Introducing Michael James Eichstadt!

Grandma and Grandpa Eichstadt visited David, Kate, and Michael this morning at the hosptial. All are doing just fantastic! Here is a cute picture of Grandma and a wide awake Michael. I am sure that David and Kate will post a few more pictures later on.

Our newest family member!

I know Dave and Kate are in no shape to be blogging right now, and Karen and Frank may not have Internet access up on Cloud Nine! But did want to record here the happy arrival of little Michael James Eichstadt at 1:27 a.m. today!! Welcome, little Michael!!

According to Karen's message this morning, the new little guy weighs 8 pounds 11 ounces and is 22 inches long. From early reports, everyone is doing great. Karen will provide photos later, but for now I know we are all celebrating the birth of little Michael James with prayers of grateful thanks. Our very best to Dave, Kate, and their precious little son - here's to you all!

More thoughts of July 23

If you haven’t read Anne’s Blog you might enjoy her July 23 entry from 2006 and the current reference. She had some interesting reader comments as well. We all enjoy doing our special things on July 23 as you can see. It will always be a holiday for us.

Anne goes shopping for flannel, Joe does something related to baseball, Marge does something musical (or maybe a number of musical things) and I bake a pie with her pie crust recipe.

Usually I make a peach pie, but this year I had to make some adjustments. Due to the drought in the southeast, the peaches aren’t the best this year but more importantly, we thought we’d be out of town on July 23rd. So I made a coconut cream pie for our lunch with Scott’s family. He took a photo that will be on their upcoming video on Waun.net. The really fun part is thinking about Mother during these activities. All four of us enjoy it immensely.

The Chicago baby has not yet arrived, but Kate and David assure us that he’ll be born soon! They have not forgotten about this project!

Marge Ely's Birthday, Tribute #4

All day today I have been trying to decide which memory of Mother to cite here. Many came to mind, but as I thought about and prayed for her many times today, the subject that kept returning was music! I am always so grateful for the musical gifts God gave her and she, in turn, gave to each of us...each in our own way. For me it was singing. Here's what I remembered with such great fondness today and probably have never shared with any of you.

When I was in 4th grade at Antioch Grade School in Auburn, and all of 8 years old, in 1947, I was asked to sing a solo for the Christmas Music Program. Back then we all sang traditional Christmas music. The program was in the afternoon during the school day. I was to sing a solo with the children's choir humming in the background and Wilda King playing the piano for "O, Holy Night." Naturally, I was well prepared for my solo part with Mother having coached me for weeks. I knew my part well. Mother was there, all dressed up with hat and gloves, in the audience in the Music Room at Antioch ready for the program to begin. As the choir began and started to "humm" and as I was about to step forward from the choir to sing my well-prepared solo, I had a terrible case of stage fright. Mother was sitting there, head slightly tilted, probably praying that all would go as rehearsed, and I couldn't sing a note on cue! I was horribly frozen! The choir continued to "humm," Wilda King continued to play the intro again and again. Finally, I was able to find the nerve and began to sing. All I remember was seeing Mother sitting there encouraging me with her smile and probably her prayers. I finally got through it all, but I know it was only because of her presence and the grace of God that I was able to sing!!

I will never forget it, and Mother never did say one negative thing about it. She told me when I got home from school that it was "lovely." Can't you just hear her?? Thank you, Mother. You were the best!!!

Marge Ely Birthday Tribute #3

Of course all memories of Mother/Mom/Grandma/Great-Grandma are filled with her love for us.

One of my favorite photos was taken at David and Susan’s wedding in August 2000. It was a very special gathering for many of us and she glowed the whole week-end. As only he could, John asked her to dance and she jumped up. I’m so happy that someone captured the moment in a photo. It will always be a family favorite. Smile and enjoy it with your own special memories of how she loved you!

Marge’s story (Tribute #4) about singing reminded me of another special moment with Mother and young John Dean.

We were at Joe’s house for David’s Purdue graduation and the boys were playing with some musical instruments. Someone suggested a family sing along with Mother at the piano. Little John had a song to sing so Mother gave him one of her wonderful introductions with all the flourishes. Well, John was so impressed that he forgot to sing! So Mother played the introduction again but slowed down at the end and gave him a note for the start and he did fine. Believe me, I wasn’t the only one in the room crying with that one!!

In this photo you can see Mother's arthritic hands and we recall that it became difficult for her to play the piano up to her usual standards but she certainly did that day. John's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he watched her play. Mother could make any musical selection by a young performer sound terrific.

Marge Ely birthday tribute #2

Great idea to observe Mother's birthday this way, Geege! (while also wishing a very happy July 23 to birthday boy Scott....!) Here's a little story that I'd like to share.

I was a junior in high school, so that would have been the winter of 1973. Mother was particularly trim and stylish during that era -- she had a terrific swooped-back-from-the-forehead hairstyle, with hardly any gray. She'd really been enjoying shopping in Omaha around that time, too, and she had some really great clothes.

I had some sort of banquet or something at school one evening -- I think it was for the Spanish club, and it was a potluck, but of course I had forgotten to tell her I needed to bring something to contribute. I must have called her from school earlier, and she said of course she'd bring something over to the high school before the banquet started. I was aware I shouldn't have waited till the last minute.

I was working on decorations in the high school cafeteria after school -- Joe will remember that our cafeteria was very long and narrow. I was at one end and looked up at here came Mother walking in a very sprightly manner down that long room. She was smiling and carrying a sack from Hinky Dinky. My first thought was relief that she was smiling and therefore not mad about the last-minute request! But then all I could think was -- "Oh, wow, she is such a beautiful woman!"

And she really was. Confident, happy. She was wearing the high-heeled boots she wore a lot that winter, and was somewhat dressed up - she must have been at bridge club earlier that afternoon. (Which was also why she just went to Hinky Dinky and bought me a container of potato salad - hey, no time to make something from scratch, she had things to do!) She looked fantastic -- not only in appearance, but with that big happy smile. Her eyes twinkled a little bit -- I must have had a sheepish look on my face for being in a jam, but her smile let me know that it was no big deal.

She brought that Hinky Dinky sack all the way down to me, gave me a quick hug and kiss, and told me to have fun, and asked if I needed a ride home later. I remember being so glad that all my friends were around - usually at that age, your folks are just embarrassing, but at that moment I was just so proud of her!

I remember not one moment of the Spanish club banquet that followed that night, but I will always remember the first time I remember feeling not just love, but true admiration for my mother.

Marge Ely's Birthday Tribute #1

With Mom's birthday tomorrow, July 23, we'd like to invite any family member to contribute some story about her. There are many...so pull up any one you'd like.

Since we are in the middle of baseball season, I will contribute one from Mom's favorite sport.

When I played American Legion baseball each summer, there was no bus or school van to take us to away games, it was simply car pooling with parents driving. Mom was always a driver as she never missed a game. Later, I learned it was also a point for her to pick up on the latest teenage gossip from my friends.

One very hot, humid, sultry night in late June, we played a game in Talmedge, about 40 miles from Auburn. The game either went into extra innings or was just painfully slow, as I remember it taking forever. We finally ended and four of us sweaty players plopped our dusty, smelly selves into Mom's big boat of an Oldsmobile to head home. To our surprise, Mom suggested we simply leave the windows down and drive fast...the proverbial "460" air conditioner.

Turns out the aroma was so overpowering, she couldn't stand the thought of having to drive all that way with the windows closed. However, with her enthusiasm and wit, she sold us on the fact that this was really a good idea and very smart on a hot summer night!

Way to go Mom!! Thanks for always being with us!!