opening day

Friday was the home opener for Tigers' baseball.

It was the first time that both Bo and I have gone downtown for the event.

Doug left with Troy & Maria at 7am to help set everything up.

Then Bo & I headed down around 10am to join our CHV neighbors for tailgating.

However, as Doug hopped in the car to help me find parking, Bo threw up.

I think it was the combination of milk & heat. Poor guy.

So we pulled over, wiped him off and stripped him down. 

We decided that I should take him home, 

but still decided to take pictures of his first Detroit opening day experience.

I would say that Bo was the only Tiger fan wearing nothing but a diaper and blanket...

but after seeing all the crazy drunkenness... I'm just not too sure.

When I got home, this was happening in the back seat. 

(I promise he's wearing a diaper.)

After Bo took got some food in him and took a nap,

I decided that it was just too beautiful outside not to try one more time.

So we hopped back in the car and drove back to Detroit.

Success!

The littlest tailgater.

Happily, the Tigers defeated the Yankees 8-3.

And for all of you wondering, 

we will be rocking these Detroit hats in New York.

Tigers fans for life!

heart for the city

Click here for an inspiring article about Detroit (plus, it highlights CDC!).

"Should I not love that great city?"

imprint service project!

Yesterday we went to Detroit to help out with the newest CDC project - revitalizing an old warehouse.

So... I know it might not look like that much, but we organized so much stuff & got so much done! They'll be selling discount home improvement stuff. I can't wait to see the continued progress!

FINALLY!!!!!!

MSNBC finally aired their segment on Peaches & Greens!!!

If you missed it, here is the clip!

CDC on NBC!

EDIT:

CDC is going to be featured on NBC's Nightly News tonight - Friday, August 21st.

Tune in at 6:30pm!

EDIT:

Just kidding. I don't know when it will ever be on...

keep on truckin!

A news bit about the Peaches & Green produce truck.

I'm off to my friend's lake house for a mini vacation today & tomorrow.

weekend visitors!

This past weekend, Lyndsay & Andy came to visit. We had an awesome time with them! Our weekend consisted of...

Friday:

-Lynz & Andy got here just before 8 & we enjoyed a late dinner, introducing them to the delight of Hungry Howie's pizza.

-We walked to downtown Plymouth for ice cream.

-Andy & Lynz taught us three new awesome games! My favorite was Ruckus - if you have never played this game, go out & buy it now. It's worth it for the illustrations on the cards alone.

-Lynz & Andy also introduced us to Oram's Donuts - oh sweet bliss. Marla's picture made me drool, but didn't adequately portray the SIZE of these donuts!! Sweet, sugary bliss!

Saturday:

-We had pancake breakfast, of course.

-We drove to Canton (& I gave a running tour on the way) to play beach volleyball with our friends Katy & Andrew. While we were waiting for them to arrive, the four of us tried to play beach badminton. It was really windy. It was ridiculous. But awesome. When Katy & Andrew got there, we played 3 games of volleyball. We girls lost each time, but our scores got dramatically closer each time. Which explains why the boys chickened out of a 4th game.

-After volleyball, we drove by the house where Doug grew up, then went home to grill hotdogs.

-After lunch, we drove to downtown Detroit to give another tour. As we were driving around downtown, I realized that other than Tigers games, I had never walked around downtown (a shameful admission on my part), so we parked and walked around. There was some festival going on, which I just googled and discovered was the "Ribs & Soul Festival" - sweet! 

-We arrived home and got Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner - yum. 

-We spent the rest of the evening playing games and eating Oreo milkshakes. 

Sunday:

-I had to get up early and go teach Sunday School.

-When I got home, we had sweet rolls for breakfast and played some more games.

-Our friends Dave, Sara & Brittany had really wanted to meet Andy and Lyndsay, so they came over for lunch. We grilled burgers & hotdogs and had a little picnic outside. We were entertained for quite some time watching a squirrel sniff around a trap (set by our landlord), trying to get the nuts inside. I wish I had a video.

-And then, always the sad part of the weekend, Lynz & Andy had to pack up and head back to Beaver Falls. 

We had such a fun time with you two! Thanks for braving the opossums & visiting us. We can't wait to return the favor!

struggling

Read through this article about abandoned Detroit schools & look through the images.

gleaners

Whew! Our first class service project was a success! The kids had a lot of fun serving at Gleaners & their efforts will be helping 2,520 students in schools throughout Detroit! 

Learning about hunger & food insecurity in the state of Michigan.

Stacking bags on pallets.

Everyone working hard.

Who said volunteering can't be fun?!

Pulling one of the pallets to the elevator.

Circling up to pray for Gleaners.

My co-sponsor, Marisa, & I have decided we'll be taking the class back every year, hopefully each fall & spring!

weekend update!

Dad, Mom, Emily & Jayne came to visit this past weekend. It was their first time seeing our current apartment, seeing my school & seeing downtown Detroit! 

For our venture to The D, we all piled into our little Accord - the girls squished into the back.

We showed them Peaches & Greens, the school that CDC is hoping to purchase, Comerica Park, Ford Field, the fist of Joe Louis & a bunch of other cool [slash abandoned, boarded up, broken windowed] stuff. They also got to see Last Chance Academy for the first time.

In case you thought I was kidding. Photo by Dad.

If you've never had the dubious pleasure of visiting Detroit, here's a taste. Dad's pictures are pretty awesome. I suppose he had the added advantage of the front seat, rather than being crunched in the back. :)

Photo by Dad.

Photo by Dad.

Photo by Dad.

Photo by Dad.

Photo by Dad.

Oh, Detroit. "All I can say. All I can do." ($5 to anyone who knows that song.)

We had an awesome time & a lot of great discussions. Can't wait to see my fam again soon!

peaches & greens, pt. 2

Maybe you remember this post about the steady progress of the produce market being built in Detroit, Peaches & Greens. 

Yesterday, Doug & I were able to attend the grand opening of Peaches & Greens. It looks absolutely incredible & I am so excited to hear about the ways it will continue to minister to needs. Thank you for your prayers; please continue to pray for Detroit & CDC ministries. 

Here are some pictures from the big event.

Two incredible men, Kevin Ruark & Matt Rojak, headed up the construction.

Kevin & Ellie Schupra, who coordinated the involvement of our church, Trinity.

The inside.

The Van Andel boys - Jamison, Q & Ty - with their peaches and greens!

Doug proudly holding up our purchase.

The P&G produce truck, which will drive around delivering produce to city residents.

Me & Doug in front of P&G.

We're so thankful that CDC allowed us to help them even in small ways, and we're so glad that they're finally able to see the fruits (ooh, terrible pun) of their labor!

back to school

Central Detroit Christian (CDC), the same organization heading up Peaches & Greens, is holding a "Back to School Extravaganza". The purpose is to raise school supplies for students in Detroit who are unable to afford the necessary materials for the upcoming year. Our church partners with CDC in many of their efforts, so Doug & I found out about this one Sunday and decided to purchase some materials. In addition, we sent a mass email to his office, and with their help, we were able to put together 7 bags and 3 backpacks. In a city where the high school graduation rate is an abominable 21.7%, it's really the least we can do.

obsessing

I've come to grips with the fact that I have an addictive personality. Before anyone thinks I'm being completely self-absorbed, let me clarify. I have a tendency to become easily addicted to things. Not so much cigarettes or alcohol (much to the government's dismay), but more like foods, music, certain clothes, etc.

Some recent obsessions:

-new Coldplay cd "Viva La Vida" - I usually listen to this in its entirety at least once during the workday, especially the title track and the song "Strawberry Swing." SO GOOD.

-Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch - YUM.

-Making earrings

-the color turquoise/aqua

-berry salads (not fruit salad, but leafy green salads with berries)

-"A Bird's Song" by Ingrid Michaelson

-daily crosswords in the newspaper

-Pickin' On Series - Pickin' on Jack Johnson. So mellow & sweet.

-fruity salsa. Right now we're enjoying peach mango. Delicious!

~

Yesterday morning Doug & I went to downtown Detroit to work on drywall for Peaches & Greens. There were only 4 people there, but we only had the bathroom area to finish, so it only took about an hour. I was the only girl, so there was lots of laughing about "Rachel the Riveter" and me being a farm girl. It just feels so good to be a part of something so much bigger than myself and contribute to meeting such a huge need in Detroit. Especially when I get to work with Doug. We both have a heart for Detroit - it'll be interesting to see how God uses us there.

And something kind of funny and cool at the same time - this morning I noticed the blister I got yesterday from the drill is in the shape of a heart.

I'd like to think that's at least slightly profound...