Family Visits in Michigan

Mr Husband and I arrived in Grand Rapids before lunch on Saturday.  I am writing this account a week later, early Sunday morning.  It is always good to drive up my parent's driveway, see the flowers, the familiar shop of my Dad's, the garage and go in the house, seeing my Mom in her rocking chair and my Dad in his arm chair.  It is quiet and peaceful and always beautiful.  My Mom had a lovely table runner on the table with a basket of silk flowers.  My Dad fried up bacon for BLT sandwiches and fried eggs for those who wanted them for lunch.   They have a big very deep fry pan that they use.  Dinner was grilled salmon, rice and salad.  My Mom had two books from Holland that she was given for me; both of the small town called Boerakker.  My Mom's parents and their 8 children left Holland for Ontario Canada in 1951.  Mr Husband and I went 3 years ago with my parents to Holland and saw Boerakker.  My Mom finds treasures at thrift stores for us; three mugs, 2 spoons, a delft framed tile were waiting for us on the desk in my old bedroom.  The 2 books and the 2 spoons were actually on the kitchen counter where we could see them more quickly.   My Mom had found the delft Dutch spoon the week Cleo died.

Sunday we went to the nearest Orthodox church, where I was chrismated 16 years ago.  I recognize various people; most of the ones I was friends with those years ago go to a mission church that was started after I left.  A quick trip to Trader Joes and then we went to my sister's house; my niece R. is almost 3 years old and was waiting by the door, inside and ran to through the livingroom to the kitchen when we came; she had such a beautiful grace in movement; very feminine; sudden; beautiful.  I held my DV future adopted nephew, M. for a long time, eating with him on my lap.  He's a real snuggle bug.  We had great conversations and learned to play 7 Wonders.  We had dinner with other family downtown and went to my Grandma's place to visit with her before going back home.  My Grandma and I talked about family history....

Monday we left for up North Michigan, to see my Husband's sister and kids and his parents.  We had lunch with long time friends of Mr Husband about an hour and a half drive in. There was a lovely vintage consignment store and my Husband found a hand-painted Italian platter that he showed me and we bought, plus some inexpensive silver plated soup/gumbo spoons and ladle and 2 beautiful linen napkins with embroidery.  It was when I was looking for my box of the hand-knitted washcloths that I realized I left my suitcase (full of clothes and things for the 2 night 3 day trip) and so after a delicious lunch and lovely time of conversation, we went to a thrift store on the way to a Walmart for a change of clothes.  The drive there was not as uneventful as we would have wished -- as my Husband was going around a sharp bend with an intersection a woman nearly hit us head-on while turning unexpectedly in front of us into a lane that she was not supposed to turn into.  We have no idea why she did this; she never turned her head to look at us; it's like she did not see us at all.  5 minutes later I felt teary and realized it was from the shock of almost being in a very serious car accident.  We arrived at my Husband's parents's house in time for dinner that we had with his parents, sister and 3 youngest.

Tuesday we went into town, having a picnic in a nearby park.  We went window shopping and my Husband took the boys to the library while my niece N. and I did more window shopping and had a treat at a great ice cream spot.  I had a vanilla sea-salt caramel ice cream cone; it was delicious.  We went back home in time for the 3 youngest to get ready for their soccer games and went along to watch.  Dinner afterwards and Mr Husband watched a movie with his oldest 2 nephews.

Wednesday we had breakfast, my nephew D. played a prank on us by hiding in the trunk of our car and we had a round of hugs and goodbyes.  The drive back was better, but one driver in front of us stopped completely and we were about to go around him on the left, when he suddenly turned in front of us while putting on his turn-light.  So we almost were in an accident again; scary.  My parents-in-law had prayed very specifically for our protection in travel and we had travel prayers before we left, at our far-away church.  Clearly God protected us and we are so thankful.   We met my Husband's brother and kids for dinner and then went to Aunt I's house, the still newly widowed Aunt; my Husband's Uncle Hank dying just this summer, unexpectedly.  My sister-in-law came there as well and we had a nice visit.  Aunt I. gave me a beautiful winter plate, a Christmas scene, that I look forward to putting up DV later in our home.

Thursday I went with my Mom to see my Aunt H and my 2 cousins, A and M.  It was wonderful; the same routine, jokes, news updates, lunch with bread, a banana, a boiled egg.  We went thrift store shopping afterwards, Aunt H coming along.  I found a brilliantly white Lenox table cloth, a long one.  I am thinking of using it, DV, for a St Nicholas dinner and for Christmastime.  My Husband met us there and we went to my Great Aunt P's home in Grand Rapids, near Calvin.  She is hoping to get into an independent living place near her home where she will have a living room and bedroom.  If she does, she will then sell her house.  So I not only wanted to see her again (she is 93 years old now) but see her home of 40+ years one more time.  After this we picked up our niece L. at Calvin where she is a Freshman and our Aunt G. and went to Russ' for dinner.  Then we all went to Trader Joe's where I stocked up L. "pantry" on campus with lots of granola bars, stroopwafel, caramels, chocolate covered almonds, OJ, kombucha, oatmeal and trail mix.  I had so much fun doing this with her and then we went to Calvin and I went up with her and saw her dorm room and put away all the food with her.  Her dorm room is super cute.  Then we drove Aunt G back home and talked a bit more with her. 

Friday's plans changed; it was muggy and humid; we stayed home with my parents and later went to a luggage store in GR and found the exact carry-on suitcase that I had texted my sister-in-law R about as she travels a lot.  We found a small cabin bag as well for me.  We all went out to our favourite local restaurant and my Uncle L. and Grandma and other family all came.  My Mom and I worked on the books from Boerakker (the very small town in the Netherlands); I wrote who various family members were.

Saturday we went to liturgy for the Nativity of the Mother of God and stayed for lunch at church afterwards.  My Dad made us hamburgers for dinner on the grill; his burgers are the best! We did vespers that night at home.  My Mom and I finished the Boerakker books and talked about family history.

Originally we were hoping to go to the local monastery about 1.5 hours away but with all the traveling and visiting, we were too tired.  So today we plan on going to our local church for liturgy and then spend the day with my parents.  Monday DV we are seeing Grandma for a late breakfast and my parents for lunch and we fly out DV Monday early evening. 

I am glad we saw all the family we did; we never know when, esp for the older family members, when our last visit becomes the last visit.   I am really thankful for our family and our shared Christian heritage. 

{Our time in Michigan} ~ My Beloved Aunt...

My Aunt H. turned 80 on the first Sunday 

Mr. Husband and I were in MI.

The Monday after we all went out to eat

and then back to my Aunt H. house for presents

and dessert.

It was a lovely evening, full of laughter and conversation.

I was so thankful to see everyone 

and esp. my Aunt H. for her birthday.

Canadian Thanksgiving ~ Year 3 with family and rejoicing

Mr. Husband and I met in person

the first time three years ago

on the weekend of 

(Canadian) Thanksgiving.

*

That Thanksgiving my godson was born,

he turned 3 this year...

This Thanksgiving weekend Mr. Husband and I

baptised our first god child who we have together,

our god daughter V.

*

My dear cousin H and her son W were 

with us for the baby's first communion

and then on Monday we made a 

lovely Thanksgiving Meal!

Meal:

Yams with Cranberry, made with this 

recipe for the yams.

Jiffy corn bread muffins,

Salad,

Drunken Chicken

Stuffing from mix, Cranberry Sauce from cans,

Organic corn, beans from my parents-in-law's garden,

gravy from chicken juices from chicken,

applesauce that my parents made, mashed potatoes...

water and hard cider for the adults...

Blue and white dishes, our silver, the usual dishes 

that I get out for beautiful meals...

It was a very good and savoured meal.

My cousin H not only did a lion share of 

the work but she brought this wonderful apple butter

which we enjoyed on the corn bread!

 We all went around and talked about what we were thankful for.

The Lampadas by the icons were all lit.

My cousin said she is making this

cranberry yam dish again!

A lovely meal...

And wonderful apple pie that my cousin baked

with French Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert!

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving meal!

Many beautiful and happy things ~ Feast day, Mr. Husband's ordination and Time with Family

We got word this week that

Mr. Husband would be ordained as a 

subdeacon on Friday,

our Churches' Feast day!

*

St. Elizabeth the New Martyr

Mr. Husband was ordained from being a 

Reader to a Subdeacon! 

It was so deeply beautiful!

Three years ago I found out that 

the then unknown Reader who I married 

a year-plus-1.5 months later,

was willing to email me and our new 

life had it's beginning through emailed letters...

now we are married and he became a subdeacon 

on this wonderful feast day to St. Elizabeth!

It was so wonderful that it happened that Mr. Husband's 

parents were already planning on coming!

After the Feast Day we all went to Princeton to enjoy

a nice afternoon and early evening together.

Mr. Husband and I's first real date day in New Jersey was

at Princeton and it was really special to go back

with Mr. Husband's parents.

The above picture Mr. Husband when we were dating

said would be perfect for knights jousting

and I said would be prefect for a formal beautiful ball. :)

*

We then went to the chapel...

We saw the beautiful large chapel at Princeton again;

this chapel was one of the last beautiful things my

Oma ever saw in pictures as we were visiting her

and I told her about the future Mr. Husband and I's

time in New Jersey and showed her the pictures of Princeton

and esp. the chapel. She just loved all that stain glass.

She fell that night, breaking her hip and passed away 

Sunday morning, on the Feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God

into the temple.

*

It was so very special to be in this chapel those years later,

with Mr. Husband made a subdeacon that morning

and showing the chapel to his parents, the chapel that Mr. Husband and I looked at together when we were dating and loved so much.

The chapel that my Oma loved and she told me that

everyone wants a little happiness and that she was so glad 

that I was dating the not-yet-Mr. Husband.

We knew that my Oma knew we would marry and it was 

a comfort that I got to see her and show her pictures of 

my then beloved boyfriend.

That Mr. Husband as Mr. boyfriend/Orthoman as I called him 

on my blog went to her funeral with me and my family

was a deeply meaningful act of love 

that he showed to me and 

my family.

*

And so here we are, with family... :)... 

I am now, as a woman who is now a Deacon's wife,

which in the Russian tradition makes her a Matuska,

when her husband became a subdeacon, (the level before Deacon) 

she called herself a subtuska, 

and so I am now (this is a joke of course)

Subtuska Elizabeth ;)

*

So tomorrow DV is church and our house is being

blessed while my parents-in-law are still here.

My father-in law is making us a beautiful pantry.

More on that DV next week.

We are preparing the house and the food

for the dinner we will make after

the house blessing.

*

It's a special time for us and one 

that we are most grateful for! 

At home in the city... with our niece!

Niece's very cute puppet theater! 

Mr. Husband's idea to save cardboard for 

this and she has been working on a script :)

Also playing with k'nex. :)

Books I gave the Mother to be at the baby shower.

I am going to be selling them at our church bookstore

and have been reading them here and there for that;

they are great!

And no, I am not expecting for those don't

know me in person but were wondering.

The craft re-shipment finally came today.

They left out one nightlight though,

so I have to call them again....

Part of my secret knitting project.

Another Elizabeth-original simple style. :)

This is my Mexican blanket that I got in 

Mexico when I was 17, so 20 years ago.

It will be a month tomorrow that we moved in.

My brother-in-law did not realize it was so recent

and said that it looked like we'd lived here 6 months already!

I was I admit gratified to hear this,

as I had been working so hard to get the place

ready for him and his lovely daughter to visit! 

So the Mexican blanket is my picnic blanket.

I used to bring it to cemetery day in Ottawa

and have been using it to sit on our front stoop

with L. our 7 year old niece. 

We've had snacks, Popsicles and such things there.

*

She's a happy kid, very smart of course, and sings

songs about things she loves, like I did when I was a kid.

My Mother called my singing 'chanting' and I did it often

when I was a kid...

*

The song today was about our local corner store

which are called bodegas here. 

Our Bodega has bubble gum in the machine,

freezie pops in the freezer,

and things like paper bags for puppets, 

packing tape for theater construction and ketchup :) 

Our days have gone like this:

Out of bed and breakfast about 8 AM.

Prayers.  

Outdoor time (kiddie pool today!)

Snack time

lunch prep and lunch

rest time for 1 hour (my survival hour for things like

a nap (whew kids have a lot of energy!), computer time,

cleaning, etc.

Afternoon activities or cleaning up things

and then activity or reading

snack on stoop

fun

dinner prep

dinner

outside for scooter time 

wash up, prepare bed, read

Bible stories from this Children's Bible

prayers, talking about theological questions

such as the mystery of the Holy Trinity and finally 

bed!

We've used our bar stools a lot already

and we've been having a great time!

*

Please pray for me as we have our next 

wonderful munchkin visiting as of 

this Sunday-Thursday and I want his

visit to also be a wonderful time for him!

We will be enjoying this book and colouring book

together! 

Around the House...

Our Bedroom is almost where I want it.

Some more icons to be put up in the corner,

a drawer front to fix on a night stand,

a cabinet full of pictures and knick knacks to 

hang and place.

Hoping to do more over the long weekend of

July 4th when Mr. Husband is home!

*

Yesterday was a fish, wine and oil day...

So we had all three!

It was nice!

*

My niece and brother-in-law came yesterday.

All the craft things I ordered was mysteriously 'lost' 

and I was refunded and had to order it again today.

So bummer as it will not be here for most of

my nieces stay.

But what can I do? Nothing about that...

*

Soon we are going to go sit at our front stoop

and have a Popsicle!