Grandma Sylvia

I love the church that we attend.  Holland Heights Christian Reformed Church has been the hand of God in our lives on so many occasions.  We pray that God is using us there as well.

In my pre-children years, if you'd have asked me about what I wanted in a church one of the things would have been extended family.  I grew up with both sets of grandparents at church.  I would wave to them as we marched down the aisle to our assigned (not really--we just sat in the same place every week) seat.  "Five from the front please. . . just before the clock."  These directions were needed if there was a new usher.  Most of the ushers knew exactly where the Koeman family was going to sit.  As a mama I loved the idea that my kids would see grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins at church.  So it does make me a little sad that no one from our family attends church with us.  I accepted that I would never see my kids scooting around the sanctuary during greeting time to say hello to grandparents or beg to sit with cousins.  It's o.k.

Here is the deal. . . and I've known it for awhile.  I have tons of family at church.  Tons.  Though there isn't a soul through blood, I have lots of brothers and sisters in Christ.  I realized it in a big way this morning.

We always sit in the second to the front row.  We move if someone different is in our seat, if we don't have kids with us, if we are at the evening service. . . but mostly we are front and center.  Our kids do better which means that we as a family do better.  Grandma Sylvia sits behind us.  Always.  She is wonderfully young (92) and the sweetest thing ever.  I greet her.  I take home the cookies she makes for our family.  I love her.  There is someone else in my family though who is much closer to Grandma Sylvia.  Unbeknownst to me, Noel has been loving on Grandma Sylvia since we moved to the front.  I didn't know this until a few months ago when Sylvia told me how much she appreciates Noel's hugs during greeting time every week.  I beamed with pride.  They have a special bond.

Today we sat down and I overheard Sylvia tell the usher that her family wasn't going to be sitting with her today.  It was after greeting time and during the singing that Noel asked me if she could sit with Grandma Sylvia.  I said "no".  (I'm so sorry!  It was my gut reaction to being a single parent in church today!)  I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to hear Sylvia ask me if it was o.k. if Noel sat with her.  I knew in that instant that it was o.k.  I sent Noel back a row and got a little teary as my daughter sat with another member of her family during church.  Sylvia needed some family with her and Noel fit that description.

Yeah.  Holland Heights Church is full of my family.  "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God"

The last picture is really funny!

Happy Sunday Afternoon

I don't know about you, but I love sleeping on Sunday afternoons--especially when it is raining.  Love love love.

I didn't do that today.

I'm packing.

To go camping.

Don't tell anyone.  I wouldn't want anyone to rob our house of our old furniture.

I wanted to let you know though so you don't abandon me when I don't post for a week.  I'm not one to write in advance and set it to post--I don't know how to do that.

In the meantime, here are some awesome photos from the last week.  Enjoy!

Simon built this and wanted a quick photo shoot.  It is supposed to look like it crashed.  I love this picture  because it took him hours to perfect this ship and then he had this whole scenario in his mind.  So awesome.

Noel couldn't wait to go in the "dumpster".  I kept correcting her. . and then stopped.  It was funny to hear her tell everyone that she was in line to "go in the dumpster."

Beets.  Beautiful beautiful beets.  Sadly I failed on the cooking.  UGH!

Penny.
When she was supposed to be sleeping.
Garrison hid his suckers.
Her dad found her.
Oh. . . this is not good.

Have a fantastic week.  We know we will.

Oh I'm different

We've had a different sort of week here at Sprick Nation.  I used to balk at the term "Sprick Nation".  My brother Kevin gave it to us. . . but over time I've embraced it.  It is us.  Last spring we sat down with every kid and asked them what they might be interested in doing for a special summer activity.  One of the things that both Garrison and Noel chose was Kids Rock Camp.  It is a day camp held at Zeeland Christian, though not affiliated with the school.  They have been having a blast.  They are tired.  Way tired.  Super tired.

Simon has been attending Star Wars Science Camp at Hope College this week.  He is doing well, although he is a bit disappointed.  There has been less Star Wars and more science than what he thought.  There have been some high points though.  He got a light saber (AMAZING--and he gets to take it home on Friday).  If you are a seven year old Star Wars geek--this is super cool.  He also made some sweet paper airplanes.  They studied how things fly.

While I was waiting in line to pick him up (we have to show a special card for them to release our child) I saw a mama greet her child.  The conversation went something like this.

Mom I got to touch a snake today.

I hope it was dead.

Nope, it was a boa.

Seriously?  Don't touch live snakes.  How does that fit with Star Wars?  I think your teachers went off topic today.

My mind ran as they walked off.  My first thought was "That is so awesome that my kid got to touch a snake.  He loves touching snakes!  Why does this mama not want her kids to touch live snakes?  Poor kid."  Simon emerged and was thrilled that he was able to touch lizards, frogs, a chinchilla and a python.  Plus he had Jedi training and "had to do moves".  Today was his best day.

I fought against judging the other mama and instead turned my thoughts toward my joy in that there are different mamas out there.  I'm glad there are mamas who work outside the home.  They make my life better by what they do and they are great examples to my kids.  I'm thankful that there are mamas who enjoy triathlons because that sounds awful to me!  My kids need to see that people do that and like doing it.  I don't.  Nope. I want them to know it is wonderful if they like it.  I'm thankful there are mamas who are concerned about keeping kids on track in Star Wars Science camp.  :)

For today my kid got to touch a snake.  I'm especially thankful because he saw one in our yard yesterday and wasn't able to catch it.  Go for it Simon.  Catch snakes.  Eat crayfish.  Do Lego's for 2 hours.  I love being your mama and I'm thankful for the mamas who are different than me.

Conversations I didn't think I'd have.

"Mom, it is o.k. for girl kids to put their fingers into girl mom's armpits?"
"No.  That is not o.k."
"But we are both girls."
"That is true.  Why do you want to do that?"
"I just wanted to see how deep it was."
"Thanks for asking first.  You are growing up and I'm so proud of you for asking before just trying it."
"So, can I do it now?"
"No."

Breakthrough

We just had a breakthrough.  Hard, but good.

What started as a little scuffle between two children became a big deal.  Have you been there?  Little things get bigger and it is easy to miss the point?  I helped by getting mad.  That doesn't add clarity, but instead it generates fear.  I'm learning.  Lying does that to me.  When children lie to me I blow a gasket.

I have one Little who lies more than the others.  This Little is very good at deflecting wrong, at reflecting what others have done wrong because they are way worse.  Through all of the "figuring it out" this time, a phrase was uttered and I got it.  I had talked too much, but finally there was a breakthrough.  "I don't want to apologize to her.  I don't like to be wrong."  Aha.  This is the root.  It was stated and it is truth.

Now we have something to work with.  Now we can strip away all of the baloney and pettiness and being mean and extra words.  Now I can sit and talk about God and how I sin every single day.  I can talk about how wonderful forgiveness is.  I can say that we can't move on without admitting that we are wrong.  I can say all of that.  I can hug and talk quietly.  I can remind both of us how much Christ loves us, but in order to accept the forgiveness He offers we have to admit that we are wrong and NEED His forgiveness. Then I can wait until Little comes out of the room to really apologize.

Then I can reflect and praise God for using the Holy Spirit.  I can pray and ask for help in identifying this again in the future.  I can ask for guidance about how to teach this concept of admitting wrong and not deflecting.  How can I create a safe environment to admit wrong while still having consequences?  How can I teach these matters of the heart?

Then I can get punched in the gut by the Holy Spirit because I see that adults are really good at doing this.  We justify sin all the time because "she was way worse" and "it was only in this situation" and "it didn't really hurt anyone" and "they deserved it".  Sometimes I am mean.  I don't like to admit when I am wrong either.  Ugh!  So much growing to do!  Thankfully, my God loves me and isn't done working with me.  In my devotions this morning from Daniel 9:20 Daniel is praying to God and confessing his sin.  I do not think about Daniel as needing to confess sin!  If he did it, then I certainly need to be doing it more.  Holy Spirit, help me to see more of my sin.  Point it out so that I can confess it to God the Father and be forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ!

Platte River Camping

We went camping.  It was wonderful.  Wonderful.  It is wonderful for so many reasons.  Here is a taste of our week-end.  16 adults.  25 kids.  9 tents.  3 nights.  8 meals.  4 campfires.  Endless memories.

Garrison found some poles in the dumpster (shocker!) and made his own tent.

Don't go any farther!

In an effort to not get her clothes wet, Noel just went down to her underwear.

Simon caught a crayfish, so we cooked it up and he ate it!  Notice how he kept his bicycle helmet on.  Funny kid.  Awesome kid.

Getting supper ready.

She fell asleep before supper.  Then she ate supper and asked to go to bed.  She slept until 7:30 the next morning.

Happy with his smore.

A common sight.  See the frog in the bottom?

I think Simon liked it.

A close up: two cookies, cookies-n-cream candy bar, and a giant marshmallow.

I think this was a bite she didn't like.

Ready for our hike.

Beautiful!

Simon keeping the bugs off.

The ducks and their head gear.

The awesome beach!  Platte River meets Lake Michigan.  We can see Sleeping Bear Dunes and South Manitou Island.

Ever since camping at Platte River last year, Penny has thanked God every night for "the beach".  Every.  Night.  She was thrilled to finally go back to the beach that began her love affair.

Our group on the beach.

Garrison loved floating down the river.  I did too.

Attempting to set up for the group shot.

All the kids minus one.  Who would have thought 17 years ago that there would be 25 kids?  I chose this one from the 15 that I have because Simon and his friend Luke are debating about who is taller.  Simon is not, yet he insisted that he was and would move his hand higher when he measured.  Oh honey--there are very few times when you will be taller than your peers!  

Baked bananas!  So good.

Some sort of baseball game thing-a-ma-bob.

Mr. Dave always ends camping with the poopy in the desert story.  The kids love it.

I love this picture.  Love it.  Love.  Eager to put Michael in the mix.

Oh my boys

This spring we sat our three oldest down. (We really did.  It is hard to communicate when they are on the move.)  I had made a list of all the possible things to do during the summer and Gary and I wanted to get a gauge on what was the most important of the camps etc. that they could participate in.  We would be camping and they would be taking swimming lessons.  Those were a given.  What else?

Both boys chose soccer.  This is a decision that I was not unhappy with at all.  Soccer is sweet!  Moving, working with a team, can practice by yourself, with another person, or with lots of others. . . good stuff.  I signed them up and off they went for five mornings.  I greeted them on their last day and collected their "evaluations" that they had in hand.  It was later that night that I actually read it and it made me laugh.  So.  Much.  I still laugh when I'm talking about it.

Two boys.  Two Sprick boys.  Two very different at soccer Sprick boys.

Simon far excels at soccer over Garrison.  I'm thankful because with Garrison being so much bigger, he often can do more just because of his size (i.e. roller coasters at Silver Dollar City. . . throwing farther--he weighs 40 pounds more. . . stronger swimming etc.)  Simon's comments from his coach included "you have a great touch on the ball and a great ability to pass!"  "Continue to work on getting good touches by taking the ball with you wherever you go!"  He does have a good touch on the soccer ball.  The boy is good and he is fast.  He is the best runner in our family.  Coach Christian could see it too.  Good job my son!

Garrison--well Garrison's comments were different.  There was not one comment about Garrison's passing or ball handling.  Instead I read this "You have lots of energy which is a great thing for soccer!"  "Continue to learn how to use the energy in a positive manner."  There was also this "A single player with a good energy level can help improve practices and game for all the other teammates."  I'm thinking that Garrison signed up for cheer leading camp and not soccer camp.  :)  He is a bit of a clodhopper on the field, but he doesn't stop smiling and is quick to tell someone good job.  The coach also made a comment about keeping his ball by him.  My guess is that Garrison often lost his ball.  (Shaking head while smiling.)

I'm proud of them both.  Proud that they went to camp and worked hard and can hang with kids their own age on the playground.  Proud that they are my sons.  Aren't they so handsome. . . and grown up?!?