Beach Week - Part 1

Our first family gathering took place last month at a beautiful beach home on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was the best vacation for our family. The home we rented gave us beautiful views and plenty of space for our family of 15.

There was a place for a campfire for roasting marshmallows, a tent and lots of space for parties and cuddling.

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The children spent hours in the driveway and garage playing and the glow sticks were a big hit that gave us lots of laughs as we watched them dance to music into the night.

At the end of the day, the deck was decorated with the reminders of beach time.

Spring Highlights

Anticipation of spring seemed sweeter this year having endured a long bitterly cold winter. Most of my plantings are perennials so they bloom for a short time and their beauty is fleeting. The Bible speaks to time in the Psalms, "today is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it." This passage must have been written for gardeners. It seems the flowers bloom for such a short time before they are only a beautiful memory. Daffodils, lily of the valley, iris, magnolia, azalea and the flowering fruit trees have dropped their blossoms already and now the lavender, spirea, hosta and hydrangea are blooming. Sometimes I hate to leave home and miss their flowering beauty.

Spring is also a time that I consider how children grow. Last year's summer clothes no longer fit, they move ahead a grade in school, climb higher on the jungle gym with greater confidence and skill, memorize songs and learn to read. As a young mother, I was always looking forward to the next event, the next vacation, when I look back on my memories,they are a blur. God's words speak to me again, "today is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it." So, today I'm going to remember this year's spring highlights; birthdays, Easter weekend and Mother's Day

Sometimes, girls must just dress up and play with dolls and enjoy tea. We loved having a girly afternoon with old friends and Conley and Ruthie became new friends. This was another expression of growth as Conley was so helpful in decorating our cupcake shoes, writing menus and helping prepare and serve the meal.

Thank you Spring 2014, you blessed us. Now, summer..... looking forward to sand and surf, sunshine and sunsets but most of all family time!!

Good Medicine

Since my last post, we have been pretty much immersed in the world of medicine. I say, we are the walking wounded. Tom and I had surgery in February and Tom's right knee is speaking to him daily, "fix me." As we heal, we are living a new life style that keeps us close to home. I will remember the winter of 2014 as harsh, both physically and spiritually. We were in need of joy, laughter and smiles. The medicine to heal our woes came all the way from Savannah. Dan, Angie, Hudson, Claire, Cooper and Tucker made the long road trip to cheer us up. Here in Michigan we look for warm sunny places to visit for spring break but this family was looking for SNOW. Snow, our trial, is their pleasure. Curious how perspective changes, everything.

The children climb the snow banks as soon as they leave the car. When they enter the house,their enthusiasm permeates the whole house, it's as if new life comes in with them. Excitement, exploration, toys come out, their voices charm us. Oh, it is soooo good to see Dan, Angie and the children, 5 months is way too long to be separated. Conley is as thrilled as we are to see her cousins. The visit is full of cold weather fun. Playing in the snow, visiting Lake Michigan, skiing Timberidge and riding with grandpa in his tractor. They also had some in door fun at the Art Center and visiting Conley at her school. Moms and dads get an evening out and, oh, yes a birthday party.

We are grateful for the love of family and the joy they bring. It is a blessing to see our sons and their families spending time together and their children loving each other. Good medicine comes in many ways and this was just what we needed. Now we look forward to our next family gathering in June when Chris, Kim, Jack and Natalie will join us. Thank you dear Lord, you do hear and answer prayer and we will trust in you.

And God provides for safe travel as the snowy vacation continues on the way home.

Winter Wonderland

Michigan is known as "Winter Wonderland" and this year it is living up to its name. My wonder is when will it stop snowing and blowing?

Oh, no doubt it is beautiful, pure white and amazing. To think that each flake came down individually and laid on top of each other to build layers of snow many feet deep is awesome to comprehend. It gives us lots of light day and night and provides a stunning back drop for the birds. I marvel and begrudge it at the same time.

As of this writing, I have not left the house in four days. The news casts warn of slippery and dangerous driving conditions and show us accidents and slide offs on all the highways in southwest Michigan. Facebook friends warn other friends of the slippery and treacherous conditions of the roads in the area. Schools have been closed for days to protect children from waiting in the below freezing temperatures for their school bus to arrive.

This winter picture offers many rewards. Hot beef stew, time to finish or start those neglected projects, sleeping in and reading a book without guilt. Time to admire those little birds so clear against the snow. Six male cardinals and their mates feeding at dinner hour. The blue jay and two species of woodpeckers enjoy the food Tom so faithfully provides. Remembering how all this snow will nurture the soil when it melts and provide drinking water from the well. Thankfulness for a cozy warm home, and blankets made by Kathy. Grateful for our retirement years and not having to brave the elements early in the morning to drive to work. Time to praise God and pray for many! Well that is just a few blessings of this cold season but I must admit I am enjoying looking at the magazines and catalogs with flower gardens and spring clothes. These longer days remind us that the seasons will continue as God promises. Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it!

Celebrations

One advantage to being pretty much snowed in is taking time to write on the blog. Today is "bitter cold" a term that captures the UN-believeable low temperature. My last look on the thermometer said -8.3 F. My subject for today's blog is on warm memories of our most recent Christmas celebration.

I enjoy making the outdoor decorations from the trees on our property and trimming the tree with ornaments of the last 45 years. Leading up to Christmas we enjoyed going to the theater with friends and listening to a wonderful musical presentation of the Gospel. Christmas Eve service and Christmas Day services enhanced our celebration of Christ's birth.

It doesn't matter when, only that we have a day to open gifts and enjoy a wonderful meal with our sons and their families. Dan and Angie couldn't be here but they sent a video and we were able to visit while we watched their video. Each child and the parents told us how to play the game, Roll the Orange. A fun game for all ages! It really is the children that make Christmas fun. Conley, Natalie and Jack remind us to see Christmas through the eyes of a child.

It's not often we have packing snow, so we got started on Jack's "snow village." He had big plans for the village but he ran out of day light. Jack's daddy helped with the snow fort then they made a snow car, snow bunny, and about four snow men. Kids and snow, a great combination!

We were thrilled to spend some time with a cousin we haven't seen in years. Thanks for coming April, so good to see you again!

Now, to look forward to 2014 and we sure are getting a beautiful crystal white beginning! Happy New Year to all!

2013 Christmas Letter

Nothing like eight inches of snow to inspire a Michigan Christmas letter. Now to remember 2013. Last January was another time of retreat and service in Honduras. Our team performed plastic and orthopedic surgery. The teams always vary so the dynamics change, this group was a lot of fun and although talented we had a non-talent show that gave us a lot of laughs. Skits, poems, rap and disco made for a memorable evening. February was a time to go south and leave the cold days of Michigan. Tom and I drove through Tennessee, visited Angie’s family, thanks Patsy for your warm hospitality, then on to Gulf Shores to visit Mary and Larry Rebert. Walks, everyday, some geo-caching, and a day at the beach. Next stop, Savannah, GA with all those cuties, we love. Never a dull moment or lack for hugs and kisses. We stay close to home until Fran sailed across the Atlantic with nursing school friend, Bonnie for 2 weeks of luxury in April while Tom took up residence at Bronson Hospital for a few days. He was covered with prayers as family and friends came to his aid. By summer he is back to strength and vigor. August was the highly anticipated 50 year high school class reunion and it did not disappoint!! So fun to see old friends. September we visit with Fran’s niece and family in the northwest and traveled up the coast into British Columbia, breath taking views. October is the annual trip to Cleveland Clinic for Tom’s kidney cancer screening. Unfortunately, November brought another hospitalization for Tom to have right kidney cancer ablated and an overnight stay became a 5 day stay. He is once again in recovery mode and we thank God for healing and return to health. Mike and Joy continue their busy schedules. Joy’s yoga studio celebrated 3 years with more classes and she still finds time to lead a Bible study class and help her sister with her travel agency. Mike continues with Lorilard. When he isn’t traveling for work, he enjoys time with family and friends. He, Joy and Conley enjoyed short vacations in the Midwest this year. Conley’s schedule is also packed with dance, and GEMS (Christian girl scout program)and school. We love having an evening with her each week when mom and dad are away from home. Chris is still with United and Kim is enjoying a few hours each week to herself. Jack began kindergarten at Timothy Christian and Natalie is in pre-school at Timothy. They love the school, teachers and curriculum. We enjoy their visits in Kalamazoo and spending time with Jack and Natalie. Love that they live only 2.5 hours away so we can drive over to give Chris and Kim a night out. Dan and Angie are acclimating to the south. They have a wonderful church and Angie is an active mom in the children’s schools. We are so proud of them for completing their Masters degree in sustainability at Libscomb College this spring. Dan enjoys his time at the Westin. Angie surprised us all when she, Claire, Hudson, Cooper and Tucker drove all the way from GA to Michigan!! We had a great visit with all seven grands here at the same time. All the children are in school this year so Angie even had time for a part-time job in her new major this fall. Hudson received a camouflage belt in curate and we saw his testing. Claire, Cooper and Tucker are in gymnastics and all are active in midweek church classes. Rejoice and be glad, the Savior of the world has come! Fran & Tom