June 19, 2017 - Monday

58 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

With three of my sons still here, I'll make this short on writing and long on pictures this morning.

First, thanks to all who made it to Mom's birthday party. What fun. There were almost fifty people in all, family and friends, and it was a day of laughing, eating, and loving. 

Happy 90th, Mom!
Thanks to Mel for making a beautiful and delicious cake!

Thanks, also, to my niece, Livy, (Olivia) for taking on the task of being the official photographer. She did an excellent job.

Livy will be a freshman in high school this coming fall and really has an eye for shooting a good picture. Thanks, again, sweetheart.

I'm simply going to post the pictures and not necessarily in any order. There are too many.

The calm before the storm. Grady and I visit Lake Pentoga early on the morning before the big celebration begins.

The boys kayaking to the back of the property 

A smoked pork loin wrapped in bacon to slice for the party in addition to brats, brat patties, and hamburgers.

It was time. 

Cook it and they will come. 

Happy birthday Grandma!!

Let the party begin!!

Chef Yooper Brother Mark tending the brats and burgers on the grill. 

Sister-in-law, Nancy, the world famous JC Penney model, taking time from her busy schedule for a quick pose.

Oh yeah, something else occurred towards the end of Mom's 90th birthday. Sargie and I were married!

Having traveled some rough and rocky roads in the past, neither of us were in any rush, but after six years of love and companionship, we knew it was time. 

Only a few people were told ahead of time as we didn't want any presents, nor did we want to take anything away from Mom's party. It was her day.

Yooper Brother Mark, the mayor of Caspian, officiated. A few folks had to leave for other committments and as they were getting ready to depart, I asked if they could stay for a few more minutes. All did.

Mom has said for the past several years that it was her hope that Sargie and I would marry sooner rather than later. After waiting for so long, we made that happen.

Luke is escorting his grandmother for a front row seat

After the ceremony, Sargie's sisters made a wedding veil from a dish towel which, strangely enough, made her look even more beautiful.

Late afternoon arrived and everyone had departed. The boys teased Sargie and me about our upcoming wedding night and even made the suggestion we take a honeymoon cruise on Lake Pentoga using the kayaks. That didn't happen.



I'd brag about what happened in the wee hours of our wedding night, but honestly, everyone, including Sargie and me, were sound asleep soon after the sun set. 



God willing, Sargie and I will have many many years in which to make up for our lack of instant honeymoon. 

Sunday was a quiet one. With over two inches of rain having fallen during the night and showers continuing throughout the day, we spent the morning watching a movie on Netflix.



Some things never change. Just like when they were small, the boys flopped on the living room floor and occasionally entertained us with their shenanigans.



Mom, Christy, Sophie, and Livy, left early this morning for Indianapolis. They should arrive home sometime late this afternoon.

Josh flies back east later this afternoon. Matt departs from Green Bay tomorrow, and Luke for Portland, Maine, Tuesday afternoon.

It's been a wonderful wonderful wonderful time having friends and family, most of all, Mom, with us. How lucky are Sargie and I?

 And speaking of lucky, I must have done something right in a former life to be married to such a kind, loving, and beautiful, woman. Both Sargie and I have had long and often difficult journeys, but here we are today, very happy and extremely grateful. It's said that God gives us exactly what we need when we need it. He sure hit it out of the park for us. 

So with that being said, I'm going to pour a cup of coffee and wait for my little boys to wake up so we can get this day started.

I was up on a ladder filling the hummingbird feeder when I felt like I was being watched...

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...