28 March 2010 - Sterling Heights, Michigan

Sunday 28th - Dear Family,

Tis the season - Spring, as defined by the vernal equinox, had no problem finding Michigan, but the weather has struggled to be sunny and warm.  Robins have found their way back and several deer, hidden during the winter months, have been seen in the backyard - five were spotted walking around in the backyard at sunrise one morning. Any thoughts of a vegatable garden this season have waned.

Creativity - Holli and Dad worked a double shift on the chest of drawers project this week, and it is about ready to be assembled. Ryan’s basement project was put on hold this weekend due to a Scout campout and a Ward activity commitments.

Relief - Dad is so happy to be finished with the scaling process on his teeth.  Dad’s CT scan showed the lungs are free of pneumonia with no residual scarring.  Good News!  Now if they could figure out why the coughing and wheezing are not gone as well...  Mom’s broken toe seems to be totally healed and she has returned to full activity.

Power Shopping - Mom & Dad have been looking to buy a new car. Test drives of the Escape, Edge and Lincoln MKX and consideration of the Navigation system, Moon Roof, I4 or V6 engine (fuel economy), AWD features and the associated price have used up the leftover time & energy resources of this week without producing a conclusion.  

First Impressions - Dan was sworn in as a Canyon County Deputy Sheriff on Wednesday.  However, the solemn/professional ceremony did not impress Abby or Sarah as being a fun time thus setting off a session weeping and wailing to point that Lara had to take them outside. There is nothing like leaving a solid lasting memory of the Mills’ Family.  Kids - You got to love them! Good start guys!

Love y’all,  Mom & Dad

Sunday 21st - Dear Family,

Creativity - Taking “Matter Unorganized” and forming it into something beautiful or wonderful or of “Good Report” is a very rewarding activity. Last week, Dad was able to help Holli with her chest of drawers project; Ryan & Maureen with their basement finishing project; and Jim & Vanessa move one step closer to their vision of the ultimate Study/Den/Office. None these projects are historically great and wonderful, but it feels good to see these things come together to make something a little better than before.  

Health - Dad has launched another attack in his personal war with bronchitis/pneumonia with medicine, CT scan, and an appointment with a lung specialist. Also, he survived an onslaught to his teeth by a dental hygienist, who numbed the right side of his jaw and did a deep “spring” cleaning (below the gums) for a whole hour! He has another one to go on the left on Monday. 

Entertainment - Vanessa invited Mom & Dad to go for a brisk walk and a healthy lunch, which they enjoyed very much. Dad took Mom to a romantic comedy movie “Valentine’s Day”. Saturday night date was dinner at Applebee’s and shopping at JCPenney’s and walking around Lakeside Mall. The weather has been so nice Mom & Dad went for walks outside and took an enjoyable ride to the airport to drop off a ward member. Wednesday night Mom & Dad went to support the new.familysearch introduction to the ward members. 

Jacob’s “friends” Birthday Party was a blast.  Tonight was his family party.  Way to go -  Happy Birthday Jacob!

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad

Corless Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 14 March 2010

Dear Family,

We have enjoyed several days of warm sunshine - the snow piles are gone, the ice on the pond has thawed and the chirping birds are out and about. Also, the post-winter yard clean up has started, but by no means is complete. It is great to be outside and enjoy the nice weather and organize some matter.

Mom has been planning, organizing, and executing Relief Society presidency meetings and the Relief Society Board meeting/luncheon, which was well attended and turned out wonderful. Her attention to detail and loving care made it a delightful event for all.

Dad has been developing his woodworking skills by making and installing the trim on the Ryan & Maureen’s closet shelves and helping Holli with the intricasies of “fine furniture making”. They have been on the steep end of the learning curve of how to make a chest of drawers from oak - it is progressing and promises to be great.  Maybe Ryan Hreinson needs to come and teach some of his knowhow. 

Love y’all, 

Mom & Dad

Corless Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 7 March 2010

Dear Family,

It has been a wonderful week.

Spring Weather - It has been so sunny and nice that Dad had lunch and did some reading on the deck one afternoon. (It was 80 degrees in the corner of the deck by the family room!)   Also, it was wonderful to get out under blue skies to start our HT/VT assignments for the new month.

Projects - Dad helped Holli get the oak chest of drawers another step or two closer to complete and Ryan to rough in six shelves in two of the basement closets. Mom went tile shopping with Maureen and helped Lori Barlow with a home improvement/decoration project. (They went to to Stake RS birthday activity/lucheon on Saturday.)There is a sense of fulfillment to see these, “matter organized” projects progress and come together.

Public Servant - Dan got called to serve in a fulltime position with the Canyon County Sheriff’s department. “Deputy Dan” is scheduled to start on Monday the 22nd of March and will be working 4 - 12 hour days in a row, with the next 4 days off. We are all excitied for them and hope this new opportunity goes well and allows them to pursue their long term goals.

Temple - Mom & Dad were spirituall edified by attending the endowment and sealing of Sister Fox, a Philipino lady, to her husband and deceased son.  

Love Y‘all, 

Mom & Dad

28 February 2010 - Sterling Heights, Michigan

Dear Family,

This week was full of getting matters organized - it is impossible to completely seperate physical, mental and spiritual matters because they all contribute to our well being.

Physical - Dad shoveled the heavy snow for a couple of hours on Monday, which was a good workout, but the best part was the Jacuzzi afterwards. Great news - Mom’s broken toe has healed enough to go for walks again. They walked for two miles at Lakeside mall on Saturday morning.

Mental - This week’s spare time was dominated with the preparation for a Single Adult Fireside next Sunday evening, on temples and the tabernacle. It was great to remind ourselves and organize ours thoughts and visiual aids to make it presentable.

Spiritual - The Stake Conference was great. The spirit was strong and bore witness of the truths being spoken and encouraged us to be better disciples of Jesus Christ by demonstrating love through service to others.  After the Saturday evening session Mom & Dad with Ryan Maureen, Barlow’s and others went to Pei Wei for dinner. After the Sunday morning session, Kulka and Corless clans come for dinner at Papa & Nona’s house. All had a good time eating and playing games together.  Then the children and grandchildren left, and “the old ones” returned to the Stake center to present the fireside.  They took a lot of maps, models, pictures and objects to show and the presentation turned out pretty well.  Mom’s feet are tired and a bit achy from standing so long.  Now it feels good to be done and to be back home.         

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad

Corless Connection - Sterling Heights, Michigan - 21 Feb 2010

Sunday February 21st 2010

Dear Family,

The Valentine’s Day celebration included red-heart decorations everywhere, a ravioli dinner, glasses full of candy, eight grandchildren, video call (iChat) with Dan, Lara, Abby & Sarah.  It was a great connection for all involved and everyone had a great time and enjoyed being together.

After the party, the old dishwasher gave up the ghost. Dad pronounced it dead, uninstalled it and put it outside. Mom, the powershopper, was commissioned to pursue a new machine.  She was, as usual,  successfull in finding a great machine and a place to buy it at a very good price. Tuesday Lowe’s delivered the new machine and Dad installed it, just in time to prepare dinner for the missionaries. 

Wednesday morning, Dad took Mom to her RS presidency meeting and returned in time to help Holli with a project to make an oak chest of drawers.  They made a great start, but still have a long way to go for a finished product. 

Thursday morning Mom & Dad were the witness couple for an endowment session at the Temple. It was a great treat to be there.

Friday morning Dad survived an hour of racquetball.   It was his first outing since being diagnosed with pneumonia and he felt great after it was over.  Dad bought a new laptop (Acer), to replace the stolen one and spent the day configuring it.  

Mom & Dad enjoyed their date-night italian dinner at Francesca’s with Stebar’s.  The cream broulee Sis. Stebar prepared for desert was truely delicious. 

Saturday afternoon Mom & Dad were invited to Ryan & Maureen’s where Dad and Ryan installed their new projector and screen with the new surround sound system in the basement. The whole family watched “Horton Hears a Who” to test the system, which, of coursed, functioned perfectly.

Sunday, Mom & Dad hosted the McLennan family for dinner after church and shared some wonderful faith promoting stories.

Love y’all,

Mom & Dad 

14 February 2010 - Happy Valentines Day from Sterling Heights, Michigan

Dear Family,

Happy Valentine’s day.

Hard Labor - Dad survived removing the 1/2 cubit of snow on driveway and deck left by the mid-week winter storm. 

Dental Dates - Both Mom & Dad survived their dental appointments without any permanent adverse psychological or physical damage. Dad got his “perfect” teeth cleaned and Mom got a tiny hole filled in one of her teeth.

Parties - Mom, not only survived, but enjoyed the successful RS “Unity” Activity on Thursday evening with her “sisters”. After shopping on Saturday afternoon, Mom & Dad visited Jim & Vanessa’s and Ryan & Maureen’s for another set of impromtu party ing. Sunday evening is Nona’s Annual Valentine’s Day Party. Nona had the tables set in red & white, complete with balloons and candy-filled glasses ready since Friday evening for the grand celebration of love this Sunday. 

Matter Organized - Good News - A new kitchen window with internal blinds was installed Friday morning. Bad News - the new door that was supposed to be installed opened on the wrong side, so it was not installed, but reordered. Frustration and disappointment have littered the trail to the new more secure door, but there is still hope on the horizon.  We will prevail!

We love y’all,

Mom & Dad