First Photo of our Grand Baby!!!

Everyone thought they were having a boy....!!!  As you can imagine, we are so excited to look forward to welcoming our grand daughter in September!  Praying for a safe pregnancy and delivery for her Momma and a healthy baby girl!

Mom begins her new journey....

Today, Mom begins her new journey. Just to update you, she has arrived home and is doing really good.  Please keep her in your continued prayers when she comes to mind.  

Some memories of Dad:

At Jess and Andy's wedding 9-16-2011

Thanksgiving 2013

Jen and Evan's Wedding Rehearsal dinner 2012

August 2013

Dad liked to show his 1977 Malibu Classic at Car Shows

Dad working on the C & O Railroad...back in the day...

Dad loved going to the Pere Marquette River property.
Summer 2013

For those of you who may be interested, Dad's memorial service will be:

on

Saturday, April 19

2:00 P.M.

The Clock Funeral Home

309 South Washington Avenue

Ludington, Michigan 49431

In lieu of flowers, donations will be made

in memory of Allen Quick

to 

The Gordon Hospice House

Hospice and Pailliative Care of Iredell County

2347 Simonton Road

Statesville, North Carolina 28625

Exciting News from Grand Rapids!!!

As many of you know, we visited Jess and Andy in Virginia back in February.  The idea was to be able to celebrate our birthdays together, since Keith's, Jessica's, and my birthdays are all within four weeks of each other.  It had been years since we had been together, so we made a trip out to Virginia.

We arrived on Thursday evening, which allowed us to settle ino our guest apartment on the opposite side of the building as Jess and Andy's apartment but on the same floor.  Very nice to be able to just walk to their place and vice versa.   As you can see, it is a very comfortable place, much larger than a hotel room, stocked with linens as well as dishes and cookware, etc.

Thursday, I was not feeling well, so Keith and Jess went to see the Haulocaust museum.  It was a planned thing for us all to do, but I told them to go ahead and go.  That evening, we went to their place and Andy's brother's family, Ben, Candice and two children joined us.  They brought over a birthday cookie to share.  At this time, Jess states that she's going to give us our birthday presents, which were unexpected, as we had already discussed birthday gifts.  Since we opened our gifts, we have had to wait until now to share our news with you all.  This is a picture of our birthday gifts:

Of course, we were so very excited to share our news, but we couldn't share, as Jess hand' been to her doctor appointment yet.  They wanted to wait until the 12-week appointment and hear the heartbeat.  So we pretty much kept it under wraps until now!  Yes, we are very excited to become grandparents.  It is definitely a new era to our life journey.  God is so good!  We are praying for an uneventful pregnancy and safe delivery for our little expected bundle of joy!

On a side note:  This is the weekend in which I had caught some sort of Norovirus and ended up with Andy driving us to the ER to get some fluids on Saturday, as I had quickly become dehydrated.  So, the first people we ended up telling about our grand baby were the people in the ER!  This also meant that I wasn't able to even see Jess and Andy or be near them for the rest of the weekend.  I was so grateful that I was feeling so much better by the time we had to fly home on Monday.  For awhile, I was beginning to wonder how I would ever make the trip home.  It all worked out.  It's certainly a trip that I wouldn't want to repeat!

Dad

As I looked back at the previous post about Thanksgiving and thought about Dad, it amazes me how things can change in such a little bit of time.  After celebrating Thanksgiving here (and Christmas, too!), Mom and Dad had planned to go to North Carolina for Christmas with Lori's family.  Mom said Dad was looking forward to going to see the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

                   Dad at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, Thanksgiving Weekend

The week before Christmas, Rich, my brother-in-law, drove up from North Carolina and picked them up and started back the next two days.  When they arrived, Dad mentioned that he didn't feel well.  (Dad had said that often, but could never put his finger on just what was wrong.)  Before they left on their trip, Dad had seen both of his doctors that same week for check-ups.  Neither of them mentioned that they shouldn't go.  He had also had a blood transfusion, which he had been having just about every two weeks.  

A couple days before Christmas, Lori said she thought he should go get his blood checked as he wasn't looking very well.  As it turned out, his blood was okay, and he didn't need a transfusion.

The day after Christmas, they decided that they better get him to an emergency room to get him checked out.  He was experiencing much confusion and still color didn't look good.  Come to find out, he had a hematoma on one side of his head.  They said it was a fresh wound and could be life-threatening.  With that said, they transferred him to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.  During this time, they found out his myelio fibrosis had turned into acute leukemia.  After doing all they could do for him, with testing and conferences with the doctors, there was nothing more they could do for him.

Lori and Rich knew of the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville and had only heard good things about it.   On Dec. 31, there "just happened" to have one bed left.  We all made the decision to have him transferred there.  The care he received at that place could not ever been any better.  The people there were certainly there to serve the patient and the family.  Whenever we were there, they left us alone with Dad and never came in or bothered to do various checks or whatever.  It wasn't until his final days, they did come in and gave him some medicine to make sure he was comfortable. 

One thing we learned about is how God's timing is always perfect.  When they left to go down to North Carolina, they left just ahead of a huge snowstorm that dumped several inches of snow in Michigan.  They just happened to have ONE bed available at that place.  If Mom and Dad would have been in Ludington, there is no way that all the family would have been able to go up and say their final good-byes.  All the grandchildren were able to tell him good-bye; Jessica was even able to drive down for a few days and spend time with us.  (Thanks Andy!)  

Dad spent four days at the Gordon Hospice House.  We had spent the whole day with him, watching him breathe his last breaths.  About 5:15 p.m., we all decided it was time to take a break and get some dinner.  We all kissed him good-bye and left the room.  We had just finished dinner, when a call came from the Gordon House that we needed to come.  (Earlier they had explained to us that when someone passes away, they light a candle in a special place in the lobby area.  This allows others to know that someone has lost a loved one.). When we arrived, we were walking by the candle and it was lit.  At that point, I realized my dad had passed into eternity.  As we arrived in the lobby, Gary, the social worker that had done the intake when dad arrived, took Mom's arm and we all proceeded to walk to his room.  During that walk, Gary explained to us that sometimes loved ones wait for their family to arrive, and sometimes they wait for them to leave, so the family doesn't have to go through seeing those final breaths.  Well, Dad waited for us to leave, as within the few minutes after we left, he passed peacefully said the attending nurse.  We were able to spend some final moments together as a family, before the funeral home in NC came.

Presently, a memorial service is being planned for Saturday, April 19, at The Clock Funeral Home on South Washington Avenue in Ludington, Michigan, at 2:00 p.m.  

We just want to thank all our family and friends who have continued to pray for Dad and Mom and upholding our family these past months and all through my dad's illness.  Continue to keep Mom in your prayers as she adjusts to her life without Dad.  

Thanksgiving Weekend...so many special memories to be thankful for!!!

We had a full but wonderful weekend with Mom, Dad, Jess and Andy here.  Even though it was such a crazy busy time, we treasured every minute together.  

Jess and Andy arrived late Monday night, so we were able to have some special time with them before Mom and Dad arrived on Wednesday.  I took Tuesday and Wednesday off work (Keith also had Wednesday off school) so Jess and I went out shopping on Tuesday.  It had to be the first time ever that I outlasted my daughter!  After they arrived the previous night, we stayed up so late catching up, she was quite tired out.  

On Wednesday after Mom arrived, she helped with some of the preparing of our Thanksgiving dinner.  I had made pies and a salad and she and Jess made squash.  They used a new recipe that Jess had looked up.  While they were preparing it, our photographer, daughter took many food pictures.  :)  So, that was fun, too!

This picture above, was not taken by Jess.  I guess I don't have the pretty photos.  They are on her nice camera.  I thought I had a few of them...oh well...This was how they fixed the squash.  Mom loved it.  I'm not a squash person.  Haha!

This was our pretty table with Jess' creativity.  Thanks Jess for your help with that.  Our dinner was delicious and everything turned out fabulous.  Thanks to Mom, Keith and Jess for your help.  

Thursday, later in the evening, Keith and Jess went out for their annual Black Friday shopping trip together.  They always look forward to that special time together.  They found some great deals, so it all paid off for them.  

Friday:  Keith, Jess and Andy went out to Bosch's and cut a tree.  The tree was too tall for our basement ceiling, so had to be cut down a bit.  We got it in the stand; I put the lights on it and began decorating it and had planned to finish it on Saturday.  

Saturday:  Jess wanted to take us all to the Downtown Market for an outing and lunch.  

Mom reaching for a cookie sample

Dad enjoying a cup of coffee

Mom taking a rest before heading back downstairs

 This was taken from the second floor looking down.   They had some pretty Christmas decorations.

 Mom and I had shared chicken fried rice.  It was a huge container and very delicious!

On our way home, we stopped at Ideal Park in Wyoming and Jess took some nice pictures of us all.  Here is a little sample:

When we arrived home, we found the Christmas tree leaning against the wall!  We ended up having to take it out of the stand and cut the trunk off along with a row of branches.  What an ordeal!  Then, Mom and I decorated it.  Meanwhile, Jess and Andy were fixing us some white chicken chili for our supper, served with various cheeses they had bought from the Cheese Lady.  It was getting late for Mom and Dad, but Jess hustled and went up and wrapped all the presents with Andy's help except the ones for her and within an hour we were ready to have our Christmas.  It's certainly one I'll never forget!  And, we'll know we won't be trying that again!

Sunday came way too fast!  After church, we took everyone out for dinner, before Jess and Andy had to depart for the airport around 3:30.

On Monday, Mom and Dad and I met Bill and Dianne over in Holland mid-afternoon so they could catch their ride back to Ludington.  They seemed to enjoy themselves while here.  Dad did extremely well, except for taking a tumble a couple of times.  The one could have been very serious, but thankfully, he was not hurt.  He said, "Guess I'm a hard-headed Norwegian."  Ha!  So, glad he didn't end up in ER.  I know Mom enjoyed herself.  It was a bit of a respite for her.  Our special thanks to Bill and Dianne for bringing them along as far as Holland.

All in all we were so grateful to the Lord that we were all able to spend time together.

        PSALM 30

1 

I will exalt you, Lord,

    for you lifted me out of the depths

    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

2 

Lord my God, I called to you for help,

    and you healed me.

3 

You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;

    you spared me from going down to the pit.

4 

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;

    praise his holy name.

5 

For his anger lasts only a moment,

    but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 

When I felt secure, I said,

    “I will never be shaken.”

7 

Lord, when you favored me,

    you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;

but when you hid your face,

    I was dismayed.

8 

To you, Lord, I called;

    to the Lord I cried for mercy:

9 

“What is gained if I am silenced,

    if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

10 

Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;

    Lord, be my help.”

11 

You turned my wailing into dancing;

    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12 

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

One journey ends...and a new journey begins......

Our hearts are full of joy and thanksgiving as we give thanks to our might God for once again providing, all in His time!  (This is Keith and me doing a happy dance!)   To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done!

Our last post was all about Keith's new full time job opportunity at Byron Center Charter School as their full time permanent sub.  This week, the teacher Keith has been subbing for, who just had twins and then also a 3 year old at home, emailed the faculty and said that her family comes first.  She will not be returning to teach school, as her family needs her at this time.  Keith was then approached by the administrator to see if he would be interested in her teaching position, full time.  Yes, yes, yes!  This position comes with health, dental, and vision plus more great benefits.  Once again, God provides for us, just at the right time!  We just can't say it enough, Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow!

So many of you have been lifting us up in prayer every day throughout this journey.  It hasn't been an easy one to be on, but we can't say it enough of how many various times God has provided in so many ways we would have never thought.  Thinking back to over a year ago, we were even able to attend our niece's beautiful beach wedding at Topsail Beach, North Carolina.  What a blessing that was to be with all of our family members at one time.  God is so good!

We want to thank each and every one of you who have prayed for us at various times throughout this trial.  Our hearts are so thankful for you.  God has answered our prayers.  Now, we'll ask you to continue to pray for Keith as he ministers to his students each day that he will show them God's love through his life and actions.

Thank you doesn't even seem like enough.  We will never forget God's faithfulness through this journey and how He's always provided at just the right time, every time!  God bless you all.

Fall, Apple Cider, and God's Provision

A Random Walk in the Park

Since it's been some time since I've posted, there is plenty to write about.  However, I'm going to post some pictures and hopefully, less writing.  :-)

  

Yesterday, Keith made apple cider at school with his class.  This has been a long-time tradition with him.  He would do this annually with his classes at school.  The students always were quite fascinated by the whole process of it.  He had some apples left over, so when he arrived home, he took them and finished making some more cider for us to enjoy.  

Keith cranking the press.

The cider is always so delicious!  It's the best we've ever tasted!  :-)

A favorite picture of mine of Keith

PRAISING the Lord:  We are thrilled to tell you that Keith has been offered a permanent sub job at the school he has been subbing at!  What does this mean, you ask?  It means most of the time, he will be working one on one with students that struggle, floating to various classes.  Then, when the school can not find a sub for a particular class, then Keith will be available for the sub job.  He will be working directly for Byron Center Charter School, as an hourly employee.  We have been waiting for the board to approve this position before we could say anything about it.  Our hearts are full as, once again, our God has provided, just in the nick of time.  Keith had previously planned to sub at various schools again, if this did not work out for the school to hire him.  Since he is not under a contract, he will continue to pursue a full-time teaching position, if the opportunity arises.  The only drawback is he does not have any benefits being an hourly employee, even though it is considered a full-time position.  The pros to the position are they will pay him approximately the same as what he has been receiving for this long-term sub job and he will not have any papers to grade or lesson plans to do.  He will go to school, do his work and come home.  Yes, God is SO GOOD ALL THE TIME!  God always provides at the RIGHT time, not too early and never late!