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

We're Grandparents again!

Yes! Aunt Debby Lea did us the favor. We now have a new granddog, but let's get Aunt Deb to tell us all about HIM by quoting her email.

"Life is busy here. We added an addition to our house. HIS name is Max and he is a purebred basset hound. I found him in a shelter in Chicago (yeah...it's several hours from my house!). He is three and he and Hershey are loving each others company. They behave as if they have been together forever and they display the typical sibling rivalry found in two dog households. It's been great. He is nicely trained and fully housebroken.

(Grandma's note: since her letter was so interesting, I will include her other news.)

Jon is staying with us for the summer which is an exceptional treat. He begins two summer school classes next week. Looks like everything is still on track for him to graduate in December. He selected his top three choices for pilot's training a few weeks ago. He believes that his commission will be the Monday following fall semester exams (December 21) Hopefully that is the correct date, but I will attempt to get more clarification from him when he gets out of bed.

I am leaving on Saturday morning for a senior high mission trip to Washington DC for a week. We will be working with an organization know as YSOP (check this out at http://www.ysop.org) and our tasks will be centered around shelters and soup kitchens. I am attempting to mentally prepare myself for a week with teenagers and a week leaving my "gang" at home by themselves. I am not certain which situation concerns me the most, but currently I feeling a lot more unsure of leaving my house for a week!! My guys can be messssssssy!!!!!"

(Grandma here: Now on to other news from another branch of the family.)

Jenn Seagle called and said she is moving to Richmond to live with her parents and seek employment there.
"When?" I asked.
"Now." was the reply.
"When?"
"Grandma, I'm in the car with my mom and we're driving from Chicago to Richmond. We're just outside Lexington, KY." I guess she really meant 'now.'
We're hoping and praying she'll get a job in her field of Environmental Sciences. She has worked hard for her degree and the environment needs good people like her to protect it.

It looks like the news about Eric's awards will have to wait until I can get more info from him. Maybe next posting. I'm sorry about that, Eric. I'll get on it as soon as I can.

Everybody remember:
I love you all! Grandma for Grandpa and me

Farewell to Jordan

Grandpa and I are home now and our visit to Israel and Jordan is a heartwarming memory. Grandpa did go there to audit books, but the part we'll always remember best will be the time spent with our loved ones: Roger and Ellen Elbel in Jerusalem, The Mangham and LeTexier families in Amman and as a little added bonus - no books in Aqaba - the Martin family in the south.

Since most of you don't know this family, let me introduce you. This is four year old Josh. I couldn't decide between the two pictures, so I put in both. You decide which is most appealing.



This is Josh, feeling a little low for reasons unknown, getting some comfort from his dad Trey. Trey works as the Director of Life Center. He has a true love for all people and lives to serve them.



This is Lily (18 months). She's Josh's sister. She just learned to enjoy DVDs and knows how to dig through a drawer full of them to find her favorites.


Did I mention how cute Josh and Lily are and how they bring so much sunshine into the Martin household?


Here's Lily, sitting on her mom's lap on the way to some family recreation.That's a schwarma she's eating - the national fast food of Jordan.


Her family has a membership at a swim club outside the city on the Gulf of Aqaba. There is a swimming pool with all the amenities - a perfect place for the Martins to spend happy hours in the sun.



Josh is running for joy - no, there isn't a shark in the sea.


As you can see, the Martins are one very happy family.


However, I do have one prayer request for them. Since they moved to Jordan several years ago, they have had almost nonstop sickness. One problem is bacterial illnesses with flu-like symptons, or even flu itself, that keeps them under the weather. Some of us are praying for them all to have many months of no sickness, so they can build up their immunities and stay well. Will you join us in our prayers?

My saga ends. I hope you've enjoyed at least parts of it. It's always a good feeling to be home, but we feel happy and blessed for the time spent in the Middle East.

Now I have to get down to business on a posting about your cousin/brother Eric and some awards he received a month or two ago. Don't forget:

I love you all! Grandma for Grandpa and me