Fun Filled Week-end....

The group from KCBC! Renee, Kristi and Me A view fron the chapel Caryn and Me
Kathy, Me, Renee, Cathy, Kristi and Caryn (not looking so smiley!)
I was able to attend a Ladies Retreat this past week-end at Lake Ann camp near Traverse City. We had a wonderful time of renewal (not by sleep!). We slept in the boys cabins otherwise know as Otter #2 not to be confused with Badger #3! (sorry girls!) I got to spend time with my sister-in-law Kristi, with long time friend Renee (and her friends) and ride home with special friend Caryn. My social tank is full (some of you are thinking....right!?) One of the other perks was, I didn't have to cook !! YEH! We did all have to share an outside bathroom...not literally outside, just out of our cabin!
Ken Rudolph is an exceptional speaker and motivator...if you ever get the opportunity to hear him...GO! He can communicate the scriptures like few can! Time whizzes by when he is speaking, even when you are sleep deprived!
As a kid, I attended Lake Ann many times, so I had some time to re-live some of my childhood memories! I was actually a Tepee Village Alumni....I know, hard to believe I would sign up to sleep in a tepee all week! I sometimes wonder myself! Harder yet to believe we had to go into the "BOG", eat outside, use outhouses and be outside all day! The amazing thing about that week, it stands out as one of the weeks I remember the most about! Maybe I'm still in shock over it....more likely, I did things outside of my comfort zone! Isn't it those times in our lives, when we go outside of our comfort zone, that changes who we are and where we are going! Some have gone on pilgrimages and come back with a different attitude and memories that will stay with them forever!
Camp obviously holds very dear memories for me. One year my dear Grandma (aka Aunt Marian) took all 6 of us grand kids to camp with her (3 Rexford & 3 Watson girls!) We had so much fun with each other and at camp! My Grandma is a saint! The next year she took 4 of us for 2 weeks to Camp Dottie! My Grandma is a Saint! No...she really loved her grand kids and other kids and wanted to see them give their lives to Christ at early ages. I can't imagine her crown in Heaven! What a Godly example of a Christian woman, life, grandma, servant.... I am soooo blessed to have you in my life grandma!! You Rock! (well sometimes, literally you do now!) I also must thank my dad and mom for making it a priority to send us to camp!
One of my favorite memories was when my cousin Dawn and I went to Tepee Village. We were given a compass and we were suppose to be hiking to a huge crater/pit. Which we managed to do, the problem arose when we didn't realize we were there and we continued walking and walking till we hit a road, I think then we decided we had gone to far! I mean this pit is so huge, you would wonder how we could miss it! Okay I'm still directionally challenged today..maybe that was the start of the problem! (no comment Renee!)
Okay, did I just write a chapter to a book? Sorry, I wasn't planning on this long dialogue, I was just planning on a few pics of camp!
Well, to some it up, send your kids to camp and go to retreats!! We all need them!

~joanne

Trent...

Just to update you on the Trent/school situation. It's great...two days now with no tears! At least I know he likes me! Hoping for number three tomorrow...
~joanne

Roscommon....

Last weekend Steve and I spent three days at the Fireman's Memorial in Roscommon MI. It is a Fireman's Dream!! It is held outside in like a fair type setting. Steve was there to represent the Spencer Manufacturing line of firetrucks. So as long as he is in this business, he will be there. I was there as the lunch lady. Actually it was a week-end for a little break from every day life for me! I certainly didn't fill my sleep bank! I did get to go the the outlet mall with Renee (she drove over to spent the day with me...isn't she sweet!)
This year it was the 28th annual memorial. They do things like parades, a ceremony for fallen fire fighters, exhibits, pancake breakfast, chx barbecue....
It's quite a big shin-dig for fire fighters and families. Not being brought up in the fire world it seems quite foreign to me! They are proud of there trucks and equipment, they all have bumper stickers, lights on their trucks and monogrammed jackets! Steve received the plaque for the longest traveled in the parade, they'll keep it at Spencer. What we learned....1,ooo pieces of candy isn't near enough candy to throw in a parade! Lots of sad faces along the side of the road :(!
I had a pic of Steve and George in front of the truck but had to return the camera it was on...so I had to delete the pic! I know you are all bumbed!
Special thanx to G-pa & G-ma Buckner for letting the boys stay with them!
~joanne

96!!!!....

She's 96! On August 21 Grandma "B" turned 96 years young! She still lives on the farm where she raised her 4 kids. She does have a lady that lives with her there. Even at that, it's pretty amazing. She's trying for the Willard Scott Smuckers Jar. She moves a little slower but she has a great mind and memory! We were able to have Cake and Ice Cream to celebrate with her on Aug.25.
She's still got a lot of spunk! Congratulations Grandma! (as if she is going to read this!)

I warned you...I was going backwards for a while to catch up!

PS Trent still not real fond of staying at school!
~joanne

Hoem Schol?

Bonnie,
Were you suggesting in your comment that I home school Trent? I'm not sure I have it in me!
~joanne

Baptism....

Here we are at Crockery Lake for the Annual Picnic & Baptism 'o7. Troy had decided that this was the year for him. He did a great job sharing his testimony, he didn't even seem nervous! Grandpa Bill prayed for him and Steve was able to go in with him and assist on the baptism. How cool is that! Grandpa Neil & Grandma Bonnie were even able to come to show there support. (Happy Birthday Bonnie) What a special day for our family! We are so blessed that our children have chosen to follow the Lord.

~joanne

It's Official....

We are going backwards in our efforts to get Trent to stay at school. He's now started to cry at home before he ever gets there! We have tried to bribe him with gum/candy...didn't work. He is fine after I make him stay but I don't think he is himself...bubbly and full of life. I can hardly wait till Monday to start this all over!
He doesn't appear to be just manipulating me around. He really appears to be upset and scared....I don't know!

Back to school...

Here are the boys on the morning of the first day back to school '07.

Tyler was very excited to get his picture taken for this family memory.

Trent has had a rough start as a Kindergartner! For some reason he isn't real fond of staying! He would kinda like me to hang out with him all day! I thought by the third day he would be okay with staying...nope! We will see what Friday holds. I think maybe Steve should try taking him?!? This is so unlike him it just baffles us. After going to pre-school and church you would think he would be used to getting left?! I'm just thinking after tomorrow we will have to start all over again on Monday!

Tyler says High school is going well as a Freshman and Troy has mastered his combination on his locker in the 7th grade hallway. No tears for either of them!

We have one kid in every school...what were we thinking!

I'm so behind on my postings....I have about 3-4 posts I wanted to get to. So....I'm going to go backwards and play catch up.

~joanne