to Grand Rapids and back

Jodi, Jon and I made a little day trip to Grand Rapids on Sunday. We loaded up Jodi's car with sweet treats and DVDs early on Sunday morning and made it to our first destination, Mars Hill, with plenty of time to spare for the morning service. The service was excellent, as usual, and Jodi enjoyed her first time seeing the church in person. Yes, it really does look like nothing...she almost drove past it.

 

After a leisurely lunch at San Chez Caf√© (the other half of my favorite tapas restaurant), we took a quick tour of downtown Grand Rapids and got out of the car to see the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum.  

  

  

Then we headed over to Calvin College, my alma matter, and took a chilly outdoor tour of the campus. It's hard to believe that I graduated seven years ago this month. There are so many new buildings going up on campus and the place is starting to look so much bigger and different than when I attended. The only building that was open was the chapel, so we got to take a peek inside and listen to a few minutes of a choral group and orchestra rehearsing for a winter concert (brings back many memories of my times spent in the music department in rehearsals!).

My beloved Fine Arts Center is undergoing a huge renovation...I spent so many hours in here for the music,  and communications departments.

  

Here's Jon and I in front of the Commons lawn.

Our final destination of the day was to the Frederik Meijer Gardens (the Frederik Meijer of Meijer grocery/all purpose mega stores). The gardens were decorated to the max for Christmas and the hallways to each of the greenhouses were lined with Christmas trees decorated to represent traditions from around the world.

Christmas tree representing Japan

Christmas tree for birds

Christmas lights representing the Philipines

  

Frightening little children