Breakfast at EliaJosie's Restaurant

You haven't lived till you've had breakfast at EliaJosie's Restaurant. First, let's check out the options...

Waitress Josie takes our orders. And remember, this is NOT a fast food restaurant!

The cook, Elia, busy at work preparing delectable treats.

The menu, carefully prepared the night before...

And of course, the cook and waitress have to eat too, right??

This (below) is a "pre-breakfast" snapshot. Actually, it's the night before breakfast! Dayton's visiting, so there's a sleepover in the porch. Mikey and Del succumbed much earlier than the rest of the guests, but all had a blast. They must have slept well, because they were FULL of ENERGY the next day!

Hannas, Hannas everywhere

Last Saturday I hosted an open house at Bible Baptist Church in Traverse City, MI. My main purpose was for family to gather, and they definitely gathered! Almost all my relatives who live in the TC area showed up and we had a grand time! A few "others" also joined us and we were so happy to see them too! Thanks for coming, thanks for sharing this special time with me!

I have LOTS of pictures which may bore some of you, but since I do this blog mainly for my kids, I know they'll want to see all these relatives. So, enjoy!

Chris made coffee for us - two delicious flavor. Since I don't
"do" coffee, I was very grateful! Thanks, Chris!

Dennis and Joy Hutchinson came all the way from Midland. 

Thanks for coming, guys! It was so good to see you!

Brothers Don and Chris

Derek (above) with Davis and Torrie with Elliana (below)

Betty Jo was such a wonderful help setting everything up. And Ed bought the

luscious cookies we served! Thanks, guys! You're the best!

Sisters in law, Shari and Jenna

Mia with Bethie and Jimmy

Will and Holly couldn't come since we was working and she's ready to give birth to their baby boy, but he stopped by the house Sunday, on his way to check out the deer in the area. We fed him a couple tacos and some cookies and he was on his way!

Recognize anyone??

SWIFT THINGS ARE BEAUTIFUL

Having spent this past week in the woods - literally - I thought this poem appropriate. My brother in law and his wife live about 14 miles outside of Traverse City, in the middle of the beautiful Michigan woods. We saw some swift things while I was there, mostly deer. Anything slow got run over and thankfully we didn't see a lot of those. The Boardman, so beautiful, still runs along their land and brought back wonderful memories of tubing down the Boardman, back when our kids were all still home and we did crazier things than I do now (not much crazier, but crazy nonetheless!).

SWIFT THINGS ARE BEAUTIFUL

By Elizabeth Coatsworth

Swift things are beautiful:

Swallows and deer,

And lightning that falls

Bright-veined and clear,

Rivers and meteors,

Wind in the wheat,

The strong-withered horse,

The runner’s sure feet.

And slow things are beautiful:

The closing of day,

The pause of the wave

That curves downward to spray,

The ember that crumbles,

The opening flower,

And the ox that moves on

In the quiet of power.

Hello Michigan!

This past week Kris, Elia, Josie, Mikey, Del and I headed for Traverse City, MI! What a fun week. But it wasn't all play for me! First Sunday I spoke in Sunday School at East Bay Calvary Church, Tuesday was Hearts4God (women's Bible study), Wednesday was AWANA where the kiddos joined me and had a blast, Thursday was a luncheon at Bible Baptist and a small group dinner in the evening, Friday my dear friend Deb Downey magically turned into a civil war nurse and showed us so many interesting things about nursing duties during those dark days. Saturday evening I held an open house for anyone and everyone. Mostly family came and it was super fun to see everyone. And in between? Visits to Great Gram Hanna (my mother in law), meals at a Thai restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant (we don't do the common "kid" restaurants - we do exotic!), a fun tea party with cousins. Lots of "resale" shopping with sister in law Betty Jo, and we've got to mention that wonderful hot tub on Ed and Betty's back deck! And those wonderful trees to climb and build fairy houses under! Oh, and don't forget the HUGE jars of pickles Uncle Ed bought for the kiddos! He will forever be known as the pickle uncle! Needless to say, it was an unforgettable and memorable week!I have so many pictures to share - a hundred at least! But here are just a few!

I thought I uploaded a dozen or more pictures, but they're lost in cyberspace I guess. And since it's late, I'll try again tomorrow! So check in with us tomorrow for more exciting pictures of adventures in Michigan!


And how could we forget Sherman's?? Heading up to Michigan on I-196, Exit 20 (Phoenix), we stopped in at Sherman's and each got a BABY cone! You can see how little the BABY cones are! Mikey and Del couldn't finish theirs. The rest of us did justice to ours! Delicious ice cream - when you're in the area, check it out. You won't be sorry!

After we got home from this fun excursion, we found a dozen or so cherry pits in Mikey's shoes!

It was COLD, but the water was 104, so we were toasty warm!

Putting out Fires

Before heading to Michigan last week, we stopped in at the open house at the firehouse!Wow! Was that fun for the kiddos! Putting out fires, playing on the bouncy house, rode the old fire trucks, shook handss with Smokey the Bear, watched a rescue mission, and best of all, got popcorn and candy! What more could you ask for??

Doctors John and Becky

Saturday Kris, Elia, Josie, Mikey, Del and I drove into Chicago to help John and Becky Abraham celebrate their marriage last July in Tulsa, OK with a beautiful reception. Becky is my cousins Jon and Nita Beran's daughter. She and John are both doctors now as well as a newly married couple. What a fun reception! The kiddos loved the food - well, OK, we all loved the food! There was soul food, American food and Indian food. John is of Indian heritage, although he is totally American, having been born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. But he hangs onto his beautiful heritage. Congratulations, John and Becky AND Jon and Nita!

Most of the folks at the reception were from their church, but a few of "us family" also joined them. I'm not sure who the boy on the left is, next to him is Peter Beran brother of the bride, then the "novios" John and Becky, my brother Keith and his wife Donna, Kris and her kiddos, me, and on the right the proud parents Jon and Nita Beran.