Category Archives: Family

Our Getaway ~ Pt 2

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When we left the rest area, we got back on the expressway and headed for the bridge.  If you are from Michigan you know what that means.  For the rest of you, “the bridge” means the Mackinac (pronounced MACK-in-awe) Bridge.  The bridge is five miles long and opened in 1957–about eight weeks after I met Sylvia at a friend’s birthday party.  You can learn more about the bridge here.  This is an image from the official Website:

Aerial view of Mackinac Bridge — Lake Michigan on the left & Lake Huron on the right

Soon, we could see the tops of the support towers above the trees.  A slight turn, and we were on the south approach.  Shortly after, we were on the center span.

Northward bound

We still find this sight impressive.  That green part of the roadway is a metal deck.  It makes an interesting sound as you drive across.

Labor-Day weekend the bridge is open for walkers to cross the bridge

All too soon we were across the span, had paid our toll and had turned onto Rt 2 west.  This would take us along the edge of Lake Michigan.  We spotted a scenic view and pulled in for a look and more photos.

Sylvia enjoys the brisk breeze with the bridge in the background

I had just finished taking a photo of Sylvia, when a couple of women pulled in.  They agreed to do a photo of us, if we’d do the same for them. Okay!

What a beautiful day–the rain came later

Shortly after returning home, I discovered that our blogger friend, Sharky, had stopped at this same spot and taken a photo only a few hours earlier.  Sorry we missed you.

We had been on the road for five and a half hours and driven 272 miles.  We had another 70 miles to drive and would stop for supper before reaching our Day 1 destination.

Our Getaway ~ Pt 1

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Last month when our son, Scott, was here, Sylvia said to him that she had never seen the Tahquamenon Falls.  She went on to add that she had never been to Michigan’s upper peninsula.  I asked if she’d like to go.  Her response?  “Do you really mean it?”

The question is understandable.  My perfect day is one where I get no farther from the house than our mail box.  (Yes, I have a lot of imperfect days.  Don’t you?)

I assured her that I was serious.  Then we began to plan our excursion.  There were several major activities that required our presence in the neighborhood, but we found four days that fit into the schedule.  Sylvia’s cousin lent us the hardware to feed and water Midnight in our absence.

We packed our bags.  Fortunately, Sylvia is well organized.  It was mid morning when we left the house.  A couple of quick errands in the neighborhood and ten minutes later we were on the expressway.

A rest stop to stretch our muscles preceded a stop for lunch.  Then we were back on the road headed north.

North-bound on US-127

The weather was very cool and cloudy for most of our trip.  At 2:30 PM, we pulled into a rest stop for another stretch.  We had traveled 241 miles by this time.  After a pit stop, we came out and spotted a sign that pointed to “Hiking trail to scenic overlook.”  It didn’t take a second thought for us to aim our feet in that direction.  It was lung-taxing uphill walk, but we enjoyed every step of it.  (Didn’t we?)

Sylvia at the first stop

We found a nice view and decided it was worth the effort.

Chuck at the second lookout position

As you can see we were early for a color tour and, I assure you, we were late for the pleasant summer weather.  Neither Sylvia nor I cared about that.

On the safety railing next to where I was standing we saw this:

Isn’t that sweet

Woe be to Alan if he ever forgets that anniversary date.  Good for Julie, she may have used an indelible marker, but it will soon fade–or be painted over.  (I hope their marriage outlasts the marker.)  The first thing we noticed was that it was 50 years and one day after our wedding.

Sylvia had moved on when I turned away from that railing.  I saw her on the other side of the roadway (we could have driven up the hill, but were glad we hadn’t) where she was examining a rock.

Sylvia also wears a John Deere cap, but her’s is pink

I can see why that rock caught her eye.  I don’t think I ever saw anything like that before.  After walking around for a while, we started back down the hill toward our parked car.

An early bit of color lay beneath the maple tree

On the way down, Sylvia spotted a maple leaf beside the trail.  We both liked the color pattern in that leaf.  However, by now we were ready to get back on the road.  After taking the picture, we returned the leaf to where it had been and went directly to the car.  Ten minutes later we were crossing the bridge to the upper peninsula.  More about that next time.

He Hasn’t Changed Much

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Midnight is no longer a kitten as he is in the picture.  He still loves to hop up on my tummy when I’m relaxing in the recliner.  It used to be funny.  Now he can me go, “Ooofff!”  In other words, my little buddy is a getting to be a big guy.

He’s still as curious as ever.  He has to sniff, lick or bite anything new.  Fortunately, a camera lens only rates a sniff.  Nothing good to eat there.  Not even worth playing with.  So he says, “Forget you.”  And he goes over and settles in beside Sylvia.  He likes it on her chair.

Oopsy!  Somebody had a wet nose.  Don’t you think so?

Anything new or different that comes into this house must receive a visit from the inspector.  He must know about everything.  I think he must have a tiny clipboard between his kitty ears where he keeps track of all that stuff.

Just try to sit in the recliner to watch TV with some food . . .  You will certainly find the supervisor coming in to inspect your fare.  Most likely he’ll want some of your popcorn.  He’ll only eat a few kernels, so you will share them with him just to keep him off your lap.  It’s a small price to pay for not getting trampled and harassed.

This Week

I’m writing this on Friday evening (8/12) as I anticipate the arrival of our son, Scott.  He is coming from out-of-state for a 10-day visit.  We talk on the phone every Sunday evening, and sometimes during the week as well, but it has been a couple of years since we’ve been together.  That will be great!

Briana is scheduled to arrive home Sunday night (8/14).  We are planning to get together on Wednesday for a special day.  I tell you more about that later.  I’m looking forward to hearing her stories from Mexico and to speaking with her in Spanish.  I’ve got lots of questions for her.

So there is a lot going on here just now.  I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to get to the computer, but I’ll do what I can.  See you soon.

Seeing Sylvia’s Cousins

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Chuck talks with cousin Bob Crosby

It seems almost like a family reunion, but it’s really the Mint Grower’s Picnic sponsored by the local bank in St. Johns, Michigan.  The picnic marks the beginning of the annual Mint Festival, which is held at the fairgrounds and the adjacent city park.  It’s a lot of fun for everybody and has been a family tradition since the festival’s inception.

Sylvia’s great grandfather Crosby introduced mint to the area many years ago.  It is now a major farm crop in that area.  The Crosby family still raises mint and runs a still to extract the mint oil.

Sylvia’s mother was the first mint queen.  (How many of you have had a former beauty queen for a mother in law?)  Sad to say, Mom passed away 10 years ago.

I always look forward to talking to the Crosby cousins.  Bob’s wife, Ginger, is into genealogy and family history and we like to compare notes.  Ginger was unable to attend the picnic this year, so I gave Bob a summary of Sylvia’s family line and history.  (In the photo, you can see it in his hand.)  Linette is a blogger (The Mint Farmer’s Daughter) so we have no problems finding lots to talk about.  The story of how she and her brother were able to save the family farm is nothing short of inspiring and uplifting.   Many other stories flow out of the Crosby family farm.  Like the trip through the drive through that ended up in connecting with a woman whose best memories in life are tied to that farm.  A short conversation ended up in bringing a family back together.  But that is a story for Linette to tell.  I hope she will do that for us soon.

I’m sure you can see why we look forward to the Mint Festival and especially to the picnic.  Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Updates

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Claudia and Briana

Briana

Briana had met Claudia on an earlier mission trip to Mexico.  They quickly became friends and have remained in contact.  Claudia would write in Spanish, and Briana in English.

They were both excited to learn that they would be in the same intern program this summer.  At Briana’s request, they ended up in the same dorm room with Rossi (for English speakers it’s pronounced like “Rosey”).  Living with two Mexican gals has helped Briana hone and polish her Spanish abilities.  It has been a couple of weeks since we’ve had an update, but she talks to her folks and so we know she is doing well and keeping very busy.

Briana says she doesn’t want to come back home.  Nevertheless, the internship is quickly coming to an end.  And I for one am looking forward eagerly to seeing her next week.  She’ll have only a few days at home with family before returning to campus.  Sylvia and I are very glad that one of those days she plans to spend some time with us.  (I’ll probably tell you more about that later.)

Brad

Last week I posted a picture of the #2 Dodge that NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski was driving when he hit a concrete wall at 100 mph.  Brad was cleared to race on Sunday in a 500-mi race at Pocono, PA.  This despite a fractured ankle and a lot of pain.  It was amazing enough that after the horrendous accident he was able to start the race.  And he finished it too — in first place!

An interviewer said something about his performance being heroic.  Brad said that was not so.  The troops that lost their lives last week and the ones that serve to protect us are the heroes.  He added, “I just drive a race car for a living.”  How’s that for a class act?  One tough, but humble hombre.  Go Brad!

That win puts Keselowski in position to compete for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.  We’ll have to see how that all plays out.

Briana Update

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Rossy and Briana

Here is the latest update from Briana:

Outreach

A few weeks ago our staff team put on a “vacation bible school” program at a local church. We would play games with the kids, bring them into the church to sing some fun children’s songs with them before introducing the lesson. We started the lessons with brief skits that transitioned into the message and then at the end we would share the gospel using an evangecube (a cube that you can fold different ways to reveal pictures and share the gospel story with children). And finally, after sharing the gospel story and praying in small groups with the children, we set up tables for a craft.

I gave the lesson on Monday and I was able to narrarate the skit and see that the kids were interested in what was going on. It was really fun to sing silly songs with the kids and jump around to get them interested beforehand. I was nervous to lead the first day since I have never done lessons for kids before but it was well worth it and I was excited to see the kids reacting in a positive way.

Even better than sharing the lesson with the children was being able to share the gospel with them! On Thursday I used the evangecube to share the gospel in Spanish. I didn’t want to do it because I was scared of messing up the words but Rossy, one of our Mexican interns helped me practice and pushed me to share with the kids. Rossy has been a really great support and has pushed me to do things I am uncomfortable doing and whenever I get discouraged she always quotes Philippians 4:13 to me. (I can do everything through him who gives me strength.) She has been a really good friend and has been the cornerstone in the improvement of my Spanish language skills.

The outreach week was something new for us as a team and it was sometimes a struggle to get things prepared but God was definitely shining through and evident in out work.

Internship

Every Tuesday evening the interns get together for some Bible study with a book titled “Xplore”. We have been learning about God’s heart for missions and about reaching other “nations”. It’s given me a new perspective on missions and how it’s God’s goal to have every person on the earth have access to the gospel.

Prayer

Last week I asked for prayer about my relationship with God because I have not felt His presence lately but this month I have been reminded that faith is not a feeling and that God is still very close and approving even though I don’t have any supernatural feelings.

If you would please pray for my sanity this week as we will be extremely busy with over 100 campers and for my health and energy.

Less than a month remains in Briana’s internship.  Then she will return to Michigan.  The schedule calls for a few days of rest and preparation before returning to Honors College of Grand Valley State University, where she will enter her sophomore year as she prepares for a career in nursing.

Here and There

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Briana and her parents

There

Let’s start with there–there being Mexico.  Briana recently wrote:

This past week we had two California teams on the ranch. One doing construction ministry and the other doing evangelism/church ministry. It was fun to have lots of people here but it was also hard work. This week is an off week so we are heading to other areas of Mexico to visit other YUGO sites and then up to San Diego for a few days to relax before the most intense week of the whole summer–Mexico to Mexico Week. There will be almost 200 Mexican nationals on the ranch that will be reaching out into the surrounding communities. Sending out Mexican people to spread the gospel in the own country is the most effective form of evangelism and gives them a foundation for evangelism and future missions. It’s really exciting what God is doing through organizations like YUGO.

She also talked about relationships growing strong with staff members and other interns.  Her time there is half spent.  It has been a wonderful experience for her.


Here

The AC is running since late morning Thursday.  We are enjoying a break from the oppressive heat and humidity that has been on us most of this week.  It should be a bit cooler today.  I’m counting on that.  I plan to mow the lawn starting in the morning.  (That’s why I wrote this last night and stuck it in the queue.)

Our house guests, the Saavedras, were with us for only one night.  Nevertheless, we had a wonderful visit with them and got caught up on family news and happenings.  I’m sure they were glad to escape the oven that was our house during their stay with us.  Does anyone know why those mechanical systems develop problems at the least convenient times?

I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep as I write this Thursday night.  Despite the house being open and fans blowing all Wednesday night, it was very warm.  The dew point was in the mid 70s, and that means the temperature did not fall below that.  Much better outlook for tonight (Thursday), and did I tell you the AC is working?

Hope you have a great weekend. 

Busy Days for the Intern

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At the construction project site

The week before last, Briana (our granddaughter) was busy working on a construction project.  Our gal is the tall one in the middle.  To the right of her are the two daughters, mother and son that the casita (small house) was meant for.  Bri enjoyed using the hammer and power tools.  They also put up drywall on the inside and did the joints.  I’m thinking she had no trouble getting to sleep at night.

On the far left (in purple) is Claudia one of Bri’s Mexican friends.  They have been in communication since the first of this year.  These two share a dorm room with another Mexican gal.  That means Bri is getting lots of practice with her Spanish.  That’s good.  Here’s what she had to say recently.

Hello all! My Spanish has been improving a lot and I’m having so much fun! This week we did an outreach to a local church and did lessons for little kids. I did a lesson and used an evangecube (a cube that you fold different ways to show pictures to help you tell the gospel to kids) and shared the gospel IN SPANISH with the kids. It was super fun. This upcoming week we will be taking care of two church teams from the US while they stay at the ranch and go to churches to do outreach.

I’m having lots of fun and I can’t believe its almost half way over. I don’t want to go back at the end of the summer!

Another month, and it will be time for her to return home.  She’ll have a few days with family before she returns to campus and starts classes.  I’m looking forward to seeing her again.