We're back, again! I had no ability to post pictures, which is part of the reason for the blog, i dropped my 6 year old digital camera on the cement front step on one of those frigid nights, and it did not fare well...so after going a few rounds with Walmart on how to get an advertised camera (order on line, have it shipped to the store it is supposed to be on sale at..) HERE we ARE! Georgia is now ONE, as of Feb 6. and walking as of the day after that! so we've been busy..

Like most of you, we've about had it with winter, snow, cold, car seats and coats, roads drifting shut, and all the rest...but there is always the promise of spring!! someday....

I'm continuing my work at Best of Thymes in Pella, about one day a week, it's been a slow February, and with all this weather to deal with, my employers have been quite generous with me, allowing me to stay home with the winter winds howl.

Our family hopes to get together this weekend, and I'll be taking that new camera, and sharing pictures with you of all the kids...

A little heads up..Peder Eide will be in concert on the 24th at Pella Christian High. Remember the Christmas concerts we had with Peder at 2nd church, and the concert two years ago at PCH in such terrible weather? so many of you came, and were blessed by his ministry and enthusiasm..I hope to attend this year and would love to see many of you too!!

Take care my friends, there are "better days" just ahead!

Good to be Back

Our 9 year old Toshiba laptop died. After a week of no Internet, no email,I packed up the office computer and brought it home. I refuse to face another weather situation that might leave me at home with out contact with my friends. I've also upgraded a bit to service though us cellular, which brings me up to speed with my DSL friends...no more DIAL UP! (so yes, you can now reach me on my home phone again mother...) I hope to upload some pictures tomorrow, Georgia cooperating, and talk more with you all about things happening in the world, most of all the situation in Haiti, and the amazing story of the Poulters trip there to bring back 5 precious children. Catch the story on ABC, hopefully more tonight on Nightline.
til later
I'm BACK!!

Not exactly Seven Lords a Leaping...but it is Seven De Vries girls sitting! These are the Seven baby girls born this past year as great grand daughters of Harold and Leona De Vries. Starting at the left: Ella Dykstra, Meagan De Vries, Jessa De Vries, Cambria Van Dyke, Breckyn De Vries, Georgia De Vries and Abigal De Vries. Whooooh! We feel we accomplished quite a bit getting this picture, they started crawling away within seconds! We celebrated Christmas and Grandpa's 80th birthday Saturday night with over 60 family members in attendance. and no, it wasn't at our house...we are thankful for the use of the Peoria Grade School gymnasium!!






Santa appeared at our gathering to hand out presents to all the good girls and boys. Cambria, just a year, was fascinated by Santa and several other children reserved judgement of Santa, but managed to get close enough to open a gift. Santa does hold a special place in his heart for Colby...who kept Santa's "real identity" to himself.

This was my first Christmas in over a dozen years to NOT be on the radio. I always enjoyed working Christmas morning, sharing songs i loved with the listeners who had become my "extended family". I was not looking forward to getting through yet another season of my lost life. But, because of snow and situations, I slept through what would have been most of my morning radio shift. and as the day progressed, I found I didn't miss it as much as I had thought i might, though I do still miss so much talking with so many who touched my life over the past 12 years. My work at Best of Thymes has brought contact with some old friends as well, and it's always good to catch up. If you're one of those people I miss, please feel free to email! I love connecting in this new way, while still missing the old way!

At our Christmas gathering with my husbands family, my sis in law gave a brief over view of the things our 9 different families have to be thankful for. It made me pause to think of what an amazing year we have had. While I am thankful for the things she mentioned, a new home for Randy and Jodi, a new place for Scott and Stacey, and Val's passing of her LPN year at Indian hills, we have many more reasons to be thankful. This past year brought Valerie through a difficult pregnancy with the end result of the healthy delivery of Georgia Naely. And though the next 2 months found us in situations we never saw coming, Valerie's Congestive Heart Failure and immediate start on Chemo for her leukemia, my losing my job, position, financial support ,and mission at KCWN, and many other life style changes for all of us, we have found that God is always faithful. True friends have remained to offer support and joy through this new season of our life. So I am thankful for God and his promises, that JOY can remain even when life is hard, and that a baby's smile can make any day worth living.

I am thankful for my family..great kids and 6 grandkids, a husband who has learned all over again the art of raising an infant, parents who are healthy and happy, a church family that feels like family, my class at Third church, my new work at Best of Thymes, with good people who make me feel important, needed, and worthwhile. I am thankful for Salvation, full and free, for a God who is very fond of me....and disciplines those he loves. I am thankful for all of you.

Merry Christmas
Blessed New Year

Poppa and the girls at snack time..does anyone look overwhelmed??
Georgia has discovered mobility with her walker...to the point of getting INTO the drawer that holds that prized above all possessions: the remote!
and a glimpse into a typical family gathering these days, kids and babies everywhere!!

Just a few pictures of life with us these days
and while you're all sending out Christmas cards and writing those annual letters..I'm thinking of doing the same, only right here, once and for all!
Getting snowed in might just be the stimulus needed to complete such a project! Stay safe and warm, travel only if you need to, make sure the cell phone is charged!