CONGRATULATIONS, Sarah!!

What a joyous event! Saturday, Sarah graduated from WMU!! She has worked very diligently to obtain her Bachelors of Arts in Communications. We are proud are of her tenaciousness, and can't wait to see what will come next for her! Opportunity is calling and I know she will follow her dream! Proud of you, Sarah! Put your future in good hands . . . God's hands! He has a special plan for YOU!! :) Love you!

Waiting for the graduates to come in.
Proud Jonathan and Sarah!! :)

December Dance Club

Dinner, dancing, big band, great company . . . it's always an evening I look forward to!!

Rosie, Kathy, Cathy, and Mark . . . standing in for Gena :)

Christmas Party

What a hoot! We had our annual White Elephant Christmas party and the 'white elephants' topped all white elephants! The gifts ranged from an $800.00 painting to a bright orange pair of golf shorts! Who thinks of these things?!! We had a great time, laughing, eating, catching up, and of course, opening great prizes!!
PS...I'm still finding very special prizes throughout my house!!

Cheating - Proud of you??? WHAT???

Today, two students in my class were blatantly cheating on a timed test. Simple. Learn the multiplication facts and you're golden! After the incident, I spoke to my 'authority' regarding the situation - - fully expecting both children to receive after school detention.

Surprisingly, she didn't understand why I was upset with them ... "I should be PROUD of them!" "The boy had allowed the girl to copy from his test because he was being KIND to her. He understood she had trouble with the task and wanted to help her." (WHAT!!! Are you SERIOUS?!!!) Then she said, "I should be PROUD of her because she has become academically successful by learning ways to cope with her disability."

WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?? When is wrong WRONG?? The last time I checked, kind people don't help you by cheating!

The day I become PROUD because someone CHEATS is the day I need to say good-by to education! Whatever...

Pentwater girl's weekend

Last weekend was our girl's fall weekend getaway in Pentwater! We stayed at Karen's beautiful house . . . we felt like queens! We had wonderful conversation, food, relaxation, and rejuvenation! Friends are like diamonds...precious and few! I love you girlfriends~ :)

Meleia, Marilyn, Sharon, and Karen posing under the beautiful red Maple tree.

On Sunday we had lunch at the beautiful Tea Room - delish salad and soup!

Our scrumptious caramel ice cream sundae served in a hollowed out orange.

Shopping in downtown Pentwater - so pretty!!

We were walking to see Lake Michigan for our last time this fall!
Chilly weather, but beautiful!!
Brrr...the Lake Michigan looks so cold!
Beautiful fall clouds, ushering in winter! :(

What a beautiful time away . . .I'm so grateful for precious friendships!

Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Bella investigation the jack-o-lantern after her tubby!
Craig with Bella! She was a pumpkin for Halloween! :)
Ready to trick-or-treat!!

Isn't she the cutest pumpkin ever?? Love her!
Costumes, pumpkins, and candy! Oh my! What could be better?!!

Engagement - Bling Bling!

Love is in the air...!!!

Adam and Julia got engaged today! On one knee, Adam proposed this morning (after conferring with Craig on Friday). What a surprise and delight! This week, Jonathan and Sarah set their wedding date, and now we'll have another big day to prepare for! We're so blessed to have Sarah Jevnikar and Adam Schlusler in our family!

Bling Bling!

Isn't it pretty?!!

It is our prayer that their lives will always be filled with love and joy! Congratulations!

Fall 2009

I love Fall!
...cool and crisp morning air
...bright orange pumpkins, waiting to be carved
...golden brown apple pie
...sunflowers hanging their heads to the cool nights
...odd shaped gourds
...candy corn and peanuts mixed together
...colorful wreaths hanging on the front door
...bright yellow and burgundy mums
...gooey caramel apples with crushed nuts
...fresh cider
...long bike rides on a deserted dirt road
...fallen leaves flamed with color, crunching under my feet
...cornucopias filled with fresh harvest
...pumpkin bread with raisins
...Indian summers
For everything, there is a season...

Family Time

Charlevoix family weekend . . .

On Sunday, after the wedding, we were able to spend time with Sarah and Jonathan and Sarah's parents, Joy and Larry. We feel so blessed that Jonathan is loved and welcomed with open arms by the Jevnikars! Our time spent together is rich and memorable.

Lunch together at the Village Inn with the Jevnikars
Jonathan and Adam fondly greeting each other! :)
Julia & Sarah (this is the way girls greet one another)

From the beautiful Charlevoix bridge!

Sam and Joel's wedding

This weekend we went to Charlevoix for Samantha and Joel's wedding! It was a beautiful affair! They were married outside at the Queen's Castle! It was wonderful being included in the Jevnikar family for the weekend! Sarah was the Maid of Honor ~ she looked stunning! We also enjoyed spending time with Jonathan! It was a great weekend of celebration! Going to weddings always reminds me . . . "the road is bright before us, as hand-in-hand we start. We'll travel on together, one mind, one soul, one heart!" It's my prayer that Sam and Joel have many, many happy years together.

Biking

...the wheels on my bike go round and round...

The Tridge in Midland

For the past few weekends, Craig and I have joined friends on biking expeditions. The Pere Marquette Trail in Midland was one of my favorites. It's a great trail - - blacktopped for miles and miles. My favorite part of this trail was stopping at a great restaurant going, and a delish ice cream shop coming back! We got to stop TWO times for eating! :) Biking is a wonderful way to enjoy the beautiful fall out-of-doors!

Cathy and me posing at the 10 mile marker!

Last weekend we biked the Paint Creek Trailway in Rochester - Lake Orion. It was a beautiful, but dusty trail. We found a darling apple orchard along the way and stopped for cider and a hot, homemade cinnamon donut. We also stopped for dinner at a 'famous' hot dog restaurant along the trail. Biking 20+ miles has its rewards!!

Meleia and Karen forging the trail! :)Meleia and Mike, Karen and Don, Craig and me at the orchard.

My biking buddies know ... I BRAKE FOR ICE CREAM AND FOOD!!! :)

Cops and Doughnuts

Cops & Doughnuts
Between the wedding and reception yesterday, we took a drive to Clare to visit the Cops & Doughnuts bakery! Very cute! I first heard about this on Good Morning America and then on Fox News. Later that week, there was a big article about it in the Flint Journal! Check out the story on their website at www.copsdoughnuts.com.
This is one of the nine police officers who own it now. By the way, their doughnuts and cookies are terrific! Love it!

Petoskey

This week we went to Petoskey with Don and Diane. We stayed at the beautiful historic Perry Hotel! Believe it or not, the guys left their golf clubs home! Biking was great, but after four days,they were itching for the golf course! Our view of Lake Michigan was amazing!

We biked from Petoskey to Bay Harbor!!!
Wow! Amazing!! Beautiful!!

The next day we biked into Harbor Springs! The trail goes right along the lake and through a Nature Preserve. Beautiful sights! On our way home we stopped in Charlevoix to look around. I'm entranced by the bridge that rises every half hour for the boats to pass through! So very amazing!

This week, Kay and I headed to the Mackinac Island. She hadn't been there in 25+ years, so we decided to do the 'tourist' thing and visit for a day. The weather was cold and drizzly, but we had a big time!! We shopped, sampled, sauntered, and shivered, but loved every minute of it!!
Kay and I rented bikes and rode around the island. The vistas were breath-taking!
The flowers on the Island were amazing! I guess the cooler temperatures contribute to their beauty. Brrr...it was only in the 60's while we were there!!
While it sprinkled, we sat on the Grand Hotel's porch - - staying nice and dry! Notice the beautiful Big Mac bridge in the background of this picture! Amazing sight from any angle!!
As we sat on the porch, we admired the 'taxi' as the guests arrived at the Grand.
The storm was creeping closer and closer to the island - - time to head for the mainland! It was a fantastic day, despite the chilly temperatures!

Charlevoix sunsets

Going...

Going...

Gone!!

The sunsets in Charlevoix were amazing! Watching the sun set at the end of a wonderful day filled me with anticipation of God's blessings. What an marvelous gift ~ wrapped so bright.