Preparation

Camping takes preparation...lots and lots of it! It seems like all I have been doing for the past week is prepare for our family vacation. Lists have been made and lots of things have been checked off but, there is still lots to be done.

Tomorrow we are headed to Young State Park in Boyne City, Michigan. We love Young State! Dave and I grew up camping there with our families and so to go back with our own boys is very special. We will be gone a week but by looking at what we are packing you would think we will be gone a month!

We have one very excited boy...
and one little boy who really doesn't get the whole camping thing yet. All he gets is he gets to play in the dirt and be outside ALL day :)

We are praying for blue skies like you see above and hopefully lot's of time spent on Lake Charlevoix and also on the beach.

Thanks to Mom and Ron we get to take the Prowler again. They are also coming on our adventure this time along with the McManus family. There are definitely good times to be had.

So...I am signing off for now and will hopefully come back refreshed from a week with my family and dear friends.

Until next time...treasuring summer days,

Trish

Remembering

my Dad today...

Remembering the amazing father he was. He was so loving...he not only told me he loved me every day(multiple times)but he showed me he loved me in his actions. He was a man of integrity. He was honest, loyal and giving. He loved the Lord with all his heart and lived out his faith. I respected him so much and am so grateful the Lord chose him to be my father. I had him for 18 wonderful years and have so many wonderful memories. I only wish my boys could have known their grandpa. He would have been a wonderful grandfather and I know the boys would have loved him so much.

I miss you, Dad! I can't wait to see you again someday.

Love you...more...

Trish

Family

This past Sunday we went to the Towne Family Reunion. It was so nice to see

family that we haven't seen in years. It was a beautiful day at Lakewood Park...

Uncle Kevin helping Ethan with his new toy gun.
Auntie and Owen

Ethan playing with all the goodies from his gift bag.

Little Owen fast asleep on Geeba

Uncle Kevin and Carter

Aunt Scotti, Aunt Lisa, Katie and Avery visiting on the swings

Dave just hanging out

Papa and Owen

The Pavilion...lots of people AND food!

Katie and Owen

Kev and Avery


After a few hours visiting with family we headed back home. On

our way home we stopped in Hesperia to visit with my Grandma and Grandpa Patton and Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joe.

It was so nice to visit with them.

Grandpa, thanks for the rootbeer floats :) Aunt Lisa, thanks for feeding the boy!

Love,

Trish

Count your blessings!

All week long I have been complaining and grumbling about my garden. I even went so far as to say I am not even planting one next year! My tomato plants are quite frankly, pathetic. I had to pull my one zucchini plant because it was so shriveled there was no chance of bringing it back and it just isn't as 'pretty' as other gardens I have seen.

But then today I was able to make this salad with everything from my garden...all but the lettuce. Cucumber, grape tomatoes, yellow heirloom tomatoes, chives and basil. Definitely need to remember to count my blessings and be thankful for what I do have.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Trish

1st Camping trip of Summer

This was definitely a camping trip to remember....

It was Christmas in July at Interlochen State Park.

Here the kids are waiting to see Santa...and for their candy he was throwing out!
Dave and Matt in front of the camper.

I love this picture!

Erica and Bianca

Best Buddies...

Santa finally arrived...in shorts!

Beach fun...swimmer's itch and all :)

Duck Lake

So...despite Dave's bad back, a few cases of Swimmer's Itch,

a few temper tantrums from tired kids AND parents, and the

usual bug bites and kids covered in dirt...we had a good time!

Blessings,

Trish

Camping

Signing off for the next 5 days to go camping with good friends. Hoping for great weather but mostly creating great memories.

Blessings,
Trish

Walking with God

I have been reading a book called Walking with God by John Eldredge. I haven't finished it yet but have been struck by a few things already. I love the following...

"It's not what he isn't giving but what he IS giving. We can get

so locked onto what we don't have, what we think

we want or need, that we miss the gifts

God is giving."

He also writes...

"We are created to enjoy life. But we end up worshipping the gift

instead of the Giver. We seek for life & look to God

as our assistant in the endeavor. We are far more upset

when things go wrong than we ever are when we aren't

close to God."

I keep asking myself, "How many gifts have I missed?" I pray that

I can be more open and grateful for what He is giving me.

One more thing...

"As long as our happiness is tied up to the things we can lose,

we are vulnerable." - John Eldredge

I hope you all stop today and enjoy the gifts He is giving!

Blessings,

Trish