Back in the States!

Hola mi familia,

I apologize for my lag in initial response upon returning from my Costa Rican adventure. I have been gradually assimilating back into our fortunate American lifestyle. Working with the "older" guy this past week as expidited my reintroduction to hard work along with recouping my foreign expenses. By the time of our departure, I felt connected and apart of the Tico community. There coastal lifestyle consisting of surfing, fishing, community, and nature was a cultural combination that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The first week of the journey we spent everyday on the beach surfing and absorbing excessive amounts of equatorial sun light. My novice surf skills were rapidly improved by the indigo-blue waves of the Pacific Ocean. My compatriot's (Grace and Isaiah) gave a valiant daily effort paddling through the overwhelming whitewash and back-breaking waves. During my best day of surfing which provided head high smooth-faced waves, Grace grew progressively more intimidated of the constant pounding waves. She retreated to sun-bathing on the beach. I caught my best and most exhilerating ride that day which refurbished my desire to surf.
Being among local surfers, powerful natural phenomenons, and warm weather I grasped the local "Pura Vida" ideology. Upon entering Costa Rica, this national dictum is professed everywhere and on everything. It translates to "Pure Life." A general impersonal farewell would always include "Pura Vida," to both locals and foreigners. You would be quickly outcasted for not understanding or reciprocating "Pura Vida." We were thankful that Isaiah had already experienced this national motto on a previous trip.
Also on our trip, we fished the deep-blue waters filled with Tuna and Mackarel. Our two catches provided multiple delectable meals. We rented a 4x4 SUV and traveled throughout the Guanacaste region our final week. We spent a day at a local waterfall and another driving up the coast beach-hopping.
I apologize for the lengthy post and my rambling on about my escape from reality. I will post pictures soon and let them do the talking for me. I captured several breathtaking sunsets and happy to send copies of any personal favorites.

KLB

West coast reunion

Okay Mitchells you look like you had to much fun! Let's plan a Lewis family reunion in California!? (No pressure of you two Ryan and Amber!) Maybe when the economy turns around? It might just be safer to just pick a year...2011? I loved the Elon t-shirt Ryan!
Glad to see things are looking up for you T!
Hugs to all, A Deb

Mitchells visit Mitchells

Hi All-

Ryan and I are finally posting some pictures from when Cindy and Denny were in town last weekend. We just saw the movie Julie & Julia (to avoid the painful heat we're experiencing outside) and are now inspired to post these pictures on the blog! Thanks Matt for thinking of this idea...it's a great way for us all to stay connected.

We had a wonderful time with C&D. They are very fun to entertain. :) Please come back soon!

We hope to see you all sooner than later...although don't know when that will be.

xxoo-
Amber & Ryan

Here are a few pictures from our visit - at the CA State Fair, Delicato Family Vineyards to see where 337 comes from, cable car rides in San Francisco, a special picture for Pappy, and a wonderful seafood meal on Fisherman's Wharf

What a week

Hello all!
As most of you know I have had kidney problems for more than twenty years. I never forgot about then as I go to the doctor once a month for blood work and a shot. I have been sooo lucky for so long that I had become rather complacent about my situation. I got the results from this month's blood work on Tuesday, August 25-I was shocked! My kidneys were crashing. I won't bore you with all the numbers as I am sure they would be meaningless to most of you.

I left for the Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville)to see what they could do for me. I got good news and bad news. First the good, there is help for my situation- steroids. I am headed back to Mayo on Monday to see another doctor to get this program started.The harm that has been done cannot be reversed but they are hoping to stabilize my creatine at least for a while. The bad news is I will be on dialysis some day, but not tomorrow- that is how the doctor has told me to look at it all. I have complete trust in Mayo and the doctors there. I know if there is anything that can be done they will do it.
Love to all of you
T

Pappy update***
This week Pappy has been seen by every doctor that he has. All reports are good. The retna doctor sees improvement in his good eye, his vision test showed that as well. Todays visit with Dr. Harris was the highlight of his week. We all thought Dr Linburgh couldn't be replaced but he has been LONG forgotten. Dr Harris gave him some more homework ie. elevate his feet 3x per day, and Pap is now going to be taking an iron supplement. B-12 shots are also back in the picture. The podiatrist took care of his toenails and had to listen to tales of the entire family!

Just an added note. This week Pam (Gables staff member that Pap thinks runs the place!) took Pap into the beauty salon and washed his hair, styled it, and then shaved him. When he was all done and on his way to the next social function he enter the room and exclaimed "Look at me, don't I look gorgeous!" Pam told me that all the ladies applauded. In these final days of his life remember how full of life he is!

Each and everyone of you are in my prayers. Love, A Deb

First day of school

The first day of school was a success. We are all glad (me especially) that the weekend is quickly approaching. There is nothing quite like spending time with 36 five year olds trying to establish routines!

Maddie has taken kindergarten by storm. She wakes up ready for the day to start. She has made a point to make a new friend in class everyday. Mack has taken a much more laid back approach to first grade- not reluctant but not quite as eager! He is happy that he is in class with many friends from pre k and kindergarten. He shared with me today that his favorite parts of the day are PE and writing because his teacher plays music while he writes.

Love to all

Jay

Well, I've got all this stuff loaded into my computer; so, I'll be up and running with posts to the family blog.

Uncle Denny

Cindy's Attempt #3

Hi All,

I AM the weakest link! Matt helped me start a cookbook blog last December which I've taken no where. Every time I tried to address this one, I was thrown to the other. Anyway, I think he's walked me through this.

Hope all the August Birthdays were great. We had a wonderful visit to Lodi, CA to see Ryan and Amber and their beautiful home. Did the CA State Fair, a trip to SF, and wine tasting in Lodi which was just as nice as Napa. Amber has photos she plans to post.

I love this idea. Hope I can get used to it.

Love to all,

Cindy

Welcome to the World, Zoe Cate! -Love Dad

All-

Glad to see you're all taking to this blog! Kitson asked me to pass along the following link with great photos, etc. of the newest member of the family. Enjoy!

http://web.me.com/lemmerdeur/Broadbelt/Welcome.html

-Matt

Happy Birthday T and Maddie! Enjoy your day celebrating!

As the new school year approaches best wishes to our teachers, Jay, Deb and Kristin, and our students, Taylor, Lauren, Jordan, CJ, Mack, Maddie, and Cole. (Maybe we should include Jay in the student category too, but thank goodness we are not including Kyle $$)

Kyle is back in the USA. Zoe Cate went to the doc today and now it is medically documented that she is perfect!

Tom and I are on the road today to SC. Pappy has a doc appt on Monday I need to get him to.

Love, A Deb

Matt this is a great idea,thanks. I had a great day with Debby and Cole on Wednesday. We went to the beach(Honeymoon Island)Mack and Maddie were with us too. They built a sand castle that the builders in our family would have been proud of. We wished ALL of you had been there with us Love Aunt T

This is a great idea! Thanks Matt.
I have never blogged before (I thought I was somewhat techie-ha, ha)so this is a whole new adventure for me.

I just wanted to welcome Zoe Cate to the August birthday club. Madeline and I were hoping the 21st would be a trifecta but close enough.

Next week is a big week for our house. It is back to school time! Mack is headed to 1st grade and Madeline to Kindergarten. She will certainly be the best dressed thanks to Aunt Cindy! I will post pictures soon.

Love to all
Jay

Okay, I think I've got this! First and foremost on this blog I will be referred to as A Deb (Aunt Deb) as Deb H has already gotten first pick of just Deb. If it works for A Rod, it will work for me!

Now for the news!! I made a memory today taking my darling grandson Cole to meet his new baby sister! Zoe Cate finally decided to join us this morning at approx. 2:oo AM, weighing in at 9 lb 4 oz. I think the numbers are correct, but I know Kit knows if you want exact numbers! Cole was precious saying repeatedly "She is so cute!" And she is, she's perfect! Black hair just like her momma's.

GREAT job Kristin and Coach Kit! You get a Lewis family clap. Our prayers are answered.

Kyle is trying to get back in the USA. His flight was cancelled yesterday and ended up in Liberia! I thought Africa, lol, but I guess it's somewhere in Costa Rica.

Cole and I had a beach day with Mack, Maddie, and T yesterday! We can't wait to do it again!

All you ITech people in the family I need your help! In trying to make a post today I almost shut this blog down, created my own A Deb Blog, and probably hacked in to something somewhere. So please blow up A Deb Blog if it floats your way. Thanks!

Thanks for all of your help Matt! I'm an anxious grandmother!
A Deb

Hey Matt, great idea! I would love to see pictures of the new baby when she arrives :) Thanks for creating this.

Deb

Email is So 1990's...

As some of you remember from last year, I got into blogging when my job took me on the road to many different places. I thought it was an awesome way to stay connected with my loved ones while chronicling my adventures. Recently, I felt the itch to get back into blogging, but since I'm not happily settled in Charlotte, I don't have as much to say! Then it hit me...let's have a family blog that everyone can access! So, here goes... The first-ever Lewis, Howells, Mitchell, Mekler, Broadbelt and Boerner blog is now in now live!

I encourage all of you to use this as a resource for sharing news about your families. Please post pictures, video, or whatever you can think of that we would all enjoy.

I'd like for this to be a kind of "Personal Facebook or Twitter" page that we all access frequently to stay up to date with everyone's lives.

I will follow up with the log-in information and family email address I have acquired. I'm not a big computer guy, so there may be some bumps along the way before we get this thing going.

Let's have fun with this!

Love,
Matt