FAMILY EVENTS

 When being on church assignments, the one thing we miss  is being able to be with our family; we miss out on so much, especially the activities of our grandchildren as they grow up. But thankfully, due to modern technology, it has gotten easier to keep up with our family through emails, blogs, etc.  In April of this  year, on our first trip back home from Bangor, our son-in-law, Hugo, set us up on our laptop for video calls with him and Ruth! That's pretty neat!  Thank you so much, Hugo!

       In the meantime, our kids keep us up-to-date by emailing us lots of pictures.  For instance, Our grandson Isaac (David's son) and his Karate Matches...which, by the way he does very well!

1st Prize in "Form" in his Match in March

"WAY TO GO, ISAAC!"

 

...and Isaac's promotion (center) to Webelos at Cub Scouts in March 

In June, we returned to move our household "stuff" into storage, and move Ruth & Hugo into our Mount Healthy home.  Their Forest Park apartment had flooded twice within one month!  During this time, he also had to have neck surgery for four dislocated discs.  We needed someone to be in our home while we were gone, so just seemed like a "Win-Win" situation for us all.  Of course, it had to be the first HOTTEST week of the summer! Wouldn't you know?  The first day we were back, there was a terrible thunder storm, and power went out for 8 hours!  So, we invited Hugo & Ruth over for a Chinese "take-out" supper and just had a nice time of getting caught up with each other...even though, did I mention?...it was HOT!

The next day, we find out our air conditioner was "no more for this world".  Since we also knew the furnace would probably soon be next, we decided to replace both the furnace and air conditioner.  Little did we know, that because the new equipment would require a new updated electric box (and all that that includes).  So, in the middle of our trying to get things packed to be moved to storage by  Saturday, we had furnace and air conditioning people in the middle of our hallway removing the "old" and putting in the "new".  Talk about frustration!  However, we were very happy to know, that the furnace system would be safe and ready to go for both the summer and coming winter as Ruth and Hugo were coming into the home.

FINALLY, on Saturday, with the help of our son David, and our daughter Ruth, we got the deed done.  Thankfully, because on Sunday afternoon, we celebrated our youngest grandson's (Pascal) second birthday party at Pete & Mollie's (Mom & Dad) house in Maineville.  As you can see from the pictures below, a great time was had by all and it sure was a wonderful break from all the week's stress!  Thank you, Pete, Mollie, and Pascal for hosting a wonderful day of memories.

"Kissing Cousins":  Pascal greets Zoe (David's youngest)

"There's much to talk about, Zoe!"  "Did you know it's my Birthday?!"

 "Daddy & I Love to Ride!" 

"And we love to share treats!"

"THE FAMILY"

Hugo Lara; Wanda; Ruth Ann Lara; Mollie Lindquist; Nadine & Zoe, Isaac, & David Lindquist; Mitchell

Peter and Pascal Lindquist

This August, we were privileged to get to come home for TWO grandchildren birthdays!  Our daughter-in-law, Nadine, was so kind as to schedule the Lindquist family celebration so that we would only have to make one trip from PA to celebrate both Zoe's and Isaac's birthdays.  You see, Zoe's birthday is exactly two months to the day after Pascal's, which put her at the end of August.  Both are in the midst of the "Terrible Two's"  Good Luck, Nadine & Mollie!!!  Isaac is celebrating his 10th birthday on September 15th..a whole DECADE old!  So we were able to return for the "Dual" Birthday Parties on Saturday, August 28th.  Once again, it was good to be with the entire family. Thank you, Nadine, David, Isaac and Zoe for also hosting a wonderful day of memories.  

 

Anticipation!

"One, Two, Three, Blow!"

And, of course, Zoe & Pascal had MUCH to talk about!

   

While we were home this time, Hugo was in the process of  restarting his Art Career. He and his father, Hugo Sr, were both quite well known for their artistry  in Ecuador.  (His father still has a gallery in Ecuador) But, now our Hugo  has to start over here in the U.S.   He showed us how he begins to prepare his canvas.  He already had some paintings done and created a couple of more while we were home.  The best thing, though, was the painting/sculture he had created, using Ruth Ann's face as the model for the sculpture.  (Hugo says, "She was VERY brave.") We raved about it so much, that Hugo gave the picture to us to bring back to Bangor.  So it is now proudly displayed in our dining room.  Thank you so much Hugo!  What a blessing you are!  The good news is that Hugo hopes to soon have his paintings put on display in an exposition being hosted by some good friends.  We look forward to sharing more about that later.  Ruth Ann tells me his artistic style is called "Abstract Realism"

Hugo's sculpture/painting, with Ruth Ann's face as the model

"The Balcony" (in Ecuador)

I am not sure what Hugo calls this one, but I like it a lot also.

Well, there you have it, a synopsis of our family get-togethers this year, up to the present time...and oh, yes, can't forget our "grand-dog", ."Pooh-Bear".  Even though he is three years old, he still thinks he is a "lap" dog...has had a lot of "adventures" with Ruth and Hugo...and is ALWAYS good for a lot of laughs!...Well,... MOST of the time, anyway.  I understand "Pooh"  likes Amish Friendship Bread...a  LOT!  Last Friday, He devoured a freshly baked WHOLE LOAF, down to the very last crumb!!!   Yep, he ate the WHOLE thing!  So much for the Friday night party that the bread was intended for!  Ruth had worked so hard to translate perfectly the directions into Spanish for her hostess.  And, Poor Hugo, never got a taste either!  Needless to say, Ruth Ann was NOT a "Happy Camper".  Talk about being the "Dog House!"  Sorry, "Pooh", no puns intended.

May you always be filled with lots of love and laughter, as well.

From our family to yours,