win-some women ladies retreat

this past week i traveled w/ a lovely group of ladies down to mackinac, michigan for a ladies retreat. the travel time was a little long (approx 16 hrs.), but it was such a good time!

the retreat was on mackinac island, an island where no vehicles are allowed...only bikes, carriages, and feet :) it was quite quaint!

we stayed at a lovely motel called "the grand hotel", and it sure was grand! chandeliers and fancy furniture everywhere! and the flower gardens outside were gorgeous as well.

my favorite part about the retreat was getting to hear Laura Story. she lead worship, and it was incredible!

she is so talented, and has such a lovely spirit :) i was truly blessed :)

here is the view from my hotel room:




i'm surprised i didn't gain 5 lbs. in the 24 hrs. we were at the retreat...we at like kings and queens!
iris counted the number of utensils/plates/cups/saucers that each of us used at dinner and the number was at least 26 by the time all was said and done!
dinner included a 5 course meal w/ rolls and crackers on the side :) they gave each of us a menu which had 2-5 choices for almost each course...appetizer, soup, salad, entree, and desert

i didn't get a picture of our dinner set up, but this is a picture of our breakfast set up...almost the same as dinner minus a few pieces of silverware

this is a picture of my lunch entree :) it was scrumdidlyumptious!

this is a picture of one of the rooms where we met for sessions. the decor reminded me of something you might see at Monticello...old, but elegant for the time period

hotel entrance

one of the many horses and carriages that go back and forth from the main st. where the ferry's dock to the hotel.

just below the hotel is a beautiful manicured walk, and set up all along the walk were verses from previous retreats...i so enjoyed seeing a bit of spring!!!! i just love daffodils :) they remind me of home :)

it's gone!!!!!

finally!!! the ice has officially left red lake :) :)
it's been quite the long journey...

to start it off, dave and i returned to red lake to find a bunch of crazies jumping into the still-frozen-over lake...let's just say most of them were in the air longer than they were in the water!!!




they were jumping in for earth day. each of them pledged to do something like ride bike to work, recycle, etc, and then jumped right on in. there were 21 crazies in all :)
this was the end of april, a little over a week later, the ice finally left us :)

may 1st...it snowed :( not a happy day for me!

may 5th...the ice is turning black, and moving away from the shore

may 7th...there is a nice little water path where the ice road was

may 8th...still here...open water in the distance

may 10th...it's gone!!!!! pretty dreary out, but the ice is gone :) :) praise the Lord!!!!
bring on fishing season!!!

wedding, warmness, tanness, and a car :)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm......florida :)

how i love that state!!!!

2 weeks ago, dave and i left for a little vacation in the beautiful state of florida :) it was amazing!
we went down for the wedding of my two good friends, tony root and chalee helmuth (now root).

i'm pretty sure it was the most beautiful wedding i have ever been too. unfortunately i didn't take my camera to the wedding, so i have no proof of this fact, but i assure you that this wedding would be hard to beat!

actually, i think i'll just borrow a few pictures from my friend melinda :)

an absolutely stunning bride!!!

lovely bridesmaids

mr. and mrs. root!!!

cute cake :)

wedding party table...the tables were so pretty! over the past several months, chalee had been collecting old bottles and jars for centerpieces for the tables. each table had anywhere from 5-7 jars/bottles, and each one either had flowers or cute little pinwheels in them :)

lights were strung up over the reception area, and were absolutely beautiful once it got dark

scrabble theme :)

thanx for taking pictures melindy!!!!!! :) :) :)


soooooooooooooo...the rest of the time in florida was filled with....

-hanging out w/ friends
-dog races!!!!
-beach :)
-sunburn :(
-good food
-relaxation

a few pics....

mmmmm....suntan :)
i cannot even express how wonderful it was to step outside, and for it to be warmer outside than it was inside!!!! i almost forgot what it was like!!!

and last but not least...my car!!!
on the way home from florida we stopped in at winnipeg and my baby got me a car :) :) so excited to finally have wheels!!!!
it's so perfect! exactly what i wanted!
2007 mazda 3



adorable!
i named it macy :)