Beautiful Michigan

So my heart longs to share with you all that has taken place this month, but reality says it is going to be awhile til that happens (or may never happen).  However, I can share with you in pictures for now.  September was a bit crazy, but mostly a good crazy.  We slept in 12 different beds and traveled about 11,000 miles.  We went from Obulle, Uganda, to Northern Michigan, to Colorado and back.  We had a wonderful time and now have great memories as a family and with old and new friends.  For now I will share our trip up North.  We spoke in our supporting church in the UP then took our kids to Mackinaw Island with Grandpa and Grandma Beute.  Michigan is beautiful and we love it!  

Stayed tuned for the next leg of our journey to Colorado!

We spent hours in our van - and thankfully enjoyed most of it!

Lake Michigan!

We stayed with friends in the UP (Rudyard).  It is a boys playground up there.

Lydia and Grace have friends everywhere they go and are loved.  (Pen pals and new friends in Rudyard.)

Grandpa and Grandma Beute joined us in Mackinaw.
The kids enjoyed finding fossils with them

And skipping stones.

Josh and I remarked several times in our trip how awesome Michigan is.
The lakes, woods, seasons, diversity...we love it here!
How thankful we are for such a beautiful place God has given us.

We had a fun day exploring and enjoying Michigan.

We spent the night on Mackinaw Island (first time for our kids on the Island) and were able to stay at the Grand Hotel (MI days special!).  It was a very special time together.

We had a great history lesson touring the fort on the island.  (Home school at it's best!)

The kids were SO cute dressing up at the fort.

It was such a beautiful day on the island (and Hot!).

We enjoyed our afternoon by the pool and playing games in the lawn.

The evening is very fancy and special at the Grand Hotel.
It was so fun to get all dressed up for the special occasion.

Emalai took took and began dancing with him - precious.

So cute!

Dancing with Grandma, adorable.

Our last day we road bikes around the island - 8 miles.

It was so fun!  It was a highlight for all of us.

Grace loved riding with Grandpa and teasing him.

Crystal clear water and beauty everywhere.

We are so thankful for a wonderful, special time we will never forget!

Another Loss

I have SO much to share with all of you, but it will have to wait a little while.  For now I wanted to let you know that my Grandpa Beute died Sunday at the age of 96.  

Last week we were in Colorado (more on that to come) and my mom called to tell us Grandpa was put into hospice care.  He was sleeping more and more and beginning not to wake up at all.  Saturday night and were hoping to see Grandpa Sunday after church.  However, when we got to church (just happened to be the church my Beute grandparents went to all their lives) the pastor told Josh since they would be announcing it at church.  It was an emotional service for me.

I am thankful Grandpa is with Jesus, he died peacefully in his sleep, and we are here for this goodbye too.  We sang "Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus.  To reach out and touch Him and say that I love Him." Sunday at church and I just pictured Grandpa doing just that.  What a beautiful picture.  When we shared for our mission report Josh shared how when he began teaching the pastors could not say how someone could be saved.  As he was speaking I really felt that this is for Christians here too and that Grandpa's life is a testimony to this.  So I shared honestly.  For years and years Grandpa struggles with assurance of salvation but a few years ago we had the privilege for sharing with Grandpa and hearing him say he has assurance.  We can't understand God's grace but it is great.  It is not about what we have done but what God has done for us!

So tomorrow we will again have visitation for another beloved Grandpa.  Wednesday we will cry as we say a final goodbye until that glorious day.  Pray for my family especially my parents who have now each lost their father's in one month.  And pray for our children who have experienced a lot of death lately.  Pray for peace instead of fear.  

Thanks everyone.