Yeah, it's been a sticky week! I have lived in either Ohio or Maryland all my life. Both are filled with humidity - and I've never, ever gotten used to it. We dart from air conditioner to air conditioner, takes lots of showers and never get dry, wash clothes that take forever to dry in the dryer and sometimes a couple of days to dry outside, deal with mold and mildew.
But oh, how beautiful our greenery is! The trees are thick and full and the forests are full of undergrowth, (an aggravating thing for pioneers and frontiersmen) and the flowers, fruits and vegetables have been bountiful. The price we pay for all of this is humidity.
But on this Monday morning, the temperature is 67, the humidity is low at 76%, the breeze is blowing, the sun is coming up ~ it's perfect!
This past week really got to me. I wasn't necessarily sick - I just didn't feel good. There were two events I really wanted to go to and I just couldn't do it. Kerry offered to drive me, but I just couldn't do it.
Betty and Kerry and I drove to Fern's on Tuesday for another genealogy day, and we had a few more successes! Sometimes it's more important to be sure what you have is correct rather than try to keep going back as far as you can.
Friday was one of the busiest days I've ever seen at the temple. My poor little temple workers were worn out at the end of the day! But, it's always a good tired...
Kerry and I really slept in on Saturday, but not before going to the Farmer's Market and a little church where used clothing is accepted and sold. We bring - but we also look around. It's always fill your bag for $2.
Then, we went to two socials. In the pouring rain, we went to another local church that always has the best food. They also had a car show, and we wondered how many would actually be there. The place was packed! We then went to our own church for another social. Again, we slept deep and hard that night.
I taught Relief Society for Natalie Williams on Sunday. I think the lesson went alright - Kerry's charts were really a hit. That evening he went to Stake Priesthood Meeting in Columbus.
Now begins another week. We will be going to Utah next week so Kerry can attend his 40th class reunion!!!! We will also go to Oregon and spend a few days with Miss Harmony. It will be good to see her again.
Kerry and I love our home - we love to hit the road - and we love coming home again. A couple of months ago, we made a trip to New York City on the spur of the moment. We had so much fun just walking the streets, seeing the sites and grazing.
We saw the Trump Tower - too big, too gaudy...
I was really impressed with this building. I would love to spent some time wandering around in there. All around me, people were dressed in such attire that you knew they were going in there for classes or rehearsals.
We grazed on gyros.
We saw lots of cars with lots of parking tickets.
We visited our temple.
Then we said goodbye and came home. It was just a fun adventure!
Last week, a few of you asked why the newspaper article I wrote was the last one. Several years ago, the News Journal formed a group of people called "Opinion Shapers". Thirteen people were chosen to write four columns during the coming year. Kerry was one of the first. I believe a couple of years later he was chosen again.
After awhile, they just kind of did away with the columns, then revved them up again this past year. Twelve others and me were chosen, and my fourth column was last week. I believe I included them each time in my newsletter to you.
Well, off I go...
Miss P
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
What do you two do all day?
We sure do get that question a lot! Since Kerry is retired, just what do you two do all day?
We wonder how we had time to do all of the stuff we wanted to do when Kerry was working, or when we had our family here, or... Actually, our days are usually quite filled, and we are just loving it! That's probably because it takes me twice as long to get half as much done!
A couple of days this week were hot and steamy, and we just didn't do anything. It's probably the laziest we have been in a long time. The heat and humidity just completely zapped us. Toward the end of the week, it was much, much more pleasant.
Last Monday, Mr. Kerry got up early and spent the morning working in the Bishop's Storehouse in Columbus. Our ward has assignments there every few weeks, and he volunteered to go. They filled food orders to help others in need.
That evening, we went to an auction held at the Ohio Genealogical Society's old building. Everything was going quite inexpensively, and we got several things we had our eye on.
Later in the evening, we had a phone call from sister Betty. She had been at the hospital all evening with husband Pete, who had suffered a stroke. On his birthday! His right arm was numb and his face was drooping. Her daughter-in-law, Erin, rode in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, and the stroke team was in place when he arrived.
The power of prayer pulled him through, for in a short amount of time the effects of the stroke had begun to reverse. Some may attribute it all to good doctors and powerful medicines - and I strongly believe in those things, as well. Peter, Jordan's two little preemie babies, my own self and many others' lives have been preserved because of being blessed by living in this modern world.
But, that's not the only reason.
Pete came home Wednesday. He still has a bit of weakness in his right hand/arm, but he's alive and doing well.
Kerry is on the editorial board at our local newspaper, and while he was at his Wednesday meeting, sister Fern and Jim met me at the new OGS building. I had some particular success. Kerry met us at the Amish restaurant at noon, then Fern went on back for more research.
Friday found Kerry and I at the temple again. We were very busy, but in the back of my mind I was remembering the events of 27 years ago - a wonderful baby boy was welcomed into our family. Jordan Christopher Lauritzen came into this world during a very hot summer.
He was born on his due date. He was the second largest baby born to us - 10 lb. 1 oz. I had been a gestational diabetic with each baby - and I was at my worst with him, my blood sugar peaking at around 400. Kerry and I stayed with my parents in Akron for the few days before his birth, for I was a high-risk pregnancy and the care was better there.
Kerry nearly delivered him. The doctor was called in from the golf course and was coming in every few minutes to check on me. After some slow hours, he was talking with others in the hallway when Kerry decided himself to check me. His eyes grew wide, for Jordan was nearly here! Kerry scrambled out to the hall to get them in and came back to be with me. Everything was moving in slow motion up until then.
Jordan and Kerry on the day of his blessing (christening)
I've always loved this picture - just a little boy being a little boy.
Jordan at a park in a canyon Kerry's parents took us to.
He was always really photogenic.
Another one of my favorites. This was taken in our front yard. Our kids began going to the library and participating in Story Hour when they were just babes in arms, so books were a familiar extension of their arms and hands.
He was lovable and always very laid back.
My mom always loved pictures where children were smelling flowers.
He was a "middle child", but a very important part of our family. This was taken on top of Cadillac Mountain - Acadia National Park in Maine.
He and Erik were only 10 months apart.
He served in the Army.
He met and fell in love with Melissa.
And he's a really good father today.
On the day of his birthday - Friday - Kerry and Erik and I went out and celebrated it. We will be with Jordan a bit later on...
Saturday was a day filled with the bounty of the local Farmer's Market. It has nearly tripled in size since the beginning of summer. This has been a wonderful year for good and hearty produce, and we are thankful for it.
That evening found us at two different socials - the annual Corn Roast for the Clear Fork Ward, and the annual softball game and cookout for our own ward. Fortunately, they were only about a mile apart, so we went to both. Kerry was the umpire for the game. It was all a lot of fun, but I teased Kerry and told him he was the only despised one that night.
I was happy to play for Mr. Kerry today as he sang a solo in church - "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", and hymn and a tune universally loved by all.
It was also the day for my last column to appear in our local newspaper. It has been kind of fun writing them, but it's time to bring them to a close. If you're interested, here's the link: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20100808/OPINION02/8080312/Opinion-Shapers-Solving-your-own-history-mystery
Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Miss P
We wonder how we had time to do all of the stuff we wanted to do when Kerry was working, or when we had our family here, or... Actually, our days are usually quite filled, and we are just loving it! That's probably because it takes me twice as long to get half as much done!
A couple of days this week were hot and steamy, and we just didn't do anything. It's probably the laziest we have been in a long time. The heat and humidity just completely zapped us. Toward the end of the week, it was much, much more pleasant.
Last Monday, Mr. Kerry got up early and spent the morning working in the Bishop's Storehouse in Columbus. Our ward has assignments there every few weeks, and he volunteered to go. They filled food orders to help others in need.
That evening, we went to an auction held at the Ohio Genealogical Society's old building. Everything was going quite inexpensively, and we got several things we had our eye on.
Later in the evening, we had a phone call from sister Betty. She had been at the hospital all evening with husband Pete, who had suffered a stroke. On his birthday! His right arm was numb and his face was drooping. Her daughter-in-law, Erin, rode in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, and the stroke team was in place when he arrived.
The power of prayer pulled him through, for in a short amount of time the effects of the stroke had begun to reverse. Some may attribute it all to good doctors and powerful medicines - and I strongly believe in those things, as well. Peter, Jordan's two little preemie babies, my own self and many others' lives have been preserved because of being blessed by living in this modern world.
But, that's not the only reason.
Pete came home Wednesday. He still has a bit of weakness in his right hand/arm, but he's alive and doing well.
Kerry is on the editorial board at our local newspaper, and while he was at his Wednesday meeting, sister Fern and Jim met me at the new OGS building. I had some particular success. Kerry met us at the Amish restaurant at noon, then Fern went on back for more research.
Friday found Kerry and I at the temple again. We were very busy, but in the back of my mind I was remembering the events of 27 years ago - a wonderful baby boy was welcomed into our family. Jordan Christopher Lauritzen came into this world during a very hot summer.
He was born on his due date. He was the second largest baby born to us - 10 lb. 1 oz. I had been a gestational diabetic with each baby - and I was at my worst with him, my blood sugar peaking at around 400. Kerry and I stayed with my parents in Akron for the few days before his birth, for I was a high-risk pregnancy and the care was better there.
Kerry nearly delivered him. The doctor was called in from the golf course and was coming in every few minutes to check on me. After some slow hours, he was talking with others in the hallway when Kerry decided himself to check me. His eyes grew wide, for Jordan was nearly here! Kerry scrambled out to the hall to get them in and came back to be with me. Everything was moving in slow motion up until then.
Jordan and Kerry on the day of his blessing (christening)
I've always loved this picture - just a little boy being a little boy.
Jordan at a park in a canyon Kerry's parents took us to.
He was always really photogenic.
Another one of my favorites. This was taken in our front yard. Our kids began going to the library and participating in Story Hour when they were just babes in arms, so books were a familiar extension of their arms and hands.
He was lovable and always very laid back.
My mom always loved pictures where children were smelling flowers.
He was a "middle child", but a very important part of our family. This was taken on top of Cadillac Mountain - Acadia National Park in Maine.
He and Erik were only 10 months apart.
He served in the Army.
He met and fell in love with Melissa.
And he's a really good father today.
On the day of his birthday - Friday - Kerry and Erik and I went out and celebrated it. We will be with Jordan a bit later on...
Saturday was a day filled with the bounty of the local Farmer's Market. It has nearly tripled in size since the beginning of summer. This has been a wonderful year for good and hearty produce, and we are thankful for it.
That evening found us at two different socials - the annual Corn Roast for the Clear Fork Ward, and the annual softball game and cookout for our own ward. Fortunately, they were only about a mile apart, so we went to both. Kerry was the umpire for the game. It was all a lot of fun, but I teased Kerry and told him he was the only despised one that night.
I was happy to play for Mr. Kerry today as he sang a solo in church - "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", and hymn and a tune universally loved by all.
It was also the day for my last column to appear in our local newspaper. It has been kind of fun writing them, but it's time to bring them to a close. If you're interested, here's the link: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20100808/OPINION02/8080312/Opinion-Shapers-Solving-your-own-history-mystery
Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Miss P
Monday, August 2, 2010
Buttermilk skies
Where have I been?
Wow, I have really been neglectful of writing my missives, and Miss Waunita asked me at church today if she had been taken off my list.
No, I've been taken off my own list.
We've had a couple of wild weeks that made me have to draw all of my energies toward other things. But, hopefully things will be a little smoother now.
One of those weeks I missed had both Kerry and I involved in a lot of doctor's appointments - tune-ups, as we call them. As time catches up to us, it becomes more and more important that we stay healthy and try to catch things before they happen. I guess when I was younger, I felt I was going to live forever. Now, I have more of a reverence for life - especially my own. As we saw with son Peter, one never knows when one is going to wake up dead. We want to be as healthy as long as we can, and not leave this earth because of something maybe we could have prevented.
We took a wonderful short trip up to Palmyra, NY to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Our family was in it 14 years ago (do you remember that, kids?). It is a beautiful outdoor drama held in the Fingerlakes Region of New York. We have lots of fond memories from there. We met friends Martin and Stephanie there, and enjoyed our evening together.
On our way back, we stopped by Glenn and Karen Keck's farm just in time to celebrate Pioneer Day with the rest of our church friends. Good people. Good food. Good times. Lowella and her husband were there with their beautiful big Percheron horses, too. They gave wagon rides to everyone.
The next week was a bit easier, thank goodness. Not a whole lot happened, except for our usual Farmer's Market trips. I did go with Kerry to one of the baseball games he's been umpiring all summer.
But, the busiest time was this past week. Each summer, the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) sponsors a Summertime Workshop. They've done it for the past 10-12 years, and I have spoken at nearly every one of them. (Two years ago, I wasn't able - had just had surgery for bowel obstruction. Took most of the year to recuperate).
Beginning last Sunday evening with a reception, I was there every day but Friday. I told them never to count on me on Friday, for that's the day Kerry and I are in Columbus. We had a private tour of their new building that was dedicated a week ago ($2.5 million). It is a phenomenal building. We went into the areas that are typically closed to the public.
Monday began with me - the first one right out of the chute. The people were wonderful - coming from all over the United States. One year we had a man from Switzerland. I loved being with my colleagues. I learned a lot from them, too. Next year, they'll have it in June again. The new building's opening kind of shifted things around a little.
Samuel Isaly (remember Isaly's chip-chopped ham?) donated the remaining funds for the building. He was there for the dedication and brought tons of Klondike bars. His father invented them. We ate them all week!
After a scrumptious dinner following our day at the temple Friday, we came home and just died. Just died. I had been on my feet for most of the week, and I was tired. Then, Saturday morning found us at our usual spots - Farmer's Markets, shopping, Kerry going back to work at the temple, me mowing the field.
We have been enjoying lots and lots of blackberries from the back field. They are everywhere, and they are SO good. Produce at the Farmer's Markets has doubled, and fruits and vegetables are in full swing.
I love summer.
But, I have also noticed leaves that are already beginning to turn. Some leaves are even in the front yard already. And, as hot as it's been - we've had a few cool mornings that felt like fall.
I appreciate all of you wondering if I was still around. I am - and I hope to be for a few more good years!
This month, we wish a happy birthday to:
Pete - Betty's husband - Aug 2
Ethan - grandson of Kerry's brother, Steve - Aug 5
JORDAN!!! - our son!!! - the only child born on his due date - Aug 6
Maia - granddaughter of Kerry's brother, David - Aug 9
Christian - son of Kerry's sister, Joy - Aug 11
Juvan - grandson of Kerry's sister, Content - Aug 11
Linda Clark - our Florida friend - Aug 11
Joy - Kerry's sister - Aug 12
Brooke - Betty's daughter - Aug 18
Jacob - grandson of Kerry's sister, Content - Aug 21
Courtney - granddaughter of Kerry's brother, Steve - Aug 29
Cameron - grandson of Kerry's brother, Steve - Aug 29
And a happy anniversary to:
Kelly & Marion - Kerry's brother and s-i-l - their original marriage date is Aug 5 - but they celebrate another day
Frank & Terri - my genealogy friends - Aug 8
Brad & Sofia - son and d-i-l of Kerry's brother, Steve - Aug 12
Have a wonderful week!!!
Miss P
Wow, I have really been neglectful of writing my missives, and Miss Waunita asked me at church today if she had been taken off my list.
No, I've been taken off my own list.
We've had a couple of wild weeks that made me have to draw all of my energies toward other things. But, hopefully things will be a little smoother now.
One of those weeks I missed had both Kerry and I involved in a lot of doctor's appointments - tune-ups, as we call them. As time catches up to us, it becomes more and more important that we stay healthy and try to catch things before they happen. I guess when I was younger, I felt I was going to live forever. Now, I have more of a reverence for life - especially my own. As we saw with son Peter, one never knows when one is going to wake up dead. We want to be as healthy as long as we can, and not leave this earth because of something maybe we could have prevented.
We took a wonderful short trip up to Palmyra, NY to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Our family was in it 14 years ago (do you remember that, kids?). It is a beautiful outdoor drama held in the Fingerlakes Region of New York. We have lots of fond memories from there. We met friends Martin and Stephanie there, and enjoyed our evening together.
On our way back, we stopped by Glenn and Karen Keck's farm just in time to celebrate Pioneer Day with the rest of our church friends. Good people. Good food. Good times. Lowella and her husband were there with their beautiful big Percheron horses, too. They gave wagon rides to everyone.
The next week was a bit easier, thank goodness. Not a whole lot happened, except for our usual Farmer's Market trips. I did go with Kerry to one of the baseball games he's been umpiring all summer.
But, the busiest time was this past week. Each summer, the Ohio Genealogical Society (OGS) sponsors a Summertime Workshop. They've done it for the past 10-12 years, and I have spoken at nearly every one of them. (Two years ago, I wasn't able - had just had surgery for bowel obstruction. Took most of the year to recuperate).
Beginning last Sunday evening with a reception, I was there every day but Friday. I told them never to count on me on Friday, for that's the day Kerry and I are in Columbus. We had a private tour of their new building that was dedicated a week ago ($2.5 million). It is a phenomenal building. We went into the areas that are typically closed to the public.
Monday began with me - the first one right out of the chute. The people were wonderful - coming from all over the United States. One year we had a man from Switzerland. I loved being with my colleagues. I learned a lot from them, too. Next year, they'll have it in June again. The new building's opening kind of shifted things around a little.
Samuel Isaly (remember Isaly's chip-chopped ham?) donated the remaining funds for the building. He was there for the dedication and brought tons of Klondike bars. His father invented them. We ate them all week!
After a scrumptious dinner following our day at the temple Friday, we came home and just died. Just died. I had been on my feet for most of the week, and I was tired. Then, Saturday morning found us at our usual spots - Farmer's Markets, shopping, Kerry going back to work at the temple, me mowing the field.
We have been enjoying lots and lots of blackberries from the back field. They are everywhere, and they are SO good. Produce at the Farmer's Markets has doubled, and fruits and vegetables are in full swing.
I love summer.
But, I have also noticed leaves that are already beginning to turn. Some leaves are even in the front yard already. And, as hot as it's been - we've had a few cool mornings that felt like fall.
I appreciate all of you wondering if I was still around. I am - and I hope to be for a few more good years!
This month, we wish a happy birthday to:
Pete - Betty's husband - Aug 2
Ethan - grandson of Kerry's brother, Steve - Aug 5
JORDAN!!! - our son!!! - the only child born on his due date - Aug 6
Maia - granddaughter of Kerry's brother, David - Aug 9
Christian - son of Kerry's sister, Joy - Aug 11
Juvan - grandson of Kerry's sister, Content - Aug 11
Linda Clark - our Florida friend - Aug 11
Joy - Kerry's sister - Aug 12
Brooke - Betty's daughter - Aug 18
Jacob - grandson of Kerry's sister, Content - Aug 21
Courtney - granddaughter of Kerry's brother, Steve - Aug 29
Cameron - grandson of Kerry's brother, Steve - Aug 29
And a happy anniversary to:
Kelly & Marion - Kerry's brother and s-i-l - their original marriage date is Aug 5 - but they celebrate another day
Frank & Terri - my genealogy friends - Aug 8
Brad & Sofia - son and d-i-l of Kerry's brother, Steve - Aug 12
Have a wonderful week!!!
Miss P
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