It was a cold, windy day...

....in West Lafayette, Indiana. Aunt Debby Lea, Uncle Jeff, Grandpa and I blew across the parking lot, in a wind chill of -18, directly into the Purdue Music Hall where we watched your cousin Jon receive his Bachelors Degree in Aeronautical Engineering along with over 1,000 other students. The crowd was so large, we couldn't get a shot of him actually receiving his diploma. After all these many graduations we've attended, I no longer shoot a photo of someone who looks like my pick of the crop and I opt for a close-up of grad and parents - like the one shown here of Jon with his mom and dad, beaming with pride and happiness. (Go Boilers!)

Before graduation Jon gave us a tour of the new Neil Armstrong Building where he worked on a major project: this airplane he is holding. He, along with several other students designed and built this remote controlled model.

The weather in Lafayette was like a hurricane in sub-zero weather, but our hearts were warmed by the presence of Jon and his friends, and their happiness and anticipation of their future lives. Next posting, we'll get to the really good stuff of his graduation: His commissioning (by order of President Bush, no less) into the United States Air Force. See you next blogtime! Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me

What to do in case of fire

What would you do if you came upon this scene?


That's easy. Call up cousin Eric and get him on the job.











Here you see him with his fire-fighting team. Uh, hey guys, You wanna turn around and see the surprise behind you? (Eric is front row, third from left and, like all his buddies, with his back to the main point of business.)














Do something quick!!!











Phew! They did it!















These are the trucks his company uses. Now seriously, Eric takes his position with the fire department very earnestly. (What you've seen here is only a practice run. That's why the firemen can stop and pose for a picture.) Eric's known to disappear from his bed in the middle of the night and answer the call of duty. He not only puts out fires, he helps heart attack victims and people injured in auto accidents. It seems the medical field is the place for Eric to be - we're thrilled he is training to be a Registered Nurse and who knows where he will go from there.











Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me

Guess who

Which of the people in this family photo is a renowned author (well, at least, in the Seagle household he/she is renowned.)? He/She wrote the book entitled: A Dress for Anna: the Story of the Redemption of the Life of a Ukrainian Orphan. It is being published by FaithWalk Books. Grandpa and I don't know when, but we hope within the next year. However, if not in the next 3 years the publisher will relinquish rights to it.

The book is the story of how God spoke to a couple and led their family to adopt a little girl from Ukraine, provided for them and guided them to people to help them adopt her, as well as how they found her among the 20,000+ orphans in Ukraine. It also tells the story of her orphanage, the other children there and the adoption process in Ukraine. The final portion of the book tells the story of her adjustment to her new family and their understanding and dealing with the ramifications of her disabilities.

Scroll down for answer:




















Answer: It's Aunt Debbie and we'll let you know the day it is published. Deb, we're proud of you just like we are proud of all our off-spring, their spouses and kids.

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me

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How to work a puzzle in 3 easy pictures.

Uncle Dave wrote in an email:"Mom, I thought Heather and I knew how to work a puzzle correctly. However, her new boyfriend set me straight. While we have started a 12,000 piece puzzle, Heather bought a 1,000 piece puzzle hoping that Cole would get the knack. It turns out Cole was much more professional about it. Attitude is everything when working a puzzle. Can you look at the JPG and tell what Heather is doing wrong and Cole is doing right.

That's right. Cole is dressed properly! Heather has jeans on with a dirty top. But Cole - he knows what he is doing - put on a nice shirt and a tie just for the occasion. I am sure that puzzle will be done in no time. Dave."

Enter Dave. He's going to give it a try. He's properly dressed.
















He's not only well-dressed, but he is also working by the light of an opulent chandelier, but still something is lacking. Oh, I get it now!







He needed an attitude adjustment. Now he's starting to smile. He'll do that 12,000 piecer before Cole can lift 1/1000th of his puzzle.

Hey, Fellas, let us know who wins.

Love you all, Grandma for both of us.

Why all the ballons?

Somebody's birthday? Fourth of July? Nope!











IT'S GOD SQUAD! at Lakeside on Lake Erie in Ohio!






The Amends and we (and we wish you, too) went there for one week in August. As always, one of the highlights of our stay was Chip Richter and a Vacation Bible School that goes by the name of God Squad.
The three girls, Anna, Saya and Aly attended each morning and participated in the songs, games, art work and story telling. Afterwards everyone, even adults, joined in the fun outside the church.


















We had other things to do that were fun - like a family picnic by the Lake that included a very chilly wind we didn't expect.















Aunt Deb and Uncle Rob won a CD of Chip Richter and his most famous songs - Deb said it's the first time she was awarded a prize for having the most kids!
There were other things to do, like every time I saw Ben and Justy they were eating!












Either it was ice cream or a full meal at the hotel.


Everyone was allowed to play shuffleboard.





















Or play on the beach.

Sometimes we attended the many programs provided by Lakeside such as this one that featured a Civil War Band.

But a good deal of the time we spent just lounging around the house.
Whatever we did, it was relaxing and fun and we hope to do it again some day, but hope you will join us. Remember: We love you all! Grandma for Grandpa and me

A call for Volunteers!

Check out the slide show on the left and see what Joe Seagle's new house looks like. Then close your eyes and visualize what it will be when he finishes re-furbishing it.
He got it at a "steal" (to use a term his Dad used as a teenager when he saw the price of any motorcycle.) A bank was about to foreclose on the house and Joe made the right bid at the right time.
Someday it will look like an abode in Heaven, after Joe puts in the work it needs.
Grandpa and I offered to come see him, and he was quick to say we could come help him. (Only joking, we presume.)
Joe's roommate is still his roommate - having opted to move in with Joe and his cat "Harley"

Congratulations, Joe, on becoming a first-time homeowner. We hope you enjoy living in it.

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me

This is typical Anna at Elderhostel!

Typical means: Anna Amend is always active and cheerful. In the summer of 2008, Grandpa and I took your cousin (sister?) to an Elderhostel in Watkins Glen, NY. It was held at the old Watson homestead near Corning. (You can ask Uncle Dave who Watson is?) The area where we stayed was acres of farmland with a hotel-like structure complete with large, open recreation/dining room, bedrooms, class rooms, craft rooms and a chapel at one end of the structure. Anna was busy every minute. Let's start out with an action shot: Anna on the diving board at the Olympic size pool. She met a boy who was a champion swimmer and she beat him in a race. They became good friends.

















We did field trips. Here are a few pics of them. The first one is of
Anna blowing a glass ornament. Her head is behind the hands of the artisan who assisted her. Anna blew with so much gusto, the ornament was over sized and she had to do a second. I think the glass on the first was so thin, it was too fragile.














In the next photo she was a blacksmith. She made a sturdy, iron S-hook.
















Here she is visiting in a kitchen at a reconstructed village. We got to eat the venison stew and other goodies the lady made.















Would you believe that here she is in the process of making a Styrofoam airplane at the Glenn Curtiss (Aviation) Museum?














Anna always meets up with a dog. This one happens to be a black silhouette with several others just like it beside a lake where we picnicked.



















There were some organized (by the kids) games to play and Anna was always there.












We explored the creeks and hiking trails and woods around the homestead. Here's Anna with a friend looking for critters and other things in the nearby creek.














That's Anna cranking the ice cream maker.














Anna's family came to visit and we took a hay ride and visited a 19th century schoolhouse.


















Here she is: "Climbing the walls"!


We had a great experience -not climbing walls, but with Anna. It was an exciting week and we look forward to seeing Anna and her siblings for another happy week with them at Lakeside.

Love you all! Grandma for Grandpa and me.

A Visit to Stony Creek

What we really wanted was a family portrait of the Santellers. It seems Grandpa and I aren't too keen on our picture-taking skills. At least Uncle Eric and what we can see of Aunt Kerie looks pretty good.
All these pics were taken when we went to visit them in June for Eric Robert's high school graduation. Besides seeing our loved ones, we were treated to all the beautiful Adirondack scenery.



We decided to take these pictures one person at a time. (To make up for our lack of skill.) We had a little trouble getting Skyler right side up. Did we tell you he is as sweet and cute as ever? I predict he will become a world famous comedian. He's great with stand-up comedy. (Did I mention he is also an excellent student?)















Jeff is still as handsome as he is brilliant. (Do I sound like a grandma?) This picture shows him receiving one among many honors-The National Junior Honor Society Award, that's besides being a class officer.



















Amy is still going to Albany SUNY and working in the psychiatric hospital near there. While we were in Stony Creek, she celebrated her 20th birthday - blew out all the candles, too.




















Last but not least, our graduation boy Eric Robert. I think I told everyone already he is planning to go to Adirondack Community College, living at home, and plans to be a RN.


Our trip was outstanding in every respect, but the best part was seeing everyone in the Heller household. My apologies for taking so long to catch you up on your New York cousins.

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me

Aaahhhh! It's accomplished.

Finally, after months of talking about it, I am putting Eric Robert's senior activities down for posterity. On June 28th he graduated with many honors - he was in the top 10 students in a class of 72 and the recipient of the Environ Team Award, Boys State Award (Junior year), Great Sacandaga Lake Citizenship Award, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Award (Junior Year), Saratoga County School Boards Association Award, Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology (Junior Year) and, under Athletic Awards, the George Doherty Award and New Visions Program participant - just to name a few.


You all know that he received the Eagle Scout Award earlier this year, but did you know he was honored for his environmental work. This honor included a $500 scholarship and a personal handshake from his state senator.
Every weekday of his senior year, Eric Robert would arise early, don good looking slacks, dress shirt, tie and lab coat and drive to Saratoga for a session with the New Visions Program. His work there, along with about 10 other students selected throughout the area, was to attend class during the mornings and in the afternoon to shadow a doctor or work in a pharmacy or visit a hospital or do some task geared toward helping the student find a suitable career in the medical field. It worked, because Eric Robert easily chose to attend Adirondack Community College (ACC) to study nursing. In 2-1/2 years he will be a Registered Nurse and from there he will have many options for specialization. (He's had a lot of experience already, in that he is on the local fire department and is a New York State Certified Fireman and was called out on an emergency case almost every night we visited.) Pictured below you see Eric Robert in a restaurant. He is either studying the menu or opening a graduation gift.


By attending ACC Eric Robert will live at home while attending college. He'll like that for many reasons, like saving money and being able to visit his girl friend Stacy more often.


You can see, in spite of a heavy downpour outside the high school, graduation was a very happy occasion for Eric Robert's family. He's a very good student, but he is also a hands-on person, so we expect to see many exciting things happen with him in the years to come.


We'll be praying for you, Eric Robert, and watching your progress in the years to come.

There! I did it! I was slow getting this post down on 'paper', but not because I didn't like the subject matter. Eric Robert is a lot of fun to write about. Next on the Grandma's Gazette agenda you'll hear about our visit to Stony Creek and the rest of his family. 'See' you then.

Love you all, Grandma for both of us

And again we are new grandparents!!!

This time it is the Santeller household that has brought honor to our clan. This little kitten is named 'Domino' (don't know why) and he is a feisty little bugger.


Jeff laid back on the carpet and pulled Domino on top of him and suddenly Domino had a mouthful of Jeff-nose.


There's always room for one more in our critter menagerie that extends from Upstate New York to Morgan Hill, California. Like grandchildren, grandpets are all play and no responsibility. We're for 'em! Let me know, if you are the next to get an animal. Any volunteers?

I'm waaaayyy behind on my posting, but the next one should be that long-promised and long-awaited story of Eric Santell and his high school Senior events. Pray for me and my efforts. I've not made much progress in that department.

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me