October Is Here Already

The weather has turned a bit colder and the trees are changing. We are seeing the season change, rather abruptly, this year. Seems like it was a short Spring, a long summer of very hot weather and lots of humidity but very few days of enjoyable summer weather before Fall came with colder temperatures.We have been going to see Savannah run at her track meet. Last Wednesday I put everything in the crock pot and left it warming while we took off to the meet in the rain. The rain let up, just in time,  and the race was on.

Savannah (in purple) coming in 82nd in the State race

Savannah after getting her certificate 

Savannah came in number 82 this time, 6 points better than last time. It was a state meet, so there were a lot more people running in her division. She is doing good running the 2 mile run. It was fun watching her.  Afterwards we took the boys and Jasmin home for supper and Julie picked up Savannah later and joined us, before church. Everyone was pretty tired but we managed.

On Tuesday and Thursday, Andrew came over to practice the trumpet. He is using Grandpa's trumpet when he was in band from the late 50's. Chuck played several different instruments during his band days and is honored that some of those instruments can be of use to the grandkids. He played trumpet, trombone and the tuba. Andrew is just getting started, but seems to enjoy it. At first it is getting used to the mouth piece. I was telling him it takes a lot of practice and sometimes you get weary of playing the same thing every day. But later,  you will be able to play songs and band music and maybe have your own trumpet.

Friday Chuck decided to take me on a date, so we went to see the movie "Dolphin Tale". It was really good. Cyndi's kids had been telling us about it and they got to see the Dolphin, Winter, who stared in the movie, when they were in Florida.  The kids saw the movie last week with their folks so we wanted to see it this week.

Cast of "Dolphin Tale" Movie

"Dolphin Tale" is inspired by the amazing true story of a brave dolphin and the compassionate strangers who banded together to save her life. Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, severely damaging her tail. She is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter. But her fight for survival has just begun. Without a tail, Winter's prognosis is dire "Dolphin Tale," today serves as a symbol of courage, perseverance and hope to millions of people-both able and disabled-who have been touched by her remarkable story of recovery and rehabilitation. ‎1hr 52min‎‎ - Rated PG‎‎ - Drama‎
Director: Charles Martin Smith - Cast: Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr., Kris Kristofferson, Nathan Gamble

After the movie, we went over to Ground Round for dinner and got to see our friend Niah. We met her a few weeks ago and she is interested in coming to our church's mother's group. Cyndi has been teaching a class there, and invited her to come. We had introduced her to Cyndi a time before. She doesn't have a car so Cyndi will see that she gets there. We hope we can find her one, that is in her budget, to buy. This has been the God thing we are working on for the past 2 weeks.

Chuck has been taking students up to Cedar Bend and back for their Core class trip. It is in upper Michigan and a long trip. Twice now he hasn't gotten home till around 3am. Then he has been teaching a parenting class and helping out with visitation at the rest homes. So he is a busy guy. Most of the time he is driving his yellow Mustang, around town, when he isn't driving the Cougar bus. This week his new license plate came in the mail. The kids wanted him to get a special one. I think you will agree it is pretty nice.

Grampa's new license plate. The 7 stands for 7 grandkids.

We are not sure if everyone knows our girls and their families. But I thought I would put in a few pictures we took last week of everyone when Chuck's sister, Margaret and her husband, Richard, stopped in to see us.

Julie, our oldest daughter, and family. The Durochers
Sam, Julie, Savannah, Karson, Max and Jasmin

Cyndi, our youngest daughter and her family, The Baldermanns
Nate, Cyndi, Andrew Alyssa and Ava, who is youngest. Not sure what she is doing with her ears...

Us with all the Grandkids together with Margaret (Chuck's youngest sister) and Richard
in front of our new house, in Jackson, on Smiley Way

They were camping at Portage Lake and always want to see us and the grandkids. We had supper on Sunday for them and all the kids too and then shared together, talking into the evening. The kids of course were in rare and cute form, doing their antics and being silly. Some of it shows up in the pictures.

Next week we look forward to going up to West Branch with the Lees, friends from college as well as fellow pastors in ministry, when we served in East Michigan. On the way back we will bring two of Chuck's sister home with us for a couple days and then take them back home. They don't drive much anymore, especially on long trips. We will be glad to have them visit and stay awhile. They have never seen our new home, so it will be nice having them.

Just to put a bit of a note in... We haven't heard much from anyone on the blogs, so wondering if you are not blogging anymore. I know Face book takes most of our time, keeping in touch, but would like to hear the stories and fun you are all having with your families. Anita, you keep up pretty well, and I always enjoy your blog and your Face book entries too. Looking for some posts from the Mumaus and Dilleheys.....  I know time gets away from us, and I sure have had trouble keeping up too. I think I will copy many of these entries in a book some time. I've seen some of the digital books out there and they are so nice to keep. You can have your whole blog printed. Or just some of it, if you want. I want to save some entries, at least, of history and traditions, from our family and past ministry.