Oh, for the sake of motherhood!

Last year was different.  My babies were starting school.  I was a bit sad, emotional, torn because they were growing up.  Fast forward to this year........in less than 2 weeks these kiddo's are heading to school!!!!  YIPPEEEE!!!!  I don't even feel like a bad parent.  I will admit, I felt slightly guilty at first when these feelings came over me.  But then I realized, my children are not perfect and neither am I.  When summer hits, we have to fit everything into a short amount of time.  Camping trips, pools, bike rides, walks, crafts, baking etc.  And too much fun and tiredness leads to fighting, bickering, talking back.  We've even had children forget to eat meals because they've been to busy doing something.

Structure is ok.  It'll be hard to get back into the swing of things, with bedtimes, homework, making lunches.  And we'll still have the Golden Girls bickering like 80 year old women, but hopefully less often.  Maybe their minds will be so filled with knowledge and love of others that we can all get along :)  Wishful thinking!!!  
With all that venting, we have 2 weeks and a lot has been packed into the next 2 weeks.  Chicago trips, Camp Geneva, and some day trips.  The house will not be cleaned and children have been told, "I dare you to have a knock out drag out fight.  Because I'd like nothing less than to cancel all plans and stare at you all day!"  Good parenting at it's best there :) 
So for all you parents that feel bad about being ok with school starting!  DON'T!!!  It's ok!!!  You are still a great parent!  God gives us Grace and it comes in many forms!!!  
Happy Summer to everyone!!!  I think parents deserve a coffee mug the first day of school that says, "We Survived Summer!"  
                                                           Birthday Girls!!

                                                            Leah and I ran a 5K for make a wish

Leah got stuck in the sand dunes :)  I was proud of her.  She composed herself well and proceeded to go back up test hill!  Definitely her father's daughter :)

                                                        Go cart troubles!!  Many hands make pushing easy!

Fun little walk.

 

If anyone has known me for a while they've heard about our porch.  It's an ongoing "joke" at the Koemans.  It started quite a few years back.  Our back porch has seen better days.  My husband says it's structurally sound, I beg to differ, but the point is someday, it needs attention. 
If you also know us, you know these decisions don't come easily.  Steve and I could never build a house, nor do we want to.  It's just not enjoyable for us.  We are content with what we have, but the porch still needs attention.  So we dream up plans.  They've been elaborate, some of our dreams, but when we see the price we laugh.  My husband has a Sunsetter in his plans, but I promise those are not in my final plans.  (I know many people that have them and that's great!  My parents are even getting one.  But I don't want one :) 
This is a conversation we talk about often.  Not as often anymore since we know what we want now. Now we just save up the funds and wait on God's timing.  As Steve and I were talking about future plans this week the subject came up.  We said, it'll happen, someday.  He said, "and if it doesn't, that's ok to."  Normally I would've protested that comment, but for some reason I said, "absolutely. If it's not in God's plan, that's ok." 
For some reason, that conversation keeps coming back to me.  You see, I've wanted that porch for a long time.  I would go to great lengths to get it.  But God has once again changed my heart.  If it happens, I'll be happy, but not having it doesn't make me unhappy.  I'm content.  God has given us so much, He supplies every need.  This is not a need.  This is not a salvation issue. 
This morning I turned to Ecclesiastes 3.There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
I read the chapter and then found it in different versions.  It's so fun to read.  To open our eyes and see God's greatness and how He works us through situations.  

Tomorrow is 21 years with this man!  I think I can honestly say, we've come along ways baby!!  Can't wait to see where else God will bring us.

 

ALASKA!!!!

That's right!  Leah and I had the opportunity to go to Alaska with our church.  22 of us (I believe). What an experience!  We woke up about 7am. Had 45 minutes of personal devotions wherever we choose. I usually headed for the rivers edge.  It was so beautiful!  Indescribable!

From there we had lunch and learned our tasks for the day.  We did roofing, lawn care, chopping wood, whatever task was found.  After supper we usually went for a hike or exploring of some kind.  At night we had a bon fire to recap our day.  The 1st question was always, "what God moment did you see today?"  Thought provoking.  The camp wanted to make sure we were not "task" oriented but "experience" oriented.  They wanted us to soak it all in.  Our last night there, it was asked, "what 2 words are you going to tell people when you go home?  What captures this trip?"  I'm stealing someone else's answer because it just hit home for me.  "Perfect Interruption."  The trip was the perfect interruption to daily life. To stop, slow down and reflect.  To listen to what God is telling us.  At home we are BUSY, in Alaska we slowed down.  We helped others, but sometimes our "help" was listening to that person. And in that conversation we could see God.  I have pages of journaling from my morning times with God to after the bon fire conversations.  It was wonderful and thought provoking to read God's word and then at the end of the day, hash through it.
A friend of mine has been to Eaglecrest before.  He has told me many stories, but until I got to experience it, I didn't fully understand.  He texted me a couple times when I was there, and I was like, "WOW, I get it!"  I want everyone it get it.  If I could transplant my family, friends and career to Alaska, I would.  They are content.  It makes me look around and say, "what's wrong with us?" 

A friend gave me a book to read while in Alaska.  It was about orphans that had never been told of Christ.  It explained visions they had, and things they would say that, were very obviously, from God.  When I saw her last night, she said, "why don't we see that?"  I strongly feel it's because we don't allow God the time.  We are too busy.   This morning I got up, did my devotions, and I greatly missed my 45 minutes by the river.  I went to work and I greatly missed the traffic of Alaska and the beautiful scenery.  But it doesn't look like moving is in my cards so I will try to implement all I learned to my life here in Michigan. 

Overall, it was an eye opening experience that I got to have with my daughter and many new friends from church. We have a great group at Central Ave and I'm honored to call my church home. God Bless!

NOTHING!!!!!

That's what happens around this house when I work, or am not around.  Nothing!  After a few days of working I start to hear, "there's no socks."  "the dishes are dirty,"  "there's no food in this house," and on and on.   The strange thing is, I worked full time for years, and we held it all together.  We ate more hamburger helper than we do now, but it all worked.  About 7-8 years ago I went to part time.  I really enjoyed my job but we decided family needed more mom time.  So we decided I would go to part time until all our kids were in school and then I could go back to full time and even back into management if I wanted. 
Well, all the kids are in school.  Steve and I talked about it at the beginning of the year.  I said, "I should probably go full time now huh?"  He said, "let's just wait another year and see how the year goes."   Sounded good to me.  As the year has gone on, we both agree, I'll stay part time.  I even told him I'd quit and stay home full time :)  Don't priorities change!  I like this messy house and kids schedules.  You only get to do this once. I don't want to miss it.  I won't quit work :)  I still enjoy my job and bills have to get paid.  But it's been fun to watch God change our hearts and desires.  What was a desire in my 20's isn't so much in my 40's.  The internal peace and contentment that comes with God is so good!  A place I pray everyone can find!
Happy day friends!  Look for HIM today.  You won't regret it!

Miss Leah playing with the Grand Rapids Symphony!

To all the farmers wives...........or any moms :)

I've talked to a lot of overwhelmed mom's the past couple weeks.  I realize how different life is the older the kids get.  It gets easier I promise.  In the past week we've only had one meltdown (of the kids not me :)  I remember all the pressure when the kids were young.  And I think social media makes it worse.  All the comparisons to others. 
It's so hard sometimes, but as mom's we need to know, it's ok when things aren't as planned and schedules aren't followed. When workouts don't get done and we're behind on house work.  When showers aren't taken and we eat take out a few times a week and left overs the other days.  Are you're kids happy?  Do they have smiles on that dirty smudged face?  Do they feel loved?  That's all that matters!  A few years ago, we decided to gage "issues" on, "is this a salvation issue?"  Is the problem we are facing something that is going to impede their salvation?  That often decompressed many situations in this home. 

This week Brooke had an apt at Devos.  Just her regular 6 month physical.  I told her to get dressed.  She came out with red pants with hearts on them, a bright pink Hello Kitty shirt (that she's worn for 2+ years and has seen better days), and purple sparkly shoes.  Oh boy!  My first question, "Brooke, when are you going to grow out of that shirt and never wear it again?"  Her response, "You're going to stop giving me growth hormone so I can wear it forever!"  NICE!!!
Next, "maybe you should put clothes on that match, or look good?"  Her response, "Mom, I feel good, so I must look good!"   What do you say to that?  I just reassured her, she does look good, her outfit is amazing and we were on our way.  Definitely not a salvation issue.  It was a mom issue, and I'm learning to let go of those. 
Many of the farmers have started planting.  I was actually super excited!  Steve had started planting mentally for a couple weeks.  He was all ready, but the land wasn't.  That drives a farmer crazy.  So we welcome the nice weather and happy farmers.  Farm on my friends!

So far this spring we've enjoyed Brooke learning to ride a two wheeler!  Kinda a big deal here.  No more training wheels!!!  

The twins, Leah and Ash all had music concerts.  If you want to be spiritually moved go to a Holland Christian music concert with kids.  WOW!!!  So touching.  Brought me to tears.  Love to hear those kids praising God! 

Happy Spring!!  Enjoy the great weather and all those terrific kids :)

20+ years later.......

This week Steve and I walked into the Dixie Stampede, in Tennessee,  behind our girls. Steve said, "we've been busy the past 20 years." I said "yup, we do great work." We went there on our honeymoon 20+ years ago.  Ohhhh so young, we had no clue what God had entail for our lives. The ride hasn't always been easy but we've always known He'd see us through and that we will ALWAYS have each other's back.

                                     Can you see a difference in 20 years? :)

What a great week!  My parents were still in Florida, so my brother and his family and us met my parents in Gatlinburg.  It was so fun to see them and spend time with them.  We were busy.  There was always something to do.  Hiking, Dollywood, Aquarium, Dixie Stampede, horseback riding, shopping.......we tried to fit it all in.  The girls were tired, which means we did our job.  Hopefully Grandpa and Grandma weren't too overwhelmed by all those girls.  God's beauty was everywhere.  When we went horseback riding, it was so peaceful!  No one really talked, and we just rode and listened to the streams.  So cool!!!  The girls had a little cold/stomach bug that went around, but they took it in stride and kept going.  Nothing some medicine and a bucket can't help.  We pray Grandpa and Grandma don't get it. 

We got home in just enough time to relax and enjoy the weekend before school starts.  Believe it or not, the twins and their sisters have been playing school most of the day.  I think they are ready to get back.  Praising God for great time with family!!!

   

6 Years!!!!

I wasn't sure what to do.  Do we celebrate, do we just let it go as a normal day?  I don't want any girls to feel left out of this process.  It's a big deal for all of them.  All for one and one for all right?  When it came down to it...............I hadn't had cake in a while, and I had a hankering for some, so WE CELEBRATE!!!!!  
                                                      
(Hard to tell but the inside of the cupcakes have a red streak.  I told the girls that's the bone marrow :)






I brought donuts to school (because we all need a sugar buzz at school).  And cupcakes after supper.  For supper we had casserole, corn and strawberries.  All Brooke's favorites.  Seems silly saying.  The kid that we sang her praises when she licked a Cheeto, I am making her favorite foods because we are 6 years out of transplant.  WOW!!!!  I'm probably going to jinx the family here, but I don't know the last time she was hospitalized.  We didn't think we'd ever see the day.  PRAISE THE LORD!!!  But this day isn't about just Brooke and Megs, it's about all the ladies.  All they've endured, sacrificed, prayed and been stand up sisters and daughters.  They don't deserve a donut, they deserve the WHOLE donut shop and a cakery (if that's a word.  In my mind it's a bakery that only makes cake :)!!!!  WE LOVE OUR LADIES!!  And are so happy that we've been given time.  Our God is amazing!!!


Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NIV