Day #2

Today:

1.Threw away the George Forman Fat-free-grilling-knock-out-the-fat-let-freedom-ring machine.

2. Cleaned the basement.

3. Chose 10 toys to donate.

4. Filled a garbage bag with broken toys and general trash.

Step-by-step

This is it.

I had trouble falling asleep last night. I started to think. Odd. . . I know. :)

I've been living the past four months "in the minimum". I was so tired with my pregnancy, then I got a job and discovered that I was was still so tired. My kids didn't suffer: they are a priority. Gary didn't suffer (except when I couldn't cook because I felt so awful!) because he is my number 1 priority. My house on the other hand. . . . I did just what I had to do.

Last night. . . while laying in bed. . . I decided that it was time. Time to organize my bedroom (it has become my dumping ground over the past few months). Time to go through the shelves in the laundry room. Time to go through the 13 tubs of kids clothes. Time to find a home for the bear skin rug (oh wait, there are two of them!) in Noel's closet.

It won't all get done today. It won't all get done this week. But, every day I plan to do SOMETHING, if even for fifteen minutes. Piece by piece, it will get done.

So today: I cleaned out my closet. I refolded. I made several piles to take to the donation center. I threw a bunch of stuff away. Yes Yes Yes. Then, the boys were up. So much for organizing more today.

Traditions

This morning on the radio, we talked about family traditions and asked listeners to call in with their family traditions. It was so much fun!

I did struggle a bit though. This year, our traditions might be different. For the first time in my life, I won't be celebrating Christmas in the house I grew up in, nor will I be celebrating with my dad. Oh, does my heart ache!

I know I haven't posted much about my dad. . . that is because there isn't much to say. He doesn't contact us and we won't be in contact with him until he gets help. It still baffles me that someone who claims to love his family so very much is choosing drugs rather than them. It comforts me to know that my dad, the one who raised me, who prayed for me, who disciplined me, who supported me. . . he wouldn't make that choice. No, this man isn't the dad that I know.

I continue to pray that he will get help. He is trying to do it "his way". He is trying to manipulate the system. We've been there. We've tried that. It doesn't work. Until he surrenders himself and gets help. . . we can't be with him.

I love you dad. My kids miss their Gramps. We pray that perhaps in this Christmas season you will hear the whisper of your family. . . perhaps it will sound good and you'll choose to get help. Then perhaps, we can be together again next Christmas. Then you can enjoy all of your Sprick grandkids. . . all four of them.

So this year, we'll still enjoy being together. We'll celebrate the coming of two new kids next year. We'll eat great food, open great presents, and take a great hike. We'll enjoy the hope we have in the Lord and enjoy His company. We'll pledge again to love and support each other. Things will be different this year, but perhaps Christmas will have a deeper meaning for us Koemans.

My latest job

I love my job. I've loved it every since I took it almost four and a half years ago. I'm a stay-at-home-mom. A lover of my husband, a doctor/caregiver/disciplinarian/giver-of-tons-of-hugs-and-kisses to my kids, and sometimes a cleaner of my house. I love it. I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity to do this every day. Granted, not every day goes well. Many days in fact I've had it. Can I be in time-out for the next two hours please? :) Most of the time though, you couldn't get me to trade this for anything. In fact, as I type this, Garrison just refilled my cup with some pretend hot chocolate. There is nothing like pretend hot chocolate prepared by your son. He takes such great care of his mom!

This month however, things are different. I have a paying job. I'm not ready to go back to work full time, but this has been such a great experience. I get to be the co-host. . . sidekick really. . . on the local morning Christian radio station. I get up at five every morning and head off to the studio. I've been able to do this for the past three weeks and have one more to go. Gary has been SO supportive of this! He changed his hours so that he can get up with the kids until I get home. He even set his alarm yesterday morning to record the show. . . so I have something for the kids to laugh at in 30 years. :)

Why do I love this job so much? Well, it has been a new challenge, one that lends itself to my gifts. I'm not good at it yet, but I'm getting better. Last week I only talked over the words of a song once. I love sharing tidbits of my life. I love laughing with my co-host Troy. I love talking with listeners on the phone. Secondly, I really enjoy spending a few hours with Troy every morning. He has taught me a ton about the radio, about the behind the scenes. We enjoy a good working relationship and even have so much fun together. This week I ended up on the floor because I was laughing so hard! That is great to do on the job! He has been so patient with me and I'm grateful that he called and offered me the chance of a lifetime. Finally, I'm learning so many new things! As I've left college and teaching behind, there are fewer opportunities for me to learn. I've learned new lingo, how radio works, how sales works, why we play certain things at certain times. . .it has been fascinating. All this plus meeting new co-workers, having intelligent adult conversations for a couple of hours every day, not making breakfast every day, having more than kids stories to share at the dinner table, bringing home a little income around Christmas, plus so much more. All in all, I love it!

I'm looking forward to next week. I love going in every day. I'm also looking forward to getting up with my kids again every day the week after that. Perhaps God will give me the opportunity to do this again sometime. I'd certainly be open to it. . . but at this point: my full-time job is here at our house. I've got four kids to take care of and I hear the fourth one my become a little more demanding come May. :)

A New Christmas

Christmas is new for us this year. The kids are getting the whole "present" thing. It has been fun, interesting, and discouraging at times to watch. They are so excited to see gifts under the tree. They don't have a clue as to getting stuff or asking for stuff. Yesterday, Garrison prayed to God for "Santa to come and bring us presents." We had a great conversation after that prayer. Everything is new. . .and I get to enjoy it. I loved wrapping presents tonight knowing that they will see them first thing in the morning. . . their first Christmas gifts from us. We've never done this before.

We've decided to get each one a toy, a piece of clothing, and a couple of games to share. Let's see if they can wait until Christmas Eve to open everything. :)

Oh. . .one more thing. . . if you get a chance to talk to Gary. . . PLEASE tell him not to get me any big presents! He always breaks the rules. Stinker.

Grandma Sternberg

My Grandma got to see Jesus last night. He welcomed her into heaven with open arms. I'm so thrilled for her. I'm so thrilled that someday, I'll be able to see Jesus with her.

My mom was with her when she died. We had been praying for that. . . been so hoping that mom would be with her. What an honor. . . for them both. I pray that God gives me the same honor with my mom.

Here are some of my favorite memories of my grandma.

When I was very little, my grandparents lived in the old farm house. Grandma had a sweets drawer, something that my parents did not have. She also let us visit the drawer often.

She kept a container filled with Barbie things that my aunts had used. She would play Barbies with us.

She let me play both her piano and electric organ.

We would play dominoes with her and grandpa.

At the cottage, she had one of the floatie chairs and would let us sit in her lap in the water.

She had all kinds of gaudy decorations around her house that I loved looking at!

As we got older, my sister and I were invited special to her house to help her decorate her Christmas tree.

I thought she was a good cook and enjoyed watching her in the kitchen. I know now that she wasn't that great of a cook! :) Frying bacon and then making eggs and potatoes in the fat. . . well. . . I wouldn't eat that today. We (and especially Grandpa) loved it.

She and grandpa would take my sister Tricia and I to the "big mall" in Grand Rapids during Christmas. She would give us each some money and we got to go shopping with her. What a treat for us!

She kept powerhouse candy bars in the freezer in her garage. We would sneak them.

She loved us and had this way of biting her bottom lip while winking at us--especially when she was telling us a secret or teasing us. I enjoyed seeing this look several times on Tuesday night when I said good-bye to her.

There are many more. I hope that you too had a wonderful relationship with your grandparents.