The Weeks Happenings!

About 3 times a year we have a 'small group' with our AWANA girls. During those times we do something special with the girls.. sometimes they bake something, make jewelry, play board games...whatever we can do to spend some one on one with our group! We had one 2 weeks ago...which fell right around Valentines Day.... convenient huh....my thoughts exactly..CHOCOLATE!!!

We taught the girls how to make chocolate spoons..you know, the kind that you use to stir your coffee or hot cocoa and we made some chocolate heart candies with molds.  They had great fun making a special treat for their parents or special person in their life!

The other leader, Judy Hall didn't make it in any of the pictures..but she made them all hot chocolate. 

They are a great bunch of girls...we enjoy them every Wednesday night! 

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For Trent's 10th Birthday he wanted to go roller skating.  We went to an area rink..Roller Fox...for  Thursday night open skate.  He invited 4 buddies...Dolan, Carson, Eli and Abel.

Here's what it looked like... 

Carson & Trent trying to get the hang of it 

opening presents 

Carson 

Tyler and Alisha 

Pizza and Pop 

And of course a little Air Hockey 

Trent 

Some Hokey Pokey Action 

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God new what he was doing when Steve and I met so many years ago....he's the only guy that would put up with all my shenanigans!

I have appliances issues..lets just say I like them to run right!  Steve has soldered, rewired & fixed more appliances than I can count...he is the master of repair!  Somethings probably shouldn't have been repaired....they have outlived their life span! 

My latest project for him was my Kitchen Aid mixer.  It was dripping oil where you insert the beater.  Most normal people would just wipe it off..Oh but not me!!!  Steve came in the kitchen last week to me taking the mixer a part...."Whoa Whoa Whoa what are you doing!?"  "I'm fixing my mixer!"  Steve said "oh no you are not!"

Well today was the day to figure it out.... 

apparently the grease around the motor had liquefied.... after consulting with a local repair shop and YouTube..we decide to clean off the excess grease and reassemble it.... 

And NEVER remove the screw looking knobs on the side of the mixer..they are NOT screws!  They are brushes (not hair brushes...motor brushes)  Well I removed them from this hole and we couldn't get them back in...we did eventually get them in but one is semi-broken.  The question is--why did they put a slot in the top of the screw if they didn't want them out?.....it was begging to be unscrewed!! 

The repair man in my life!  Oh honey thank you!  What would I do with out you?!! 

A Boys Valentines...

Trent's valentines we made for school

I 'pinned' the idea off of Pinterest

They are matchbook candy holders

I know, we could have been a little more creative with our designing....but hey, the kids only want the candy anyway!

This is his box 

I thought it turned out cute for making it on short notice.

Total Boy.... 

farts & burps

Oh Trent how we love you!

Livin' In The Fast Lane....

This is a story to tell you (and for me to remember) what happened to us Thursday night.....

        About 10pm Thursday night (Troy had gone to be bed early..Steve was just getting home from a meeting)...I received a phone call from one of Troy's friends from KCTC (Kent Career Tech Center).  He introduced himself and said..."I know this is really short notice, but I was wondering if Troy could come with me to NEW YORK CITY for the week-end!!!"  I can't even described the flurry of thoughts that were rushing through my brain!!  Like......  is this legit?  Who is this kid? Would I really send my son with a mere stranger? Would they drive? Would they fly?

         As I questioned David, I soon realized this was for real and they would be leaving Friday at 7am...WHOA!  Would Steve let him go?  Should we even wake Troy up?  I'm pretty sure my words were all coming out of my mouth jumbled up as I described the phone conversation to Steve!! We woke Troy up and asked him what he knew about this...he said "am I dreaming??"....I know nothing about this!  By the details David gave me, I knew this was for real..Troy assured me ..this is real!!  Troy's friend, Tyler, was also invited to come along. These were the details we knew...they would fly out on a private corporate jet at 7am....they would be stopping by a college in MI and then off to a college in PA...then on to NYC by Friday night.  They would stay in Times Square and spend Saturday and part of the day Sunday sight seeing...and then fly home.

       After much thought, prayer and consideration (all before 11pm..yeah that's right, 1 whole hour!) we decide to let him go (are we insane???)  At that point, Steve called and talked to David's Dad who would be escorting them the whole way. (I left that detail out..kind of a crucial detail..oops!)  After that conversation Steve felt fully confident to let Troy go)  So between 11pm-12:30am we packed, found dress clothes, ironed clothes, got out suitcases, found the swimsuit...a flurry of activity was going on in the Buckner Household!  I think Steve, Troy and I were pretty much "hovering" around the house....we were all so excited...you would have thought we were all going to NYC!!!  Troy's emotions quickly turned from fear to excitement!  This was so surreal!  Just think...an all expense trip to NYC on a corporate jet!  Well, not every day we receive a phone call like that..at least we don't!!!

       Lest you think we are crazy irresponsible parents for letting our own flesh and blood go with a complete stranger..we thought we were too!  The news headlines flashed before my eyes..."parents let son fly to NYC with complete strangers!"  We pray often for Troy's safety and we pray we never have to read those headlines.  We also knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity....but we did not make our sole decision on that opportunity!  We pray for his safe return...constantly!

       Steve & I got up early Friday morning and made sure he had everything.  Steve left to pick up Troy's friend Tyler and headed to the airport.  They arrived at RapidAir terminal to be greeted by the pilot and a crew member.  They were able to go on the plane..a Falcon..(I don't know the number for you plane people).

        Steve felt even more confident after meeting David's Dad in person.  First stop, was Hillsdale College and then to a college in PA...

                                               Our text's from Troy...
*This is GREAT!!!!
*They made me a hamburg (he's on a GF diet)
*Landing in NY..helped land the plane!!!
*Going to a Lakers Game tonight
*In Times Square
*Went to bed at 2:30am
*Going to see a Broadway show... 'Spiderman'
*Going to the 'Today' show
*Bought a NY sweatshirt!
*Three 16 year olds roaming around NY
*JUST IN--Empire State Building
                --Wall Street
                --Ground Zero

....And we haven't even talked to him for a majority of today (he called us at 8am)

   This will be something that is forever etched in his memories...what fun memories to hold on to!  A dream come true for a couple of boys!

       I often feel like I wish we could go to fun places as a family..I always dream of going to big cities and sightseeing around.  Funds have just never allowed for that.  I think that it's cool how God works and how he provided this trip...better than we could have taken...for Troy to see a big city!  He answered the desire of this mom's heart!  What an Awesome GOD!  What's really neat is to think about how long this has been in the 'works'?  God so cares for us, that he cares about the details of our lives.  Feeling overly blessed this week-end! So excited for Troy and the fun he is having!  We are living vicariously through Troy's adventure!  Thank You God for Providing in amazing ways! Thank You for giving me a glimpse of how powerful you are!

All About Trent

 On Monday

Monday night we had a birthday Party for him celebrating 10 wonderful years on this earth!

A Red Wings shirt (and a Michigan shirt & Lions shirt) & some dough!

He got tickets to attend the Monster Jam at the VanAndel Arena & Tickets to attend a Griffins Hockey game 

He shares and birthday with Aunt Carrie

(Trent said..."oh look, we are on the same note..hahaha!!") 

On Wednesday 

we went on a field trip to Pando.

Michigan surprisingly has NO snow (well our part!)

But they had man made snow on the tubing hill..so all was good!

Here he is with his friend Abel... 

Trent & Abel ready to take on the hill 

Trent & Me..lets just say this is one of the most fun field trips! Three cheers for tubing

Trent going up the tow rope 

The hill...there are 5 runs....we had the whole place to ourselves!

Notice the grass around the hill

On Wednesday, 

Steve had to take a Spartan Chassis to a bid award north of here.  He had to keep it at our house till he could return it to Charlotte on Thursday...so what dad wouldn't take their son to school in this?  When Steve offered to take him...his eyes lit right up!  I'm so bummed I didn't grab my camera and snap a picture of him riding shotgun....he was all smiles! A memory that will last a lifetime! 

For some of you that may care or are confused....

Spartan builds the Chassis..which is the front part (cab) engine, transmission..mostly whats shown here.

Spencer (whom Steve works for) builds the fire truck that would go on the chassis.  So, I know a lot of you get confused with 2 'S' company names....so that's the short of it all..well, as far as I can explain it! Actually, if you want to get technical...Cummins builds the engine....

Double Digits!!

Our little cutie pie has turned double digits today!

Here are some pictures through the years with him!

Trent has been a delight.

Learning to ride his bike...

Heading to pre-school 

Coast Guard Festival Fun in Grand Haven!

He was pictured in the local newspaper..Go Trent!

Easter time... 

Awww....What's not to love about this one! 

An angry lion

(he didn't want to be a lion for Halloween!!!) 

Tyler & Trent enjoying the snow! 

The first fish he caught in Ludington

one word....Adorable!!!

Trent you are a delight to have in our family!  So glad God blessed us with you!  You keep us hopping!  You enjoy life..all.the.time!!!  You love a party and being involved in whatever is 'going on'!! You love sports and the outdoors..you really like Soccer...and you are good at it, to boot!  You have added so much joy to our lives and we are wishing you the best birthday ever!  

Happy 10th birthday Trent!