There are lots of things I missed out on while I was going to Dordt. While I wouldn't trade my Dordt experience for anything, I do wish I could have been around for more family activities and traditions. One tradition I missed is going on a shopping trip for a weekend with Grandma and the Renzema's. This year, I got to go again! Here are some of the gifts I received on this trip (and from the past month).
163. Long car ride conversations: talking about everything under the sun, getting advice from Grandma and Mom, and sharing experiences.
164. Late night laughter, and snuggling under sheets and covers for a good nights rest.
165. Having a long relaxing breakfast catching up with distant family over coffee and bagels
166. Searching out the best deals
167. Browsing through stores like Anthropologie and Nordstrom dreaming of a luxurious life
168. The warmth and energy of an afternoon coffee
169. Everyone trying to make the baby (Curtis) smile.
170. Feet so sore from shopping all day long.
171. Cheesecake Factory... need I say more?
172. Thousands of ideas gathered from IKEA for Scott and I and our new life together.
173. The power of thunder shaking the building and sound of pouring rain beating on the roof.
174. Carts overflowing with blessings... Things for my new house (wherever that may be), picture frames, wedding decor...
175. Safe travels on windy roads
176. Spending one evening each week in fellowship with other godly women delving into God's promises for us.
177. Energy to spend an evening cleaning and reorganizing my bedroom
178. Having so many special people in our lives that keeping a guest list at a reasonable size is nearly impossible.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Apple Picking
I have lots of favorite things about fall, but one of my favorites has always been apple picking. Every year while I was growing up my family would head out to Vince Brown's Apple Orchard, pick bushels of apples, take hay rides through the apple trees, play the goats and chickens, taste their homemade apple cider, look for the perfect pumpkin, and run through the corn maze. However, since I have been at Dordt the past 4 years I haven't been able to go apple picking. This year, I was more than excited. Even though the day started with clouds and rain, that didn't stop us. We were on a mission. Since it is difficult to find a day to get everyone together, we had to make this day work. Here are some of the gifts I enjoyed while apple picking this year.
150. Pulling on rain boots to make the treck into the mud for our apple picking excursion
151. Feeling the excitement of a child as we drive over the hill and get the first sights of the rows and rows of apple trees
152. Finding a new place to pick, Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm, and being pleasantly surprised at how nice of a place it was (since Vince Brown didn't have U-pick this year)
153. Climbing on backs and shoulders the reach the highest branches where the largest apples are waiting
154. Putting umbrellas away because the rain stopped right when we started picking!
155. Biting into the fresh, crisp apples right off the trees
156. Seeing who can find the biggest apple (Alyssa won this year)
157. Mom stuffing apples into the pockets of her oversized rain coat to make sure we get our money's worth :) and stuffing our bags so full they almost rip!
158. Taking silly pictures on the playground and riding horse swings like little children
159. Browsing through the cute little shop looking at children's books about apples, and lots of apple kitchen accessories.
160. The smell of fresh apple pies right out of the oven. (The owner was baking her pies for the new week)
161. The memories of a new apple picking adventure
162. Sharing peanut butter pie at Nick and Jenn's house to celebrate our successful trip
150. Pulling on rain boots to make the treck into the mud for our apple picking excursion
151. Feeling the excitement of a child as we drive over the hill and get the first sights of the rows and rows of apple trees
152. Finding a new place to pick, Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm, and being pleasantly surprised at how nice of a place it was (since Vince Brown didn't have U-pick this year)
153. Climbing on backs and shoulders the reach the highest branches where the largest apples are waiting
154. Putting umbrellas away because the rain stopped right when we started picking!
155. Biting into the fresh, crisp apples right off the trees
156. Seeing who can find the biggest apple (Alyssa won this year)
157. Mom stuffing apples into the pockets of her oversized rain coat to make sure we get our money's worth :) and stuffing our bags so full they almost rip!
158. Taking silly pictures on the playground and riding horse swings like little children
159. Browsing through the cute little shop looking at children's books about apples, and lots of apple kitchen accessories.
160. The smell of fresh apple pies right out of the oven. (The owner was baking her pies for the new week)
161. The memories of a new apple picking adventure
162. Sharing peanut butter pie at Nick and Jenn's house to celebrate our successful trip
1,000 Gifts Catch-up day
114. The sound of children singing praise songs in Mandarin.
115. A school that is equipping disciples to go to all nations and exclaim the word of the Lord.
116. The never-ending love of my parents
117. A principal who knows each student by name and welcomes with a hug
118. A hallway filled with the chatter of children, parents, and teachers in the early hours of the morning.
119. Skies lit up in pink and orange and accented with a bright rainbow disappearing into the clouds.
120. Hiking through the woods on a crisp fall day.
121. Waking up to the view of Diamond Lake covered with a refreshing fog.
122. A lazy weekend at the cottage with Grandpa and Grandma
123. The smell of Grandma's sticky buns filling the cottage on Sunday morning
124. Snuggling under chilled sheets wrapped tight in my favorite sweatshirt
125. The laughter of little children floating down the hall
126. Cool mornings and evenings making me excited for this new fall season
127. The smells of cinnamon and pumpkin flooding from our house
128. browsing shelf after shelf of uplifting books in Family Christian Bookstore and Kregel inspiring me to curl up with a good book.
129. Anticipating the beginning of a new Bible study and new friendships
130. Snuggling into my sheets and wrapping my blankets around tight
131. 7th grade discovery camp:
132. Tie-dying shirt after shirt
133. Crisp morning air in the woods
134. Children sharing their innermost struggles around a campfire and being comforted by hugs or a touch on the shoulder from a friend
135. Experiencing ArPrize for the first time and enjoying a night downtown with my parents, Scott, and his parents.
136. Ordering my veil!
137. Sipping a pumpkin spice latte with my mom in between errands on a Saturday afternoon
138. Making a new friend and enjoying conversation over a sweet blueberry muffin and pumpkin spice coffee.
139. Bike rides in beautiful fall weather with the best parents.
140. A Starbucks coffee and sweet thank-you note waiting on my on a dreary Friday morning
141. A night of crafts, conversation, and catching up with old friends and new.
142. A new fall wreath to hang on my soon-to-be very own front door.
143. Sharing some Reeses Peanut Butter Cups with my little buddy Ruslan on his last day at ZCS for a while.
144. Praise and worship with the middle school clan, and lesson about actually living out your faith vs. memorizing it, and a send off for beautiful Miriam as she return to Uganda for a couple months. (I'm excited to hear about her experiences when she returns.
145. More Pumpkin Spice Coffee with Ally and soaking up the small town atmosphere (and some rain) during Zeeland's Pumpkinfest parade
146. Spending evenings snuggling with Scott on the couch in front of the TV.
147. Awaiting God's promises for Scott and the new job He has planned for him. It is hard being patient when he keeps getting turned down, but I know God has big plans for Scott and is preparing him for just the right spot.
148. Mom's homemade white chicken chili scooped onto chips
149. Church volleyball and seeing progress made each week
115. A school that is equipping disciples to go to all nations and exclaim the word of the Lord.
116. The never-ending love of my parents
117. A principal who knows each student by name and welcomes with a hug
118. A hallway filled with the chatter of children, parents, and teachers in the early hours of the morning.
119. Skies lit up in pink and orange and accented with a bright rainbow disappearing into the clouds.
120. Hiking through the woods on a crisp fall day.
121. Waking up to the view of Diamond Lake covered with a refreshing fog.
122. A lazy weekend at the cottage with Grandpa and Grandma
123. The smell of Grandma's sticky buns filling the cottage on Sunday morning
124. Snuggling under chilled sheets wrapped tight in my favorite sweatshirt
125. The laughter of little children floating down the hall
126. Cool mornings and evenings making me excited for this new fall season
127. The smells of cinnamon and pumpkin flooding from our house
128. browsing shelf after shelf of uplifting books in Family Christian Bookstore and Kregel inspiring me to curl up with a good book.
129. Anticipating the beginning of a new Bible study and new friendships
130. Snuggling into my sheets and wrapping my blankets around tight
131. 7th grade discovery camp:
132. Tie-dying shirt after shirt
133. Crisp morning air in the woods
134. Children sharing their innermost struggles around a campfire and being comforted by hugs or a touch on the shoulder from a friend
135. Experiencing ArPrize for the first time and enjoying a night downtown with my parents, Scott, and his parents.
136. Ordering my veil!
137. Sipping a pumpkin spice latte with my mom in between errands on a Saturday afternoon
138. Making a new friend and enjoying conversation over a sweet blueberry muffin and pumpkin spice coffee.
139. Bike rides in beautiful fall weather with the best parents.
140. A Starbucks coffee and sweet thank-you note waiting on my on a dreary Friday morning
141. A night of crafts, conversation, and catching up with old friends and new.
142. A new fall wreath to hang on my soon-to-be very own front door.
143. Sharing some Reeses Peanut Butter Cups with my little buddy Ruslan on his last day at ZCS for a while.
144. Praise and worship with the middle school clan, and lesson about actually living out your faith vs. memorizing it, and a send off for beautiful Miriam as she return to Uganda for a couple months. (I'm excited to hear about her experiences when she returns.
145. More Pumpkin Spice Coffee with Ally and soaking up the small town atmosphere (and some rain) during Zeeland's Pumpkinfest parade
146. Spending evenings snuggling with Scott on the couch in front of the TV.
147. Awaiting God's promises for Scott and the new job He has planned for him. It is hard being patient when he keeps getting turned down, but I know God has big plans for Scott and is preparing him for just the right spot.
148. Mom's homemade white chicken chili scooped onto chips
149. Church volleyball and seeing progress made each week
Friday, August 9, 2013
A Night out with the Girls
Last night I went out with Merissa, Ally, Renee, and Mindi. We went to Rosa Parks Circle downtown Grand Rapids for line dancing. It was the most gorgeous night for dancing and we did a lot of laughing. I was hoping to see more of them this summer, but I always run out of time. But it does make the time we do spend together even more sweet. It was a fun night of smiles and laughter, catching up on summer outings, and talking about where we are all going to be in a few weeks. Merissa heads to St. Louis for grad school, Ally starts grad school at Grand Valley, Renee is heading back to Dordt, and I start my job at ZCS. We really are growing up!
107. Warm summer nights outside under the stars
108. Laughter of friends who do not see enough of each other!
109. Dancing... Oh how I love to get into the rhythm, and twirl around to the music.
110. Experiencing God's creativity in the different people we encountered while in downtown Grand Rapids. I can't help but think, "Red and Yellow, Black and White; We are PRECIOUS in His sight!"
111. Talking about past memories and looking forward to our unknown futures
112. The sweet and salty combo of a Salted Carmel Shake from Steak and Shake
113. Scott's job prospects and what that might mean for our future together. He got invited to test for Grand Traverse County PD which might mean moving to the beautiful coastal town of Traverse City. This both excites and frightens me. I would really love to stay closer to home and our families, but this would be such a fun adventure for us! But it's all in God's hands. I know He will put us in the best place for us to be. Scott also got invited to test for Kent County. Both are great options for us.
107. Warm summer nights outside under the stars
108. Laughter of friends who do not see enough of each other!
109. Dancing... Oh how I love to get into the rhythm, and twirl around to the music.
110. Experiencing God's creativity in the different people we encountered while in downtown Grand Rapids. I can't help but think, "Red and Yellow, Black and White; We are PRECIOUS in His sight!"
111. Talking about past memories and looking forward to our unknown futures
112. The sweet and salty combo of a Salted Carmel Shake from Steak and Shake
113. Scott's job prospects and what that might mean for our future together. He got invited to test for Grand Traverse County PD which might mean moving to the beautiful coastal town of Traverse City. This both excites and frightens me. I would really love to stay closer to home and our families, but this would be such a fun adventure for us! But it's all in God's hands. I know He will put us in the best place for us to be. Scott also got invited to test for Kent County. Both are great options for us.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Company and Conversation
97. Bike ride and great conversation with my parents and Alyssa. What a great way to spend a beautiful evening, exploring God's grand creation and enjoying those He placed in our lives to love us unconditionally and always be there whenever you need them. Oh how I needed a night with the fam!
98. Taking the day off to spend a day shopping with Scott's mom, sister, and aunts in Grand Haven.
99. Feeling all the fabrics, and eyeing the patterns of beautiful dresses and blouses.
100. Browsing antiques filling my head with ways I could make these old trinkets and new treasure.
101. Looking at sparkling jewelry dreaming of what outfit I could pair with it and where I would go wearing it.
102. Smelling the lovely aroma of fresh baked bread.
103. Hanging out with Nick and Jenn watching TV, learning about my new computer, planning our next craft, and looking at houses for sale. A much needed evening of chilling out.
104. Planning what I want my classroom to look like and how I'm going to organize and decorate each area to reflect my personality as a teacher and to show my students that math can be FUN!
105. Wedding progress... slowly but surely
106. Looking toward the end of Scott's police academy, graduation, and spending more time together!
107. Planning a date for our FIVE year anniversary! Woah, time goes so fast, but I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else.
98. Taking the day off to spend a day shopping with Scott's mom, sister, and aunts in Grand Haven.
99. Feeling all the fabrics, and eyeing the patterns of beautiful dresses and blouses.
100. Browsing antiques filling my head with ways I could make these old trinkets and new treasure.
101. Looking at sparkling jewelry dreaming of what outfit I could pair with it and where I would go wearing it.
102. Smelling the lovely aroma of fresh baked bread.
103. Hanging out with Nick and Jenn watching TV, learning about my new computer, planning our next craft, and looking at houses for sale. A much needed evening of chilling out.
104. Planning what I want my classroom to look like and how I'm going to organize and decorate each area to reflect my personality as a teacher and to show my students that math can be FUN!
105. Wedding progress... slowly but surely
106. Looking toward the end of Scott's police academy, graduation, and spending more time together!
107. Planning a date for our FIVE year anniversary! Woah, time goes so fast, but I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Staying Positive
This summer has not been what I expected it to be... In my head, I was going to work a little, do a ton of wedding planning, and spend much needed time with my family and catching up with friends. However, it has mostly been full of work, no time for planning, and what little time I can find to spend with family and friends is spent complaining about work, or wanting to go to bed early because I am exhausted after a stressful day. I have been blessed with a summer job that keeps me busy, but the ladies I work with spend a lot of time complaining about whatever they can find to complain about. This part of the job is extremely draining. I am usually a positive person, but I am being brought down by being around these ladies with poor attitudes day in and day out. Therefore, it is my goal to get back into this blog and the 1,000 gifts challenge to find small blessings in each day to lift my spirits and my attitude back to one that cannot be affected by the negativity of those around me.
92. My job and all the challenges it brings me to make me stronger in who I am.
93. Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Alyssa brought home from her new job to start my day out with joy.
94. Sharing a glass of wine with a friend and catching up [finally] after coordinating our schedules together.
95. Looking forward to a quiet weekend at the cottage... my favorite place in the whole.wide.world.
96. Michael Buble singing me to work in the morning and getting me through 28th Street traffic.
92. My job and all the challenges it brings me to make me stronger in who I am.
93. Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Alyssa brought home from her new job to start my day out with joy.
94. Sharing a glass of wine with a friend and catching up [finally] after coordinating our schedules together.
95. Looking forward to a quiet weekend at the cottage... my favorite place in the whole.wide.world.
96. Michael Buble singing me to work in the morning and getting me through 28th Street traffic.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
1000 Gifts
86. Waking to the merry tune of whistling birds
87. A tall mug of coffee on a sleepy Monday morning coaxing my brain to organize thoughts for the day
88. Trying on the most beautiful dresses for hours pretending I'm a princess getting ready for a ball
89. A busy schedule meaning I have the most loving friends and family
90. Reminiscing about days when we were younger and everything was new and exciting
91. Music... When a song comes on the radio with words that speak to my heart "Christ alone, Cornerstone, weak made strong in the Savior's love, through the storm Christ is Lord, Lord of all!"
87. A tall mug of coffee on a sleepy Monday morning coaxing my brain to organize thoughts for the day
88. Trying on the most beautiful dresses for hours pretending I'm a princess getting ready for a ball
89. A busy schedule meaning I have the most loving friends and family
90. Reminiscing about days when we were younger and everything was new and exciting
91. Music... When a song comes on the radio with words that speak to my heart "Christ alone, Cornerstone, weak made strong in the Savior's love, through the storm Christ is Lord, Lord of all!"
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