Grammy's visit to Michigan

 The girls picked Grammy up from her kind chauffeurs and we made an immediate stop at Tim Horton's!

 We started out hosting Grammy...and we make such great ones! Ha ha ha!  We were tired and still had to be responsible adults and work on Friday morning.  We enjoyed time around the pool with Uncle Pastor and Auntie on Friday.  "NO Pictures Allowed!" stated Mari emphatically, "That's our rule!"  We grilled out and enjoy the beautiful Michigan weather.

 Saturday...we had a late start after a needed bathroom repair!  We took Grammy to Blaze for a yummy lunch and then headed north...

 with our own entertainment crew!

 We took Grammy to Bronners in Frankenmuth.  WOWIE!!!  What a place!

 He never did tell me what Santa told him!  We had a fun time and got home to facetime with Auntie Gail while the guys grilled a yummy supper!

 Sunday was spent in God's House.  What a blessing this day is to my heart!!!  Mom played for Brad and Mari as they sang "Give Him the Glory...for what He has done in your life..."  Oh my!

 Sunday dinner was shared as we celebrated Allison's 17th birthday!  Wow!!!

 Sparkler candles!

 Fear...help with blowing...singing...laughter...yep, this is a great picture of all that was happening at once!

 Monday afternoon brought the rest of our cousins...just in time for lunch!

 Sean's stories of police work are amazing!  It is interesting to hear what really happens from the other side of the crazy news stories that are sensationalized across this nation.  Makes me realize, once again, the importance of praying for the safety of our law enforcement officers in these evil days!

 Our big kids played with their little cousins.  It was fun to watch!

How many cousins can you fit in a swimming pool? 

 Eating a popsicle-le-le!

 We moved the party to Uncle Ted and Aunt Kari's place...and Grammy found her bag of birthday treats!

 Avery cuddled up to Caden!

Isaac wrestled with Teddy.

 Alisa helped Avery with necklace making.

 These kiddos of ours...are growing up so quickly!

 Thankful to share time with our family.

 It was a packed double-wide by the time everyone arrived from various activities!

 "You can't blow bubbles inside the house!"

 There were several conversations going on at once!

 "I love you, Grammy!"

 A senior, two sophmores, a freshman, an eighth grader, three seventh graders, a four year old, and a soon to be three year old!

 Tuesday night supper out after another morning of work and an afternoon of pool time.

 Cousin time...are you sick of us yet!?

 Ok...picture time after shopping all night with the girls!  Come on...smile!

 Kiddos, you are up...ready, set...Ashlynn!!!

 Be serious now....let's get this done...Boys, stop it!!!  Girls, stop laughing at them!

 Good...awww...Alisa has her eyes closed.  Stay where you are!  Here we go...1, 2, snap...

yep...that is as good as it is gonna get at this hour.  Allison and Ashlynn, why did you stoop over?
Kids...can't take pictures without them...can't take pictures with them!  Thanks for coming to visit, Grammy!  Life is busy...and we were glad to share it with you!

Thankful for this reminder this summer!

 

This summer has been busy...because I have been working again in the morings...and keeping up with our kiddos in the afternoons.  I miss the time to sit back and blog.  It was part of my quiet time to reflect on what God is and was doing in our family.  I am still learning and meditating...but most of it stays in my head and heart.  I feel like the clock runs my life these days.  I don't always get to sit and write.  To be honest, I miss that!  But...life is going to keep getting busier...it is where we are in this stage of life now.  I've learned many lessons over the last few years...now...I am going to have opportunities to share that knowledge with others...parents and students that will make up my new K5 class.  I don't take that responsibility lightly.  I don't want to miss opportunities that will be right in front of me every day.  I don't want to miss the important times in the life of my husband and children.  So...blogging gets set aside more often than not...waiting for those quiet moments that I am gifted with now and then.

  "Be present!  Not everyone needs to know everything you are doing when you are doing it!"  I blog for our family...so I know they are patiently waiting for updates!  I continue to document for us!
The kiddos are growing up so quickly...Ashlynn is in high school this year!  I'm stepping into a new position.  Ted is constantly challenged leading improvements at work.  Teddy has moved to junior high.  Alisa is adding to her creative abilities.  In the busy-ness of life, I want to remember that God has brought us to this point by daily steps...even though it seems like leaps and bounds!  "Use these times to look back and be thankful...where we were and where we are now...God is good!"

Happy 13th Birthday to our fourth chair filler!

 Alisa's birthday took place while she was at camp.  So we celebrated the night she returned...with a dinner date with Dad and Mom to a place of her choice...Kensington Grill!

 A stop for her to choose a birthday treat...her choice again...and then a present she wasn't expecting!

 An Ipad...of her own...for school...and personal use.  She and Dad ordered a case of her choosing.

 It is so exciting to pick out things like that!  These kiddos keep growing up!!!

It wasn't an easy birthday this year...for various reasons...but I am proud of how Alisa handled it.  When people let you down, you keep doing right!  That is a good life lesson...that this momma had a hard time dealing with...watching it play out and not even knowing all the details of the situation till later.  I'm thankful for God's sovereignty in all things...and once again seeing the growth that comes from those things!

Parents at home...alone...in the quiet

 Fancy supper one night...I am really are pitiful and let Ted eat leftovers...but we were both happy with our choices!  Ted spoiled me and we did eat out a couple of times.

 Time to bake for my sister and brother-in-law's anniversary...a lemon blueberry scone for those lazy, summer kids gone to camp mornings...oh wait...we are all working!  woo hoo!

 We had to take care of a vehicle issue...look, Ma, no dash gauges and lights!  Got it fixed!

 One day...no work...meant coffee on the patio with my sis!

 The rest of the week...spent working...and picking up a few extra hours.

 Friday afternoon adventure to Detroit!  We explored Belle Isle...it had been years since I had been there...and I was a little disappointed in how run down it had become.

 We rode the People Mover and decided to get off in Greektown...

 we ate yummy pizza surrounded by several Detroit Tiger fans on their way to a game...and an out of control bachelorette party.  Just wow!  There are things you ought not to do in a family friendly restaurant. Tacky.

 Beautiful evening for a stroll along the Riverwalk and looking across to Canada.

 The Ren Cen...it is massive.

My love and I...reconnecting amid the busy-ness of life...some times...it takes a few minutes to get back in sync and just relax.

Kids at Camp....WILDS 2015

It has been a week of heaviness.

We were reminded this week that love is an action.  We watched one of our church families walk through the valley of the shadow of death with love and grace.  We have been reminded how short life is...for some 52 short years.  We know that God is in control of all things and that no matter what...He loves us.