A little plaque that Denise gave to Joan and me - so true!!
My sister, Joan, has the biggest heart of anyone I know! A while back she told the 'sistas' to reserve December 4 and 5 but wouldn't tell us anything more, except that we would want warm clothes. Well, we left her house at 1:30 and ended up heading to Michigan City, IN, where we got on the train and went to Chicago!! We stayed at the beautiful Palmer House Hotel, ate at Miller's Pub, took the subway to go see 'Miracle on 34th Street', went to see and take pictures by the "Bean" (twice), watched ice skaters at Millennium Park, went to the German Christmas market where we shopped and ate real German bratwurst for lunch, enjoyed hot chai at the Corner Bakery, and just plain had a wonderful time!! Thank you Joan!!
Playing Uno on the train
The Palmer House Hotel - beautiful!
Joan and Denise in front of the 'bean'
Picture time with santa after the play "Miracle on 34th Street"
At the German market
Sisters - Denise, Marva, Joan
Weekend in Chicago
Halloween and Birthday Fun
We started a tradition that when the grand kids turn 5, we take them out for some one on one (or is it one on two?) to celebrate. Friday night was Evan's turn. We started out at Chili's and then over to Meijer, where he picked out a really cool transformer.
Evan and Grandpa
Saturday was my birthday and I celebrate the same way every year - but I love it. Most of the grand kids stopped over to trick or treat and show us their costumes. 
Ty was a Michigan football player (I think Heather said this was the 3rd year in a row), Kate was an adorable ladybug, and Abby was a cowgirl (Cowgirl Abigail, according to her).
Trying to take a cute picture of Abby, but grandpa thought he should try to sneak in it!!
Evan was a pirate and Braden was a baseball player (no surprise!). 
Elijah and Jacob were big, fat pumpkins and Lucy was Dora. Oh, ya, Emily is dressed like a pregnant mommy!
We finished celebrating my birthday on Sunday with our usual 'first Sunday of the month family dinner'. EVERYONE was actually here - all 32 of us! It gets a little loud, but I love it!
Thanks to everyone that sent birthday wishes - the cupboard is covered with cards and I had 76 wishes on facebook and/or email. I am blessed!
And his name shall be called . . .
The newest addition to our family has been named Zacariah Michael and will be called Zac. We are going to bring the girls back to Battle Creek tomorrow night so I'll get more pictures then. Erica said he looks so much different than he did two days ago, but that he looks just like his big brother, Ike.
Baby Boy Benting
He's here - two weeks early! Thus, no name yet. I got a call yesterday morning at 4:30 saying that Erica was in labor. I headed down to Battle Creek immediately. Erica said that after she called, her contractions got much easier - I said that's because I was praying that she wouldn't have the baby before I got there! (Elle came SO fast that I was afraid I wouldn't get there on time.) Well, it was actually 6 hours after I arrived that the baby arrived. Erica delivers at home, with no meds, and this one was pretty painful. She doesn't make any noise, but by the look on her face, I could tell. So they are now a family of 7! He was born at 12:10, weighing 7 lb. 7 oz. and is 22" long. I took Elle and Lyvia home with me and Ben's mom took Isaac and Zippora, so they are having a nice, quite couple days to bond and for Erica to rest. We are so blessed to have our 15th beautiful, healthy grandchild. 
Update on Dave
Well, Dave was waiting for today because he had an appointment with his cardiologist (or so he thought!). I had to be at church for a GEMS activity, so he asked our brother-in-law Bill to drive him to his appointment. He was seen by a nurse practitioner, who was only interested in seeing how his incision was healing! He found out that his monitor isn't really working either - he pushed the button on it 3 times in the last two weeks, but his reports don't show anything. He also went in with a list of questions, that never got answered. He didn't even find out if he could drive yet - in fact, she said to him "you know that it's the law that you shouldn't be allowed to drive for six months, don't you?" Hopefully he will get an answer tomorrow when he calls to talk to the doctor himself. He was a 'little' frustrated after leaving there!!
Dave
Braden and Evan taking grandpa for a walk.
I was informed that not everyone has facebook and some still check my blog, so I thought I'd update here about what's been happening with Dave.
Two weeks ago, on 9/26, Dave (who was still getting over having double pneumonia and was tired, had no energy, etc.) went out to cut the grass. I kept hearing him run over stones! This was about 5:30 pm. At 6, after hearing him run over things in the back yard, I told Laiya to go tell him that supper was ready. She came back in and said “I need you right away – dad laying in the grass.” I went out and found the mower through the fence and him on the ground with Ned and Kathy (our neighbors) trying to talk to him. Kathy was really nervous and yelling, “he fainted, he fainted”. Laiya saw him drive into a bush by the sun porch and then try to push the mower backwards. It started moving and he tried to jump on it or something. Kathy said she saw him fall over and faint, but then she said he was pinched between the mower and the fence was on top of him. He was lying in the grass, under the fence, when I got out there. His toe was cut and bleeding and he had some scrapes on his legs. After about 15 minutes he was able to stand up and we helped him into the house. He laid on the floor in the living room for quite a while. After about an hour, he laid in bed, and he kept saying, “I’m really messed up.” I went to work at 8, but brought Lisa and Amy back to the house so I could check on him. He slept pretty well all night and got up at 7. He was making coffee when he got real light-headed and he said it felt like his heart was going to pound out of his body. Laiya went to church by herself and I took him to the South Pavilion. He had another dizzy spell while we were there. They hooked him up to an IV and put him on oxygen and did an EKG. The doctor said something didn’t look quite right on the EKG so they transferred him by ambulance to Spectrum downtown.
After spending 5 days in the hospital, and having every test in the book done (blood work,cat scan, several EKGs, chest x-rays, MRI stress tests and an EEG), they were able to rule out cancer, tumors, blood clots, etc. Everything was coming back okay but they said that could be good or it could be bad.
On Wednesday, the 30th, two cardiologists came in this morning and said that a test that they did (they shot saline and bubbles through an IV) shows that blood was going from one chamber of his heart to another, and this makes them think that it's possible that a blood clot went to his brain, causing the 3 1/2 span that he can't remember.
The final diagnosis was that he had an extreme case of “transient global amnesia” which simply means a temporary loss of memory. Because of his heart pounding so hard and so often, they implanted a heart monitor which will remain in his chest for 2 to 3 years.
He left the hospital Thursday night, with instructions to see his primary doctor the next week and the cardiologist the week after that. He is not allowed to drive until he gets permission from the cardiologist.
He's been home now for over a week and still weak and tired. He worked 3 hours on Monday and was up to 5 hours by Friday, so he's getting there.
Ahhhh - she did it!!
Laiya got her license!! I remember three years ago when we first started talking about adopting again, I said I was all for it except for one thing - driving!! Dave did Jeremy's hours and I did most of the other 6, plus an exchange student, and I didn't ever want to go through that one more time! Well, I survived once again! Laiya took her driving test last week and passed (thanks to a very kind gentleman!!). She has yet to leave the house on her own, but I'm sure I'll find an errand I need her to run soon. And I am POSITIVE this IS the last time!!!
She's pretty proud!
And there she goes!
Fun times with my mom and sisters!!!
Rather than duplicating my sister's blog entry, I'll just send you there to see how much fun we had this week on our annual 'girls get-away'. Click on "Joan's blog" on the right side of my blog, or go to http://www.joanbonnema.blogspot.com/ and check it out!!!
Cottage fun / GEMS conference
We just arrived home tonight after spending two weeks at the cottage! Such fun! 
The kids love making "ice cream in a bag".
When the weather wasn't real nice, the kids loved doing crafts.
When we go for a walk/bike ride, we don't have to worry - they definately see us coming!!
Elle and Kate had it made!
Erica reads bedtime stories to Isaac, Lyvia and Zippora.
We had our own church service on Sunday morning and some of the kids performed special music for us.
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Emily, Laiya, Elijah and Jacob headed out to go turtle hunting . . .
. . . and they were pretty proud of their catch - a huge yellow-neck turtle. 
Elle really enjoyed her spaghetti!
We finally had a camp fire on our last night there. (Jacob)
I missed a few days because the GEMS annual conference was from Thursday until Sunday, in Hamilton, Ontario. It was a wonderful conference and I was so blessed by going. I rode with Pauline Norder and we followed Kara Herder and Lisa Marsman. Barb Miedema went on Wednesday because she is on the board (actually, she is President of the Board!)
Pauline, Lisa, Kara, Me, Barb
Always stop to enjoy all the beauty of God's wonderful creations. 
2nd Annual Family Camping Weekend
Last weekend the kids came for our second annual family camping weekend. Due to heavy rains on Friday night, some of them chose to just come during the day and not set up their tents. 
Erica and Isaac setting up their new tent.
Cooking fry pies for supper.
Yum - smores!!
. . . and ice cream cones!!
Family fun in the pool.
Lunch time for the kids . . .
...and the adults.
Sweet Kate!
Isaac practicing his surfing.
The back yard got flooded!
We celebrated Taeron's 3rd birthday on Saturday.
We actually had all 14 grand kids together so I HAD to capture a shot!
So much fun and lots of memories!!
Zippora - Too cute!!
These pictures were too cute not to post! Zippora was helping unload dirt from the back of their truck. Erica thought it was so cute how hard she was working so she ran to get her camera and take a couple pictures. Look at them (3 of them) one at a time - the last one will put a smile on your face. It's one of those that will have to be in the slide show at her wedding some day!
Keep smiling!
Bella
Some of you have been asking for new pictures of Bella - so here you go. She's doing pretty good. A typical puppy - loves to play and chew and still learning that the sun porch is not a huge piddle pad!! She went to the vet last week and is 'up' to 2 lb. 4 oz. She had play time the other day with a yorkie that is 2 weeks older than her. Kelly, another caregiver at Lisa's House, got Riley two weeks before we got Bella, so we got them together to play. They loved it! Riley is over 4 pounds, but Bella didn't back down. They ran and chased and then hid around corners and under chairs. 
Bella and Riley playing.
Braden finally got to meet Bella. He went home with a nice, clean face!!
Laiya is doing great with taking care of Bella. She even brushes her teeth every night! The problem is, she is leaving on Sunday for a mission trip, so guess who gets to puppy-sit!
Girls day away - thanks to Joan!!
A few weeks ago, my sister, Joan, ask Denise, Beckie and me to help her put together some memory books for her nephews, Mark, Brian and Tony Bonnema. Their dad, Bob,passed away 30 years ago, when they were young. Last week, Joan and Bill had Bob's friends over for a special night of remembering Bob, and she gave the memory books to his sons at the end of the night. [You can click on Joan's link on the right and see pictures of us working on the books.]
Well, Joan was so appreciative of our help (I considered it fun, but she isn't really into scrap booking, so she didn't!!) that she pampered us (spoiled us) today. First of all, we went to Via Maria's for a delicious lunch. After our lunch, we enjoyed two delicious desserts, because we were also celebrating Beckie's (today) and Denise's (the 10th) birthdays. After leaving the restaurant, Joan led us into the peanut store/candy store. As soon as the owner saw us she hugged Joan and said "I've got your packages for you." The three of us were given wrapped boxes of specialty chocolates! Next, we walked a little farther and were led into the flower shop, where the lady handed us all a beautiful bouquet of flowers! By this time, Denise and I broke down (a typical thing for us Brummel girls!) - we couldn't believe she had all of this pre-planned and pre-paid! Following that, we went to a spa in downtown Holland where Denise had a massage and Joan, Beckie and I had pedicures - all the while enjoying a wonderful glass of wine. After relaxing there, we went over to JP's for a warm mug of chai - yum! 
Lunch at Via Maria's.
Denise LOVED her chocolate melt cake!!
Candy from the peanut/candy store.
Flowers from the flower shop.
Joan and Beckie getting pedicures.
Coffee and chai at JP's.
Hopefully your feet will take you on a wonderful get-away like this some day!
It was such an awesome day spent with my wonderful sisters. THANKS, JOAN, FOR SUCH A MEMORABLE DAY!! I love you!!
