Princess Ava

Ava is very into her Disney character dresses. She is hoping Santa brings her Ariel's dress for Christmas. As soon as Ava arrived, she asked to put on her dress with high heels and all. She ran around the house showing off how beautiful she looked.

She went through 3 costume changes, colored, ate, watched a Disney show, played with Val (see below as she was trying to paint Val's paws), and kept us on our toes. We had a lot of fun with Ava.

Luke Air Time

Luke was a joy as always this Thanksgiving. He slept, played, ate, and laughed at Uncle Brian. Eventhough he may be the youngest, he will still get the same air time on the blog. We promise Luke.

There Is No Shame in Being a Master Baster

And that is what Brian was - a master baster of turkey that is. He did it every single hour after he put in the turkey and thanks to that, it was a delicious bird. No shame.

We had a nice time with Mr. Kenney, Mary, Bob, Ava, and Luke, and we managed another successful timed family photo. While Jimmy wasn't actually here with us, Brian wore his Colorado shirt in his honor.

Brian and I would agree that we had two favorites this Thankgiving - 1) preparing the meal together & 2) eating and enjoying it with our family.

Thanksgiving Prep - Our Way

Ok, ok...I admit it, Brian and I are weird. But if you read the blog enough, you already know that. Brian has been looking forward to Thanksgiving for months. He has been preparing a feast, gathering recipes, making lists of ingredients, and last weekend we went shopping together to buy everything.

So while Brian will take credit for most of the cooking - I am what you may call his sous chef. So the day before Thankgiving we prepared some goodies and had fun doing it. I made my favorite cranberry orange relish. Brian made what we are calling the wildcard dish - a sweet potato/banana dish with a brownsugar and pecan topping.

Roomies

There was a guestbook on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette obituary web page for my grandpa. I read an entry from my grandpa's college roommate's son. My grandpa was such good friends with Ben Ojserkis and stayed friends throughout his entire life. I remember going over to the Ojserkis' when we would go to the shore when I was a kid. Our family loved their entire family - obviously built from the values of Ben and Anita. Probably the same that my grandparents share. The picture below is of my grandpa and Ben. It is from 2006 - the last time my grandpa went to Stone Harbor. They sat, talked, and laughed together that evening like they never were apart. See entry below from Ben's son - very touching. November 10, 2008
Having watched Bill's friendship with my Dad for my entire 50 years, I have always hoped that each of my kids (not yet out of college) would have a roommate, and a friend, just like Bill Morse. Looking back on it though, what I really hope is that each of my kids can BE a friend just like Bill Morse. No parent could ask for more than that. I know my whole family will miss him, and none of us more than my Dad ("Room").
Dan Ojserkis (Linwood, NJ)

Jessa's Poem

I asked my cousin Jessa to send me her poem she wrote about our grandpa so I could post on the blog and read it whenever I want to.

The poem is framed and lives on the wall of my grandparents' bedroom. The history of the poem is that it was a school assignment years ago to write a poem about someone who was important to her and she wrote about our gramps. She read it at the memorial service.

Here goes...brings tears to my eyes everytime I read it as it captures him so perfectly.

Hobbling on unsturdy legs
his bushy eyebrows raised high
and dark eyes open wide with
anticipation.
His soothing words that always
remind me of what is important,
as we chat
in his picture perfect garden
or on Sundays
he flails his arms,
for his beloved Steelers
as if they can see and hear him.
He is our lighthouse, who leads us
back from darkness and confusion.
"Relax! Everything will be OK."
he seems to say,
and everything is ok,
and I am relaxed,
when I am with him.

Gnarly Head

It was a dinner throwdown with Christina and Travis this weekend. Christina hosted a feast of what she called, 'comfort food,' but we believe that was her just being modest because it was a delicious chicken tetrazini. She did happen to leak that she slaved over it and Travis was sure to note the multiple cutting boards he had to clean from it - a clear sign they are still in it to win it.

Brian and I bought a bottle of wine based on the cool name and label - Gnarly Head Cabernet - and we would have to say that it was pretty darn good. The only thing is - I'm really the only one that drank it. The bottle was gone before others could enjoy. Hiccup.

A good time with friends as always. We're up next for the dinner throwdown. Send us your ideas.

My Eulogy

This weekend was my grandpa's memorial service. The day started out dreary and by the end of our luncheon, the most vibrant rainbow appeared outside the church. The picture doesn't do it justice. It was a comfort during an emotional day as we knew it was my gramps reminding us to always look on the bright side and see the glass not even half full - but overflowing. Below is my eulogy to my gramps that I read at the service. Brian helped me craft it.I could share with you all of the great accomplishments my grandpa had in his lifetime, but it isn't those accomplishments that made him who he is to me. Rather, what I'd like to share are the pieces of the puzzle, puzzles that he poured so much of himself into that I now realize are symbolic of not only things he stood for, but life’s guiding principles.

While I could speak about so many pieces, I'd like to share the 5 pieces that have guided me in putting my life together:
1. Be gracious to those around you: whether it was a full spread Christmas dinner or leftovers on a Tuesday night, it didn't matter, my grandpa would sit at the head of the table, organize and savor his last bite, and as he finished his meal he would show his appreciation and compliment my grandma saying, "Alice, that was the best meal I have ever had – it was a meal fit for a king!"
2. Persevere and stay positive: we joke about how my grandpa was almost cat-like with 9 lives. On many occasions, my gramps was faced with challenges, I'm talking some tough, make you want to question God type struggles – no immune system, bad knees, broken bones, and cancer – but that never seemed to slow him down, he always bounced back and looked forward to the next day. Days after his hip replacement, at 89 years old, I watched as sheer willpower propelled him to get out of his chair and walk across the room – all with the outlook that nothing could stand in his way.
3. Enjoy your work: my grandpa was a problem solver – probably where he got his appetite for puzzles. We talked a lot about work. He would always tell me about how his work always excited him – so much that he looked forward to going to work everyday over the course of 35 years. And this focus transcended into retirement where he would strategically map out the garden each year, or focus his efforts on the design of a piece of furniture. Everything he did was done with passion. He always told me to not worry about what it was that I did in life, but what was important was that I enjoyed what I did.
4. Give of yourself: whether it was volunteering time or donating money, he always expressed how important it was to the fabric of one's character. He spoke to me about how I really need to think about the contributions that I was willing to give of myself. He and my grandma would purposefully select where they would donate 10% of their income each and every year.
5. Love: my grandpa was dedicated and in love with my grandma for over 65 years. They were true partners in everything that they did and it was very clear to us how important she was to him. I remember a few Christmas' ago when my grandpa gave my grandma a gift – a diamond heart necklace; you see, my grandparents never gave one another gifts – they had everything they needed. But on this occasion, a proud exchange epitomized the love that they shared and the lesson that they have taught us all here today.

It is these pieces that add up to make such a beautiful memory of my grandpa, and because of them, my gramps is a man I admire, respect, and love. He has showed me how the pieces of the puzzle that we call life fit together and because of this, and what he has meant to me and my life, he will always be MY HERO!

Alana Highlights

While in Pittsburgh, we visited with my brother, Ellen and Alana. Alana is really growing up. She is running around, talking - saying words like 'yellow', 'alana', 'today', 'baby', 'ball', 'dog,' and many more. Our favorite is how much she loves the commercial for Empire Carpets. When she hears the commercial or hears the tune, she screams out "TODAY!"

Trying to take a family shot of Dave, Ellen + baby to be, and Alana. This was the best of many that I took. Alana and I playing stop & go. You say 'go' and she runs after you. You tell her to stop and she stops. Then she eagerly screams 'GO!' so she can run again. Me showing Alana how to take a picture. She finally sat still and looked at the camera.Alana flirting with Brian. She really was flirting. This was one of the 'stops' from our stop and go game. Val and Alana hanging out...or should I say, Alana hanging out on Val. Alana wouldn't leave Val alone - she went around saying 'dog' and petting her.

William H. Morse - Engineer, Gardener, Carpenter (89)

Brian and I drove in to Pittsburgh on Friday and visited with my grandfather that evening. He passed away on Saturday morning. I put together a collage of some photos that I had over the past three years. Below is his obituary. I miss him and love him so much!

William (Bill) H. Morse, 89, of Pittsburgh and formerly Julian, PA, passed away peacefully and with dignity on Saturday, November 8, 2008 after a life filled with joy, love, hope and devotion to family and friends. Married for 65 years to his loving and dedicated wife, Alice, and beloved father to Marilyn Martin of Bellefonte, PA, William (Carole) of South Park, PA and Charlene Morse (Charles) of Cincinnati, OH, Bill was a loving grandfather and hero to David (Ellen), Joshua Martin, Julie Kenney (Brian), Jessa Demas (John), Brendan (Kristen) and Ryan McGinnis; and great grandfather to Marissa, Grace and Brendan McGinnis and Alana Morse. A distinguished and respected engineer and employee of Westinghouse Electric Corporation for 35 years, Bill held several patents and managed divisions in East Pittsburgh and Trafford, PA. With deep-rooted love for life, family, and God, Bill served as a 50-year member of Emory Methodist Church where he volunteered and shared these core values with others. In his spare time, Bill was a scratch golfer who regularly played with his brother George at Alcoma Golf Club and who together won the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Brothers Tournament. His love for the game of golf and sports in general, particularly baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates, were the subject of countless conversations that will serve as vivid memories for all.Bill served as a board member of Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania and was cofounder of the YMCA of Penn Hills. He also was instrumental in initiating an innovative program that helped repair homes for those in need in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. Following retirement, Alice and Bill moved to 16-acres in the Pennsylvania mountains near State College, PA. It was there that Bill acquired skills and passions as an avid gardener and prolific woodworker cultivating vegetables and fruits for family and friends as well as shaping works of furniture from the stands of oak trees found on the land. During this time Bill remained focused on his commitment to community service by volunteering and serving as a board trustee to the Mount Nittany Medical Center and board President of the Bellefonte Family YMCA. Since 2005 Bill had enjoyed his many loving and gracious friends at The Devonshire of Mount Lebanon and was appreciative of the caring staffs there as well as at the Greentree ManorCare of Pittsburgh.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, 11/15/08 at 12 p.m. at Windover Hills United Methodist Church in South Park.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 2600 East Carson, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 or Bellefonte Family YMCA, 125 West High St., Bellefonte, PA 16823.

A Win or A Loss

For our anniversary, Brian and I got tickets to a few Flyer's games. One of the games was this Sunday afternoon against the Edmonton Oilers. As always, we had a great time. The energy in a hockey stadium is infectious - there is no way you can't enjoy yourself. The game was close, but the Flyers lost 5-4. And while that may be a loss for the Flyers, when we arrived home, Ava, Bob, and Mr. Kenney were at our house visiting - a win for us!

A Drink of the Roman & Greek Gods

On Saturday we went to Nectar with our good friends Christina and Travis. We drank, dined and talked for hours in the restaurant enjoying the food and company.