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Ben's New Home

So next Wednesday our nephew Ben Schaap moves into his new home -- My Brother's House in Holland, Michigan has just finished it's very first from-the-ground-up adult foster care home and it is a wonderful space! Susie and I and her mom drove out to Holland and met up with Ben and his dad Steve for lunch (let Russ fuss) followed by a trip to the new digs for the open house.

Each of the six male residents will have his own room and bath along with a storage space in the lower level; there is also a separate apartment for the family supervisors.

two other homes that also serve as foster care homes

Ben giving a tour of his room

Ben's bath

Deb the resident "mom" and Ben's dad Steve

upstairs dining room

the lower level for movie nights, activities and individual storage spaces

Ben continuing his tour

Graduation in Connecticut

This past weekend found us both in New England. After a lovely Memorial weekend in Traverse City and a grand family get together at Clear Lake for the BIG DAY itself, a few days later we flew out to Boston for a family gathering. The objective was to attend Kiera MacDonald's graduation for high school in Glastonbury, CT. 

Kiera in the middle

family: Melissa, Lucas, Caroline, Liam, Joyce and Avery,

Kiera on the right

Kiera's choral group - she's 3rd from the right

Kiera on the right

It was standing room only -- Susie and Dorothy

proud dad, Kiera and her cousin Caroline

the MacDs as they are known: Glen, Kiera, Christina and Liam

MacDs and the Parkers with grandmother Joyce

Kiera and Zach

a big day followed by the all-nighter

MacD home

cousins: Adeline Bergman, Marlowe Engels and Johanna Bergman

cousins Liam and Elliott

Mother Joyce with children Melissa, Jonathan, Christina and Rachel

cousins

siblings Jonathan, Rachel, Christina and Melissa