Reminiscing

George Trischler & mother Helen Koepf Trischler

One of my dad's favorite memories is from 1937 or '38. He, his mom, Helen Koepf Trischler and his sister, Caroline went uptown to Unionville to watch a free movie. Movies were shown outside on a big screen. They sat on the grass to watch the movie. He thinks it was most likely a western.
After the movie they headed home. His mom was driving, Caroline was in the front seat and he was in the back. He remembers the car was a 1928 light green Buick. It had 21" wheels with wooden spokes.
About 2 miles west of town his mom and sister started to notice things on the dashboard and soon realized they were in the wrong car! They drove back to town and parked the car in the same spot. Their car was parked behind this one. They all got in their car and again were on their way. He said they all laughed about it and no one was ever the wiser! He says he remembers it "like it was yesterday."
He has told me this story a few times and now it has become a favorite "memory"
of mine.

Micky's Mittens

1977 winter in Florida and Grandma Thomas was visiting. We lived in the interior so it could get in the low 30's...I kept begging her to knit me some mittens. She refused since it didn't snow in Florida. The next a.m. I got up and there was snow every where. When I got home from work there was a pair of hot pink mittens waiting for me!! Woo Hoo! That's a story to remember!!Micky Affron‎

Happy Birthday, Tracy!

Happy Birthday,Tracy!  Isn't it great that the family is having a HUGE birthday party for you?!!  Too bad it's in Michigan and you are in Alabama :(

I don't have a funny story about your birth day like I do for Lee Anne, but a more poignant one.  For a long time, while I was growing up and heard the story about my sister Tracy Ellen who died before I was born, I wanted to have a daughter and name her Tracy.  The day you were born, I talked to your mama in the hospital and asked her what your name was.  She said, "She looks like a Tracy, but I know you wanted that name."  I told her if she had Tracy, that was your name!

We love you, Sweetie!  Hope you have a wonderful day!
Aunt Randa

Reunion Day!

Today is the KOEPF family reunion in Oscoda, Michigan., among the sand dunes of Lake Huron.  I wish I could be there with my extended family, but I am having my own reunion in the sand hills of North Carolina with my immediate family.  We know everyone will have a great time!  Sending hugs to all!

Christian & Christy arrived at 1 AM this morning, having traveled in Abby's Mini Cooper with luggage for a year in India and 2 dogs!  They posted pictures on FB - too funny! They began their eastward journey in Austin, Texas, with 3 dogs and a cat, but managed to find homes for 1 dog and the cat along the way.  They brought home Abby's dog Molly, and Christian's dog Bear, to join Libby's dog Truman.  They are not small dogs.  Libby will be the dog nanny for the next 3 months, and they will have the run of Abby's big fenced back yard.

Monday morning we drive C&C, our two favorite architects, to Dulles International Airport for the next leg of their journey.  Please pray for their safe travels, and for Libby's sanity!

Randi

Happy Birthday, Lee Anne!

I remember July 21, 1967.  We were staying in a "hotel room" behind the Officers' Club in Taichung, Taiwan, waiting to move into our house "on the economy."  Mom & Dad were in one room, and Missy and I were in an adjoining room.  Our brothers Jay & Harley were at the Army bachelor quarters down the road.

Laura?  Well, Laura Lee was giving birth to Mom & Dad's first grandchild.  We had seen LL & Pete just a few weeks before, when we stopped in Mobile on our way overseas.  How hard it was for Mom to leave her oldest child who was expecting her first child.

It was the middle of the night when the phone call came, and Mom & Dad woke us up.  Missy, then just 10 years old, sat up in bed and was sooooo excited about her new niece.  We all went back to sleep.

In the morning, as we talked about Lee Anne, Missy wanted to know who we were talking about.  When we told her that LL had had her baby, Missy demanded to know why we didn't wake her up to tell her!

We love you, Lee Anne!  You have been a true delight :)  I am still amazed that you will be a grandmother before I will be :(
Aunt Randa

Manila Moore

age 3 

Jackie's Chicken

Cousin Jackie Ainsworth Bell treated us divinely at her home this past week in Lewis Center, OH. The "Bell B&B" is fantastic! While she worked on a huge wedding cake delivery, Laura, Missy & I tasted her recipes. One of my favorites, which I now dub "Jackie's Chicken" and can't wait to serve my family:

skinless boneless chicken
whole berry cranberry sauce
dried onion soup mix
Cataline salad dressing

mix together and bake

adjust amounts according to the number of people you are feeding

I'lll get more specifics from her and post :)

It's delicious! She served with rice.

Randa

The Anniversary Waltz

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Our mother Elspeth Thomas and our father Frank Koepf were married during World War II. They had known each other all through school in their hometown of Unionville, Michigan. He joined the Army and went off to war. When he proposed, he offered her the choice of a diamond ring or a honeymoon trip to New Orleans. She chose to spend the time with her beloved. Her comment about loving to travel with him is so ironic, because he spent 28 years on active duty, taking her and their children to exotic and interesting places around the world, including Japan, Germany and Taiwan. He retired as a Colonel in 1968, and they spent the next 23 years enjoying each other and their children and grandchildren back home in Unionville.

She once told us that she burned all the letters she and Dad wrote to each other during the war. After her death in 1995, we found some she missed. This is the most poignant one. We publish it here in dedication to all those who sacrifice for our freedom, and their heroes they left here at home. Thank you. May God bless you all! Randa, Missy & Laura]

February 17, 1944

My Darling,
Let's dream awhile - our thoughts drift back to February 1943. That unforgettable Wednesday. From the cold and windy dawn when we left for Saginaw until we fell asleep in a moon drenched room. That whole perfect day. I'd like to tell you how I felt that day. The peace that filled my heart. Mom said I wasn't any good at all for several days before.

From the moment I talked to you until the day you arrived home. First I had to have some new clothes and then I couldn't do anything for anticipation, very flighty except in knowing what I wanted - our marriage. I had no patience at all for all the people around the afternoon you did arrive. Wanted you all to myself. I've learned what patience means in the past year, what it means to wait for a letter, word of my loved one, not knowing where he might be, eaiting for him to come to me.

Our visits that evening and not breathing a word to anyone. How surprised Dad was the next morning. Nice of him to be our chauffeur. Saginaw, Bay City, deciding on the ring - home to lunch. So much fun to decide things as we came to them. And I remember thinking as I went through Unionville, "Everything that is happening today is indelibly printed on my mind, the way things look, the people we've seen."

The flowers, Howletts, and then to the Court House. Dad talking to the Judge, the Clerk and back to the Judge and then the Clerk again. Arrangements for photos and I'm so glad we did get them. How the arrangements were made. "I do" or "I will" or whatever it is one says. I didn't know how right that would be. Trying to tell myself it was true. Much less excited than I thought I'd be. Waiting in the car for you when we went up to have our pictures taken. Too tired and content to want anything except to come home to you.

Our Sunday morning stroll - "For Me and My Gal." Reading the funnies together. I never read them now but I remember that. The next leg of the journey I very much enjoyed. Our twilight stroll in the park. Our struggle to get aboard the train and how you laughed at me.

Why write more? These words don't begin to express my feelings. The pride I have in you. How much I love you. I love to travel with you, Honey. That trip down - our three weeks together - were heaven. So many highlights I can't begin to mention them. All gathered together in that last Sunday we spent together. Happiness as I've never known before.

And so a year has passed. A year of working, fighting, praying for the peace this country is fighting for. Working, waiting, praying for you to come safely home to me.

On this, our paper wedding anniversary, there is something special I'd like to do with you. There's a waltz, "The Anniversary Waltz." I'd like to dance the Anniversary Waltz with you. Won't you take a few minutes and just imagine that we are dancing it together? I'll do likewise.

I love you, my Darling, all the things you are - your courage, strength, your sweetness - everything about you. Your loving me, your belief in me, have helped me so much this past year. It's so much harder to imagine where you are or how you are. I've never lost my belief. Frank will come safely home. I just know it, and I'll be waiting. And ahead of us are all the years to come - together.

All my love always,

Your Elspeth

Why We're All Just Cousins Here - Missy Koepf Horsfall

Just recently, my friends and I were hanging out in the studio - we do that quite often - just sitting around chatting. The fact that we record these conversations doesn't stop us from having a really good time. We open the Word of God and share our hearts - we talk and laugh, even cry sometimes.

For me, the best thing about these times together is that we are learning and gleaning from each other. The encouragment and sharing of our lives and what God is teaching us seems to stay with me throughout the week and I often revisit the things we've talked about. This week one of the things we discussed was how God has gifted believers individually and how using these gifts benefit the entire body. It's all about "doing life together" as my friend Beth likes to say.

It reminded me of some words of encouragement I received from my daughter many years ago when my father was suffering from emphysema and cancer. I began traveling back and forth from Ohio to Michigan to visit him at least once a month and made the trip with my then four-year-old daughter.

At that time my parents lived in a basement apartment in my brother's home so whenever we came to visit there was a lot of family around. We'd always lived far from family and I hadn't realized how that had affected my children until traveling home on one of those trips.

Leaving was always hard, not knowing how my dad would be doing, or the next time I would see him again - if I would see him again. One trip was especially hard for me and I was crying before we even left the driveway. My sweet, tender-hearted daughter reached over to pat me on my shoulder and comfort me. "It'll be alright, Mommy," she said. "We all tousins here."

In our brief time at my parents, she realized what having an extended family meant - love, comfort, sharing laughter or tears. In the family of God, we've been given this gift of one another.

Who are you sharing life with?
All for Him,
Missy

We're All Just Cousins Here

We're All Cousins Here

I have just had the wonderful opportunity to spend a few days with my sisters Laura and Missy and my cousin Jackie at Jackie's home near Columbus, Ohio. What fun and fellowship we had! What cakes we helped Jackie bake and deliver!

Out of this amazing time reconnecting, we decided we needed a family blog for "cousins" - the women of the Thomas/Koepf families.

Please enjoy our postings, and post your own stories, photos and events. We want to stay connected!

Love,

Randa Koepf Klein
AKA "Randi" for the past 30 years