GRAND CHILDREN WEEK, garden, goats and sheep!

Photos will come later---------


All week we had grand children here -first were the older 3.  They came to hour house last weekend, and I took them home on Thursday.  We went bowling, and spent time swimming and relaxing as much as we could.  Watched the meerkats re-runs on Netflix, went out to eat once-(did not have meerkats ) and gram-pa took them for a tractor ride...in the lift on the tractor!  They saw a newborn deer....hiding and sleeping in the woods, gram-pa said it was brand new....and he wished he had a camera along  (silly, you have one on your phone-I reminded him later) 


Then today, the other 2 grand children were over to visit.   We went out side, even though it was not a very sunny day-spent time on grandma's play ground, and then a wagon ride.  I went back to the woods -giving them a ride in the wagon, then up to the front yard, all around-the yard-circling...circling...then stopped under the mulberry tree so they could pick mulberries and eat them-and turn purple!  Then grandma watched them do cartwheels for awhile-as we waited for gram-pa to come home so they could show him how they do cartwheels.  After each cartwheel (only about 25 each child) grandma had to say "yeah! "  and clap a lot! They would say "grandma----say yeah! "  If I forgot to say that!


Grandma also watched the neighbor mow while watching the grand kids do cartwheels- because the neighbor keeps mowing into the keeslar mail box, trying to tip it over.  


Grandma just put rocks down beside the base of the mailbox so maybe he would stop doing that.


  Funny thing is, he kept waiting to mow that area (along the property line) until I was gone-but I would not leave.  I love frustrating people sometimes like that.  


 He usually mows that area first, then does all the rest of the yard-but today-I was out watching so he mowed in a different order....ha funny.  He has to be doing it on purpose- but I wonder why?  I think he is just plain mean.  He has always been untrustworthy as a neighbor-  he shot our dog, his grand son shot at me and our dog while we were walking on the road...his son shot towards our sons direction while out hunting, not paying attention to anyone who might have been in the area-


They-as a family who handles guns-- are not safe. duh! They are members of the NRA---I think the son even owns a gun shop--- but they are not safe. 


  So he keeps mowing into the fence-trying to knock it over.  Why do people have to be so mean?  Today though, he waves to me like he is trying to be friendly.  Ok, I  wave... but think-meanie.


Tonight we go out to eat, nice meal with our second son, his wife and their children.  Scott and I drove home slowly, enjoying the quiet evening as Sabbath begins-even holding hands as he drives....talking as we take back roads, we even went out of our way to get home!!!  We are doing the 'old person' thing of driving around on back roads as we look at the fields and peoples homes....(wow!  Never thought I would turn into my parents!)   But-Peaceful.


Passed 4 buggies driving close in a row.  Went past the first buggy and heard a auto horn honk.  It was rather quiet-but did hear one, then after the last buggy, heard another car horn, louder-we laughed.  I told Scott we should pull over and I would get out and stand in the middle of the road to stop all of those teen Amish kids, telling them   "turn over your horns.  Do your parents know you have auto horns?  Does your bishop know? now hand them over and I will not tell anyone"  You have to know about the Amish to find this funny, esp in this area of Michigan where they are more old order --unlike their Indiana (Shipshewana) cuzins, who are not so old order---so this group is not allowed to have fancy things like car horns that other Amish children might be allowed to have!  


Still peaceful evening.....


Then we came home to see all of the sheep, goats and the cow out---eating my garden!  ALL of my peppers, cabbage, lettuce and on and on!  Thank you GOD that the tomatoes survived!  I am very frustrated!  Scott says the gate was unlocked, but why would someone go into the yard and unlock just that one?  No the grand children were not out there, not at all.  None of the other gates were unlocked-so that is just weird.  It is a chain lock, so the animals can not unlock this one, others, yes, but not this one.  Sigh.


All animals ran back into the yard, (the fenced area where my garden is!)  Oh yes, lets run to the other garden since you have ruined the first one!  (they could have ate some of the cilantro that I have an over abundance of-but nooooo, just the peppers, lettuce and cabbage....) 


We have had a terrible rabbit problem this year, and I thought that SOMEONE (cough-scott-cough)  needs to go out there and shoot all of those fuzzy little bunnies that are the culprits... those fuzzy little rat / bunnies who were eating my cabbage, peppers and such, but now maybe they (the rabbits) will go somewhere else since the goats, sheep, and cow ate them down all the way! Sorry, no more food here for you rat rabbits!


sigh.

A Visit To Our Son and His Wife

We have needed a get away, even if only for a day or so.  A plan to go visit our son Dustin and his wife Samantha was in order.  


They live up in Muskegon Michigan, so we planned to go away for the weekend.  Well for 2 weeks I have been checking out the camp grounds in the area, and the state parks said no early reserves-just first come first serve.  So that would mean maybe getting a camp site that would not be our first choice.  Dustin said we could stay with them, and that is what we ended up doing. Scott  has monday off too, so we could have extend the stay if we wanted....but since we did not camp, we decided not to stay that long.  

Well the plan at first was to camp, and we have not camped for a long time, so thought it would be fun. It has been years actually! Scott was to be off work on Friday, we would have left on friday morning, to find a good site.  Plans changed- he had to work all day (which is better financially) but that would mean that we would not get out of the house until about 4 pm or later.  That would mean we would not get a good camp site.


I was busy all day doing doing laundry, cleaning the house and getting ready.  Scott came home after work, and while working on chores, found one of our female goats had died this after noon.  She was our best momma goat .  He had to get her buried, could not wait until we returned in this hot humidity of over 90 degrees.


So after that, and going to town to the bank (our bank stays open late) and the pharmacy for me (diabetic supplies) we were on the road going north!  We thought maybe we would find a campsite, and I thought I would call the one camp ground just in case they would hold one -even though they said they do not, I thought I could at least ask.  I found out that their web page is wrong, they do take reservations!  But they are full now, as are other camp grounds in the area (there is a motorcycle rally thing this weekend in Muskegon) so no camping.

But that would mean we would get to stay with our son in his apartment, so more time with him and his wife!
We arrived that evening, and spent some time visiting, had a late supper and then went to sleep.  They gave up their bed for us, (very nice!) and took the blow up mattress we had brought along -placed on the floor in the living room.  Here are some photos of Dustin getting that ready. 

They had Egyptian cotton sheets on the bed-Wow!   I need to get some of those!  They are great!  Very comfortable and soft!


Saturday morning we had a big breakfast of eggs, potato's with onions, and roast beef then went to the store for a few supplies for our picnic lunch on the beach.  

The beach was not too crowded, but crowded enough that the parking lot was filling up.  Walking in the sand was a bit tough for my knee, but worth it! 

 Swimming in Lake Michigan was great!  Very refreshing!  

I have not went to lake michigan for about 15 years or more...back when the kids were all at home!  It was better than the ocean, (no salt water!) and the sun was so warm! 

 We had a lunch of chicken salad, chips, pickles, and water...cool water! Samantha covered Dustin with sand, we found his face later!

Scotts back did get a bit red!

We had fun, here are some more photos of Dustin and Samantha -enjoy!

A fun day!

Lunch With Grandma

Today we had lunch with Dustin and Samantha, who came down from Muskegon Michigan to visit.  Also Nalani, Anastasia and Stephen drove up from the south...(kendaville).  We (Scott and I) were watching Nathans two children, so we took them with us to lunch.  I went and picked up my mom too so she could enjoy some time with the family. She kept saying how nice this was to go, and 'what a surprise'.  


 We went to a Mexican restaurant in Sturgis, good food but terrible service.  Yes they were busy, but they were also seen just playing a hand held game instead of coming back and refilling our drinks. Did bring a container of water so we could refill our own water, no ice in it though. And not a full container for 10 people...  Stuff like that does not make me too happy.  And they told me they had ONLY sweet tea, yet Stephen ordered sweet tea and said it was NOT sweetened... 
sigh...


But despite all of that, it was nice.

Here are the photos...The one above is Dustin and Samantha and their nephew Jeremiah ...

Stephen and Dustin...

Stephen, Nalani and Scott...

Dustin and Grandma...

Anastasia and Grandma...

Nalani and Grandma -who was giving Nalani a kiss!

Josiah and Great Grandma

Dustin and Samantha and Jeremiah...

It was a nice day (except for the service....they need to work on that)

Oh, and this is Stephen selling cars...they even come with a licence plate...(dont buy one...really-)

Red Beard is a Part of the Keeslar Family?????

Dustin and Samantha came to visit, shopped at 'Keeslar country family grocery store' ...I noticed that Dustin was growing a 'red beard'...his new nick name, red beard.
Dustin had red hair when he was born, then it went blond as a infant and has remained blond ever since.
Todd does not have a red beard...see here, his nose and eye, could not get a clear shot of his chin...
And here you see samanthas chin, no red beard here either!

Dustin and Samantha come to visit!

Dustin and Samantha come to visit us!

The same time, we also had the three oldest grandchildren over for about 3-4 days, so they got to see their uncle and aunt.

We had a meal, of grilled beef hot dogs, (Hebrew brand-so kosher) potato salad (my home made stuff, that they all like so well) mac and cheese (home made from Samantha) and some stuffing (from Samantha too). A simple meal but most important, to be with family. Jason and Missy and Nathan and Kasandra could not make it.
Here is Stephen with Dustin, his long lost brother in law- and friend whom he misses -
Again, stephen spends huggy time with dustin!
The girls! starting in front is Adreana, behind her is Nalani, behind her is Anastasia and to the right is Samantha.
The 'boys'..starting to the left is Dustin, then Zachary, then Stephen then Logan.

Our family puts the 'fun"into dys'fun'ctional...

well a little about me, I am married to a wonderful man...since 1980. We dated for 5 years before that....so we have been together for a long time.

here are some photos of my family...we have 5 children.



Our oldest is Jason, name meaning healer, he is married to Missy and they have 3 beautiful children...Zachary, Logan, and Adrena. (photos of grand children coming soon)



The next child is Nathan,name meaning prophet, he is married to Kasandra. They have 2 children, Josiah, and Jeremiah. (photos coming soon)



The next child is Anastasia, name meaning of the spring time of the resurrection. She is married to Stephen.



The next child is Nalani, name meaning calmness of the heavens.



The youngest child is Dustin, name meaning warrior and defender for GOD. He is married to Samantha.

Scott and I met because I was friends with his sister. I had just ended a relationship with someone else and a relationship he had been in had just ended, so we started hanging out. At first we would go for drives and just talk. We started noticing that we had a lot in common...
About each weekend we would just talk when I was over to visit his sister. after a few months it turned into a bit more serious dating.
I still remember the spot I was at (in his car while he was driving) and where we were at (in the town of Colon) when I heard the LORD say to me-"this man will be your husband," I can stand on that very spot today.

Scott and I were both believers, but were not really walking with the LORD, so we were not in obedience to HIM at all. That makes for a difficult start in a relationship.

We dated for 5 years and one month before I turned 18, we were married. That was in 1980. I graduated High School one month later also. It was kind of weird to write your own excuse for missing school because of your honeymoon.

2 years later we had our first baby. I was a stay at home mom, by choice. I really believe that is GOD's will for married couples. Today so many 'mom's' work out side the home and the dad stays home, and I am not convinced that is really HIS will. I think it is the enemy's way to try to destroy the marriage. But times are tough I know, we struggle too, and families must pay the bills-so many moms do work.

I am grateful that I was able to stay home as long as I was. I home schooled the children for their younger years. The three oldest, I put into public school after about 3 years of homeschooling. They were in school for about 3 years then we took them back out. We had some trouble in the public school system here locally. One young child even threatened to bring a knife to school to stab my child-(Nathan) and after dealing with some very stupid people in the school system, we finally got it worked out. But it took soooo much effort on our part. The principle just said to me, 'well he (the other child) is just a first grader'...(like he would not do anything because he is young?). Now all these years later, we hear about killings in schools, even young children bringing guns and knives to school...and here was a troubled child who did not get the help he needed! (I knew the family, for awhile the mother baby sat for 3 of our children and she was abusive-so did not baby sit for very long, she even threatened me!)
That was a tough year, we took the kids out after that year.

I had since become a nurse, but at what price? If I could go back and do things different, I would have waited on going back to college myself. That is why I tell everyone now, finish college BEFORE you start a family!

I worked full time, home schooled and kept up a house. That means I gardened, canned (about 300 jars a year) and still sewed the dresses my daughters wore, the shirts my sons and husband wore and also my dresses and shirts. I worked second shift and my husband worked first. Most of the time I actually worked the third shift, so we rarely saw each other. When I got home from work, I would lie down for about 4 hours then get up and start the day. I went years on that kind of rest. But that is just what I did to help our family survive.

The problem? We were not really dependent on GOD, we depended on US. Again, I think if we would have really worked to seek HIS way, (we were believer's, attended church, and had a personal relationship-but) and not try to 'listen' to so many spiritual leaders and other believers that were leading us in the wrong direction. They would say-you gotta do what you have to --to pay your bills....

Where was the teaching about trusting HIS ways?
God in HIS wisdom began to say to me..."hey, listen to me!" As I did, but it was the opposite of what I had been hearing! I was often labeled the rebellious one... well more on that later...I think that this post will be long enough...so stay tuned in to the upcoming part 2 of the dys'fun'ctional family...