5 great iPhotos Greetings from Branson, MO

Arizona mountains where one of the fires occurred.  The whole mountain in background is burned.

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Mountains in New Mexico

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Ric his 91 year old mom and 2 sisters

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Arkansas on way to Branson

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Arriving in Branson.

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July 28, 2011

Hi family and friends,

Once again we are eastward bound and in Branson on our way to Richmond Indiana.  We are volunteering August and September at Bethany Seminary as hosts at Brethren House.  We will be like house parents for short term students, visiting professors etc.  I will know more when we arrive and get busy.   We are both looking forward to a new adventure in volunteering.  There is a chapel there with a very nice organ that I can practice and we can also attend any classes that we would choose,

We left home July 3 and spent that night and July 4 in Lancaster with our friends the Jeters.  We had a fun indoor "picnic" July 4 as it was a little too hot to be outside.  We had a good time but as usual it was too short to do any visiting.  

We left there and wandered on to Flagstaff where it was cool because of the elevation.  That was the end of our cool weather and it is still hot!  We drove to Holbrook, AZ and went southeast through the mountains where there had been one of the big fires in May and June.  We saw lots of fire damage and it went on for many miles.  The road was closed during the fire and had only been reopened for about 3 weeks.  The forests and mountains that were not burned were very pretty.  It was a 2 lane road but very scenic and we had not gone that way before.  We wound up in Deming NM for the night.  The next day we traveled on to Ft. Stockton TX  which was pretty much a day in the desert.  We continued on to San Antonio which was our first long stop.

We went to San Antonio to help Ric's sister celebrate her 60th birthday,  She told us last year that we had to be there so we made reservations at that time.  It worked out as far as our volunteering in IN. Besides Ric needs to visit his mom who lives there and is almost 92.  She still lives alone and drives to her "work" which is volunteering at a senior center and not too far from her home.  She is in good health and walks daily. 

We took a boat ride on the San Antonio River one evening which was 30 minutes long.  It was beautiful and well worth it. It was part of the famous River Walk and was close enough to our hotel that we could walk.  Again the heat was overpowering for me, at least.  Ric does not mind it.

When we left there we came to Branson.  We used two weeks of our timeshares and had/have nice places to stay.  One was on the east side of town and one on the west which made it nice.  The only disappointment was that  none of the shows were the "real" performers.  Most were paying tribute to the famous.  I guess summer is not the best time to come here.  We have been here before and it was much different but it was fall.  Also some of the more famous are getting too old to perform or have died.  Wonder how that happens?   We were going to see the Russian comedian, Yakov who we have seen before and is really good, but when we went to get the tickets they told us that it is only produced by Yakov and he is not in the show.  Country music is not our favorite either.  At both resorts where we stayed, they had a 2 hour preview of some of the performers  and so we saw a lot of what here.  They were entertaining enough.

We attended Unity of the Hills church which we have attended before and  it was good. Their sanctuary which is on a mountain is all windows in front and over looks Branson,  Beautiful.

It is hot here and humid.  Today we went to the Outlet Mall and when we got back in the car it was 121 degrees.  It took a long time to cool the car off.  It is only about 100 out,  So we stay in a lot.  We go out early in the morning to the gym and do whatever we have to do.

We will leave here Saturday morning for IN and hopefully it will be cooler there.  (I am afraid it is not, however) 

So that is what we have been doing. How about you?  It it so nice to hear from so many of you.  I keep in touch with some of you on Face Book but this is different.

Our best to you.  Take care and enjoy life.  

Ric and Jan 

8 great iPhotos

Sasha one year old

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TTTDSC03502Table at my brother Don's Memorial 

Service April 30 2011  Many farm tools and things he used and valued. 

 

Carl and me

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Sharon and me

me and mom2

 

Sasha 13 months old with lots of hair

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Reading my birthday card

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Can't get out!!

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May 27, 2011

Hi all, 

This letter is long overdue but so much happened in April.  We were in Seattle visiting son David, Angel and Sasha as she celebrated her first birthday.  We got a phone call that my brother Don had gone  to doctor for his pre op appointment for a knee replacement scheduled the end April.  While visiting the doctor, they found clogged arteries and decided a bypass surgery was in order.  Two days later he went through a four way bypass and aortic valve replacement which lasted 8 hours. He just never really woke up from the surgery and had strokes.  He lived a couple of weeks and with his big family all around him he passed very gently and peacefully away.  He had a blessed life and was doing yard work up until then.  He had been active and as far as we knew he was healthy.  It was a shock but also a blessing that he did not linger.  We have so many great memories as he and wife Pauline traveled allover the world with us.  We had many good times to look back on. 

It was on his 85th birthday his celebration of life was held and just a few years ago the four of us celebrated his birthday in Stonehenge  England.   We were on our way to the southernmost tip of England to spend a week near Penzance.  

We went on a transatlantic cruise also in April as it was planned way ahead of time.  We did have a wonderful trip across the Atlantic and we stopped only once at Gibralter where we had been twice before with Don and Pauline.  Brought back many memories. We had seen the monkeys before so chose not to this time.  We continued on our journey to Rome and then flew back to Seattle from there.  We were on the Azamara and it was a small ship and the best cruise we could remember.  Food, service, prices, everything was first class

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We returned to Live Oak towards the end of April for some busy times there.  Our church, Church of the Brethren, celebrated its 100th anniversary in May.  My grandfather was the founding elder so it has been a part of my family for that long.  I played the organ for the 2 day celebration and saw many relatives and friends whom I had not seen for a long time.  It was truly a wonderful week end. 

We are now back in Seattle for a couple more weeks visiting before we return home and then head East via Texas first part of July.  We have another busy summer planned with volunteering for 2 months.  More about that later.  

I trust this finds you in good health and enjoying life.  Live every minute as if it were your last.  We are well and healthy and just looking forward to whatever life brings us. We give gratitude in all, 

Drop us a line as we always like hearing what is going on with you,

Love and hugs to you all,

Ric and Jan(ice)

5 great iPhotos

Almonds in full bloom near Chico, CA

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Ric and grandkids, Gabriel, Sarah and Carmella  (ages 2, 3 1/2 and 5) Oregon

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Snow on way to WA

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Sasha, 10 1/2 months reading book upside down.  It made no difference to her!

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Sasha and Grandmother in Seattle

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March 7, 2011

Hi to all, 

We have been gone from Live Oak for 2 weeks now and have FINALLY gotten settled in the motorhome in Seattle.  What a 2 weeks it has been! 

The first week was good.  We stopped in Oregon and visited family which was a real treat as usual and then came on up to Seattle.  We had the motorhome in storage here over the long, cold winter, and it was not about to start when we were ready for it to.  We spent 2 hours on a cold (23 degrees) morning waiting for the tow truck which finally came and towed it to Camping World where we had it serviced, bought new batteries and a few more less important things so it would run.  Then we were told to have it towed to a transmission shop in Tacoma as it seemed the transmission might have some issues.  We played the waiting game again but finally got it towed.  While there we were told there was fire damage to the wires and few parts from the fire we had underneath the coach last Feb in N. CA.  So we had to have that fixed.  We finally drove it here to the Elks where we stay and hooked up to the water.  

First thing was we had water pouring out the front door.  So we shut off the water and finally found the filter was cracked which was under the sink.  It was new before we stored the motorhome and it just froze.  So thanks to a friend of David's who is a general contractor and his mother has a motorhome he takes care of,  we were able it get that done.  We turned on the water again and had another leak in the bathroom.  So off the water went again and back came Bruce, David's friend the next morning.  It was a cracked connector to a water line and we had to get that part and he fixed it.  So we still have wet carpets which dry slowly in this rather wet weather but everything seems to be working as it should.  I was ready to pack it all in and just go home.  So disappointing not to have a place that is warm, dry and with water to live.  What a long week that was. 

In between times we had the pleasure to visit with David and Sasha.  She is such a good happy baby and so much personality that she keeps us entertained all the time. 

We plan to be here for a couple of months yet. We are going on a Transatlantic 13 day cruise April 4 with one port which is Gibraltor.   Then on to Rome where we fly back to Seattle.  We do like just being on the water.  Our airfare is

paid as well as gratuities and we have a balcony so it was a good deal. It is a small ship, 694, which we like.  The cruise line is Azamara which is owned by Celebrity. We are looking forward to it. 

The weather has been typical Seattle weather.  Lots of rain, some sun and then beautiful sunny days thrown in to make you glad you are here.  It has been cold but days are not unbearable. 

We hope this finds you all well and enjoying life as we are.  It is just good to be here and back to a somewhat "normal" routine. 

What have you been up to?  It will be good to hear from you as you write.  The Elks is supposed to get wi fi for their RV spaces today which will be a much appreciated service. 

Take care. 

Love and hugs to all,

Mom and Dad

Grandmother and Granddaddy,

Ric and Jan(ice)

6 great iPhotos Sasha 7 months

Courtney and Shash

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In her daddy's old high chair

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Grandmother and Sasha

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Granddaddy and Sasha

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P1020243 Merry Christmas

        Our family taken at Thanksgiving.   L-R bottom  Brent Souza 12,  (grandson) Carl Knorr  son, Top L-R

Lito Starkweather, Sharon Souza, (daughter) Chelsey Souza 16, Courtney Souza 18, Brittney Souza 23, granddaughters, Ric and Jan, Angel holding Sasha 7 months(not enjoying looking at the sun, andf David Martinez (son).  More pictures of Sasha to come. 

 December 20, 2010

Merry Christmas to all,

We were blessed to have taken a 14 day cruise to the Caribbean and just returned late last night so Christmas cards are not on the way!   Our family was together for the first time in 3 years and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Having a baby around is always fun. 

We did have a wonderful time on our trip with beautiful weather in the 80's and sometimes even hot!  We came home to lots of rain but it is good to be home again.  We had never been to the Caribbean so it was a new experience for us and a great Christmas gift.  The people on the islands were most gracious and friendly.  We visited St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Tobago, Aruba and Curcao. 

We had a great year and plan another one next year.  We are signed up to take a cruise through the Panama Canal in October 2011.   It is  our 40th anniversary in May so we are going to celebrate it late but properly.  We have heard many good comments about the Panama Canal.  We will anticipate it most of the year.  

This brings our best to you all for a wondrous and blessed Christmas and happy, healthy year.  

Ric and Jan(ice)

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8 great iPhotos

View from our balcony on ninth floor.

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Another view from our balcony

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Going down the hill towards Salt Lake City

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 Conference Center across from Temple Square

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LDS Temple

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Tabernacle

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Organ in Tabernacle

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Organ and pipes-some 40 of 11,600+. 

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October 20, 2010

Hi,

We just returned from an organ recital at the Mormon Tabernacle. Wow!!  Seeing that big organ, one of the largest in the world, was just great for me.  Reminded of my days in college when I took pipe organ lessons.  He even played one of the Bach Fugues I played in college. (Not my favorite)

We have had a great time here in Utah.  The weather was excellent.  Cold nights and warm days and lots of sunshine.  Couldn't ask for anything better. 

We plan to be home in Live Oak on Saturday eve for a short time and then we will be gone for a week to Oregon.  Home again after that until after the first of the year. 

 

Our best to you all, 

Later. 

Ric and Jan(ice)T

Snowbird, UT

More fall colors

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Here are the yellows.

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