This year, we were blessed to once again gather at a beautiful retreat center that is within a few hours drive of the Waller Family Farm.
Together in the Northwoods
Mealtime with the Wallers is often a great time to connect and talk over lots of plans and ideas as well as reminisce on fun memories from throughout the day.
A pontoon boat ride allowed us to get a good tour of the lake complete with the eagle’s nest and beavers dam.
David’s brother, Adam is quite the calculated adventurer. He has always enjoyed doing things a little out of the norm. 
Adam and Valerie with their little daughter Abigail had fun on the paddle boat.
Swimming in a lake is so much fun, especially when you are with family.
Paul was a little unsure of the cool water lapping at his feet. He loves water, but this was quite different than a bathtub :-).
Paul keeps us laughing with trying on different shoes and trying to walk in to where we are sitting to see our reaction. This time, the boots were almost too big :-).
Paul has had an intense interest in balls for many months. He enjoys playing with many different types. It is amazing how quickly he picks up on what to do with them. He loves to try and get a volleyball over the net or a basketball in the hoop with one of us lifting him high enough to do so.
Paul really enjoyed playing with two of his cousins who came down from Canada for the family reunion.
A Swim Across the Lake
Check out captain Paul at the wheel!
What would a family-get-together be like without a little adventure or challenge? It is not too logistically challenging to bike, run or walk, and eventually work up to a great distance, but swimming takes some forethought and planning.
We enjoyed a family contest to see who would try the long distance swim across the lake which is 7/10ths of a mile. Here we are with only a little distance to go til shore. It was so encouraging having David’s Parents and little Paul cheering us on from the nearby pontoon boat.
Foil Dinners by the Campfire
This ranks as one of the top family favorites for cooking over an open fire. So filling and nice after a good long swim.
Listen as we explain what the dinner consists of and how much we enjoy it.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/SilRoorB2FA[/youtube]Nice Concluding Dinner
David’s sisters have all become quite excellent cooks. In fact, for our final meal in the Northwoods they served the whole family a multi-course lasagna dinner.
Along with sparkling apple juice, the hors d’oeuvres were nothing less than crackers with some incredible red salmon and cream cheese spread. Derrick and John David Duggar had gone to Alaska to help a family with a move. They took turns driving over 3,000 miles from Alaska to California. The family was so grateful for the help and gave them the canned salmon. 
Mom and Dad Waller enjoyed a fun moment with the crackers.
A Visit to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
In David’s growing up years, one of the special memories he enjoyed was visiting a little town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan called Calumet. Back in the mining days, it was a booming and bustling town of over 4,000 people, many of which were newly immigrated to the United States. Today it is a little known town of around 700.
David’s great-grandmother lived in Calumet for much of her life in spite of the frigid winter weather and snow piled high drifting to the roof of many of the homes. David remembers waking up in the middle of the night and seeing this Godly women pouring over her Scriptures. Sometimes she would stay up late to greet the Waller family with a plate of hot cookies or freshly made pasties. David was told that she prayed for each of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren by name everyday.
One of the main reasons to visit this time was a work project. With unusually large amounts of snow this past winter, the roof on the garage had caved in on a 1939 LaSalle that apparently was owned and used by David’s great-grandpa before he passed away.
We arrived with the hopes of uncovering the vehicle and finding a better home for it. One would think it would be easy to put an old car on an empty trailer, but we did not realize the challenge it would be.
Using a come-along, and several chains we slowly pulled the car onto the trailer.
I think of the Scripture verse that states, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
We are so grateful that the car is of the most insignificant things left by the legacy of David’s great-grandparents.
Before returning, we stopped at the classic picnic spot to enjoy dinner down by Lake Superior
Family Picture:
Before we left, we were able to snap a quick family picture.
Hey Dad, I’m ready for Church!
Paul loves going to church. He is also quite proud of his little New Testament!
When we see Paul chewing on his New Testament (because everything still seems to find a way into his mouth) we often jokingly think of the verse, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).
Comments
Thanks for sharing! I live in Michigan so I may be a little biased, but I do believe michigan is one of the most beautiful natural states!! I hope you enjoyed your visit! You should check out the mackinaw area sometime! God bless your family! You’re a blessing to those who you encourage!
Blessings
When I saw this was a family reunion, I got excited thinking it would finally be the gender reveal. 🙁 I’m glad y’all had fun, though.
Looks like a wonderful time!! Great job on swimming that far!! God bless you all!
Mmmmmm . . .your tin foil dinners looked delicious! In fact, it looked just like the filling for pasties that I used to enjoy as a young girl. My grandparents were originally from the UP of Michigan, and I see that your grandmother used to make pasties as well. Brought back some great memories for me.
Love seeing puctures of u guys. Still waiting to see pics of the reveal, for the new baby’s gender. Is it going to be soon?
It looks like you had fun with your family! My Grandpa was born and raised in Cornishtown in Negaunee, MI, and he also had a house in Grand Marais which is one of our family’s favorite vacation spots. It’s also nice to know about other people who know about pasties!! 😀
Thank you so much, once again, for sharing your family’s adventures with us! You all are such a blessing! I had to comment on your remark that the car was one of the most insignificant things left by the legacy of your great-grandparents. What wisdom there is in that remark. It truly serves to put things into perspective, doesn’t it!
I love that you invite us into your life the way you do. Your swim across the lake reminds me of the swim we would make every summer at our family cabin in Montana. Fun memories. Praying that Priscilla is feeling well and has a good delivery of your new precious baby.
Blessings
The U. P. of Michigan is my favorite place in the whole country. I love it there!
Paul is such a cutie!!
I’m totally biased. 🙂
Northern Michigan is a bit of perfect to me. Family time in God’s creation!
Mackinac Island….We were married on it (pasties was part of our reception meal) and in summer we sail to & around it. A few Winters, my husband and I have worked/lived on it. Only way to get around is snow machine or horse and sled.
Foil dinners sound SO good!
We go hunting and that sounds like a new way to use up our venison.
Is your family going to restore or sell the old car?
Best wishes and blessings!
When are we going to find out the gender of the baby?? ? Can’t wait!!!
-Ashley
What a wonderful time you must have had! Especially swimming across the lake. The water looked so blue and fun to swim in! You are such a precious family! Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Thank you for sharing your story! When will you find out the gender of your baby! Can’t wait to hear! God bless
David & Priscilla, I have been reading your blog for sometime. Sounds like it was a wonderful trip! I just love hearing about all of the wonderful things going on in your life. You guys are truly, TRULY blessed to have that support system of family & friends who share many of the same convictions as you both do. I’m a homeschooling mom & share many of the same Christian & personal convitions as you both do. I sometimes feel alone as I don’t have that support system of friends & family that you guys have, who share many of the convictions my husband & I do, but I come on here and I read your stories & look at your pictures and somehow I don’t feel so alone in my walk with Christ. It’s nice to be able to make those connections & know that there are others who find that joy in going that extra mile to serve God in the everyday things we do. You guys have become that little support system to me. I come on your site often & am excited whenever I see a new post! God bless!
Looks like you have had a wonderful summer with some wonderful family memories. I love reading the blog of godly families seeing them (you) so happy and joyous. It helps me in my journey with the lord. I have started a blog myself to share my journey with god and the ever growing relationship that i share.
Thank you for sharing. I love reading your blog and watching your videos because, coming from a broken family situation, it is such a blessing to have your example and see how families can be.
Thank you for your posts! I would like your encourage your viewers to look up a prayer group starting soon. Please go to nakatsus.com/katey/
You can make a difference one prayer at a time.
God bless!
Dear david,
Do yall know the gender of the baby yet?
Love, Jessica
Would love to hear an update on BWW (baby Waller watch). The pics of North Woods are wonderful. I so enjoy reading about your young family, and so appreciate what great role models you are to others.
What a sweet thing to see a young child with a Bible! What a beautiful thing it is to read in each post the Godly service you bring to so many by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and His salvation. As the world seeks to change and redefine the structure of the family and marriage, your marriage and family is an example of how God meant for family to be. Thank you for sharing with us your passionate love for the Lord. May God continue to bless you in all that you do.
Since the new baby is due in Nov. Do you know the sex of the child yet ?
When is the gender reveal for baby #2?
Hello you two! Where ist your gender-reveal-party? Not much time left for it.