Our line in the sand

Very few things have been written in stone for us lately. All of us at the Viking Hus have learned the value of "going with the flow" and "letting go and letting God" in recent years.

But, when it comes to coordinating a cross-region/three-state move, at some point you have to (poop) or get off the pot! LOL

After sitting down with all the respective calendars (his work, Flicka's school, summer camps, etc), DaHubby and I finally put a stamp on Fourth of July weekend as the weekend we are leaving our home state of Michigan and heading to Illinois for whatever new adventure God is setting up for us there.

And, it causing me some heart break.

I found myself tearing up at church today when I considered this will be our last Easter there.

And, our favorite children's church worker today announced to the congregation that he's leaving his "day job" as a middle school principal and going into the ministry full time! Praise God - but we won't be able to see his move from teaching to Pastor of Children's Ministry.

I've started a local "bucket list" of things I want to do (alone, with DaHubby, and with the kids) before we leave this area.

Seventy-six days and counting...

Seventy-six days to see additional way God will move in our lives to bring this plan of His to completion.

Seventy-six days until we are living as a family under one roof again.

And, for that and more, I say "PRAISE GOD"!

We're home...

...but this was our view last night from our king-sized bed! LOL


Pulled in driveway at 5:30pm - and had to be at DaHubby's school for an award presentation at 6:30pm! LOL Busy day and busy night. "Talk" to y'all in the morning!

Safe Travel

If you read this Sunday before noon, DaHubby, the Vikings and I will most likely be en route from Alpena to the Upper Peninsula. Prior to leaving, I scanned my concordance for Bible passages about safe travel and found none that fit my mood.

Then, I searched the net and stumbled across this. I don't know who to attribute it to (I found the same prayer on a Greek Orthodox site) but it's *just right* and exactly what I was looking for. Wanted to share it:

Lord Jesus Christ my God, be my Companion, guide and protector during my journey. Keep me from all danger, misfortune and temptation. By Your divine power grant me a peaceful and successful journey and safe arrival. In You I place my hope and trust and You I praise, honor and glorify, together with Your Father and Holy Spirit now and forever and ever. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You traveled with the two disciples after the resurrection and set their hearts on fire with Your grace. Travel also with me and gladden my heart with Your presence. I know, Lord, that I am a pilgrim on this earth, seeking the citizenship which is in heaven. During my journey surround me with Your holy angels and keep me safe from seen and unseen dangers. Grant that I may carry out my plans and fulfill my expectations according to Your will. Help me to see the beauty of creation and to comprehend the wonder of Your truth in all things. For You are the way, the truth and the life, and to You I give thanks, praise and glory forever. Amen

Favorite Vacation Spot - Revisited

This is a reposted excerpt from a piece I published on 5-16-07.

A friend of mine from way back has a piece of property in Northern Michigan that is right on the St. Mary's River just south of Sault Ste. Marie. His cabin is on Neebish Island. I had my first invite up there around 1993. I have since been blessed to visit several years in a row and, most recently, I have introduced the place to DaHubby, Flicka, and Pojke (then in utero *wink*). It was and is an absolutely perfect slice of heaven.

So, when I saw a call for submissions from Michigan History magazine back in 2003 because they were putting together a special edition in tribute to the "Islands of the Great Lakes", I knew I had my writing assignment cut out for me. But, how could I describe this place in 300 words or less!? This is how:

"It was so little but has had a powerful effect on me.

One little island. One little cabin. Everybody running out on their docks when the distant rumble of engines reaches their ears. At that point, the St. Mary’s River seems almost narrow enough to swim across yet upbound thousand-foot freighters glide by effortlessly several times a day. A single freighter is well worth the drive from downstate.

Neebish Island seems to be the wilderness sister to its neighbor, Sugar Island. Everything about it says “shhhh, don’t tell anyone.” The ferry is harder to find. The signs are harder to notice. It seems quieter, greener, and full of hidden roads, paths, and treasures.

I first arrived at Neebish around 1993 thanks to a dear friend whose family has had a cabin on the island for decades. The wall space over the desk is covered in photos documenting the generations of this family that have used, appreciated, and added on to this piece of property.

Almost everybody along this stretch of beach are distant relatives of the same family. Yet, they are considerate and welcoming of strangers and guests. That includes the unofficial welcoming party of often more than a half of a dozen dogs, well trained and well mannered, who wander freely and play for hours on the beach.

The adopted motto for those using the cabin is “a rainy day at Neebish is still better than a sunny day downstate.” Cell phones are turned off. There’s no television. Only a radio. It takes a day or two but you get on “Neebish time”: eat when you are hungry, sleep when you are tired, read a lot, and visit the rest of the time.

I have been so blessed by this tiny slice of heaven. It is a magical place."

I was selected - as were DaHubby's photos! It was our first published pieces! And, it made my love for this place all the sweeter....

Saturday morning, when this is scheduled to publish, the Vikings and I will be heading north to pick up DaHubby near Big Rapids, then off to Alpena for the night, and then up to Neebish for some family time. We will also make it into "DaSoo" aka Sault Ste Marie - DaHubby's old stomping grounds.

Daddy Daughter Finale

My second favorite pic from the weekend...

On the road again

We're on our way for a short Viking road trip to SE Michigan to see my family. We'll be staying with my mom and attending a party for my "baby" cousin who recently enlisted in the Marines and is shipping out for boot camp next week.

DaHubby will be home holding down the fort, doing homework, and leading two small group meetings here at the house with his compatriots from school. Big projects due next week.

Blessings to all. Have a great weekend!

Exhausted

Bleary
Spent
Drained
Fatigued
Rundown
Depleted
Tired out
Wearied
Worn-down
Worn-out

but home safely!

Doing laundry, cleaning up, and resting after putting about 360 miles on the van this weekend!

But, no sympathy for me from DaHubby...he put in over 18 hours on the road this weekend as well.

Also, trying to convince Flicka that we just not able to spend ANOTHER day, all-day, riding her NEW BIKE!! Thank you Grandma Paula and Papa Doug!

We have no pics to share (Momma's hands were WAY too busy keeping everyone busy, safe, out of trouble, etc. LOL) but I'll be back tomorrow!

Road Trip(s)!!

The travel bug has bit and the vehicles are being packed.

DaHubby is helping out a friend from out church that recently moved here from Tennessee. He and his family had to leave some stuff behind when Whirlpool transferred him to this area..."stuff" including a motor home! LOL

So, DaHubby is going on a guys-only road trip to here where they will pick up the motor home and then drive back to Michigan Sunday. It'll be DaHubby's first daytime trip down through the Appalachians mountains and he is seriously geeked! An 18 hour, 1260 mile round trip...WAY too much testosterone in a confined space for me! LOL

So, after whining the he gets to go somewhere fun AGAIN without us *wink*, he suggested going to visit my parents. So, the Vikings and I are headed near here and here. We're all heading out just after lunch (in my case - I'm hoping the Vikings will SLEEP all the way there! LOL)

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful weekend!! And, we'll be back Monday!

How We Spent Saturday...

We took a short family road trip to Mishawaka, IN for the Michiana Christian Home Educators conference Saturday. And, luckily, we had a bee-yoo-tee-full day! I was able to attend parts of two sessions while DaHubby kept the Vikings occupied.



And we wandered the vendors area for what I'm sure DaHubby would argue was HOURS! LOL Flicka seemed to have fun and we are all re-energized to start afresh this fall. Attending really helped settle our hearts that this is something we're going to commit to for a time.

Finally, one funny moment...we knew we had found folks like us when we went to the mini-van around lunchtime to have our brown bag picnic/tailgate with PB&J's ala Dave Ramsey (no eating out! LOL) and realized that we were one of about ten families doing the exact same thing! LOL

Now, I just have to wade through the large stacks of stuff we brought home! LOL NOW I know why all those homeschooling veterans had those book/scrapbooking carts with them! LOL

Wordless Wednesday

For more WW, click here.

Into the Big City

Well, we're off to the Windy City shortly. Today's the day that all of DaHubby's siblings are meeting at Chicago Rush hospital to begin the process to figure out if one could be a bone marrow donor for Big Sis Peggy.

We've decided to make a day of it - DaHubby got the whole day off from work and, after the medical part of the trip, we will be taking the kids here. And, then heading home once the "nap time crankies" kick in.

Please pray for Peggy and for our safe travel. Hopefully, we'll be home with some optimistic news, some awesome new pictures, and some great new adventures!

The WHTI hits home

Has anyone looked into this yet? I don't know whether to feel safe or be seriously annoyed! LOL

Apparently, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) was designed to required "all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S." Initially, that meant all U.S. citizens were going to need a passport.

However, due to a cost of $100 each for an adult plus a processing time of several weeks, impatient U.S. citizens (particularly those in "border" states) got a tad irritated! LOL Additionally, as a result, the government got completely inundated with applications!

Then, fee "extortion" began where local providers were jacking up costs more than the federal government required...U.S. citizens got further annoyed.

So, while the Department of Homeland Security is still enforcing the new requirements on air travel, they have backpedaled a tad for those of us traveling only by land and water to Canada, Mexico, and warm cruise-friendly areas like the Bahamas and Caribbean and provided this neat, smaller, cheaper alternatives: passport cards!

At this point in time, they are also allowing Canadian and American citizens to provide a birth certificate and drivers license which will eventually end "at a later date, to be determined."

Now, what little knowledge I have of my federal government gives me pause with phrases like "at a later date to be determined" which gives me pictures in my head of DaHubby, the Vikings, and I standing at a border crossing several hundred miles from here, hungry kids crying, van full of traveling gear and some assumingly nice federal employee telling me that as of the previous Monday, I really do need a full passport now. LOL

And, one downside is that if we apply for traditional passports at a later date, we must pay full price despite the fact that the government has already checked us out once and will accept its' own passport card as ID for the full passport application! LOL

Anyway, instead of $370 for full passport books for all of us, it looks like I will be budgeting for $160 for four passport cards! And, with a possible 4-6 weeks wait (but I've heard it's up to 12 weeks+), I guess I should get on sooner as opposed to later!

Armchair Reading Challenge: Book Four

In August, I joined the Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge at A Life In Books. I had an ambitious original post. And, since then I've made it to the Middle East, Europe, and Mexico. My fourth book took me back to Europe...to Scotland specifically...with Liz Curtis Higgs.

This book was written unlike anything I've ever seen before. Instead of a past tense re-hashing of her trip, this travelogue IS the journey. It is in first person present time. You are "taking" the trip: having conversations, eating the food, seeing the sights, discussing the road, enjoying the lodgings right along with Higgs as she shows you around southwest Scotland.

Initially cool but eventually a little tedious. LOL No convenient "jumps" in the timeline to the next interesting point in the journey but every excruciating detail (adjectives, LOTS of adjectives, adjectives ad nauseum) of each step from the landing of the plane, through customs, even renting the car, etc. Ten days later - it's hard to share Higgs' sadness at leaving! LOL

The upside to the details? Cool...really cool...historical details about an area in Scotland that frequently is overlooked due to its more famous, more glamorous, more Hollywood-Braveheart cousin, the Highlands.

And, since this is more of Scotland's "road less traveled," one also receives the benefits of Higgs' passion for meeting the "regular" folks who run the businesses, watch over the historical sites, and speak Scots Gaelic fluently.

The best thing I'm taking away from this book is I think I'm finally starting to grasp the concept of the sense of history that seems to so escape Americans. We're such relative "babies" and other cultures seem to value and appreciate what's "old". Kirks (churches) built in the 1700's still being worshiped in that stand next to the ruins of the original church built several hundred years before. Wow!

If you love Scotland - you'll love this book. And, if you are a detail person - you will LOVE this book. However, if you are the average reader looking for some escapism and leisurely reading, you may want to try something else! LOL I'm still undecided since I know this is on someone's wish list at Paperbackswap.com! *wink*

Home again, home again, jiggity jig!

Well, Flicka and I got home safely from our 11 hour round trip whirlwind to northern Michigan. We were visiting my girlfriend of 30+ years and her two daughters, C and M. As usual, she was a wonderful hostess, her home comfortable, her meals fantastic, and her children polite. While I'm not ready to consider juggling working full time like her, she is my idol for mommyhood and teacher-hood! LOL

And, for the first time ever, I actually filled the memory card in our digital camera! LOL So here are a few...

M driving (at a very low gear) with Flicka and C along for the ride Friday night!

We went to the nearby city's park...right on Lake Huron!

My girlfriend's rule for her daughters: if you can catch a seagull, you can take it home! LOL Thus, the chasing ensued! Gulls 1, Girls 0 *wink*
Fearless Flicka climbing to the top of a retired lighthouse.

And, why they would have had stockades at a lighthouse....we're not sure.

Throwing rocks into Lake Huron.
Rocky beaches are a BIG difference to our Lake Michigan sand!
Flicka and Mom and the top of ANOTHER lighthouse a little farther down the coast!
She and I were the only ones brave crazy enough to climb all 100+ steps of winding staircase AND go out on the catwalk into the wind! LOL
And, of course, LOTS of bike riding!

We had a wonderful time! The drive was tough on both of us (my back and her patience) so we're taking a day off from everything including homeschooling. We've been playing most of the morning (Pojke really missed both of us A LOT! LOL) and we will be going to head to the park in a bit.

It's good to be home!

Indication I can never leave home again...(LOL)

...because I had nearly EIGHTY posts to check on Bloglines after only being away 52 hours! *wink* Y'all just WRITE TOO MUCH! LOL

Seriously, we got home safe and sound last night around 6pm. Fun had by all. The kids were angels (until the ride home) despite unfamiliar environments and off-kilter schedules. Pics and stories to come.

DaHubby had intermittent cell service while he was canoeing 50+ miles so we knew he was doing fine as well. Unfortunately, the canoers woke up to a driving rain Saturday morning and, after a cold breakfast, they were paddling before 7am. Due to their early start, they pushed and pushed and ended up paddling 13 hours - a two day paddle! They arrived back at their origin point around 11pm and promptly drove home! LOL DaHubby crawled into bed around 3:15am.

So, with two bleary-eyed parents (Flicka woke me up twice before DaHubby got home and then Pojke was up at 6:30am), we are all about to walk out the door for church where no one is expecting to see us! LOL The kids got good sleep (kinda) so hopefully things will go smoothly.

Will catch everyone up later...blessings on everyone's day of rejoicing, praising, and worshipping in God's house wherever you are!

One additional thing...

LOL I'm thankful for the fact that when DaHubby leaves for his guys-only-weekend canoe trip after work today the Vikings and I will be already 2 hours into the 3-hour trip to my parents' side of the state for a few days!

Granny P and Papa D (my mom and step-dad) will host us tonight and Friday night with a possible trip to the Detroit Zoo in between. Then, we'll leave Saturday morning and pop in at Papa B's (my dad's) house on the way back home.

The best part - I'll be driving during what is SUPPOSED to be nap time...BOTH ways... so HOPEFULLY the trip will be peaceful and quiet and only the sound of "zzzz...." coming from the back seat! LOL

Just in case, pray for traveling mercies! *wink* And, we'll be back Saturday night.

We're Home

The weekend didn't go quite as planned. Taking the kids so far into cooler-than-expected weather with so few conveniences began wear down even DaHubby's positive camping and U.P.-visiting attitude. We came home a day early to salvage yesterday as at least one day to spend together peacefully when it happened...my first mommy-heart-breaking moment.

"I don't like you!"

Nearly everything I've done in the last few days has solicited silence, grudging compliance, attempted ignoring, or those four words from Flicka.

My heart is broken. My confidence shattered.

When we surprised my in-laws by showing up at their favorite breakfast place yesterday morning, Flicka refused to come home with me. *sigh*

When we picked her up that afternoon and I had turned off the TV at the end of the show she was watching to pack her up, she came at me swinging. *sigh*

There's also some sibling rivalry issues that (as an only child) I thought I was addressing but DaHubby (one of six) assures me that I am feeding with Flicka re: Pojke.

So, I'm all a-jumble emotionally and need to work some things out. While I'm not "fasting" blog writing per se, I'm still not feeling in a position to write a lot. I'll be around, licking my ouchies, and figuring out what to do from here.

As a side note, I have a 400+ pictures that DaHubby took this weekend and somehow I have to select a handful to throw together a quick web page so my parents can see "what fun" the kids had this weekend. So when I get that done later today, I'll link back here.

Blog Break Extended

DaHubby and I decided last night to head upstate via a 7-9 hours ride (depending on the kids LOL) early (like THREE A.M.) Friday morning. The old friend who owns the cabin on the island I talked about in my favorite vacation spot post is unable to be there this weekend but told us to go on ahead and enjoy it with the kids. So, we're off for a little road trip to somewhere near DaHubby's old stomping grounds for some rest and relaxation - well, at least some R&R once we get there since we all know how much work it'll be to get ready to take two kids under 4 to an island with a cabin with no running water, no technology other than a phone, and no stores! LOL

So, I've got two days to do about 8 errands, pack four people, prep 4 days worth of food, etc. while maintaining some sense of order around the house. Y'all have a wonderful holiday weekend! See ya' back here next Tuesday!

photo credit: http://www.surplusoutlet.net