Greg's Monthly Updates: September 2020 Update

Starting off this month’s update with the celebrations since last month’s: Krista and I celebrated our 40th anniversary on August 22. It was pretty low key, except for one “best anniversary present ever” which I’ll talk about later. The other celebration was my son-in-law, Mat’s, birthday on September 12, which we got to be there for, and I’ll talk more about that later too. I also remembered my Mom’s birthday on August 23 and my Dad’s birthday on September 15.

I mentioned last month that my quartet was going to have some singing opportunities. On August 19, we sang for a gentleman’s 85th birthday. My co-worker heard me arranging that when they called me at work, and he also hired us to sing for his wife’s birthday on September 1. Both were short outdoor programs of only 5 songs each, but it was fun to be singing again even in a social distanced way.

Easily the most exciting thing that happened this month was the birth of Clarence Augustus “Gus” Rhode on August 22, Krista’s and my 40th anniversary. He is the third child and first son of my daughter, Kortney, and her husband, Mat. He joins sisters Daisy and Bea, and they all love him so much! In case you wonder, that makes 10 grandchildren for us, and we praise God for His goodness to us!

We had arranged a while ago to visit the Rhodes early this month, and, although the airlines tried to prevent it, we managed to get it done. We left on September 4 and flew via Washington DC to Minneapolis. The Dulles airport in DC was the only really crowded place. Rochester and Minneapolis’s airports were pretty empty. The planes were all pretty full, but (so far anyway) we’re all still healthy. We returned home on September 14, but this was a trip to meet Gus and help the Rhodes, not to sightsee, so my description of it might sound boring to you, but it was the best for us. We mostly helped take care of kids, clean the house, make meals, and shop, and we just enjoyed their family. We did get to be there for Mat’s birthday party, which was celebrated with delicious meat loaf and brownie sundaes. We had to squeeze the sundaes in between birthday cake and donuts Mat got at work and brought home, plus his almost daily cookie batches. We were very willing participants in this festival of sweets.

The Rhodes also had Gus’s baptism while we were there, and Jem and Levi served as the sponsors for that. Of course, we had to have special treats for the baptism too, which Mat’s parents provided: two delicious Bundt cakes, one vanilla and one carrot, and homemade ice cream. Kortney also made beautiful and delicious punch.

I almost forgot that Labor Day was while we were there, since we were staying home, going for walks, and not working anyway. I did notice that Mat got to be home an extra day with us, so that was nice. We also remembered Patriot Day on the 11th, and Gus dressed very appropriately, which you can see in one of the pictures below.

Our state has a list of states that if you visit them, you have to quarantine for 14 days when you return. Unfortunately, Minnesota was on that list, and even though it came off the day after we returned, we are being forced to stay home for now. So, I am working remotely, which works for about half of what I do, and I am having to ask people there to help me do the things that require a physical presence.

But, as I said, we’re all still healthy, and God is good. All the time.

Talk to you in October!

I forgot to mention this in my update, but Levi recently got a new pet: a ball python he named Marvolo or Marv for short.

Zuzu went to the groomer's and came back super cute, but also camera shy

The dessert spread for Gus's baptism

Documenting a COVID baptism

All of the family who were at the baptism: Mat's brother Andy and his wife, Christina, Mat's Mom and Dad (Shari and Mark), Daisy (hiding), Bea with Kortney, Mat with Gus, Levi, Jem, Krista, Greg