Walking, walking, walking

This weekend was the Breast cancer walk in Grandville. We have participated for many years.  This year I was suppose to work, and the kids had soccer games, Leah had activities.  I felt terrible telling my mom, I just couldn't swing it.  It's such an amazing cause, and we all enjoy the time together.  However my mom and her friend came up with another idea. 
                                                                  A Prayer Walk

These are the people that participated.  They started at their church and walked down the road, praying for people that are ill, elderly, pregnant, family problems and anyone that needs the prayers, (which is everyone)  I LOVE IT!  What an amazing idea and so easy for anyone to do.  There are walks for everything, which I am not knocking, they are good causes that raise lots of money.  I could be walking every weekend.  This way you can cover so many loved ones, and lift them up to the Ultimate Healer.  Wow, what an amazing testimony.  To God be the Glory.

Pack Rat

I have not been known to be a pack rat.  I actually have a better reputation for throwing everything away.  With 7 people in this house, my way of cleaning is the trash can :)  So with the kids in school, I headed to the basement to "clean" with my trash bags.  (their rooms are next blahahahah).  Anyway, while downstairs I got side tracked and found where my problem lies, pictures.  I can look at them for hours and reminisce and laugh.  They just make me smile.  Here's a few that I found.  I didn't ask permission to post these, but since they are all family they can't disown me.

 

This is my husband!  You think he can still do this?  I bet if ya catch him on a good day he'd try.

This is my mom!  She was beautiful then and she is beautiful now! I just want to squeeze her!

 My grandpa and grandma Brouwer.  I LOVE people's wedding pictures.  I think everyone should keep a wedding picture up forever.  It's the beginning of their story.

 This is my grandpa and grandma Baumann.  I did not know my grandpa but I've heard lots of stories and when I see his picture and his smile, I see my dad.  And I just imagine the amazing man that he was.

 Last but not least.  Not sure this needs explanation.  I obviously don't remember this, but it makes me smile. 

So, I am not attached to "stuff" but if someone took my pictures away, I'd be sad. There are so many stories to be told. 

Rest for the soul

This week I was holding and rocking a sleeping baby and talking to my mom on the phone.  I was telling her how I so wanted to do a bible study on Wednesday mornings this year, but I am not finding the time.  Between all the girls activities, school, work, MD appts, therapy appointments, I am spread to thin (that's not even to mention the house up keep).  As I was talking to her I was LOVING this baby, smells so sweet, fits in my arms so well :)  My mom said, you are doing God's work right now.  This is what you are meant to do, today. (Oh BOY do I LOVE this work :)  My season for formal bible studies will come.  For now, I will spend whatever time God gives me to worship and study His word, where ever I am at that given moment. 

As the week went on the I went from task to task.  My devotions Friday was a woman talking about the sabbath.  She stated she was pulling an all nighter trying to meet a deadline.  Whenever she opened the Bible it talked about the sabbath, how God made it for rest.  She disregarded it and later talked to a friend who opened her eyes.  The sabbath isn't just a "day" of rest, but it's when your soul needs rest.  It may not be on your Sunday, it may be when you've had enough and need to regroup your soul.  I thought, "awe nice, devotion.  Now onto my day." 
I don't feel I over booked myself, because I don't know how else to do it and I enjoy being busy. (A lady at work told me I need a wife to cook, clean, laundry, etc. I thought that was funny :)  Anyway, I headed to Brooke's feeding therapy (which she ROCKED might I add).  On the way there Macy had a "tummy ache"  said in a L O U D, A N N O Y I N G voice, over and over.  Whatever, she was fine at feeding therapy.  Onto grandma blueberries house.  We get there and Macy complains again.  REALLY?  My mom says, no worries, go to work.  So I go to work.  I get through work with only a few texts, "hey mom can we go here after school?"  "if your going to the store don't forget milk, eggs, shaving cream, etc"   yup, yup, I have it all under control.  Racing back to my mom's to get the twins, (because I have to pick up another kid from school) I get a text from my mom.  "I can meet you in town so you don't have to drive out here, and Macy did throw up."  Like it was an after thought to tell me.  (I think she knew I was walking a thin rope:)  I felt so bad.  I felt bad for Macy, because she was sick and I just disregarded it, and for my mom.  She had to deal with it.  My mom said, "it's no problem, we are fine."  I said, "what if you get sick" and she said, "then I get sick. It's ok!" 
So we head out, pick up the rest of our chicka's, go home, put on the comfy pants, and plop my butt on the couch with an adorable little girl and a blanket on my lap.  My devotion kept coming to mind, rest for the soul.  My soul needed to rest, but if I don't stop, it can't.  I stopped.  I rested and remembered what was important again.

I was amazed that my week started and ended with rocking kids.  It brings me peace, it's holding innocence, and unconditional love. What a gift.  I also realized after this week, I want to grow up to be like my mom!  Her kindness and wisdom are always welcomed. 

                 Macy's better!  Even made it to the fair.  She's not feeling bad anymore :)

Full Swing

So here we go.  School has started without too many bumps.  The occasional kid doesn't want to get out of bed, but occasionally the parents don't want to get out of bed.  This was our 1st Saturday of soccer.  Only Ashley had a game, Meg just had pictures this week.  So Steve and Ash left at 8:20 for pictures and a 9am game.  I started about 8:15 to get the twins and Megs up.  You see, the twins don't go to school so they don't have to get up in the am.  They also don't normally take naps, so their 10-12 hours of sleep is precious.  I disturbed the "precious" sleep and it wasn't pleasant.  There was alot of anger towards their mom.  But we finally got them into the van, but the dog decided to go chasing a bird, over the road.  Megan got him, and we are all in the van again.  (minus the dog, he's in his cage). I am racing down our road, when I meet a police man, who had every right to pull me over, but for some reason he had grace.  At which time I get a phone call from my husband who says, "is Meg's team color green?"  Yup!  "They just finished their pictures."  UHGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!   I was not happy, all this running around, yelling, we missed it and she wasn't even playing a game!  I looked at Meg and said, "I am soooo sorry honey."  Which her response was, "what's the big deal, I didn't want pictures anyway.  I'm not upset mom."  Grace!  She gave me Grace!  She made me feel like maybe I wasn't the worse mom in the world. 

Sunday morning, the twins head to children's worship!  AHHHHHH, mom and dad get to listen to the sermon.  He explains how everything originated from man and woman.  Who was the 1st teacher?  Adam and Eve taught their children, 1st hospital: they fixed their cuts and scrapes, they worshiped together, played together etc etc Also how the world gets in the way of our family time.  That was just the tip of an amazing message, but it was a huge part that hit me.  The way my Saturday morning went, I let the world get in the way.  But I was fortunate enough to have a 10 year old who showed me grace and patience.   God is so good!

We will start the week again.  Soccer, volleyball, yada yada.  But I won't let it get in the way of family this time.  Perspective I guess.  Sometimes you have to visualize in your head, what's most important.  GOD - FAMILY   If priorities are straight, the rest will come.

We got to take family pictures today!  Steve does NOT like "posed" pictures.  So to say the least he was "taking one for the team."  He asked me, "what makes you think we have to do this every year?  I don't like this."  My response was simple.  4 years ago a little lady (I won't name names :)  thought she would try and leave this world.  God gave us more time, so now I get to take a posed family picture each year and we are all going to pretend we like it.  He just smiled and said, "you're pathetic."  No arguments there!  I LOVE this Family!!!

It's Back to School

Have you ever thought of how many times you have cried on behalf (or because) of your children.  For some reason that has been the spark of conversation the past few days.  Probably because school started.  I will admit, there were no tears from this lady on the first day of school.  There was a large smile, many pictures and a big wave, C YA LATER LADIES!!!! 

I'm sure that doesn't sound like a compassionate mother, but we were in need of structure.  And we are feeling the love again.  Aren't they cute!!!  First day of school, Looking Good!!!

Anyway, back to my other thought, tears and all the reasons they are cried.
You cry when your children are born..............when they get their first shots..................when they leave for school the first time (sometimes when they move to another school).............when you leave them with a sitter (even if the sitter is grandpa and grandma. I know I have issues).............when they get hurt..............when they get hurt and you aren't there to comfort them.............when they call you at work because they are fighting...........when they slam a door in your face...........when they cry because they miss someone..........when you can't take the hurt away........you want to cry when they take clothes from your closet and then realize the clothes look better on her than you ****sigh****   You get the picture.  I am amazed how someone of various sizes (they range for 3"1' to 5"9" over here) can carry such power. Not all those tears are happy ones.  Some are anger or irritation.  And to think of everything you cry over there are more moments of laughter and smiles. 

 I have the privilege of having the twins home 1 more year.  Over the summer they have really grown up and I was thinking, maybe I should've sent them to preschool.  Then the 1st day of school came.  They got up and said, "what are we going to do today?"  I explained their sisters were at school and they both smiled and said, "We know!"  Stinkers!!  We did have a good day.  It was time everyone had a break from the closeness and venture in our routine again.  Next year I am planning on more tears.  I pretty sure when I send them off, I will have to be alone due to embarrassment of not being able to hold it together :)  But that's a year away.   We'll enjoy the next year and have more laughter than crying, but with 6 ladies in the house, watch out. 

Been awhile since I updated.  I am always busy, but not sure with what. (I think it has something to do with the kids :) We went camping, that's always fun because of the people we go with.

Brooke went to the MD and she is growing, whoo hoo. She is officially on the growth charts. That's a good feeling.
Here is Brooke eating corn on the cob.  We had AMAZING corn from my grandpa.  Brooke ate it for 2 nights and then cried when it was gone.  Sometimes I wish I could get in her brain to see what she actually thinks about food.  I am confused!

 We had the privilege of going horse back riding with friends.  Our friends daughter was engaged. (now she's married) Our plan, with this gaggle of girls, was to have some sort of bridal shower when they get engaged.  Well, because us mom's are so young and fun, hehe,  and playing silly games wasn't on our list of fun this summer, our friend Missi decided horseback riding was the fun of choice.  And it was fun!  No one got hurt, we laughed and we got to wear really cool hats.

 These are some of my friends :)  Me, Tricia and Missi.  A long long time ago, Steve and I were dating.  Phil and Tricia were married.  They had a baby and Steve asked if I wanted to go visit them in the hospital.  I said, "sure."  I'm a social person.  Their baby was beautiful!   Tricia, who didn't know me, was all smiles and said, "do you want to hold my baby?"  I actually made Steve hold her :)  That was the beginning of the friendship of the 3 of us.  Our husbands have been friends since their early years of school.  It's amazing and I thank God for bringing us together. 
And look at the little "baby."  She is gorgeous!  We were so blessed to witness their marriage.  Their smiles, laughter and loved SHINED!!!  Congrats Troy and Kelsey!!  May God Bless you and your marriage forever!

Withering!!!!

Have you ever done something, only to have it not turn out?  Like baked something but it's flop.  Or did a craft only to find out you missed a step and it doesn't look like it should.  You get the point.  You did the work but the end result didn't turn out.   Now on a bigger scale, imagine planting thousands of acres of crops, hundreds of hours of labor, only to not get rain and see them wither before your eyes.  That's what all these poor farmers are going through. The end result is out of their control.   It's a trickle affect.  Obviously it's the farmers and family's livelihood, it's the consumers food source, etc etc. 
Steve and I headed to Chicago this weekend.  A little anniversary get away.  Steve thought seeing pavement might be easier than dried up crops.  We had fun, alot of people watching (a very cheap and extremely entertaining past time), we also went to Museum of Science and Industry (where he found a combine).  We took the train, but once we got our van we "crop toured."  You can take the farmer out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the farmer. 

 All in all, we know where we belong.  We had a great time getting away, but we are at home right where God put us, with 5 amazing ladies.  Steve is doing well, despite the drought.  Obviously rain would make us very happy, but we are aware it's in God's hands.  Rain or Shine God is in control and will take care of us all.