Balance by Beverly

okay, to the faithful blog readers, you're the first ones in on the new adventure..check it out at
http://balancebybeverly.vpweb.com. It's a new idea, and I would love your input! And of course, we're looking for clients! If you were a KCWN listener, you already know about my passion (obsession?) with moving furniture and my philosophy that when you can control nothing else in your life, control that sofa and move it across the room! (As you might imagine, I've been doing a LOT of sofa shoving...)
Balance by Beverly will also be available for seminars! I'm teaming up with my sister, one of the gals from Interiors by Val, to bring you helpful decorating advice, furniture arrangement tips, and perhaps most importantly, "the rest of the story". We'd love to come talk to your ladies group, host your group at Interiors by Val, or join you at a women's retreat! Give us a call, let's see where this leads!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Bev

I was reminded yesterday that some of you still check in to see what's up with me and my family..thanks..it's fun to be remembered..
We're doing CORN..as you recall, my husband is BIG into doing corn. He did 65 pints on Saturday and will be doing some again tonight and I would imagine every night this week. While it's a lot of work and a big mess at the time, this winter, NOTHING will taste sweeter than home grown sweet corn!
I dont' listen to the radio as much anymore..for various reasons, imagine that you left a job you loved only to go back every day to watch others doing it...that's what listening to the radio is like for me. I was assured that there would always be an open door for me at kcwn, but they changed all the locks! Guess that's a sign it's time to move on.....and what I heard on the radio today reminded me of what my "mission" in life is, for now. A program on Focus on the Family talked about stay at home moms and while I am not Georgia's mom, I do feel that same tug of stay home with the baby or go back to work. A producer at Focus talked about when she took time off from work to stay home with her children, how she went from producing radio that impacted thousands of people every day to raising 4 little ones. She said that when she stands before the Lord on the final day, she will be able to say that she did her very best for those 4 little lives..and that no matter how many she may have impacted by her work at Focus (where she was able to return after time off to raise her family..a sign of HOPE!) that what really matters is that those 4 little faces are the ones she sees for eternity.
Couldn't have said it better myself. so for now, even though I miss my radio work immensely, this is where I know I need to be. Whatever God has in store for me after this...well, that remains to be seen. I know from talking to many of you, that adjusting to the changes in life and coping with them can be very difficult. But we do not go through these things alone..and God is faithful.
I love hearing from you! Please feel free to email me (bevdv@iowatelecom.net) Another adjustment has been going from 40 emails a day with work related items to about 5 from friends! You would think i'd be getting ever so much more accomplished!
I have painted my kitchen...or should I say, i watched kids while my daughter Stacey painted. a nice camel color highlighted with wild current ( a nice bright deep red!!) the soffit above the cabinets still needs major attention as the wall paper there refused to come off.
We've had a couple pool days, and Tysen now loves to SING "I believe i can swim" as he jumps from the ladder to nana's waiting arms. a few mis ques and he "touched the floor" and got water in his nose and eyes, to which he replied, That was AWESOME!
oh to be 3!
Baby is sleeping, time to do some "work"
Blessings to you all
Bev

Georgia finds her voice! I guess having me as her caregiver a couple days a week, this was bound to happen! See if you don't recognize some sounds in her voice!

We've been busy!! the 12th was baptism for Georgia. It was a wonderful family day, with Aunt Jodi playing the prelude, Uncle Randy singing "He Knows My Name", all our "other brothers" in attendence, and lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, GREAT grandparents to vow their support of Georgia. Even our two "special nannies" Aunt Judy and Cousin Laurie were able to attend and help serve cake to our family and friends after.

This past week, we've been enjoying the weather like everyone else! Coolest July on record perhaps, and we're just OKAY with that!! It has cut down on the swim time though, as I am sure the pool temp is back to around 70! I know a couple little boys who are just chomping at the bit for a HOT day to swim at nanna's!

We immensely enjoyed the Wedding of Heather Van Kooten and Jeremy Ritzema in Oskaloosa on Saturday. The weather was perfect, and the ceremony inspiring. It was plain to see that we witnesses to the union of two people who love each other and the Lord and come from families that made that possible. I was a bit worried when the groom started crying when ushering in the grandma's, and it was all down hill from there! But a few tears only show that these familes really do care about each other! You have to stand in awe of a woman who raises 6 sons...and obviously taught them to love each other and music! All 5 brothers sang at the ceremony and were joined by their dad and a few close friends to sing the doxology at the reception. I love a reception that carries through with the theme of God First at the ceremony. This one did exactly that. I was glad to be a part of it. Best wishes to Heather and Jeremy and we look forward to more Van Kooten weddings in the future??

Yesterday, Dennis and I ventured out to the Rib America Fest at Vets. Dennis was in his glory, purchasing sampler baskets of barbequed ribs from 6 of the top vendors in the country! It was fun comparing sauce and dry rub and tenderness, until the 4th basket! Dennis broke his front tooth!! YOu know this had to be bad, cuz we LEFT the rib fest with two vendors to go!! We then spend the next 3 hours at Methodist visiting Dennis brother, only to come home and call on Dr Eric De Boef to remove the tooth! It was nice to see Eric and his family, who all came in to the Osky office on a Sunday night to take care of this problem! (Amy, always good to see you!!)

We would ask also that you keep Dennis' brother Bryce in your prayers. Bryce lives on the farm with the parents, and was painting the farm house on Thursday, when the ladder he was on slipped from the house and threw Bryce to the ground. He drove himself to the ER in Pella, where he was transferred by ambulance to Methodist. Tests have revealed that he has fractured his C2 vertebrae and is now in a brace awaiting surgery on Tuesday to repair this. Needless to say, we are so thankful that his fall wasn't worse, and we pray that the surgery will restore in to complete health and function. So far, all looks very good! The days however are long, laying in bed, not allowed to get up, in a brace that looks more like a torture device. Please pray for the surgery tomorrow!

Now, I see it's time for me to get BACK to work! Work, which now consists of caring for Georgia on Monday's and tuesday's while Val is doing clinicals at PRHC for Indian Hills. The rest of my days, well, stay "tuned" so to speak! I'm working on launching some new endeavors, and those of you who know me well, may not be too surprised at what I would like to do! And I could do it in YOUR HOUSE!!

A preview
Georgia Naely will be baptized at the Pella II CRC church this Sunday at the 9:30 am service. You are invited to join us as we celebrate the family of God.
As you can see, Georgia is very impressed with our choice of dress for her for the occasion!

Happy Independence Day!
This is our family entry in the Leighton Parade, held on July 3 in beautiful downtown Leighton! You see Dennis on the 4 wheeler, pulling a trailer with all our grands...Scott and I are walking beside, to "catch" any early exits from the parade entry! Everyone managed to man their station, even our ever on the move 1 year old, Henry, and our two youngest, Jessa, 7 months, and Georgia, 5 months who were secured in their Bumbo seats at the back of the "float".









Our theme was based on a commercial
Noah did when we worked at KCWN..
you may remember hearing it? If you need a new kitchen, call my Papa! We had a ton of fun making the float and tossing candy to a waiting crowd! Even the few rain drops didn't seem to bother us!

Perhaps the hardest part was for me, keeping up with the trailer full of our babies as it sped back to the shop!

So my friends, Happy 4th of July to you all, may you celebrate our rich heritage of Freedom with family and friends in a truly American way!

If you missed the Leighton parade, there will be more of our family in Sully today! Jodi, Colby and Grandpa Ed will represent 3 generations of students from Sully Christian School in the parade there, and I understand there will be plenty of good food available in Sully today!

You just have to HEAR an old John Deere to get the real experience. This is my dad on his John Deere!