2021 Summer Guests

Our 2021 summer guest season has finally come to a close. After the pandemic solitude of 2020, it was great to see a steady stream of loved ones again. Thanks to each and every family member and friend who made their way to nadamore.

Salome & Isaiah Nengean and their children, Micah (6) and Rebekah (4), came all the way from Frederick, MD in June. They were our first guests of the summer and stayed for five days. It was overcast with light rain most of the time they were here, so we ventured out between the raindrops whenever we could.

Grand-daughter Claire (Grand Rapids) came for a weekend in early July with three of her friends for her 15th birthday celebration. Her Mom (our daughter, Kristin) and brother, Levi (12) came along too, to help chaperone the fun. Lake Michigan sunset swims were a must both evenings of Claire’s birthday weekend!

 

The following weekend, Kristin (daughter) and two of her friends/professional colleagues from Grand Rapids, came for their annual summer retreat. We decided to camp on our property so they could have the whole house to themselves. It was such a treat to have them here!

Tim Hielkema (friend and architect from Des Moines IA) arrived shortly after Kristin and her friends left. He was in Holland MI for a family wedding, and decided to make the three hour trek up north to see (for the very first time) the home he had designed. We enjoyed a day or two with him and he may have actually completed the famous Dune Climb.

Kristin (daughter), Emma (16), Claire (15) and Levi (12) drove up from Grand Rapids the next weekend. We made numerous outings to the beach of course, but also went to Leland, a quaint little town just north of here, and to Bohemian Lavender Farm.

 

We had three days to prepare for our next guests, Butch & Deb Soetenga (Vicki’s Uncle & Aunt) from Madison WI. We enjoyed several days full of dark coffee, red wine, good conversation and daytime adventures with them. They have a cabin in Ellison Bay WI almost directly across Lake Michigan from us, so we’re neighbors in a way. We are similar in age, and love being together.

The day after Butch and Deb left, we drove to Cadillac MI (about half-way between Maple City and Grand Rapids) to pick up grand-daughter Marley (13) and her best friend, Eliana. They stayed for a few days and we had a delightful time together.

 

Three days later, Michael & Amanda Freeman and their four boys, Mikey (11), Javonnie (7), Cameron (5) and Adrian (3) arrived from Lees Summit, MO. They stayed with us for seven days and we never once ran out of things to do. We packed a picnic lunch every single day before heading out for day trips. They lucked out on weather….full sun, low humidity and temps in the low 70s all week long. Its a good thing Lloyd and I were able to put our professional and volunteer activities on hold for awhile, because this was the beginning of a very busy two weeks!

On Michael & Amanda’s last day here, Kim (daughter) & Paul, Marley (13), Gavin (8) and Gerrit (6) drove up from Grand Rapids and Nick (son) & Jess and Rowan (2) arrived from Denver CO to join us for an outdoor grilled salmon dinner. It was really fun to see the juxtaposition of the three different families. All seven little boys played soccer (even little Rowan) and did crafts on the picnic mat after dinner. It was such a fun evening!  Everyone wished we could have spent more time together before Michael & Amanda and their boys left for MO at 6AM the next day.

Kim & Paul and their family stayed an extra day after Michael’s family left so they could spend continued time with Nick & Jess and Rowan who were planning to stay longer. Kristin (who had just returned from a week in Seattle with her kids) took a day trip from Grand Rapids to see us all. It was so very heartwarming for Lloyd and for me to have so many of our kids/grandkids here together (despite a little bout with stomach flu for some of us). We missed Reuben (son) & Heidi, Eden (14) and Harper (11) who were visiting BC at the time, and due to continued Canadian border pandemic restrictions were not able to  even consider the possibility of joining us.

 

We had a few quiet days with just Nick & Jess and Rowan before they headed back to Denver. Among other activities, we fed the chickens at Maple City Chicken Bus, picked blue berries at Bulldog Berries and purchased/planted a Shagbark Hickory for Rowan at Four Season’s Nursery. Of course he had to take his fox along!

 

Click below to see Rowan with his tree!

 

Our house is quiet now, but we can still feel the lingering presence of those who were here. We are so grateful for this little burst of family life that was able to happen before the covid pandemic started to surge again. It seemed safe enough to gather when we did, since all adults and teenagers were fully vaccinated. Going forward though, with the Delta variant raging, we’re not so sure. In the meantime as things continue to unfold, we’ll take precautions as appropriate and continue to savor the wonderful experiences of this summer.

Vicki Vanderkwaak On August 20, 2021   /   A Place