Adventures of Stephan and Kathleen

This Simeon figure was first commissioned in stoneware for a retiring Stake President. A few copies in Urethane have been sold. It has generated enough interest to be cast in a limited edition in bronze.

"Abraham and Isaac"
This piece was commissioned by a friend,and depicts the young Issac throwing his arms around the father he loves. Father Abraham cannot respond in kind because he has been commanded to sacrifice this precious boy. His body language and expression pleads for a way out. I am considering this as the first of a trilogy depicting this great test.

"Rogue River Steelhead" (foot Bridge)
The beautiful river here with its salmon and steelhead runs, is one of the perks of living in Grants Pass.
I have wrestled with this rather large painting for a long time. It is near completion.

"The Accuser"
It is time to cast a limited edition of this piece. Close examination tells it all. It is one of my favorites.

We have been busy and blessed with many things to fill our time. We have joy in our posterity and friends. Life doesn,t get better than this.

NEW GRANDBABIES

2009-03-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, LITTLE ANGELS

Faidra Jeanne Seable born 5 March. (Big sister Naomi)
Seventh child for Adam and Holly

River Durham born 24 February. Fourth child of Ali and Tom.

Our next door neighbors and the rest of the family

2009-02-08T23:54:00.000-08:00

Facebook Stephan Seable

Seable Family Caribbean Cruise January 2009

2009-01-30T16:02:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We pared down our 900 slides to 290 for this presentation. It takes about 30 min. to watch! Maybe you can take it a little at a time (ha,ha) We just wanted to share a wonderful experience! Many thanks to Don and Carol for a fabulous family reunion.

Thomas and Grandma back in Sept. 2008

2009-01-29T00:33:00.000-08:00

This is when we were in Utah making the Durham film

Recap of 2008

2008-12-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

The Holiday season has prompted us to get going on our blog again after many months of neglect. To quickly recap our year: We spent New Years 2008 celebrating with family in the Bay Area in California; in March Stephan took Kathleen on a special outing to Gold Beach for her 65th birthday. Also in March, Heather and family came to Grants Pass for family festivities for Easter such as an outdoor Easter egg hunt and barbecue on Saturday and Church and Easter dinner on Sunday. Henry Seable's baptism was held later on Easter Sunday; In May we attended a Rotary Club luncheon where Sabrina Seable (11) was honored as student of the year for her school and given hundreds of dollars worth of prizes!; We also went to Heather's graduation in California where she received her Masters Degree in Education and her teaching credential (to make sure she could homeschool when she wanted to without being challenged). We also heard her Windsor's Community Children's Choir perform. It was also great fun to attend the Pleasant Hill Ward 50th Jubilee celebration in Pleasant Hill. We were able to see many old friends and feel a great spirit at each activity; Back in Grants Pass, Eliza Kirsten Savage was born May 30th and is a delight to all; In June we attended the baptism of Julie Jarvis (As you will see, we had five grandchildren baptized in 2008. The year we were on our mission in China it was the year of the dragon, and we had five grandchildren born. We call them our dragon babies. Well, this was the year of the baptisms of the dragon babies.); July we celebrated fourth of July with family in California and with our Chinese friends from Beijing who are now living in San Francisco. We also attended Rabekah Lipman's baptism. That same week Kathleen's nephew Michael Schuneman was married in the Oakland temple, and we were glad to be able to be a part of that wonderful event; Later in July, back in Grants Pass, Anson Savage was baptized. At the very end of July we were released from our two year service mission for LDS Employment Services. Although it was challenging to balance all the family involvements and 25-30 hours a week serving in this capacity, it was very rewarding, and we were greatly blessed; After our release, we immediately headed to Utah for the wedding of a wonderful young Chilean couple who are now living in Utah. They were married in the Manti Temple. We grew to love both them and their families while we were serving in Buin, Chile. After a short visit with family in Utah, we came back for a few days to Grants Pass with Ali and her three children with us so they could visit with family here and then up to Tillamook (Bay City) to spend some time with Nathan's family and to see the Weissenbuehlers, Larsens and Seables on Stephan's side of the family. Then on to Utah for Education week at BYU where many family members gathered to enjoy a week of stimulating classes. The day after Ed Week ended, Kathleen flew to California to help Sarah following her operation. Because of scaring and other complications after her emergency Cesarean delivery a year ago, Sarah had to have a hysterectomy. (We are all grateful for her seven children.) Later Kathleen returned to Utah where Stephan had stayed, and we both helped with the final filming stage of Ali and Tom's independent movie sci-fi that they had began over a year earlier before Samuel's birth. Stephan helped build props and watch children, and Kathleen was a production assistant and also ran crafts (food preparation) for the movie crew for two weeks. It was very work intensive, but also very fun and interesting. September also brought the final baptism of the dragon babies with that of Nathan Schaffer in Spanish Fork, Utah. To accommodate our schedule, the bishop allowed the family to hold a special baptism. We couldn't use the church font because it was at a different time than the regular stake baptisms, but Nathan was baptized in a neighbor's pool near the church, and we met in the chapel for the rest of the program. This will always be memorable for Nathan we are sure! On the way home from Utah, we visited Stephan's brother John in Caldwell, ID and also family in Portland and Tillamook, Oregon. We just arrived home when Kathleen heard that her mother was in the hospital with heart problems. Therefore, the next morning she took off for California and was there for a couple of weeks. In the meantime, Stephan received the results of his biopsy taken before we left for Utah. Yes, he has prostate cancer. At 71 years, this is not unusual for men. So far, supplements, exercise and losing weight is keeping the PSA number down, and the doctor says we can watch and wait for awhile. If Stephan loses some more pounds an operation will not be so risky. That is the plan for now. In October we took Katie to the airport in Portland to fly to Utah to watch Jo's children while they went to Costa Rica with friends for a week. While there we saw another doctor for a second opinion and also had the chance to visit with Nathan and Sandra and children again in Bay City. On Halloween we had the big family Halloween Party at our house, and we also put on a great spook alley at the church designed for Primary aged children. Jarvises and Grandparents built and staffed the project in the Primary room for the ward Halloween party. It was a great success! Thanksgiving brought Lipmans, Savages, Jarvises, Adam's family and Nathan's family together at our house for a huge feast. Counting the missionaries we invited, there were 42 people. What fun (and a lot of work). In December the Creche Festival at the church featured Stephan as a local sculptor who demonstrated his work and provided a large table for youngsters to make their own Christmas sculptures out of Play Dough. We also had a table of our nativity scenes which included countries such as China and Chile, and the whole Jarvis family put on a half hour musical performance as part of the evenings program. Traditionally, Stephan was Santa again at the ward Christmas party. On Christmas day, the Christmas dinner and party was at our house after visiting with each individual family in Grants Pass on Christmas Eve. It doesn't get any better! Well, maybe soon. On New Years Day we will be flying to Florida. Stephan's generous brother Don is hosting a two week cruise to the Carribean for all his siblings and their spouses. What a reunion this will be! We will report back later on our adventures. Also, we are looking forward to two more grandbabies in 2009. Ali is expecting another son in February, and Holly will have another little girl in March. We feel so blessed in so many ways. We have our challenges, to be sure, but these are also blessings to help make us more compassionate and closer to the Lord. May 2009 bring to us and to you all that will work for our best good if we are faithful.

Family Christmas

2008-12-25T03:00:00.001-08:00

Rudolf

Kirsten and Katie

Grandma demonstrates how to open their "crackers"

At the older kids table

Preston, Julie, Parker

At the little kids table

A Christmas toast!

Stephan, Holly, Adam

Heidi enjoys the bounty

Present time!

Cordy

Levi

Gretel

Keenan

Jefferson

Eliza

Julie and Gretel give us a song

Games galore!

I think Grandma is cheating!

It's that time of year again!

2008-12-25T02:03:00.000-08:00

Santa is a favorite at the ward Christmas dinner and party. He is a regular every year. The children love his visits. Little grandchildren stare hard because he seems somewhat familiar.

Redwood Ward Christmas Party

2008-12-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Naomi Seable

Charlie Jarvis and Anson Savage (cousins)

Santa and Charlie

Santa and Stephan Savage

2008-12-24T00:45:00.000-08:00

The whole Savage family with Santa

Preston Jarvis looks delighted

Julie Jarvis loves Santa

Eliza Savage is a bit suspicious. Does that beard come off?

Anthony Jarvis is Santa's bud

2008-12-24T00:19:00.000-08:00

Santa and Anson Savage

Levi Savage chats with Santa

Parker Jarvis thinks Santa is funny

Calvin Jarvis gives a big "hello"

2008-12-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

Keenan Seable and Anson Savage

Dad and Adam

2008-12-22T23:58:00.000-08:00

Santa and Jingle Bells

One Year Anniversary

2008-02-06T01:43:00.000-08:00

It's been almost a year since I posted on this blog. Oh, my. It is 1:45am so I will not do much now. Let's just say that I started something good, and the family has taken it and run with it. Who could ask for anything more? Now we get to see all our grandkids and children and keep up on their news. It's too late for us so we are glad to see you are saving yourselves. Dad and I love you all and love to see your blogs. By the time we review all, it is too late to post ourselves. Besides, we just live quiet, little, uneventful lives.......NOT!!!! More to come later. Good night, all...................

Happy Birthday, Holly

2007-02-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a lovely, restful lunch at Applebees to celebrate Holly's birthday in February. Mommies need this from time to time.

Unusual Weather

2007-02-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

The past two weeks has brought lots of rain and snow. We haven't experienced this before since we moved here in 1999. We have needed the moisture, however. We look forward to Spring weather so we can plant our garden.

2007-02-21T20:02:00.001-08:00

We are always happy to welcome new grandchildren to the family circle. Holly was considerate to wait until the Sunday after Thanksgiving to have Naomi Noelle. She is a beautiful little dark haired dumpling. Then Sandra delivered Elijah Karl Seable on February 1st. He is also a dark haired little darling. We now have twenty-four grandsons and twelve granddaughters. Yes, it is running two to one boys to girls. What a crop of missionaries! We are grateful that babies and mommies are doing well.

Halloween Happenings

2006-11-02T02:34:00.000-08:00

Sandra and Nathan in Corvallis (We stopped by for pumpkin carving on our way home from a two day training conference for employment service missionaries in Portland) Grandma and Grandpa's Halloween Party: Jeff is the judge; Gretel in green; Holly with Cordelia being coy; Adam and China lady Grandma; Heidi with Parker the clown; Grandpa with apple in mouth; Spooky musical chairs; Sabrina biting the stem. (Back in Corvallis) Grandma and Quentin and Grandpa and Tyson with two jack-o-lantern friends

Stephan and Kathleen in front of Medford Temple

2006-11-02T01:38:00.000-08:00

Hot Rod Granny

2006-11-02T01:21:00.000-08:00

Wheeee!
Powerful little engine!

Seableonia entering the blogosphere

2006-11-02T00:25:00.000-08:00

Since returning from our two year mission in Chile, we have not sent out any newsletters. Perhaps this is a good thing. Perhaps this is negligence. You decide. At any rate, we are going to try to communicate from time to time using this venue. If you want to check out our news, you can choose to do so... or not. No more lengthy, unsought after missives invading your email. You can pursue enlightenment by clicking after us... or not. Fair deal?

At this time in our lives, we measure our advancement in years in terms of grandchildren. At present we are at the 34 mark. There are four more in the works: Holly and Adam in November, Nathan and Sandra the last of January, Ali and Tom and Sarah and Jakob sometime in May. We love and are grateful for this bumper crop and appreciate those who are willing to produce and care for it.

In September of this year we were called on a two year service mission working with LDS Employment Resource in the Medford/Grants Pass Oregon area. Since we live in Grants Pass Oregon, we do not have to move. This is a different kind of mission for us, and at first we were not sure if we were being rewarded or tested. However, as we are learning about the world of job seeking, putting on Career Seminars, discovering a myriad of community resources and helping people to be career self-sufficient, we find that we are enjoying ourselves immensely. This past month we helped 12 people find employment, and we are thrilled. Who said you can't teach old dogs new tricks! We are also continuing in our previous calling as ward missionaries, and we sing in the ward and stake choirs. Not much time for mischief.

Recently we were in the Portland area for missionary training, and we were able to visit with the McIver family, Grandma Melba and Gabe Weissenbuehler (at his fire station). It was so good to see these family members and share hugs. McIver kids are super soccer players and growing up rapidly as children are wont to do. As usual, Syndy and Robert were gracious hosts, and we appreciated their making time for us. Grandma Melba looks the same although she will be turning 89 next spring. How does she do it! Staying active and eating right, we guess. She is always a delight. Gabe is a very handsome and loveable top notch fire fighter. He gave us a tour of the fire station. Very impressive!

Speaking of bumper crops (remember three paragraphs ago), we had a super duper garden this year and just brought in the last of the tomatoes to save them from frost bite. We've had a warm, fruitful autumn that has extended far beyond its usual duration in these parts. However, the last two nights have been rather chilly so we needed to rescue our remaining green tomatoes. In addition to ourselves and family and friends, our bountiful garden has provided for a myriad of our four footed forest friends. Ahh, one of the perks of rural living.

Yesterday evening, after trunk or treating at the church, we had a family Halloween Party with dunking for apples, pinning the eyes on the jack-o-lantern, and vying for musical chairs. There was plenty to eat and a video of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. During the show, the floor was strewn with the bodies of 14 children mingled with pillows, blankets and candy wrappers. Halloween heaven!

Stephan just finished painting a large mural of whales for a couple in our ward who wanted to adorn their patio. It turned out very well, and the people were very pleased. As you can see, we are enjoying life and our cup overfloweth. We hope the same is true for you.