First Weekend!

Looks like someone likes Camp AuSable. I want you to notice this adorable suit that her Auntie NayNay and Uncle Adam bought for her. It says "Harley Davidson" from Las Vegas. Some of Sarah's school friends were up north and they pegged it that Adam had gotten the outfit for her.

This is our room in the Deer Lodge. Nice with it's own bath and one double and a set of bunk beds. Our little girl loves the computer and came to help her grammy. I made Sarah sleep on the top bunk.

I brought 25 of these pumpkins in our room to decorate. They are glittered and then I added a floral arrangement on the top. Couldn't keep them away from Leah. I wonder if she thinks this is a wierd shaped bottle?

One of our song services. We were in charge of them all, 9. Sarah did such a great job planning them and doing the power point. They were all based on Bible texts. We also taught a new hymn every day and told the story behind it. Remember, this program was for 7th and 8th graders, and believe it or not, they loved the songs and really sang along. She received many compliments and requests for the introductions we gave. Couldn't quite get a good picture of us cause the kids we asked always sat in the front row and shot us up close and from down below. I warned them about no shots with a double chin of me, so this is the best I could come up with that both of us had our eyes open on.

Lunch in the dining room sure was different then the way we do them at the women's retreats. Ours is always so fancy. Not so here. Plus, we always have some ladies who get to come free if they do all the dishes, so need for us to wear the aprons and hairnets.

These are our Oakwood girls taking their turn at the dishroom.Every day the students chose three breakout sessions to go to. This is the SDA artist Nathan Greene teaching art at his breakout. It was so much fun to watch him draw. What a wonderful man with a wonderful talent.

He was on one end of the auditorium teaching and Sarah was on the other end. Her breakout was "Bible Labs Outreach Card Ministries". We had them all make the same Get Well card and then had at least 15 samples for them to make another card using their own creativity. Their hand out showed how to make all the cards, opportunities for their use, bible verse and quotes to use on them, etc.

Here are a few of the cards. The get well card had a kleenex, cough drop, and tea bag in the pocket. They were all so cute.Aunt Stella made this and you will see you can take the bookmark off the right side and use it.After making the cards, we went to a nursing home the next day to deliver them and sing and share with the residents. We went three times that day. Looks like this trip was when Leah was ready for a nap. The folks at the home really enjoyed Leah and singing "Jesus Loves Me" with her. This trip went a little better.

Sarah introducing the first group. Second group passing out the cards.

Third group sharing with the folks. These kids were great even though some were uncomfortable. Each group had at least on guitar player and that helped so much.

Here's the girls with the lake in the background. See the colors a little in the background.And of course, the required deer picture. It was a wonderful time and you just had to marvel at how well these 250 kids behaved and acted. They are at a quirky age and so much fun. Hope to do it again sometime.

And last but not least, a future Oakwood Academy student who will hopefully attend LIFT when she is in the 7th grade if the Lord doesn't come first.

Remember Way Back When . . . .

Remember way back when I told you we were heading north to Grayling for a week. Well, here are some shots of the trip. These are from the Mother/Daughter Retreat that we worked on. Leah is taking her first ride in a wagon that Renee and Kevin provided for our decorations. Here is the front of the auditorium after we decorated. Doesn't it look like a fall festival? It was the beginning of October and out the windows were the most beautiful colored leaves on the trees surrounding the lake.

My daughter-in-law made me this beautiful banner for our backdrop. Wow, did the ladies love it. I had several offers to purchase it but I said no.

Sarah led all the song services and did the power points. I played piano and Lisa Glenn and Staci Osterman are singing with her. Katie Purvis was playing guitar with me. Then Lisa and Katie also played violin on some songs. They play so beautifully.
Following the evening program the teens met with Sarah and Lisa and had an afterglow candlelight time to sing and share.Looks like someone is not too tired. We spent this second weekend in the hotel and boy was it nice. Didn't have to worry about Leah keeping up the ladies at night. She had the worst diaper rash she ever had and Sarah also had a UTI. Several trips were made to CVS.

Our offering was unique this year. Kim, on the right, our WM leader in MI, is going on a mission trip with her daughter Katie, on left, at Christmas. They need many stuffed animals to put invitations to VBS on and hand out to the Mexican children and every year they run out. So we asked all the moms and girls to bring stuffed animals for their offering. It turned out great and they received bag after bag full.

These are a few of the girls bringing their gifts to the front.

Sarah and Lisa again.

Another group activity.

Sarah and Leah at their SS in the Deer Lodge. Looks like they both are having a good time learning about Jesus.

Saturday night brought the Fall Festival. We were in charge of the donut on a string game. First one to eat the complete donut off the string without using their hands is the winner. We were so busy hanging donuts that I hardly got any pictures. It was a great night and everyone had a good time. Lots of balloon, games, caramel apples, donuts, cider, popcorn, etc.

Face painting by Renee and Lisa was a huge hit. God blessed us with close to 200 women and their daughters ages 1-17 from all around the state. Weather was actually perfect, in the 70's. Sunday was a day of activities for mom and daughter such as canoeing, horseback riding, hayrides, go karts. If you have never come before, try to put it on your schedule for next October. It is always the second weekend and I can help with any info you may need.

13th Sabbath

In our church every 13th Sabbath at the end of a quarter, our children come up front during Sabbath School to do a program highlighting what they learned in their SS class. This is Leah up front with daddy singing a song on coming to Sabbath School on time. Our church is very hard to take pictures in. High ceiling, bad lighting, and bad photographer so this is the best I came up with. Clearest picture I have is of them from the back. No surprise there. She is feeding the cow which Jesus made for her to enjoy on the farm. It is cute cause they all have a clump of green felt cut to look like grass.
During church she was such a good girl looking at her Sabbath felt book and being very quiet, for that few minutes anyways.

We do go South also!

This Sabbath morning we picked up the Canada's for church and afterwards headed south to Toledo. Looks like someone is happy to be in the camper again. Here's the bus driver and his wife.
Toledo has a beautiful park close to their church where they have a potluck every summer Sabbath. It was so crowded we needed a rancher to help us park the camper. He was so nice to us. Adam followed in his truck. We missed Natalie since she went to her sister's graduation from nursing school.
Sarah hoping for some time to just lay in the sun and read.

Lucky great grams don't know how to ride a bike so they got to sit and relax.

Here's Dan getting us ready to start.

I don't know what he said to me as he was taking this picture, but it must have been something I didn't agree with.

David and all were glad to return back to the camper. The 8 mile ride was nice but there were so many BUGS hitting us all the while. You just had to keep swatting. ICKY! Couldn't wait to get back. On the way we saw a parking lot of tailgaters for a University football game. Confirmed I am not missing much by not being able to do that on the Sabbath.

Adam getting refreshements after the ride.

Walter enjoying his favorite toy, an empty water bottle. He chews off the lid and the round white circle left after you remove the lid and then he is done. See them laying in the grass next to him.

Sunroom

Here is my favorite pet Prince, but don't tell his brother George I said that. This cat has the craziest personality. He is watching me prepare for the Women's retreat in the sunroom. These are the pumpkins we used for the centerpieces. They are fake, and I glittered them. Once at Camp, we put flowers on the top. Boy were they cute, but the pictures I have of them must be on Sarah's camera. I will try to confiscate that and get them loaded on my computer.
We filled little bags with Reese's peanut butter cups and gave these as a favor at lunch.

This is the idea we used on tables but this was used on the platform in the auditorium. Lots of work getting ready but you will see later how beautiful everything turned out.

Time to Blog Again!

Guess who likes getting into trouble, I mean places she shouldn't. We have now designated the tupperware cupboard as the official Leah cupboard. Don't forget to rinse out the plastic before you use it if you are ever at Sarah's house. Looks like someone needs to wipe that girls face. I think we were all busy doing something else. Her other favorite pastime is the phone. It is crazy. Just ask Sarah about all the phone calls she makes. Must admit I am the first she ever called on her own. Even Dan got a call in Florida one Sabbath. You will see how much her cats love her on the video also.

Up North Again

Here we are up in Grayling, MI again. Not quite as far as Mackinaw Bridge. The trees are just beginning to change colors. Should be beautiful in a couple of weeks. Sarah, Leah, Gram and I are here for the LIFT program of the SDA education department. Lifestyle improvement program for 7th and 8th graders. We are in charge of all the song services, 9 to be exact, and Sarah is leading a seminar on card making as an outreach for Bible Labs.

This program is from Sunday - Wednesday and then we are back here from Fri-Sun for the Mother Daughter retreat sponsored by Women's Ministries in MI. I am in charge of decorating and music and helping with anything else that needs doing. Whew, I am tired already.

It is 5:00 am Monday and I woke up with a bad headache, a combo of stress and hunger. No time for supper last night and just to much going on. Couple excedrin later and I am doing better. Yesterday was a horrific day.

We packed up Dan's extended length Yukon with decorations, scrapbook supplies, music, computers, sleeping bags, banners, stoller, baby bed, luggage for 4, baby food/bottles, etc., and barely had room to move. Thanks David for your help stuffing it all in. Of course we got a late start.

But, we did have time to stop at Birch Run Outlets for only 45 minutes and then eat lunch. Good thing, no food after that. Picked up some cute things for Leah at Carters and sunglasses for Sarah which we forgot.

Well, Leah decided to get the worst diaper rash she has ever had on Sunday am. Wow, hope we make it. She screams bloody murder and we are in a lodge with people next door to us. Pray we have a miraculous healing cause it is so hard on her.

Then, Sarah spent hours on power point for her presentation and was told they no longer had a projector for her. So we borrowed the schools. Of course when we were testing last night it won't work. Well, turns out Sarah forgot to take the lens cap off, so we are hoping for success this morn.

Had to get gas last night at about 10:00 pm. cause I was on empty. Yeah, $3.72 here instead of $3.37 at home. Also picked up a few treats for Gram since she was babysitting with no supper. Yes, she is still speaking to us, but barely.

Leah did go to sleep good last night which was a blessing. And through all this, not one picture. I will try to be better today. Boy, a picture of that car would have been so nice to show you.

And another blessings, they have the internet in Deer Lodge. Yeah! Well, will try to keep you more informed as the week goes by.

Baby Dedication

Friday was the preparation day for the Sabbath. Even Leah grabbed the swifter to help with the dusting. Had to get ready for the big dinner tomorrow when her friends came to visit.

While we were cooking and cleaning the doorbell rang and this package was delivered from Auntie Michelle in Alaska.
What is it Leah?
The card says it all.
Oh, those are beautiful. It really was a beautiful bouquet and looked so nice on the front table in the sanctuary at church. We did miss you Michelle, but knew we were in your prayers. Can't wait for Leah to meet you at Christmas.
Next came the phone call from Uncle Joe in Mrytle Beach. I love you too Uncle Joe.

September 13, 2008 brought a very special Sabbath morning. It was the day Sarah and David officially dedicated Leah to serving Jesus. We have not had a Pastor since December so we invited Pastor Glenn Russell, who married Sarah and David, to do the dedication. He and his wife are such wonderful people and so nice to be around. Thank you for coming and sharing this special day with us.

It was a treat to have Kim and Joyce with us and to be able to sing with them. We did the praise songs together and I played the piano. No picture of that since Kim was our photographer.Here is Leah and her mom listening to Aunt Stella tell the childrens story. She is our story teller extraordinaire. How nice that she and Joe and Nilza were able to make it to Michigan for the weekend. We miss them so much and time went way to fast. Here is the lovely family with the pastor.
How nice to have so many family and friends make the long trip to be with us! We were pretty nervous that Leah would scream when Pastor Russell held her, but she was fascinated with his beard and played with it during the prayer.
Sarah and I learned a beautiful song called "Hold on to Jesus". Funny part was we are both comfortable singing alto, but the sound man played the high version instead of the low track. And to top it off, I was singing above Sarah with the harmony. I looked at her when it started waiting for her to stop and tell the sound man to start over but she didn't. Wow, it was hard. I could hardly even hear my part. We didn't completely murder the song, but let's say we were pretty disappointed with the way it went. Important part really is the words and hopefully they were conveyed to the people.
Grandpa Ron, who is now a part time pastor, had the a very meaningful pastoral prayer.
Once again, thanks to all our friends who came to support us and spend the day together. We went to Sarah's for lunch after church but those pictures are on her camera. Thanks for all the gifts. Leah did great thru most of the day but really had a crying time about 5:30. She did eventually fall asleep for a long nap.
I love being a Grandma!