Heavy

It is hard to say good bye. Last week I found out that my grandfather passed away. People ask if it was unexpected but with a grandparent who is 95 you always feel like you are getting borrowed time, you just don’t know how long that is. The unexpected part was his stroke three weeks before he died, from that he never was able to recover. I am thankful that Dan and I were able to go up and see him after it happened. I was encouraged to see him recognize me and hold my hand tightly with his.

It is hard realizing that I will never get to go back to their house and have my grandparents there. My grandmother is still living but has Alzheimer’s and my grandfather had been taking care of her these last few years. With his passing means full time nursing home for my grandmother. It is hard knowing she will never know he is gone but also a mixed blessing because she will never have to know the pain of losing him.

On Wednesday they had the viewing and Thursday was the funeral. Dan and I were able to leave Wednesday afternoon and make it in time for the final viewing of the day. It was strange and sad and a part of me didn't want to be there. I didn't want to remember my Grandpa like this. I wanted to remember playing cards with him and the twinkle in his eyes when he would start to win, calling someone greedy bones when he was loosing, teasing me about being single, and hunting with his dogs. I want to remember him as a good man who loved his wife and wanted to take care of her because of how well she had always been there and taken care of him. And even though I know I will see him again some day in Heaven I wasn't ready to say good bye.

After everything was finished we went out to Grand Haven for dinner. My sisters and there families were also staying at my parents for the week so we used the time to be a family. We had fun together and enjoyed each other's company and I was reminded that we are our grandparent's legacy as they said at the funeral. I am the Christian I am today because of the prayers and example of my grandparents who taught those values to my mom and the same with my dad's mom. It felt fitting to end the day laughing and having fun because those were things that were very true of time spent with my grandpa.

Me with Michelle and Carlyn

My sister's and their families, my parents, and Dan and me

Titus playing in the water

Grief is a heavy thing and I know there will be days when it still feels hard that he is gone. I know that it will also start to change and over time feel less heavy.

Father's Day Weekend

Dan and I headed up to Michigan to spend some quality time with my Dad for Father's Day as well as quality time at Lake Michigan. For me summer is the same as being by the water. Growing up we always were camping at the Lake, going down for walks, or watching the sunset off the pier. The Lake is only about 30 mins from my parents house which means we can go out there quite a bit :)


nice and sunny :)

On Saturday morning we got up and went over to see my grandparents, both recently where moved into a nursing home at ages 94 and 95. This has been a really hard transition because less than a month ago they were still living at their own house. We ate lunch back at my parents and then headed out to the beach. It was sunny and in the 80's which is perfect because there is always a strong breeze by the water. As we went out onto the pier we realized a storm was coming in, which makes the following pictures look a little dark. The storm was heading farther north but we got to see the lightning over the water which was really cool.



At the end of the pier




The beach

  People are always fishing and jumping off the pier to go swimming. There were lots of people out walking the boardwalk and it is a great place to go it you like to people watch :) Usually we see someone we know when we go out to the Lake but this time we didn't. Once we finished up on the pier and everyone had seen the lightening we walked into town to a great corn dog stand. This place has been open since 1947! We always get corn dogs from them and they are yummy! I was excited to have one since it has been a couple years since my last one and for Dan to get a chance to try them.

 After eating our corn dogs we headed back to our car and saw a huge freighter ship from Cleveland coming in. It is always fun watching them come in and maneuver through the channel. Dan and I even got to see it leaving after it dropped off it's cargo in the evening when we came back for the evening show.

 We did a little bit of driving around the town as we were waiting for the pizza place to open (Fricano's) and enjoyed a nice dinner of pizza at one of our families favorite places. Dan and I had ridden out with my parents so after dinner we grabbed some ice cream from another favorite place in Grand Haven and then headed home. I had been telling Dan about the Musical Fountain in Grand Haven and so after getting back to my parents, changing, watching some baseball, and eating homemade strawberry shortcake we went back out to the lake.

They set the fountain to lights and music and it is only about 30 mins but a fun way to send the evening. We got seats in the bleachers they provide and enjoyed the show. We then walked for a little bit on the boardwalk before heading back.

 On Sunday we went to church with my parents and enjoyed seeing their new church. They have been working on renovations for the last few months and had finished it all up since the last time Dan and I had been there. They bought my old school (which included K-12 at the time) and it is weird and fun to walk the halls knowing what use to be in certain area's and loving the changes they have made. After lunch we headed up to my sister's to celebrate my nephew's Birthday, which happened to fall on Father's Day this year.


Cake made by my sister and brother-in-law



The birthday boy!

 I can't believe he is 7 already! We had fun eating cake and watching him open gifts before leaving to have dinner with my parents before we drove home. It was a full weekend but very fun and a good time with family.

Reds Game

This part Saturday Dan and I headed to Cincinnati for a Red's game. We got there a little late because we were working in Marion that morning, but as soon as the game started we were listening to it on the radio. The Red's played the Detroit Tiger's and we were impressed by the number of Tiger's fans that came to support their team. Our seats were also amazing because...1. We had shade for the entire game, 2. We could feel a breeze, 3. We got to sit just past first base and were closer than what we have been in the past. Here are some pictures...

View from our seats

Prince Fielders warming up for the Tiger's

Ready to start

 Sadly the Red's lost by 1 run...we did get to see a couple really fun plays, including a home run for Detroit. I was excited to wear my Red's shirt I got for Christmas :) After the game we walked to Graeters for some ice cream. We were surprised to walk in and walk right up to the counter, with in 10 mins of us getting there and getting our ice cream the place was packed!

 On the drive home Dan wanted to stop at The Golden Lamb, the oldest Hotel in Ohio. It was really cool learning the history of the Hotel; how many former Presidents have stayed there plus other famous people.

 After dinner, which was very good, we signed the guest book and Dan showed me upstairs. The entire place was full of antiques and very well decorated. I felt like we were transported back into time...which was fun. And besides having food and a fun history you can still stay there if you want too.

Lobby

The guest book

Stairs to the third floor

Third floor and stairs on the left to the fourth floor

One of the small meeting/dining rooms on the second floor

Display of Christmas ornaments

Even though it was a long day (we left our house at 6:15am and didn't get home till 1:30am) it was a very fun.

Memorial Weekend

These last few weeks have been pretty crazy and I suddenly realized I was behind on posting! For Memorial Day Weekend we usually go camping in Norther Michigan with my mom's family but this year my niece Amisha was graduating from High School. My parents were heading down with their trailer and Dan and I went down with our tent.

On Friday night my sister Michelle and her family came and stayed at our house. It was fun having dinner together and seeing the kids run around. We had a great time hanging out and had a "how high can you kick contest" started by the kids. In the morning we all packed up early and headed down for the ceremony.


Closest row, last girl on the left :)



In the old Hockey Rink...very smart!

  After the graduation we found Amisha and her boyfriend Kameron, who also graduated, and headed back to the house. We broke off into groups to get the house decorated and food ready for the party that was starting at 3pm.

 It was a lot of fun getting things set up and having time to spend with the girls. We are so proud of Amisha and enjoyed getting to celebrate with her.


Amisha and Kameron




Elisabeth and Reece (Amisha's sister and her boyfriend)

  After the party we headed back to my parents trailer so Dan and I could get our tent set up, we then took my parents to 5 Guys for a late meal. They had never been there before. My dad ordered a burger with everything on it :)

 On Sunday it was Elisabeth's birthday (she turned 17) and we had fun celebrating again with her. My sister made both Amisha's cake and Elisabeth's. Elisabeth wanted a shark so that is what went on the cake.



The Birthday girl

  Unfortunately on Sunday afternoon we found out that my Grandpa was in the hospital (unexpectedly...he has always been in great health) so we packed up early on Monday and instead of going to Ohio to spend the day with Dan's family we went up to Michigan to visit him.


Packing up our tent