Stepping Heavenward

Happy 25th Birthday Scott!!!

2012-02-08T07:56:00.001-05:00

Under Construction!

2012-01-02T17:26:00.001-05:00

We are working on renovating our basement. We are (re)building a rec-room and a bathroom. It has been alot(!) of work...more than we anticipated! We are having fun though, and are very much looking forward to the day it is completed. :-)

Hanging drywall, mudding, sanding...

Framing a bathroom. Scott had to rent a jackhammer to dig out the foundation so that the pipes can be laid below it. You can see the new concrete to the lower right of the above picture. So interesting, hey?! ;-)

A bit of a goofy picture...but it shows my new *pink* toolbelt. It is very handy. :-) Oh, and see that cute little dog on the chair (ahem!)? That is Sophie. Yup, we still have her. She is quite a model dog and is very sweet and affectionate.

Well, the second coat of mud and more sanding awaits. I can hardly wait to crack open a can of primer. Never thought I would be so excited to prime something! :-) Oh, and I bought a handy-dandy tool to aid in the process....it is the Wagner Paint 'N Roll Plus . I'll let you know how it goes! :-)

From Old to New...

2011-09-19T15:44:00.004-04:00

BEFORE

There is still some work to do, and some finishing touches to be made, but since you have all had to wait so patiently for such a long time... HERE is the new house (well, new-looking house!)... hope you like it - we sure do! :O)

and.....

AFTER!!

I still need to paint the sides and 1/2 the back of the house, add shutters, finish the garage door etc... but we are pretty excited to be this far!

sneak peek! :O)

2011-09-06T11:28:00.000-04:00

Here is a little glimpse of our "new" home... more to come! :O)

Progress...

2011-09-01T15:26:00.005-04:00

Getting rid of the ugly brown...

Progress on the house is being made! Almost all of the trim, soffit, fascia, and eaves troughs have been painted creamy-white. The brick and siding on the front of the house has also been painted. It is a grey-green color and looks quite lovely. Almost every day someone drives by and gives a thumbs-up or comments on it looking so much better. Fun! :O)

Now...to do the rest of the house...

a new post!! :O)

2011-08-22T21:57:00.003-04:00

Please excuse the grubby clothes/hair...but I was workin'! :O)

We are transforming the entire exterior of our home! And now that I've started, there is no stopping. Can you see what has been painted so far? The brown/beige/pink is disappearing and being covered by a lovely creamy white ("Artesian White"). Mmm...yum. It is looking so much better already. I shall show you more as it progresses. Hopefully soon!

ps - the whole house is not going to be white - don't worry. but I have to leave some things a secret. so if you want to know more before it is nearer to completion - you'll have to come visit! :O)

Outside...

2011-05-20T15:34:00.005-04:00

Just a few photos of the outside... right now the backyard looks a bit like a marsh. :) We get the house today, so work will start this evening!

Our new home....

2011-05-05T14:58:00.002-04:00

This lovely (ahem..not really) house is ours! Or at least, it soon will be! We take possession the week after next. Yahoo! We get the house on May 20th, have ONE week to fix it up inside enough to make it liveable, and are planning to move on Thursday evening, May 26th. If you are nearby, and would like to come help us with the move, we would be very happy!! :O)

Soon, I will let you in the house to see the "before" pictures.... stay tuned! :O)

Afflictions...work for good.

2011-04-27T11:47:00.002-04:00

“Afflictions work for good, as they are the means of making us happy. "Happy is the man whom God correcteth" (Job 5:17). What politician or moralist ever placed happiness in the cross? Job does. ‘Happy is the man whom God correcteth.’It may be said, How do afflictions make us happy? We reply that, being sanctified, they bring us nearer to God. The moon in the full is furthest off from the sun: so many further off from God in the full-moon of prosperity; afflictions bring them nearer to God. The magnet of mercy does not draw us so near to God as the cords of affliction. When Absalom set Joab’s corn on fire, then he came running to Absalom (2 Sam. 14:30). When God sets our worldly comforts on fire, then we run to Him, and make our peace with Him. When the prodical was pinched with want, then he returned home to his father. (Luke 15:13). When the dove could not find any rest for the sole of her foot, then she flew to the ark.

When God brings deluge of affliction upon us, then we fly to the ark of Christ. Thus affliction makes us happy, in bringing us nearer to God. Faith can make use of the waters of affliction, to swim faster to Christ.”

~ All Things For Good by: Thomas Watson

(taken from http://www.allaroundmyheart.com/)

Singleness...

2011-04-15T22:12:00.005-04:00

The following story/write-up is taken from: rageagainsttheminivan.com

Reading it made me remember again the struggle that my single friends must surely be going through. How they must often wish to be married, and still desire to serve the Lord and trust Him. I am praying for you... trust Him, for His ways are good (sometimes hard, yes! I know!..but good and perfect for you and me). :O)

-------------

My name is Sarah. I am 33 and single. I will be 34 in a few months. This was not my plan. My plan was to meet my husband in college, get married at 25, have my first child at 29, begin the adoption process, have another child at 32 and have all my kids home and under my roof by now. Not that I'm much of a planner or anything...(!) But I want you to know it is disorienting to be at this place in life. I am not dating anyone and I wonder if I will meet someone in time to have my own child. I started babysitting when I was 10 and have loved lots and lots of other people’s children, but I always wanted my own. I wonder if I should adopt as a single person...

I want you to know how excruciating hope is. I think if I knew that I'd be single for another 10 years, I could let the dream go. I have a good life. I get to work with kids who I know and love. But it’s the “not knowing” and the scoping out other guys, and the staying 'open' and 'available'--it’s this hope that just won't die, that is just excruciating. When I read infertility posts, I feel like I can relate, I have an infertility problem too—I can't find the husband/sperm donor who will help me raise these kids!

I want you to know that I have prayed and prayed for God to take this desire away from me because it is too painful to live in this in between place. I want you to know that when I meet an attractive single guy I start doing the math—if we dated for 8 months, got married in a year, started having kids in 2 or 3 years....and I want you to know that I know that is SICK, that it's not fair to that unsuspecting nice looking man, who it turns out is only 24 anyway!

I want you to know that I am tired of doing everything by myself…going to every holiday party by myself (or worse yet having a guy friend go with me and having EVERYONE at the party ask me if he's my boyfriend or 'the one'). I want you to know that I'm tired of always being the driver, of cleaning my own car, of sleeping in a twin bed, of taking out all my own trash, of not having anyone to make dinner for, of deciding about retirement options and investments and of making every decision about my life without the input of someone who will live it out with me.

I want you to know how terribly alone and unprotected I sometimes feel. I have a great group of friends and a wonderful community. I see them as a gift. I cherish their support. And yet I still long for something different.

I want you to know how important it has been to me to have people pray for me and stand in the gap when it was too disappointing to keep praying. How I've needed friends to say “there has got to be someone out there for you” and keep hoping when all hope was lost. I want you to know that when you've passed my name a long to a good guy, or I've contacted someone you've suggested and it hasn't worked out, I'm still grateful. Grateful that you would take a risk, grateful that you are 'for me'. I want you to know if you prayed for me right now or hooked me up with the guy who I end up marrying I will be forever grateful for you (...and there might be a little cash prize in it for you! Just sayin’!)

I want you to know that I know marriage is work. It's not an idealized picture of some non-existent man in my head. But that doesn't make me want it any less.
I want you to know that I have gone to myriads of showers for friends whom I dearly loved and am truly happy for—yet also slightly jealous of. I want you to know at those showers I've had people lean over and whisper to me “you're next” and felt a little hope in my heart rise, and then fall at the next shower when the scene repeats itself. I want you to know how odd it is when I hear about kids I babysat for getting married and having babies, because I so want that myself...and I somehow felt entitled to that experience before them because I am so much older. I want you to know that my sense of entitlement bothers me and smacks me in the face with this 'marriage' thing….all…the…time.

What I want you to know is when I attend the women’s' retreat at my church, and meal after meal I sit with women who complain and roll their eyes and make fun of their husbands and children, and they talk about how thrilled they are to be away from them, what a drag they are....I would switch places with them in a heartbeat.
I want you to know that when my pastor talks about his struggle to conceive their 3rd child and how for 6 months they prayed and then she finally did, and now their son is one, my faith falters. I have been praying for my husband for 12 years. There must be something wrong with me/my prayers...or maybe worse yet, the desires of my heart are not the desires of God's heart. And I start to wonder about this God.

I want you to know that when you flippantly ask me if I've tried eharmony or match.com I feel like a failure. This is not a helpful suggestion, and every single person I know has tried these websites. I've been on them for years. I've met some really great people and some really crazy people, but none of them have turned out to be 'the one'. And the vast majority of single women I know did not actively choose to be single. They want to be married. They are trying what they know to do.

I want you to know how tempting it is to lower my standards...I get asked out by non-Christian men all the time. I know I'm sending out the right vibe (that I'm open and available and interested), but I want someone whose faith matters to them. Sometimes I feel like I'm choosing between God and my husband. In fact sometimes people tell me that “Jesus wants to be my husband, wants me to love him more than anyone else...and aren't I so lucky”? I want to tell them that “I don't think Jesus is very good in bed”, and “it doesn't feel all that lucky”, but instead I smile and let them feel better, let them feel like they've really helped me.

I want you to know that I'm starting to think Christian guys are incredibly weak and lame, at least at my church, because they are not taking initiative. If you are a single Christian guy reading this, I want you to know that you don't need to know if it will work out, or that I'm 'the one', in order to ask me on a date. I realize that it’s a discernment process and I'm willing to do the discerning with you. And I'm willing to still be in community with you if it doesn't work out. So just ask me out. I want you to know that I struggle with knowing how much initiative to take, and that people love to give their advice about letting the man lead, or making the first move etc. I want you to know that I'm tired of playing those games. I want you to know that abortion and homosexuality and divorce aren't the only things that are threatening families today. I think singleness should be on that list too—as it keeps Godly families from being created in the first place. So my friends and I pray regularly for the men in our community.
I want you to know that I've wrestled with marriage being an idol. I've surrendered it, prayed over it, and gotten moments of peace. But like dandelions, I can't seem to eradicate this dream from the landscape of my heart...every few months it springs back with a vengeance. I want you to know that I have given up some of my dreams or delayed them at times to be faithful to the other things I felt like God has asked me to do with the poor. I don't regret those things, but sometimes I realize that I set myself up by believing that if I sacrificed, if I did things “right”, didn't sleep around, lived overseas, if I loved the poor until my heart broke, if I worked to help God's 'kingdom come' that I secretly believed God would reward me in the end with my dream of having a family...a family with a fathers influence.

I want you to know that every New Year, when I read over my journal from the past year, I am disappointed that my husband isn't in it...but I'm also afraid to write 'maybe this year I'll meet him' in my ‘hopes and dreams and resolutions’ for the new year because it's been so sad and painful to read those words over and over again, year after year. Those of you who say to me, “cherish this time, you'll look back on it so fondly” obviously haven't read my journals filled with ache and longing and disappointment.

A friend of mine lost her right leg in the Haiti earthquake. When I was with her a few weeks ago I had an odd realization. I feel like a one legged person, in a two legged world. It feels like there is something clearly wrong with me—everyone can see I don't have a partner. I know that having a partner won't change these deep seeded feelings inside me. I know that I've got more work to do.

However, that being said, I want you to know it is a married world out there people! I know marriage is work, that it's not perfect, that it causes growth and growth is painful, but I still want it. And if you're reading this right now and you’re married, I want you to know how incredibly blessed you are to be married and have someone who is committed to you for the journey. In the end, I've come to see relationships, all relationships, as gifts. Not perfect, not painless. But still undeserved blessings, that we didn't 'earn' and oftentimes don't 'deserve'. I don't know if I'll ever be gifted with a husband, but I want you to know there will be a serious celebration if/when I do!

Our house is....

2011-04-13T17:18:00.002-04:00

!!! Hurray! We are thrilled, and amazed at how quickly it sold. Surely a testament to God's grace and wonderful provision! 8 days after our home went on the market we got an offer...and those people have purchased it. They had no problems getting financing and decided not to have an inspection done. So that was easy (well, in hindsight...although when you're in the "thick of it"..selling a house is ALOT of work.)! We are excited to be moving at the end of May to a slightly larger home, one which needs lots of TLC! I will give you more updates as the days go by...and maybe even a sneek peak at our new home! :O)

ps - we sold privately (without an agent), and are very very thankful that the Lord enabled this to be successful and allowed us to save the commission. woohoo! :O)

Hiking...

2011-04-11T11:31:00.005-04:00

We went hiking for the first time this year on Saturday.... it was so fun. It was delightful to smell the fresh spring air, drink in the sunshine, and enjoy the wildlife. :O)

We saw 7 deer! They stayed in the woods for the most part, but at one point they came bounding out across our path.... They were very quick and jumped very high!

Little One enjoyed coming along in the Moby wrap...and fell asleep within the first ten minutes. We are hoping to buy a Kelty Kids carrier once we can find an inexpensive one. :O)

A hawk in the tree... Redtailed or Cooper`s hawk?

We are looking forward to going again, and hope to make it a weekly occurence. :O)

birthday.... :O)

2011-04-08T14:29:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was my 26th birthday. I was blessed with a beautiful day... so much to be thankful for! The Lord has been good and gracious.

My dear husband got me the lovely bouquet you see above, as well as a brand new camera (and more things)!! Eeek...beyond my wildest dreams! If you need any photos taken just say the word and I'll be over. ;-) Seriously, this camera is amazing and I am having alot of fun reading through the 350 page manual... :O)

Go visit my other blog to see more photos! :O)

He Never Sleeps..

2011-03-10T14:32:00.001-05:00

He Never Sleeps, He Never Slumbers
sung by Anugraha Paul

A boy and his (sister's) dog... :O)

2011-03-03T09:36:00.002-05:00

Couldn't resist posting this picture of my brother-in-law and our puppy. He loves her! :O)

In Heaven....with the Lord

2011-02-28T14:51:00.004-05:00

My dear Dad passed away on February 21, 2011. He is now in His eternal home, rejoicing and in the presence of our Saviour. Oh, how I miss him...my heart has a sad, heavy ache... but I must not wish him back. He is with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Righteous One. He has received the crown of righteousness.

He wrote the following post on his facebook page just two weeks ago...

"Wilhelmus à Brakel provides some great words that I have found very helpful. First, he gives a great description of the heavenly glory for our meditation:
(Notice below that Brakel also lists the glory of God as first purpose)

..."One ought to focus continually upon the glory of this inheritance, and by faith traverse heaven, beholding how gloriously the Lord Jesus maniests Himself; how the angels bow before Him; in what intimate manner He deals with the glorified saints; what light and immediate fellowship with God they enjoy; how they are moved and filled with a magnificent happiness toward God, Christ, the angels, and each other; how sweetly they may sing the praises of the Lord; and how they may adore and lose themselves in the perfections of God and the perfection of their state." (The Christian’s Reasonable Service, 4:369)!
See also 2 Tim. 4:7,8: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearance."

Sophie Update

2011-02-04T10:48:00.003-05:00

Life with a puppy is different... but good. :O)

She requires quite a bit of my time... feeding, training, cleaning etc. I am so so glad that we got such a small breed of dog. When I was young we had a dog, but she remained outdoors. So having an animal inside is very different for me! Lately she spends most of her time in our basement, which is working out very well. There is lots of room for her to run down there and we built her a wooden crate to be in when we are not around.

Sophie seems to be very intelligent (and treat-motivated! :O)). She understands and listens to her name, come, sit, down etc. Very exciting that she has these down pat after just a few days of training! At first I thought we had made a BAD decision in getting a puppy...but things are going well now. :O)

We are working on litter-box training her (just like a cat...apparently dogs are just as capable) and it is going well. Not sure if you want to hear all about that, but if you have any suggestions for me that would be helpful!

I took her to the vet last Saturday, and she was proclaimed to be very healthy. She received her 2nd set of shots, and that was it! She weighs 5lbs 9 oz, and we estimate that she will be about 9 lbs as an adult.

Little One loves her and squeals and screeches whenever she sees her, trying to get close enough to touch/grab her. :O)

She is pretty sweet and we are slowly getting attached!

Meet Sophie...

2011-01-27T22:04:00.004-05:00

She is our 15 week old PomChi. :O)

So far things have been going quite well. She is very sweet and gentle and loves to curl up for a snooze. But, she is still a puppy...which means we have ALOT of teaching to do. If anyone has advice for housetraining puppies, I would love to hear it. :O)

ps - the rose couch is not in the plan to stay - we are going to get another cover for it from Ikea. :O)

We're getting a....

2011-01-26T10:01:00.004-05:00

Today! :O)

We are picking this little one up tonight... I'm very excited, but not quite sure if we know what we're getting ourselves into! Oh well, it will be fun, and since I'm home with the Little One most days I will have time to train, and train, and train... :O)

She is a PomChi (pomeranian/chihuahua x)... just a little thing, and will probably grow to be about 6-8 pounds. Hopefully she is good!

Now, we have to come up with a name for her... I've been thinking maybe "Maggie"... do you have any good names for a small female dog?

I'll let you know how things are going over the next little while. :O)

New blog... :O)

2011-01-18T09:23:00.003-05:00

I have started another blog (this time private)... mostly about our Little One. :O) If you would like access to it just leave me you email address and I will add you.

You can find us @ http://www.impraying4rain.blogspot.com

I'm Thankful...

2011-01-11T20:10:00.002-05:00

To have this in my way as I'm washing the floors... :O)

It's "Christmas Eve" at our house... :o)

2010-12-09T20:12:00.002-05:00

The gifts are wrapped and under the tree,
Patiently waiting for thing one, two, and three
With impatient sigh and glances galore,
Thing one, two, and three are sure not to snore
As they toss and they turn and wait for the morrow
When wrapping shall fly and gone be all sorrow

Pizza and popcorn and many good things
Will be enjoyed as Papa Bear sings,
Mama and Baby will shout with much glee
As they open the gifts set beneath that great tree
Oh how much fun it will be on that night
When they have a great party so cheery and bright

To bed they will go with bellies full up
So thankful and blessed, with such a big cup
But the best part about this party for me
Is that there is now a thing one, two, AND THREE!

Before and After...

2010-12-01T17:04:00.005-05:00

We received this chest one day and decided that it could use some improvement. It had that shiny brownish (a little bit 1980ish) look to it. So....

With removal of hardware, alot of sanding, and three coats of paint....

It now looks lovely (at least, I think so! :0)), and it holds all of our baby furniture/toys when they are not in use! So handy! :0)

The view from here... :o)

2010-11-16T13:53:00.004-05:00

The Christmas decorations are up, and we are all enjoying them! I know, it is early, earlier than we have ever set them up. But they look so nice, and it is so cozy and warm inside. We are glad that Little One is able to enjoy this season with us (DV). :0)

Little Bunny.

2010-11-06T20:06:00.004-04:00

A sweet gift made by "Grandma V"... :0)

Two little bunnies...

"Our" little miss is 5 months old today! Hasn't the time just flown by?! We are amazed and so very thankful that she is still here! God has been good in allowing her to stay so long! We enjoy her so much and are completely in love with her. She is the sweetest little thing. Almost always content, ready to smile and coo at any moment. Her favorite song is "Jesus Loves Me", and she will always stop what she is doing(even crying) as soon as I start to sing it. :O) She can now roll over and is quite pleased with her ability to do so. Just recently she has begun to hum and sigh whenever she is content and happy. It is very sweet.
The next court date to review/proceed with her case is December 2. A few things will be sorted out then, but the expectation is that she will be here until at least January. We are thankful that this means we will be able to spend the special Christmas holidays with her in our home and with our family. We do not know yet whether she will be able to stay here permanently, but we pray every day that God will enable us to adopt her and raise her as one of His children. Will you please pray too? The thought of her leaving is almost unimaginable. I don't even like to think about it because it is so sad and scary. We need to enjoy today and be thankful for the blessing she is to us right now! We know that God is sovereign and that His will will be done. We have learned to pray "Your will be done", but somedays that is hard, and we want our will to be done. We want to learn to rely fully on God and His gracious plan for both our and baby's life. We know He is a kind and loving Father, and He sees all things from above. EVERYTHING works according to His perfect plan (Rom 8:28)!

Wait on the Lord

2010-10-27T12:12:00.002-04:00

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said,"Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate,
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting . . . for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me,
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love,
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask,
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see,
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".

~Russel Kelfer

Your will be done Lord...for it is good.

2010-10-25T20:38:00.002-04:00

"Give us help from trouble." Psalm 60:11

When we come before God in the hour of trouble, remembering His great goodness to us in the past and therefore thanking Him, we should have faith enough to believe that the present trouble about which we are praying is sent in love. You will win with God in prayer if you can look at your trials in this light: "Lord I have this thorn in the flesh. I beg You, deliver me from it, but for now I bless You for it; for although I do not understand, I am persuaded there is love within it. Therefore, while I ask You to remove it, as it seems evil to me, yet it may to Your better knowledge be for my good. I bless you for it, and I am content to endure it as long as You see fit." Is not that a sweet way of praying? "Lord, I am in want: Be pleased to supply me; but meanwhile if you do not, I believe it is better for me to be in need, and so I praise You for my necessity while I ask You to supply it. I glory in my infirmity even while I ask You to overcome it. I triumph before You in my affliction and bless You for it even while I ask You to help me in it and rescue me out of it."

C.H.Spurgeon

"Casting Our Cares on Jesus"...as we wait...

2010-09-13T15:23:00.003-04:00

"Casting all your care upon Him; for he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we feel "He cares for me." Come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight that your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden would be to Him but as dust. Oh, child of suffering be patient; God has not passed you over in His providence. He who is the feeder of the sparrows will also furnish you with what you need. Do not sit down in despair; hope on, hope ever. There is One who cares for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and His hand omnipotent will bring you the needed help. He, if you are one of His family, will bind up your wounds and heal your broken heart. Do not doubt His grace because of your tribulation, but believe that He loves you as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! If God cares for you, why should you care, too? Can you trust Him for your soul and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens; He has never fainted under their weight. Come then, soul! Cease fretting, and leave all your concerns in the hand of a gracious God.

~C.H. Spurgeon

Tipping the scales... :-)

2010-09-10T14:46:00.009-04:00

Little One went to the doctor today for her first immunizations. She was also weighed, measured, and proclaimed to be a healthy little specimen. :0)

Weight: 13lbs 4oz
Length: 24.4 inches

Both her weight and length are in the 50-75th percentile. So we are happy. And thankful that the Lord is blessing her with good health!

Update.

2010-09-07T15:25:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to give you all a written update on our sweet little foster baby. She continues to do very well, and is growing so quickly. She is now 3 months old. She is very cheerful and coos and chatters like no baby I have ever seen. We are loving her immensely and we think she loves us too. :-)

We are still waiting to hear how her family assessment is going (if her extended family is "approved" to take her, she will be going there at the end of September). We know that it is still "in progress" and information is still being collected. We expected to hear last week/perhaps this week what the future plan is for this sweet babe, but that may not happen. In a way we are glad not to know. It's easier not to know if it is going to be sad news, you know? But then we feel that we have been waiting for a VERY long time, and are so so ready to KNOW what is going to happen. We love this sweet baby girl so much and we pray often that if it is the Lord's will she would stay in our home forever. We so want her to grow up as a covenant child. Our desire is that she would never know a day that she did not know of God's love for her and hers for Him. To think of her being taken from us and placed back in the world is a very hard and sad thought. Will you please pray for her and us too? We need to be patient and we need to TRUST that the Lord does everything well. His way is perfect and His plan for both "our" baby and our lives is good...best.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He." Deuteronomy 32:4

Day Trip cont'd...

2010-08-04T12:19:00.003-04:00

On the way home, we drove to the lake, and enjoyed the view while feeding the wee babe.

After that we stopped in Eagle, and went blueberry picking for the first time. So fun! :-)

Little One enjoyed blueberry picking too....and did alot of sleeping. :-)

water lily.

2010-08-04T12:06:00.001-04:00

Day Trip... :-)

2010-08-04T11:22:00.004-04:00

The cutest baby monkey I have ever seen!

Sweet little ducking..

On Saturday we took a Day trip to Greenview Aviaries. It was very nice weather and we had a fun time. There was an impressive number of animals and different species! As you can probably tell by our frequent "zoo-like" trips, we love nature/animals... :-)

sweet times.... :-)

2010-06-29T15:03:00.002-04:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a very long time...but I've been busy, loving and caring for this sweet babe. :-)

A-fri-can Li-on's Sa-fa-ri! :-)

2010-05-31T15:40:00.007-04:00

On Saturday, Scott and I enjoyed a(nother) trip to the Safari in Cambridge. It was great fun, and the animals were all quite lively and entertaining....maybe they enjoy the warm weather?! It was a delight to see so many different species, and to be reminded of our amazing Creator.

Just found out that....

2010-05-14T12:02:00.005-04:00

We ARE on the foster-adopt waiting list now!! Hurray!

And so....

we Wait
we Pray
and
we Trust God.

""For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD."
Jeremiah 29:11a

.the nursery. :O)

2010-05-06T13:27:00.011-04:00

We are (finally! :)) done all of the foster/adopt training, visits etc! So, I thought that you might like to see the completed nursery? It is ready and waiting patiently for a little one to come occupy it. Because we do not know whether we will have a boy or a girl, I tried to make it suitable for either. Hope you like it! :)

Foster/Adopt Update!

2010-05-04T22:12:00.004-04:00

We are still in the process of completing our training to be foster/adopt parents. The great news is that tomorrow evening is our last mandatory class! All of our home visits are finished - we had two together and one each separately (four total). We have been blessed with a lovely social worker who has been a delight to work with. She says that within the next two or three weeks our paperwork will be complete and we will be ready for a placement. We are getting very excited as the finish line is now so close. Once we are completely approved and everything is finalized we will be expected to be ready for a baby anytime of day or night. It will be quite a change to become parents overnight! We will keep you all up-to-date with any news as things develop. Thank you all for your love and prayers!

What I'm baking right now...mmm!

2010-04-28T13:42:00.004-04:00

COFFEE CAKE

Tip: If you don't keep plain yogurt on hand you can make buttermilk using milk and lemon juice, here is how at Kayotic Kitchen(http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/lemon-milk-not-what-you-think).

2 1/2 c white or whole wheat flour
1 c brown sugar
3/4 c raw sugar
3/4 c vegetable/corn oil
1 t cinnamon
1 t salt
Mix all these ingredients together and save one cup for topping.

Add:
1 egg
1/2 c plain yogurt
1/2 c milk
(instead of yogurt and milk you can use 1 cup buttermilk)
1 t baking soda

Pour into 9x13 greased baking pan and sprinkle the saved one cup of sugar mixture. You can sprinkle pecans on top if you would like.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

They need someone to love them...

2010-04-19T09:34:00.011-04:00

It is when I read stories like this, that my desire to foster/adopt becomes strong again. Below is a post from http://www.sixyearmed.com

----------------------------

In This Place

04.18.10 Posted by Danielle

Nearing the end of an overnight shift in the Emergency Department, I yawned and got up to stretch my legs and wander around the pod before settling in to finish the rest of my paperwork. The department was mostly quiet, save for a few croupers. I noticed that my fellow residents were missing, so I ambled over the the trauma suite trying to sniff out some action.

As soon as I opened the door, I had to squint my eyes, because the lights were so bright, and people were going absolutely nuts. Nurses were preparing bags of warmed fluid and drawing up medications. A technician threw a CPR board onto the gurney and tossed down a huge box of gloves, which exploded into bright blue lava that people frantically tried to recover. Yelling ensued, until the attending physician entered the room and all went quiet. Still, there was no patient to be found. Everyone was ready for something which wasn’t quiet yet here.

I stood back watching, because this time, I wasn’t assigned.

In through the double doors bursts a team of volunteer firefighters. The room goes crazy. People are running back and forth and everyone is talking at once. It feels strange to be watching it from the outside. Is it always this chaotic, I wonder?

They plop a small, gray baby on top the CPR board and a resident takes over chest compressions. (“How long has he been down?” someone asks. “We’ve been pumping his chest for the 10 minute drive over here. Plus however long he was down at home. We don’t know.”) I can see that the EMS team has already attempted two intraosseous lines, which makes me worried. Someone intubates the baby and the chest compressions continue. They read off the temperature and some brief electrolytes and my mouth drops. Things quiet down and slow down, because everyone knows what is happening. This baby has already died.

“Where’s the family?” the attending physician asks.

“Mom dropped him off at this guy’s house and we can’t locate her. The dad didn’t want to come in. Says the kid isn’t his.”

Another resident motions me to come closer, because they are going to attempt a needle decompression of the chest, which is not something we do frequently. I look at the gray baby, not in the face or the chest, but down on his legs where the lines are and on the belly where he is bruised, both from newly inflicted wounds and what I imagine to be old scars as well.

“Well, you guys find SOMEBODY who knows this kid because I am not calling it (time of death) until a family member is here.”

They keep pumping the chest and the monitors are absolutely screaming at us that THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT.

“We found the mom. She’s at a party or something. It’s loud and she says she doesn’t have a ride.”

“Her son is going to die. She needs to come now. Call the police, call a taxi, take my car, I don’t care just get her here.”

“Doc, she doesn’t want to come.”

The chest is going up and down, the monitors are screaming, the baby is cold, nurses are out of breath and still everyone keeps going. Waiting. Sure that someone will show up for this baby. Sure that in his whole 5 months he had to have seen love, at least once, right? Someone must have seen his chubby legs and loved them. Smelled his hair after a bath and caressed him. Surely one person made him laugh–belly laugh–and show his toothless smile.

Terrible, awful, sad things happen every day in your town, in your city, in this country. It doesn’t take a trip to Russia or Haiti or Darfur to relieve pain. We can do it here. NOW. On my street and on yours. Wave. Smile. Believe. Say YES. Don’t look away. I speak this over us, more for myself than for you, because it certainly doesn’t take being a doctor to have the power to heal.

-----------------------

Praying that the Lord will use us to help the little ones who need a loving home.

When Love Takes You In

2010-03-17T21:55:00.006-04:00

Glider Makeover. :-)

2010-03-12T08:58:00.007-05:00

We were looking for a glider rocker on Kijiji and found this. It glided beautifully, the wood was a lovely white, and it had a great shape. But it was ugly to look at. The denim cover was dated and worn.

So, off I went to Fabricland (with my dear mother :-)) and found some pretty fabric and cute white buttons. Started sewing on my Singer Confidence, and this is how it turned out.

Much better don't you think? :-)

Oh, and I made a happy little pillow too. The two of them take up a corner of our nursery-in-progress (yes, we are getting ready for approval and a little one - DV!)

Total Cost was:

Glider Rocker: $30
Fabric: $10
Buttons: $3

= $43 (and the brand new rocking chairs I found in stores cost between $200-$300!)

Hoping to Adopt

2010-03-11T15:11:00.008-05:00

Just wanted to let you all know that we are hoping and planning to adopt. :-) We are going to do so through our local Children's Aid Society. This means we have to have a home study done, and complete 10 classes/weeks of training. Tonight we will have our 4th class, and next week our 2nd homestudy visit(2 of 4). If everything continues to go well, we will be approved in May! Then we will be put on the waiting list to receive a child. We will be on the list to accept 0-1 year olds.

We are very excited about this opportunity, and are hopeful that the Lord will richly bless both us and the children He brings into our home. We pray that we will be used mightily in His kingdom and that He will receive all the glory.

PS - I should explain that we are doing a foster to adopt program, as straight adoption is not available through our local CAS. This means we will receive children who could potentially be returned to their parents if the parents lifestyle changes for the better. If the parents do not change from the time their children are "placed", then we will have the opportunity to adopt them.

Ten Tips for a Wife to Encourage Her Marriage

2010-01-31T12:31:00.006-05:00

1. Praise your husband privately, sincerely, for something different once a day.
2. Praise him publicly, in front of others, and to others.
3. Watch your words: Remember that what you say has a powerful influence over him.
4. Keep yourself attractive. Freshen up and look your best when he comes home, even if dinner burned and the dog messed on the carpet.
5. Write him notes, handwritten and e-mail, to remind him you are thinking of him.
6. Be the first to say I’m sorry, mean it, and don’t make it conditional on anything.
7. Pick up after him cheerfully, without drawing attention to it, just because you love him.
8. Make him your focal point, not your housekeeping, not your cooking, not even your children. If your relationship with him is solid and happy, everything else will fall into place. Make him successful in every way you can, and remember, if he is successful, you will be too.
9. Remember the “bigness” of the diversity of your roles: sweetheart, confidant, counselor, best friend, encourager. Remember they all add up to: completer.
10. Pray for him continually and NEVER forget the burden of responsibility he carries as the head of your home.

(Author: not me, but I don't remember who! :-))

May God enable us to be wives who love our husbands faithfully and seek to serve our heavenly Father also in this. To Him be the glory!

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer..." Romans 12:9-12

Laundry Room Reno!

2010-01-26T16:26:00.005-05:00

Here are a few pictures of the laundry room before we moved into our house!

Yikes! It was so yucky... the first thing I did was paint the floors!

Work in progress:

Everything is framed and drywalled, now on to mudding, and sanding, and mudding, and sanding... :-)

Ready to be primed!

Primer is on, and it's ready for the paint! (This is always the best part! :-))

AND, after one coat of paint, here is the finished room:

We had this on our "to-do" list for quite awhile, and it is so nice to have finally completed the project! Now that it is all finished it is a delight to do laundry (well, almost! ;-)). And the best part about this reno is how much (little!) it cost us!

1 can of paint (grey-blue) - free (I mixed leftover paint I found in the basement)
1 can of primer - $15.00
Paintbrushes/Rollers - $5.00
Drywall - $10.00 (kijiji)
Drywall Mud & Tape - free (the previous owners left it behind!)
Screws - $10.00 (approx)
Lumber - $30.00

Grand Total: $70.00 :-)

How precious little ones are...

2010-01-14T10:11:00.004-05:00

I was reading McMama's blog @ www.mycharmingkids.net today and came across this... She is SO right, she understands... And when I have little ones of my own some day, the Lord willing, I
want to remember this: :-)

"My mind cannot help but wander to those parents who have lost children. What on earth would they not give to hold their children again, even for a moment. I bet they would not complain about having to sing Rock-a-bye Baby one more time. Rather, they would probably give their right arm to sing it ten million times until their voice was hoarse and their eyelids closed in slumber.

And women with empty wombs who long and pray and ache for children? What honor am I doing them if I take for granted the
fact that I have children, young children who are begging me to cuddle them, sing to them. I will love those women who long for a baby by loving my babies and not taking them for granted.

So, I determined right there and then in the bathroom to try to be ever thankful for the moments I do have with my children. I will not wish away their young years, always hoping to get more laundry done or other children dried off. I will relish each kiss, hug and song. I will leave their childhood behind with no regrets, no "I love you" unsaid, no cheek unkissed, no request to "Cuddle wif' me!" turned down. Even as the macaroni flies and the Sharpie stains my table, even when there are midnight wailers and globs of Desitin under my fingernails, I know...

...I know I'm gonna miss this."

His way is perfect.

2009-12-14T23:21:00.004-05:00

"For You will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect."

Psalm 18:28-32

An Update

2009-12-09T19:53:00.005-05:00

Scott and I have recently received results that indicate that we will be unable(or at least it is quite unlikely) to have our own biological children. We have found out that we are carriers of a genetic chromosomal abnormality.

This, in combination with some other infertility issues that we tried unsuccessfully to treat for the last year, indicates that the likelihood of us having our own children is very small. Even if pregnancy was achieved, the miscarriage rate would be very high, and/or the children would be at risk of having abnormalities.

We trust in the LORD and are thankful for His love and perfect plan for our life. Please pray for us, that we would be joyful and have peace in God's will, and that the Lord would be gracious and allow us to have children in whatever way He sees as best.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." 1 Peter 1:6,7

The LORD is good.

2009-12-06T11:54:00.004-05:00

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned."

Psalm 34:1-3,8-10,22

Trip to TEXAS! <):o)

2009-12-02T08:34:00.009-05:00

Enjoying time with my little foster niece... :-)

Cattle Run in Fort Worth at the Stockyards

"Big Jake"

A "real" cowboy

We went to this boot shop where the boots are all hand/custom made. Some of them cost tens of thousands of dollars!!

It was a delight to spend so much time with Nick and Anita, as well as their little girl! Thank you for having me... I will never forget such a wonderful trip. :-)

Holiday Party on Chestnut...hahaha... :-)

2009-11-21T21:59:00.002-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Just had to post this funny video. Try one yourself and you'll soon be laughing and calling your husband to come take a look! :-D

Thanks to Carole for the link!

Autumn Activities... :-)

2009-10-28T20:21:00.007-04:00

One lovely autumn afternoon Scott and I went for a drive to Great Lakes Farms. While there we enjoyed the beautiful weather, picked apples, hiked through the corn maze and admired the pumpkins. The apples are sooo yummy and we are now enjoying them in pies and crisps! For some reason they are always better when picked fresh off the tree. :-)

Fun times with little Brock...

2009-10-07T11:16:00.006-04:00

Breakfast time... :-)

Loving his bath...

Being goofy... :-D

G'night, sleep tight...

So happy! :-)

I had the privilege of caring for Brock S. (one of Scott and Becky's triplets) for 4 days this week while they are away on vacation. We had so much fun together! He was a very happy baby(most of the time! :)) and a delight to take care of! Thanks for letting me have him for awhile!

One year ago...

2009-09-20T13:27:00.001-04:00

This man....

and this woman

went to their church

to be married.

United as one,

they began their journey

of life together

as husband and wife.

Happy Anniversary to my dear husband! The year we have had together has been sweet and a great blessing from the LORD!
I love you so much.

Love,
your wife

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!" ~ Psalm 107:1

A few videos from Algonquin Park...

2009-09-14T19:39:00.005-04:00

Some moose we saw on the side of Hwy 60, happily munching on the lush roadside vegetation.

A beaver we saw a few evenings while canoeing...he was quite happy to swim along beside our canoe, and every once in a while he would dive under the water. :-)

A loon we saw while canoeing on the lake.

The moon...it was the only thing to video while at the Public Wolf Howl. :-) If you listen carefully you will hear the park ranger howling first and then a pack of wild wolves answering! It was incredible to experience.

A fellow camper!

2009-09-14T19:14:00.003-04:00

One morning while we were camping in Algonquin, I was cooking up a nice breakfast of bacon and eggs for my dear husband and I. Soon I heard pots banging and clanging and a lady yelling.
"Scott!" I said, "Is there a bear out there?!" He looked around and said that there wasn't, so I kept on cooking happily. A few seconds later I heard, "Um, actually there is and he's coming down the hill towards our campsite!" I snatched up the pans of half cooked bacon and fully cooked eggs and got in the car...and the pictures you see above were taken through the front windshield. The black bear sniffed around our campsite for a while, and then ran away as soon as we started the car. He never came back to visit us again. But if you go to Canisbay Lake someday, he may come and visit you on site #48! :-)

Our trip to Algonquin :-)

2009-09-08T11:34:00.018-04:00

We had a great campsite...it was very big with many trees and quite private .

A view on one of our hikes...

Ladybugs. :-)

And red squirrels...I don't remember seeing these before...they were so little and cute.

We saw five bears on our trip...here is one of the mama bears and her two cubs!

This little chipmunk ate right out of my hand! :-)

Can you guess what made this footprint in the ground? It's almost as big as my shoe!

It's a moose! One of the seven that we were delighted to see! :-D

Looking a little bit nervous that he's going to charge.... :-S

A lovely sunset on Canisbay Lake...taken while canoeing.

It rained and rained the first weekend we were there...but we came prepared and still had fun.

Funny looking mushrooms....

Canoeing in Cranberry Marsh (where we saw beavers, moose, turtles, loons, and ducks!) :-)

At the logging museum.

A heron.

Sunset on Canisbay Lake

We had a great trip! It was so nice to be able to get away from the busyness of the
world and enjoy the peace and beauty of nature. Having no electricity, computers, or ringing
telephones was nice too! :-) We are thankful to the Lord for the blessings we experienced on
this trip, and we are looking forward to next year when we hope to go back!
Maybe next year all of you should come too! :-)

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:10,11

a Wedding in August...

2009-08-26T10:17:00.004-04:00

We had the privilege of attending Joel and Lynnette's wedding on August 21, 2009. It was a beautiful day and a joy to celebrate with them! Congratulations Joel and Lynnette! May the Lord bless you both richly as you serve Him together. :-)

An evening with kids = swings, slides, and strollers :-)

2009-08-13T12:33:00.007-04:00

We had a great time babysitting Susanna, Peter and Katie for an evening a few weeks ago! They are such happy, fun kids! We love you all and hope you come back up north for a visit again soon! :-)

Our trip to New York...

2009-07-24T10:06:00.013-04:00

Visiting the Big Red Apple

Scott and I in New York City... we took the ferry, bus, subway, and did lots and lots of walking!

In Central Park

Tall, tall buildings...

The Rockefeller Center

Times Square...it was so busy! Thousands of people, cars, cabs... a totally different world.

M&M store. :-)

Ferris wheel in a shop!

Ground Zero: the site of 9/11

We had a wonderful trip! It was nice to get away for a little while, and it was a delight to be able to meet many new people in New Jersey and spend time with Uncle Paul and Aunt Carol (and our cousins), as well as Dad and Mom Koopman and our brothers and sister. :-)

Hot summer days = pool parties :-)

2009-07-06T08:54:00.006-04:00

Joey enjoying floating around....

Leah

Kara watching the bigger kids swim... :)

Enjoying some nice cold freezies!

Sweet sisters...Ksena and Mia :-)

Lauren

Noah...the littlest one :)

Mia swimming by herself! (I think she was the only one who could...) :-)

Aidan having fun with the turtle, which all the kids loved...

...and Esme, enjoying some chips... ;)

We had some hot hot days a while ago, so instead of braving the warm park, the moms and kids came here to swim in the pool! It was a very fun time, and the kids loved being able to splash around and play with each other. We will have to do it again soon! :-)

Airshow!

2009-07-06T08:34:00.005-04:00

Scott and I went to the airshow a few weeks ago...we got in "free" by parking across the road at the winery (for the price of a bottle of wine :-))... a good deal compared to what they were charging! It was fun to watch - especially the very fast, very noisy planes!

Graduation(s)!

2009-07-06T08:05:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to my littlest brother Caleb who graduated from Kindergarten and my sister Erin who graduated from grade 8 a few weeks ago!! :-)

The carpeting job is....forever and finally finished!! :-)

2009-06-15T13:59:00.005-04:00

The yucky, dirty stairway before the transformation looked like this:

Work in progress:

And...the finished product:

Ahhh...we like it so much better! It was a TON of work to rip out all the old carpet and staples, and to cut the new carpet and install on every stair, but now that it is all done I am delighted! And it feels oh so much nicer on bare feet, looks cleaner, and has no scents or memories of dogs and days gone by! :-)

Family get-together :-)

2009-06-14T13:11:00.005-04:00

Four cute little nieces... :)

Having fun being silly together... ;)

A cutie who is getting bigger!

They love uncle Scott....

Sweet sisters... :)

awww...little Jude

Peter loved his singing bird from Grandpa and Grandma! :)

Back in time...

2009-06-01T14:05:00.007-04:00

To a land of lords and ladies, jousts and swordfights, knights and armor....at Medieval Times!

Scott and I went to Medieval Times with our 1/2 price tickets and enjoyed a fun evening which included a full meal (without utensils), and an almost 2 hour show. Definitely a fun place to go for
boys/men!

A cherry tree....

2009-06-01T13:54:00.003-04:00

in our backyard! :)

I'm just hoping that the birds don't get all of them!

In my backyard

2009-04-21T15:57:00.004-04:00

Isn't spring exciting?! I love going outside and seeing all the little bits of life popping up here and there! It is especially fun because this is my first spring in our new home, and everything in the gardens (and the grass) is going to be a surprise!

I told you that I would let you know the results of our garage sale, so.....drumroll please...we made $108.00. Pretty good for a first try with not too much stuff, and a few hours sitting out in the sunshine! ;) Are any of you planning on having a garage sale this year?

mmm...banana bread/muffins!

2009-04-20T17:34:00.002-04:00

These banana muffins are so good and so quick and easy! I thought I would post the recipe here for you all to try.

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3 ripe bananas

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

Mix first 4 ingredients together and then add the following 4 dry ingredients.

For muffins: Pam spray cupcake tray (12 holes :)), bake at 325 for 25 minutes
For bread: Pam spray loaf pan, bake at 325 for 1 hour

Optional: add nuts/raisins/blueberries

Have fun! :)

a little bouquet for the kitchen...

2009-04-20T17:32:00.000-04:00

Garage SaLe

2009-04-17T20:23:00.006-04:00

My husband is planning to have a garage sale tomorrow.
As I write, he is dragging things out of the basement, all sorts of "wild" things he tells me. I am happily in oblivion. I do not like garage sales...I just don't like walking around looking at other people's junk and then walking away without buying anything. But our very own garage sale?! Yikes, that's even worse. For one thing, I'm too sentimental to part with my stuff. "That extra vacuum cleaner? Well, we had better keep it in case the other one breaks down; that wooden shelf? I think I'll save that and paint it some day and it will look very nice somewhere"...and on I go.
Tomorrow there will be a steady (well, hopefully....I think) stream of people from a very early hour 'til noon...all perusing our junk, er... treasures on our front lawn.

I intend to do some painting in the backyard. I will let you know how it goes. :)

I just love this guy.

2009-03-30T16:18:00.003-04:00

He is the very best husband, and I am so thankful for him and the wonderful six + months I have been blessed with him in marriage. God's plan was and is perfect!

Some of the things I love about him:

He loves the Lord
He prays for and with me
He serves me faithfully and unceasingly
He works hard and does an excellent job
He encourages me often
He is funny and makes me laugh
He happily does the dishes, tidies, comes grocery shopping, carries the heavy things, makes my lunches, and cares for everything when I am at work
He is very tall

sigh...I just love him. <3

:)

a glimpse of spring... :)

2009-02-25T19:51:00.002-05:00

...mmm....yellow... :)

Study: the green pepper

2009-01-29T21:26:00.003-05:00

Even the small things are beautiful...God is a great Creator!

let it snow, let it snow....

2009-01-28T19:06:00.006-05:00

...'cause we're warm and cozy in here... :)

Christmas on Chestnut....

2008-12-19T20:24:00.007-05:00

my sister...a cute cook...with a cute apron

2008-12-02T21:50:00.008-05:00

Run over to my sister's new business here. She has some pretty amazing and CUTE aprons... I have one myself and can attest to the quality and superior workmanship. ;)

an afternoon with Caleb and Tiana

2008-11-27T13:49:00.003-05:00

Caleb and Tiana are over, and we are having such a fun time! Playing with play-dough, cooking, exploring...soon off to the library! I am already looking forward to Christmas when they will all come again.... :)

our home... a few more...

2008-11-21T10:34:00.002-05:00

Our home: before and after... :O)

2008-11-21T09:57:00.013-05:00

Blogger is being difficult and not allowing me to write anything between the other pictures... so as you can probably tell, the first picture is of the way it was, the next of now, etc... Sorry the pics are a little bit dark (my flash batteries died ;)), but if you enlarge the pictures you can see a bit better! :)

2008-11-04T16:16:00.002-05:00

.Wedding Photos.

2008-10-27T11:23:00.004-04:00

I am excited....

2008-10-16T10:14:00.006-04:00

...because I have married my best friend!

And it is a wonderful blessing, one of the greatest I have ever known.... God is wise, and good, and so gracious to His children!

I am delighted to be Mrs. J. Koopman!

(more pictures will come... :))

I am excited...

2008-09-02T04:05:00.004-04:00

because, the Lord willing, the week after next...

in 18 days, 17 sleeps, and approximately 420 hours...

I will marry my best friend.

<3

Blessed. :)

2008-07-16T23:57:00.003-04:00

We are. Today it is 65 days until the wedding and just 29 days until we own our "new" house! It is so exciting to be here and now! How much God has blessed and IS blessing us! Not only do we have the joy of salvation through Christ, He continues to shower us with blessings here on this earth.
Our Father in heaven delights to give good gifts to His children, and we are so thankful. :) Just wanted to remind you to stop for a minute in your busy day...and reflect on what you've been given and where you are headed. We've been redeemed, are incredibly blessed, and are heading towards heaven - eternity with God!

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness. ~ Psalm 29:2

We found and bought a house!!!

2008-06-29T23:15:00.011-04:00

Just a few pictures to give you a bit of an idea of what our new house is like!! Our closing date is August 15...we are definitely looking forward to being able to make our house a "home"... tidying/cleaning/painting etc...! :) We are thankful for this place and praise the Lord for providing for us so greatly and graciously!

Engaged!!!! :)

2008-06-03T14:08:00.009-04:00

To be married, September 20th, 2008, DV!

"For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!" Psalm 117:2

one year! :)

2008-05-07T16:36:00.003-04:00

How blessed I am to have been going out with this wonderful young man for a year already! All praise and glory be to God who has richly blessed and sustained us!

baby Kate :)

2008-05-07T16:27:00.002-04:00

a visit to Leanne and baby Mariel :)

2008-05-07T16:21:00.000-04:00

what a lovely new mama... :)

.friends. :)

2008-05-07T16:13:00.002-04:00

the newest little one... :)

2008-04-15T15:13:00.003-04:00

Katherine Hope. 9lbs 5oz. Born April 10, 2008. :)

Birthday Party! :)

2008-04-15T14:44:00.003-04:00

a visit to East Side Mario's...mmm! :)

2008-03-08T10:47:00.001-05:00

a very cold walk on the lake... :)

2008-03-08T10:37:00.003-05:00

i love my sister... :)

2008-03-03T10:15:00.012-05:00

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

For happy times shared through the years,

for the loyalty, love, the laughter and tears.

For the special things only you can do,

for all these things, I thank you!

Time and space may separate us,

but heartstrings know no end.

I'm proud to call you my sister,

happier still to call you my friend.

Anonymous

awww...

2008-02-15T14:51:00.002-05:00

A delivery came for me yesterday. :)

I was and am delighted. :)

for Scott on his birthday... :)

2008-02-08T15:20:00.000-05:00

.h.a.p.p.y. b.i.r.t.h.d.a.y.! :)

2008-02-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to a wonderful guy

Who's thoughtful and caring and wouldn't hurt a fly
He works so hard it's a sight to behold
We stand amazed at the things that are sold
Left, right, and center the things disappear
As on kijiji they then do appear
In a day or two we hear the phone ring
Who could it be, what could this bring?
Always a buyer for that item for sale
Requesting that item be sent in the mail

This guy's not ordinary nor is he plain
But exactly the best kind one hopes to attain
He teaches, and leads, and serves with a smile
Always seeks to go the extra long mile
As a son, brother, a boyfriend he's best
Yes, far better than the best of the rest
Today is his birthday and so I will say...

I love you and hope you will have a great day!

.9.

2008-02-04T00:39:00.000-05:00

.nine months today. :D

(and a good reason to post some pictures from Tamarack 2007) ;)