Hi friends.
Yup, it has been awhile, but we've been busy. We enjoyed Branson with Gary's folks, sister, nephew and niece this week. It was so much fun! For the first time, we went to see a show with the kids---Amazing Pets! Da-da-da!!! They enjoyed it so much, we went to another show---The Russian Circus! Da-da-da!!! They just adore their Grandpa Larry and Grandma Karen. We are so thankful this year especially that Grandpa Larry is walking on this earth. We almost lost him right before we went to China to get Simon. Thanks Lord for letting us keep him for awhile longer.
Now, I'm sitting in a hotel room in Rockford, IL. Gary is at a Sinissippi Park socializing with his high school classmates and I'm on nap patrol. I love watching my kids sleep. They needed it. :)
God touched my heart many times this past week, but I wanted to share two particular moments that meant to much to this mama, ones that made me cry.
1. Yesterday, I was sitting at the kitchen table of my best friend Karen (she is in St. Louis--a great place for a pit stop) and we were eating lunch. Simon was next to me and when I turned to look at him, he reached his hand up and touched my face. I leaned in and he said to me, "I love you." He has said it before, but never without prompting, never before on his own without my doing it first. Yes Simon, I love you too and I bless God that you love me.
2. This morning in the hotel room, Garrison opens the drawer by the bed and guess what is inside? A Bible! He announces to me that he needs to read the Bible. I'm all for that. He sits in the chair and looks for awhile. I'm putting on my swimsuit (always a great experience eh?!?) and he begins to "read". He thanks God for many things, all from his little heart. He is very serious and not at all showing off for his siblings or for us. While Simon and Noel ran around the room, Gary and I paused to hear the heart of our son. . . oh no, I'm teary again. Gary and I embraced afterwards and celebrated how God is living in Garrison's heart. Nothing means more to me as a mom.
Nothing.
We travel home tomorrow. It'll be our shortest drive (six hours?) of the week. Hopefully by tomorrow night we'll conclude our prayer in our driveway, saying "Amen" to the one we began in the same place just six days ago. So much has happened and God has been so good. Yeah!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Breakfast discussion
This morning, Garrison, Simon, and I had a discussion. It went something like this.
mom, mom, excuse me mom
yes
i have bones.
yup, you sure do.
do you have bones?
yes.
a lion has bones.
yes
and a tiger
yes
and a tractor.
nope, a tractor does not have bones.
a rock has bones.
nope, a rock doesn't have bones either.
gramps has bones?
yes, you got it.
noel has bones?
yes.
and a mouse?
yes.
excuse me, a table has bones?
no, a table does not.
a worm has bones?
no, i don't think so. a worm is all squiggly. i don't think there are bones in a worm.
mom, i know, daddy has bones.
yes, you are right.
add another ten minutes. i loved it.
mom, mom, excuse me mom
yes
i have bones.
yup, you sure do.
do you have bones?
yes.
a lion has bones.
yes
and a tiger
yes
and a tractor.
nope, a tractor does not have bones.
a rock has bones.
nope, a rock doesn't have bones either.
gramps has bones?
yes, you got it.
noel has bones?
yes.
and a mouse?
yes.
excuse me, a table has bones?
no, a table does not.
a worm has bones?
no, i don't think so. a worm is all squiggly. i don't think there are bones in a worm.
mom, i know, daddy has bones.
yes, you are right.
add another ten minutes. i loved it.
Five years ago
Five years ago I stood before God, my family, and my friends and pledged my love to Gary Alan Sprick. He did the same. He also surprised me and washed my feet during our ceremony. He wanted to show me and everyone there how much he loved me, how he was going to try to be like Christ to me, and how he would take care of every part of me, even my stinky feet. :)
Five years ago my father-in-law announced to the congregation that we were both virgins. He wanted my students in the back to know that it can be done. He wanted them to know that saving yourself and giving yourself to God's best for you is such an honor. He was very proud of us.
Five years ago I had one of the best days of my life. I enjoyed every minute and made the most of every minute. I laughed and cried. Best of all, we worshipped our Lord. I still love our ceremony. We spent more time planning that than on any other event of the day. God was glorified that day and I pray He continues to be glorified in the way we keep our marriage.
Five years ago today I took a hayride. There were those who scoffed at us. . . a hayride? Why wouldn't you get a cool car, a limo. . . something without hay! It was fun. We celebrated, our wedding party which was all of our families and a couple of friends, but laughing, singing, and playing kazoos. It was a riot! We went to a pig roast.
Five years ago today I never would have dreamed about all the events that have happened since. Three kids, one miscarriage (possibly two), one adoption, job changes, finding a wonderful church, losing Gary's grandpa. . . .it is so very cool. The best part--God has been there every step leading us.
I'm going to a wedding tonight. I think it is fitting. As they say their vows, I plan to pledge again before the Lord to try and honor Gary as He wants me to. To be the best wife I can. To continue to grow and change in a way that honors Him. Who knows what the next five years will bring?
Five years ago my father-in-law announced to the congregation that we were both virgins. He wanted my students in the back to know that it can be done. He wanted them to know that saving yourself and giving yourself to God's best for you is such an honor. He was very proud of us.
Five years ago I had one of the best days of my life. I enjoyed every minute and made the most of every minute. I laughed and cried. Best of all, we worshipped our Lord. I still love our ceremony. We spent more time planning that than on any other event of the day. God was glorified that day and I pray He continues to be glorified in the way we keep our marriage.
Five years ago today I took a hayride. There were those who scoffed at us. . . a hayride? Why wouldn't you get a cool car, a limo. . . something without hay! It was fun. We celebrated, our wedding party which was all of our families and a couple of friends, but laughing, singing, and playing kazoos. It was a riot! We went to a pig roast.
Five years ago today I never would have dreamed about all the events that have happened since. Three kids, one miscarriage (possibly two), one adoption, job changes, finding a wonderful church, losing Gary's grandpa. . . .it is so very cool. The best part--God has been there every step leading us.
I'm going to a wedding tonight. I think it is fitting. As they say their vows, I plan to pledge again before the Lord to try and honor Gary as He wants me to. To be the best wife I can. To continue to grow and change in a way that honors Him. Who knows what the next five years will bring?
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
It's a day.
We are at a hotel in Romeoville, IL. Gary is here for work, and I'm here with the kids for some new adventures. Plan B happened today.
Plan A for today: wake up, breakfast in room, go to the zoo, naps on the way home, swim, dinner with friends, bedtime.
Plan B: wake up with Garrison crawling in our bed after he woke Noel up, making four trips to the breakfast room for everything we need, going outside to the van and realizing that it is cold. I didn't bring sweatshirts. Drive to Meijer. NO SWEATSHIRTS! Drive to the zoo. It begins to rain on the way. I ask the Lord to stop the rain when we get there and hold it off so that we can enjoy the zoo. We've been talking about it for so long! Garrison and Noel fall asleep. (wonder if it had anything to do with that early morning wake-up?) Still raining at the zoo. Turn around before paying $8.00 parking. Go back to the hotel. Picnic on the floor. Swimming. Nap. Pouring rain and very cold, so off to Kohl's for sweatshirts. NO SWEATSHIRTS! We get so wet going in and coming out. Target is next door: let's try it. Wet again. . I find one sweatshirt for me. . . sixteen dollars? I put it on and begin to warm up. My shivering kids are in the cart. NO SWEATSHIRTS for Noel. I find one sweatshirt for the boys. . . one long sleeve shirt actually. Blue for Simon, green for Garrison. I really don't like them all that much. I put them on. Fifteen dollars? I do not want to pay fifteen dollars for a child's sweatshirt! The boys are happy. We look for a hat for me. I can't even explain my hairdo. No hats. We have to go or we'll be late for dinner. The cashier scans our clothes while we are wearing them. I'll just hug Noel all night long to keep her warm. I reach for my wallet: gone. . . not gone. . . in my backpack where I put it for the zoo. They won't take a check without i.d. Everybody, off with the sweatshirts! We head out into the rain. White Fence Farm with friends for supper. It was lovely. I laugh and laugh. I'm warm again, Gary is in the hotel room with me, and I didn't spend a fortune on sweatshirts. Plus, as I'm praying before bed with the kids. . . I'm glad God sent the rain before we entered the zoo. He is so cool like that.
Home tomorrow. I like that too.
Plan A for today: wake up, breakfast in room, go to the zoo, naps on the way home, swim, dinner with friends, bedtime.
Plan B: wake up with Garrison crawling in our bed after he woke Noel up, making four trips to the breakfast room for everything we need, going outside to the van and realizing that it is cold. I didn't bring sweatshirts. Drive to Meijer. NO SWEATSHIRTS! Drive to the zoo. It begins to rain on the way. I ask the Lord to stop the rain when we get there and hold it off so that we can enjoy the zoo. We've been talking about it for so long! Garrison and Noel fall asleep. (wonder if it had anything to do with that early morning wake-up?) Still raining at the zoo. Turn around before paying $8.00 parking. Go back to the hotel. Picnic on the floor. Swimming. Nap. Pouring rain and very cold, so off to Kohl's for sweatshirts. NO SWEATSHIRTS! We get so wet going in and coming out. Target is next door: let's try it. Wet again. . I find one sweatshirt for me. . . sixteen dollars? I put it on and begin to warm up. My shivering kids are in the cart. NO SWEATSHIRTS for Noel. I find one sweatshirt for the boys. . . one long sleeve shirt actually. Blue for Simon, green for Garrison. I really don't like them all that much. I put them on. Fifteen dollars? I do not want to pay fifteen dollars for a child's sweatshirt! The boys are happy. We look for a hat for me. I can't even explain my hairdo. No hats. We have to go or we'll be late for dinner. The cashier scans our clothes while we are wearing them. I'll just hug Noel all night long to keep her warm. I reach for my wallet: gone. . . not gone. . . in my backpack where I put it for the zoo. They won't take a check without i.d. Everybody, off with the sweatshirts! We head out into the rain. White Fence Farm with friends for supper. It was lovely. I laugh and laugh. I'm warm again, Gary is in the hotel room with me, and I didn't spend a fortune on sweatshirts. Plus, as I'm praying before bed with the kids. . . I'm glad God sent the rain before we entered the zoo. He is so cool like that.
Home tomorrow. I like that too.
Pictures!
The whole Koeman Clan at Simon's baptism.
Garrison loves his Maestra! (teacher)
Garrison's first trip to the dentist.
Simon loves his Grandpa Larry! I do too. He buys us ice cream.
Simon wasn't as sure about the whole dentist thing.
Three tired Spricks after the Memorial Day Parade!
I'm in love with this girl!
While daddy worked in Chicago, we played in the pool at the hotel!Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sprick Fights
Fights.
I'm sure that they don't happen in your household between your kids, but lately, there have been many fights in ours. Perhaps "fights" isn't the correct term. I'm not exactly sure what to call them, other than they amuse me to a certain extent and then DRIVE ME CRAZY! I'll give you a couple of examples.
Garrison is eating Cheerios this morning and thinks he has found one that looks like a triangle. He announces: Look Simon, it's a triangle. "No, it's a circle." proclaims Simon from across the table. "Simon (with a whine!), it's a triangle." "It's a circle." "Triangle" "Circle" "Yes it is Simon." "No, it isn't" "Yes" "No" "Yes" "No: and on and on.
We are driving down the road and Noel sees a digger. She announces, "I see a digger. Simon, I see a digger." "Noel, it is a big digger." "It's a digger." "It's a big digger." You see how this is going to go?
This happens all the time, every single day. I've stopped five of these today and it is 2:10.
Our social worker says that it is great that they fight together. It means they are family. Yes we are, no argument about that. :)
I'm sure that they don't happen in your household between your kids, but lately, there have been many fights in ours. Perhaps "fights" isn't the correct term. I'm not exactly sure what to call them, other than they amuse me to a certain extent and then DRIVE ME CRAZY! I'll give you a couple of examples.
Garrison is eating Cheerios this morning and thinks he has found one that looks like a triangle. He announces: Look Simon, it's a triangle. "No, it's a circle." proclaims Simon from across the table. "Simon (with a whine!), it's a triangle." "It's a circle." "Triangle" "Circle" "Yes it is Simon." "No, it isn't" "Yes" "No" "Yes" "No: and on and on.
We are driving down the road and Noel sees a digger. She announces, "I see a digger. Simon, I see a digger." "Noel, it is a big digger." "It's a digger." "It's a big digger." You see how this is going to go?
This happens all the time, every single day. I've stopped five of these today and it is 2:10.
Our social worker says that it is great that they fight together. It means they are family. Yes we are, no argument about that. :)
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