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

Grand Rapids Update

[Scenes from everyday moments of our lives. . .]

The best neighbors you can have are a family of Sand Hill Cranes: Bob, Carol and little Teddie.

the Cranes

The Grilled Cheese Fest, held at Fuller Park in Grand Rapids and sponsored by the Cheese Lady of Grand Rapids, was packed with hungry folks enjoying a gorgeous autumn afternoon.

Grilled Cheese Fest 2022

Celebrating nephew's Ben's 42nd birthday at the Rainbow Grill in Hudsonville, with his dad and gram, where I had a thoroughly scrumptious  chicken salad.

a true chicken salad

Ben's birthday

However, usually it's home cooking for us: here is my marinated pork sirloin steaks ready for the gill and baby potatoes ready for roasting.

home cooking

Back out for dinner with the Galloways where I polished off a tasty Cubano sandwich (sans pane) at Third Nature Brewery in Rockford.

Third Nature Brewery

An arboreal neighbor who has seen better days.

survivor

Susie and I took her mom to a CRC church in Byron Center one afternoon for a Lucas family reunion luncheon and sing-a-long.

songfest at the Lucas reunion

On a gorgeous September afternoon I came across these three veterans buried in Winchester Cemetery, Byron Center, Michigan. Thought you'd like to meet them.

George Otto, 126th Infantry, died in France

Levi Higby, 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery, died in New Orleans, LA

James A. Burwell, 126th Infantry, killed in the Argonne Forest, France, buried in France