Home to Michigan

I flew home to Michigan last Thursday for a few days.  My mom likes when I call Michigan home but I have a theory, that as an adult, home becomes where you raise your kids which makes New York home.  Nonetheless, I do always enjoy going back to where I grew up, to the state a part of me will always love.  Because that state happens to have a lot of people that I adore and this little guy is the newest one.

God bless my sister Leslie.  She has added a tenth baby to her family and basically just picked up and carried on like nothing much changed.  Also, God bless her sweet little babies who come running when she has a big double chocolate muffin to share.

One of the reasons I love visiting my family is to see the awesome dynamics of kids growing up in a big family.  It’s really cool to watch them help each other, not as though they were doing something special, but just because it’s what they do.

Another one of the main reasons that I love to visit is because my nieces and nephews are amazing and I love them all so much.

This is the oldest grandson in my family and he was gracious enough to take time to cook for me while I was visiting.  He’s a hunter, like his Dad and made me the most delicious venison I’ve ever had.

It was a very quick visit, so we did our best to cram everything into the two days that I was there.  On Friday, we gathered our whole family together to eat at one of my favorite Michigan restaurants.

You might think it would be a little nutty, to go out to eat with fifteen kids, ages fifteen and under.  But honestly, my sisters and their husbands have done so well with their kids and all of them were really well behaved.

It was really nice to spend the time all together and FYI locals, Russ’ has a kids menu for 10 and under where all the meals are only $2.99.

We did have a really nice time all together and that was probably my favorite part.  Just being with my family.  I love my parents and both of my sisters and their families so much.  I’m proud to say that Friday night, I cooked dinner for Leslie and Sarah’s families which all together was 20 people.  Considering that I normally cook for 4, this was quite the feat.  I’m proud to share they enjoyed the food I made (a lot of BBQ Polish Kielbasa, two huge trays of an assortment of Roasted Veggies and some Mac and Cheese to top it off).

On Saturday, we took time to celebrate the beautiful life of my amazing Grandma Ann.  My favorite part was hearing some of the great grandkids sing her favorite song, “In the Garden.”  Pastor Rumley also shared the Gospel which would have made her so happy because she loved Jesus so very much and wanted her family and friends to know and love him too.

I brought my camera, but didn’t take a lot of pictures.  Now that I’m thinking of it, funerals are maybe one of the only main life events that you don’t usually take a lot of pictures at.  I did get this picture of my mom and her siblings though.  I know it was a good, but hard day for them because they loved my Grandma so very much.

And that sums up the majority of my short trip home to Michigan last weekend.  We did get together at my sister Sarah’s house later that evening, but time was spent talking and eating and trying to fit in a few fun moments with my nieces and nephews while I could. I flew home Sunday morning and basically just jumped back into my normal busy life here.  I’m so glad I was able to be with my family last weekend and all in all, we had a really good time remembering my Grandma and being all together.