A Hunting They Shall Go...

Dave and Ruskin, one of our dogs, left for Nahma today. They will join my parents, whom left last week Wednesday. Dave and his dog are packed for a couple of days of bird hunting. If it doesn't rain, Ruskin will get spoiled by Grandma Arlene while Dave hunts for deer during the opening days of gun season. If it rains he'll probably snuggle up to Dave for a nap, because Dave has become a 'fair weather' hunter! My cousin, Roger and a buddy of his will arrive there on Friday for a week of hunting. Dave is planning on being home by Sunday. Roger's daughter, Rosa and 3 of her girlfriends, will arrive on Sunday and visit Northern Michigan University in Marquette on Monday and return to Fenwick on Tuesday. Mom and Dad will have a houseful.

Dad, Louie, is doing well. He is using his time to make minor repairs to small things and built a doggy ramp for their aging dog, Murphy. Mom, Arlene, has been busy with leaf removal, visiting with neighbors and trekking to town.

Here in Grand Rapids we are trying to keep colds, flu and the Norovirus at bay. We've had flu shots, but that doesn't fend off the nasty cold bug, which found its way into our lives. Hope College, in Holland, closed for 5 days due to Norovirus. One of Courtney's college classmates announced it had arrived at Grand Valley State, where she is a student.

We are preparing our home for Christmas visitors. Ebay and Craigslist are the topic of our days! Amy, our exchange student from last year, will come home from University of Pittsburgh for 3 weeks. Her sister, Sarah, and Rachel, both exchange students with a family in Kalamazoo will arrive December 26, for a week. Nick will be going home to be with his parents for Christmas.

20 years!

Unbelievable how quickly 20 years goes by. Dave & I celebrated 20 years of married life, Wednesday, October 15! The girls both had activities at church so Dave & I went to Uccellos, about 2 miles away for pasta. His 50th birthday is Saturday. I think we will be able to garner the girls into joining us for dinner.

My Mom, Arlene, wanted us to get away. We thought about it but Dad just got out of the hospital on Sunday. He had continued problems with his creatine levels and the nephrologist was discussing removing the kidney. He was disappointed with that news, and so were we. Fortunately, on Saturday, all the levels improved and by Sunday they were ready to turn him loose.

He is feeling better and is trying to get some grip on the little details of 'home improvement', like repairing the 'professional' repair on the hot-tub. The electrician cut through the water line, underneath the tub, in the process of bringing in the proper wiring & voltage. Mom has been doing much of the grunt work around the house, but she loves to be outside whether she is pulling weeds, shoveling or planting. I wish they were closer so we could help more often. Every time I talk with them, which is usually frequently, she has some other project in the works. Dad has been able to create or define plans and assist with minor details. He is tired of the 'lame duck' season. He wants his energy & strength up so he can pursue deer in the north country next month...we'll see?

I forgot to ask Mom what the specialist said on Monday, about the goiters on her thyroid. I'll post more later.

...The things you planned for us no one can recount to you;

were I to speak and tell of them,

they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

Courtney frequents a community Swing Dancing activity on Tuesday evenings in downtown Grand Rapids at Rosa Parks Circle. This is a photo of her captured this past, rainy Tuesday, dancing with a friend. Yes, they got wet...very wet!

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. Psalm 149:3

a Love Affair for email

This post is for Uncle Bob...my gmail account has 265 w/183 unread and my msn account has 961 w/795 unread! That is not counting all the ones I have filed to read later ;) Thus you can better understand my inability to stay totally committed to my blog on a daily basis. Hallelujah, there IS life outside of the internet. If you are like me, you will just bookmark our site and visit it when you have time, not when you get an alert that I've posted.

A Brief Stint

This past week was a difficult path to travel. Getting through football games after the tragic death of a team-mate and friend, mourning with family and friends at the visitation, seeing hundreds stream from the church after the memorial; all a reminder we are just passing through. Travis' dad, Doug made the comment on the last post of their carepages that the community that surrounded them with prayer was like the Verizon Network commercial. Such a great analogy when you stop to think that our Sovereign God is the 'tower' from which all this energy flows!

My Dad, Louis, has also had a difficult week. I reported that on September 29, he had gotten the stint removed that was assisting his ureter. He had a new one replaced the next day. He has not felt well since then. He has had fevers, nausea and next to no urine output. His family doctor orderer blood and urine tests this past Monday when he continued to not feel well. Since his creatine levels were high and the urine test was suspect, Dad's family doctor called and said he needed to go to the Emergency Room at Greenville hospital ASAP, for further testing. In preparation for an appointment with his nephrologist today in Grand Rapids, they did more blood & urine tests and a CT scan. This morning Mom contacted his oncologist and Dr. Curry scheduled Dad for surgery late in the day. They canceled his other appointment and made their way to Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids about 1:00PM. They got him prepped and tried to keep him as comfortable as possible. Since he was an 'add-on' for surgeries in the radiology department, they didn't have an operating room available until 5:30PM. The procedure was quick, but Dr. Curry wanted to keep him overnight for observation. We had to wait for a hospital room to open up before he could be moved from recovery. They were preparing to put him back in the pre-op admissions area temporarily if a bed didn't open soon. They wanted him to be in a regular bed, rather than on the gurney. About 7:00PM the gals from transport came to move him to the 4th floor, right across from the nurses' station. His nurse and nurse assistance are very attentive, with a good since of humor! Mom and I left him in good hands. Hopefully, he will get some much needed rest...maybe. The NA was going to bug him for vitals every 30 minutes for the first 2 hrs, then every hour thereafter for 4 hours, then having the stint creates a constant 'urge to urinate'. We pray tomorrow is a good day.

On a disappointing note, the purse of his roommate's mother was stolen a couple of hours prior to our arrival into the room. They suspect the previous 'tenant' that occupied Dad's bed to be the culprit. His mom received a call from family that the purse had been found at a CVS a couple of miles away. I am sure they will locate the 'idiot and company' since they used her phone to make some calls.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8

Livestrong to Lovestrong

Nine days ago we began a journey of storming Heaven's gates with prayer. Tragically, a schoolmate of Kelsey's, at Calvin Christian High, encountered a dark place in his life. Early Thursday morning he slipped into the arms of Jesus. Travis was a 16 year old with a passion for living life to the extreme. He wanted everyone to know that God loved them & Jesus was their saving grace. He was vibrant, sincere, & tenacious. 'Livestrong' was his way of doing things. Throughout this past week we have experienced the same kind of living & loving from his family as they kept a 'carepages' for the community to stay updated. Over 3,000 visitors & 2300+ messages of love & prayers have been written in 9 days! We continue to pray for this beautiful family & the extended community as a new walk without their beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin & friend begins.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Friends at CCHS had shirts printed with Live Strong ~ Jeremiah 29:11 printed on the back and TG36 on the front. TG36 stickers were handed out for football helmets & everyone coming through the gates. Travis was a JV football player that was excited to move up & play his first Varsity game on Sep 19. His jersey number was 36. He even made one of the touchdowns! All the teams at CCHS have dedicated their season to Travis & his family. Our Kelsey is a Varsity Football Cheerleader so I am a camera-mom. I take hundreds of pics at these games. Calvin Christian has never really had a strong football team; it's always been a 'soccer' school. This year these young men are boldly playing with a vision of winning, especially since the events of last week. Travis charged them up in life ... and now in Spirit. The scores this past week...JV twice at 42-0, up until a few minutes remaining in the first game that Travis wasn't on the field ... the score 36-0. Travis' # last year: 42! Varsity last Friday: 55-0 at the half, end of game: 68-12. The Varsity have played 5 games, won 4, & the game they lost was an on your feet 'til the scoreboard hit 0!

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/TravisGortsema

I have to admit that I still have trouble blogging on this site. I never was a very good diary or journal keeper. It is too easy for me to jump on Facebook to communicate. I love to write & like to think that I am staying current journaling our family life through photos...if only I would post them here also.

After Kelsey customized our newly purchased 1994 Audi 100s, it was established that she had a vision problem...hmmm. She was able to find the right fit with contacts, then was able to order her reading glasses which she wears over her contacts. She had to wait longer for the 'all purpose' glasses that have progressive lenses, to wear when she is not able to wear her contacts. Homework is an easier task for her now. In the process of finding a car for parts to make repairs, Dave managed a deal on a 1992 Audi 90c. It was too nice to part out so he put on new routers & brakes, fixed a couple lines under the hood, reworked the trim, but the speaker problem goes unresolved. I went & got the license plate and Kelsey is now driving a nice looking black Audi. A couple of days later, parts arrived for the 1994 Audi. My husband needs a project :)

Courtney is working on mid-term projects for her classes at GVSU. She began an observatory internship at the day-care down the street. She seems to enjoy it. She is on 2 dance teams at GVSU and loving all that a bigger university has to offer. Courtney joined the team leading the 56'ers at church on Wednesday nights. It has to be her busiest day/night of the week. About twice a month, she plays her violin in the Praise Band during our Sunday worship services.

I joined the rank of 2nd/3rd grade teachers in the Vine at church on Sunday mornings, after our worship service. Even though I am used to leading a group of 40-70 girls plus counselors in my previous position as GEMS coordinator at our former church, I am humbled to be one on one again with these young minds.

Bramer family ~ October 2007

One year has already passed since this photo was taken. In honor of the 50th wedding anniversary on November 1, 2007, for my mother & father in-law, we had family photos taken at Spring Grove park in Jamestown, MI, in October 2007. My dearest friend, Sandy took time out of her schedule to to do a photo shoot with us. I brought my camera along also to snap pics of the kids. Sandy and I own matching cameras, but she has since acquired an even finer tool!

In this photo: Bramers: Dave, Vicki, Courtney(next to Vicki) & Kelsey(left of post); Jelsmas: Mary, Scott & Christine(right of post); Bramers: Bob & Joyce; Bramers: John, Kim, Jessica(right of post), Nick(left of post) & Nate.

The photo shown on our blog includes Nick Liza and Pola 'Amy' Rhee. Nick and Amy lived with us from August 2007 - June 2008. Nick went to school 4th - 10th grade with Courtney. His parents are missionaries in Quito, Ecuador. He lived with us his first year of college to save money. He is in his second year of studies at Kuyper College & Calvin College. Amy was an exchange student from Seoul, South Korea, and was a senior at Calvin Christian High School. It was her 3rd year in the US, her 2nd year at CCHS, & her 1st year with us. Amy's first year in the US was spent in Many, LA. This year she is at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA.

additional photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13570&l=6dc6a&id=592504345

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=54608&l=7feb4&id=592504534

Counter Intelligence

Earlier this year we installed a custom concrete counter top created by Dave Bramer (that's my husband). The creation began in our utility barn and involved the whole family, including our 2 exchange students. Using refrigerator boxes we traced a template and he built a frame/mold out of masonite board, re-rod, wire & lots of welding. We are talking heavy duty! This was built upon a large work table he trailered in from his hydraulics shop. He created multiple sample blocks for us to make our creative decision. This alone was a time consuming process. Each 12" x 12" x 1.5" tile required a frame, the right blend of concrete, stones, colorant, ash, broken & crushed glass. Bubbles were cast out using a hand air gun; think Rosy the Rivetor! Then the correct humidity & balmy temperature needed to be maintained, all while the snow was flying outside. Each tile needed to be ground, sanded& polished with a 'hand' held power tool, using multiple grades of sand paper & buffers. Dave was feeling the 'grind' in his back, arms, legs & feet! He didn't have the hot tub to relax in because for the first time ever, we had drained it to cut down on expenses. The kids & I donned safety glasses & gloves and smashed out any frustrations by breaking medical glass & bottles into large steel bins. Since the counter-top was poured with the top being the bottom of the mold, all the flat pieces of glass were placed by hand, then sprinkled with chunks of glass. The concrete was mixed outside by using buckets, a shovel & a small mixer, then transported by wheel-barrow a few feet into the barn and shoveled into the mold and troweled smooth. Keep in mind the temperature outside was hovering around the freezing point! From our pictures you can see we are wearing winter clothes. Once the concrete was level, Dave made like the rivetor, climbing under the table when necessary to 'air hammer' out the bubbles. He had created a 'curing' tent of tarps wired to the overhead door frame & ceiling. Think of a temporary sauna. It took a week or two to dry to the correct cured state needed to unmold & flip it. Flipping an 800+lb,10' long x 38" across and 60" round on one end and 2" thick, irregular shaped hunk of concrete is no small fete! Straps, pulleys and prayers were required...lol. Before this large piece of concrete art could emerge as a finished counter-top, Dave needed to enter the tent of black dust. There were hours upon hours of tedious grinding, sanding & polishing.

Introducing the new counter-top would require some man power, make that multiple 'man power'! Dave was able to load the structure onto the styrofoam lined yard trailer hauled by the John Deere tractor. Carefully, he maneuvered it as close as he could to the deck. From there it took seven healthy men to inch it off the tractor and onto cardboard to save the polished edges. The plan of action changed a few times. It was difficult to grasp because of the irregular shape. This team needed to maneuver across the brick walk way, up 2 steps leading to the deck, under my 'New York' clothes line which runs by pulley from our deck to the barn, make a 90º turn, missing the hot tub, then squeeze through a 4' space with stairs at the back side, then make the length of the deck and turn through the sliders & into the dining room/kitchen, utilizing 6' of deck space, which is above our walk-out basement one story below. You don't just plop down an 800+lb object onto cabinetry. Dave had already reinforced all of the cabinets when he ripped out the old tile counter. Carefully, these men gently inched this incredibly large piece of artwork onto its final display in our kitchen. Wow, it is so unbelievably awesome! THANK YOU!

There were some discretionary issues of structure that needed to be decided before the final sections could be created. Discussions of changing a raised ledge of the bay window behind the sink, deciding on a new sink & fixtures, which appliances were desired - although we couldn't purchase these just yet & finally the backsplash. We ordered a stainless steel sink & purchased new satin chrome fixtures. With this Dave had a template and went to work creating the next phase of the counter-top. Trial and error did occur with the need to customize around the L shape, the sink, bay window & cooktop. This section needed to be poured in pieces to accommodate everything. One tear-out & re-do did occur. I let Dave make that decision, since it was his hard work! I am ultimately pleased that he did. I picked out a neutral tone of slate tiles using 2" and 1" squares for the backsplash and a trim which hides the joint lines that conjoin the sink portion. We are loving the new look. We did find a great deal on a new microwave that has so many bells & whistles that I have yet to figure out. I think the kids know more about it than I do and our kitchen is pretty much a ONE CHEF kitchen...ME! We still need to replace the double oven and the cook-top, and would like to replace the dishwasher with a quieter one. The fridge is ok, but we could really use this one downstairs. I have an appliance place that has fantastic deals...if they would just get the rest of my preferences in on their 'scratch-n-dent' trailer!. In the meantime we can wait. It's a shame appliances just are not made the same as they used to be. Those harvest gold and avocado appliances lasted FOREVER! Now you can get fashion colors and not worry they'll be out of style...they won't last that long!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26005&l=c06e6&id=592504534

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26188&l=0c4e9&id=592504534

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=55660&l=a218a&id=592504534

more coming...

Dad's blessing with a gauze dressing

Tuesday, September 9, my dad Louie was able to say 'good riddance' to the tube implanted into his kidney for 8 months. It has been replaced a couple of different times during procedures to rid his body of cancer. It has been a source of discomfort for many months. Since January he has had 5 surgeries. As he stated, "I am going for the gold, so whatever I have to endure to beat this, I will." Dr. Curry, his colleagues & staff have been tremendous in their knowledge, care & skill.

He and Mom stopped by after they left the hospital. His gauze dressing had already failed in the 25 minutes it took to go thru drive-thru & drive to our house. Since I had given them all of the large size gauze that I had in my house months ago, we improvised. I will leave it to 'your imagination' :-)  He is currently CANCER FREE! I am confident he is planning a holiday to the north country to their house in Nahma, near the shores of Big Bay de Noc, as soon as the hole in his back heals. I wish I had snapped a picture of him playing granddaughter Courtney's 'new' 1972 Finnish made acoustic guitar while grandma Arlene was soaking her aches away in the hot tub.

~Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.~ Psalm 95:2

Breakfast 'American' style

Labor Day~a day usually concluding a weekend spent with family at our hide-a-way home in Nahma, MI, which involves 6-8 hours of travel, including watching the Mackinac Bridge walkers. It might be spent watching the main parade in my hometown of Belding, at the Labor Day Celebration.

September 1, 2008, with my dad Louis still recuperating from his last cancer procedure, the biggest celebration is no cancer! The girls kept busy with friends most of the weekend. It was our surprise when my cousin Jim Kochenower, called on Sunday night. "Could we meet Monday morning for breakfast?" He is a pilot with American Airlines and would arrive late Sunday night with a Monday lunchtime departure. He & his wife, Rona & three young children have relocated from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Provo, Utah, where family roots are. It's a good thing he can use his American wings & fly. His parents, my dad's oldest sister Doreen & husband, Bob are in Provo. Jim's sisters & brother & their families are dotted around the world. Brother Corin in Provo, sister Brenda in San Diego, sister Kim in Okinawa, Japan, sister Amy in Arizona. We last visited with Jim on a layover in January, when my dad spent a length of time in the hospital. It's easy to understand how blessed we are when a few moments can be shared.

Usually Grandma Arlene makes a big breakfast, this day it was still 'her treat' but at Arnies Restaurant. Thank you, Mom! Grandpa Louie wasn't feeling up to the ride to Grand Rapids, so Mom drove in from Belding with my dad's sister Cathy. They greeted Jim at the hotel. Although it was only a little over an hour we were able to visit, share some news & create a memory. We cut the visit short to take Kelsey to the ER for breathing difficulties, a condition she is already being tested & treated for. After 3 hours of tests & waiting she was given the green light. In irony, I think if Jim calls to so say he is flying in, which I hope he does, we'll plan on meeting at the hospital cafe!