Deliverance

²² Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.

Lover of Justice

Mighty King, Lover of Justice, you have established fairness.......


Psalm 18:29
In Your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

Psalm 140:9
Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me.

Psalm 130:5
I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on HIM. I have put my hope in His word.

Psalm 7:6
Arise, O Lord, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies! Wake up, my God, and bring Justice!

Psalm 120:1
I took my troubles to the Lord, I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer. Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people.

Psalm 6:8
GO AWAY, all who do evil, for the Lord has heard my crying.

I already posted this, didn't I?

Flashback FRIDAY - PRIDE

It was September of 2004. The windows were sparkling clean – with no fingerprints. The hallways were empty, but appeared warm and welcoming, thanks to the artwork on the walls. Every teacher stood outside their door, wearing their best clothes and a big, bright smile. There were no students present that day, as the teachers had originally planned on participating in a staff in-service day. Instead, our school had been chosen as one of the TOP 3 charter schools in Michigan, and the Summit Award Judging Panel would be touring within the hour. My role had been to develop a scrapbook type portfolio of our past years, with facts and photos. The judging panel would then take the portfolio with them, as part of their decision making process.
As the judging panel arrived on the premises, I was part of the “greeting team”. Because they had traveled from the Detroit area, they all asked to use the restroom before the tour. Why I didn’t think to send them to the teacher’s lounge, I’ll never know………The student restrooms were closer, I guess, and I did not foresee any problems, so I promptly ushered them into the sparkling clean restrooms. As the female judge exited the restroom, she kindly informed me that one of toilets had over-flowed onto the floor, and appeared to be very clogged. My face must have said it all, as she quickly said, “It’s no big deal, this happens at all schools….”
Two exciting things happened that year at our school!
1. We purchased brand new, extra strong, flushing toilets for all of the restrooms!
2. We won the Summit Award, despite the fact that our toilets malfunctioned!
Our entire staff, many students and parents were in the audience at the annual MAPSA conference in Detroit to witness the announcement. As I watched the Summit Award Judging Panel present the small trophy to our Director, no words could explain the look on his face. The staff ran up on stage to cheer and hug each other.

I will never forget that feeling of PRIDE.

PRIDE for being #1 out of so many….
PRIDE for being part of the development of something special….
PRIDE for being able to share that feeling with such great people….

Thank you, God, for reminding me that this PRIDE remains strong as a small community continues to strive for excellence, despite ANY interruption that comes our way.

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

Summer is gone
when my life becomes
ALL ABOUT SOCCER!

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

Justice

Psalm of MY day

Happy Birthday

Happy 3rd Birthday, Dudley!

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

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.

Thanks, Amy!

<sup>Psalm 143

7</sup> 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.....

YES!

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

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.

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!

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!!

A first

Tyler's first Big Catch!

Flashback FRIDAY - they say your life flashes before your eyes.....

It was June 13th of 2003; you could feel the excitement in the air as Dan prepared for his first “Night Jump”. At ONLY jump #87 he was VERY lucky to get a jump ticket for the ride up to altitude. But, leave it to Cookie to talk his way onto a plane – even if it was 13 jumps too early.
He is always the exception to a rule.

My brother, Andy, and his soon-to-be bride, Karrie, had joined us in Chicago for the big event. Skydivers were everywhere; taping GLO sticks to their jump suits. Checking and re-checking their gear. The kids and I were told that we could drive the van out onto the edge of the airstrip. They remember feeling excited that they got to sit ON TOP of the mini van. As the plane took off, we all turned on our headlights, as the skydivers would use them to see the landing zone as they approached.

Jump #87 went off without a hitch.
Imagine seeing it for the first time.
The earth’s evening lights from the sky.
Cookie describes it as “a breathtaking and awesome site.”

For all you NON-skydivers - Number 1 rule of a night jump – THE FIRST thing you do after you land is check in with your S&TA, so they can make sure everyone is accounted for. Cookie landed safely, and immediately went to find his S&TA, as instructed. The mini van was NO-where near the hanger, so he did not stop to let his family know he had landed safely, he simply followed SKYDIVER protocol.

Two thumbs up for him. (Said in perfect Kristie sarcasm)

As none of us had ever attended an official “Night Jump” before, we really did not know what to expect. As we began to realize that all of the jumpers had landed, and we hadn’t seen Cookie, we became concerned. Andy and I were engaged in a worried conversation as we heard a VERY loud noise.
The noise became louder and louder.
We all froze and stared into the sky.
The lights on the airplane came QUICKLY into view, although it became apparent that they were approaching WAY TOO quickly.

My thought was – one of the engines must have gone out.
Oh.
My.
Gosh.
PULL UP, PULL UP!!

We all realized that the plane was going to crash. The question was, how close would it be to our mini-van?
They say your life flashes before your eyes.

With tears in my eyes, I screamed and desperately grabbed for my children on top of the van, but never connected with their little bodies.
Andy left his bride standing speechless and literally dove UNDER the mini van, head first, while he screamed, “SEPTEMBER 11th!!”

At the VERY last second, the plane leveled out just above my children’s head.

It took a full 60 seconds for us to realize that all the other cars were honking their horns. People were screaming. Not because they were scared, but because they were celebrating! The plane safely landed just beyond the row of cars.

Wait, what?

Apparently, it is a tradition at official “Night Jumps” for the pilot to do an average FLY-BY, only the goal is to get as low as physically possible……. Hmmmm… might’ve wanted to know THAT ahead of time.

They say your life flashes before your eyes.
Mine didn’t.

But, was that because my body knew I really wasn’t going to die?

Or was it simply because I was so incredibly angry at my selfish brother, that I couldn’t think of anything that had happened in my short life?

I mean COME ON….
He could’ve attempted to grab at least ONE of the kids?
Or his soon-to-be wife?
Or AT LEAST his incredibly cool and smart BIG sister.......


Logbook #87 -


Cookie preparing for his first "Night Jump" -

Happiness is.....

Happiness is.....
Alone time with my best friend
Happiness is.....
A Starbucks on every corner
Happiness is.....
A maid who makes your bed every day
Happiness is.....
The escalator rides in Water Tower Place
Happiness is.....
Men's capri's in the Adidas store
Happiness is.....
Not being forced to ride on the BIG wheel, because he was just as scared
Happiness is.....
Watching a street performance
Happiness is.....
Eating out for every meal
Happiness is.....
Chocolate covered STRAWBERRIES from the Godiva store
Happiness is.....
3 floors of NORTHFACE
Happiness is.....
A Starbucks on every corner
(Did I already say that?)

Happiness is.....
CHICAGO

Flashback FRIDAY - 1991

It was the summer of 1991, we started our official “first date” by riding around Muskegon in the back of his mom’s junker car, as she was running errands. I have a vivid memory of spilling a slushy on my T-shirt, but he had an extra one I changed in to. She brought us to a baseball game for Mentally Challenged Adults. We cheered them on together. He gave me a lollipop. I asked him if he wanted to share it. He acted like I was disgusting for even asking. (To this day he will not share his ice-cream with me, off of the same spoon).

We ended up at the Getty 4 Drive-In.
His mom, brother, and a friend in the front seat.
A friend, him and I in the back.
We watched DOC HOLLYWOOD.
I don’t remember anything about that movie. I simply remember the feeling of his hand, as he held mine. I simply remember how hard my HEART was beating, as it slowly realized that the 15-year old boy was everything I ever wanted.

We walked to the bathroom at the Drive-In. When I came out of the girl’s bathroom, he was coming out of the boy’s. His friend was bringing him a duffel bag from the car and handed it to him. I thought it was kinda weird, but he said “OK, thanks” to his friend. He took the bag back to the car and put it in the trunk. I never thought another thing about it.

Years later he laughs as he retells the story. When he was in the bathroom at the Drive-In, he thought he smelled bad (as for most of his life, he has had a secret obsession with Old Spice Deodorant). He told his friend, “Hurry, go back into my bag and get my deodorant, bring it to me in the bathroom so I can put some on!!” His friend obviously got confused by the instruction, or was unable to locate the deodorant in the duffel bag. Afraid to disappoint him, he chose to bring the entire duffel bag back instead.

Funny - I thought he smelled fabulous for the entire day.

We ended our first date in his friend’s driveway in Norton Shores.
His mom was talking.
Our friends were preoccupied with emptying the car.
I looked him square in the eye and said, “You should say goodbye to me right now.”
He said, “Huh?”
I kissed him full on the mouth.
He said “Oh”.
He went into his friend’s house.
I’ve been telling him what to do ever since……..

Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Dear Lord, send me Cheez-Its....

I have a wonderful little story to share....

We have been blessed with Aunt Jamie staying at our house this week. Tyler and Jamie have always shared a very special bond. Along with watching movies, skateboarding, and having sleepovers in the living room, they have also spent quality time reading the Bible. Over the past 3 evenings, they have been diligent to read the Bible and discuss spiritual concepts together.

One morning this week -

Me: "So, Ty, how did Bible Study go last night?"

Tyler: "Great! We learned about HOW we should PRAY to God"

Me: "Do you mean THAT you SHOULD pray to God? Or HOW you should PRAY to God?"

Tyler: "No, mom, I mean HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY. Jamie explained it to me. It's like me saying - 'God, send me Cheez-Its'. You're not supposed to ask like that...."

Me: "Why do you need Cheez-Its? There are crackers in the cupboard...."

Tyler: "MOM! It's just an EXAMPLE! Instead you should ask like this, 'Dear God, if it is in your will, could you please send me some Cheez-Its?' "

Very Excited

I'm getting really excited about the upcoming

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

here at

The LIFE in a DAY of the COOKS.....

Join us this Friday for the 1st WEEKLY post!!

Just for fun....

We are so blessed to go to the Unity Festival each year. We always get AWESOME seats right in the front, because Grandma Robin gets up every day at 5 in the morning and waits in line. Then, when they open the gates Tyler runs as fast as he can (which is extremely fast) to "throw our blankets down"..... Robin follows closely behind with our cart full of chairs, with help from Tiff or I. Each year, we get the same great SPOT. This picture was on the UNITY website.....He, of course, passed that kid.....


Dad has never assisted in this process, and, in fact, thought Robin just got up early, walked to our spot, and comfortably sat back to enjoy the rest of her day.

This year, he decided to "help" us.
[So, we patiently explained the process...you know-the chairs have to be stored in a certain manner, the bungee cords have to wrap around the chairs just so, Tyler has to sneak to the front of the line while others aren't paying attention, etc.etc.etc... ]
[And he listened to part of the explaining.]
He was quite surprised by how ELABORATE the process was!

And by the end of the festival, the UNITY staff actually photographed him "helping" us..... We kept telling him he was supposed to RUN to the spot with the chairs.

I guess this could be running??