The Great Steamboat Race !

The Run for the Roses is three days away. Wednesday afternoon, all eyes in Louisville are on the Ohio River and the Great Steamboat Race. Preparing 5th wheel for Safety Patrol and Aux PA activity during the Race

5th Wheel on Station at Duffy's Landing before the crowd fills the parking lot to watch the race.

Coast Guard Aux team preparing to help set a moving picket line for the race -with the Jeffersonville Amphitheatre in the background.

Public Affairs Display on Duffy's Landing

The race began promptly at 6 p.m. from the Clark Memorial Bridge.

Spectators lined the banks of the river as the Spirit of Jefferson and the Belle of Cincinnati race up river.

Belle of Louisville steaming up stream.

The Belle of Louisville is the only authentic paddle wheeler, still operating on steam. She fell behind early and only led for a short time during the return trip back down stream.

Spirit of Jefferson heading back to the bridge. Spirit of Jefferson and Belle of Cincinnati are both diesel powered.

Nick and crew following the steamboats in the moving picket line. The Belle of Cincinnati won the silver antlers.

Derby Festival Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville

Begin the day long celebration with the Air Show ! U S Coast Guard Helicopter U S Air Force Hornet U S Air Force Warthog

U S F16 Falcon Fighter

U S Army Chinook

Lima Lima Team

Saturday, April 17, 2010 Thunder Over Louisville is not only the official opening ceremonies for the two weeks of the Kentucky Derby Festival, it is also the nation's largest annual fireworks show.

March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb

March blew in and out so fast. Nick and siblings - Milo, Marianne made their planned heritage trip to Holland. Their brother Bill, who was to make the journey with them, died suddenly of a heart attack just before the trip. He was greatly missed. They came back with so many pictures I dont know where to begin to put them on the blog. A tip from Nicki, enabled me to take advantage of an opportunity to create a picture book at a great, highly reduced promotional price. I was able to make the 2 day deadline- 82 pages and 295 pictures later. My first book ever. I will try to link it up to the blog soon. While Nick was in Europe, Clara and I and Joni went to DC to visit Nicki. While we were there we celebrated young Clara's entrance into double digit birthdays - the big 10. I have a few pictures. Joni and Nicki took several. Will also try to get them posted soon. Easter was a beautiful day We were so blessed to be able to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with family.

********************************************** Let me try to catch up on my blogging beginning with youngest. --- This is the Wiese Family over Easter/Springbreak. Stacy sent me the pictures and I am grateful. I believe they visited Cincinnati and the bridge is the pedestrian bridge over the Ohio River. They also visited the Louisville Zoo.

On the ground: Stacy, Nico, Andrew In the tree: Kiefer, Nicolaas, Sierra

Kiefer scored ten goals (soccor) this week-end and is also missing two more teeth.

Sierra got straight A's and is on the tennis team.

Nicolaas got A's and B's and has been selected for mempership in the Junior Honor Society.

This is their new puppy, a golden-doodle named, "Friedley" Andrew on the bridge. Above and below:

Kiefer - Where the wild things are! Andrew with the animal they named "Walking teeth"

"I'm forever blowing bubbles Pretty bubbles in the air- They fly so high They nearly reach the sky..... " Ggpa song

Nicolaas and Nico

My Great-Nephew Jack

Jack #256 is six in the first grade in Florida. He is running in a school race. He has just been moved up in his reading group. Papa Seven (Charles) is so proud and we wont mention Mom and Dad (Liz and Shawn.)

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Christmas Celebration

We celebrate Christ year round in our home. We also see the Christmas season as an opportunity to properly focus on Christ’s birth and what it means to us.

Yes, we have a Christmas tree. The top of the tree points to Heaven and God. The branches reach out to others like Jesus does. Jesus died on a tree – so we remember that He came to die for us. We place an angel on the top because it was the angels that announced the good news of Jesus Christ to the shepherds.

Luke 2:

9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest,...

Fairly new additions to our celebration is our singing angles - they are beautiful, they sing three songs in harmony "Silent Night," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," and "Angels We Have Heard on High."

What do angels look like? Where do they come from? What do they say?

Angels always indicate the miraculous, mysterious, and majestic work of God in some way. This brings up a point of truth. Angels are special creatures of God who were created by God and ordained to serve and praise Him. They are also messengers of God revealing the Messiah.

The nativity set was designed and painted by myself while teaching at Portland Christian School. I was much inspired and tutored by Miss Lois Campbell.

Our oldest granddaughter Rachel, gave us the gold stockings a few years back. There are 5 angels on the mantle one for each of the children. The tree candle holder is Polish pottery is from Nicki. The gold pine cone is from a friend and the "3 ships a sailing" are part of Nick's love of sailing.

This Sinterklaas was on Nick's first tree. I guess that would make him 74 years old.

Nestled just below the tree top angel are these four tiny little ornaments which were on my first tree. (clear gold, red, white with red/green, and the light green with pink - off to the back and right)

I guess one of the Christmas customs or traditions I am slow to give up is that of sending Christmas Card greetings. I know it is expensive; that's why I buy my cards after Christmas for the next year. I consider $.44 for postage an acceptable amount to spend to wish my friends a "Merry Christmas" and announce again the good news. For the past 30 years I have sent cards depicting angels because they were the messengers from God announcing the birth of Christ. It is getting harder and harder to find cards with angels and even more so several boxes of the same.

2009 Cards

Behold! I bring you tidings of great joy that shall be for all people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you He is Christ the Lord.

This year we celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary

We remember the joy of discovering one another, the concerns that parenting can bring, the challenges of working together, the mixed feelings of having an empty nest, the wonder of being grandparents, and the delight of having a happy marriage. Together, we have managed to survive a half century of life’s ups and downs. Not many people manage to make it through the first five years – much less 50; and then there are those who most definitely could have - would have made it, but the Lord saw fit to call one of them home. By the grace of God we have lived long enough as a couple to build a legacy that can’t be measured in possessions, but rather lives touched by our union – children, family, friends. Delft Anniversary Tile from Nico and Stacy Golden Bells from Fred and Joni

Poinsettia from Gary and Janine

German Eizwein Ice Wine from Joey and Nicki

Jenny and Brian organized a dining out experience for us and all the siblings and spouses who could make it at Nick's favorite.

Time Passages Commemorative Yearbook and blue ceramic cross

"As for me and my house we will serve the Lord," Joshua 24:15 from Bill and Kathy.

Willow Tree figurative sclupture, Anniversary - Love Ever Endures, from Marianne.