The August of Heartfelt Pain

Now, that our great trip is over, at least for me, I am enduring the pain of withdrawl from my favorite narcotic, The Family. You know the agony from your youth; summer vacation over and you must return to school; your cousins go home; brothers and sisters return to their workaday lives; and your daylight dreams of high sun and warm weather must come to an end. It hurts. Just in case, you decide to extend your summer idyl, the season starts to change, the days grow shorter and cooler, reminding you that you need a home and mortage, and job to pay for it. Ah, but summer with The Family, is the greatest!

FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS

Safari - Seeing the great 4 plus 2, and the big 5 (just like a safari). Thats B+H+W+A plus A+C, and the five grandmuffins.

The pool with Harlands family, they like to swim. Thanks for coming over. I miss it. I wish it was every week. I truely do.

Extra repeated time with Belinda, the talks the movies, and finding agreement almost all the time. I still can't get enough.

The flight and Powell trip with Warick, nothing like sleeping under the stars, and monsoon storms for camadarie. Can we please go again, please?

Adi to the rescue, coming and spending a week with us, air mattresses on oak are so wonderful. Basking in the glory of Adi spending off time with me.

GREATEST FAMILY DISCOVERIES

Belinda, - is slimming and avoids sunburn, and turned other wonderful corners in knowledge and interests, wow great! Thanks for the Bulge trip, I learned. Her best is just ahead.

Harland, - He is not actually Canadian, but he is a super host, even if he doesn't own the place. "Well done" is still pink and tastes great. I still wish for deeper talks with him.

Warick, - How much fun it is to sit before the rainbowed Waterpocket Fold and talk and talk. What a great guy. If he wasn't my son, he would be my trusted friend.

Adriel, - is slimming and wants a sunburn, can waterski, and has not yet developed that aloof senatorial personality, - good. She progresses even when she doesnt know it.

Cassi, - All the kids need a reoccurrant dose of Mom, it really settles them down, her left handed afterthought has more mothering skill than an entire parenting library.

Harrison, - Actually liked the C-47, DC 3 we got him, like him, capable, peaceful and enduring. The guy is a gaming monster; the next digital general.

Ella, - This girl likes to be tickled and and chased, and caught. Glad to oblige. She is so tender, she wins my heart. I just want to protect her forever.

Gigi, - Like her father, two steps above the development curve watching an older brother and sister. That girl is on the move; happy, undaunted.

Amy, - Says such great things to her dad, no wonder he is crazy about her. She is kind to so many different personalities, quite a stretch. I love the way she dresses the girls.

Grace, - Is still about up for anything, but a drop in the St. Lawrence did not please her, could she actually be mortal? Can't wait for the next aphorism.

Abbie, - Her two approved food groups, crackers and apple sauce, do not include almonds and chocolate, but her dietary insistance does demonstrate genetic connection.

Daughters in Law, - They're awesome. How can I get them to like me more. I gave them my sons, what more can I do?

Smith Family Funerals, - Truely, a glimpse into the Celestial Kingdom; spiritual gardens; all that I have truely known is confirmed in them.

I love my family and long to be with them.

FLYING HIGHLIGHTS

Landing on the "Green Dot" on Runway 27 at OSH with my favorite co-pilot.

In storms above the upper Missipp.

Talking to controllers about OSH and weather while in the envelope of rain and cloud. Headwinds and a record 6.5 hours to Scotts Bluff (Alliance) Nebraska.

Over 14,000 with Warick between Boulder Mountain and the Henrys, circling Rainbow, Hole in the Rock, Waterpocket Fold.

Flying between the fingers at Monument Valley. Ah hah, you wouldn't believe it! - and around the Mittens.

Flying by storms and Table Top Cliffs, ivory and coral, and discovering upper Red Canyon with Warick.

Crusing up the Mighty Missippi to Nauvoo, swooping over the river around the Temple and Stillman' s place, great western light on the Temple. Exultant spirit. Dream come true.

Skipping trough the line of storms on V12 and flanking a big one over Allentown. It hit after we landed. This was not skill but blessings and prudence.

Return flight from Watertown with three lovely lovely ladies I love so much; severe clear, tail wind, finger lakes, Harmony, speedy, smooth and wonderful, better than an airline.

Ocean City and back with Adi and Karen, quick and high, the beach, the silky surf and green Alexandria.

The last day's early morning flight, Delaware fog licking Runway 08, balloons, a light plane and freedom in America.

Captain David

Time With Family

We are back from a great trip to Oshkosh and Utah. As you can tell from the pics we had a great time with Warick, Cassie and kids. We celebrated four birthdays (sorry Warick). I think that the kids enjoyed unwrapping all the presents and we hope Cassie liked hers. It is nice to visit and see how happy they are. Their home is comfortable and inviting and they are great hosts. We appreciate them letting us come and stay with them for a couple of days. We already miss them and looking forward to that family reunion in 2010. (Get great ideas to us, we're considering almost anything.)

Summer Activities

We have been having a great time with all of our guests this last month. Karen Jayne and Andrew came two days after Belinda arrived here in the Netherlands. We have tried to have all kind of experiences. We went to Maduradam (remember that place kids?). We went to Volendam, up North, the Kinderdijk, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris. These pictures were taken in the back of Notre Dame in Paris.

Karen and Andrew went home this last Tuesday and this last weekend the three of us drove down to Bastogne and learned a lot about the Battle of the Bulge. We also were visited by our NJ neighbors, the Ritchies. They had come over to go on a cruise of the Rhine and seeing Germany and Switzerland. They had a few days free and stayed with us at the beginning of their vacation.

The picture on the left is at Maduradam. We went their at the beginning of the vacation and saw all the places we could and could not see. It is a miniature town showing all the famous buildings and places in Holland. It really was one of the favorite places. The picture on the right is from a boat on the Seine in Paris. It took us all around the famous buildings through Paris on the Seine.

We are winding everything up this week. Belle and I will be going to Dordrecht tomorrow as out last outing alone. Then on Thursday Belle and I will be going with the Relief Society sisters up to Haarlem to the Corrie Tet Bloom house (I think that is how you spell it). We will go through that and then out for Poppertjes (a flat version of Ebelskivers). They are good.

We are excited about coming home. We arrive together on Saturday afternoon. David has to go to NY for work the first couple of days and then on Thursday he and I will be flying of Oshkosh for the airshow. Alan and Jane Ritchie are letting us stay with them in their RV. Then on to Utah to see family and friends and go to Southern Utah so David can regenerate. He will be returning to Holland around the 24th and I don't return until the 6th of September. We are both really looking forward to seeing you all when we get their.

Love you all

Mom and Oma

VISITORS

We are being honored with all sorts of visitors today. Belinda arrived on Sunday and Karen Jane and Andrew arrived this morning. I was trying to be nice and let them take a 3 hour nap but then dragged them out for a 3 hour walk. We have now returned, eaten and "chilling."

I think that we can officially say that we ARE in. I now have Netherland TV and a home phone. I will be emailing my phone number to those who want it, but Skype is still best. We finished furnishing the attic this last week so that Karen and Andrew would have a comfortable place to stay. What does that mean for all our family members? We now have plenty of space for visitors. We still only have one full bathroom but two toilets. What more do you need?

We are looking forward to all our plans for holiday while our visitors are here. It looks like Paris, Cologne, Amsterdam, Brussels and other places all over Holland. Now that I'm a little smarter with this blog (not much) I hope to add lots of pictures. Belle is here to help.

I sure enjoyed all the posts and calls. I love you, family. I miss you and am so thankful for wonderful memories, experiences and dreams of you all.

The pics are from May. Hope you enjoy them. We sure did.

mom

WE ARE IN!!!!!

The day finally arrived. The movers arrived today and brought all our stuff. All the furniture is placed and beds are made. Tonight will be our last night in the hotel. We are definitely hitting breakfast in the morning. David is taking tomorrow off to help with the house. We are going to Ikea and a light store. We need wardrobes and right now we have one light in the house. I think that we will also need some blinds in our bedroom. Anyone driving along the road can look right into our bedroom. (Maybe.......tickets?)jk We were given a temporary car to use for the next month of so. A Volvo. It's nice not having to buy tickets for the bus or tram. I still don't know when we will be getting our own internet hook-up. It takes so long. This may be the last post for awhile.
Speaking of posts: I have been checking all your blogs regularly and putting comments on. I have not seen this reciprocated. This was all your ideas, so you better be better on this. I need it and so does you dad. We do need feedback, just like you guys do. We enjoy so much reading about you, your activities and your families. Pictures are even better. Know that we love you all and miss you. Looking forward to turning on the picture frame.

Keukenhof Gardens 12 April 2008

The mid-April gardens were in their first glory. The tulip fields were still merely green, for the most part, awaiting the dazzle of colors to come. Yet the gardens carefully calibrated to fire off rows and pools of color regardless of whether there are yet leaves, or the week of springs transit, were a delight. The narcisus blazing in full yellow and white, were reinforced by the blue spears of fragrant hyacinths with crocus in well contoured beds, uniform; bold. They were surrounded by closely trimmed lawns of light green, bordered by darker lawn grass along the smooth and bricked walks.

The trees of the gardens, the unspoken giants, are the gaurdians of their floral glory, particularly the century and half towering beech trees in thick pillars of smooth gray sprayed with bright green moss. They stand ever in companioned rows watching over the strolling visitors as they
first did over us nearly thirty years ago, when they were only 120 years old.

The moody cloud banks of early morning with sudden bursts of wind, by mid-afternoon were replaced by brilliant sunshine from a blue heaven with a cool steady breeze. Only two arms of the garden's windmill were in reefed sail yet they rotated with impressive power in the relentless breeze. Beyond the windmill, and the Norddijk choir singing old favorites like "edelweiss," were less frequented walks, but the most sublime spectacle.

The old thick cherry trees, with dark satin bark trunks and double blossom abundance were in prime beauty. The pillowy blossoms bouncing easily in the sheltered breeze against the bold blue of the treasured rarity of clear sky. Near the old trunks sprang up small beds of delft blue hyacinths and red yellow tulips. After frustrating trains, stations, and standing room only buses, and then a long walk, resting beside these old cherry trees in their crowned glory, at the precise moment of their fullness, was to make a long, irritating journey against your own convenience, and then in a soft moment discovering you had been rewarded far better than if you had planned and executed perfectly. Sometimes undeserved grace is better than perfection.

5 April Update from the Flying Cloud Folks

Warick mentioned he wanted some pictures of Italy including Canae. Was that Cannae of Hannibal fame? I studied the battle and even made a presentation about it. But I understand that the river has shifted and rendered the sight different than the configuration in ancient times. Unfortunately, Cannae is in southern Italy and far from the beaten track. I have never seen it, at least up close, although have seen Lake Trasimeno the site of an earlier Hannibal battle.

Speaking as the Capitan, I have been to Italy already, and Spain, and France, and Switzerland. Didn't take any pictures though. I will be spending several days in Belgium beginning tomorrow. Brussels is not one of my favorite cities but it does have one of the loveliest central plazas or squares, consistent in a gothic renaisance style.

April Fools
This last Tuesday, 1 April, I met with my three new employees who were joining the team. After we sat down, I told them solemnly that I had an announcement. UBS had just announced another $18 billion writedown, the board had just announced a hiring freeze, but the concern about the condition of the markets had caused them to pause, and put our project on hold. As a result they would have to return to their old positions as we were not moving forward with our department and also their old departments needed them and they would not be able to hire new staff. It was very silent while I let all this out. Gradually, Ferry let a smile come through. Nonka and Marco got it and started laughing. "You really had me going for a while," Nonka said. "I said to myself, I am NOT going back." So far they don't hate me too much.