she's the coolest

At 17 months Miss Ryleigh Anne has quite the personality. She really is the coolest little tot. She's sleeping through the night (sans ear infection) and she wakes up just like her mama. Not.well. Bath time is chat time, I swear she has an imaginary friend. She is addicted to blueberries, and M&M's. Every night after dinner it's the same song and dance..literally. Clothes off, music on, and she has been teaching me some very cool new dance moves. Her new favorite band is N'sync. Maybe tonight we'll work on "Bye Bye Bye."

She is a one woman wrecking ball. Flinging books around every room of our house is her new favorite pastime. She is a great workout partner, and is pretty enthusiastic when we are doing the 30 day shred. She only has 8 teeth, and loves orajel, and amoxicillin oddly enough.

She cracks me up, and has become quite the snuggler (which I love.) I can't wait to get her to the beach next week and see what she thinks about the sand and salt water. Here's praying she doesn't eat it:)

fri to the day

 

 

Color me bright and happy. It's FRIDAY. Chicago is calling. I anticipate the next 48 hours to be filled with laughs, drinks, sleeps, and good old fashioned story telling. May it bring you the freedom to rest, to refresh, and renew for the work week to come.

 

Happy weekend-ing everyone.

love sweet love

Jason and I agree that Valentine's day is a Hallmark holiday. Russell Stover chocolates are yucky, and flowers eventually die. We also agree that "celebrating" love one day a year is total crap. Yes, crap. I want him to know how much I love and appreciate him 365 days a year and vice versa.

I love love. I love the warm fuzzy feelings it brings. I love the strength and security it gives...the kisses, the cuddles, the belly laughs, the honest conversations, and the fruit it provides. Our hope as a couple is that through our love for each other (and Miss Ryleigh too) we are showing Gods love to others.

"To love another person, is to see the face of God." - Victor Hugo. I quoted this in a previous post, but it's so worth posting again because it rings so loudly and true.

Jason loves me with an unconditional and forgiving love that I know I deserve, and that I am so thankful for. This love has changed me.

Happy Love Day!

chewing on this

 

 

As one day bleeds into the other there comes a need to say no. To stand still, and not spread ourselves so thin. There's that saying...you can't be everything to everyone, and you can't be in two places at once...but don't you sometimes wish you could be?

Weekends aren't long enough, and most times it doesn't seem that there are enough hours in each day. Planning and anticipation lately have seemed to provide anxiety...then I came across the quote above and I'm really chewing on it. I continually pray for perspective, and here it is. Oh, He is good.

 

I know what my priorities are thank you very much, the question remains...am I being courageous and nonapologetic when I say no to the smaller things that I know waste my time and giving my priorities my all? Or am I getting caught up in the things that don't/won't matter down the road?

 

I'm right in the middle, but the middle isn't where I want to be.

Chewing, and reflecting.

 

What about you?

 

 

 



it really is

Jason's cuddles before the alarm buzzes. Ryleigh's sleepy little smile first thing in the morning. The rush of caffeine after that first cup of coffee. The sun peaking out behind the gray that is February. Counting down the days until we're in Florida and anticipating Ryleigh's reaction to the sand between her chubby toes. Birthday toasts to come this Saturday, and banana cream pie. All of these small, but very wonderful things are what is making my world wonderful. May you find the time to slow down this weekend and find out what makes you smile, and not take it for granted.

30, I welcome you

Well, today is the day. I'm 30, and I'm incredibly happy about it! I welcome 30, and I know that the best years are in front of me.

My 20's were...well, questionable on many occasions, but isn't that what your 20's are for?!? I loved, I lost, I worked, I schooled, I moved, I cried, I traveled, I fought, I fell in love (the all consuming, inconvenient, can't live without each other love that Carrie Bradshaw talks about), I drank, I laughed (that really good, deep belly laugh), I prayed, I got engaged, I got married, I gave birth, and through it all I found myself.

Well, wait, I believe I will always be on the never ending journey of finding myself, but I absolutely know who I am better than I ever have right now. I'm comfortable in my own skin. I am beautiful because my husband makes me feel beautiful, every day, all of the time.... being a mom to our Ryleigh is the best part of me, and God loves me even though I have one million flaws. Life is good.

After reading this little bit of perspective from this blog I follow called the minimalists I have to agree with more than a couple of them and I've written my own take on the subjects below.

2. Love isn't enough - I totally agree with him on this...the action we take to show others that we love them is crucial. A quote from the amazing Les Miserables says it best "To love another person is to see the face of God." ~Victor Hugo

7. Health is more important than most of us treat it -   yes, what he said. From my previous post about running...I know that I need to do this. I need to respect my body more.  Not only for myself, but for my family. I know they want me around for a long time, and time is flying by. I am taking control. I still don't like running, but we're getting along, civil even. I'll let you know when I'm smitten.

11. Relationships matter - I am blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. From family to my dear forever friends, I value all of you. Each relationship I've had in my life (positive or negative...long or short) has shaped me, and I'm so thankful and better for them. Investing in relationships is very important to me no matter where I am in life. I hope I make the people I love feel it. I hope they know my heart, and see my sincere intention.

16. I am not the center of the universe - ah, so it's true. I am not. In my 20's this rang true...so loudly that I made so many bad decisions. Selfish decisions. Rash decisions. When I met Jason, and was shown first hand how perfect and unconditional love felt, it changed me. It was no longer about me. When Ryleigh was born that love intensified times...well everything. My perspective has shifted. It had to shift...needed to shift.

19. We are often scared for no reason - well, I am a worrier of sorts. Not about everything, just things I can't control...which I guess means just about everything. Funny how that works. I am also a planner, and I believe this is the culprit in most situations. I am not in control. He is. All I need is a hug from Jason, and a small reminder that "everything is going to be ok" because it usually is.

27. Openness is just as important as honesty- Openness is more complicated than honesty. Openness involves being honest, while painting an accurate picture, shooting straight, not misleading other people, and being real. Openness is far more subjective, and you have to be honest with yourself before you can be open with others. This doesn’t mean that you must put your entire life on display. Some things are private, and that’s OK too. - Agreed with a capital A!  The subjectivity of it is very real, and I've come to realize I can only say what I need/want to say, and that's all I can do.

30. I'm still trying to figure it all out - I would never claim to have it all figured out, and anyone that does is just lying. Truth, although I am a planner, I love spontaneity. The unknown is scary, but I have experience with scary. I have experience with so many things, I just need to continue changing my perspective.

There you  have it. I welcome 30 and I am excited to see what challenges lie ahead. I've got my big girl pants on...lets go.

when God closes one door....

...he most certainly opens another. I know God has a plan for me, and for my family. I try so very hard to be patient and remind myself that his timing is and will always be perfect. I try not to question. Try being the key word in all of the above sentences.

A happy Monday it was not. Jason and I found out that Ryleigh's daycare is going to be shutting down as of March 1st. I was caught off guard, and it took me most the night to process the information. Shock was first, then confusion, and finally irritation set in. Thing is, once I went through all of these emotions and got out of my own selfish way, I felt awful because in the end it's about the care Ryleigh is given. I can't begin to express my appreciation for the women that care for her each day. They are patient, kind, forgiving, and all around wonderful. I know that when I am unable to be with her during my work day, that she is safe, she is being challenged and loved.

After a bit of scrambling we've found a new daycare home for her. When we return from our trip to visit my parents in Florida she'll start part time at a place very close to our house (and close to work) and we're incredibly at peace with everything that is to come. Now, having said that...she'll be part time....so she'll also be enrolled at daddy daycare. Jason will be watching her 3 days a week. Boy are we so glad that he works from home now!! This is a true blessing during this transition. Once April comes roaring in Ry will go back full time, and I'm sure she'll be ready. The socialization and stimulation are so welcome. She loves other kids! She's little miss social and is constantly on the go. She's a sponge and it's so amazing how fast she is learning so many new things. She's growing up too fast that's for sure.

So, with a heavy heart we'll leave the family we've been a part of for the past 13 months and start the next adventure with a positive attitude.

We are so grateful, and blessed to have had the women from Children's Garden care for our Ryleigh. Thank you for the bottom of our hearts, and well wishes to you all.

weekend nugget

 

Go ahead and take time off from your self-doubt for the weekend. May the break be so freeing that you decide to make it permanent.

This little nugget is something I saw on chatting at the sky and I just love her thought provoking weekending posts. I read this and thought, what a complicated thing to put into such a small sentence. I wanted her to say more, but why? I don't want to think about the self-doubt that I have....I want to take her advice and free myself from it. So that's what I intend to do this weekend, and every weekend after. After all, I'm only the pencil to the writer of this story. Relinquishing control is that other part I need to work on:)

Happy Weekending Everyone. I hope that even through the gray of the day, you can imagine the sun on your face and smile because instead of feeling the actual warmth on your skin, you can feel it in your heart.

thinking and thinking some more

Finding a quiet space, reading...I mean really reading...and re-reading and thinking, and gaining perspective is one of my favorite things about investing in other blogs. Blogs by men, or women, or moms, or singles, or christians, or dog lovers, of food lovers, or or whatever else there is out there...there's always something I come across that seems to stick in my head. I'm either grateful for it because it's made me think of ways I can improve myself and the way I'm living my life, or irritated that I read it because it's something I can't wrap my mind around.

Recently there have been a couple of posts by blogs I loyally follow that have me in a tizzy. The post either stikes a cord and I can completely relate, or I read something like the insert below and I can't seem to stop thinking about discontentment and where this may have a place in my present right now.

I love reading Annie Blogs. She's funny, down to earth, hilarious, and every post reads very real to me. She recently wrote a post on this book  (Beyond Ordinary) and 1. I want to read the book,  2. the insert below is what I've had stuck in my head over the past couple of days.

“Discontentment always pushes us to compare what we have to what someone else already has. But comparison is never about the person we are comparing ourselves too but rather it’s about the condition of our heart. Discontentment leads to entitlement, which sets the tone that when people fail to meet our expectations we are owed even more.

That's a mouthful isn't it?

Of course I can only speak for myself here, so I have to admit that any or every comparison that I make absolutely has to do with where I'm at and what I'm happy about or not happy about. What I have or what I don't, and it has nothing to do with whatever I've chosen to fixate on. I have been asking myself where my heart is at...and I feel that even when things aren't just as I feel they should be, I need to remember that it's not my plan in the making, it's His, and they are perfect for where I am in life right now. I am so quick to look past what's in front of me that I take for granted everything that I need to be thankful for.

The second part is what scares me. Expectations are a stinker. Even when we go on and on and on about how we don't have them (we do, just admit it) so this is when things can get messy. I know I have expectations, mainly for the way I'm treated by others around me. Whether you're a stranger or someone I've know for more than a decade. Golden rule: Treat others how you want to be treated. It's simple, easy to understand, and completely doable. Now, having said that, I am not perfect and I sometimes mess up and not so tolerable Courtney escapes, so I take full responsibility. That's just a smallish example for you to chew on. I guess in the grand scheme of things I don't ever want to feel that I'm owed anything. I want to put good out into the universe and hopefully it'll all come around and keep going around not just for me, but for everyone around me.So, I think all I can do is just keep this small insight in my back pocket and dust it off whenever that sneaky little expectation rears it's ugly head.

Slowing down. Appreciating the blessings, big and small, or maybe not even placing them into a box of any size. Remaining thankful. Being better than the day before, and using every bit of breathing room I have make sure I can continue doing all of the above.

running and I almost like it

If you are annoyed by my instagram posts about making good life choices, it seems as though I really am!! I figured it was a fun way to keep motivated, and hold myself accountable. Yes, I am running. I know I know....when and how did all of this come about, well I made a promise to myself on Dec 28th that I was HONESTLY and fiercely going to do something about this baby weight. Ryleigh is way past 1 and I'm still hanging on to more than I should be. The free for all of unhealthy eating is done, and I'm trying my hardest to stay on the right track.

Running is something I've never, ever, ever, liked doing. I got bored. I couldn't breathe, and I just wasn't motivated. But now, after making myself get out there and do it, I don't hate it. I still don't like it...but maybe that'll change. We are still getting to know each other...this running and I. So the next couple of dates with the sidewalk may or may not tell me if we're in this for the long haul. I'll get back to you on that.

The goal right now is to run for a good amount of time without stopping to walk. Now, this might be a laughable goal to some of you, but honestly, it's awesome when I can make it back to the house with this awesome sense of accomplishment...high five myself  (I do this, but it looks awkward) and head inside to get a hug from my biggest and littlest fans. I've done it enough times that I'm confident that I can continue to run without stopping for as far as I want, just depends on my pace. So a run or 2 ago I started to use the mapmyrun app just to see how long it was really taking me when I went  however far I felt like going that day and to my amazement I was actually running faster than I thought. Bonus!

Now, January is really a very silly time to decide to do this. 19 degrees was my coldest run, and I couldn't feel my legs after the first mile. Quite honestly, I think it might have helped me continue.
Regardless, I give myself props for getting out there in the winter. It's NOT very fun, and it's definitely not easy, but when I get out of a hot shower I feel pretty darn good about what I've done.

I've got some help from the sis in law and our cousin who have decided to join me in the instagram accountability group...so fun to encourage one another and get that cyber high five from them!

Taking on the treadmill tonight...instagram pic to come..

16 Months and growing...

My little girl is the funniest, most strong willed, tiny human that I know. I'm biased ofcourse.She makes my life so much brighter and this journey just keeps getting better and better.

 

Right now we're in the phase of...running everywhere, forget walking. That takes too long! Opening and closing doors. She's a pro and we haven't caught any fingers just yet. I do have some Hello Kitty band aids and a first aid kit waiting just in case. My favorite word she says is "peeeeeeas" which translated means "please". She always says it with such enthusiasm because she now realizes that this gets her what she wants...well...99% of the time.

For our dancing entertainment we have moved on from Gangnam Style to Domino by Jessie J (Thank goodness, I wasn't sure how much more I could take of that ridiculous song.) Ry loves all carbs. She is her mothers daughter. Bread could be a basic food group. I know I know, that sounds horrible, and I promise Jason and I try everything possible to get those fruits, veggies, and protein into her little body, but often times fail until her after dinner snack. Don't judge me.

I am going to blame daycare for this new little tantrum trick she has perfected... throwing her body to the floor while crying louder and louder the more "no's" she hears. I may or may not have had to go lock myself in the bathroom for a minute to pray and get myself together. The crying and whining is a true test to our patience as parents.

She loves keys, shirtless after dinner strolls with her baby stroller, brushing her teeth, and yelling at us like a little dictator "Nana, Nana" which in Ryleigh world means "Get me a banana now!" Now meaning like 5 minutes ago. Oh I love her.

Jason and I can sing the Little Einstein's intro song in our sleep, and read Goodnight Moon with our eyes closed.

Our little family makes my heart smile more than I ever thought it could. Being a parent and a wife is incredibly humbling. As I write this I'm reminded of the beauty in the unplanned and ability to learn from everything put in front of me.

Looking forward to whatever comes next, with a thankful heart, and an open mind....

 

 

Standing still a minute

November came and went. How did that happen? One minute we were celebrating Halloween with our little Chick-fil-a cow and then its' December 6th. I want, need, have to stand still for a minute. So here I am, checking in once again to the total of 19 people that follow this tiny little blog, and let you know what the Kingma clan has been up to.

Well, Halloween was a success. Ryleigh learned how to "Moo"  just in time to act the part of our cute little cow, and Jason creatively added the artwork around her neck. I love him, and his sense of humor. She does not yet know what candy is, all she wanted to do was go outside, play with rocks, and wave at the kids. All in all it was a successful night.

Hello November...I welcomed it. I love gearing up for Thanksgiving. It's my most favorite holiday. What could be better than mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, and everything pumpkin?!
While counting down the days until my most beloved holiday there were some fun things that have happened to our little family lately that we had to celebrate. Jason got a new job, and loves having the opportunity to work from home. I love it too because he loves to cook, and I come home to lots of yummy goodies many times a week. Spoiled are Ry and I. Ryleigh turned 14 months and has been cracking us up every step of the way. She has added some new words to her vocab, and I think our favorite was "cookah" for cookie, and without fail she asked for it every morning for a solid 2 weeks. She is her mother's daughter.

Later in the month we got to go to our annual Michigan game! Jason was like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning. Up at 5am making homemade cinnamon rolls, and ready to head to the Big House. We met up with friends, tailgated, and watched one heck of a game. Michigan beat Northwestern in Overtime. GO BLUE!

A week after the game my Dad made a little trip down to the Cleveland Clinic for a surgery to have a pacemaker put in to help with his heart. I am so thankful for the clinic, the doctors, and everyone that took care of him. His recovery has been a smooth one, and he looks and feels great! We all got a nice surprise when Davey came home to surprise Dad when he got a short leave from Fort Hood:) Those are the best surprises. Also, while they were down in Cleveland, Carley turned 19. This is crazy to me and made me feel very old! She now has her license and shiny new SUV to go with it. She started school a couple of weeks ago and is doing well and getting used to being away from home.

Lets see what else....oh I can't forget Carrie Underwood. Jason (the most awesome hubs ever) had purchased these tickets for me for Mother's day and and we had an amazing time! I have a total girl crush on her.

Then it was Thanksgiving. That time of year when you count your blessings, and stuff your belly. We spent the day relaxing, watching Papa and Ryleigh dance to gangam style, watched some football, ate , napped, ate more, and spent time with friends with a glass of wine and a very competitive game of Catch-phrase:) It was the perfect day.

December is already flying by. We've had friends visit from Chicago, watched the Lions lose to the Colts at Ford Field, put the lights on the tree, and had one White Elephant party already. In the upcoming weeks I'm SO excited to spend time with family, and friends, and I hope that we have the chance to stand still at each gathering to appreciate and give thanks to God for every blessing he has given us this year.

Fall is here, and I am happy.

I love fall. I love the crisp air in the morning. I love the color that explodes from the trees all over Grand Rapids. I love taking Ryleigh for rides in her red flyer wagon and listening to her say "bir" and pointing at all the geese flying overhead. I love cider. Chili. Football. Post season baseball (as long as the Tiger's are winning) and I love reflecting on the days that have passed and anticipating all the holiday fun ahead.

Ryleigh's first birthday party was a success. She loved all the boxes that her toys came in. She wasn't so sure about her cake at first, but within minutes dove in and was covered in sugar. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. She was definitely spoiled, and we're so thankful that everyone could help us celebrate our growing girl.

Jason's 31st birthday came and went shortly after. He's very excited for the Lions game in December! I am too! It'll be my very first NFL experience, so I hope they can pull out a W!

October arrived too quickly, but we've been busy having fun. We went to the Rascal Flatts concert, along with Little Big Town, Eden's Edge, and The Eli Young Band. It. Was.Amazing.
We had the best time, and who can complain when you get upgraded to 8th row:)

Next weekend we're heading up north with The Britten's to do some wine tasting, and having a little pre-anniversary celebration. I can't believe it's almost been 2 years since we got hitched. So much has happened. So many things are different, but we're still very happy. Very blessed. Very humbled for the provision that God has shown our family.

Fall is my favorite. Cheer's to enjoying it until the last leaf falls.

Where did the summer go?

It's September. Seriously, where did the summer go? I feel like it was just a week ago that we were watching fireworks in celebration of the 4th of July. I will say that as much as I love fall and welcome it with open arms, this summer was a perfect one. Even with the record breaking temperatures we had in the mitten, we had a wonderful time watching Ryleigh grow and experience everything that summer has to offer...swimming, ice cream, fireworks, lake Michigan, barbeque's, and lots of sunshine. 

As the temp starts to drop, I get giddy just thinking of my favorite season approaching. I'm a sucker for all things fall. Jeans, hoodies, bonfires, chili, the smell of autumn, Michigan football, the leaves changing color, and that cozy feeling of snuggling up on the couch with some hot cider. 

We have a lot on the calendar already and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon. The next big thing is our little bug's first birthday party. Planning is in full swing and I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that in just a few short weeks I will be the mother of a 1 year old. That. Is. Crazy. 

Ryleigh is quite the little rockstar if I do say so myself. She's walking everywhere and I think walking will soon be running if she has her way. She's jabbering all the time, and she loves a good dance party. She watched her first Michigan football game, and is sleeping soundly through the night. We're all done with formula, and she's wearing 18 month outfits already. She's a happy, healthy, growing bug and we couldn't not be happier! 

Cheers to fall and everything it will bring...

Steamboat Springs

Oh Colorado, how I love you.

Our family vacation was a success and boy what a whirlwind. 9 days sounds like a long time, but it flew by in a flash. I admit I was very anxious about the flight to CO, but our little bug was a great traveler...thanks to multi grain cheerios, books, mum mums, and her blankey.

In a nutshell the trip included, but were not limited to the following: Denver, Ale House, Upslope, Gelato, Steamboat Springs, Chocolate Chip Cupcakes, Morning side Villa's, key lime pie, Family Dinners, Family Breakfasts, a whole lot of Olympics, hiking, biking, tubing, horseback riding (from which I was oh so sore for 2 days after) Family pictures, more Gelato, Mountains, shopping, hot springs, more hiking, more eating, Ryleigh being silly and very sassy, naps, pool time, Freshies, Bluegrass music, Rodeo, and finally the trip home....

So blessed are we to have had this time to spend with family, and enjoy Gods creation.

being her mom

She's seriously the funniest little person I've ever met. When she smiles my heart melts. every.single.time.

...even when she's standing up in her crib, yelling for us to come and get her.

...even when she pouts b/c all she wants to do is snuggle when she wakes up.

...even when we tell her "no" and she still races away from us up the stairs.

...especially when she belly laughs, it's my most favorite sound in the world.  

She's the absolute best, and I am so lucky to be her mom. She reminds me daily how privileged I am...how special this journey is, and how being her mom makes me a better woman each day.

Kneeland Wedding

Well, our wedding season 2012 has officially come to an end!  I can’t believe it! The past 3 years have been non-stop wedding craziness…and I’m not joking when I say we attended about 20 weddings and planned and had our own in that time! We’re so incredibly blessed to have been a part of so many special days for our friends and family!

With that said, I need to share the play by play of my bestie’s wedding weekend! My little Lindsay married her main man, Greg, on June 30, 2012. The day was perfect, the bride was beautiful, and the groom was adorable with her.

Before I get ahead of myself I must start at the beginning…

Jason and I dropped our bug off with Grandma and Grandpa Kingma. We kissed her 100 times, thanked them a 100 times, and got in the car to head to Ohio. Oh Ohio, how you are not my husband’s favorite state, but we’ll leave that for another post come football seasonJ It was 103+ degrees the entire way down…the heat was just icky, sticky, and just plain nast. On a better note we made great time and were able to spend some time with friends before the weekend would be shoved into wedding mode.

The next day the girls headed downtown C-bus to get our nails done, and have a cozy lunch at this great Italian place Linds had picked out. We had a wonderful time together, and had so much fun just hanging out! It’s not every day we’re all in the same place! After lunch we headed back to the hotel and hung out in Lindsay’s huge VIP suite! After some trouble she’d experienced with the hotel, I must say, they totally redeemed themselves with this fantastic upgrade for her! Way to go Sheraton!

So we’re all sitting in her room, chatting, laughing, and catching up when we notice that the sky is turning a very scary shade of gray, and within minutes a huge storm rips through Columbus. It went from quiet to crazy in a matter of seconds. I called Jason, and he was on the highway nervous b/c the car was being moved by the 80 mph winds he was hearing about on the radio. Street sings were flying around, and then the downpour hit.  I told him I’d meet him down in the lobby once he made it to the hotel, so I (like an idiot) headed towards the elevator. I got on the elevator (I know, I know) and hit the lobby button. Did I mention the suite was on the 20^th floor……the elevator makes it to floor 18 and then boom….the lights flicker and we drop to floor 16! A voice comes over the speakers “We are experiencing technical difficulties!” Umm yeah (as swear words are searing in my mind) I figured that one out, but thank you elevator fairy.  Seconds later the doors open and I jump out instantly.  I find a stairwell, and descend 15 floors with the lights flickering on and off. Then I notice that I’m alone and wonder where everyone else is…I end up in the basement. I see huge laundry machines, but no people. Here I am, just walking around, no idea where I am or who I’ll see. No cell service, and I admit, I was just a titch scared. Then I hear a coffee grinder. I open a door to find myself in the Starbucks kitchen! Hooray! I pop out a side door and head for the lobby. Ok, so I am exaggerating just a little, but basements are scary. Period.

Jason made it safe, and we headed to our room to get ready for the rehearsal! I’m terrible with directions, so of course with my poor navigating skills we got lost on the way to the venue, and actually passed the pub where we were going to be having our rehearsal dinner….the bad thing was…no lights. Completely black. Uh oh. We finally make it to the venue. No lights. No air....oh boy. This could get interesting.  

Apparently this storm had knocked out the power of more than 150,000 people in and around Columbus. The pub, venue, and the hotel where my parents were staying  were just a few of the casualties at this point.  So we made the best of the situation and practiced in the dark. Poor Linds, we all felt so bad that things weren’t going to plan, but things happen, and we just had to roll with it. The lights came on just as we were leaving for dinner (Praise the Lord), and you could hear just about everyone sigh with relief. Her uncle worked some magic and we were able to find a place that would seat our large group last minute, and we ended up having a wonderful dinner!

Then, wedding morning arrived! So excited was I for everything that was to come that day. Watching Linds get ready, seeing her in her dress, watching her walk down the aisle, and just having fun with everyone while celebrating one of the people I love most in the world, and the man she’s chosen to love forever. It was going to be a best day.

And it was.

She looked breathtaking.  I cried before I could even see her walking down the aisle, and cried again when she made her promises to Greg, and he made his to her. 

The rest of the night looked like this….sandals for comfort, bridal party introduction with a dip and a kiss from the bride and groom to start things off, incredibly appropriate, and very heartfelt speeches given by the MOH and best man, the tears were flowing when Lindsay's uncle spoke of her mother, Jill, and his prayer was perfect, good food, yummy champagne, I hope you dance, more cryingJ, Heaven, Yuengling, Thriller, pictures, some silly O-H-I-O whatever, cake, more pictures, soulja boy, little bit of after party, and finally saying goodnight to the newlyweds before heading back to the hotel for some much needed R&R and the removal of the 800 bobby pins that were holding my hair in place! haha 

We said our goodbyes in the morning, which are always so bittersweet. We hit the road, and headed back to good ol’Pure Michigan to get out bug! We sure missed her!!!  Like I said, it really was perfect, and I am so so happy that God has given my best friend, her best man. I know Greg will love her in the most perfect way he can. I know her mom would be so proud, and so in awe of them just as we all are.

We love you both! Congrats Kneelands!!!!

celebration accomplished

A couple of weekends ago a group of old friends celebrated one of their own, and what a day it was! Filled with old stories, new stories, family, friends, kiddos, pictures, laughter, cake, mimosas, chocolate covered strawberries, games,  happy tears, ribbons, Fandango's, spilt drinks, Island Fest, Monaco Bay, Sky Deck, dancing, the Radisson, and finally Sunday morning goodbyes until we'd all meet again on Greg and Linds' rehearsal day.

I am so happy for my best friend, and the journey ahead of her with her best friend, and soon to be husband. Great things are in store for these two...I just know it:)

Daddy Day

It was a crazy weekend with lots of girly celebrating for mommy’s friend Lindsay! But I was excited to see my daddy and celebrate his first Father’s day with him! I got to spend time with my Papa Neel, he is so silly and he loves to cuddle me. I also went to South Haven to see Grandpa Hall, and I think I’m going to like visiting there…I love watching the boats, and swinging under the big tree! Grandpa Hall sure does make me laugh!! Then we went to see Grandpy Kingma and Great Grandpa Kingma for a BBQ. Makes a girl feel good when they smile at me so muchJ I was tired, and being really goofy when daddy put his sunglasses on me…I love a good belly laugh. 

My most favorite part of the day was spending time with my daddy. He’s the best. He gives me the best cuddles, the biggest kisses, and he makes me feel like a princess. I felt it was time to spoil him a little since he spoils me all the time….so mommy and I gave him his Michigan helmet! I immediately face masked him and we had some good laughs. I’m pretty sure he’ll wear it around the house!

I love you daddy!

Love,
Bug

reunion

In just 3 (hopefully short) days I'll be reunited with the girls. It's not often we're all in the same place since we're pretty spread out in different cities, states, and even countries at times...so our gathering is a much anticipated and welcomed one. We'll all be in good ol'Kalamazoo for some bachelorette fun to celebrate Miss Lindsay and her upcoming nuptials. I'm sure we'll revisit many memories while traipsing around our old college stomping grounds....who knows what the night will bring...


I'm in desperate need for a new photo...I came across this one dated back to 2008...WAY too long ago...

To be continued....