best of all

 

To celebrate Dad and Mom's 40th wedding anniversary this year, we kids rented a huge vacation house in Ohio and all committed to being present for a couple days in May as a gift for Dad and Mom... but then COVID came... and destroyed those plans.

{insert sad face}

As part of the anniversary gift, we had also planned to have a professional photo taken while we were all together. Although we were bummed to have to cancel our May plans, we took advantage of all being together at the House 'n Barn for a recent 48 hour period. It was pretty special to snap a full-crew shot out on the front lawn.

Family is best.

smart girls

 

After Naomi came home with new specs the other day, Libby, Naomi, and I pretended to look smart in front of mom's library.

fresh

Libby arranged this gorgeous basket of farm fresh goodness for some friends recently.

Kayak Ho!

so many special people all in one place!

We loaded up a few kayaks along with four aunties, one uncle, two nieces, and one nephew and set off for a little kayaking adventure the Monday after July 4th.

#PureMichiganSummer

berries, berries, berries

hunting for berries

There are so many bits to love about Michigan summer...

not the least of which is picking blueberries :) 

Teach Me Thy Way

Recently, I've been reflecting on the words of the song, Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord. I especially love the swell of the music and depth of meaning in the last two lines of each verse.

Teach me Thy way, O Lord, teach me Thy way!

Thy guiding grace afford, teach me Thy way!

Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;

Lead me with heav’nly light, teach me Thy way!

When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way!

When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way!

In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress,

In failure or success, teach me Thy way!

When doubts and fears arise, teach me Thy way!

When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me Thy way!

Shine through the cloud and rain, through sorrow, toil, and pain;

Make Thou my pathway plain, teach me Thy way!

Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way!

Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way!

Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,

Until the crown is won, teach me Thy way!

accomplished

I felt overly accomplished recently when I managed to successfully order (online... delivered to my door!) and install a new wiper blade on my car.