Spellcheck

I'm not much of a speller.  I'm very thankful for spellcheck and use it often.  The squiggly line underneath the word spellcheck is reminding me that I need to run the spellcheck.  I'm thinking it is not a word.
I've been known to change what I'm going to write in a handwritten note (which I love to do!) because I'm not sure of the spelling of a word.  I can tell you how to spell develop.  It doesn't have an "e" on the end of it.  I discovered this my senior year in high school when Mr. Mulder made me write it one hundred times.  I am aware now.  I also didn't know how to spell "who" in third grade.  Not one friend would tell me and I had to go and ask Mrs. Pothoven.  (Her name has a red squiggly line.)  Seriously--the English (or as Noel says Anglish) language has so many crazy ways to spell things.  "Who" begins with an "hhhh" sound.

Recently, I've developed (an "e" in this one!) another reason to dislike spelling.  My children.  I love my children, but the oldest are into spelling.  That isn't true.  They are into writing and can not spell!  I do not like "Mom, how do you spell Bryce?  Mom, how do you spell from?  Mom, how do you spell I hope you are having a good day today?"  Drives me crazy.  Plus, they don't want me to write it so they can copy it.  They want me to spell it letter by letter.  I know this is good.  I know I should be happy that they have an interest in letters and in sounding things out.  I also know that I don't like standing in the kitchen slowly saying letters, repeating them over and over, and messing it up because they didn't hear me or I didn't hear them.  Suddenly  "love" is spelled lovvve.  One of the many blessings of my children learning Mandarin in school is that they can't ask me how to write anything!  I haven't a clue and can announce that with a certain amount of pride.

Get out the vacuum

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The vacuum has been out for the past three days. . . and I am thrilled.  I know--shocking!  Here is the deal: I did a great mommy thing.  I don't think I'm an amazing mom.  I see what other amazing women do--many of them my friends.  I admire them.  They have great brains that think of cool activities for their kids to do.  They love (or pretend to love) to get on the floor with their kids and "play" things.  I don't like to play things. It seems strange since I can be a bit dramatic (ahem) myself.  I don't like to play doctor or kitchen.  I do have gifts in other areas.  I get excited about things.  I love to go out and find adventures with my kids.  I love to hike with them or play games.  Each mama has their gifts.  Celebrate your gifts!

So back to my great mommy thing.  Last week there was a "play and learn" time at a local educational center.  Our county hosts one every month in Zeeland.  I was kindly invited by a friend and Penny and I enjoy getting out, getting a free book, and playing at all sorts of different stations.  It is well run and a great way for the two of us to spend an hour together without my quick doing a load of laundry or unloading the dishwasher or grabbing a pop or checking my e-mail or blogging or snacking or or or.  She is the guide (that is what the leader tells us!) and it has been fun to be together.  So on Monday I noticed that Penny spent a lot of time at the field corn tub.  Hidden in the corn were little "treasures" (this time is was farm animal figures) and the kids could find them.  Penny didn't find them.  She instead took two measuring cups and poured the corn back and forth.  She also got irritated with kids who touched her measuring cups.  Because I was "present" with her (here is the great mommy thing!) I noticed this.  Of course, I promptly forgot it when she stepped in dog poop as we walked out to the car and then got it all over the van, her car seat, and her clothes.

Monday morning my house was sighing in relief as everyone left.  We had a great Thanksgiving, but boy did we need a little clean-up time.  I suddenly remembering the pouring thing and grabbed a few containers, a spoon and a half a bag of lentils.  Fifty cents.  Fifty cents worth of lentils has bought me over six hours now of fun!  Penny loves it.  She loves to touch and pour them.  I love that she is creating and occupied and I can work around her.  I love that Noel likes it too.  I don't like it when they fight over the lentils.  Who fights over lentils?!?  Penny is pouring right now.  I may have to take out the lentils every time I want to blog. . . or shower.

Most of them are gone now as they have been vacuumed up, but they are on my grocery list for this week.

Love these ladies!

Sassy Ladies!

One of my requests for my birthday was that I go out with my mama and my sisters.  I have one sister by birth and three by marriage.  (Gary's sister DiAnne lives in Washington--hard to meet up!)  This night out happened one week after I got home from Miami.  While I was in Miami I found these amazing earrings and bought a pair for each of these ladies.  Aren't they awesome!  :)  We laughed about our crazy large ear decorations and determined that they would only come out for special occasions.  I'm thankful for these women who are good sports about wearing crazy stuff.  I'm thankful for the godly women they are and how the encourage me to walk more closely with my Father.  I'm thankful that they make me laugh.  We share, cry, love, live, and grow together.  I wouldn't trade a one!

Changed expectations

We delivered our Thanksgiving basket today.

Gary and I have been thinking about Thanksgiving since the end of October.  We wanted to do something for the "poor and oppressed" in our community.  We tried to volunteer at the big Rescue Mission dinner. . . but our kids aren't old enough.  We really wanted to do something together as a family!  My sister mentioned that they had put together a box for a family during the Thanksgiving season and had delivered it--this seemed right up our alley.  We couldn't find an organization in Holland that was doing this.  Hmmm  what to do?  Should we just buy some goods and donate them?  Wonderful yes, but we wanted our kids to see a face--build a relationship (not really) of sorts.  Relationship probably isn't the right word--perhaps put a relationship together between the real poor and us.  I'll have to think about that one.

ANYWAY, on facebook a couple of weeks back a former student posted that the non-profit that she works for was needing families to partner with a needy family and deliver a Thanksgiving meal.  What?!?  Isn't this what we had been hoping for?  Sign up we did.

We received the confirmation e-mail and were told that we would receive our family in the next couple of days.  More than a couple of days went by and we hadn't heard.  I contacted the organization and they told me to call Shawn.  After several back-and-forth with Shawn, we had our family. . . well. . . we had a woman.  It wasn't exactly the "family" (5-6) I had signed up for, but Cinida was 78, spoke only Spanish, and needed a Thanksgiving meal.  We were in.  We discussed what we would bring. . . we looked at the suggestions. . . we called her friend Zida who would translate for her.  Yes, she would be home on Wednesday morning.

The ducks and I loaded up the box and then buckled up for our "long ride" to Grand Rapids.  The trip took us about 20 minutes. . .long compared to our usual trips.  :)  Now here is the thing.  This morning I was praying and I asked God to prepare us for this. . . to give us the right heart.  See. . . I wanted something out of this but I realized that it wasn't about me.  Why was I doing this?  Why do I donate stuff?  Why do I volunteer?  Often because it makes me feel good.  God didn't ask me to give a meal because it made me feel good.  Cinida needed a meal.  We were responding and I prayed for the right heart and for the right words for both her and for my ducks.  I wanted to see what God wanted us to see.

We drove up to her house, and as we tumbled out Garrison announced that she must be "really poor because look at these steps mom".  We quietly discussed about how we would talk about that in the car and talking about it loudly might make them feel bad.  Garrison knocked and smiled his big smile as the door was cautiously opened by a shirtless male.  Garrison tried to walk in.  "Wait Garrison.  Hi.  We are here to drop off a Thanksgiving meal for Cinida."  "Oh, yeah.  Thanks."  He took the box and closed the door.  Penny had just make it up the steps.  The three older ducks looked at me and Garrison began to cry.  I ushered them back into the van and we had a chat.  "We drove such a long way and now we have to drive a long way home again."  We continued to talk as the neighbor opened his door and watched us.

I'm thankful that God had prepared my heart.

What I wasn't prepared for is what happened 15 minutes later.  We drove into Grandville and my kids saw a bunch of garbage on a sidewalk.  It was filled with fast food stuff that had spilled out all over the place.  I'm confident someone had enjoyed their meal and then emptied their car as they traveled.  "Mom!  We need to stop.  Someone left trash in God's creation.  God wants us to take care of the world and we need to pick up that trash."

I tried to talk my way out of stopping and then realized that I needed to stop.  They needed to right a wrong and I needed to let them.  We stopped and picked up the trash while I reminded myself to have them wash their hands when we got home.  God does say to take care of the world and my little ducks had heard the call.  Noel has prayed every day that "all the orphans will soon have a mom and dad" since we had Orphan Sunday at church.  I have a heart for the orphan, and I have not prayed every day.

God taught them today through me.  God taught me today through them.  God taught all of us through a box with a ham, stuffing, applesauce, soup, jell-o, potatoes, corn, dessert, and rolls.  I think that makes Him happy.  Me too.

That sneaky envy!

So.. . ms. envy just snuck up on me again.  Yup.  I thought I had conquered her in one little area of my life.  BUT, that isn't the way that spiritual warfare works right?

There is a friend. . . well we used to be good friends but because of time and distance. . . we are just facebook friends now. . . I greet her with happiness when I see her. . . you get it right?  I'd call her a friend, but we are not in regular communication.

So I realized several months ago that I really was struggling in my relationship with her.  "What is this?"  I thought to myself.  "Why am I having yucky feelings about her?  She is a wonderful person.  She is a great Christian and role model in her parenting.  There aren't faults that I see in her.  What is up Shanda?!?"  Well, I finally figured it out that I was a bit envious of her.  Envious of some of the things she was doing in her life.  Envious of some of her gifts and abilities.  Once I identified it, I took care of it!  It felt so much better to follow along in her life free from this awful feeling and to see myself in a different light--with all kinds of gifts from the Father to use in His Kingdom.  I prayed that God would use my gifts when He sees fit to use them. . . that I would be content in whatever state I'm in. . .that I would trust Him and so enjoy all the blessing that He has given to me.

Then last week it struck again.  "Why does she get to go that?  I've always wanted to do that!  Boo!"  I found myself struggling once again.  Once again I have to beat envy over the head.  I've never thought of myself as an envious/jealous person, but obviously there is an issue here.

I'm thankful that I can see it and work to stop it.  I pray for eyes to see where God wants me to change.  Do you struggle in some surprising ways?

Delicious Supper

Hi friends!

I stumbled on a great supper last night and just felt like I should share.  It was Tasty.  Easy.  Filling. and Cheap.  That meets so many of my ideal supper qualifications.  Would you like to know?  Great!  Read on.

Pancakes.  I know, I know. . . you are very aware that pancakes can be a delicious supper.  But have you made them with Jiffy Corn Mix?  I see a couple of hands in the air.  Excellent.  I've made corn muffins from the easy-and-cheap-as-pie box, but I've never looked at the side of the box.  Corncakes.  The recipe is a bit different from the main one on the back of the box--so make sure you follow it.  There is melted butter!  I broke open two of those bad boys for our supper.  I must confess that I also made regular pancakes--sometime it is easier to try out a new recipe when there is a great stand-by sitting on the table.  So, back to corn cakes.  Mix them up and then add some cinnamon. (I used a shade less than a teaspoon for my double batch--I can't say for sure because I measured in my hand. Really cool cooks do that on t.v. ya know.)  Though I know there is sugar in the mix, I added just a tablespoon (again guessing) just because cinnamon and sugar are life partners.  Ooo--I might add honey next time.  Excellent!  Then I also added blueberries.  Seriously.  Syrup on top?  Nothing wrong with this supper here.

Round out the meal with bacon and oranges. . . winner winner pancake dinner.  Gary suggested putting cherry pie filling on the top to which I countered with baked apples.  We are excited at the possibilities.

It filled me up.  It filled the kids up.  It was fun to find something that we all liked(except Noel, but in a family of six we count five likes as being excellent. . . and she was being ornery so it doesn't count).  Have you made a new discovery lately?  We are having brisket tonight for the first time.  We'll see how that goes.

Miami in pictures

So the pictures are up and I've chosen some of my favorites to share with you.  

Those are some large orange earrings!

Sunset on Key Biscayne.  Miami in the background.  Lovely first night.

Yeah for celebrating 40!

The only place where I'll order a pina colada.  They are like nothing else I've ever had anywhere else.  mmmmm

Could this avocado be any bigger?

Watch out Karen!!!  The alligator is eyeing you!  Karen. . . . Karen!

Karen and I pose with Chris: the alligator wrestler.  His shirt read "In wrestling alligators there is no tap out."

We are ready for our airboat ride.  We were sitting in the "you will get wet" seat.  We didn't believe it would be so bad.

It was so bad.

Sundowners for supper in Key Large.  This has always been a favorite place for us.  How wonderful to eat on the ocean and watch the sunset.

We so enjoyed our visit to Westminster Christian School.  This is Chuck who was the head maintenance guy while we were there.  He took care of us in many ways and we were thrilled that he still works at WCS.

This was my old classroom in the Middle School.  The window is five times larger than it was while I was teaching.

"Miss B and Miss Koeman" 15 years later.

Our old apartment H-210

We had to visit the Farm Store--how often have I wished for this in West Michigan!  It is a drive-through grocery store which carries basics---like milk!!

We enjoyed an hour of exercise with our friends Kari and Jan.

We ordered a drink on South Beach (love hearing the ocean) and were completely surprised by the size!  Who needs a 39 oz. white russian?  "Not I" said Shanda.

Time to leave.  Hampton Inn room 519 treated us well.

Love the banyan trees!  They are so beautiful and unlike anything found in Michigan.

Good-bye dear friend!  Thankfully we were able to get a great deal on sunglasses in the airport.  I'll think of you every time I wear them.

This is how I've been

And so it is snowing.

The kids are in bed, but not sleeping yet.  It'll come.  Gary is off to his Bible Study.  I've had a cup of tea and am working hard to avoid the kitchen.  I've been convicted that I haven't been practicing self-control in the area of eating.  I've been convicted from God's Word and from my jeans.  So. . . the kitchen is closed.

Friends visited this week-end and we had a ball.  Chicago folks who come once or twice a year.  Saturday night we were chatting about how I felt now that I was 40.  I shared about how my life has changed so very much every decade of my life and I feel like my 40's aren't going to be full of change.  That feels strange to me.  Antoinne smiled and offered me this encouragement.  "You are simmering."  He knows.  He'll turn 50 next year.

I love my new word and have found myself really settling into it.  I'm going to simmer.  I'm going to "cook" my kids until they are ready to come out of our house.  10 years from now I'll have a 17, 16, 15 and 12 year old.  I'm praying I don't boil over.  :)  I plan to simmer in my relationship with God.  I'll grow richer as we spend more time together.  There will be new layers that can be added to other dishes.  I'm excited to see what He'll do.  Simmering means that I'm not all hot and bothered about so many things, but I won't get too cold. I won't stop caring.  How will I change my world?  What issues will be my passion?  Continued energy.  Simmering.  I like it and think I'll own it.  It might be really good to step away from the highs and lows and just do what I need to do---and do it well.  Simmering cooks food. . . gets it done. . . makes things delicious.  I'm going to try and make my life delicious.

I played a new version of hide-n-seek with Penny this afternoon.  While she counted I hid in the living room underneath a blanket.  I love to peek out so I can see her face when she finds me.  Her eyes and mouth get very wide and pure joy comes rushing out.  It puts pure joy on my face too and we laugh together.  This time however, she was plain giddy with my hiding place and rather than "mommy turn to count", she declared she would count again and I was to hide again in the same place.  We must have done this over 10 times.  She would begin to walk backward down the hallway while "covering" her eyes.  She was making sure I wouldn't leave.  As she reached 5ish, she would sit down at the end of the hallway and finish counting.  At her "ready", she would begin to sneak towards me and tap my knee when she found me.  I'd pull down the blanket and we'd laugh and laugh together and then repeat.  Joy.  Pure joy at finding your mama when you knew she was there all along.  I silently thanked God for both my daughter and for always hiding in the same place.  I can always find Him.  I know I get so excited when I get to see Him.  I'm sure he laughs with me.  It is a memory I'll treasure and I'll love to tell her how we used to play when she is older.

Hope that you can simmer this week.

Welcome Home!

I'm back.  I was actually back Tuesday night, but yesterday was not spent blogging.  It was spent smiling a lot at the great memories that I have.  It was spent smiling at my kids.  I gave lots of smiles to my sweet and handsome husband whose eyes make me swoon.

Let's talk about Gary.  I know. . . I should be talking about my awesome 40 vacation!  I will.  I need Gary to download the pictures so I can share in great detail.  :)  What I need to chat about now is Gary.

Gary.

He never once was snarky about my going away for four days.  He didn't complain about being a single daddy.  He didn't need instructions because he is an active part of the kids' lives.  I didn't stress at all when I was gone.  He even modified our mornings a bit which is very helpful!  You know how you do something the same all the time and then someone else comes in and can see something?  Gary did that!  I walked into the airport and saw my kids all holding signs and singing in Mandarin.  He made that happen.  I came into a kitchen with clean counters.  He did that.  Every child ate and slept and functioned while I was gone.  Every child loved being with their daddy.

So while I made lots of memories and had an amazing time. . . one which I will never ever forget. . . it couldn't have happened without my Gary.  Then rather than ask for a night off last night, he joined me at Grandma Koeman's side to say "see you next time in heaven".  I took the kids to church afterwards and then arrived home to find him sleeping.  He needed it.  :)  I'm so blessed.

Oh man!

The title of this post is meant to be read out loud.  Go ahead.  If you are familiar with Dora (a children's television show) then you can say it like Swiper does when he is thrawted from his swiping.

It is 3:18 a.m.  I'm leaving for the airport in one hour.  I'm beginning my four days away with my very best friend in Miami.  I'm very excited.  That is not the reason why I'm up early.  If you notice. . . I'm up too early.  My sweet daughter woke me up over an hour ago because her blanket fell off of her and she couldn't get it back on her bed.  And she missed me.  I put the blanket back on, gave another kiss and hug, and then tried to get back to sleep.  Since it takes me an hour or more to get back to sleep after being awakened. . . I decided to "misread" the clock.  After about a half and hour I thought I may as well get up and get going.  It wasn't until I was completely showered/dressed and getting my breakfast that I looked at the clock in the kitchen.  "Oh man!"  I could have fallen back to sleep and had another hour.

I'm not sure if three hours of sleep will be fabulous tonight when Karen and I are hitting the town to "par-tay".  :)