This brought me to tears. It's beautiful and convicting, and well worth the time to watch and listen and worship along with. Thanks, Mom, for sharing it with me!
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/the-global-god-who-gives-the-great-commission
Monday, October 03, 2011
Monday, September 05, 2011
If You're Having Withdrawls...
feel free to stop in over here. It's a big, big week in the Happy Hoogstad Household!
Monday, August 01, 2011
Easter Weekend
We spent Easter weekend at Mom and Dad Hoogstad's place, which is always fun for us. Despite the rain in the forecast, we had beautiful weather and spent a lot of time outside, which was especially fantastic since we had such a wet spring this year.
Mom loves to plan special activities for when her grandchildren come to visit, and this time was an easter egg hunt. The eggs were huge and there was one per child so they each had to find one. Here, Micah has spotted one hiding under a toy.
Danielle found hers already and was asking me to peel off the wrapper.
Poor Rachel was the last one to find an egg. She was searching high and low!
Leah, all dressed up and showing me her egg.
Sara and Leah had discovered the last egg and were directing Rachel to it.
Success at last!
The best part is eating them, of course.
I was also very saddened to see the little trailer destroyed. Kevin and I have used this trailer for the last 4 years for camping with our family. This past winter, the heavy snow collapsed the overhang on Dad's shop, and "our" poor trailer was parked underneath. That was the end of that! I took some pictures to say goodbye to our old friend. You can see the trailer in some of the older camping posts from this blog here, here and here.
We enjoyed an afternoon campfire with the family.
My beautiful Rachel, loving being outside!
Kelly-Lynn.
Micah, sneezing from the sun. He's just like his daddy!
Ah, that's better.
Danielle fell and scraped her hand, so she was finding solace on Grandma's lap.
But she still smiles for her mama.
Mom and Dad's house is surrounded by sandy loam soil, which is great for the kids to play with. Almost like being at the beach!
Micah will most definitely be needing a new winter coat next year.
Jeremy woke from his nap and joined us outside.
Daddy was going over fire safety rules again. We can't be too careful!
We also got to drive Dad's ATV around a lot, but I didn't get pictures of that. All the kids got rides, too. It was a great weekend!
Mom loves to plan special activities for when her grandchildren come to visit, and this time was an easter egg hunt. The eggs were huge and there was one per child so they each had to find one. Here, Micah has spotted one hiding under a toy.
Danielle found hers already and was asking me to peel off the wrapper.
Poor Rachel was the last one to find an egg. She was searching high and low!
Leah, all dressed up and showing me her egg.
Sara and Leah had discovered the last egg and were directing Rachel to it.
Success at last!
The best part is eating them, of course.
I was also very saddened to see the little trailer destroyed. Kevin and I have used this trailer for the last 4 years for camping with our family. This past winter, the heavy snow collapsed the overhang on Dad's shop, and "our" poor trailer was parked underneath. That was the end of that! I took some pictures to say goodbye to our old friend. You can see the trailer in some of the older camping posts from this blog here, here and here.
We enjoyed an afternoon campfire with the family.
My beautiful Rachel, loving being outside!
Kelly-Lynn.
Micah, sneezing from the sun. He's just like his daddy!
Ah, that's better.
Danielle fell and scraped her hand, so she was finding solace on Grandma's lap.
But she still smiles for her mama.
Mom and Dad's house is surrounded by sandy loam soil, which is great for the kids to play with. Almost like being at the beach!
Micah will most definitely be needing a new winter coat next year.
Jeremy woke from his nap and joined us outside.
Daddy was going over fire safety rules again. We can't be too careful!
We also got to drive Dad's ATV around a lot, but I didn't get pictures of that. All the kids got rides, too. It was a great weekend!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
More Layouts
I finally finished the Grow With Love: Kids Edition project. Although, I misread the last two prompts (Day 19 was from the kids edition and Day 20 was from the marriage edition) and thought they were two similar (duh) so I only made one layout for the last two prompts. Oh well, I still completed the project. Here are the last few layouts for the album:
Day Eighteen: Retrospect
Journaling: Micah, you have been through the most of any of your siblings in the last four years. Three major surgeries, countless doctor appointments, and a little bit of growing. You’re still small for your age, but you’re starting to eat better (finally!), so you’ve been growing well the last six months or so. You’re still pretty anxious, but that has improved greatly in the last year as well. You’re doing well, my boy!
Day Eighteen: Retrospect
Journaling: Rachel, you’ve done so much growing and changing over the last four years. I love the little girl you are developing into! You’ve always had an independent streak, so that hasn’t changed. Your gappy teeth have all but grown together thanks to getting rid of your soother. You’ve learned all your letters and most of the sounds those letters make. You’re still very keen on learning new things, and also sitting back and observing until you’ve gotten the hang of it yourself. You’ve learned to share and are getting better at empathy. You love to dress up and look nice, so you sit still when I want to do your hair. You’re getting too grown up, little one!
Day Eighteen: Retrospect
Journaling: Danielle, you haven’t changed as much as the twins over the past three years. You’ve always been expressive, and a little bit silly. When you are happy, you’re very happy, and when you’re sad, you’re very sad. You love to dance, and you’re always on the move. One thing that has changed is you’re not as much of a mommy-suck anymore. I’m so glad you still love to snuggle, though!
Closing page
Journaling: Well, here we are, at the end of the “Grow with Love” kids edition album. I hope you kiddies enjoy these letters and notes when you’re older and share them with your own families, God willing. I also hope that you see a common theme running through this album - the fact that we are thankful. Thankful to God for granting us the privilege of being a family together, thankful for providing us with all that we need, thankful for each of you as an individual, and for who you are as a trio. Mommy and Daddy love you so much and we can’t wait to see what other memories we will make together and can look back on with thankfulness. Just… try not to grow up too fast, OK?
And of course, I was continuing on with my regular scrapbooking along side this project. I'm still creating for Sugarplum Paperie, Weeds and Wildflowers Design (although she is currently taking a break from designing), and most recently I asked Megan Farrow of Studio Flergs if I could be on her team and she said YES! I'm so glad I worked up the courage to ask:) You can find links to these lovely designs in my sidebar under "Sites I Love".
Day Eighteen: Retrospect
Journaling: Micah, you have been through the most of any of your siblings in the last four years. Three major surgeries, countless doctor appointments, and a little bit of growing. You’re still small for your age, but you’re starting to eat better (finally!), so you’ve been growing well the last six months or so. You’re still pretty anxious, but that has improved greatly in the last year as well. You’re doing well, my boy!
Day Eighteen: Retrospect
Journaling: Rachel, you’ve done so much growing and changing over the last four years. I love the little girl you are developing into! You’ve always had an independent streak, so that hasn’t changed. Your gappy teeth have all but grown together thanks to getting rid of your soother. You’ve learned all your letters and most of the sounds those letters make. You’re still very keen on learning new things, and also sitting back and observing until you’ve gotten the hang of it yourself. You’ve learned to share and are getting better at empathy. You love to dress up and look nice, so you sit still when I want to do your hair. You’re getting too grown up, little one!
Day Eighteen: Retrospect
Journaling: Danielle, you haven’t changed as much as the twins over the past three years. You’ve always been expressive, and a little bit silly. When you are happy, you’re very happy, and when you’re sad, you’re very sad. You love to dance, and you’re always on the move. One thing that has changed is you’re not as much of a mommy-suck anymore. I’m so glad you still love to snuggle, though!
Closing page
Journaling: Well, here we are, at the end of the “Grow with Love” kids edition album. I hope you kiddies enjoy these letters and notes when you’re older and share them with your own families, God willing. I also hope that you see a common theme running through this album - the fact that we are thankful. Thankful to God for granting us the privilege of being a family together, thankful for providing us with all that we need, thankful for each of you as an individual, and for who you are as a trio. Mommy and Daddy love you so much and we can’t wait to see what other memories we will make together and can look back on with thankfulness. Just… try not to grow up too fast, OK?
And of course, I was continuing on with my regular scrapbooking along side this project. I'm still creating for Sugarplum Paperie, Weeds and Wildflowers Design (although she is currently taking a break from designing), and most recently I asked Megan Farrow of Studio Flergs if I could be on her team and she said YES! I'm so glad I worked up the courage to ask:) You can find links to these lovely designs in my sidebar under "Sites I Love".
Thursday, July 28, 2011
I'm Going to Miss This
We are all looking forward to September when all three kiddies will be starting school. The twins will go to senior kidergarten 2 full days a week and Danielle will go to junior kindergarten two mornings a week. Unfortunately only one of those mornings overlap so that will be busy, but I will be getting at least one morning a week to work/grocery shop in peace:)
But I'd be lying if I said there weren't things I'm going to miss about having three preschoolers at home full time.
Things like the constant dressing up or relaxing mornings or having the kids get all excited when there is a big truck parked on our street.
Things like the constant mess from "crafting" and "scissoring" and making "artzookas".
(OK, well, maybe I won't miss this part so much).
Things like watching Rachel concentrate and cutting with her mouth open. She may or may not have inherited that from her mother... I have a picture of myself in grade two doing this exact thing.
But I'd be lying if I said there weren't things I'm going to miss about having three preschoolers at home full time.
Things like the constant dressing up or relaxing mornings or having the kids get all excited when there is a big truck parked on our street.
Things like the constant mess from "crafting" and "scissoring" and making "artzookas".
(OK, well, maybe I won't miss this part so much).
Things like watching Rachel concentrate and cutting with her mouth open. She may or may not have inherited that from her mother... I have a picture of myself in grade two doing this exact thing.
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