Hello! And Goodbye

We are traveling with Blake's Quincy High School soccer team this weekend to Burlington, Iowa, for a tournament Fri.-Sun. Then we will have a day at home Monday to get ready to leave for the timeshare in Las Vegas on Tuesday. I am looking forward to seeing Eddie and family, and there is a good chance Chris and family will be joining us there over the weekend. So we are having a little vacation from everyday routine, and I will not be blogging during this time. I am working on a little self-repair also. So I will be back sometime in July. Everyone have a wonderful summer. We finally have the warmth of summer here, and I must say it is welcome. And please, some prayer for Tony's work situation. Along with many other Adams County Health Department employees whose jobs are funded by the State, he was given a pink slip this week. We are hopeful that everything will get resolved, but as of now, he's done in mid-July.(? I think that's right.) Then we return to a wild west scenario where no restaurants or community picnics or fairs or public gatherings where food is served will be accountable to anybody. I am trying to imagine our community without its health inspector who makes sure the food is stored, prepared, and served in the right conditions so we don't get sick when we eat out. We live in difficult times. But I leave with this wonderful thought:

The real joy of life is in its play. Play is anything we do for the joy and love of doing it, apart from any profit, compulsion, or sense of duty. It is the real living of life with the feeling of freedom and self-expression. Play is the business of childhood, and its continuation in later years is the prolongation of youth.
(Walter Rauschenbusch, whoever that is!) :o)

May God's love guide you through the special plans He has for your life.

Pics from Steph

Steph sent photos from Alaska recently. The scenery is beautiful there, and it looks like it was a good day for fishing! Always good to hear from you Steph.

Wedding Weekend for Maria's Family

Maria getting the flower girl ready. She likes the sandals, not the new wedding shoes.

The Ewersmann gals arrive at the church just in time.

Michael and Carrie's wedding party. Chris is best man; Maria is bridesmaid on left, her sister Laura next to her, and Carrie's two sisters.

The Arizona Camachos just after the wedding Saturday afternoon.

A close-up. That's a classic Makenna tongue-in-mouth sideways pose.

Aunt Carrie, who'd love to steal away her little niece Makenna, and Chris

The bride and groom walk out of church amidst the bubbles blown by relatives and friends.

The Dede Family: Tony and Carrie, Blake, Cora, Hannah and Nolan

Grandma Ginny and Poppo Mario enjoyed taking charge of Makenna Saturday night so the parents and aunt and uncle and cousins can visit and have a few twirls on the dance floor. Rumor has it Chris still has his old dance moves from younger days. :o)

The Dede kids blow bubbles on the side yard after the wedding.

The wedding party. (Maria, far left, Chris and Makenna 5th from right.) Congratulations to Carrie and Michael.

Dad teaching his little girl how to blow bubbles. She caught on quickly.

Delighted.

Watching the bubbles float high in the air.

Cora and Hannah at the reception. Lots of chocolate kisses to enjoy.

It's reciprocal. Blake loves Grandma too.

Chris, the best man and greeter, gives the toast describing Michael as "a good catch," a reference from our family about him.

Cousin buddies.

She squints her eyes at me on purpose just for fun.

Father and son. See any resemblance? I don't. They both did a lot of fishing over the weekend in the Ewersmann's pond behind their house and caught some nice ones. Like father, like son in that regard.

Warming up the dance floor at last.

Cora, Hannah and Nolan were on the dance floor too.

Cora got a dollar dance with the groom.

We had a little slow dance before we left with Makenna.

Blake stayed in our room and was helpful Sunday morning. Mario went fishing, so Blake helped me get Makenna ready for 11:00 church. They laugh and laugh. Blake will be a good daddy someday.

After mass, and before lunch is ready, (Paul and Rita always have wonderful and plentiful meals when we are there), Mario's job is to entertain. He has the bride, her mom, and her sister engaged with his card tricks.

It's so simple. Let's try it again....

Ay Yi Yi. Well lunch is ready, so a good time to break. It was a great weekend, and we are grateful for the hospitality of the Ewersmanns. Safe travels to Michael and Carrie as they honeymoon in Hawaii.

Dylan

I received this photo of Dylan (Lindsay's son, Eddie and Connie's grandson) with his teacher/mentor as he completed 5th grade. There is no more important role in life than to positively affect the life of a child. YEH!

Weekend Photos

Chris, Maria, and Makenna ready for Tyler's wedding reception

Sean McGlothlin, Tyler Tomlinson, and Chris--high school buddies

Tyler and his bride, Jessica

Sean and his girlfriend

We enjoyed the wedding reception, the especially delicious meal, and seeing Tyler dance with his bride. Then we brought Makenna home with us and had a great couple of hours. Mario and Makenna built all kinds of things with blocks, knocked them down, and of course, Mario's sound effects were mimicked by Makenna.

Mario had to do a few card tricks before everyone went to bed.

Playing with Poppo.

She's got the phone routine figured out.

One of my favorite memories of the weekend....Makenna in her little polka dot dress and bare feet standing just inside the edge of the dance floor watching Tyler and Jessica have their first dance. She just stood alone there and watched.

Another good memory....watching Chris and Blake in Carrie's backyard having a good game of soccer golf. It wasn't all that long ago that Chris was 16 and Blake was the little guy about Nolan's size, and they were like brothers. Time flies.

To a young heart, everything is fun. (Charles Dickens) My heart is feeling younger and younger every day! :o)