Kingdom Jewels

Embarrassing Bridget from This Far Away

2010-02-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

Bridget, 5th row from top under the "H".

I just waved in a big way and took a picture. Then I got a phone call, something about, "Can you be any more embarrassing?" Cute.

John & I went to the Homecoming game this past Friday night where Maria was honored in South Christian's version of a homecoming court.

Maria is in the exact middle here.

The kids gave flowers to the person who influenced them most, so Maria chose BOTH John & me. What a good girl :)

Flash Back Friday 149

2010-02-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

1950's: Uncle Alan, Uncle John, Oma Boyer, Mom & her friend Mary Jo

Advice from Einstein

2010-02-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."

Sunshine on My Loveseat Makes Me Happy

2010-02-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

It was so good to see the sun come out this past weekend.
The dust was also looking alive and well.

Happy Ground Hog's Day!!!

Made It!

2010-02-01T05:00:00.001-05:00

On the right hand side bar of this blog in the blue box, I added the link to 2 new blogs, "Semester in the Netherlands" which is a group effort of Edward's class in the Amsterdam and "Sarah's blog" which is the blog of one of his classmates I met in the airport.

I talked to Ed a few times over the weekend on Skype. I discovered I could take video snapshots of him while we talked, so that made me happy. I *heart* technology. This is one of the first times and I thought he was looking so European:

The next time, I took a series of them when he was looking even more European:

Ok, I promise I'm done now for awhile. I do need to get out more!

Getting Ready for 4+ Months in Europe

2010-01-30T05:00:00.003-05:00

Happiness that the day has finally arrived

I made sure I took a few photos of Edward before he left Thursday to record the excitement of the day. The photo above was taken after his one hour morning run (he's training for a marathon) and he looks very happy/relieved/excited. I didn't take a picture of his luggage, and I'm not sure why because it was a sight to behold.

Anticipation on the way to the airport. We were at the intersection right before you go into the Gerald R. Ford International Airport waiting for a red light. I took this because I wanted to remember how he was sitting there with his backpack looking ahead.

Relief after successfully checking his luggage in at just under 50 lbs. and getting his boarding pass after we had met up with the group of about 18 students (and many of their parents) headed to Amsterdam from Calvin College.

Patience while having a last photo taken with the parents.

Contemplation, expectation, and high hopes while waiting at the security gate.

Good humor as Mom takes one last photo before getting to the gate.

Friday morning, we did talk on Skype and it was actually like he was right inside my computer. They had all only slept about an hour on the plane and I could tell he was tired, but still very excited to have arrived safely in his dorm room with all his things.

Flash Back Friday 148

2010-01-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

Cousins with John's half-sisters, 1998

I wanted to do this one today for Edward, the little Dutch boy in the red.

Love Thursday

2010-01-28T05:00:00.001-05:00

Edward leaves on a run through the neighborhood yesterday.

I can't believe this day has arrived! Today is the day I will be bringing Ed to the airport as he begins his epic journey to the fatherland. He will be studying in Amsterdam at the Vrij University and will return home June 11. We are very excited for him!!! (and of course we will miss him.) Maybe I will have to take a million pix of him on the way to the airport so they will last for awhile. Don't worry, I'm not that insane.

Senior-itis?

2010-01-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

No, Maria doesn't really have it yet. But maybe I do a little. It's not that I'm anxious for it to be over... I just can't believe it almost is! She is now in the last semester of her Senior year and having completed every requirement, she is enjoying 3 art classes as she finishes. The other day, I got a couple of fun pix of the little girl with the big blue eyes when I picked her up after school.

Faith

2010-01-25T05:00:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a big day - all of our kids made profession of faith in church!! Indeed, it was so exciting, I struggled with the photography. They started out by telling about their faith and what it means to them. Bridget talked about her favorite song, "In Christ Alone", which she had asked the band to play. Edward talked about going away to Amsterdam and taking this step before he goes. Maria showed a video which she had made of her photography & painting and talked about how she sees God in the world:

Along with our church and family and grandparents from out of state, many friends showed up to offer their support. Here is Bridget with some of her friends:

Such an incredibly awesome day!

Wonder Years

2010-01-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

Edward, November 2009

We usually only see Edward on Sunday downtown at church and sometimes afterwards when he comes home for a quick lunch, and you know, he only lives on the Calvin campus about 25 minutes away. Yet, whenever I see him, I feel the need to get my camera out. Pictures for me are a way of holding on to memories and I feel if I have one, I will never forget. What I've had on my mind lately is that Ed will be taking off in about 5 days for Amsterdam and I won't be able to shoot these simple photos. I'm going to miss that. I expect we'll keep in pretty good touch through Facebook, Skype, e-mail, etc. but it will be the longest time in over 20 years I have ever had to go without taking his photograph. Will I make it?

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ~The Wonder Years

Flash Back Friday 148

2010-01-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

Maria, 1993

Love Thursday

2010-01-21T05:00:00.000-05:00

"Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance"
— T.S. Eliot

I love bokeh.

January Antidote, Part 3 - Reflections, Warmth and Colour!

2010-01-20T05:00:00.001-05:00

When our fingers had reached the freezing point, we decided to head over to Calvin College. We found a warm cozy place in the Prince Conference Center complete with 2 roaring stone fireplaces, a grand piano and some dried flower arrangements, aka the colour we sought.

It was a good, good day!

January Antidote, Part 2 - Rushing Water

2010-01-19T05:00:00.005-05:00

After brekkie, we headed from Eastown to downtown GR after a brief stop at Deirdre's home in East Grand Rapids to pick up our camera equipment. We are amassing a fairly large arsenal though Deirdre's backpack is now bigger than mine! :)

Our first stop was near the 6th street dam across the river from the fish ladder. Above is a view from the south of the infamous Sixth Street Bridge which I usually picture from the north. We took photos of the water rushing over the dam and it did feel good to listen to it flowing by.

Looking south on the river into Grand Rapids, I saw these bridges which reminded me of the bridges over the canals in Amsterdam for a second.

As I look again at these photos of the icy cold water rushing underneath me, I am recalling with gratitude Deirdre's warning to me to be careful.

Later that afternoon in my own bedroom, I tripped over a cord and bit the dust on the soft carpeting and that was bad enough!

An Antidote for January

2010-01-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Liquid energy

When the deep cold and grayness of the Michigan January settles in, truly one of the best remedies is to meet a friend for a combined breakfast and photo shoot. This past weekend, my friend Deirdre and I headed out on a quest for colour after a wonderful breakfast at the cozy Brandywine Restaurant.

Deirdre ordered the Eggs Timothy, and I thought of how the Queen Mother would enjoy it because of its corned beef hash and the english muffin toast on the side.

I had the Greek god Omelette which was also very amazing. We impersonated Japanese tourists and photographed our food, while the chef looked on from the kitchen with approval.

To my astonishment, I ate the whole omelette without getting a stomach ache which was a good thing as we headed into parts 2 & 3 of our photo journey. To be continued...

Snow Kitty

2010-01-16T05:00:00.001-05:00

Leo looking in the window, January 2010

Leo loves to think he is brave enough to face the cold, but before you know it, he's back at the window looking to get in.

Flash Back Friday 147

2010-01-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

John & Maria, October 1992

January Thaw

2010-01-13T16:28:00.006-05:00

I love it when we get a reprieve from the cold snowy bitter harsh winter. Today, we are thawing out a bit.

I used this opportunity as I always do to clean and hose out the garage of the oily gray slush that collects on the floor. So not worthy of a picture! I took a nice long walk instead and found this with my camera.

And when I zoom in it looks like a painting.

I feel better now!

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The Four Sisters Pic

2010-01-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

I just realized I forgot to blog this. Kinda toothy!
Julia, Marianna, Andrea, Paula; Christmas 2009

Weekend Rest

2010-01-11T05:00:00.001-05:00

When the weather outside is frightful...

Go Away!

2010-01-09T17:36:00.003-05:00

Leo was a little ticked when I woke him up from a nap in a rare January sunbeam.

Flash Back Friday 146

2010-01-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

Maria & Bridget, Winter December 1995

Heavenly Vision

2010-01-06T05:00:00.001-05:00

The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light. Revelation 21:23

For her senior year, Maria had to do a service project in an area of study which she would like to pursue after graduation. She did the above painting over the break for her friend Abby's 25 year old brother who lives in a group home because he has cerebral palsy. He had asked Maria for a painting of heaven. She used acrylics on a 2 ft x 4 ft. canvas and included gold paint, of course. Last evening, she told me she was going to bring it over to him and I realized I had about 20 minutes to get out the tripod and take some photos. She will do a powerpoint presentation about it for her senior project. Here are some details:

A Royal Coat

2010-01-05T05:00:00.001-05:00

When I was at home for Christmas, Mom, AKA the Queen Mother, showed me the coat she had just made out of some left-over upholstery from her art teacher and she modeled it for me. Pretty awesome!

And she really does look like a model!