Happy Passover!

To all of our Jewish friends and to all fellow Christians who acknowledge, recognize, honor, celebrate, and/or observe the biblical holidays/feasts/appointed times. 

Chag Pesach Sameach.

That is

Happy Passover.

A time for family and friends and for re-telling the story. 

The time of liberation.

Best wishes for a blessed, meaningful, insightful celebration. May our look backward provide the faith and motivation to move forward joyfully and expectantly.

Happy Birthday, Bonnie!

Happy Birthday, Bonnie! 

I start this birthday greeting with a picture of you and Grandma. She was a great communicator, and you have certainly inherited that gene. Painting, drawing, writing letters, email, social media—you keep in touch with family and friends around the world.

 That is such a commendable thing to do, and we so appreciate hearing what is happening in your life and watching the children grow up and live their lives. I love that you not only created these "Quote Cards" but that you sent them all out to people of whom they made you think.  They are very imaginative.

Now for a little nostalgia. The back of this one indicates you are just past your first birthday, so we were still in Rota.

Second birthday. Three little girls with birthdays within one week of one another. Puerto House.

With Mom, all dressed up for your second birthday party. 

Puerto de Santa Maria. 

Three years old. Chipiona. Birthday with the YWAM/Dilaram community. 

 Of course, that beautiful house with its marvelous tile is gone now, replaced by apartments, from what we've been told. Here's a shot on the front steps right before we were transferred to Gaeta.

It was such fun surprising you last year for your birthday. 

Kudos to Rory for a wonderful plan.

 And of course, the party he threw was nonpareil. 

So glad we could be there.

I'll finish with a couple of fun ones. There were so many people in your life who blessed you in so many ways, and Uncle Bob was/is certainly one of them. I love this picture. He looks so peaceful, and you look a bit mischievous.

 I came across this picture in my searches today. Of course, it is you modeling the hole in your windshield and kidding me about my penchant for using gray tape on everything. 

We celebrate you today and every day and wish you all the best in this new year of life.

Central City Opera April 2014 Wallpaper

http://www.centralcityopera.org/

Central City Opera February 2014 Wallpaper

http://www.centralcityopera.org/

TH Automotive — Grand Opening

Tim Hawpe and his crew have been keeping our cars on the road and in tiptop condition since the late 90's. We have had no other mechanic since arriving in Colorado over 17 years ago. You will find the folks at TH Automotive courteous, helpful, and reliable. We were invited to join Tim, crew, family, and friends for the grand opening and ribbon cutting yesterday, Saturday, February 8th. The mayor of Northglenn was on hand to do the honors, and NAPA provided some burgers and brats for the celebration. Here are some pictures of the event and the new facility.

http://www.thauto.com/

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Preparing to cut the ribbon on TH Automotive's new facility. Northglenn's mayor is doing the honors. 

 Success. The ribbon is cut and the facility is open for inspection. 

 Dusty at the ribbon cutting. He is the person you are most likely to reach when calling 303-255-8487 to set up an appointment. 

 Mark in the new office. Our vehicles owe much to his knowledge, integrity, and workmanship.

 Attempting to communicate a feel for the enormousness of the facility.

NW Corner

NE Corner

 SE Corner

 SW Corner

NAPA provided a tasty lunch. 

SW Corner. Tim's Corner. Besides being an intrepid entrepreneur in the automobile repair world, Tim restores classic cars and creates jewelry, among other things. Kathy and I were commenting on his wonderful joie de vivre, his enjoyment of so many things, and the way he enthusiastically shares this joy with those around him. 

Tim, at his workbench, with his wife, Deb, and his mother. 

Tim greeting customers/friends (the terms are synonymous, because once you are a customer, you become a friend).

 So disappointed that this picture did not turn out well but wanted to post it just the same.

 TH Automotive web site here.

 

The Cookery Wife

A great, new recipe blog. Check it out for some tasty tips and scrumptious recipes.

The Cookery Wife

Happy Chinese New Year

Central City Opera January 2014 Wallpaper

Time to order your tickets for the 2014 Central City Opera Festival, if you have not done so already. Click on the picture above to get to the Central City Opera web site. This will be our 12th Annual visit to Central City to experience the marvelous melodies, the heavenly harmonies, and the artistic acting of the performers.

Happy New Year 2014

In present-day Japan, they celebrate the solar new year on January 1st, but they associate the new year with the symbol of the upcoming Chinese lunar year, which begins later. 

This year, which takes in most of 2014, is the Year of the Horse, and this is the Horse Kanji (Chinese character).

Before the new year begins, the greeting is

"Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai"

which is wishes for a good year.

よいお年をお迎えください。

                                      

or informally "Yoi otoshi o."

よいお年を！

After the new year begins, the greeting is

"Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu"

明けまして

おめでとう

ございます。

One blog translates this roughly

 "The year is changing...

darkness gives way to light...

new life begins...

Congratulations!"

I really like that.

or "Shinnen akemashite omedetou gozaimasu."

新年 あけまして

おめでとうございます。

In writing, Happy New Year is often given as

"Kinga Shinnen."

謹賀新年

In Japan, the custom is to write New Year's Greeting cards.

A phrase such as "Sakunen wa taihen osewa ni nari

arigatou gozaimashita," which means

"Thank you for all your kind help during

the past year" is a common text.

昨年は大変お世話になり

ありがとうございました｡

or "Honnen mo douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu"

(I hope for your continued favor this year.)

本年もどうぞよろしくお願いします｡

My wish for all of you in my virtual New Year card is this:

"Minasama no gokenkou o oinori moushiagemasu"

(Wishing everyone good health.)

皆様のご健康をお祈り申し上げます｡

For more Japanese words and expressions, check out this blog.