The month of July was pretty much spent up at the lake. Not a bad way to spend July!
The first week centered on Independence Day celebrations and a birthday. This means that we played in the sun, ate Papa Jim's famous homemade ice cream, and watched lots of fireworks late into the night (while sitting around a roaring campfire at the edge of the lake...ahhhh...a perfect evening).
Tara and Amy pulled together - with the help of the kids of course - a gift for Jim...65 gifts! And then as a special surprise Tara presented a key lime cake to her dad with sparklers in it. Old sparklers. Dirty sulfur infused sparklers that left nasty ash all over the delicious creamy smooth rich yummy icing. It was a nice thought, but....
The kids are still a little leery about fireworks, so for comfort they cuddle during the loud booms. All around the lake different people set off fireworks - even Papa Jim had some to share! Some of the displays were quite amazing - plenty of oooooohs and aaaaahhhhs coming from our little party!
The second week included a couple of days in Grand Rapids for Tara and I while the kids stayed back at the lake. We stayed in a beautiful JW Marriott - Tara scrapbooked and I attended a preaching conference. We were both very happy with our "getaway"! The week ended back up at the lake...we needed more time to dig in the sand and float on the pontoon.
While home getting stuff packed for the lake again, the kids went upstairs and put on their dress up stuff. Which, sadly, includes dresses. Unfortunately Levi looks cute in the pink princess dress.... Since Eli requested help with an outfit, I talked him out of the Disney dress and insisted on a little indian outfit along with a Dr. Seuss tophat. And then the dancing began!
Once at the lake it was time to play. Which included throwing big bouncy balls up into tall trees. And then getting more balls stuck up there in an attempt to get the other ones unstuck.
As we sat around our campfire eating s'mores, we decided that it was time for Emma to get serious about riding her bike. Papa Ger had an extra one at the lake with NO training wheels on it. We began to give a very nervous Emma help in riding her bike - but it was to no avail. She just couldn't (or wouldn't) do it. After receiving help from three former gym teachers, her two parents, and even her brothers, she gave up. After brainstorming, we adults decided to bribe her with candy. We told Emma that if she could ride her bike from the firepit to the driveway (maybe about forty yards or so...) she could have a whole Hershey Chocolate candy bar. Wouldn't you know that little girl hopped off her chair onto the bike and worked and worked till she got it!
The third week included lots of time with friends up at the lake. Brett and Annie Sauder were up at the lake, Pat Minch was up at the lake, and my friends Jeremy and Amy Kratz were up from Arizona and visited us up at the lake.
Tara had fun taking the kids on a canoe ride. I think there's some extra kids in this one...
Emma and Salma being pals!
The Gang!
It was great to have my brother Jerm drive us around on the boat!
Here's our smiling face: that's Charlie sitting on Kratz's lap - he's a cutie! Charlie, that is...
It was also nice to have Jeremy's mom join him and Amy for our visit.
We had a good time hanging out...with all the kids...eating a picnic outside...!
Getting a tan...oh yeah!
Craft time with Mommy. Painting rocks they found on the shoreline. Levi's idea...
Me and Eli on our first WetJet ride together! He liked it really fast the first time, but then all the other rides he wanted slow. Wait till next year!
The fourth week was the best - our very own week in one of the cottages up at the lake. As much as we love staying with Dad and Mum in their house for the summer, nothing beats being in one of the cottages. Emma and Eli shared a bedroom, Levi and Isaac shared one. Tara had her scrapbooking corner, and we had plenty of space to play and relax.
Emma beating me in the card game War. Again.
The kids got some craft stuff from Faye one day to play with. Bendaroos. The kids decided to make all sorts of designs, and then sell them to people in the other cottages. Ingenious!
Levi and Isaac are manning the table, waiting for customers to show up!
Faye was a very generous customer. At one point my Mum was dumping her change purse upside down to get it empty! Dorothy and Phyllis ponied up some coins, as did Connie and Katie. The kids made a lot of money. And got Faye's Bendaroos back at the end of the week too!
Don't they look cool in their new sunglasses?
Pics of the sleeping arrangments...Tara got very creative!
Tom's Donuts is a tradition! One morning during the week we make a donut run...mmmmm!
The kids woke up kind of early for the donut run...
they are ready and waiting!
We did some fishing during our week at the lake - and Eli caught his first fish of the year!
Levi's pretty proud of his fish!
Playing in the sand and getting very dirty is a very important part of the week!
Hanging out with Phyllis and Dorothy - major investors in the Bendaroo sales event!
The fifth week was great too - Tara's mom Karen rented a different cottage for that week. We moved back into my folks home, but the kids took turns sleeping with Grandma Karen. Amy and the girls were up for most of the week to, which means all the cousins had a grand time playing together.
We always have lots of desserts during Grandma Karen's week. Amy brought a boys cake and a girls cake. Personally, I thought the girls pink cake was more delicious!
On our way pontooning around the lake one evening, we say this remarkable rainbow.
What's a week at the lake without Tug of War?
Tara and Emma inspired their teammates to let go of the rope...very sneaky! I fell for the trick!
Just relaxin'...
Oh yeah Hannah! You look great!
Ha ha Eli, you look funny!
Remember that money the kids made with the Bendaroo sale? They were saving it up for the ice cream truck. Which came just a few minutes before Alia and Hannah had to leave. Oh the joy of eating ice cream purchased with your own hard earned money!
Alia loved her ice cream treat so much she spread it all over herself!
I've enjoyed discovering classic literature - and Frankenstein was not disappointing. I was intrigued to read this book mostly because I wanted to find out what the original story was really about. Dennis Miller introduced me to Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein a decade ago; when I was a kid there was a cereal with Frankenstein monster shaped marshmallow pieces; and Frankenstein these days comes across as either goofy or weird. So it was with great interest I delved into a "modern" story of fringe science, amoral ambition, unintended consequences, gut-wrenching heartache, and deep insight into human development. 
A quick read - because I wanted to find out what was going to happen next as soon as I could. The story created a helpless feeling inside - what can be done about massively corrupt and grossly wealthy people who pollute and abuse and destroy. And this is done while putting up a slick image of success, glamour, and importance. Ugh. I have a new respect for trial lawyers (beware those people who lump them into a bland category of "parasite"). I also have a new respect for how politics tends to work these days. It's useless to hold on to idealism; deal with reality and hold onto your ethics as tightly as you can. Apparently it can be done...
Still working my way through this massive yet easy-to-read account of how globalization has changed/is changing our world. Fascinating stories of how corporations and governments have adapted, failed, and blossomed in this new world that both causes and flows from our choices. The world will never be the same - we live in a radically transformed era that apparently too many people under-appreciate or refuse to acknowledge. In order to better understand what to do next, it's wise to better understand how we got to where we are now. It's a massive task, but for leaders in our world, what other task is there?
A great read - slowly absorbing the chapters and letting the ideas reshape my understanding of politics in America. Maybe I'll finish the book next year - it's too good to rush through. And dense. And thoroughly enlightening. Where did "liberals" come from? Where did "conservatives" come from? Why are they so opposed to each other? Why is the "battle" between the two so seemingly infantile and nonproductive? Is there any better choice or way forward for American politics? I'm sure Dionne has some suggestion, I just haven't gotten there yet. But considering the kind of political discourse I grew up with, I definitely enjoy the thoughtful, informed, articulate insights piled into this book.
Started this book a few years ago - it is been a plodding experience. Immensely insightful, unveiling big picture developments of where America's constitutional democracy came from - where did democracy come from, and how to understand the significance and value of this experience. This isn't a primer on the issue (ie. democracy came from Greece, our Founding Fathers invented the constitution, etc) but a deep analysis of where we are in history politically, how we got here, and what that means for the future of the world. Not sure what I'll do with what I'm learning... but it's helping rethink how I think about our current political, cultural, and historical experiences.
What's so fascinating about Ireland? Uris captures that magnetism, the book keeps me glued to the pages for hours at a time. Over a thousand pages, and I have hundreds to go before I finish it. But already I'm gaining a more nuanced understanding of the strife between the Protestants and Catholics of Ireland. It's a sad, enraging, inspiring yet devastating story of colonialism, greed, prejudice, and abuse, on a massive scale. How many million individuals throughout history have been swept up and discarded in the large powerplays between nations, corporations, and armies? How many citizens have been used up, chewed up, abandoned because of "greater" interests? And yet there are people who resist empire, who won't accept oppression, who push back against corporate evil. What a complex world each generation gives to the next.
Discovered this little book at my Mum's house. An historian with an attitude, a realistic recounting of the foibles and feats of some of history's most famous individuals. Cuppy gives no respect to these "great" people, but puts them in their place, recasting them as merely individuals who got remembered by historians. It's real history that makes you chuckle, ponder, and re-adjust how you evaluate the "greatness" of people past and present.
With a gift-card to spend at Barnes & Nobles, and an interest to discover an interesting story, I discovered this gem. A history of prostitution in Chicago - which includes the formation of the FBI, the emergence of the WCTU, and the role of ministers battling vice in our society. Being a pastor who just graduated from a school in Chicago, and also constantly thinking of ways that churches can do good in society, I was glad to find this story. It's a short read with helpful insights into the reality of prostitution rings, corrupt politics, motivated ministers, and naive citizens. For pastors who want to undermine or subvert institutional corruption, read this book and then ponder. And then act.
What? Jesus was a human? A man who grew up in a society where marriage was expected? Jesus was thoroughly shaped by his culture? He was immersed in the Torah, Psalms and Prophets? At some point he realized he was the Christ? Something about the water-to-wine miracle was pivotal, scintillating remarkable and politically charged? Jesus the God-man is inspiring in his interactions with fellow neighbors and enemies? Yes.
Always expect the unexpected. Makes it hard to read a book and get lots out of it when one is constantly looking for cleverness, layers, and attitude. And yet a reflective walk through this text will prompt a fresh perspective on life and suffering and creativity and overcoming and joy. Rooted in a deep understanding of the Scriptures, written with a constant eye on the reality we live in everyday, this book seeks to help people like you and me immerse and transcend our suffering. Immerse ourselves in the pain we cannot avoid, transcend the suffering that would normally crush us. For those of us that are willing to let the worst of times bring out the best in us, Rob Bell gifts us with fuel for the journey.
