Burt and Marlene's 60th Wedding Anniversary Family Adventure

We planned our anniversary celebration trip for over two years. It turned out to be an epic multigenerational adventure. Marlene and I are in our early eighties, Stephen and Lisa their mid-fifties, Petra and Danny are in their mid-twenties, and James is twenty-one. We are a small but mighty family celebrating together. The following summary is divided into two parts: Itinerary and Reflections. The itinerary provides day-by-day information about the trip. The reflections section is a summary of my thoughts about experiences that were especially impactful for me personally.  

June 25 – July 10, 2026

Itinerary

Day 1 — Thursday, June 25: Holland to Chicago

-Travel: Depart Holland around 1:00 PM; fly from Chicago O’Hare at 7:45 PM on TAP Air Portugal Flight TP242.

-Arrival: Lisbon at 9:55 AM on Friday, June 26.

-Notes: Parking Airport Economy Lot G.

Day 2 — Friday, June 26: Lisbon

-Travel: Arrive in Lisbon at 9:55 AM; airport pickup by guide Ricardo P. Note: Recardo P. and all additional tour guides were booked through Tours by Locals (toursbylocals.com)

-Lodging: Holiday Inn Lisbon, Av. Antonio Jose De Almeida 28 A; breakfast included.

-Activities: Lisbon half-day highlights tour, including meal at Time Out Market, viewing historic neighborhoods, Belém, and Pastéis de Belém (Famous custard tarts, making 50,000 daily).

Day 3 — Saturday, June 27: Lisbon Area

Travel: Full-day Lisbon area tour.
-Lodging: Holiday Inn Lisbon.
-Meals: Hotel breakfast; lunch at fish restaurant in Nazaré 
 where Marlene and I shared a “Fish Boat.”
-Activities: Full-day tour of Fátima, Nazaré, and Óbidos.
-Notes: Tour guide Ricardo P.; pickup 8:30 AM..

Days 4–11 — Sunday, June 28 to Sunday, July 5: Norwegian Dawn Cruise

-Travel: Depart Holiday Inn Lisbon at 10:30 AM to board Norwegian Dawn; off-board in Barcelona at 8:30 AM on July 5.

Outside our stateroom 

-Lodging: Norwegian Dawn, June 28–July 5; staterooms 9620, 9618, and 9616.

-Meals: Hotel breakfast before boarding; specialty dining on board at Cagney’s (steakhouse), Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian beef), and La Cucina (Italian).

-Activities: Ports include Portimão, Cádiz/Seville, Motril, Gibraltar (took ship-based shore excursions here), Ibiza, and Palma. 

Day 11 — Sunday, July 5: Barcelona

-Travel: Off-board Norwegian Dawn at 8:30 AM for worship at the Reformed Church in Barcelona.

-Lodging: Innside by Melia, July 5–7.

-Activities: Lunch provided by church; hotel arrival around 4:00 PM, Tour de France bikers race past hotel entrance.

Day 12 — Monday, July 6: Barcelona

-Travel: Full day in Barcelona.

-Lodging: Innside by Melia.

-Meals: Hotel breakfast; lunch arranged by guide.

-Activities: Full-day Barcelona tour including Old Town, La Rambla, Gothic Quarter, Cathedral, Passeig de Gràcia, Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and Montjuïc.

-Notes: Tour guide Francesc G.; meet at Sagrada Família at 9:30 AM.

Day 13 — Tuesday, July 7: Barcelona to Paris

-Travel: Depart Barcelona at 1:30 PM on Vueling Flight VY8248; arrive Paris CDG at 3:20 PM.

-Lodging: Airbnb at 10 Rue Julien Masselier, 92230, Gennevilliers, July 7–10; host Fatima.

-Meals: On our own; apartment allows food preparation.

Day 14 — Wednesday, July 8: Paris

-Lodging: Airbnb in Gennevilliers.

-Meals: Responsible for our own meals and snacks.

-Activities: Paris full-day private driving tour with Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Left Bank, Notre Dame, Montmartre, Marais, Vendôme, Opéra Garnier, and the Louvre guided tour.

-Notes: Pickup at Airbnb at 7:45 AM; guide Romain G.

Day 15 — Thursday, July 9: Paris, Giverny, and Versailles

-Lodging: Airbnb in Gennevilliers.

-Meals: Responsible for our own meals and snacks; lunch in Versailles.

-Activities: Private driving tour to Giverny and Versailles, including Monet’s house and gardens, Versailles palace, Hall of Mirrors, and formal gardens.

-Notes: Pickup at Airbnb at 8:00 AM; guide Romain G .

Day 16 — Friday, July 10: Paris to  Chicago and Home

-Travel: Transfer from Airbnb to airport, 10:30 AM, depart Paris CDG at 2:40 PM on American Airlines Flight 151; arrive Chicago O’Hare at 4:50 PM; arrive Holland area at 11:00 PM.

Reflections

Here are some of my reflections about our trip. They are grouped around six topical headings and are not arranged in a specific order. A few may overlap. 

Churches 

Reformed Church in Barcelona: In planning what to do in Barcelona, James took the lead in arranging for our worship with this congregation. He arranged for the pastor, Roberth Granja, and Hugo, member of the church, to pick us up from outside the cruise port and bring us to church in two cars. Connecting with them was a long and complex process because of port restrictions. It resulted in our being half an hour late for church. They delayed the service for us. 

The congregation is a group of about 100 worshipers. The service, in Spanish, included an energetic time of praise led by Carolina Granja, enthusiastic preaching, meaningful communion, and a generous meal afterward. At about 3:30 PM, in two cars, Pastor Roberth and another member drove us to our hotel. Looking back, worship with the congregation of this church plant stood in contrast to many of the magnificent, museum-like edifices that we would later visit.

The church was a little over eight miles from our hotel, but it took over an hour to get even close to it. Little did we know that today was the Tour de France. As a result, driving from one side of the city to the other was impossible due to street closures. Finally, we were dropped off on one side of the street barricades so we could trek through an under-the-street tunnel to meet James and Stephen, who, with a wheelchair for Marlene, got us to the Innside Hotel. As we were checking in, the Tour de France bikers raced by. The picture below (under Sports) is from our hotel window.

Sagrada Família in Barcelona: Gaudí’s basilica turns light into part of the architecture, with colored glass and soaring tree-like columns creating a worshipful space shaped by nature, craftsmanship, and faith. Construction began in 1882, making the basilica more than 140 years old and a rare example of a sacred building still being completed across generations. Although major structural milestones have now been reached, including the central Tower of Jesus Christ and its cross making it the tallest church in the world, work continues on final exterior and decorative elements, with full completion expected in the 2030s.

Notre Dame in Paris: Notre Dame reminded us that medieval churches were also places of education, using stone carvings, stained glass, and sacred space to teach Bible stories and Christian truth to generations of worshipers and visitors. There is a statue of Christ teaching and pointing toward carvings representing the medieval liberal arts, including the trivium of grammar, rhetoric, and logic and the quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. After the devastating 2019 fire, Notre Dame reopened for worship in December 2024, making our visit a chance to see both its historic beauty and its recent restoration.

                                      Tour de France bikers racing past our hotel window 

Sports

Major sporting events were an unexpected bonus during this trip. Because I am not good at following athletic events, I had no idea that we would have soccer and the Tour de France as topics of conversation throughout the trip.

Soccer: Beginning in Lisbon, we were all captivated by soccer, but especially Danny, Petra, and James. It turns out that the FIFA World Cup 2026 was being played throughout our entire trip. On our second night in Lisbon, the three grandkids took mass transit into Lisbon’s Praça do Comércio to see the Portugal vs. Colombia game with locals on a big screen set up in this plaza.

Wheelchairs

Our trip would have been difficult, or maybe even impossible, without the assistance of wheelchairs. Marlene was able to walk on her own, but walking long distances or standing for extended periods is a challenge. 

At some point before this trip, friends told us that their airport experience was made much more manageable with wheelchair support, especially when there are long walks to the gates and extended lines for check-in and security. So, for each of our flights (Chicago to Lisbon, Barcelona to Paris, and Paris to Chicago), I requested wheelchair assistance. 

At this point, I must note Marlene’s courage, strength, and humility. She was determined, with God’s help, to do whatever it would take for this trip to move forward, holding my arm for support, using a walking stick, hanging on to rails, or being pushed in a wheelchair. Her determination enabled us to share in experiences that would have been unimaginable a few months earlier.

Beginning in Chicago, once you have a wheelchair with the required attendant, things roll along smoothly. But getting the wheelchair after checking in is the challenge. The typical drill is to use the “priority boarding” lane and tell the person at the check-in counter that wheelchair assistance was requested when purchasing the ticket. This is acknowledged, and when check-in is complete, we are asked to go to a nearby bench and wait for an attendant with a chair. This wait is typically about half an hour. The exception for us was in Paris, where things became difficult.

Paris turns out to be wheelchair madness. After getting our boarding passes, we wait. At the 20-, 30-, and 40-minute points, I remind the American Airlines check-in staff that we are still waiting. Finally, a person from the check-in area found a wheelchair and offered to take us to the American Airlines Assistance area. It was just a short walk. Marlene got in the chair. I walked alongside. We entered the area. As the gentleman helping us was about to leave, I looked around. There are about 50 assistance-needy people sitting sadly, waiting for help. I say to myself, “Oh, no. Not on my watch.” As he is about to move on, I look him in the eyes and say, perhaps a bit too strongly, “Oh, no. We’re not waiting here. I’ll take this wheelchair and push us through security and to the gate myself.” (I had been told earlier that only attendants were allowed to push wheelchairs.)

To my surprise, he says, “OK, come with me.” Now, I am pushing, and he is walking alongside. We take an elevator down one level to a security checkpoint. He speaks to the security staff, and they take us through a scanner. Then he talks to someone else and comes back to me. He says, “See that person up ahead of us, pushing someone in a chair? She is one of my colleagues. Follow her. She’ll get you through.” I thank him, and continue pushing, trying not to lose sight of the “colleague” who appears to be our only hope for getting through this security maze.  

We come to the next security screening checkpoint. I see the “colleague” and say, “I’m following you.” She gives an affirmative nod, and we approach a conveyor belt and a wheelchair-designated scanner. They motion for me to push Marlene through and then proceed to conduct the most thorough hand scan we have ever seen: They have Marlene stand and hand-wand every inch of her body. They have her sit, and they scan the bottoms of her shoes. They have her get out of the wheelchair and they wand all of the chair, including bouncing it a couple of times, I guess, to see if any contraband will fall out. The “colleague” is watching her person but also keeping an eye on us. As I’m repacking and reorganizing, she signals me to follow. The next step is the priority lane of customs, and after that, we head for our gate, breathing a sigh of relief.

There is one more Paris wheelchair story. This is from The Louvre museum. Our guide gets us parked, walks us directly inside (we skip the lines), and checks out a wheelchair for Marlene. He then directs us through a variety of art exhibits, narrating as we go. He tells us that in the two hours we are here, we will see about 1% of the collections. As we are near the end of time, we come to the hall displaying Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Marlene is especially interested in this one. She loved the book, Mona’s Eyes. Our guide says something like, “You are in luck. This wheelchair gives you priority so that you can be in front of the crowd and up close (literally within a few feet) to the painting.” He waves me into the designated area. I wheel Marlene up to this painting of the woman with the famous smile. I’m thinking that we will spend a few minutes looking at this portrait. The moment we get there, Marlene says, “OK. Let’s go. I’m worried about Lisa (our daughter-in-law). She’s uncomfortable.” I immediately turn the chair, and we leave the area to meet the family. After sixty years of married life, I know that this is typical Marlene behavior. She is always more focused on others than on herself.

I close these wheelchair stories with a few personal reflections, because what first seemed like a practical travel necessity has become, for me, a quiet lesson in grace. Here is what I’ve learned.

-It is a privilege to push someone in a chair. When walking, we usually move side by side; but when offering wheelchair support, the one pushing intentionally takes the place behind, serving the other person and saying, in effect, “You come first.”

-The person in the chair, meanwhile, gives up a measure of control and must depend on, and trust, the one who is pushing. That exchange requires patience, humility, and a willingness to receive help.

-Eye contact between the person in the chair and the person pushing is not possible, listening becomes especially important. The one behind must pay attention not only to directions but also to pace, comfort, fear, fatigue, and trust.

-Wheelchairs also require extra space, making those who use them dependent on the graciousness of others to make room and let them proceed. 

In that sense, our wheelchair experiences became a small picture of Christian community: sometimes we serve, sometimes we are served, and always, we depend on the kindness and patience of others along the way.

Food

The food on our trip was amazing! Way too wonderful to describe or even list here. So, the following are a few of my most enjoyable eating encounters.

Norwegian Dawn

No matter how you slice it, my favorite meal on the cruise was at the specialty Brazilian restaurant, Churrascaria. It was on Stephen’s birthday and featured serving after serving of different meats (including 4 kinds of beef, 1 pork, 1 chicken, and grilled pineapple) that were served from a skewer at tableside.

Belém, Lisbon 

There is this historic bakery that is famous for its custard tarts, called Pastéis de Belém, based on an 1837 monastic recipe. On a good day they make over 50,000 of them. We hit this place at the end of our first day in Lisbon after being awake for over 36 hours. We grabbed some for takeout because we were too exhausted to sit upright at a table. But the stop was worth it, and we looked for and enjoyed Belém-like tarts for the remainder of our trip, especially at breakfasts.

Nazaré, Lisbon

Taberna do Pouca Roupa was the seafood restaurant in Nazaré where we had

lunch on our second day in Lisbon. Marlene and I ordered the “Seafood Boat,” an overwhelming catch of shellfish. We feasted on it, shared it with others, and still were only able to finish about half of it. The location is a fishing and beach town that is also internationally known as a surfing mecca because of its record-breaking giant waves, up to 100 feet.

Gennevilliers/Paris area

Crousty Factory was one of my favorites in the Paris area and was located in the Gennevilliers section where we stayed. We loved the loaded rice bowls with crispy chicken. Its fusion concept blends culinary elements, including their Riz Africrousty (which features West African fried plantains alongside a signature house green sauce) and their Riz Crousty Curry, which incorporates prominent South Asian/Indian-inspired curry flavors.

Another favorite was a bakery that Petra found in response to my request to find some great French pastry. We sampled and shared a Napoleon, a chocolate eclair, and a rich, multilayered chocolate cake… yum!

Guides

Our three guides were booked through “Tours by Locals” and they were excellent. The following are recommendations we wrote for each of them as a result of their guided tours.

Lisbon: Ricardo P.

Our visit to Lisbon and the surrounding area was greatly enriched by our guide, Ricardo P. He led us through both a half-day introduction to the city and a full-day tour beyond Lisbon. He helped us appreciate the character of the historic neighborhoods, the beauty of the coastline, and the remarkable ocean views that make this part of Portugal so memorable. As people of faith, we also appreciated his respectful and thoughtful approach as we visited Fátima and other Christian sites, along with his openness in sharing about his own faith.

Ricardo also included excellent local food experiences along the way. From the memorable seafood at Taberna do Pouca Roupa to our stop in Belém for the famous Pastéis de Belém custard tarts, he introduced us to places that added flavor and delight to the day. Ricardo was professional, personable, attentive to our interests, and easy to travel with. We are pleased to highly recommend him as a guide who combines local knowledge, thoughtful service, genuine hospitality, and sensitivity to the interests and values of his travelers.

Barcelona: Francesc G.

Our visit to Barcelona, although brief, was greatly enhanced by the very knowledgeable, personable, and insightful Francesc. We had specifically planned our family vacation around a visit to the Sagrada Família. Francesc was able to help us not only view the beautiful architecture and historical journey of the basilica, but he was also able to share deep spiritual insights into its rich symbolism.

We also appreciated his flexibility in helping us navigate the extreme heat of the day. He was sensitive to the health and mobility concerns of our group, adjusting the schedule to meet our requests. We are able to highly recommend him, not only as an exceptional professional guide, but also as one who seeks to understand his travelers and be supportive of their interests and needs.

Paris: Romain G.

Our two full-day tours of Paris and the surrounding area were well-led by Romain, who guided our multi-generational group of seven adults with professionalism, patience, and thoughtful attention to our needs. He helped us experience many of the highlights of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Norte Dame, and the Louvre, while also making the longer day trips to Versailles and Monet’s house and gardens both enjoyable and manageable. His knowledge of the sites, clear explanations, and calm organization allowed us to appreciate the history, art, architecture, and beauty of each place without feeling rushed.

We especially appreciated Romain’s sensitivity to the mobility concerns within our group. At every location, he found wheelchairs and adjusted the pacing and scope of our activities so that everyone could participate as fully and comfortably as possible. This attentiveness made a significant difference for our family and helped turn potentially difficult logistics into smooth and memorable days. We are pleased to highly recommend Romain as a guide who combines strong local knowledge, careful planning, gracious hospitality, and genuine care for the people he serves.

Lodging

The variety of lodging types added interest to our trip. In Lisbon we stayed at a Holiday Inn, and in Barcelona, a hotel called Innside by Melia, each for two nights. They were spacious, clean, and a bit upscale. They both included extravagant breakfast buffets. For the cruise, we had balcony staterooms. They were only about 280 square feet each. I chose spacious hotel rooms to compensate for the tight quarters on the ship. The balance worked well.

In Paris we stayed at an Airbnb for three nights. It had four bedrooms. This gave James his own room for the first time on the trip. While the Airbnb was not air conditioned, each room had a fan and we all seemed to tolerate the heat well. The Airbnb was in the Gennevilliers area outside of Paris. Staying in this non-touristy location for three nights gave us a feel for a Parisian community. We enjoyed shopping with the locals and trying out the restaurants and bakeries. Thanks to Petra for finding this Airbnb. My thought on our lodgings is that the variety of places added a wonderful diversity to our shared living experiences. Ending our trip at an Airbnb provided an amazing family group experience as we interacted together around a counter and in a living room, all in one apartment.

In closing, this has been an epic multigenerational adventure shaped not only by travel, sightseeing, food, guides, lodging, and unexpected events, but also by deeper lessons in faith, family, service, and gratitude. From worshiping with a church plant in Barcelona to visiting magnificent sacred spaces such as Sagrada Família and Notre Dame, the journey invited reflection on living faith across generations. Unexpected sports moments, memorable meals, thoughtful guides, varied lodging, and navigating airports and places of interest with wheelchairs all became part of the story, revealing the joy and complexity of traveling together as a “small but mighty” family. The trip was more than a family travel experience and more than an anniversary celebration; it was a family lesson in God’s guiding grace.

The Family that Plays Together Stays Together

Our family thrives on having good times together. So when our friend, Lynn Bunnell, a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, showed me a worksheet packet from one of her seminars, I asked her for permission to make it into a blog. Here is my adaptation of her good work.

The Importance of Family Play Time

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook the importance of family leisure time. However, research and expert opinions suggest that engaging in play and recreational activities as a family unit can have profound benefits for both individual family members and the family as a whole. This blog post explores the concept of family play, its benefits, and practical ways to incorporate it into your life.

Understanding Leisure and Family Play

Leisure is more than just free time. According to Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Lynn Bunnell, it's an experience that can bring joy, acceleration, and pleasure. It's important to note that:

Leisure is a personal experience that must come from within,

The attitude towards an activity often determines whether it's truly leisure, and

It's a state of mind, reflecting a positive attitude toward life and living.

Rediscovering Childlike Qualities

As adults, we often suppress the childlike qualities we once possessed. However, reconnecting with these traits can enhance our ability to engage in meaningful family play. Some of these qualities include:

Optimism

Creativity

Curiosity

Imagination

Resilience

Eagerness to learn

Identifying and cultivating these qualities in ourselves can significantly improve our capacity for family play and overall life satisfaction.

The Benefits of Family Play

Engaging in play and maintaining a playful attitude can yield numerous benefits for families:

1. Increased self-esteem and self-confidence

2. Improved stress management

3. Enhanced cooperativeness between family members

4. Stronger sense of belonging and shared experiences

5. Improved trust and communication

6. Increased flexibility and spontaneity

7. Strengthened family bonds and feelings of togetherness

Overcoming Negative Messages About Play

Society often sends messages that can discourage play, especially for adults. These may include:

"Work before play"

"Be more responsible"

"Act your age"

"Do something productive"

It's crucial to recognize these messages and consciously choose to prioritize family play despite societal pressures.

Important Facts About Play and Leisure

Consider the following statistics:

Americans devote only 1.5 hours per week to sports and recreation on average

In Japan, 10% of all deaths of working men are attributed to overwork

Many individuals seek work to fill voids in their lives, neglecting leisure and family time

Low self-esteem, which affects one in three adults, can significantly impact motivation to play

These facts underscore the importance of intentionally incorporating play into family life.

Practical Tips for Enhancing Family Play

Here are some strategies to increase family playfulness:

1. Set aside unscheduled time for spontaneous family activities

2. Create a list of activities for children to do when bored

3. Find a balance between structured and unstructured time

4. Encourage creativity by allowing children to ask questions and try new things

5. Let children help decide family leisure activities

6. Schedule regular family nights

7. Participate in both cooperative and competitive activities as a family

8. Focus on the process of activities rather than the end result

9. Expose children to a wide range of activities

10. Examine your own leisure values and lifestyle

  

The Wisdom of Simplicity

Robert Fulghum's, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten reminds us of the fundamental principles that can guide family play:

Clean up your own mess

Take time to wander and observe the world around you

Balance different types of activities in your day

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don’t hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Don’t take things that aren’t yours.

Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

These simple yet profound ideas can serve as a foundation for meaningful family play.

Conclusion

Incorporating play into family life is not frivolous; it's a vital component of building strong, resilient family bonds. By understanding the importance of leisure, recognizing its benefits, and implementing practical strategies, families can create a lifestyle that values play and togetherness.

Remember, as the title suggests, "The family that plays together stays together." Make a commitment today to increase playfulness in your family life, and watch as it strengthens your connections and enhances your collective well-being.

Thank you, again, Lynn. By the way friends, if you ever call Lynn and need to leave her a voice mail message, you will get her recording that ends with, “And have a fun day.” We all need this reminder. Play together as a family and have a fun day!

Leadership Reflections on Max De Pree

Max DePree (1924-2017) was the son of D. J. De Pree (1891-1990), founder of Herman Miller Corporation of Holland, Michigan. Max became CEO in 1980 and served in that capacity untill 1987. He was a member of the company's Board of Directors until 1995. He graduated from Hope College and was a member of its board of trustees. He also served on the board of Fuller Theological Seminary and was involved with the Max De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller. He is the author of numerous books and articles on leadership. All of these bring a perspective emphasizing the values of creativity, humility, relationships, and respect.

I met Max De Pree once and have enjoyed three of his leadership-related books. These are Leadership is an Art (1989), Leadership Jazz (1992), and Leading Without Power (1997). The quotes in this presentation are from those books.

I am a friend of Pastor Toby Gruppen, whose mother, Sally, was Executive Assistant to D. J. De Pree, Max De Pree, and other presidents of the Herman Miller Corporation (now MillerKnoll). The pictures at the end of this blog are from Sally’s home. She and Toby graciously hosted our family and shared stories about the company. Sally currently serves as Legacy Ambassador for MillerKnoll. Following are quotes from the three books mentioned above and pictures taken from our time with Sally and Toby.

Quotes from Leadership Jazz
"We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are" (p. 74).

“A (jazz band) leader will pick the tune, set the tempo, and start the music, define the ‘style.’ After that it is up to the band to be disciplined and free, wild and restrained – leaders and followers, focused and wide-ranging, playing the music for the audience and accountable to the requirements of the band. Jazz-band leaders know how to integrate the ‘voices’ in the band without diminishing their uniqueness” (p. 103).

“… leaders need to learn not to inflict pain, but to bear it. It seems to me that if you are bearing pain properly… you ought to have the marks of the struggle. One ought to have bruised shins and skinned knees (p. 139).

“It takes more grace than tongue can tell to play the second fiddle well” (p. 198).

Quotes from Leadership Is an Art
“The leader is the ‘servant’ of his followers in that he
removes the obstacles that prevent them from doing their jobs… the true leader enables his or her followers to realize their full potential” (p. xx).

“Leadership is an art, something to be learned over time, not simply by reading books. Leadership is more tribal than scientific, more a weaving of relationships than an amassing of information…” (p. 3).

"The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant" (p. 11).

"We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion" (p. 15).

"The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers. Are the followers reaching their potential? Are they learning? Serving? Do they achieve the required results? Do they change with grace? Manage conflict?" (p. 12).

"Trust grows when people see leaders translate their personal integrity into organizational fidelity. At the heart of fidelity lies truth-telling and promise-keeping" (p. 59).

Quotes from Leading Without Power
"The goal of leadership is to make life better for others, not to impress them with your talents" (p. 22).

"When we think about the qualities of a leader, we need to consider how well they facilitate the performance of others, not just their own performance" (p. 28).

“One of the crucial tasks of leaders… is to help move groups of people, whether a family or a church or a school, in the direction of maturity as a community” (p. 76).

“The right to know is basic. Moreover, it is better to err on the side of sharing too much information than risk leaving someone in the dark. Information is power, but it is pointless power if hoarded (p. 103).

“While technical skill and lifetime learning are essential, I’m convinced that competence in relationships remains most important in making organizations places of realized potential” (pp. 166-167).

Summary
This has been a personal reflection on the life and writings of Max De Pree. He authored numerous leadership books. The quotes from three of his books emphasize creativity, humility, relationships, and respect. Pictures represent memories of gracious hospitality that was extended and powerful stories that were told by Sally Gruppen and her son Pastor Toby Gruppen. There is refreshing relevance to the work and writings of Max De Pree. I hope that you will enjoy reading some of his materials that follow.

Resources
Selected books by Max De Pree

Leadership Jazz. https://amzn.to/3W72rEf

Leadership is an Art. https://amzn.to/3zBIpJ3

Leading Without Power: Finding Hope in Serving Community. https://amzn.to/3W5rKqa

Called to Serve: Creating and Nurturing the Effective Volunteer Board. https://amzn.to/4cICccL

Fuller De Pree Center. https://depree.org/de-pree-journal/leadership-is-an-art/

Available as a YouTube video at https://youtu.be/0Hg6-LUwq9E

Supplementary online resources that may have been consulted include ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Google Gemini, and Google Search, and Wikipedia

Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com.

I Am 80 Years Old!

I turned 80 on April 18, 2024. Turning 80 is the reason for the word CELEBRATE being my word-of-the-year. I am 80 years old!

It is amazing to have reached this milestone. When it happened, I was recognized with congratulatory cards from friends, family, eye doctor, financial advisor, church seniors group, and even in the church bulletin. In our pickleball group, several friends said, “I would have guessed that you are only around 70.” But, I am 80 years old!

Many never reach the age of 80. One source, MacroTrends, estimates life expectancy to be around 79 in 2024. Even the Bible acknowledges the uniqueness of reaching this age. One passage says, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). I am still here, and I am 80 years old!

It seems especially astonishing for me to reach 80, because I am a stage 4 colon cancer survivor, almost leaving this life because of its spread to other areas and a traumatic reaction to chemotherapy. So, here I am, 80 years old, living fully even though missing a few parts, including a section of the colon, the appendix, a part of the liver, the gallbladder, and a kidney. While not physically complete, I am 80 years old!

Perhaps as a result of past health challenges, I have chosen to extend this time of joyful celebration. Of course, this would not be possible without the lavish love and spectacular support of Marlene (best friend, wife, and chief encouragement organizer [CEO]). A pre-celebration began on Monday, April 15 with Marlene baking “Burt-day Braun-ies” for me to take to my weekly pickleball group, which then kicked into full gear on my birthday on Thursday, April 18, and is extending through Sunday, May 5. Why not? I am 80 years old!

Marlene surprised me by inviting my sister, Helen (PA), and brother, Roy (NJ), to join us. Helen was not able to make the trip, but Roy flew in on my birthday. Roy and I spent more time together, did more things, and told more stories than we had in the last 60 years. The big day began with my picking up Roy from the Grand Rapids airport. We drove around Grand Rapids, pointing out places where Marlene and I had lived, worked, and worshiped. We even stopped at Marge’s Donut Den. Roy and I spent much of the next day walking and talking our way through the Gilmore Car Museum. We even made a stop at Sweetwater Donuts. Yes, it is permissible to have donuts two days in a row. After all, I am 80 years old!

Instead of one birthday meal, we had three. On Thursday night, joined by Stephen, Lisa, Petra, Danny, James, and Julia, we feasted on smoked brisket curated by Stephen and a four-tier birthday cake created by Marlene. In recognition of our son, Peter, we blew out the candles together (picture above). On Friday, Marlene, Roy, and I were joined by Marlene’s brother Del and his wife Judy for the second birthday dinner at Red Rock Grill in Macatawa Legends. Then, on Saturday, Marlene and I had an intimate pizza party (with another cake) at Stephen and Lisa’s house. Three days of celebration with even more on the horizon. We could do all this because I am 80 years old!

Still to come (as I write this and as the celebration continues) is a family overnight trip to Shipshewana, IN, Amish country. Marlene and I, together with Stephen, Lisa, Petra, Danny, James, and his girlfriend Julia, will have an Amish-style family dinner, attend a Johnny Cash tribute concert, and stay overnight at the Blue Gate Inn. Shipshewana, two hours from Holland, is a favorite getaway place for Marlene and me. It seems fitting to bring closure to this season of celebration by sharing “Shipshe.” And, I hope that the artist singing the Johnny Cash songs will include “Precious Memories.” I have so many, since, I am 80 years old!

But wait. Maybe my birthday celebration is not yet over. One of my goals has been to climb Angels Landing at Zion National Park. Our granddaughter, Petra, has just secured a permit for July. Wow! What a great way to celebrate being 80. And, Marlene and I are about halfway through a Route 66 road trip that we started a couple of years ago. And, I have also been reading about The Great River Road, a trip that follows the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca (MN) to New Orleans (LA). We should keep on celebrating now that I am 80 years old!

In closing this celebration summary, may it be said of me, “[He] will still bear fruit in old age, [he] will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘the Lord is upright; he is my rock…’” (Psalm 92:14-15). With God’s help, Marlene’s loving support, and the encouragement from family and friends; it is the desire of my heart to continue bearing fruit and staying green, even though, I am 80 years old!

Reflections on Our Family British Isles Cruise, June 24 - July 10, 2023

Burt and Marlene Braunius, Stephen, Lisa, and James Braunius; Danny and Petra Gonzalez

Following is a day-by-day summary based on the notes and Facebook postings of Lisa Braunius along with my own comments and edits.

Day 1: Saturday, June 24

After an 8-hour flight from Detroit, we landed at Heathrow Airport, where we took the London Underground to Victoria Station. From there we walked to our motel, Comfort Inn Victoria. By around 3:00 PM (London time), we were on a double-decker, hop-on-hop-off bus to see the city’s highlights (Big Ben, London Bridge, Parliament Buildings, Westminster Abbey, etc.), and finally, a boat ride down the Thames River.

Day 2: Sunday, June 25

Our previous day's bus tour did not go past Buckingham Palace. So, at 6:00 AM, on a beautiful, quiet sunny Sunday morning, we hiked to the Palace from our hotel and got some great cloudless and crowd-less pictures. After breakfast, a coach took us from London to Windsor Castle, where we saw St. George Chapel and marching royal guards. From there we were transported to the Southampton Cruise Terminal to board the Regal Princess, our home away from home for the next 12 days, for a 5:00 PM departure.

Day 3: Monday, June 26

We arrived in the Channel Island, St. Peter’s Port ,in Guernsey, England and took a tender into the town. We hiked to the Underground Military WW 2 Museum (all uphill, especially when your map app brings you to the topside of the museum, but we all got our steps in).

There was a lady we read about, Mrs. Warren Caine, who spoke “Heil Churchill” and was then sentenced to 4 months imprisonment by the Nazis. She became known on the island as Mrs. Churchill. We had a formal night for our dinner and enjoyed a musical show.

Day 4: Tuesday, June 27

Our next stop was Port of Cork, Ireland, where we visited the Blarney Castle and Kinsale were the places we visited. Marlene and Lisa walked the beautifully-manicured grounds of Blarney Castle, while the rest of the group climbed the Castle tower and kissed the Blarney Stone. We then traveled to the quaint town of Kinsale and had the most incredible fish and chips at Kitty O’Shea’s. This is such a beautiful country with green rolling hills dotted with happy cows and sheep in the fields.

Day 5: Wednesday, June 28

Dublin, Ireland was the next port of call. Burt and Marlene stayed on the ship to rejuvenate from the intensity of the previous days. Stephen, Lisa, Petra, Danny, and James took a train into the city and had a bit of rain, but it did not prevent them from thoroughly enjoying the city. They visited Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), the author of Gulliver’s Travels, preached at St. Patrick’s and was known for his 4-hour sermons. He had his pulpit put on wheels and would have himself wheeled up to people who were sleeping.

Day 6: Thursday, June 29

Back in England, we were at the port of Liverpool, the birthplace of the Beatles. We had been immersed in their music over the previous few days with evening productions on the ship. In Liverpool, we all went to stroll through “The Beatles Story,” an interactive experience about their beginnings and the evolution of their music and their lives.

Then we hopped on a double-decker bus and explored the city of Liverpool, saw James Street, along with several churches and beautiful architecture. The evening show aboard ship was a hilarious British comedian. People often arrived late to the shows, so this comedian called out to one of the latecomers, saying, “Can I get you anything…..like…..a watch!?!” Another good day!

Day 7: Friday, June 30

Belfast, Northern Ireland and the Giant’s Causeway were on our agenda for today. We left the ship and took a bus through the most beautiful landscape of rolling hills, green meadows, and rock walls. Sheep and cows were grazing in lush fields. The Causeway is a UNESCO site, comprised of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. Burt and Marlene took a shuttle, while the others hiked down to the shore and walked around on the columns. We then stopped for lunch in a little town, where we had our takeaway fish and chips. We ended the day with dinner together, at which time the ship's multicultural staff sang a rousing rendition of happy birthday to Steve (3 times…a little slower each time, yes, he was blushing). What a gift to have this dinner time each day where we share pictures, stories, and memories!

Day 8: Saturday, July 1

Scotland is another beautiful country. Our trip brought us to Glasgow. We started with the Glasgow Cathedral, the burial place of St. Mungo and also a memorial to John Knox. This former Roman Catholic cathedral was converted to and remains today a Presbyterian church. The second stop of the day was the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. One of its famous paintings is "Christ of Saint John of the Cross" by Salvador Dali.

July 1 is the day for the annual Orange Walk. The Orange Walk is a public parade organized by the Orange Order, an exclusively Protestant fraternal organization, celebrating the victory of the Dutch Protestant Prince William of Orange over the English Catholic King James, on July 12, 1690 at the Battle of the Boyne. There were many parades throughout the city that we were able to see and experience; obviously, this was a politically controversial event. 

The day ended with a double rainbow.

Day 9: Sunday, July 2

Today was a day at sea. We worshipped with our Fellowship Church family online, rested, relaxed, and had a special dinner on the ship at its Italian specialty restaurant, Sabatini’s.

Day 10: Monday, July 3

Our port was Invergordon, Scotland. Our bus tour traveled to Loch Ness, where we boarded a boat in search of Nessie. The views were breathtaking, from the rocky shoreline to the deep, dark water. This Loch is 22 miles long, one mile wide, and 750 feet deep in the middle. The weather was cold, windy, and rainy. We braved riding in the upper level of the boat for a short time, but then we gladly moved to the warmer inside seats. But, alas, no Nessie sightings!

We also explored St. Andrews Cathedral, still a very active church, including children’s activities and programs for seniors. Knitted mice were displayed throughout the church, part of a scavenger hunt for kids, which made us smile as we walked through the church's interior.

Day 11: Tuesday, July 4

A tender took us from our ship to the port, where we then boarded a bus into Edinburgh, Scotland. As we made our way into the city, we saw Princess Anne go by in an escorted motorcade. We found out that King Charles and Queen Camilla were scheduled to be in town the next day. Preparations included blockade gates and businesses painting their signs in order to get the city ready for the royal visit.

This was another historic and magnificent city. Some of us spent time at the National Museum of Scotland (Molly, the first cloned sheep, is stuffed and on display), while the rest of us enjoyed walking the streets and exploring the city. We learned that the architecture of public buildings, schools, and castles provided Edinburgh native J.K. Rowling's inspiration for the buildings in the Harry Potter series. The city is also the resting place of the body of John Knox.

Day 12; Wednesday, July 5

This was our second and final “at sea” day. We were nearing the end of the cruise. We welcomed the time to sleep in, kick back, and begin packing.

Day 13: Thursday, July 6

Our final stop was the port of Le Havre, France. From here, we boarded a bus to tour the landing beaches, cemetery, and visitor center of the Normandy invasion area. It was an overwhelmingly somber, yet rich, experience to walk the ground where 10,000 servicemen died, to be among the thousands of white crosses, and to view the artifacts of a war in which so many lives were sacrificed for the freedom that we enjoy today. Our last stop was Omaha Beach with the Le Braves Sculpture embodying "Wings of Hope," "Rise. Freedom!," and "Wings of Fraternity."

Days 14-17: Friday - Monday, July 7 - 10 

The ship returned to Southampton, and we disembarked by 7:30 AM for transfer to Heathrow Airport. Our plane left on time for JFK Airport and a connecting flight to Detroit. At JFK, however, we discovered that our flight to Detroit had been canceled due to "potential storms." The only next available flight was Sunday, July 9. This meant a two-night layover in New York City. We were able to get a Comfort Inn in the vicinity of the airport. Stephen, James, Petra, and Danny used the delay to explore NYC. Lisa, Marlene, and Burt stayed at the hotel to rest. 

On Sunday, we got to the airport and onto the plane, but the plane was not permitted to leave because of "weather issues." We sat on the runway for two and a half hours before returning to the terminal with instructions to take our bags with us. Finally, after hours and hours of exploring options (including two rental cars) with little success, our plane was finally cleared to board at around 7:00 PM. We eventually took off at 9:30 PM, arriving in Detroit near midnight, then driving back to Holland and getting home at 4:30 AM on Monday.

 We say, "Thank you, Lord, for an incredible, epic, amazing, once-in-a-lifetime rich family- shared experience!" 

Each of us concluded that we would do it all over again in a heartbeat!