Beautiful Kickoff to Summer

Here in Michigan as in many other northern states, Memorial Day Weekend is the kickoff for summer:

cottages are opened, campgrounds are filled, parks are full of activities, and lots of backyard barbeques are planned.  However, often the weather is not so cooperative but here in southeast Michigan it was glorious all three days!!!!  We had clear blue skies and temperatures in the high 70's and everything was freshly green and flowers were everywhere.  The very long difficult winter that lasted well into April slowed down growth but now it is making up for lost time.

Ken and I enjoyed relaxing at Groveland Oaks County Park on Saturday watching lots of kids run in and out of the lake (it is still very very cold), roll by on bikes and scoot around on the lake in paddle boats. Campfires were surrounded by large groups of people all enjoying the chance to relax in the sun and spend time with others.

On Sunday, we attended our church in Royal Oak where Ken was able to sing in the choir with friends he's made over the years (we met in the choir there 53 years ago) while I could sit with our two grandsons while mom and dad ushered.  Following the service we had the fun of viewing a flowering coral burst crab apple tree that had just recently been planted in newly relandscaped gardens near one of the entrance doors.  Attached to branch was an engraved sign saying "The roots of a family tree begin with the love of two hearts.  Happy 50th Anniversary Ken and Carolyn Ledford."   Yes, the tree was just planted but all of our children had arranged for this as a gift last summer when we were actually celebrating that significant day.  What a joy to see such a special "memorial" to all of the wonderful years we've been members at the church including raising all four children there.  We are now looking forward to July 27, our 51st anniversary, when our son will be the guest pastor - an invitation extended to all church family members who have gone on to be in the ministry during this year when the church celebrates its 100th birthday.  The rest of the day was spent with the family - first taking our two grandsons out for lunch and a movie while Mom and Dad went to a Tiger game and then enjoying our first "picnic" meal of the summer in their lovely backyard.

Monday after Beth enjoyed a 40 mile bike ride with her biking friends the family came out to spend the afternoon with us including a meal at our picnic table by the motorhome.  The two boys had fun strumming their acoustic guitar and electronic bass while we chatted.  A walk around the park and several games of ladder ball rounded out the time we shared together as we watched RV after RV close up and pull out heading home after a glorious weekend of fun.  By the time Ken and I took our two mile walk around the park near dusk only a handful of tents and RVs were left in the park but the few that were left provided the scents of campfires and happy cries to one another making a perfect ending to a super weekend.

PS. Beth sent us this email sent out to employees at Henry Ford Hospital.  Darn proud of her!!!!
Darn, it won't load - this was what it said: (the pictue wouldn't copy)

Thayer is Corporate Services’ 2014 ‘Shadow of a Leader’ Honoree

Congratulations to Bethany Thayer, R.D.N., director, Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, who is the Corporate Services’ Shadow of a Leader winner. Thayer motivates her team to work together, appreciates and acknowledges the efforts of everyone, and inspires others to be better than they ever thought they could be. She consistently demonstrates a commitment to collaboration, is a critical thinker, and one who faces challenging situations with courage and poise. Thayer believes that leaders should think big while letting their passion shine through and role model the behaviors they want to see in others.