To Michigan

Before making our anual August trip to Michigan, we first took the kids the John Williams concert at Riverbend in Cincinnati.






We enjoyed it immensely. The boys favorite was the theme song from Star Wars, but mine was Schindler's List and Jaws.

The next day we headed to RC. We had to take a bike ride the first evening we arrived. The kids couldn't resist the lake, even in their clothes.

One of our favorite things to do is look for pretty rocks.

For 3 days my parents kindly watched the kiddos so I could go with my handsome husband on his business trips. We had a wonderful getaway to Grand Rapids, Holland, then Alpena. We had many hours of driving but we didn't have trouble keeping up conversation. It was such a blessing to work through homeschooling ideas together for the year.

In Holland, we met up with a friend from the Canada days and met him and his wife for dinner. We had a lovely time.

Our last evening ended with me writhing on the floor at 3 am with another kidney stone. I had my first one 6 months ago and really thought I was dying. After going to the ER and finding out it was only a kidney stone, I thought labor was actually perferred. I didn't get sick when I was in labor but with these... I couldn't keep anything down, the pain was that intense.

We were in the woods at a Bed in Breakfast in Alpena when this happened again. And while I was getting sick along the side of the road, he was trying to find a pharmacy that was opened to get me pain medication. We couldn't find any that were opened at 5 am. Giving up, we decided to just drive home to my parents. 2 miles from their home, it was gone. Immediate relief. I was soo grateful it only lasted 4 hours as opposed the 2 days the other one lasted. My parents were confused when we walked in at 7 am, to say the least, and we were too tired to do anything but go right to bed! Add this to the memory bank!

All in all, it was a marvelous trip. The company, fresh air, water and cool breeze was a wonderful start before heading back to begin the new school year.

The Farm Part 2

Their pasture land was my favorite. Here we're all taking a ride in Uncle Steve's truck looking at the slightly rolling hills, beautiful trees and creek.



Uncle Steve dared the kids to sit in the cold creek for a dollar.







Earlier that evening we went down the road to their little country church.

This church my great grandparents also helped build and was where the 3 generations have attended. So it was where my mom attended as a child.

My grandfather who was a farmer by trade, also was an artist. He took art classes through a correspondence course and therefore was considered the local artist. He painted the two paintings in this church, as well as landscape scenes on barns and chalktalks for local Sunday Schools or VBS'.

My grandfather passed away one year before I was born but my grandmother gave me several of his well-worn art books, since I inherited his love for art.

This was the same month and time of year my parents were married here years ago.

I'm so thankful to be a part of this 3 generations + of parents who urge their children to follow Christ. I know that being raised in a Christian home doesn't mean you will be a Christian. But to be raised hearing the gospel and reading the Bible from an early age sure saves time when life hits and you're wondering what's going on. I'm thankful for that moment in late high school when I decided to commit my life to Christ and that little bit of faith has grown bigger and bigger as Christ reveals Himself to me on a daily basis.

Going back to the farm, I was noticing what a beautiful time of day for my parent's wedding reception in the enormous front yard.

Driving back to Milwaukee to see daddy who was working at a sister company of his, the boys were excited to 'ride' his rental car.

Later that night, we had supper at cousin Sarah's house where my other cousin and Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jim joined us.

Here's Gracie, the kids' second cousin enjoying icecream next to Judah.

In Milwaukee, Daddy treated us to the notorious Kopps for frozen custard.

On that last day Daddy had to work, I took the kids to the Milwaukee Childrens Museum. The kids had so much fun.

On the way home we stopped at another McDonalds but this one had a play place so that was a nice way to get out their wiggles.

The Farm Part 1

Whew. It's been a whirlwind of a summer so I'm going to try to catch up before the next whirlwind begins. In July, we took a trip to my family's 3 generation farm in Wisconsin. My great grandparents build this house in 1908 (Building cost: $1200!). My grandmother, an only child, grew up and married a farmer and they took up the farm. Eventually they had 4 daughters (my mom is the second oldest) and the youngest married a farmer and they've had the farm ever since. It's an Anne of Green Gables sort of place.

I've always liked Aunt Nancy and Uncle Steve- and they were so great to let the kids and I crash their place for two days. The kids had a blast.

Uncle Steve always likes to tease Sophie. Right off the bat, he asked her who her boyfriend was- while offering her a raw corn cob- while eating a chocolate chip cookie.

Here they're all packed in for a tractor ride.

The weather was beautiful. It was hot for them, but cooler for us. The breeze was wonderful.

They had a Jeep! Judah had a grin the entire time he was on it.

Well, not the entire time. When the battery ran out, it was a sad moment...

Aunt Nancy hooked up the sprinkler for the kids at the tree swing.

How many great-aunts do you know who would run in the sprinkler with them? It didn't take them long to think she's great.

At the end of the first evening, the kids went and sat by the field while Uncle Steve lit some fireworks. "We've never had fireworks like these", Josh says. The boys weren't sure what could be better.