Netherlands Nuesday 41

Dutch Lily Pads, 2007

The Last First Day at the Bus Stop

Bridget is convinced she is the only 8th grader with a camera-toting-mom at the bus stop, but she loves every minute of it.


Leo joins in for the fun and excitement of waiting for the bus.


Suddenly, the bus is here.


See her little foot? The last step and I got it!


Edward, leaving for one of his last days of work before he starts at Calvin, is also very excited for Bridget's last first bus stop.


And Maria is excited too, as she poses for the traditional back to school pose on her first day of her Junior year.

Blooms in August

I didn't mean for anyone to think yesterday that my peonies were still blooming. I just said that reading the poem made me think of them. In real time, our garden is for the most part past its prime. That's why I was thrilled yesterday when Maria asked me if I could take some photos of her for her "school pictures", our record of her as a Junior in High School. I was a little tired to go out on location, so we stayed in our own yard, and Maria, with her bright outfit from Spain, was blooming enough.

Wild and Perfect for a Moment

Yesterday, I read this poem and thought of how we had to leave town just as our peonies started to bloom, I think they were late this year. So I picked them and brought them to someone.



This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready
to break my heart
as the sun rises,
as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open ---
pools of lace,
white and pink ---
and all day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes
into the curls,
craving the sweet sap,
taking it away

to their dark, underground cities ---
and all day
under the shifty wind,
as in a dance to the great wedding,

the flowers bend their bright bodies,
and tip their fragrance to the air,
and rise,
their red stems holding

all that dampness and recklessness
gladly and lightly,
and there it is again ---
beauty the brave, the exemplary,

blazing open.
Do you love this world?
Do you cherish your humble and silky life?
Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?

Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden,
and softly,
and exclaiming of their dearness,
fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,

with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling,
their eagerness
to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are
nothing, forever?

Mary Oliver

The Day When I Didn't Shower or Brush My Teeth or Wash My Hair

Lake Michigan, Sunday Morning


John walking throught the forest

Saturday, we went on a short camping trip with friends from church and experienced being one with nature for awhile. It was beautiful. I didn't even mind the pit pots this time. Under clear blue skies, we enjoyed music, nature, fellowship - all the good things. John and I even woke up early Sunday morning and saw a bald eagle. As my friend Gracie would say, it was fantastic. Around the campfire, we prayed for Cathy whose back problems were becoming almost unbearable. A recent MRI had revealed a bulging disc.

On the way home Sunday morning, things started to get interesting. Some of us had decided to stop for brunch at the Steak and Egger because the name of it cracked us up. Cathy told us she couldn't drive anymore because her legs were not responding appropriately. I took over her van, and with doctors instructions, drove her straight to the ER in GR which was about 2 hours away. To make a long story short, she was quickly brought in to surgery where they performed a laminectomy. Afterwards, the surgeon told me that he was able to remove what was definitely causing her problems and felt they had done it just in time. Thankfully, now she is on the road to recovery. I saw her up in her room after surgery and we still kept talking about how we were going to wake up from a dream at any minute with the sound of rain on our tents. But today, I can see how God answered that campfire prayer for real.

Aunt Susan & Aunt Susan, Jr.

Maria has always reminded me of John's sister who often remarks that Maria looks more like her than her own daughters. It doesn't come through so much in this recent photo, so the resemblance must come from something more than just their looks.


Susan & Maria staring into the sun behind me, 2008

Big Sandbox

Last weekend, nephew Brian was so intoxicated by the beauty of the sand and water that he fell over the sand dune cliff.



Maria, Bridget, and Uncle John were dispatched to help him up. I calmly stood by to take photos.



Not to worry - John rescued him and it made for some good photographs.

Edward Wins the Bronze!

Yesterday morning, John & I went to the Fifth Third Ballpark where Edward was running in the 11th Annual Homerun 5K (raising money to fight child abuse). He received a 3rd place medal in his age group. Instead of "Hey Eddie, it's your birthday...", I did the "Go Eddie Go" cheer which I learned from Sister Mary.

Pontoonicating

Last weekend, when we were up at Big Platte Lake, we filed like little old people onto Paul & Susan's new pontoon boat. It was fun!! I am getting old!! Our oh-so-clever John coined the term pontoonificating for that thing you do when you ride a pontoon boat.


Maria


Edward


John


Paul................................. Susan


Edward & Brian

The Never Ending Race

The thing about Edward, and maybe boys in general, is he always loves a good challenge, and all of life is a game for him really. Two years ago, he had climbed up the steep, 450-foot drop dune on the Pierce Stocking Drive of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 9 minutes, 7 seconds - a record begging to be broken. Cousin Brian was up for the dune climb challenge too.



They flew down the hill like they were on the moon. From the overlook, we watched them climb like little ants.

Edward returned quickly - 8 minutes, 31 seconds - and Brian was a few minutes behind. John went too - he was in the 25-30 minute range which is still good considering the average person takes about 45 minutes.

We celebrated with a monster sundae at Cherry Republic where cousin Laura works.

Fun times.

Big Wonders

This past weekend, we were able to soak in many of the wonders in the northern Michigan gallery of art. I was in awe of the thousands of shades of blue-green that contrasted with the zillions of grains of sand. The cloud formations themselves were a beauty to behold.

Our great Creator also gave us soothing ripples on the lake, a colorful rainbow, and a setting sun to take our breath away. Oma always told me I could "make" such nice pictures and that always made me laugh because it was such a cute way to translate from Dutch. I know that taking pictures isn't so much creating as it is trying to capture and enjoy and share the gift that lies before us.

One Happy, Sad, Excited Broken Wing

Bridget & John after the performance


The cast & crew of Cinderella

Last evening, we went to see Bridget in the final on stage performance of Cinderella at the Master Arts Theatre. She was sad when it was over, but still happy and excited. She does get to perform one more time at the zoo on Friday.

When she came home after the cast went out to Steak & Shake, she proclaimed, "This is the best thing I ever did in the summer..." Tomorrow, I'll post more photos - I got some very dramatic ones!

The Starting Line

Byron Bank 5K, 2008

This morning, John & I went to watch Edward run in the Byron Bank 5K. The photos I took came out blurry, probably because he was running by in a blur. Duh. I did get this still life at the starting line. He finished in 18:25 on this muggy morning (24th of about 900.)

Get Your Game On

Edward gets a hit, 2008

Edward has been playing softball this summer for our church team and we've been able to watch him a few times and cheer him on with the wave and stuff. Our fave cheer is
Hey Eddie, It's your birthday, get your game on, hey Eddie...

More Scenes from Cinderella

I took some photos without a flash at Bridget's Cinderella performance. Since I was so worried about her hearing the shutter go off, I only took about 10-15.


Bridget is the Chinese Stepsister in green.


The stepsisters do look rather mean. I was surprised at how Bridget stayed in character.


Bridget is the Grey Horseman dressed in black.


Broken Wing's father tells her to be more careful around the fire so she doesn't burn herself.


Morning Star makes Broken Wing beautiful by taking down her hair before dressing her in wedding garments.


Bridget, I mean Broken Wing, marries the Invisible Hunter.


The final curtain call.

Matching Shirts

Years ago, we went on vacation and I had gotten matching turquoise shirts for the whole family so we could easily identify one another. The family gave me a hard time, but we had many fond memories from that trip.

Imagine my excitement last Sunday when there we were wearing our matching MCC shirts and there was a photographer there ready to take our photo! It was exciting except for the fact that Maria wasn't with us. We were thinking of her while it was taken though! Hi Maria!

Photo by K. Reed

Art in the Park

At the very same park where the great mother daughter picnic took place, our church sponsored "Art in the Park" last Sunday evening. A friend at church talked me into face painting and I discovered that I had a latent face painting ability. It was exciting. I got a kick out of a girl from Guatemala who very seriously asked me to paint her 2 little strawberries on her cheek and red star with a black dot in it on her forehead. They turned out really good except that the star looked more like a poppy. I didn't do all of these, but here is a sample of our work:

Kid's Games

July 2008

I've been taking photos this week at Kid's Games at Coit Arts Academy downtown where our church is helping out. Bridget & I have also been helping out in the Ping Pong track, or as Bridget calls it, "Whack the Ball". It has been great fun.

Silly Sister Shot

We always have to do one of these. OBX, 2008

How to Jump Waves With Your Sister

Maria & Bridget, OBX, 2008

Niece & Nephew

Hunter & Paige, OBX, 2008

Aunt and Nephew

Sam with Aunt Marianna, OBX 2008

Mother and Four Daughters

OBX, 2008

Colors of the OBX

Group photo (sans Trey, Tara & Edward) taken on the beach on the last evening, 2008 (The blogger is in bright green.)

Not very many of us had white shirts this year, so we decided to pose in bright colors. I think it would look good if everyone did shades of blue and turquoise and aqua... just a thought.

Mourning Has Broken

Last Sunday at MCC

We are always excited on Sunday morning to go to the warehouse where our church meets. If you look into the pansies to your right as you go up the stairs to the door, you will see this mother bird sitting on her nest. She is not afraid of any of us - she's more concerned about the 2 eggs underneath her. That's one great thing about her. The other is how she reminds us all that God takes care of us even more.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matt. 6:26

Singing in the Rain

This past weekend, the Festival of the Arts took place in downtown Grand Rapids. Vintage Grand Rapidian that I am, I went 4 times! Yikes. The first time I was on a walk with a friend but the other 3, John & I went to see someone we know play in their band. The above shots are of MCC's band. They played Sunday and had to fold up after 2 songs, Not to Us and Salvation is Here, because of a thunderstorm. What we heard was excellent!

Peonies in Bloom

Taken out front this morning

Now I know it is June. They are a week late for the open house!

Walking on the Beach

Maria, June 2006

When the Queen Mother was here for Edward's graduation, she presented Maria with a very special birthday present. Below you can see her watercolor interpretation of the photo above. This is something I think she will treasure for years to come!


Maria with watercolor by Grandma, May 2008

Pretty Purple Petunias

I captured this moments before a scattered thundershower hit the deck

Today,,, we are getting ready for Edward's graduation open house on Sunday. We've actually been getting ready all week and I realized I have taken virtually no pictures. so I stepped out this morning to photograph the petunias on our deck.

We will be welcoming a contingent from Celeryville this afternoon which is always exciting. Yes, the Queen Mother will be among them.