November 4 Old Mission Point Light (cont.)

Friday:  I went around to the back of the lighthouse and took pictures from that viewpoint that I didn't take of this place years ago. Here they are:

There was a small path to the right of the lighthouse that led back to the beach. Eva and I were walking together and we decided not to go down to the beach--mostly because it was pretty wet sand and our shoes were not going to handle that very nicely.

We turned back and found another path back to the lighthouse, so I took a bunch of side view pictures.

I like a lot of these pictures!

Eva and I also walked this path into the woods the opposite direction of the lighthouse. SO pretty back here!

Do you see how beautiful the colors are?

I love the contrast of these green leaves against the trees!

Such a lovely spot, isn't it? I'm glad I was able to get such nice pictures this time around.
 

November 4 Old Mission Point Light

Friday:  SO ... finally! Our MNBS overnight up in Traverse City at Margaret's condo! I have been looking forward to this very much. We carpooled up north since gas prices are so high. Tamela drove the car I was in, along with her granddaughter (Lirien), and also Beth. Margaret drove the other car with Cindy, Eva, and Helen. It is a 2.5 hour drive to the condo--we arrived just after 3:00 in the afternoon. It was forecasted to rain all weekend, although not pouring rain--just light rain. Since it wasn't yet raining when we arrived and Margaret had some preparation work to do for dinner, she suggested that we take a car up the peninsula 17 miles and check out the lighthouse. So we did!

I believe it was in 2008 that Ruthanne and I had a sister's retreat and visited Old Mission Point Light. I'll have to check backward in this blog to see for sure. That was the only time I can remember ever being here before. It was summer at that time and the little tower was open. Ruthanne and I climbed to the top to see the view. There are only 27 steps!

But today, we didn't arrive until after the tower was closed for the day. But that was okay. We enjoyed ourselves anyway. I took a LOT of pictures. I'm going to have to show them to you in two separate posts.

Here is the first wave of pictures--most of which are taken approaching the lighthouse from the parking lot, or from the beach in front of it. This is the path from the parking lot to the lighthouse.

This is not in my top favorite lighthouses ... but there is something enchanting about it nonetheless. It has the look of a little country church, doesn't it?

What surprised us ladies most was the COLOR that was still so beautiful this first week of November. We felt certain that most of the leaves would be down and everything would be very brown ...

Yes, these pictures are super repetitive ... however, I took almost 200 so at least I've narrowed them down a bit.

Some of these will make very nice cards!

We spent about an hour walking the beach and pathways ... it was sprinkling, but only just a little bit.

When I was here the only other time, I did not spend as much time exploring. I'm glad we had as much time as we wanted to today. More pictures to follow ...

November 3 Kaity and her cousins

Thursday:  On Tuesday, when I had the little kids, Erin was complaining that it had been SO LONG since she had seen her cousin, Kaity!"Why, grandma? Why can't we see Kaity?" I tried to explain to Erin that school schedules are difficult to work with, that we have to pick Aidan up from school and be at the house for Brendan to get home, and getting Kaity after school just won't work anymore on Tuesdays. When Erin is sad, she is sad with her entire body ... she just slumped over and moaned.

SO ... how to remedy this dilemma? 

I messaged Dylan to see if it would be OK if Kaity and I stopped by late this afternoon to play with the kids. Dylan let me know that Erin had a fever yesterday, but that it had not been a problem today. I picked Kaity up at 4:00 and we drove over to her cousins' new house to play for just a brief time.

When we arrived, it was apparent that dear Erin was not at all feeling up to playing with Kaity or with anyone. She sat and cuddled with Miss Jen and tried very hard to be polite (she was too), but she just had no strength to play.

Brendan! He seems to really like their new house. I do too!

Cal was full of energy and ran around with Kaity for a little bit. Aidan was busy eating "snacks."

I love this picture of Kaity and her youngest cousin.

Here is Cal and Erin's bedroom. I didn't take pictures of the other bedrooms.

Brendan, looking over the landing on their very HIGH staircase.

Kaity and I only stayed 25 minutes! Erin needed to rest (she really did look very miserable) and we didn't want to interrupt that. It was still good for the cousins to see each other, even if it was brief. Kaity is Erin's favorite person (practically) and I think Kaity feels quite flattered by that. 

Kaity and I came to my house to eat and try to decide what to do about her soccer practice. Kaity injured her leg at school today and didn't want to run and kick a soccer ball. This was the last soccer practice and the coach arranged for the team to play against the parents. This time I couldn't convince Kaity to go, and as it was, I was completely confused on the time of the practice and would not have gotten her there on time anyway. I don't like it when that happens (when I mess up), but it is bound to happen now and then.

Kaity talked me in to watching the first half of "Jurassic World" and we enjoyed ourselves hugely as we watched. I love you, Kaity-Girl.

November 2 An Unknown Path

Wednesday:  

I took this picture a few years ago. I had been looking for the "perfect" fall scene to photograph and I was driving down the Beltline in the middle of the day, and across from Kuyper College I noticed a pathway leading into the woods. The colors that day were gorgeous! I pulled into a parking lot of medical buildings, grabbed my camera and took that path. It was just a short walk before I came upon this magical scene. WOW. I am super thankful I stopped to explore that little pathway, previously unseen and unknown to me; because it no longer exists. Construction trucks have leveled this whole area to make room for more ... medical buildings. SIGH.

I have been really sad for many weeks now--too personal to divulge in this blog--but just a dread and a foreboding for a person I dearly love. I am so at a loss as to make any difference whatsoever and oftentimes I feel so useless and ... almost foolish, and sometimes despised (which is very hurtful).

I've been reading (for weeks now) through the Psalms. I have been doing my reading with colored highlighters in hand--BLUE for anything said about God--GREEN for any locations or people groups--DEEP PINK for any mention of evil--LIGHT ORANGE for imperatives, etc. Why? Because I read without thinking. I read too fast. I read out of obligation. I read to get finished. I don't want to read God's Word like that! So this slows me down and helps me to ponder a bit as I go.

This morning, I was reading Psalms 74 - 77, written by ASAPH. He has written 11 or 12 of the Psalms. I had to look him up because I couldn't remember who he was. Asaph was a worship leader, appointed by David to lead the singing in David's court choir. Asaph was a prominent Levite. He was a singer and a prophet. Most of his psalms are psalms of lament. He wrote Psalm 50 as well as 73 - 83.

I love Psalm 50, especially verse 10 where he says of God: "For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills." I remember singing the chorus, "He Owns the Cattle on a Thousand Hills" in youth group all of those years ago. I always loved thinking about Him owning all of the animals.

Anyway, I got to Psalm 77 in which Asaph is lamenting and complaining to God that He is silent! He doesn't hear! God has forsaken His people! 

And I said, "This is my fate, that the blessings of the Most High have changed to hatred." I recall all you have done, O LORD, I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago ... O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of miracles and wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations ...

Here is where the psalm got really interesting to me ...

When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. The clouds poured down their rain; the thunder rolled and crackled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters--a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.

I have often read about the parting of the Red Sea and never once pictured a storm, did you? Asaph describes pouring rain, thunder, lightning, the earth shaking ... and THEN--YOUR ROAD led through the sea, YOUR PATHWAY through the mighty waters--A PATHWAY NO ONE KNEW WAS THERE! Wow. There was no other way of escape for the Israelites but to enter that pathway and follow it! They were being hotly pursued by their enemies! Me too. I have enemies of doubt, despair, confusion, rejection, loneliness. I need to follow His path "less traveled."

I love to take the path less frequented when out in the woods! I love to explore and be where I have never been before. These verses in Psalm 77 show me that God has a path for me to follow--and it leads straight into "mighty waters"; it is a pathway that I am NOT familiar with--a pathway I didn't even know was there ... through grief and trials, through the good and bad--God knows the path and is leading me as MY SHEPHERD. But ... that doesn't mean there won't be storms and fear and struggle or grief as I walk with Him. I need to trust Him and His leading. Help me do that, Lord!

November 2 Raking leaves

Wednesday:  We've been raking leaves here at Leisure Village for about two weeks now. Some years, the leaves fall slowly (which we find annoying) and it takes weeks for them to completely fall and thus end our raking responsibilities. THIS year, it seems that most of the leaves are already down! 

It was a beautiful day once again today, so I spent another two hours raking, blowing, and fussing with my yard and a few adjacent yards. Rumor was out that the "leaf vacuum" guy was coming today (this rumor has been going around for about 6 days now) ... and I wanted to be sure to get as many leaves as possible down to the roadside so that they could be sucked up (rather than bagged). 

I love being outside ... and I don't mind raking one single bit. I actually enjoy it. There is something so satisfying about cleaning up my little yard and making it as pretty as possible. It's also a good time to "connect" with neighbors and chat with them a little bit. The other day when I was out, my elderly neighbor (Dave) who is a Vietnam Vet was out getting his mail. He has lost so much weight--he hardly weighs 90 pounds. He says the docs are doing tests to find out why he keeps losing weight. He didn't seem overly concerned, but still. He did tell me a happy story though ...

Dave's cat, named Precious, the friend he had for 21 years, died right before Christmas last year. I remember him telling me this shortly afterwards. I was so sad for him. He seemed deeply grieved by her loss. Well ... even though he said he did not want another cat, his daughter (who has too many cats) gave up one of her male cats to him. She described "Milo" as a regressive and extremely shy cat; but Dave thinks it's because she has too many little kids at her house and Milo doesn't particularly enjoy little kids. Dave said the second day he had Milo, he climbed right up on his lap and now is his constant companion. I was so glad to hear this!

 Today while I was out raking, I got to visit with a couple who live a little down the street from me: Teri Jean and Roger. They know the gentleman that is moving in next door to me next week (Ted). He is an elderly, recent widow, who is a believer--he goes to their church! I would not have found out that information had I not been outside raking! See! Good things come from outdoor work.

It's been a good Wednesday. I made a sympathy card for a woman in my MNBS group. I ate two good meals while reading a truly interesting historical fiction novel ... and now I am catching up on laundry and other practical household stuff. I have so much to be thankful for.

PS.  The leaf vacuum people came through the park and ... sucked up most of the leaves that were out on the curbside, so I'm really glad I spent those hours raking this morning.

November 1 Another Tuesday

Tuesday: I didn't take many pictures of the littles today! I was too busy playing, answering questions, and "serving" their little tummies. We had a good few hours over at my house:

I'm so glad this little boy loves trains. I'm super thankful I have so many nice train toys for him to enjoy.

He truly loves them and even makes "chug-a-chug" noises as the trains go around the track.

Erin loves trains too ... but she loves dolls a lot as well. She played quite awhile today with the few dolls I have--feeding and dressing them, and putting them to bed with their blankets. Erin is super serious about the entire ritual.

We picked Aidan up from school and raced home to meet Brendan getting off his bus. Brendan then worked on his homework and I read books to the other kiddos for awhile. We "horsed" around as we usually do. I love to hear their laughter as they get chased and caught. They are so precious to me.

Kelly and Aidan had an appointment in the early evening but I stayed for a little while to visit with Dylan and the other kids. I loved it when Brendan sat beside me as I was reading a few books to Erin and Cal. Brendan always sits very close and his attention is 100% on the story. He loves to hear a good story. I love that about him. 

I got home here shortly after 7pm, cleaned up the house, washed the dishes, and sat down to catch up on some evening news. I went to bed shortly before 10pm. I was pretty tired! I didn't even read myself to sleep--I wasn't interested in reading--I was very happy to just close my eyes and sleep.