Update for the aunties...

"Shhh, don't tell anyone that I am standing on my tip-toes so you can see me too!" said Uncle Brad.

"He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater..."

"He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;  to added affliction, He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love has no limit;  His grace has no measure,  His power has no boundary know unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!"

I sang this song in our morning service.  My heart is full of thankfulness for what the Lord has done and is doing in our family.  This afternoon, we were able to take a few minutes to enjoy the beautiful day and capture a couple pictures of this season in our lives.  Once again reminded that all we have is because of our Heavenly Father's love.

A Little K3 Humor...

 Ted would most likely say this of me every morning as he watches me stumble out of bed!  Some days...I really don't want to go to school.  Shhh!  Don't tell our kiddos!  Thankfully...there is this cute guy...who delivers a hot, steamy cup of coffee to me and says, "Drink up quickly!"

 This made me laugh!  Their little voices, laughter, singing, and screaming reach ear-piercing decibel levels that make our heads hurt...yet...turn on a blender...and they freak out and cover their ears!

"What happened after all the animals and people got on the boat?" THE DOOR SHUT!
"Then what happened?"  POOP!  Uh..um...well, yes...hmmm...it isn't recorded in the Bible for us...but..OH. MY. WORD. All three of us adults doubled over in laughter.  How often do we think about those details of a Bible story?  In all the properness of teaching, how often do we forget that the Bible tells us about real people in real places with real life problems!?  If you struggle with it...come visit a K3 classroom for a week.  I promise...you will look at things differently!
"What did God tell Noah to build?"  A SAILBOAT!  Well...an ark is a boat and it..floats...which is like sailing...sort of...we'll go with it!
Today, they were imagining they are on an ark...(yes, with chairs...it was safer that way!) with the animals (two of a kind)...singing..."The rain came down and the floods came up...the rains came down and the floods came up...for forty daaaaays and nights..." 
WOW!  I smiled...I'm impressed...you just did that on the fly, didn't you!? 
I got "the look" as I chuckled my approval.  Hey, I can make anything into a song! she said. 
I know! I said.  I'm impressed! 

 SNEEZE.  COUGH.  PICKING A NOSE.  FINGERS IN MOUTH.  SNEEZE AGAIN.  "Wow!  I'm so glad I decided to go with the break and bake variety this time!  Can you hand me a Clorox wipe?"

This week, we are saying "Goodbye" to a fellow preschool/daycare worker.  We had a yummy lunch today and I made a pumpkin dip...serving it with gingersnaps (store bought crunchy ones are best!) and graham cracker Minions.  Walmart didn't have graham cracker sticks...why???  But for preschool/daycare workers...these worked just fine!!!!!!  Pumpkin dip....15 oz. canned pumpkin, 1 box instant vanilla pudding (or the Jello brand cheesecake pudding...YUM!), 1 container of Cool Whip, 1 teaspoon (or to taste) pumpkin pie spice.  Light and fluffy and good!!!

Just thankful...

for the opportunity to spend time with Brad and Mari up north...and then come home and serve alongside of them.  They sang Sunday morning..."Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul".  A beautiful reminder as we have gone through our week!

Little did we know...

 when we booked this vacation house that we would get to share it!  This wasn't the first choice of places that Ted called about...but it was the one that was available for the days we wanted, the price, and they allowed a dog.

 More room than we needed...

 Ashlynn liked having her own space.

Teddy and Alisa didn't care where they slept.

 We had a king size bed in a room with a whole wall of mirrors...just a little unnerving.  Ha ha ha.

 The place was clean and the toilet worked!  Yeah!

 Friday morning...Mari texted from Grand Haven State Park stating that the rain and wind had bested them.  They were packing up and heading home, "Brad is soaked and loading up.  He banished us to the van."  I texted back after consulting Ted, "Don't go home.  Come up here!  We have so much room to share.  It will be fun!  You can set up the camper in the carport to dry out!"

 THEY CAME!!!  They arrived before noon and everyone settled in...with room to spare!

                                                       The guys set up the camper to dry.

The girls watched a movie.

The boys went out fishing.

The adults sat and talked.

 Allison sang with the singing fish..."throw me in the river...."

          Lollie tried to play with Chevy...but he just doesn't like to play much any more.

 What fun to have our family come and spend time with us at this place!  God knew what was going to happen back when Ted made the reservations!  He prepared us to be able to share a blessing!

                                              It was a refreshing time up north...for all of us!

A Fun Get Away Up North on Lakeview Drive

 A fun little get away trip up north started with a stop at Tim Hortons for a can of coffee and breakfast!

 Oh...look...how pretty the trees are...

 The kiddos were passed out!  I guess last week was a little rougher on us than we thought!

 Ted and I enjoyed our coffees, conversation, and pretty leaves.

 Oh. wow!  Honey, you nailed it again!  This is perfect!

 Right on the lake...

 We didn't have to unload in the rain!

 Beautiful views...

 something for each one of us to enjoy!  We ate lunch.  The guys went to get worms and a couple other things...like "fall candles" to make things smell better for Ashlynn.  Upon entrance, she opened every window in the place "to get fresh air in here!" She made a special request of her Dad and he delivered in a big way...Pumpkin Spice!  "You have a sense of smell just like your mother!"

 The smell was overwhelmingly Pine Sol in an old home...I understood and agreed...quietly!

 We cuddled up on the couches with pillows and blankets and put in a movie.

 "This is so nice!  I love the view of the lake!"

 "There are the guys!  Do you think they will catch anything?"  I wasn't sure...but the guy told us it is good fishing...and it is gently raining/misting.

 "Did you catch anything?"

 "You mean, you didn't see us? They were this big!"  Yah, right!  "We did catch and release 3 Northern Pike that were about 12-15 inches long.  But we are cold now."

 Watching the news and seeing the weather for the next couple days...RAINY, WINDY, AND COLD!

 We stayed nice and warm!  We had no plans or ambitions to do anything but read, watch movies, eat, sleep, fish, and just be lazy...so we were perfectly fine with the weather radar update.  We kind of felt like we were outside with all the windows in the place!

 Ashlynn was our resident organizer!  She helped with the kitchen prep and clean-up...and keeping hot water on the stove ready for hot chocolate!

 Chevy was antsy with a new place and lots of new smells.  There was a fenced in yard he could wander around, but he was too cold to be out long.  The heat kicked on for awhile...whoops...Ashlynn, time to close the windows!  Didn't know that was on!  At least we know it works...forecast for Friday afternoon and evening...40s!  Brrrr!