Donald Wade Soper Junior turned 80

Right off let's say it -- I'm a jerk. I forgot my brother's birthday, his 80th birthday on February 22 and I'm not proud of that. But I am proud of him. He survived some terrible things in his life and came out the better person for it.

And as for me, well, if it hadn't been for him I wouldn't be typing these words right now. In one of the first postwar dysfunctional families my big brother was always there for me.

We're twelve years apart in age, rarely speak, and since we live a couple of thousand miles apart haven't seen each in years. We rarely  agree on anything -- except when it came to our dad. We never had to think twice when he was involved in our lives or us in his.

Happy birthday Big Brother and I hope it was a blowout.







The MacDonalds stop by en route to France

The MacDonald family stopped in Grand Rapids for a couple of days last month. They left Hawaii and are making their way to Lille, France where they'll spend the next couple of years or so. And, after a couple of nights here the four of them headed off for stops in Virginia, Connecticut and Maine to see more family and friends before flying to Paris and then a train to Lille where they expect to arrive, well, right about now I suppose.

The kids were all in fine form and it was grand to see them all. It's been far too long since we've all been together let along spending quality time hanging out. And given this was Michigan with winter and all, hanging out is pretty much what we did. But it was really important for those kids to see gram and great-gram -- and for her to spend time with them, too, of course. Mission accomplished.

Oh, and no need to ask -- we are planning on a stop in Lille later this fall when the two of us head back to France. More about that later.

Christina holding Liam, Kiera,  Great-Gram and Glen

Susie joins in the fun

Christina and her gram

Donald Wade Soper Sr born January 29, 1910

Happy birthday, Pop! Love from your two sons. . . scenes from a life well-lived and a man well-loved:

















Christmas in West Michigan

Time flies when you're having fun. Christmas and the New Year have come and gone. Life is good here and even though it's snowing right now, we're in Michigan and things have worked out surprisingly well.

We had a pleasant holiday season --  I trust you can say the same --- with a stop at Meijer Gardens to check out their holiday decorations, a nice quiet Christmas morning with Susan's mom and a Christmas dinner  in Rockford at the home of Laurie and Garret Ten Have-Chapman, one of Susie's cousins. Lots of good food, warm conversation and incredibly happy people.

Susie's caramel-nut tart, one of Christmas treats


Susie's Christmas present to me

Maria



Susie and cousin Jen

nephew Matt and friend


Jen



Claire, Scott and Garrett








niece Lisa



gametime!



Chihuly in the Japanese Garden

We returned to Meijer Gardens recently to finish off our tour of the Chihuly sculptures, this time focusing on the Japanese Garden. new take...