March 2024 Update

I guess this is a quiet time of year because last month’s update was short, and this one will be really short!

 

The only thing I can think of to put in here is the promised update on my surgery to repair my hiatal hernia.  I met with my doctor on 2/28, and we have scheduled the surgery for June 7.  I had some plans for April and May, and she said we weren’t in a hurry to do it since I’ve been living with it this long already, so that’s how we settled on that date.

 

Hopefully, with those plans just mentioned, April and May’s updates will be a little more exciting.

February 2024 Update

I don’t have a lot to report this month, so this may be shorter than usual.

 

I had my tests with my thoracic surgeon, but we haven’t yet met to discuss the results and make surgery decisions.  That appointment is on February 28, so I’ll report on that next month.  The tests seemed to go fine as far as I could tell in my drugged state.

 

A couple of years ago, my daughter, Kortney, suggested we have a tailgate party before the Super Bowl instead of a watch party since the game goes pretty late into the night, and some of us have school and work the next morning.  Even though she’s in Minneapolis and not able to come, we have named the party the Annual Kortney Super Bowl Tailgate party since it was her idea.

 

Anyway, we had our Second Annual Kortney Super Bowl Tailgate Party on the 11th before the big game.  Krista, Cody, and Zach planned games for us to play, and Krista had prizes for all the winners.  There also was lots of fun snacks and food, so it was a big hit again this year, and I think it is a tradition we will keep for many years.  Maybe someday Kortney and her family will be able to join us!

 

Finally for this month’s edition, my daughter, Abigail, has announced that she has their 2nd baby due this summer.  Yesterday we had a gender reveal party, and it’s a boy!  My daughter, Hannah, made cupcakes for everyone with a blue center to reveal the surprise.  That will make 5 grandsons and 12 granddaughters.  We are very blessed!

 

Thanks for reading, and we’ll talk in March!

 

January 2024 Update

Happy New Year!

 

To finish up recounting our Christmas activities since I wrote you last, my barbershop chorus does an event every year we call Soup and Caroling, where we walk around the neighborhood of our rehearsal hall and sing to people.  There’s some homes and even businesses that plan for us every year, and have cider, hot cocoa, and snacks for us when we stop by.  We also invite friends and family to carol with us, and this year my daughter, Ella, and her family joined us, so that was really fun for me.  Truman didn’t quite make it the whole night outside (he got too cold), but he was a big hit with my fellow chorus members!

 

On Christmas Eve Day, my family had a special visitor who stopped by and read the kids a Christmas story.  Here's some pictures of them enjoying his visit.

Can you tell who our visitor is by his pants?!?!

 

In Sports, I just have to say:  Go Bills!  When we were 6-6 at the end of November, I was sure we’d be having to watch other teams in the playoffs.  But wow, what a run since then!  No losses!  And we actually get to play Kansas City in Buffalo instead of going there as we have for the playoffs and regular season for the last several years.  Hopefully, that will be the difference in us finally getting past the Chiefs!  I know they’re a tough team, and some of my readers are Chiefs fans, so I’ll just leave it at that.

 

After Christmas, we were delighted to have Amelia and Ben here to visit us from Kentucky.  We had lots of family get-togethers in different groups while they were here, and I hope they got to enjoy enough Rochester garbage plates to hold them over until they are able to come again.

 

Finally, I want to update you on my appointment with the thoracic surgeon.  Her name is Dr. Carolyn Jones, and she is actually the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Strong Hospital, so nothing but the best for me.  She IS the best, because she said I was too young to have to live with my messed up digestive system.  Anybody that tells me I’m young is a good one in my book.

 

Anyway, she showed me the images from my swallowing test I had back in November, and told me that about half of my stomach is above my diaphragm (large hiatal hernia) and distorting my esophagus which is causing my swallowing difficulties.  Our next step is a couple of tests with her team to determine exactly what surgery they recommend.  Those tests should happen within a couple of weeks, and then we’ll probably do surgery within a couple of months to put things back where they belong, and hopefully keep them there.  Thanks for your continued prayers for me!

 

Until February!

 

 

 

December 2023 Update

They say as people get older, they tend to talk too much about their physical infirmities.  So, in order to keep that going, I’m going to talk about mine.

 

I had my last physical therapy session in late November.  Now I am on maintenance exercises, and so far I’ve been good about doing them.  I also had a physical with my primary care doctor, and she said I’m in pretty good health, other than the known issues.  One of those known issues I’ve been dealing with for years is an occasional problem swallowing.  It feels like food is stuck somewhere in my throat and won’t go down.  I’ve had a procedure done about once every 3-5 years where my GI doctor uses a balloon-like thing to stretch my lower esophageal sphincter, and usually that has taken care of it until my acid reflux shrinks it again over a few years.  The last time I had that procedure done, the issue returned much quicker than it had in the past, so my GI doctor (you know you’re getting old when you have a primary doctor, a urologist, a podiatrist, and a GI doctor that you see too often) ordered a barium swallow test.  They determined from that that I should see a thoracic surgeon to see if I should get my large hiatal hernia surgically repaired.  I have an appointment for that in January, so add one more doctor!

 

So, basically, I’m falling apart, and I remember now my Grandpa Taylor telling me as he struggled to get his leg into a car because of his bad knee, “Never get old, Greg.”  I’m trying to make light of it all, but truly, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain,” (Php 1:21) and I truly believe that, but I also believe in the power of prayer, and I covet your prayers for me over all these issues.

 

We had a pretty relaxing Thanksgiving because the remote families all stayed remote, and the local families all did something elsewhere.  So the only ones around our table were the kids that still live at home, Zach, Jem, and Levi, plus Zach’s girlfriend, Brandi.  Still the food was delicious, and the day was great fun.

 

Our excitement this past month was the change in status for Brandi.  She is now Zach’s fiancée!  They got engaged on December 9, and here's a picture of the happy couple.

 

My barbershop chorus sang again this year at a local mall.  I had noticed for the last few years, even before COVID, that the malls are a lot less busy these days.  I expect it’s because most people do a lot more online shopping, and I’m sure that’s true, but I noticed a lot more traffic at the mall this year.  Maybe people are swinging back toward more local shopping?  I think that’s a good thing.  Online is cool and convenient, but sometimes it’s good to actually see and feel and try the things before you buy them.

 

At our church this month, I’ve been in a small band that’s playing Christmas carols between our two morning services.  My daughter, Ella, is playing piano with us too, and I dusted off my trombone to play.  It’s been fun, and we have one more Sunday of doing it.  If you’re in our area, and you want a Christmas Eve morning service, our church is having candlelight services at 8:30 and 10:30AM, and we’d love to have you.  My family will be at the 8:30 service and then Ella and I and the rest of the group will be in the lobby playing carols, so if you come, stop and say “Hi!”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

The print is a little hard to read, so here’s what it says:

The Matthews Family

This year we celebrated Amelia and Ben’s wedding, and

welcomed Nora Updegrove (pictured right with big sister, Lena)

 

The picture on the top left is (obviously) from Amelia and Ben’s wedding.  She had all of her nieces and nephews as “flower babies.”  They all came up the aisle while pulling the youngest four in a wagon as they scattered flower petals.  Ben is holding Maya Shaw (Abigail and Bernie), and then left to right is Alma Mickle (Hannah and Kevin) holding Truman Sommer (Ella and Cody), Bea Rhode (Kortney and Mat), Lena Updegrove (Caitlin and Ben) being held by Hazel Sommer, in front of her is Ansa Mickle, then Daisy Rhode holding Dorothy Matthews (Cai and Amy), then Josie Sommer, Ruby and Milo Wilkinson (Carissa and Matt), Ivy Sommer, Alex Mickle, and finally Gus Rhode.

Nora was born on September 28, 2023, less than a week after the wedding.  We are highlighting Lena and Nora together because Lena was born on December 21, 2021, after the 2021 Christmas card had been sent out, and she hadn’t yet been highlighted.

November 2023 Update

Fall is in the air!  And the leaves!  We’ve had some colder weather, and then warmer weather again, then colder again, like God is doing His best to test our tolerance for weather changes.  Here are some pictures of creatures being affected by the colder weather.

This praying mantis was trying to get in our back door

I was cold so I put a blanket on my lap, and then the cat and dog enjoyed it too

Thank you for your continued prayers for my recovery from my prostate cancer.  Since the surgery back in April, I’ve made steady slow progress in getting used to the side affects of losing one’s prostate.  I’m almost done with my physical therapy—I have one more appointment—and then I’ll be on a maintenance schedule of exercises.  So far, all of my post checks with my surgeon have been perfect:  0 PSA, as expected for a man with no prostate.  So, thanks again for your prayers!

 

We had a pretty quiet Halloween.  We usually get just a few kids that come to our house, but this year we only had one person, and Zach said he looked like a 40ish adult in a monster onesie!  Hannah and Kevin hosted a Halloween party a few days before, and that was great.  They had planned lots of games and activities, and it was really fun to see the grandkids and their friends enjoying bobbing for apples, playing ghost face (picking candy corn out of whipped cream with their teeth), and lots of other things.

 

I think that’s all for this month.  I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, and we’ll talk in December.

 

October 2023 Update

As I mentioned last month, just one short month after the whole family surprised me with an early birthday party, the whole family again met in the Louisville area of Kentucky for Amelia’s wedding on September 22.  It was a beautiful ceremony with fantastic weather.  Congratulations to the newlyweds, Amelia and Ben White!

 

Caitlin was due to have a baby very soon after the wedding, and we were all praying that she’d make it there and back with no complications, and that she could be back home in familiar surroundings before the baby was born.  Well, God was gracious, and Eleanora (Nora) Gray Updegrove was born at home on September 28.  Gray is Caitlin’s middle name, and was also my mom’s, Jeannie Gray Taylor Matthews, middle name.  My mom got the name from her great-grandmother, Jeanie Gray, who was married to Herbert Hudson Taylor, son of James Hudson Taylor, well-known missionary and founder of the China Inland Mission (now OMF International).

 

Lena and Nora

Krista and I just returned from a visit to the Updegrove’s home in Philadelphia, where we got to spend a week with them meeting Nora, making friends with her big sister, Lena, and helping out where we could.  The bonus was that Carissa’s family lives only two doors down, so we got to spend time with them too!

 

Krista, Lena, and I took a walk one beautiful day

Krista with her newest granddaughter

My son, Levi, has now finished his soccer career with our local Christian school that I mentioned last month.  His team made it to the championship, and we got to watch lots of his games this year.  We’re all really proud of all he accomplished with them!

 

Levi (#4) usually plays defense, like here, but...

In this game, they were so far ahead that his coach put him in on offense, and he scored! I apologize for a lousy video.

That’s all for now, so we’ll talk again in November!

 

 

 

September 2023 Update

This was a momentous month!  The day after I wrote last, August 19, I went to what I thought was an end of summer party with my local families at Hannah’s house.  It was a beautiful day, and as we’re sitting in her back yard, my son, Levi, subtly says something like, “Hey I just realized it’s your 63 years and 10 month birthday today.”  To which my daughter, Jem, replies, “If I’d known that, I would have thrown you a party!”  I laughed that off and made some comment about how I plan to retire on August 19, 2026, when I’ll be 66 years and 10 months.  Minutes later, my daughter, Amelia, and her fiancé, Ben, walk into the yard.  They live in Louisville, Kentucky, so that was very unexpected!  As a matter of fact, we’re going there this week for their wedding.  Anyway, shortly after that, my son, Cai, who also lives in Louisville walks in to the yard.  Unfortunately, his wife, Amy, and their daughter, Dorothy, could not come, but I figured, OK he just came with Amelia and Ben.  Then my daughter, Caitlin, her husband Ben, and daughter, Lena, walk into the yard (from Philadelphia), followed soon by my daughter, Kortney, her husband, Mat, and their kids, Daisy, Bea, and Gus (from Minneapolis), and finally by my daughter, Carissa, her husband, Matt, and their kids, Ruby and Milo (from Philadelphia).

 

It turned out that Jem decided I needed a surprise 65th birthday party, so she planned this whole thing with everyone, and to surprise me, they had it a year and two months early!  It was great in every way!  They each gave me t-shirts from where they live, so I have a Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and New York t-shirt, and I’m very proud to wear each of them!

My Kentucky shirt

They all stayed for at least a couple of days, and while they were here, we did several fun activities, like going to Seabreeze, our local amusement park, and visiting a kid-themed farm, the beach at Lake Ontario, and other local parks and playgrounds.

 

Mat and Gus on the carousel 

You might have to zoom in, but the 2nd car is Carissa and Milo, and the third is Kortney and Bea

Maya and Truman being cute eating snacks under Cody's watchful eye

Matt (with his arms out) and Ruby

Video of Carissa, Milo, Kortney, and Bea on the kids roller coaster

I mentioned a month or so ago that I’m taking the local grandkids out for their half birthday for a dessert date with me.  This month, it was Ansa’s turn, and she chose a local ice cream shop.  That seems to be a favorite outing since many of them have chosen that, and there are several in our area, so we haven’t repeated one yet!  And, of course, I don’t mind getting ice cream!

Ansa and I on our dessert date

For Labor Day, we stayed low key, and just had a simple get-together at our house with the local families.  It was beautiful weather, and a nice time together.

 

Our barbershop chorus is getting ready to compete this Saturday.  I won’t be there because I have a better offer to spend time with family at Amelia’s wedding!  Anyway, our director had to be gone for the past couple of weeks, so I got an opportunity to direct two rehearsals to hopefully keep them ready to do their best at Contest.  Also, our chorus sang at a local 9/11 remembrance ceremony, and I directed us then too.  We even made the local news!  If you watch the video here: Victims and heroes of 9/11 honored at memorial in Webster | WHAM (13wham.com) near the end you’ll see a very brief shot of our chorus (we’re the guys in khaki pants and maroon shirts) singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic.  Then shortly after that, you’ll see a shot of two young families with a little boy waving.  That’s my grandson, Alex, son-in-law, Kevin, daughter, Hannah, daughter, Abigail, granddaughter, Maya, granddaughter, Ansa, and granddaughter, Alma.  Maya is Abigail’s daughter, and Alma, Alex, and Ansa, are Hannah and Kevin’s.  So, basically, we’re all famous.

 

My son, Levi, is playing soccer again with a local Christian school.  Their league allows local homeschooled students to play with them, and even though Levi is out of high school now and in college, he is eligible to play this final year since he’s still 18.  Anyway, they’ve had three games so far, and they’re 1-1-1.  I missed the game where they won, but I’ve been able to go to two of his games, and I love watching them all play.  He usually plays center back (defense), and occasionally plays goalie.

 

Abigail and her husband, Bernie, threw a big part for their daughter, Maya’s, first birthday.  It was at a local park, and although the weather wasn’t wonderful, we all had a great time watching her cuteness.  She seems to enjoy being the center of attention.  I wonder where she gets that from?  *cough* Abigail *cough*

 

We were all very disappointed with how poorly the Buffalo Bills played in their first game, but happily they bounced back nicely yesterday.  Go Bills!

 

I guess that’s it for this past month.  Thanks for reading, and we’ll talk in October!