So Thankful!

Give thanks to the LORD,
for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1

The last two days have reminded me of so many things for which I am thankful! I was able to spend most of yesterday with Tori, who was my 'Friday buddy' for a couple of years. Now that she's in first grade, I've missed those special days with her. So yesterday was great - she helped me cook (made the green bean casserole all by herself!), dusted several rooms, and went with me to do some things at church. She even managed to beat me in several games of Uno - again.

Tori loved checking out some of the different textures at a table set up for our Thanksgiving service at church.

She typed, printed, and collated a book for her parents....

Ty and Deven and a friend joined us for lunch......

Deven shows off his pancake :)

Thanksgiving Day - our wonderful family was here for dinner, except Laura and Ben who are enjoying the weekend on the Oregon coast with several other couples. These are a few of the shots taken today - sorry I didn't get any of the 'big guys'.....

Noah is ready to share the cookies he and the girls helped Mom
make and decorate. He went to every person at the table and wished them a
"Happy Thanksgiving' -
so precious!

Deven with everyone's favorite pillow

Abby plays with the same toy her grandpa played with nearly sixty years ago...

Tori and Lynn

Grandma talking to Laura on the phone

Anna
The phone was passed to everyone -
we all miss Laura and Ben on special days.

Fun on the stairs

Tori, Noah, Sophie, and Abby

Zac is ready to hit the fields and woods

Many things we are all thankful for were mentioned at our dinner table. Most of all, we are thankful for our good and gracious God who blesses us beyond our imagining.

Wonderful Weekend!

We had the most fabulous weekend at the Chateau Chantal on the Old Mission Peninsula of Traverse City, compliments of our wonderful kids!  It is a gorgeous place and we enjoyed the quiet, peaceful atmosphere without the summer and color season crowds.  One of the nicest parts was that everything was on the 'honor system' and we could go down to the wine tasting room whenever we liked and try as many different wines that we wanted.  Just the two of us - no elbowing for room at the counter.  We were shown where the lights were, where the different wines were, etc.  Can't beat that!

I'm having trouble with blogger this morning and it won't let me move pictures around, so these are in random order....

Breakfast on Saturday morning

Bill - feeling like we owned the place :)

Our room - the Renoir suite

The bedroom, of course.  Beautiful view of the water and vineyards 

and quiet music playing when we arrived.

At one of our favorite vineyards - Bower's Harbor

Back in the wine tasting room at Chateau Chantal

Beautiful fireplace all to ourselves -

there was always a fire going.  

The view from the Chateau - there was water on both sides

We had hoped to stay at the Chateau when we were in the area for a wedding last June, but they were booked up.  We were able to choose our room at that time and the first weekend they had available was this past one.  I am continually amazed a God's timing for even 'small' things in our lives - He knew just when we would need a relaxing weekend away..... It was perfect - a jeans and sweatshirt kind of weekend that was relaxing and rejuvenating.  We enjoyed it so much - thanks Steve & Lynn, Tom & Anna, Laura & Ben for the wonderful gift!  It could not have been any nicer!

Day-Brighteners!

A cheerful heart is good medicine!
Proverbs 17:22

Bill and I got a good dose of triplet joy last night. There's nothing like 3 three-year-olds to bring smiles and giggles! Their cheerful hearts certainly were good medicine for me :). Anna didn't work Monday evening, and we missed our usual time with the kids this week. So Thursday night Tom and Anna and the kids met us in downtown Holland for dinner. The incredibly slow service provided us with extra time to enjoy with all of them. The kids passed time with paper and crayons and just being delightfully silly. They are such fun!

Abby is in the pink shirt, Sophie in the gray, and you'll all know which one is Noah :)

We had promised the kids good old-fashioned 'paddle pops' from Froggie's next door, but they were closed by the time we finished our meal. We had sundaes back in the restaurant instead - Noah loved the whipped cream :)

It was a cold and windy night, but we walked around downtown for a bit and were happy to find the Peanut Store still open. Here the kids show what they chose from the huge selection of candy....

Sophie, Abby, Noah

Enjoying the display of Christmas candy.

Downtown Holland is beautifully decorated for Christmas and the kids loved all the lights and trees. It was a perfect evening!

And now, just a random picture of the funny vehicle I spotted near Blodgett Hospital. I followed it until the driver parked and went inside a building. (I always wonder when someone is going to stop and question me about my intentions, but it was a moment when I was glad that my camera is almost always with me.) The picture makes it look bigger than it was - it's actually a motorcycle with the 'car' built on it.

I'm Sad

The LORD is my shepherd,

I shall lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
Psalm 23:1-2

The following are some of the people who have 'shared the pasture' with me.....

• My uncle Jerry died last week. His funeral was full of special moments - meaningful and memorable. The huge number of people who visited at the funeral home and attended the service was evidence of the lives he impacted through his quiet, sincere nature. He was one of those solid, genuine people and I will miss him.
  

This picture of Aunt Marge and Uncle Jerry
was taken at our family reunion in October.

• My friend Em is in need of your prayers. She is on a new chemo drug which has done a real number on her the last two weeks. She is weak physically but remains her usual calm and serene self. Please pray for wisdom for her and the doctors when she has an appointment on Monday.
  

Em - several weeks ago

• Jay and Elaine are friends from Bible study at church. Elaine fell on Monday night and broke her leg near her artificial hip. She had surgery Tuesday morning - her ninth surgery in the last twenty years that is directly connected to her rheumatoid arthritis. After four days in the hospital, she moved this morning to the new Metro Hospital for continued healing and therapy. It will be 8-12 weeks before she will be back on her feet.

Jay & Elaine

• The brother of our friend Jean, died last weekend. The funeral on Wednesday was full of music and inspirational reflections on Jim's life. He was a special man - a retired police officer and military veteran whose third 'career' was his ministry in the Methodist church as an ordained minister.
  

This picture of Jean was taken at our church picnic in September.

• My friend Marie died this morning. She began attending our church less than two years ago and immediately became involved in Bible study. When she joined us, she was a recent widow and had been diagnosed with cancer. Her journey toward death was an inspiration to me and she died peacefully in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, with whom she lived.
  

Marie in February of 2006

• Mary, a friend from church, had surgery on both feet and is recuperating at home in the wonderful care of her husband, Ron.
  

Mary and Ron

Some bright spots in my week:

• Giggles and fun with Abby, Sophie, and Noah on Monday.
  
• A few minutes with my friend Ruth, chaplain at Spectrum Blodgett.
  
• Lunch with Jay W. in the cafe at the hospital.
• Chats with Laura on the phone.
  
• Supper with Ron and Mary - we invited ourselves over to their house Thursday evening:). We arrived with a simple casserole and salad....they provided the warm welcome and great hospitality.
• A bit of time with my beloved sister-in-law, Beckie, and my niece Margie.
  
• Twice yesterday, when I was talking to Marie and reading some Psalms to her, her face brightened and a big smile came across her face. She was in a semi-comatose state, and yet the Lord was blessing her with happy thoughts.
  
• This morning, before the funeral directors came to take Marie's body, her cats hopped up on her bed and nestled down next to her, one on each side. Marie loved those cats and it was a tender scene which made us all smile.
  
• Seeing the love and compassionate care given to Marie and her family by our church family - it was amazing.

This final picture is not very clear - it's one I cut out of the newspaper several years ago because it reminds me of Isaiah 43:2 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

Our good and gracious God always provides help, sometimes in the form of men in boats and sometimes in the form of 'angels with skin on', many of whom I've seen this week. And so, though I am weary from all the sadness, I have been blessed by treasured moments with special people who 'share my pasture'.

Weekend Highlights

We spent some time Sunday evening with Steve and Lynn, Deven and Tori. Ty was at youth group and arrived home just as we were leaving. Zac was probably off working on a vehicle with his buddies :)
BTW, Zac has been accepted into the Northwestern University of Ohio where he will be studying diesel mechanics. Way to go, Zac!!

Tori and Grandpa
Tori made this great purse from potholder yarn - it's great!

Deven checking out some quads on the computer

Tori is reading a funny book to Lynn;
Tori is only in first grade and is already an excellent reader.

Deven practicing headstands :)

Deven is an active kid! Here he is catching a football pass from Steve -
not a lot different than Steve and his dad about 25 years ago :)

We got home to find this picture emailed from Laura - she wrote: "This is what it is like watching the Seahawks when your husband is in school...when you live in a less than 600 square foot apartment." There are not many options - no den, no study - it's all there together in one small space. But it's a great apartment with fabulous views of Puget Sound - we'll miss it after they return from Pasadena and find a new place......

Splurge - funny word, isn't it. But that's what it was - a splurge. I bought a new computer :) After going to the Apple Store in Seattle last August, it didn't take much for Ben to convince me that it was time to upgrade. The wireless mouse and wireless keyboard were big selling points, as well as the sleek new design and the much-faster speed. The picture shows the difference between my earlier model (which was absolutely fine until Saturday when the new one arrived!) which is 16 inches deep and the new imac which has a 20" screen but is only one inch deep - amazing.
So I am now busy confirming that everything needed from the old model is transferred to the new and then I can get rid of the clutter and some of the wires! It will take me a while to explore all the new features and upgrades.....


This video clip of Bill and the triplets was taken Saturday afternoon - you'll get an idea of what lively and giggly kids they are!

May YOUR day have some lively and happy moments, too!

Happy Birthday, Marva! - and Halloween

Yesterday we celebrated my sister Marva's 56th birthday at our 'sisters' lunch'. As was said in our 'toast', she is the best Halloween treat EVER! She is one of those able-to-do-anything people who is always busy helping others, and I have been on the receiving end of her kindness many times. She is my friend and beloved sister and I thank God for her!

Marva and granddaughter Lucy Chae
(Is Lucy anticipating having some of that sundae?
At only nine months old, she'll have to wait a while :)

There was a surprise gift for Marva

There's a great story about those sandals......

Marva and Beckie

In the afternoon I went over to help Tori get ready for trick-or-treating. She didn't need much help.....we had plenty of time to go for supper with brothers Ty and Deven.

Tori as a blond - Hannah Montana :)

Deven

Should have gotten a picture of Ty busy studying his algebra - his grandpa would be so pleased with that :)

Then it was off to Holland to see Tom & Anna's kids.....

Sophie and Abby were both princesses - very appropriate!
Noah wore a tiger costume made by Grandma Mosher :)

Wrestling with Daddy - Abby and Noah were under there somewhere.....

Sophie and Abby

Hope YOU take time to dance!