Ice Skates and Toe Shoes

It's Christmas so I guess I shouldn't be surprised by stories of kindness and generosity but I was seriously surprised by this one...mostly because it was kindness and generosity towards our family that caught me off guard. Several weeks ago Bob told me that he really wanted to take the kids to a Red Wings game. We don't know how much longer we'll be in Michigan and since Joe Louis Arena is pretty old Bob said you never know if they might decide to build a new home for the Red Wings. Personally, I don't understand why it might be meaningful for our children to be able to say that they saw a Detroit Red Wings game at THE JOE...but these types of things are important to Bob (and probably one of those things that this girl will never understand anyway). So when we went to buy tickets for a game they were a little on the expensive side and since we are unemployed at this time I was wondering if it was the best decision to go to a game now. At one point Bob suggested that this be our Christmas present to the family. At the time I was appalled at the suggestion! Thinking that would be a good present for Bob...but not so much for the rest of us. But shortly after that I had a conversation with a dear friend and she told me that if Bob thought this should be our Christmas then I should go with it and make it the BEST RED WINGS CHRISTMAS EVER! My first thought was that she was crazy! But about a week later a large package arrived at our house. The note inside explained that the story spread of a family who wanted to have a Red Wings Bash for Christmas but wasn't able to do so because of finances and generous people opened their closets and their wallets and the result was the contents of the box that was before me. In the box I found 4 red wings sweatshirts for the kids, a red wings hoodie for me, red wings pom poms, press on tattoos, a puck, a little zamboni, Red Wings calendar, cookies with red m&m's, Red Wings silly bands, and so much more! I could not believe it! Why would people do this for us??? It almost felt bad to accept...we didn't deserve this kindness. But I guess that's the best part about the generosity of others...it's usually unmerited. Amazing!
So the Red Wings Christmas was on! Friday we picked up the kids from school early. When they got home they found presents under the tree and they were so happy to know that they got to open them right away. They were giggling and screaming and bouncing all around with excitement about our Red Wings Christmas! We hit the road for Detroit sporting our new Red Wings gear. We got to hang out at Hockeytown before the game which was fun.



When it was finally time for the game we had to be a little creative with our seats to see the action. You see we had gotten the cheapest tickets we could and they happened to be the very last row in the arena and they were obstructed view seats. However, we found that if we stood on them we could see the game. The kids had a blast cheering on our Red Wings.

Bob of course made friends with all the people sitting around us and Josiah even got in on that and moved down a row and sat with the folks in front of us. The Red Wings made it all worth it by pulling off a 4 to 2 win!

Oh and on the way out...an usher handed Josiah a puck that was used in the game. He was speechless for about a minute but as we exited the arena he was holding his puck up high and telling everyone we passed that he got a puck and it was used! It's his new favorite treasure.
I had a little bit of a bad attitude at first about this whole Red Wings Christmas business but in the end the children had an amazing time. They loved every minute. And they experienced the love and generosity of others. We will always remember this special game and maybe someday we can be the ones who help to make a special Christmas memory for another family. Thank you so much to everyone who made a contribution to our Red Wings box! We don't know your names but you were a blessing to us this Christmas!
As if that wasn't enough, the girls and I got to attend a performance of The Nutcracker on Saturday with our good friend Summer and her daughter Heidi. The girls and I have been going to see The Nutcracker at Christmas time for years, it's our girly, girl tradition and we love it. This time we didn't have to stand on our seats to see. In fact we had amazing seats, thanks to Summer! :)

So I have to say we had a truly amazing weekend filled with ice skates and toe shoes, blessings and friends! In financially tough times like these it might be understandable for a family to be a little down at Christmas....but we are full of gratitude and thanksgiving. For the wonderful blessings that others have bestowed upon us which in the tiniest way give us a glimpse of the amazing blessings that we have in Christ, who has given us every good thing!

Happy Birthday Joshua!

8 years ago today I told Grammie that I was feeling like it was time for you to come. We went to the doctor and she said, "Yep, it's time." But I wasn't ready...I don't mean I wasn't ready to meet you. I just wasn't ready to go to the hospital. So we went home, ate pizza, took Abigail to some friends of ours who were going to watch her and then headed to the hospital....Oh wait, that's not what happened. How could I forget, Daddy absolutely HAD to play in his flag football game. It was the championship game and he was supposed to be the quarterback and they might have to forfeit if he wasn't there...so he asked could we please go to the football game BEFORE the hospital? Right, that's what really happened. Good thing the hospital was right across from the football field because you were born shortly after we got there! I'm glad you waited until the game was over to make your grand entrance! As you can see from the picture, your big sister thought you were the cutest little guy ever. We all agreed!!!
It's been an amazing 8 years watching you grow and accomplish so many things. It is a joy to be your mom and I really can't wait to see what you're going to accomplish in the next 8 years! I love you Joshua. Happy Birthday Buddy!!!

5 years ago God gave us YOU!

Dear Josiah,
5 years ago today God made our family complete by sending us YOU! It was a rainy day in Dayton, Ohio and I remember stopping to get a sandwich at subway on the way to the hospital around dinner time. We knew daddy wouldn't get to eat for a long time while we were waiting for you to arrive so we had to fill his tummy first. :) I think I have a hard time remembering the time in the hospital because it was just very uneventful. Maybe since I was a mommy who already had 3 kids they thought I didn't need much help. But for the most part, it was just daddy and me waiting for you to arrive. When it was time for your grand entrance the doctor came and just like the other kids you came in just a few minutes. You were really cute and you weighed exactly the same as your big brother, 9 lbs 6 oz. The other kids were so excited when they got to come to the hospital to see you. They liked to take you for walks up and down the hallway in your little bed. When you came home from the hospital you spent a lot of time with daddy because your bed was in his office and he was working on his thesis. You liked to sit in your bouncer seat next to him and listen to classical music. I'm pretty sure he told you lots of top secret stuff but I'm guessing you don't remember. If you are really good at physics someday I guess we can attribute it to your early exposure. :)
These days you love playing outside, always getting REALLY dirty, riding your bike and playing with the neighbor boys. You are learning so much in school and it seems like you are changing, growing up, more and more each day. Sometimes I see you sitting on the couch looking at a book and I just can't believe you are so big. You see, even though you don't like it when I say you are my baby, you ARE my baby, my last baby...and even though I'm so proud of all the amazing things you can do, I'm also a little sad that it's the last time for all these "firsts". So you are just going to have to get used to me saying things like, "I can't believe my baby is going to school." Or "I can't believe my baby is driving!" Or I can't believe my baby is graduating." Because you're going to be hearing it your entire life....I know because I'm Grammie's baby and I still hear it from her. :) Try not to let it bother you too much it's just another way you'll know how much I love you. So HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY Josiah. Mommy loves you all the way to the moon and back and I'm so proud of you and all the amazing things you do. You are very special and I'm thankful that 5 years ago today God gave us YOU!
We celebrated your birthday at Chuck E Cheese with some friends. In case you're wondering, Uncle James is responsible for the bunny ears here. In a few years, you'll be able to take him down and you can get him back. :)

Takin' an older chick out for a spin in your jeep...just like your daddy.

You are still in love with all things John Deere and Grammie and Poppi came through with this awesome shirt and tractor socks! So cool! Grammie also made a John Deere blanket. You were ready to throw your other blanket in the trash after you opened this gift but I convinced you to just keep both. You are so funny.

I know, I know, I'm a slacker

I guess I've been a little unmotivated as far as blogging goes for a while. I'm not sure why that is. There are lots of times when something happens or we have some kind of event and I think, "I should blog about this later..." but then I just don't do it. So you'll just have to settle for another catch up post from this slacker mama.
A lot has happened since our final summer trip. Bob and I went to Denver, CO to attend a wedding. The wedding was fun and I got to see my sister and her family too. It was just a nice long weekend away from all the craziness that had been surrounding us. Only a few days after we got back from Denver the kids started school at Zion Christian. We are so thankful for excellent teachers and very nice friends.
We've had several exciting and fun activities in the last several months. We went to Irish Fest in Kalamazoo with our friends Chuck and Kathy. It was so much fun! We ate and danced and ate and got to see Irish dancing and heard a really fun Irish band. Good friends, good times! We also went to the circus with our buddies the Jippings. I just love the circus. We liked the little doggie act, the elephants, the guy getting shot out of the cannon, the high wire...it was all great! Aside from these BIG events the kids have started some other activities as well. Abigail has started up piano lessons again and is doing spectacular! I'm so proud of the progress she is making. Joshua has started Cub Scouts and just loves it. Next weekend he is going on his first Scout hike, which is sure to be a GREAT adventure! Chloe and Josiah are both taking gymnastics and loving it. Chloe's cartwheels and handstands have improved so much in just a few weeks we are amazed. And Josiah earned his first ribbon in his class. He loves to tumble (but I already knew that)!
Last weekend we went to a Fall Fest at our local YMCA and the kids all had the chance to climb the rock wall. Chloe declined the opportunity, said she'd rather watch the other kids. But everyone else gave it a go. It was Josiah's first time doing the rock wall and he did great! He kept up with Joshua the whole way and never got scared. That's my little dare devil. It's hard to believe in just a few days he will be 5 years old! Crazy! Actually, sometimes it's hard to believe he's only 4 years old. He does so much to keep up with the big kids that I often have to remind myself he's just little...my baby.
So I know I should address the question that we get on a regular basis..."How's the job hunt going?" As of right now, today, we don't have a job or an offer for a job. We are waiting...still. There have been a few interviews and actually we are waiting to hear back on a job right now. But waiting is the operative word here. Recently, one of my dear friends was praying for me over the phone and she prayed that I would find security in God and not in a job that my husband might find (or might not find as the case may be). It's a tough lesson to learn when you feel the burden of bills and private school and groceries and health care and so much more bearing down on you. So we are "Trusting in the Lord with all our hearts and leaning not on our own understanding". Well, that's what we are striving for anyway, we fail a lot....okay, I fail a lot. I told a friend a mine that my theme song should be the old kids song, "He's still workin' on me. To make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the moon and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and how patient He must be! He's still workin' on me." So that's where we are. I promise I'll update when we get job news. Hopefully that will be really soon! :)

Abigail 4th grade


Joshua 2nd grade

Chloe 1st grade

Josiah Developmental Kindergarten


Horseback riding in Golden, CO

Enjoying time at Jason & Liz's wedding

Crusin' around Denver


Irish Fest Kalamazoo

Dancing up a storm with Mr. Chuck and Daddy



Josiah's yellow ribbon at gymnastics

Here's what happens after a busy day

No FEAR!


Abigail and one of her best school buddies!

One Crazy Summer Part 2

August 3rd was a day we had been waiting for. Everything hinged on August 3rd. What would we be doing? Where would we be living? Would we be looking for another job or looking toward a November election? Where would the kids go to school? And on and on these questions went in my head...all the time. It is really hard to turn off the wondering and the worry about the future when everything seems so uncertain. It has been a big struggle for me this past year, but especially in recent months. Everyone says to trust God and be patient. I know that is what I am supposed to do but I guess I'm learning that I'm not very good at it.
So August 3rd came and went and the events of the day gave us some direction, but little clarification. We learned that the campaign was over and now we are faced with the daunting task of finding a good job in a bad economy. We are hopeful that something will come our way soon that will be fulfilling and enjoyable for Bob and will also meet the needs of our family. For now we search and pray and we keep learning how to be patient. That's August 3rd...but you want to hear about August 4th!
We all hit the road in Overbeek fashion and drove to my aunt's house in Iowa. It was the first time in a long time that I was not the only driver and we could stop for me to go to the bathroom...even if the kids were sleeping! Fabulous!
We spent a week basking in the sun at Lake Manawa. My aunt and uncle's house has it's own beach, a boat, a jet ski, kayaks....what more could you ask for? It was wonderful. Aunt Sue and Uncle John are amazing hosts. We ate awesome food and played lots of cards, which we hadn't done in a while. My parents were there as well as my dad's other sister and her husband and my grandma. It was great to see everyone! The kids got lots of attention. Josiah even convinced all the big guys to crawl under the table into his secret club! Bob and I got to sneak away for dinner and a movie and I also enjoyed some time with all the girls shopping at the Omaha farmers market. This was a great way to wrap up our crazy summer!
This is what you look like after one C-R-A-Z-Y summer!

An historic shot of my dad in the water! He doesn't even wear shorts so this was BIG!

Mom was feeling adventurous and wanted to ride the tube with me! She giggled the entire time!

The neighbor built this party island, it was awesome! The kids were jumping off the top and going down the slide. It even had a basketball hoop and built in radio. That is one cool dad.

Chloe and Aunt Sue snuggling on the boat.

The ladies of the lake...this is what we did to pass the hot afternoons

Uncle Leonard is a farmer with his very own John Deere tractors! That makes him very cool!

Hanging out in Josiah's secret club!



My mom, dad, Aunt Sue, Harry, Grandma, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Leonard. Uncle John is missing because he was busy driving his train.

Captain Josiah giving Uncle John a few pointers while driving the boat.

Classic Josiah face

Grammie and Abigail enjoying an evening tootle on the boat

Joshua brought me a lily, how sweet

All four kids got to kayak and loved it. We didn't think Chloe and Josiah would be able to manage the paddles but they did great!

Mama's boy

Joshua woke up one morning with this horrible growth on his nose...thankfully we were able to have it removed without any permanent damage to his handsome face. :)

Daddy and Joshua

Bob showing off!

Is there any question where he gets it from?

Lily pad hats are the new thing this season.

Chloe paddlin' along

Abigail is a pro!

Getting pulled in on the tube

Summer fun at it's best!