New traditions

For some people, these are standard Christmas traditions. For me, they are small miracles due to my lack of baking skills or decorating ability. But Ella had a great time, and they tasted "deeeeelicious" according to her! She had a great time decorating the cookies with sprinkles. And then licking every piece of candy that she put on the gingerbread train. Or otherwise know as "Thomas".

Ella's 2nd birthday

For Ella's 2nd birthday, we choose a Winnie the Pooh theme. I was able to successfully bake a "Pooh" shaped cake, which is my own accomplishment. However, I am the most blessed person to have an art teacher for a good friend, who was also willing and available to spend most of the day at my house, decorating a Pooh cake, making food, celebrating a 2 year old birthday, and cleaning up (7 months pregnant as well). Michelle is a huge help and blessing in my life!!

The party was a ton of fun especially when Ella's cousins came over so they could play together!

But lets not forget our fabulous babysitter Trisha!! Her creative skills are fantastic as well! Check out our driveway!

Ella and her Handy Manny tools - a girl after my own heart :)

Of course no birthday is complete without watching Cinderella in her princess couch!

Beautiful Day!

Little Ladybug!

Fall Fun

Post Family Farm - Fabulous! Ella didn't stop talking the entire time. There was a goat high on a platform. So she started out with the goats "up high in the sky". Then the horses, cows, sheep, and chickens. The chickens smell like "dirty diapers". Then she rode in a orange barrel train pulled behind a tractor. Ella said she "drove the pumpkin train". And who could miss the "hayride to the pumpkin patch" which she repeated over and over. Too cute!

Realities of life

Tuesday October 6, 2009. A judge declared me legally single. There are emotions that words simply can not describe. But nowhere in those pieces of paper with black ink does it say anything about my values, my morals, and my faith. A document exists that may outline some rules for my life. But after my last days on earth, that document will no longer matter. However, my eternal life will. I will strive to live everyday for Him, who gives me strength to go through this terrible situation, and also gives me joys and happiness and blessings. I will work harder to live my values and my faith. To do my best to teach them to my daughter. And most importantly to allow HIM to guide me in my life each and every day. There is the verse - for I know the plans I have for you... but my favorite verse still remains 1 Corinth 13:13 "these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

30th B-day!

Life can bring us the highest of highs and lowest of lows. But it's how you live that shows your true character. It was my 30th birthday this weekend. There were moments where I approached the day defeated. Counting my losses instead of my blessings. But after taking one moment at a time, there is no reason to count my losses when I have the most amazing blessings that a person could have. After an invigorating 5K in the rain Saturday morning, a good friend spent the afternoon with me. There was good conversation, support and just her presence showed me that I have a true friend! Then off to dinner with my sister, which turned out to be my friends as well. A complete and amazing surprise!! It was great to have some wine and drinks, good food, excellent conversations, and more smiles and laughs than I truly deserve. Thank you to all of you! Sunday also provided a day of family, and more surprise friends. Words can not express how special, loved and supported I feel by my family and my friends. These people in my life are real, genuine reflections of God's love. I may not have a photograph to capture the day, but I can say that my 30th birthday certainly left a mark!! :)

Mini Vaca

Ella and I decided to take a few days to ourselves, so we headed to Chicago. Or "cago" as Ella called it. We left Sunday night and arrived at our hotel long past her bedtime. As she fell asleep in her pack and play, I heard a faint "I love you". So I responded with "I love you too". Then she proceeded to do it again 2 more times. Too cute! Monday we went to the Brookfield Zoo to start the day. She seemed to love it, and I thought it was a fantastic zoo. There were great play areas for kids, plenty of fun animals to see, a children's learning area, and a petting zoo. Our last activity at the zoo was to ride the carousel. She rode an elephant, and didn't want to leave. However, once we were in the car, she was asleep before we were out of the parking lot. After the zoo we went to the Woodfield Mall and Rainforest Cafe for dinner. The restaurant was a hit with all the trees, fish, and fake animals. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and went swimming in the pool. Tuesday was a nice trip back home with a stop at the outlet mall. No good deals but nice for Ella to run around. God blessed our little vacation and we have fantastic memories!!

Wedding!

What a fabulous weekend!! Ella was able to be a flower girl in her babysitters wedding. The bride and groom were also students when I was a youth group leader, so it's been amazing to stay in touch and watch their relationship grow! Rehearsal went great and Ella wore her adorable new strawberry dress from aunt Julie. During rehearsal Ella walked down the isle with her other flower girl friend and they did perfect. But that was when the church was empty. Wedding day came and she was fantastic sitting to get her hair done. Then looked absolutely adorable in her dress. She even had to get mommy's celly to call her peeps and tell them all about it. However, the isle looked much scarier with all those people and cameras going. So after a few tears, she was escorted down the isle (by me) and shed a few more tears. However, the bride and groom were very laid back so Ella's tears were ok. I am very proud of my little girl and thought she was the most beautiful person there, other than the bride of course! God has blessed me with the most amazing daughter. I can't thank HIM enough! I did get to pamper myself too. I got a much needed pedicure for the events with a friend. And I had a fantastic time at the reception while Nana and Papa brought Ella to his work carnival complete with a carousel - her favorite!

What a month!

August - what can I say? It was a busy but enjoyable month! I was able to get up on a wake board for the first time! And rather quickly I might add. That was a blast and I would love to do it again. I spent some great quality time with friends. One of which was in Michigan inbetween her 2 year stay in Japan, so it was great to see her. I rejoice with 3 friends who each gave birth to healthy baby boys this month. My sister and I threw an open house for my parents 40th Anniversary which was busy, but fun. Some friend from Canada even made the trip. Ella and I were invited by a friend and her 2 kids to join them at the Childrens Museum this past week. What a great place for kids! I know Ella really enjoyed it, and I enjoyed watching her! There were some difficult moments and decisions to make this past month as well. But God is my strength, and I can't even begin to write all the many blessings he has given us!! God is Good!!

More Camping!

Ella and I spent a fabulous long weekend camping in Manistee. We were invited by my friend Michelle to joint her and her college friends in their annual camping weekend. This group included a few of my current friends, some old friends and some new friends. Ella seemed to enjoy playing with new friends as well. The beach was calling our name once we arrived, or so I thought. It turned out the water was calling Ella's name. She LOVES the water, and therefore, I get to enjoy it as well. It was relaxing to hear the water from Lake Michigan when I woke up each morning. I could get used to that. However, it took me a little bit to get used to the dirt smeared all over Ella's hands, clothes and face, but I eventually chilled out as "clean" wasn't going to be achieved until we got home. There was a bit of rain Sat & Mon mornings, but it was a great excuse for Ella to wear her raincoat and play in the mud! She slept fairly well in her pack & play in our small little tent, and slept especially well during the thunderstorm early Monday morning. She even was able to sit on Mikes "mo-to-cy-cle" (each syllable enunciated well).

Camping

Girls camping weekend! Stacy, Shani, Lindsay, Sheila, Lindsey and her daughter Ana. What a blast! We stayed in a small cabin with air conditioning. So when it rained early Saturday morning, we were all cozy, dry, and cool! Can't get much better than that! We toured South Haven, when to the beach and ate fantastic meals. I had my virgin blueberry picking experience and found it to be rather relaxing. A fantastic weekend with friends. God is Good!

Weekend

New Memories!

Friday was a day trip to Shipshewana with Ella and my mom and dad, aka Nana and Papa. Ella was ready for the trip, she even wanted to drive! She loved the horse drawn carriages and was able to ride the horse on the carousel! The Flea Market proved a bit boring for her, so she took a nap. Saturday we enjoyed the Grandville parade and surprisingly the motorcycles were Ella's favorite! I'll have to remember that for the future. After a nap and a trip to the park, we checked out downtown and retired home. Sunday was catch up day. The plan was to head to the beach after lunch, but Ella was more interested in taking a 3 hour nap. I was not going to object. So we went to the beach later. She is quite the beach bum. She even thought she would watch the waves, water and boats from a different angle - up-side-down. New Memories, our memories! God is Good!!

Dear Friend

The same friend that inspired me to start a blog was the one I got to spend the day with on Friday!

Friday, June 19, 2009 - Girls day out!
Its captured best on Erins blog, but here's my efforts. We started out by having breakfast in Grand Haven with the sun peaking through the clouds. We headed south to do some wine tasting and saw the effects of Thursday nights storms. We arrived to do some wine tasting in an unexpected building in the middle of town. But it worked out just fine. The wine was great! Erin is the fruity type and I am the dry type. I think we both liked the dessert wine served to us in the chocolate shot glass. We encountered rain on our trek to South Haven. We thought we might catch some sun during the day, but apparently not in South Haven. After some shopping we headed to Holland and did some more quick shopping. Then to New Holland for a bite to eat and drink. That's when the sun finally came out! We make a quick stop in Grandville and back to Erins house. A wonderful day away. No kids, just adults with no adjenda. Can't get better than that!

I want to thank Erin for being an amazing person and friend. Her qualities and values run deep and it is evident by the way she lives her life along with her family.

Inspired

I have been inspired by a very dear friend to start a blog. So here it is.

Who would have thought that at the age of 29 I would have to start my life over again. At times it seems unfair, until I realize that I get somewhat of a second chance at life. A chance to start fresh, to learn from my mistakes, to live life with passion, and most importantly, I get to do it with my amazing daughter!

So this blog can be part of my journey. No, our journey. May I introduce my daughter, Ella Renae. She was born on November 9, 2007 and has been the joy of my life!

On Wed June 17, 2009 Ella and I spent a wonderful day together. We left for around lunch time and ate at Panera Bread. A turkey and cheese sandwich with yogurt and a fruit cup to split. And a frozen mocha for my desert. After some shopping we rode the horse on the carousel. The first time around was a bit scary for her. But by the second time she was enjoying it. She said it all! "Up" and "down", "YIPEE", "Neighhh", "giddiup horsie"! Too cute. Then we stopped at Nana's work (that would be Grandma) to say hello. We headed home by dinnertime and had an enjoyable dinner of naked spaghetti. That would be Ella naked, except for the diaper, and both of us eating spaghetti. After a serious clean up job, we got our bathing suits on and walked 4 blocks to our community pool for some open swim. She LOVES the water. She would sit on the edge and say "1, 2, 3, JUMP" and lunge herself forward for me to catch her. Splashing, kicking, swimming, "blowing bubbles"(aka, inhaling some pool water), and jumping; she couldn't get enough. But it was getting close to bedtime. So a quick walk back home, a bath, rocking in the chair with a book, a song, and our prayers, and she was ready for bed.

It was a purely enjoyable day. I remember all of her smiles and laughter! They were contagious.