I am Thankful for...

What an overdone post title. I know. But today in chapel, i was totally struck at what my kids said in the microphone when they were filling in the blank to that sentence.

Think of this: 600+ students/staff/parents in a huge-o gym. Then there are 67 awesome,squirrely, ackward seventh graders standing in a line in front of a microphone with the classic "Let all things now Living, A Song of Thanksgiving" playing softly the background.

Here are some things that nearly made me gasp:

" I am thankful for struggles because it brings us closer to God."

" I am thankful for the gift of creativity"

" I am thankful for my mom." (this one made me teary because I can only imagine how my heart would melt if sylvia said that in front of 600+ people about me.)

" I am thankful for our salvation"

"I am thankful for God's amazing mercy and grace."

"I am thankful for my dog, bunny." (smile)

And on and on. What makes these statements amazing, to me, is that an adult did not come up with them. the kids did. On their own. At the age of 12 and 13. Some of them already have so much wisdom, so much thankfulness for the things that really matter in life.

I don't know what it is about this holiday but it is my favorite.Christmas is also great... but it gets so hectic with gifts and programs and parties. It seems so appropriate to have a day when we can just be with others and thank God for the blessings we have during this time of the year.

In Bible class today, we watched a nooma called, "RICH." If you don't know what a nooma is, check them out: http://www.nooma.com/. Rob Bell (the author, creator) speaks truth to a world that needs it. I am inspired by his words over and over again. Here is a sample factoid that struck me: "If we spent 20 billion dollars--the amount that Americans spend on ICE CREAM each year--we could feed the hungry, heal the sick and give clean water to those in poverty around the world."

How can I ever EVER justify complaining? I have...so.much.to.be.thankful.for.

But if I am to make a short list I would say what i am most thankful for is my family, and my faith. And i am thankful for health and warmth on a very cold day, and my job, and my warm boots and even the small things like nursery rhymes and bells winter white ale, which I am happily enjoying this very second. oh and photography, and my car that works and the fact that my husband has a job in this wretched economy and for crafts and for sleep and for a warm, yummy bed that is right now calling my name.

New Pics from the Sicky family....

So this weekend/week is less than desireable with some form of the flu taking over our house. Between craft shows, conferences and sick people, life is busy and crazy, as usual. However... we did get our new batch of family pics in tonight and I LOVE THEM. Thanks to my very talented, fun, friend saraleo (saraleophoto.blogspot.com) who took these photos and edited them in like no time.

Anyhow, here is hoping that your family is more healthy than mine right now..and Dad, these new pics are for you. I heard from about fifteen people this weekend that you show the world the pics on this blog... I guess I am flattered..you sure do love your grandaughter!

Fall Fun & my Lil Lady Bug

I was worried that the $2.00 Halloween costume would be a bust when I put it on sylvie early last week and her response was an emphatic, "NO BUG, NO BUG!" Thankfully, she changed her mind about the issue. On Saturday & Sunday we had a great time doing the Halloween thing. It took her only a few seconds to realize that this "holiday" was all about the cookies (aka candy). She is SO her daddy's child.

Always happy with the paci in her mouth. It was a little chilly and she let me hold the bucket except for when she was going to deposit her loot. Oh except for a sucker. She held onto that for dear life the whole time!

I played around with Picasa collage today for my crafty stuff. I decided to make one of us playing outside last week Sunday. It has been such a beautiful fall....I just hope the weather holds out for our family pics next week! (cross fingers!)

What We've Been Up Too...

Continuing the obcession with the kiki cats. Thank you kind neighbor for having one we can visit so mom and dad don't have to buy one. Randy promises me this is a phase. I am not so sure.
Sylvie is the leaf-picking-up-star of the family. She has a preference for the pretty ones. I think she is already displaying her creative ability.
So.. I created about 50 pins/hair thingys in the past week and a half for the upcoming craft shows. Am I really this person? Somehow this little hobby has mushroomed. I am feeling a little anxious about how the shows will go... but in the meantime it has been a fun creative outlet.

And Randy, well, he has been at the thrift stores. In part for me, since much of my stuff is created from old shirts and fabric, but mostly for himself. The other day he found this gem of a white elephant gift. Infrequently do I laugh out loud at a thrift store purchase. This one was a good buy for 99 cents, don't you agree?

Cranetastic Saturday

Cousins--E-a (Ian) & Sylvie.
"I can keep up with you dad...I know you are anxious to watch State whoop Michigan"
" I just love taking 500 pictures in the heat with my son on a perfect Saturday when I could be fishing..."

Friends--Kaitlin & Tracy

"If you are happy and you know it.... SMILE!"

Little Miss Independent-no nap still has a smile for me.

Oooh pu-kins!

Sylvie LOVES the leaves... I took this one outside Frederick Meijer Gardens today. It is my new favorite picture of her.

Well, despite a crazy week, we had a great weekend with the family going to Crane's orchard and to see the last of ArtPrize at Fred Meijer Gardens. The weather was amazing (70's and sunny) ALL weekend long & we were able to have some fun out and about. I just love fall pictures--why can't the whole year be this beautiful?

it's in the small things

Today, out of the clear blue, sylvia got up from playing with her toys, walked over to me and gave me a big wet toddler kiss. I am still smiling.
My dad likes to say that sylvie is, "stingy with her kisses." This is no exaggeration. The girl knows how. She understands what a kiss is and blatantly ignores our many requests for them all.the. time.
It got me thinking...
All week sylvia has been challenging. This really is not her fault. She has been sick, really sick. She has had a fever, a double ear infection, pink eye, cough, runny nose, diahrrea. Basically everything that can happen--except for vomiting--she's dealt with it this week. So we are tired parents. Late, multiple night wake-ups, constant diaper changing and nose-wiping, and calling family to beg/bail us out because she is too ill for our daycare plans. It has been exhausting. After a wedding and craft show last week, I could not have ordered a rougher week.
But somehow, a small thing, like an unexpected kiss from my pippylongstocking-looking, tired child put a bright moment in my day, and my week, heck--my month.
Sometimes I feel like it is all coming unglued. I can't keep up with the demands of being a good teacher, wife, daughter, mom, housekeeper, friend, sister etc. I just can't keep everyone happy. So I stress out and wear myself thin and allow guilt to rule.
Sylvie taught me something today. Even though I fail more often than I want to admit, I have to believe that sometimes the small things I do for others can heal. And so, today, I will focus on healing--what small things can I do to put a bright spot in someone's day? a phone call? A card? a prayer?
Maybe even an unexpected kiss.

Whirlwind Wedding Weekend

This weekend was so much fun. And so crazy. And I won't be writing many words because I am still so tired. BUT... my mom sent me some pics of the sweetie in her little dress and I really wanted to post something. It was such a joyful day and we are so excited for Randy's sister Andrea, our new brother in law,Jose, and his (and now hers too!) little daughter Arianna. I'll have to post more pics later since my mom's camera pretty much centered around sylvia. :-)

pretty flowers!

With Grandpa and Grandma Setsma

Family pics (sans the terrible heels I had to wear all day!)

My favorite picture of the day so far!!!

Twirling sweetie

Part ofthe family---at least we got the bride and groom in one picture! She looked AMAZING!

She had the same photographer as we did for our wedding, Dan Pesta. The man is a whiz with the camera. There are some sneek peak pictures of the day on his website. www.danieljpesta.com

WAY TOO MUCH FUN!

Chicago Baby!

This weekend we headed to Chicago to celebrate our friend Trent (& his lovely new wife, Loden's) wedding day. We had SO. MUCH. FUN. Four of our couple friends from the GR area went as well--ALL sans kids! It is so different hanging out with out the kiddos but it also made for a rockin' good time. The groom and my crazy husband.
A shot by the river

Chillin outside the Disney store

Outdoor wedding + perfect weather= super fun. Well, except for the sound. It would not work. It was a quiet wedding with an acapella solo for the bride's entrance. Pretty cool but we felt bad for the new couple.

Another random shot by the camera man, my husband. Hope you had a wonderful weekend too!!!

Hudsonville Christian Craft Show--Sept 18th 2010

Please come and visit Jilly and myself! We are hoping to see lots of farmiliar faces!

The New Stuff

Lots of new stuff over here: Furnace, A/C in the car, dehumidifier, humidifier, swing set (it was FREE, on the curb--thanks to my lovely sister in law, andrea, who found it and snatched it up for us!), masonry work (yeah! the brick has stopped coming apart for now!) & sanity. Yes, that is right, sanity. Perhaps I can regain some now as I step into this last week of summer.

In the past few days I have been engrossed in this ridiculous "Hunger Game" book series. I bought the whole trilogy with all my Barnes and Nobel gift cards. I couldn't stop reading them. I think the main reason was because I just wanted to see if the whole awful situation would indeed be resolved. I am happy to report that can now finally sleep knowing the end of the story. So if you have not read them, be forewarned: once you start, you can't stop.

So this week: back to school, well for me at least. Two long days of inservice (yipeee!) and Sylvia is being a real "mommy's girl" in the last few weeks which doesn't make this transition any easier. Oh well, that is life, right? There are ups and downs and turnarounds.
I for one and excited that this summer is coming to a close. Don't get me wrong, I love summer but this has been one of the more challenging ones of the recent past.

Tonight we took a walk through the neighborhood to the new Kroc Center being built (due to be finished early October!). It is a huge multipurpose facility put up by Ray and Joan Kroc (Mc Donalds) and the Salvation Army. It's purpose is to bring worship, enjoyment and to build community in areas that need some sprucing in cities. It is only the 13th one built nation-wide and kind of a big deal that they decided on Grand Rapids for the site. So, with sylvie in tow, we climbed over the fence and had a look. It is just amazing. Some highlights included seeing the lazy river, gigantic water slide, over sized hot tub, sledding hill, indoor track above basketball and racquetball court gyms, an outdoor amphitheatre complete with turf grass between each level, the huge ArtPrize Table and Chairs piece over top of a huge sandbox for kids, a fish pond/ice skating rink, two beautiful, perfect soccer fields and Randy even found two four-leaf clovers while walking through the grounds.
Even if we don't buy a membership (I hope we do!), it still will only be around 10 bucks to take the family there for fun night/day out. And we can easily walk there, which makes me think I might actually stick to an exercise routine and get to know my neighbors a little better. Well, here's hoping at least!
Anyhow, a new week, a new season around the bend. Out with the old, in with the new. Amen.

Stinkerpants in a New York Minute!

Today we got some ice cream at our local joint just for fun. A grasshopper (oreo+mint) flurry to be exact. You see, I felt it was easily justified to get ice cream just before dinner since there are only so many warm, sunny days left in the summer and next week the calendar tells me it is back to work. It was going to be FU----un!

Not so much. First of all, as soon as little sylv had a taste of this flurry it was all over. "Num num? NUM NUM!!! Nuuuuum num!" was all she would say for the five minute walk to the car and the six minute drive home. Those "num nums" then turned in to whines, then screams then throwing things and trying to undo her car seat buckle. I was filling the spoon in the car when stopped at lights just to get a little reprieve. My blood pressure began to rise. I was flustered, then irritated, but trying to stay calm. Then we got home. I put about 1/4 of the flurry in a ramekin, armed sylvie with a spoon and massive amount of paper towel and set her in view of me in the office to consume this treasured treat. I had to quick reply to a email and no less than 45 seconds later, turned around to this view. [I thought it was pretty quiet....sigh.]

Yep, ground oreo in the carpet; smiling, crazy child. In all honesty, the ice cream came out of the carpet pretty easily but I decided that this getting ice cream escapade caused more frustration than fun today. Grabs for dinner again!

Ravenous

hungry. hungry. hungry. That is what I feel so much lately.
Hungry for change. Hungry for new stuff, for good food, for long conversations with old friends. I am also Hungry for inspiration. Hungry for answers. Hungry to hear from God.

Yesterday I read this book called, "The Hunger Games." It made me hungry for justice.

In the last two weeks I have read two books that have made me think think think. The first one is "Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist. Perhaps you recall that I recommended "Cold Tangerines" several years back when I started this blog. The second book does not disappoint. I loved it. It was helpful to me. It helped me to see that I am ravenous all the time and I am not alone in my thoughts/struggles of life and of faith. Shauna is comforting, kind, humorous and witty. Read her book.

The second book, already referenced in this post, is called "The Hunger Games." Have you read it? Riveting. Scary. Fast-paced. Thought-provoking. I am licking my lips to dive into book two of this trilogy. It is not "Harry Potter" but it is no less page-turning and thought provoking.

I know I can't indulge in all that I am hungry for, in fact, many things are out of my control anyway. But I can escape in the form of books. And hey, it is coming real near to the end of summer here. Just thought I would pass these awesome titles along....

Chihuly me baby!

Amazing-ness.

"Don't mess with my Booaut mister!"
Playing with Grandma;-)

She found the kid's door! (in, out, in, out, in, out....)

Today Grandma S, Sylvie and myself enjoyed this AMAZINGLY beautiful day at Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The Chihuly exhibit is going on and it is nothing short of awesome. Really, I have no words. It is just plain candy for the eyes. In combination with the gardens in full bloom it was just perfect.

For the first time, Sylvie was able to play with some of the "stuff" in the children's area. Her favorite was the pool shaped like the Great Lakes where she was able to launch her "booat" and watch it fall into the rapids. I (we) want to go again tomorrow!!!

Eating "Out"

Tonight at dinner we took a jumble of pics; it was such an amazingly beautiful day, and thank the LORD the weather cooled off a bit. We had some silly fun time out on the patio for dinner. As usual, sylvie entertained us with her smiles and antics. She just loves a laugh.

Oh and by the way--she bit it this weekend therefore she is sporting quite a nice bruise on her right cheek. Makes for great pics (sneer)!Here comes the gigantic orange popsicle I will hold myself... Yes! Success! In the mouth, although very cold.

Look at me!!!

Silly daddy...

Crazy girl with a fork!

And again, trying to feed mom her rejected (less favorable!) food.

Hope you had a wonderful Sunday too!