Lakehouse Family Reunion

After missing Christmas 2020 and 2021 gatherings, we finally got in a summer get together!

We began with making Rollkuchen for an early afternoon snack. 

The guys prepared two cooking spots.

Should have taken a photo of Monika and I ...

but here are the son-in-laws who helped Dad renovate the barn into a cabin

many years ago. 

Year by year, memories have been added 

to this place Dad and Mom Janzen purchased on the weekend that their first granchild was born. 

I remember my Dad's exubernace about the potential that this place held, 

and the fact that he was now an Opa. 

If only he could see today! 

I'd be so very excited to introduce him to his twenty six great-grandchildren! 

Vinny and Jack at the table ...

Victor

Natalie, Makenna, Lacey, Teddy, Evy, Jade

Isabelle

Jade (again) and Erika

Carmen with Vinny (again) and Sebi. I love this photo! 

Makenzie and Chloe added to the mix

Anna, Calvin and Victor (again) on the right

Landon and Koen laughing. The photo does not capture my initial shock! 

This uninvited guest flew over from the neighbor's yard

and took many of us by surprise by his random landings.

A better photo of Chloe, prepping for dinner.

And the two oldest, Tehya and Paeton at the end of the table ... who did I miss? 

Patrick is rolling Rollkuchen on the first photo.

Adelia,  Mikyela, Isaac, Riley and Reese were not there.

Also missing were Helmut, Dorice, Naomi, Matt, Darren, Chelsea and Tim. 

(out of town or country) 

The view that never gets old.

A perfect day in many ways

and worth the effort to make it happen.

No one comes from the earth like grass. We come like trees. 

Maya Angelou

Just for Fun

Our retirement, birthdays, etc gift from the kids was a family photo shoot on the beach.

While we waited for the photographer we quickly shot some of our own;

a good opportunity!

From oldest to youngest ... we were ready!

These are times I do feel like a fly on the wall,

observing the reality of our three grown up,

and reminding us of how life goes on. 

Words can hardly express the sentiments

of seeing the next generations

grow and be their own, yet part of us. 

The four gentlemen

The seven maidens

The moms

The photographer arrived and we headed to the beach.

The following photos are random candid shots

from my phone, keeping out of the way of the photographer,

while she was focusing on individual family photos, etc. 

I'm looking forward to seeing what she saw. 

My view as we left the beach, 

expressing feelings that make me smile. 

All this, as they say,

because two people fell in love. 

And, moreso, because God is faithful.

 

Hawaii Highlights

How do I capture the feeling of getting on a plane,

all nineteen of us, everyone who is most precious to me,

taking off together! 

The excitement could hardly be captured on photos.

It was so many small things ...

the younger ones rushing ahead to the escalator,

hauling their suitcases behind them.

Curious onlookers and smiling flight attendants.

A family settling into rows, one after each other, 

kids making plans on how to switch assigned seats.

The feeling of sharing in a bubble of joy and anticipation

as we sit back and relax for our six hour flight. 

By the time we got settled into our rooms,

the sun was ready to set and Ben and Kari picked up pizzas for all. 

The kids wasted no time to get into their swim suits. 

Shaun and Kristal grilled dinner on the beach another night.

And the entertainment was free. 

A couple of times it was our turn to cook.

One of my favorite shots is this one of all the girls

engrossed in conversation around the coffee table,

the boys on the patio.

This season ... a treasure I can't put into words.

A daily must was the slide competition at the hotel.

Two times a day there were races according to age.

Apparently there was no cheering team like ours -

so much so that a comment was made by a stranger wishing he was "Uncle Shaun!" 

Even while all the adult racers knew that a certain "Uncle Ben" was the one to beat. 

Who knows what his secret was? 

The winner received a ticket for a free shave ice.

There were also other ways of acquiring it. 

"Somehow" I won the hula hoop competition for my age group.

Did no one know about this? =)

It was fun to come down to the beach or the pool and

find chairs waiting for us!

And we  loved it when someone would come and share our chair.

Here, boys just want to have fun.

There was a daily schedule of events, that we would never be aware of if we'd be on our own ...

but the kids knew all that there was to know about signing up for classes

such as making leis or bracelets. 

The only thing I didn't say yes to was the slide. 

I caught these two taking off - 

cousins separated by half a world, yet so close when together. 

Chris and Julene treated the adults to breakfast one morning.

The banana macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup did not disappoint. 

One day we drove to the North Shore.

With the rain and the tide, we got wet even if we had not planned to. 

Talking about myself here. 

What else can I say, but that

memories were made and kept.

A rare treasure and gift, the love of family.

💛💛💛

Birthday Blessings

Where has time gone since I posted last?

We had an amazing week in Hawaii with the whole family,

which I will still have to post about,

but for now I just want to acknowledge a special birthday.

I think back to the many years that we have celebrated this day

and I can't help but feel the reality of growing older along with him.

One day at a time the years have slipped by, 

filled with hard work,

happy times, sad times. challenges and triumphs, 

growing us to where we can't imagine life any other way -

and wouldn't want it any other way. 

While in Hawaii, we celebrated with a dinner,

adults at one table, kids at another.

And talk about the kids! 

Growing up and so much fun! 

Since we've been back, the two of us hiked Mount Thom one day,

my first hike in a long time. 

Tomorrow his siblings are coming for dinner

and I've been prepping for that. 

To my H, I am so lucky (in a blessed way) to be able to wish

you a Happy 70th Birthday

and look forward to what God still has in store for us. 

Love you always and forever.

💗💗💗