The Place I Belong

Hot Mama or red head wanabe?

2011-02-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

Today was a snow day from school so I had a little time to work on the computer... so I looked back at some of the pictures we had unloaded from the last few months. Thought it would be good to share these with our blog readers. These were back from Halloween. And just so it is clear who the "wild" one in our family really is, the pictures below are really Barb's alter ego. Put a red wig on this gal and this is what you get!

Red wig and red wine! Whoa!

Not really sure what I was supposed to be but those really were the glasses I wore in high school. Yes, I was a chick magnet back then, too.

Check out Barb's left leg... and I am not saying any more! Enjoy....

Landon's Lunar Landing

2010-12-30T09:36:00.001-08:00

I know that most of you have already read Cara's blog about Landon's birth, but I thought you might enjoy a proud Opa's insights from some of the behind the scenes of last week's "Birthday."

Here he is: I took this picture last Tuesday morning when he was only about 30 minutes old! Check out that hair! All 9 pounds 6 oz. and 21.5 inches of Landon Bruce Syers, born at 2:20 am on Tuesday Dec. 21. Wow, God is indeed good.

Barb and I got a text from Cara and Wes at about 10:30 on Monday night saying that she would probably be delivering fairly soon, so we jumped in the car and headed to the hospital. It was an amazingly clear and cold night and as we got into the car, I remembered that it was supposed to be a lunar eclipse on the winter solstice that night.... a very rare event indeed.

We ran upstairs and found Cara and Wes monitoring progress. Once again I was reminded why God has moms deliver babies and not dads. Way to go, Cara... you were amazing!
Abby arrived just a few minutes after we did and promptly showed Barb and me how much you really can hear through a door.

At 2:20 am we heard cries and knew that Landon had arrived. He had a lusty cry from the first sound. Here's the proud Mama and Papa!

"Auntie Abby" stayed the whole time to help welcome Landon to the family. Now that's a happy smile! And Barb, sorry you were the photographer and we didn't get any pictures of you on our camera. I'll have to ask Cara and Abby to forward some.

And how wonderful is it to have a namesake. With the names Gerard and Bruce, I really didn't think there was a chance. But I think Landon Bruce sounds pretty good!

Later that night we took some more pictures of the moon. The nurses kept running to the windows to watch the progress of the eclipse. When it went full, it actually turned red, but we couldn't get a good picture of it. Maybe the red is a harbinger of Landon's hair color. But one thing is clear: There will not be another full lunar eclipse for another 80 years. So Landon, here's a first prayer for a long and healthy life so you can see it when you are 80. Now that would be something!

So congrats Cara , Wes, Payton and Brady. And welcome to the world little Landon!

Dancing with the Stars

2010-12-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

At times Barb reminds me that I have to learn how to say no... and last week was probably one of them. Last week, the German Club at my high school decided to organize a fund raiser for Alzheimers. Using the German theme, they decided on an evening event where they served German pastries and taught waltzing lessons.

That led to the idea of a "Dancing with the Stars" contest using several Performing arts students as the dance experts and staff members as the "Stars." And, you guessed it... I was asked to be one of the stars.

My student expert was Katie, a junior, who had just played a lead roll in our recent school musical performance of Beauty and the Beast. Very talented and ambitious young lady.

She had good ideas. She suggested a "Father/Daughter waltz using the John Mayer tune: "Daughters." She thought it would be cute to act out a daughter showing her dad her engagement ring which led to a father/daughter waltz. Good idea!

Her next idea was not so good and way too ambitious. She said: "Mr. J. You are a good singer. We should do "Bop to the Top" from High School Musical. Ryan and Sharpay do a real cute number and we should try to sing and dance it! Right. Google Bop to the Top to see what we were trying to emulate!

Anyway, we decide to try it. We practiced hard almost daily after school. Six other couples also practiced for the big event last Thursday night. One other couple, a counselor and a male student who will some day be a professional dancer were our main competition. That night, they danced both a waltz and a salsa that included several lifts and spins. They were good!

We also had judges who played the roles of the actual Dancing With the Stars judges. They gave us feedback and with their votes, Katie and I came in second after judging. The final votes came in after attendees placed money in baskets to select their favorite contestants. Katie's parents stuffed the ballot baskets and we won!

And I just know you are dying to see the main event! Here it is:

The Father/Daughter Waltz to John Mayer's "Daughters":

And we rounded out the evening with a rousing rendition of "Bop to the Top" from High School Musical:

My Three Sons... "Natural" Champions!

2010-10-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

"My Three Sons" was one of my favorite TV shows growing up. I think it starred Fred MacMurray. But this post is about my three sons...

One of my greatest joys of the past few years has been playing slow-pitch softball with Wes and Mark. This fall, now that Brad and Jayne moved back to Denver, Brad is playing,too.

A couple of years ago Wes formed a softball team with several of his and Mark's high school and college buddies called "The Naturals." This fall we added Brad and two of his former teammates. And they keep saying they need me to pitch so I get to play with a bunch of 25-33 year old guys... how cool is that?

This fall we finished in a tie for first place during the regular season and then entered playoffs as the two seed. This week Wednesday, we won the championship game 23-18 on a very cold 45 degree night. Felt like an October World Series game.... well, it did to us, anyway.

But this post is just about the chance to play with my adult sons. 8 years ago as many of you will remember, I was recovering from both prostate cancer and a heart attack just before Mark and Abby's wedding. So now to be healthy enough to play softball with my boys is such a gift! God has indeed granted this wonderful blessing, and not one game goes by without me giving Him praise and thanks...although, I do have to put up with my boy's constant coaching.... "Keep your back shoulder up, Dad," "Don't scoop your swing," Stop thinking so much, just pitch!"

Anyway, the picture above is of the Naturals in our championship T-shirts. Thanks for letting me play guys... and thanks for letting me play, God!

Meeting Cohen

2010-06-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

Barb and I have spent the past few days in California visiting Brad and Jayne and meeting our newest grandson, Cohen Mark. He is only three weeks old this weekend, but he has already stolen our hearts. What a cute little guy and hard to imagine Brad and Jayne without him!

Opa immediately took over diaper changing duties... yea, right!

Three generations!

We had to take a trip to the ocean. Friday we took a drive to Oceanside and walked by the state park. A beautiful day

Here's the star of the show:

We "think" he is smiling about his cool plaid shorts.

Jayne enjoying her first glass of wine "post baby". Goooood!

Oma has the touch and is loving this:

Hard at work building a swing for Cohen:

One happy customer: Check out the studly lamb ears:

Can you say plaid shorts?

Brad and Jayne on the patio looking good and so proud:

Brad's first Father's day with us and their friends, Paul and Danae Lapka at their pool. Brad teaches and coaches with Paul. Really good friends. It was a beautiful California day.

We are glad to report Brad and Jayne are doing well. Jayne is a wonderful Mom and is so loving of her new little guy. And Brad celebrated his first Father's day like a natural Dad. So good to see them stepping right in to this whole new world. Great job guys!

Springtime in the Rockies and Flamingos?

2010-04-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

Barb and I woke up this morning with one of the "Joys" of working with high school kids: Pink Flamingos in the yard? Our Technology Students TSA club has a fundraiser going: It costs $25 for the club to fill up someone's front yard with Pink Flamingos... and we were "selected" for "flocking" this morning. Neighbors were calling us with : " Are you aware that you have Flamingos in your yard?" Brad called me from California and said: "I heard you have Flamingos in your yard!" I asked" How did you already find out?" He told me that it had already hit Facebook from our neighbor Eddie Compoz. Great!

Can you say "Pirate Flamingo?"

I called Cara and she brought Payton and Brady by before church. They loved running around in the middle of the Flamingos!
Payton's outfit even matches!

I think that it goes along with our springtime yard colors.

Not only are the Pink Flamingos "beautiful" as Payton suggests, but our yard is really beautiful at this time of the year:

The Rhododendrens were quite something:

Tulips for a "Dutchman" are essential!

Tulips and primroses. There is nothing the speaks more of springtime!

Hope everyone is doing well.... and may you all enjoy the love of Pink Flamingos some day in your life!

WalMart greeter hopeful

2010-03-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

No big parties....at least not yet, and just an announcement that I have actually put in the paperwork to start my retirement process. My last day of official employment at Grandview will be the last day of June THIS SUMMER! I will start getting my retirement on the last day of July in 2010. Wow, that sounds final. However, due to a clause allowing me to work some in retirement, I will actually keep my current job through next year and work until the end of June, 2011.

After that Barb and I will be looking at some options. I know that I will work. Consulting? Blending a passion (cycling) with organizational skills into a job as a bike tour leader in Holland and the Colorado mountians? Wal mart greeter? Sales? I have always said that if I could "sell" nouns and verbs to 7th graders... I could sell anything.

So, if you have ideas for my future employment, let me know. I am networking. But Barb and I got a little taste of retirement this weekend. We drove up to Copper Mountain this Saturday morning and skied all day Saturday, stayed over night in Breck and skied again today. Two bright, sunny, great snow days in the CO mountains. So far, 60 is looking good!

Thanks for reading..... and eat your heart out, Kwas!

By the way... this is downtown Frisco after a wonderful day of skiing.

Winter Olympic Hopefuls!

2010-02-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of the winter Olympics, Barb and I drove up to Copper Mountain for some skiing this past weekend. After two days and 8-10 inches of new snow, a bright, sunny yet cold day greeted us ... perfect winter conditions. A few runs in the morning. Coffee. A few more runs until a late lunch. One more run in the afternoon. (Our legs were dying as this was our first time up this year.) Quitting time at 3:00. A quick trip to our time share so we could sit in the hot tub in Breckenridge, and a glass of Cabernet before the ride home. Now that's a good day.

It is days like this that makes retirement look better and better all of the time.... and who knows... maybe they will start a senior division of the Winter Olympics. Barb wants the downhill. I'm thinking ski jumping!

Now check out this amazing footage of Barb... the speed... the grace.... the precision. Lindsay Vonn has NOTHING on this gal

And of course we have real time video footage of Bruce " Bode" Jansen on a daring Olympic run. Notice the commentary from the crack Olympic reporter! Not sure what she was doing with the creative camera angles, however.

T'was the night before Christmas...

2009-12-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
People had been busy, 'specially Mrs Griswold's spouse.

The Christmas lights were hung around the whole house with care,

in hopes that the family soon would be there.

Yes,house lighting takes time, take it from my mouth,

You've got years to catch up, my friend Mr. Krauth!

But on to the story of Christmas "09

We started Christmas eve morning with our family so fine.

All gathered at our house for breakfast and gifts,

First there were stockings, with an interesting lift...

Mark and Wes were quite something; they both were the star

playing in shorts they were "Heros guitar!"

And Nolan at opening presents was dandy,

but he was most focused on his Christmas candy!

A highlight of the morning, the best picture we did,
was at the foot of our tree with all four grandkids!

And certainly we paused to consider the charms
of new baby Heath in father Mark's arms

And nestled in Heath's arms, no, it isn't funny,

clutched in his hand is his first Christmas money

Later that day was the family awash

in the love of Christmas Eve in the home of Oma Bosch.

For over fifty years the tradition is alive
She's now 92 and and we still make the drive.

To sing Christmas carols and wait for "Jingle Bells"

to ring in Santa who brings presents so swell

For all of the children who sit in his lap

And a present for Oma before her nightly nap.

Thanks "Auntie Sue" for preparing the evening so fair

You did earn the right to sit in your chair!

Christmas day was dinner at Cara and Wes's

Home made lasagna was great I confess.

But nothing next to family and spending time with ones dear,

We just wish that Brad and Jayne soon would be here!

So now Christmas is over and we get back to the norm,

But we did babysit the kids and have an evening so warm.

Of playing some games and the wonderful hooks

"Oma" snuggled with Brady and Payton and several good books!

So as Christmas moves on out of our sight

We wish you the best.. to all a good night.

But remember the first gift given so long ago

A child in a manger, one who all Christians know.

A Savior was born on a cold winter's night

A star led the way with its brilliance so bright.

May we remember each year in the gifts that we give

The first gift God gave us, so that we all may live.

As the pictures all tell, and this poem has confessed,

God has showered this family, yes, we know we are blessed.

May you all know that blessing; may you all know the King

and the reason for this season and the Joy that He brings.

Blessings this Christmas season and in the New Year,

Bruce and Barb and family.

Gifts at Christmas Time!

2009-12-23T16:46:00.000-08:00

Last week Friday night, Barb and I had our first experience babysitting all four grand-children! Mark and Abby went out to dinner and Cara and Wes were shopping.... so all four! We are old hands at three with Nolan, Brady and Payton. But this time we added Heath, who was born on November 22. We were so busy we forgot to take pictures, but we did have some fun. These were some of the highlights:

1. Brady sitting on the potty and pushing so hard that he shot straight out into Barb!

2. Nolan reaching down into the unfilled tub to grab a ball that he and Brady were playing with. He ended up head down into the tub with his legs sticking straight up into the air. He was mad!

3. Changing Heath's diaper. Remember how small newborn diapers really are?

4. Payton consoling Heath with two bean bag Santas that Barb made years ago. He must have loved his two companions, because he fill right asleep. Then Payton took his picture:

Pretty cute, huh?

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We will have everyone at our house in the morning for presents, so that each family can have Christmas day at their own house. Christmas Eve will be at Oma Bosch's again despite the fact that she fell and broke her hip a week ago, but she is back at home and doing amazingly well for 92 and 1/2. Pray for her and her recovery and for Barb and Sue who take on much of Oma's health management. But considering all, God had indeed showered us with the Christmas gifts of new birth,( Heath to Mark and Abby) new babies on the way ( Brad and Jayne are due in June) and good recovery for Oma Bosch. May you too, experience the Joy of our Lord's blessings this Christmas time.

Beatles, Beetles and "Grand-bugs" in the mountains

2009-09-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

BEETLES:

School has started already for a month, but Barb and I were able to sneak in a couple of fun get- aways during the past month. In the middle of August, we joined our friends Barry and Rene Meyer at their Grand Lake Cabin for the weekend. That was the Beetles! Their cabin overlooks Shadow Mountain Lake which in past years had no view of the lake. But because of the tremendous amount of beetle kill near Grand Lake, we actually had a great view of the lake from their deck. Can you say wine and cheese with great friends?

On Saturday, we hiked above timber line and had lunch at about 10,000 feet. It reminded me of scenes from the Sound of Music and was just a great day! On Sunday we hiked to some falls above Grand Lake and spent the afternoon driving over Trail Ridge to Estes Park... another wonderful day in the Colorado mountains.

BEATLES

The next week end we joined some of Barb's friends from work to attend a Beatles concert at Red Rocks, an amazing natural amphitheater just outside of Denver. The group is called 1964- The Tribute. They look exactly like the early Beatles with black suits, skinny ties, boots and beetle hair cuts. They also sound exactly like the Beatles and play their songs straight. We joined 10 thousand screaming fans in singing along with every word. It really is amazing. As they played, the words and harmonies came back immediately. If you ever get a chance to see these guys, do it!

Barb and I couldn't help ourselves and danced to a few of the Beatles greatest hits!

Red Rocks and Beatles...does it get any better?

GRAND BEETLES:

Yes , it does get better: No matter where we travel or what we do, we can't wait to get back to our grand-kids. These little bugs are the best!

God is so good!

Can you say Chowda?

2009-07-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

Last week Barb and I traveled to Boston and now I am actually posting this from San Diego..once again suffering for work! In Boston I was attending the NSDC ( National Staff Development Counsel) summer conference and had been selected to present a session on some professional growth intiatives we are doing at Grandview High School. I co- presented with Alicia Pray, our Technology Coordinator. It was a great professional stretch and it went well.

Barb decided to come out with me a couple of days early so we could tour Boston. Four great days of Boston weather and lots of fun before the work.

Barb and I in front of the USS Constitution.. Old Ironsides!

Barb sitting in the right field "good seats" in right field at Fenway PAK. Can you see the "Green Monster " behind her? This was a really great tour: Saw a red seat in center field marking where Ted Williams slammed the longest homerun in ball park history... over 500 feet from home plate!

Bunker Hill. We climbed all 290 steps to the top.

On the right is the tower of "Old North Church, where Paul Revere sent the signal: "One if by land, two if by sea!"

And no trip to Boston is complete without an "al fresco" dinner in Little Italy. Barb and I enjoying dinner at Vinny T's!

Barb must have walked 15-20 miles during my conference sessions. Several trips to the Boston Common to walk the Freedom trail, visit Paul Revere's house and Beacon Hill and many more historic sites.Took a harbor cruise. Quite a city and quite a trip.

Twins and Birthdays

2009-03-22T16:02:00.001-07:00

February and March are busy times in our family with all of the birthdays and family celebrations. All of the special days coupled with Barb's babysitting of our three grandkids led to this post: The pictures you see are first about TWINS! Last week Barb was babysitting Nolan ( Mark and Abby's son) and he was in our bedroom looking at himself in our mirror. ( Mark likes to do this too!) Actually, he was kissing himself in the mirror....( who taught him that?) So we snapped this picture. I bet you didn't know that Nolan has a twin, did you? Mark and Abby have been keeping that from everyone... Pretty cute twins, huh?

The second set of twins is Barb and me. We finally broke down to buy helmets for skiing. Yesterday was our first day to try them out. Another beautiful Colorado ski day at Copper Mountain. It was near 40 degrees at the bottom and still great snow. I won't tell you about Barb's incredible wipe out on the last run. Skis and poles everywhere on a very steep slope.... other skiers asking her if it was a "yard sale" She says she was just trying out her helmet... Sure!

She slid down the hill to find a place to put her skis back on and found me watching and filming from the bottom!

These TWINS are Payton and Brady. Wes bought Brady a set of Nerf dart guns for his birthday. (See Brady and Payton preparing for battle.) Acutally, it was even better to watch Payton stalk her daddy with the guns. Begs the question: Who did you buy these guns for, Wes?

Of course, when Brady shot himself in the eye without the glasses, Cara's comment was: Great present, Wes! But the "twins in glasses" love playing Nerf house battle!

On to Birthdays! Enjoying my new I-pod and biking jersey from my kids! Great birthday presents!

On my birthday, I wanted to go out to eat at one of my favorite restaurants with all of the adult kids. A great night at Trappers ! We missed you Brad and Jayne.

Oh No! Ski day in Colorado

2009-01-20T16:34:00.000-08:00

Whenever our grandson Brady drops something or sees a problem, he says "Oh No" in a really cute way. In fact, we have all taken to copying his " Oh no!" saying. So when Barb and I went skiing yesterday and saw this run, we had to take this picture:

We probably should have known it was an omen for later in the day when we chose to take an advanced run called " Triple Threat" which was all moguls...that was not fun! But all in all, we had an awesome first day of Colorado skiing. The temp was in the 30's at the base... not bad for Janurary... not a cloud in the sky and we skied up to lifts all day!

Our self photo taken at arms length...

Taking a break...

A professional photo taken for us at the top of the mountain:

Later in the day we recorded some amazing video of an Olympic hopeful who was skiing right near us! The grace... the beauty.... the speed!

We even saw a guy ski jumping near us. You will be awed by the "air" this guys gets in this video! I can't even imagine the guts it takes to try this move!

All in all a great day on the mountain... just a shadow of what we hope our retirement will be like.

And Colorado is STILL the place we belong!

Zoo Lights with Oma and Opa

2009-01-10T20:21:00.000-08:00

Last week-end just before the end of the holidays, Barb and I enjoyed a night at the zoo lights with Payton and Brady. It was a warm night for winter in CO. so we drove downtown with the grandkids to enjoy the last night of holiday lights at the zoo. Cara and Wes thought that it was a great idea so they could go out for a "date night." We thought it was a great idea because we could have a "date night" with our grandkids. Payton and Brady thought it was a great idea because they LOVE animals.... and the lights were cool too!

Payton loved seeing the giraffes and seals and even found a white fox that nobody else had seen. That girls loves her animals. In this picture she took with Oma's camera, she found some white mountain goats.

That night Brady, Payton and I rode the carousel... or was it a merry go round.... never know which it is. I know it has something to do with which direction it goes... but we all loved it. Well , Payton and I did. Brady wasn't so sure about his camel!

After seeing a few more lights and not many more animals.... I think they all went down for a long winter's nap... we played on a covered wagon and rode some cool oxen and then stopped for a hot dog ( Brady's favorite part). Then it was on to home.

All in all, a fun night at the zoo and a great holiday memory!

December fun and so much more!

2008-12-07T16:18:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday we joined our kids on their annual trip to the mountains to cut down a Christmas tree. We used to always get Colorado trees.... so fresh that some even started to bud out in our house. But over the years of having to wire them up, drill in extra branches and trim them to fit inside, we have tended to go to Home Depot for the perfect Noble fir trees.

This year the kids said: "Come on, Dad! It'll be fun. We'll get the passes and we will drink hot chocolate and have an adventure!" Knowing that part of my mission statement as a father is: " To create family memories," they knew they had me.

So last Saturday we joined the caravan of Wes and Cara, Mark and Abby, and Gwen and Tim and all of the grandkids and adopted grandkids up the mountain to the Pike National Forest. Three Hondas Pilots and the old Explorer four-wheeled up the mountain!

So after an hour or so of trekking all over the mountain we all found trees, cut them down and loaded them on our cars. Barb and I somehow managed to agree on a tree... she accused me of perfectionism... can't undertand what she meant! All of the kids were having side bets that Dad would use his tree for trimming and still go to Home Depot for his "perfect" Christmas tree. That just sealed the deal. We were putting this tree up!

But back to the mountains. As I said, all of us found trees... and all of us managed to find our ways back to the cars. Barb and I were the last ones back... she said something else about perfectionism... and then we joined the kids for some well earned hot chocolate.

By then I was getting into the spirit. We enjoyed the incredible day in the mountains and the the time with family and we all made it back home safely. Check out each of our kids blogs to see their trees: ( theirs are all better than ours!) But just to prove the point, we put ours up this week despite the harrassment from my Chicago friend, Jim, who kept calling us to say something about Charlie Brown and how it only took him 30 minutes to put up his perfect artifical tree.

So after drilling and whittling four braches in to fill in the holes and wiring up the branches, it was up and looking pretty good. And with a cup of nog in hand I began to reflect on the significance of the whole experience. No, it is not a perfect tree. But the fact that our kids wanted us to join them for the experience is perfect. And in many ways this tree is a daily reminder to me about what is really important. Like so many of us, I can get caught up in the Crate and Barrel glitter of Christmas. What is on the outside is so enticing. But this tree, like our humble Savior, who came to earth in a simple manger is a wonderful reminder of what is important. We are so blessed... with amazing children and grandchildren and friends. So may this post be a reminder to you as it was to me, that Emmanuel is with us at this Christmas time...not in the glamor, but in the form of a child.

And so with the spirit intact, we put up our lights outside.... just couldn't resist!

Merry Christmas to all from Barb and Bruce!

Tuition or Kitchen?

2008-10-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

So what do you do when you are no longer paying college tuition? You think about the remodel projects that you have had on hold for so long! Last fall it was the family room. This fall it was the kitchen and all of the doors in the house. Brad Lanser, our contractor did a great job... so if you live in Colorado, we'll send you his contact info. Here's a few pictures to give you an idea. By the way... the first picture is of our granite... it's called Lava. Pretty upper-middle class, huh?

By the way... Barb and I are no longer going out to eat. Must use the new kitchen.... so if you are in the neighborhood... stop by for a meal!

Garden Party at the Jansen's

2008-10-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

We have been enjoying an incredible fall in Colorado. So far no frost and the garden is beautiful. I took a tour of the garden with pictures the other day and thought maybe this would make a good post. Enjoy!

True Companion for 36 years!

2008-08-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

On August 12, Barb and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary, an amazing testament to both God's blessing and the fact that Barb really does not do change! The night before we had a wonderful dinner on the PF Chang's patio overlooking the front range. When Barb and I made plans for the actual day, though, Barb said she wanted to go to the Rockies game with the Diamondbacks... no wonder I love her so much! So we got the tickets... and with a few phone calls, I made arrangements for a stadium message to my bride of 36 years. ( See end of video) About the third inning I finally had to point out the message that was playing between every inning..... she loved it.... but even liked it better when I told her it was tax deductible as a donation to the Rockies charities!

During the game Randy Johnson, yes, the original "Big Unit", sent a foul ball our way and I got my hand on it but didn't catch it.. oh well!

Enjoy the pictures from the past few years. Barb and I have been "True Companions" for 36 years... and we look forward to this next wonderful time of our lives together.

Lovin' Being Oma and Opa

2008-08-15T17:08:00.001-07:00

Summer is nearly over, school has started for all, and babysitting the grandkids is now back in swing. Having the kids here with Oma and Opa is lots of fun...baking with Payton, filling the bird feeders ("seeders" as Payton calls them), flower & nature tours given by Opa, play time with the cousins, and reading books together...it all makes for great times here in Littleton! We are blessed and are so happy to spend such great times with the kids. Hope you enjoy my first attempt at a slide show! Music to come next time!

Sea to Sea Cycling tour

2008-07-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I had the priviledge to be part of the praise team for an outside Sunday service for the 150 0r so Sea to Sea Cyclists who are traversing our country this summer. This group is sponsored by the Chrisitian Reformed Church and are riding from the Oregon coast all the way across the country to New Jersey for the entire summer to bring awareness to issues of poverty and hunger. It is called "Sea to Sea, ending the Cycle of Humger" The service was held outside at Englewood High School and was very inspiring.

Barb and I had a chance to talk to several of the riders afterward. Many of them are blogging during the trip ,so I am including the link: Sea to Sea. If you go to the link, you can also see the acutal progress of the riders as they ride each day. Pretty cool.

I am soooo jealoous to be riding. Some day.

Enjoying Colorado Summers

2008-07-22T14:05:00.001-07:00

We were able to take a break in the middle of July for a week up in Beaver Creek...6 days to enjoy the green mountain sides and beautiful flowers, several great hikes, and a couple of bike rides. Also time to sit by the pool and enjoy music and food. Our first attempt to share this with all of you and hope we can figure out how to do a blog!

Welcome to the Blogosphere!

2008-07-19T15:48:00.001-07:00

Hello to the world! This is Cara, Bruce & Barb's daughter. I have created a blog for them in order to "encourage" them to share their lives. We have enjoyed being more connected to our family all over the country, so I think that my parents should blog too. They aren't convinced they have enough "cool" pictures, stories, info. to share. I'm convinced they do, so here we go! I'll give them a tutorial soon, so they can post on their own!