Candy and Norm packed a lot of productive activity into the
week after Easter.
·
Two visits to Norm’s Mom in Batavia, IL, one of
which celebrated her 93rd birthday (a day early) that included their
son, David’s family from Milwaukee, IL and Norm’s nephew Tom Williams and his
family from Virginia Beach, VA as well as Norm’s sister, Elaine, and
brother-in-law, Max.
·
While in Milwaukee with Rachel and David, Sam
and Elizabeth, Candy’s Dad drove down from Minneapolis for some family time and
to work on coordinating our plans for the next couple of years.
·
Saturday was the celebration of “Gotcha Day” –
the 5th anniversary of Elizabeth’s adoption into the Stolpe family
through Rachel, David and Sam.
·
Thanks to the generous hospitality of John and
Susan Ritland (parents of Rebecca Ritland Keiser of Milwaukee Mennonite Church)
Norm and Candy had wonderful accommodations, breakfast and made wonderful new
friends in St. Louis, MO both ways of an almost 2,000 mile round trip.
 |
| Chinese Clothes for "Gotcha" Party |
Norm has been the interim pastor for First Christian Church
of Midwest City, OK since August, and if all goes well, he will finish there
the end of May and the new pastor will come in June. The Elders graciously allow
Norm a week’s vacation to make this trip. Thanks to Rev. Julia Jordan Gillett,
Associate Pastor, for preaching on April 7. The other Associate Pastor, Andy
Beck, will be leading the youth as they present worship on Youth Sunday, April
14. Andy will graduate from Phillips Theological Seminary and be ordained in
May. Norm will get to be “host pastor” for Andy’s ordination, a rare
opportunity for an interim pastor. On April 21, the worship service will be the
choir’s presentation of Faure’s
Requiem.
This preaching break has given Norm the opportunity to prepare his last five
messages designed to get the congregation ready to welcome a new pastor.
 |
| Sam played "Happy Birthday" for Great Grandma Stolpe |
 |
| Tom (right) and his wife Tricia (left) |
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| Birthday supper with Norm's Mom (left) |
While a welcome vacation, the purpose of this trip was
practical: to get together with Candy’s Dad and with David and Rachel to
coordinate our planning for the next couple of years so Candy’s Dad can have
family support and backup should an emergency occur and to map out what will
happen as Norm continues his interim ministry journey with the expectation of
finishing that around 2016. A real bonus was to spend time with Norm’s Mom both
coming and going. The first leg of the trip allowed for birthday dinner with
her the evening before her birthday.
 |
| Three Stolpe Gilrs Enjoy Breakfast Together |
Norm’s nephew Tom and his family happened to be there at
that time as well. He will have 20 years in the US Navy in January, and the
whole family is headed to Guam for 30 months for his next assignment. David and
Rachel came with their family too. Making these extended family connections
doesn’t happen all that often.
Candy and Norm visited Norm’s Mom on the return trip as
well. While celebrating her birthday with 6 kids and 7 adults was fun, the
second visit was calmer and more conducive to conversation.
 |
| David explains digital technology to Grandpa Miller |
 |
| Sam's portrait of his favorite bacon breakfast |
Though there was planning work to be done with Candy’s Dad,
it was also a time for just being together and having some fun that included a
day at the Milwaukee Art Museum (on free Thursday). Norm enjoyed the Georgia O’Keefe
exhibit, but the kids had the most fun in the studio where they could paint
their own pictures.
After Candy’s Dad returned to Minneapolis, Norm and Candy
helped Rachel and David get ready for the “Gotcha” party. In between chores,
they enjoyed fun with their grandchildren, Sam and Elizabeth: girls together
lunch and guys together lunch. David and Sam went with Norm to take Gus to the
dog park. Sam tried to teach Grandma and Grandpa how to play Wii Bowling. The
house was full for the party that celebrated Elizabeth’s adoption and featured
a variety of Chinese foods, decorations and clothes. Rachel’s parents, Kent and
Fran Hadley, and her brother Nigel and his fiancée Amanda were also at the
party.
After Candy’s Dad returned to Minneapolis, Norm and Candy
helped Rachel and David get ready for the “Gotcha” party. In between chores,
they enjoyed fun with their grandchildren, Sam and Elizabeth: girls together
lunch and guys together lunch. David and Sam went with Norm to take Gus to the
dog park. Sam tried to teach Grandma and Grandpa how to play Wii Bowling. The
house was full for the party that celebrated Elizabeth’s adoption and featured
a variety of Chinese foods, decorations and clothes. Rachel’s parents, Kent and
Fran Hadley, and her brother Nigel and his fiancée Amanda were also at the
party.
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