RETIRED

Our job ended today. Last day of school. Sort of sad. We brought all of moms things back to our house. I just had to yell at her to put her shoes away cause she was messing up the house. Had graduation last night. Sarah and I made four scrapbooks, one for each kindergartner. They were adorable, but took a long time. Then we made 36 iron-on shirts for the kids to sign today as a keepsake. Did the punch for the graduation and decorated the church and then had to haul all that home and put it away again. We have had a couple of busy weeks. Oh, and Sarah had to get things for breakfast today for the kids, so that meant a trip to Sams for me.

In the meantime, my cat got in a fight and was bitten and developed an abscess. She was hiding all over the house. So on memorial day Sunday I spent half the day in the pet emergency room. That was an experience.......First cat who came in after Prince, yes it is a boy but I get gender confused with pets, had to be put down. Happened in the same room we put Bingo down in two years ago. It was so sad listening to them cry and then they said the nicest prayer. After that, two more dogs who collapsed were rushed in. Next was a 2 month old puppy attacked by the neighbors bull dog. The girl was a wreck. Puppy was fine by the time I left. So had to take her back yesterday for a recheck. Doing great except ear infection, needed rabies shot, heartworm pill, and must return in 6 weeks to make sure she didn't contract Kitty Aids or Leukemia. Just like humans, you are better off not taking them to the doctor because they always find way to many things wrong with you. George the other cat has never been to vet and is the picture of health.

Also had the Orkin guy come this week. We have been running non-stop. And don't forget the bathtub back-up that ran down in the basement, so Dan wakes me up at 5:17 to tell me he has to go to work and I need to get up and mop the basement. That was a great day. Actually, it could have been much worse.

Believe me, I would love to go to Berrien for a rest and visit all my friends. Haven't been in a store except for Meiers and Walmart. Now that is unusual for me. Haven't even had time to shop on the internet. Mom doesn't even get in them, since the baby is usually sleeping and we don't want to wake her, so she sits in the car.

Dan is in Berrien tonight. Their rental house in Stevensville is getting a new renter, so everything was cleaned and painted and this was his only time to check on it before new renter moves in. He will stay for church and come home. Has to work Sunday. They are swamped.

Erin and Justin and Jake and Kelsey came over here this weekend to stay at Natalie and Adams. They will have a good time. Adam has his boat in the water. Had a nice barbeque last weekend while they tubed and stuff.

We go to Florida on Thursday, so Berrien won't happen until after that. We laugh cause it looks like it will be perfect weather here and we will swelter in Florida. But we will have the pool, eat out, shop, and relax. Sarah needs to wind down. It was a good time to take a break.

Leah is rolling all over and pretty much will sit up by herself. She is such a good girl. The school had a swim party today at a indoor pool with a nice part to float on tubes. We took Leah's floater and she just loved it. Sometimes all those kids get her nervous because they won't back off and want to be so close to her. But at the pool they had lots to keep them occupied so they left her alone for a while.

I hope this explained why I haven't called some of my friends for a while. I am missing you all and will try to do better after today. Sabbath is a welcomed rest. Then we start all over again.

Pictures

Had to add a couple of pictures of our girl. My babysitting days are just about through. Sarah finishes up in three days. Can't believe how fast the time goes. Sarah will now be home with her during the most fun times. Leah waved at Grandma Lois and I the other day. Oh, and is Grandma Lois ever spoiling this girl. Sarah and I get so ticked cause Leah is always reaching to get away from us and go to her. Errrrrrrrrrr.......

Here she is having a tea party at my house but had a bad stinky diaper that ran out on her clothes. So, we had to have a quick wash and dry and turned the heat up nice for our girl till those clothes were ready.

Sarah and her cousin Danny in Berrien Springs. That Woolf family has produced some good looking kids.
This was Sabbath after church in the camper. Had a beautiful day and we took a 12 mile bike ride on our new Townie bikes. I will have to get a shot of those for you. Sarah got one too and feels like an old lady riding it, but sure likes the feel of it.
Auntie Nilza, is that a diaper on my head.
Here are Joe and Nilza at her birthday party at Papa Vinos. We love those two. She is such a great girl. Thanks Joe for bringing her here to us. Now stay home for a while will you. We miss you when you go. Had a great night out and we are enjoying our time with them while they are in Michigan.

OKAY !

Okay, Natalie and Francie, I am really mad at you now. You forced me to add a blog, so I did a nice long one about my 6 quirks and accidentally erased it trying to preview it. Now I have to start all over. I guess I am really not mad at you, just upset with myself for making such a silly mistake. Here goes . . . . .

1. Massages, keep your hands off. I don't need people coming up to me and rubbing my shoulders and then telling me how "tense" I am. Sorry, it runs in the family. Just ask Sarah and Mom.

2. Tailgaters who tailgate me even when I am doing almost 80 mph. I will get over, just give me a minute instead of swerving to pass me on the right and then just about taking off my front fender as you swerve back in front of me.

3. People who sing with their eyes closed in church. How can they get the message of the song across to the audience if you don't even look at them.

4. Sound men at church can get pretty annoying also. It seems they all listen to their music very loud, so feel compelled to turn your accompaniment track up so loud that no one can hear the words of the song you are singing. Then there are those annoying squealls they make with the sound system every now and then to keep us awake in church. Also, when you can sing a whole song and your microphone is not turned on and no one bothers to tell you or do something about it. Sarah is very helpful to me in this situation. She never lets me sing without a mic. Sometimes the monitor speakers are so loud you can't tell whether you are on or not.

5. People at church who are very power hungry.

6. Putting groceries and laundry away and unloading the dishwasher. I don't mind washing and shopping but putting those things away is not fun. I have many times offered to pay the baggers to come home and put groceries away for me, but have had no takers yet. Thank heavens I have Grandma Lois with me cause she is a great putter awayer. (Is that a word?)

That's it. I feel much better now. Only problem is I don't have any blogger friends except Natalie and her family. Oh wait, CONNIE and KIM... you have just been tagged. Hope you have as much fun as I did.

Cruisin

Florida was calling Dan's name again. This time Sarah gave me a few days off and I went with. The weather was high 80's and sunshine. We spent two days at the condo then headed off on a short 4 day cruise. Our ship was the Caribbean Princess, a beautiful boat that is in our harbor in Ft. Lauderdale. We just wanted to try the Princess Line from the show "Love Boat". We really do like Royal Caribbean the best. Here Dan is packing his own things, hallelujah.

I am getting mine stuffed in a carry-on. Still need a lot of things for only 3 actual days.
Here is completed luggage. Dan still had to run back from the boat and get his snorkel and fins. I think he just wanted to prove that he could make it across the bridge and back and still have lots of time left.
Our dependable chauffeur Gaby drove us to the dock.
Here we are saying good-bye. Today Dan drove Gaby and Linda to Miami to catch a plane to Israel. They will stay there for about 6 months visiting with family. It won't be the same in Florida without them.
Bye Gaby.Dan checking out the cabin and waiting for take off.This is what Dan likes the most, to look at the condo's on the way out. Ours is the shorter one in the middle. Our friends are on the 21st floor waving at us, but the telephoto shot I took is to blurry to see, so you will have to take my word for it. They are one floor beneath us. That's right, 22nd floor, but you can't beat the view of the ocean and harbor and Miami.This is our beach and our cabanas. Why do we bother to go on a cruise?
We are on the tender taking us from the cruise ship to the private island, the only place we went. It was Sabbath, so nice to just sit and read and relax. The tenders are really the ships life boats.

We took a glass bottom boat trip. I really did see some fish. I think there is one in this picture if you look close.

These are the cabanas that we sat on at the island with our ship in the distance. Beautiful weather with a refreshing breeze. Water felt cool but they said it was 78 degrees.

Looks like I should have gotten a closer shot of the boat. I am heading back to eat supper. Can't miss a meal you know.......

Dan is getting excited to get off the boat and back to the condo and relax some more. It was a fun time.

Baby Pictures of Course!

Leah loves to visit my house. She thinks she is at the Botanical Gardens with all the flowers every where. Here she is all excited cause she is rolling over both ways. I have a video but haven't learned how to put that on yet Connie or Rachel......Her new best friend, George.

That tickles!
Love those feet!

Look at those eyes!

She's having a tea party at grandmas house. Don't exactly know what she was doing with her lips. Probably giving me the raspberries.

I love to tease David that she watches TV when we babysit. I had to go to the basement so I put her in the chair. She does seem to like Clifford.

These chairs are great, especially for watching TV dad. Only problem is that those chubby legs get caught when we try to remove her from the seat. Chair usually comes right along until we tug a little.

WOMEN'S RETREAT

Here I am on my way to Camp AuSable the first weekend in April, Easter 2008. Look at the lovely snow. The weather did turn out to be beautiful and the snow was only in the shade. Actually, we were dressed a little warm for the good weather.Saw the first deer of the weekend when I drove onto the camp grounds. He was having a grand time and was not the least bit nervous about me stopping to say hi.First job at hand was to set up the tables. If you remember, we made about 45 vases in Natalies Kiln from the school. We poured, sanded, fired, painted, fired, and decorated with wire and beads for about 3 months. They turned out great. I actually sold all but about 6. They looked so cute so I thought I would just put a few shots on for you to see.

. I attended the retreat 2 times since I am on the Michigan Women's Ministries Committee. The third weekend is always the most fun cause my church friends, family from Gobles, and mom and daughters attend with me. This is Natalie's sister Francie with Grandma modeling the vases. Francie has a beautiful voice and sang with Sarah and I. We did a trio and led two song services. They were fun and I think the ladies really appreciated them by the way they sang out. Thank you Frannie and I hope we can do it again next year.

Three more vase models.
Our speaker was Ginny Allen from Washington state. I loved her. Kim Purvis, our director, is directly behind us. Ginny was going from MI to Alabama where Stella was cooking and decorating for a retreat down there. Can't wait to talk to her and see how she liked Ginny's preaching. The girls loved her also.
The speakers theme for the weekend was "Catch the Wind of the Holy Spirit". So, for the Saturday evening meal, we centered our decorating around the theme of the Comfort of the Holy Spirit. We used lots of candles, water features like drink fountains and floating candles, blue denoting water, wind chime sounds and butterflies and doves, all representing the traits of the Holy Spirit. All the ladies on the committee wore blue shirts and slippers for "comfort".

Our evening meal had "comfort foods" such as "meatloaf", mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, and pie ala mode.
This is my long time friend from Oakwood Academy, Jini Lane, once Whang. (Sp) It was so nice to see her. On the third weekend the speaker asked Sarah and I to sing a song with two of her friends from nursing school that were in attendance. We sang a beautiful song about seeing our loved ones again in our heavenly home when Jesus returns. It has special meaning for them since Ginny lost her grown son in a snowmobile accident several years ago at their church camp. Turns out one of the friends we sang with was Jini's mother-in-law.Our special feature for the Saturday night vespers was my friend Renee doing a chalk drawing while Ginny spoke. She drew a beautiful sunset with three crosses and a rose. It lit up with shadows when the black light was turned on. Francie has a picture on her blog which you can get to thru Natalies blog. Her address is on the side of mine. It was a great weekend and hope that more of our friends will come next year. Believe me, I can put you all to work.

Just Kidding!

Our Friends New Home

Our last Sabbath in Berrien was so special. The sermon and church service at Pioneer Memorial on the campus of Andrews University was in celebration of Pastor Dwight Nelson's 25 years of service at the church. So hard to believe. After church we headed to Grandma's best friend Cynthia's new Villa. It is beautiful. Here the two girls are together as we arrive for the first visit.

Those two are so cute. My favorite room in the Villa is Cynthia's bedroom. I love the spread and bedroom set. She and Lynda did a beautiful job decorating the home.
What a great lunch we were served in the new kitchen. The granite countertops were a little hard for us to put hot dishes on without hot plates, but Eddie and Lynda said we could. Cynthia made a delicious cauliflower dish that I had never had before. Mashed potatoes were great, but what can go wrong with those. Loaf was a little over cooked since Dwight's service went a bit longer than usual. Dessert was chocolate cake with toffee bits in it. Frosting was light and airy to top off the meal. Oh, we also had jello, wonderful breads, pigs in the blanket, a salad I just loved, and more I can't remember. Needless to say, we were stuffed. Dan had to stop two times on his way home to Detroit to sleep he was so full and tired out.
These three are terrific hosts and treat you like royalty. Isn't this a great kitchen! So roomy and everything is new.
Even Darryl helped serve us. Those tulips are real....It's finally spring in Michigan. The girls are resting after that lunch. Soon they will have a spot of tea. Thank you friends for a lovely Sabbath day.Grandma and I headed up north to her house for a few days. Unfortunately we had to attend Uncle Roy's funeral. Only consolation was that we got to see relatives we hadn't had contact with in years. After cleaning the house and visiting with neighbors, we made it safe and sound back to Detroit by Tuesday night. Oh, I didn't clean much. I always feel like I am on vacation when I go home to Manistee. Don't worry though, I did make a list of things for the boys to do when they go up there this summer.