Sunday, September 27, 2009

How do I know when summer is gone.......









Summer is gone
when my life becomes
ALL ABOUT SOCCER!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Flashback FRIDAY - two weeks ago


It was September 11th, 2009 as Dan and I prepared for an evening out with our great friends Jeff and Kim. We met at SNUG Harbor in Grand Haven, and had dinner together on the outside deck.

We talked about the past and the future.
We talked about God's plan in our lives.
We laughed. Alot.

Jeff and Kim will leave for Texas in a few days.
Tonight we will say goodbye.
I will miss my friends.

I had all of these great thoughts for this post today. But, I never seemed to get them in writing. I was 6 hours late to post this, because I just didn't want to say it - Goodbye.

God has a mysterious way of giving you something in your life RIGHT when you need it.
But, why does He then decide to take it away?

Dear ALL CAPS and Kim,
You will be dearly missed. I will miss the Sunday night fun times - when all we did was laugh. I will never go to another movie again without thinking of Jeff's reaction to VANTAGE POINT. I will not be able to start the clapping during a WORSHIP song without thinking that you guys are missing. I will never look at a scarf again without thinking, "that would look perfect on Kim".

Thank you for blessing our family with your love and kindness. Texas doesn't know how lucky it is.

I have so much more to say, but can't quite come up with the words.

May God bless you on your new adventures!
All our love,
Dan and Kristie

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Happy Birthday


Happy 3rd Birthday, Dudley!

In honor of his birthday, Grandma brought him a PUP-cake.
He liked the frosting the best!!


Friday, September 18, 2009

FALL Soccer Schedules

Both Tyler and Katie play at Edgewood School for all HOME games. See you there!


TYLER:
9-20 Sunday 2 pm HOME
9-26 Saturday 1 pm AWAY
10-3 Saturday 3 pm AWAY
10-10 Saturday 11 am AWAY
10-17 Saturday 3 pm HOME
10-24 Saturday 5 pm HOME
10-31 Saturday 1 pm AWAY


KATIE:
9-20 Sunday 2 pm AWAY
9-27 Sunday 3:30pm AWAY
10-3 Saturday 5 pm HOME
10-4 Sunday 4:30pm HOME
10-10 Saturday 3 pm HOME
10-18 Sunday 2 pm HOME
11-1 Sunday 3 pm AWAY

Flashback FRIDAY - I didn't know.

It was February of 2002, and the phone rang very early for a SNOWDAY. I had made an assumption that my interview would be canceled, based on the fact that no kids were reporting to the school that day.
I made the wrong assumption.

Dan drove me through the 2 foot snowdrifts in the 4-wheel drive truck. He dropped me at the front door, and said, "Don't worry, babe. You don't really need a job anyway. Just be yourself, and if they don't take you - it's their loss."

As I recall, the first question was, "Tell me about yourself." I must have shared a little too much about myself, as years later my colleagues tease me "By the time you were done answering that question, we didn't need to ask you anything else." After the interview they gave me an Algebra test, as originally they were hiring a Teacher's Aide for struggling Math students.

I remember when he called to tell me the news, "Kristie, we would like to offer you the job - we think you would make a great addition to our staff."


I didn't know what I really meant when I said "Sure, I'll take the job - see you Monday."
I didn't know what God really had planned when he dropped me into this small community.
I didn't know that one of the greatest PASSIONS in my life would turn out to be a place that impacts the daily lives of children in a phenomenal way.
I didn't know that after all these years, I would have another family to support me.
I didn't know that one day, years later, God would give me strength and integrity; that he would use me to fulfill a plan of righteousness and justice.....

I didn't know.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Thanks, Amy!

Psalm 143

7
Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.

10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

Post options will allow this to appear RIGHT when I need it.....

Monday, September 14, 2009

Friday, September 11, 2009

Flashback FRIDAY - Day one


It was the fall of 2001,
and he wasn't even 5 yet.....

Even with the "Young Fives" program, I was still nervous.
He was too little to go to school.
He didn't want to go to school.

Day one began with him in his classroom,
with a BRAND new teacher just out of college.
He cried - for the entire 3 hours.
I sat in the hallway outside of the door - for the entire 3 hours.

Day two began with him in his classroom,
with a NEW teacher (as she had one day experience by then).
He cried - the entire 3 hours.
I sat in the hallway outside of the door - for the entire 3 hours.

Day three began with him in the classroom,
with an experienced teacher (as two days were long enough to be an expert)
He cried - the entire 3 hours.
I sat in the hallway outside of the door - for the entire 3 hours.....
........except - I left for coffee for 15 minutes. He survived.


It was the fall of 2006,
and he was starting 4th grade.

Day one began with him in the classroom,
as friends swarmed around.
His smile warmed my heart.
Day one of fourth grade
became the VERY FIRST Day one
where he didn't cry.....



Young Fives - WMAAA - 2001/2002

Tyler - 5 years old

Monday, September 7, 2009

Thank you

Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,

for the evil man has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.


God continues to use Proverbs 24 as a 2-year life lesson for me and my inability to grasp this concept that HE is in control of everything.

I feel like I am SOOOO almost there - submitting to His plan and having FAITH that He will take care of evil people and intentions.

Thank you, God, for snuffing out the lamp. Thank you for offering relief.

But, most of all, thank you for being patient with me, as I learn the lesson You want me to learn.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

The love of cooking!


In honor of her love for cooking, Eyliana's 10th Birthday dinner was cooked right in front of her at the KOBE steakhouse in Grandville! She loved watching the chef do everything right on the big grill! We were also lucky to have Grandpa and Grandma Robin there, as Grandpa and Eyli have ALMOST the same birthday! Katie and Tyler were also amazed by all the tricks of the trade. Happy Birthday Eyli!







Friday, September 4, 2009

Hope you aren't trying to call Dan.....


This is what is left of his Blackberry after he left it sitting on the bumper of the truck yesterday. We spent the morning combing the road in front of our house - mostly to try and get a picture for the blog........

Good thing he still had his old phone in the junk drawer.

We transferred his number this morning, so feel free to call him.....

(He still probably won't answer your call...)

FLASHBACK FRIDAY - And then there were FIVE......


It was January of 1999, when the four of us were sitting around the dinner table. If I remember it correctly, Katie said, “Mommy, are you gonna have any more babies?” As I prepared to state my USUAL standard answer, “No, honey, two is enough for us – one girl and one boy”…… Dan and I stopped and looked at each other.

Silence.

His comment should have sounded
OFF the wall….
STRANGE….
DIFFERENT than what we had decided….

But, somehow, at that moment HE READ my mind.

“Ya know, it kinda feels like someone is missing……”


Eyliana Danielle Cook was born 5 weeks early on September 4th, 1999.
She completed our family.
Happy Birthday, Eyli!
We love you, and we are so happy to have a family of FIVE!!


Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A first


Tyler's first Big Catch!