May 2020

 Tulip Time Canceled 

Monty used Birthday Money to buy a trampoline 

Hurt his knee and had to get X-ray. (Masks are part of covid-19)

Memorial Day at my parents on Gun Lake.

Since we cannot go to Holland and Tulip Time has been canceled... this is the best we can do. 2020

We are sad about missing Tulip Time, but more sad because this guy misses his cousins, his aunties and uncle and his papa and nana. 

Tulip Time is a tradition!!!! We miss tradition, and elephant ears!

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HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) — The annual Tulip Time Festival has been canceled due to concerns about coronavirus. 

Tulip Time cited a volunteer base primarily made up of those most vulnerable to contracting serious cases of COVID-19 — older people — and said about 45% of its guests are part of that vulnerable group, too. The organization also noted there are two retirement homes in downtown Holland, where the festival is held. 

“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share this news. Our team has spent the last 11 months planning our 91st celebration and we are heartbroken not to see our work come into fruition.”

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Congrats to Quentin and Malakye!! 

💛👨🏾‍🎓💙class of 2020 MCC 💙👨🏾‍🎓💛

Grandpa VanOrder

 https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/holland-mi/richard-van-order-9166346/amp

April 2020

 His 8th party canceled. 

Covid is on every news channel.

No School. Homeschool

Yard work.

How can you be 8?

You have come so far this past year, you learned to ride without training wheels & are now a “pro”; and you love your bikes! You became a better swimmer, you are creative, a great artist, you love your Monster Jam Trucks and Hot Wheel Cars. You have Jesus in your heart ❤️ You love your real Bible & your so good at reading it. 

You like to read books and are super good at math! 

Montgomery you can move mountains, you have a great heart, and you love your stuffies. You are a great teacher to Mom and Tim of Minecraft. You are a great helper!!!! Most of the time unless your so engrossed in YouTube, you forget your ears work when we call your name. This year you decided you want a nickname and to be called Monty! I call you it sometimes, but I still like to call you GUM! Over time it will come more natural to call you Monty!

You loved school and your friends, this year due the C-C-Coronavirus 🦠, you have been out of school since March 13. This year will be different, no treat and gift for the class, no party at Johnnys; as it’s been rescheduled to after this pandemic is done sweeping the nation. You and I have learned to homeschool, we learn stuff everyday; you teach me and I teach you. It may be different but you accept change well, way better than Mom! On April 2nd we learned that you will not return to face-to-face learning in the school building. It was a sad day and we both shed some tears, we understand that we want everyone to stay healthy but you miss your routine, your teachers and friends.

Today, I just want you to know that not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for that smile of yours, your fun personality, your chatter; your mouth is always moving 😂 and your laughter. You light up my life, You are the best thing that has ever happened in my life, please don’t stop being yourself. Don’t let anyone change what makes you, YOU! This year you have decided to grow out your hair till at least Halloween, I very much dislike this idea, but it makes you so happy; so we will compromise with a kept up shaggy look!  

You are my Greatest Adventure, My Best Friend, and I love you to the Moon and Back.🐺 Arh-wooo

Happy 8th Birthday Montgomery Gene! 😘 "I fell in love with you the day you were born. You made my heart smile. You'll always be a part of me, and I'll be a part of you."

March 2020

 If you would have told me on March 12 (conferences) that March 13 would be his last day of school, I would have never believed you. What was issued from our governor of Michigan, was a small 2 week break. This would be the start of Covid-19 (coronavirus). 

He won’t attend inperson school again till September 2020. 

I homeschooled him for the remainder of his 2nd grade. 

Just so I NEVER forget..... March 2020

-Face-to-Face School cancelled - yes cancelled (students left  March 13 and wouldn’t return)

-Self-distancing measures on the rise.

-Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.

-Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.

-Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.

-Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.

-Entire sports seasons cancelled.

-Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.

-Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.

-No masses, churches are closed - even Easter Sunday.

-No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now no gatherings of 5 or more.

-Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.

-Children's outdoor play parks are closed.

-We are to distance from each other.

-Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.

-Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.

-Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.

-Shelves are bare. No bread, No butter, No Ground Beef....

-Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.

-Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.

-Fines are established for breaking the rules.

-Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.

-Press conferences daily from the President. -Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.

-Government incentives to stay home.

-Barely anyone on the roads.

-People wearing masks and gloves outside.

-Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.

-Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.

Why, you ask, do I write this status?

One day it will show up in my memory feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted.

We have so much!

Be thankful. Be grateful.

Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone.

We are all one! ❤️

February

 

My loves, celebrating Valentine’s. 

Valentine's Day 2020

We love this RED tie.... it has been with us since his first Valentine's in 2013.

We celebrate every holiday... so I bought him a few things and he opened them a few days early to be able to wear them.

I love February... Every Year I put hearts on his wall or door.

and on Valentine's we made pink heart pancakes and got to wear a his new shirt from DOTDOTSMILE If you haven't heard about this brand, they are so amazing, Montgomery also had a Christmas Tee from DOTDOTSMILE. They have pants and tees for boys and leggings and dresses for girls.

....and THEN it was time to PARTY!!!!

I love you Montgomery, to the Moon and Back, and to Infinity and Beyond.

January 2020

 New Exciting Adventure 

Skating fun at Johnny’s in Custer

Trying wrestling 

2020 here we come

2019 was a crazy year, a year of changes, broken hearts, anger and thankfulness. 

It was a year of ups and downs, an end and a beginning. 

We are thankful for all the memories and we will forever close this chapter. 

We have so many changes for 2020 and we are excited to share them all with you very soon. 

Cheers to 2020

Montgomery stayed up till midnight and then asked what happens, I explain that its midnight, a new day, a new year and a new decade..... and it's time for bed.

 We made our famous pancakes!!! 

We did some shopping and went out for lunch.

a look back...… Montgomery loves the glasses.

Goodbye 2019

As 2019, is nearing the end... here are the top photos, mostly 4 per month in reverse order. Montgomery and I have seen so much this year, we have traveled to Ford Field to see Monster Jam, to Ohio for Cedar Point, to the Breslin Center MSU to watch Ludington Boys Basketball, to Traverse City for Great Wolf Lodge. Arcadia for the fall color tour, to Holland for Tulip Time, and to Zeeland for PumpkinFest. Montgomery turned 7 with a pool party at WSCC, learned how to ride on two wheels, became a more confident swimmer and lost his two front teeth.
This year I have been to hell and back, but you know what? It has made me a better person. When my world crashed down around me, I fought!!! Life is a daily adventure.... and when I wasn’t looking for anything more, along he came and he has made our lives so much better. We close out 2019 and we know our vision will be so much better in 2020. We have so much we look forward to sharing with you. Cheers to 2020! To the next decade and beyond!
If your on instagram #2019bestof12 come follow me rachaeljk.

Christmas Card 2019