2019 nadamore Guests

We enjoyed the presence of numerous guests over the summer and fall months. Despite the fact that we were still in the process of unpacking from the late May move and getting settled for most of the summer, we enjoyed every single one of them! They were the ones who helped us figure things out: How many loads of laundry can our septic system handle per day? How do you get all the sand off little people after spending time at the beach? What’s the best way to avoid getting ticks? How do we keep animals from getting at our garbage? What are the most efficient ways to organize our kitchen cupboards and pantry? And so on.

Our most frequent guests were Kristin and Kim, our daughters who live in Grand Rapids, about 2 1/2 hours away. They came with their families for numerous weekend visits. It was always so good to see them! On one weekend in particular, Kristin and two of her friends/work colleagues, came for their annual girl’s retreat. We camped on the property during this time so they could have the house all to themselves for the solitude they were seeking.

In early July, Michael and his family drove from Kansas City MO to stay with us for a week. Michael has participated in our family life since he was 4 months old when we first met him and his young Mom in downtown Des Moines. On one occasion when he was 10 years old, he joined our family on a camping trip to a State Park in Northern Michigan not too far south of where we now live. He has such great memories of that trip!

 

Now that he is married to sweet Amanda and has 4 sons of his own, he wanted them to have a similar experience. We met them in Grand Rapids where they stayed their first night and were able to see Kristin and Kim and families. When we saw Michael with Kristin and Kim, his big “sisters”, it brought back memories  of when he was just a baby!

After the overnight in Grand Rapids, we carpooled up to nadamore with Michael and his family and spent the rest of the week together there. They have decided that an annual summer visit is going to become one of their family traditions and already have their dates set for next year!

Later in July, Tom and Mary, friends from Des Moines, came for almost a week with their sons Carson, Sam, Max and Lincoln.  They took numerous day outings as a family and we joined them every now and then. The boys took turns at chopping firewood but nobody could do it quite like Lloyd.

In the peak of fall color, our friends Nick and Gloria Kroeze from Grand Rapids came for lunch and a winery tour by the owner of  Chateau Grand Traverse on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, about 25 minutes away. Our friendship with Nick and Gloria goes way back to when we both lived in Sioux Center Iowa and our families used to camp together.

Thank you all for visiting. We loved sharing life with you at nadamore!

V.

Vicki Vanderkwaak On December 12, 2019   /   A Journey