Doppelganger-on-the-spot!

For everyone who has commented recently that our Beth looks like my mom...

Whoa.

My two favorite girls!

Guest Author Post: My Nephew, Richie

"Grandparents are an inspiration to us all. I am blessed to have one of the most adventurous men I've ever known as a grandfather. When I was a kid we (myself and my brothers, Ralph and Ryan) were always on the run. From Niagara Falls to Mammoth Cave, the Grand Canyon to Cumberland Gap: the backseat of a Chevrolet Corsica is a fantastic place to see half of the United States.

It wasn't always the times we were with him that he was seeing the world. The stories I've heard from... before my birth are even more incredible. Indy (as my wife, Stacy, referred to him for a while in homage to a famous fictional archaeologist) has climbed mountains and stared down bears as well as hitchhiked across the US to stowaway on a ship to get to the Sydney Olympics.

My own insatiable thirst for knowledge started in his house when I was a child, reading the encyclopedia as opposed to stories.

Each year he celebrates my birthday by calling and saying "Beware the Ides of March." Now, on his 86th birthday he fights everyday to make it to the next and I'm so thankful to have him around. He has shown me so much of what it means to be a good person, a scholar, and a man. Thank you for everything, Hunter Goin. We all (Velma, Rebekah, Tim, Sarah, Nicole, Noah, Ralph, and Ryan) love you and wish you the best on your birthday!"

86 Years!!!

I don't think any of us would have guessed that Dad would still be here to celebrate his 86th birthday with his twin brother, Jasper. But he is...and we are so thankful that Uncle Jasper and Aunt Gela were able to come over and be with Mom, Dad, and the rest of our family today.

Happy birthday, Uncle Jasper (the older) and Dad (the younger)...we love you!

And, as my sister said about our day, "Today we celebrated my Dad and his twin, Uncle Jasper...86 years! Blessed beyond measure to have such loving parents, and amazing family! I will always cherish every moment!"

Update from Indiana...

So I'm in Columbus, and I feel like I should post an update...so many people have prayed, and I thank you.

Dad's voice is significantly stronger than when I was here a few weeks ago, and I begin to have hope that maybe I will be able to re-record some of his stories!

That's the good news.

The bad news is that he has developed a few bed sores, one rather serious one on his lower leg in particular. Please pray for him, that the wound would heal and that his leg pain would be relieved...thank you.

I'm so glad I'm here...that's an understatement.

Tomorrow, the neighborhood will heave a collective sigh of relief as the dead tree in Mom and Dad's front yard is finally making its way out. Most people wouldn't balk at cutting down this tree, but Dad and I aren't most people. <insert sentimental wink>

Lastly, before leaving home, I raided the attic and bailed this train set out of toy jail, where it was set to remain until Christmas. Bart played with it for HOURS today! Hours. No joke. That kid loves him some trains!

Home Home is...

This happened today: a beautiful summer day, a reunion with Bridget-y, $5 Takeout Tuesday PJ's pizza, and our porch....we're home, people!!!

It was a wonderful summer that we will always remember, but as always, it's so good to be home!

Number 85

Today my dad and uncle turn 85.  I wish I had been home to celebrate with them, but it sounds like Mom, Dad, Uncle Jasper, and Aunt Gela had a lovely time together...and I'm so thankful.  So thankful that they have each other and that, despite several scares where we thought we were losing one of them, the Goin boys (including their younger brother, my Uncle John) are all still going strong!

I love this picture so much...Becky sent it to me, and when I showed it to a friend, I was asked if Mom and Aunt Gela are twins!  Funny.  "No," I said, "but Dad and Uncle Jasper are!"

It was 85 years ago, so the story goes, that my grandfather waited, anticipating news of baby's safe birth.  After having four daughters, he was hoping, of course, for a son.  That son would bear his name, and when the doctor opened the French doors into the living room, his announcement brought much rejoicing:  "You have a boy!"  Grandpa ran out the door to spread the news:  Jasper Calvin, Jr. had arrived!  Upon returning to the house, joy turned to double joy:  "You have another boy!"

It's hard for us, in the age of 4D ultrasounds, to appreciate the reality that a mother didn't know that twins were coming, but that was life in 1930.  Their family went from six to eight that day--surprise!  And since they didn't have a second boy name picked out--why would they?--my dad was given surnames for his first and second names, as well as for his last:  Hunter (my grandmother's maiden name) Dewitt (her mother's maiden name).

Great story...great legacy.  Dad, Uncle Jasper...I love you.  Happy 85th birthday to you both!

Veteran's Day Tribute

I am grateful today for the military service of so many, but tonight I want to give a special shout-out of gratitude to my father-in-law, Rex Hoffman, who served during WWII, my dad, Hunter Goin, who served during the Korean War, and my brother, Tim Goin, who was in the Navy during the Gulf War. I love all of you and am grateful for the example that you set and the sacrifice that you made! Happy Veteran's Day!

Wedding pics galore!

My handsome nephew...

...now a husband!

It was a beautiful setting...

...and an absolutely gorgeous day!

The perfect cake (Seriously...doesn't this look like it should be on the cover of a wedding magazine?)...

...and fabulous dancing for old and young alike!  (Here, my great-niece, B, gathers rose petals on the dance floor while Beth leaps in the background.)

It really was such a wonderful day all around....I am very thankful for the way everything went and for the fact that Stacy is now an official part of our family!

Before the ceremony, Beth and Bart wait with Grandma....isn't my mama so beautiful??!  I hope I look like her when I'm her age!  Love you, Mama!

Helping usher Rex with his boutonniere...he took the job very seriously and was fabulous in his first-ever usher job!

Rex is poised and ready for Grandma as Pa starts the walk down the aisle.

I love this picture!

Richie and Stacy used a fingerprint tree as their guestbook...great idea!

My girl....what can I say?!

Giving a toast was fun....I really am so glad to have Stacy as a NIL now.  That's Niece-in-law.  :)

I love this pic of Beth, too....also love that Richie's Aunt Rhonda is laughing with my great-nephew, T, in the background.

My youngest nephew, N, along with Bart and my great-niece, K.  Bart and K are just two days apart.  Bart is older, but K is doing absolutely everything before him!

Without a doubt, one of my favorite pictures taken of Dad in a long time...love you, Daddy!

The kids enjoyed the dance SO much...maybe more than the adults!

Last but not least, one of my fave pics of the day....me and my beautiful sister.  Becky was absolutely glowing as she walked down the aisle with her son....it was such a special moment.  Bek, I love you so much....Congratulations on your new daughter!  :)

Richie: The Wedding DayOf

It was a really beautiful day...I can't believe that the little baby I knew all those years ago is married now!  I remember the day Richie was born like it was yesterday not that long ago.  He was my first nephew, and becoming an aunt just a few days after my 11th birthday was very special! I love you Richie...you will always be my (big) buddy!

Our family with the bride and groom!  Rex was a usher and did a fantastic job! :)

Mama and baby at the reception...my very sweet boy!

With no prompting from us, Tom asked Beth to dance during the first dance.  I love how they are framed against Richie and Stacy...

...and then we got SILLY at the photo booth! Hoffbeast can never resist a good nose photo bomb!

CONGRATULATIONS, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hardin.....we love you!

Richie: The Wedding DayBefore

This morning, Mom and I drove over to the nail salon and joined the mother-of-the-groom for Wedding DayBefore pedicures.  The best part is that it was Mama's first pedicure ever!  It was relaxing, and we all enjoyed it...I told Mom that she needs to go back at least every other month when Becky goes.  If I lived in town, I'd be joining them, but the least I can do is encourage it!  

Later, it was rehearsal/dinner time.  Here is one of my favorite shots--girl pic with sister Becky, niece, Nicole, and great-niece, B.

Legacy

Today, a cousin of mine posted this picture on Facebook:

  This is a picture of my maternal grandparents' tombstone.  When I was a little girl, we would go visit the cemetery often, whenever we were in the area.  I remember being slightly bothered by cemeteries, but death is a part of life, and I'm thankful that my parents didn't shield us kids from funerals and cemeteries and the reality of death.

I haven't been to Grandpa and Grandma Wolf's graveside in so long now...it was very nice to see the picture, to see the upkeep of the place, the beauty of the stone that remains.  My cousin thought my mom would like to see it....she was right, of course.

There is such history here.  My grandpa, Omer D. Wolf, was the brother of Walter O. Wolf.  My grandma, Silva Fern, was the sister of Clara Ada.  So two brothers married two sisters.  And when that happens, the children are known as "double cousins".  So my mother, who is an only child, had six double cousins who were boys.  Grandma and Grandpa had my mom; Uncle Walt and Aunt Ada had six sons.  Mom was very close to her cousins; they were like brothers to her.

I have always thought that naming a daughter after my grandmother would be nice.  After all, Grandma Wolf was my only living grandparent when I was born, and she only lived until I was a little over a year old.  My very first memory is about 10 seconds long, but it is very clearly seared in my brain:  viewing her body at the funeral home.  I'm so thankful for this brief memory because it is all that I personally have of her.

I love her middle name:  Fern.  Hoffbeast has not been so keen on it, but I think it's a lovely middle name.  As for her first name, well.....funny story.  Until I saw this picture, I thought her name was spelled "Sylvia" since that's what everyone called her.  Turns out that her father had spelled "Sylvia" without an "i" on her birth certificate, so that's how she wanted it spelled on her tombstone.

She obviously appreciated grammatical and spelling consistency.

I knew I got it from somewhere.  :)

Sylva Fern still has yet to have a Hoffchild named after her, but this past year, Omer David got his namesakes.....our twins are Boaz David Washington and Jonathan Omer Lincoln.

I wish I had known them, as well as my great aunt and uncle, but I'm so thankful they all knew Jesus.  I look forward to spending eternity getting to know the men and women who raised such amazing children in my mom and her double cousins.  My mom is truly my hero...and I know that her mother and daddy would be so proud of the woman--the wife, the mother, and the grandmother--that she has become.

I love you, Mama!

Show Hope weekend revisit

Last year, while at the 10th anniversary Show Hope weekend, we were able to be photographed as a family, and the results were fabulous.  I'm not quite sure why I've never posted this before now, but here is a revisit to Memorial Day weekend 2013, when I was still pregnant with Bart and Aaron...

Easter 2014

Wishing a beautiful Resurrection Sunday to you and yours...from us and ours.  We spent a lovely morning as a family (minus the 3 fits by 3 different children--but who's counting?) snuggling, taking pictures, then going to church for a wonderful service with our Eastbrook family.  Thank you, Lord, for what you did so that we could have life and YOU could get the glory!  Every praise is to our God...

40 Days (Day 37)

Today, Becky posted this picture on Facebook.  Apparently, it's National Siblings Day.  Who knew?

But seriously, talk about something for which to be thankful!  My parents have been married for 52 years, and my brother, sister, and I have more memories than I can count.  Mom and Dad moved into our house when Tim was just a few weeks old, so for most of our lives, we have had "home" to come home to.  There has been much change over the years, but I am thankful for the constant things, too, like our senior pictures always hanging on the wall of the dining room.  ;)

Mom, Dad, Becky, Tim...you are my family, always and forever.  And I love you.

Thanksgiving weekend in Indiana

As usual when we travel "home", we had a great time....I always love going home.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my hometown, and getting to spend time with my family is often just what I need. Here are some photos from our time....I love you all and miss you already!

My beautiful mama with Beth and my great-niece, K

 Bart's first time in an exercauser!

 K with her mommy and daddy

Mom sent me to the garage to get something, and what did I find but a couple dozen egg cartons just hanging out waiting for what, I'm not sure.  Mom, do you have some big craft show coming up that I don't know about?!  #myparentsarehoarders  (Not exactly, but I do have to give my mom a hard time about this one!  I'm sure she's got a good reason.  Right, Mama?!?)  :)

Neil decided to try his hand at my climbing tree this year.  It is almost dead, as you can see, so it was fun to see him get up there while he still could!

Our Black Friday shopping involved just one late-afternoon stop...Target.  While Becky, Mom, and I kept shopping, the boys all waited at the front of the store.  The enthusiasm waned in direct proportion to the age of boy/man, from youngest to oldest.

Aunt Becky and Neil had some special aunt/nephew time together at our favorite local pizza place!

Later, Uncle Timmy helped Neil put together the new fussball table that he convinced Aunt Becky to buy.  (She's a total sucker for Neil.)  ;)

Because of the blur, you can't tell that Bart was totally laughing!!  Outright giggles coming from baby for Aunt Becky!  She is so good with kids, and her tradition of making babies giggle continues...

As usual, card games around the dining room table...

 

Bart was full of smiles for his extended family!

On Saturday, Mom, Bek, and I went shopping...Bart came with us, of course...

 ...and got a LOT of snuggle time with Aunt Becky!

 Before leaving town, a bit of Grandma time...

 ...complete with more Aunt Becky giggles!

Thank you for a wonderful weekend....much love from the north to my family in the lower north.  :)