The Hellerich Family

The first gathering of ELCA Deacons from Region One met March 7-9, 2019 at Dumas Bay Retreat Centre in Federal Way, WA. It was a time to meet and get to know each other. Rostered leaders, or soon-to-be rostered leaders, from three of the six regional synods shared faith stories, and discussed hopes and dreams […]

Ate at some wonderful places: Outlander, Hinodeya Ramen Bar in Japan Town, Zazies, and The Cliff House. So good!!! Made a quick trip to San Francisco on February 19th to visit Bethany and celebrate her birthday with her and Kristjiana! Carolyn and I did some amazing sightseeing…went to Twin Peaks for a view of San […]

Winter was quite mild, with a couple of light snows in December and January. February was a different story. Three snow days in February for Yakima Schools, and lots of snow shoveling for Dave…often many times a day just to keep up with it. Another unusual winter for Yakima. It’s been beautiful to look at […]

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We spent a few days in Minnesota with Dan and Emily after Christmas.  Bethany and  Kristjiana joined us.  We had a good time eating at home, eating out (Buca and Luce,) seeing “A Christmas Carol” at the Guthrie Theatre, visiting the American Swedish Institute, worshiping […]

Sadly, my younger sister, Mary, died November 25th, 2018.  She’d been at home on hospice for several weeks after having been in the hospital since early September.  She had Crohn’s Disease.  Fortunately, I made it back to Omaha to see her in late October.  It was a difficult visit.  Rest in peace, Mary. Here is […]

We enjoyed three days at Sleeping Lady Resort near Leavenworth, WA October 29-31, 2018.  Cynthia Lindner, author of “Varieties of Gifts:  Multiplicity and the Well-lived Pastoral Life” was the speaker.  It was good to get together with other deacons and pastors from across the synod, in an absolutely beautiful location!   There’s even a Chiluhly […]

Everyone should vote this way!  We get our ballots in the mail.  We get an informational booklet with all the information you would ever need to make your own choice on who to vote for and what to vote for or against!  Fill out the ballot, sign the envelope, and stick it in the mail, […]

We attended the 3rd Annual Idaho Discipleship Conference in Boise October 19 & 20.  It was held in the beautiful First Methodist Church, aka “Cathedral of the Rockies, Downtown.”  Keynote and preacher was Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber.  She was a speaker at the ELCA Youth Gathering this past summer in Houston, TX.  A couple of youth […]

Carolyn was asked to participate in a forum at the John J. Wright Museum in Spotsylvania with the seven girls, now women, who were first to integrate into the traditionally white schools in the county on Thursday, August 29, 1963.  That was the day after Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech in […]

We finally got to visit the Pacific Science Center, near the Space Needle in downtown Seattle!  It was a beautiful day, and the Science Center wasn’t crowded at all.  Learned so much about ourselves, bugs (especially butterflies,) machines, etc.  That afternoon, we dined with Sister Elizabeth Steele.  Had a great time!