Got SISU?

Sisu is a Finnish term that could be roughly translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity.


I would hope, with their Finnish heritage, that all of my kids would exhibit sisu. This blog is for Cherise though. It is a photo tour of the past year because it time to celebrate her birthday again.

Happy 24th Birthday Cherise!!!!




"Are you ready for this?"

Cherise and Peanut Butter, her (our) cat

Last summer with her Dad and Alyssa (Rowan's there too)

Cherise and her Lalita (Simon's hiding)

Girls and their road trip snacks. Sarah came to get a ride back home.

Family Camp in LaGrande. Looks like Cherise and Hayden are ready.

Cherise with her gonna be sister-in-law Kathleen and her gonna be neices.

At bat

Cherise and some of the men in her life. Notice the soccer t-shirt? I think that is the same one she wore when she was playing soccer in 5th grade!

She is a terrific Aunt w/ Danika

Rowan

Genevieve and Wyatt (under the bench)

But her next adventure is going to begin in August as she becomes Mrs T. Kiel W.
It has been quite a year of fun and family times. We look forward to many many more in the year ahead. We are proud of you Reesie. God has blessed you, strengthened you and guided you in the past and we trust He will continue to do so.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Oregon Trail ....kinda

I'm pretty sure the pioneers didn't have suncatchers in their prairie schooners but they didn't have digital cameras to catch the sun behind them either.

I can't travel in the Columia river gorge or in any of the area south of the river without think about the hardships and struggles that those Oregon Trail pioneers went through.

The land would be pretty much the same minus the highway system.

The skies would have had the same vastness to it. Though I doubt anyone had much time to be looking at the clouds and dreaming. Perhaps on Sundays if the train they were with stopped.

The hills between the high prairie of central Oregon and the Columbia River look anything but hospitable. I'm sure Louis L'Amour fans would beg to differ.

The sun going lower in the sky is the sign to start wrapping up whatever you need to do for the day. It is time to rest and get ready for the day ahead.

The Dalles was a welcome place for many travelers. It was the beginning of a river journey for some. It also was not far from the Cascade range and the end of the Oregon Trail in Oregon City. I'm sure there are many travelers along Interstate 84 that have stopped here for a meal or a cinnamon roll. Cousin's ....It is one nice family restaurant.

Weather and Life Changes

We had a few days of on again off again snow showers.

It was the latest documented snowfall on record for Portland.

Another first, Courtney's official first day of school at PCC. She was apprehensive but I'm sure she is doing fine there. This is a very good thing. She is one her way to a college education....now she just has to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up :)

In their Easter finery

The girls were pretty in pink. Wyatt was duded out in a vest/tie combo.

Joylynn was in a pretty dress as well. She brought the kids over on Easter Sunday even though she wasn't feeling very well and I was home from church due to a respiratory thing.

Wyatt and Genevieve "loved" their baskets that we made up for them.

With a rare smile for the camera or the Uncle that is trying to make her laugh...Genevieve is the perfect centerpiece for this picture.

Good Gramma or Bad Gramma?

We are going to have the grandkids for a few days. Their Momma is in the hospital with pneumonia. So what is the first stop this Gramma makes after picking them up?.....McDonalds!

Wyatt ate 6 chicken nuggets and about half of his fries. Genevieve ate her fries and about half of her chicken nuggets. Danika can't wait until she has teeth and is able to partake as well.

I will try to make up with a few more fruits, veggies and dairy products in the days to come.

Sisters trip

We were invited to join Logan and Alyssa for a few days in Sisters, Oregon.
I had never been in this part of the state....what a beautiful place to live and visit.

The first morning we were there "The Sisters" were out. I guess the clouds were around for several days before we got there. The clouds were back on our second day but we took total advantage of the sunshine.

Cam the ranch hand. He is in his element if animals are involved.

Kathryn G. and her horses. I don't know how many are personally hers but horses are her passion and her vocation.

Rowan stayed with Gramma while everyone else tended to the sheep.

Rowan being introduced to one of the horses.

My guys.

Sisters and Kathryn and Rowan in Sisters. At the start of our walking tour. Quilt shop, candle shop, The Hen's Tooth and a used book store....we only made a small dent in the local shops.

Rowan and the leaders of his fan club.
Harlan and I are blessed to share the grandparenting of this fine young man with two wonderful people that are responsible for rearing 3 extraordinary young men of their own. Allan and Kathryn G.

Beyond the sunset

I tried to post this picture on the "farewell" blog but it wouldn't let me. It was time for goodbyes but we all look forward to a beautiful sunrise someday when we can join all of those that are waiting along with us.

A fond farewell.

On Saturday we traveled up to the Centerville cemetery to have a graveside service for Harlan's dad. It was sunshiny and windy just like it should be this time of the year.

His "boys" were there to place his beautifully made "box" into position.
Har's brother Clint, his nephew Shawn and niece's husband Jay did an amazing job on building the box that Dad was laid to rest in. Everything about it reflected the man that he was. Except if he would have made it himself it would have been far more rustic and imprecise.

A shot of some of the grandkids and greats.

Cherise and her Kiel.

Quentin, Annie & Sebastian

Harlan's cousin Judy from Alberta brought a jar of soil with her so Dad is now buried beneath the dirt in the Klickitat valley with some Alberta dirt from his homeplace mixed in as well.

St Patrick's Day isn't far away

lep·re·chaun /ˈlɛprəˌkɔn, -ˌkɒn/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[lep-ruh-kawn, -kon] Irish Folklore.

a dwarf or sprite.

Krystle has always had a quality about her that reminded me of a wood nymph. Perhaps she has a bit of the leprechaun in her with her birthday so close to St Patrick's Day. Can you believe she is going to be 21! next week?

This little guy has a twinkle in his eye. He is a little tricky one.

Genevieve , our little Tinkerbell if there ever was one. She is a pixie.

Have you seen a cuter "sprite" lately? Can she open her eyes any wider? What a sweet little lass!

Raymond Edwin Hilman 03/31/11 - 03/07/08

Harlan's Dad, Ray Hilman, passed away today. We will be remembering his life late next week.

The picture here was taken on his 95th birthday almost 2 years ago.

It is the way most of us will remember him. It was before his stroke. When his mind was sharp as a tack. Though the past couple of years didn't totally take away his wit, story telling capabilities or his warmth toward people.

It has been seven years since we said our goodbyes to Harlan's mother. It is right that Ray and Irene be together now. They have left a legacy of faith and love that few will be able to claim.
We will miss him just has we have her but look forward to the day when we will all be together again.

3-3 Great day for a number nut.

We celebrate January 1st. February 2nd. Why not continue the trend with March 3rd, April 4th, May 5th (wait we do celebrate that one), June 6th (another celebration in our family anyway, Logan's birthday), July 7th, August 8th, September 9th, October 10th, November 11th (we do celebrate Veteran's Day, sort of....Monday holidays often mess it up), and December 12th?

In typing those dates, I realize that I missed giving birth on one of those days by only 1 day three different times 09/10/82, 04/05/84, and 08/07/98. Joylynn had the same experience on Oct 11th when Genevieve was born.

Can you tell I tend to spend time thinking about numbers? I am random in many different areas.

In the words of one of my favorite leading ladies Playing opposite one of the great leading men.
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy


ST -"Are you in the habit of associating words ....with the number of letters in them?"

KH -"I associate many things with many things."

In another scene:

ST -"My name is Richard Sumner."

KH -"Well, numerologically, that's very good. There are 13 letters in your name."

ST -"You calculate rapidly."

KH -"Up to 13 anyway."