Or, "The Quest for a (Semi?) Permanent Residence."
Monday's house-hunting brought on sort of an epiphany for Mitch and me: we want new construction.
We checked out a house that is for sale by owner and substantially out of our price range, but since it had been on the market for a long time, we thought he might deal. Of course, we fell in love. The guy built it for himself and his wife, but once he got it framed in she decided it was too small. So he finished it, right down to brand new appliances, and has been trying to unload it for a year. It has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a roughed-in basement, a gorgeous kitchen, a fireplace, a nice little deck, a two-car garage, and three acres of land. Wow!
None of the existing homes we visited later that night even held a candle to this place. I've seen many people make beautiful renovations to existing homes with some issues, but we've pretty much decided we would rather not take chances on somewhat of a "fixer-upper" (which is all we've really found) that could end up being more trouble than we bargained for.
So what now?
1. Find out if we can afford to make him a reasonable offer. We had a budgeted amount for a house when we were searching in Mt. Pleasant, but we think we can afford a bit more because of Mitch's new job. We are also prepared to make some lifestyle changes, whereas in Mt. P we didn't really think about that possibility. So we need to get our budget set and find out how much the owner owes on the house. If those figures match up, we'll make an offer. If he wants to get rid of it badly enough, he'll settle for breaking even.
2. If we can't afford to make a reasonable offer, we will officially abandon house-hunting and shift gears to apartment-hunting. Once we're settled, we'll begin actively looking for land, purchase at least an acre when we find something we like, increase the contributions to the house fund, and plan to build our own place in a year or two.
It makes me feel good to have a plan when our situation has been up in the air for so long. If course, I know my plans make God (and everyone else) laugh, but they get me through and I've proven to be flexible with them. I think I just need a place from which I can flex, rather than adopting a "go with the flow" attitude. That type of an outlook is admirable, to be sure, but too stressful for me!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Done in the Yoop
I survived another year of the UP Swing after logging over 1500 miles in just five days. Yikes! Now I'm down at my parents' house, hanging out and preparing for travel in my real territory.
You know, I like being down here with my family, but I really don't like this part of the state. All the traffic, people, buildings, noise, money...I mean, when the mall at which you generally shop puts in an Armani store with a real DJ spinning in the front window, you know the area is rich enough to support such folly. And after checking out some of the "new" (read: recycled 1980s) fashion trends, I think I'm going to be doing my fall clothes shopping at REI.
Mitch has been staying with my parents all week because the commute to Mason is shorter from here than from Mt. Pleasant. Plus, my dad offered up the motorcycle on nice days, so Mitch has been saving a ton of money in gas. He'll continue to stay here until we find a place in St. Johns, which brings me to the next topic: when we'll find a place to live.
We're going to see three, maybe four, houses tomorrow after work. The consensus is that if nothing really grabs us this week, we'll more thoroughly explore the apartment option and make our permanent residence plans more long-range: i.e. look for land and plan to build our dream house (or a practical version of it) in a year or two. I'll keep you posted!
You know, I like being down here with my family, but I really don't like this part of the state. All the traffic, people, buildings, noise, money...I mean, when the mall at which you generally shop puts in an Armani store with a real DJ spinning in the front window, you know the area is rich enough to support such folly. And after checking out some of the "new" (read: recycled 1980s) fashion trends, I think I'm going to be doing my fall clothes shopping at REI.
Mitch has been staying with my parents all week because the commute to Mason is shorter from here than from Mt. Pleasant. Plus, my dad offered up the motorcycle on nice days, so Mitch has been saving a ton of money in gas. He'll continue to stay here until we find a place in St. Johns, which brings me to the next topic: when we'll find a place to live.
We're going to see three, maybe four, houses tomorrow after work. The consensus is that if nothing really grabs us this week, we'll more thoroughly explore the apartment option and make our permanent residence plans more long-range: i.e. look for land and plan to build our dream house (or a practical version of it) in a year or two. I'll keep you posted!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Good question.
Tim asked a good question in his comment on my last post: whether it's difficult to be hands-off at this point in the week, and whether I feel like I don't really have a role in our travels. I thought I'd address it in the ten or so minutes before we go to dinner.
In short, the answer to both is, "Not really." Now that the week is closing out, college fairs only take up about two hours of the day. For those two hours, while I let the new reps man the table on their own, I get that coveted "me" time. I can answer emails from work and take care of my other tasks, or just spend some quiet time browsing the web.
I feel like I've done my job this week. At first, I did most of the talking at the fairs, and would listen to their conversations with families to determine where they needed some assistance. I talked about conversation techniques, questions to ask to keep them at the table longer, ways to connect with them, and demonstrated a number of them. After the first fair, I let them take more of a center stage role, eventually fading into the background and just jumping in when they asked. I feel they have a very good grasp of what to do and say, and now they need time to hone their skills without being self-conscious. And let's face it: this is not rocket science. Most of the time these kids won't remember anything you say in the two minutes you get with them. They will, however, remember a smiling face who expressed genuine interest in them, which is what I hope I've instilled during this training week.
In short, the answer to both is, "Not really." Now that the week is closing out, college fairs only take up about two hours of the day. For those two hours, while I let the new reps man the table on their own, I get that coveted "me" time. I can answer emails from work and take care of my other tasks, or just spend some quiet time browsing the web.
I feel like I've done my job this week. At first, I did most of the talking at the fairs, and would listen to their conversations with families to determine where they needed some assistance. I talked about conversation techniques, questions to ask to keep them at the table longer, ways to connect with them, and demonstrated a number of them. After the first fair, I let them take more of a center stage role, eventually fading into the background and just jumping in when they asked. I feel they have a very good grasp of what to do and say, and now they need time to hone their skills without being self-conscious. And let's face it: this is not rocket science. Most of the time these kids won't remember anything you say in the two minutes you get with them. They will, however, remember a smiling face who expressed genuine interest in them, which is what I hope I've instilled during this training week.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Mah-nah-mah-nah!
(Do-doo-do-do-do)
Muppets, anyone?
Yes, I am in Menominee, hanging out at a college fair and letting one of our new reps man the table solo. It works out nice: we've done three fairs together, and the last one I basically stood in the background and came to the rescue only when needed. Since MHS brings in three distinct groups of students (juniors, sophomores and seniors) at separate times, Matt's on for the juniors, we'll all have fun watching the awkward sophomores, and Megan will take the seniors. That gives me time to blog, especially since I found a wireless connection in the school!
So the UP week has been pretty fun. Last night we went out for a late dinner with the U of M and Adrian reps, and tonight there will probably be a slightly larger crew at one of the only restaurants in Ironwood. I have to admit, my natural tendency to be an introvert is really at odds with the role I'm playing this week. I would like nothing more than to curl up with a book, all alone, and spend a few hours recharging (and resting my voice - it's about gone). Maybe this evening I can have some "me" time.
I was asked to be a medical school reference for my intern, so I think I'll get started on that. I don't know how well I'll be able to answer some of the questions specific to his qualifications, but I can soundly attest to his work ethic and sense of personal responsibility. I'm guessing that's what he's hoping for from me!
Muppets, anyone?
Yes, I am in Menominee, hanging out at a college fair and letting one of our new reps man the table solo. It works out nice: we've done three fairs together, and the last one I basically stood in the background and came to the rescue only when needed. Since MHS brings in three distinct groups of students (juniors, sophomores and seniors) at separate times, Matt's on for the juniors, we'll all have fun watching the awkward sophomores, and Megan will take the seniors. That gives me time to blog, especially since I found a wireless connection in the school!
So the UP week has been pretty fun. Last night we went out for a late dinner with the U of M and Adrian reps, and tonight there will probably be a slightly larger crew at one of the only restaurants in Ironwood. I have to admit, my natural tendency to be an introvert is really at odds with the role I'm playing this week. I would like nothing more than to curl up with a book, all alone, and spend a few hours recharging (and resting my voice - it's about gone). Maybe this evening I can have some "me" time.
I was asked to be a medical school reference for my intern, so I think I'll get started on that. I don't know how well I'll be able to answer some of the questions specific to his qualifications, but I can soundly attest to his work ethic and sense of personal responsibility. I'm guessing that's what he's hoping for from me!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Swingin' in the Yoop
Well, travel season has officially begun, and I'm writing from a lovely hotel in Iron Mountain, Mich. This week, I am traveling around the Upper Peninsula with Alma's two newest admissions reps, taking part in the "UP Swing," a series of six college fairs. It's a lot of fun, because you get to know reps from other schools and hang out after the fairs, but of course, travel is my least favorite job function so I'm kind of bummed that this means I have to start all of that again.
See, I really hate being away from home for so long. Mostly I miss Mitch, but I also miss the physical space I call home. This year is even more challenging, because we're trying to find a new place to live, too. Don't ask me how that's going...I don't really know. Mitch is going to look at a couple of houses this week, and he'll also check out apartments. I kind of want someone else to make the decisions and tell me what to do. It's overwhelming to think of it now.
And yes, Mitch begins his new job tomorrow. I'm confident he'll enjoy the new challenges it presents and I hope he's as fulfilled by it as we anticipate.
Now I have about 45 minutes until it's time to get some dinner before our first fair, so I'm going to curl up on my comfy bed and read for a bit. More updates should come throughout the week!
See, I really hate being away from home for so long. Mostly I miss Mitch, but I also miss the physical space I call home. This year is even more challenging, because we're trying to find a new place to live, too. Don't ask me how that's going...I don't really know. Mitch is going to look at a couple of houses this week, and he'll also check out apartments. I kind of want someone else to make the decisions and tell me what to do. It's overwhelming to think of it now.
And yes, Mitch begins his new job tomorrow. I'm confident he'll enjoy the new challenges it presents and I hope he's as fulfilled by it as we anticipate.
Now I have about 45 minutes until it's time to get some dinner before our first fair, so I'm going to curl up on my comfy bed and read for a bit. More updates should come throughout the week!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Rained Out
This seems to be the summer of aborted vacations. Last week, I took Thursday and Friday off and we packed up for a hiking trip at Pictured Rocks. We knew it would be rainy, but we thought we'd give it a try anyway. Here we are at the trailhead, bound for Mosquito Falls:
One hundred yards later, we donned garbage bags over our packs and kept moving, only to discover - a mile later - that we'd left our pass in the car. So Mitch went back to the car (he says running is for suckers, but he jogged anyway) and then we continued on to Mosquito Falls, where we posed for photos despite the rain.
We made it out to Lake Superior, had lunch, and paused quickly for the only shot of the cliffs we could manage, given the swarms of mosquitos that descended every time we stopped moving. And yes, we had bug spray, but it didn't help much because the rain kept washing it off.
After a couple of miles of hiking along the shoreline, we gave up. It was getting miserable and it was very likely that nothing would dry out even if the rain stopped. So we turned around and trudged back to the car. We thought we might still be able to salvage a night of camping elsewhere, but about half a mile from the car, the sky opened up with a soaker. The trails became little rivers, gushing around our boots, and the wind whipped sheets of rain right through us, it seemed. Looking like a couple of drowned rats, we threw our packs in the trunk and headed for the nearest (cheapest) motel we could find. We tried to maintain a bit of our budget, though, by cooking Raman in the parking lot and eating dinner out of our backpacking cookware:
Here's what our room looked like when we spread all our wet things around:
After a night of relative luxury, we awoke to still-wet boots (and almost everything else). Though the sun was shining, rain was in the forecast for the evening, so rather than try to navigate the trails in our sandals, we packed up the car and headed home, stopping along Lake Michigan to play.
So, while it wasn't the trip we planned, it was still fun and we still enjoyed the time we spent together. This will be Mitch's last vacation until after Christmas, because with his new job, he doesn't get any time off until after the first of the year. And speaking of his job, he starts next Monday (Sept. 17) and is really looking forward to it. I am, too, but I've kind of gotten used to having my "house husband" do all the cooking and cleaning!
One more thing unrelated to hiking or new jobs: Mitch and I just got the new Caedmon's Call CD, Overdressed, and really like it! I'm still going through my usual pattern of listening to it over and over until I start to identify my favorite songs, but so far I'm very pleased. Everyone reading this should go check it out!
One hundred yards later, we donned garbage bags over our packs and kept moving, only to discover - a mile later - that we'd left our pass in the car. So Mitch went back to the car (he says running is for suckers, but he jogged anyway) and then we continued on to Mosquito Falls, where we posed for photos despite the rain.
We made it out to Lake Superior, had lunch, and paused quickly for the only shot of the cliffs we could manage, given the swarms of mosquitos that descended every time we stopped moving. And yes, we had bug spray, but it didn't help much because the rain kept washing it off.
After a couple of miles of hiking along the shoreline, we gave up. It was getting miserable and it was very likely that nothing would dry out even if the rain stopped. So we turned around and trudged back to the car. We thought we might still be able to salvage a night of camping elsewhere, but about half a mile from the car, the sky opened up with a soaker. The trails became little rivers, gushing around our boots, and the wind whipped sheets of rain right through us, it seemed. Looking like a couple of drowned rats, we threw our packs in the trunk and headed for the nearest (cheapest) motel we could find. We tried to maintain a bit of our budget, though, by cooking Raman in the parking lot and eating dinner out of our backpacking cookware:
Here's what our room looked like when we spread all our wet things around:
After a night of relative luxury, we awoke to still-wet boots (and almost everything else). Though the sun was shining, rain was in the forecast for the evening, so rather than try to navigate the trails in our sandals, we packed up the car and headed home, stopping along Lake Michigan to play.
So, while it wasn't the trip we planned, it was still fun and we still enjoyed the time we spent together. This will be Mitch's last vacation until after Christmas, because with his new job, he doesn't get any time off until after the first of the year. And speaking of his job, he starts next Monday (Sept. 17) and is really looking forward to it. I am, too, but I've kind of gotten used to having my "house husband" do all the cooking and cleaning!
One more thing unrelated to hiking or new jobs: Mitch and I just got the new Caedmon's Call CD, Overdressed, and really like it! I'm still going through my usual pattern of listening to it over and over until I start to identify my favorite songs, but so far I'm very pleased. Everyone reading this should go check it out!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Ew!
So we went to see the house last night and, with the help of our parents, discovered some major problems with the kitchen floor (rotting underneath) and the septic system (standing sewage). Gross! Obviously that means we won't be buying this one. Luckily, we have some time to look because it doesn't make a ton of sense to force a move before travel season is over for me, which for all intents and purposes is the end of October.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
She takes a deep breath...
...and revels in the relative calm of the day. Last week was a busy, stressful week but the long, wonderful weekend with my family made everything better. That and Preterm is over, so my obligations to the Orientation Committee are significantly scaled back.
Last Week's Stresses:
Last Week's Stresses:
- The OCs: Oh my goodness. In addition to just having to supervise them and help them plan three off-campus trips, we had two major communication breakdowns that resulted in program changes and cancellations. I literally took two whole mornings to straighten things out. The lesson: as much as they may chafe against it, I'm going to be shortening the leash even more this year and requiring formal reports from them at the end of each day. Ugh...
- Publications: They're pretty much done now, but last week was a flurry of hasty revisions and "I-need-this-now" projects. Whew.
- Travel planning: I probably have half my appointments for this fall confirmed, but it's always challenging to juggle appointments around when things don't work out according to my plan!
- We stayed at my aunt and uncle's cottage in Boyne City and had a great time at the festivities surrounding the Red Fox Regatta on Lake Charlevoix.
- The wind was crazy on Sunday, so we went to Petoskey State Park to play in the huge waves. I even tried surfing and was semi-successful!
- Mitch and I had rode two good mountain biking trails: Hanson Hills in Grayling (actually, I rode that one on my own because Mitch bent his rim a mile and a half in and had to walk out while I finished) and Aspen Park in Gaylord. We tried Hartwick Pines in Grayling on the way home, but it wasn't a good trail so we turned around.
- Tonight Mitch and I are taking both sets of parents to look at a house in St Johns that we really like. I'll take lots of pictures and will try to post them. Unless something is seriously wrong with this place (and we don't think there is, because we've already been to see it once), we'll probably start the process of putting in an offer later this week!
- I requested some vacation time at the end of this week, and Mitch and I are hoping to take a trip up North for some hiking. Rain is in the forecast, but we're still planning to go and then make adjustments as needed.
- It's apple season in Michigan, and the U-Pick orchards are gearing up. Right before I start fall travel, Mitch and I always go pick a nice big bag of apples; I know it's a funny thing to look forward to, but I always love those afternoons!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Praise the Lord!
Mitch got his job offer from Dart Container today! We're so thankful for this blessing, and for all the support of our family and friends. His tentative start date in September 10.
Praise God!
Praise God!
Monday, August 27, 2007
So anxious
No word yet. I don't do well with the unknown, even though all signs point to an eventual offer from Dart. They don't tell you to call them if you get an offer from another company before hearing back from them if they don't want you; they don't review benefits with you if they don't want you - but if they want Mitch, they should just call him!
I'm struggling so hard to be patient. Sometimes I want to break down and just rage with frustration that things are taking so long. Then I hear that little voice that says, Trust, and the urge recedes...until the next time I think about it and get anxious all over again. I seem to pray equally hard for progress and patience.
Changing the subject: Saturday was move-in for all the freshmen! For the first time, Admissions was a formal part of the check-in process, providing students with a decal for their cars and a card with some pertinent information (like where their first advisor meeting was taking place). And there was one priceless moment: standing in Newberry lobby and hearing the first strains of Tenacious D's "F*** Her Gently" blare from the iPod. I hopped over and skipped past that one very quickly!
I also went waterskiing this weekend for the first time all summer. Yes, pathetic, given the amount of time I've spent at the lake, but the water has never been nice enough for my spoiled tastes. I lucked out this time, though: after dinner, when the lake was clear and flat, my dad took me for a pull behind his Chris-Craft, an old wooden boat he reconstructed. I think it was really cool for him to drive the boat he resurrected from a rotting pile of wood, pulling the daughter he taught to ski so long ago. At least, that's how I interpreted the huge grin he was sporting each time he turned around!
Now it's Monday and I'm back at work (sore from biking and skiing) but less stressed than last week. Well, there seems to be less work-related stress, anyway. Here's some background and then an explanation of what has been waking me up in the middle of the night:
This year, we started planning our Admissions publications very early. We always seem to run behind on them and then scramble at the last minute, and we were committed to not letting that happen this year. Because we wanted to revamp everything, we decided to hire a copywriter to give our pieces a new voice: something a little spunky that would appeal to our students while still accurately getting the important information across. I was pretty pumped about this, because I wrote the copy for our viewbook last year (in 24 hours!) and I didn't really want to get roped into it again, especially as the deadline approached and I was neck-deep in other projects. So we got this guy from Massachusetts, and he made some phone calls to interview people, and he sent over some copy...and it was terrible. Literally awful. And the clock was ticking. And we were fed up. So the project ended up on my desk, and though I really want to be modest about it, I think I turned out some of the best copy we've had in a long time. (I think it could have been even better, though, if I had more than a couple of days in which to do it.) The piece on which I worked is the one all us reps will be taking on the road with us and handing out at college fairs and high school visits. Now we've moved on to our viewbook, and because the copywriter really just took a lot of our old text (written by me last year) and tweaked it, I only had a couple sections to rewrite. Actually, I'm supposed to be working on that right now. Shoot. I'm currently fresh out of inspiration.
I'm struggling so hard to be patient. Sometimes I want to break down and just rage with frustration that things are taking so long. Then I hear that little voice that says, Trust, and the urge recedes...until the next time I think about it and get anxious all over again. I seem to pray equally hard for progress and patience.
Changing the subject: Saturday was move-in for all the freshmen! For the first time, Admissions was a formal part of the check-in process, providing students with a decal for their cars and a card with some pertinent information (like where their first advisor meeting was taking place). And there was one priceless moment: standing in Newberry lobby and hearing the first strains of Tenacious D's "F*** Her Gently" blare from the iPod. I hopped over and skipped past that one very quickly!
I also went waterskiing this weekend for the first time all summer. Yes, pathetic, given the amount of time I've spent at the lake, but the water has never been nice enough for my spoiled tastes. I lucked out this time, though: after dinner, when the lake was clear and flat, my dad took me for a pull behind his Chris-Craft, an old wooden boat he reconstructed. I think it was really cool for him to drive the boat he resurrected from a rotting pile of wood, pulling the daughter he taught to ski so long ago. At least, that's how I interpreted the huge grin he was sporting each time he turned around!
Now it's Monday and I'm back at work (sore from biking and skiing) but less stressed than last week. Well, there seems to be less work-related stress, anyway. Here's some background and then an explanation of what has been waking me up in the middle of the night:
This year, we started planning our Admissions publications very early. We always seem to run behind on them and then scramble at the last minute, and we were committed to not letting that happen this year. Because we wanted to revamp everything, we decided to hire a copywriter to give our pieces a new voice: something a little spunky that would appeal to our students while still accurately getting the important information across. I was pretty pumped about this, because I wrote the copy for our viewbook last year (in 24 hours!) and I didn't really want to get roped into it again, especially as the deadline approached and I was neck-deep in other projects. So we got this guy from Massachusetts, and he made some phone calls to interview people, and he sent over some copy...and it was terrible. Literally awful. And the clock was ticking. And we were fed up. So the project ended up on my desk, and though I really want to be modest about it, I think I turned out some of the best copy we've had in a long time. (I think it could have been even better, though, if I had more than a couple of days in which to do it.) The piece on which I worked is the one all us reps will be taking on the road with us and handing out at college fairs and high school visits. Now we've moved on to our viewbook, and because the copywriter really just took a lot of our old text (written by me last year) and tweaked it, I only had a couple sections to rewrite. Actually, I'm supposed to be working on that right now. Shoot. I'm currently fresh out of inspiration.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The interview is done...
...and now Mitch is just waiting for a call. It was more intense than he thought it would be, but he left feeling even more confident than he did after his second interview there. He did tell them he was expecting a call from American General later this week, so hopefully that makes them move quickly.
Thanks for all the prayers and support. I'm working hard at having patience and faith!
Thanks for all the prayers and support. I'm working hard at having patience and faith!
Friday, August 17, 2007
The waiting game
Tim, you're about a week ahead of yourself: Mitch's third interview is next Wednesday (Aug. 22). Don't worry, I'll post details as soon as we know. He's really antsy, but has been keeping himself occupied with a lot of guitar playing and biking. His goal is to log 100 miles this week, which he will have no problem accomplishing. The wind has been fierce here, so he's getting a heck of a workout every time he goes out.
Since we think a move south is impending, we started looking at houses and actually went to see a few on Wednesday. One was awful, two were pretty bad, and one was great! So great, in fact, that if/when the job offer does come through, we will be making a return trip with all the 'rents to see it. Unless someone else buys it first or there is something major wrong with it that we don't see, we may have found "the one."
Digression: There's a part of my personality that I've only recently accepted and stopped fighting: I have this tendency to get very excited about things and start making plans in my head, and then when they don't work out, I get really disappointed. This happened at least three times with the house hunt in Mt. Pleasant and I've figured out that while the disappointment can be pretty piercing, it doesn't last long and actually provides me with an emotional outlet. While I used to try to avoid this, fearing the let down of having things not work out, I've now realized it's just something I do that's not necessarily bad, given my faith and the ability to move quickly past the disappointment.
Back on track: Work has been nonstop busy with tons of different things. We're interviewing candidates for two rep positions, and I'm preparing to take whoever we hire to the UP for training in mid-September. My OCs move back on campus this Sunday, so I'm getting everything ready for them and helping the co-chairs with their roles. I'm planning my own travel season in the Oakland-Livingston-Washtenaw-Lenawee-Monroe area, making web updates, editing new publications and of course, still trying to get all my new freshman ready to walk in the door in a week! Yesterday I went to a workshop in Chicago with some folks from advancement and PR on market segmentation and using the web. Very cool stuff! The bad part: 5 hours in the car each way, and no stopping for dinner!
Oh, and here's my plug: Everyone should read Robin's blog and listen to Grant's sermon!
Since we think a move south is impending, we started looking at houses and actually went to see a few on Wednesday. One was awful, two were pretty bad, and one was great! So great, in fact, that if/when the job offer does come through, we will be making a return trip with all the 'rents to see it. Unless someone else buys it first or there is something major wrong with it that we don't see, we may have found "the one."
Digression: There's a part of my personality that I've only recently accepted and stopped fighting: I have this tendency to get very excited about things and start making plans in my head, and then when they don't work out, I get really disappointed. This happened at least three times with the house hunt in Mt. Pleasant and I've figured out that while the disappointment can be pretty piercing, it doesn't last long and actually provides me with an emotional outlet. While I used to try to avoid this, fearing the let down of having things not work out, I've now realized it's just something I do that's not necessarily bad, given my faith and the ability to move quickly past the disappointment.
Back on track: Work has been nonstop busy with tons of different things. We're interviewing candidates for two rep positions, and I'm preparing to take whoever we hire to the UP for training in mid-September. My OCs move back on campus this Sunday, so I'm getting everything ready for them and helping the co-chairs with their roles. I'm planning my own travel season in the Oakland-Livingston-Washtenaw-Lenawee-Monroe area, making web updates, editing new publications and of course, still trying to get all my new freshman ready to walk in the door in a week! Yesterday I went to a workshop in Chicago with some folks from advancement and PR on market segmentation and using the web. Very cool stuff! The bad part: 5 hours in the car each way, and no stopping for dinner!
Oh, and here's my plug: Everyone should read Robin's blog and listen to Grant's sermon!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Praise God!
That's the only appropriate title for this entry. You all know Mitch has been increasingly unhappy in his current role and has been seriously job searching for a few months now. Yesterday he had two interviews: one with American General, a lending institution in Mt. Pleasant, and a second interview with Dart Container in Mason. Both went well; the Dart one lasted two hours and he succeeded in making all four interviewers laugh when they asked him if he knew why manhole covers were round. When he gave the actual reason, they were amazed that he knew it and he confessed to being a "bank of useless information." Yes, that was his exact response, and he had them cracking up. They also asked him where else he was interviewing, so he told them about his interview later that afternoon. That must have given them a sense of urgency, because later that day...
...they called him back in for his third interview! This one involves "business casual" dress, a tour of the plant, and lunch with his "peers," all of which says to me: "Job offer!" He will undertake this adventure in a week and a half.
Onto the American General interview: that one also went well, and he left there with the sense that a job offer is also impending there. Maybe it was the fact that his interviewer said she had to run a background check but would call him next week. They don't do background checks until they're basically ready to offer you the position...yessssss!
So, should both job offers come through as anticipated, which one would he prefer? Obviously he would be thrilled with either, but it's the Dart job that really grabs him. It's a marketing and financial analyst position, which would allow him to do that geeky analysis stuff he likes so much without having to deal directly with angry customers who can't balance their checkbooks and want to know why you can't reverse their fees. We'll see how it all plays out - I'm breaking my rule here by posting about what I think is going to happen before it actually does, but I'm so excited for him that I can't contain myself. For all he's put up with, he deserves this.
Thanks are in order for everyone who has been praying for us. I know prayer works, just as I know God will open and close doors as he sees fit. Faith is a glorious thing, and even though there are times when you have grip it tighter to keep it from drifting away, the effort is well worth the deeper relationship with God that results. I'm thankful for his blessings, even though they sometimes don't seem like blessings at the time.
"So keep 'em coming, these lines on the road,
And keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load,
And keep me guessing with these blessings in disguise,
And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes..."
...they called him back in for his third interview! This one involves "business casual" dress, a tour of the plant, and lunch with his "peers," all of which says to me: "Job offer!" He will undertake this adventure in a week and a half.
Onto the American General interview: that one also went well, and he left there with the sense that a job offer is also impending there. Maybe it was the fact that his interviewer said she had to run a background check but would call him next week. They don't do background checks until they're basically ready to offer you the position...yessssss!
So, should both job offers come through as anticipated, which one would he prefer? Obviously he would be thrilled with either, but it's the Dart job that really grabs him. It's a marketing and financial analyst position, which would allow him to do that geeky analysis stuff he likes so much without having to deal directly with angry customers who can't balance their checkbooks and want to know why you can't reverse their fees. We'll see how it all plays out - I'm breaking my rule here by posting about what I think is going to happen before it actually does, but I'm so excited for him that I can't contain myself. For all he's put up with, he deserves this.
Thanks are in order for everyone who has been praying for us. I know prayer works, just as I know God will open and close doors as he sees fit. Faith is a glorious thing, and even though there are times when you have grip it tighter to keep it from drifting away, the effort is well worth the deeper relationship with God that results. I'm thankful for his blessings, even though they sometimes don't seem like blessings at the time.
"So keep 'em coming, these lines on the road,
And keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load,
And keep me guessing with these blessings in disguise,
And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes..."
Monday, July 30, 2007
Abort, ABORT!
Our weekend started out on a very promising note: Mitch interviewed with National City in the morning and since I was able to get the afternoon off, we were north-bound by 3 pm with bikes in tow. Our car was packed with camping gear and even an accident-induced traffic jam on 127 North couldn't dampen our spirits.
After a couple hours, we arrived in Grayling and fought our way through town (I guess there was some big canoeing event) to Hanson Hills Ski Area: the first stop on our weekend-long tour of trails in the Grayling-Gaylord areas. The plan was to ride HH, stop for a swim at the Otsego Lake State Park, and then head up to the Pigeon River State Forest Campground just north of Gaylord. From there, we planned to ride Shingle Mill Pathway in the Pigeon River State Forest and Aspen Park in Gaylord, and then hit Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling on our way back on Sunday. Plans plan plans...
Anyway, the ride at HH was great! Since we hadn't had dinner yet, Mitch made me eat one of those nasty Clif bars, and as we climbed hill after hill in the first few miles, it sat at the bottom of my stomach like a brick. My legs ached, my lungs burned, and I barely had the energy to appreciate my beautiful surroundings. Eventually, though, my legs and lungs remembered how to work and I began to enjoy the thrill of the fast downhills. As for the uphills, well, I got a song stuck in my head that helped motivate me as I continued to grind them out:
I use what I got, take what I get,
Give 'til I ain't got nothin' left
Then I give it some more,
Keep on climbin' up that mountain.
Keep truckin' along, work up a sweat,
Past every no after no after no 'til I get a yes,
I don't worry 'bout what I'm not,
I use what I got.
Apart from the awful grammar, country artist Jason Aldean pretty much summed up the determination I need to ride these tough trails!
Eight or so miles later, we were back at the trailhead, packing up the car and trying to dry our sweaty, stinky gloves. We took a nice dip at the Otsego Lake State Park in lieu of a bath, but by the time we got gas and drove back to the park so I could retrieve my forgotten sunglasses, it was raining. As we were not too keen on setting up camp in the rain, we stopped at La Senorita in Gaylord for a disappointing dinner, then continued our drive up to Pigeon River. Our worries about not finding a campsite there were unfounded (no reservations at state forest campgrounds); the place was deserted. We lit the lantern, paid our fee, set up camp...and now I digress for a confession:
I've seen too many horror movies, watched too many episodes of Unsolved Mysteries, and am generally a 'fraidy cat when it comes to dark, unfamiliar places in the middle of nowhere. I kept telling myself to knock it off as I constantly scanned the woods with my headlamp, but by the time we crawled into our tent, I couldn't help mentioning to Mitch that it was a little creepy being the only people here. Had he reassured me, I would've spent a restless night in our tent with my fears to myself, but he agreed that yes, it was a bit uncomfortable...
...so we promptly packed up and left. Just like that. We thought we could just get a cheap hotel for the night and try our luck at some of the other campgrounds the next day. Little did we know that every hotel in Gaylord was booked for some Little League tournament, and Grayling was packed for the canoe event! So, by midnight on Friday, we were on the road back to Mt. Pleasant. I was disappointed that our weekend hadn't worked out, and for better or for worse, I'm now convinced that reservations must be made, and that one should be a bit familiar with a specific state forest campground before assuming that a walk-in in the middle of the night is a good idea.
Maybe God puts you where you need to be, though, rather than where you want to be. When we stopped in Houghton Lake to get drinks for the drive home, we saw a clearly intoxicated man get into an SUV and prepare to drive away. We called 911 and gave them a description of the car and its license plate number. Maybe we got a drunk driver off the road, and if so, it was worth not having the weekend we planned.
And all was not lost, biking-wise. We explored the Midland City Forest on Saturday and rode Burchfield in Lansing on Sunday. We also got through large chunks of our respective Harry Potter books and spent some time with Bruce and his girlfriend, Lizzie. We do hope to resurrect this trip again in the fall, though we'll be making other arrangements for camping next time.
After a couple hours, we arrived in Grayling and fought our way through town (I guess there was some big canoeing event) to Hanson Hills Ski Area: the first stop on our weekend-long tour of trails in the Grayling-Gaylord areas. The plan was to ride HH, stop for a swim at the Otsego Lake State Park, and then head up to the Pigeon River State Forest Campground just north of Gaylord. From there, we planned to ride Shingle Mill Pathway in the Pigeon River State Forest and Aspen Park in Gaylord, and then hit Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling on our way back on Sunday. Plans plan plans...
Anyway, the ride at HH was great! Since we hadn't had dinner yet, Mitch made me eat one of those nasty Clif bars, and as we climbed hill after hill in the first few miles, it sat at the bottom of my stomach like a brick. My legs ached, my lungs burned, and I barely had the energy to appreciate my beautiful surroundings. Eventually, though, my legs and lungs remembered how to work and I began to enjoy the thrill of the fast downhills. As for the uphills, well, I got a song stuck in my head that helped motivate me as I continued to grind them out:
I use what I got, take what I get,
Give 'til I ain't got nothin' left
Then I give it some more,
Keep on climbin' up that mountain.
Keep truckin' along, work up a sweat,
Past every no after no after no 'til I get a yes,
I don't worry 'bout what I'm not,
I use what I got.
Apart from the awful grammar, country artist Jason Aldean pretty much summed up the determination I need to ride these tough trails!
Eight or so miles later, we were back at the trailhead, packing up the car and trying to dry our sweaty, stinky gloves. We took a nice dip at the Otsego Lake State Park in lieu of a bath, but by the time we got gas and drove back to the park so I could retrieve my forgotten sunglasses, it was raining. As we were not too keen on setting up camp in the rain, we stopped at La Senorita in Gaylord for a disappointing dinner, then continued our drive up to Pigeon River. Our worries about not finding a campsite there were unfounded (no reservations at state forest campgrounds); the place was deserted. We lit the lantern, paid our fee, set up camp...and now I digress for a confession:
I've seen too many horror movies, watched too many episodes of Unsolved Mysteries, and am generally a 'fraidy cat when it comes to dark, unfamiliar places in the middle of nowhere. I kept telling myself to knock it off as I constantly scanned the woods with my headlamp, but by the time we crawled into our tent, I couldn't help mentioning to Mitch that it was a little creepy being the only people here. Had he reassured me, I would've spent a restless night in our tent with my fears to myself, but he agreed that yes, it was a bit uncomfortable...
...so we promptly packed up and left. Just like that. We thought we could just get a cheap hotel for the night and try our luck at some of the other campgrounds the next day. Little did we know that every hotel in Gaylord was booked for some Little League tournament, and Grayling was packed for the canoe event! So, by midnight on Friday, we were on the road back to Mt. Pleasant. I was disappointed that our weekend hadn't worked out, and for better or for worse, I'm now convinced that reservations must be made, and that one should be a bit familiar with a specific state forest campground before assuming that a walk-in in the middle of the night is a good idea.
Maybe God puts you where you need to be, though, rather than where you want to be. When we stopped in Houghton Lake to get drinks for the drive home, we saw a clearly intoxicated man get into an SUV and prepare to drive away. We called 911 and gave them a description of the car and its license plate number. Maybe we got a drunk driver off the road, and if so, it was worth not having the weekend we planned.
And all was not lost, biking-wise. We explored the Midland City Forest on Saturday and rode Burchfield in Lansing on Sunday. We also got through large chunks of our respective Harry Potter books and spent some time with Bruce and his girlfriend, Lizzie. We do hope to resurrect this trip again in the fall, though we'll be making other arrangements for camping next time.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Notre Dame Weekend
Visiting Miriam this past weekend at Notre Dame was awesome! We had a great time mountain biking, relaxing at the lake, shopping and just hanging out. The mountain bike trail we rode on Saturday morning, Rum Village, was really cool. It had a short beginner loop, an intermediate loop, and an advanced loop. It took us awhile to find the advanced loop, and we didn't ride the whole thing, but it was tons of fun. I fell off a small bridge but luckily did no damage to my body or - more importantly - to my bike!
In other biking-related news, we are planning a weekend of Northern Michigan biking. We're thinking about going up to Gaylord and camping at Pigeon River to ride Shingle Mill and Aspen Park. While we're there, we'll also probably go down to Grayling and ride Hanson Hills and maybe one other place. Another option is to head south to the Kalamazoo area and hit up Fort Custer and some other small places. We're still working out the details, but biking is definitely going to be the focus of our weekend!
And there is progress on the job front for Mitch! He has two interviews: one this week with National City in Haslett and another next week with Dart Container Corporation in Mason. I'm so thankful that he's at least getting interviews...obviously we want one of these to pan out for him, but I'm taking it one step at a time. That's hard for me, because I want to be able to start figuring out where we will be living this fall: Mt. Pleasant, St. Johns, house, apartment...will the big change fall before, during or after travel season...if it's during travel, how is that going to work out with me in Southeastern Michigan all fall...obviously this is a source of stress for me, but I think I'm handling it well by trying not to think about it too much and relying on God to set the timing for us.
And by the way, two weekends ago we had to cancel out hiking trip with Matt and Becky because Matt got stuck in Philly longer than expected. Boo! But we're hoping to do a fall trip when the colors are at their best.
OK, back to work for me. Sometimes it's so hard to get going on Monday...
In other biking-related news, we are planning a weekend of Northern Michigan biking. We're thinking about going up to Gaylord and camping at Pigeon River to ride Shingle Mill and Aspen Park. While we're there, we'll also probably go down to Grayling and ride Hanson Hills and maybe one other place. Another option is to head south to the Kalamazoo area and hit up Fort Custer and some other small places. We're still working out the details, but biking is definitely going to be the focus of our weekend!
And there is progress on the job front for Mitch! He has two interviews: one this week with National City in Haslett and another next week with Dart Container Corporation in Mason. I'm so thankful that he's at least getting interviews...obviously we want one of these to pan out for him, but I'm taking it one step at a time. That's hard for me, because I want to be able to start figuring out where we will be living this fall: Mt. Pleasant, St. Johns, house, apartment...will the big change fall before, during or after travel season...if it's during travel, how is that going to work out with me in Southeastern Michigan all fall...obviously this is a source of stress for me, but I think I'm handling it well by trying not to think about it too much and relying on God to set the timing for us.
And by the way, two weekends ago we had to cancel out hiking trip with Matt and Becky because Matt got stuck in Philly longer than expected. Boo! But we're hoping to do a fall trip when the colors are at their best.
OK, back to work for me. Sometimes it's so hard to get going on Monday...
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Excitement at Alma College
Yes, we're bringing in the LARGEST CLASS EVER at 450 incoming students and counting (and yes, we do have room to house them). You probably already knew that. But I thought I'd take a moment to update you on some other changes to Alma's campus:
1. The Admissions staff has grown so much that we need more space, so we're taking over the entire Reid-Knox Building! Jerry Scoby and President Tracy's offices will remain here, but the Business Office is moving out in a couple of weeks so a construction crew can come in a reconfigure most of the building to accommodate additional office space and another small conference room. Along with this, we're getting all new matching furniture for our brand new offices! Construction has already begun: they're renovating our bathrooms and that means I'm displaced from my office so they can knock out one of my walls to expand the women's restroom. Therefore, I'm moving to the basement of the library until my new office space is ready, which will probably be in October.
So where is the Business Office going?
2. The Business Office, Registrar's Office, and Financial Aid Office are all moving to the basement of Saga and taking over the space previously used by the Center for Student Development. Crews gutted the area last month and are renovating it as I write. This makes it a "one-stop-shop" kind of thing down there.
So where is the Center going?
3. The Center is downsizing it's operations to include only personal counseling, and they will be moving to the Med Shed. On a related note, the Med Shed is now being run by the local hospital, Gratiot Medical, in hopes of improving service and streamlining services provided by the hospital.
So what about all that other stuff the Center did, like career placement, tutoring and learning disabilities?
4. Well, we all know the Center never did a fabulous job on things like career placement, but that's slated to improve with the addition of a new office called the Transitions Office. Headed by a woman very active in the Alma community (Ginna Holmes, if any of you worked with her through the Alma After-School Program or the Alma Community Center) and staffed with two other administrators yet-to-be-hired, the Transitions Office will improve career placement services and take over tutoring and learning disabilities services. This office will live in the basement of the library, where the International/Off-Campus Studies Office currently resides. Actually, the functions of that office will be absorbed by the Transitions Office to put some more structure and support around study abroad and internship programs.
There must be more!
5. Eventually, IT will move from first floor SAC to the basement of the library, in the places vacated by the Registrar and Financial Aid. That's not in the immediate plans; everything else is scheduled to be completed by the time school begins in the fall. Now, whether that will happen or not is anyone's guess, but I'm excited that it's actually beginning!
1. The Admissions staff has grown so much that we need more space, so we're taking over the entire Reid-Knox Building! Jerry Scoby and President Tracy's offices will remain here, but the Business Office is moving out in a couple of weeks so a construction crew can come in a reconfigure most of the building to accommodate additional office space and another small conference room. Along with this, we're getting all new matching furniture for our brand new offices! Construction has already begun: they're renovating our bathrooms and that means I'm displaced from my office so they can knock out one of my walls to expand the women's restroom. Therefore, I'm moving to the basement of the library until my new office space is ready, which will probably be in October.
So where is the Business Office going?
2. The Business Office, Registrar's Office, and Financial Aid Office are all moving to the basement of Saga and taking over the space previously used by the Center for Student Development. Crews gutted the area last month and are renovating it as I write. This makes it a "one-stop-shop" kind of thing down there.
So where is the Center going?
3. The Center is downsizing it's operations to include only personal counseling, and they will be moving to the Med Shed. On a related note, the Med Shed is now being run by the local hospital, Gratiot Medical, in hopes of improving service and streamlining services provided by the hospital.
So what about all that other stuff the Center did, like career placement, tutoring and learning disabilities?
4. Well, we all know the Center never did a fabulous job on things like career placement, but that's slated to improve with the addition of a new office called the Transitions Office. Headed by a woman very active in the Alma community (Ginna Holmes, if any of you worked with her through the Alma After-School Program or the Alma Community Center) and staffed with two other administrators yet-to-be-hired, the Transitions Office will improve career placement services and take over tutoring and learning disabilities services. This office will live in the basement of the library, where the International/Off-Campus Studies Office currently resides. Actually, the functions of that office will be absorbed by the Transitions Office to put some more structure and support around study abroad and internship programs.
There must be more!
5. Eventually, IT will move from first floor SAC to the basement of the library, in the places vacated by the Registrar and Financial Aid. That's not in the immediate plans; everything else is scheduled to be completed by the time school begins in the fall. Now, whether that will happen or not is anyone's guess, but I'm excited that it's actually beginning!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Refreshed
I was way burned out going into the weekend, but after doing pretty much nothing at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes but riding around in the Blazer and getting burned on the beach, plus getting a good, full night's sleep in my own bed, I think I'm all recharged. The knowledge that we're not leaving the Mt. Pleasant/Alma area until Saturday helps, too.
There are few updates on our two biggest projects: Mitch's job search and our grad school search. Mitch has many applications out but no interviews yet. I have had one good conversation with a rep from Northwood regarding their MBA program, and I plan to visit within the month. I've started my app and personal statement, but I don't think we'll be in a position to make a decision about grad school until Mitch gets a new job and our location is determined.
Other than that, nothing much is new. This weekend's adventure: hiking with Matt and Becky! I hope to have some photos to post after that.
There are few updates on our two biggest projects: Mitch's job search and our grad school search. Mitch has many applications out but no interviews yet. I have had one good conversation with a rep from Northwood regarding their MBA program, and I plan to visit within the month. I've started my app and personal statement, but I don't think we'll be in a position to make a decision about grad school until Mitch gets a new job and our location is determined.
Other than that, nothing much is new. This weekend's adventure: hiking with Matt and Becky! I hope to have some photos to post after that.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Need a nap...
We've been caught in a whirlwind of activity lately! Let's see, to catch up, we spent June 22-24 camping in the Leelanau State Park with Adrienne, a friend from high school, and her boyfriend Kyle. It was fun and good to spend time with her, but he's kind of weird and I definitely like trips with my college friends better.
Now for the Fourth of July fun:
Saturday: After Mitch finished work, we went down to Lansing to hang out with Bruce. We biked Burchfield and went out to dinner at Mitchell's Fish Market, then ended up staying the night there.
Sunday: Drove home from Lansing, repacked the car and headed out to Lake Mecosta for the Ribitch family party. The boys (which means every young person but Kristy and me) made heavy contributions to the completion of almost two kegs of beer, but the sad thing is that they were all in bed before all the parents! We all set up tents so we could just stay the night and hang out the next day.
Monday: Took the day off work so we could recover. Started with a refreshing early-morning swim, then went golfing. Actually, I didn't golf: I just rode in the cart and watched everyone else play the back nine at Meceola Country Club, where Ray and his brother, Scott, work. Went swimming again after lunch, and then headed home.
Tuesday: Work. Blah.
Wednesday: Drove up to Lake City for the tail end of The Greatest Fourth in the North. Bruce and his new girlfriend, Lizzie, came with us and we had a great day! We showed some youngsters (read: college students) how Ultimate Frisbee should really be played, but when I say "we" I mean Mitch, Bruce and Jon. They were unstoppable! And of course, we stayed for the fireworks, which is why I am so ridiculously tired as I sit here at work.
Plans for this weekend: Silver Lake Sand Dunes! That's right, it's time for another Redneck Weekend, and if I weren't so sleepy, I would be pretty excited. As it stands right now, the only thing exciting is the thought of lunch at noon and the possibility of taking a little nap at the park on my break...
Now for the Fourth of July fun:
Saturday: After Mitch finished work, we went down to Lansing to hang out with Bruce. We biked Burchfield and went out to dinner at Mitchell's Fish Market, then ended up staying the night there.
Sunday: Drove home from Lansing, repacked the car and headed out to Lake Mecosta for the Ribitch family party. The boys (which means every young person but Kristy and me) made heavy contributions to the completion of almost two kegs of beer, but the sad thing is that they were all in bed before all the parents! We all set up tents so we could just stay the night and hang out the next day.
Monday: Took the day off work so we could recover. Started with a refreshing early-morning swim, then went golfing. Actually, I didn't golf: I just rode in the cart and watched everyone else play the back nine at Meceola Country Club, where Ray and his brother, Scott, work. Went swimming again after lunch, and then headed home.
Tuesday: Work. Blah.
Wednesday: Drove up to Lake City for the tail end of The Greatest Fourth in the North. Bruce and his new girlfriend, Lizzie, came with us and we had a great day! We showed some youngsters (read: college students) how Ultimate Frisbee should really be played, but when I say "we" I mean Mitch, Bruce and Jon. They were unstoppable! And of course, we stayed for the fireworks, which is why I am so ridiculously tired as I sit here at work.
Plans for this weekend: Silver Lake Sand Dunes! That's right, it's time for another Redneck Weekend, and if I weren't so sleepy, I would be pretty excited. As it stands right now, the only thing exciting is the thought of lunch at noon and the possibility of taking a little nap at the park on my break...
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Marc and Sarah's Wedding
Last weekend was very busy, but the highlight was definitely Marc Hong and Sarah DeYoung's wedding at Alma:
Here's the bride, all smiles and sass before the ceremony.
Anna and I couldn't resist a photo with the groom.
The bridal party with the newlyweds - aren't their dresses pretty?
The wedding cake had three different flavors! I don't have cake-cutting pictures because there were too many people up there, but they both had cake on their faces by the time they were done!
Sarah and Marc are all smiles as the reception winds down. They've had a whirlwind weekend!
The bride and groom with the old Alma alums.
Our other weekend event, besides getting pregnancy updates from Anna, was Father's Day down with my dad. Though we were there for only ten hours, we managed to ride at Island Lake, get stuck in the pontoon boat because the impeller broke, spend time with Grandpa, go wakesurfing and wakeboarding, and eat a huge dinner. Needless to say, we were exhausted by the time we got back to Mt. Pleasant, but it was worth it.
To keep the momentum of our summer up, this weekend we're going camping at Leelanau State Park with Adrienne (a high school friend), her boyfriend Kyle, Bruce and my parents. Plans include biking at Vasa, wine-tasting, and going to the beach. Wahoo! All this will come after the second freshman orientation on Friday, during which we will strive to entertain almost 200 new Alma students and their parents. Talk about a draining day! I guess that's what happens when you recruit a RECORD CLASS!
Here's the bride, all smiles and sass before the ceremony.
Anna and I couldn't resist a photo with the groom.
The bridal party with the newlyweds - aren't their dresses pretty?
The wedding cake had three different flavors! I don't have cake-cutting pictures because there were too many people up there, but they both had cake on their faces by the time they were done!
Sarah and Marc are all smiles as the reception winds down. They've had a whirlwind weekend!
The bride and groom with the old Alma alums.
Our other weekend event, besides getting pregnancy updates from Anna, was Father's Day down with my dad. Though we were there for only ten hours, we managed to ride at Island Lake, get stuck in the pontoon boat because the impeller broke, spend time with Grandpa, go wakesurfing and wakeboarding, and eat a huge dinner. Needless to say, we were exhausted by the time we got back to Mt. Pleasant, but it was worth it.
To keep the momentum of our summer up, this weekend we're going camping at Leelanau State Park with Adrienne (a high school friend), her boyfriend Kyle, Bruce and my parents. Plans include biking at Vasa, wine-tasting, and going to the beach. Wahoo! All this will come after the second freshman orientation on Friday, during which we will strive to entertain almost 200 new Alma students and their parents. Talk about a draining day! I guess that's what happens when you recruit a RECORD CLASS!
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