Three Part Celebration for Bridget's 17th

To celebrate Bridget's 17th trip around the sun, we met John and our friends Cathy, Emily & Ben at Olga's for supper.  This fun cake they brought added so much to the celebration!  Turning the "Big One...7" is in reference to a movie we watched together a few weekends ago about growing a big pumpkin called Growing the Big One.

For Part 2, Bridget had some of her dearest friends from school over for pizza and a movie on Friday night.


Apparently, a baggy of 4 goldfish is a funny gift.  Now she has to keep them alive.  She exclaimed, "There's already poop in the bag!"


Part 3:  pizza dinner with the family after church on Sunday! Fun times.

Flash Back Friday 251

Bridget, 1998


Bridget, 1996

Bridget completed her trip around the sun yesterday and we all got to gather 'round and say "Yay" all day!

Love Thursday

Instructions for living a life:

Pay attention. 

Be astonished.

Tell about it. - Mary Oliver, Red Bird

Sunday Afternoon Reflections

 
This past Sunday afternoon Bridget & I went to a local park with our friend Jeanette who is very knowledgeable about biology.  We learned about and I took photos of many of the wild flowers.  We also ate some of the wild garlic which Jeanette was pulling out since it's an invasive species.  Such a beautiful afternoon!

fenceline.

There is no one who comes here that does not know this is a true map of the world, with you there in the center, making home for us all. - StoryPeople

The Race

You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. 


Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win.


All good athletes train hard. 


They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades.



You're after one that's gold eternally. I Corinthians 9:24-25 (The Message)


John & I went to the new track at Grand Valley State University to see Edward run the 1500m this past weekend.  Seeing all of the runners in these races, I can't help but think of the verses that compare our life to a great race.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!  Hebrews 12:1-3

Flash Back Friday 250

October 1998, Edward, Maria & Bridget

Love Thursday

Let me just say, I love where I work with its Dutch heritage and all.  I took these after work at Calvin College.

Breathe

‎(such a sky and such a sun i never knew and neither did you and everybody never breathed quite so many kinds of yes) e.e.cummings {sweet spring}

Fleeting Frost

I think there are no words adequate to describe the pinkness of these frosted tulips under the early morning sun.  Surely, they were worthy of a walk outside in my pink pj's.

Crazy Wild Perfect

I love how this tulip, even though it's past its prime, looks perfect the way it is.

Flash Back Friday 249

May 5, 2007  Tulip Time in Holland Michigan with Opa and Grandma!

Love Thursday

Tulip Season :)

Closer Look

Just a closer look at the dogwood blossoms...I can see why they twinkle so.

Baby Melanie

I had a very fun time taking pix of 5 month old baby Melanie.  She was just so sweet!

Christmas in April

The dogwood blossoms are out already and I thought this pic almost looked like Christmas lights.  I love looking out the window at them.

Flash Back Friday 248

Edward, 2008

Love Thursday

Edward was happy to see us at his track meet.  That is all.

The Runner

John & I went to Houseman Field to see Edward run the 1500m in a track meet for Calvin College.  It was fun to see him run on the same track where he broke the 5 minute mile in his last meet of high school!  Yes, for some reason, his new track spikes come in 2 different colors...

Twenty.

Maria & Bridgie

We celebrated Maria's 20th birthday at an Italian restaurant this past weekend because she loves pasta.  I also found out my two college kids are now vegetarians.  Very interesting, I thought of how I had a hard time ever getting them to eat meat when they were little.


Edward

April Foolery

So every time April 1 is on a Sunday I fall for it.

John:  Church is cancelled.
Me:  Why?
John: The weather.
Me: Oh tornado?  How do you know, who called?
John:  April

Arg!!!