Netherlands Nuesday 46

Tack room in Queen Wilhelmina's royal stable

Facing My Fear on Navy Pier

After we walked by the John Hancock building Saturday night, we decided to go out to Navy Pier. We thought it would be memorable to go on the Ferris Wheel at night even though I think ferris wheels in general look boring and who wants to be trapped in a little box for 7 minutes anyway while it goes around just one time? I pretty much walk around all the time like I'm not afraid of anything while ignoring the fact that I may be a bit padded from the harsher realities which many people face.

We were greeted at Navy Pier like royalty by the beginning of the fireworks display and music and dancing. Of course now we really had to go look at the city from high above.

We waited for just a short time to get on the ride.

It wasn't long until I realized my real issue with ferris wheels is this fear of heights thing I have which I had for the most part forgotten. I took this photo which is a pretty accurate rendering of what it looked like to me.

John, however, was walking all over the cart leaning out taking pictures, spinning, dancing, laughing, smiling...

Thankfully, I was able to sit still for 7 minutes finding my peace and we made a good memory.

Volvo Road Trip

We were looking forward to taking the new old Volvo on a road trip one of these days, but I didn't realize it would come so soon. As I was leaving work on Thursday, Sharon asked me what I was doing this weekend. We didn't have big plans and suddenly, she realized they had an extra room in Chicago. We were certainly up for that since we always enjoy the opportunity to get away!


The new old Volvo goes to Chicago


Me posing with my fairy godmother Sharon and her handsome son Connor beneath the shadow of the John Hancock building


The sun rising this morning over Lake Michigan from our hotel room

Tomorrow I'll tell about one of adventures we had while there. Don't hold your breath :) I experienced camera difficulties while there which is typical of me when I get really excited.

J. Crew Productions Presents...

a film about peer pressure...

Flash Back Friday 88

Bridget, 5 days old, 1995

Love Thursday

I can't believe it's already Thursday! As I was going on my daily walk and thinking about what I was going to write about today, I thought of this picture I took of a firework that had a little pink heart in the middle of it. (I didn't notice it until I saw it on the computer screen.) As I was walking, I realized it was Thursday and so I thought this would be the perfect post. "Love Thursday" is a weekly feature at Shutter Sisters and today's post there, amazingly, is about how sometimes a heart just appears in your photo.

"We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa

Volvo Love

Taken last evening in our driveway after we went "volvoing" to Meijer

If you happen to like Volvos, then you know what I'm talking about. It's not like we LOVE inanimate objects, but you know. John went on a great adventure this past weekend down to Athens, Georgia. He got a one way plane ticket to Atlanta with the goal in mind of finding an old Volvo station wagon without the corrosive effects you find in the harsh winters of the northern climate we live in and since his old Volvo was history. He found the perfect car, spent some good time with his brother who teaches at UGA, and drove it back to Michigan on Monday. Now we can continue to go "volvo-ing."

Later, as I was reflecting on why John likes old Volvos I was thinking it makes sense because he likes me and I'm a kind of a dependable old classic. The analogy holds up when you think of how my dad likes big black Mercedes' and my Uncle Ray loves bright red sports cars -isn't that right, Mom & Aunt Michaela? LOL!

Netherlands Nuesday 45

Canoeing in Groningen, 2007

The End of an Era

Bridget, September 2008

The arthropods have been categorized and pinned down by our dear Bridget. (The yellow square will have a dragonfly in it when she gets to school.) And I'm glad to say we are done with bug collections in our house.

Fix You

Maria and her friends Abby and Marie put together this sad music video last February but they just added it to You Tube. These 3 have been creating performances together for many years - starting with Odyssey of the Mind in 2nd grade!

This Week at the Family Institute!

This past week at work, we had a busy one! We hosted Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, author of the book Love and Respect. If you know anyone getting married, this would make a great gift. This is from the inside flap:

Discover the Single Greatest Secret to a Successful Marriage

Psychological studies affirm it, and the Bible has been saying it for ages. Cracking the communication code between husband and wife involves understanding one thing: that unconditional respect is as powerful for him as unconditional love is for her. It's the secret to marriage that every couple seeks, and yet few couples ever find.

Today, you and your mate can start fresh with the ground-breaking guidance that Dr. Emerson Eggerichs provides in this book. His revolutionary message, featured on Focus on the Family, is for anyone: in marital crisis...wanting to stay happily married...who's feeling lonely. It's for engaged couples...victims of affairs...pastors and counselors seeking material that can save a marriage.

Later in the week, we co-sponsored a screening of the pro-marriage movie, Fireproof starring Kirk Cameron who donated his time to the movie. Click below to see the trailer.

Flash Back Friday 87

Edward, Maria & Bridget, 1997

The Slippery Slope

The new washing machine at our house...

So last week, I finally gave up on our 19 year old Frigidaire washing machine. The spin cycle was worthless, but now, I'm glad to say we're spinning at about 1000 RPM's! John & I went out this past weekend and picked out this new one which is wonderful, but the one who gave me the biggest pots of laundry is gone!

I was so excited that I told Edward on the phone to bring his laundry to church on Sunday. He said that he had just done it in the dorms, but he was sure he could give me more! At church, Pastor Amy warned me about this slippery slope, and then John said he didn't want to turn into a laundry delivery service. I did do one load for him and John brought it to Calvin, but it sounds like I better just settle for a life of less laundry. Oh well, not a bad thing.

That's Just the Way We Roll

Maria and her friends Abby and Marie made this hilarious music video for all you Jonas Brothers fans out there! It's very cute. Really. Watch it, ok?