Wrapping Up the Mid-West

Last week I shared with you our journey through Kentucky on our way to Northern Indiana.  You can find those two posts at the following links:

Cumberland Falls

Shaker Village

By Friday, we were eager to get to Indiana to see our family there.

All of our weekends were spent going to college Rugby and soccer games to see our grands play, which we always enjoy doing.

The first weekend was up to Grand Rapids, Michigan to see Jackson play against a very intimidating Davenport University Rugby team.  And it wasn't pretty.  Not pretty for us at all.  But our Big Boy did score and played hard.

He doesn't come down easy!

On our way home after the game, we took a detour to the small Lake Michigan town of 

Saugatuck.

 We had a delicious lunch at a local diner overlooking this beautiful lake, then began exploring this quaint village.

  

The most unique shops lined all the streets and we could have spent two days looking at all of them.

We did enjoy this particular store.

But, the highlight of the day was meeting and visiting with the artist who owns one of the art galleries, James Conner.

He is such a delightful man and was eager to share the story of his life and his testimony of what Christ means to him with us.

This is the sketch that gave him his start as a professional artist.  At the age of 16 and going through a difficult time in his life, he painted this picture of the head of Christ.  A man saw it and paid him $200 for it.

Several years later, a package was delivered to his doorstep containing that same original painting.  The owner had died and his son found the artwork and wanted James Conner to have it along a note that said, "I am returning this for posterity."

James took this seriously and began reproducing it and now sales at least one in some form every day.

I brought one home with me.

Check out other paintings by this former minister and amazing artist.

James Conner

This was my favorite painting because as I told him, it could take me anywhere.  He agreed!

The following day, we went to Angola, Indiana to watch our granddaughter, Savannah play soccer for Trine University.

Their new Mini Goldendoodle, Skye loves to watch Savannah play and doesn't miss a game.

We had two more weekends of traveling to see games and each was enjoyable and fun.  And, our handsome son, John, was a great chauffeur.


But another highlight while we were there was getting to celebrate Mary-Elizabeth's 18th birthday.

Her best friends helped her celebrate and made the evening so much fun.  Our M-E is such a ray of sunshine and loves everyone.  She is a joy!

Dick and I toured the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkart, IN one day.

This particular vehicle has an interesting history.  The owner had it personally designed and restored on an original GMC motor home chassis for a meager $500,000 but his wife rejected it because it didn't have a stove.  Nothing, other than a stove, was left undone in this remodel.  It was beautiful.   

This was Mae West's traveling vehicle used as a bribe to get her to leave Vaudeville.  It is said she would often sit on the back porch and read.

We always make a trip to Shipshawana while in Indiana.

Fall was definitely in the air in this small Amish community.  We wished we could have brought home one of each of these huge, beautiful plants.

We weren't ready to leave, but home always calls.  We look forward to being in the winter wonderland of Northern Indiana again for Christmas.

A Snowy Hodgepodge

It is good to finally be back on the Wednesday Hodgepodge, so let's jump right in and see what questions Joyce has challenged us with today.

1. January is National Mentoring Month. Have you ever had a mentor? Been a mentor? How would you rate the experience?

Many years ago when I was in a deep spiritual and emotional slump, the dearest lady reached out to me.  She invited me into her home once a week for in-depth Bible study and counseling.  This dear saint shall forever hold a very special place in my heart.

I have not consciously mentored anyone, although there have been several times thru the years that I have counseled and encouraged specific women. I hope this was as meaningful a time to them as it was to me.

2. What current trend makes no sense to you?

No words necessary!

3. I saw a cartoon on facebook highlighting a few 'weird' things that make you happy as an adult. The list included-writing with a nice pen, having plans cancelled, freshly cleaned sheets, eating the corner brownie, cleaning the dryer lint screen, and sipping coffee in that brief time before anyone else wakes up. (Credit for the cartoon goes here) Of the 'weird' things listed which one makes you happiest? What is one more 'weird' thing you'd add to the list?

Freshly clean sheets for sure!

Bad weather makes me happy.  But this didn't just start as an adult.  For as long as I can remember, the worst the storm, the more I like it.

This was almost a white-out snow storm when we went out for the 11:30 PM Christmas Eve service.  Loved it!

Another thing that makes me happy is sitting on my back porch while it's raining, with a good book and music.  That's probably not too weird, but it does bring me joy.

4. What's the last good thing you ate?

My daughter-in-love always lets her children plan the Christmas Eve meal and they usually always suggest the same things.  We love tradition in our family.  There were so many delicious dishes but a new one was a Brie dip that we all fell in love with.  It is bottom center in the picture.

We had so much good food during this holiday period that it is seriously impossible to isolate just one dish.  Now, today I am looking forward to a very delicious Cabbage, Sausage, Potato Soup that will be the most delicious thing I've eaten lately.

5. Describe life in your 20's in one sentence.

I got married at almost 21, gave birth to my son at almost 25, my daughter at 26 and cried when I turned 30.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

On a very cold, snowy day during Christmas week, we took a road trip to Shipshawana, a small Amish town we always visit while in Indiana.

This trip was to specifically see the ice sculptures.

 

The nativity is always a favorite and never entered into the judging.

The three top winners were carved with much intricacy.

This Louisiana Bird, the Pelican was very much out of place but beautifully carved.

Then we strolled the snow covered streets and visited some of the unique little shops.

Yes, it was a wonderful excursion and one we will remember for a long time.