May 12 Just a few pics

Tuesday:  I had a busy morning before going over to Dylan and Kelly's today. My friend, Bev, called at 7:45 because her ride to a doctor's appointment didn't come through--she wondered if I could get her to a 9:00 appointment downtown. Well ... since I have asked the Lord to PLEASE make me a blessing to someone every day, and since Bev has been that "someone" on a regular basis, I could see no reason why I couldn't pick her up and take her to her appointment. Hopefully, I could still meet my friend, Julie, for an early lunch at 11am.

It turned out just fine, but I sure got myself into an almost mess. Bev's appointment was not where I had assumed it was (a place I had taken her many times before), it was at the location that has the underground parking garage that is difficult to find, and once you find it, it's difficult to find an elevator to take you up to the offices, etc. I did a lot of praying in that hour! Everything worked out and I am very thankful for that. I am very slowly learning to turn anxiety over to the Lord, tell Him what I am struggling with and of what I am afraid, and then asking for His help. You would think at my age, this would no longer be a struggle, but it definitely has been. I was thankful for His presence and peace as we navigated one-way streets and complex parking issues yesterday. Plus, I was thankful I could be of help to Bev. Did I tell you that she has become a good friend and that I love her? 

Julie and I had a great time at lunch but were very sad to learn that our favorite waitress, Darre (pronounced like "Sorry" only with a "D") was fired! We had an alternate and very nice waitress, Michelle. Our other friend, Jen, couldn't meet us today. Jen's dad is dying and family is coming from all over to say good-bye to him while he is still living. He sounds like a wonderful person who loves the Lord and will start an entirely new adventure very soon ... an eternity without pain or suffering, in the presence of the Lord. 

Here are a few after-school pictures of the kiddos. I hardly took any photos today. I was too tired! We mainly just hung out together inside of the house (because it was too cold to play outside--at least for me!). We did a lot of laughing and joking around and it was almost time for me to leave when I finally remembered I had taken ZERO pictures! So I quickly took this one of Cal ...

And then Erin STOLE MY PHONE and took about 60 selfies, most of which were identical (although there were a few of her sticking out her tongue) ...

But I am only posting these four ...

You crack me up, Erin. Silliness abounding!

May 11 Middle School Spring Choir Concert

Monday Evening:  Tonight at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, I got to attend Brendan's Spring Concert!

Here he is! Brendan was trying to High-5 Erin who was sitting just above where Brendan is jumping! 

This is inside the Fine Arts Center. We were sitting on the side seats that go up to the upper level. I was on an end chair so that I could take good pictures. Aidan sat beside me. Cal was behind me, along with Erin and the folks.

This Spring Concert had actually two groups: the Sixth Grade choir, and then the Middle School choir.

I mainly took pictures where I could see Brendan ... here he is during their performance of "Dance Evolution" which basically demonstrated the evolution of dancing starting in the 1950's and then through each successive decade to the present.

Brendan had a duet during this song. Both boys really blasted out the lyrics!

Both choirs combined at the end to sing "Count on Me." They all did a nice job. I didn't enjoy this concert as much as I have other concerts Brendan has been in. Perhaps it was just the choice of music that wasn't as beautiful (to me). Or maybe it's because Brendan truly isn't a "little kid" anymore ... and I have to look at him so differently now. I'll get used to it one of these days ... but it is a process for me.

The HILL just outside the Fine Arts Center ... great for rolling down, d o w n, d o w n !!!

All of the kiddos got into this.

I would have stayed longer and taken better pictures, but I was SO COLD and it was SO WINDY that I couldn't hang in there!

I am thankful that I at least got these pictures of my dear grandchildren. Love them so much.
 

May 10 Mother's Day

Sunday:  What a nice day today was! I picked Bev up for church at 8:15 this morning and we went to our Sunday school class--the teaching was on the life of the Biblical character, Ruth. I love her story! We had good class interaction too--these are very nice people, most of them quite elderly.

Emma sat with me in church. We are now sitting as far back in the auditorium as it is possible to sit. This was our second week in the back and all went well. Pastor Jim was back from his six week break, where he studies, prays, fasts and seeks to find out from the Lord where Calvary should be headed during the upcoming year. He announced that starting September, we will study the book of Jeremiah, emphasizing how it looks to live a life of HOPE. I am really looking forward to that. Also, for the next 18 weeks (beginning today), we are going to be studying 18 lesser known Biblical people to see what God will teach us from their stories. Pastor Jim began the series today with a study on ANNA (from Luke 2). I think I will  do a separate posting on the sermon because it was really interesting and encouraging.

After the service, Emma and I went our separate ways--Emma and Kota were heading up north to visit his mom and grandma for Mother's Day. I ate lunch at my house (I got a roasted chicken from Family Fare), and then I went over to Jesse's to say hi for a little while. Kaity was there, so I visited briefly with both of them before heading over to Forest Hills Northern to watch two separate flag football games. All of the pictures I took today are from that event.

Erin and Gregory play on the same team and the team names correspond with NFL team names--i.e. The Steelers, Packers, Lions, etc. 

Gregory is quite enthused about the entire football scene ...

I tried to take a "selfie" with Erin, but she is really "into" making faces when I try this. Hmm.

Here is Aidan, waiting for his team to play.

When Erin and Cal's game had finished and Aidan's began, the other kids and I took a little stroll to the end of the field where we found this training equipment ... so the kids ... trained!

Here is Aidan all ready to play.

Did I mention how COLD it was sitting outside watching these games? Brrrrr. Thankfully, I was dressed warmly, but actually, I should have worn my long-johns underneath my bluejeans and jacket. I don't do well sitting in the cold. Plus it was pretty windy, which only made me colder.

I was invited out to dinner for Mother's Day by Dylan and Kelly. They took the whole family over to The Score. Their kiddos love it there because you can eat outside and play on a playground and watch people play volleyball, etc. It's like a real beach outside. So we ate outside where everyone could play in the sand. It was COLD, but the food is so delicious, and it was so nice to be with Dylan's family, that I managed to survive it. !! Thank you, Lord, for such a nice day.

May 8 Walking the trail

Friday:  I had a bunch of errands to run today--the most important was to stop by "Aunt Candy's Toy Company" and purchase those birthday items young Mr. Gregory had picked out last week when the two of us were there together. I went to the toy store first and actually came within $2 of my budget after choosing most of what Cal wanted. 

The weather was absolutely perfect--about 65 degrees, a light breeze, and partial sunshine! I decided that I could not possibly be this close to the Rogue River and NOT walk the White Pine Trail for at least a little bit.

And look!! I was so pleased that there was a gorgeous swan to follow around for a little while. I love the gracefulness and dignified way these birds move about, don't you?

I took many pictures of this swan that didn't turn out at all, probably because I didn't have my actual camera, but only my phone. I find that when I am using my phone to photograph, when I have to zoom in on an object, the pixel quality is terribly inferior. I really need to start carrying my camera around on a more regular basis.

Isn't this such a lovely bird?

I think I will be able to use a few of these shots to make cards from ... I hope so, at least.

Look how beautiful the sky was--aren't those cool clouds?

For just a very split second, I thought that floating log (below) was an alligator! I would have been thrilled if that had been the case; but since we live in Michigan, it's a highly unlikely animal to see floating anywhere!

I like to watch the geese too, except they are such stuck-up birds! They do not give a person ANY freedom to get close to them.

Especially if their "babies" are young ...

This male goose was squawking his head off at me and I was quite far away. I told him to settle down. I surely would never harm a gosling if my life depended on it!

I walked quite a distance before turning around to come back into Rockford. At one point, my knees hurt so badly I wondered if I was EVER going to get back to my car. Thankfully, there was a picnic bench along the river where I stopped and rested for 10 minutes to regain my strength. It surely was a nice afternoon walk.