Bye Bye 2009!

As I sit and reflect back on 2009, I think most will remember it for the 'big news' stories it held.

1. Obama’s inauguration - The nation’s first black president took the oath of office.
2. The U.S. economy - Unemployment tops 10%
3. Michael Jackson dies - The “King of Pop” died at the age of 50
4. "Miracle on the Hudson"
5. Swine flu
6. Health care overhaul
7. Auto industry woes
8. Jon & Kate Split
9. Kanye West robs Taylor Swift of her moment at the mic during the MTV Video Awards
10. Walter Cronkite dies
11. Conan O’Brien took over the “Tonight” show
12. Tiger Woods accused of cheating and loses millions in endorsements.

I will remember 2009 much differently. I praise God first & foremost for the health & safety of my family & friends this past year. He has blessed the year in that way for sure!
It was a year where I learned a lot about God, the power of prayer, His unconditional love and importance of family. It was somewhat of a year of trials for me but also a year of learning to truly trust God and learning how to show his unconditional love.
I will not be sad to put 2009 behind me but am thankful for the things God has taught me. I pray that I never forget how to rely solely on Him.
Of course there were many blessing of the year as well.

January -
My Dad turned 60! My dad is one of the greatest men I know & I am so blessed to have him as a dad.
We celebrated my niece's 6th Birthday! I can hardly believe she is six, almost seven years old. It is amazing how fast she grew up.
February -
Bryan & I got to travel to the Bahamas to celebrate our good friends' wedding...Even though it was the coldest it's been there in 20 years we still had fun.
March -
My mom turned...I know she is reading this so I wont say but I'll tell you this, she is just a few months younger then my dad. :) heheh
April -
Started the month off with my favorite vacation. Ft. Myers with the family! I love this vacation because I love spending time with my family. The warm weather is a bonus.
Celebrated Bryan's 30th birthday with a surprise 'roast' at New Holland Brewery.
My father-in-law turns 61. He is a fun-loving, carefree guy and a wonderful Grandpa.
May -
Got to Dutch Dance again this year! Last year I was prago so I couldn't. It is something I really enjoy so it was fun to do again. We also got to dress Payton up in her Dutch costume...So cute!
June -
My Mother-in-law & Sister-In-Law both celebrated birthdays. I will leave those ages off to stay in their good graces.
July -
My nephew turned 9! Yes, 9! He is such a Dude and one of the sweetest kids ever. I love to watch him interact with Payton.
Payton's friends Ella & Stella were born.
August -
Payton turned one! The year flew by and it is hard to believe that she is already a one year old. We love you so much Sweet Baby Girl!
Bryan & I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. I love him SO much and praise God for sending me such a wonderful man to be my husband and father of my children.
My sweet niece Ava turned 4!
Payton's friends Sawyer Timothy & Garrett Michael were born.
October -
Payton's friends Myles Adam & Bradley Bennett were born
November -
Dave & Abi welcome their twin girls Adalyn Jean & Emma Gale. Their faith has inspired me beyond words and the miracle God is working in the girls is something only He could accomplish. Praise God for these tiny blessings.
I was blessed to have another birthday. Twenty-Eight years of good health is something I am thankful for!
Payton's friend Addison Jade was born
December -
Birthdays, birthdays & more birthdays. My sister, Sister-in-law, and brother all turned another year older. I love each and every one of them and thankful they are in my life.
Christmas this year was wonderful and I thank God for sending His son to earth for me!

GOD IS GOOD!

Merry Christmas 2009

I can hardly believe Christmas 2009 has come & gone already and the new year is right around the corner. We were very blessed again this year to be able to enjoy the company of our family. It was a busy day from the get go. Starting with just the three of us opening gifts around our tree in our pj's then it was off to the Myrick's for breakfast & gifts, back home after that for P's afternoon nap (& my own afternoon nap:), then to my parent's house for dinner & gifts there. It was busy but also a lot of fun.

Payton definitely was spoiled again this year. It was the year of Fisher Price that is for sure. Her collection now includes The house, Barn, Car, Bus and train. Like I said...very spoiled, and that wasn't all. She has more new things then she even knows what to do with. She was so much fun to watch open things. Very excited about everything she got. It was a good reminder of what Christmas is like through the eyes of a child. We are so blessed to have such an energetic, sweet little girl. It's hard to imagine what we did without her.

Jingle Bell Rock

Christmas' Past (& preview on the present)

My friend Sarah did this on her blog & I thought it was fun to see so I'm stealing her idea...Thanks Sarah! :)
Here are our Christmas pictures from the past years. Crazy how life changes in such a short time.2006

20072007 - We told my parents we were expecting on Christmas Day. This was at the end of a slideshow I had made of the grandkids.

2008

2009

Critter Barn

The Critter Barn has a live Nativity Scene during the Christmas season so the Wednesday Night Group took the kiddos to go see the animals and to hear the Christmas story.

Of Course Payton was in heaven because of all the furry animals and such. She just giggled the entire time we were walking through the barns. I was very proud of her too because she sat so nice the entire time the story was being told. What a big girl she is becoming.

Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of the actual Nativity scene due to the battery in my camera dying...always happens at the wrong times doesn't it.

Birthday Party for Jesus

Yesterday we went to a Birthday Party for Jesus. Lynn Wickstra was sweet enough to throw the kids this wonderful party to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas. There was a magnetic story board (which Payton really liked), story, craft (cute bags for the kids to color & of course decorate with 'straw, blanket & wool) & cupcake decorating with cupcake eating to follow.

Praying for Tiffanie

Tonight I am asking for prayers for my friend Tiffanie.
For the past few weeks Tiff has been in & out of the hospital with severe intestinal pain. I believe it was Tuesday, she was re-admitted to Holland Hospital, more tests were done and it was concluded that she has Crohn's Disease. Crohn's disease is something my family is very familiar with because my brother also suffers from it. For those of you who are not familiar with it is a gastrointestinal disease. It is an inflammatory bowel disease that is manageable once the cause is found and is triggered by certain types of foods, stress and such (it is different for everyone) but is extremely painful...as you can imagine. It is an answer to prayer that the cause of the pain has been pin pointed but she continues to be in EXTREME pain, is VERY weak, and basically does not feel like doing anything besides sleeping. It is hard for me to imagine Tiff like this because she is one of the strongest women I know.
If you know Tiff please send her a word of encouragement...she is in real need of it. But PLEASE keep her in your prayers! Pray for relief from the pain and strength. Also pray for her husband Tim and their 4 month old son.

Birthday Parties & Christmas Trees

Every year Woodland puts on a Christmas Tree Farm at Tousink's. This year Payton got to experience the fun. So I bundled her up in her new snow pants, jacket & boots and off we went. We picked out a tree, saw the horses, pet the goats and watched the ducks then finished it all off with donuts and hot chocolate.

We also celebrated Heather & Michelle's 30th birthday by surprising them with a hoe down at the barn.

End of an Era

" There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:"
Ecclesiastes 3:1
This past week brought about change in my life, change that was not planned but truly needed. After almost 10 years at Macatawa Bank, I was laid off. As strange as it may sound, it is a blessing and I could not be more at peace. It was time for me to leave the bank and start pursuing my dreams of being a personal trainer and spending more time with my sweet girl. I did not enjoy what I did and was no longer happy going there every day.
The unfortunate part about it is I was the insurance carrier of the family because Bryan is considered an independent contractor and therefore does not get benefits through his employer. We are being taken care of by the bank for a little while and for that I am grateful. It gives us some time to get our ducks in a row and get things in place as far as insurance goes.
I am excited and a little nervous (if I'm being honest) to start this new chapter in my life. I know God has only the greatest plan for us...His plan.

^" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
"...there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work..."
Ecclesiastes 3:22

PS. If any one buys insurance independently please let me know who you go through.

Season Wrap Up

Swimming wrapped up this past weekend with our state meet at Eastern Michigan University. It was a little bit of a disappointing weekend. That is not to say the girls did not swim well they just did not drop the time we hoped they would. Thursday night we determined we were sitting in 5th place but prelims proved to be extremely fast and we soon realized 5th would be out of reach. With two of our relays sitting in that dreaded 9th place spot and two swimmers not coming back to finals, we knew our goals would have to be re-evaluated.
We did have some great swims - Our Medley relay started things off with a bang, swimming in a time that was four 100th of a second off from a school record, two individual times earned a spot into the top 8 and three others were top 16.
Saturday was a better day with some great times and great finishes. They finished overall with a 9th place spot (one up from last year).
I am very proud of each & everyone of them. They have a lot of heart and a lot of spunk.
It has been a great season. I will miss them over the next few months and I will miss my two seniors greatly next season but I have to admit I will be glad to have some extra time with my hubby and Payton.
Until next season - Go Maroons!

Splash Zone Take Two

It's HERE!

MY CAMERA!!!
Yippy. I could not be more excited. It came later in the day so I didn't have it most of my day...not a lot of time to play. I have played around with it a little bit tonight but my best subject is tucked in tight to bed so my real testing will have to wait for another day. From what I can tell thus far...I am going to like it. I just have to learn how to use it. :)

Leaf Piles + Warm Weather = Pictures

I am happy to say that in about a week I will no longer have to resort to taking P outside to get any sort of picture of her. I have a new camera coming my way! Yippy!! I did my research and ended up with a Panasonic Lumix F35. I hope it doesn't disappoint. Only time will tell.
For now we are outside picture kind of people so when today was in the 70's it of course was the perfect time to get some shots of P. (My hope is with my new camera I will actually get pictures where she is looking at the camera...the one I have now is kinda slow)

P loves to be outside. She stands at the door at times, points & whines. I love that she is an outdoorsy kinda girl but concerns me a little for winter because this girl, doesn't like the cold that much. But for her, anything! :)

She loves this swing. Every time we go outside she runs over to it and puts her arms up, usually with a look over her shoulder to be sure someone is coming to give her a boost.

These were taken yesterday morning before Bryan blew all the leaves out of our backyard. She didn't really know what to make of them. Definitely didn't want to sit down in them...I can tell you that much. :)

Bryan's mom picked up this adorable long coat with matching hat the other day...the hat is not pictured.

Payton & Daddy chillin' at the barn.

OK Green Conference Runners-up!

I am SO proud to be a coach of the Holland Christian Girl Swim Team! Today my girls swam out of their minds to pull off 2nd place in the OK Green Conference meet behind Zeeland!!! I think I got just as much of a workout by cheering then the girls did by swimming. It was an absolutely great meet and like I said, I could not be more proud of each and every one of those girls. They swam with more heart then Katie and I could ever have asked of them. Please check your local paper for the full report but man...all alum should be SO proud!!!
Needless to say with such as great outcome...Katie (the head coach) & I got thrown in the pool after the meet..but we were more then glad to do so. I will add pictures when I get them for sure!

Welcome to the world Adalyn & Emma

Dave & Abi welcomed their daughters into the world today!
Adalyn Jean - 1 lb 15.7 oz & 14 inches long
Emma Gail - 1 lb 14.7 oz & 13 inches long (Almost 2 lb each!!)
They are little but feisty Abi says. All is well so far. They say the first 48 hrs is a 'honeymoon' phase and they will know more how they are doing in a few days.
Please keep these tiny little girls in your prayers.
Abi' blog is still on my blog list so check it for updates.

Congratulations Dave & Abi! You are going to be wonderful parents.

Cleaning House

I received this from my mom today via e-mail. It was just want I needed today so I thought I would share it with everyone...just in case it is just what you need to hear too.

Cleaning House in 2009
Last Week I threw out worrying, it was getting old and in the way.

It kept me from being me; I couldn't do things God's way.

I threw out a book on MY PAST
(Didn't have time to read it anyway).

Replaced it with NEW GOALS, started reading it today.

I threw out hate and bad memories,
(Remember how I treasured them so)?

Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too, threw out the one from long ago.

Brought in some new books too, called I CAN, I WILL, and I MUST.

Threw out I might, I think and I ought.
WOW, you should've seen the dust.

I ran across an OLD FRIEND, I hadn't talked to in a while.
His name is GOD the Father, and I really like His style.
He helped me to do some cleaning and added some things Himself.

Like PRAYER, HOPE, FAITH and LOVE,
Yes... I placed them right on the shelf..

I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door.

I FOUND IT- it's called PEACE... Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I've got my house looking nice..

Looks good around the place.

For things like Worry and Trouble there just isn't any space.

It's good to do a little house cleaning,
Get rid of the things on the shelf.

It sure makes things brighter; maybe you should TRY IT YOURSELF.
BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!!
May the Lord open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that
You will not have room enough to receive it all.

May the Lord bless you exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ever hope for.
Keep the Faith .

Little Lady Bug

Cutest Lady Bug ever?!
Yup...I think so. :)

Noah - Skate Boarder, Payton - Lady Bug, Ava - Pink Poodle, Hannah - Bat Woman