I am getting very excited about our retreat coming up at the end of April. This is our first retreat. It all started be cause of a dear friends trip to Big Rapids with her daughter. They were there for some testing for her daughter to enter into pharmacy school. They stayed at this bed and breakfast thatb Patty just fell in love with. While talking to the proprieters of the b&b called the Inn at The Rustic Gate Patty learned that they had facilities for hosting spiritual retreats. Well that is all that it took for Patty. Once she returned home she sent us out an email and we got the ball rolling.

I am looking forward to a wonderful weekend of meditation, yoga, spiritual classes and great friends.

Thank you Patty for your energy enthusiasm and vision.

I am writing this post from my Motorola Cliq. This app is a basic admin page that allows you to update your blog directly from your android phone. This is going to be so handy when I am out and about and suddenly moved to write. I am adding the QR code here just scan the code with your phones bar code scanner and it will add the link to your phone or search the Android market for wordpress. Enjoy!

I took these Pictures the other day as Elige and I were walking down the river walk. I thought they turned out nice and wanted to share a little bit of the place we call home with you.
This first Picture is of the Brinkey Fish Ladder on the Grand River This Fish Ladder allows Salmon and other fish that Migrate to breeding grounds navigate past the dam in the River. It is a series of Graduated steps that the water flows down. The fish move against stream and literally climb the ladder.

The river walk has many Walk ways that extend over the water where it crosses under the Roads.

This is a View of the dam and fish ladder from up river. the water was extremely high this day.

I love this Video. I think that it was put together by someone else. But I still love it.

As I Develop The Awakening Mind I Praise The Buddha As They Shine
I Bow Before You As I Travel My Path To Join Your Ranks,
I Make My Full Time Task
For The Sake Of All Beings I Seek
The Enlighted Mind That I Know I’ll Reap
Respect To Shantideva And All The Others
Who Brought Down The Darma For Sisters And Brothers
I Give Thanks For This World As A Place To Learn
And For This Human Body That I’m Glad To Have Earned
And My Deepest Thanks To All Sentient Beings
For Without Them There Would Be No Place To Learn What I’m Seeing
There’s Nothing Here That’s Not Been Said Before
But I Put It Down Now So I’ll Be Sure
To Solidify My Own Views And I’ll Be Glad If It Helps
Anyone Else Out Too
If Others Disrespect Me Or Give Me Flack
I’ll Stop And Think Before I React =
Knowing That They’re Going Through Insecure Stages
I’ll Take The Opportunity To Exercise Patience
I’ll See It As A Chance To Help The Other Person
Nip It In The Bud Before It Can Worsen
A Change For Me To Be Strong And Sure
As I Think On The Buddhas Who Have Come Before
As I Praise And Respect The Good They’ve Done
Knowing Only Love Can Conquer In Every Situation
We Need Other People In Order To Create
The Circumstances For The Learning That We’re Here To Generate
Situations That Bring Up Our Deepest Fears
So We Can Work To Release Them Until They’re Cleared
Therefore, It Only Makes Sense
To Thank Our Enemies Despite Their Intent
The Bodhisattva Path Is One Of Power And Strength
A Strength From Within To Go The Length
Seeing Others Are As Important As Myself
I Strive For A Happiness Of Mental Wealth
With The Interconnectedness That We Share As One
Every Action That We Take Affects Everyone
So In Deciding For What A Situation Calls
There Is A Path For The Good For All
I Try To Make My Every Action For That Highest Good
With The Altruistic Wish To Achive Buddhahood
So I Pledge Here Before Everyone Who’s Listening
To Try To Make My Every Action For The Good Of All Beings
For The Rest Of My Lifetimes And Even Beyond
I Vow To Do My Best To Do No Harm
And In Times Of Doubt I Can Think On The Dharma
And The Enlightened Ones Who’ve Graduated Samsara