Random Thoughts

Just a few random thoughts/things that have been happening (or will happen shortly) in our family.....

1. Scott and I will be leaving for a 10-day trip to Charleston and Savannah in a few weeks - we'll be gone from April 17-26. We've been to Charleston before, and loved it. We need a s-l-o-w, relaxing pace for awhile, and the lovely spring flowers, old plantations, and cobblestone streets sound perfect for that...

2. Rachel was in the audience of the Oprah Winfrey show one day last week. Harpo Studios is located right near where she works.

3. 19 lbs. down and counting on the Medifast diet. I am now in Week 5. Many thanks to my great coach, Brenda! (I'll be taking a few days off when we're on vacation, but then right back at it!)

4. Katie will be in L.A. for a few days during Easter week (for work). Grandpa Nykerk says it's OK for her to go (he says she must clear these things with him first).

5. Dave and Rachel leave for 3-4 days in Austin, TX this Wednesday. Gee, I guess quite a few of us are traveling these days! (As far as I know, that's OK with grandpa, too - ha ha.)

6. Scott's been working on our taxes this year. Thanks, dear.

7. If you happen to be downtown during the Tulip Time craft fair in Centennial Park, look for us. We'll be having a booth there this year. It runs the Saturday and Sunday of the week prior to the main festivities and parades.

8. Why is it that when it rains sports on TV, it pours? I couldn't decide what to watch today - the Pistons, Tigers, MSU, and U.S. Baseball Team were all on. I caught a little bit of all of them.

9. We cleaned part (not even all!) of our basement this Saturday, and filled 3 giant garbage bins and still had lots of other loose odds and ends. Although I swore when we moved 14 years ago that I would never hold another garage sale, I started a pile of items to sell while we were cleaning, and I've decided to have one this spring. What doesn't sell goes straight to Goodwill. Anyone else want to join me?

10. Happy Spring, loved ones!

We Pulled It Off!....

First, let me apologize for not posting any pictures of Rachel's surprise party last night, but in a typical Jean-move, when I thought I had charged my camera battery, I had put it in upside down, so needless to say, it was dead on arrival. Thank goodness I can rely on Brenda to always bring her camera; which she did. I'm sure she'll be posting soon. So, on to the fun! For the last week and a half or so, Karen Collings, Brenda and I have been planning, scheming, inviting and preparing for a surprise 50th birthday party (at Karen's house) for Rachel. Well, we pulled it off, and everything came together beautifully. Jim and others who were in contact with Rachel during the last few days managed not to spill the beans, so that when she arrived at Karen's last night in her soccer gear, she really thought she was there for coffee with a few friends from church who were supposed to be there to surprise Dave Ebels (whose birthday was the same day as hers); and then she was planning on heading for her game. Jim and Chad were in Detroit for the Pistons game (nice win, Pistons!), so she drove over by herself.

When Ellen Moes greeted her at the door, we all ran out from our hiding places and yelled "surprise!" and from the look on her face, I think she really was (surprised that is). From there we had a great evening of sharing some of our memories of Rachel over the years (everyone had written, or in my cased typed - hey, it's faster) on index cards and she read them aloud - lots of poignant, funny and wonderful memories of our dear sister, aunt and friend. She then opened a few gifts, and through the course of the evening, we enjoyed plenty of good food and wine, and many, many laughs. Speaking for myself, I think we all had a grand time. A special thanks to Karen for coming up with the idea in the first place, and for sharing her beautiful home with us. Happy Birthday, Rachel, and many, many more!