Endearing

Definition of endear: To make dear or precious.

1. My mom, whose voice catches every time she says goodbye to me on the phone. Every time. It doesn't matter if she is in town or on vacation.
2. My daughter Paige being the activities director on a snow day. Everyone needs a Paige. The extent of my parenting so far today has been making pancakes. That's it. 
3. My kids choosing to watch, "Worst Cooks in America" over all other shows. They may be budding kitchen stars or really mean food critics someday. It's a coin toss. 
4. Watching my daughter Zoey throw some elbows around on the soccer field. That may not be endearing to you but boy do I get a kick out of it!
5. Recorder concerts. I'm a sucker for a good rendition of Hot Cross Buns.
6. Zach blushing and still running into my arms when he is embarrassed. Yesterday he tripped over a huge playground ball in front of his cousins and I opened up my arms to the sprinting, red-faced little man.
7. Teachers who love what they do & make your kids eager to go to school every day.
8. Nephews and nieces who still want to hang out with their old aunt.
9. My little Sunday school kids. They're a little rowdy in the winter months but they sure are cute.
10. Waking up to hand written notes from my husband.

Guest Blogger

So I'm supposed to be blogging in 2011 & really shouldn't have a guest blogger write for me but this post by Sonny was just too good not to share. I don't know how she got inside my head but I am grateful for friends who are sharing a similar journey and who are trusting God to meet them in the quiet and wait for His leading. Enjoy this post & even her reference to Vanilla Ice. (For you youngsters, he was a white male rapper who now apparently does home renovations and can be seen on HGTV.)

2011. The Year of the Blog?

Alright folks. Here is our Christmas and a bit of our year in review. The song is "Joy Is In Our Hearts" by Sara Groves and really the only reason I made this slideshow is because I love this song so much! :) I should have kept adding pictures so you could hear it all and I should have faded out the last few notes so it sounds more professional but I have to get to Target. 


Hope 2011 is a year of blessings for your family.

Recent Pics

 Making a sign for Daddy's triumphant return from Guatemala.

 Windy night = Lots of tape.

 The breakfast in bed promised if Zach slept in. 9:00 a.m. - woo-hoo!

 Have an old window? You have a cute Christmas decoration.

The table I decorated for our ladies dessert gala at church. Cheesecake, friends and lots of laughter.

A Few of my Favorite Things

Going to ArtPrize with my man.

The view out my bedroom window.

A perfect dahlia.

Home Alone

(Honestly, this is the only time he was quiet this summer.)

All three kids are in school full-time this year. Weird. I've discovered some things I love about it and some things I don't and have made a few funny discoveries along the way.

1. The clock above my computer ticks. Loudly. Who knew?
2. If all your kids are at school, you're stuck on the toilet if you run out of t.p. (Luckily I'm a quick thinker and resourceful. 'Nuff said?) 
3. You find yourself saying "yes" to just about every volunteer position and then start second guessing your sanity.
4. I can read a book in the middle of the day if I want. Now on to read worthwhile and edifying material!
5. You don't need the childcare at the gym anymore. Sigh.
6. The laundry is no longer your nemesis but rather, your daily companion.
7. You can meet your husband for lunch. Most days. Fun!
8. You have time for prayer. You + God = some pretty great quiet time spent together.
9. Your hair is done and your workout is in by noon.
10. After school becomes your favorite time of day.

This Boy Needs a Brother

I don't know why Paige made him be the girl partner in this dance but I'm glad I got the camera out for this show. Sorry Zach!

Tired

Prepare yourself. In our fun filled, packed out, extraordinary summer I'm going to complain about a few things I'm tired of. Don't worry; it'll be fun!

1. Washing bathing suits and towels and hanging them up over every available kitchen chair and outdoor chair to dry. If we smell like a lake next time you see us in our suits, you'll know I put my foot down.
2. Lady Gaga (that just has to be said, right?)
3. Katy Perry (ditto to that California girl.)
4. Gaining weight over the summer. Hello? How come the season where I wear the least amount of clothes I decide to gain weight in? Oh yeah, ice cream. I guess I answered my own question.
5. Packing picnic lunches. In June it's so exciting and new again but by late August I just tell my friends, I'll meet you after lunch.
6. Putting sunscreen on the kids. I have the most moisturized hands in West Michigan. I should just stop being so cheap and buy the spray but that stuff lasts about one week with three kids.
7. Mosquitos and bees.
8. Kids in and out of my house all.day.long. I'm not ready to see my baby enter 1st grade this fall however.
9. Burgers and hotdogs.
10. And finally, I'm tired of not doing my hair. I've been riding the wave (and ponytails) for so long that I actually look forward to fussing with it again. I guess this proves that I have some girly in my tomboy.

Sisters

I have four older sisters. Yep. You read that correctly. My mom and dad had five girls in six years & three months time. Yep. You read that right too. So when I asked my girls how their life would look different after going to a Christian summer camp and they answered that they felt like they had grown closer as sisters, you can understand how that made my heart sing.

I love my sisters. I love that God gave me two girls who I could watch grow up together as sisters. And even though I tease my sisters that they are the reason I hung out with boys all through high school, (they set the bar way too high for other adolescent girls) I feel so blessed that they modeled to me how to be in relationship with other women.

So love up your sisters. And if you don't have one, you can borrow one of mine. :)

Ordinary

So recently I was doing some heavy reading, the Parade insert from the Sunday Press, and came across this quote from Connie Schultz. "It takes courage to live ordinary lives." All my life I've pursued extraordinary as I'm sure you have too. I used to walk around my childhood home pretending that I was in a movie or at least the star of a really amazing show called my life. What I'm discovering is that ordinary is not only o.k., it's downright admirable. Marriage, parenting, faith, teaching, being in relationships with family and friends takes ordinary, hard work. 


When I was dating my husband in college he asked me why I picked him, an ordinary guy. I answered that by ourselves we were ordinary but together we were extraordinary. (Yep, you can cue the cheesy music now.) But I believe that. The way we love each other is special and different than any other couple.


Similarly, I think teaching elementary physical education is a rather ordinary job.  But how I teach and care about kids, showing them Christ's love is kingdom building work, right? I often feel inadequate after reading my college's alumni magazine. It highlights the really amazing things it's graduates are doing around the world; working at the North Pole, risking their lives to be missionaries in a hostile African community, discovering how a missing or defective gene can't deliver vitamin A to your eyes (huh, what?) and the list goes on and on. I admire these people for taking their education and radical ideas into the world and I understand that their work makes for really interesting articles. But I must admit that once in awhile I would like to read an article about a stay-at-home-mom who teaches Sunday school every week.


But I guess that's my story. And I can choose how to write it every day in all it's ordinary glory.

14 years of Wedded Bliss

Fourteen years ago today we naively stood in front of our friends and family and vowed to love each other for better or worse.  I say naively because we had no idea what marriage, family and life would bring us and all the "for better and worse" circumstances we would face together.  I am blessed to call this man my husband, lover (I know, get a room already), parenting partner and friend.  Here's to another 14 years and more Lover Lips!  (Seriously, could we have picked a cheesier nickname for each other and could my bouquet BE any bigger?)

The big 9!

Our Zoey Elise turns 9 today!  Love ya Z.

Mother's Day Gift

The Many Faces of Zoey

She is known by many names; Zo-Zo, Z, Ziglet, and most recently Whee.  (The last one she hates and is only used by her big sister.  Consider yourself forewarned.)  In the past month she has had some kickin' pics taken.  Enjoy.

 

From Baby to Big Boy Room

Award Season

I don't usually use my blog to brag up my kids but they're really quite special and it's fun for us when someone else recognizes this.  In the past two weeks we've had many chances to sit back and say, "hey kid, you're great."  Paige was recognized by her teacher and her school for her high level of reading, Zoey had a piece of art work selected for the district wide art show, they both performed beautifully at their piano recital, Zoey scored a goal at her soccer game on Saturday and Paige is set to sing a solo at both church and school.  And Zach, he decided to start reading every book in sight.  All in all, we're proud parents because of all these accomplishments but we are the proudest of the character we see our kids displaying while they try and succeed at all these things.

I Promise

There are many things I wish for my children and some serious promises that me & their dad made when we became parents.  This list isn't it.  :)  These are promises that pop into my head as I think about raising my two daughters.  (Sorry Zach; hopefully dad is making some sort of list for you too.  I'm sure it involves Home Depot and the proper way to spit.  Wait, I may have to teach you that last one.)  


Dear Paige and Zoey,

1. I promise to never make you get a perm.  And with this promise let me just add, I will never get out the photo albums of your teen years when we have company over.
2. I promise to talk to you about your period.  (Period.)
3. I promise to never poo-poo your "friend problems".  They feel huge, I get that.  And even though I never talk to any friends from late elementary school or middle school, I know that this is an important part of your social development.
4. I promise to encourage your sense of style.  Even if that means you've clipped a braid across your head and you look like you've just walked out of a thrift store.
5. I promise to not giggle while we have the sex talk.  (Like I did the last time.)
6. I will not compare you to your sister in either physical appearance or personality.  This is a tough one because it's natural to notice differences in your children.  I promise to try however.
7. I promise to not label you.  This goes with #6 but I just want you to know that your "box" is flexible, stretchy and will change as you change.
8. I promise to let you borrow your Dad's sweaters to wear to school if that style comes back.  (Dear God, please let this style come back.)
9. I promise to call you when you're a new mom and demand that you go to Starbucks by yourself while I watch the baby.
10. I promise to love you.  Always.

Love Mom

Why I Love Men

O.K. the title of this post is a little strange and I'm thinking that maybe I should change it.  Nah.  Here are some reasons why I find men (grandpas, dads, husbands, brother-in-laws, nephews) so darn endearing.

1. They grow out a beard for playoff season and refuse to shave until their team loses.  It doesn't matter that their wife & kids find it to be hideous; it's there until the fat lady sings.
2. They cannot hear the children in the car calling their name, or screaming, and/or singing at the top of their lungs.  Seriously?  This is a gift or a curse depending on who you are in the car.
3. They will give you a kiss right after you tell them your breath is bad.  Because let's face it ladies, we hear that and we are backing that kissing bus right up.
4. They can and will re-wear underwear.
5. They can lift heavy things.
6. They borrow shoes for big events.  No need to shop when you have a family member who wears the same size.
7. They know how to work the grill.
8. They rarely cry but when they do it is one of the sweetest things you've ever witnessed.
9. You know you will always smell prettier than them.
10. And finally, because they are simply honest and most of the time uncomplicated.  God bless 'em for not using subtlety to try and tell you what they want.  (FYI:  it's a big screen t.v.)

 

My Heart Is Full

I continue to be amazed at how my heart can swell with love for my children and then two days later swell with sadness for someone going through a loss.  Really.  Isn't this the most fascinating, devastating and wonderful thing about being a human being?  Our capacity to love one another, hate one another, sympathize with each other and truly feel a whole range of emotions all within our little 'ole chest.  I've had one of those weeks.  The week began with a birthday lunch for my oldest daughter.  She was positively delightful.  (I know that sounds like an old lady word but I'm using it people.  When I start calling things "precious" then you can get concerned.)  Paige was giddy, excited and super animated as we sat across from each other eating our oh-so-delicious-Yesterdogs.  She kept thanking me for the lunch and her polite manners really made me think that maybe I don't all together stink at this mom thing.  After lunch we headed over to do a little antique shopping at Eastown Antiques and her shopping savvy and little comments made me feel like we were girlfriends just hanging out for the afternoon.  I drove away from her school with a full, full heart and I thanked God for the gift of my little girl who is growing up to be such a wonderful young woman.  (I sound old again, don't I?  Calling someone a "young person" is a sure sign I think.)

Then this morning I hear of a friend who is going through a loss.  Today.  And my heart is full.  Full of sadness for the loss of a dream; the hope of something new.  These heart-wrenching and extreme changes in our plans leave us feeling full and empty at the same time.  And that really is the beautifully tragic thing about being a human being.

Ridiculously Rich

Each time I pack clothes for a trip I feel ridiculously blessed.  (Not to mention how blessed we are to even be going on another trip.)  All three of our kids and my husband and I have more than enough outfits for every season.  I walk downstairs and look through bins of clothes that friends and family have given us and realize that I really don't need to go shopping for anything new except for maybe a pair of flip-flops or tennis shoes.  And as my arms ache from the heaviness of stuff, I remember these couple of paragraphs from the book, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan.  (If you haven't read this book, get thee to a bookstore and purchase it or come over & borrow mine.)

"Remember the story where Jesus fed thousands of people with one boy's small lunch?  In that story, according to Matthew, Jesus gave the loaves to His disciples and then the disciples passed them out to the crowd.  Imagine if the disciples had simply held onto the food Jesus gave them, continually thanking Him for providing lunch for them.  That would've been stupid when there was enough food to feed the thousands who were gathered and hungry."

"But that us exactly what we do when we fail to give freely and joyfully.  We are loaded down with too many good things, more than we could ever need, while others are desperate for a small loaf.  The good things we cling to are more than money; we hoard our resources, our gifts, our time, our families, our friends.  As we begin to practice regular giving, we see how ludicrous it is to hold to the abundance God has given us and merely repeat the words thank you."

My arms are tired from holding all this stuff and my mouth is exhausted from saying thank-you repeatedly to God.  I want to give freely and joyfully to those who need my money, gifts, time, family and friends.  How 'bout you?