Sign Me Up For Another 50

Well, Our 50th Wedding Anniversary has come and gone and I'm ready for another 50.
We didn't plan anything special, just a good time with our family and friends. Our
daughter and her family came from Massachusetts and our son and his family drove up from Arkansas. Our daughter had told us her plans, but our son said nothing and surprised us Thursday (June 18) evening arriving just a short time before our daughter drove in from the Eugene area after a brief check in with her partner's family. We got a nice e-note from Louis Crew and cards from our siblings. On Saturday we had a brunch with our friends and family and beamed through numerous toasts with sparkling grape juice. Later, we had dinner at a restaurant where our waiter surprised us with a beautiful rendition of Kenny Roger's "Through The Years" and Chocolate Cheesecake.

When we weren't eating we were talking and just having a good time. The earliest bed time was Sunday because they were all headed home today. We were all in bed by 11:30 and sleeping except the kids who finally dropped off at 2:30 AM after Grandma reminded them that they were going to be leaving at 7 AM. After all had left, Jean and I headed for our recliners and took a long nap. We were exhausted! I didn't envy them for their long trip home. Ken drove 1719 miles from Fort Smith, Arkansas in two days and planned to go home the same way. Cathy and her family were driving 360 miles back to Eugene so Pam could take care of her mother who was having surgery today. Cathy and Alex were flying out of Portland back to Massachusetts to get back to work All in all we had a great time, I can hardly wait for the next 50 to pass so we can do it again.

Wahoo! Finally

I finally finished the bathroom remodel! I can't believe that I started this job on May 22. It didn't take me that long to remodel the kitchen and that involved building all the cabinets from scratch. I'm glad that I'm done, now I can concentrate on getting ready for our daughter and her family who will be here on June 18. They are coming to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

I can't believe that we have been married that long, Jean still looks just the same as she did on that night in Prineville at the Community Church. Our Grandparents on our father's side both made 50 but neither of our parents did. Auto accidents and cancer took care of that.

KJS & Netie Rivera

Tuesday, June 9, clergy and wives were invited to a retreat in Bend at Trinity Church with Katherine Jefferts Shori and our newly elected Bishop, Bavi (Neti) Rivera. I have more or less been out of contact with the diocese for the past 2 or 3 years but I was impressed by Bishop Rivera at her installation at Cove in late May, so I thought it would be neat to see her and the Presiding Bishop of ECUSA. I went to Bend on Monday afternoon and stayed with my brother and his wife. It was good to see them especially since both are battling cancer and they are winning. I really enjoyed visiting with them, we don't see each other often enough. The retreat with Katherine and Neti was great! Those two ladies are really on the ball and their energy is infectious. I told Bishop Rivera that I was re-energized and would make an effort to become more involved. I can see that the Diocese will be in good hands for the first time in over 7 years. It may take a while to get her up to speed as to whom we are and what we are about, but I'm sure that she will "get" it.

Remodel Progress

I took the week off from work with the idea of finishing the bathroom project. NOT! I did get all the tile down and the grouting done and the only thing Left is sealing the grout. I worked 9 hours Wednesday laying the tile. The only tiling I had done before was an open 12 x 20 room. Took me about 4 hours, so I figured I could do a 4 x 5 space in jig time. AGAIN NOT! It took me the entire afternoon from 1 PM to 9 PM to get it done. The problem was no space to maneuver and nothing to touch since the room had been freshly painted. My original plan was to lay the full tiles and then do the edges. Once again NOT! I finally got it done and the grouting done and it looks great and I am able to walk again an my housemaid's knees are healing. The rest will be a snap.