Because 90% of life is what you make of it, (#134-150)

#134. Big trees. I mean huge, Michigan trees, and lots of them.
#135. Peter is giving in and agreeing to wear his bicycle helmet.
#136. Our Toyota with fabulous gas mileage.
#137. Kumi's (Japanese neighbor) big up to her eyes smiles.
#138. That my kids get to know the joy and sorrow of making new friends.
#139. Cora got to sit through a whole worship service and witnessed communion. She had so many questions!
#140. Friendly churches, welcoming warmth.
#141. Aldi, just across the street.
#142. Discovery of a bike path, nature trail, and a creek to be floated almost in our "backyard".
#143. Generosity of others
#144. Hope to hold on to; the patience-growing exercise of waiting for our house to be rented.
#145. Students' spouses get free access to Calvin's fieldhouse!
#146. Living in a community of believers
#147. Opportunity to enjoy long-lasting friendships here that have endured despite time and distance.
#148. So much to explore!!! Parks, trails, shopping areas...
#149. Despite the fact that so much is new, the most important things have not changed: we are still a family and still have each other even though our surroundings look different.
#150. Peace that passes all understanding.

Much to be thankful for (#120...)

#120. We made it to MI with no problems and the kids traveled very well, and so did the adults!

#121.  Friends showed us their love in a tangible way: helping to pack the moving truck and clean our house, top to bottom. (Above picture: some of the gang stopping for lunch!

#122. Tearful goodbyes to many good friends.

























#123. New neighbors that are expanding our cultural horizons (below: Korean pancake - more like an omelette and amazing!). Most of the neighbors we've met so far are from South Korea, and one family from Japan. Maybe I'll learn a third language.

#124. A clean, cozy new apartment home.

#125. AC and

#126. a dishwasher in our new place.

#127. Big windows and learning that our kids can sleep in very bright rooms.

#128. We have a large deck that is big enough to hold the kids' playhouse and picnic table.

#129. An answer to a specific prayer for friends for our kids: our apartment area is bursting with small children and we have lots of room to play outside together and get to know their families.

#130. The joys of living in the heart of a small large city (I did mean to say that): attractions like zoos are nearby and affordable.

 #131. Time with family that has been too far away for too long.
#132. Moving here just in time to go to my youngest cousin, Karen's, wedding and reconnect with many other cousins and aunts and uncles.

#133. New rivers to explore, new water to chart. (Above: Brad and our neighbor Chung Ho at the Thornapple River) 

One month and counting...

Well, with our anticipated moving date of August 2, arriving in MI on Aug. 4 we are officially one month away from moving/arriving. I would describe this time as...indescribable. June was absurdly busy, but with all very good things, and July is not looking any less busy. My guess is that August and the rest of the year are just going to keep up this pace, but I'm truly hoping that once classes start our lives will settle into a routine that gives us a chance to breath. 

June included a trip with our middle school students to the Bierma Cabin, another trip for Brad and Cora to the cabin to help Dad with some work being done there, a visit from our friends from CA, Joel and RaNelle, followed by a visit from my brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Rachel, and their kids Gideon and Anneke, followed by a reunion in Las Vegas for me with Rachel and 2 of our other friends from college, Maygann and Whitney. A few days later Brad and I were able to enjoy a couple days to ourselves for our anniversary (#9) coming up in a couple days.

So, you can see, all good and wonderful things! June was fabulous and I wish every month was so much fun...and I wish I had the energy to enjoy such a pace of life all the time. I'd definitely need to increase my coffee intake!

We have not had any offers on our house so we are planning to prepare it for renters and praying that God will bless this effort. It's a little stressful if I think about it too much. So I try not to!

We are trucking along, here. Brad leaves soon for his annual service trip with the high school students. My mom will be flying in to the spend with the week with us so the kids and I are looking forward to that time, rather than just dreading missing Brad for so long!

New Home for Gidget

We knew this day was coming. When we decided that we would be moving to MI and into seminary housing, we knew that Gidget would not be able to come with us. The family that we adopted Gidget from a few years ago had moved back into our neighborhood this fall. We ran into them last fall while taking Gidget for a walk and they were so ecstatic to see her again. So a few weeks ago when we knocked on their door and told them that we were looking for a new home for Gidget because of our moving circumstances, they immediately said they would love to have her back in their family!  It felt like a reminder from "above" that God works all things out, even for our pets!

So, on Gidget's moving day we spruced her up with a nice bath, big-dog style...

 And we showered her with lots of love and well-wishes...

 A few last treats for such a good dog...

 And one final good-bye hug and kiss for our gentle giant!



We've shed a few tears but the busyness of summer has helped ease the transition. Mostly, we're thankful she has moved on to a new home, which is really her original family, and we know she will be well loved and cared for!

Housing Update

We recently were informed of our opportunity to enjoy Seminary housing this fall! We will be living off campus, in a two bedroom apartment. I'll send more address/contact details personally as the time comes. We don't plan to move until the 2nd of August. We're still hoping for our house to here to sell, but that's not looking very promising. We know that God will take care of the details one way or another. We will be meeting soon with our realtor to discuss options and ideas for our house.

Cora is accustomed to the idea that we will be moving. But the poor girl has no idea of how long two months is or that moving means we won't come back like we do after vacation. Some days she asks us, with concern, if we'll be taking certain items with, like her bed or the Tahoe, or Gidget. Those are hard questions to answer, because we will be leaving behind or passing on a lot of things that we love and can't take with us. We've been gradually purging extras out of our possession, but more purging is yet to come. Other times, when we are cleaning the house in preparation for a showing she asks, "Are we moving today?" with excitement and hope! I think she thinks she's excited...

I have so many mixed emotions. I'm excited for what's ahead, and yet I'm so sad to leave this life behind. There is some saying about what makes a house a home, and I know those things will come with us to make our new apartment our home, also. But this house holds the memories of my children as newborns, toddlers, and laughing moments as a family. It represents a time of our life. A good time. I will miss this house.

If you're not a country music fan you may not have ever heard this song, so give it a listen. Trace Adkins' song "You're Gonna Miss This"