St. Louis Visit July 2011

Stefani went to St. Louis for a week in July to celebrate births. She arrived in time to see her mom on her birthday. They went out for a nice dinner and enjoyed spending time together.

Stefani's cousin, Mandi, had a beautiful baby girl, Sophia Emma, about two weeks before Stefani's visit. 

Stefani and Sophia. She is precious!

While in the area waiting to visit Mandi and Sophia, Stefani and her parents went to the South County Antique Mall. We were in need of end tables and had success there when we lived in Webster Groves. Stefani found two end tables and a coffee table. She was able to fit them all in the Pathfinder to take them back to Onaway. 

End table number one.

The coffee table.

End table number two.


The main event for the week was Noah's 2nd birthday. Noah is Stefani's best friend's son. He had a Cars theme party. He is really into playing with cars and watching the movie, Cars. 

Noah blowing out his candles. 

Noah and his cool new bike from his parents. 

Stefani and her friend, Christine at the party.

Stefani and Christine's daughter, Alyssa. 

Stefani and Carolyn, Noah's mom and soon-to-be Nora's mom. 

It was an awesome visit with family and friends. Stefani can't wait to visit again when she will get to meet Nora. 

God's Blessings,


Joshua and Stefani

Fourth of July 2011

This Fourth Joshua's mom and sister, Sarah, came for a visit. It was a busy, fun filled weekend. 

Sunday, we went to the Dancing Hippo craft fair. The fair is always the first weekend in July. It is a really well done fair and has many interesting booths. 

Monday was the holiday. Joshua wasn't feeling well so he did not walk in the parade. Later in the week we found out he had bronchitis. The parade route was rerouted due to the main road of Onaway being under construction. Our float was based on our VBS theme, The Gold Rush. Instead of handing out candy to the crowd we decided to hand out water bottles. It was a great success.

The awesome float!

 Look at all the water! 

Moran Iron Works' float. It is a model of the Lexington.  They reveal a new iron sculpture every year.

Later that evening we enjoyed the fireworks despite the mosquitoes that tried to eat us. 

We hope you enjoyed your 4th of July as well. 

God's Blessings, 

Joshua and Stefani

Michigan District Senior High Youth Gathering-The Bridge

Joshua, Stefani, and Mary Kay, our youth director, took 8 teens to Mackinac Island for the Michigan District Youth Gathering.
We left the afternoon of Sunday June 26th. When we got the the Shepler's Ferry dock it was over run by teens. By the way, the Shepler's Ferry folks are AMAZING! They took care of everyone's luggage with ease. They offered a night cruise to us for a dollar. They took us around the island and under the Mackinac Bridge. They also ferried people back and forth to servant events. We always take them to the Island and after this they are definitely the ferry company to take!

We made their welcome sign!

Once we arrived on The Island on Sunday, we checked into the gathering at Mission Point Resort. This is where everything was taking place. We then checked into our first night's hotel, The Chippewa Hotel. Mission Point double booked the gathering and a wedding. A few groups stayed at Chippewa the first night and then were moved to Mission Point for the rest of the gathering. We ate dinner at Millie's on Main. After dinner there was a leader meeting and the kids had a mixer event. 


Monday we woke up bright and early. We headed to Mission Point for the day's activities. Our luggage was to meet us there later that day. We had a leader meeting while the kids ate breakfast. Then it was off to the Morning Celebration. Which was just our morning Mass Event filled with worship music and speakers. Then the kids broke into sectionals. We then ate lunch and headed to our Servant Event. We went to Zion Lutheran (ELCA) in St. Ignace. We helped do some cleaning and general organizing. 

The Ketelsens before going to the Servant Event.

Stefani cleaning windows.

When returned from the Servant Event we sorted out our rooms and luggage situation.  After dinner and the evening Mass Event we got a special treat. Shepler's Ferry offered a night cruise that went around The Island and under the Mackinac Bridge. The Bridge was beautiful all lit up.

The Mackinac Bridge at night.

Tuesday we woke up bright and early again. We had Mass Events, Bible Study, and Sectionals. In the afternoon we had some free time. We let the kids do their own thing. Many of them went shopping. We all met for dinner and then headed to the evening Mass Event. After the Mass Event the kids had many activities to choose from. They chose to listen to Swen and Dean. Joshua and Stefani supervised other Gathering activities.

Wednesday was our last day on The Island. It ended with a Worship Service. Joshua was on deck to help with Communion. Once Worship was over we didn't have to rush off The Island. The advantage of living so close. We had a leisurely lunch and did a little shopping. It wasn't long before we were all ready to go home.

Heading toward home.

We would like to thank everyone who helped us get to the Gathering. We took this picture to show our appreciation.

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani



 

Circuit Meeting and Soo Locks

There was a circuit meeting in Kinross, which is about 15 minutes from the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie. Stefani decided to join Joshua at the circuit meeting and then go check out the Locks. The weather was gorgeous up until the end of our time at the Locks. We saw two boats go through. One was one of the tour boats.

 Being Welcomed. Although, if we went under the sign we would be on our way to Canada.

The Locks from one end to the other.


The next pictures show a tour boat that goes through the locks. Watch as the boat rises....

Bye tourists!

Next time we go we will be on a tour boat. 


God's Blessings,


Joshua and Stefani

The Wedding of Randy and Amber

Joshua was asked to officiate the wedding of the son of our good friends from Holy Cross, Mary Kay and Don. It took place at Bay Pointe Golf Club "downstate". (Downstate is the term for anything south of Saginaw. Or sometimes it is just south of where one lives.) We had so much fun meeting everyone and enjoying the delicious food.

The ceremony space.

The soon to be Mr. and Mrs..

 Us with the happy couple.

Us with Mary Kay and Don.





We thank Randy and Amber for letting us be apart of their special day!

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani

North and East Pastors' Conference 2011

Joshua and Stefani took a "working vacation" to go to a conference on Drummond Island. It was Stefani's first time to cross the Mackinac Bridge and be in the Upper Peninsula. These conferences are a great time to learn and catch up with other Pastors and their wives.

The bridge up close and personal.

The view of Mackinac Island from the Bridge.

Bye Bye Lower Peninsula.

Thanks for the welcome!

Waiting for the car ferry to take us to Drummond Island.

Welcome to Drummond Island!

Welcome Michigan District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

The cabin we stayed in.

The sunset on our last night there.


If you enjoy the wilderness and can stand not having internet or cell service for extended periods of time then we would definitely recommend Drummond Island.

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani

Ketelsens' Health Update

By now word has gotten around that Joshua had an eventful trip to the ER in March. We rode in style by ambulance. Once he saw a general practitioner he was diagnosed with migraines due to extremely high blood pressure and stress. He was put on blood pressure medicine and a strict low sodium diet. He is doing much better now.

Stefani has been recently diagnosed as iron deficient. She had some abnormal blood work at her last check up (high white blood cell count). She went in for another blood test and the count was higher. After hearing that Stefani was sleeping so much and tired all the time, her general practitioner referred her to a hematologist. Stefani is now on iron supplements and B12. It will take a few months for there to be positive effects.

It was a crazy month of medical issues for the Ketelsens, but we are on the mend. We want to thank everyone for their prayers and encouragement.

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani