It is with a mixture of joyfulness and sadness that I share that Dad Gezon has gone to be with his Lord. We have known for a while that Dad has been slipping away from us, but it is never easy to say good bye. Bob and I got to say goodbye hours before Dad past and for that we are grateful, Bob had been out of town and I called him while he was driving though Canada thankfully he made it back. Dad past on he and mom’s 63rd wedding anniversary, which is somewhat poetic seeing he told anyone that would listen that that was the happiest day of his life! We know that our loss here on earth is heavens gain and we feel so blessed that we had him for a father, father-in-law, and grandpa.
We got Ben and Sara back home for the service and they are both doing wonderful, we miss them both and it was nice to have all the kids for a long weekend. We spent time remembering Grandpa and spending time with family. Mariada had a soccer game on Sunday very close to U of M so we took Ben and his cousin back to school and having that extra time with him was great. It was also nice to see that he is doing well keeping his apartment clean! We also had a chance to spend some time with Sara taking her and Mariada into Grand Rapids to see ArtPrize and a free David Archuleta concert, we had fun.
We continue to take Mariada to soccer games, practice and school, which she loves and is doing really well at. All A’s right now, she does put a lot of time into homework, but for the most part she thinks it’s easy! She is even helping “coach” a team of five and six year olds. We are trying to plan a trip down south to see Fredi and Prenda, they are going to be in the states for a visit and we would LOVE to see them, praying that it works out.
Life is busy and we continue to try and fit it all in.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Endless Summer
Another very busy month has gone by and I haven’t done a very good job of keeping you updated, so hang on here we go!!!
We celebrated Ben turning 19, yeah 19! Yikes, I still can’t believe it. It was a quite night of grilling out with a few friends and watching yet another beautiful west Michigan sunset. After that it meant that move out date was inevitable and that I had better start getting things together. Ben asked us for only one thing for graduation, decorate his apartment! He knew that he was sharing an apartment rather than a dorm and he knew that it wasn’t going to feel like home if it had bare walls and zero dishes in the kitchen. So my mother and I put together an entire kitchen out of our old dishes with the exception of a slow cooker that Grandma gave him for a birthday present. (Doesn’t every 19 yr old want one?) So I hit Hobby Lobby and found some great Navy/Marine posters for the living room, and then found some fun linens for his bed, we then stocked his kitchen and gave him a cookbook with all his favorites. On the 26th we loaded up two cars and drove Ben to Ann Arbor, moved him in, left twenty dollars for he and Mike (roommate) to order a pizza! Until yesterday Ben’s truck was still in the driveway and it was hard to drive in and say, Ben’s not home, since Ben turned sixteen I would always have a smile on my face when I saw his car and say Ben’s home! It’s always the little things that get you!
On the Mariada front, well soccer, for her that’s really all that matters, she has been practicing with both her teams and had her first tournament this past weekend. Unfortunately she sprained her ankle in the first game and had to watch the rest of the weekend. She says that she will play this Friday, we’ll see. We had planned on back to school shopping this week, but with the ankle I don’t think the mall is a good idea, more sales next week anyway! On the 24th we had a party for Miss Mariada’s 14th birthday, it was a beautiful sunny day spent with three of her friends on the beach, then pizza, cake and presents followed by movies and a sleepover! She had a blast. We also had orientation this week and she has her new schedule for school this year, she can’t wait for school to start.
Somewhere in there we spent a day up at Great Grandma’s cottage for her birthday, Lewis spent forty eight hours in the emergency hospital, after eating 22 ibuprofen pills, and we had a few friends spent a few days with us :) Normally I look forward to fall, thinking things will slow down, but if you saw the soccer schedule we have you would understand why late November is looking like our first open weekend!
I wish I had pictures of Ben’s place but and I still can’t believe this, I forgot, the camera was there but I just forgot, so please enjoy a few from Mariada’s birthday and soccer game!
Ben took the girls tubing, they had a blast! I could hear them from up at the house, since it was teens only on the beach!
She told us it was the best birthday she ever had, what a great summer!
We celebrated Ben turning 19, yeah 19! Yikes, I still can’t believe it. It was a quite night of grilling out with a few friends and watching yet another beautiful west Michigan sunset. After that it meant that move out date was inevitable and that I had better start getting things together. Ben asked us for only one thing for graduation, decorate his apartment! He knew that he was sharing an apartment rather than a dorm and he knew that it wasn’t going to feel like home if it had bare walls and zero dishes in the kitchen. So my mother and I put together an entire kitchen out of our old dishes with the exception of a slow cooker that Grandma gave him for a birthday present. (Doesn’t every 19 yr old want one?) So I hit Hobby Lobby and found some great Navy/Marine posters for the living room, and then found some fun linens for his bed, we then stocked his kitchen and gave him a cookbook with all his favorites. On the 26th we loaded up two cars and drove Ben to Ann Arbor, moved him in, left twenty dollars for he and Mike (roommate) to order a pizza! Until yesterday Ben’s truck was still in the driveway and it was hard to drive in and say, Ben’s not home, since Ben turned sixteen I would always have a smile on my face when I saw his car and say Ben’s home! It’s always the little things that get you!
On the Mariada front, well soccer, for her that’s really all that matters, she has been practicing with both her teams and had her first tournament this past weekend. Unfortunately she sprained her ankle in the first game and had to watch the rest of the weekend. She says that she will play this Friday, we’ll see. We had planned on back to school shopping this week, but with the ankle I don’t think the mall is a good idea, more sales next week anyway! On the 24th we had a party for Miss Mariada’s 14th birthday, it was a beautiful sunny day spent with three of her friends on the beach, then pizza, cake and presents followed by movies and a sleepover! She had a blast. We also had orientation this week and she has her new schedule for school this year, she can’t wait for school to start.
Somewhere in there we spent a day up at Great Grandma’s cottage for her birthday, Lewis spent forty eight hours in the emergency hospital, after eating 22 ibuprofen pills, and we had a few friends spent a few days with us :) Normally I look forward to fall, thinking things will slow down, but if you saw the soccer schedule we have you would understand why late November is looking like our first open weekend!
I wish I had pictures of Ben’s place but and I still can’t believe this, I forgot, the camera was there but I just forgot, so please enjoy a few from Mariada’s birthday and soccer game!
Ben took the girls tubing, they had a blast! I could hear them from up at the house, since it was teens only on the beach!
She told us it was the best birthday she ever had, what a great summer!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wow! Summer goes by so fast….. So since the last post we have busy, we spent the fourth here at home with lots of great friends on the beach, watching fireworks from a friend’s home that thankfully kept us from too much of the crowds. We then started getting ready for our summer boat trip. This year we went with our dear friends Ben and Sue and their two kids. We love boating with them; they have been our boat buddies for years. We had stops in Harbor Springs, South Manitou Island and Charlevoix before heading to the North Channel. On our way home we stopped on Mackinaw Island and Frankfort. Ben and Sara both have summer jobs so they didn’t make the entire trip this year but Mariada had a blast she loved almost all of it with exception of the bugs and snakes, I don’t think she will be a camper! This works out fine with me since I have never really been one myself.
We left the boat and drove straight to East Lansing to drop Mariada off at soccer camp. Then I came home unpacked did laundry and drove Ben to Ann Arbor for orientation, the next day I drove back to East Lansing to pick up Mariada, and then the next day, yup back to Ann Arbor to pick Ben up from orientation. Last week I put some miles on the car! Mariada loved camp and Ben is looking forward to collage, even thinking of double majoring.
Mariada is now busy with soccer practice, she is playing for two teams, and Ben is working two jobs as well as Sara. Life is full around here. And this week is coast guard festival in our little town, basically our town of twenty thousand, is turned in to two hundred and fifty in one week! Last night was opening night for the carnival we meant with some friends that have a home right in the middle of it and before I knew it Mariada was asking for money and out of there with tons of teens to hit the scary carnie rides! On the way home she told me it was the best night of her life.
After this week, summer starts coming to an end and by the end of the month we will have celebrated two birthdays Ben and Mariada’s. Ben will be gone to U of M and we will be shopping for school supplies for Mariada! Wow...
Mariada jumping from her first rock!
Benjamin Island's
If you look really close you can see me reading on the front of the boat! I was not in the mood to hike this day.
Lewis did a great job on his first boat trip!
Hiking the Benjamin's
We decided to jump off the boat under the Mackinaw bridge.
We left the boat and drove straight to East Lansing to drop Mariada off at soccer camp. Then I came home unpacked did laundry and drove Ben to Ann Arbor for orientation, the next day I drove back to East Lansing to pick up Mariada, and then the next day, yup back to Ann Arbor to pick Ben up from orientation. Last week I put some miles on the car! Mariada loved camp and Ben is looking forward to collage, even thinking of double majoring.
Mariada is now busy with soccer practice, she is playing for two teams, and Ben is working two jobs as well as Sara. Life is full around here. And this week is coast guard festival in our little town, basically our town of twenty thousand, is turned in to two hundred and fifty in one week! Last night was opening night for the carnival we meant with some friends that have a home right in the middle of it and before I knew it Mariada was asking for money and out of there with tons of teens to hit the scary carnie rides! On the way home she told me it was the best night of her life.
After this week, summer starts coming to an end and by the end of the month we will have celebrated two birthdays Ben and Mariada’s. Ben will be gone to U of M and we will be shopping for school supplies for Mariada! Wow...
Mariada jumping from her first rock!
Benjamin Island's
If you look really close you can see me reading on the front of the boat! I was not in the mood to hike this day.
Lewis did a great job on his first boat trip!
Hiking the Benjamin's
We decided to jump off the boat under the Mackinaw bridge.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
It’s all about Ben
The last few months have been all about Ben. We have been getting the house ready for his open house, attending award ceremonies, banquets, dessert socials…. And of course the big day itself, graduation! Now I have to take a moment to brag on our Ben, really his whole class. There is always so much talk about this next generation and often it’s negative, but going to all these events let us see just how many of Ben’s peers are amazing kids. In his class of just under 200 there are kids attending, Harvard, John Hopkins, Brown, Norte Dam and a record number going to the University of Michigan. The list of amazing things these kids have done just blew us away, so many community involvement activities and missions it’s just so cool. And just to brag a bit more, Ben was in the top ten percent of his class and was given the largest scholarship, a full ride to the U of M!!! Go Blue! This amazing scholarship also added to our already busy schedule as we told Ben that if he achieved this we would take him anywhere he wanted to go. His first choice was New Zealand, but it’s winter there right now, so that was out, then Iceland, the day I went to book the tickets, yup, volcano, that was out, he settled on surfing in Hawaii. So I found us amazing deals on flights and a condo on the island of Kauai and two days after the party we where off! What a great time we had, it was really special to spend some time with just Ben talking about his “grown up life” and what it will look like. He’s an amazing kid that will most certainly live a full life; I can’t wait to see it happen!
So while we were in Hawaii, Miss Mariada spent some time being super spoiled by Grandma she even got to spend some time with Great Grandma up at her cottage, she had a blast. Now we are back in full soccer mode. Practice every week, camps and she’s even dual enrolled so she will be playing for two different teams! So basically its summer and we are busy as all those that live in the north can attest to we always cram why too much into three months!
One more thing, we have some bloggy friends that are on their way to Albania to adopt their second child! Would you please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers, as many of you know the process can be so much work, things you never thought would come your way are there tossed in with so much joy. It can be very physically and mentally exhausting.
Now on to pictures, lots and lots of them, it’s time to catch up!
Did I mention, this class was awarded 4.5 million in scholarships!
A very proud sister.
The "Big House" cake, so cool, and no I didn't bake it :).
I was so happy it didn't rain, since our porch was the plan B, forgot to rent a tent!
Our three on the bungee run, what fun!
Hanalei Bay our surf spot, so pretty. We packed a lunch.
The outside break is called summers, very fun wave and the locals had really good attitudes about us being there!
Na Pali hike, Ben ran...
we took breaks :)
The view from our condo, and yes that's a rooster and a rainbow. Sounds like a kids book!
A different break and Ben is on that wave, no really he is ;) I just don't have a good enough zoom.
We took a boat trip to the Na Pali coast as well, amazing....
On the way back a pod of dolphins joined us, so cool.
Our last day we flew over to Oahu and saw Pearl Harbor. That's the Mighty Mo behind my boys. We took the iPod tour, what a ship!
So while we were in Hawaii, Miss Mariada spent some time being super spoiled by Grandma she even got to spend some time with Great Grandma up at her cottage, she had a blast. Now we are back in full soccer mode. Practice every week, camps and she’s even dual enrolled so she will be playing for two different teams! So basically its summer and we are busy as all those that live in the north can attest to we always cram why too much into three months!
One more thing, we have some bloggy friends that are on their way to Albania to adopt their second child! Would you please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers, as many of you know the process can be so much work, things you never thought would come your way are there tossed in with so much joy. It can be very physically and mentally exhausting.
Now on to pictures, lots and lots of them, it’s time to catch up!
Did I mention, this class was awarded 4.5 million in scholarships!
A very proud sister.
The "Big House" cake, so cool, and no I didn't bake it :).
I was so happy it didn't rain, since our porch was the plan B, forgot to rent a tent!
Our three on the bungee run, what fun!
Hanalei Bay our surf spot, so pretty. We packed a lunch.
The outside break is called summers, very fun wave and the locals had really good attitudes about us being there!
Na Pali hike, Ben ran...
we took breaks :)
The view from our condo, and yes that's a rooster and a rainbow. Sounds like a kids book!
A different break and Ben is on that wave, no really he is ;) I just don't have a good enough zoom.
We took a boat trip to the Na Pali coast as well, amazing....
On the way back a pod of dolphins joined us, so cool.
Our last day we flew over to Oahu and saw Pearl Harbor. That's the Mighty Mo behind my boys. We took the iPod tour, what a ship!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Another Adoption!
It’s true we have a brand new member to the family. He is nine months old, has the most beautiful blue eyes and really, really long legs, four of them! After much debate we have decided to name him Lewis. He’s been home a week and well it’s been a long one. I have forgotten how much work a puppy can be. The beach fence is no match for our little explorer and forget about trusting him while I run out! He has no idea what a command is and really doesn’t have much interest in learning them, but we already love him to pieces. Well all but Ben, for some reason Lewis doesn’t like Ben, he’s so scared of him that every time Ben is around Lewis is just about climbing me to hide from him! All in time.
In other news, Mariada is keeping us very busy with soccer; her team is doing well with only one loss. She loves her team and coach and is even thinking she can handle overnight soccer camp this summer! Speaking of overnights she was invited last Friday night to a slumber party and she had a blast! This weekend she will be attending the Ride and Rock event with a friend from school. So socially things are great! She really is doing great!
We are still very busy with Ben’s open house and just getting him ready for collage. We took a day last week to drive over to Ann Arbor and found him a two bedroom apartment, right across from where he has drill every morning at 6:30 AM. He will be living with a fellow ROTC friend. Oh to live in a very small collage apartment, yikes! But they are on the 18th floor and their apartment does overlook the “Big House” So GO BLUE!
Sara will be home in two weeks and we can’t wait! She won’t be home long, she has ski camp at the end of June, but we will take what we can get!
Things are going well and we are feeling pretty blessed.
Lewis is half Mountain Cur and half Border Collie, as soon as I can get him to sit still I'll post a better picture.
In other news, Mariada is keeping us very busy with soccer; her team is doing well with only one loss. She loves her team and coach and is even thinking she can handle overnight soccer camp this summer! Speaking of overnights she was invited last Friday night to a slumber party and she had a blast! This weekend she will be attending the Ride and Rock event with a friend from school. So socially things are great! She really is doing great!
We are still very busy with Ben’s open house and just getting him ready for collage. We took a day last week to drive over to Ann Arbor and found him a two bedroom apartment, right across from where he has drill every morning at 6:30 AM. He will be living with a fellow ROTC friend. Oh to live in a very small collage apartment, yikes! But they are on the 18th floor and their apartment does overlook the “Big House” So GO BLUE!
Sara will be home in two weeks and we can’t wait! She won’t be home long, she has ski camp at the end of June, but we will take what we can get!
Things are going well and we are feeling pretty blessed.
Lewis is half Mountain Cur and half Border Collie, as soon as I can get him to sit still I'll post a better picture.Thursday, April 22, 2010
A quick update...
Ok, it’s about time for a catch up post isn’t it?!
Spring Break was great, Mariada had fun learning to ski, with just a few moments of frustration, which really is good because learning to ski can be very frustrating! She loved the mountains and enjoyed meeting her big sister! While out in Steamboat we attended the welcome home parade of all the Olympians that live in Steamboat. Very cool to see many of the athletes that we had just been watching! We went out to the hot springs in Strawberry Park and loved spending time with our dear friends Kirk, Cindy and Emily. We even got lucky with the snow and had fresh powder almost every day!
We flew back in to Chicago and spent the day downtown before driving back home. Mariada could not believe downtown! She can’t wait to go back! Thanks to Doug and Mary for putting us up while in Chicago.
Mariada continues to love school and continues to do well. But her favorite thing is her soccer team; she has had two games so far and has a tournament this coming weekend! She loves her team and her coach, the other day after picking her up; she told me that the coach had asked her to introduce herself so she told them that she was adopted from Albania. Then one of her team mates says that’s so cool, can we adopt you and be your second family?! She was smiling from ear to ear, and is always amazed at how nice people in America are.
On to Ben, he received his letter from the Naval Academy letting know that he totally qualified but didn’t make it in. UGH, bummer. So Ben will be going to the University of Michigan next fall with the ROTC program. It’s ridiculously hard to get in to either of these programs and we are so proud of the young man he is, but it’s so hard to watch a dream be taken away from your child. He says that he may try again next year based on how he feels of U of M. Such a good kid.
Sara is back to skiing only a few days a week now and is looking forward to being in Michigan this summer. And we are looking forward to having her! Seeing her over spring break Bob and I both noticed how grown up she is becoming. Drivers education this summer, can’t believe it.
So bob and I, WLDDi is in full swing so Bob is busy, busy, which we couldn’t be happier about. We count our blessings daily. I have been busy driving here there and everywhere! As well as yard work, and house work, getting this place ready for a graduation party! It’s gonna be a fun one!
Okay time to run….
Last weekends game, she scored a goal!
The hot springs!
After a day on the slopes!
Sisters!
First time on skis!
Spring Break was great, Mariada had fun learning to ski, with just a few moments of frustration, which really is good because learning to ski can be very frustrating! She loved the mountains and enjoyed meeting her big sister! While out in Steamboat we attended the welcome home parade of all the Olympians that live in Steamboat. Very cool to see many of the athletes that we had just been watching! We went out to the hot springs in Strawberry Park and loved spending time with our dear friends Kirk, Cindy and Emily. We even got lucky with the snow and had fresh powder almost every day!
We flew back in to Chicago and spent the day downtown before driving back home. Mariada could not believe downtown! She can’t wait to go back! Thanks to Doug and Mary for putting us up while in Chicago.
Mariada continues to love school and continues to do well. But her favorite thing is her soccer team; she has had two games so far and has a tournament this coming weekend! She loves her team and her coach, the other day after picking her up; she told me that the coach had asked her to introduce herself so she told them that she was adopted from Albania. Then one of her team mates says that’s so cool, can we adopt you and be your second family?! She was smiling from ear to ear, and is always amazed at how nice people in America are.
On to Ben, he received his letter from the Naval Academy letting know that he totally qualified but didn’t make it in. UGH, bummer. So Ben will be going to the University of Michigan next fall with the ROTC program. It’s ridiculously hard to get in to either of these programs and we are so proud of the young man he is, but it’s so hard to watch a dream be taken away from your child. He says that he may try again next year based on how he feels of U of M. Such a good kid.
Sara is back to skiing only a few days a week now and is looking forward to being in Michigan this summer. And we are looking forward to having her! Seeing her over spring break Bob and I both noticed how grown up she is becoming. Drivers education this summer, can’t believe it.
So bob and I, WLDDi is in full swing so Bob is busy, busy, which we couldn’t be happier about. We count our blessings daily. I have been busy driving here there and everywhere! As well as yard work, and house work, getting this place ready for a graduation party! It’s gonna be a fun one!
Okay time to run….
Last weekends game, she scored a goal!
The hot springs!
After a day on the slopes!
Sisters!
First time on skis!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Happy Spring!
Wow! Time flies doesn’t it?!
I’ll just jump right in, things are going great. Mariada loves school and has made it on to the tri-city strikers travel soccer team! She is enjoying her youth group at Church and is very excited about meeting her sister over spring break!
In the last few weeks she has had her third dentist appointment and everything is finished until her next cleaning, she is so happy about that! She has taken a few tests at school and received A’s and B’s on them all, she is reading her third book in three weeks and has made a commercial in Physical Ed on hygiene.
We had our first visit from our SW and all went well, I have two pictures that I can post since the visit required pictures. Mariada still is not happy with her hair so pictures are still not allowed. Though we will be taking them over break so get over it sister! :)
I must say that for the most part things are going really smoothly, we do have a bump ever y now and again, but let’s face it she is a teen and there are tons of new things going on in her life. I.e. rules, family, manners, you get the picture. So far she is willing to listen, although on the way to school this morning I heard “but, Mom” for the first time, ugh.
We leave on Thursday for CO and really all of us are looking forward to it so much, it will be the first time we are all together and I can’t wait to see Mariada gasp at the sight of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, then tell me there is no way she’s skiing down them! I so remember looking at Bob like he was nuts when he first took me out west to ski!
Happy Spring everybody!
She is so happy that we have added a computer to her desk, but gave me "the look" when told she gets one hour a day to use it. :) It's so funny because I want to give the same look right back, I mean REALLY?
I’ll just jump right in, things are going great. Mariada loves school and has made it on to the tri-city strikers travel soccer team! She is enjoying her youth group at Church and is very excited about meeting her sister over spring break!
In the last few weeks she has had her third dentist appointment and everything is finished until her next cleaning, she is so happy about that! She has taken a few tests at school and received A’s and B’s on them all, she is reading her third book in three weeks and has made a commercial in Physical Ed on hygiene.
We had our first visit from our SW and all went well, I have two pictures that I can post since the visit required pictures. Mariada still is not happy with her hair so pictures are still not allowed. Though we will be taking them over break so get over it sister! :)
I must say that for the most part things are going really smoothly, we do have a bump ever y now and again, but let’s face it she is a teen and there are tons of new things going on in her life. I.e. rules, family, manners, you get the picture. So far she is willing to listen, although on the way to school this morning I heard “but, Mom” for the first time, ugh.
We leave on Thursday for CO and really all of us are looking forward to it so much, it will be the first time we are all together and I can’t wait to see Mariada gasp at the sight of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, then tell me there is no way she’s skiing down them! I so remember looking at Bob like he was nuts when he first took me out west to ski!
Happy Spring everybody!
She is so happy that we have added a computer to her desk, but gave me "the look" when told she gets one hour a day to use it. :) It's so funny because I want to give the same look right back, I mean REALLY?
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