Snowed In

John said yesterday the only educational institution open in the area was Calvin College where he works. And so, the kids were happy to have another day off. It was icy, but I made it to work in the morning quicker than usual because of the lesser traffic. Edward was able to write lines and lines of computer code for who knows what, but I see a book sitting out here on Mathematical Fallacies and Paradoxes open to the chapter "Thinking Wrong about Infinity" which may have something to do with it. I should add that this is what he does for fun, like on a snow day.



Maria was able to catch up on her rest and her computer relations since her very busy weekend. She has been napping every day after school this week since then.



Bridget, our people person, went to a movie with friends, one of whom had a dad that ventured out by truck to pick everyone up and take them. The other day, I was looking at Bridget and wondering why her hair looked so nice. I discovered that Maria had given her a new haircut since she wasn't totally pleased with the one she had gotten.



The roads weren't too bad in the morning, but later in the day, they became icier. I went to the store and bought this little book for work. You may recall, I work in the mornings at the Family Institute & for a marriage initiative, Healthy Marriages Grand Rapids. In a nutshell, we are all about promoting healthy relationships. Well, I was telling our executive director about this book I saw at the grocery store called, "The Idiot's Guide to Healthy Relationships" and he wanted to see it. I told him I'd pick it up next time I was in the store. So there I was, buying this idiot's guide in the store, and it wouldn't scan! The cashier gave me this knowing glance, stopping just short of yelling over the loudspeaker, "Price check on the Idiot's Guide to Healthy Relationships for the blond woman in the blue coat in aisle 5!" Man, I was glad to get out of there.

So I Got My Hair Cut Yesterday

Oh, it's not as startling as the headline sounds. Just my usual bi-monthly inch. Every 8 weeks, it's inevitable, my hair grows out and I need to get it cut. Thankfully, I have a great stylist, Shari, who will cut it when she's almost 9 months pregnant and then again, 8 weeks later when she has a 7 week old baby so I keep on schedule. She's cut it for probably 10 years and I love that I don't even have to tell her what to do. If I ever even hint that I ought to try something else for a change, she says, no, your hair is best this way. And I know it's true. I always have a very fun, relaxing time at these haircuts - probably because Shari has created such a fun, relaxing environment in her basement as you can see.


Now she's doing it even when she gets a haircut...

Netherlands Nuesday 14

Sign on the door of Men's Restroom in Bedum

I think the Dutch have a sense of humor about their body excrements. This reminds me of the Dutch tile we had on the toilet in our bathroom:
Use me well and keep me clean,
And I'll never tell what I have seen.

Maybe Now You'll Wish You Had Snow, or Trying Really Hard to Find Beauty in the Ugly

Yesterday on my walk, the sun came out for awhile showing off the tread marks on the road. Today the temperatures are above freezing, so we have slush and puddles to see. I'm thinking this is way more fun than being hot somewhere. And staring at blue sky all day long. And smelling flowers and grass. . .

Grass

Photo taken yesterday behind our house

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Ps.103:15-18

For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25

Temporary Good-byes

Thursday afternoon, Maria left to work at a weekend retreat. She's been so excited to go, but Bridget was a bit sad and made a very dramatic good-bye scene. Leo stayed home with Bridget and even let Bridge take pictures of him. Woo-hoo!


Photo by Bridget

Flash Back Friday 53

The Queen Mother taking pictures, 1984.
Photo by Alan Boyer


For some reason, this one reminds me of Anne Murray.

Morning Has Broken

This morning, I had to be at a meeting downtown at a church here in the city of churches by 8 am. The highways were very icy so I left early knowing that I if I had extra time I could take some photos during the golden hour of sunrise. This was a bit difficult seeing as I wasn't dressed for the bitter cold, I had coffee and tons of papers and high heels. Duh. (Stay tuned tomorrow for the proper photographic stance one must take.)



I took some pictures inside the sanctuary through the glass and when I came home and saw them, I saw that green thing floating by. I think it's cool, do you?

Colorful Snow Day

Yesterday, the kids had their long awaited snow day. Bridget looked stunned when she found out at O'dark thirty in the morning. In the afternoon, I went out looking through our still un-plowed neighborhood for color and I found the ever-photogenic berries I photographed last year.

Netherlands Nuesday 13

Doesn't that mean "Don't walk on the grass?" Apparently, the chickens at Het Loo think it means they can't wear their shoes.

Snow Shot

I could sneak out of the house with no shoes just long enough to take this one.

We finally got some snow over the weekend which is nicer in January than just plain gray and cold. The 15 degree temperature feels almost balmy to me today since it was only about 8 degrees over the weekend.

I've always had a Flickr account to host the pictures for this blog, but over the weekend, I signed up for a Pro account which has been fun. You can click on any of the pictures in this blog and then click on "jewelsofkent" in the right hand column and then you'll be able to see any of the 1,347 pictures I've uploaded. I've put some into sets, but obviously a lot more could be done. CED2008 is a set for a group I've joined to be creative everyday - it's low pressure, so you don't have to post to it everyday. So anyway, feel free to browse!

Grace

Baptism for new baby in our church this morning - a reminder of God's grace

This morning, we left at about 10:05am for our 10:30 church service. It was about 10 degrees (Farenheit) out and the roads were extremely icy, cars were in the ditch, and Maria was behind the wheel. We got there safely, in one piece, just a little late. I brought my camera in with me because I didn't want to leave it in the cold and so I was able to get the picture above of this young couple with their first baby. Nothing like being in the right place at the right time - with my camera in hand no less. It was amazing when after the baptism, we were standing around praying for the baby and everyone broke out into a most beautiful, a capella, Jesus Loves Me you have ever heard!

Leo Says

My master went meet her friend Annette at Panerra. She better watch it - there's a lot of snow. If she gets snowed in, who will fill my food dish? Oh wait, she never does that anyway.

Flash Back Friday 52

Bridget, Maria & Edward stopping along the Appalachian Trail, 2004