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

The Rhodes

Krista and Bea watching the baptism

The Rhodes watching the baptism

The baptism (the pastor is in the middle)

Daisy and Bea at breakfast

Gus's perfect shirt for 9/11 (it says Little Chief and has a picture of a fireman's helmet)

Bea and Grandpa

Gus and Grandpa

Bea being a fashion queen

August 2020 Update

Hello again from western NY!  Here are the chronicles of my family since I wrote last. 

In the last month, we celebrated my granddaughter Ruby’s 3rd birthday on 7/25, my daughter-in-law Amy’s birthday on 7/31, my son-in-law Ben’s birthday on 8/12, my one and only true love Krista’s birthday on 8/16, and Cai & Amy’s 2nd anniversary today 8/18.  Some of those were not really celebrated here but we at least remembered them.  For Krista’s birthday, all the local families came over for fresh blueberry pie, which was oh so yummy.  I also remember that today would have been my Mom & Dad’s 70th anniversary. 

I had an interesting opportunity a few weeks ago.  Our chorus had been asked to get a quartet together to sing for a local man’s 90th birthday, and I was asked to sing the baritone part for it.  The man was a Navy vet, so we sang The Star Spangled Banner and Anchors Aweigh.  You can see a local news story about his birthday starting at about 7:30 in the video at this link.  https://13wham.com/features/bright-spot/bright-spot-happy-birthday-charlie?fbclid=IwAR3olNdo0NTa_GEQ0CWYYZRlWqISqoMoBxCiXz7frmU_4HPf-GrxnA7Ajow 

This was not my regular quartet, but just a “pick-up” group of four guys for this occasion.  However, my regular quartet also is going to have some opportunities to do short performances tomorrow and on September 1, but I’ll tell you about those next month.  Classic teaser! 

As usual for our area at this time of year, we have had some interesting weather with days in the 90s, dramatic thunderstorms, and downpours.  One day we had a beautiful rainbow after a storm, which was the only picture I took this month. 

September’s update should have some more exciting news, some of which was already teased, but some of which I’m just going to make you wait for. 

So, until then!

July 2020 Update

Well, it was another rather uneventful month, but since I know you all live and die for these updates, I’ll tell you about the little that did happen.

My local family decided to do “Covid camping” over the July 4 weekend.  Instead of going to a campground or camping area of a park like we have before, the Mickles, the Sommers, and my kids set up tents in the Mickles back yard, and we camped there.  Krista, Jemmie, and I spent the days with them, but slept at home.  We swam at our house, ate camping-type food, and enjoyed fireworks that Kevin and Cody provided.  None of our local areas had big fireworks displays like every other year, but we almost feel like we enjoyed our own private fireworks shows better!  Cody and Kevin did a great job entertaining us with explosions of light and color.

I remembered my brother, Gary’s, birthday on 7/10, and we celebrated Ivy’s 4th birthday on 7/14.  Her birthday is actually 7/11, but Krista, Jem, Levi, and I were gone then, so we had her party on 7/14.  Ella made a really cute kitty cake (kitties are Ivy’s current thing) that was also delicious!  The other celebration this month was Hannah and Kevin’s 7th anniversary on 7/13.

I’m sure you’re all wondering, where were Krista, Jem, Levi, and Greg on 7/11?  Well, I’ll tell you.  I’ve kept you in suspense long enough.  We took an amazing, exciting, fun-filled, all-expenses billed to us trip to beautiful…

Well, the people were beautiful…

PHILADELPHIA!

Sorry if that seems anti-climactic.

We had talked about going there earlier this spring/summer, but Covid kept us from doing it.  Now our governor keeps adding states to a mandatory quarantine list, that if you come to New York from those states, you have to quarantine for two weeks.  As of now, Pennsylvania is still OK, so we went.  Also, Cai and Amy moved this past week to Kentucky where Cai will be attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to work on a doctorate in Old Testament, so we wanted to visit them in the Philly area before they were further away.

We spent Friday night with them, where they fed us and we talked and talked.  Saturday morning, we helped them with some cleaning of their old apartment, and then we all went down to the city to see Carissa, Matt, Ruby, Caitlin, and Ben.  Ruby did a great job entertaining us all, and Ben introduced us to the amazing “sport” of marble racing for those so desperate for any kind of sports.  Somewhere he had found YouTube videos of marble races that were actually more entertaining than you would think.

Sunday morning, we met at Carissa and Matt’s again and worshipped virtually together from their live-streamed church service.  It was nice to hear more people singing than just our own immediate family.  And Carissa had been a part of the worship team that recorded the song leading, so that was cool too.  After enjoying lunch together with them, we headed back home.

So, that’s our sort-of-but-not-too-eventful month.  And again I have no pictures or videos to make this more exciting.  Sorry.  Maybe in August, but no promises.

Your father, father-in-law, cousin, uncle, brother, brother-in-law, nephew, husband, friend, Greg

June 2020 Update

Last month I ended with “At least the weather is finally getting a little warmer, and our area is in phase one of re-opening, so maybe June will be more interesting.  But don’t count on it.”  Well, I hope you didn’t count on it.  We’re now in phase three of re-opening, but I don’t think our month was much more interesting.

For Memorial Day, we sort of cheated this year, and instead of grilling our own hamburgers, we bought them from Burger King.  At least we bought them from a place that grills them.

We celebrated Hannah’s birthday on June 6, and remembered Kortney and Mat’s 6th anniversary on 6/13.

In other exciting news, my hair place reopened, so I could get a professional haircut again.  Krista did a really good job in the interim, but we both agreed we’d rather I went there.  Also reopened was our local Tim Horton’s.  For the past few years, a couple of my friends and I have been meeting there once a month for a Bible study and prayer time.  We had to put that on hold during the virus shutdown, so it was good to meet with them again.

So, yeah, that’s about it for this update.  I don’t even have any pictures to make this more interesting, but if you’re really bored, you can go and look at old pictures and updates here.  That would also work well if you’re having trouble sleeping—it will knock you right out soon, I’m sure.

May 2020 Update

This month, we remembered Cai’s birthday on 5/5, celebrated Mothers’ Day on 5/10, had the celebration for Kevin’s 5/14 birthday yesterday with delicious diner spaghetti and pineapple upside down cake, went for walks and bike rides, tried to keep our spring flowers from freezing, and watched some World War II planes fly overhead.  The flyovers were done by our local War Plane Museum.  They flew over every hospital in Western New York as a thank you to the workers there.  One of those hospitals is just down the road from us, so we had a nice view of the two planes.

Walking with the Mickles at Holley Falls park, and Alex had to carry huge rocks

I love his shuffle as he lugs the rocks up the trail

Biking with Krista at Hamlin Beach

Trying to keep our peonies from freezing

World War II planes flying overhead

Grandkids watching the planes fly over (if you zoom A LOT you might see the planes in this picture too)

For Mothers’ Day, we had a fancy steak dinner with baked potatoes and grilled asparagus.  Then the local families came over with a present for Krista, and we shared dessert together.

Quarantine life being what it is, our month was pretty quiet.

At least the weather is finally getting a little warmer, and our area is in phase one of re-opening, so maybe June will be more interesting.  But don’t count on it.

April 2020 Update

I have a feeling this is going to be short because, as I imagine is true for most if not all of you, we haven’t been doing much in the past month with everything canceled and being told to stay home.

I got my last professional haircut about a month ago, and I’m due again, but fortunately since I’m mostly bald, I think between Krista and myself, we can take care of it without me looking unfit to appear in public.  And I don’t appear in public very much anymore anyway, so we’ve got that going for us.

Family birthdays this month are Carissa on March 23 and granddaughter Bea’s first birthday on March 24.

We’ve taken more walks than usual lately since there’s nothing else to do, with short trips to Hamlin Beach, Holley Falls, Mt. Albion Cemetery, and various places along the Erie Canal to try to experience different walk locations.

Krista at the top of Holley Falls

Holley Falls

From the top of the tower at Mt. Albion Cemetery

Don't lean back too far just to get a good picture!

Found these graves in the cemetery. I wonder if we're related?

We were surprised recently by some spring snow—only a “sugar coating” that soon melted, but this week has been especially cold, and we’ve woken up to a dusting of snow for the past several days.

For our Sunday worship at home, we’ve been watching a sermon series from a local church, Northridge Church in Rochester, called Unfiltered Jesus.  We’ve been enjoying them and being challenged by them.  If you’re interested, here’s the link to the series:  https://www.youtube.com/user/NorthridgeRochester/videos.

April 11 was National Barbershop Quartet Day, and I celebrated by wearing my barbershop chorus shirt and missing singing with my quartet.  ☹

Our Easter was quiet, as I’m sure all of yours was too, but we had a great home church service and excellent ham dinner, even if it was with only the five of us here.  But our difficult circumstances don’t change the eternal joy we have because our Savior conquered the grave and lives forever.  Because He lives, we too shall live!

Maybe by May, we’ll be able to have our crazy, busy lives again.  Is that something we want?  Hmm.

March 2020 Update

This month we celebrated Ella and Cody’s 6th anniversary on 2/22, Caitlin and Ben’s 4th anniversary on 3/5, my brother Ken’s birthday on 3/6, and Kortney’s birthday on 3/17.

Taking a walk with the Mickles on a Sunday afternoon

Levi and Zuzu fighting for popcorn (Zuzu won)

Of course, the Corona virus is foremost in just about everyone’s mind, and it has definitely had an impact on our family.  With Hannah, Kevin, and Abigail all working in the health care industry, we are especially praying for their safety and health.  Abigail already was forced to leave work and quarantine herself at home because she treated someone who later tested positive for Corona.  She has had no symptoms, so we’re praying she is OK and will be able to go back to work soon.  Our church services were canceled, my chorus was canceled, and at work we are being told to work from home as much as possible.  Some of my job I can do from home, but some I can’t, so I’ve had to come into work every day this week so far.

When this crisis was still relatively new, Amelia, Zach, Jem, and Levi took a train trip to visit Cai, Amy, Carissa, Matt, Ruby, Caitlin, and Ben.  We did notice someone all goggled and masked at the train station when I dropped them off, but mostly it was pretty normal.  They had a great time spending a long weekend with them, playing games, sharing meals, and visiting.

Waiting for their train (I've never seen our train station this crowded!)

While they were gone, Krista and I had a foretaste of being empty nesters.  We think we’ll do fine.  We definitely missed them, but the house was nicely quiet, and Krista said it stayed clean for much longer.

I took a day off while they were gone, and Krista and I visited Niagara Falls.  The weather wasn’t perfect, but Niagara Falls is always a great outing.

Cave of the Winds

Cave of the Winds, Bridal Veil, American Falls

Cave of the Winds, looking towards Canadian Falls

 Three Sisters and Little Brother Islands

 American and Canadian Falls from the Observation Tower

Looking toward the American and Canadian Falls

View down the Niagara River

Lunch at Red Coach Inn with a view of the Niagara River

I am praying that all of you stay safe and healthy, and remember God is not surprised by this crisis.  He is still in control and worthy of all praise!  The question is not “Why do some suffer and die?” but is “Why don’t we all suffer and die?”  It is only by His grace that any of us live, because we all deserve death for rebelling against our Creator.  But God, in His amazing grace, didn't leave us with our death sentence.  Because of His great love for us, instead He sent Jesus to die for us.  Jesus willingly came and took our death and gave us His eternal life.  He took all our sin and gave us His perfect righteousness.  And He proved His victory over sin and death and hell by rising from the grave three days after He died.  Now, all we have to do is surrender to Him, trust solely in Jesus' sacrifice by the power of His grace and through the faith He gives us, repent of our sins by the power of the Holy Spirit, and we can again have the perfect fellowship with God that He planned from before time began.

Until a hopefully non-quarantined April!