The Great Lake State

What a wonderful time we had in Michigan!! I think we were gone for 10 days and it was LOVELY. The weather was cool and sometimes rainy, but I honestly did not care! I was sick of the stinkin' heat! We flew into Detroit, and then, drove up north to the cottage. We did indeed make a few stops- like at the outlets to go to the restroom! :) Got up north, completed a puzzle (the hardest puzzle I have ever done!) rode bikes, I did swim in the lake and Kayak, we went to the craft store and attended the annual sale- I did indeed buy quite a bit of scrapbooking and bead items! :) After a few days up north, we headed south...stopped in holland to try on some wooden shoes...saw family in c-town which was wonderful and the next day headed to Albion for the rehersal dinner of our friends whose wedding Jamos was in...That was fun and what was even more fun- is I got to see my friends Marcy, Jen and Emily- they were at church in Albion and were able to swing by and visit! Saturday morning I headed to Jackson while Jamos did wedding stuff and was able to see some Jackson people! :) I stopped by to see my friend Beth and her family, that was wonderful- and then, had to get a wedding gift for the happy couple and THEN, stopped to see my old neighbor Ginny AGAIN and missed her! I was bummed. I also stopped to see my friend Jennie, but she wasn't home.... I stopped in SA and saw Randy, my boss and then, to Albion to see Holly. It was fabu. :) We had the wedding that night- and it was a blast, I will post pictures. That night LATE, we drove back to C-town, picked up his sister at a friends house- since it was also her birthday! Sunday, Jamos and I visited his church- great to see old friends from there, a quick stop at my amah's house to say hi to my gma and uncle don, and then, off to set up for Javin's graduation party! What a time! It was beautiful weather for his party- I got to hold a LOT of babies...it was like a baby weekend! :) Before the party was over, I was able to run a few towns over to see Caitlin who was attending a bridal shower! I got to meet baby Jada, who was in my wedding, but I finally got to meet. She is beautiful and such a smiley happy babe! I love her. Back to the graduation party in time for clean up...Then, to watch a movie with my dad and Barb. It was fun. We spent a lot of time with family and friends in this VERY short trip, but we loved every second of it! Oh! Monday we took a trip to Sagatuck to shop and enjoy the beautiful day with Jamos' parents and his little sister who was baby sitting for baby Elliot who is 1 year old and totally adorable. I got to carry him around while we shopped. What fun!! :)
Now I shall post some pictures! :)

Above: Jamos and Elliot in Saugatuck
Me and a sweet baby at Javin's grad party :)

Me and baby Jada Brown! :) I love her and her smiles

Jamos' family (mom, dad and sister) with baby Elliot in Saugatuck

Me and Jamos :) I love him!

A special visit with Marcy, Emily and Jen in Albion!

A wedding shot

Holly and I in Albion

Caitlin, Jada and me in Hartford

My uncle Don and Amah

My up north family in Houghton Lake

Jamos and I at the wedding

Jamos in the wedding! He did GREAT!!

Mom and I at Higgins Lake

Again

Son in law and Mother in Law :)

pictures of our free stuff from last week! :)

stage fright

All day long, day in and out, I think of things I could blog about on here...I finally find a moment in my day to write a little something and here I am with NOTHING.

Life lately has been filled with a lot of work and not a whole lotta fun...which stinks for me since I am home all the time just waiting for the fun to happen. Oh well, I guess this is the season of our lives.

Last night, Jamos had to work late, so I took this opportunity to walk up to the library. The weather was a little cooler, so, I ventured out- along the way, I was searching for this lost African Grey Parrot. There are signs EVERYWHERE for a $2000 reward!! I am like- how amazing would THAT be?? I was also keeping my eyes peeled for a $500 reward CAT! Yea, this cat must be like some speciality brand or hypo-allergenic. But, $2,500 for finding some lost animals could be a pretty great business!

After the walk, I was quite sweaty so, I opted for a quick dip in the pool and a nice time sitting beside the pool with a magazine. Ahh. The life of relaxation. THEN, it was time for Yoga. This week was MUCH better than last week- not nearly as many people, we actually had ROOM to do our moves. It was tough! My abs are killing me today!!!

Not much going on besides work and home stuff- the usual cleaning, etc.,

Sorry this is SO boring.

PANERA-ICK

I totally forgot to write about my sunday after church lunch experience. Jamos and I went to Panera- our first time since we have been in Houston due to so many amazing lunch places that are not chains....anyways....we get there after church- we are starving....waiting to be waited on.... Jamos says "that lady back there just wiped her nose with the gloved hand" he was referring to the lady and guy who were bored to death standing there- waiting to MAKE OUR FOOD.

Yes. Wiped THEIR NOSE WITH A GLOVED HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!! okay, so he points this out to me and I stare at them- they look back blankly...then, the lady is BITING her gloved thumb...

Finally, the lady who is taking the orders comes back from doing whatever the heck she was doing...and I asked her if she could tell them to change their gloves...gave her my order....they start making our meal with their dirty gloves- so I remind her that I would appreciate it if they changed their gloves.

Here is what happens next....order taking lady shouts in a very mocking voice "SHE WANTS YA'LLS TO CHANGE YOU GLOVES" they LAUGH and she says, "SHE SAID YOU WIPED YOU NOSE WITH IT"

Okay, I dont get embarrased THAT easy...but I was HORRIFIED. At this point, I am like, "OH NO YOU DIDN'T" so I tell Jamos what happened- he is sitting in peaceful bliss in the booth while I apparently pick my battle.

He is upset and tells me that now they will probably SPIT in my food...so, I start freaking out.
....

.....I get the manager, have him sit at my booth and explain what happened- meanwhie I start TO CRY.

I cry for a few reason,
1)embarassment
2) the fact that I was SO mad at the entire situation
3) I am a girl and I do that.
So, the manager tells me that he really appreciates me telling him, and so does the health department.
And, we get a free dessert and he will go make our food for us- AGAIN.
So, after waiting in line for another decade, we get some OK brownie type cake.
I don't think I will be going to another Panera in Houston.


Now, today is THURSDAY. I can't believe it. What a week. This morning, I went to mail a bill in our little mail area...I see a sign, for a posting of something FREE. Well, we dont have any signs posted in our mail box area, so if there is 1, it is a big deal! :)

Anyways, I move closer- and I see that it is FREE IKEA furniture....furniture that we actually were wanting to PURCHASE and here is a sign saying I could get it for FREE.
Immediatly I call the number in the slim chance they are still there...leave a message...and like 5 minutes later the lady calls me back and says I can have everything!!!

I really need to post pictures, but, I got this huge book shelf with 16 "cubbie holes" it is AWESOME. And, perfect for our lack of storage needs.

We got a HUGE JVC flat screen (not like, flat tv) TV.

Not sure if you know those awesome Ikea Chairs- that are really comfy...yah, not helping you in knowing what I am talking about- but, it is a $200 chair WITH the foot stool (normally $89)...leather....for FREE!!!!

A side table.

And, this wonderful cabinet you could use for either china, or to put your tv on- it is like 2 feet tall and 4 1/2 feet long- with glass doors...AMAZING and I am using it for my scrapbooking stuff- in the back room since I really needed that back there and it makes the room look SO much better!! :)

Besides the fact that the lady lived on the 3rd floor and that it was like 100 degrees out today...I am SOOOO happy with everything. I can't believe how the Lord totally blessed us with furniture that we were wanting in the first place.
The Lord is GOOD. (and his love endures forever...sing praise.....)

So, tonight, I enjoyed a nice walk outside- we had a HUGE storm and at least it was cooler out- still humid but you could be outside and not faint. And, took a wonderfully bubbly bath. LOVED it.
:)

Enjoy your day!

Yoga Please

Last week I started Yoga and I really have enjoyed it. Last week we had less than 7 people in my class- tonight, we had 20! I was a little irked about it- since we were all crammed together doing the downward dog, etc., I tried to not let it bother me, since I love the hard work and relaxation process.

Anyways, this past weekend was nice- we had dinner on thursday night with our friends from church. They live in a lovely townhouse closer to downtown. We had a time with them and getting to know them better. I brought my camera so I could take pictures, but no such luck- as I totally forgot all about taking pictures! :)

Friday we met up with some friends we met at bible study a while back- they just got married so we havent seen them in ...well....like 3 months! We met up w/ them and our other friend Amy, who works with Jamos- and they had some other friends too- so we had a nice night out on the town listening to live music, etc.,

Saturday, Jamos had to work an event- OF COURSE. So, I was able to chill, clean and SCRAPBOOK!!!!! :) LOVED IT!

After he got home, I ran to the grocery store and the library really fast to find something for dinner- while I was gone, our other friend, came over to hang out with Jamos- the Yankee's were playing the Astro's so- off they went to try to find tickets- so, I called my friend amy to see if she wanted to hang out- so, we did and it was wonderful. and then, the boys came back- time for pizza etc., I made cookies- which were VERY good- and spilled red juice on the white carpet and had yet another opportunity for the OXY clean to come to the rescue- totally NO STAIN anymore!! :)

ANYWAYS- Sunday, church- then, we decided to clean the couch w/ our steam cleaner....so, we also did the living room floor. Yea, I was sweating like a crazy woman.
And, now it is MONDAY night....

OHHH- we watched "the bucket list" last night - what a great movie- I bawled like a little baby!!!! Wow. Great movie. :) Go rent it :)