They're Back

I opened the door and there it was, the first fishfly of the season.

We live on a river and just down the road from Lake St. Clair. Every year about this time the fishflies swarm the shorelines of the lake and river. These little creatures are the most interesting, annoying and dangerous things around. They don't bite and only live a very short time (30 minutes to 24 hours). They cling to every available surface, such as windows, doors, cars, car windows, sides of houses, plants, walk ways and people. They fly around lights, especially large lights like street and parking pole lights, as well as commercial lights on store fronts. Then they die and fall to the ground and cover the areas under the lights. This makes the ground greasy and slippery. Many an accident has happened because of these buggers.

The city of New Baltimore (not far from us) has a fishfly festival every year with carnival rides, a parade and even crowns a Miss Fishfly. I remember so many Fourth of July fireworks with fishflies flying and landing everywhere including us. The little ones especially hate them, they are harmless but give you the biggest creepy crawly feeling when that happens. But I admit to having lots of fun picking them up by the wings and setting them squirming on the arms and legs of people who have never been around them before.

Ahhh, summer's here and so are the fishflies. The good thing is they are only around for a few weeks.

Phew Slow Down and Charlottes

The summer has just started, but I have been off and running in the races for a few weeks now. I love summer, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and the water is flowing in the fountain. But to say that I have been busy is an understatement.

The weeks prior to Family Retreat, I was busy organizing and scheduling the women's small groups. Then came the actual retreat, what an incredible time. Now that we are back home, I am cooking several pots of soup and spaghetti for Kevin, cleaning the house and doing laundry before repacking Lance and I so we can leave early Friday morning.

We are driving down to Charlotte and Charleston to visit my daughters and sisters for a couple of weeks!! I can't wait, I haven't seen most of them since Christmas.

I am still basking in the glow of the retreat. Lance and his buddy for the week had a wonderful time. Charlotte is a woman in her mid 70's, boy is she a powerhouse! She was just perfect for our son. His best friend for years was his grandmother, he has missed her terribly since she passed away. Well, when we first found out that Lance's STM was an older woman, we were a little skeptical to say the least. Were we ever wrong, she is fun and funny, full of life and Lance had a hard time keeping up with her, just like his Nena (grandmother). We all fell in love with her. She kept him in line and took care of him too. They went to the Young Adult services in the morning and did many fun things in the afternoon. They went boating and walking along the beach. They went to eat pizza and rode very fast go carts. They played games and did crafts, went to the Western night and line danced (well Lance didn't dance too much, he was looking at the girls). They ate every meal together, as well as, ice cream and cotton candy. She was truly an answer to prayer.









I am hoping to post several stories over the next few days.

Purest Praise

I could see her in the isle, she was hunched over in her wheelchair with her twisted arms raised as high as she could reach.

Behind me I could hear him singing out of tune and off beat.

I watched the joyful face of a mom, while she watched her little seven year old son jump up and down in front of the platform flapping his hands as fast as he could.

An isle over from me, I could hear the excited screams of the young man in the wheelchair.

Elizabeth sat next to me constantly tapping me to show me her drawing of Jesus.

The young black man on stage, was strumming his guitar and singing with one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard.

Some of the STMs (short term missionaries) were holding their charges, while the moms and dads were singing and swaying to the music.

Margie has downs, there were tears streaming down her face as she worshipped.

There were giggles and squeals, grunts and squirms. Little ones dancing and bigger ones lifting there voices and hands up high.

Even now as I write this, I am still crying. The cacophony of sounds, the visual sight of movement...words cannot describe the most beautiful worship service I have ever been in. Maybe, just maybe, I can grasp a little of what David meant in Psalm 100.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.Serve the Lord with gladness;come before his presence with singing.Know ye that the Lord he is God;it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,and into his courts with praise;be thankful unto him, and bless his name.For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;and his truth endureth to all generations.

Purest Praise...

Busy Life

One moment I am complaining that I don't have much to do (or should I say want to do) and the next moment I don't have a second to relax.

That's where I am at, no time to relax. I have been working on Family Retreat things for the last few weeks, trying to get the house cleaned and taking Lance to the eye doctors and dentist.

Retreat begins Saturday. There still is so much that needs to get finished before then. Kevin and I washed 26 windows yesterday and today, as well as cleaned behind the furniture that we had to move to get to the windows. Took Lance for new glasses, but not to the optometrist I wanted to take him to. We have been waiting for quite awhile for an authorization to see the one he has gone to since he was born (this is the guy who did Lance's surgery) and found out that we will be losing vision and dental by July 1st. I panicked and took him to any old doctor I could find. Well, I got the call that the authorization was approved, so we are going to see that doctor, even though Lance already has new glasses. Went to see the dentist and found out that Lance needs some major dental work done, so new we have to go back several more times. I need to do some shopping and packing, between phone calling and making meals for Kevin.

I will admit to taking the time to watch the Wings games (see previous post) but they are almost finished. Sorry Becky, but it looks like the Wings are going to take the cup again. ;-)

I only have a little time in the morning to check e-mails and then off I go. So, I probably will not be posting too much for the next few weeks.

Tootles for now...

Wing Nuts

I have been so busy the last few weeks getting ready for family retreat. Lots of phone calling and e-mailing and writing documents. It is fun and worthwhile, but because of this, I haven't spent a lot of time on the computer for fun.

This morning I am taking a few moments to talk about what Kevin and I are enjoying most right now.

THE DETROIT RED WINGS!!!

Yes, we are Wing Nuts. And the Wings are in the Stanley Cup Finals once again. Honestly, we are not into too many pro sports, in fact after last year's football season, we were even embarrassed to say we were from Detroit (can you spell L-i-o-n-s?). But when it comes to hockey, we are crazy nuts, quite literally wing nuts.

So to satisfy my daughter's request, here are a couple of pics from this weekend. (Two games played...Sat. and Sun. and two games won!)

Kevin sitting on the edge of his seat wearing his 2008 Stanley Cup championship cap and his Red Wings jeresy, a gift from our daughter and son-in-law.

Brigette, here is a picture of Dad and Oliver. Oliver gets so excited when we are yelling. Which is all the time during a game. :~)



Kevin's jeresy has the name of his favorite player, Datsyuk, who is out of the line-up right now due to injuries. :~(

and here they are skating to beat the band.


Yes, I know we are crazy, but we love it. Usually we get to go to a couple of games during the year, but this year, because Kevin's hours at work haven't been that great, we couldn't go. We are so grateful they have been televising all the games. Wahoo!! This is a great distraction from all the bad news in our area lately...Chrysler's bankruptcy and today's announcement of GM's bankruptcy with all the new layoffs.

GO WINGS!!!