Hi everyone, We had a busy summer travelling from Illinois to Lac Du Flambeau Wisconsin. It is about 8 hours from our home in Glen Ellyn. Richard inherited a lovely cabin on the Big Crawling Stone lake and we went up for 3 weeks with Michelle's children, our grandchildren, and had fun swimming, fishing and going to Pow Wows. Pow Wows are Native Americcccan gatherings where they do traditional dances and lots of other culturally interesting activities. It was a great time. Yomi Christopher caught 25 fish, all returned to the lake, but fun. Savannah caught a frog and immediately named her. She stated"It's fun being a kid". I do not know if the frog agreed. Richard painted the little house behind the cabin and we did alot of work making it our own. I cooked, read, and enjoyed the peacefulness of being in the North woods with family. I also did some artwork with Savannah. She loves to draw and so do I. Our dog,Wacipi had fun running free until neighbors asked that he be reigned in.I would post photos but have no idea how to do so. Richard is up there now, building bookcases, and doing repair work. I am teaching nursing again here in Glen Ellyn at the College of DuPage. I love being with the students and aharing my philosophy of compassion and caring. These old bones do not move as fast as they used to but hey, they still do the job. Blessings and Love to all the family, Mary Gayle Selfridge aka Grandma Gayle xxoo

these pictures below and on the next page are from Lea and Dan Bonell. There is an article on the next page for these pictures.

who is the photographer for these images? (Whoever they are they are good!!!)

more pics

here are the pictures from Lea and Dan

letter from Lea Floden

Lea Floden here.

Dan Bonnell and I had our 25th wedding anniversary today. To celebrate, we went to the beach with our daughter Katie and watched the surfers silhouetted against a GORGEOUS sunset. The sunsets are always spectacular when there are fires in Southern california. Sad but true.

Katie just finished her on line driving course and will be taking her written test soon.

Jack Floden is settling in at Sunrise at Santa Monica. he just celebrated his 87th birthday. Lea, Dan and Katie brought a picnic to him. When Lea asked whta he wanted for the picnic, he requested creamed corn (1st choic), baked beans and juicy hot dogs with mushy buns. oh and a white cake with caramel frosting. Lea made the corn herself from an old Texas recipe, and had a 7 layer caramel 7 layer cake shipped in from Maryland! It was rich and yummy. And Jack enjoyed licking the candles. (picture to be sent)

Katie starts 10th grade next week. This summer she did a play at her school, as well as a dance intensive there, and another one at her ballet school. She finished the summer off at an improv class. We will be going to Denvr on Thursday to see Dan's mother, and then Katie is back at school on Tuesday the 8th.

letter from Amy Stirling.

Hi Family,

Here's what I did this summer....

I went to school (I'm getting my teaching credential - post-undergrad - in Biology), so I took lots of summer classes! I was very busy doing that and shadowing a 5 1/2 year old little boy at a summer day camp here in Los Angeles. So I got to go swimming, play games, do arts & crafts, archery, eat snowcones, and even go down a waterslide! It was a pretty fun job!

My younger brother, John Foster, also got married to Lindsay Gartner on August 22nd, and it was amazing! They do have a facebook page for their wedding if you want I can send it to you.

My husband, Bob, made a wooden surfboard, well he's still in the process of making it, but I will put the link in on the progress so far, its pretty cool! http://picasaweb.google.com/amy.stirling.754/BobSWoodenSurfboard?authkey=Gv1sRgCNnkuL7O0tiELQ&feat=directlink

I also got to visit family in Michigan at the end of June and went on a kayaking trip to Michigan's Upper Penninsula on Lake Superior, it was absolutely gorgeous! I went with my sister, Jen Cryst, and my best friend, Annie. Here is the link to pictures from the kayaking trip: http://picasaweb.google.com/amy.stirling.754/UPKayakingGirlsTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCLfk1rGf66-ZkQE&feat=directlink

I launched my website for my handmade jewelry in June as well! My company is called "Jouel," which is the old French word for "Jewel." The website is www.jouelbyamy.com. My brother-in-law, Brian Cryst, was the graphic designer and web designer for the website and logo. Here are some pictures from my launch party that I threw to start the whole thing off! http://picasaweb.google.com/amy.stirling.754/JouelByAmyLaunchParty?authkey=Gv1sRgCIWwlf6JmKj9aw&feat=directlink

So, to say the least, it was a very packed summer!!!

Love,

Amy Stirling (daugher of Dave & Nancy Foster, who is the daughter of Tom & Jill DeYoung)

letter from David and Nancy Foster.

Hi family,
We had a great time two weeks ago at our son John's wedding. He married Lindsay in a beautiful outdoor wedding in Michigan. They went on their honeymoon to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They went on a boat tour of Pictures Rocks, a 13 mile hike above Pictured Rocks and spent time camping on Perch Lake. They saw loons while kayaking and actually kayaked along side a bear as it swam across the lake!! What an adventure!!

I made a BLOG!!!!!