Lindula

I just wanted to write a little about the funeral. Mother, Isa, Becky, Liz, Gary, Me, and Laurie were all able to attend. Some couldn't stay for all or make it for the beginning. We went to visitation. Got to see Merry, Danyel, and Kenny. The floral arrangement our family got was beautiful. There were a lot of people. Maybe 350 and it was at the Clinton Community Building as their church wouldn't have been able to hold enough people. During the sharing of memories, I was amazed at people's courage. Merry, Danyel, Tom (Danyel's husband), Calvin, Maria (Calvin's wife), Michael, and Kenny all shared memories. They shared funny stories and tear jerking. Also, Larry, Joyce, Paul, Royal, Carol, and others shared. The funeral started at 3. We left after and didn't stay for the food. There were just too many people and it was already well after 4. Merry had told the minister that she wouldn't mind if the sharing of memories went on until Midnight. After, Mother, Isa, and I were able to talk to Calvin. (Liz, Gary, Becky - I told them that you had to leave, but wished you'd been able to see him. He said he wanted to see all of us, but it just didn't work out as we went to the casket and he got pulled off somewhere else - he was appreciative of us all being there).

The burial is this morning at the Forbes Cemetary.

KUOPPALA'S

Just clicked on Charlie's Shop. Neat how the things keep
changing. And I can't even post a picture with dial up!

We are trying something different for awhile. Taking
pictures of barns. Have about 45 so far. They will be
a thing of the past in no time at all. dk

Last Weekend at Lake Powell

Just a few pics from Lake Powell last weekend. Okay. I know it looks like all we do is play. We really don't. We work too.












We are getting the knack of the schooling routine. The "brick & mortar school" kids are settling in. Homework is actually getting done. We are on a roll!!! Alyx has massive blisters on her feet from hot footing it the 2 miles to school. Yikes. She is starting to think about on-line school as well. Save the feet if nothing else!

This past Saturday I managed a small feat. The kids went through MOST of their clothes. I told Anna that she can only keep 20 shirts. Yes. That is actually a 20. You don't even want to know. Maybe she will be in the retail clothing business someday. Perhaps resale business.

You all have a wonderful week!

Family Day at Saguaro Lake

Well another great day at the lake. Blayde came to visit for the weekend and wanted a ride in dads boat.We headed to Bartlett Lake, but half way there we found out that the road was closed because it washed out...

What to do.

Next option.. Saguaro Lake..

Great place but just a little busy for a Saturday. Boats every where. So we had lunch and went swimming.





Here's Anna And Tia enjoying big brother Blayde on the lake. All of us enjoyed a sunny day at Lake Saguaro. I think we have found some thing we all love and enjoy doing it together.


Great. Family. Memories.

Dan Warwas

for whom the bell tolls...

Dan Warwas died. That's about all i know. I'll let you know when i know more. And i'll pick up flowers from all of us (and send you the bill).

Also a great obit in the paper for Lydia Zupan:
http://www.virginiamn.com/mdn/Obits.php?obit_id_ser=53059&date=2006-08-24

from John Donne: "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

e.

Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to Becky and Wayne!!!

Happy Anniversary to Charlie and Machelle!!!

Happy Anniversary to Frans and Jenny!!!

Wishing you all the best this anniversary and in all the years to come!

Arizona

I really need to sit down and read the last months worth of blogs. Just been a little busy around here though. Anyway here are a couple of pics me and the girls took when Jenny went to the gym.

Lindula's

Hello everyone. Just wanted to update you on my wonderful weekend.
Saturday: Liz, Laurie, Kathy, Tristan, Lorrie J., and myself went for a bike ride. We biked down the Mesabi Trail from Giant's Ridge to Gilbert. It was a 12 mile trip and was great. I got home after biking and went comotose for a while and thought I was going to be sick. However, I recovered and cleaned my house.
Sunday: Becky, Wayne, Ivan (from Ecquador) and all but 3 of the children came up. They came to church, we had lunch, then they went to Ironworld. Jen was able to go too. I decided a bike ride would be good, so called Liz and she joined me. We were going to bike from Ironworld to Old Town Hibbing as they were going there next. We biked there and then decided to bike back. We were back before they were leaving Ironworld. It was 16 miles round trip. Then, we all drove to Hull Rust Mine and Old Town of Hibbing. Following that, we drove to Eveleth and had Poor Gary's Pizza in the park. It was a lot of fun. It was nice to have all of them up here for the day. Hoping that soon, they can bring their children and bikes and we can all do a bike ride down the Mesabi Trail. Anyone else care to join?
Heather

Happy Birthday Machelle!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Machelle,
Happy Birthday to you!

Arizona Living

Laundry .....

Have you ever had the experience of a washing machine that just keeps on agitating in one direction? The jeans and long sleeves of shirts just keep on winding and winding and winding around the agitator. Eventually, when the clothes get wound incredibly tight, it makes the most amazing sounds! Jari thinks that we haven't replaced our washing machine since we moved in here. Assuming he is correct ... the one that went out the door before this one came in has washed approximately 12,168 loads of laundry. If that is the case, and our memories just aren't gone, I highly recommend Whirlpool!



On the very bright side ... note the new growth on this vine. Last time I bragged about my not killing a plant ... it promptly died. My sprinkler system seems to be doing the trick. A bit jimmy rigged, but I must have learned that well somewhere along the line!

I do need to know if there is someway to revive a rose bush. It keeps getting water, has no growth on it and looks very deceased. Do you think it's hopeless?




Now this little combo is ingenuity. What a city kid has to do for entertainment.

1) Fishing pole with line sits inside the arcadia door,
2) Line is attached to door of dog crate turned pigeon cage out in the yard
3) Delicious entrees are placed in crate to entice creatures
4) While unsuspecting pigeon dines, SLAM! goes the door!
So far, the other pigeons in the neighborhood aren't getting the idea that they aren't welcome here. Must get creative with a new system!



You all in the northern climates will think we are absolutely nuts, but the pool is coming down. The temp outside has cooled off to a balmy 96 degrees and we just aren't hanging out in the pool anymore. May have something to do with the fact that it looked like an algae experiment, but we'll not go there!



Brock started Arizona Virtual Academy this past Monday. These piles of books and boxes, along with the computer in his room, are our learning materials. Oh my goodness! Must say that the "teacher" lost it on Wednesday, she had a good old fashioned meltdown. The student keeps plugging along. The "teacher" likes to be a bit organized and wants everything going smoothly within the first 3 days. Talk about unrealistic! It is going to be a lot of fun ... and sometimes incredibly challenging!

That's the life over here ... tomorrow we go to play for the weekend. Will post when we get back. You all have a wonderful weekend!

Whoops

I thought I had corrected Tanners age but looked back on the blog and could not find that I sent anything regarding the fact that he is only 15 not 16. Maybe I just emailed the correction but hey, I am getting old and the memory is the first thing to go (smiles).
Anyhow, as much as Tanner wishes he was 16 and driving on his own, he is still a mere 15 years old as of August 14th, 2006 and will still be driving with his learners permit for another year. The big 16 will be next year. Sorry for the confusion or the lack of making the correction earlier.
Take care all....vroom...vroom...look out for that skateboarder who is now behind the wheel...can we buy a car with the brake installed on the passenger side!! (smiles)
Farmington Jo

One Down

I can check one off of My "Before I turn 50" list.
I took Anita's advice and used my good china for Tanner's birthday dinner on Sunday. We had shredded roast beef with all of Tanner's favorite side dishes. I served jello in my good china bowls along with a smashing table setting good enough to to feed a king and topped it off with with kool-aid served in wine glasses. I used all of my good serving bowls and the kids found it to be a very special evening. Great idea. I will now use my China for every special occasion: birthdays, first day of school, losing a tooth, last day of school, etc. Sure makes for great memories! I had fun!
Thanks for the idea Anita!!!

Lindsey

My first day of school!!!:)
I was so excited, but a little nervous too! On Sunday night, I laid out all my clothes just how I was going to wear them, and we set my alarm clock, and for once went to bed early!! I woke up right away to my alarm clock this morning! Here are some pictures from my morning!
Lindsey

Jenny

Hey all...It is quite late, so this will be short. I created a new blog tonight for our business. Check it out if you get a chance:) There is not much on it yet, as I just created it tonight....and we will still have our website, just thought this would be fun, and it is easier to update with current pictures. www.2rememberstudio.typepad.com (we are in the process of changing our name from K's Studio to 2remember studio.)
What do you think?
Jenny

Lindula's

Hello to everyone. Jen has some exciting news. She got a job in Cokato/Buffalo and is going to be moving down there. That's good for her, it will be nice for her to hang out with friends, etc.

Not much new around here. Several of us are volunteering tomorrow for the bike Tour on the Mesabi Trail. It is supposed to be a wonderful day for biking (76 and sunny). They are expecting 700-800 people. It should be fun.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE I TURN 50

1) lose 50 pounds
2) ok...lose 40 pounds
3) ok...lose 30 pounds
4) OK...learn to accept my body and all of its imperfections
5) Take kids to Mt. Rushmore
6) Draw up a will
7) Choose a guardian for the boys
8) Play a game of tennis
9) Use my good china (never have used it, belonged to my Grandmother)
10) Become an organ donor
11) Give blood
12) Try Sushi
13) Paint my bedroom
14) Get an hour long massage
15) Take my kids sledding
16) Take my kids ice skating
17) Go on our cruise
18) Take the boys to Wisconsin Dells
19) Organize my pictures in to photo albulms
20) Spend an entire weekend with my sister
21) Have a family portrait made

This is the start of my list and these are not in order of their importance...I am sure that I will add to it as I go along and hopefully can put check marks by a lot of these within the next 2 years!
Any challenges or suggestions by anyone???? Please post! (smiles)
Jody

Jody K. Appreciation Day

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Jody
Happy Birthday to you.

love, e.

Happy Birthday Mom!

To be of use
by Marge Piercy

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without the dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.

----

Happy Birthday, Mom. And thanks for showing us all how to "be of use."

Love, #5
p.s. and because its a favorite of your's, i'll add:

by Edgar A. Guest

The Path to Home

There’s the mother at the doorway
and the children at the gate.
And the little parlor windows
with curtains white and straight.
There are shagging asters blooming
in the bed that lines the fence,
And the simplest of the blossoms
seems of mighty consequence.
Oh, there isn’t any mansion
underneath God’s starry dome
That can rest a weary pilgrim
like the little place called home.

Men have sought for gold and silver;
men have dreamed at night of fame;
In the heat of youth, they’ve struggled
for achievements honored name;
But the selfish crowns are tinsel,
and their shining jewels, paste,
And the wine of pomp and glory
Soon grows bitter to the taste
For there’s never any laughter
howsoever far you roam
Like the laughter of the loved ones
in the happiness of home.

There is nothing so important
as the mother’s lullabies,
Filled with peace and sweet contentment,
when the moon begins to rise –
Nothing real except the beauty
and the calm upon her face
And the shouting of the children
as they scamper round the place.
For the greatest of man’s duties
is to keep his loved ones glad
And to have his children glory
in the father they have had.

So where’er a man may wander
and whatever be his care;
You’ll find his soul still stretching
to the home he left somewhere.
You’ll find his dreams all tangled
Up with hollyhocks in bloom
And the feet of little children
that go racing through a room
With the happy mother smiling
as she watches them at play
These are all in life that matter,
when you’ve stripped the sham away.

Midsummer at Kaleva Island

Perhaps you all got this in your newsletter, but i wanted to post it here for posterity - it's a beautifully written article and i adore the line about Tristan and i love that somebody appreciated our silly skit. Mom and Isa scanned the article from the Finnish American Reporter - and i'm not sure if you'll be able to read it, but we'll give it a try. -e.