Maciknaw City

We arrived in Mackinaw City on Saturday afternoon. The leaves are changing on the way up. The high here was 57 degrees yesterday. Mackinac Bridge - 5 mile suspension bridge

Lake Huron - I put my hand in the water - cold!

Standing on the Lake Huron side of the bridge taking a picture of the sun going down over Lake Michigan.

Day One - South Haven, MI

Our first stop was South Haven, MI for late afternoon/early evening. Lake Michigan is beautiful and the area where we were was charming. Mom and I hit a few shops! We ate dinner outside at Joe's Bar and Grill. Headed to Grand Rapids to spend the night. A great start to our trip.

CC - I thought of you when I saw this knitting shop!

Camp Ne-O-Tez Volleyball Tourney

Sunday was the annual Camp Ne-O-Tez volleyball tournament at Maryland Heights. It was a great day for camp and the kids had a ball. I didn't get a ton of pics since we were all busy running the concession stand. JD and Dan Turner are the grill masters. JD has been doing this for years.

The last couple of years Dad has started the french fry tradition. He did 69# on Sunday!

Mom is his efficient assistant!

Uncle Mike is famous for his delicious funnel cakes - there is a line all day for them!

Kyle was helping everywhere - what a great guy!

This is one of the very rare moments when Carla sat down. Eric was playing but somehow I have no pics of that event!

Always fun to have friends there for the day . .

Chuck is the announcer!

Our precious friend Karen - she also jumped in to help us clean up!

Jimmy taking in the volleyball tourney from the "preacher" side - not the youth minister side!

Loren is checking out the action!

Updates from Lori . . .

The last few weeks have been busy as Jake moved into an apartment and started his junior year at Northern Illinois University and Lori was responsible for getting a chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes set up at Monticello High School. Jake is doing well and loves living in the apartment. FCA had a huge response to their kickoff picnic. Lori called this morning and was thrilled that they had 55 students and 5 coaches show up for their first huddle meeting before school today. What a positive way for student athletes to get the day started. (Pics are random order because I couldn't get them to load the way I wanted!)

Jake's bedroom in the apartment. Below Jake on move in day!

Kitchen in apartment - note this is move in day - do you think it still looks like this?

Some of the kids at the FCA picnic .

A glimpse of Harding. . .

This is a picture that Colton's roommate, Tim took of him on campus! Uncle Bud, Ken Davis, was the choral director and a giant on campus when Nancy and Lori were in school. This statue of him was just added to campus in August.

He's Home!

Dad is back from Nicaragua. Here are a few pics he took - there are more posted on Facebook. So glad he is home and we are proud of him!

Typical scence on the road.

Florist

A village woman washing clothes on a washboard outside her home.

Project Hope - Nicaragua Update

These are some pictures that I "lifted" from facebook of their time in Nicaragua. Dad called tonight and things are going well. Tonight's activity, after building walls during the day, was to bag beans and rice in 10 pound bags. Dad said it is such an impoverished area where they are. Here is a glimpse of their work . . .

Streets on Sunday - flooding from rain.

Taken tuesday - don't know when I have seen Dad look so grubby!

Dad and Tricia working together.

On the bus ride back to where they are staying - he fell asleep! As Grannie O would have said, "Marlin, you are just wore out!"