July 2014

If June was Crazy, I don't even know how to describe July. It was wonderful, horrible, amazing, exhausting...all at the same time. We were not homeless: as the saying goes, "Home is where the heart is" and we were blessed to have the entire month together as a family of 5 but also with many of our close and extended relatives. We enjoyed lots of visits with cousins and aunts and uncles on both sides of our families. We especially savored a week when Mike and Rach, Gideon and Anneke visited from Oregon and another two weeks that we got to spend with Mom and Dad Bierma in Colorado. So while our hearts always had a home, our heads slept on many different pillows over the course of July. We also said more good-byes and made our final departure from Michigan. The roller coaster of emotions during those weeks left me feeling whip-lashed by the time August rolled around.

An informal snapshot of the Schippers tribe together in Holland

Great Gram and Herb with 8 of their great grand-kids

We loved swimming in a neigbor's pool and also at the beach in Holland as much as we could!

Peter really found is comfort level in the water this year

Cousins are the best! A special bond happens with young cousins and I miss seeing these guys playing together!

A fun day a Michigan's Adventure - first rollercoaster ride for Cora. She did them all! What a brave girl! Peter even tried the ones he was big enough to ride and loved it, too.

On a wilderness hike by the cabin in Colorado. How fun that all 3 could do a lot more walking than last year!

Our attempt at a family-self-portrait in the woods

Picnic lunch in Ouray. We love Ouray! The views, the pool, the climate. It's just lovely.

Grandma Bierma and Addie on "Grandpa's" boat at Ridgeway. No bears this year! But fun times fishing and boating and being together.

We hiked to the "Hole in the Rock" with Grandma and Grandpa Bierma and snapped this fun picture together while we rested.

I'm thankful for all the wonderful memories we made during the month of July! And glad we have some pictures to help us remember the special moments!