Whirlwind Weekend Take 2

Jessica and Andy arrived home late Friday night.  Since we were going to have a busy Saturday, I didn't stay up into the wee hours of the morning as Keith and Jessica did talking.  I was tired enough as it was the next day, let alone staying up that late!  However, I'm glad Keith and Jess did get the chance to have a Daddy- Daugter heart to heart.  I woke up a couple times and heard laughing coming from the other room. 

Saturday morning, Jess and Andy had planned to go downtown Grand Rapids and visit their favorite coffee shop, Madcap.  Well, as it would happen, it was closed for that day only.  Apparently, they were preparing for a movie shoot by removing the windows and putting in different ones to prepare for a shooting scene.  (Yes, we have been having several movies being shot in Grand Rapids and other Michigan cities, due to the tax incentives for filming.)

When Jess and Andy got back, we all headed out to the Bosch Christmas Tree Farm in Allendale.  After searching awhile, we finally found "the one."  The Bosch Tree Farm is so family oriented.  They have a horse-drawn wagon ride for the kids, Santa was visiting, and they had a photo-op tree to have your picture taken.  Inside where you go to pay, they had a snack bar of sorts and were serving hot cider or hot chocolate and donuts and other items for purchase.  They had pre-cut trees there for purchase as well as wreaths and other decorations. We highly recommend it to any family wanting to cut a Christmas tree.  It was so nice to also see the owners/Freedom friends, Brian and Cim Bosch. 

After lunch, they had to quickly get ready for the wedding they had come home for, so they didn't take part in the decorating of the tree.  Keith and I relaxed awhile and watched some football on television and even took a nap.  Early in the evening, he brought the tree inside and set it up, and then I was able to get the decorations on it

Sunday after church, Jess and Andy took us out for lunch. We had a nice time visiting and then came home and relaxed before they had to head back to the airport for their return flight.  Even though it was another short visit, we had a great weekend together and made some nice memories together. 



Finally found "the one"!!!

 

We took the photo opportunity!  haha...



The snack bar where hot cider or hot chocolate and other yummy treats are seved.

 I made these ornaments!  So much fun!

 Our tree taken without flash on.

Tree taken with flash on.



Our Creator at Work

This morning I watched the sunrise over the east.  What a magnificent sight it was!  Here are a few pictures.  Who could not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ our Creator?!?

Thanksgiving and Many Blessings

Thanksgiving has come and gone.  The turkey, dressing and rest of the dinner was cooked.  The tables were set.  Family came.  We ate.  We visited and fellowshipped together.  Family left.  The house was then quiet. 

This year Keith and I cooked the turkey in an electric roaster.  We like how it turned out and we had the oven to put the other hot dishes in while it was finishing up baking.  Dinner was delicious with the help of Lori as she brought her sweet potato casserole, vegetable casserole, pumpkin pies, and mile high apple pie.  We were so blessed to have Lori, Rich, Jen, Mom and Dad join us for our dinner. (Mark, Denise, and Jess; we missed you, though!)  We had a great time of laughing and sharing together.  Even though the Lions lost, we had a wonderful day.  We are sooo blessed as a family!  It was a great day together.

We are thankful to our Lord and Savior for his many blessings to our family.  There are so many things to be thankful for.  Most of all, we're thankful for the gift of salvation our Lord has given us. 

Great Giving Challenge Contest Entry: Rick

Great Giving Challenge Contest Entry: Rick

Financial guru, Dave Ramsey is having a contest in which people can make a video to share their contest entry. The prize for this contest is to be able to give away $1,000 a day for five days. This man has shared his entry.  You can view "Rick's" entry (click on above link)  He wants to be able to provide as many walkers with the seats and handlebar brakes on them to as many needy random people as he can. What a neat way to help those out so they don't have to use a tennis ball walker anymore. If you feel so led, you can support "Rick" by casting your vote for him at http://www.daveramsey.com/ He is doing this in in memory of his late wife who died of cancer. What a neat way to not only help others but also do something to honor his late wife.

Tornado Warnings and Extreme High Winds in October

The last couple days, we have sure experienced a variety of weather from tornado warnings to extremely high wind warnings.  Tuesday, we woke up to a tornado watch until noon.  Keith's school ended up closing and it did turn into a tornado warning at about 10:00 am.  We experienced very high winds here in Wyoming. 

We have seen various pictures posted of Lake Michigan with the huge waves crashing over the various lighthouses and even some "experienced" kayakers braving the waves in Grand Haven.  Many people made trips to Lake Michigan (Holland, Grand Haven or Ludington) experience the crashing waves.  Well, we didn't get over to Lake Michigan, but the next best thing would be to view a video of what it was like in at the Ludington beach.  Here is a very short video that almost makes you feel like you are there:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLvmaCdwRcM

Monday Morning News

Last week, Jess lead a workshop in Washington D.C. for unemployed people to mentor them on how to apply for jobs, write resumes, etc.  If you would like to view an article in the Washington Post, here is a link to view some pictures and read more about it.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/22/AR2010102205928.html

Whirlwind Weekend

Last weekend, Jess brought her special guy home so he could meet some of her friends and see where she grew up.  It was his first visit to Michigan.  Too bad the weather wasn't so great to show off our beautiful West Michigan area! 

As you can imagine, it was a "whirlwind weekend" with Jess and Andy.  They arrived late Friday night and left late Sunday afternoon.  They were on the "go" from the time they arrived until they departed.  Nonetheless, it was a great time.

Late Saturday afternoon, we drove up to Ludington for dinner.  Before dinner, we drove down by the beach and marina area and showed him the Badger in dock.  We also drove up in the Fourth Ward and showed him where Mom lived.  We then drove to the restaurant and met Uncle Bill and Aunt Dianne, Aunt Merna, and Mom and Dad.  We were glad that Dad felt good enough to go, too.  It was a nice time of fellowshipping together.  After, we went back to Mom and Dad's for some of Mom's homemade apple pie.  Needless to say, it was delicious!  Since the "coffee making committee" struggled, we didn't end up serving cofffee.  That'll be a memory in itself.  Ha!  Sorry, no picture of that!

Sunday, they got up and attended church, where they met more friends.  After church, we had roast beef dinner with apple crisp for dessert.  When dinner was over, Keith took them to school, so Andy see where she attended school.  They arrived back home and had a few minutes to do last minute packing and visit a bit, then Keith took them to the airport for their departure. 

We treasured every minute we had with them....as parents do!  Thanks to Jess and Andy for a great weekend!  Already looking forward to a return visit, soon! 

Fall Sunset

Last week, my dad took a fall after first passing out, and I drove up to Ludington to be of support to Mom and Dad. When I arrived at the hospital, I never expected to see him in such a way. He had a huge black eye (very puffed up and almost swollen shut), 13 staples in his head, 5 stitches on his lip, a missing tooth from his plate, 3 broken ribs and other bruises on his face, along with being diagnosed with pneumonia. I felt so bad for him. He had no idea what had happened.

When I arrived at the hospital, Mom had been at the hospital all day with Uncle Bill and Aunt Dianne. They had left just before I arrived. (Their help and support was so appreciated!) When Dad finally got settled into his room, Mom and I went and got something to eat and then headed back to the house. Mom got into the house and I took a very fast drive down to the lakeshore to snap this picture of the sunet. I couldn't help myself; I just had to get it!

Just another beautiful portrait by our Creator. Thank You, Lord, for your many blessings for which we are so underserving.

Dominican Trip 2010

The students working on the trench.

This was the eleventh trip Freedom Christian School had taken to Juan Tomas, Dominican Republic. There were 20 students and 4 leaders that went on this trip. They departed at 4:00 a.m. on April 1, and arrived safely at their destination at 10:00 p.m. with all luggage and tubs in tow. They had made it through customs without delay and quicker than they had in the previous five trips down, according to Freedom alumnus, Beka Bole who has gone on this trip previously. It had been a long day.

The next morning, they toured the goat farm the missionaries depend on for a living. After the tour they started with their work assignments for the week. While they were there, they painted, dug holes, put up fencing, and leveled some ground for a laundry area, put up beams for swing sets. Keith's group worked on digging a 250 foot long trench, 2 feet deep through stone, clay, and rock. They mostly used pick axes and put in an inch pipe and put in an electrical line on top, cemented every ten feet so the piping could not be pulled out and then buried it all back up. It was very hard and hot work. This project was completed in six days.

Freedom kept the tradition of working hard on the projects given while there. The missionary and the director of Partners in Christ both agreed they were very encouraged with all the work that had been accomplished while they were there.

The team agreed that even when there is a language barrier, everyone can praise God and be so blessed. The Dominicans have so little but love the Lord. They all realized that we Americans have so much to be thankful for. The teens came back with a greater appreciation of what they have and not to take what we do have for granted.

They also had an opportunity to visit a Haitian village in the Dominican. They put on a 3-day Bible Club. One of the teens commented how you could see the sadness on the children's faces. They were awstruck when they saw the living conditions of the people there. They go to a place to pump water and carry it back to their homes. There is an 80% unemployment rate.

The final Saturday they were there, they visited a market and then were able to visit an all-inclusive resort. They spent the day relaxing by eating and swimming and just having fun before heading back to the US. It was a wonderful way to end the week!

Some of the things that Keith took away from this trip: How blessed he is. Sometimes people get so wrapped up with material things, we lose sight of what we do have. He has learned to be thankful in all circumstances. His prayer life has deepened. He has learned that he needs to depend on God in every situation he faces in his life. He also grew by having been put in a leadership role.

Keith is very grateful he was able to go on this trip.