Our missionaries: Kristian and Kylie are home

The first of our grandchildren to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Kristian and Kylie Mostert have both successfully completed their missions and returned to their new home in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. Kristian, speaking Spanish and English, served for two years in the Las Vegas, NV Mission. He spent time in both Nevada and Kingman, Arizona.  For several months he served as one of the Assistants for the Mission President.  Kylie spent time in both New Mexico and Arizona as she served for 18 months in the Tucson, AZ Mission. She was called as an English speaking missionary, but had to learn some Spanish due to the large number of Spanish speakers in her mission. Kristian has resumed his schooling at Brigham Young University, along with his brother and sister: Karson and Kelsey. Kylie plans on returning to BYU later this year.

Their grandmother and I were most pleased with their desire to serve missions, as we had done in Finland in the late 1950s. Their father Kari, now a Colonel in the US Air Force, also served a Spanish speaking mission in the San Bernardino, CA Mission in the early 1980s.

How about that...three generations of Mostert Missionaries.

Tepa died Dec. 9, 2010

I don't know why I am just getting around to it, but I need to let those who follow this blog know that my wife of over 51 years Tepa (Terttu Tuulikki Aunola) died in a Champaign, IL nursing home the afternoon of December 9th 2011.  She was 75 years old.  She had several strokes that affected her life style. She suffered greatly from Osteo-Arthritis as well as Diabetes and other diseases. Just two weeks after we celebrated with all of our family members our 50th Wedding Anniversary in August 2010, Tepa suffered two strokes from which she never really recovered.  After rehabilitation for two months, she was able to come home and I, with paid and other help, was able to care for her until Fall of 2011.  Following several falls, she was confined to a hospital bed which we set up in the middle of our living room.  Then in September she was hospitalized with bladder infection.  Infection later traveled throughout her body, especially to her bottom, heels and lower legs. When taken back to the hospital for the infections they did all they could and we transferred her to the Heartland Medical Center in Champaign, which is where she was her last two months. Although not too lucid, I was able to understand her most of the time.  But finally she got to the point where she rarely opened her eyes and did not eat much. At her request we did not put her on medical life support and she passed quietly in her bed.  We held a Memorial Service for her on Dec. 27 and the next day I and sons Kari and Timo with Kari's two oldest sons: Kristian and Karson dedicated her and my graves near my mother's in the South Lineville, MO Cemetery and along with several of my cousins from the area of Mercer, MO scattered her ashes. A lovely gravestone is being engraved and will placed there in Spring 2012. The Cemetery contains Cox and Duncan family members graves dating back for over 170 years. I miss her.

A Happy 50th Anniversary Andre and Tepa Mostert and Family August 2010

Andre and Tepa (Terttu Tuulikki Aunola) Mostert were married on April 30, 1960 in the London LDS Temple.  Tepa was working in Hove, England at the time.  Andre was a private in the US Army.
We had met when each of us was serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tepa's native Finland.  Andre's family was living in Provo, Utah at that time.

In August 2010, our entire family joined us in celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary in Champaign, Illinois. Oldest grandchildren Kylie and Kristian Mostert are present as pictures as they are currently serving as missionaries for the LDS Church.  Kylie in the Tucson, AZ Mission and Kristian in the Las Vegas NV Mission (Spanish speaking). Our youngest grandchild Zachary Allan Waltersdorf, held on his mother Sherry's lap, was born earlier this year in March.

We held our Reunion in August as school and other problems kept family from coming to Champaign in April. We had several fun getherings at the Mostert family home and pool, ate a delicious meal at Biaggi's Italian Restaurant, and held an Open House for friends at the LDS Church on Windsor Road in Champaign.

We all had a wonderful time.

Tepa Recovering from Strokes

August 26th Tepa suffered two strokes and was hospitalized at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana for five days then transferred to the Champaign-Urbana Regional Rehab Center in Savoy, about two miles from our home. Except for a three day period when she returned to the hospital for a check-up on a urinary tract infection, she spent 8 weeks at the Rehab Center receiving physical, vocational and speech therapy. The strokes caused more cognitive problems than physical ones as were caused when she had a stroke five years ago. It took her some time before she really knew what had happened and where she was and why she was there. There are still some residual effects from that earlier stroke.

I was able to bring her home October 16th when they decided she was doing well enough that I could take care of her with some occasional help. We have physical therapists come in twice a week and a nurse once a week, while a vocational therapist came in once and said Tepa needed to be able to walk better before she could really help her much.  Tepa has a hard time walking, she mostly moves around in her wheel chair.
I have to help her get dressed, in and out of bed, to a portable pot in her bedroom.She has replaced her old recliner with a new Queen Anne Recliner from Macy's.  That's where she is sitting right now.

We have rearranged our furniture so our living/dining room has furniture around the outside with a large open space in the middle. As usually I do all the cleaning, shopping and cooking.

I am doing fine, as my lymphoma cancer has been in remission almost a year now.  I still need to visit the restroom about once every two or three hours.

We love hearing from our family and friends, especially from our two oldest granchildren Kylie and Kristian Mostert (Kari and Gina's oldest) who are currently serving missions for our LDS faith. in New Mexico and Nevada.

Wonderful Reunion and 50th Anniversary Open House

I'll try and get pictures on here as soon as I can.

We had a fun time around the pool grilling hotdogs and hamburgers Tuesday Aug. 3rd.  Everyone was here except Sherry, Troy and little Zach.  They got to their hotel late.  Wednesday we all met at 10 am at the Illini Studio for picture taking. My did the men look handsome in their white shirts and ties and the women in their Sunday best.  In the afternoon we all sat around a long table in a reserved room at one of our favorite Italian restaurants,,,Biaggi's. Tremendous buffett with so much food that they sent enough home with us for several days meals. After a rest period...we changed clothes and went swimming in the Mostert pool,  shared some of the day's feast and had a fun Family Home Evening Talent Show and all. I would never have believed that Kelsey could stuff 10 marshmellows in her mouth...or that I could remember MOST of the words to "If I Were A Rich Man."  Thursday some of the guys went golding, some of the ladies went shopping and Tepa and I rested up. I picked up the 50 long stem red roses that Tepa wanted.  We quickly set up the Multi-Purpose Room at our Church for the evening's Open House.  A delightful time was had by all.  Many of our old friends from all over (Peoria, Rockford, Mahomet and C-U) made their way to Champaign and honored us by their presence. We had asked in the invitations for no presents as we are trying to unload not add stuff.
Most of the family left on Friday.  Mikas went early to catch a flight to Detroit then home to San Diego.  Timo and Kari drove to the Indianapolis Airport. Gina and her three plus Mika's Federico took off driving for South Carolina and Sherry drove home to Wisconsin.  Erik and family stayed in C-U through Sunday.  Monday they drove up and saw Chicago.  Stayed overnight and flew home to Utah on Tuesday.  And now once again Tepa and I are home alone.  We love having everyone here, but it is nice to relax.  Thank you all for making it a truly memorable 50th.

I'll get information as to the pictures as soon as I can.

Saw my Oncologist on Monday August 9th. He said I'm doing great and don't need to see him again until February.  My Dermatologist said the same thing. 
Every six months is just fine with me.

Summer is here in Champaign

This is a memorable year for Andre and Tepa Mostert.  January we both turned 74. In March our 13th grandchild (and Sherry's first baby) Zachary Allan Waltersdorf was born in Wisconsin. Welcome Zach!
April 30th was our "Official" 50th Wedding Anniversary.  We are planning a Mostert 50th Wedding Anniversary Reunion and Open House the first week in August, 2010.  The Open House will be at the LDS Church here in Champaign from 7 to 9 pm on Thursday August 5th.  Looks like all of our family members, except Kylie and Kristian, will be here.  Kristian is an LDS missionary in the Las Vegas, NV Mission, while Kylie will be at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, preparing to serve in the Tucson, AZ Mission.  She will be speaking mostly English, while Kristian is speaking mostly Spanish.  As we can't travel we are delighted that the family is coming here.

My oncologist says I am still in remission from my Lymphoma Cancer and only need to see him every three or four months.  My next visit will be the Monday after our Family Reunion.  Outside of gaining weight, I am doing great.  I lost 110 pounds, but have gained back 60 pounds  This may be good, as my doctor declared me in remission last December, when he heard that I was gaining weight.  Apparently you can't have lymphoma cancer and gain weight at the same time.

Tepa continues to suffer greatly from her many illnesses, especially osteoarthritis. She is also having some problems seeing because of cataracts and glaucoma.  Her eye doctor says she can't have any operations for those because she also has Macular Degeneration. Her left eye is especially bad.

We still read the scriptures daily: Tepa in English and I in Finnish, which helps both of us speak our adopted languages better.

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!

Rainy, cold, miserable January

We had terribly cold weather (even down to below zero) much of January, but for the past week the temperature has moderated to 20 - 36 degrees, unfortunately, the weather has been very moist, either raining or just very humid. And the wind makes it seem even colder than it is. I about froze yesterday as I pumped my gas as Sam's Club. The heavy snow we had two weeks ago keeps hanging around, although it is not nearly as deep as it was. I'll let you know if it gets any better.

I have been asked to be on our Troop 222 Boy Scout Committee.  We had a meeting for parents last night, to introduce them to the new Committee, its chairman (Bill Evans) as well as our new Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters.  We have about as many adults as youth involved with Scouting.  I think there are 16 boys, but only one over 16 years of age.  So it is a fairly young troop.

Our next get-together will be an Eagle Court of Honor for our one older scout.  He has turned 18, but earned his Eagle before his birthday.  I sat on his Board of Review.  He was well prepared.  His Eagle project was to build an outdoor classroom at Homer Lake Park.  With the young men he supervised, he created benches and a teaching space.  The park people were very  happy.