A Time For Prayer

Scott, Kim and their girls Amanda and Valerie have been very active in their church for many years.    We have visited the church several times, and had the pleasure to go once again last Sunday.

The First United Reformed Church in Chino, led by Rev. Ronald Scheuers has a warm and comfortable feeling.  It's congregation is very friendly, and are sincerely interested in making Duane and I feel welcome whenever we  come to the services.

 

Nellie Vander Pol is a lovely example of the congeniality of the church's members. 

               She is one of Scott's favorites, and I think the feeling is reciprocated.

 

The church is quite lovely with many beautiful stained glass windows.  The service was uplifting and informative with many opportunities to sing hymns with either the organist or pianist.  At times they also have a brass ensemble and various choirs and quartets.

 

 

Amanda and Valerie, shown here with Rev. Scheuers son, Tim are very active participants in many of the varied church programs, and also assist in the Nursery and Vacation Bible School which is led by Mom, Kim.

 

 

Duane is very proud of Scott who has become a Deacon of the Church.

 

 

Many thanks to Scott and Kim for letting us experience the fellowship of the church. 

 

 

Easter Is For the Peeps

We had our traditional Easter dinner yesterday.  Always enjoy having the kids and grandkids.

 

The Easter Bunny left all sorts of treats, including a Peeps cake.  Can you see it in the background in the upper right corner?  Chocolate cake, frosted with chocolate frosting (of course), and yellow Peeps in a circle around the top.  In the center were chocolate chips.  Chocolate is for Easter!

 

 

Had trouble photoing Maddie and Reese as they hunted for eggs, they were moving so fast.  Heather brought the eggs which had puzzle pieces inside, instead of candy.  The puzzles kept them busy for a while.  The little ones always have a great time hunting.

 

 

Reese really got into it this year, screaming with glee as he found each egg.

 

 

A rare moment of relaxation for Grandma.

 

 

Another wonderful day of memories took place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott is now the Birthday Boy

As I said, we have many birthdays in March.  Duane's son Scott has a birthday coming up in about 10 days.  We see Scott on a regular basis when he comes for dinner after work on Tuesdays.  We always have a great time even if we decide to watch the amazing and frightening Christopher Dorner chase.

 

Father and son always have a lot of laughs.

 

 

I met Scott and his wife Kim in the year 2000.  We were so happy that they were able to celebrate our wedding with us. 

 

 

Scott's brother Pete came by one evening, and the boys had a roaring good time doing the "bump".

 

 

Duane always loves to give Scott some shooting lessons. 

 

 

We love having the gang over for Memorial Day or 4th of July.  Scott always makes it a little more fun.

 

 

One thing that is so special, however, is the bond between Scott and his Dad.

 

 

 

 

 

What a Guy!

We have so many birthdays in March, that it seems we are always celebrating.  I did a blog on Heather, then Reese, but there's another very important birthday!!!!!!!

                         My Guy, Duane-------also affectionately known as Shelley, Duano or Butch.

 

When we got together in the year 2000, I had the pleasure of meeting his two sons, Pete and Scott.  Guess when their birthdays are???  March 11th and March 26th.  Duane says he planned it that way.

 

 

The first formal occasion we attended together was Heather's wedding.  We had just gotten engaged and were destined to marry three months later.

 

 

It seemed that after Heather's wedding, we attended so many more.  Here we are in  Belize for Adam's wedding.  I feel so blessed.

 

 

We've had such a good time together.  Here he is in Sheboygan Falls, WI, his birthplace, where we vacationed one year.  He's reliving one of his boyhood pastimes.

 

 

I'm so happy that you are mine, you handsome devil!

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Reese!

My precious grandson will be 4 years old on March 11th.  Gee, grandkids sure grow fast!

 

Reese has always loved hats.  This picture shows how comical he can be too.

 

 

It has always been difficult to take a picture of him, but once in awhile we get lucky.

 

 

It helps to have some candy ready.

 

 

Like all of the Garcias, he loves the water.

 

 

Elmo is a big favorite with Reese, as he is with all children.

 

 

I was trying, somewhat unsuccessfully to have Maddie help with the picture taking.

 

 

Heather got this truck at Reese's baby shower, and he discovered that it was great to ride on.

 

 

Such a beautiful family------Happy Birthday Reese! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Little Girl

My little girl, Heather, is having a birthday March 4th.  Her Dad used to say that March 4th was the most commanding day of the year---------March Forth!!!  And she certainly did, and has become a lovely, intelligent and compassionate woman.  The following are some precious memories of her childhood.

 

I always have to include this picture, which, to me, was amazing.

 

 

Before I got married, Heather's Dad got me a hope chest, which promptly became a toy box when Heather was little.  She used it in a variety of ways.

 

 

I tried to make time each day to read to Heather, and she loved her books, as do her own children now.  I think she still has some of the books she had as a child.  She has said that her favorite book is "Make Way for Ducklings", which was certainly a favorite of mine too.

 

 

Heather was often comical and would make us laugh at her antics.  Two of the funny things I remember are when she would sing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", only she would sing, Santa Claus is Coming Two Times.  The other was when she was in Kindergarten, and was asked who her favorite actor and actress were.  We must have sheltered her too much because her answer was, "Fredis Dare and Ginger Rogers".  Our love of old movies was evident.

 

 

When we would visit my parents in Indiana, Heather loved playing their organ.  Of course I thought she was a budding Liberace, and gave her piano lessons (that she hated) for a couple of years.

 

 

Ever a fan of balloons.

 

 

Mom loves you a whole bunch, dance on!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darlene

I was overjoyed on February 25, 1956 when my baby sister was born and I finally had a sibling.  I immediately became the "little mother" and helped with her care warming bottles, changing diapers, and getting things for my mother who was bedridden for a time after Darlene's birth.

 

Here we are at an outing in a park.  She was like my little doll.

 

 

This is one of my favorite pictures of Darlene as a little girl.  Always loved sailor collars.

 

 

She was very angelic at her First Communion.

 

 

Christmas was always special----guess we must have gotten a TV that year.

 

 

After I got married Darlene moved with our parents to a farm in Koleen, Indiana.

 

 

Here I am with Heather and Darlene's daughter Chantelle at the farm.  The girls are only a few days apart in age.  Here they are about 18 months old.

 

 

As the years went on, Darlene went on a fitness kick and entered many triathlons. 

 

 

She's always been an animal lover---here with our dog, Mugs.

 

 

We were both so lucky in the year 2000 to meet two wonderful guys and get married only 4 months apart.  Here she is with her husband, Robert or 'Ole Boy as we call him.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLENE!  YOU ARE LOVED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easters Past

Easter has always had special memories for me.  It is one of my favorite holidays, for many reasons.

 

It was very important when I was a girl to dress up for church in your new Easter outfit.  Hats were a must, also new shoes---white or black patent leather----and a matching purse.  I can't tell if I have gloves on in this photo, but if not, I'm sure they were in my purse.  By the way, my Mom made my coat and my dress.

 

 

I'm about 5 years old in this picture.  A big part of Easter always involved getting live ducks or chicks.  Strange pets for a Chicago girl.

 

 

This is a photo of an unknown relative who was undoubtedly getting ready to stroll in the Easter Parade.  The more ornate the hat, the better, and a parasol was so chic.

 

 

A beautiful Easter day in McHenry with Mom and sister Darlene.

 

 

Although this photo was not taken at Easter, it shows the fashion of the day when my Paternal Grandparents---Anton and Pearl----left my parent's wedding.  Straw hats were immensely popular with the men, white shoes for both men and women.

 

 

Little girls still dress in their Easter best, but the Easter Egg Hunt is the highlight of the day.

 

 

And every child should get an Easter Bunny!

 

 

But, it's amazing that Straw hats are still the thing!