Here we go again!

Our family of 5 departs tomorrow for Shanghai. Here is our itinerary.

Depart GR for Detroit: Friday, Noon, NW 1516

Depart Detroit for Tokyo: Friday, 2:30pm, NW 25

Depart Tokyo for Shanghai: Saturday 6:4opm, NW 25 (Tokyo time)

What a blessing it was to "catch up" with most of you during this trip home. See you this winter!

Ryan

Holland has a lot to offer

Chen Wei headed back to Shanghai today. 4 weeks was barely enough time to see all the sites in the metropolis known to many as Tulip City, USA. Here are 3 highlights:

1. Lake Michigan at Holland State Park with 5-6 foot swells and a great sunset.

2. Offroad racing at the Ottawa county fair.

3. Tommy Turtle Sundae.....oh yeah. Elijah demonstrated how to actually wear your ice cream. See out of order pic at the top.

Total Request Party

There's been a request to post some kid pictures. Yes, of course, the request came from a grandparent. Specifically, the complaint was that there's more info on China stuff than on the family. I'm sure a documentary on char-broiled boats did not help the matter.
So, without further delay, are some pictures Gramma!

Back in the Saddle

Sorry for a long delay. Things have been busy lately. Chen Wei, an engineer that I work with in China, is here in the USA for the month of July. It's been fun to see him experience the USA for the first time. His top comments thus far with my responses in CAPS:

1. Where are all the bikes and mopeds? THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN GAS PRICES AND QUANTITY OF BIKES/MOPEDS. CHECK BACK IN A YEAR.
2. Wow, there is the first bus that I've seen! (spoken on day 10 of his trip). YES, HOLLAND PRIDES ITSELF ON A WORLD CLASS BUS SYSTEM THAT CATERS TO ABOUT 17 PEOPLE. 3. The Chinese food here is pretty good. STOP LYING TO ME.
4. I could not find the Chinese restaurant so I ate there (Denny's). It was not Chinese food. I HOPE YOU GOT THE GRAND SLAM.
5. Is Dutch Village nice to visit? ONLY IF YOU FIND THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM EXHILARATING.

Anyway, here are a couple pictures I took of a boat near our house. Yes, there is writing on the side and it reads, "This is what happens when your wife is crazy." I was reminded of a card I saw recently....It read,

"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll spend a lifetime sitting in a boat, drinking beer." Perhaps someone taught this wive's husband to fish....

Making History

I was able to take several of the Chinese engineers from Shanghai GM to a Detroit Tigers game a few weeks ago. They did not know much at all about baseball. I taught "Baseball 101" focusing on advancing to bases and good versus bad pitches. We don't cover the sacrifice fly or the infield fly rule until "Baseball 401".

A good time was had by all and, oh, did I mention that Justin Verlander pitched the first Detroit no-hitter since 1984?

Yeah buddy.

The black and sticky poo stage has passed

Rachel has graduated to greenish and really wet poo. Just thought you all would like to know that things are progressing. And at this stage, poo color is of interest. She gives new meaning to cheering, "GO GREEN!".

Here are more pictures of RG plus a favorite one of Elijah with Papa Mouser.

See y'all.

I'm officially a Preacher's kid

Yeah, believe the hype. Dan Bowman preached his first sermon on Sunday evening, Father's day at Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He's been on staff with the church for over a year now.

You can download the podcast here.

Another Rachel picture has been published

Well, not on our blog but on a different one.

Our dear friends, Ryan and Missy, are now blogging. They hail from the St. Louis, Missouri area where Ryan is a professor at Southern Illinois University. Most importantly, they are expecting their first child.

You can get a new Rachel pic and the scoop on R&M here.

They are now also linked off to the right of your screen.

Rachel Grace has landed.

Yes. Aimee delivered Rachel on Saturday evening at 6:33pm. She weighed in at 6lbs, 13oz. Length was 20.5 inches. Aimee's delivery was awesome and even the doctors were impressed at how smoothly things went. Rachel is also doing great.

Aimee began having strong contractions on Friday afternoon around 2pm. In the middle of Friday night, the frequency increased to about every 7 minutes. The doctor had told her to come in when they got to 6 minutes. Unfortunately for Aimee, they cooled off that night. But they picked up again big time Saturday morning and we were on our way at lunch time.

We are thrilled to have another healthy little girl in the family. Anna's frequent prayers for a little sister were answered on Saturday night. Anna has been flying high ever since. Elijah has surprised us by how excited and interested he is in the new baby. Today, Aimee realized that she will probably have to start feeding her in a closet somewhere because A & E follow Rachel everywhere. They are so geeked to have a baby sis.

Things went so well that we checked out of the hospital Sunday evening. We are living in Williamston with Nana and Papa Mouser. Aunt Joy and her 3 boys are down the street which is a huge help. We are blessed to have the chance to live there and receive lots of help/support during the day and even nighttime. Unfortunately, work required that I be in Detroit for a 5:30am meeting on Monday so I "missed out" on our first overnight with Rachel. I know I'll get plenty of night time baby "priveledges" soon enough though breast feeding reduces my effectiveness!!

There's more to come on this front so expect the blog to be updated more frequently. Things have been busy here!

Sorry that the blog got updated before you received a phone call or email. Hopefully, we'll be able to introduce you to Rachel soon.

Urgent prayer request

Hey team,

Sorry we have not posted lately. We have been catching up with many of you the last few weeks. It's been great!

Dale Magnusson was one of my campus pastors at Michigan State. He's serving with a campus ministry called The Navigators. One of his sons, Micah, had bleeding on the brain and has been in a coma for 14 days.

Dale shared this on their carepage (search for "MicahMag") today.....Please pray boldly.

"It is hard for me to fathom that it has been 14 days since this all began. I can not begin to express the emotions we have had and how God has been a Rock for us during this time. He has spoken and comforted us through His Word, through your prayers, your emails, phone calls, your visits, your meals, your hugs, your care …..We feel His Love and Strength through your touch. Bless you. Ps 66:16 “Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul.” "

See you soon.

Ryan