Fourth of July Niece

We spent the Fourth of July in South Haven with tons of family members, including my brother, sister-in-law and their cutie-pie daughter.  She is a smiley little sweetie.  Here's some of my favorites from that day.

NYC - Cats

I'm very allergic to cats.  Thankfully, because of hard wood floors, leather furniture and a clean house, I was fine at Michael and Tena's place in New York.  They have two lovely cats who have been part of their family for quite a while.

I love taking photos of animals but this was my first time photographing felines.

Meet Miss Kitty and Tabitha. :)

NYC - Church

Ryan's cousin Michael and wife, Tena, graciously allowed us to stay in their home while we visited New York last weekend.  One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the church where Michael is pastor - West End Collegiate Church.  It's located in the Upper West Side of New York, a couple blocks west of Central Park.  The church building itself was so fascinating to me.

It was built in 1891.

 And as I stood in a building as old as this one, I continued to reflect, thinking of all the people who have been there before me.  I couldn't help but wonder . . .

What hands crafted these walls?

How did someone orchestrate this beauty - piece by small glass piece. . .

How many souls have been baptized beside this basin?

How many people have heard their voices echo in praises through these beams?

What others have walked down these stairs?

Who, in the last 100 years, has sat in these pews and worshiped the same God as I?