Thanksgiving Weekend Doings

We spent Thanksgiving Day with the Catlin/Brackens at Ted and Pat's house. Everyone was there except for Kim, Amariah, Katie and baby Elijah. They were back in Illinois getting over being sick - awww - we missed them. Phebe (Kyle's girl) lives in Florida, and that is a LONG trip for a 9 year old! Maybe next year.


What amazing weather we had for Thanksgiving, and these guys hung out watching football - hmmm!

It must have been a good game. They couldn't tear themselves away. I don't even remember who played!

This is Summer, Pat's sister Pam's granddaughter. I don't think SHE was watching the game!!!

Ahhh - now we've got somebody who want's to get outside and enjoy the weather and get some exercise.

The boys wanted to play bombardment - and guess who they wanted to bombard? Me!!!
We had a blast! This is Griffin, Tom's boy.

This is Matthew, Teddy's boy.

Oh oh - now I've really got to run!


Charlie (Jenna's boy) and Maddox (Corey's boy) , the Bracken grandchildren, had other ideas of how to enjoy the backyard.

Wow, Charlie can do sommersaults! Pretty good for only 18 months old!


Time to carve the turkey - a tradition for Ted and Teddy plus the dog, Ellie, waiting for scraps.

Boy, it gets crowded in the kitchen - guess I'll just play with the kids:)

These pictures are kind of blurred, since my new camera somehow gets on the wrong setting - I'll get used to it someday. Maybe I should read the user's guide? But it needs to be downloaded - I'd much rather have a booklet in the box with the camera!

Mmmm - that plate next to Paul is MINE!

Chow down, everyone!



On Friday, we went over to Phil and Leslie's for a Casey gathering for food and games.

Scarlett gets all the attention, since she is the only little one so far. She does NOT like Charlie, the dog!

Alison tried to show her Charlie is nice, but Scarlett stayed as far away as possible.

Tyler, Drew, and Brenner had their own game - looks more like research to me.

This was a game for artists only - well, stick people were allowed. I think Anna won the prize for the best pear, and Elaine for the craziest chimney!


On Saturday, Paul and I went to the last Gopher football game of the year. It was a bit chilly, but THIS year, we had foot warmers in our boots and were toastie warm the whole game!


Paul had Roger's ear warmer/chin warmer and that was a real treat!

Hmmm - I think I can find a better use for that thing!

The Gopher's won! We must be good luck - the only game we went to, and they turned the whole season around. Way to go, Gophers. Goldy does push-ups for each point after a score.

The new coach - Coach Kill - gives them a great pep talk - I don't know what he said, but it worked!

The Marching Band did a really cool formation - it started with the drums in a small circle in the middle.

Then the tubas and trumpets joined...

... and they squeezed into the tiniest circle...

...turned around, and knelt down. All the while playing a song - WOW!

This was on the scoreboard as they marched. I get a better picture focusing on the scoreboard than at the angle we sit. Anyways, we had a great weekend celebrating all the tings we have to be thankful for - thanks, God!

MEA Break

MEA break came at just the right time this year. Paul and I were glad to get away for a while, and Illinois and the Friends Forever Reunion Sunday seemed like a perfect place to go for the weekend, especially since tom and Kim's new baby, Elijah donald Catlin made his appearance on the 15th!

I even got to hold him, since I DIDN'T have poison ivy this time like I did the summer Amariah was born!
I wonder if he will be a Twins fan like his father, or follow the White Sox???????????
Amariah and I had fun reading books, and I'm sure I could have read many more. She loves turning the pages and patiently waits for me to read every word.

Then we had a tea party, and she had to bring some cookies to share with Uncle Paul.

Katie came home and immediately crashed on the couch - it WAS a school night, after all! Cheerleading is hard work, you know.


On Friday morning we headed up to Galena for a round of golf at the public country club.
It was a beautiful day and a beautiful course.

Hit 'em straight, Paulee!


That's a beaut!


I love teeing off from up high - it makes me feel like my drives go sky high for a change!

We did a little exploring around Galena after the round of golf. Galena is a famous old river town full of historic buildings.




This is the view from Ulysses S. Grant's house - and you couldd see three or four quaint little churches through the trees.

The President only lived here for about six years, but it is well preserved. We were too late to get the tour - maybe next time.

This statue is in a nearby park that was full of old cannons.

This statue by the house is of MRS. Grant - Julia, I think her name was.

What a beautiful day! We headed for Aurora Friday night and stayed in Yorkville.


Saturday morning we headed for another round of golf right in Aurora at a beautiful course near the church. I went by it many times during my summer ministry years and it ever even crossed my mind that I would someday play golf there.

We teamed up with two guys who know the course well and could give us all sorts of tips along the way.


This hole was a doozie!

What a relaxing day! We went to church at the AC church in Aurora on Sunday, and I had a chance to see lots of old friends from my summer ministry days since it was the Friends Forever Retreat Weekend - the 25th anniversary! God is blessing that event, since it has grown to 150 kids from around 40-50 in my day. Kids who were the campers are now youth pastors and bringing THEIR youth groups. How great to be a part of the circle of life!

Roger's Homegoing

Paul's dad, Roger, went home to be with the Lord on October 5. He was 93 and ready to join his wife Nora and his parents Robert and Susie Casey. He came down with pneumonia in August and just couldn't regain his strength.

Both Christie and Tessa - granddaughters who now live on opposite coasts, were able to come home and spend some time with him this fall. It was a special time for them and God worked it out in just the right time.

Paul planned and led his memorial service on Oct. 17 at Waterbrooke. It was a celebration ... or as Paul put it, a "graduation!" We will miss him, especially when playing dominos. He left a wonderful family that I am blessed to be a part of.


On Tuesday night, Oct. 4, we gathered at Mark's home on Lake Minnetonka for a boat ride and time of sharing as a family, not knowing that Roger would leave this world the next day.

You're never too old to enjoy the swing!

Jon brought over his dog and everyone wanted a picture with him. He's really cute.

I think Anna would keep him if she could.



It was a beautiful ride around the lake - summer's last hurrah.


Beautiful girls - three of the six granddaughters of Roger and Nora Casey.

Yes, I was there, too. Sometimes I take all the pictures and don't remember to have someone take on of me!

Elaine is one of the family now - Roger's angel. She was a wonderful companion to him these last five years.


Hopefully the family will carry on in the path that Roger and Nora laid out for them - one of faith, trusting in the Lord, and living lives based on His Word and ways. Thank you, Lord, for a godly father and mother.