Busy Weekend

It has been a very busy weekend and I look forward to sharing some of the fun with you...

Blessings!

Empty Hand...No More

It has been a long time. I almost forgot what it felt like. 12 years ago, I wouldn't have thought it was possible, but life has a way of taking normal and making it forgotten. This past weekend forgotten was realized...again

My parents very graciously took our three munchkins camping this past weekend. Two weeks ago it was our 12th anniversary. I spent the weekend sleeping and dizzy, Kevin spent the weekend taking care of me and three kids. Happy Anniversary...not. So this past weekend was a wonderful gift to us.

We spent the weekend just being together. After my Dad picked up the kids, Kev and I just came back inside sat down, grabbed our computers and spent the next hour doing nothing. How is it that two people who have been married for 12 years, can't find anything better to do than to lose themselves in the black hole of the internet?

We decided to go to Sonic for dinner. It just opened here last month and we wanted to give it a try. We drove the Mustang...we might as well take full advantage of being childless. Sonic was packed, there was a "staging area" with about 50 cars... We decided to have dinner next-door at Stake and Shake. Walked in the doors to see Kevin's parents having dinner. We sat at a table with them and had a double date.

After dinner we drove out to Grand Haven, parked the car and started to walk. That is when it happened... Very gently my hand was held, fingers began to entwine with mine...it had been so long...we walked holding hands, watching people, talking about the funny couple who were sitting together huddled with their winter jackets, looking like they were freezing (and no it wasn't cold enough for winter jackets). Years...it had to be years, since we walked and talked like that. My hand never leaving his...It was wonderful. He even held my hand driving home, I can't remember the last time we sat in a car holding hands.

How is it that such a little gesture gets missed? Is it because my hands are usually filled with children's hands, dirty dishes, or a dog leash? Is it because we allow other "worldly" things to occupy our hands...like phones and computers instead of the hand of the person who matters most to you?

Saturday we worked in the yard together. I finished getting my garden ready for planting, Kevin trimmed the trees and changed out some old hose holders. We just enjoyed our day, working and talking without any interruptions. We cleaned up and went out for an early dinner. Had an absolutely wonderful time at the Blue Water Grill, then decided to drive back out to Grand Haven. Again, my hand was held while driving. Then walking hand in hand looking at all the boats. We even stayed to watch the musical fountain, I don't think we have ever done that. How special our time together was.

Then all too quickly our time alone was gone. Time to get the kids back from Mom and Dad and let them, have a rest. It was wonderful to get kisses and hugs from our babes, and all too quickly, my hands were filled up with the things that are so very important, but also get in the way of remembering who held my hand first, in the very beginning. Back when riding in the car holding hands was normal. Walking hand in hand was a daily occurrence. When life didn't hold so many responsibilities and distractions.

It is very easy to see how two people can slowly pull away from each other, when they don't get time to hold each others hand...

All Things Bright and Beautiful

When I was in kindergarten my teacher, Mrs Koster, would ask us what songs we wanted to sing. I would always chose All Things Bright and Beautiful...I have no idea why, I just liked that song. As I was preparing for this post, I was thinking on that song and how true it was. God created everything beautiful. From the bugs, to the bees, to the flowers and even the seas (liked how I just rhymed that sentence). Anyway, I just thought that I would share with you some of the Bright and Beautiful that has been planted in our yard this spring.

Kevin has been busy working hard. He has moved 10 yards of cedar chips by himself. Normally, I partake in this duty, but this year I seemed to get out of it. He has redone all of our flower borders. We have moved plants around, killed off plants we didn't like and added some new ones.
We are very excited with the changes that has happened around here. I should have thought to take a picture of what our landscaping is looking like, maybe I can do that tomorrow, but it sure is pretty.

We went to Garden Crossings to pick out our plants. I am sad to say it was my first time ever going there. Kevin had been there a few times, but for me and the kids it was a first. What a beautiful greenhouse. It is owned by Kevin's cousins and it is a first class place. They ship plants all over the USA. They grow stuff that is different than your average greenhouse. Check out their website, they are located in Zeeland Mi, but if you are not from around here, they will ship it too you. Something else I liked about the plants from Garden Crossings, is they are bigger than what you typically buy, so they are more established, easier to grow. Love, Love, Love the plants we bought!



Back to the planting....What does a homeschool Mom do when there are chores to be done?? Make it into school! Perfect! Love my job! The kids got a big kick out of it too. Helping plant is a lot of fun! For some reason, I don't have a picture of Miss Jilli Joy planting anything. Partly because she didn't want to get her hands dirty, so she only planted one (and I didn't have my camera ready). Sometimes she can be so girly! Then other times she wants to take her shirt off and play like the boys.

This year I am trying my hand at clematis. I have wanted to make our dog fence more beautiful for years, but never pulled the trigger, until this year. We bought three different varieties and planted them along the fence. I will be sure to show you some pics of the beautiful flowers that are going to be blooming! The very first picture, in this posting, is one of the clematis' and the below is another. My third kind has yet to bloom, but it is a small white flower that is going to smell oh so good!

If you want to check out what Garden Crossings has, you can click on the name and it will send you right to their website.

Blessings!

Needing a New Head...Anyone Got One??

I am going to try and make this quick.....

Friday morning I woke up and went to get out of bed and fainted. Took me about 30 min before I could stand upright with out falling over. Saturday morning I fainted again. I tried calling for Kevin who was downstairs, but he didn't hear me. I crawled to the stairs and slide down them, and then fainted again. Kevin found me at the base of the stairs.

We checked my sugar and it was normal, we checked my blood pressure and it was fairly normal as well. Anytime I tried to lift my head I would pass out or get very close to it, I would at times have a hard time speaking as well. I was on the floor for about an hour until Kevin and I felt that I could be moved to the couch (12 ft away from where I was laying). We were able to speak with my Doctor who thought that it was related to my ears, but could not rule out a stroke. He put me on steroids and an anti nausea med. After taking the meds I could get up but was very dizzy and very tired.

I was sleeping a lot, and taking a lot of naps (like 30 min naps every few hours...not normal for me). Everything was spinning all the time. I took myself off the anti nausea meds in hopes that I would not be so tired all the time.

Yesterday, I still was not feeling much better, so I called the Doctor again. I had spoken to our neighbor who is an ER doc and she was very concerned that I might be having small strokes, another reason I wanted to be seen.

After my appointment, my Doctor was still convinced that it is just my ears... which is the best news possible, but he can't rule out a stroke unless I have an MRI. Which I am not sure I really want/need to do. With our insurance we would have to pay a lot of money for me to have one...and if it is just my ears than why waste all that money.

There it is in a nutshell...I am feeling some what better today, but still have many dizzy spells and I am still feeling quite tired. I am not driving yet either which kind of is annoying.

Praying that it IS just my ears and all will be normal very soon!

Blessings!

Saturday and Baseball

I am not going to write too much right now. I am kind of loopy (on drugs) and can't think really straight. It might make for a really funny posting though....

Saturday was Micah's baseball parade and game. I almost didn't make it, do to medical issues...hence the drugs I am on...but I am so thankful that I did. I will explain in a later posting what is going on with me, but for now here is a few pictures of Micah on his opening day. Thanks to my sister, I got pictures of Micah's game. I was kind of "out of it"

Blessings!

Saturday Cont...

Kevin had no idea that I was up and out of the house Saturday morning...in fact, I bet my race had started before he even opened his eyes. But my Micah was up (as usual) and had turned the TV on. I had been watching the news before I left to see the forecast, so when he turned the TV on he saw the weather. My buddy was so concerned, he went upstairs and asked Kevin..."Daddy have you been watching the news? You need to turn the news on, it doesn't look so good." Kev, turned on the TV and Micah then pointed out all the "green" that was on the radar, and how that wasn't so good for Mommy to be running in. It warmed my heart that he was so concerned for me.

***and for the record, Micah said that next year he was going come down to watch me race and take pictures...when asked how he was going to get down there he said "Daddy". Kevin might not have a choice about coming next year!***

When I walked in the backdoor, I was met by Jillian. She said "Hi Mommy. Did you have fun in your race?" "Yes, Jilli. Mommy had lots of fun." Jilli.."How did you do?" Me.."I did good" Jilli.."What place did you get...First? Me.."Umm, No I didn't get first, but Mommy is really happy with just finishing the race." Jilli.."Well I think you got first." then she walked away. What amazes me is that my kids think that I can do anything. That is an awesome feeling, not to be doubted, or looked at like your out of your mind. AND not only do they believe that I can do it, they even think that I can do it better than anyone else!

Blessings!

Some Quick Pics

After Jodi and I changed our clothes, I took my camera to get a few pictures of Jen. I couldn't get a ton because it was....well.... raining (had it in a plastic bag so it wouldn't get too wet) and because I kind of jumped into the race and ran with Jen to encourage her on to the finish line. To be honest it was one of the highlights of my day. We were both crying as I am literally screaming at her to keep running and not give up. It was a great moment that I will always cherish.

This is Jen right before I jumped in and started to run with her.

This is Jodi right after we changed clothes on our way back to cheer on Jen.
This is my bib # and the pin that I earned for running the 10K.
I am still excited for next year....except I just received an email tonight asking me to shoot a wedding on May 8, 2010 for an old friend from middle school...That is the date of next years Riverbank Run.......Can I do both???

Blessings!

It's Finished

I RAN 6.2 miles today. For someone who couldn't run more than a quarter of a mile just over a year ago, to running 6 miles is something I am really proud of.

It was cold, rainy, and windy today. My friend Jodi and I started out and within 1/4 of a mile it was down pouring on us. Before we hit the 2 mile mark my shoes were swishing with every step I took.

About halfway through the race my friend Liz was standing in the rain cheering me on and ran with me for a minute (did I mention she is like 8 months pregnant!!) Thanks Liz for standing there in the rain with your signs (without your raincoat) it was such an encouragement!!!

Jodi and I wanted to run this race in under 1hr 15min. We were not going for any records, we knew that many of our friends that were running this race would finish way ahead of us, but for two girls who really didn't get a lot of training time, we just wanted to finish. So when we crossed the finish line with a time 1hr 6min and 52sec, we felt awesome!

Soaked to the bone and excited we walked back to the car to change and put dry clothes on and get back to the race to cheer on the 25K runners. My other very good friend was running that. This was Jen's first 25K, but she is a phenomenal runner, and I knew she would have a good time. She ran 15.5 miles in 2hr 15min. WOW!!

I do have to say that I am feeling very "old" right now. My whole body hurts, it went through a few hours of flu like symptoms. I am spent, exhausted and want to go to bed (but I am waiting for my bread to finish baking before I can).

I am excited for next year, Jodi and I have already said (in spite of my body feeling the way it does right now), that we are going to run it again next year and that we want to do it in under 1 hr. WooHoo!

Sorry for no pictures with this entry....maybe next year I can talk someone into going downtown to see me run and take pictures of Jod and I.

Blessings!

Prayers of Little Ones

Yesterday, I ran 6 miles with my friend Jodi. Our last big run before the 10k race this Saturday. After we got back, my head just started to throb. I am not sure why. I still took the kids for a bike ride and to the park, but my head was hurting so bad...by the end of the night it hurt to even move my head. I had taken medication, but it really didn't seem to help.

When putting the kids to bed, we always pray with each of them. After I got done praying for Tyler, he turned around and without saying a word to me, he put my head in his hands started praying to our Heavenly Father. He prayed that God would remove my headache and that when I woke up this morning my head would no longer hurt.

Talk about one of those moments that your heart could just break...When I think that our kids aren't learning how to depend on our Heavenly Father...they are. Hopefully, prayerfully by example.

This last month I have been leaning heavy on God, it has been a wonderful time for me. Reading the scriptures, and applying them to my life. It has been a growing time, God has been pruning me, molding me, and though it isn't always fun and easy, it's reward is worth all the pain. I guess Tyler has been watching me, I guess Tyler has been listening to me pray about everything under the sun. I guess Tyler has been learning how to go to the Only One who can heal a sick Momma.

This morning when I woke up.......my headache was gone. When I told Tyler, he just had this smirk on his face and walked away. He KNEW I would be fine this morning...why?? Because he BELIEVES in the power of prayer.

Thank you Tyler for praying for me, thank you for putting your faith into action. God's Blessings are truly on you!

Solo

Tonight the kids and I are flying solo at home for the first time ever. It is kind of a weird feeling, not having Kevin here. I am always the one who leaves and goes camping with the kids and Kevin stays home to work. This time he left to go work and left us at home. I am so thankful that I have Romeo to keep me company. He adds a level of security that I wouldn't have if he wasn't here.

So....what does a wife do while her husband is gone??? I DIDN'T CLEAN ANYTHING IN THE HOUSE TODAY!! It was so freeing! We went out for lunch with the kids' cousins. Then I took 4 little ones (my three + 1) to see a movie. After that we came home, played outside for a few hours (woo hoo for no rain today), then came in, had bath/showers, ate dinner at 8pm, let the kids play the wii for a little while and then put the kids to bed at 9pm. How is that for a play by play.

Tomorrow, I am going to be sleeping in........yeah right. I will be up early doing everything I should have done today.

I am leaving you with a picture of my three butterflies. It was taken at Frederick Meijer Gardens, on a trip we took there a few weeks ago with Ama and Poppop (Kev's parents).

Thank you my little butterflies, I had so much fun with you today!

Blessings!!