notes from the garden

Checking In Again

2009-07-13T21:19:00.003-04:00

Sometimes you can not improve on what is done, so if you want to know what is going on in our family lately go to www.hondorpnews.blogspot.com/

You will see lots of neat pictures and all of our grandkids and much more.

Have a wonderful summer.

Second half of 2009

2009-07-01T21:21:00.003-04:00

Can you believe that the year of 2009 is half over? The month of June passed by without my input, and I can not think of anything special that occured, but it was a good month and filled with 4 kids birthday's, an anniversary, and a grandchild's 16th birthday.

Backing up a little, I went to SD twice in May. The second time I picked up Joel, Brenda, Emma and Sam on the 23rd of May and made the 875 miles to SD in one day, although it started a little later than we had planned!! I had set the alarm, but it did not go off, and Brenda called when I had planned on being at their house, so we started an hour later. We got off at 6 AM and the next few hours were just a bit noisy as we had a turtle car top carrier on the car, and with the straps going every which way, we ended up with noise that was very annoying. Needless to say it was irritating, and wore on all of us. Finally Brenda had an idea, and we removed one strap, and the noise was gone. That made the rest of the trip much better. We finally made it to Sioux Falls airport at 7 at night, and picked up Emily, had supper and finally made it to our destination. It was a long day, and we were all tired. Thankfully Emily stayed in good humor waiting 6 hours for us to show up at the SF airport.

We spent time visiting Mom, which she enjoyed so much. Brenda and Emily took lots of time to massage her back, arms and legs. We took her to Ken and Margie one morning, and also took her in her chair to Leisure Living (her former residence). She enjoys all the extra attention and activity. It was beautiful weather most days, so we sat outside on the patio also.

Joel was able to get in 2 games of golf at the Platte Golf course. Emma had a wonderful time playing with Cassidy, Ken and Margie's grand daughter. She is a year older, and Emma refers to her as the girl with the white hair. Cassidy is as blonde as Emma is dark. They were a cute combination, and had lots of fun together.

Emily stayed until Tuesday, and Margie and I took her to Sioux Falls. It was a quick trip with out shopping, although we did stop in Mitchell for some items and had lunch.

We left on Friday and drove home again in one day. When Emma got out of the car, she ran to her tricycle and rode around the van as fast as she could go, then she got on her bike, and did the same thing. We would have all felt better if we had joined her, but somebody had to unload the van!! I made it home about 11 PM. It was a great trip and the next time I saw Emma she said she wanted to go to SD again with Grandma.

We also enjoyed 2 nights at a Bed and Breakfast in Fennville, MI, the 2nd weekend of June, compliments of our kids ( a Christmas gift), and had a great time. We just spent the 2 days sitting by Lake Michigan in Saugatuck ( even rode the Duck) , South Haven and Holland and walking the piers in all 3 towns. Thankfully we had the weekend with good weather. The next weekend the lake shore received up to 8" of rain along with tornadoes and lots of wind.

I still take one day a week to take care of the local grandkids and that is always a fun day. One day that sticks out in my mind was the afternoon, when both Abe and Teddy had escaped outside while I sat outside with Emma and Sam. Emma went in to get a juice box, and while there, Abe wanted to come into the house, so she opened the door and let him in, with a live chipmunk in his mouth. When I walked in with Sam a couple of minutes later, Emma was standing in the kitchen with a live chippie in her hand. I was so surprised I said " Oh, Emma", and she dropped the critter. Then the chase began. I laid Sam in his crib, and made many futile attempts at catching it. I made one more try and had the chippie by the tip of his tail. I had him!! Just that quick it jerked and I was left with about 1/2" of a chippie tail in my hand, and the chippie was on the way down the basement. The opportunities for the chippie were much greater and he made the most of it, by running into Emma's room, then in the family room under 3 chairs that I turned over in the chase ( and then forgot to turn them right side up), and then he made a dive for the laundry room and behind the washer. Abe was with me the whole time, and kept catching the chippie, but would drop it every time I got close. He did make a great catch by the washer; and I heard Abe hit his head on the washer, but he caught the chippie. A few more attempts and I finally caught him and threw the chippie and cat out the back door. Emma had not left the scene for a minute and watched every move that was made. It was a crazy afternoon, and Brenda seemed to think it was quite funny!! Imagine that.

Last weekend we had a nice time with friends on Friday evening by taking our pontoon boat to Murray Lake and took a 3 hour boat ride, and supper on the boat. It was so beautiful out and fun to be with friends. We hope to take the boat out this holiday weekend again.

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend, and stay safe.

Spring is HERE!

2009-05-18T12:47:00.002-04:00

Do we dare say it? It has been an up and down teaser, with warm days and cold days, but as they say "hope springs eternal".Ha. No matter what the weather, we have had a great time in the last month, with many days of travel, and also many days of enjoying the work at home.

My 62nd birthday was celebrated by a 7 hour flight to the Netherlands with Everett and his sister and husband, Ken and Margie Vanden Hoek. We joined the rest of the tour group at the Sciphol Airport, from all over the U.S. for a waterway cruise on the rivers and canals of northern Holland. We had amazing weather for the entire week, which is not always the case when you travel in the Netherlands. The first day was filled with activity to help us adjust to the 6 hour time change. We started at a bed and breakfast/cheese factory called the Clara Maria, near Gouda. Then on to Gouda to take a walking tour to see the St. Jans kerk (church), had lunch and shopped, and then on to Arnham to see the WWII cemetery and later got on our ship there. Sunday was a quiet day, with a church service and then a walking tour through Deventer.
We also went to an organ concert at the Reformed church in Kampen, many more walking tours through cities where we were docked. We went to the Island of Texel, stopped in Sneek, and toured the replica of Noah's Ark in the dock there. The wonderful part of the tour is the relaxing, as the boat cruises through the country side with the quiet pastoral setting of the land passing by. We saw many old dutch homes with lace curtains at the windows, cattle grazing in the pastures, sheep, Frisian horses, storks nesting on tall poles along the water. We passed by many old windmills and also many of the new windmills that provide power.

We had a group of Frisian folk dancers perform for us one evening, and also a folk band another evening. We also spent time playing cards while we relaxed on the promenade deck.

The last day of the tour we went to Keukenhof Gardens to see 72 acres of the most beautiful spring flowers. The colors and varieties are amazing, with tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, of every color and variety imaginable, as well as other types of flowers. There is also a building filled with orchids of every kind.
We also went to the Alsmeer World Flower Market. They have acres of boxes on skids filled with every kind of cut flower to be sold by auction and shipped all over the world, all in a matter of a couple of hours, so they are delivered fresh. It is an interesting business.

On Sat. we were all brought to the airport to either fly home or in our case, we rented a VW minivan, and headed out to meet our extended cousin, Peter Hekze. We spent the next 4 days seeing the Netherlands with Peter as our guide. He was fluent with the English language, so communication was not a problem. He showed us many interesting towns that were fortresses during the Spanish war, shaped like a star, with water all around it. The towns were mostly built with a very beauiful old church in the center and usually on the highest point. We were able to go into some, and took pictures of those that were located in the towns where our ancestors came from. We went to Wolvega where the VT family immigrated from. Grandpa Vander Ley came from that area also. We also went to Goudriaan where the Vanden Hoek family came from.
We went to one town that was so interesting and lovely, I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Netherlands. It was Giethoorn. It has canals all over, and is called the 'little Venice" of the Netherlands. The houses and bridges were just lovely.

Peter's wife Annika was very gracious and prepared dinner for us each evening. We had delicious meals. Peter took meat and cheese and juice boxes in his back pack ,and we bought bread at a bakery and that was our lunch each day. We ate at a picnic table or in the car if it was raining.
We also visited various cemetery's, and couple of castles, got lots of history regarding polders, dikes, land taken from the sea, the pumps used to remove the water etc. It was all very interesting.

We stayed in Almeer which is quite a large area, that was only acquired from the sea since 1956, and that is where Peter lived as well. We stayed at the Bastion Hotel in that same area, which was very nice.

On Wed. we flew home and were very grateful that all our flights and connections went without a problem.

One very important event took place while we were on the ship, and that was on Tues. April 21 when we got the word that Samuel Aaron had been officially adopted. We were all thrilled, and so thankful that the process had gone so smoothly. He is a precious baby, and so grateful that he is part of our family, and joins Joel, Brenda and Emma.

We were home one day and had time to do the laundry, sort the mail, pay the bills , and mow the lawn, and then on Friday left for Sioux Center, Iowa to go to our neice Karissa Stel and Eric Sjaarda's wedding. We had a wonderful time and it was a beautiful wedding. It was so good to see so many members of the family.

On Sunday we went to Corsica to see Mom. We were with her for 2 days and then drove home on Wednesday. It was a good visit, and great to see her again.

This coming Sat. I am taking Joel, Brenda, Emma and Sam with me to SD to spend a week with family. We plan to drive straight through so will be interesting to see how we do, especially with a 3 year old that is a high activity child. The DVD player should help some.

Well, until next month........

April is here!

2009-04-13T14:58:00.002-04:00

A new picture deserves some kind of update. We had all the children and grand children home for Easter (except Emily) and had a marvelous time as always. It began with Elton and Lauri and kids coming here at supper time on Friday night. Hamburgs on the grill with all of the fixins' were a hit, and then we had the evening to catch up on the latest.

Saturday was a day filled with all sorts of activity. Everett had a great time with all his boys, as Elton, Brett and Joel helped him with all kinds of jobs outside, and in his garage. There is no end to the projects around here. It is also important to note that Everett has made that step into 'retirement'. So far I have not noticed a big change in life around here, and knowing the way my husband operates, he will not be hanging around me waiting for things to happen. It certainly would be boring for him if he did. I also know that I should keep the "honey do" lists short.

It was also an opportunity for the family 'shutter bug" to take some pictures with our newest grand baby, Samuel. He is the latest miracle added too our family. He was born April 1, weighed 7#3oz and 19.5". He is an absolute doll, and sleeps so well, and gives Mom and Dad a big break. Emma is getting used to having the competition, and Brenda and Joel are about as happy as any new parents could hope to be. Brenda and Joel were with the birth Mom as she gave birth, and they were able to take care of him in the hospital until they took him home 24 hours later. Samuel Aaron got lots of attention from all his cousins this weekend, and even at that, he slept through most of it.

Saturday evening every one was here for pizza and ice cream sundae's to celebrate Sydney and Ethan's birthday. It was great fun. Most of the little kids were pretty tired by then, as it had been a busy day. Oh yes, and for me it was great having Lauri go shopping with me and helped me pick out some wall hangings in Hobby Lobby, and with some advice from Brenda and Roxanne we got them hung. It is a good feeling to have the help and finally take care of a job that I needed help with.

Sunday we celebrated Easter with a wonderful service at church. Praise God our Lord and Saviour has risen and is reigning in heaven until he comes for us. We enjoyed a delicious dinner together at our house the family, and before we knew it they had all left for their homes. It was a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!

We are looking forward to going to the Netherland's soon, with Everett's sister and husband Ken and Margie. They will be arriving at our house on Wed. and I have lots to do before then.

I better get at it!!

Checking In

2009-02-27T10:40:00.002-05:00

February is on the way out, and will March come in like a lion or a lamb? We will wait and see what happens. One thing for sure we are watching the river rising again. It has just gotten in its banks and is on the way up again. We had quite a bit of rain last night. I have not heard how much we had, but it came down quite hard for most of the evening. We even discovered a leak by the new windows in our master bedroom. What a disappointment!

I was very excited last evening when my sister in law's sister called to say she would be happy to ride with me to SD in March. I feel it is time to go see Mom again, and I have a few things I want to check out with her, so finding a rider was really an answer to prayer.

We were saddened when we got a call yesterday morning that Aunt Harena Vanden Hoek had passed away. She was 95, (almost 96), and her body was just worn out. She experienced quite a lot of pain the last week, as various organs shut down and caused her such misery. We are so grateful that the Lord took her to be with Him.

Yesterday I was able to finish the cleaning project down the basement. I am always amazed at
the amount of work it takes to keep a house in order. Today I want to get to the upper level and that will be more of a challenge. Notice the emphasis! Later I will report on the outcome.

February's Latest

2009-02-19T20:57:00.004-05:00

Since I went on Facebook I have not been very faithful at blogging. I find Facebook a source of instant gratification, as communication is so quick. I really like how one sentence from many friends and family allows me a peak into their daily life, and since I am more of a sentence person rather than a journaling type I find it easier to keep up.

There has not been much of a change in weather from January's blog. We just had another thaw, and this time the water got just above 17'. Now it is coming down and it has turned very cold again, with snow coming this weekend.

We had a safe trip to South Dakota with mostly clear roads. Mom was so glad to have us there, and each time I talk with her she is waiting for us to come back again. We had a very good time, and good turn out, for Mom's 87th birthday. She had arranged many of the details for her party, and had invited most of the people she wanted to celebrate with her. She also had chosen the food for the party, so all we had to do was carry out her wishes.

Since we were there she has been moved to another room to accomodate some other residents needs, and also her own. She now is with a lady that is able to converse with Mom which is more enjoyable for her.

Seems as though most of our days are routine, but very enjoyable. I have been out with a few friends for lunch, spent time with the 4 local grandchildren . Emma spends one day a week with me. Lately she has been coming to Little lambs on Wed., the children's program at the Coffee Break Bible study, where I lead a group of women. Emma loves the interaction, stories, crafts etc. This week they all came in their pajama's. It was so cute. Aidan, Olivia and Regan were here today, because they had a half day of school. Olivia came early as she had strep. She seemed to be doing quite well, and the medication was working.

Our caring ministries group at church sent out care packages to the college kids that live away from home. We sent out 17 packages. I am in charge of that segment of the ministry, so had a few details to work out, like get the boxes for mailing, bakers to make the cookies, packing peanuts, and then take them to the post office for mailing. The young adults seem to enjoy the goodies and the warm thoughts.

Our church family group had a dinner after the morning service the 8th. We had an enjoyable time of fellowship with the group. In fact we have been to 3 dinners involving our church. We had another group that met at a local restaurant. We find that fellowship is such an important part of the body of Christ. Last Thursday we went to the Sweetheart dinner put on by the young people as a fund raiser for some of their projects. They served us a delicious dinner, with ham, scalloped potatoes, creamed corn and a salad. Then the dessert buffet was a chocoholics dream. Every kind of dessert was available and very tasty. It was an evening of great fellowship with 3 other couples at our table.

Our church family has had many trials the last while. We have had many surgeries, including, knee and hip surgeries, replacement of a heart valve, a leg amputation. Tragically a mother of one of our member's, was killed when a drunk driver hit their vehicle. The father was injured, and had many broken ribs. It has been a very difficult time.

This has been a peek at some of the activities we have enjoyed. Everett continues to look forward to his change of career. There will be a retirement party the 25th of March.

Till next time.

January's Cold Snap

2009-01-15T20:27:00.003-05:00

We have had some real winter weather so far this season. We had a white Christmas, and then "the big thaw". The Grand River, which runs behind our property, reached 20(twenty) feet. At 14 feet it covers the path we have between us and our neighbor's the Bielema's, and then picture it 6 feet above that. Thankfully we are not affected anywhere close to our house, but we can see lots of ice glistening in the sun as we look toward the river. Now the temperatures are right around zero, so all liquid has turned to ice. So much for the weather.

Tomorrow we will be leaving for SD to see Mom, and be with her as she celebrates her 87th birthday, January 20. Mom has not changed much, that we can tell, since her stroke in May. She has not been eating too well, so is losing quite a bit of weight. Glenn and Donna were with her a little over a week ago, and she loved that. She just looks forward to having us around. Visits, cards and letters are some of the things she looks forward to, and we appreciate each of you that remember her.

Our December was relaxing with the family parties held during the Thanksgiving weekend. We did have the Dan Vos Christmas Party which I did not make, because I had a bad case of bronchitis. The medication helped, but it took over a week to get it out of my system and get my energy back. We enjoyed a Christmas concert at the Grand Rapids Christian High School De Vos Worship Center. The GRCHS students choir, orchastra and band did a very nice job. We also went to hear the Kings Choirliers at LaGrave CRC as well as Aidan, Regan and Olivia's school Christmas program.

Everett will be making a change in lifestyle the end of March when he quits his job at Dan Vos Construction. He will be working from his garage office dealing in investments. He also has a couple of side jobs to keep him busy. We are looking forward to the change with some mixed feelings, but I guess that is quite normal, as it is a new experience for us.

This past Wednesday we started the Coffee Break Bible study after the holidays. We had a good turn out in spite of the cold weather and slippery roads. Brenda brought Emma so she could attend Little Lambs, and then I took her home for lunch and a nap so Brenda could work at her office. Emma and I have a good time together, and she never seems to accomplish all she wants to do when she comes over.

Check back in a month and hopefully I will have another update!!

January's Cold Snap

2009-01-15T20:27:00.000-05:00

Blizzard 2008

2008-12-21T14:49:00.002-05:00

Winter begins today, and it came roaring into West Michigan full force. We are thankful for a warm home, and all the creature comforts we need to stay comfortable. It does not seem to be snowing right now, but the wind is vicious, and it is best to stay indoors. The morning church services were canceled and I have a feeling the evening services will be canceled as well. Everett has not plowed our driveway yet today, as it would not help with the strong winds causing the drifting. He did bring wood into the garage last week to dry, and that is great as we have the fireplace roaring all day today.

Right now I am so grateful that we had our Christmas celebration Thanksgiving weekend, so our kids do not have to travel on icy roads to our house. There is always someone traveling, but at least we do not have to deal with Emily's flight and Elton and Lauri and kids traveling around Lake Michigan. As far as we know Brett and Roxanne brought their kids to Dearborn last night, and also made it back home again.

I will go and enjoy the rest of this day quietly. Hummmmmm!

A Cold December Day

2008-12-05T14:07:00.002-05:00

Winter has arrived in Michigan. It is snowing and blowing depending on when you look out of the window.

Last week at this time was a flurry of activity in this old house. It was filled with 9 adults and 8 children, scurrying back and forth, in and out, either going to buy some last minute presents, wrapping presents, cooking, decorating the tree and just running and screaming (mostly the kids). It was FUN. Now it is much quieter, but the memories last a lifetime, and what a privilege it is to all be together for the holidays. We all received gifts that made us smile and feel loved. It was especially wonderful to see the expressions on the children's faces when they got just what they wanted. A special thank you to the mom's of those dear grandchildren for picking out those 'just right' gifts. For me it was very special just to have the kids all around.

Now it is back to getting into the normal routine, whatever that is. I have a long list of things that need doing, that I hope to have accomplished by New Year's Eve.

Photo update

2008-12-02T14:11:00.002-05:00

We had our in-house photographer with us over the weekend so here are a few photos of our family:

Elton, Lauri and their kids Sydney, Ethan, Mackenna & Alex

Brett, Roxanne and their kids Aidan, Regan & Olivia

Joel & Emma
(Brenda is always BEHIND the camera...never in front!)

All our sweet grand babies!

Surprise

2008-11-26T22:28:00.002-05:00

For those of you that had given up on me; yes, I am still here, and will give you a brief rundown on the past month.

Everett and I left for SD the 24th of October and spent the next 3 weeks away from home, for the most part. We had a good time in SD for about 10 days, with family, and spent a part of every day at the nursing home with Mom. We did take her to Ken and Margie's house twice while we were there, and she seemed to love the change of scenery even though she was ready to go back after 2-2 1/2 hours. Each time I talk with her she tells me she is waiting for me to come back. Brother Glenn is planning on going to see her in December, and we are planning to go to be with her for her 87th birthday the 20th of Jan. The days are long for her and I am sure she has very little she looks forward to. It gets harder and harder for me to leave her. One thing that was very special to Mom was a large plaque that Phil Stel had bought for her. It says "Faith is not believing that God can, it is knowing that He will". What a statement of faith, and a comfort for Mom and all of us.

We did have an enjoyable time with the rest of the family while we were there. We had dinner at Dorothy's house and saw Jaylon and Gloria that evening. Gloria also came to Ken and Margie one evening and played cards with us. What fun.

We also spent some time talking to Ken and Margie about our upcoming trip to the Netherlands in April '09, and we plan to extend our stay to look up some relatives and find out more about our Vander Tuin heritage. Everett has recently made another connection with his Dad's mothers side of the family ( Groen), so we may have a very interesting time.

We were home two days and then flew to CA so Everett could attend his Pacific Island Ministries board meeting in Grass Valley, Nov. 6-7. The board meeting was very successful and went well for all concerned. There were some heavy issues, so it was good to have resolution.
We spent the weekend with Emily and finally had a tour to Alcatraz. We had inquired a few times, but the tours were always filled, so this time Everett bought tickets on line. It was the only drizzly day, and the fog was very heavy on the boat ride back. It is a very interesting tour and well worth the 2 1/2 hours. The headphones let you take the tour at a slow rate of speed and you can turn it off it you want to take a break.

We did spend some time relaxing and shopping, and then also met our nephew Derrick and his wife Ruth and their darling baby Noah on Sunday evening. We went out to dinner and then back to their house for tea and cookies. It was so good to see them, and Noah is such a good little guy.
Ruth folks Jake and Ada dropped in for a bit and it was nice to see then too, once again.

Since we came back I have spent time getting the basement ready for the grandkids so they can play there during this Thanksgiving weekend. They were down there this evening and having a good time, with just a bit of parental refereeing. The girls out number the boys 5-2 and it was not going so good; the girls were a bit power hungry.

It has also been busy with babysitting grandkids, various appointments, and Coffee Break meetings.

I did go see the Dr. about a toe that I had stubbed 3 months ago when I tripped over the vacuum. The toe did not hurt but stayed red and swollen. He told me after x-rays that yes, it was broken and had tried to heal, but had not been successful, b/c of too much movement. Now the broken toe and the next one are taped together for support and I have to keep them this way for a month, going in once a week to have them retaped. Hopefully it will heal or surgery would be the next option. I will be good, b/c he said it would be surgery similar to a hammertoe.

The next few days will be filled with activity, as we have our church service tomorrow morning, and then our bid dinner about 1 PM.
Friday we will try and get the house decorated for Christmas as we will be celebrating that on Sat. Emily flew in today at 3:30 and will be here until 8 PM on Mon, so we are going to have a party every day!! We are all invited to Brenda and Joel Friday evening.

So that is a quick summary of life at 8900. Not exciting, but very enjoyable.

HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING, AND REMEMBER TO GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS.

This and That

2008-10-21T21:57:00.002-04:00

Today was quiet enough for me just staying home and working around the house. Then late afternoon I got a call from my good friends husband that she had been taken to the ER with severe dizziness. She has been admitted to the hospital, and we will find out tomorrow, hopefully what all of the tests have revealed. We are praying for a rapid recovery. She has had more than her share of pain and suffering the last few months when she broke her shoulder, sprained an ankle, broke a toe and then later found out that the same fall had torn things in her right knee. Just recently the sump pump failed and there was water in the basement under all the boxes in storage. Now the house is torn apart trying to clean that up, and also painting in the family room. Life can be difficult.

Last evening we were at a dinner at the Crowne Plaza, to raise funds for the Dios Protection Shelter in Ensanada, Mexico. It houses 42 street children, who are shown the love of Christ, have a safe place to stay, go to school, are fed, clothed and given hope for the future. It was a very nice evening, as we sat at a table with my cousin Wayne and his wife Jane. We do not get to talk all that often, so it was a special treat. Dr. Roger Greenway was the speaker and he was a very good choice for the occasion.

Sunday we had a restful and enjoyable day at worship, and also brunch at Brenda and Joel's house with Brett, Roxanne and kids there too. The food was delicious as always, and it is always fun to be with family. Emma is so happy to play with her older cousins.

Saturday we had a busy day. We went to Aidan's soccer game at the SE YMCA. It was a cool morning, but the sun was bright. Aidan did a good job even though their team did not win. Our friends the Veldman's were there too, because their grandson Andrew plays on Aidan's team also. Saturday evening our birthday group friends were here for dinner. I prepared the Swedish meatballs and the other gals took the potatoes, vegetables, salad and dessert. It was a delicious dinner and the fellowship was just great. What a blessing to have good friends.

Friday evening we were to our local favorite restaurant for their Friday fish dinner when I got a call from the Corsica Nursing Home that Mom had fallen out of her chair again, on the cement patio, and had an egg on her forehead and other abrasions. This was the 5th call I have gotten, and something must be done. We will be leaving this Friday for SD, so hope we can make some changes while we are there.

Bed is beckoning and tomorrow morning I will be off to Coffee Break early.

Best Day

2008-10-15T22:04:00.003-04:00

It is Wednesday again and the highlight of the week. Coffee Break is a great day, and we had a good class today, as usual. We are studying Romans and there are some hard truths to grasp, but also wonderful truths that Paul puts to us very forthrightly. It was also fun because Brenda brought Emma to Little Lambs, the class for two year olds, and she came to lunch with me at the Gathering Place. She did very well with the 5 adults there, and we had a good time.
She took a good nap of 2+ hours and by then Brenda was here. Brenda was under the weather today, so she worked a short day at her office. It was nice she could get that in and hopefully she will be feeling much better by tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will be getting out early again as I have a dental appointment at 8 AM to get a tooth replaced that had a chip. ( It was a tooth that was one of the front top 5 teeth that were veneered, and the one tooth did not hold up well at all) Bummer. The dentist chair is not my favorite place to be. At 10 a gal from church will be coming over so we can work on some details from the Caring Committee. We call church members to provide meals to people that are sick and need the extra assistance. I have been working on that c0mmittee for many years as a back up, but the other gal quit, and now I need a backup.

Everett helped me hang a few pictures this evening, and I really appreciate it. He also has been cleaning up the lower garage and organizing the tools in the toolbox. He has gotten most of it cleaned up, and then he can start on some of the other projects that are waiting for him.

In a week we will be leaving for SD, to spend some time with Mom. She seems to be holding her own, but it has to be difficult to spend each day in one place, not being able to go anywhere on her own. Please pray that she is given the peace and strength for each day.

I Am Still Here

2008-10-09T20:10:00.002-04:00

Many things have happened in the last month, one of which was my going on Facebook. It is not an excuse to ignore posting, but I guess I find it difficult to do both. We are well, and enjoying the fall weather, and the colors that are starting to show up around here too. We have had enough rain to keep it beautifully green, and the river high. We have not been out on the river with the pontoon boat the last month, but are waiting for some Indian summer days, to take one more cruise.

We are leaving for DeMotte, IN tomorrow to visit Elton, Lauri and kids. We have not visited with them for quite some time, so are looking forward to a visit. The kids are all busy in various activities so they will have a lot to talk about.

September 23 was the day a precious little boy was born that had been promised to Joel and Brenda, but 3 days after his birth he was taken from the hospital by his mother. There were many days of grief, but we know God has His hand in this too. We pray that they will soon see what God has in mind for them.

We also were able to meet Phil and Shirley at the place they had on Lake Michigan in St. Joseph, to celebrate their 6th anniversary. We went to Clementine's for dinner and had a delightful visit. It was so good to see them again, and especially great to see Phil looking healthy. We pray that this remission lasts a long time.

Mom has had a third fall, but there was no permanent damage. She was reaching and trying to be helpful, and became unbalanced and fell out of her chair. She had a puncture on the top of her head which bled profusely, but was checked by the medical staff. We plan to go see her the end of the month.

We are in trying times with the financial crisis and the elections. Only God knows the outcome and we must pray fervently for our nation, and those that run the country. Just remember to VOTE. It is a wonderful privilege and freedom that we must take seriously.

FOUR DAYS TILL FALL

2008-09-18T21:32:00.002-04:00

Ready or not fall is coming soon. I can not say I am ready, because there is so much to do.

I am glad that we had the first Coffee Break class, and have a wonderful group of women. They are friendly, talkative and it will be great to get to know them better.

We just got back from our Vander Tuin family vacation, and it will be rated as another very enjoyable one. We went to Door County, WI, and stayed near the town of Egg Harbor. We stayed in a wonderful 3 bedroom ranch house right on the water of Green Bay. It was a beautiful setting, for lovely sunsets, watching the water in rain, totally calm and with whitecaps. The first couple of days were mostly sunny and perfect temperatures. We took a ferry to Washington Island and drove around the island, some of the group climbed a tower, we saw a Stav church, and had a chicken and fries lunch.

We also went to a play at the Peninsula Theater and watched "Sherlock Holmes- the Final Adventure." It was a great play. We toured around the island and hit most of the tourist places that had been mentioned to us, like Wilson's Ice Cream in Ephraim. Also went through the Cana Island Lighthouse, and the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in the Peninsula State Park. We went to Bailey's Harbor and Jacksonport on Friday. Saturday we took a tour of the Door County Winery, and then on to Sturgeon Bay, where we drove past the craft show on Jefferson St. but the rain kept us in the car. We just checked some of the bridges out, and then went to the Neighborhood Bar and Grill for lunch. We picked up a Papa Murphy's pizza up for Saturday supper, and then stayed out of the rain the rest of the day. We also played many games while we were there, and it was just a relaxing time as we had a quiet spot all to ourselves.

Sunday was the rainiest day, so we listened to a sermon tape of Uncle Bill Vanden Bos, Dorothy and Marguerite's brother, and then played games, read and watched a baseball game. That evening we went to Shepard on the Bay Lutheran Church and enjoyed a piano concert, by a couple. They each played a grand piano that had been brought in that day for the concert.
Monday morning came all to quickly and we packed up and left for home. We got home in time to mow some of the grass and I did the laundry. We had 4 1/2" of rain while we were gone, so the river is very high again. When I last checked it was over 15 1/2', so is out of its banks.

Today I spent the day with Emma, and as always it is a pleasure to see the world through a two year olds eyes. She has her new big girl bedroom down the basement, and it is so cute. She loves it and told me to sit in the rocking chair while she showed me all the special things in her room.

She knows she will have a baby brother soon, if all goes as planned, but the truth of the matter has not become a reality yet. The birth mother that picked Joel and Brenda to have her baby, will deliver by C-section on Tuesday the 23rd in Farmington Hills. Brenda and Joel will leave on Monday and stay till the baby is released. Emma will be staying with us till Wed. afternoon, then she will go to G'pa and G'ma Hondorp. The baby will go to foster care till the legal work is done, and hopefully that will be no more than 3 weeks. We are all excited and anticipating the new little boy( provided the ultrasound was read right). Pray with us that all goes well.

That is the latest from our little corner of the world and hope I can keep up with the blog better than I have been.

All in a Week

2008-08-29T15:39:00.002-04:00

A week ago I told you about my van giving me all kinds of trouble. Well, Saturday evening we took my car to run errands, and it kindly gave the same hassle for Everett. He was as frustrated as I was, and by Monday he had it in the garage in Lowell and it was fixed by evening. About $245 later a new switch and it was ready to go. Thankfully it has run well all week.

Brenda, Emma and I went shopping for fabric for Emma's big girl room on Monday morning, and found just what she wanted, but by evening she had decided it was very pricey for one window and returned it by Tuesday.

Tuesday Brenda and Emma came here for the day, and it was delightful, and gives us all a change of scenery. Emma also came to my house on Thursday, and we had a good time, just hanging out, going to the grocery store, riding the pony at Meijer's. She took a really long nap, and then remembered that Grandma had promised her ice cream.

Friday was a day to accomplish some odds and ends, and I am glad to have the valance sewed for one of the guest rooms upstairs. I also spent some time at church getting material ready to put in our Coffee Break folders on Wednesday.

Today was a big day getting the house back in order, and catching up on the laundry. I was rather tired by 4:30, but after a shower I did revive, and we packed a picnic supper, and took the pontoon to Reed's Lake. It was a perfect evening for a boat ride, and so enjoyable. We knew Brett, Roxanne and the kids were at some friends, so we took the boat to the beach near their house and picked up the kids, Regan, Olivia, Grace, Aidan and Max. We took them towards the middle of the lake and anchored and let them jump off the boat for awhile. It is always fun to have kids on board.

Everett was busy today as always and washed all the house doors and the 2 service doors on the lower garage, and got them primed. We decided it was time to repaint the doors, after having them a John Deere green for many years we are going to a dark raspberry this time. A new coat of paint always perks things up. He was a little over zealous as he cleaned the doors with the power washer, and when I went to the front door and the laundry room door I saw water on the floor, so I had a mess. It was after the fact so I had to deal with it. At least the doors were clean and the primer coat covered better than I expected.

Tomorrow will be a welcome day of rest, and we are going to visit some friends in Grand Haven later in the afternoon.

Friday's Chores

2008-08-22T23:07:00.003-04:00

It was another day of early rising, and I really do best when I get up early. I had a 9 AM pedicure appointment so wanted to get some things finished before I left. I got the kitchen all cleaned up, and a couple of loads of laundry finished, brought all of the bird feeders out to their hangers( if I don't take them in every night there are raccoons that destroy the feeders and eat the bird feed.) They are little devils!

The pedicure was just great, and if I was good at adding pictures I would take a picture of my toes and add it to this blog. I got the nails done in a deep red this time. Looks nice.

Since I was so far down 28th street I decided to check out the Vacuum store, to see what they recommended as the best canister vac, with the most power. It is The Boss by Eureka (or Electrolux) I was not aware that they had joined. I did end up buying a vacuum which was called the Sanitaire, one step up from the Boss. The motor is the same but some of the tools are better, with metal telescoping wand, chair/step attachment etc. Since I consider myself somewhat of a vacuum expert having used about every brand ever made, I am rather picky about the ones I have to use. Some of those I used to clean houses with would hardly qualify as a vacuum. They were a disaster to say the least. I did learn how to fix the obvious problems, but some were to far gone to improve on!!

Went on to Kohl's and found a dressy top and some towels for the master bath. That was a good stop, and did not cost me much, but she did talk me into opening a credit card account. ( I felt guilty as Everett hates to have all the different C.C. bills coming in) How can you resist saving $15 dollars on a $40 purchase??

I filled my car with gas at Sam's for 3.73.9 and then went across the parking lot to Joanne Fabrics to see what they had available for some window treatments that I am going to be working on. I did not see anything that caught my eye, so will have to keep looking. I got in the car having walked through the rain, and then the fun began. I put the key in the ignition, and it would not turn. I could move the steering wheel, but it did not help. I tried to move the shift lever, and that would not budge. Tried the key, tried the key, tried the key, called Everett. He told me to do all the above, still did not work. I got out of the car and tried to rock it. Then I spied a young man walking to his car, and asked if he had ever encountered the problem I was having. He jumped in the car and tried the key, tried to move the steering wheel, tried the key, AND IT WORKED!! Wow I was thrilled, and thanked him profusely. Called Everett and told him I was headed down the road.

I made the next stop at Target, and only found a birthday card. I was beginning to wish I had not made that stop as the car was acting up again. Thankfully it was not quite as serious and I got it working. I headed for home as I was not up to all that excitement.

In the light of my friend who has been helping out her daughter, by having their family of 6 at their condo, and finding out one of the daughters had a severe case of head lice, I can not complain. I could just park my problem in the garage and forget about it. Not so for my friend. They have been spending hours washing bedding and clothes, etc., and also trying various potions to get rid of the little critters. It is amazing how unsettling bugs can be.

Time to sign off and get some sleep.

COFFEE BREAK RETREAT

2008-08-20T22:30:00.002-04:00

What a beautiful day for a retreat. It was a sunny cool morning as we all gathered on Kathy's deck by Murray Lake, with our morning coffee/tea/water/juice, with some wonderful baked rolls, almond bars, pecan muffins and fruit. It was so quiet and peaceful looking out over the water. We started our time together with singing and then listened to a very inspiring CD or tape by Charles Stanley on the Holy Spirit. We do not often hear such stirring sermons on the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the amazing and powerful helper that Jesus left us when He went to sit at the right hand of God the Father. He is the power that dwells in us, and He just asks us to surrender ourselves to His power. He will be the Helper that was promised by Jesus to His disciples.

We also spent a wonderful time in prayer asking God to bless every facet of the Coffee Break/Story Hour program. There were 14 women there, and it was a blessed time.

I had a chiropractor appointment at 5:15, but when I dropped my friend off at 1:45 I called and got it moved up to 3:15 instead.

This evening Brett and Roxanne dropped off Olivia and Regan at 6:30, and then joined Aidan at the SE YMCA so he could play at the soccer camp. Aidan is really enjoying it and it gave Brett and Roxanne time to take a walk on the trails along Ada Drive. They dropped Aidan off at a little after 8:30. After some TV time and snacks they were in bed by 10.

Now it is bedtime for me as I will be taking the kids to Brenda tomorrow while we take care of Emma too.

More Birthday's

2008-08-19T10:42:00.002-04:00

August is a BIG month for birthday's in our family, both extended and immediate. It begins with our niece and nephew-twins- Duane and Gloria on August 1. Gloria's son Travis, the 5th, and brother in law Ken Vanden Hoek the 27th

Then the immediate family begins on the 11th with Aidan, Olivia and Regan who celebrated their 10th birthday this year. They reported that they had a great day, and celebrated by taking their friends, Grace and Max to Craig's Cruiser's and had a fun time riding the go-carts and something with shooting, and I heard that Regan was pretty tricky with that game!

Next, Brett turned 39 this year, on the 13th. We were invited to their house for pizza that evening and a delicious birthday cookie. I cannot be much older than 39, so how can I have a child that age.

We had a great day on Sunday for Everett's birthday, and now today Lauri is 41. We wish you a great birthday, Lauri and have an extra piece of birthday cake for us. We hope to see you all soon, and also celebrate Mackenna's 10th birthday Sept. 1.

BIRTHDAY BABY

2008-08-17T22:06:00.002-04:00

It was a beautiful day to celebrate a very special birthday, for my dear husband. He is 63, and we had a great time having the local kids over for dinner, with 10 of us around the table. Everett picked the menu on Friday, and he chose sizzlers, baked potatoes, fresh green beans, fresh corn on the cob, green salad, with german chocolate cake for dessert. It was an easy dinner for me, as I did not have to cook the meat, although I must say I did make the cake from scratch. It all went well, but we had to make some mac and cheese for Emma. She looked over the table and did not see anything that suited her fancy, so we fixed her favorite food!! Thank goodness for Easy Mac!

It was a relaxing afternoon, as Brett and Roxanne left by 2PM to bring the girls to a friend. Emma took a nap upstairs and was excited to sleep in a big girl bed (actually her Mom's old bed). We had purchased a rail for it last night and it was pink, so I think that made it even better. Joel and Brenda and Everett and I also took a nap, and before we knew it, it was 3:30.

Joel and Brenda have had a very exciting week, as they camped at Gun Lake for the week, which also was the first time they have camped as a family. Brenda is even warming up to the idea of camping. She was not brought up with camping as a family tradition like Joel was, so it has taken awhile to get used to the idea. They did not "rough it" to say the least, so 'the princess' can not complain!! It was a lovely 5th wheel camper from friends of theirs, and very roomy. We brought up our pontoon last Sunday and picked it up again on Friday night. We were so happy they had such lovely weather and were able to go out on the boat many times.

On Monday they got a call that will greatly affect their life again. Monday Joel drove home to meet the plumber, and while he was there, got a call from their adoption agency, telling them a birth mom had chosen them to take her baby. On Thursday they drove 2 1/2 hours to meet with the caseworker and then the birth mom. It is so amazing when all the details fall into place and the reasons the mom chose them. Her comment was that they looked like they liked to have fun, and they looked casual. After the meeting everyone was very comfortable with the decision.
We pray that all of the details work out, and that a healthy baby is born Sept. 23. They have been told it is a boy. We are all excited!!

Lovely Summer Sunday

2008-08-10T22:48:00.002-04:00

Another week has passed so quickly, and as I look at the calendar I see a good week! A lunch at Olga's with a friend, a great breakfast at Real Food with Roxanne. Prayer time with Coffee Break leaders on Wednesday, and a 4 hour dental appointment on Friday. Well, I guess the 4 hour dental appointment would not qualify as good, but it was tolerable with many shots of Novacaine to deaden the nerves, that even made my nose numb!! I am having some cosmetic and necessary work done on the front top teeth. The area we lived in SD had a high level of flouride in the water, causing pitting of my front teeth, leaving brown spots. After many years the dentist said there was a good way to deal with the problem, and then began the process of covering my front teeth with veneers. It has its complications, but the process has also improved a lot since the first time I had them in 1990. The last ones lasted 13 years. Most people have more trouble with the jaw wearing, but I cause more wear and tear on my teeth, and their finish. I guess it is easier to build the teeth than the jaw bones!! I will have my next appointment to put on the final veneers September 2. I am looking forward to that, as the temporary teeth leave quite a bit to be desired. I find myself rubbing my tongue till it is sore, and the temps are rough, so it does not take much to cause problems.

Today was a lovely cool day, and since Brenda and Joel are at Gun Lake camping this week, they asked us to come down and bring the pontoon boat, so they can go fishing and cruising. It is a very big lake although it is also shallow in spots. We took Brenda, Joel, Emma and Joel's parents, Paul and Mary for a boat ride after a delicious dinner - taco salad. Yummm. Paul and Mary's campsite is only 75 feet away, so Emma rides her trike back and forth many times a day. She does not have to cross a street, so that makes it much safer. She has the camper doors all figured out, and can get in and out quickly. She thinks camping is about the best thing to do, and gets lots of attention with G'pa and G'ma so close. It looks like the weather should be very good this week, so they should have some great times

Back from South Dakota

2008-08-03T21:57:00.002-04:00

We made it back from SD today at 3:45PM, and very grateful for a safe uneventful trip. Well, mostly that is! We had a tour of Moline, IL at 11 last night. We did not have a map along, big mistake, and since FEMA is still filling all the motels in eastern Iowa, we ended up calling 1-800HAMPTON and did get a reservation at the Hampton Inn at the Quad cities airport. Well, the directions left something to be desired, and hence the tour of Moline. We were pleasantly surprised when we saw our room as it was better than average. We slept well, and had a very nice complimentary breakfast. We were on the road by 9 AM this morning, and since we had made it to IL last night, we had a relaxing drive today.

The first thing I looked for were signs of little critters running through the house, but thankfully have not seen a trace so far, so that is a good sign.

I still have some unpacking to do, but can get at that tomorrow. We were able to make it to church this evening, and it was wonderful to be back again to worship.

It was difficult to leave Mom, and yet I know she is getting wonderful care. It is not easy to see her so different, from the quick and witty Mom we knew, but she seems as content as she can be in her condition. She does sleep a lot. At times she seems to lose interest in what is happening around her, and falls asleep. We are thankful that she can now take her liquids normally and not thickened. She also has been getting her food ground and not pureed. We hope all of that makes her life a little more comfortable. She has a nice room, and is close to the nurses station, so there is lots of activity going on, and her friends are very faithful in visiting her.

We had a good time seeing family and friends during our time in SD. Everett had a great time at his reunion, and so did I. It is fun to see all the kids we went to school with over the years.

We also spent some time with Dorothy, Marguerite, Margie and Ken and planned our trip to Door County, WI, September 10-15. We have a place to stay, so we can go from there each day to visit points of interest.

We were also grateful that the flu bug did not bite Everett quite as hard as it did his sister Margie. She felt miserable about 3 days, and thankfully Everett was fine after 24 hours. I was very happy to miss the bug.

As wonderful as it was to be in SD it is great to be home again. I have a repairman coming to look at my washer tomorrow somewhere between 8-10, and hope he can take care of the problem, since it is less than a year old. Very frustrating.

More on Chipmunks and Packing

2008-07-24T21:05:00.003-04:00

Today was the day to enjoy the 4 local grand kids. We, Olivia, Aidan, Regan and I met Brenda and Emma at Whistlestop Park near Byron Center, where the kids ran and played for quite some time. When Brenda went to work we relocated and moved to Byron Center Christian School, and spent more time running and playing, until lunchtime. The afternoon was quieter with Emma sleeping, and the other kids playing on the computer or relaxing.
At 4 PM we brought Emma to Uncle David and Aunt Angie's place, where they were celebrating David's 32nd birthday. Emma was so excited and kept telling us she was going to blow out the candles on the cake. Regan decided we were not going to convince her any time soon that it was not her birthday. We all agreed.

This evening is the beginning of the packing process for leaving for SD. I will take care of most of it tomorrow, but everything I do today, will help for tomorrow.

One thing that put a damper on the process is that I saw the 3rd chipmunk in the house. Now there has to be an opening somewhere that we have not discovered, allowing them access into the house. It is about to drive me crazy. This chippie keeps coming up from the basement, and is not as fast as the first time he showed up, as he briefly was stuck (ever so slightly) on the sticky rat trap. I think it was mostly on one foot. When I went down to scoop him in a bag, he got away and only left some fur behind. I am thinking he has some glue on his foot, that is maybe slowing him down. Well, SWEET SUCCESS! I got HIM! This time he was laid out flat on the sticky trap and he was not going anywhere. And to anyone that thinks I am cruel, I will pack up a few and hand deliver them to your house.
Now all we have to do is find the source of entry!!!:-(

Oh yes, I failed to mention that we did catch the 2nd chippie. He was stuck to another sticky rat trap the day we returned from St. Joseph. He was a spunky one and had moved about 10 feet from the place of sticking!! Stayed tuned for more info, and we hope we have no more brown fuzzy visitors in the house.

St. Joseph, MI

2008-07-19T19:45:00.003-04:00

Here are a few photos we had taken while on our annual family vacation.

All our grankids!

All our kids

The happy couple

Boat rides and Chipmunks

2008-07-14T18:37:00.003-04:00

We are enjoying some incredible weather. For the last 2 days we have had perfect temperatures, low humidity and breezes. We live in a low spot so rarely get a breeze blowing through the house, but we have the windows wide open and it is so cool.

We had some friends from church over Saturday evening, and in spite of the forecast predicting showers, we had beautiful weather. It was cloudy and warm, so we launched the boat in Ada and went up river for 45 minutes and then started back and dropped anchor and had dinner. It was a most relaxing evening, and we even boated as far as we could up the Thornapple River. There was very little boat traffic and we only saw 2 boats on the water the 2 1/2 hours we were on the river. We came back to the house and enjoyed the bottle of wine we had taken on the boat, but had forgotten to take the opener. It was a delightful evening.

Sunday evening we had our neighbors over for dinner, and had a great time. We live so close and see each other very seldom. Guess that is why we get along so well:-)

Going back to the excitement we had just before our Sunday afternoon nap now! Everett was already snoozing in his recliner, and I was reading the paper, and I saw something running through the house. I yelled, there's a chipmunk in the house. Everett was on his feet quickly and soon we had the chippie in the area by the 2 front doors, thinking it would be a cinch to chase it out the door. Well, after a couple attempts we realized it would not be so easy. Soon we had lost it down the basement again.

We were eating dinner when I spied the little critter running up the side of our fireplace. Wow, the guys jumped up, opened the back door, and it seemed like it would have to run right out the door, from under the loveseat where it was hiding. Well, it chose to go under the sofa and we lost it again. We moved to the other side of the room, and soon the little guy was sitting in the window sill. We removed the screens of all the windows on that side of the room. Wouldn't you know, it did not go back to those 3 windows, but chose the ones on the other side. So after it ran away one more time we opened that window, took the screen off and waited. It took a few minutes and it jumped back in the window, and EUREKA it jumped out!! We could sleep in peace knowing our little critter was on the other side of the window.

Today I have been busy with Aidan, Olivia and Regan. Brett brought them at 7 this morning, so we all had an early start. I had some bread rising, so once that was baked to headed out to meet Brenda and Emma at a store called Creative Learning Tools and Toys. It is a store for kids to play with many of the toys they have on display. They also have a craft time in the back, which is for kids 3 and up. Aidan had taken his Harry Potter book, and read that in the reading area. Regan played with Emma and Olivia did the craft time. She got to make lots of things in the hour she was there. They charge $4 for 1/2 an hour and $6 for an hour, which includes all the craft materials. While we were there Brenda was out shopping for another lens for her camera, as she loves taking pictures of things and people. ( Yesterday she took many pics of Roxanne and Brett and the kids) We met Brenda at Wendy's, had lunch and then went home.

The kids will be staying overnight, and I am trying to convince them that going to bed on time would be in their best interest, as we will be going over to Brenda tomorrow to take care of Emma, and meeting them at a park at 9:30 AM. We will not be sleeping in!!

Everett just left with the kids to go to Ada Park. They will have a good time on the playground, and they also love trails. That should help them sleep well.

2008-07-09T10:47:00.002-04:00

July is here in all of its glory. The flowers are in full bloom, we have had a nice amount of rain, so the grass is green, and growing quickly, and the temperatures are rising.

We have VBS at our church this week. I often have all of the grandchildren here so they can help/participate in the program, but this year Elton and Lauri and kids are on their way to SD so they were unable to come. We do have Olivia, Aidan and Regan coming. They came yesterday afternoon, had supper with us and then joined me at VBS. They each chose the tribe they wanted to be in, and I am sure they had a good time. They will meet me there this evening, and then they will come here overnight, and stay tomorrow. Our VBS is called AD 29 and is patterned after the 12 tribes of Israel. The kids all meet in tents, and then go to the village to make crafts, have snacks, and then listen to Bible stories acted out by members of our church. We have had this program for 6-7 years I think and I have worked in registration. I love meeting all the kids and their parents. We generally have between 160-225 kids coming, and they love being outdoors, each wearing a simple costume, and are given dried lima beans spray painted gold for coins to buy snacks or make a craft.

There have been a couple of changes for Mom this week. On Monday she was moved to room 111b at the nursing home, which is supposed to be a bigger room so they can move her more easily with the lift. I also was able to get her phone hooked up and she was able to get her old number again, so that is convenient. A gal from the nursing home called yesterday to tell me that Mom had told the speech therapist that she wanted to try physical and occupational therapy again. It would be wonderful for her if she gained strength in her arm and leg again.

We were also able to sell her car, so are thankful that is taken care of.

More on the 4th

2008-07-05T22:58:00.002-04:00

The 4th was a good day to celebrate our country's birthday, with weather that was about as perfect as it gets. Everett got up on time to get the tractor and trailer to the church so it could be decorated for the parade. The people in charge did a good job as usual, and they gave out freeze pops along the parade route. They seem to be a big hit for the kids and adults alike. Last year we gave out 3,000 I believe!

I did not wake up so early!! It was 8:20 when I reached consciousness, and then I realized I had to keep moving if I was going to meet Joel, Brenda and Emma in Ada. I made it by 9:30 and found a good parking spot behind Ada Reformed and met them in front for the parade. It is a fun time to visit with people that you usually only see at the parade. We had good seats, and even though Emma was not sure about all the flying candy, it did not take her long to realize how it worked. Soon she was sitting right on the curb, stuffing her bag with all the candy she could get her hands on. She ate more than Brenda and Joel wanted her to eat, but that is what holidays are all about.

It was a long parade this year, and we were beginning to wonder if Everett was ever going to come by, but he finally made it toward the end. After the parade we walked to the area set up with lots of fun stuff for kids, and then many booths where people set up to sell their crafts. When Everett made it back from church with the tractor and trailer, we called Brenda to find out where they were. Soon we were looking for lunch. The choices were, brats, hot dogs, Chinese, or pizza. We had brats, Emma a hot dog. They had it set up quite efficiently, so it did not take too long to get food. About noon, I left for home and started getting the food ready for our evening on the boat, and Emma took a nice nap. Actually we all took a nap, so we were all rested up by 4 when we left the house to launch the pontoon in Ada. It all worked so well, and we had a great time of relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the river.We tied the pontoon up to a tree, as the water was at 11 feet, compared to 7 feet last year, and the anchors did not hold the boat. Once we were tied up we took out our picnic supper and enjoyed good food and fun. On the way back Emma was occupied the whole time with putting water from my water bottle into a little cup and throwing it in the river. It does not take much to keep little people busy and happy.

We were home by 7, and then at 9:30 we left to watch fireworks. I wanted to go to the local fireworks the night before, but Everett did not feel like it, so we ended up driving a lot further last night and the show was not too great. We both decided it would be better to go see the fireworks close by next year.

Today Everett painted the last coat of paint on the basement walls, so it will be quite soon now that we get that put together, so the grandkids will have their play area back. We are all looking forward to that.

I got a lot accomplished in the house, and it was great. I also got a call that Mom had fallen out of her lift chair this morning. She got the remote, put the chair up and thought she could walk to the bed. It is so hard to have her do that and then get all bruised. She also fell out of her wheel chair a few days ago, and bruised her head and knee then too.

Have A Happy 4th

2008-07-03T15:03:00.002-04:00

We had 4 1/2" of rain yesterday, so everything looks so green and clean again. We were so glad that we did not have any damage or power outages this time. Some areas north of here were hit much harder. The river has come up 4 ' already, so we will have to see if we will be able to take our pontoon on it tomorrow. Last year it was at 7" and we discovered that is the minimum to take the boat out. Just ask Joel. He was on the tube being pulled and we hit a tree, just under the water, and all of a sudden we were all holding on for dear life, as the boat came to a complete stop. Now, this year, it may be too deep to launch the boat, so guess we will wait and see. We do have food preparation underway so we can be ready for whatever happens. Joel, Brenda and Emma will be joining us at the parade and then for the rest of the day. Brett, Roxanne and the children are up north at her parents cottage near Lewiston, so they will have a fun day up there. The kids have been with G'pa and G'ma W. for the last 2 weeks, so it will be good to see them again.

Everett has the car transport trailer all ready to take to church at 8:30 tomorrow, so they can decorate it for a float in the parade. They get it all set up like the camp at VBS. Everett has 2x4's put up along the sides so they can hang the tribal banners. The parade is at 10, and Everett pulls the float with his John Deere, so it will get its yearly bath before the parade.

Mom continues to adjust and improve at the Corsica Nursing Home. When I talked to her yesterday, I could tell that her speech was definitely better, so we are very grateful for that. I am working on her wardrobe so I will have some things to bring her when we go to SD in 3 weeks. Mom will make her 3rd and probably final move in the home next week. They have a room with a little more area, to position her bed so they can get around it with the lift. We keep praying that she will get some movement and strength in her left(paralyzed) side, so she can be a little more mobile. It is so difficult to be totally dependent for all your care. So please pray that with us.

It is a nice cool day with some sun and clouds. The mosquitoes are also out, but at least it is pleasant weather.

I just talked with my brother Glenn, and they have 9 new English Springer Spaniel puppies born the 1st of July. Donna says they are a colorful litter, all liver and white, I believe. So if you are in the market for a cute puppy let me know and I will put you in touch with them. I can tell you they are given the best, kind care, and are sweet natured puppies/dogs. Our grand kids loved playing with them.

More June Birthday's

2008-06-27T21:03:00.003-04:00

I have not been keeping up with this blog, and needless to say I have not mentioned all of the special birthday's that have taken place in June. I did mention that Elton was 41 June 2, Joel turned 36 the 6th of June. Then there was our baby, Emily in Oakland,CA who became 34 this year. Now that can not be true!! Then our oldest Granddaughter Alex turned 15 the 19th and got her learners permit to drive. Now that is a red letter day for any teenager!! Well, another dose of reality today; Brenda is 36!! To top the month off, the 30th, Elton and Lauri will be an old married couple of 18 years. We celebrated our 25th anniversary the year they got married. Life is moving tooooo fast.
None the less we wish each one a very Happy day and many more in good health, with God's richest blessings.

Today I was able to watch Emma for the first time since sometime in May, and has she changed. Her vocabulary has expanded and she is quite the girl. I met Brenda at Centerpointe Mall this morning, and Brenda went on to work, and I had a return to Kohl's. Then it was back to Byron Center. Emma has a great memory and whatever we talk about before her nap, is the first thing she talks about when she wakes up. It usually involves something I have promised her after her nap.

This evening Brett and Roxanne took us out to Keiser's in Lowell for their Friday night fish dinner. It was delicious as always, and the company was even better.

It has started to rain again and I hear the thunder, so hope we get a good shower of rain, as it is dry around here.

I talked with Everett's sister Margie this afternoon, and she had been to see Mom this morning, and said she was looking good. Mom got a perm yesterday,( that always lifts a ladies spirit) and was dressed and sitting in her lift chair, watching TV and had her word search book open. She was moved to her room yesterday, so we hope that will be good for her. They have been bringing Mom out to the main room, and she has been taking part in the activities there, and that is so good for her, as she loves to be by people. She also had her first piece of toast this morning, and that is great. She will appreciate some real food, that is not pureed.
We are so grateful for the progress Mom has made this far, and pray that it continues.

I have returned

2008-06-24T10:44:00.003-04:00

It has been quite a ride the last few weeks, but we are home again.

Mom was moved into the Corsica Nursing Home on Friday the 13th. She has adjusted well, even though she has not been so happy with the pureed food. I am sure it is the best that can be done, but it is a far cry from the meals that Mom cooked!!
Brett, Aidan, Regan, Olivia and Everett arrived the 14th and it was so good to see them. It was good for Mom to see them too, and she was showered with pictures that the kids had made to hang on the walls in her room.

She is in the special unit yet, as that was the only room available, but should be moved into another room with in the week. She will then have a room mate. Everett, Brett and the kids and I emptied Mom's room at Leisure Living on Mon. the 16th, which went well with all the help. It was a sad day as it was a very happy home for Mom the last 3 1/2 years. She will be missed by the residents as she enjoyed life, and loved helping out whenever she could.

Now we are back, and trying to get things in order here, and pick up where we left off.
We ask for your prayers for Mom for healing, and continued improvements in her swallowing, so she can enjoy normal liquids, instead of all her liquids thickened to honey consistency. Pray too that she will not get the pain in her hip/leg on the left side. It appears to be the sciatic nerve, and it is very painful as she can not move to relieve the pain. We hope that since we stopped the PT and OT that it will not be aggravated.

NEWS FROM SD

2008-06-08T22:35:00.003-04:00

It is just about a week ago that I last posted, and I am sorry for the delay, but it has been very busy.
I arrived in SD about 6:30 Tuesday evening, after a very qood uneventful and quick trip, I was looking for ward to seeing Mom, even though I was also dreading it. I was not sure what she would look like, and it is hard to see those you love, suffer. It went better than I expected, and I know that the Lord was holding my hand during the whole day.
Mom has made some good progress since Wed. She can swallow which was a big hurdle, because she needed to eat in order to stay alive. She has been eating pureed food, and drinking thickened liquids, and doing better every day. She has her sense of humor and that has kept everyone laughing. She does not have much feeling on her left side yet, but her face has good sensation, and she reacts to touch on her feet.
I am staying with Everett's sister and husband, and they are 15 miles from the hospital, so it is very convenient. I have been getting good rest at night for which I am thankful, as a day in the hospital is exhausting.
Glenn left today for home, in Pella Iowa, and it was so treat to have him here the first week.
I will try to be more faithful in reporting on this blog.
Please pray for all of us.

The trip is planned

2008-06-02T13:59:00.002-04:00

First off, the special event of the day is Elton's 41st birthday. Sorry Elton, you weren't keeping it a secret were you?? Happy Birthday to you, and many more in good health with those you love.

I am washing, ironing and packing again. Seems to be the routine lately. This is not an easy trip for me to make, and I covet every prayer for our family, and safe travel for everyone. I am so thankful that my sister in law Donna's sister, Norma Lubben from Holland has agreed to come with me. We will leave early tomorrow morning, and travel as far as we are comfortable with. Mom's condition is pretty much the same. She can communicate, and seems to be resting comfortably. She can not swallow yet, so that is a problem.

Yesterday was a wonderful day of rest, and good to be in church again. Later in the afternoon, we went to Joel and Brenda and spent time with them and Brett and Roxanne and the kids. It was so good to see all of them again. Joel and Brenda prepared a great dinner with salmon, chicken and hot dogs on the grill as well as green beans, potato wedges, salads. It was great. We had dessert later.

Well, on to the packing.

Alex Is ready for High School

2008-05-31T08:42:00.002-04:00

Thursday we drove down to DeMotte, IN to see our oldest granddaughter graduate from the 8th grade. It does not seem possible that Alex has grown to be such a lovely young lady so quickly. We left in the afternoon so we could be on time for the 7 PM ceremony, in the gym at DeMotte Christian school. There were 40 graduates and it was a very nice program. Afterwards we went to Elton and Lauri's house for cake and coffee along with some of Lauri's family.
We stayed overnight and got to spend a few hours enjoying the grandkids and getting caught up with them and all their activities.

Alex will be leaving early Monday morning, with 17 other 8th graders for a trip to Washington DC for 5 days. They have a very full schedule and I am sure they will have lots of fun too. What a wonderful learning experience. I have to say that Alex earned all the money to take this trip, so 'good job Alex'.

Back to South Dakota

2008-05-30T21:35:00.002-04:00

This has been a very difficult day emotionally. I got a call this morning as we were driving back from DeMotte, from Chris Fey the person in charge at Leisure Living, where Mom lives, that my Mom had a stroke and they took her by ambulance to Platte Hospital. It was on the right side of the brain, so it left her paralyzed on the left side. She can speak although it is not quite normal, and her mind seems to be quite clear. I will be traveling back to SD soon, but Glenn is going this weekend to be with her, which helped me out as I just returned on Monday, and am trying to catch up on sleep and other things.

Please pray for all of us for decisions to be made and restoration for Mom, as well as safe travel for us.

The rest of the story

2008-05-28T19:37:00.003-04:00

We also made another stop on our way home on Memorial Day. We took I- 80 over the Mississippi, and then took I-88 North to highway 78 right into Morrison, IL., so we could see Phil and Shirley. Phil had the second round of chemo last week, and that means staying in the hospital for 5 days. He was tired, but looked good and his spirits were good. We were also so happy that Lauralee and Karissa and her boyfriend Eric were there for the weekend, so we could spend a little time with them. Phil and Brenda are both avid picture takers, so there was lots of that going on. A couple from the church came to take Lauralee to the airport so she could fly back to Indianapolis. We left after 1 1/2 hours and were back on the road again. We had lunch in Princeton and did not stop again until Emma woke from her nap with a start and could not be consoled. We stopped at a new Cabela's in IL and walked with her. Soon she was her happy self again. We got to Byron Center about 6:30. Yesterday was a day with 3 appointments for me, so I did not get all the laundry and unpacking finished until this morning. We had about a perfect weather day today; sunny, a light breeze and low humidity. I went to Byron Center to take care of Emma, and we had a good time as always. She did lots of swinging and riding her tricycle. We plan to leave sometime tomorrow afternoon for DeMotte to see Alex graduate from 8th grade at DeMotte Christian School. We have not heard a time yet, so we may have to guess!! Friday evening we have a high school open house for our neighbor, Kara Bielema, and that is the way the weeks go. We love it!!

South Dakota Memories

2008-05-27T22:00:00.004-04:00

It has been well over a week since I last made an entry to this blog, but there has been a lot of activity.

I left on Tuesday the 20th for SD with Joel, Brenda and Emma. We drove to Pella, Iowa the first day, and stayed with my brother Glenn and his wife Donna, and 12 year old son Chad. It was a wonderful break from the drive and Emma had so much fun watching the new puppies and lambs, and playing with the kitties and their pet dog Patch. We all slept well and were on our way at 8 AM after a good breakfast. We continued on our way and after what seemed like a long day we got to Corsica to my Mom at about 4 PM. She was doing well and happy to see us. We brought her a TV that we did not need anymore, and it is quite a bit bigger than the one she had, and made it easier for her to see as she has cataracts and some macular degeneration.

We finally got to the Vanden Hoek Bed and Breakfast (this is what we call the home of Everett's sister Margie and her husband Ken). They are wonderful hosts, and we love staying with them. She invited Dorothy Vander Tuin our sister in law, and enjoyed dinner all together. Once Emma was settled in for the night we played some Ripple, a variety of golf, played with skip-bo cards.

Wednesday we went to visit Mom, and just spent time relaxing. I took Mom to get her car filled with gas, as it is difficult for her to run the pumps.

Each night a thunder storm came through and I woke up the first 3 nights from the thunder. Most of the days were cloudy, but quite pleasant, but Saturday was very windy and cold.

Thursday our niece Gloria and son Jaylon were over for dinner, and after dinner a cousin and his wife came to stay over night as they were having a family reunion at the recently renovated Old School Inn in New Holland for the weekend. The old Christian grade school that I attended for 8 years was sold and purchased by a former local man and he and his wife have made 7 bedrooms, many bathrooms and a large kitchen/ dining room and family room. New Holland has a population of about 75 and has a bed and breakfast and an Inn. Not bad. It rents for $300 a night to use the entire facility.

On Friday we picked up Mom at 9 and headed to Mitchell to do some shopping. Her mattress and box spring needed to be replaced so we shopped for that first, then picked up some items at Walmart. We enjoyed lunch at Perkins and then went to the medical supply store and picked out a lift chair for Mom, as the one she had, was giving her some trouble. We were home in time for Emma to take a nap. I took Mom with me and we went to Platte so Mom could get a haircut. She was so glad she could get so much accomplished. Friday evening we had a good dinner at Dorothy's house in Platte, as well as her sister Marguerite, and Ken and Margie. We played cards of course.

Saturday I watched Emma in the morning, so Brenda and Joel could take some pictures of old barns and other objects of interest. Brenda's hobby is photography and she recently took an all day class that has given her lots of ideas and confidence in her abilities. At noon K & M son Keith and wife Val and 4 children came for lunch and we had a nice visit with them. Then I went to pick up Mom and we all went to Platte for dinner at the Pizza Ranch. Thanks Joel! That has become a tradition, and Mom loves to get out.

Sunday morning we met Mom at church and sat with her, and then said our good byes there, as she was not sure if the van of ladies that she rides with would be staying for coffee after church. We packed, ate and were on our way home at noon.

The ride to Pella went very well, and it was good to stretch our legs and let Emma run. The weather changed drastically from the low 50's on Saturday to 90 on Sunday. Glad the A/C worked in the car. We had quite a fireworks show about 9:30 as there was constant lightning in the sky. We sat outside to watch. Soon the wind started and it rained for about 10 minutes and then stopped. We were so grateful for being spared the horrible tornadoes that went through the northern part of Iowa earlier in the evening. What devastation.

Monday morning most of us were up very early and once Emma woke up we got on the road by 7 AM.

Weekend Fun

2008-05-18T23:00:00.003-04:00

We had a good 'day of rest' and it was very appreciated. We enjoyed the morning service and then had a town meeting to get information for a home for disabled that could possibly be built on our church property.
Immediately following that we had our family group dinner in the church basement. We enjoyed a Mexican taco bar, and it was delicious. We spent a quiet afternoon reading the paper and napping.
This evening we had a great band that played during the worship service. The main guy is a teacher at the school across the parking lot at Ada Vista. Pastor Bruce had the second sermon on prayer about confession.

Yesterday we spent preparing for the 3 couples from our Ada dinner group. We enjoyed a roast beef dinner, with mashed potatoes, cauliflower with white sauce, broccoli salad, and dessert. Then we played ripple, a version of golf played with Skip Bo cards. We always have a great time.

Friday we had a wonderful visit with friends from Lenexa, KS, and they joined us for lunch. Willis has just retired and now is free to vacation and enjoy life! Willis and Jean (Bultje) came to GR to see their son Mike, and his wife and children. It was fun to catch up on our families and other interests. Willis and I were classmates from 1st through 12th grade.

Friday evening we went to the Pops concert at DeVos hall which featured patriotic music and honored President Gerald Ford. It was well done, and we were thankful to friends for giving us their tickets. The seats were some of the best, so it was a real treat.

Tomorrow I will be packing for the trip to SD. Tuesday morning I plan to leave here about 7:30 and go to Byron Center to pick up Brenda, Joel and Emma and head to Iowa for our first stop at brother Glenn and spend the night with them. We are all looking forward to it.

A day in the life...............

2008-05-13T16:31:00.002-04:00

The dinner is in the oven (pork chops and baked potatoes) and I feel like taking a break, so will spend a bit of time at the computer. It was a day of many small jobs outside and inside. I did the laundry this morning, and then went outside to wash the front door windows, and the den windows. Then decided the bugs and webs and winter dirt on the front porch area needed to be cleaned off, so got out a bucket of soapy water and the car washing brush and attacked the dirt. Once I had the dirt brushed off I got out the hose to rinse it off. That is the fun part. I got wet and so did the windows I had just washed, so got out the Sparkle and paper towel again, and redid the windows.

The other front door that goes to the laundry room was just as dirty so cleaned that up too and swept the front steps, pulled a few weeds and watered the potted plants. I dug out the gazing ball and stand and washed those off so they can be put out front for a change.

I made a trip to Lowell, to Gary's Country meats and got some sliced ham and salami, and pork chops. Also stopped at Springrove Variety and picked up lots of suet for the birds. Then on to a greenhouse by MacDonald's and got a flat of begonia's to plant in the planters on the deck.

I promised myself I would empty one box a day this week, so took another one down from upstairs, so I can see what treasures await me in that one!!

I also found a couple of song books so I am going to sit at the piano awhile and play a few tunes. I have not done that for some time.

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T22:06:00.002-04:00

It was a wonderful day. It is nice to celebrate and honor our mother's, but every day is Mother's Day once you have had a child. The best day is a day when you hear from your child. Today I was especially blessed, because I heard from all four of our children, and wishes from some of their spouses is also such a blessing, as they are very dear to me/us. We had a wonderful lunch at Brenda, Joel & Emma, with Brett, Roxanne, Aidan, Olivia and Regan there as well. Four children and two cats always makes for a fun time.

We had great fellowship with our church family today, as always. Pastor Bruce had wonderful sermons on the Holy Spirit this morning and prayer this evening. It was a rainy day, so I also took a nap that lasted longer than I had planned, but it felt good. Hope I can sleep tonight.

Yesterday was a very busy day here. We started with working at clearing more things out of the garage. Brett and the kids came about 10:30 to pick up the clothes that we had gathered, and also some items from the garage that we no longer needed. That was a big boost for both of us as we have looked at piles of stuff for many months now. Brett volunteers for In The Image, and they had a truck in Ada to receive donations, so he could take our things and put them on the truck.

Everett then planted ground cover east of the house, and then washed the deck with the power washer. I stayed in side and cleaned etc. etc.

I talked to Mom this evening as I do every Wednesday and Sunday, and she had a good day,with calls from Glenn, Phil and me. She is so content at Leisure Living, which is truly a blessing for all of us. She still keeps very busy with reading, handwork, word search, playing games and writing letters and cards, as well as visiting with her sister Leona by phone every day,who is in the nursing home just down the street. They are a blessing to each other. We are so grateful for her clear mind and interest in life, as well as her sense of humor.

We are thankful to brother in law Ken who so kindly went to fix Mom's lift chair ( or electric chair as Phil calls it). It had popped a spring a few weeks ago, and it was in a very upright position which did not allow for very comfortable sitting. Ken promised to fix it as soon as he returned from Seattle, so he showed up yesterday and with in an hour had it working again. Thank you Ken!! Mom was thrilled.

Brunch - Hamburg Fry

2008-05-07T21:51:00.002-04:00

What a good day. I did not have to fix any meals today! This morning our Coffee Break class met for a brunch and enjoyed a great time with food and fellowship. There were 10 women, and 5 children there. It was a good way to end the year together. It was a dark cloudy morning, and waited to start raining until we were all ready to leave. Perfect timing!

The rest of the afternoon was spent moving clothes up and down stairs, as I am sorting and moving winter clothes up and summer clothes down. Brett volunteers for In The Image, and they are bringing a truck to Ada on Saturday to collect household items and clothing, so I want to have as much ready to go as possible. They are a wonderful organization, and we collect for them at church once a year also.

As soon as I empty the closet in Brenda's room, I will put most of the stuff in the storage room and then wash out the closet. It still has the dust from the remodeling all over it. Yuck. Maybe I will even find boxes with the kids names on that I can unload on them. They just love that.

At 5:30 we were at church to enjoy the Cadets annual Hamburg Fry. They do a good job, and the food is tasty. We had cole slaw, potato salad, chips and ice cream.

Everett worked on getting a good computer /internet connection in his office, as he plans to be working from that office soon. The equipment is all over the corner in the family room, so now we have to find a way to make it all look neat and not like a spaghetti factory.

Remembering Birthday's

2008-05-06T22:18:00.002-04:00

I had finished the last blog when I remembered that I was going to mention our little buddy, Ethan's 7th birthday, which was Sunday, May 4. I am sure he had a fun day, because where ever Ethan is, there is sure to be a big smile and some fun or teasing going on. He is a very dear grandson.

Today was brother Glenn's birthday, and he is 52. We talked to him a bit ago and he had a good day he said. He too is a very dear brother. He has a small farm that he loves, with sheep, who produced a lot of lambs this spring. A llama called Bob that is a watchdog for the sheep. He is a very interesting animal, and takes his job very seriously.They also raise English Springer Spaniel's and right now have 5 of a litter of 7, for sale. They are such cute and sweet tempered dogs. They have cats and a pet dog, and probably some other animals, and I will let you know after we stop in there the 20th of this month. Emma will have a good time checking out all the animals when we get there.

Tomorrow morning our Coffee Break class will have a brunch and fellowship. It has been a very good year, and as always, difficult to see a great class of gals leave. Thankfully many of them will return in the fall and be in one of the other classes.

Everett made great progress in the yard again this evening, so he is happy!

Saturday's Routine

2008-05-03T11:24:00.003-04:00

I do not know why our Saturday's have always been a day to WORK! Very seldom do we change our routine to fun, but I have to admit I love to catch up and have everything in order for Sunday. I do not suffer if we decide to take off for a Saturday, but this definitely is a comfortable pattern for us. Everett is out in the yard just enjoying putting down bark in the flower beds, and making the yard look so lovely. He is so happy when he can use his John Deere to do most of the work. It is a beautiful morning, with sun, a little breeze, and cool temperatures. Just perfect.

We are one of the hosts for Hospitality Sunday, and I know of 11 people coming. I have to get some snacks ready and clean the house;which I have been working on.

Last night we had a delightful time with Leah and Doug Hiedema one of the missionary couples we have been supporting from Papua New Guinea. Leah has MS which prompted them to come back to the States, but she is doing better at this time, Praise God, and they would really love to go back for another tour. They are waiting on the Lord to show them His will. Leah has some trouble walking, and uses a walker, but she is very encouraged how diet has helped her to feel so much better. We had dinner together and visited till 10. They are a dear couple.

I better get back to work!

April Magic is over

2008-04-30T20:55:00.003-04:00

I really like the month of April. Maybe it is because it is my birthday month, but mostly, I think it is because all kinds of new life becomes apparent. I love looking out of the windows in the morning, seeing all the buds coming out and then the leaves. The grass has turned green and the birds are sporting their new bright wardrobe. I love it.

We are having some guests this weekend, so I want to get out some springy flowers on the door, and a bright bouquet in the house. We have a missionary couple from Papua New Guinea coming for dinner on Friday evening, and Sunday we are a hosting home for our Hospitality Sunday at church. I seem to need special occasions to get things finished in the house, so it is a good thing to have goals!! I did get some more pictures hung, and got a start on washing the family room windows. That is always a daunting job, as it involves 9 windows with 4 separate panes per window.

Everett spent all evening working out in the yard pulling weeds and picking up around the deck. It is starting to look nice again. We also have some lawn repair from the house remodeling as there were big trucks and other digging equipment in the yard. All that is rather hard on grass and landscaping. It just takes time.

We had our last time for Coffee Break today. It was a nice time of fellowship, children singing, a skit, a testimony and song in signing. One of the gals in my class grew up in a home where both her parents were deaf, so she does a beautiful job of signing. It was all so lovely and bittersweet as I will really miss the gals in the class. They were a unique group in that they did not talk much, during class, but they were very faithful in attendance. We concluded that if they had not been enjoying the class they would have stopped coming too.

It is popcorn time, so will sign off!

2008-04-29T09:43:00.002-04:00

It is so fantastic to wake up to sunshine and have lots of things to do. It is wonderful to have my health today, and I am realizing more and more how precious good health is ours to enjoy.

The heating and cooling guy just came to check the system, so it will be all set for the season. We just got a new furnace when we remodeled, so that should be good for quite a while. That was not something we were planning to get, but when they shut it down, b/c it had holes and could cause carbon monoxide poisoning, we did not have many choices.

Going back a bit to Friday we had an enjoyable trip to DeMotte to see Mackenna and Ethan in their school program. They did such a good job. It was fun to spend some time visiting and hearing about the things that they are busy with. They will be busy with Alex graduating from 8th grade, May 29, then spending over a week in Washington DC after school is out. In June she will be taking drivers training. It is hard to believe she will be 15 in June. How quickly they grow up.

We got home late afternoon on Sat. and then we got ready for the grand opening of the Grand Vollute Banquet Hall in Lowell. It is indeed a very grand place, and will be perfect for weddings, receptions and all types of meetings. It was impressive. The men wore tux' and the women were all dressed in their lovely dresses. We had good food, and for the wine lovers there was a choice of wines served with every course. We were treated royally for 4 hours.

Sunday we had a quieter day, and after church we went to Joel and Brenda for a great Mexican lunch. Very tasty! Emma was so excited to play on the deck, and loved having Papa with her.

We were very happy to hear that Phil had a good day yesterday, and the first day of chemo behind him. We are praying today that he will also do well as he has a more rigorous day of treatment. He is on our mind and in our thoughts and prayers all day long.

Master Suite

2008-04-23T15:16:00.005-04:00

Our master suite is finally nearing completion since we received our new bedroom furniture. While the Amish are wonderful craftsman, they apparently like to take their time too :) Anyhow, we are grateful to finally have our own king bed - it sure sleeps like a charm!

View from master bath

View towards master bath and exit

I'm happy with the colors we chose.
So far, we think they are cozy and relaxing

Pretty Toes

2008-04-22T21:00:00.002-04:00

It is time to bring out the sandals and take off the socks. I had the pleasure of getting my first spring pedicure; one of the few luxuries I allow myself. It was so very relaxing and felt especially good after being ill the last week. I am not on top yet, as I still get sweaty every time I exert.

I also did a little shopping while I was out. We have a black tie event this Saturday evening, and I had to get some panty hose for the occasion. I am convinced that guys have it easy. They are told to wear a tux, and all the pieces come with it. Now how easy is that. Then to top that off, Everett mentioned to a friend that he needed a tux and would you believe the guy had one in his closet that did not fit him, let Everett try it and it fit! I have been obsessing about this affair for over a month, and still am not sure about what to wear!

We are about to finish Coffee Break for the season. We have our last lesson tomorrow, followed by a program next Wednesday. Our class will have a brunch at one of the class members May 7, and that will be it for the year.

Everett's Tuesday night Bible Study will also finish the end of April. As much as we enjoy these activities it is a good thing to have a break. It is wonderful to start in the fall again.

Sunday Rest

2008-04-20T22:44:00.002-04:00

What a wonderful day to rest from the daily routine we all get so involved in. I did wake up early and knew it was time to get up, as I did not feel sleepy. Since the first of the year, we were challenged by our pastor to read through the Bible. I would have never guessed that it would be such a motivator to get up early and read the Bible, but it has done just that. I did get up and did the readings in Daniel and Revelation. Both heavy books, but very good reading. I have chosen to read it in the Message and found that to be a real blessing. It has given me a new understanding and comprehension of the scripture. The schedule that we follow gives a New and Old Testament reading, so keeps it balanced and interesting.

We had a good service this morning, which included the baptism of Dennis and Brandi De Kok's second son Anthony Leon. It is so special to see young couples bring their children to church, especially when I remember the days when I took care of Dennis as a baby, for his mom Ruth. Ruth and I were the best of friends, and she took care of my kids so often too, until an aneurysm took her life at 30. That was a very difficult time, and I know she would have loved to see her grandbabies. He two sons are wonderful young men, with lovely wives and they each have 2 boys.

We also had a town meeting after the service to fill us in on the vision committee's work regarding the direction of our church. We were not able to stay as we had dinner at Brett's house, (we missed you Roxanne), to celebrate my birthday. THANK YOU KIDS, I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. We had home made reubens ( Brett boiled the corned beef), salads, fresh fruit, chips and Brett's wonderful carrot cake. It was all so delicious. Brenda, Joel and Emma were there, and helped with the food. Brenda and Joel had their 9th anniversary the 17th also, so congratulations to them too.

We totally relaxed and both took naps this afternoon. I slept much longer than I had planned, but I must have needed some extra rest because of the flu this past week.

Saturday Fun

2008-04-19T22:10:00.002-04:00

What a lovely day to spend in the yard and in the house. We had lots of warm sunshine and it was pleasant what ever you had planned for the day. Everett began his Saturday as always; doing church books in his office. When he had finished and come back to the house we tackled a job that made me a bit crabby.

When ever we do a project together, he has his method of tackling it and I have mine. We have a new king bed and when we got it 2 weeks ago they told us to give it a 1/2 turn so I will be sleeping on the side Everett has been sleeping on and vice versa. Well, you know what it is like when you move a mattress with a dust ruffle. It inevitably gets all messed us. My idea was to lift the mattress and give it a 1/2 turn. His idea was to leave it lay and turn it, which of course we did, as he is stronger and just did it. Well, at that point I told him I wanted to say words to him he had never heard before!!! You can imagine what it looked like, a big old tangled mess. Then he proceeded to lift the back of the mattress and hold it up while I straightened the D R, then he laid it down and we fixed the top and it was all done. Believe it or not, it worked good. Still makes me a little steamed to admit his plan worked!! It did not make sense to me.

Actually that is the most steam I worked up all day, as I have spent the last week under the weather, and still am very weak. I did get the house cleaned, and the laundry done, but not with out a few time outs of sitting in my chair.

Everett and Joanne Veldman stopped in here for a few minutes before we went to dinner, so they could see what we have been doing around here the last few months. We are very grateful to be this far, and enjoying all the work that went into it.

This evening we had our birthday group dinner at Don and Joan Korhorn, and had a delightful time. Don and Joan provided the grilled hamburgs with all the fixings, and drinks and appetizers, and the rest of us brought, baked beans, potato salad, dessert and fruit. It was wonderful having the first picnic of the season. There is always lots of good conversation, and laughing. Friends are priceless.

It is brother in law Phil Stel's birthday today. He is still 5 years younger than me!! He turned 56! We wish him a blessed birthday, and offer fervent prayer for healing, as he will begin aggressive treatments for his mantle cell lymphoma on April 28. Please pray for him and Shirley, as they go through a very difficult time.

April's entry

2008-04-18T12:42:00.002-04:00

At the rate I have been going this will be my entry for April. Hope you have not all given up on me, but if you have, you will never know!

It is most often the case that I can say all is well with us, and we certainly can not complain, but Everett and I have both been under the weather the last few weeks. Everett started with the scratchy throat, cough and cold/sinus symptoms, but mostly the tiredness. He still does not have all his energy back, but he is making progress. I came down with symptoms a week ago, but unlike Everett I had a high temp of 102.8 when I went in to the med center on Sunday, and they said I had bronchitis, so sent me off with an antibiotic. Thankfully since all the meds are finished, I am feeling so much better. It has not been too exciting to sit home all week, but taking care of myself for a few days, is better than trying to do more and paying for it. The lovely warm weather is also encouraging, and I have had the windows open to breathe in the fresh air. How wonderful.

We received some very difficult news a few days ago, when we got a call from Phil and Shirley. Phil( brother in law) had been having some tests and it was determined he is battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma- stage 4. He will begin chemo treatments Mon. the 28th, so please pray with us that the treatments will be effective and eradicate the cancer from his body, and strength for both Phil and Shirley as they deal with all of these stresses.

Quiet Weekend

2008-03-29T22:41:00.002-04:00

We are at the end of anther week, and almost at the end of another month. We did have another record setting winter's snowfall; with the snow we received this month, we got over 100" so we are ready for spring!! We woke up yesterday morning to a white world and by evening the only snow around were on the dirty old piles.

Some of the highlights of this month were Elton and Lauri and family's visit over Palm Sunday. That is always a special time. Olivia and Regan had their dance recital. We had our Coffee Break soup supper at church this past Wednesday, and had a great turnout. I spent each Thursday with Emma, and this Thursday I stopped in to see Uncle Quinten and Aunt Marie. This evening we had a delightful time with Wayne and Jane Vanden Hoek (cousins) at Arnie's restaurant.

I also went to see a foot doctor Dr. Peelen, who put the bones in my feet in place and then had new orthodics made to help with the ankle and foot pain I have had for a long time. It definitely has helped, but I may have to have it adjusted another time.

We went to the funeral home this evening to see the family of a man from our church who died on Wednesday. He had many health problems and also had ALS. We have more folks at church that need our special prayer support. We have a lady receiving chemo and radiation, another gal broke her arm and during therapy the therapist pushed it too far and broke the arm again, so she had to have a 2nd surgery to put a plate in. A young mother expecting her third baby was having early contractions, so was on bedrest for 2 weeks. Most of these folks need or needed meals or rides, and that is part of my ministry at church. I arrange what they need by calling the willing and healthy church members. It is a very enjoyable ministry as most everyone I call is more than willing to help.

We continue to bring in, organize or rearrange things in the house. I ordered some window treatments for the guest bedroom, master bath and walk in closet this week. They should come in about 10 days so then we can hang those. Everett has been building a new filing cabinet for the den and is making good progress on that. We also got the call that we had been waiting for from the Olde Tyme Country furniture store in Shipshewana. Our bed and nightstands are built and will be delivered on Tuesday. We bought a new mattress last night, and that will be delivered on Wednesday. We are excited about that!!

Monday before Easter

2008-03-17T21:41:00.002-04:00

We had a delightful weekend with almost all of the kids and grandkids. (Only Emily was missing, but we were thinking of her). Elton, Lauri and kids came Friday evening, so we got to catch up with them, and happy that Syd was getting over her strep. She was on medication so was feeling a lot better. It was her special weekend as our family celebrated her 12th birthday. Can you believe Sydney Shae is almost 12; on the 27th? She is growing up to be a lovely young lady.

Saturday morning we slept in, Brenda and Joel and Emma showed up at 9, and the guys put up the TV's. At 11:30 Mackenna and I left for Olivia and Regan's dance recital at the Forest Hills Auditorium. We stopped at Forest Hills foods to pick up some roses for the girls and some candy for Aidan. The recital is always well done by the Moving Company. The girls have been dancing at least 4 years, and continue to improve in the Irish dance.

After the recital Lauri, Mackenna and I went shopping with not much success, but we tried. At 5 o'clock we met at Brenda and Joel for a Mexican feast. It was delicious. After dinner the guys took all of the kids to the fire station, and Joel showed the kids around a check out the gear and the truck etc. Emma had so much fun with the cousins and did not like the idea of going to bed, but we left on time so we could all get to bed on time also. It was great to have the upstairs cleaned up and have enough room for their whole family to sleep. (We do not have the bed we ordered for our bedroom yet, so we still are in the guest bedroom downstairs. )

Yesterday was the grand finale and everyone was able to come for dinner. We tried to fix things that Syd liked as it was her special day. We had a big pot of chili, and her pick was pasta, with a white and spaghetti sauces to choose from. We had a salad bar, yummy bread and a white bunny cake for dessert with ice cream. The cake was decorated by Lauri, Ethan and Mackenna. It was very tasty, especially with the twinkie ears!

Those special times go by so quickly, but the memories are forever. Elton and Everett spent quite a bit of time discussing wood, buying wood, and making plans to build a work bench, end tables and a desk. Those are ambitious plans and we will keep you informed of the progress!!

Today it was back to work and appointments. I have had trouble with my left ankle so had my 2nd appointment at a foot Dr. who made adjustments on my foot, taped it, and made a mold for orthodics. Hopefully it will be the solution for the pain.

Visitors

2008-03-15T16:23:00.006-04:00

Elton and Lauri decided to come up for the weekend. We love their company, but additionally, we always seem to just get a little more done when they visit...which we love!

Brenda put up some chocolate brown wall
embellishments (vines) in my new laundry room

This canvas and wall words are the focal point in our new hallway,
the main thoroughfare in the new addition

Elton, Everett and Joel laboring over
the installation of a new bracket for...

...papa's latest embellishment in the den.

the two youngest grand kids, Emma & Ethan

Sydney and Alex having some fun with
Aunt Brenda's camera

March is in like a lamb

2008-03-06T21:53:00.002-05:00

It has been sometime since I added to this blog. Mostly just the regular events of each day have taken place. We are thankful for our good health and time spent with family. We ended February with an overnight visit with Olivia, Regan and Aidan on the 24th, because they did not have school on the 25th.

We had a nice dinner with 24 people from church at Forest Hills Inn, as a new way to enjoy fellowship. It was very nice, and that way we got to visit with a few people we rarely talk to.

We had a nice dinner on Leap Day with Paul and Mary Hondorp. They also told us about a trip they are planning for April 2009 in the Netherlands. It would be a river boat trip again to some different areas. It would include a visit to an island, and also stop at Kuekenhof Gardens again, which is a very beautiful place in the spring. We are thinking on that.

March 1 we met with 3 other couples that make up Ada dinners for us this year. We have been to the 0ther 3 homes so we are next. We have a great time playing ripple. Marv and Jan left the next morning for a cruise leaving from San Diego to Mexico. I am sure they are having a wonderful time in the warm sun!

Sunday we had a belated birthday party for Emma's 2nd birthday. She was happy to be the center of attention, and loved having her cousins here too. I spent the day with Emma today, and took her to Rivertown Crossing Mall so she could play in the treehouse, and later we went to the 2nd level and she rode on the carousel, and rode on a kitty. She spotted an area that looked like it was for kids, and she spied the Easter Bunny. She thought it was so nice because the bunny waved 'bye-bye' to her. By then she was pretty tired, so we went home and she ate and took a nice nap.

Tomorrow I plan to dedicate the day to the upstairs. YIPPEE.

Mid Week Check In

2008-02-20T20:49:00.002-05:00

Not much in the way of news or excitement, but we are back into our pre vacation schedule. We did not have much snow overnight, so schools and other activities were on for today. It was good to get back with the girls at Coffee Break, and our class had a good turnout. Our study of Hebrews is going well, and we are finding many treasures as we share together. We only had 5 leaders there today, and 4 others are enjoying the warmer temperatures of FL and AL. They should be back next week.

Tomorrow I will be going to Byron Center to be with Emma. She was here on Monday, and is growing up so much. I am sure most of you follow Brenda's blog, so you get to see those almost daily pictures of her and follow her progress.

Tomorrow evening Brett and the kids will be coming over for a couple of hours, while Brett works on his 2nd kayak. They have winter break Friday and Monday, so they are going to their G'pa and G'ma Wegher for the weekend, and when Brett and Roxanne pick them up on Sunday they will drop them off here so they can sleep here overnight and stay with me on Monday. That way they ( and me) do not have to get up early and be dropped off when Brett goes to work.

I have been unpacking books and putting them on the bookshelves, and also sorting out those that I can bring to church for the prison ministry. They are asking for Christian paperback books to give to the women in prison.

Home Again

2008-02-17T23:16:00.002-05:00

We had a wonderful time with family in SD, but we are glad to be home again. We were so grateful for safe and ice free roads all the way. It did rain on and off again today, but the temperatures were as high as 56 and about 40 when we got to Ada.
We spent time with Mom and we were able to help her out with a few things that needed doing. We brought her tax papers to Larry Larson in Chamberlain on Wednesday, when we rode along with Ken and Margie as they had their tax appointment. We went to Mitchell on Friday and got her a floor lamp to set behind her chair so she has some better light for reading and hand work. The table lamp was not working so well and did not give her good light. We also picked up a new remote for her TV which was held together with some rubber bands, ( she also did not want to dump it as you never know when you might use it again!!)
We replenished her supply of word search books again, so she can keep her hands busy every waking moment.
We stayed at Ken and Margie, and had good times as usual, with good food and games. Even played Blokus against my better judgment.
We stopped in to see Jaylon and Gloria and they were holding their own and improving some. They continue to need our prayers for complete healing for their broken bones. Gloria did get a walking cast for her broken ankle, but is not able to put any weight on it for a couple of weeks yet. Jaylon had a fever for a couple of days, but seemed to be doing better today.
We were happy to be able to stop and see Elton and Lauri and family today. It is so nice to be able to catch up on what they are busy doing.

I better wake Everett as he is sleeping in his recliner, and get some rest in our own bed.

Greetings from South Dakota

2008-02-12T22:52:00.002-05:00

Greetings to all who take time to read this blog. We are now in snowy SD. I think the snow has followed us here, but also continues to fall on MI. We have gotten at least 5" since we arrived here with more predicted tomorrow.

We made the trip here in good shape even though the temperatures were very cold and the wind was vicious. It was hard staying warm on my side of the car, as the wind was hitting on my side, and the temps were hovering just above zero. Thankfully the roads were dry most of the way and it was too cold to make the blowing snow stick to the highways.

We did stop in Sioux Falls at McKennen hospital on the way in to see Jaylon. He was doing OK and did come home on Sunday. He overdid yesterday and sat up too much, so by evening he was throwing up and had a fever. Today he laid low and slept more,so hopefully he will be feeling better soon.

Margie made a roast beef dinner for Duane, Gloria, Dorothy & Jaylon and Everett and I and Ken and Margie delivered it and ate with them. We had a good time with them, adn then played many rounds of Ripple with them.

Tomorrow we will be heading to Chamberlain so Ken can get his taxes done, and we will deliver my Mom's tax stuff so they can be prepared. We are keeping busy every day, and having a good time.

Another Snow Day

2008-02-07T22:34:00.000-05:00

Many local schools were closed today, because we got about a foot of new snow yesterday. Brett called at 6:05 this morning to let me know that the kids needed someone to watch them today( he also emailed me yesterday to warn me of the possibility), so I said I would come to their house by 7:30, and then take them along with me to Brenda and Joel's house to take care of Emma. It was a good day, and all the kids did well and had fun. Emma adores her big cousins and follows them wherever they go.

Roxanne picked the kids up at 3:30 so she could take the kids to piano lessons at the YMCA. Brenda was home by 4, so I got an early start home, and got started on packing for our trip.
I did get some calling for our caring ministries finished this evening, so I would have rides and meals for part of the week we return home, for the people at church that need the help right now.

I am so glad that we were able to have Coffee Break yesterday. It was my turn to lead, and we had a great attendance and also a new gal in our class. We had a great time in class. By the time I left church the roads were really getting snow covered and slippery. It was great to make it home safely.

It was not so for family in SD though, and not because of icy roads. Yesterday a young mother and her 4 girls were taking Jaylon Koopal home after school. As they waited to make a left turn, a student from the high school rear ended the van with the 5 children. Jaylon, Gloria's son, has a broken pelvis and a sore back. Thankfully his Uncle Duane was able to get to the scene of the accident and ride with him in the ambulance to Platte. Later he was taken by ambulance to McKennen Hospital in Sioux Falls, as well as 3 of the 4 little girls. Two of the girls have both of their legs broken and the other one has a broken leg also. So sad, but we are grateful no one lost their life. It will be along recovery for all of them. Please keep them in your prayers. Gloria is also recovering from a broken ankle when she fell on the ice in Mitchell over a month ago.

We are looking forward to leaving later tomorrow morning for SD. We will be stopping at Phil and Shirley in Morrison, IL for the evening, and then early Saturday morning we will drive on to Corsica.

February Already

2008-02-04T22:09:00.000-05:00

Michigan weather is not disappointing us; we are getting snow, rain, fog, warmer temps and then colder ones. Right now it is 36 degrees and rain. They say it could be quite foggy by morning.

Today I was to meet a friend at Biggby's ( formerly Beaner's) but we had a miscommunication; I thought it was 10:45 and she thought it was 11:45. We are going to try again tomorrow at 10:15. I left after waiting 45 minutes and went shopping. I found some Euro pillows at Linen's and Things, to put in the guest bedroom shams. It looks so nice, and it is fun to get those little things that finish the look of the room.

I also needed some dress pants for myself, but ended up getting a coat and a casual outfit. Will have to try again, as I am quite sick of wearing the same black pants all of the time!!

Brett brought the kids over this evening so we could finish making clothes for their puppets. I had to do a little repair on Regan and Olivia's puppet clothes, and then made a pair of jeans and t-shirt for one of the Hardy Boys. They are having fun deciding how they want their puppet to look. It has been fun helping them with the project.

We have some things to accomplish before we leave for SD. I have calls to make, some shopping to do, washing and packing, and then Coffee Break on Wednesday, and watching Emma on Thursday. Emma will have a birthday while we are gone, so hopefully I can pick up a gift for her before we leave, and maybe we can schedule a party after we get back.
Everett has to finish some church book work, clean up his car, and also has Bible Study Tuesday evening.

We talked to Elton and Lauri yesterday, and they seem to be doing fine. We would like to stop and see them on our way back from SD. They will let us know if it works out.

More snow

2008-01-31T22:20:00.000-05:00

We did have a wild snow storm Tuesday night, with some snow but mostly wind, preceded by rain and quickly falling temps, so we had a good layer of ice with snow on top of it. We had some excitement around here about midnight, when I heard the alarm clock make the noise telling me the power had gone out. Right after that I saw this bright light, but thought it was lightning, as they said that it was a possibility. Well, I woke up at 5 Wednesday morning, the power was still off, so when Everett woke up I told him, and he got up, dressed, pulled the generator out of the garage, and got it all hooked up, and running. We proceeded to get ready for the day. At 9 AM he came home to refuel the generator and noticed a tree that had broken off by the lines out back. As he was ready to leave the driveway, the power company truck pulled up behind him, and help was on the way. He was able to tell the guy where he thought the problem was, and they had it fixed in an hour. It was after all this that it occurred to me, that the bright light I had seen at midnight was the tree falling on the line!!

Most all the schools were closed Wednesday morning, so we did not have Coffee Break either. It was a bonus day for me to catch up with work around the house.

Things were mostly back to normal today, although the roads were still a bit icy as the temperatures were not warm enough for the salt to work. I did not have trouble up and back to Byron Center. Emma was her cute self as always. We had lots of fun most of the time. She was not too impressed with Grandma when I went in to her room about 1/2 hour after I had put her down for a nap. I walked in the room to find her diaper on the floor and her onesie hanging open. She has not figured out yet that a bare butt makes for a painful spanking, but that is what she got. She was so sad. At least she had not wet the bed, or it could have been more troublesome for her. She did fall asleep very quickly after that, and was all smiles when I got her up. Some lessons are just so hard to learn, and I wonder when she will figure out that the same results occur every time she does it!!

This evening we met up with friends in Ada so we could drive to Rockford to go to the funeral home. Traffic was slow about half of the way, due to slippery roads. We saw our friends at the funeral home, and then stopped on the way back at the Rio Grand Steakhouse for dinner. We had a nice time. We got out about 8:30 and the snow was really coming down. We are supposed to get 6-10" of snow by sometime tomorrow.

From Spring to Winter

2008-01-29T22:43:00.000-05:00

It was a beautiful warm day with mid 50 degree temperatures, and the snow disappeared right before our eyes. In a matter of an hour the temperature went from 45 and rain, to 28 degrees and snow. Now we are waiting to see what will happen overnight. So much for the weather.

I am glad I did get a chance to get groceries today, so we have what we need in the house. I think we could live for quite a while on what we have in the freezer and the pantry.

It was an ordinary day, with calls to make, cards to send, more organizing and cleaning. One of the leaders in Coffee Break lost her 92 year old Mom today. She had broken her hip about 2 weeks ago, and never recovered from the surgery.

Oh yes, nephew Derrick Stel turned 27 yesterday. Happy birthday, Derrick. He and Ruth live in Modesto and are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first baby in February. We saw them in Nov. when we were in CA.

Saturday with Kids

2008-01-26T19:48:00.000-05:00

What do you do on a Saturday when you have three nine year olds at your house? Well, you get up early because they will not allow Papa and Grandma to sleep too long. Aidan was up at 6:30, Grandma at 7 and the girls followed closely after. After breakfast Papa took the kids on a long sled ride, pulling them behind the tractor. They made a few turns through the yard and then went all the way to the river behind our neighbors all the way to Dr. Dave's property. Papa also plowed the path all the way, as Brett plans to take the kids on their winter hike next weekend.

They came in all cold and excited and had used up some of their excess energy. They all practiced their piano lessons for awhile and worked especially hard on timing. They all did a good job. Then it was time to make some molasses cookies. Their class had some molasses cookies this week, and they wanted to try some too. We found out that we did not have enough molasses, so when Papa said he was going to Lowell, we all got in the car. First to the variety store for some puppet supplies (embroidery thread, wooden spoons) and then we also picked up some suet. On to Meijer's for some groceries, while Aidan and Papa went to the hardware store. We had lunch and then finished the cookie dough, and let it cool in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Olivia mixed up some blueberry muffins and Regan helped.

The girls had to try the new shower and tub, and when they were ready we went to Applebees for dinner, Sam's for gas, and Target for a few items.

We are winding down for the day, and I have to mention that Aidan played some games on his DS, and the girls did a lot of reading. They will be ready for bed very soon.

January Sun

2008-01-25T10:22:00.000-05:00

The sun is out this morning, and making the world a white jewel. It is so lovely with the blue sky,and icicles forming a valance on the outside of the windows. It is nippy out at 11 degrees, but does not seem so bad without wind.

The week has gone by so quickly and I can not say we got a lot accomplished, but it will all get done. Everett ended up needing some extra rest after work this week. On Tues. his Bible study was canceled and he ended up in his chair for the evening. He had big plans for Wed. evening, and somehow we both enjoyed our new den in our recliners.

Wednesday after Coffee Break I had a chance to do some shopping so picked out some rugs for the foyer and kitchen. I am laying them out and seeing how they fit in before I tear the tags off.
Yesterday was my day with Emma. She was very talkative and did not want to go to sleep. I think she was out of her routine a little as my friend stopped in and she played a longer time after her lunch than she is used to. At one point I scolded her a little and gave her a pat on her butt, and she looked at me sideways and yelled 'no'. She was not impressed that her Grandma would reprimand her. She finally slept a couple of hours till 4:30.

Brenda came home after a couple hours at work because she was not feeling well. She had chills and all over soreness, so went to bed, while I stayed, so she could sleep.

Last night Everett worked hard in the shop and is making some improvements on our sofa. It sits so low, so he is trying to come up with something creative to improve it.
Brett stopped in with all of the supplies the kids will need for the weekend,while Brett and Roxanne go up north to stay in a condo at Shanty Creek. I will pick the kids up at school today, and keep them till Sunday afternoon.

I just had an adjustment at the chiropractor, so am taking it a little easy, so I do not undo it.

More Winter

2008-01-22T16:38:00.000-05:00

Most of the schools were closed today, because of a snow storm. It looks beautiful with everything covered in white. Occasionally we see the sun and the next minute the wind is blowing and the snow is flying again. At least the temperature made it to 21*. I thought I might have Olivia, Regan and Aidan here today, but Roxanne did not want to drive in the snow either, and I don't blame her. I have not been out so I am not sure how the roads are. Most of the cars are traveling by our house at the regular speed, but it is a state highway, and cleared first.

The birds have been eating so much, that I had to get out and feed them this morning. Yesterday I had a nice surprise, when I looked out of my front window and saw a bluebird sitting in the bush. On Sunday there were 9 wild turkeys eating under the feeders. They are very shy and the least little noise sends them in to the woods. They are such big ugly birds.

The last of the floor got mopped today and the ceiling fan got a good cleaning. I was a little nervous because as I was cleaning the fan, the metal circle that covers the cords fell down. After the disaster I had with the dining room light I was preparing for the whole thing to fall on the floor . Thankfully it was nothing serious, and I got it put back together. I made lots of trips up and down the ladder to get the job done, so am happy to have that finished.

Everett has Bible study this evening, I think. I have not gotten a call saying it was canceled.

Enough Celebrating

2008-01-21T22:09:00.001-05:00

I did get some work accomplished even though I spent some wonderful time with friends today.
This morning it was time to get some work done at my desk, as I did the laundry. I had lots of calls to make, and some work for Caring Ministries from church.

At 11:30 I met Sue so we could celebrate her birthday over lunch at Applebee's. We just had a relaxing time talking and catching up with each other, and our families. She had spent time with her daughters over the holidays, so we had not been able to get together for some time. She has one daughter in Alabama and another in Chicago.

After lunch I was going to make a run to the bank, but found out it was closed due to MLK day, so went on home and put some furniture in place and got some more things from upstairs and put them in place. I figure if I take a couple of armloads down each day and place them, I will get this place in order by spring:-)

At 5 I met Nella Mae, and she drove to Uno's to celebrate our friend Joanne's birthday which is Feb. 3, and met Norma and Joan there. We had a couple hours of fun and lots of talk and good food. We will not be able to get together till some time in April as all of us are traveling somewhere all of Feb. and Mar. Getting together with retirees is very challenging. We have some dates set for mid to late April so hope they work out. Friends are wonderful and spending time together is so much fun.

a

2008-01-21T22:09:00.000-05:00

Sunday Rest

2008-01-20T23:01:00.000-05:00

How nice to have a day of rest!

We went to both services today, and had Pastor Bruce this morning, and this evening enjoyed Seminarian Mark Van Stee. How interesting to have pastors the age of our sons, and remember when they were kids. Brings back some interesting memories. Both did a very good job; Pastor Bruce on 'encouragement' and Mark on 'joy'.

This afternoon after a nice nap I did my Coffee Break lesson, and read the paper. This evening we picked up Margaret for church and were able to bring her home as well, as we did not have our Bible study this evening.

I talked to Mom a bit ago and she had a wonderful birthday, with 31 in attendance at her party yesterday, and many calls and cards too. She loves all the calls, and loves to tease; right Elton and Brett?

It is a cold 10* out, but is going to be a real heat wave tomorrow with a high of 24*

A Great Saturday

2008-01-19T21:37:00.000-05:00

There was a lot of activity at our house today! Brett, Aidan, Olivia and Regan, Joel, Brenda and Emma were here this morning before 9:30 to help us move more of the furniture from the garage into the house. Most of the large pieces are in place and it is starting to look like our home again. Brenda and I washed or vacuumed the stuff as it was moved into the foyer, and the guys moved it to the various rooms. The kids took care of Emma and also helped with little jobs. Aidan vacuumed the crawl space, and did a good job.
Everett is especially glad that he could move his car into the garage for the first time in quite awhile. It worked out good as the temperature was down to zero when we were on our way home this evening.
Everett did get the basement swept up, and hopefully we can get it scrubbed and painted soon, so the kids can have their play area back again. They will really appreciate it, as they ask each time they come when it will be ready.
My Mom celebrated her 86th birthday today at Leisure Living. Her birthday is tomorrow, but it worked best to celebrate it today. ( I am not sure they celebrate birthdays on Sunday too often)
It will be nice to have a day of rest tomorrow. We need it!!

TGIF

2008-01-18T16:13:00.000-05:00

It was a cold day, and a good one to stay indoors and get some more cleaning done around here. I thought I better get busy before Emma comes tomorrow. Yesterday when I picked her up she told me that " Grandma house is aucky and Mommy's house is clean". Not good when a one year old is telling things like that.
It has been a better week than the last 2 , and I will catch you up on that later. I have most of the floors mopped now, and the kitchen is about as good as it will get- still have to move the fridge and clean under there.
Tomorrow the local kids and grandkids will be coming over to help move some of the bigger items from the garage. They are such a blessing, as it would take us a long time to get it all finished by ourselves.

Happy New Year- Jan.4

2008-01-03T22:49:00.000-05:00

It is the 4th of January but we still want to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

It is what I consider typical January weather; some snow, cold temperatures, wind and very little sunshine. We are so grateful for our warm home and warm cars and everything else we have to be comfortable. We do miss our heated garage now that it is full of furniture, and most mornings the cars have some snow covering and even ice:-( Not fun, but not worth complaining about.

Now that the holidays are behind us, we can get the last of the workers in and out of here. The carpet is scheduled to be laid on Monday, and then we can begin to move in the furniture. I am already enjoying my laundry room, and now can wash everything that has dust on it!!

We have had more opportunities to be with the local grandchilden, which is always a blessing. Aidan, Olivia and Regan will be staying overnight on Saturday, while Brett and Roxanne go to a State game Sat. night. We will be celebrating Roxanne's birthday on Sunday at Brenda and Joel.
Well work is waiting, so I better get to it.

Great Friday

2007-12-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

It was a wonderful day. I stayed home all day, and just worked around the house, starting to put things together again. I worked mostly in the master bath and guest bath, by washing all the cabinets and polishing the wood cabinets in the master bath. They look so nice. Now I can put some things in their new home.

Tom Boersma from our church, is also the electrical inspector, and he showed up at the door this morning to check things out. When he left I could not use the outlets in the bathroom, so he did something I could not figure out; even checked the breaker box!!

Gord Hulst showed up and we put the frames of the mirrors up to see how they would fit. A little adjustment was needed for the one mirror. Now the one needs painting, and the other one stain to match the cabinets.

The plumber showed up and had to take out the old pipes to our old washing machine, and then change some faucets. He had his share of frustration with the one faucet, but finally finished up the job. It is just great to get the details finished. ( Know anyone who needs a free washer or dryer for getting it out of here? They both work. )

Everett got home about 4:30 and after he read the paper, we went to Lowell to Keiser's and had their baked cod dinner. Yummy! On the way home we stopped at Ace Hardware to pick up some finishing nails, and then had to put gas in Everett's car.
Everett put up all the switch plates, and furnace registers and plowed the 3" of snow off the driveway. Time to sit down and relax.

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

2007-12-25T08:46:00.000-05:00

Attic Musings

2007-12-21T14:03:00.000-05:00

I am banished to the attic again today. Actually it is the storage room we added with the addition, on the upper level. I feel like the crazy lady in the books that would peek out of the curtain and add to the mystery.

Today the last of the painting is taking place and the touch-up staining and varnishing is being done. It is looking so very nice. We also had the carpet layers here, and both bedrooms are finished. Now it is my turn to put on the finishing touches.

We have a wedding tonight for Cori Woldhuis, at Seymour CRC with the reception at Lincoln Country Club. We are looking forward to that.

Wednesday evening we were to St. Stephens to watch Aidan, Regan and Olivia in their Christmas program. It was very nice and they did a good job. It was mostly musical, but had a lovely reading of the Christmas story acted out by the older students. It is always a special occasion to see the grandchildren.

Back to the blog. With the Christmas parties finished for the season, I have been able to keep in touch with some other members from our church who have been going through hard times, and often requires phone calls. I just got off the phone with a very interesting gentleman that has had a long life of incredible experiences. Those are the people that inspire and encourage me, and I am always amazed that their stories are so fantastic, and should be put down for others to read. This gentleman was telling me about the fuel he hauled to the ship, the Edmund Fitzgerald, just before it broke in two and went to the bottom of Lake Superior. He said that the captain, called him in to have a meal in the galley (something he had done a few times before) and he said they ate 'high off the hog". He said the captain told him this would be the last load of ore he would haul and then was going back to be with his wife and boys in WI. Well he never made it, as we know.

There is another couple where both are struggling with their health. He has ALS and just had a bout with a parasite that nearly took his life, and she has had strokes and has lost a lot of her sight. He is now in a nursing home and she can not drive, so I am finding people to bring her to see him once a day.

Some deal with deep depression and others have serious struggles with family relationships. It just makes my heart hurt to think about their pain. Thankfully they all lean heavily on the Lord, so there is hope in each case.

God is good all the time, and especially now as we celebrate the gift he sent, to bring us hope now and for eternity. Praise the Lord.

Snow in Indiana

2007-12-17T10:26:00.000-05:00

I am sorry it has been quite a while since I have posted, but I am back.

It is only a little over a week to Christmas, and it looks like Christmas outside. We got another 4" of snow over the weekend, and Everett had to plow when we got home last night from our trip to IN. We left Saturday morning, on the spur of the moment, as we decided there was not much we could accomplish around the house, and we wanted to check out some bedroom furniture at our favorite Amish builders in Shipshewana. As it turned out we went with a new fella that was recommended by a friend's sister. We did order a bed and 2 nightstands.
We had intended to leave early Sunday morning to go to Elton and Lauri to see the kids in their Sunday school program at the 5 PM service, but as it turned out their services were canceled and we did not get to see them, but they were very happy to share what they were going to say with us anyhow. Grandkids are so wonderful. We had a great time visiting and had a great lunch and then the kids made a batch of fudge and some white chocolate covered Oreo's and some pretzels. You can make about anything a treat if you cover it with white chocolate. I always come away with new ideas!! Thanks E,L,A,S,M & E.
Our time in Shipsee was special too, as we had lunch as DaEssenhaus, did our shopping and then checked in at the Country Inn and Suites, just north of town. We purchased tickets for a dinner/concert at the Blue Gate Restaurant. They have a very nice auditorium on the upper level and this weekend they featured Dino, a Christian pianist. He was just wonderful, and we would recommend him. We purchased some CD's and enjoyed listening to them on the way home last night.
When we got up Sunday morning, there was about 9-12 inches of snow, and the car was a mess!! We did get on the road shortly after 8 and the first 10 miles were a challenge as everything was white and it was hard to tell where the road was, but once we got to highway 13 it was better and then the 80/90 turnpike was much better. We did not hurry, so it went well.
The painters are coming along very nicely and it will not be much longer. They DID get all of the wallpaper off the family room, kitchen and hall to the basement, which I had not even planned on, but the outcome is a very nice clean smooth finish. They did have to do a lot of repair as the drywall was messed up, but I know we will be happy with the results. I am now able to spend my days in the upstairs store room if I decide to stay home. Most of the time I just leave; right Brenda. She sees me more than usual!!
I am doing the laundry this morning, also fed the birds, and taking care of some other details at my makeshift desk up in the attic. Brenda thinks that is where I belong; you know a funny old lady put away in the attic.:-

COLOR

2007-12-04T15:17:00.000-05:00

Color is on the walls, and I love it. It is so nice to see the walls painted after seeing dusty white for months. The house is taking on a totally new appearance, and that is a welcome sight.

Brenda and Emma came this morning, so they could help me decide on the green we had picked out for the walls in the den, and hall. The painter had trimmed out the windows last night, and as soon as I saw it, I had a sinking feeling that I was not going to be able to live with it. Well, the painter, Phil, was very understanding and added a touch of white to it, and the transformation was just what I was looking for. Thankfully we made our decision before he had gotten any of the walls painted. Brenda will post the pictures of the new look.

Master closet - creamy jamocha color
Guest bedroom - a dusty rose
Guest bath - buff turned gold color
laundry room - gray blue
new den - dusty celery
hallway - same dusty celery
Master bath - another mild green
Master shower - tiled
Master bedroom - creamy jamocha

Snow is here

2007-11-30T23:17:00.000-05:00

We woke up to about 3" of snow this morning, which did not seem like a big deal, until I turned the TV on and found out most of the local schools were delayed for 2 hours. There were many accidents reported and lots of cars in the ditch. I did not realize until I left the house at 9 just how slippery it was, when I tried to turn into the DVCC driveway and the car would not turn. It went OK, but it is a scary feeling when you are not in control of your car.

This week has gone well, and we can see progress. Both bedrooms are painted, and by next weekend the painter assures me that all of the other new rooms will be finished. Then we will focus on the rooms we are inhabiting now, so you may have to come visit us in the garage!!
Brett is coming by tomorrow and said he would help Everett move the furniture from our bedroom upstairs into the new storage area.

We went out this evening to buy some of the supplies that we need for the house. It is amazing how many things are needed.

Brenda and Emma met me downtown this morning so we could order the lights for the new rooms, and then we went to Lowe's and picked out towel bars etc. Emma did well even though she has a cold. She loves to ride in Grandma's car so she put up a fuss when it was time to go home so we took her to Wendy's for an early lunch so she could have one more ride. She used her limited vocabulary to convince us she was going to Grandma's house. She can be quite convincing, especially with Grandma.

Tomorrow I will chase some dust again, and then it will be Sunday again. How the weeks fly.

Today was Everett's sisters birthday, and she turned 60 something. We called them this evening and they were babysitting 3 of Keith and Val's kids; a job they love. They also had all of their kids and grandkids home for Thanksgiving, and also celebrated Christmas.
We also have another addition to our extended family. My sister's oldest son, Hendrik and wife Erika have a baby girl born Wed. They named her Lily Annika, 7# 3 oz, and sister to Ava Carolyn. It is so exciting, and I know they are thrilled.

Thanksgiving/Christmas Past

2007-11-26T12:52:00.001-05:00

We have just enjoyed a very wonderful weekend with our entire family. What fun! Joel and Brenda were gracious to host the 17 of us on Thursday for Thanksgiving, and also on Saturday for our Christmas party. We all had a great time of fun food and fellowship. Joel cooked the turkey, ham and potatoes for Thursday, and the rest of us brought the other dishes. We all sat by tables in their dining/living room, and had plenty of room. What a delightful feast.
Friday was a busy day at our house with the HVAC people installing a new furnace ( an unexpected expense) but very necessary and working well. The plumber was here and now we have 3 working toilets in the house and all the sinks are usable as well as the tubs and showers. The painter has been here and is making progress too. The ceilings are getting painted today. Yippee!!
With all the activity going on Friday we all scattered. Everett, Elton and Ethan went into the woods and cut wood, and Ethan was such a helper pulling the handle on the splitter. He slept well that night. Lauri, Emily and I met Brenda and picked up Alex and Sydney so we could do some shopping, and then at 2:30 the 4 of us had pedicures, and Emily got her haircut at the Excel Beauty school on 29th St. It was fun and relaxing. That evening all the adults went to Arnie's on 54th and 131 and Alex and Syd babysat the rest of the kids at Brenda and Joel's house. It was a nice break for all of us.
Saturday we spent the morning getting the food ready for the 1 o'clock party and also
wrapped a few gifts, after making a last run through Target. We have a tradition of having appetizers as our Christmas party food, and that is enjoyable as the kids are far to impatient to sit down for a meal. The kids opened their gifts first, and they all seemed very happy with what they received. It took Emma a couple of presents to figure out how it worked and from then on all gifts were fair game as far as she was concerned. Later we had the children open their stocking stuffers and then the adults opened their stockings.
Sunday was the grand finale with dinner at our house after church. We let Costco do the cooking and had lasagna, french and garlic bread, spinach salad, with leftover desserts from Thursday. It was a lovely day, and too soon Elton and Lauri and kids were off to DeMotte. I had time late afternoon to get my Coffee Break lesson done, and Emily went to spend some time with Brett and Roxanne and the kids.
Emily and I had breakfast at Keiser's this morning, and then met Brenda and Emma at Home Depot so we could go right on to the airport. We dropped Emily off a bit before 10 AM and she must have gotten off as I have not heard from her. Brenda, Emma and I went to a few stores to check lighting fixtures, and then to my house so Brenda could work and Emma could have lunch, and take a nap. And so begins another week.

How the weeks fly

2007-11-20T21:18:00.000-05:00

We are two days from Thanksgiving, and I have never approached a holiday with so little preparation; at least that is how I feel right now. I also realize I have so much to be thankful for, and feel very blessed. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday, and Christmas on Saturday, while we have all of our kids here. Emily flys in tomorrow, Wednesday, and Elton and Lauri and family will arrive either tomorrow evening or Thursday morning. It is wonderful that Brenda is able and willing to host both parties, as we are in no shape to have a party or anything else for that matter to be held here, and Brett and Roxanne are getting close to having their project in the kitchen/dining room finished, but also not ready for a party. Lauri said we could come there too, but at this point it was easier to have 6 come here than to get 11 to go to IN. Just wait Lauri, one of these days we will all show up at your door. At this time I am looking forward to having the holiday celebrations close together, so we can take the time to enjoy the season. Emily was glad to be able to come home in the fall for a change too. Not sure what kind of weather she will encounter, and we pray that the fog will not be an issue for her flights.

I have been having fun getting a few gifts for the grandchildren, and stocking stuffers for both adults and kids. I am also grateful for the help from the mothers for ideas and purchases. It all helps, as I am not a shopper at heart.

We had lots going on here the last few days again. Gord was here yesterday till noon, and got more finished on the flooring project, but when I got home he had left a note saying he was in great pain in his back. I did not expect to see him for days, but he was back this morning. He is dealing with herniated discs, so he knows what pain is. The Dr. prescribed a medication that made him feel much better, and he was here a full day, putting on door knobs and pulls. The painter was here today, and did a lot of preparation so he can start painting tomorrow, I think.
We also had the counter top and sinks installed in the master bath, and a guy was here to check our furnace. Now the interesting part of the day took place. He quickly informed us that there were numerous holes in the heat exchanger, and immediately shut the furnace off, and said we should not run it for safety sake. We now are committed to getting a new furnace on Friday. We had not planned on that expense, but you can not play with such hazards. We are thankful the problem was found before it caused health problems for us. They left two space heaters and we have the fireplace, which has kept us toasty warm this evening.

I picked up Aidan, Olivia and Regan at school at 11 today, and then we went over to Brenda to drop off some gifts etc. Emma was jumping for joy when she saw her cousins. We only stayed a short time as the kids were hungry. We got home before one, and they ate, and then they played and helped me. They all came to the apartment and helped me dust and vacuum so it will be ready for Elton and Lauri when they get here. Brett brought over a container of chili and I made corn bread, and it tasted so good. The kids loved the corn bread, and Aidan and Regan loved the chili, but Olivia was glad she did not have to eat the chili, and was happy that she could have chicken noodle soup instead.

It is bedtime, as the guys said they would be showing up at 7:30.

The Day After CA

2007-11-13T21:13:00.000-05:00

Wow, it is back to reality, and sneezing and runny nose for me. I think it is the dust and probably something I picked up on the trip. I was tired today, but did get all 7 loads of laundry finished, and got my temporary driver's license at the DMV. I was there a good hour and came in at # 48 and I was # 68. It went pretty good, as I got to read today's paper and do the Suduko puzzle while I waited. It is a good place to 'people watch' too.

After the DMV I went to the carpet/flooring store to pick up some supplies for Gord and order the carpet for the two bedrooms. It is nice to be planning for the cleaner part of remodeling. It will be so nice to be that far. The HVAC guy will be here tomorrow to redo a heat duct that we removed with part of a wall, and then the painters will be coming.

I am leading the lesson in Coffee Break tomorrow so have the lesson about finished. Should do a little reading yet. Everett is home from Bible Study and doing some church work now.

Back from California

2007-11-12T20:52:00.000-05:00

We made it back from CA after a wonderful weekend of spending time with Emily. We were in Grass Valley by Thursday evening after flying to San Francisco and renting a car. We got to GV by 6 PM and then went to a movie to get ourselves on CA time. We saw "Dan in Real Life" It was a great movie and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a clean movie with a nice story and a happy ending. We stayed at the Best Western as always, and then on Friday I brought Everett to the PIM board meeting at the Sierra Country Club. I spent the day shopping and just taking it easy. We did not go to Neal and Martha for dinner as we usually do, because the board meeting got out at 3:30. We just headed to SF even though it was not a fast trip as the traffic was very heavy. We stopped at Cattleman's for dinner and by the time we finished dinner the traffic had let up. Emily was at work so we went to the hotel and just relaxed. Saturday we let Emily sleep in, and we did too, as she was exhausted, from all the stress at work. We picked Em up at about 10:45 and did some walking around and shopping in the area near our hotel. We stayed in Emeryville at the Four Points by Sheraton, and it was a nice place. Saturday evening we picked up Emily and met her friend Ann at Fellini's Italian restaurant in Berkeley. We had a nice time, and enjoyed getting to know Ann.

Sunday morning we went to First Presbyterian Church on the Campus of Berkeley. Emily was VERY surprised when she turned around in church and saw two of her high school classmates and friends standing there. It was Mark and Brenna (Fedders) Walters. They are living in Walnut Creek and he works for Steelcase in SF. It was fun to listen to them catch up and reacquaint.

We had had breakfast at Homemade Cafe before church so we did not need lunch, so we traveled to Pleasanton to look around and meet Derrick and Ruth. It was a very nice day so we could relax, and shortly after 5 Derrick and Ruth met us at Red Robin Restaurant. We had a very nice time being with them. They are very excited about the baby that is due Feb. 22. In the meantime Ruth is a full time school teacher and Derrick is doing very well in the home/business security business as a salesman. He is a natural born salesman.

We had a good flight home today, even though is was crowded flights. We did make it to GR a few minutes early and Everett made his meeting at church on time, as well.

We were pleasantly surprised to see that a lot of the flooring had been laid, and the kitchen is about completely finished. Yippee. We are looking forward to see how far we will get this coming week, as Emily will be home next week Wednesday for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Tomorrow I will have to go to the DMV as somewhere in CA is a lost driver's license. I have no idea where I lost it, but when it was time to fly home I did not have it as ID. I used my credit cards, and we did have to go through extra security, but we were early so it was no problem.

Blustery Monday

2007-11-05T20:09:00.000-05:00

Fall has arrived with cooler temperatures, wind and rain/sleet, and also a few minutes of sunshine after the rain, and that was all this afternoon. I am glad the house is dry and warm inside, and the furnace works.

We had a great weekend having Aidan, Regan and Olivia overnight on Friday, while Brett and Roxanne went to Dearborn for a wedding. On Saturday evening we went to friends for dinner with with 4 other couples, and had a great time. Sunday morning we went to East Leonard CRC to hear Rev. Eric Scheering preach. He is now a missionary in Papua New Guinea, with Pacific Island Ministries. It was a great service, and Penny( Eric's wife) showed slides and narrated during the offering, which was very informative.

Gord was back today, and finished both bathroom cabinets and the counter top on the guest bath. He then cut back the wall in to the new den, which opened up the area, and made it so much more usable. While Gord was sawing through the wall, I called my friend, Nella to ask if she would let me spend some time with her, while the carnage was occuring. Thankfully she said she was free, and it was so good to get out of the house for an hour.

This evening Everett is tearing up the kitchen floor, and it is much more complicated than it sounds, because there are staples every where. It is a very tedious and miserable job.

Tomorrow I will be spending some time watching Emma for a few hours.

More decisions

2007-11-02T12:04:00.000-04:00

Well, I thought I had made all the decisions that needed to be made regarding the addition, but addition on older homes are never finished. At least the work is moving along very well again. Gord is back from his hunting trip and had a wonderful time, with Mike, his son, and 3 other guys. I am sure the break was necessary and welcomed. He is installing the cabinets in the master bath today, and can also put the top/sink in the guest bath. Then it will be time to put the floor down.
The guy from the carpet company was here and measured all the rooms that will be carpeted. Gord and I had questions for him, which he answered very well.
We had the electrician's back this morning to put in an outlet for the TV in the den, and as an after thought, I realized we would also need an outlet for the piano and the lamp.
Everett also said that the tile guy would be here this afternoon to seal the grout, and it will be stinky. That really gets to me. Yuck!
I will be picking up Aidan, Olivia and Regan from school today, and they will be staying overnight while Brett and Roxanne are in Dearborn at a wedding. It will be a busy evening, and lots of fun too.
Tomorrow evening we have a dinner at our friends in Byron Center, with our 'birthday group'. We always look forward to that, as it is a fun bunch.
We had a very hard frost last night and the leaves are falling like rain. The sun is out, so it is a lovely day.

Wildest yet

2007-10-30T21:21:00.001-04:00

Anyone who is familiar with my parent's home knows that the following pictures show a massive change to the home layout. One doorway is now two. The entire flow of their home will be drastically changed. Additionally, the room you can now see on the left, which was previously hardly used, will now be their den (i.e. recliners, t.v., laptop, chillin' room).

It's Friday Again

2007-10-26T10:08:00.000-04:00

It is a dark cool fall day, with colder weather on the way for the weekend, and possible rain. We are thankful for the roof over our head and many other blessings.
I made a run to victor a. barnes this morning, because of someone's mistake- and I am not pointing fingers- I had to pick up a piece of formica to correct a problem in the laundry room. It was interesting to be following the traffic into town before 8 AM. It is a fast crowd to be running with! I did not have any trouble finding the place, but it is in a part of town that I do not frequent. I brought that home and then went on to Meijer's to get a few groceries.
It would be a nice day to curl up with a book, but instead I think I will be packing books into boxes, as our builder is going to be doing some demolition in the foyer. That will mean more dust and a smaller space for us to live in!! Things are beginning to crowd in on us.
The tile guy is here and is laying more tile in the bathroom. They did most of the shower yesterday, and it looks so nice. We have the counter top on in the laundry room, and more of the cabinets installed.
I better get at the books.

Construction visuals

2007-10-23T15:03:00.001-04:00

Apparently I'm the photo manager for this blog (Brenda), so I'll take creative license and place a description (or personal commentary) under each photo (sorry mom, that's what you get for giving me your sign-in information!). You'll see that my parents are still in the midst of major construction so you'll have to use your imagination to envision the end result. Granted, I'll be placing those photos on the blog when the time comes. ( I approve of this message-Ilene)

Master bedroom. Finally, room for a king-sized bed.

Master bath, no cabinets yet, but a large
tiled shower that could fit and clean a small nation.

Master walk-in closet w/ gorgeous, hand-crafted shelving.

This is my favorite room thus far.

This room used to be a living room, but has since been renamed
the DEN. This room was so close to all the new construction
that it was added to the fast growing list of MORE to re-do.
It'll have new flooring, and an additional door-way.

My second favorite room, the laundry room. I think my mom
will now dance while doing the laundry with her
new front loaders and loads of space for folding
and hanging (laundry that is). This room will also have a desk
with loads of cabinets for storage and crafty items.

I'm bitter about this room, the guest bathroom. It is about twice as
large as their original bathroom that you practically had to walk in sideways.

The guest bedroom with 3 beautiful windows.

Another Week

2007-10-20T22:01:00.000-04:00

It has been awhile since the last post, but progress continues. The cabinets have arrived and are being installed. The trim has been put up around the windows and doors, and the doors have been hung.
Everett worked very hard today, and scrubbed/mopped the floors in the addition. There was quite a lot of drywall mud on the floor and had to be removed before the laminate and carpet could be laid. He also cleaned the store room upstairs, sanded the drywall in the upstairs bedroom and applied another layer of mud, and hauled the junk to the dumpster.
I was able to catch up with a 'little bit' of cleaning, laundry and packed 5 good sized boxes with dishes and other items from the china cabinet. I still have a couple of boxes to fill, but ran out of newspaper. Tomorrow's paper should be more than enough to finish the job.
Gord, our builder, is in CO hunting, so he will be gone till the end of the week. His employee will be working though, which we appreciate.

Last weekend we were in Iowa to our nephew Dwight's wedding. He married a lovely gal, Amanda Van Genderen, from Sully. The wedding was in Sully Ref. Church, and the reception was in Newton. It was all very nice, and we had a great time, seeing Glenn and Donna's family, as well as Mom. She enjoyed being there too, and was happy that she could ride to Pella with her brother Quintin and Marie. It gave them a good opportunity to visit.

On our way home from Pella we stopped at Elton and Lauri and had a great time visiting with them. We drove out to see their new, to them, camper. It is a very nice camper, and should give them many hours of camping fun. ( By the way I was still chasing flies out of my car on Tuesday).

Thursday was my regular day to watch Emma so I went to Byron Center. Before lunchtime Emma and I went to see my friend Joanne, and Emma played so nicely. She was tired out and took a really long nap, and Joanne came again, and we had a chance to look at paint chips, as she wants to repaint her condo, and I had all the Benjamin Moore paint colors. Brenda was able to come home a bit early so I stopped at Brett and Roxanne and picked up Aidan, Regan and Olivia. They did not have school on Friday, so could come overnight. We have not had them over for quite some time. Friday we went to BC again so the kids could play with Emma and also gave Brenda an opportunity to run a couple of errands. After lunch I asked them if they wanted to help Grandma, and they were game, so I moved some of the living room furniture and they tore off all of the wallpaper in the room. Then the more tedious work began, when the paper on the wall had to be sprayed with water and the bottom layer of paper had to be scraped off. They did such a good job, and worked at it for 2 hours. There still is some left to do, but they helped me out a lot. Brett and Roxanne were able to come for supper after work, and we had a chance to catch up with them. Brett also helped Everett haul all of the furniture out of the living room in to the garage, so we can begin the work in there. Brett and Roxanne are also waiting for their builder to start their remodeling project in their kitchen, in a couple of weeks. We all will be living in a mess!!

Well, it is bedtime, and we get a day of rest tomorrow. PTL!

Updated photos

2007-10-08T15:48:00.003-04:00

Here are some recent photos of our construction project.

Saturday's work

2007-10-06T15:08:00.000-04:00

Today we try and bring things back to pleasant living as much as is possible. I think most of the mechanical work is finished down the basement, but about the time I say that, someone comes and finds more to do. I have most of the laundry caught up for today, and am hanging up most everything w/o ironing. It will have to do!!

Everett is up in the bedroom we are sleeping in, and hanging the door that will allow us to get to the new area and our storage. The room will look very different w/o the windows that were in that spot, but it will be so great to have the room for storage.

Cousin Don Vanden Bos stopped in a bit ago to take his dogs for a walk, and ended up coming at just the right time to help Everett carry the door upstairs. We make the most of everyone that walks in the door lately. So beware when you stop in, we may put you to work.

I expected the drywall to be sanded on Friday, but the mud was not dry so they will do that on Monday. I will be happy to have that finished, so the painters can be here on Tuesday and put on the primer.

I have the family room couch totally covered with bedding for the new rooms; trying to decide what to keep and what to return. I will be glad to have that all finished so I can finalize the paint colors.

It is time to wrap up some of the stuff around here, so we can walk away from it for a couple of hours this evening.

We're Dusty

2007-10-04T20:15:00.000-04:00

It is happening. Everything we touch has a coat of white on it, but it is OK because we are making progress. The taping and mudding are finished and the sanding should be finished tomorrow. The painter is coming Tuesday of next week, as far as we know, and they will do the priming.

I took care of Emma today, and that was a good time to relax a little. She is a joy, and is saying so many words now. She was so excited when she saw some headbands in the bathroom and was telling me about Olivia's hair. I am thinking she was telling me that Olivia wears headbands in her hair too. What fun.

Tomorrow I get to pick up Aidan at school as Roxanne will be picking up the girls and going to a shower in Dearborn. It will be good to see him again. It has been a while since we have seen him, and Olivia and Regan too. I do not like to be so busy that there is not enough time for the important little people. They are so precious and grow up so quickly.

I talked with my Mom last night and she finally got the jacket for the outfit she plans to wear to Dwight's wedding. That was quite a relief as it was quite a hassle with JC Penney's. They had the jacket and the charge had been taken off of my credit card, but they had not delivered the jacket. About the time I reminded them there was something wrong with that picture, they quickly found the jacket that they said they did not have, and even had my Mom's address that they had never heard of. Wow, amazing!! We have the reservations for a motel in Pella, and now Mom just have to confirm that she does have a ride.

Post Vacation

2007-10-02T14:01:00.000-04:00

Life is back to normal, at least as normal as it gets when your house is torn apart, and getting both better and worse every day. The last two days has been like sitting in a dentist office continually with the drill grinding in your teeth. The drywall guys are here and what ever tool they use sounds like that drill. Thankfully I am not terribly sensitive to noise, like some friends I know, or I would be jumping out of my skin. They are making great progress, but the part I am dreading the most is the sanding. We will be meeting with the painter on Thursday morning, so that means I have to get those colors picked out soon.

I have the guest bedroom comforter picked out, and possibly the master bedroom spread too. I am not the type to change every few years so I know whatever I pick, I will live with for some time!!

Tomorrow is Coffee Break and it is my turn to lead, so I should go over my lesson once more. We have a dinner for the Ada Christian School Foundation, this evening, at the Amway Ambassador Room, so there will be no time then.

This Friday I will be going to a mini conference for Coffee Break in Holland. I do not know how many of the teachers and leaders will be going, but I am sure it will be a day of blessing.

The last two mornings we woke up to falling rain; what a beautiful sound. I checked the rain gauge awhile ago and we had a 1/2". We did need it.

The bird feeders are filled, the laundry is caught up, I ran lots of errands this morning, and I do not have to fix dinner this evening, and cleaning around here is a hopeless situation right now, so maybe I can kick back for a few minutes!!

Home Again

2007-09-28T16:54:00.001-04:00

We arrived home on Wednesday evening at 6:30. We were all grateful for a safe trip, and a wonderful time.
Now it is back to reality and loads of laundry. It is good to get back to a routine, especially when it includes grandchildren. I took care of Emma on Thursday, and look forward to seeing the other 7 soon.
The house project was mostly at a standstill while we were gone, except for the plumber, who replaced our old galvanized pipe with plastic, and that was great as the water had to be turned off. Now we are waiting for the drywall, and then the big mess will begin.

Last Day

2007-09-25T23:16:00.000-04:00

The date on the last post was supposed to be Monday, September 24, but I can not figure out how to change it. It is now Tuesday evening the 25th and we are back in Des Moines. We left Branson this morning shortly after 8 AM and had a great trip back. We drove until Margie saw the Osage Pecan store in Butler, MO., and that was 3 hours down the road. We were all more than ready to stretch our legs at that point. Margie bought lots of nuts and Ken bought a book on how to write a sermon. Just in case you run out of someone to preach you may have to call Ken :-). We were ready for lunch so went to the Pizza Hut in Butler.
We got out more often after that, and it was welcomed. We had a bit of rain as we drove through MO, and some in Iowa. We thought it had started to rain at one point and then we realized we were directly behind a horse trailer carrying holsteins, and it was only a cow relieving herself. Rather nasty thought, so we were happy when it started to rain, and the car was rinsed off. PHEW!!
We arrived at our hotel in Des Moines at about 4:30. We checked in, unloaded the car, and had dinner at Grill Okaboji. We had a good meal, and kept it light as we decided we should have ice cream on this trip at least one time. We stopped at Culver's for a treat. YUMMY.
When we returned we set up and played cards in the breakfast room. Sad to be playing our last game for awhile. Dorothy beat again, so no more pity parties for her. I must tell you though that overall I had the high score. We had so much fun, and all in good humor.
It is hard to believe that this years vacation is over, but the memories are priceless. We thank the Lord for a loving caring family to spend time with. We are so blessed.

More Fun

2007-09-25T00:20:00.000-04:00

What a great day. We went to breakfast not having an idea what we were doing today, but after we finished eating we drove east out of town and saw a train with people waiting by the depot, so Everett and Ken went in and checked it out. With in a matter of minutes, we had purchased our tickets and were in the crowd. We took the train 20 miles south into Arkansas, and saw some wonderful scenery, and heard interesting history of the area and the railway. It took about 2 hours.
We had overheard another couple talking at one of the shows, about the College of the Ozarks and how impressed they were with the time they had spent there. It was a short drive out of Branson, and we were there. We drove around the campus a bit, trying to get our bearing and decided that before we looked at some of the points of interest, we would have lunch. We went to the restaurant that was built just 3 years ago, and what a place that was. It was a beautiful big log building and the dining room was large and elegant. We had a wonderful and tasty lunch. The philosophy of the college is hard work, and all the students attend for free in exchange for 15 hours of work each week+ a forty hour week each semester. It is for students that would not be able to afford a college education, but they have to meet certain standards such as financial need, a christian background, want to work hard, and then will be able to graduate debt free. They have 80 different work stations, some of which are dairy, baking, serving in the restaurant, horticulture, child care, jam making, making fruit cakes ( they make 30,000 a yr. and only sell by order, not to a wholesaler) a mill, basket weaving, using a loom to make rugs, scarves and coasters, making flour and cornmeal etc. etc. It was an amazing place. About 65% of the students are from the Ozarks. All the things they make can be purchased at the college, and right at their work stations.
We went back to Branson, and visited a unique 5 & dime store, that had about everything you could imagine. It was a huge store, and was so full it almost made me dizzy. I found a few interesting things, and so did every one else. Margie and Ken had been there before, 4 years ago when they were in Branson. We also stopped at a quilt store so Margie could look for some fabric, but she was not successful. Next we stopped at another nut, candy store, + lots of other stuff, and we all bought some more snacks etc.
We finally made it back to the motel, so we could relax awhile. After a short nap, Dorothy and Marguerite invited us to their room for a drink. We had a wonderful white grape juice from the Mountain Man Nut and Candy store, It was very tasty, and other snacks were served to go with it. We skipped dinner as a couple of people had taken some of their lunch food with them so we split that. We had enough time to play some cards, 7 hands, before we left for the Presley's show which began at 8PM. We enjoyed the show very much, and over all, we agreed it was a wonderful vacation.
When we returned from the show we finished the last two hands and Dorothy won. I believe I reported earlier that she was boo hooing her losses. It was time for bed!!!

More From Branson

2007-09-23T23:47:00.000-04:00

Today is Sunday and it was a good and mostly relaxing day. We could sleep in a bit, but I was wide awake by 6AM, so got up and started writing on the blog. I was surprised how quickly the days run together, and I was forgetting details of just a few days ago. After writing and going back quite a few times I think I have most of the details down.
We met for a good breakfast compliments of the Inn, with scrambled eggs, cereal, donuts, muffins, biscuits and gravy ( Ken loved that) juice and bagels etc. We went to a service at The Legend. It was a good christian service even though some thought the music was a bit loud. It was 1 1/2 hours and then it was lunch time. We went to Landry's Seafood, but had salad and hamburgs, and shared it with couples. This afternoon we had a 2 o'clock show at the Grand Country Hall and the Gospel Jubilee. It was a good group, and I think we all enjoyed it. We were out by 4 PM and went back to our room to relax and read and take our Sunday afternoon naps.
We decided we would call for pizza delivery this evening, so Margie took charge and ordered 2 pizza's from Pizza Hut. They were nearby and ordered for 6:30, but they did not come, and Margie called PH twice, and was told he was on his way. Well, he finally arrived at 7 and by that time PH had told her not to pay for the pizza's The driver's excuse was that they were so busy, then he said he had lost the receipt in the car, and then when we told him we did not have to pay, he told us that he did not work for PH and that being they were busy and his girlfriend worked at PH they gave him a shirt and sent him out with our pizza!! You know I could not think up a story like that!! I thought that was pretty funny. Well, we ate our pizza , even though it was not hot at all, and then went to the breakfast room and played two rounds of ripple golf. I did not win tonight although I missed it by 1 point the first round and was in 3rd place the 2nd round. I am sorry to report that Dorothy has not been winning. That is sad. Boo Hoo!!
Well, it is bedtime and the end of a very relaxing day. We will do some exploring in the area tomorrow.

Family Vacation

2007-09-23T07:27:00.000-04:00

Hello from Branson. This time our family vacation includes Everett's sister Margie and her husband Ken, and sister in law Dorothy and her sister Marguerite Hubers. We are having a wonderful time, and are already planning where to go next year. We met last Wed. in Ankeny, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines, and stayed at a Country Inn and Suites for the night. When we arrived at about 6:30 it was time to eat and we all walked across the parking lot to the Chips restaurant. We made a few detours as we made attempts to enter back doors, and also dodge all the goose poop, from the geese in the pond, but the place was super, as well as the food. After supper we kept our tradition of playing cards. Our new favorite game is ripple golf. We have lots of healthy competition, and that night was fun even though I could not get a minus score to save my neck!! We had a delightful stay there, a wonderful full breakfast, all which has proved to be the best hotel so far, and likely will keep that rating.
We left Des Moines early Thursday morning and headed down I-35. Our first destination was Carthage, MO and the Precious Moments chapel and museum. On the way Margie began her quest for the the best price in pecans. We stopped in two places and picked up snacks at the Osage Pecan store. We arrived at PM at 4 and only were able to go through the chapel, as it closed at 5. It was a very warm 90 degrees, so we were thankful for the A/C and the wheelchair for Marguerite as it was a bit of a walk to the chapel. We made a quick stop at the gift shop, and I left empty handed. Margie did better, and I believe Dorothy added to her magnet collection. We went to our Econo Lodge which was lower end, but noticed the other choice, a Best Western was closed. Lack of competition does not improve things!! It was a pit to say the least. After we checked in we took a drive through the town of Carthage. We were not aware that it was the site of a Civil War battle, which had left the town in ruins. Many of the older homes were lovely, but they had some areas that looked like they had not improved much since the Civil War. We went to the town square and took some pictures of the stately buildings. We had parked in the shade and as we walked around noticed a restaurant nearby. It was an Italian place called 311, the address of its original location. It was delightful and we had wonderful food; great steaks, I had a chicken dish with mushrooms, and Ken had all you can eat spaghetti and meatballs. That evening we did have some time to play ripple Golf, which we play with Scip-bo cards, and had a great time. I had an especially good time with a -131 score. That made up for the beating I took the night before in Des Moines. The others were all around the 0 mark so plotted what they could do to me the next night.
We left Carthage on time Friday morning, and on toward the Ozarks and Arkansas. It was a lovely drive through the hills/ mountains as we headed toward Eureka Springs. We had lunch at the Rowdy Beaver which was an interesting place with good food- hamburgers, soup/salad. We drove into town and found the Passion of Christ site, where the passion play was to be held that night. We went to get tickets and for $47 each we could see all the museums, take a tram tour of the Holy City, see the passion play and have a buffet dinner. It was a very hot day, and I was having a bout of dizziness, but the tour was interesting, and quite authentic. After the tour we were just in time for dinner, and enjoyed good food in a big room that seated 375 people. There was some gospel singing as we ate. After dinner we all got in the car, and checked into our hotel room, at the Stonegate Inn, That was an all time low!! No alarm clocks in any of our room ( no clock at all), no hair dryers, towels were like our car washing rags, light bulbs that were burned out, and the supposed non smoking rooms smelled of smoke! That was the only bad part of the day, because we all slept well in spite of that. As you can tell bad hotel/motel rooms are one of my pet peeves!! I guess you could say I am a bit anal about it. Brenda knows what I mean!!We drove back to the Passion play site and were so fortunate to have the handicapped sticker (thanks to Johnny) and Marguerite's handicap, because we were able to park right by the gate. The Passion Play began at 7:30 and was amazing. They had great sets and wonderful actors.

We got up on time Saturday, and left the motel about 7 AM so we could get to Branson on time to get tickets and see the Yakov Smirnoff show. We stopped at a MacDonalds on the way and had a quick breakfast. The Yakov show started at 9:30 AM and we had made it there just in time. It was just great and we did a lot of laughing. We got out shortly before noon, and found a Chili's restaurant across the street, where we had lunch. We then headed into Branson

We drove up and down the strip on '76' and saw lots of places. Wow I have not been here before, so the town was interesting, and busy. We checked into our Quality Inn, and it is decent. We had some time before supper, so we went to the breakfast room and played cards. I again did quite well, with a -97, and the plot on me continues to grow.

We freshened up a bit and got in the car to cross the street. It is close enough to walk, but unless you are very quick you will be dead, and not all of us are quick. We had supper at the Baldknobbers Restaurant, and then went next door to the theater. It was a good meal and we had some time to kill before the show. The pre show started at 7:15, and went quickly. The Baldknobbers was a good show, and funny, so we had a relaxing time.

More progress

2007-09-18T13:11:00.000-04:00

Well the progress continues, and it is exciting. As you can see we have insulation in what will be the extra unfinished room over the addition. It will be easily accessible for storage, rather than the crawl under the eaves space we have been using the last 30 years. It also is warmer and quieter in the room up there.

The siding is all installed as well, and it looks so nice. The fella from the drywall company was here this morning, and measured, so will be ready to start the process in about a week or two.

Progress

2007-09-13T21:25:00.000-04:00

So much has been going on here this week, and most of it will be between the wall. The electrician's have finished as much as they can as well as the HVAC men, and plumbers. The most noticeable progress is the roof and siding. Last weekend I reported that the roofers were finished, but they were not. They had water proofed it so the rain would not come in the house. Sadly we did not receive much rain either. The worst part of the week was the smell of the glue that the roofers and HVAC people used. It was noxious and nasty. Thankfully the air was cool and with the windows open, the smell left quite quickly. Other than that it was just interesting! I got up early and showered because I had NO privacy after that. Their were guys everywhere, upstairs, downstairs, outside the bathroom window and outside the bathroom door. At times in the bathroom. In fact I just left most days, because I did not accomplish much around here until they all left. I must say they were all very friendly and considerate, and actually very pleasant to have around.
It was also very chilly most mornings, so I dressed, put on a fleece jacket and sat under an afghan for the first hour or so. Brrrrrrrrrr.

Wednesday was the first day of Coffee Break for the season. We have 3 classes with 3 leaders and about 12 women in each class. We have more leaders that are close or over retirement age, so one or more take vacations each month, so we are hoping to cover the classes with more leaders per class. I am excited about my co-leaders and the women in the group. I do know quite a few of the women already, so that is exciting.

We will be starting our Sunday evening Bible study this Sunday after services, so will be fun to see who is in that class too. The fall season has hit so we must hang on and enjoy all the new activities.

Great Weekend

2007-09-11T21:04:00.000-04:00

We left for Union Pier, MI Friday about 2 PM for a getaway to a Bed & Breakfast called The Sandpiper on Lake Michigan. It was a very nice place; clean, beautiful setting, good breakfasts and so relaxing to see the lake from our deck and hear the waves crashing into the shore. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our 42nd anniversary which is September 10.We were just a few miles from New Buffalo, and went there both evenings to watch the boats coming in the channel and also watch the sunsets. ( We forgot our camera the first night, but got some shots Sat. night). The B & B was a gift from some of our kids for Christmas. Thanks!
Friday night we went to a restaurant just a mile or so down the road called 'Skips' Antiques and Restaurant. We had the prime rib and it was excellent.
Saturday we slept in later than usual, but they served breakfast from 9-11, so it worked out well. We were 15 miles from Michigan City, so decided to go to the Lighthouse outlet mall. We had a good time shopping, and Everett found two pair of jeans and two pair of shoes, so he did well. I found a card and bought some onesies that Brenda had asked me to pick up for Emma at Carters.
We had a late lunch at a neat bar and grille called Holly's. Needless to say with two late meals we skipped supper.
Sunday morning we again slept in, and after breakfast we enjoyed the scenery and then checked out before noon. We began our trip home; slowly. The weather was just so lovely both days, so we just enjoyed the blue skies and blue water, and the sun.
We stopped in South Haven and walked along the channel and then watched the boats going in and out. It was picture perfect.
Later we stopped at Clementine's one of our very favorite spots in South Haven. We made it home by 4 PM and ended the day at church.
Great weekend!

The roof is on!!

2007-09-06T14:13:00.001-04:00

The weatherman is forecasting rain for later today, so we are happy to report that the roof is all on, and hopefully will keep us dry. The addition is coming along nicely and with some last minute changes I think we made our electrician's day much easier. I never realized how much thought it takes to have the room to place all the switches and plugs, but now I have a new appreciation for that as well. I talked to the gal helping us with cabinets and she suggested moving the linen cabinet in the master bath as a separator by the toilet, opening up the wall by the door. Good call Krista R. sorry that is H!!!!. I still have to make some decisions on the walk-in closet and the flooring. Then it will be paint colors etc. etc. and light fixtures. Yikes!! More decisions.
We had our organizational meeting for Coffee Break yesterday, and it all went well. We have classes with 12 in each at this point, and if more come they will be bigger. So exciting to see what the Lord has in store for us this year.

Happy Labor Day!

2007-09-03T19:40:00.001-04:00

What a wonderful weekend as far as weather is concerned. We had a good time with our friends Vern and Nella Mae on our pontoon on Friday evening. We left shortly after 4 PM and docked in Ada. That is the most difficult thing about going on the river; the current is strong and makes it very difficult to get the boat in and out. In spite of that, the river is the most relaxing place to take the boat, and the scenery is the best. We went about 5 miles up the river and turned around and anchored the boat, set up the table and chairs and had supper. We all had plenty to eat and good conversation. It was a delightful evening.
Saturday Brett, Aidan, Regan and Olivia came over about 3 and we took the pontoon on the river again. ( Roxanne had to do some cleaning so she could not make it). We took a nice slow ride up the river toward Lowell, and when we got to the island where the 4 of them had camped over a month ago we discovered that the river was higher because there was very little island to set a tent or lay sleeping bags on. Good they went when they did. The kids waded around the island and looked for treasures. All they found was a plastic drawer of a Steelcase desk. We took it home only to put it in the dumpster!! So it goes with many temporary treasures.
This morning we worked around here. Everett really worked at a difficult job of hammering a hole in the basement wall into the new crawl space, so the electrical and mechanical people can get in there in the coming week. It was a messy very noisy job, and he is glad it is finished. We also found that the original builders made the cement block wall stronger by putting rerod in the blocks every 2 feet or so, and filled the hole with concrete. It also made more work to hammer through the block wall!! I did some laundry and cleaned up around the house.
We met Brenda, Joel and Emma at Green Lake near 146th and Kalamazoo. It took a bit to find the access, but we got there by three and had about 4 hours of fun and sun. There was alot of activity on the Lake, but we did anchor to the side for quite sometime to just play in the water and relax. After we ate, (thanks Joel and Brenda for the good food) we took another circle around the lake and headed for home.
What an enjoyable weekend with friends and family. We are so blessed.