May 2010

This was a month of highs and lows, gain and loss, challenges and extremes of weather ranging from the 4" of snow on our flowers, breaking off lilacs to the 4 days of more than 90 degrees. It was a month we felt God's love and support throughout.

On May 7, Mark's mother, Hazel, went home to her Savior. At 91 years old, she was able to be at her own home until the last 2 weeks, with lots of loving care and oversight from son Phil and his patient wife Connie. They did so much for her those last 7 years in Rice Lake. In Lomira, we were overwhelmed and moved by the large turnout for Hazel's funeral on the 15th, where all four grandsons served as pallbearers, with Jim and Kayme getting up very early to fly in that morning.

Mark had to be in Missouri the week before the funeral and then off to Colorado and Utah right afterwards, very hard for him to be away instead of home. However, one of the blessings of the month was those 3 extra days of having Jim and Kayme here, filling the house with activity and hope for the future. They will be adding the first of the next generation of Henkels in December, a great joy to all of us. Kayme has a real glow about her most days.

We were all glowing for the other truly happy occasion on the 21st, when Jim was formally "hooded" with his PhD in microbiology in the Milwaukee Theatre. Kayme's brother Paul had graduated from seminary that morning, so the Fritzes and Henkels were all very happy gathering for dinner before departing in different directions.

Mark and Jim had lots of bonding time the day after the funeral: they struggled mightily to replace our dishwasher in the non-standard cabinet, with rather wet results. Jim, Kayme and Hilde invited Heidi and her boyfriend Aaron and several black belts for a grill out which was enlivened by SIX children age four or younger! One guy volunteered to come back the next night so he and Jim could solve the dishwasher dilemma. What a relief.

Between all the big events and travel, Mark and Hilde got their large garden in and mowed and mowed the lawn. Lots of other chores kept both busy as we weeded and mulched, painted and fixed. Today, at the end of the month, we installed the new carriage lights around the driveway, despite the challenges of really backward wiring, and Mark wired and mounted the invisible fence which Jim, Kayme and John bought for us. They did all the digging and testing while they were here...we just had to affix it to the wall. Freddie is learning about the new limits and we are very grateful for the set up.

ON the way home from the funeral, we stopped in the Horicon Marsh to watch and listen to the birds and watching a muskrat. It was perfectly tranquil, despite the rush of traffic.

Active April

Lots of family interaction this month, starting off with Easter. John and Evie came to Rudolph for a nice visit, including sunrise service on Easter. Niece Heidi Orchard joined us for Easter dinner, so there were five at the table this time. Mark's business in Wauwatosa later that week allowed Laure and Mom and Dad Bormann to meet Mark and Hilde for lunch. Late in April, Hilde and Heidi met for lunch , since even very busy, nearly done with UWSP seniors need to eat!

Spring elections resulted in Hilde's reelection to Wood County Board for the sixth term. She has been reappointed as chair of the Conservation, Education and Economic Development Committee which will also oversee the redistricting for the county next spring....that will be interesting.

Spring also means planting and cleaning up. Mark got both gardens worked up very nicely, early, but then had to spend some time with a metal detector searching for the winch handle which had vibrated loose while he was plowing. He did recover the handle! After spending a morning working with Land Conservation drew sorting and bagging the spring tree seedlings, Hilde brought home 100 tamarack seedlings. Mark and Hilde planted those in the lower 28 acres, where the acid wet soil ought to be optimal for success.

What a beautiful spring it has been in Rudolph! The flowers and trees have been long blossoming and the air full of wonderful scents (and pollen). Asparagus is producing early and well; the cherry, crabapple, apple and pear trees blossomed one day after another until the entire orchard was beautiful, and the lilacs add their perfume. Of course the early warmth meant that the lawn mowing season has also begun.

Mark has had some major revisions to his business schedule. The lawsuit in Maryland was settled favorably, but that meant no much-desired visit to Jim and Kayme. However, Mark will be adding several trips out west for another case, so he will be very busy. Actually, the case for early May settling was an example of God's grace, since it meant that Mark and Hilde are here in Wisconsin able to visit his mother on May 1st as she is fading from this life and heading home, after 91 years.