God Gave us three beautiful days to enjoy His blessing of an amazing family!!

We are Partied OUT

For our 40th Anniversary, our wonderful thoughtful grownup children took us to a very big lovely lodge in the woods near Traverse City. 17 of us ate, talked, sang,swam, played and totally enjoyed each other for 3 fun packed days. On Sunday afternoon, they took us to a very secluded restaurant on the east Traverse Bay, where everyone took turns keeping the twins and Maya happy after dinner. We never would have guessed that they would plan anything so elaborate. They refused to let us cook, clean or help in any way--it was incredibly relaxing for us and very sacrificial for all of them in every way. I love you all!!

A Party Day

When Emma was very small I used to take her in the car and tell her we were going to have a "party in the car". Everyone loves parties, don't we. This day has surely been a party day for us. Liam started us out by finishing his soccer season undefeated!! His coach, David, told the team that not very many people ever get to be on a team that was undefeated for the whole season. His coaching really has made difference in the way they played this year. Great-grandpa Andy was able to come today despite the very muggy weather. He loves watching and is coaching them all the time. When he was young, in the 1920's he played soccer on a team in Chicago with a bunch of Swedish immigrants. I asked if he could understand them and he said they all spoke English. I am really surprised that soccer was here in the US that early.

From the soccer game we proceeded to drop off Grandpa Andy, run home, work on sermons, clean the pool and get ready for Sunday. Then off to Shannon's open house--Then to Kelly Corbin's wedding where Maya was the flowergirl. She was pulled down the aisle and it went well. You may recognize the officiant and 3 of our four beautiful daughters!!! Lynn is missing! :-( Maya and her momma had a great time.

We concluded the day with another open house--back for the reception dinner--and one final open house.. Now it's time for bed, cause Sunday is coming!! It is a busy but wonderful day to remind us of our dear Lord's coming back to life from the dead. He is RISEN INDEED!~!!

We are so EXCITED

In just 9 days, Bill and I will have been married for 40 years!! But in just 7 or so days, we will get to see our two sweet grandchildren who live way way to far away. Our very thoughtful children are taking us all to a chalet in the woods near Traverse City for three days starting the 8th. Jaelyn and Addie hopefully will be coming soon and then we will have a few more days with them after our time at the chalet when Bill and I will take the four oldest up to our family cabin in Cedarville MI. We will be packing every minute with as much fun as we can. I am so so lonesome for these sweethearts. I am so very blessed to have so many of the family so close. God is merciful to me--his mercies are new every morning.

I am hoping their dad is going to bring us some videos of their soccer games--and we should hear all about the end of the year activities at school!!! I am so excited!!

Miss Maya the Flowergirl

I think she is saying--"I'm really trying!!"

8:30 pm Friday night

We just had a panic cry from Ryan and Ang to ask if we could please come and pick up Maya at the downtown Holiday Inn. Maya is going to be the flowergirl in her aunt Kelly's wedding tomorrow and the rehearsal was a little too grueling for her, so she asked to come to Bampa and Go Go's house. Bampa is up putting her to bed and her parents will pick her up later. She is wearing a dress made from the wedding gown of her grandma Sue Corbin. We have been coaxing her to walk down the aisle, but I believe she will be pulled down in a lovely wagon by the ringbearer.Ang can let you know how it goes.

The Red Caboose Boys

For almost 33 years we have had a favorite book in our home called The Little Red Caboose Always Goes Last. Do any of you recall it?? When David was under 2 years old, he would sit in the Otolaryngologist's (sp?)office and very convincingly pretend to read the book loudly--word for word. People would ask me if he could really read it!! We have continued to read it to all of our little grandchildren and have gotten each family a copy of it for themselves.

Isaac and Will are now enthralled with it and Maya is starting to get excited about it. The original book is very large--about 24"X 14" , so it really keeps their attention. Every--usually--we keep Isaac and Will from Tues night at 7--to Wed morning just before lunch. We try to do field trips with them and last week we took them to the Little Red Caboose in Muskegon. Need I say --they were thrilled, but even more thrilled with the big lake freighter they saw right accross the street. They were also frightened last Tuesday night by the barage of very large jets we had going over our house. They usually love them and start yelling "airplane, airplane". The airport has also been one of our fieldtrips. They are a handful but very fun--Daniel and Andrea are doing a great job with them!!