Our sister get away 2016

So...this is how Ted and I spent our 18th anniversary!  He sent the sisters on their annual getaway with a smile and a "Have fun!"  We are so thankful for the couple days away...and yes, we always say, "Oh...just one more day..."  Ludington...here we come!

Our favorite place...Parkview Cottages...now individually owned.  Cottage #6 was all about the pine and pinecone theme.  So nice and clean and comfortable!

Mari always chooses the little clove bed setting first.

Love all the little touches...

We packed our lunch and headed right to the beach.  It was BEAUTIFUL!  "Yes, this is just what we needed!"  The water was warm and perfect for wave jumping and floating!

We got some sun and sand and listened to the surf.  Friday doesn't look like the weather will cooperate for a beach day...but the waves are to get higher!

We then went back to change and do some window shopping.  We ate frozen yogurt for supper at a new shop and found our MI t-shirts.

Then we went back to relax and eat chips and yummy salsa.  We watched food shows and read.

Breakfast in the morning....french toast bagels with cream cheese and strawberries with our coffee.

In front of the cottage pictures...we drove up to Manistee to walk the shops and enjoy the day.  We only ever got some sprinkles...no big thunderstorm!

So...we came back to eat lunch, nap, and read at the beach and watch the waves and clouds.

The clouds rolled away and we got hot!  Mari went to get our suits.  A little funny...we drove to the beach in case a storm hit.  We had a first stall parking place and we didn't want to lose it.  I stayed with our stuff at the beach and Mari walked back to the cabin (across the road and up a half block) to get our suits.

We are pretty smart when we are together...and we keep working on it by drinking our Smartwater!

Showers to get rid of the sand and more walking in Ludington.  The farmer's market was packing everything up when we got to town...at 7pm...the sign said till 9pm!?  The only thing we could figure was they were sold out of most stuff.  We looked at some shops...but many close at 6 or7pm.  This really puzzles us!  Everyone is at the beach all day...they walk for supper, shopping, and ice cream in the evenings!  We found a BBQ place to eat for supper.  YUM!

Back to the cottage for relaxing and coffee!

Mari read.  I colored.  We each rested in our own way...checking in on the weather and our kiddos.

Time to leave already!  It always goes by so quickly.  The weather was not in our favor for a last beach day...the rain was heading our way!

We got to go to our favorite coffee shop and sit outside and talk.

I stopped our conversation, "Hey, look this way!  I just want to remember this...this is nice!"  It started to sprinkle as we walked back to the car.  "I'm not ready to go home yet!  It is only 10:45am and I don't want to drive home in this pouring rain...we need to find somewhere to wait it out!"

We drove to Grand Haven...there had been a beach hazard statement for building waves and wind throughout the day on Saturday and I wanted to see it!

It was also Sidewalk Sale Day!  But it was pounding rain by the time we got there and found a parking spot.  My umbrella only turned inside out one time!  We were brave and walked downtown Grand Haven.

This display made me laugh!  I snuck a picture because of the explanation card.  Mari made me laugh out loud, "Oh, look, rock towers!  We build them and then find a bigger rock to throw at them to knock them all over!"

Finally...tired of the rain...we found a cute little cafe for a lunch/snack.  We were the youngest gals there...except the waitress!  We laughed and enjoyed the shared sandwich, scone, and cookie.

And the fun sodas...black cherry and root beer.

The waves were getting bigger and the swells in the channel were rising...but not as fast as we were hoping!  We were told about the tornado touch down around Holland area...we waited till warnings/watches had expired and then headed home.

And drove into it all again!  God gave us safety and blessed us with a restful time.

We have been married 18 years!

I look at the picture on our wall of right before we got married...just the two of us...and then I look at this picture.  My how things have changed!  I'm overwhelmed with gratefulness!

I made it through...just fine!

I had my MRI this morning.
I was able to lay still without wiggling and with no pain!  At the end, they shot contrast into my vein and finished up the scan.  I asked God for that to go in well...and it did.
As I laid there, I remembered how the knocking and banging sounds can begin to nerve you up (even with the ear plugs).  I kept my eyes closed to fight off the thoughts about the close space.  I focused on praying for people.  I tried to sing songs...but the banging and knocking really throws off tempos of songs!  Believe me when I say, I tried a variety of different songs!
45 minutes for lumbar scans.
I was able to relax and at one point at the end I felt myself twitch...the tech asked me if I slept.  I said I didn't but felt myself twitch and move...so I might have.  She told me she had to redo the last scan...because...yes, I had moved.  Oops!
It makes a world of difference when you have sweet techs to help you!
18 years ago...my first ever MRI was miserable (high pain and no meds offered), scary (no idea what was happening or what it was even doing), and run by a crabby lady!
As I drove to my appointment this morning, I knew people were praying for me.  I had music playing...Canon in D (played at our wedding!) was part of the introduction to the song that said "Jesus, Lamb of God...You are my strength when I am down..."  Tears formed as it hit me that I was suppressing nervousness over this whole thing even though I had asked God for peace and calm.  I don't want anything to be found there that shouldn't be.  There is no pain there.  I am functioning fine...just need to re-build the strength that I lost in those couple days of not doing anything.
God knew my anxious thoughts and fears...and He gave me exactly what I needed today.  I stopped for a sandwich and an iced coffee to just "be still" for a little bit and thank Him for always being good to me!  My friend called me to see how it went.  I texted my husband in the middle of his important meeting to let him know all was ok and done.  I texted with my sis.
We don't get the results for two days.  I don't know what we will find out...but God does...and He still does all things well.

It is coming together...a little more every day!

 I just love that the girls will help me!  Velle...she is a great distraction!

 We watch episodes while our hands are busy.  We talk about what needs to be done for school.  We discuss plans for supper.  We laugh at Velle.  We visit with whomever stops by the room.

 We use leftovers to make quick suppers for after Teddy's preseason soccer practice that make him really happy!!!  Pasties!  Thankful for a break in the high heat temps to be able to turn the oven on for this much requested treat!

Another change in our family...indirectly

 The "spoof cake"...frosting covered box with jelly beans.  Caden told us Allison liked them and it made me gag to think of a cake to serve people with jelly beans.  To bring levity to the day, the kiddos thought we should do a cake with jelly beans.  It got the reaction they were looking for..."Oh, nice cake!" said with raised eyebrows.

 We kept the real one hidden till after Grandma S's wonderful dinner!  This was a heavy cake and so sweet it made your teeth hurt!  White cake with caramel and candy bar filling and chocolate buttercream!  My first time ever to make it...and I don't know why!!!  Yum!

 Sharing the pictures with us from their mission trip to Ireland...Allison and Bryn returned home on Sunday morning at 12:30am...so these were fresh pictures!  Beautiful and fun to hear of their travels!

 First take...thanks, Mr. V!  Our picture is to remember the day that we got called down in SS as adults...by Ted!  Mari was telling me to remember to have her tell me a story and she giggled I nodded...and Ted asked if he needed to separate us.  Without thinking, I responded, "I wasn't doing anything. It was Mari."  Flashback to sitting on the front row of Adrian with our quilted yellow purses, we had put Smarties, chapstick, pen, and paper in them and we were in them...Dad called us down from the pulpit.  Ohhhh...we laughed...now, it is funny!  Back then...not so much.  Sunday...well...that is still funny!

Second take...sister helping sister!  A hug and not too many words about the big change coming to their house Monday (15th) morning (they take Allison to college!!!).  A hug and encouragement for my MRI on Tuesday (16th) morning.  Life is always full of challenges that God brings into our lives.  Mari and I have spent a lot of time together lately talking about those challenges and changes.  Last Friday, God brought the song across the airwaves, "O Rejoice in the Lord".  I really listened to the words as I thought about circumstances..."for when I am tried and purified...I shall come forth as gold."  Mari came back with "I feel like just a big lump of rock right now."  I believe that is exactly how God wants us to feel...we are nothing without Him!  A big lump of rock can't fight or plan or whine or manipulate...someone has to do the moving of it to the fire or hammer or chisel...where the master craftsman works to make that big lump of rock into something beautiful!  And then...others can see what the master has done.

He keeps racking up the miles!

 When Ted walks through the door...he is greeted by everyone...but the humans stay back till the fluffy white doggy gets her loving in first!

 Fun Mexico reminders...a whole cup and a half cup for coffee!  Guess which cup he brings me! Ha ha ha!

OOOOO...I miss him when he is gone!!!

 I know we are not normal...but I so love that we get to do it together!  Well, most of the time!  Ted has been in Mexico again for a week for work and we are always so glad when he comes home!  I guess I am feeling a little sentimental and grateful as we come up to our 18th anniversary...next week!

I have gotten to talk to him every day this week.  I am so proud of him and what he does!  He is making an impact for the Lord every time he does business in another country, by honoring the Lord with his way of treating and training people.  I so miss him when he is not here by my side each day(well, evening), but God is using him to be salt and light in the job that He has given him to do and I will never stand in the way of that...no matter what!  God has protected us through some nasty stuff in the past, and now I see that it was part of the training that we both needed to prepare us to do what we are doing now.  God does see those storms from the other side...and He does know the lessons learned!

Well-rounded helpers!

 We had errands to do!  They cooperated by getting up and getting going earlier yesterday!  We checked off school shoe shopping...which I was not looking forward to...I was expecting it to be long and painful!  40 minutes of 4 of us looking, trying on, and deciding...and out the door!  Next stop...groceries!

 This took longer...because it was a big stock up run to Aldi...and three voices talking all at once to me had me so distracted that I couldn't focus on the list.  Teddy was doing his best to go faster and "keep things going" by working ahead on the list and coming back to cross things out and look for the next items.  He is so much like his dad and I appreciate that!  Poor guys always have 3 females to contend with...who can be so emotional and irrational at times!  Yikes!

We put away the fridge/freezer stuff and went to swim again!  The dogs love the swimming just as much as the humans do!

This is gross...and not very clear.  But it is a picture text that was sent to me by our oldest chair filler as she requested "a new bucket for the snack stuff in the cabinet.  Mom, there are crawling bugs in it and it is so gross and eeewww!"  She and Teddy had been charged with putting away groceries and checking dates/opened packages/clean up the mess you guys make in the cabinet.  It was a giant "I told you so" moment for me, but I paused and told them how to go about cleaning and dealing with the problem.  When Alisa and I got home (from dealing with a previous "told you so" event)...the job had been done and everything was on the counter while the cabinet was airing out from all the Cloroxing!  Ashlynn was in the shower.  Teddy had the heebie-jeebies as he told me about it and as we put things away.  "I tell you all the time to close bags and use ziplock bags and yet you all don't...bugs come to sweet, sticky things and grain things.  Now...maybe you will all listen and obey! Or you will have another mess to clean up!"  I still shudder to see if there is more to this that I can't see yet...I figured ants would come with the sticky and crumby counters that are often left.  Hopefully, lesson learned and action taken when they are asked to "clean things up" that they will do it right the first time!  One can dream...right!?!

Working at school...

 We went in to work at school again on Wednesday...to stay out of the sun!  Everyone had a job to do...

 Velle's job...to make Alisa's job more difficult!  We brought a new bone thinking that that would keep her occupied...she just couldn't find the perfect spot to chew it!

 She visited other teachers, secretaries, and friends by going on multiple walks with the kiddos and then finally crashed...on her Olaf...as a pillow!  She woke up and went and sat by the door...to go outside to go potty!  Yeah, Velle!  She is finally getting it...even at school!  We just can't get her to bark to ask!

 Love my sis!  She came to see me today (Friday) as I worked...all proud of getting boards and borders and letters up.  Can you spot the problem?  I was singing the song all the while as I pulled the letters out and stapled them up.  See....your brain does fill in the gaps!  She laughed at me!  I am so glad she noticed it...our SS small group is in here on Sunday and I would have been mortified!

 Old overhead projector demanded some K5 teacher ingenuity!  Ted would be so proud!  I worked alone for four hours today and checked several things off my list!

 I walked in the door at home...and my crafty girl checked two more things off our list! I so appreciate the help of our children!  We have done lots of the fun stuff prep...now...they are dreading the 3 stacks of books to sort.

 Oh...I so need to remember this this year!!!  I need to train my brain to stop!  Now that I feel like I know what I am doing!  And I know it works!

This was for my sis today...their ac went out and she needed to be reminded to simplify!  Little make-up and wet gelled hair and then hang out at school/church till we go to lunch together!  Feels like 97 degrees out today???  Lord, send the rain and break this heat!

Tuesday fun with friends!

 We have friends that have lived in this area their whole life...and they know about fun things to do!

 The momma and I teach together and the kiddos go to school together and we all go to church together.  The kiddos needed to "do something" and the mommas needed "adult conversation".

 We checked everyone in, found chairs, and the kiddos disappeared!  "It was like magic!"  We saw them when they got hungry!  What a beautiful and refreshing day!  The  kiddos had fun and ran/floated/swam their legs off and the mommas talked and giggled like the teenagers we were trying to escape.

Happily...these 6 would have stayed till the place closed!  And we might have let them...but we had dogs who needed to be cared for!  We laughed our way through the McDonald's drive-thru when we ordered "8 vanilla cones, please!" because "we are starving!" and headed home.  Thank you, Lord, for time with friends...and sunshine...and water!

Snapshots from the week...that began the month of August already!!!!

 The guys always entertain us when we are together!  This moment in time I was praying there wouldn't be an explosion as they grilled hot dogs for supper after swimming all day!  I am back to walking in the water...for shorter periods of time.  I am also trying to wean myself off of the meds...and doing just fine!  Only 200mg of ibuprofen today!!! I always forget how much "pain takes it out of you!"

 The kiddos at our house are very much interested in the happenings of the Olympics!  We watched some of the the opening ceremony...the adults gave up and went to bed after watching the USA team come into the arena.
We got our school supply shopping done!  Now we are on to some odds and ends...shoes are next on the list.  The girls have helped me look for parts and pieces for my schoolroom...and once again...I will make some things because it is soooo much cheaper!!!

 Salvation Army find...and an idea I saw online...Hobby Lobby gift card for ribbon...

 and a cute light for my desk area!  Not needed but wanted for ambiance...and the rainbow color scheme!  Thanks to Alicia!  Ted was a little skeptical...but I think I impressed him!?!

We are doing a Wizard of Oz theme!

 Today was our first day in to start working.  Teddy wanted to use the dolly...why?  I don't know...so I let him move the bookshelves...and I think I like the change.  Next up...rearranging some wall stuff to make room for the projector that is to be mounted...and add all the fun things I have gathered! I have decided to use the owl that we purchased in the Smokey Mountains.  We will name him Oz...he will share wisdom with the K5 class from the book of Proverbs.   Teddy was given the task to find a cool branch for a perch for our stuffed great-horned owl friend.  All the random thoughts are starting to come together.  I had to laugh when one of the girls asked me today, "Do you get paid to come in all these hours before school starts?"  NO...that is part of what being a teacher is...you prep before the paid week of prep and meetings.  A blank stare came back at me...as we emptied the bags of goodies I have been collecting...yep, it does not compute...but it is so worth it when I see the lights go on all year!  I know I am doing what God wants me to do and I will do it to the best of my ability and cry when it comes to an end May 2017!  Praying for my class of 12 or 13 right now...9 are boys!

I should have taken a put back together picture...we did not leave it like this!  My back tolerated the four hours just fine because I have great help!  I can always buy them off with food...and if it from the gas station...I get extra love and help!  We had "lupper" this afternoon...or "linner" as Ash called it.

This man...is the reason that I am willing to teach again this year.  

 So thankful for the love of my life!  He is supportive and protective.  He has kept me sane and taken great care of me this summer!  We are quickly approaching the 18 year mark...it is a celebration of what God has done in our lives!  Pray for him this week...his trip south didn't start out so well with the whole Delta shutdown problem this morning!  An early morning flight became a 4:35pm flight. Oi!  Still waiting to here the rest of the story...

 Oh...it looks like we should make some banana muffins!  Nice that I didn't crop that out of our picture before posting it...typical me lately!  "Squirrel!"

Well...that was a first!

 One of my snugglers when I am hurting!

 First time ever...in the ER...for severe back pain...so thankful for our medical personel!

 On some special drugs to help with the pain...and waiting to see what else we will do to check things out.

My constant companion during rest time!