Laura takes pictures too!

Sunset on Lake Michigan Apple Picking

Biking

We spent yesterday on the Hart-Montegue Trail, part of the Rails to Trails System. Here we are all ready to go. You can see that, in the rush to get out of the house Friday, we forgot our bike helmets! You can also see that the weather was, well, less than perfect! When we started, it was misty and damp, with a forecast that called for rainshowers in the afternoon. We decided we had come here to ride, and ride we would, even if only for a little while. We could always turn back, right? How many guys does it take to change a flat tire? Fotunately, Dave had brought a spare tube!

The trees are just beginning to turn. Most of the trees along the trail seemed to be oaks, so they will turn later. But there were some really pretty ones! This is actually the only one I got a picture of, if you can believe it! When you're on a 40+ mile bike ride with others, stopping to photograph trees is frowned upon! Here we all are in front of the tree, except for I was taking the picture: On this trip, I had another first for my life. I got a bug in my eye. I don't mean the kind that flies at your eye and you blink just in time. I mean the type that lands in the little place under the lower lid. It was a gnat sort of a thing and very uncomfortable! All I could think was Bug in my eye!!! Get it out!!! Get it out!!! I popped my contact out as fast as I could, not caring that I had no glasses with me. Then Dad gently removed the bug with a kleenex. Too bad I had no saline at all. What to do with the contact? Back in the eye with no solution, hoping that tears will wash away all the grime.

We rode all the way to Hart, which is 21 miles. The rain had held off so far, and we were thankful for that. We had a late lunch at a little bar & grill there, and I can tell you, we were pretty hungry! I thought I would feel a little revived after lunch. Key word there would be "a little." It began to rain on us, though not too terribly hard. On we rode, and I found myself really dragging, consistently at the back of the pack. Watching the others ahead of me grow tinier and tinier until they faded from view, while I pedaled and pedaled and inched forward.

I often thought to myself about "the code" (what if one should fall behind. . .) and I thought "Hang the code!!! They're more like guidelines anyway!!!" (Anyhow, Dad rode with me, and the others waited for me to catch up at regular intervals.) We did stop for ice cream about half way back at the Country Dairy. But then it was back on the bikes, and all I could think of was "hot baths at Harfang tonight!" which being translated, means, hot bath in jacuzi coming up soon! When we arrived at the hotel, most of the group went another little bit, so they could say they went 50 instead of 47, but personally, I was beyond caring at that point! 47 sounds like a grand achievement to me! And once we returned, the rain began in earnest!

Not to Worry!

I just finished reading this book overcoming fear, worry, and anxiety. It was called Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety. Now of course, I just read it so I could understand people who have a problem with worry, clearly as a theoretical thing, in case I ran into someone who had that sort of problem, you know.

Nevertheless, I did learn some things that I hope I won't forget. I loved the quote from Corrie Ten Boom's book The Hiding Place(which I read many years ago) when she was fearful that her father might die. The author also quotes Spurgeon from time to time, who was undoubtedly very wise. And of course, there are the very words of Christ Himself in Matthew 6: When we worry that bad things will happen, we are reminded that God is in control, and that nothing can happen to me that has not gone through Him first. I have no doubt believing that, but sometimes it is small comfort when I know that God has decided that it is ok for some pretty terrible things to happen to some people (i.e. 9/11, cancer, car wrecks, aneurysms, wars, hurricanes, etc. You get the idea!) At this point, I'm reminded of the words to Nichole Nordemann's song, "Gratitude." There are times I have listened to it 5 or 6 times in a row, to let the words sink in deep, so I can develop this kind of trust, kind of a "Our God is able. . . but even if He does not. . ." like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Spurgeon said ". . . with the fear of God, there is no room for other fears." The author points to the example of Christian in the classic Pilrim's Progress when he met Timrous and Mistrust. The author goes on and talks about other kinds of worry - like worrying too much about what people think, and how we should live our lives for an Audience of One. She discusses the practical side of thigns, a la Philippians 4:6-8. Winning over worry seems largely a matter of what do I allow my mind to dwell on? Reminds me of the Casting Crowns song, when "the waves are calling out my name, and they laugh at me, reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed. . . But the voice of truth tells me a different story." Here's hoping I'll be listening to the voice of truth! (I mean, anyone who happens to read this and actually has a problem with worry!)

Apple Picking

Amber kindly provides pictures of the apple picking adventure in GR.

Weekend Highlights (in no particular order)

We took The Little Matchbox on his first road trip. It was lots of fun!
We got to see some fabulous Carolyn smiles.
With smiles like that, everyone works overtime to elicit one. We enjoyed the first apple pie of the season.
Here is Michelle and Amber, who is currently spending the month in GR.
Brad played in the Hope College Alumni hockey game. This was Carolyn's 1st hockey game ---
(Also Carolyn's 1st Hope College event)

Why the big smile?

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS???

(We are accepting suggestions for names. . . .)

Perfecting the Smile

Presenting, (ahem) the Queen

Yep, that's her, the mother of all those bees I told you about earlier. She's in the lower center of the above picture. She's a little bigger than the others, so you can see that her wings don't even cover her back.

Laura and the new apartment

Laura likes to have LOTS of friends over!

An Open Letter to Anon

To my dear reader and faithful commentor:

Such writings should not be relegated to the comment section of another's blog. No, certainly not! Such skill, such humor should have its very own blog! Your most recent comment elicited far more comments than anything I've ever said. I am sure your many readers would love to be able to log onto your blog directly, instead of searching mine for comments.

Let the public speak! Are there other readers out there who think Anon. should create a blog for the betterment of society, for the pleasure of other blog readers?

(However, if not, your comments are always welcome on mine!)

We had company this weekend. . .

The biggest challenge for us over the weekend is not fighting over the baby. :)

Seen in Dallas

I can't seem to make the animated part work on blogger, but you can click here and watch the sign change every 2 or 3 seconds.

Bees bees and more bees (edited)

My friend Nancy discovered bees in her garage in the drywall. She had seen a few bees fly in and out, and had sprayed where they went in. She could sometimes hear them buzzing in the wall out there, but she had no idea how big the problem was until she wanted to paint the garage. No way was she doing that until the bees were removed!

After finding out how much an exterminator would cost, she called some beekeepers who were very happy to rid her of the problem, since a queen honeybee is worth quite a lot. She had to clear that side of the garage, and as she removed a box from a shelf, she felt her hand vibrating. When she looked at her hand, it was covered with bees!! It seems they had an entrance into the wall from a hole in the inside wall as well, right behind that box!
So the beekeepers came in beesuits and smoked those bees to make them sleepy, then they vacuumed them out of there.
What a lot of bees that was! The hive was about 4" thick, and layered with honeycomb. I think everyone is truly happy now.

I am especially happy it was not my garage!