Musings

• Is it bad when the vocational school that is going to fix your truck for the cost of PARTS ONLY is $2,000?!?! Yikes. That tree should have jumped out of the way as Ken came toward it in December. It's only the front left corner, but hit four or five panels. Eww!
• The last Saturday in January is becoming a reserved date on my calendar each year. I am able to accompany many students as they head to solo & ensemble, where they play for a judge. I accompanied 15 middle school students in December, and have 8 HS entries tomorrow...just up the road at Grant MS. It is fun to be able to sit down and play the piano while helping the students...and a little extra $ is nice, too. I love teaching English, but I do miss teaching music. All the students I'm working with are ones who started in 6th grade beginning band with Rob and me.
• Julius Caesar is now dead, Portia has killed herself, and others are about to experience the results of betrayal and conspiracy, as my 10th graders finish Shakespeare's tragedy. This is the first time I've taught it, and I am enjoying it. I've been reminded recently of how thankful I am to have a job I love going to each day. Kent City students and families are great.
• Anyone read Frank Stockton's "The Lady or the Tiger?" My 8th grade is finishing this story. Which way do you think the princess directs her lover...to instant death by the tiger, or to an instant wedding to a beautiful maiden (who the princess despises)???
• I now have tables and chairs in my classroom at school...how wonderful! My previous desks had a small desktop and when students opened up their books, there was little room for anything else. There is a lot of furniture in the room, but it's worth it so they can spread out some. My students seem to like it a lot.
• Our computer is dying a slow death....only one USB port works some of the time, the power cord will not charge the battery at all, so the computer turns off immediately if unplugged, the power cord doesn't stay in the computer well, the screen will not stand upright on its own, etc., etc. Can you believe we found a new laptop through Dell (and the Education Employee's section) for about $400? The best part? It has a CHERRY RED top!! My favorite was the pink top, but since Ken and I share the computer, I thought that might be going overboard.
• The sun is beautiful as it makes streaks through the snow, cutting diagonally through the lines of pine trees. I love looking at the woods.
• Why is it nap ("rest") time and I hear random sounds coming from upstairs?? Better go check on that. :)

Enjoy this weekend!

REV

It's Creeping...

I feel like I'm on HIGH alert and am vigilant about avoiding this nasty illness going around! 117 students were home ill today at Kent City High School. Wow. My colleague Jill had 15 students absent in one class! They had large dispensers of hand sanitizer at the middle school, and were monitoring to make sure each child took a squirt on their way in to lunch. We do this Capturing Kids' Hearts program, which is a program that helps connect and build relationships with teachers and students. One of the things they want us to do is shake hands & make eye contact as the students come in the room. I try to do this as much as I can. This morning I shook hands with many of them, and then one student said, "You don't want to touch me in this state."

Ewwww! So, I immediately went down and washed my hands thoroughly! I feel badly for all these kids....this illness is a 4-6 day time of misery - with fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, etc. One girl told me, "All I wanted to do was sleep, because it was the only thing that didn't feel bad." I gave my children a lesson in hand-washing last night at our sink and talked about coughing into your sleeve, etc. I also asked them to wash their hands LOTS! Hopefully we can keep it out of our home. All four kids plus me are getting seasonal flu shots tomorrow.

In other news, we had fun at the Country Basket orchard today with the Fishers. What a gorgeous fall day! We came back and had soup, bread, and cupcakes...kind of a "Happy Birthday Amy" celebration, but just an outing for fun, too.

I need a Halloween costume for Nathan - size 8 Boy - any ideas or help is welcomed....this creative costume making/figuring out is not my forte!

Ken and my brother Paul are building a shed this coming Saturday. We are putting it in the woods next to the grass. We need something to store all of our 'precious' possessions. (i.e. get the stuff out of the garage so we can put both vehicles in the garage!) Paul is a great worker and always has a ready smile. We are grateful for his expertise and willingness.

I bought a new piano book at Family Christian store this weekend. It mixes 'contemporary' worship songs with hymns in its arrangements and I look forward to playing them! Debbie Harrison and I are playing a piano duet on Sunday, so I'd better work on that before tackling the new solo pieces. Why is it that something we enjoy doing so much (playing the piano and reading for me) we don't just find the time to do, unless it's scheduled? (like having a Praise Band rehearsal) I admire people who find time to enjoy their hobbies frequently.

I painted a dresser black that we purchased off Craigslist...it was formerly a turquoise color. I love it!!! I am now looking for other things to paint, since I have some leftover paint! That was the impetus for decluttering and rearranging our bedroom, and oh - what a relaxing feeling now - clean, tidy, orderly, de-cluttered, new pictures in picture frames, new-to-me dresser, etc. Does your house accumulate tons of papers and just this-n-that (junk) like mine? It is a constant thing to be on top of so it doesn't accumulate! I work on this daily!

Nathan got new glasses recently. They have blue frames that go nicely with his blue eyes. He is a sharp boy. He said the MEAP went fine and when I asked him what he did if he didn't know the answers to the questions (it was the reading MEAP), he casually said, "Well, Mom, then you just look back at the reading and find the answer." That made this Momma so happy! That is what I teach and emphasize to my middle and high school students, and how great to hear this from my 3rd grade son! :)

Well, the meanderings should cease for now...time for bed.

Sleep well and peacefully. Isn't it nice to sleep when it's a little cooler outside?

September Days and Rays

Hasn't the sunshine this past week been marvelous? It's like Indian Summer, except I'm not sure that's what it is! We had a beautiful afternoon out at Grose Park for our annual church picnic and baptisms in the lake. What a lovely setting for 17 people who showed their outward commitment to Christ - from 10 years old to 40+ years old. Our church is like our extended family and it's great to belong. One whole family was baptized - mom, dad, two teenagers; another two college-age brothers were, too. It's neat to hear each person's testimony, said in their own way, but all pointing toward God's grace and LOVE for us!

Week 1 went well for all. I was feeling a bit nostalgic while writing my last post. It has been a good thing to be back in a routine. Robyn had a paper she needed to have filled out for the first day, so I asked her the questions. For "What is your favorite subject/thing to do in the classroom?" she thought and finally answered, "I don't have a favorite part. I like everything we do in class." A telling and precious statement. She has enjoyed it and we are glad she is in good hands with Mrs. Vanderlaan, the same teacher Nathan had as a 1st grader. An interesting fact: she lives near Spring Lake, about 4 miles from the home I grew up! There's a great bike path that goes around the lake and goes past her home.

Nathan likes his class, too. They are having a class store, with items of all different prices. where the children earn a $5 salary each week. For infractions, they lose $. For positive behavior, they can earn $. He now has $6.50 and informed me he hopes no one else buys the item he wants before he earns enough money. I asked, "How much is it?" Answer: "$85.00!" Wow!!! That will take a while! Isn't that a cool concept for kids - the benefits of earning and saving money, delayed gratification, etc.?

My classes went well, too, and I feel more relieved going into the second week. There's a good tone at both the middle and high school and that helps as a teacher. My classes are in good routines already and after each day last week I thought, "I really love teaching! It is so inspiring and such a great job!" It's neat to see some of the students I had in 6th grade band, who are now 8th and 10th graders. Kent City is a special place for students...they get personal attention and I've been reminded what a caring staff we have. I've been home each afternoon and have had time with Seth and Aaron, then N & R come after school. And on Saturday, Nathan's soccer team did well (I thought Nathan played his best game ever!) and he and Coach Dad celebrated a victory. :) All in all, a good week. Thank you for praying for us.

I have quickly realized I need to be diligent about getting to bed in a timely manner or I feel it! So, off to bed. How did the first week go for you/your kids/grandkids?

The End of Summer...Sigh

It's been a good run. Three plus months of enjoying the days, flexible schedules, playing here, working there (those household chores just keep a comin'!), doing this and that...well, it all ends now. At least that's what it feels like. We've sure enjoyed our summer, and while it will be good for all to get back in a routine, I will miss our carefree days.

Here is a sample of Ken's past week: Tuesday - work till 4:40, grab Nathan, head to soccer practice at 4:45 (Ken is the coach of N's team), come home at 6:20, scarf some food, head to meeting from 6:30-8:30 pm. Ugh! Thursday his schedule basically repeated. They won't all be like that, and I'm not complaining; on this particular Labor Day we are grateful for good jobs. Perhaps all who have a job are? Anyway, I'm praying for a smooth transition for all. Professional development days/teacher meetings last week were good, but long -it's my only 'full time' week of the school year and reminds me how THANKFUL I am for my part-time position!! Our new HS principal is so competent, experienced, on the ball, and a good motivator - yay!

I'm teaching in the mornings this year. Seth will be doing some preschool with his friend Kristyn at Kristy's home and is excited about that. Aaron is fascinated by their one year old, Oliviya, and hopefully won't sit on her. Kristy is a blessing to our family - so sweet and patient. Any preschool suggestions or ideas are welcomed, as we're still figuring that out.

Usually a week or two in, and we've all settled into our routine. N & R are overall happy to go to school, though Robyn says she would just like to be home with me. Isn't that sweet?

We had a nice trip on the Lake Express - it's a huge boat!! I took video of Ken driving our van onto the ferry. Perhaps if I attempted to post online, I could. That seems like a lot of work. The cabin was spacious and we sat with a table in the middle of four seats on each side. A nice retired lady was also in our section of eight seats....thankfully all were well behaved and she seemed to like kids! A group of chiropractors from the West MI area sat across from us and I couldn't help but listening to the interesting conversations they were having. I wondered if they gave free adjustments on the boat ride? No, I didn't ask!! Milwaukee had great sites and the children's museum was a hit. What a great place! Our outdoor hotel pool was pristine and 84 degrees - perfect! That was another highlight. I headed to Reiman Visitor Ctr with Aaron one evening and got detoured 5 - yes 5 - times by construction. The 'ole GPS (we call her Maggie) doesn't know about construction....so by the time I got there (taking 45 min instead of 15) I only had 20 minutes in the place. But their outlet store had many good finds - my favorite was a new Slow Cooker cookbook. It will be fun to try new recipes in our Crockpot. Oh, and I forgot the kids' total favorite: the Jelly Belly Factory! The original and biggest one is in CA, but this one seemed big to us. It's between Chicago and Milwaukee, right off the expressway, and the right price: free! They took us on a Jelly Belly tram all around the factory warehouse - shelves stocked floor to high ceiling with tons of boxes of candy. We saw via video the process in action. Of course there were free samples at the end - a bag with one of 49 different kinds. Their store had more samples and some candy at good prices. My favorite: very cherry. Interestingly, that is the most popular variety of Jelly Belly. Ken's favorite: malted milk balls!

Just as we were getting ready to get something to eat and then head back to the dock, I received a cell call. The recorded message explained that it is of highest priority to the Lake Express that their passengers are comfortable. The current lake conditions would be very UNcomfortable for passengers (i.e. high waves, stormy conditions), so they were cancelling our boat. SO, around that big lake we headed. We were glad it was on the way home it was cancelled; after our busyness and excitement during our three days, ALL FOUR kids slept the first 2.5-3 hours of the trip. But can anyone explain why Chicago has traffic jams at 6:30 Sat. evening? 45 min of slowdown...then home at 11:30. A good family getaway. Half our boat fare was refunded, too.

After this past week (four days) of crazyness, we headed up to my brother's cabin. The guys and two oldest kids from each family headed on an adventure: canoeing (Ken said they canoed two hours and waded around in the water 1 hour), camped overnight, canoed another hour Sat AM, and Bronya picked them up around noon. The were filthy and happy!! Bronya & I thought shopping sounded more fun. While they were gone, we drove to Pentwater, a beautiful tourist town on a peaceful lake with sailboats all around. It was lovely! We checked out the cute shops and finished with ice cream. We decided that was our idea of roughing it. ;)

Well, if you've read this far, you deserve a prize! I'll try to update about how the first week goes. To God Be the Glory this school year for our kids and teachers!

A New Adventure!

After many nights in a row of obligations (VBS, meetings, HFG, etc.), we had nothing going for the rest of the day after church! Whew. Our VBS was in the evening, and it was great, but I didn't anticipate how tiring it would be - for all of us. The Sunday nap today felt great for all. All slept except Seth, who decided to make a fort with his sheets and comforter during quiet time. :) Ken suggested yesterday that we go on a family bike ride on a bike trail!

We recently acquired (due to generous friends whose kids are older) a bike trailer! It fits two children nicely. Aaron always rides, then we rotate between Seth & Robyn. We headed to the (paved) Musketawa Trail & parked just off Gooding (13 Mile). What a BEAUTIFUL ride! And how NICE not to be concerned with motorized vehicles...just fast bike riders zipping around our not-so-fast family. Ken said it was like we were the circus parade - Nathan on a bike, Robyn or Seth on a bike, one adult with Jessie on a leash, the other adult with adult bike and large bike trailer behind...let's just say we don't look professional. The spandex sportin' cyclists look suave compared to our brood...but we had more smiles! Unfortunately, Seth looks down while riding(guess it helps him to push the pedals around), so he veered into the woods a few times.

We rode the trail 3 miles into Ravenna and then rode side streets to a perfect destination: The Ice Cream Station. Check it out if you've never seen it - a remodeled gas station that has tasty ice cream at reasonable prices. At this point mom and dad deemed it best for the children and one parent to head across the street to a playground while one parent rode back to the truck. Ken doesn't get to play at the playgrounds as much as me, so we opted to have me ride back to the truck...I put that 'ole Le Tour Schwinn 10 speed in high gear (bought it for myself when I was 15) and was back in no time.

What a great evening! We all loved it and want to return soon. I imagine it's beautiful in the fall. The kids want to go back - Robyn asked if we could return tomorrow! Anyone want to join the parade next time?

Wanderings

Dad's B-day party - with the piano recitalists.

Sunset on vacation. Wow.

Father's Day at home - kids made him a poster

Beachin' it on vacation

That Father Son Campout was a blast! Seth fell asleep before the bus left the campground. :)

Curls and more curls. So cute.

We celebrated Ken's birthday in June with an overnight at the Shack in Jugville. Beautiful, quiet, peaceful = perfect!

He's a charmer...

The church goin' dudes...Seth selected the hat to wear with his Sundy' best.

Wanderings of the mind, in random order:

• Is anyone else (especially you with children) amazed at how fast your kitchen/dining room floor needs to be swept? The broom and I spend time together often and every time I am truly amazed how much 'stuff' I sweep up. So glad I don't have carpet in my wood floor areas!
• Walfield Park (Alpine/8 Mile) is such a great place. Go there if you haven't. We spent time today having a picnic in the spacious pavilion - which overlooks the nice playground - then romped around the play area. They have creative play equipment and lots of trees around, which creates a pleasant breeze. There's also a nature trail, but we didn't tackle that today. I think my friend Carolyn used to walk her dog on the nature trail area.
• Women from KCBC - we have nine people signed up for the IKEA trip on August 15 - we need to fill the bus a lot more than that! I've never been there, but have heard it's a 'destination all it's own!' Hoping I can go on the 15th for a Mom's Day Away. Sign up if you're interested. :)
• The 'big boys' (i.e. Ken, Nathan, Seth) had a ball at the Father/Son Campout last Thurs - Sat. They camped near Silver Lake and had a ball...when they got home they were dirty, tuckered, and glowing about their trip. Seth said, "I told Daddy that this was the BEST trip I've ever been on!" Nathan liked the wiffleball and sand dunes. They both liked hangin' out with Dad and other kids. How cool that Ken is so involved with the kids and they love it! There were 40 Dads and sons total. Thanks, Doug, for coordinating all the food - that's a BIG job for all those big eaters! Nathan especially liked the bacon and sausage. (something he doesn't get a ton of at home :)
• And while the boys were away, the Girls Played! Oh, and Aaron, too - he came along happily for the ride. I asked Robyn what was something she wanted to make with Mom and she chose Peanut Butter Kiss cookies. We had a tea party (once Aaron was in BED - he and tea parties do NOT go together!) We headed to Muskegon on Friday afternoon and did the noble and tiring task of getting their pictures taken (individually) at JC Penneys. The photos turned out great; the time it takes is always long and laborious. I wanted an update for the big frames in our stairwell. Check 'em out if you're over sometime! After that we met Grandpa Richards for dinner, a playground in Spring Lake, the Imagination Station in Grand Haven, and the musical fountain! Wow - a full and fun evening. It was enjoyable watching Grandpa interact with Aaron and Robyn - he always gets involved playing and having fun with the kids when we're with him, which they and we all love. Thanks, Granpda, for a fun night! By Sat afternoon we were ready to be a complete family again.
• Aaron enjoys handing his plate to you from his high chair when he's finished eating - OR wants more food. He gave big smiles to the photographer at the studio - for about 6 shots, then was DONE. Robyn smiled sweetly the entire time and asked me the next day if she could go get her pictures taken again. Amy, can you help me out here?
• Robyn is looking forward to getting her glasses soon. We had a screening done recently at a kids' event we were at, and the results indicated we should get her checked out. Sure enough, the glasses will really help her - not only in vision, but in helping both eyes work together well. I am SO glad I went on my intuition and got her checked that night - the dr expressed that they will help her a great deal. And in first grade, lots of things are happening academically that I wouldn't want her to struggle to see things. She asked me the next day if her glasses had come in yet!
• VBS is here!!! Our church is trying it in the evenings this year, after always hosting it in the mornings. The Vanderwest kids have been looking forward to VBS all summer. Day one went smoothly, lots of kids came, and all enjoyed Bible Study Outback, G’Day Café, Recreation Rock, Craft Crossings, the Opera House, and their fearless leaders: Crocodile Kendee, Wallaby Weeks, Billabong Bandicoot (aka Pastor Josh), & Kickin’ Koala Bair (Brian Bair – standin’ in for Pastor Derek)!! I'm helping with registration, the kitchen crew, and whatever the director (Crocodile Kendee) needs.
• Having our first Michigan corn on the cob tonight! Yum! Going to pick blueberries Thursday morning with the kids. The Fisher girls are coming over on Friday, which we always enjoy.
• The kids are currently playing their about 26th game of Uno Attack in the last week. Thank you to whichever family member gave this to us for Christmas!
• There's something about 'old' or long-time friends that is so special. My dear friend from growing up, Kristen (or "Buddy," as my brothers called her), now lives in Indianapolis with her husband and step-daughter. They came for a visit to MI and came over for dinner last week. It was so good to chat and catch up....the phrase "A friend is somehow who knows all about you and loves you anyway" comes to mind with my 'long-time' friends...and there's something soothing about them knowing your history and you knowing theirs, etc. We agreed we needed to catch up more often! She is sweet and kind and now helping her mom who has Alzheimer's - very hard, especially as Kristen is just 35 and an only child.
• We found wild blackberries and raspberries in our woods! Yum! The kids enjoy finding ripe berries. I checked to make sure there was no poison ivy in that area...ugh! Ken has had it 3 times this summer....yuck. Poor guy. Last time steriods took care of it, because his eye was swelling shut. :( We (that's the collective "we") are trying to eradicate it from our woods, but it is TENACIOUS stuff and "evil," as Ken says. Ugh.
• We had a fun birthday party for my Dad and all pitched in to purchase a cell phone for him! Six days later, after he read both manuals, he was ready to turn the phone on and make and receive calls. Woo Hoo! It was exciting the first time I couldn't reach him at home and called him on his phone and he answered! I think he'll like it - or at least his kids and friends will....
• Tonight we are having Michigan corn-on-the-cob for the first time tonight! Aren't all the fresh Michigan fruits and vegetables wonderful?! We are blessed! In the summers, my Mom often made veggies and fruits meals - all different types of recipes, and always tasty.
• It is now 4:30 and I need to have the crew to church by 5:30. Thanks for reading this meandering post

RV

Sum-Sum-Summertime

It's been a while! We are enjoying a fun and relaxed summer. Having no schedule is sooooo nice, compared to the school year up & at 'em, out the door, evening activities, more meetings for Ken, etc., etc. We (i.e. the four children) are still up early (by 7 am), but it's relaxing when they can play, eat a leisurely breakfast, then do their "get ready for the new day" things. I am enjoying their ages very much this summer - at 4, 6, and 8 they are eager beavers and can get themselves ready to go somewhere (including buckling in van!) without much help needed. :) Aaron troops along and there's always a sibling to keep him happy. He is quite smiley and most everyone comments about his 'surfer' hair - super blonde, curls all around side and back, wavy hair on top...we can't bear to cut those curls, for fear they will never return! I'm getting pictures with his lovely locks taken at Penney's this week. He LOVES the outdoors - has to be watched like a hawk - our driveway which angles right down to the road is dangerous for busy 16 month olds. We figured out he could open both the screen and glass doors on our deck slider, go backwards down the stairs, and head for the sandbox, garage, etc. Glass door is always locked now for safety. Pray he stays safe - he's so fast!

Highlights from the summer:
*Swimming lessons for N, R, and S - they all progressed well - in fact, so well that I'm going to have them do another 2 week session starting next week. Kent City may not have much, but we do have a great pool! :)
*A trip up north - to Grand Lake (near Alpena) with friends - so beautiful and relaxing! A perfect lake for kids.....shallow water, tons of sand tons, lots of friends, fun with fun people.
*From there to Mackinaw City - camped for 5 days at a fun and beautiful campground. I am amazed how much the kids enjoy camping! It seems like they could camp for half the summer!
*Campfires, fireworks with friends, long summer evenings - it sure stayed light for a long time during June!
*The Belmont's! Ken's sister Valerie and family made the trek from PA and we spend as much time as we can with them the week they're here. Beach, cabin, food, hangin' out, talking - thank you to Mom & Dad Vanderwest for opening their home to the large groups. On the Vanderwest side, our kids are closest in age to the Belmont cousins, and they love playing, playing, and playing with them!
*Reading with Robyn and Seth most days.
*Ping-pong games with Nathan. Ken's bday gift was a ping-pong table, and N and I like to play. He is getting the hang of it!
*Doing the KC Elementary, Barnes & Noble, Schuler Books, and Kent District Library reading programs! :) Can you tell Ken & I promote and enjoy reading?! Good thing we can use the same books for numerous programs! The kids love putting their stickers on, writing down book titles, their favorite parts, etc.
*The Weeks' down the street - Robyn & Jasmine are buddies, as are Nathan & Joe & Gio.
*Did I mention not being on a schedule? How nice to play Uno and other games when we want, have them help around the house, see them all interacting together (usually happily) - blocks, Lincoln Logs, farm, K'nex, etc. Seth especially likes having N & R home.

We are blessed. Summer is a great time for reflecting on God and what's important in life.

May!

It's May - fun, sun, and activities!

*We have a graduate on our hands! Robyn graduates from kindergarten tomorrow and is awfully excited. We have been hearing renditions of patriotic songs for the past weeks and it will be nice to hear the whole class. I am taking a personal day and we're having our grandparents over for lunch afterwards. Her menu choice? Pizza, of course! She just ran upstairs (5:15 pm) to set out her special dress for tomorrow. She is so sweet and cute.

*I was told by Mrs. Rich (Nathan's teacher) that she has seen him blossom so much this year and how fun that's been to see. She said, "I had to ask him to stop talking recently and it surprised the whole class, including Nathan and myself!" Haha. He has a field day and carnival time next week with his class.

*Aaron's current favorite spot to climb? The CENTER of the kitchen table. Sigh. Each time he is reprimanded, taken down, and I think he seems to be understanding more...He loves charging around the house and makes us smile a lot.

*We sure love our woods! I have been planting some flowers and they look pretty next to the woods. However, I am NOT loving the amount of BUGS!! They are BUGGING me! Tiny gnats to famished mosquitoes-ugh! Also, Ken and my allergies are going bonkers - currently taking two Clarinex a day, instead of my normal one.

*Seth is reading all of his Cubbies verses to me from the past year - recognizes some of the words and says the whole verse. Isn't that awesome?! AWANA is a great program. Ken and I had such good experiences in AWANA as children (perhaps 80% of the verses I know are from memorizing them in AWANA). How cool that all three kids passed their books this year - Nathan earned a Sparky award for all three years!! Passing from one generation to another - exactly like the Bible commands us.

*Just found out that my good friend Cathy, from college, will be coming to West MI for a visit this summer! Melanie, Cathy, and I are planning a girls day together - haven't seen Cathy since 1997-way too long! Her brother just relocated to Holland, MI, for a job (YES - someone COMING to MI for a job! :) and she's visiting him. She's lived in TX and FL for many years.

Stop by soon for pics of our new grad. :)

A Positive Update

I never realized how happy a DRY cement floor could make me! After nearly two weeks, the water ceased coming in, and after a big rain no water came seeping in. SO, we wait for the next big rain, and hope the minor repairs Ken has done will take care of things. We discovered it was combination of bad factors: full gutters (have to clean them a lot in our wooded area, full of pine trees) so the rain dumped in the corner, soft sand in the corner that was sloping toward the house, a helpful dog who enjoyed digging in the soft sand, making the corner sloping toward the house more prominent, and extreme rains - 7 inches in 5 days a few weeks back.

Ken cleaned out the gutters, added five wheelbarrows of dirt to the corner, sloped it AWAY from the house, I planted dune grass in that corner, he added longer downspouts to direct water further from house...so we are hopeful. The carpet is completely dried, rolled up, and in the garage. We are hoping to have it re-installed once we know for sure there's no water issue. We are glad it was in the sun for four days to kill anything in it. The backing looks great - no mildew, spots, etc. What an adventure. If I don't soak up any water with shop vacs for a long time, I'm OK with that!

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all Moms who read this! You are SPECIAL! We had a nice Mother's Day overall. Of course it is always bittersweet for me, so the tears flow at times. I felt the 'loss' of my stepmom/my kids' Grandma this year, too, which still makes me sad. This year at church we could purchase hanging baskets in honor or memory of a mom in our life. The front of the auditorium was beautiful - nearly 70 fresh, colorful baskets decorating the stage. Thanks, Joanne! I purchased one in memory of my mom from all of us and Ken purchased one for me from the crew. They are now hanging from my porch. Pastor Chris gave an excellent sermon on the priority of motherhood. After church we had a simple dinner of leftovers, the kids gave me sweet gifts from school and church and a special acrostic they made and Ken typed up with the kids' names, all took naps, we played at a park in Cedar Springs (we are becoming experts on all the local parks: "Let's go to the one with the red swirly slide!" say the kids), then into the Grand Opening of the new Meijer in Cedar Springs. Yay!! Meijer only 10 minutes away - how exciting for this Kent City resident! It is a new version of their big superstores...full grocery dept., other departments are smaller but the whole store is very nice. Maybe because it's smaller I will spend less time in it, therefore spending less $$?! It will be great having one close by and not having to drive down Alpine! I am committed to shopping our local KC Marketplace for the specials each week. Our local store needs our business, too, especially since they're in front of our new church and have been so gracious to KCBC. After Meijer we all celebrated Mother's Day with a bowl of ice cream. What a privilege and responsibility God has given me to raise these four precious children. I'm sure thankful for my wonderful husband and the team we are in this parenting role. Though tiring and though it's the hardest job I've ever had, it's Far and Away the BEST job I've ever had and worth the effort!

I had a brainstorm Friday morning, so that afternoon had my students write a note/letter/acrostic/poem to their Mom on pretty paper. I only gave two requirements: write from your heart, and please write use good writing, penmanship, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. ("You don't want your Mom focusing on what poor spelling you have, etc.") The office had some nice white 5 x 8 envelopes they were glad to let me use, so voila! My 10th graders were all set for Mother's Day! I told 'em they had each saved $3-4! A few already had a plan, but the majority did not. On Monday, I asked what the response was, and of course their moms appreciated it. "My mom cried," said many of them. That was my goal - haha - of course not, but I was glad to have a small role in helping them honor their moms. I have a feeling most of them would have remembered it was Mother's Day on Sat night or Sun morning. ;) When I taught middle schoolers, I used to do something like that for Mother's Day, but seeing "big" teenagers jump at the chance to write to their moms was special. I think during the last week of school we'll do something like that for their Dad (Stepdad, Grandpa, etc.) for Father's Day.

Well, time to go on a bike ride with Seth-er! I'll try to post some pics of Mother's Day cuteness soon. On the way home from church, Robyn asked, "Do you want us to go out to the rocks in the backyard so you can take our picture?!" :0) Too cute.

Friend and Foe

*A tall glass with ice cubes and clean water.
*Gorgeous Lake Michigan - sitting near it, walking next to it, gentle waves or bigger waves
*The creek next to my Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell's house in Mishawaka, IN. Out in the country, long summer days playing with my brothers in that little creek.
*A pleasantly warm bath, watching one, two, or three of my children happily splashing and playing.
*The school pool or any one of our friends' outdoor pools.
*Ahhhhhh - a hot tub that soothes the skin, body, mind, soul....
*Hearing raindrops outside while snugly in bed inside.
*Seeing the lush, green grass thriving.

All of the above would DEFINITELY be in the 'FRIEND' category.

Discovering water in your finished basement, noting the sump pump is in the opposite side of the basement from where the water is originating, determining to salvage the carpet it needs to be removed, moving all furniture from room, carefully removing carpet and draping over deck (drying quite nicely at this point), tossing the pad, shop-vaccing load after load of water from basement floor, water still coming in along outside back wall at this point...oh, and finding out insurance does not cover 'floods.'

The above would, WITHOUT QUESTION, be in the FOE category.

Things could be worse. I talked with my brother and he re-assured me and said that there wasn't a need to panic. His neighbor had just come over and shared that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. My friend Megan brought my attention to the plight of the invisible children in Uganda - children ages 9 and up abducted from homes while sleeping and forced to be part of a rebel army. The video on the website is powerful and so sad. Those things put water in the basement in perspective.

It's been an incredibly wet winter/spring - ice melt, deluge of rains again and again.....people that haven't ever had water in their basement have water, something I read said we've not had this much water in this period of time since 1989...I believe it! No sign of water before in our home - with us or previous owners.

Yet, I am weary, though trying not to fret and instead to PRAY when I get concerned. If you would pray that we find the solution soon, with minimal damage to our home, we sure would appreciate it. And preferably one that doesn't cost an exorbitant amount of money. I just wish the water would stop coming in! Brad (my brother) did tell me on Thursday that it would keep coming in for at least 3-4 more days, so I guess we're 'normal'. Today I felt like I was just trying to keep my head above water (yes, pun intended!) as I tried to balance playing with and caring for the kids as Ken and Nathan were in Detroit.

I need to go bail. I assume that if you read this, you care about us, so thanks for caring.

What would you say?

THE SCENARIO: After our Fellowship Group tonight, it was 8:35 (past the kids' bedtime). Our guests had left and Aaron was asleep in his crib. Seth was getting his jammies on upstairs. I turned around and saw Robyn lounging in the big chair reading and Nathan flopped on the couch reading.
Mom: "OK Guys, time to head for bed."
Robyn: "But I can't head to bed - I'm reading the Bible!"
Nathan: "And I can't head to bed, either - I'm reading the dictionary!"
Sure enough, they were reading those exact books....

So, how would you respond? I called Ken in and with a smile shared with him how N & R had responded. He had them snuggle next to him on the couch and said, "I'm glad you like reading the Bible. And I'm glad you like learning new things!" But, I have something to read to you. He looked up Ecclesiastes 3 and read, "There is a time for everything, a season for every purpose under heaven: a time to plant, and time to pick what is planted; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to keep, and a time to cast away, a time to keep silence, and a time to speak, a time to brush teeth, and a time to go to bed."

I believe that was read from both English Standard Version (ESV) and the KCV version......

And of course Nathan (who was listening, not reading along), said, "Hey! The Bible doesn't say to go to bed!" Smart Kid. Ken told him he was right, but even though it didn't say it, there certainly is a time for everything.

A little more encouragement, and off they went. :)

I like how Ken finds clever ways to handle situations and thought it was neat they had chosen those books to read. Sometimes with the kids I need to NOT go with my initial response and think of a different route or creative response and that would be better for all.

p.s. Dad - they love their Children's Bible Hour stories and music! Thank you!

Fun in the Sun? Well, the Pool.

We love Aunt Kay!
Ken the Klever One
Here's your blogger...

We have a pool pass for our high school pool and I took the kids tonight. What fun!! Nathan got out about eight noodles and was laying on them like a raft. Robyn got a kickboard and swam all over the pool. Seth felt he needed three noodles at all times, except when he had 6 and made a raft like Nathan. They have a ball swimming, playing chase, lounging, jumping, etc. The swim lessons there have been great for our kids. The teachers are knowledgeable and kind, there's a great teacher/student ratio, and they are good little swimmers now! There's also a school program that N & R have had - once a week for six weeks. Not long, but anything is good for the kids. I watched them having fun while sitting poolside. That's weak, I know. Aaron and Ken had some bonding time at home.

Nathan had his first soccer game last week and did well. It's fun to see the improvement from season to season in coordination, understanding of game, drive, etc. Ken is coaching again, and it's especially fun that the Weeks' boys are part of the team as well. Pastor Chris is the assistant coach and Joe and Gio are in the lineup. Nathan enjoys it, but not when it's cold and rainy outside. He's like his Momma - I enjoy competition, but rain and cold are a lousy combination. I think my brothers called me a pansy while growing up.

Ken and Nathan are headed to Nathan's first MLB game! There is a Home Plate event on Saturday, May 2. The KCBC charter bus is headed to the Tigers' game. The neat part is the pregame program, where players from both teams give their testimonies. I hope Nathan hears that to realize that no matter what the occupation, a person can be sold out for Christ. The day will be extra special because both Grandpas and cousin Stephen are going. Mom +3 will figure out something fun to do. I think I'll take S & R to the pool for open swim that Saturday.

Are you tired of hearing about our decrepit economy? I love reading the newspaper, but am tired of all the dismal news regarding the economy. I understand it's bad, but it seems like it's all they know what to write/talk about. Combine that with crimes and that seems to cover half the newspaper.

We are part of a parent group called "Champions for Children" that is encouraging Kent City School residents to vote yes in our school millage renewal on Tuesday, May 5. We are trying to spread the word that it is a renewal, NOT a tax increase. It is so important these two renewals pass to protect our children's education. I think most people support the local school, but the voter turnouts are so low that a few votes can make a big difference. So, please vote yes if you are in the district to protect our community and our children! We need your vote! :)

Good night to all. Happy 68 degree Friday! Yay!! :)

We're Spring Breakin'!

I was on maternity leave last year, and forgot how enjoyable Spring Break is! Ken has taken two days off, and we've had fun doing this, that, and the other thing together. We're trying to treasure the moments, and that's easier sometimes than others in our active household. This week has been a joy.

Highlights have included:

• Sleeping in a bit (7:45 for me). Nathan was up one day at 6:00 instead of his usual 6:30. I believe he takes after Grandpa Vanderwest!
• Meijer Gardens - the daffodils, tulips, HYACINTHS, butterflies, tropical areas, etc., were beautiful. I love seeing God's designs in all the natural beauty and creativity at the gardens.
  
• Edna, our former neighbor, calling up and asking if she could come stay for the weekend...she had a ride to GR. She enjoys just being around the gang and we enjoyed seeing her.
• Making a scrumptious spiral ham dinner - complete with mashed potatoes and HAM gravy (the best kind), topped off with strawberry shortcake! It was a special treat, since I usually make a simple Sunday lunch (i.e. sandwiches). Edna helped me and it was good to have a friend in the kitchen.
  
• Worship Night at Family Night on Sunday night...and having two good friends (the Sytsma's) became members.
• Cleaning! Yes, a highlight! Things tidied, cleaned, etc. - the kids were given jobs beyond their regular chores, and they did a good job overall. I can't tell you how good a freshly scrubbed kitchen floor/entryway feels!
  
• Aunt Kelly (Ken's sister) and Leslie (our niece) coming over....dinner, chatting, Wii playing (kids AND adults) ....we sure like them. Schedules these days make our visits too far apart.
• Tuesday - Ken took today off - a new library (the kids put on a cute puppet show for me), Pizza Hut (redemption of Book It coupons), finding a new playground (Walker Charter School), Easter Egg Coloring, finished with me taking the three older kids to the KCHS pool . . . truly a great day, not just because of all the activities, but moreso because everyone got along so well and was kind to each other. We sure enjoy each other. It made me look forward to camping/vacationing this summer. Any suggestions where to go?
  
• Not a lot planned the rest of the week....hangin' out with games, puzzles, reading books, playing outdoors, etc. Ken and I plan to watch "The Passion of the Christ" to help us focus on Christ's incredible sacrifice for us. I will not be going to the Good Friday service (too difficult with our young children and no nursery), but we try to focus on the sorrow and significance of Christ's death before heading into the celebration of His resurrection. I appreciate Good Friday services.
• We're hoping for a date sometime on Saturday to celebrate my birthday...My Coldstone free birthday ice cream is calling my name!
  
• We hope to spend the day with Ken's parents and family on Easter (can we come over, Mom?) :) The kids are counting down the days to "Easter and Mom's birthday." They are sweet.

Here are some pics of our adventures:

I Think....Could It Be?

Could it really be? Is it possible? One can never be sure....I've had snow days on my birthday before (April 12). Hopefully not this year, as April 12 is Easter, and that would be very sad.

But, could it truly be? That one word? Starts with S, 6 letters long . . .

Official definition: "A time or season of growth or development; specifically: the season between winter and summer comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of March, April, and May or as reckoned astronomically extending from the March equinox to the June solstice."

Perhaps? Maybe? The sun shone beautifully today, streaming in the windows from all directions. It lifted our already happy spirits, as Nathan turned 8 today! I haven't felt like I'm sick of winter, but when the sun peeks and I watch the kids running around outside without extra layers of everything, it reminds me how nice warm weather is! And I love the first part of Webster's definition: a time or season of growth or development. I'm going to strive to grow closer to God during this next season. Maybe I'll even sit out on my deck and soak in the rays while doing so.

Check it out!

Mid April

Temperatures for the next few days will feel more like mid April and not Mid March.

Afternoon highs will climb into the mid and upper 50s.

Today	Tomorrow	Mon	Tue	Wed
Clear	Sunny	Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy	Few Showers
High: 46° Low: 27°	High: 56° Low: 30°	High: 57° Low: 36°	High: 62° Low: 39°	High: 49° Low: 30°

A New Hobby

Nathan has a new hobby. He has always loved all things words, and now that love is showing in a new way: alphabetizing. He has systematically gone through each child's bookshelf and alphabetized all the books! He takes each book off and makes a long road through the room, placing the books in correct order. Then he goes letter by letter and alphabetizes each letter and places neatly back on the shelf. I am so impressed! Perhaps I could hire him to organize my entire home, not just the bookshelves?!?! He and Seth have collaborated on a system. Mom suggested that Seth may not understand or appreciate Nathan's desire to KEEP the books in alphabetical order on their bookshelf, and he should be aware of that and not get upset about it. So, my innovative son found a shallow cardboard box, wrote "Return Books Here," and placed it next to the bookshelf. He explained to Seth that they had a library box for books once they had been read. Bonus for both: The books stay orderly and alphabetized, pleasing NKV, and Seth doesn't have to put the books back on the shelf - he can simply put them in the return book box! :) How fun! Nathan has a keen mind and it is fun to see him catch on to so much and figure things out. He also particularly enjoys doing math problems in his head and asks us to give him problems. Second grade has really been great for him; Mrs. Rich has helped him thrive. She has told us that he reminds her of her firstborn in many ways. He is now in college, so it brings her back a few years as she watches Nathan. He loves order and she is orderly yet nurturing and has nudged him out of his shell. When I volunteer in the class there's a nice environment of working happily and knowing what's expected of them. She loves teaching; he loves learning - it's a great combination! We are so proud of him and especially enjoy seeing how he helps his siblings with things, but doesn't just give them the answers...perhaps a future teacher?

I don't know where his EARLY morning tendencies come from...certainly not his mother! Definitely more of his father. I've given him the guideline that he can't get up until it's 6:30 or after. Each morning he pads into our bedroom to peer at our digital clock. Often he pads back to bed, since it's prior to 6:30. Well, yesterday I got up at 6:45 and thought, "Boy - It seems like he's been up for quite a while." I asked him what time he got up and he said, "6:44." Uh - I don't think so...Could he, without his glasses, have read the clock wrong? Apparently it was actually 5:44 AM and he thought it said 6:44. Grandma V - could you get Nathan a digital clock for his birthday in March?! :) Let's just say his mother does NOT just get up at 5:44 for the fun of it! He quietly gets up, grabs a blanket and some books, and sits on the heat register reading until the rest of the family stirs. Ken says he relates well to Nathan. Maybe Robyn will throw one of Nathan's books on the roof someday when she wants to play and he wants to read, like Valerie did to Ken? We think our Nate is Great. :)

Our Sweet Vampire!

With grins like these, would you agree with me that I have THE BEST job in the world?!
He's such a happy boy! He makes my heart full of joy.
He's Our Boy.

What a dinner!

I enjoy cooking and over the past few years feel like I've figured out this whole cooking thing...a whole lot better than I used to, anyway! So what happened tonight? Goodness!!

Menu: spaghetti with sauce and meatballs, garlic bread, green beans. Pretty straightforward; made this meal many times.

What happened? Everything went fine with the boiling of the water! :) Put the garlic bread in while spaghetti was cooking, then decided meatballs should go in, too. Set timer for meatballs. Drained spaghetti, set back in pan on turned off burner. Decided we'd have cooked carrots. Turned on stovetop, moved spaghetti pan, burned finger because I'd turned on the wrong burner. Also had some dried spaghetti on bottom of pan from turning on wrong burner. Smelled something funny. Dark brown garlic bread in oven. *Sigh.* Went out to garage freezer and got more garlic bread. Put new garlic bread in oven. Decided it would take too long for carrots...we'll go with microwaved beans instead. Checked on meatballs - juice from them spilled on oven floor because I'd put them on a cookie sheet with no sides. Turned vent blower on high. Finally got to dinner, thanks to Nathan setting the table willingly, and the garlic bread tasted a bit funny due to meatball juice running on top of them.

I did notice when Ken prayed, he said, "And thank you for all of Mommy's efforts in preparing this dinner." What he normally says is, "Thank you for Mommy's good work in preparing this dinner." Ha ha. :) I wasn't offended, though - by that point (6:15) we were all starved and Ken had a meeting at 7! The good news is the dinner tasted good and the meatballs were especially good. Some other Mom friends and I are meeting monthly and making 6 meals to freeze and a few to give away. It has been SUCH a blessing to have good, healthful meals in the freezer on those nights when who knows what the dinner would be otherwise! So, the meatball recipe is a definite keeper.

******************
Exam week at school this week - good but busy. Most of my students stay the same next semester, which I'm glad about - overall I have fine groups of students. Two 10th grade girls - who I've had to remind/give consequences for excessive chattiness in class - gave me a belated Christmas card today. They wrote, "To Mrs. Vanderwest....we think you're the best English teacher ever!" It made me smile and feel good, and I'll assume they were being sincere. :) I think they secretly liked it when I gave them a consequence of writing an essay about why excessive socializing in class was a problem for them, others, and the teacher, what they planned to do differently, and what their consequence should be if they don't follow through. They've paid quite good attention since then! :)

Found out a dual-enrollment English 101 college class (through Muskegon Comm. College) is meeting at KCHS next semester, two days a week in the morning. The principal asked if the professor could use my room "because it is pleasant and close to the library." I told her that would be fine (since I teach in afternoons) - I think that will assist in one of my resolutions - to keep a neat desk with no piles! At least on Mondays and Wednesdays my desk will be neat!

That's all for now. The rumblings upstairs tell me that it is time to read Ramona and her Father (our current read aloud book) and send the rowdy ones to bed. Early to bed on Tuesday nights since Wed nights (AWANA) are not early to bed.

Uninspired

Not much to say (unusual, I know)...but thought I should check in.

Robyn got a ticket this week. I was concerned when I heard this. Come to find out a 'ticket' is a good thing in elementary! When teachers/staff "catch" the students doing good things, being kind, etc., they give 'tickets' out. Robyn's name was called over the loudspeaker out of the basket that had all the kindergartners' tickets as this month's winner!! She got to choose her prize - she chose a soft, brown, medium-sized Curious George monkey. Not too small, not too big...just right for my girl. She was cute when I picked her up after school. She told Ken and Nathan, "Don't tell Mom what's in my backpack!" When we got home, she grinned, slowly opened her backpack, held George out to me and said, "Look!" I asked her why she had received it and she responded because she got tickets. Figuring it was an incentive and a positive thing, I asked how she had received the tickets. Her response? "I don't know, but I like George." Ahhhhh.

Of course her older brother knew how and why people earned tickets. "Like if you straighten the boots without being asked or are kind or helpful to someone, that's how you get tickets." I asked him if he cheered when Robyn's name was called. He said, "Well, not exactly, but I was happy for her!" I love to see my children getting along, watching out and rooting for each other!

We were happy, too, and now George is safely tucked in her arms each night. Tonight she said she wanted to get rid of one of the dolls at the end of her bed "because I have George now and I need a place to put him during the day." The Fisher girls were fresh on our minds, as they had played here this evening, so I asked Robyn if she would like to give her doll to Emma. (I'd noticed that Emma had carried this doll around tonight) Robyn's response? "No, I'd like to sell the doll to her." Hmmmm . . . obviously I've talked about selling things at garage sales with her.....

I hope Emma, age 3, receives an allowance. Maybe I'll slip her some money.

A trip to the store

Nathan and I ventured out, just the two of us, to Sparta last Tuesday night. We needed some accessories for his costume, so he was willing to take part in this expedition. Normally Robyn (a shopper like her mom) and Seth (always up for any adventure) are my eager shoppers/errand-doers. So, to the dollar stores we headed...Dollar & More (yes, we went there first, Joanie!), Dollar General, and then Rite Aid. There's good stuff in Sparta! Here's how the trip went:

Nathan pushes the cart and follows me all around. Of course, we don't just hit the costume/accessory area, we check out all the aisles for some deals. He cracked me up as we shopped...chattering away to himself, such as, "Now we're looking at the picture frames. There are lots of different picture frames and when are we going to get out of this aisle?!" We eventually found the hat area and found a snazzy black cowboy hat. A true smile from him! We checked out, and off to the next dollar store down the road. In this store, again quiet chattering about all the items we saw, then, "Mom, you're a buyer! You like to look at everything AND buy things!" How true is that?! :) Our expedition over, on the way home I asked him, "What did you think of your shopping trip with Mom?"
"Well, it was fine."
"What could have made it better?"
"If we would have gone somewhere more interesting, like a bookstore!"

Ahhhhhh...do you think he's related to his father? Once Ken's sister Valerie threw his book on the roof of their home because she was tired of him reading so much! :)

I do love to read, but I do tend to love ALL stores!

I went on errands yesterday morning. Seth was my eager-beaver helper!

Pics of a good-looking cowboy (with his black hat!) to come.

Fall Tidbits

Thoughts from the Homefront:

• Wow, have the standards changed! Aaron and I were in the kitchen this afternoon and he discovered that exciting kitchen "toy" - the dog's water! Of course it was immediately turned over (thankfully only 1/4 full). My response? I ran for the towel and when I came back, watched him happily patting and slapping the floor and having a grand time with the water. My next response? Let him enjoy himself as I sat and watched him soak himself and listened to him 'chatter' away.


• New fitness workout routine discovered! If you're in need of a varied, active, interesting fitness routine, I suggest . . . volunteering in a kindergarten classroom! I did this for 1.5 hours this morning in Robyn's classroom and it was a happening place. They were doing learning labs, including art, science, math, writing, ABC, and muscle strength labs. They do one lab each time it is learning lab time. Robyn was assigned to art lab today and she cut out a white pumpkin and then tore small parts of green (stem) and orange (pumpkin) paper and glued them on her paper. She enjoyed it and did a nice job. I asked Mrs. Taylor if I could call her if I needed a workout and could come volunteer. :) She had everything so organized and the children knew what they were to do. It was eye-opening what a range of student abilities are present in kindergarten. The best part of the volunteering (I'm scheduled once per month) was Robyn's quiet smiles whenever ours eyes caught each other during my time there. She's been asking when I get to come to her class. It was fun to give her a little hug when I was near her and to sit next to her at lunchtime in the lunch room. She has adjusted to the schedule of kindergarten and often tells us interesting things Mrs. T. taught them. She rather adores Mrs. T., which I think is a special thing for a little girl and her first year in school.


• Bought a bushel of 'seconds' - Courtland & Paula Red varieties. Borrowed a strainer (is that what it's called?) and plan to make & freeze applesauce. My Grandma Richards made a wonderful chunky applesauce, which I made last year. I loved it, but Nathan told me he preferred the 'smooth kind' so we'll try that this year.


• We were able to go on a date Saturday and saw the new movie Fireproof. We knew it featured Kirk Cameron (ooh - a heart-throb of mine during my adolescent years!) and that it was a Christian movie. We weren't sure what to expect as far as the quality of the movie...and we were pleasantly surprised. It had an engaging story line, believable characters, moments of humor in a serious plot, and shared God's love and message clearly. The actors weren't professionals, and that was obvious in spots, but all in all it was impacting - for a marriage in any state, whether strong or suffering - and I highly recommend seeing it. Apparently, even though it is a 'low-budget' film, it has had very high ratings among theatre-goers! Both Ken & I and the couple we went with were touched by the movie's themes. I think anyone who has ever been through troubled times during any relationship can relate to this storyline....I know we all did. Go check it out if you have the chance! It will make you smile, cry (at one poignant spot toward the end of the movie, you could hear sniffling all over our theatre), and think about your relationships with those around you....the real deal.


• Ahh - the weather has been gorgeous here in Kent City/West MI this past week! Love the warm temps and the vibrant fall colors, which seemed to have popped the past few days! Whether driving up our driveway or standing on the deck looking out at the woods, the fall foliage surrounding our home is stunning to me. I can't believe we have so many trees around us - so pretty! We took a family walk on Sunday to our favorite Howard Christiansen Nature Center and wow - the smell of fall was pervasive, the paths crackled with our footsteps, and we were all reminded of what a Master Artist God is.


• Cubbies is Wednesday night - Seth LOVES attending and is proud that he remembers his verse each week. Last week on the 3 mile route to church, he repeated his verse over and over again. Mom: "Seth, do you think you could stop repeating it, please?" "But I don't want to forget it!" Do you know how many times a 3 year old can repeat John 3:33 in 3 miles? Approximately 17. :) And then I thought more about his words - he kept repeating because he didn't want to forget God's Word and Promises. Hmmm - from the mouths of babes.

Ken reminded me that he thinks people enjoy reading short blog entries. Is that true for you? I responded that since my readers weren't my students, they could choose whether to read or not. Being concise is not a skill I possess, but one I should work on...

Enjoy God's artistry today! :)