Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Our Family's First Flight this Winter

I had to reinstall my blogging app and lost everything I was working on, but hopefully it works again! Here are some pictures I wanted to share yesterday!
Here is a very relaxed two year old. She prefers to lose her shoes & socks in the car.



I love the Mackinac Bridge!



Bridge fare increased from $3.50 to $4.00 for 2012. It's helpful to know that (we discovered it on New Year's Day and had to do the "quick-fumble-for-50cents" drill).



Because of the ice, ferries are no longer available for transportation. So we flew for the first time this season. We arrived at the airport about 4:20. (The flight is scheduled for 4:45 and it's first come, first serve.) Here comes our plane!



Last year, there were two 6-seater planes that flew people across. This year, there's a 6-seater and a 4-seater. One of the planes tragically crashed earlier this season, which put a whole different perspective on our first flight. We are no less safe than last year, but when lives are lost it brings to reality the slight risk involved in flight. What happened is heartbreaking.
Yesterday, only the smaller airplane was running- that slowed things down. (Understand that a 4-seater includes the pilot.) Our family was its own flight.



Looking behind on the runway:



Taking off:



Beautiful!



Our flight took off a little after 5:00pm, so the sun was low:



The water was so clear in St. Ignace- you can see the bottom!



I'm not seeing ice for the upcoming pond hockey tournament (I believe those take place more north):



Goodbye St. Ignace!



There's the Mackinac Bridge!



A boat:






Looking out the window (we hadn't flown since last April, so it was a little bit of a new experience again):



Ice:











Above Mackinac Island:



This is why the ferries can't get to the island the short way:



My favorite shot of the flight!



We are getting lower (such a small plane!)







We landed safely! (as always!) It's been less than 10 minutes, and it's darker and starting to snow.


The little plane!



The taxi we reserved ahead was waiting for us (George had been waiting over half an hour when we arrived). However, more people were going to use it- we waited for everyone else to fly over. However, due to snow, the plane halted in St. Ignace after our flight. Phil taught our first born checkers while we waited. (Our youngest is under the table playing kids' games on my iPod).



After waiting an hour, the plane was still grounded in St. Ignace- so they sent our family on the carriage without the rest. A view of the snow from the carriage (I love that my new iPhone has a flash!):



As we were heading down Cadotte, we heard the plane had resumed. Fortunately, George didn't have to go back for the rest. (Made possible by the kind sharing of snowmobile rides). We got home before 7:00pm.




Monday, January 30, 2012

Sunday Drive Home

My blogging app on my phone is glitchy again. :( Had a great post ready last night, and it won't work. So I am using a different program that doesn't mix text and photos. Without narrative, pictures don't make as much sense - so it will be brief, and I hope things get fixed quickly!
We drove from my parents in Whitehall back to the Mackinac Bridge, stopping for lunch at Subway in Lake City. My daughter did a brilliantly silly face for me, so I've included that pic.
The other photo is of the Mackinac Bridge. It is such a welcome sight and has come to mean "home!" for me. We had to fly home, and I intend for tonight's post to have the wonderful pictures from that experience!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Clouds while Leaving Grand Rapids

Today was the last day of the Calvin Worship Symposium. It was great! (I even squeezed in a quick trip to the mall for new winter boots!)


The sky was lovely tonight- look at those clouds!














Passing the Grand Rapids Press:


Sunset!








Purple and pink:








It was a pretty drive!





"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands."
Psalm 19:1

Location:Grand Rapids

Friday, January 27, 2012

Calvin Worship Symposium

We are in Grand Rapids for the Calvin Worship Symposium. (My mom is watching the girls- thank you, thank you, thank you!) It's my first time attending, but Phil has gone with our church for quite a few years. We started today in the Chapel:


Banners in the chapel- it was a great service:


A stained glass window:


We had three breakout sessions (I didn't take pictures) and I enjoyed all the topics- sharing scripture through theatre (my degree is in theatre), Psalms for children, and art as prayer. I love this sort of thing- it's inspiring! We get to attend tomorrow too.

Location:Grand Rapids

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Playing in St. Ignace

After yesterday's haircut, we had lunch at the Driftwood. Then we spent almost two hours playing outside at the red and blue playground by the boardwalk.


Slide!





Looking at something closely:





Great view:


A different type of view (cutie!)











She loves snow!











An airplane heads to the island:





Ice ball!


My girls!


Visit St. Ignace:



Location:St. Ignace