Help - Memories????

Why was this picture taken? Where was it taken? Where was Arvin? Help - I have no answers to these questions...I'm not 40 yet, so my memory should still be in tact but I have no idea. It seems like it could have been taken in the Senior Citizens Center. Mom, help....please answer the questions. Thanks, Vonda

Memories - I love these old pictures

Exciting news from Orange City...

No we are not having a baby, but the news is equally as exciting (at least to me at this point)...

I just thought I would update the family as to our future plans. As most of you know (or maybe you don't), last fall I applied to five graduate schools (all in the Midwest). In February, I went on three interview visits to Iowa State, University of South Dakota, and University of North Dakota. Throughout the process, my first choice has been Univ. of North Dakota, and Jess was excited about living in Grand Forks, ND as well. So after my interviews, the waiting began. About two weeks ago, I got an offer of admission to UND!! Needless to say we were both very (VERY) exicted! I still wanted to wait a little while to see what the other schools offered me (mostly out of curiousity). However, I did not hear anything from Iowa State officially (and they are also facing some financial issues... which is not a promising situation in graduate school) and the news from USD was not good, so I officially accepted UND's offer today! This means that at the beginning of August (or end of July), we will be moving to Grand Forks, ND! Then you can all come visit us in the north country...

Just thought I would update you all on this exciting news in our lives. At the same time, I am beginning to come to terms with the fact that I only have about 7 weeks left at Northwestern--a fact which is both sad and exciting at the same time. I have truly enjoyed my four years at NW, and it is going to be sad not coming back next fall. But I am SO EXCITED to be going to UND! We are also excited to be living in the Chandler/Edgerton area this summer so that Jess can help his dad with some remodeling projects on the farm. So we will hopefully be seeing most of you more often during the summer.

It looks like Grandpa had a fantastic birthday celebration! Grandpa, we wish we could have been there for part of the celebration, but we were wishing you a wonderful day and many more years of health and happiness from Iowa! We love you and thank God for your example of what it means to be a hard-working, loving, Christian man.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and we will hopefully see you soon!

Darci

Dads special days...

Jason and Heather asked the owner to sing Happy Birthday to Dad/Grandpa and she came out with a dessert pizza for him. She along with some employees sang Happy Birthday to you - Happy Birthday to you- Happy Birthday Dear Grandpa - Happy Birthday to you. It was kind of cool.

standing in back from left to right - Bette Van Dyke, Mary Van Essen, Leon, Dorothy Vis,

standing in front Aunt Pauline and Uncle Dick

sitting down, starting with Grandpa in he blue hat and going clockwise - ? - Les Van Dyke, Cal Tinklenberg, and Uncle Earl

Mary Van Essen, Leon, Loren, and Uncle Dick

Front table starting on the left is Donna DeKruif, Bette Van Dyke, Dorothy Vis, Aunt Pauline

Standing with his back to us is Arvin, then Roger Reitsma, John Talsma,

sitting from left to right is Uncle Earl, Pastor Fred Van Dyke, Grandpa and Chick Van Essen

sitting from far left Clayton Klumper hired man of 30 plus years, Cornie Van Lant, Uncle Alvin and Aunt Gladys, man sitting on other table is Roger Johnson, then Uncle Glen

same table as the pciture before so starting with Uncle Glenn to his left is Aunt Geraldine, and their son Keith

Leon, Uncle Henry, Aunt Regina

Boone (Dan Gunnink) - Jason Menning, and Craig Mouw

thank you---thank you from Dad and Mom

WOW what a wonderful time the last few days have been.Last night the kids and grandkids took us out to the Pizza Ranch in Luverne for supper where we meet up with Vonda.Dad even was brought a dessert pizza with a candle on it for his birthday. What a nice evening we had..Today Leon and Sharla put on a Birthday Party for Dad 's 75th at the Machine Shop from 9:00 to 11:00.The sun even shone today!!!They served coffee, juice and carmel or frosted rolls made from the kitchen at SWCH.So yummy good.85 people signed the guest list---wow--Dad was so pleased!!!!And so thankful he can go to the shop every day.He says he doesn't do much sometimes but at least he can be a "go-fur'' for Leon. He is back to riding his bike to and from work every day now that the snow and ice is melted and it relieves me from bringing and getting him everyday. Thanks Leon and Sharla for doing this for him as he really appreciated sitting around and visiting with all the customers, business men, a few relatives [our brothers and sisters] and friends. It was such a fun morning!!And last of all we thank God our our wonderful family who looks after us ,cares for us and loves us.Not all families are blest like we are.We praise the Lord every day for you.You would be surprised to know how often people will say to us " you guys have such a wonderful christian careing family." We just give God all the praise.Thank you for all the cards,phone calls[way from Mexico] and the emails you sent . They are very much appreciated . Love you from the bottom of our hearts!!!!Grandpa and Grandma

CWAV - 2010

Ok, so here is the deal. I have had some of the nephew and nieces ask if/when we are all going camping again and the weekend that I think will work for most of you is July 30, 31st and August 1, 2010.

Jana will be back from her trip. Hopefully this is before Tony, Danielle and Zoe head back - and before Jess and Darci officially move to where ever they will be living. I think most of the high school camps are done with and before school starts.

I don't know where it will be yet, depends who can all make it.

Please comment to this post and let me know what you think?

vonda

Christmas memories..,.

This - That - and everything in between.................

Well, for those of you who didn't know I was without my computer for a few weeks. It crashed again, but I have it back now and it is working better then ever. So time to catch up on a few things and let you all know what has been happening in my life.

First of all happy belated birthday to Arvin, Hope it was a great day for you. Now just becasue I didn't have my computer on your birthday doesn't mean you get to go without a birthday picture on the internet. So here it is.

Now on to Leon, it is his birthday today. I'm not sure what they are up to tonight but I believe they were at the SW girls game last night to cheer them on to a win. For those of you who don't know they are now goiing to state and the last time they were there (girls team) was 1985 when I was a Freshman in high school. Anyway, back to the birthday boy. Lets see what picture I can find of him,

A few months ago,I bought 2 pair of orthotic shoes and they have been WONDERFUL! I have given away just about every other pair of shoes I own and have only worn them. I have a black pair and brown pair so I make them work with everything. I will always have bad feet, and I will always have pain in the left foot and I ahve accepted that years and years ago but it sure is nice to find a pair of shoes that helps as much as they do. Also, a few weeks ago I convinced my doctor to up my thyroid medication. It took some convincing, but I had all my ducks in a row as to what level of medication i was on every month for the last two years. I also got copies of all my lab works and had numerous copies of articles off the internet that stated that even if a person's blood work is within the "normal" range they are finding out that the patients still feel better with increased thyroid medication. So she agreed to up and i have to have the blood checked again in 1 month to see where my levels are at. I am sure they will be outside of the normal range and she will want to the lower the medication again but I will fight her tooth and nail on that. She is a great doctor don't ge me wrong and has been wonderful with everything but the lab work says one thing and i say another - so prayers appreciated that when i go back she will continue to listen to me. Last week, I also got a new pair of glasses as my other prescription was quite old and since I am nearing the 40 year old age, my eyes were in need of a new prescription.

That is all for now, I will post more tomorrow. Love ya all, Vonda

Hi

Hello everyone,

Den and I will be taking off in two hours for Omaha where we will be meeting Jana and her friend Tawni. We are staying overnight in a cheap hotel and then fly out at 7 am for a week of what we hope will be warm weather and relaxation.

Delaine, I hope your trip to Ohio was good.

Travis, I hope your game goes well tonight. How is your knee doing?

Take care,
Love,
Arla