Thankful

Alright, so I may be the world’s most inconsistent blogger.  SORRY!  Would it help if I told you I have over a dozen drafts just sitting there.  So it’s not for a lack of trying, it’s more, “is this post worthy” whatever that means. 

There has been one consistent think with my drafts…Thankfulness. 

NO. This year was anything but easy. YES. Because of the challenges this year posed, I have a lot to be thankful for.

Now how do you show how thankful you are: I have considered blogging a list of things I am thankful for, writing a letter to each person I am thankful for, making each person something personal or special, and some other ideas.  I finally decided to pray.  Pray for each and every person I am thankful for each and every day.  Now, I can stick with that, and I have (Go me).

It seems scary to say, “I am thankful for Michael’s diagnosis”, but honestly it has allowed us to see life through different eyes.  Never EVER would I say that I didn’t appreciate my marriage, children, family, or friends. Yet I just love the way I have slowed life down and can sit and just reflect on how lovely my life really is.  I just can’t say enough about my husband and children.  Sure they may drive me crazy now and again…like leaving the bathroom door open (josh), but geesh, I would be crazy if they didn’t. 

But enough about my family, everyone already knows how in love I am with my three boys.  This post is to finally say, incase you didn’t already know, just how thankful I am to each and everyone of my friends (you know who you are :) ).

Thank you so much for your unending support throughout this year. All the walks, coffee dates, chick flick nights, family dinners, and watching the Bachelorette evenings.  I can’t say enough how much comfort, and love you have shown me.  It’s been tremendious in my walk with the Lord, and filling my heart with grace, joy and thankfulness.

I just laugh thinking back to some of the fun that filled 2010, but as much as I enjoyed 2010, I think that 2011 is going to be something incredible…maybe even mostly doctor free.

 

 

Happy Anniversary

Today 6 years ago I married the love of my life, my best friend, my soul mate, and the only person that laughs at my jokes :).

Here are a few things that I love about my husband, Michael Glen:

1. He loves God
2. He has so much love and respect for his parents.
3. He never lets a day go by without letting me know how much he loves and appreciates me. ( I know, I know, what can I say…I’m sooo loved.  It’s okay, you can be jealous, but find your own man :))
4. Josh and Carter are everything to him. 
5. I love how much Josh and Carter adore their dad! 
6. He truly loves being a Christian school teacher, and even after 9 years of teaching he still has an incredible love and passion for the job and the kids.
7. He has a heart of gold.
8. He never talks negatively about anyone…never!
9. He is a great listener… or maybe I’m just a great talker (hmm, I might have to think about that one…kidding :))
10. I know that no matter what happens to me, no matter what  crazy thing I say or do, he will always support and love me.
11. He chose the best job ever, really…I think the rest of us are just jealous that we didn’t think of it first. 

Many of our friends know how much I adore my husband, and words can hardly describe how much loves and adores so many people he is surrounded by.  I know that I am truly blessed to have such an amazing life partner and can’t wait for what the rest of our lives together hold.  Love you, Babe!  Thank you so much for loving me and loving the way I drive you crazy!!

 

I’m still here…

trying to figure out where to start since so much has happened since I last updated. 

Hmm, I’m thinking that pictures will tell the tale.  Sooo, here it goes…

Starting with two sleeping cuties on our way back from the beach in Holland

Cascade/Ada 4th of July Parade

Ice Cream with Abe, Anna,  & Simon

 

Simon Triezenberg enjoying his Superman Ice Cream.  Isn’t he such a cutie?

Carter loves sand boxes

Meijer Gardens

Josh and Nathan Super Heroes

Sweet Ava!  They just don’t get any cutier!

 

Saying Goodbye is just so hard! 

It always amazes me how hard it is to leave our Michigan friends!  We love and miss you all! 

and after that….

Oceanside with Mike’s brother, Randy and family

Playing Play-doh with friends

Okay, I better get off the computer…Mike’s already finished his bowl of ice cream. 

Toodles :)

Vege-sort of-tarian

 

Mike and I have made a huge change in our diets lately, and we are both loving it.  It seems that about a dozen doctors visits in one months’ time can give you a little of a kick in the behind to start a  healthier lifestyle.  Crazy, but I wouldn’t have thought we had an unhealthy lifestyle, nor did the doctor.   We just decided to make the change for ourselves, before a doctor or our bodies told us too. 

Mike was asked to give up dairy for two weeks; and no more happiness (for you Brian Reagan fans).  Mike is a VERY understanding and even tempered guy, but when you take dairy, really just ice cream, out of his diet, well you could say he was just a LITTLE peeved.  I’m pretty positive that the Doctor didn’t know of Mike’s nightly bowl of ice cream.  But Mike being the positive and problem solver realized that the doctor would understand if he left just ice cream in his diet.  Hmm, I wouldn’t if I was his doctor, but who am I to argue.  Luckily, dairy has been introduced back into his diet.

I really enjoyed finding dairy-free recipes, especially for a husband that loves comfort foods.  I ended up finding a lot of vegetarian recipes, or recipes that I was able to make some adjustments too, but all in all we all enjoyed the meals, and we have continued to make them.  I can’t say that we only eat vegetarian because we don’t (I’m German and Italian; meat is just part of most every meal).  But veggies by far the main ingredient in most every dinner.  LOVE IT!

Hopefully I will have the time to post a picture along with a recipe of two.

Human anatomy from a four year olds perspective

 

Our little comedian was up to his funny ways once again today.

It all happened at the end of our Costco visit today.  Josh loves to hand the Costco employee at the exit the receipt, because they usually draw him a happy face on it.  So just like expected the lady at the exit drew a happy face for him, but unlike every other time Josh looked up at me and asked, “Where’s the nose?”.  Uhhh, I’ve never really noticed if they usually make a nose or not, but he seems to remember that they do.  I turned to Josh to say, “It doesn’t need a nose!”, “Do you need a nose?”.  Smart Josh says, “Yes, my nose is for running”! HAAAA, I could not stop laughing.  Goodness, I love being put in place by a four year old.  I often forget what it must be like to see life through a four year olds eyes. 

Well, I had to find what he thought other body parts are for, so we continued the conversation on the way home.  This is what Josh informed us about:

Hands are for talking

Fingers are for poking

Legs hold our feet

Feet are for walking and running

Eyes are for sleeping

Teeth are for brushing

Bellybuttons are for tickling

So silly!! Thanks for all the laughs Josh!

Unfinished work

This last week was a wonderfully busy week.  As most of you know I started a new job, and will soon be taking on more responsibility with our church’s nursery.  I am SOO excited about these wonderful opportunities, but yet very anxious. 

I’ve never done well in stressful situations (tests, new job, meeting new people, confrontations, etc…). I get this nervous anxiety that gives a sick feeling in my stomach and the nervousness doesn’t allow me to remember anything, all brain activity freezes (this would define my schooling).  I honestly would like to avoid stressful situations as much as possible, wouldn’t we all!  But you can’t really get through life without taking a test, or meeting new people, or starting a new job.  So, with maturity (haa, who am I kidding) or age I’m hoping that I have learned to cope with stress better. Now I try to pump myself up before such situations.  Give myself a little pep talk sorta say!  Anything to avoid that nervous anxiety that I normally get!  We’ll see if it works.

Since I can’t see myself through clear eyes, I try to bounce things off of Mike for help.  So in starting the new job, I did just that.  He told me that the one thing he has noticed I have been doing, is not finishing projects or ideas that I have started or bought supplies for.  TRUE!  I honestly have quite a few projects (snuggly blanket for Carter, a painting for the boys room, Carter’s scrapbook, etc…) that I have yet to start, or have started and not completed.  I have no excuse!  But it doesn’t really help me at work, it just gives me more to do at home.  YAY!  Ironically, As I was working on this post, he asked me to sit down and watch a show with him.  So this post sat “unfinished” for a day!  Hmmm, maybe all my unfinished projects isn’t my fault!! LOL

I’m now very anxious to see if I can finish up any of my projects, and ease my nervousness for the new job. 

Bath Time

 

Just like most families we have a night-time routine.  While I do the kitchen clean up, Mike gives the boys a bath.  I’m not sure how I ended up do the kitchen clean up, especially after i just made dinner, but I do enjoy putting some music on and washing the dishes.  There’s a certain peaceful calm to it!  Now Mike on the other hand often has whining (usually Josh, but could be Mike) or tons of giggling. 

  Carter just LOVES bath time!  Mostly because he gets to do it with Josh, but I think he enjoys the water too!  I just love how babies' giggles are so contagious and just melt your heart. 

The video clip below is a case of the giggles!  Unfortunately, by the time I dried my hands and grabbed the camera I missed most of Carter’s giggles.  But I thought I would include a small clip anyway!

stay tuned…having computer issues