Family TN Vacation 2020

 

Getting ready for the fall semester!

K5 room ready...

Girls room getting empty and totes ready for the road...

Last day of work for the summer...at Dairy Twist!

Fitting it all in the car they will take to college...

ANNNND both girls' stuff fit! Relief and Success mixed in with Excitement and Apprehension!
 

Summer's end

We all have been hard at work in various areas.  Dad has been getting the car ready for the girls.  Teddy has been working long hours and then heading to soccer practices.  The girls have been working many hours and organizing things for packing for college.  I have been prepping for my sixth year in K5.  

We took a moment to stop and enjoy Lake Michigan on our way home from meeting up with Grandma.

Alisa made sure she had the important stuff today...bank run and coffee!  We are in the up and down phase of emotions as we prep for this big change.

Thankful for the beauty...and the thought to just stop for a few minutes to soak it in in the busy of life!

Thankful once again for all that God brings to the seasons of our life!

 

Celebrated 22 years!

We went to a restaurant that we haven't tried before....Cello (Italian place) and it was very garlicky!  It is a good thing we love each other!  It was good.

We had to commemorate this corona crazy year of our anniversary!  We went to a coffee shop...we will put a mask on to get coffee...and then walked downtown.  It was a beautiful busy summer night!

We got ice cream to go with our coffee and watched all the busy.  There was a big dog in the back of a pickup truck that got excited with every dog that walked by...we were waiting to see if he would jump out!  It was fun to spend time together and see that more people are out and about...finally...in our state.  It does not bother me...right now...ha ha...that we have to wait on traffic and there are lines!  There was a long time that there was nothing...and it has killed our local economies around Michigan...and we have yet to see all the fall-out.  We are praying that it won't be as bad as it could be.

 For now...we will go out and support local places...together...because we still love each other and like spending time together!

Work first...rest or play later!

We worked at a rental house together this week.  Can you tell....we painted!  We all look thrilled.  We had a productive day and were waiting for lunch!  We left everything nicer than we found it...Ashlynn insisted.

 

Summer fun and concern

My girl trimmed my hair...and made me look beautiful. ha ha ha  She may or may not have pointed out that it was time to color up the grey again.

Butterflies in the flower garden...

Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies...

Ashlynn shared a fun idea with me that she learned from her Bible study leader!  Interesting!               Smore quesadilla!  MMMM!

Watching the evening news...and in total awe of the disgraceful and ignorant things that are being shared these days!  American liberty is at stake.  Christian liberty is at stake.

And the agenda of our national leaders should be concerning to all of us.  We have flattened the curve...yet we are still being charged with fear.  We have watched our state become financially wounded...and businesses are still closed.  We have witnessed people fighting for their freedoms...while the leaders break the rules that have been ordered for the masses.  We all are fatigued by all the executive orders...169 at last count...and now leaders are working over time to keep the masses stirred up with fear and frustration as schools and sport programs are shut down.

We have said it for the last five months...this is not about a virus!  This is an election year!  And when you look at how many people are registered to vote in your state and do not...you should be concerned.  In our state...the numbers are devastating for a people who should stand up and have a say for what is right, true, and good.  

We gather news from multiple sources and shake our heads.  I remember the words that were shared in anger one time, "I don't know and I don't care...don't confuse me with the facts!"  I want people to hear and see the truth...but the foundation that is laid in the life of a person affects their world view.  I went back to read Psalm 86 again...

A Prayer of David.]] Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou artGod alone.

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou 

hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

We have two new voters in our family!

We vote in Precinct 11.  There was no line and no wait time.  There was no social distance hysteria.  There was no mask craze.  The people were friendly and helpful.  Which was nice...because there was a snafu with Alisa's application...so they told us what to do and where to go.  We got it all figured out and she got to vote for the first time too...just in a different place.

I am always amazed how many people do not take time out to vote.  It is not hard!  It really doesn't take that much time in the grand scheme of your day.  It is a right that we have been blessed with in our country.  And honestly...I'm to the point of wanting to ask anyone that fusses about how our country is these days..."Did you vote?!"  If not...be quiet!  You have lost the right to criticize, if you have not done your part to help make things better.

We made sure the girls are all ready to get their absentee ballots for the November election while they are at college.  As much as that will be filled with uncertainty and chaos, we will still do our part to attempt to have our votes count!  If people can go out shopping, out to eat, to the post office, out for gas...people can get out to vote!  Shame on those leaders who are attempting to destroy the integrity of one of the rights we have as Americans!  We live in America...where we are free...and we need to do our part to fight to keep it that way!

**Update...there are about 10 million people in Michigan....which we know several are children and not voting age yet.  According to the state...only 1 million are registered voters.  Sadly...only 370,000 people voted in the primary...and we think we will be able to make a difference in the way our government is operating in Michigan?  And...by the way...that included the mail-in ballots...which we assume were legit.

Shhhh, it's a surprise!

 I'm excited to celebrate my sister's 50th birthday!  I was nice on her 40th.  But this year...we are having some fun!  Ashlynn was with me as we went through the aisles at the store...

 I spent more than I had planned on the silly stuff but with each thing Ashlynn would point out, we would laugh and say, "That's funny!  That is a good thing to put in the bag!"  We did include some nice things...favorites of mine right now too.  And then...I have found some fun cards for every day till her birthday!  I just don't have any faith in our postal system right now to get them delivered at the right times...sooo...the next couple days I will drop them off at her house!

Tonight...Brad planned a surprise party at a restaurant.  So we will gather with some friends and have a date night and then go for cake and coffee!  How fun!  I am taking this bag and hoping no one else had the same idea!!!  **No one else did the same gift idea!**

**We pulled it off!!!!  Brad planned the surprise for Mari with some friends...and family!  We met at J Alexander's for supper.  Party of 10...could not sit together!???? So we did table of 6 and table of 4...inserting major eye rolls to that!  Crazy!!!

 The company was good and the food was good...however...I like my salmon much better!  It has better flavor!  The orzo side dish was yummy!

 Birthday girl in her mask!

 Ahhhh...friend's home and no masks!  Delicious cake and coffee and lots of laughter!

 It was so fun to be included in the birthday surprise party!

 Mari is such a fun lady!  I enjoy any time we have together.  She laughed and enjoyed the gifts in the bag-o-fun.  50 is not so bad when you have friends to help you celebrate!

I am not a happy postal customer right now!!!  I put a card in the mail for the last few days...with the intent of one being delivered each day (Thurs.- Sat.), then I would deliver the ones for this week with treats.  I spent a couple hours with Mari today (Monday) and when the mail was delivered...still no colorful envelopes!!!  Well, that is stupid!  And we are supposed to trust the mail in voting scheme that one party is pushing right now.  Really!!! They can't even deliver the daily mail correctly...and we are supposed to trust them to deliver the votes of citizens that will forever impact the USA???  Are you kidding me!?!

Well...we all had a good laugh and guess as to when she will receive the funny cards!  Uff da!