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 

Corless Clan Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 26 February 2012

Dear Family,

Knee-monia - David had an arthroscopic knee surgery to relieve the pain he has suffered with over the last few years. Hopefully, it will heal well and he will return to work on Monday. Meanwhile, Pedro Armando’s saga continues with waging war against the bacteria that likes to hang out in his artificial knee joint. He is in Sao Paulo for the next couple of months on an out-patient basis receiving treatment. We are very concerned about his well being.

Temple - Mom & Dad enjoyed serving in the baptistry this week. They were happy to start the work for a couple of Toye Stebar’s relatives, which made it an extra special evening. 

Opportunity - Bishop called Dad to speak at a funeral on Thursday. Being retired presents some “interesting” opportunities to serve and feel the love of Heavenly Father as he comforts those who mourn. It turned out well and the family was pleased.

Mystery Island - Mom & Dad’s date night turned into experiencing Jules Verne “Journey 2 - Mystery Island” in IMAX 3D in the afternoon and a yummy steak and shrimp dinner in the evening at Outback.

Mills Mourning - The Mills Family mourns the tragic loss of Jena. Dan’s canine companion was the victim of a hit & run accident while at work, on Friday evening. Dan witnessed the whole incident and had no way to do anything to stop it. It’s hard to loose a companion this way.  Dad still remembers when as a teenager, he saw a dog run over by a tractor that died right in front of him.  Sad.  We send our condolences.

Sam Swims - Papa was finally able to watch Sam swim as she came from 3rd in the last leg to take 1st place in her heat of the 200 yard free style on Saturday afternoon. She has qualified to compete next weekend in another meet. Go Sam!

Sam Swims

Isaiah 8 - Happy Birthday and baptism for Isaiah. The whole Michigan Corless Clan attended Isaiah’s Baptism at the Detroit River Branch building in Detroit.  We also saw-  Holli’s Parents, Pablo Carbajal, Sam Skousen Jr., and the Branch President, Carlos Junca (Silvia Gray’s brother). Afterward, Mom & Dad took Ryan, Tyler, Preston and Jacob to Dan & Holli’s for a hamburger and hot dog, cake and ice cream birthday dinner and party. Ryan and Mom played the guitar and sang with Pablo. Papa helped Preston make “Robogator” with Lego Mindstorm, while Tyler, Nathan and Ryan threw the football outside. Everyone had a good time together.

Photos - http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#101532

Isaiah with his Family

Isaiah’s Extended Family

Preston with “Robogator”

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad

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