A Visit to Brooklyn MI

Friday, we had the day to ourselves so we made a trip to nearby Brooklyn, Michigan. Our main purpose was to visit our friend Kathy who is in the Brooklyn Living Center. We first met Kathy and her husband MG at Green Oak church when we pastored there in the 80's.
We chatted for awhile and also visited with her neighbor across the hall who knew many of the same people we knew growing up in Ohio-Michigan area. What a delight to see how friendships criss-cross and connect people. We decided to take Kathy downtown and have lunch together at the local Big Boy. It was fun to share and catch up on each other's life since we saw her last. The sky was clouding up and rain came, but before we left town we decided to stop in at the local antique store and see what we could find. I found some vintage cookie cutters.

Cookie Cutters and 2 old books we found at the Brooklyn Antique store

I like the chicken one best and thought I could use it to make cookies up for Easter. I also spotted a couple of old books. One was a copy of Silas Marner by George Eliot (1902) and the other was a book about Minnie and her pets by Mrs. Madeline Leslie (1864).

The second book was written as a children's book and had large print. I thought it would be fun to read to the kids from it. I remember Silas Marner from College and I think their was a play about him then too.

By the time we came out of the store it was raining hard, so we went on home. It was nice to get back to a nice warm cozy home. Turning on the weather news... it said that we were to get high winds and that the south was experiencing a tornado outbreak with several killed in Indiana and Tennessee. I was thankful that Chuck wasn't down there this week. The tornadoes hit right in that area where he had taken the baseball team in Knoxville. One little town, Henryville had most of the town destroyed.

Henryville, Indiana where a tornado destroyed the whole town

Our prayers are with the people who lost so much.

Leap Year 2012

Today we review the last two months. The weather has been warmer than usual but we got a little snow last Friday. It was near 50 degrees yesterday. The weatherman said that there were severe storms in the south, with a tornado hitting Branson MO damaging some of the country music buildings and also doing damage in KY taking about 10 lives. It came in the night. When I went to bed it was raining hard here. The weather has been so odd lately. I remember about a year ago there was bad weather coming  home from Florida, just missing a tornado in Tennessee on our way back. When I think back over the years it doesn't seem the weather was so crazy. I remember some storms, but not as many and the high temperatures when it is supposed to be winter. The schools have had zero snow days, very unusual.

Valentine's Day 2012

Chuck and I were able to celebrate another Valentine's day together and celebrate the love we share. We are very thankful for each other, our children and good health. And the grand children are the icing on the cake.  Jasmin helped me make valentine cookies and molded heart candy while everyone else was at school. Fun, fun.

Valentine sugar cookies and molded white chocolate candies

Julie and Sam's kids were here for Supper, tonight,  and I asked them what they wanted. Choice was Meatloaf or Chicken nuggets. The vote was for meatloaf. It is their favorite meal. Jasmin helped tear up the bread for the egg and milk mixture and Max mixed the hamburger and spices. They love helping me in the kitchen. We put some potatoes and veggies on and baked some hot biscuits. They all ate good tonight and were a lot of fun playing afterwards. They get a little silly sometimes and there is never a dull moment at our house on Wednesday nights. 

Max missing up the meat loaf

Meatloaf ready for the oven  (Check on my recipe site for this recipe)

Last week we had a chance to go to a band concert that Andrew and Savannah were in. Andrew plays the trumpet and Savannah plays the french horn.

Andrew, back row, 3rd from left, playing trumpet

Savannah (black hair bow), 3rd in Middle row, playing french horn

6th grade band 2012 (Andrew left, Savannah right

They are both part of the 6th grade band and do well. We like hearing some of the old time songs and some new. The schools here really have a good program for music and the parents support it so well. The auditorium was packed out. We sure enjoy going to all the kid's activities here. 

Rachel on floor, showing 31 items at Cyndi's (right) party

Then on Friday night I was invited to Cyndi's 31 party. It is a home party where you can buy all sorts of purses, bags, totes and organizational items. Cyndi's friend did a great job with the party. She had us playing a cute game of drawing on our heads for a contest.

Julie trying to draw on top of her head. Her drawing won and she got a free prize.

Cyndi had wonderful snacks that included Chocolate covered strawberries, cheese and veggies plus dip, munchies, brownies, soda pop and cheese cake. When I got ready to go home the snow was coming down like a blizzard. Chuck was in Tennessee, driving the baseball team there. He didn't get home till late on Sun. morning (7am) I had gotten some sleep early in the evening, but got up around 6 and he wasn't home yet, so waited up for him then. He was sure tired. Sunday afternoon he got a bad leg cramp and fainted. We think it was from not drinking enough water. The trip was 9 hrs. and they only stopped for a restroom break 2 times. So it all caught up with him.
I wanted to show you a picture I took from the balcony at church. The choir does such a nice job. This is the way the sanctuary was decorated at Christmas time. It is so pretty with the white lights and garland.

Spring Arbor Free Methodist church Christmas 2011

Tuesday, when Jasmin came to stay with me, we had fun role playing. We play store, wedding, going to the ballet, going to church, riding on the bus, being at home, giving the babies naps, going to the bakery, having tea, to name a few. And sometimes we get some craft things out to do those. One day we will make cookies, another day we will paint with water colors.

Jasmin, singing and reading Bible when we do pretend church
She loves to roleplay

painting grass

Jasmin painting with water colors

Another day we will make cards and use punches, rubber stamps  and decorate the front of the card. Sometimes I get my Cricut machine out and we cut things out to put on cards or make a picture. I have her on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Next year she will be in school everyday. 

Interwoven throughout the daily routine is crocheting, scrapbooking, sewing, and computer work. I try to keep in contact with different friends and relatives. Reaching out to new people is a renewed goal of mine,  so it all keeps me quite busy and content. Some days I want to get away from it for awhile. Those are the days Chuck and I get in the car and take a day trip or afternoon time together. We have not explored several things in Jackson but hope to see more when the weather gets nice. Take care and let us know what is going on in your town.  

Saturday Night Thoughts

I got some work done on my blog as far as design, but have not caught up with writing on my blog. I don't seem to have  a chunk of time to write about our happenings, but will try tonight.  January has been so busy again and no time to sit down and write. I've been trying to catch you up a bit by writing short thoughts on Facebook. We thought it was turning to Spring for awhile but now the last two days we have had snow again and it actually seems good to have a bit of cold weather. I wasn't quite ready for the Spring weather. The flowers start to come up and then have to face a blizzard, not good!

Crocus coming up too soon

The first of January I had some pain in my lower back and leg. I guess it was my sciatic nerve. I decided to go to the chiropractor. That was a good decision. He helped me alot and I was able to sleep then. Chuck started driving bus again and has had quite a bit of work for SAU. Tonight he is driving home from Tennessee with the Baseball team. They had some practice sessions and are getting ready for the season. This was a 4 day trip, so I am missing him a lot. I guess he won't get in until about 5am. Not sure if he will make it to church but maybe he won't sleep till after the service.
On the health scene, I got my annual check-up and everything seems to be working fine and I'm keeping the diabetes symptoms at bay by good diet and minimal medicine. I am trying to do better on exercise too, always hard for me. We are both happy that we only have occasional aches and pains. Chuck keeps busy with bus driving and has subbed for the Ambassador class a few times in Sunday School, and the bus shuttle for seniors at assisted living. He gets to read scripture now and then for the service, and participates as a steward for communion. A couple weeks ago he even got to preach for the pastor in nearby Polaski. He hadn't preached in a long time, so it took extra time to prepare. My days are filled with watching the grandchildren and going to their activities. Jasmin stays with me, 2 half days and 1 whole day, when she isn't in pre-school.
She is such a joy and we have fun together with crafts, reading and roll playing and once in awhile she helps me bake cookies or fix dinner. She is quite the artist too, taking after Julie.

Jasmin last year at Easter time

We purchased I-phones for Christmas and have spent the last 2 months learning how to use them. We want to keep up with some of the technology that is challenging to us but easy for the previous generation.

I-phone 4

But if you ask the younger generation, our grandkids, anything technical, they are way ahead of everyone.

Jasmin, 4yrs old, using an I-phone

It is amazing. Even Jasmin (4yrs. old) can do things on the I-phone and I-pad. A new craze we got involved in is Pinterest. While you are on line looking at different websites, if you see things you like or a recipes, home and home decor, games, anything at all, you can take the idea and pin it. Each person has their own pin boards. It is so fun. You can organize your boards according to your likes.
Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. 

I find that I am having to discipline myself to not be on either my computer or I-phone too much. Otherwise, I don't get anything done at home. (dishes, cleaning, cooking, house keeping, devotions, crafts etc.) One of the features with the I-phone is, to have a play list of favorite songs , you like, and your favorite artists. I have some Christian songs, a lot of country and bluegrass, and some music from the 40-50's. It is fun to be able to have them on an I-phone to listen to whenever I like. I've also found it handy to have my Google search engine at my fingertips to find recipes and craft blogs, check email and facebook, keep track of schedules and calendar items and I even have a map if I get lost in town, to use, to find my way back home. I downloaded a NIV version of the Bible and can read it whenever I like, too. A whole new venue we never had in the old days. The smart phones are taking over from the old dial phones. A lot of homes don't even have the dial type anymore.

The other day I was asking my one grandson if he knew about pay-phones. He said" what's that? " So we tried to explain it to him.

Honestly I don't know how we got along with out smart phones and microwaves when we were young, but we did. The wall phone we still have now is like the one on the right above. In time we will probably get rid of the wall home phone, but for now, us oldies like the security of the home phone.

A and W Drive-In, the waitress brought your food out on a tray and you ate in the car.
At some diners you could go inside and sit, and you could order burgers and fries and malts.

We didn't have many restaurants, just diners and drive-ins. When we were first married we hardly ever went out to eat. If we did, it was driving to a big city and then dressing all up for the occasion, plus it was a once a yr. occasion probably. Like an Anniversary or birthday. You couldn't find any real fancy sit-down type restaurants like Olive Gardens, Finleys, Bob Evans, or a steak house. Today we have lots to choose from.
Life today seems so busy, stressed and always a rush. No one has much time. You have to fight to have time with anyone. They are always going somewhere and don't have time to just relax and sit awhile and talk over a meal or coffee. I've been trying to go with my girlfriend, just up to the mall and walk or shop. It has been almost a year and half since we said we would do that. We keep in contact with people by email and facebook and hardly get together with anyone except for seeing people at church or out shopping for groceries. So it is a different world we live in.  The TV is filled with so much negativity over the presidential elections. It looks like the coming elections will be quite interesting. We have listened to so many debates and it seems like so much wrong is being done by this president and government that it is scary.  I think I would be so discouraged if I didn't have Christ in my life. I don't know how people get along without Him.
The pastor has been bringing messages along the lines of Missional living and how to stay connected with people intentionally. We want to keep our relationship up with the Lord but then also take the message of love and forgiveness out to others in the world. It is is getting increasingly difficult to do this. You have to be really committed and focused to do that and we know that God wants us to be doing this to win the world to Christ.
The last few weeks, I have been getting back to cleaning and organizing in the basement. Cyndi and Nate moved into their new home, just before Christmas and the things we were keeping for them, in the basement, are now gone. They sure are enjoying their new home. Cyndi even worked to get the bus driver to drive down their street to pick up the kids for school. She was having to drive them a long way to catch the bus.

School bus coming to pick up the Baldermann kids

Also I've been getting back to some crocheting, card making and have spent some time on my life story album. Life is good at our house and we sure love being in Jackson, near our girls and their families. And we enjoy going to the SA church and serving there. We get in on the college and church activities quite often. We have connected with many friends and former classmates and that is so fun.
Well, that catches you up a bit, and I'll try to not be so long in between posts on this blog. If you have not checked my Pinterest site please do. Just double click on the follow me on Pinterest box on the side of my blog. Till next time, keep keeping on. Hugs, Sue

Playing In The Snow With The Grandkids

Saturdays I usually spend catching up or planning for the next week. Today found me having fun with the Grandkids. Julie and Sam were away, planning for the summer months when they will take their family and put on the Pirate Island Show at several County Fairs. They have done this for several years and it is an avenue in which the whole family can participate. This week end they traveled to Grand Rapids to seek out clients that will invite them as a part of the Fair. Chuck and I took the kids for the week end and had a bunch of fun with them. One of the highlights was a time playing outside in the snow. It started snowing sometime Friday and they were kind of hoping for a snow day, but no such luck. By Saturday the snow had piled up about 8 inches of snow in our yard and driveway. The driveway is steep toward the back and makes a nice sledding hill. Chuck had gotten a couple of sleds and they all had fun sliding down the hill.

Savannah, Max and Karson ready to go sledding

Karson sledding down the hill

Karson climbing back up the hill with the orange sled

Max  sliding down the hill in our side driveway to the backyard 

Max pulled Jasmin in the sled and she loved it. Just playing in the snow was fun for her. She made a path to walk in, like Fox and Geese too. The snow was too fluffy to make snowballs and would not pack to make a snowman. But we had fun anyway. I mostly took pictures and watched to make sure no one got hurt going down the hill.

Max pulling Jasmin on the sled

Jasmin making a path in the snow

Jasmin trying to make a snowball

Max trying to pull Savannah up the hill

Max and Jasmin in the woods behind our property

Karson, Jasmin, Max and Savannah find a fort in the woods

At the back of our property there is a bit of woods and we wondered back there to see what we could see. The snow was sticking to the branches and was so pretty. The snow was coming down in big flakes. The deer stay back in that woods and once in awhile come out to graze. We saw a fort someone had built and that was interesting to explore. Karson found a nice place to make a snow angel.

Karson makes a Snow Angel

Savannah enjoying a pull in the snow

We were out for about a half hour and then everyone was pretty cold so we came in and had hot chocolate to warm up. Then we were ready to have a lunch, so we fixed Burritos and then had some quiet time. Everyone was ready to take a short nap. After that we played several different card games. We all like to play this game called "Trash", or some call it "Golf".  You put 8 cards face down, and then draw. If you draw a number 1-8 you can exchange it for one of the 8 cards. If you draw any other cards you have to throw them away, and the next one takes his turn. The first one to put all their cards face up in order 1-8 is the winner. Another game we like to play is Hand and Foot. It is more complicated and the younger ones don't play. When Chuck is here, he plays. So there are 4 players then.
On Saturday Chuck had to make a bus run with the SAU girls basketball team, to Goshen, IN leaving at 8AM. He did get back before the kids all went home and got in on a couple rounds of card games. We were going to play Monopoly, but it is a long game and we needed Chuck to play, so we didn't get to play it. Jasmin and Karson took the big pile of cards and decided to make a yellow brick road from the living room to the bedroom. It was Jasmin's creative idea.

The Yellow Brick Road made of cards

It has been a fun day and weekend but I must be honest and say, I'm not as young as I used to be, but glad I can still do some of these activities. My muscles and bones tell me that I have slowed down a bit. Chuck had a check up this week and came through it wonderfully. We try to keep healthy and eat the right kinds of food. I'm a little short on the exercise part, but with the Grandkids around, they keep us hopping, so we manage to stay fit. We sure enjoy the Jackson area and today was one of those beautiful, memorable, fun days.

Getting In Touch Again

It has been way too long since I posted. Please forgive me. We had a wonderful Christmas and a start of the new year, 2012. We wanted to let you know that we are fine, but just so busy and we are getting caught up a little. At the moment we are enjoying Julie and Sam's kids for the week end. They are away for the first 3 Saturdays of January. The first two wees of January felt like Spring. But last night we got some snow and the wind has been strong. So tomorrow we hope to play in the snow. Tonight I fixed some meat loaf and they really loved it. I think Max ate 4 pieces of it. Then tonight we played different card games. They love playing UNO and a game called trash. Also we have taught them how to play hand and foot, a game we learned in Florida. Jasmin isn't quite old enough to play but she is content to do puzzles and play with dominoes. She is such a happy gal. Well I just wanted to let you know that things are going ok for us and we will try to get back writing a few more things. Maybe backing up and sharing with you some Christmas stories.