Letter from
the Editor:
Here we are
again, fall of 2003, and we find ourselves deeply immersed in the Holiday
Season, Advent, a time of waiting! All of us have had a busy year in 2003.
I want to
take this time to thank (thank you, thank you, thank you) those of you that
have sent money to help support the newsletter. I have had a big learning
curve this past year in getting acquainted with the software and still be
able to make this a printable document. Sooooooo, things have been slow on
the printing end of things. As I am only printing copies of the newsletters
for the Seniors, this newsletter will accompany a printed copy of last
year’s newsletter for the Seniors.
For those of
us that aren’t Seniors, you can view your copy on the internet @
www.fromherznewsletter.com either on your own system, or you can always
go to any library and log onto the internet. Most libraries will let you
download and print for a small fee. Usually internet access is free.
Please watch
the Web page for announcements for Family Reunion activities. Please have
your newsletter items for the spring issue to me no later than April 15,
2004
(tax day!).
For genealogy
information on our family, please contact Dan (Art’s Dan) at
mckenziemarket@continet.com
. Dan has also graciously offered his time to help me re-type some of the
older Newsletters to archive. If you have a little time to retype old
newsletters into a word document for me, please contact me at
congale@aol.com so I can send you old copies for re-typing. Being a
purist, I would request that you re-type the old newsletters keeping their
original format as best that you can. I will do the re-editing for
posting. Thank you, Dan. And, Thank you for all your work on genealogy.
Celebrations of Life!
We Celebrated
the Lives of Chris Holt, Gladys King and Bill King in 2003. I found the
following poem that I want to share that is dedicated to all of our loved
ones that have passed.
My First Christmas in Heaven
I see
the countless Christmas trees around the world below with tiny lights
Like
Heaven’s reflecting in the snow.
The
sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear,
For I am
spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear
the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
But the
sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas Choir up here.
I have
no words to tell you, the joy the voices bring,
For it
is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know
how much you miss me,
I see
the pain inside your heart,
But I am
not so far away,
We
really aren’t apart.
So be
happy for me, dear ones,
You know
I hold you dear,
And be
glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent
you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above,
I sent
you each a memory of my undying love.
After
all, love is a gift more precious than gold,
It was
always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please
love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,
For I
can’t count the blessings or love he has for each of you.
So have
a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
-Unknown
Left Over
News 2002 ~
FROG
2002
October 2002
Friday’s Reunion festivities started at the
Mt. Angel Brewery where we had 33 in attendance. This is the biggest year
ever. Even some of our second cousins were in attendance . . . Theresa
Chione (Mary’s Janet’s Theresa) from Illinois, Greg Silbernagle (Art’s
Louann’s Greg), and Jerod Fromherz (Art’s Leonard’s Jerod). We had plenty
of visiting, beer, Wine and good food to go around. Florence paid us a
visit towards the end of the evening and had a root beer float.
When I went to Mt. Angel Towers to
pick her up, I asked the two women at the front desk if they had seen
Florence, that I was here to pick her up and take her down to the “Brew
Pub”! Their reply was “Girls Night Out?!” . . . to which I replied “Of
course!”. When Buzz and I finally caught up with Florence, she was walking
down the driveway toward the street. Buzz has a bright red pickup . . . and
the tool boxes on the sides make it resemble a fire truck . . . As Buzz’ and
I approached
Florence in the
truck, I asked her if she was hitch hiking and did she want a ride? . . .
She giggled and replied that it would be nice to have a ride. As she was
getting into the truck she replied . . . “I didn’t know that you would send
a fire truck to pick me up!” and we all chuckled. . . Then proceeded down
to the Mt. Angel Brewery where she “Crashed our party!” (With all the
Cousins’ blessings, of course!).
Saturday started out at
Denny’s for breakfast, then on to the golf course for FROG where we played
Best Ball over 18 holes. The top golfer turned out to be David Raskin
(Mary’s Karen’s husband David) the top golfer. There were several other
winners at golf, Ken Gerding, Buzz Fromherz, Marty Norton, Judy Fromherz,
Jim Gale, Connie Gale, Walter Fromherz, and Dick Gerding winning the “Most
Lost Balls” award.
Saturday was a Marathon
day for a lot of us as after golf we then moved to the Oregon City Elks Club
to have a meal and have our bowling tournament. We are still in the Naming
stage for the Bowling Tournament. Art Jr (Art’s Art) won the Adult trophy
and Joelle Norton (Art’s Marty’s Joelle) won the kid’s trophy.
Both events were well
attended. All the while Chuck & Don Fromherz (Charlie’s Chuck & Don) spent
the day on their recumbent bicycles taking in the scenery in the
mid-Willamette Valley.
Sunday brought breakfast
at Tommy’s Grill in Corvallis,
then off to the golf course for the play off for the FROG followed by the
Picnic at Avery Park in Corvallis.
I found this in one of
my files, and note that I did not finish it. I also didn’t get it included
in last year’s newsletter! So here it is better late than never!
Please feel free to send me you
account of the Reunion activities for 2003 to post for the spring issues of
Newsletter From The Heart cg.
GREETINGS! auf deutsche
from Erin Kelley!
Ak nerozumiete po
anglicky, len odpovedzte a pisem po slovensky. Aspon skusim! Ob Sie konnen
nicht auf Englisch lesen, schreiben Sie mir, bitte, und ich werde auf
Deutsch schreiben. Moeglich!
I will admit that I
am sending this letter to absolutely everyone in my address book. I have
always had a habit of staying (or trying to stay) in touch with absolutely
anyone and everyone I know. At the ripe old age of almost 28, I have finally
figured out that this is not necessarily advisable * or feasible! And I will
only get to know more people as I age*
If you would like me
to forever forget your email address (i.e. erase it from my database), let
me know! Otherwise, please read on.
I wanted to send out
a brief update as to the happenings in my little corner of the world. After
departing Slovakia on June 20th, 2002, I traveled to Austria, Switzerland,
Armenia and Russia. I spent 6 weeks in Russia studying Russian and riding my
bike in the worst traffic I*ve ever seen. I came home in late August and
took off for a 500 mile (800km) bike ride across Oregon,
along with 2000 of my closest buddies. It was my welcome home present to
myself.
After Cycle Oregon, I
pursued gainful employment and got into my first post- leaving-the-US
romantic relationship. In October, my mom and I went to Pennsylvania to
visit with my dad. Until January, I was unemployed and keeping busy with
personal pursuits. At the end of that month, I began work as an AmeriCorps*VISTA
volunteer (like a domestic Peace Corps) in southeast Portland.
I moved up to
Portland (within ˝ a mile of work) and continued volunteering in Canby. Not
to mention returning frequently to spend time with my boyfriend, Todd.
I began looking for
other work a few months ago and interviewed without success - until I got
to Flexcar (www.flexcar.com).
I became a member when I got home, as I have no plans to purchase a car for
a long, long time.(Read: I would rather buy a big tricycle with a basket
before I buy a car.) I*ve only used their cars a couple of times, but the
whole concept really excites me. So when I heard of a job there, I jumped on
it. And they picked me right up. I*ll start work there in early July.
In the meantime, I
have my VISTA work to finish. I am also moving in with Todd in Canby, whom I
can now properly call my fiancé. Rather than giving me a lavish diamond
ring, Todd decided to give me a few chain rings to symbolize our forthcoming
union* and yesterday we went for the inaugural ride on our brand new tandem.
It is the most beautiful bicycle * and comfortable, too!
With a new job lined
up and a new home in place, I am finally ready and committed to staying in
better touch with the people I care about * and who care about me! So do
please forgive me for the lack of correspondence. The transition back to
American culture has been difficult, albeit not in the traditional sense.
The problem has been MY transition from Peace Corps Volunteer to proud
American citizen. I*m still working on it, but I*m much better now!
If you will be in or
around Portland (or Canby) on the 21st of June, please come join Todd, his
son Ehren, and I in our first annual Summer Solstice Toga Party! (View the
invitation here:
http://www.evite.com/erin_layna@yahoo.com/SolsticeParty)
We will be leaving for vacation to New Orleans on the 22nd and I*ll have
some time between jobs following our return. Let me know if you want to get
together!
My new contact information is as follows:
Erin L Kelley
1310 N Manzanita St
Canby OR 97013-2948
503.266.4648
RLKelley@att.net
Wishing you all the very best!
Erin
Michelle & Sean McKenzie write:
Hello!
I just thought I'd update you quickly.
In the summer of 2002 I finished my
Master's degree in Special Education at Eastern Washington
University. This last summer, I won an award for excellence in research for
the thesis I wrote for my Master's program and it will be published soon.
During the summer of 2003, I got a job teaching special education preschool
students in the Spokane Public Schools. I am at Lincoln Heights
Elementary. It has been a lot of work, but I enjoy the challenge.
Sean continues to work at Best Buy. His
spare time is still spent playing in a band. They toured through the western
part of the United States for about 2 1/2 weeks this summer and recently
played in LA and Las Vegas.
This spring we added a dog to our family.
His name is Oscar, and he is 3/4 miniature Daschund and 1/4 Chihuahua. He is
a lot of fun doing tricks and tormenting our cat. We also celebrated our 5
year anniversary in July of 2003 and continue to enjoy married life!
Michelle & Sean McKenzie (Jim’s Tom’s Michelle)
Russ & Marie
write:
Hi Connie;
Just a short note
that all is well in Reno. Our oldest son Kevin graduated from high school in
June and left for the Coast Guard on September 20. Waiting on word of his
graduation date, but told he should be home for Thanksgiving. We understand
he is being assigned to Ketchikan, Alaska, after graduation. Enclosed is a
short story on Peter's (our middle son) adventure in Yosemite National Park
this last summer. He wrote it for an English class and proud dad thought is
was a great story, of a real life adventure. Youngest son Paul is finishing
up CYO volleyball at St. Alberts and is also active in his Boy Scout Troop
as the patrol leader for the Duck Patrol. Being a graduate of OSU, I would
rather have heard the Beaver Patrol!!
Russ Fromherz (Art’s Russ)
Reno, NV
“A BEAR” ADVENTURE
by Peter Fromherz of
the Venture Patrol
Most things do not scare me. I think of
myself as a brave person, however this summer I had an experience that was
the scariest of all.
I was on a five-day high
adventure backpacking trip in Yosemite National Park with my Boy
Scout patrol. The trouble began the day we decided to leave our backpacks
in camp and hike Half Dome with our daypacks. We had a great day hiking.
When we came back to camp we were very tired and one of the boys forgot to
take the food out of his daypack and left it on the ground in front of his
tent. We went to bed early. We hadn’t been asleep long when suddenly I
heard someone yelling “bear, bear!” I jump out of my sleeping bag and looked
out my tent door. I saw my scoutmaster frozen in place with a rock in his
hand and the largest male black bear standing about 3 feet away from him.
The bear must have been at least 6 feet tall and weighed three hundred fifty
pounds. My Scoutmaster yelled at the bear and the bear began to charge
towards him. Then my Scoutmaster picked up a rock and threw it as hard as
he could and hit the bear in the side. The bear started to walk away, but
suddenly he turned and went after my Scoutmaster again. My Scoutmaster
threw more rocks and then yelled some more, by this time my Scoutmaster’s
wife decided to help. They both yelled and ran at the bear, he must have
seen that he was out numbered, he turned and ran away. We thought we safe at
last. Unfortunately, the bear returned in about 20 minutes, but by then
half the camp was awake. We all began screaming and throwing rocks and we
finally scared him away. After waiting a while and the bear did not return
we decided to go to bed. We hadn’t even make it into our tents when we heard
a strange cry from the trees. We shined our flashlights toward the trees
and saw three pairs of glowing eyes starring at us. It was mother and her
two cubs. The mother bear sent her cubs up the tree trying to get our bear
bags. The cubs were bouncing on the branches trying to break the bag loose.
The mother was down below waiting go for the food to fall. The bag finally
fell and she ripped into the bag and took some of the food. We all ran
toward her and she tried to run away with the bag, but we began throwing
rocks at her and she dropped it after she was hit in the head with a rock.
It was like war out there, we would have gone for help if we hadn’t been 17
miles from the valley. Finally, at 4:00 A.M. we had chased off all the bears
and we went back to bed.
The next
morning a deer was standing in the same spot where the male bear had been
the night before, it seemed like the whole experience had never happened.
News from Charlie &
Marilyn . . .
This year finds Charlie and Marilyn well
and busy. In May Charlie took the trailer made his annual trip to Salem
to ride with brother Don in the Strawberry Century, Lebanon and got in lots
of riding around Oregon for a month. Marilyn stayed home to attend a family
wedding and attend her embroidery conference, where she won “Best of Show”
for her embroidered Jacket and “First Place” on an embroidered doll.
Marilyn flew to Portland with grandson Mark (12 years old) to meet Charlie
and attend the family reunion. From there the three of us headed north
along the Oregon and Washington coast giving Mark a real sightseeing trip to
places he has never been. He was very excited to see the Space Needle and
we spent a few days in Seattle. From there we headed north again to Canada
ending in Prince George to see Charlie’s son, Chuck and wife Debbie. During
our visit there we went on a sailing trip and entered a race, which we won!
We went east to Jasper, Banff, Drumheller to see Dinosaurs, then south thru
Montana, Yellowstone, and Utah. This trip took 2 months and all were glad
to get home after a very enjoyable time. During September, Charlie again
headed north to meet with family and friends to ride Cycle Oregon. Marilyn
is teaching some embroidery and entering more contests. She won second
place, for the second time, this October in the “Heartfelt” contest with an
Americana Rag Quilt – it never stops being thrilling to win! November is
taking us to Tucson, for a few days where Charlie will again race in the108
mile Tour de Tucson – Marilyn is going along for the fun! Christmas will
be spent at home so we can plan next years traveling.
Charlie’s heart is doing great – the
doctor calls him his “marathon man”. Marilyn had both hands fixed from
carpal tunnel, the left in May and the right in October. Both are fine now.
We hope all our family is well and will
have a wonderful holiday season.
Marilyn and Charlie
Just completed the
Tour de Tucson – 109-bicycle race in 7 hours 20 minutes. Over 6000 riders in
all the races, Tucson is filled with cyclists. All riders wore ankle
bracelets for the timing machine and everyone had to contend with high winds
today! A total of 3207 riders completed the 109 mile race. I didn’t have a
recumbent pass me! Total of 15 recumbents finished the race. First was 50
years old Second was 40 years old, I finished # 3 For age 64 & older all
riders & all bikes I finished # 6
Leaving Tucson for
home on Monday morning. Have enjoyed several great dinners with cycling
friends.
Charlie Fromherz
Calimesa, CA
cell phone
909-731-8912
UPDATE ON THE MARYLAND
FROMHERZ’ (CHARLIE'S BILL' S FAMILY)
Chris (31) and Beth and Ella(5 mos) have
built home on their land on the Beard family farm.He enjoys farming like
his dad and granddad. Little Ella is getting familiar with the cattle and
horses. Chris works with Whiting- Turner. and Beth is a teacher.
Erica (26) continues to enjoy her
work as artistic designer for Smart Woman,
a magazine in Baltimore. She and Shiloh,
her 75 lb greyhound, live in a house in
Canton, Baltimore.
Kathy( almost 60) Fromherz Gabler
lives closeby and continues to enjoy home physical therapy.
Brother Gerard writes .
. .
Dear Connie,
Peace be with you.
Life has been very busy here this year, the
busiest yet. Fr. Francis Michael is our temporary superior appointed by the
Abbot of
Gethsemani for one year. Bonsai is doing better this year. Our fruitcake
industry is slowly coming alive. We have launched on an advertising
campaign. With 2/3 our monks over 70, it’s difficult to keep a float
financially speaking. The retreat house has done well, at least the feed
back is positive and donation are up a little. Much of my business has been
planning the retreats for 2004 and getting a brochure out to tell others
about it. An Allen Organ is here from a concert last weekend, so I’m
learning more about organ registrations. We’ve changed our work schedule to
5 hours per day (30/week). However, it’s a very good week when I manage to
work less than 48 hours. I’m slowly getting caught up after getting the
brochure out. Actually a lot of wonderful things are happening in my life,
in our lives that are too private to talk about. Doing some spiritual
direction is always a great challenge and usually a great joy. So please
pray for some people who are going through deep conversions—literally. We
have a few new monks. So we are not at all dying as a community, we’re just
top heavy, with 6 in the 90’s, 6 in the 80’s and 17 in the 70’s out of 46
monks. We’re blessed with new musicians, an organist is coming this week
from another monastery. A computer engineer with a great counter bass voice
transferred from another community. These later are juniors, very good monks
indeed. Fr. James Behrens, a great writer and singer also returned. So the
sound of choir has come a long way since its low midsummer. We have a
Nigerian monk who is coming to help us out for a couple of years, so Africa
is evangelizing America. We have a
Nigerian physician, Sam Obiekwe, in the retreat house right now. He visits
frequently. Sam and his doctor friend Jonathan are deeply faithful
Catholics. I’m physically healthy. My only complaint is that I need to eat a
lot of calories to keep from loosing weight, but that is most likely because
my colon passes food on quickly. Spiritually lots of good things have
happened that I would only share in private. Also, I have plenty of
reminders that I have a long way to go! Mostly I rejoice in the amazing
grace of God and His saints. May Mary our Mother carry us all into the
fullness of Life in Jesus Christ our Lord and Lover.
As for the world, it is and will be a
battle ground between good and evil until the end of time. And God word is
surely correct when it says that Satan prowls around as an angle of light
looking for whoever he can fool. Thus, we need to be very patient with
erring sinners who don’t intend evil, they just get fooled. That is all of
us by the way. We all are deceived by evil at some stage. Recall the St.
Paul had many sleepless nights… anxiety for the Churches because of all the
subtle and not so subtle evils that befall God’s Church. However, we know
that Jesus says that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church.
They’ll attack, and injure it in many ways but never prevail. So we take
courage, God love is everlasting. His love never fails. In fact I know well
what St. Paul says in Rom 8:28 “Everything works out for the good for those
who love God.” Yes, there is so much amazing good coming out in the world,
so many faithful people—who are growing not only in numbers but in the depth
of their faith and love.
God bless you all.
Br. Gerard (Florence’s David)
Quick Message from the
Holt’s in Salem
. . .
Hi from Mike, Mary, Brian and Travis. We
have had a tough year, but it is getting better slowly. Brian was the Grand
Marshall for the Relay for Life in Keizer.
Chris was on honorary one and a really brave little girl was also co Grand
Marshall. (she just passed away from her cancer) Summer did not slow down
after that. Brian and I were invited to go to New Mexico to the Don Imus ranch. It was
for siblings that have lost siblings. It was very interesting Don Imus had a
different personality (if you have every heard his talk show that is what he
is like in person) Brian and I spent a week Riding, cleaning stalls and
meeting others from around the country. It was a working cattle ranch that
only served Vegan food. (I have had enough fake turkey to last a long time)
We came back expecting to have the rest of the summer quiet and ended up
taking my Mom to Disneyland. (she
had never been) After a rocky start Mom, Brian, Travis and I had a good
time. Then flew up to watch Judy take command of a unit in Sacramento. Sometime in there Mike started
a new job as a financial aid advisor. Brian then spent a week at basketball
camp and from there he spent a week at Camp UKANDU put on at the American Cancer
Society. He had a blast. Travis spent a week at Safety Town
and learned a lot. Mike helped coach Brian's football team. They were
undefeated and were told by the administrator that they had a lot of class
and great attitude. I started back to work in September and that is going
fine. Anyway hope all is going good for everyone. We have a name for Relay
for Life team it is Chris's Crusaders Liz came up with that name. If anyone
would like to join us next year let us know. Take care.
Love Mike, Mary, Brian and Travis Holt
Greetings! from our
cousin David Trask and family in Medford, Oregon
. . .
Connie:
David (descendant of Isaac and Almeda VanBibber King) and wife Libia and son
4 1/2 year old son Ryan cruised the
Baltic Sea this summer, visiting
Copenhagen, Helsinki,
Stockholm, St. Petersburg,
(Russia), Moscow, Tallin, (Estonia),
Gdansk, (Poland) and Oslo. Although not a direct descendant of the Fromherz
family, we remain interested in this branch of the family, as Sol King was
Isaac King's brother. David has been the King historian since 1989 and
continues to collect family trees and obituaries of family members descended
from Nahum and Serepta King. This would include the Fromherz family.
Therefore, he would appeciate family members sending to him recent
obituaries and updates to family trees:
David M. Trask
1533 Nottingham Circle
Medford, Oregon 97504-7202
We wish everyone a happy holiday season and a new year.
David, Libia and Ryan Trask
|
Taking time to smell the
flowers. (Jim’s Connie’s, Granddaughter) |
Snow Angel at G'ma & G'pa Gale's. (Jim's Connie's
Granddaughter) |
Brief note
from David aka Brother Gerard . . .
Dear Connie,
Peace be with you.
We are looking forward
to Holy Week and Easter with eager anticipation. I get a double whammy this
year with the retreat house being super full from Thursday through Easter
Sunday. Please give my congratulations and love to all.
God bless you.,
Br. Gerard David
(Florence’s David)
Editor’s reply to
Brother Gerard . . .
-----Original
Message-----
From: Congale@aol.com [mailto:Congale@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 1:02 AM
To: gerard@trappist.net
Subject: Re: Happy birthday.
Thanks for the Birthday Greetings! I am
soon to be an offficial Senior Citizen - 55! It is amazing all the mail
that comes, like last minute life insurance, AARP, Soc Security, Nursing
Home Insurance, etc., etc.
Yes, I have been quiet lately. Very Busy at work. This time of year we are
doing performance evaluations and performance Agreements . . . and when you
supervise approx 50 people it takes about 4-5 months to prepare and deliver
to all staff members, plus I have recently hired 6 new staff members and had
to fire 2 staff. . . which makes a total of 6 staff in the past 5 months.
Of course they don't just get fired in one day, it takes months of
performance improvement plans with emphasis on helping them succeed to no
avail . . . all in all a very stressful process for all, the staff member,
the remaining staff and myself! Most of them are amenable and usually
resign in lieu of resignation thus leaving with relationships intact. (Which
is the best way to leave . . .but still very stressful.)
The Grandbabies are GREAT! Our
Granddaughters are now 3 and very much a little person and 2 & not far behind her big
sister! Mac is now 15 months and walking (more like running) all over the
place.
I just knitted (and donated) a WSU afgan
for Relay for Life, American Cancer Society. My UW Husky afgan from
last year brought in the highest bid in the silent auction for
Relay.
We did not make it to Arizona
this past winter . . . we are planning a motorcycle touring vacation for a
month in Alaska with our riding buddies from Portland.
Dad is holding his own. His lumps are back but rather slow growing so
he is waiting before they resume treatment. He has a very high level quality
of life. . . really, he has minimal pain, plays
9 holes of golf if he has a golf
cart, usually drives himself to church every morning, enjoys a breakfast or
dinner out once in a while and really enjoys his card games (several times
daily). Mom just had her first cataract removed yesterday and will
have the other removed on May 13. She did very well and is in a
minimal amount of discomfort. Dad was very proud of himself when he
successfully taped your dad's 90th birthday party and sent me the tape to
share.
God Bless, and Peace,
Connie
Announcement from Mary
Holt . . .
Hi Everyone I just
heard on 1190 Kex they are having a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma
society on Friday. I don't know all the details yet. Sue Sumpter from the
Oregon Chapter helped us so much when Chris was first diagnosed. She was the
one that sent me a lot of helpful information regarding treatment etc... I
will send more information as I receive it. Anyone that donates in Oregon it
will got to the Oregon Chapter. Talk with you soon.
Love Mary (Art’s Mary)
E-mail from Chuck &
Marilyn
As we get older?
Could Tea be Good for
the Immune System?
Skip the coffee and
go for a cup of tea instead. It may just boost your immune system. HEALTH
NEWS - An ordinary cup of tea may be a powerful infection fighter, a study
suggests. Researchers report in the proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences that they have found in tea a chemical that boosts the body's
defense fivefold against disease.
They said the
chemical primes immune system cells to attack bacteria, viruses and fungi
and could, perhaps, be turned into a disease-fighting drug someday.
Dr. Jack F. Bukowski
of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical
School said Monday that he and his co-authors isolated the chemical in the
laboratory and then proved with a group of volunteers that it did protect
against germs.
L-Teanine Sharpens
Body's Defenses
"Results of their
test gave clear proof that five cups of tea a day sharpened the body's
defenses against disease," says Bukowski.
In the study, a
substance called L-theanine was isolated from ordinary black tea. The study
found that the substance is also found in green and oolong tea, which also
are processed from traditional tea tree leaves.
Bukowski said L-theanine
is broken down in the liver to ethylamine, a molecule that primes the
response of an immune blood cell called the gamma-delta T cell.
"We know from other
studies that these gamma-delta T cells in the blood are the first line of
defense against many types of bacteria, viral, fungal and parasitic
infections," he said. "They even have some anti-tumor activity."
The T cells prompt
the secretion of interferon, a key part of the body's chemical defense
against infection, Bukowski said.
To further test the
finding, the researchers had 11 volunteers drink five cups a day of tea, and
10 others drink coffee. Before the test began, they drew blood samples from
all 21 test subjects.
After four weeks,
they took more blood from the tea drinkers and then exposed that blood to
the bacteria called E-coli. Bukowski said the immune cells in the specimens
secreted five times more interferon than did blood cells from the same
subjects before the weeks of tea drinking. Blood tests and bacteria
challenges showed there was no change in the interferon levels of the coffee
drinkers, he said.
Possibility of Making
a Drug to Boost Immune System
Bukowski said it may
be possible to further isolate and refine L-theanine from tea and use that
as a drug to boost the infection defense of the body.
The health effects of
tea have been extensively studied. It has been linked to lower heart disease
and cancer risk through the action of flavonoids, a type of antioxidant.
Other studies have linked tea to helping combat osteoporosis, the brittle
bone disease, and to relieving some allergy symptoms.
Copyright * 2003 KABC-TV
and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Last Updated: Apr 22, 2003
Charlie Fromherz
Calimesa, CA
cell phone 909-731-8912
E-mail from Mike &
Mary Holt ~ (Art’s Mary)
I thought it would be
easier to e-mail it to you instead of Sending it with Mike.
April 27, 2003
Hello to all my
friends,
I am participating in
the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. This team
event will be held at
CCC in Salem, Oregon on Friday June 13th
at 11:30 AM through
Saturday June 14th at 12:00 PM. We will be walking in memory
of my brother and son
Christopher Holt, who lost his battle with cancer this past New Years Day.
If you are in the
neighborhood, please
stop by and cheer for my team!
The success of my
team depends on the donations of our sponsors. Our team goal is to raise
$1,000.00. I hope that you will support our efforts this year by mailing me
a check today. The American Cancer Society will mail you a receipt for your
tax-deductible donation. Please make checks payable to The American
Cancer Society.
Hope shines the
brightest during the Luminaria ceremony at Relay For Life. Luminaria's will
be lit around the track, and the field lights will be turned off. At around
10 PM, we will have a ceremony and observe a moment of silence.
Walkers and runners
will continue their course around the track lit only by these special
lights. The Luminaria will continue to burn through out the evening in
tribute to those who have lost the battle to cancer, and to those who are
still fighting the disease. This moving memorable portion of the event is
often the most powerful time of the entire relay for life activity.
For a donation you
may honor a loved one with a Luminaria. If you choose to do this, a personal
message may be placed on the Luminaria bag.
Due to your
generosity, the American Cancer Society is able to continue their important
work of research, education advocacy, and patient services.
Thank you for all of
your support!!
Thank you, and God
Bless..
Brian and Mary Holt
For more information about this very
special event, you can visit the following
site:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/GI/gi_1.asp
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
DONATION FORM
DONATION FOR LUMINARY
CEREMONY
Be a part of this
special ceremony to honor and remember those touched by
cancer.
(Please print all
information clearly)
Your
Name:_____________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________
City / State /
Zip:_________________________________________________________
Phone (Day /
Evening)____________________________________________________
I would like a candle
lit in _____honor of (or) ____in memory of:
Message:______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Amount Enclosed: $
___________________
Please make checks
payable to: American Cancer Society
Election News from
Brother Gerard ~ (Florence’s
David)
Dear Connie,
Peace be with you.
I've delayed in
writing until our news was in about our election. Our new Superior is Fr.
Francis Michael, my novice master here and the one in charge of Bonsai where
I worked the first ten years here. Our community is very peaceful. I seems
that I will continue in the retreat house and as cantor (which means I'm in
charge of music and occasionally actual cantor). June 11th I'll go the
Archdiocesan Jubilee celebration with Fr. Phillip. It's my 25th anniversary
and his 50th. He is wheelchair bound and has extreme dementia but is a great
gentle old soul.
Presently Br. Juan
Diego, a close friend who was sent to our daughter house in La Loma
Venezuela, is visiting for a couple of days. The political situation is very
dangerous in Venezuela. Some one came and butchered two of their cattle and
stunned a third. They have had encounters with men who they suspect are
preparing to steal their car or kidnap the Abbot. People are being killed
daily. The neighbor accused their night watchman of firing on his workers on
the neighboring farm even though the distance to their farm way beyond the
range of any ordinary rifle. They suspected that the neighbor was trying to
get them to admit that their rifle would not come close to reaching that
distance, thus admitting that they were vulnerable to attach! "Most of the
brothers seem very peaceful" he says, "They are ready to die!" Actually
their superbly fine coffee is beginning to sell in the USA, so they will be
able to support themselves. The coffee market in Venezuela
is so bad that they can hardly break even let alone make money on it. Most
of all at this time I'm very thankful to the Lord for seven years in solemn
vows and 25 years of priesthood.
God bless you all.
Love,
Br. Gerard David
Reply from Connie ~
(Jim’s Connie)
-----Original
Message-----
From: Gale, Connie [mailto:GALE.C@ghc.org]
Sent: Tuesday, May 20,
2003 5:13 PM
To: gerard@trappist.net
Subject: RE: Newsletter
From The Heart e-mail address changes
Thanks! Peace be with
you.
Spent last week-end with our grand daughters here in Spokane. Our
Granddaughters are now
3 and 2 and, of course, so very precious.
We
will be camping with Di, Joe & Mac this Memorial Weekend @ Grand Coulee Dam
in Washington. Leaving Thursday May 22 . . .
May 22 is my dad's 79th Birthday!
Send news for Newsletter from the Heart by June 15.
Love & Peace,
Connie
Kathy Cappetta
Writes:
6/1/2003
Hi Connie,
I hope this note finds everyone healthy and
happy!
My 44th birthday
(5/18) was on a bad chemo weekend so we celebrated the following weekend.
We went out to dinner and karaoke with friends on Friday night; Mike really
wowed the crowd the Engelbert Humperdink's "After The Lovin" and Neil
Diamond's "Cherry, Cherry". Mike has had so many years as a professional
singer and musician that he really stands out next to the amateurs, he still
works with the band on occasion, but not as frequently as before. On
Saturday we went to Hollywood (to the radio network and stations where I
worked and where Mike continues to work) to have lunch with one of our
friends and to have a meeting with general manager. We had fun!
This weekend, we went
for Sushi and more karaoke with friends on Friday night. Then on Saturday
we met some friends at Huntington Beach for a weenie roast. We got to walk
down in the ocean too, something I haven't done in YEARS.
We are on the go, if
I feel good, we're gone. Can't sit around. Too much to do, good friends to
be with, people to see, and places to go. One thing cancer has done for me
is to kick me in the behind and get us moving. It's too easy to get caught
up in the grind and take life for granted. Mike says he can't keep up with
me, but we sure are having a good time.
I had a CAT scan done
in December that showed that the cancer had spread to my lungs and sternum.
I had another CAT scan done in April and got the results on April 15th, Mike
and my 22nd wedding anniversary, that shows NO SIGN OF CANCER ... YEA!!!
I am supposed to have
surgery coming up soon and a couple more chemo sessions after that. I am
determined that we will beat this. There are so many folks in the network
with God at the helm and the power of prayer that I can feel optimistic. I
can't do it alone, and I am so thankful for everyone's prayers and support.
Mike is my biggest cheer leader and he makes my load so much easier to
bear. God brought me a very good man and I am thankful.
My progress is good,
my outlook is good, and I pray that everyone has good health.
Much love to you all, and thanks too!
Love Always,
Kathy Cappetta ~ (Charles’ Charlie’s
Kathy)
Newsletter reply from
Brother Gerard ~ (Florence’s
David)
Dear Connie,
Peace be with you.
Please do share
whatever you deem appropriate from my letter--
Last night Br. Juan
Diego shared more about Venezuela and I learned that their situation is
indeed very precarious. The people who slaughtered three of there cattle
were profession meat cutters. They had it all cut and wrapped ready for the
supermarket! The people who have been enquiring about the monks are
professionals also. Since they are isolated on the "hill"--6,600 ft. at the
top and the local police have NO Vehicle because Chavez will not fund them
properly, they have no recourse. So two of my best friends (literally) are
going back today into very dangerous territory in Venezuela and Columbia
(Br. Pablo-Maria),where criminals have much more power than the police and
national guard and their lives have already been threatened more than once.
I pray that you too may have peace with the nurses who feel vulnerable and
who are often turned into paper pushing robots according local tales! God
bless you. Br. Gerard David
Snail
Mail from
Inez L Thompson
10/9/03
Dear Connie,
I apologize for not informing all of my
extended family that my “Dale” died August 5, 2001, leaving a huge hole in
my heart and life.
My mother (Louise King) is doing well, has
diabetes in control, blood pressure down, works to keep glaucoma from taking
all of her eyesight, and batteries in hearing aid so she can hear reasonably
well, works in her flower beds and makes thousands of “feely hearts” every
year.
Brother Bob counting years to retirement
from Washington State Highway Department and hoping his back doesn’t
completely give out before then.
I manage to keep busy with a lot of
organizations as much as my fibromyalgia will let me on a daily basis.
Holiday Greetings and blessings to all.
Love,
Inez Thomason
Ph 208-284-1468
(do not have fax or
e-mail)
Snail Mail from Rita and
Roy Reichenbach
10/8/03
We really don’t
have any news for the family newsletter, except that “we’re alive and well,
way out here in Cheyenne, Wyoming!”
Holiday Greetings
and blessings to all,
Rita & Roy ~ (Joe’s Rita)
Snail Mail from Florence
& Louis Gross
One Towers Lane
Box 2017
Mt. Angel, OR,
97362
August 12, 2003
Dear Family:
Since I do not do
the “Newsletter” anymore, I miss all my connections with the goings-on of
our family clan. I think the younger generation are keeping in touch with
their email connections - - - we are not up with this modern communication!
“Sorry!”
We seniors (my
brothers & sister) are keeping in touch by telephone. We seem to be getting
along quite well in spite of all our health problems. My problems (and
Louis’ too) require us close to a RRM. Dad even knows where they (the RRS)
are in all the stores where we may be shopping? Even though we are not
sick, have no pains, eat normally, sleep pretty well (with a few sleepless
nights), both of us continue our “Hobby jobs”, Louis with his grapes,
strawberries, and tomatoes (he accidentally has both red and yellow
tomatoes).
My flowers have
been very rewarding to me - - - I give them some attention every day and
glad that I am still agile enough to handle a hoe and pull weeds and get rid
of the old blooms and trim wherever needed.
I continue with
crocheting projects (I have given away over 100 lap afghans and several
large ones. I am now about finished with a large one that I am making for
Father Taffe’s super-auction that he has every fall (I guess you know that
he has 3 houses to care for young mothers and their babies). It is
fantastic how people give thousands of dollars - - - many times bidding far
above the value of items being auctioned - - - I am trying to make this
afghan as neat and beautiful as possible so that I might bring in a hundred
or more dollars for the organization.
Oh, yes,!! We are
still involved with music - - -Louis with the 4th degree Knights
of Columbus “Color Guard”. He will be in the “Crooked Finger” Church’s
Celebration of the Assumption this coming Friday. That will be in the early
evening (at Scotts Mills). Then we have a meeting to Attend in McMinnville
at noon the same day - - - This happens to us too often (having 2 or more
meetings or functions in one day???) usually after a day like that we aren’t
worth very much the next day. (Of course our biggest problem that may lay
us low is that we seem to be all “tired out” much of the time?) - - - But,
you know us, we are known as “work-a-holics” and find it difficult for us to
lay around “twiddling our fingers”.
I am glad that dad
is still a good driver, as it seems that we have so many places to go - - I
drive very well but have practically quit - - - I drive only when Dad’s eye
doctor says he needs a driver home - - - and that doesn’t happen very
often. We were glad that our travel agent volunteered to take us to the
airport and back home for our cruise trip. (If we haven’t told you, we had
a wonderful cruise with Land Tours to Norway, Iceland, Ireland and Southern England).
Now we are restless to get out for a few days in the motorhome - - - maybe
wait until after the Oktoberfest?????? Of course, we ask you to continue to
pray for our safety and our health.
Love always to each of you.
Mom & Dad Gross
Florence & Louis
With best wishes to
you this Season and everyday in the New Year. Love, the Northups
December 2003
Season’s Greetings to you all!
We enjoy the cards and notes from family and friends keeping us posted about
events, milestones, and other news. It just always surprises us how quickly
12 months can go by and we start thinking “We need to get cards sent out!.
Marty and I are fine although
older, grayer, poorer of eyesight, and thinner of hair. She’s coping well
however as I maintain my high level of youthful vigor and stamina! We
continue to teach science at the middle school level, our 24th
year, believe it or not. As we keep up with the kids activities we still
find time for some long walks, a good ski, or a scenic hike up some local
mountain.
The biggest change in our lives
has been Jennifer’s departure to college. She is attending St. Benedicts
College in St. Joseph Minnesota, about an hour northwest of Minneapolis.
It’s an all women’s school . . . . . . St. John’s University, the all men’s
counterpart, is just down the road. Classes are held for both populations
on both campuses so she’s not missing out on all of the fun of college
life! She will be home for three weeks at Christmas which we are all
excited about as we haven’t seen her since August. Joelle has been giving
us a countdown of the number of days until Jen’s return since sometime in
October….I think she really misses her big sister.
Joelle is a seventh grader this
year and doing very well in school. She just started a French class which
she seems to really enjoy. I get to help her with math one or two nights a
week. I wish my students picked up things as quickly as she does. She
attributes her understanding to my brilliant teaching. Who am I to
disillusion her bright young mind? She continues to play saxophone in the
school band and studies piano privately. Volleyball kept her busy this fall
and she is looking forward to basketball which starts in January. In the
meantime she is snowboarding and alpine skiing.
Jaima is a sophomore and keeps
very busy between course work, activities and sports. She sings in two
auditioned groups at Summit HS, one that has a log of gigs this time of year
including singing with Kenny Rogers during his broadway Christmas show that
is coming to the Central Oregon Expo center this next week. She played
volleyball this fall and is currently playing basketball on the JV squad and
seinging into Varsity so she is very busy with practice/games for two
squads. She has been burning the midnight oil lately producing some very
creative projects for various classes and although the time commitment is
incredible she seems to really enjoy the challenge and the chance to create.
We hope the coming year blesses
you with peace and joy along with health and happiness! The Northups ~
(Art’s Marty)
Connie & Jim ~ always a pleasure to see
you guys! Hope this finds you well. Mark got to his Christmas letters
before I did as you can tell I didn’t write the letter, but it fills you
in. Hope to see you at the family reunion. Peace & Love, The Northups
Newsletter Greetings!
from Mary Gerding . . .
I would like to tell the
family that I am doing quite well considering I’ve been alone for so long.
Leo has been gone for nearly 19 years.
I now have Dick and
Sandy next door to me. For all their years in the Army, they have planned
and rearranged their plans until finally ending up with their final home
nearly finished! It’s beautiful! ~ and I have them here with me. Thank
God!
Holiday Wishes to all,
Mary Gerding
Snail Mail Greetings!
from Jane Fromherz . . .
November 2003
Dear Family:
The year 2003 has seen some definite changes in my life. In March, after 30
years of marriage, I was divorced from Darrel Tietze, and I have taken back
the name Fromherz.
I
sold my Scottsburg home and bought a home in Longview Washington. I am
remodeling and making a lot of changes in the décor. Leonard and Cam came
up one weekend and helped me with one bathroom.
I
was working at Home Depot in Longview until the end of October when I was
“RIFFED” that is Reduction In Force. Before I had my
first unemployment check, which I still haven’t received, I have two part
time jobs. I am again doing the food and product demonstrations at the
Safeway Stores in the Longview-Kelso area, and I started a part time job at
JCPenney yesterday. The JCPenney job is for the holidays, but it will help
pay the bills.
Many of you
know that Annella married Jeremy Ortiz in October of 2001. They are both in
the Air Force in Omaha, Nebraska. Nellie spent a while in Saudi Arabia this
year while Jeremy was in Texas at School. They are expecting their first
child in May of 2004.
Adam got out
of the Navy and is now in the Coast Guard. He and Bekah are in Neah Bay,
Washington now…the end of the earth…but there are three little munchkins
living there with them. They have little Adam, who is now 2 years old, and
they were blessed with twin boys in June, their names are Ean and Ethan, and
do Adam and Bekah have their hands full. I have been able to go up and see
them three times at Neah Bay, and once when the twins were born in Tacoma.
Here’s wishing you all a
very Happy Holiday Season…
And let’s keep the
CHRIST in CHRISTmas.
Love to all of You, Jane
Art’s Jane)
Update for NEWSLETTER
FROM THE HEART from Sister Jeanne Marie Zeugin…
October 2003
Dear Connie,
Thank you for the newsletter
reminder. One item that I think you can use is this.
This past year we have enjoyed
out visits with Judy Fromherz while she was attending the Command and
General Staff College at Fort
Leavenworth here. Judy’s dad, Art
Fromherz is a first cousin of my deceased brother-in-law, Elmer Bauder.
Judy loved making contacts with her relatives here in Leavenworth. Art and Winnie visited Judy
at Thanksgiving and we were happy to meet them also.
Good luck with the newsletter.
Sincerely, Sister Jeanne Marie
Sister Jeanne Marie Zeugin
Mother House
4200 S 4th St.
Leavenworth, KS 66048-5054
Invitation from the
Zollner & Gross Families announcing Florence’s 90th
Birthday Celebration!
Florence Gross is
90 Years Young!
Come celebrate her
Birthday at a Garden Party Sing-a-long with family & friends!
Sunday, October
19, 2003
3-4 PM
in the
Mt. Angel Towers
Auditorium
Refreshments will
be served.
No gifts please
If you would like
to share a tribute or story, or for more information, please give Pat
Zollner a call at (541) 343-2858.
P.S. To add to the
“Garden Party” fun, lets all try to wear floral clothing and Decorated Hats
would be GREAT! Use you imagination! Thanks ~ Pat
Snail Mail from Jim
Gale’s “Older Sister” Kathy & Wayne Walters. . .
November 13, 2003
Newsletter From The Heart Family:
Let me introduce the Walters side of the
family. Jim Gale is my “little” brother. I Kathy Walters am the oldest of
4. That means I have “gray hair.” The Carol Caddy who lives in California
and Raymond Wishmeyer who lives in Tampa, Florida. As most of you know Jim
found us about 5 years ago.
Wayne is my husband of 40 years. When we
first got married 5 & 6 years seemed so long. Now I find 40 years are sure
flying by. The past 2 years we have been retired and are traveling around
the United States in a 5th wheel camper.
Wayne and I have 2 sons. David Walters who
is living in our house in Michigan
while we see the U. S. David has 2 sons Josh 13 and Matt 12 years old. Don
and Jen Walters live in Social Circle, Georgia with our grandchildren Ben 4
years and Addison 3 months.
We are presently in Georgia
visiting Don, Jen, Ben and Addi. Don is a pilot for Spirit Airlines and Jen
is also a pilot, but is presently attending college to become a MRI, Ultra
Sound, X-ray tech. She already has a degree in psychology.
David is a mechanic for Northwest
Airlines. However, he is presently laid off and is working part time for a
small plastic plant doing plant maintenance.
Wayne, David and Don are building an
airplane. It is called a R.V.8 and it’s a kit plane. It has 2 seats and
will fly close to 200 mph. Hopefully it will fly in about 2 years. So far
they have worked on it for about 4 years.
Round about the middle of December we hope
to be able to receive our e-mail with our phone. So hope to meet some of
you who are also traveling in the U.S. From Georgia we will spend about 1
to 1˝ months in Florida and then head West to Yuma, Arizona. Memorial Day through Labor
Day we will be camp host in South Brush Creek, Saratoga, Wyoming.
We have been so happy Jim has found us.
Sending Love and Holiday Greetings,
Wayne and Kathy Walters . . . and Colonel
(Jim Gale’s biological sister Kathy Ann Wishmeyer Walters)
Holiday
Greetings from Walt & Elenora…
11/1/03
Dear Connie & Jim,
So glad to see you Connie at Aunt
Florence’s Birthday. . .
Great Party ~ We missed you Jim ~
Not much news but ~
Mike has a new box #451.
Address and everything else is the same.
Doug is going back to Humbolt
State in Arcata and getting his degree.
Max does not have as many Cyclic Vomiting
(CVS) spells, which is a God send.
Grandson Patrick is 22 years old. The day
after his birthday hopped on a plane and flew to Germany, destination the
Czech Republic (he has friends there). Took classes himself for a month
then started teaching International English at the University of Western Bohemia.
He teaches 8 classes a day each with 20 students. Then he teaches private
classes of 3 each. An American Company bought a German business and they
can’t speak English ~ So Patrick has a job ahead of him.
Walt will never be the same ~ but has come
a long way in the past year.
I am fine, and manage to keep busy.
It has started to rain here in the Rogue Valley. Up until now it rained all
around us.
My pen does not write well because Uncle
Walt tried to take a can lid off with it. It’s almost a total loss.
Much love to you both.
Keep smiling. Keep “Toasty Warm”, wear
those mittens and the hat on the head. Makes good sense. Helmet too!
Affectionately, Walt & Elenora
Thanks for doing the
newsletter. Holiday Greetings and much love to all during this 2003 – 2004
Holiday Season.
From the Buzz & Liz
Fromherz household in West Linn, Oregon…
You are invited
Join us in celebrating the
80th
Birthday of
Jim Fromherz
One o’clock
Sunday May 23rd,
2004
At the home of
Buzz and Liz
Fromherz
30830 SW River
Lane Rd.
West Linn, OR
97068
Please RSVP by
May 1st, 2004
By calling
503-655-0182
Holiday
Greetings From the Buzz Fromherz’ …
Hello to All…
We hope this Christmas note
finds everyone happy and healthy this year! Our Family has been quite
well. Everyone has been working hard and playing harder. There are many
things we all wish to accomplish. Karen has been doing very well in Jr.
High, and continues ti get taller every day. Renee is happy with her new
home, and is still working with Mom and Dad at Buzz Mechanical. Betsy had 3
shows for her art work over the summer and keeps herself busy with
seamstress work. I have been working with a non-profit group that provides
music instruction to kids and schools, as well as freelance grahic design.
Mom and Dad keep busy with the business, but still find time to organize all
the holiday festivities. One difference that has been made is they have
been using their social events to support the American Cancer Society in
memory of Chris.
Don’t forget to join
us for the Annual Fromherz Christmas Party. It will be held (as always) the
Saturday after Christmas at Mom and Dad’s in West Linn. This year that
falls on December 27th (Six pm). You simply MUST come.
Then we will have an even greater party Sunday, May 23rd
(see invitation enclosed), for Grandpa Jim’s 80th. There will be
another invitation coming when the day gets a bit closer. In the meantime,
we would lke you to send any memories, photos or souvenirs about Jim (family
appropriate, of course) for a Special Birthday Scrapbook. You can mail them
to 30830 SE Riverland Road, West Linn, OR 97068 (or eMail
buzzmech@apiritone.com).
So, until next year…MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Felice
Noel Fromherz ~ (Jim’s Buzz’ Felice)
Buzz,
Liz, Betsy, Renee, Karen
Bingo,
Ginger, Trouble, Vincent & Riot
Sending Happy Holiday
Wishes! from Don & Barb Fromherz in Salem,
Oregon…Ho, Ho, Ho . . .
Jim & Connie,
We hear you’re digging yourselves
out of snow! Have a GREAT 2004! Don & Barb
(ed. As a matter of fact, we are digging
ourselves out of snow. . . we have over a foot in our yard and temps below
zero this week-end! Brrrrrrrrrr! Cold! I’m sure there won’t be any bugs
left for spring and summer of 2004 in Spokane area! Skiing is GREAT! And,
we’re replenishing the water shed all at the same time! cg)
*** I received a toolkit from one of my dear Spokane
friends that I want to share with all of you…of course I received this in a
prescription bottle refillable FOREVER! cg.
The Things You
Need in Life
Toothpick…To
remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
Rubber Band…Be
flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it will all work
out.
Band Aid…Heal
hurt feelings, yours or someone else’s.
Eraser…Everyone
makes mistakes…erase your mistakes, it’s okay.
Chewing Gum…Stick
it out, and you can accomplish anything.
Candy Kiss…Everyone
needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
Paper Clip…to
hold everything in your life together.
Tea Bag…Relax
daily and go over your list of blessings.
Penny…Count
that list of blessings everyday.
Friends are a rare jewel. You make me smile and
encourage me daily. You lend an ear, share a word of praise and you always
open your heart to me. That is why I pick my friends so carefully. You are
my special “Life Saver”. Thank you for being my Friend.
The Abbas
Christmas letter . . . from Di, Joe & Mac in Wasco, Oregon…
Not sure where to start as this is
my first year with the Christmas letter. What was she thinking? Well let us
start with “The dude” or “Dirt bag” as I like to call him. Mac started the
year off with a bang as he learned to walk, and that is when life life
really changed. He is almost 2 now and learning every word mom and dad
say. That can be good, and bad. Oh well. He is a lot of fun for us, an
immediate stress relief. He is horribly shy and timid though, NOT.
He is the terror of day care and quite the womanizer. If it is female and
paying any attention to him, he’s flirting with it. A pretty good ego boost
for dad, not sure if mom appreciates that skill. Kind of scary how easy
going he really is. He loves to get up early in the morning and see what
the world has to offer him, pretty cool. He is learning this whole
Christmas thing this year as last year he was just a big drooling poop
machine. He really likes the lights and tree, not sure about the whole gift
thing yet. But I am sure he will catch on pretty quick when he gets to tear
things up and make a mess on purpose. The other “kids” (of the four-legged
variety) are good and well.
Teton and Ginger (ed.
Ginger and Teton are Di & Joe’s English Mastiff ‘Big Dogs’) are beginning to
show their age. It is hard and sad to see the rapid transition of this
wonderful duo into “seniors”. They have adapted to life with Mac quite
well. They no longer get the long undisturbed naps as before and they are
amazingly patient with him (even when getting whacked with the basketball).
Casper and Elvira (our mules) are another story. These two seem to share
one brain, Elvira’s for the most part. They are getting big enough to start
working with and training to pack and hunt with. They are a good change of
pace for Joe from the Technology of everyday. It is fun to learn the skill
of those who came along before us when life was a whole lot slower and
simpler. Speaking of hunting, no we did not get tags for any critters this
year. Seem to have been making donations to the state in that department.
But things are bound to change for the better.
Work for Joe is still very busy and
he is going gray because of it. The sad thing is he loves it. Didi has
been working for 2 local doctor’s offices and filling in for Joe as well.
Didi passed her boards so she can perform Mammography exams and is still
studying Ultrasound in her spare time. Yeah spare time, something we used
to have a lot of prior to “The dude” showing up. Now it is hard to take a
pee in peace.
As for home we are still in Wasco.
Love it, if ya come through stop by we’d love to see ya. Not sure how to
end this thing but looks like I am getting close to the end of the page. So
until my wife has another lapse in judgment hope your Holidays and New Year
are great.
Happy
Holidays from all of us!
Joe, Didi,
Mac, Teton, Ginger, Elvira and Casper ~
(Jim’s
Connie’s Dianne ‘Didi’)
Peace on Earth .
. . in all seasons and for all times.
Dear
Newsletter From The Heart Family . . .Peace on Earth ~ This is our wish for
you for 2004! And, for all times.
To the
family……
Connie is down stairs
working on the latest newsletter and she’s asked me to write a few words to
share with you about what we did this past year….. So I’m sitting here at
the laptop and tapping this out for her….
Its been cold the last few
days…. We have 15-16 inches of snow on the ground and it was -5 last
night… We went out for breakfast and a short trip into town to check on
the heat at the shop…. Just left the truck idle in the lot.. It hardly
warmed up.. We’re feeding the deer when there’s snow on the ground…. We
put out a 2 ˝ gal bucket when there’s several inches of snow on the ground
and they come into the front yard…. Usually 4-8 deer….. we have the pail
about 10 - 15 feet off the window that goes up stairs and we’ve gotten up a
few times to sneak down the stairs and watch…. I feel like I’m sneaking up
on Santa on Christmas eve…. Neighbors have their porch lights on and there
is a street light on the corner of our property and they still come in…..
This year started out with
our grandson turning one on Jan 1 03….. I forgot how much fun it was to
watch a child play with a birthday cake and get it all over…. His face,
arms, floor…. Just all over….. and of course our Granddaughter's birthdays
came in the first quarter of the new year…..
We decided to take up bike
riding again… and have purchased two recumbents (bicycles) and are trying to
get into shape…. Chuck and I’m sure Don would like us or me at least to
join them in Cycle Oregon…. Connie would love to see me do it also…..
Don’t know if I’ll get there for 2004, we’ll see……
Connie has found a store in
town called Other Mothers…. A “gently used” clothing store and she’s kept
the grandkids in clothing… The girls both complain that they don’t get
to go out and buy clothes for the kids…. They have a 25 cent weekend every
couple of months and were really surprised what some mothers sell to the
store or the pick up…. Lots of designer kids stuff they couldn’t afford to
buy on their own…. Connie drags the stuff home by the bag full washes, spot
removes the spots and folds it for the kids… she has a great time doing it
and has dragged me to the shop to pack the bags out a time or two….. Its
really a hoot…
My office manager now has
grandkids, and we spend lots of time talking grandkids…. I know that I spend
lots more time talking grandkids with men in our industry than I did as a
father talking kids… this Grandpa thing is turning into lots more fun than
being a father…. Not that that was bad…….. Just different and more
interesting….
All was really quiet around
our place…. The first quarter of the year ….. A planned trip to AZ to
meet with my sister and her husband was canceled as was our planned trip to
Hawaii…. Things really got started for us when we met up with Didi and Joe
for a long weekend at Grand Coulee dam in the trailer and had a great
time…. A short Goldwing ride with our friends Jim and Clair Stoffell from
Portland got the summer started with going over our plans for our summer
vacation on the wing…
I made it to the family
reunion and cooked burgers and dogs again… our second year doing this and we
think that it’s the way to go….. hopefully we’ll be back for another year
this summer…..
Connie knitted a couple of
WSU afghans for the American Cancer Society…. One was donated in Chris
Holt’s memory and sold through a raffle here in Spokane….
The highlight of our year
has to be the 4 weeks we spent on the motorcycle going to Alaska and touring
the state and returning on the Ferry, the Alaska Marine Highway
from Haines AK to Bellingham WA…. This might be the best vacation we’ve
ever had… We saw all kinds of wildlife and covered the same path that we
used 10 years ago… just added about 10 days to the length of the trip to
pick up on all those things that we wanted to repeat and missed the first
time…. I stopped along the way and fly fished a few streams…… Spent a day
in Whitehorse YT Canada, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Denali Park, Homer, Haines
and many more….. Maybe the highlight of the trip was a short flight across
Cook Inlet from Homer…. This 60 minute flight took us into the wilderness
of Alaska
and we landed on the sand of the beach… and walked into the Halo Bay
Wilderness Camp were we were met by a guide who took us bear hunting for a
day…… With a camera of course….. We spent the day watching the bears
wondering on the beach and through a creek searching for the salmon….
Total of 5 or 6, and each walked within 15-20 feet of us…. There were 7 or 8
in our group including the guide and we watched for several hours…. BTW (by
the way) they were Alaskan Brown Bear, Grizzlies… Really beautiful
animals…..
On the ferry back we stopped
at Wrangle AK…. This is an island on the inland passage and it was raining
cats and dogs…. We walked off the ferry and picked up a bus to take us into
town… Old town Wrangle is built along a large creek that runs down the side
of the mountain…. Most of the island is timber and the weather is like a
rain forest….. they get 45 inches a year or something like that…. The
stores had wood walkways between them and over the creek….. We have some
great photos but the interesting thing was the salmon in the creek…. It was
thick…. Like Michner talked about, you could walk across the creek on the
backs of the salmon…. 10’s of thousands…….. the folks in the stores
mentioned how bad the smell was once they past this stage in their life and
died…..
Next stop Sitka and the
Raptor center…. There one of the few places in the world that take in birds
of prey under license to rehab them and turn them back to the wild… Those
that can’t go back are used to breed young for release… The bald eagle has
been removed from the endangered species act… based on their great results
and others like them…
The ferry was a 3 ˝ day trip
and we had a state room on board…. We passed several cruise ships that
were at least 6 times our size….. we carried over 500 vehicles….. and I
don’t know how many people…
I have been trying to edit
the photos…. Connie,,, the cameraman of our team took 88 rolls of 35mm film
about 2400 shots and we’re trying to weed it down to one CD….. That’s about
1800-1900 shots…. To fill a 750 mb CD…. I’ve been at the task for about
5 days… first getting all the photos into one file and in order of the trip…
and now taking out the shots that are duplicate’s or out of focus… etc… I
started at 1.3 gig’s…. This has been a real chore…
Labor day got us together
with family on the Columbia River…. And both the kids met us for 4 days of
playing…..
Thanksgiving brought the
whole family together and snow in the yard… a Christmas card with all of us
around a snowman… took us a couple of hours to build him…. the last time
was at least 20 or 25 years ago… we had a grand time….
Were planning 3 weeks in the
spring on the wing in AZ, NM, CO, UT, NV, points south and warm…. The kids
are great… the grand kids are greater.. and life is great…. There have been
a few wrinkles this year but nothing worth bothering all of you with….
Connie tripped on a river
boat… an old stern wheeler….. that was in Whitehorse, YT Canada… she tore
her rotator cuff and finished the trip in some pain…. She goes into
surgery on the 8th. of January to have it repaired and will be
out of commission for 3-6 weeks….. maybe we’ll drag up and visit my retired
big sister her hubby while they travel in AZ
A business trip through CA
to AZ over a weekend got me in touch with cousin Chuck and Marilyn Fromherz
and they put me up for the night…. I had a great dinner and some great
conversation…. Thanks Chuck and Marilyn for a great time…..
We just celebrated our 35th
Wedding Anniversary. My, how time flies! And, yes we’re still in Love!
Should you find yourself in
the Spokane~
Couer d’Alene area, please look us up. Yes, we’re in the phone book. We
look forward to a visit from you in 2004!
We hope this past year has
been as wonderful and fruitful as ours has…. Wishing all of you a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year….
Jim & Connie Gale, Spokane
WA ~ (Jim’s Connie)
Jim & Connie Gale
12925 W Greenfield Rd
Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026
(509) 467-1370
jelag@aol.com
congale@aol.com
