for Father’s Day.   Mom & Dad are still learning to more fully serve in the Temple every Tuesday evening. Mom translated another missionary lesson from English to Spanish for Manuela.

Baptism - Preston is now eight years old and was baptised today by his father. There was a family party afterwards.  It was fun to play games and eat together.  Everyone seems to have had a great time.  Congratulations, Preston!

Love ya, 

Mom & Dad

Corless Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 6 June 2010

Dear Family,

It has been another event filled week.

Memorial day - In the morning, we enjoyed breakfast with the ward program honoring soldiers current and past.  Later, Jim & Vanessa hosted the celebration with grilled burgers.

Missionary - Mom translated the message during our visit to Manuela with the Elders on Tuesday morning.  At night, Mom & Dad worked at the temple and Dad went there on Wednesday to help with a youth baptism session.  Dat started teaching “Sharing the Gospel” again today, Sunday, and Mom taught the lesson in RS “Faith and the More Excellent Way”.  It turned out great.  She is so thankful for Heavely Father’s help in making it all work out so well.

Cough and wheeze saga - Dad visited an Otolarynyngologist (Ear, Nose & Throat) doctor.  After his thorough, less than pleasant scoping through both nostrils and down the throat - we have a new cause theory. He has determined the cause is not from sinus, but maybe from the stomach in the form of reflux (GERD). New regime of antibiotic, antiacid, low acid diet, etc. is in progress for the next couple of months. 

Michigan Visits - Lara, Abby and Sarah are coming to visit the Michigan based family while Dan is in a 5 week intensive training.  Grandma Sparks probably will come late in July. 

Home Work - Mom & Dad are getting the outside of the house painted and Dad helped Ryan Saturday afternoon putting paneling in the basement - it really looks pretty good.

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad

Corless Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 30 May 2010

Dear Family,

Lovely and of Good Report - Mom & Dad finished plantitng the flowers in the front yard and deck (Mom), and the vegetables in the newly completed “Square Foot Garden” (Dad). It is such a relief to get that done.

Sharing the Gospel - Dad & Mom went with the Elders to teach Manuela Ruiz. Dad took the Elders and an investigator to the Mission Fireside in Livonia.

Making Memories - If having fun is any measure, the Family campout was a great success. Baseball, toad catching, campfire, smores, glow sticks, sleeping in a tent, playing in the water fountain, Lincoln logs, games, etc. were a part of the Friday evening fun. The next morning with little Rex in the old (1973 vintage) backpack, Papa went for a walk to show him all the neighborhood sights. Nona and the rest of the “campers” visted, talked and laughed as the guys returned form playing baskedtball and the grandkids woke up in the tent. The pancake, potatoes and egg breakfast was a very well attended and filling event enjoyed by all the particpants. It is such a joy to see the kids and grandkids all enjoying being with one another.

Date Night - Mom & Dad had a relaxing shrimp dinner at Red Lobster and met Ryan & Maureen at Lowe’s to help pick out the carpet and cabinets for the basement project.  Afterward, at the request of Abby and Sarah, Lara called to have an iChat - video call - with Papa and Nona, who enjoyed very much the news, sights and sounds of their action packed family.  Thanks to everyone for their part in making such a wonderful weekend for us all.  Tomorrow, we will get together one more time to grill some burgers and enjoy the holiday and to remember those who given their all for our freedom.  We hope the weather holds up.  It is been great lately but they are predicting thunderstorms for Monday.  We’ll see.

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad

Birthday Celebration

Birthday Party May 2010

Cousin Buddies Celebrating Papa's Birthday

Youngest Corless and Mom

Corless Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan 23 May 2010

Happy Birthday to Dan & Dad!

Temple Adventure - Mom & Dad bravely completed their first shift as temple workers. It was filled with learning as will be the next several weeks. The other experienced workers are very helpful and kind to the beginners. Dad was glad to see Jim & Vanessa there even if it was just for a moment. 

Mother’s Day prolonged - Mom’s Mother’s Day gift from Dad finally arrived. One Eternal Round is the last book of Hugh Nibley. Mom and Dad both love it!

Garden of Corless’ - Dad helped Ryan build and install a garden box and then made one for him & Mom. Dad’s design has legs to get it off the ground away from the neighborhood rabbits and minimizes painful kneeling and bending down to tend it. 

Movie Night - Michael, Mom & Dad went to “Robin Hood” with Russell Crowe as Robin. Good story/legend of bad guys and worse guys, lots of action, sprinkled with bloody violence.

The Plumbers - Ryan & Dad installed the vanity, sink and toilet in the basement bathroom on Saturday afternoon, thus getting one step closer to getting it fully operational.  The boxes that the vanity came in were a source of great entertainment for Preston, Jacob and Sophia as they turned them into a club house and a space ship.

Birthday Party - Jim, Vanessa, Tyler, Samantha, Joshua, and Olivia and Ryan & Maureen, Preston, Jacob, Sophia and Rex joined Mom and Michael for a lasagna and salad dinner, raspberry chocolate cake, lemon meringue pie, canoe rides and candy game to celebrate Papa’s birthday.  The sun was shining, the sky blue; it was a great day!

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad