Track and Field and Other Spring Happenings

We can’t attend all of Seth and Lydia’s track meets, but we’re grateful for live streams, stats, and post-race updates via calls and texts with Dad/Coach Herman!

After nearly three decades of track and field coaching, Russ decided this year would be his last. His growing commitments with the church and other ministry obligations have made it hard to juggle coaching and all the administrative tasks that come with it. Russ coached about 75-80 athletes, making sure every one of them felt valued, no matter their skills. He knew each athlete by name, remembered their best times, and tailored training so everyone got a chance to improve. With a talent in coaching relays, hand-offs, and middle-distance events, Russ has always put his heart into helping his team grow. When it was time to fill out those tricky meet line-ups, he loved strategizing to give as many kids as possible a shot at making it to State. I knew that during track season his mind was often in "track mode" and learned to be a patient coach's wife!

With his state-winning and record-setting sprint relay team.

Russ announcing his retirement. Yes, I cried.

Although Caleb is a full-time busy medical student and Mikaela is busy with her full-time job, they always seem to find time to relax and invest in each other, their church, and friends. Caleb calls every week to give life updates and often sends pictures for us to enjoy, getting a glimpse of life with C&M.

Caleb's artwork "just for fun"

Spring hiking near Estes Park

Russ, Lydia, Seth, and I drove to the Portland area for a wedding in May. This was the first of four weddings Russ would officiate this summer. (We did 4-5 sessions of premarital counseling for five couples and loved every minute.) This wedding in Portland was Anna's sister-in-law's (Joshua's sister). Anna played the piano for the wedding, and Joshua was a groomsman.

I love this scenic drive, and we even managed a stop at Multnomah Falls en route

April Trip to Iowa

Russ had the Board of Trustees meeting at Dordt at the end of April, and I went with him to spend time with family. By this time, my nerve pain was such that I didn't really have many good days and spent most of my days lying on the floor, as that was the most comfortable position. I was able to watch Myles two of the days that I was out, and thankfully, his favorite thing was to army crawl around and climb on Grandma as she was lying on the floor! I had imaging before I left with plans to see the surgeon when I returned home.

While in Iowa, we attended a track meet at Mount Marty to watch both Seth and Lydia run. It was so cold, but we loved being able to share at least one track meet in person with them.

We invited Seth, Lydia, and college friends to Grandpa and Grandma's for Pizza Ranch dinner. It was great to finally meet the people Seth had talked about all year.

I was also able to have coffee and reconnect with a dear BSF friend, Tammy, whom I met in Bible study about 25 years ago. Rekindling a relationship as though no time had passed reminds me that studying God's Word together is what defines true Christian fellowship.

On Sunday afternoon, all the Bleeker ladies met at the coffee shop, Kweken, in Orange City to celebrate two family brides-to-be, Miah and Brooke. Since everyone has such busy families, it was amazing that we could all be together on a weekend that we were visiting.

I also joined Mom and Dad on a trip to Knoblochs to buy garden plants and flowers for planters. It was fun to pick out flowers for an ISU themed birdbath planter.

Spring Break Part 2

In late March, a few weeks after Lydia returned home, Caleb spent part of his spring break with us. Mikaela, due to her school district's earlier spring break schedule, was unable to join; however, she later met Caleb in California following his stay here.

During his visit, Caleb converted Seth’s former bedroom into a functional library. Joshua, our son-in-law, removed the carpet and installed new flooring. Caleb and Russ painted the walls and bookshelves, with Anna and Joshua assisting with the assembly. Caleb then completed the project by adding the final decorative touches. I was thrilled to have a home for both of Aunt Lila's needlepoints...and all our books!

We received about eighty Easton Press books (someone was downsizing and wanted to give them away), along with a library bookcase with glass doors. Both were stored because we didn't have space for them. When we went to look at the books and rugs in storage, Caleb fell in love with the bookcase and easily found a place for it in the room. He repurposed another cupboard by adding legs, creating a beautiful home for all of Seth's vinyl records. The daybed with drawers provides a cozy spot to read and extra storage, while still functioning as a bed we can pull out for guests.

Zoe absolutely loves Caleb and was his shadow the entire time he was here. I guess our cat, Iverson, was happy he was home too😊

Spring Break Part 1

Lydia and her boyfriend, Aidan, flew home for spring break at the end of February and the beginning of March. Seth spent his spring break in Chicago with friends. Lydia spent most of the week relaxing and showing Aidan some of her favorite spots in and around Boise. I was struggling with the return of nerve pain, but managed to make the trip to Stanley to see the Sawtooths! My inability to enjoy having my girl home was the impetus for me to pursue further doctor appointments and imaging to try to figure out the source of pain.

Home just in time to take part in the church Bunco night! Lydia even won "last Bunco" of the night. Doesn't she look cute in the Bunco hat?

I bought material to recover my kitchen chair at JoAnns when they were going out of business, but I hadn't felt well enough to actually finish the job. Aidan and Lydia to the rescue!

And the highlight of the week--a trip to Stanley with a stop at the Kirkham hot springs on the way