Christmas Vacation Highlights and New Year!

We were so excited to go home to MI for Christmas this year. Unfortunately, our trip was delayed by a evening because of an ice/snow storm. So, we didn't leave until Saturday morning...4 am! Yup, I will get up early to go home to MI, but not to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. :) Here is the recap for the week.

We got into MI around 12:30pm on Saturday. That meant that I still got to do the annual Saturday shopping with my dad. We go out the Saturday before Christmas to find my mom gifts and maybe pick up a few sweet treats for ourselves. We first get lunch together (this year Joel joined us) and then my dad and I headed downtown Holland and made our annual stops. (Peanut Shop for sea foam and sweet-tarts, The Bridge for a fun free trade gift for my mom, Shaker Messenger for peanut brittle and sour cherry gummy candy, and Treehouse Books.) That night we had my family's Christmas party. It was so much fun to see my siblings and all my nieces and nephews. We all made out pretty good if I do say so myself. (Below is a picture of the girls with their new scarves from my mom and dad. (Susan, Jen, Mariah, Me and Joy)Sunday, we were stuck at my parents' house because of the fierce snow. However, Joel's dad came with the Jeep and we made it to his parent's house eventually. We had a nice dinner and evening with them and Joel's younger brother and sister-in-law who were in MI from Honduras. Due to the snow we spent the night there. (Below is a picture of 3 board Pirateer at the Phillips' house.)
Monday, I got to spend an entire afternoon with my mellons--all 7 of us were there. We figured that this was the first, time that happened in 4 years! It was beautiful! We went to lunch, did Paint-a-Pot, and had dessert at the good Dutch place called Russ'. Joel joined us for part of the afternoon, but also went out with a friend for lunch. Monday night Joel and I relaxed at my parent's and our friend Tim stopped by to say hello. (Below is a picture of the Mellons at Paint a Pot.) Tuesday, we watched my sister's kids in the morning and hung out at the Phillips' in the afternoon. We also got to see my mom's side of the family in the evening. (Below is Joel jumping face first into the snow in his parent's backyard.)Wednesday, we went out for breakfast with my dad. We then took my oldest niece, Mariah, out for lunch. Then my mom made a very nice steak dinner for us, Joel's parents, and my grandparents. We then headed to the Phillips' to open gifts. (JP asks every year to open gifts on Christmas Eve and it never happens, except of course the year he is with his wife's family in Texas. Just needed to rub that in JP!) (Below is a picture of Aren and Leah with the inflatable furniture we gave them.


Christmas, we did church with the Phillips and then headed to Joel's aunt and uncle's home to celebrate with extended family. After that party we headed to my aunt and uncle's home to make it to the Koning Party round 2. :) We had a lot of fun playing Apples to Apples with them. (Below is a picture of Grandma Phillips learning how to play Pass the Pigs.)

Friday, we had a big breakfast with my brother and hung out with friends. Then I had a relaxing afternoon at my parent's home and Joel headed to the beach to see the icebergs with his brother. That night my in-laws took us to a AHL hockey game. Go Griffens! (Below is a picture of Aren by the big iceberg.)


Saturday, we spent the morning at the Phillips and the afternoon at my parent's. We helped both parents set up their new digital picture frames. :) We then headed to our friend's new house! Congrats Tim! (Below is a picture of the group playing Apples to Apples. I love that game.)


Sunday, we went to church with my parents and then headed to church coffee at my grandparents. We then headed back to IA and got home around 7:00pm.

The last three days have been busy packing packing and more packing. Plus moving, moving and more moving. Now the next few days will be unpacking and resorting what goes where. We are now house-sitting for a couple who is in China for 18 months. :)

The moving and packing is probably the worst thing about this Christmas vacation. The best was this though:

Our highlight of our trip was sharing this poem with our families and now we will share it with all of you:

Merry Christmas to all.
We deliver to you,

A precious gift so small.
Whether it is pink or blue,

We are adding a branch to
the big family tree--

Baby Phillips is due
on July Twenty-Three.

Needless to say we are very excited for the year 2009.
Well, Happy New Year to all my blog readers!

I hope the next year brings you much joy and blessings!
Go in God's Grace, Peace and Joy!

Merry Christmas!

Season Greeting's my dear blog readers. Here is the Christmas card that we sent to some family and friends. I wanted to share it with all who read our blog.

Joel took this picture last Christmas in Sagatuck, MI at the beach along Lake Michigan. It was an amazing find. We couldn't believe this was natural--actually we could, because let's face it God is a pretty amazing creator! (If you can't see it...doesn't it look like a nativity scene?!)

Because of this natural occurrence we decided to put one of Abraham Kuyper's more famous quotes on it. (The quote is also one of our favorites.) If you don't know, Abraham Kuyper is a Dutch, Calvinist theologian. If you can't read it, here is the quote:

"There is not one square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!'"

We thought this was the perfect quote to describe what Joel found that wintery morning at the beach.

Merry Christmas to all!

I pray that during the holiday season you are filled with God's grace, peace and joy!

Frustration, Prayers Please, and Pumpkin Pie

This isn't a place where I normally vent, but I am so frustrated right now! Okay, so every other month I have to print tenant newsletters. And, every other month our copier gives me a headache when I try to do this. It hasn't ever been this bad, though. It won't even print one. I have to print 400! I wanted to have all of them printed before Friday at 11, when we are suppose to leave for MI. (This way I can mail them out when I get back on the 29th.) Yea, I can tell with our "lovely" copier that isn't going to happen. I was going to propose going through Office Max to print them, but the estimated cost is around $800. Not going to happen.

Have you ever seen the movie Office Space? I totally want to take the copier to an open field and smash it with a sledge hammer like they do to the fax/copier in that movie.

So, my first prayer request is that the copier starts to work effeciently and effectively, so I can print all 400 newsletters by Friday at 11!

My second prayer request is that the weather stays clear and non-icy throughout the midwest (especially 1-80, I-94, and I-96)! I really really want to leave for MI on Friday. They are predicting winter storms starting in IA on Thursday night at 6pm going till Friday morning. Pray that the system stalls or comes earlier so by Friday late morning it is okay to travel.

Okay enough with my venting. Tracy wanted to recipe for the Crustless Pumpkin Pie I made for Thanksgiving, so I am ending with that:

1 can pumpkin (15 oz)
1 can FF evaporated milk (12 oz)
3 egg whites
½ tsp salt
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. splenda

Combine all and beat until smooth. Pour into a sprayed pie plate. Bake at 400 15 minutes or at 325 for 45 minutes.
Put in fridge until cold. Serve cold
Serves 8 1 piece= 1 points

Thanksgiving Recap

I can't believe that Thanksgiving was a week ago! Here are some highlights from our Thanksgiving week/weekend:


Wednesday:

• Joel and I spent most of the day doing some last minute cleaning before visitors came. And, we made all three desserts for the Thanksgiving meal.
• Katie and JP came in around 3 or 4pm. We gave them a tour of our box, oh wait I mean our townhouse.
• The four of us went to church for a very nice Thanksgiving service.
• My parents and Joel's parents came in to Des Moines right after our service and we headed to our home to catch up.

Thursday:

• We slept in!
• Joel prepared the turkey and started it cooking around 9:00am (yes, 9 am is sleeping in!).
• We sat around a little and just relaxed.
• An hour before the turkey was done we started preparing the food.
• We ate around 1 or 2. Here is the menu: Turkey (stuffed with apples, onions, and celery with a little sage and thyme rubbed on the meat), mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, a warm apple dish, corn, and dinner rolls. For dessert: crustless pumpkin pie, strawberry pie and mocha mousse pie.
• After dinner, we all sat, relaxed, and watched some football. Many of us napped.

Friday

• Had breakfast, thanks to Joel's mom who brought bunt cake and pig in the blankets.
• Four of us went shopping around 10am (I am not crazy-no offense--so we didn't get up early. It was nice because the rush was gone--still busy but not awful.) Katie and I hit like ten stores at the mall in about an hour. We were very disciplined shoppers in our time and money. (Funny thing is: we were both looking for our Phillips men. Both our husbands needed athletic pants and long sleeve shirts.)
• The other four (my in-laws, Joel and JP.) went out exploring and hiking.
• Ate left overs for lunch.
• Joel and I went with both sets of parents to the Des Moines Art Center.
• Saw pictures from JP's trip to India
• Went to Drake Diner. (It is a must now when my dad comes due to their amazing shakes and malts.)
• Relaxed by the pool at the hotel and played games.

Saturday:

• Went out to breakfast with everyone at Waveland Cafe (another must for my dad).
• The parents left right after breakfast. Katie, JP, Joel and I headed back to our house and played the game power gird (fun and confusing at the same time) and dinked around.
• Joel manipulated JP and Katie.
• We drove JP and Katie to Omaha.
• Had a nice dinner with JP and Katie in Omaha and were too tired and full to drive back to Des Moines at 10pm, so we spent the night.

Sunday:

• JP and Katie's flight left early in the morning and Joel and I headed back to Des Moines. We made it back in time to go to church.
• We had a wonderful lunch prepared and served by Andy and Laura (friends from church) and then watched a movie with them.
• Got back to our place by 4 and took a two hour nap.
• We then decorated the house for Christmas. We got the tree and the lights up.

Monday: (Still sorta part of the weekend since Joel didn't have school)

• I went to work while Joel wrote a paper for a class and picked up around the house.
• After I got home from work we had a quick supper and then headed out to Target and a movie. We needed some grocery essentials and I needed a wedding shower gift or Tuesday. We saw the movie Four Christmases. It was funny and entertaining. Not the greatest, but good and really good for some laughs. (It was a free movie, due to the fact that I had passes from a SAA friend.)

As you can read, we had a great Thanksgiving. After Monday, it was back to the real world for us. However, it is a short visit to the real world. We head out of IA on the 19th to spend a week in MI for Christmas!! :)

My King

Did you know that today is the First Sunday of Advent. Advent is celebrated in the Christian tradition. It is the season of expectation and hope. In many church's they have an advent wreath. A new candle gets lit each Sunday. Unfortunately, our church did not do an advent wreath this Sunday. If they would have it would have been known as the candle of hope in my denomination. Many people may think that Advent is just about counting down until Christmas day and only celebrates Christ's first coming to the world. However, it is more than that. It is also celebrating the expectation and hope that we have that he is coming back. I haven't truly reflected on today's theme, so I don't have a nice write up by me about what the first Sunday truly means to me. However, I have wanted to post this poem on my blog. The other day I decided to continue adding things to my Thankful List until today. A guest pastor read this in church earlier this fall and it really struck me. I am so thankful that I can call Jesus Christ my Savior. Here is a poem that tells you a little bit about him. I guess you can say this is why I am filled with hope, love, joy, and peace. (These happen to be the four candles for the four Sunday's of advent.)

MY KING

The Bible says my King is a seven-way king.
He is the king of the Jews. That's a mighty king.
He is the king of Israel. That's a national king.
He is the king of righteousness,
he's the king of the ages,
he's the king of heaven,
he's the king of glory, he's the king of kings, and he is the Lord of lords.
That's my King. Well, I wonder, do you know him?
David says, "the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmaments show his handiwork."
My King is a sovereign king;
no means of measure can define his limitless love,
no far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of his shoreless supplies.
No barrier can hinder him from pulling out his blessings.
He's endurably strong,
he's entirely sincere,
he's eternally steadfast,
he's immortally graceful,
he's imperially powerful,
he's impartially merciful.
Do you know him? He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world.
He's God's Son,
he's a sinner's savior,
he's a set-piece of civilization,
he stands in the solitude of himself,
he's honest and he's unique,
he's unparalleled,
he's unprecedented,
he's the loftiest idea in literature,
he's the highest personality in philosophy,
he's the supreme problem in higher criticism,
he's the fundamental doctrine of true philosophy,
he is the necessity of spiritual religion,
he's the miracle of the age--yes he is.
He is the superlative of everything good that you choose to call him.
He's the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient Savior.
I wonder if you know him today.

He supplies the weak;
he's available for the tempted and the tired.
He sympathizes and he saves,
he strengthens and sustains,
he guards and he guides,
he heals the sick,
he cleanses the lepers,
he forgives sinners,
he discharges debtors,
he delivers the captives,
he defends the feeble,
he blesses the young,
he serves the unfortunate,
he regards the aged,
he rewards the diligent,
and he beautifies the meager.
I wonder if you know him.

Well, my King he is a king,
he is the key to knowledge,
he's the well-spring of wisdom,
he's the doorway of deliverance,
he's the pathway to peace,
he's the roadway to righteousness,
he's the highway to holiness,
he's the gateway of glory.
Do you know him?

Well, his office is manifold,
his promise is sure,
his light is matchless,
his goodness is limitless,
his mercy is everlasting,
his love never changes,
his word is enough,
his grace is sufficient,
his reign is righteous,
his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
I wish I could describe him to you.
He is indescribable.
He's incomprehensible.
He's irresistible.
Well...you can't get Him out of your mind,
you can't get him off of your hands.
You can't out think Him, you can't outlive Him, you can't outlast Him and you can't live without Him.
The Pharisees couldn't stand him but they finally couldn't stop him, Pilot couldn't find any fault in Him, Death couldn't handle Him,
the grave couldn't hold Him,
and the tomb couldn't keep Him.
That's my King.
Yes, yes you are my King.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever and ever.
How long is that?
Forever and ever and ever and ever.
And when you're through with all the forevers, then AMEN, Good God Almighty,
Thank God Almighty you are my King.
Amen.

Joel

Before going on:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Pictures are in no particular order.











I was waiting till close to the end of November to tell everyone how thankful I am about Joel. Maybe you could say that I am saving the best for last.

Joel is my best friend. I am so blessed to have him in my life. I can't believe I have known him for 8 years. It seems like I have known him forever, but at the same time can't believe how fast the time has gone by either. I have a lot to be thankful for when I think about Joel. He has taught me a lot! He has brought out the best in me. He makes me happy. He is intelligent. He is following God's calling for his life. He is a Christian man and a man of integrity. It is hard me to put into words what he means to me, so I probably won't write much more. I thank God everyday for Joel and what he has brought to my life. I am so incredibly happy that he is the man that God made for me to be my husband. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with him. I am excited to see the adventures God has planned for us. I love you, Joel.

A Few Thoughts for the Day

Okay here are some random and perhaps funny thoughts for the day.

First, I was listening to the radio yesterday and they were talking about an upcoming Oprah show. I guess she is going to showcase some of her favorite things. They stated that due to the tanking economy she is going to show only affordable items and items that cost next to nothing. Okay, so my question is what does affordable and next to nothing mean to Oprah!? Lets face it it probably means something completely different than it does to you and me.

Second, I just wanted to mention a weird quirk about myself. I am irrationally afraid of birds. Yes, I know that it is a irrational fear. (I have several--another one is revolving doors.) The other week at work there were hundreds of birds in the trees, on the power lines and just in the sky. I don't know why, but they all were gathered. They were just plain black birds. It was freaky though, because we opened the window and it is all I heard all day. Although, I have never seen the movie and nor do I want to, but it reminded me of why the Alfred Hitchcock movie titled Birds seems so scary. I think the irrational fear started a few years ago when we had a bird in our house. It happened like 3 times. Joel wrote a poem about his experience with the bird. I really should post it. (Huh, maybe I will sometime.) The final time it happened I thought someone had broken into our home, because things were knocked off the shelves and pictures were not hanging straight. I called my dear friend, Canaan, to rescue me that day and she helped tremendously. (Joel was working.) Want to know something else funny about this quirk: I have a mother and a brother who love to go bird watching. Apparently, I didn't get that gene.

Okay, so those are my thoughts for the day. Hope they were entertaining.