During our Spring Break, the kids and I decided to head North to my parents home in Michigan. It's the first time I've taken 4 kids by myself on the 18 hr. car ride. I was a little nervous during the hotel stay half way, but am thankful to report it went just fine. It helped that Josh can swim now so the pool time was a blast.
We had so much fun. There were 'road trips' to Millersburg and Gaylord for pizza and ice cream.
Mema and Sophie decided to take on a sewing project together. Since sewing isn't my forte', I'm thankful that both grandmas are talented in that department! Sophie loves to sew.
This was one of the few times in March where there was no snow. So, it was chilly, but we were able to take our bikes to the beach (and see the ice floating in the water).
My hometown feels like something from the Mitford Series. Friends randomly knocking to say 'hello', just in time for tea.
The kids also experienced a bit of 'Little House on the Prairie'. Our good friends, the Tollys, make their own maple syrup and this happened to be the week they were making it. We were thrilled to see the process and make it a home schooling experience.
One of the main reasons I wanted to come 'home' was to visit my close friends, the Dugans. Mrs. Dugan's health has failed rapidly. They have always been like a second set of parents to me. They have been involved in my life since I was in Jr. High. They've been so instrumental in my Christian faith. They've watched me go through the growing up struggles and have put several boyfriends on the 'hot seat'. I fondly remember stopping by their house many times and having good talks with them in their living room. Being a Hillsdale graduate and advocate, they were the reason I chose to go to Hillsdale College. They met and 'approved' Jonathan when we dated and were engaged in college. And just like Mrs. and Mr. Dugan, we were married during college at a fairly young age. At our wedding, Mr. Dugan wore a tux because he was the 'other father'. When we were newlyweds and broke, Mr. and Mrs. D would drive down for a visit and take us out to dinner and we felt like royalty. Their generosity and example have shaped our lives. As time marched on and our family grew, their love was constant. Mrs. Dugan was one of the few people who held Samantha. This photo was taken a month before Samantha died.
Mrs. Dugan's illness has been hard on all of us. The week was filled with joy but was also filled with many, many tears. Mrs. Dugan is in the nursing home now and appears to be at the final stage of the disease. Mr. Dugan's constant, tender love towards her continued to be an amazing testimony through 'the end', literally, when Mrs. Dugan was clearly not there anymore (in spirit). I'm so thankful to have this memory to share again and again with my children an example of a successful marriage where Christ is the center. Mr. Dugan is as tired and weary as a normal person would be, but he is a living example of how to 'praise Him still'.
