Category Archives: Nature/Outdoors
Ten Reasons I’ve Been MIA
It’s been awhile since I’ve gone ten days without a blog post! For you hangers-on, here are ten reasons for my absence: 1. We went to Florida for Spring Break, and in some comically-timed [or divinely ordained] sequence of events, … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, Family, Family Activities, Food, God, gratitude, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Vacation
Tagged Florida, Recreation, Spring Break, Travel
4 Comments
Michigan Maple Syrup!
The dormant, hibernating teacher in me is creeping to the surface once again. I may not be clawing to get back into the classroom, but I do love to turn our living room, kitchen, and the nearby woods into places where … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Education, Family, Family Activities, God, gratitude, Kids, Kids in School, Living Green, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Tagged Business, Food, homeschooing, Maple, Maple syrup, michigan maple syrup association, shopping, Sugar house, Sugar Shack, Sweeteners, VandeBunte Maple
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Easy Recycling and Repurposing Craft
This past weekend my son was given a homework assignment to find an object that could be recycled or repurposed into something new and useful. [DISCLAIMER: by useful, we don’t mean turning a regular piece of paper into a paper … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, crafts, Discoveries, Education, Family, Home, Kids, Kids in School, Living Green, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun
Tagged 2 Liter, Bird, Bird feeder, Business, craft, homemade bird feeder, Jimmy John's, Paper, paper airplanes, Recycling, repurposing, Waste management, X-Acto
2 Comments
Hearing Isaiah in a Painted Sky
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, Faith, God, gratitude, Home, Matters of the Heart, Nature/Outdoors, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!
Tagged beauty, Faith, God, Great power, Holy Spirit, Isaiah, Isaiah 40, Jesus, Nature, Religion and Spirituality, Sunsets
6 Comments
What Women Tell Me: Finding Freedom From The Secrets We Keep, by Anita Lustrea
“As a girl and young woman, I memorized hundreds of Scripture verses in vacation Bible school and in Sunday school. I grew up memorizing the hymn book. I didn’t, however, grow up understanding much about God’s grace and freedom.” [pg. … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discipline Issues, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Social Justice, Summer, Travel, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged Anita Lustrea, Bible, Christianity, Divine grace, God, Moody Bible Institute, Moody Radio, Religion and Spirituality, secrets, Sunday school, theology, United States
3 Comments
Dare I Put It In Print??
Dear friends and marginally-invested visitors, It’s time to own up to the truth. I must remove the mask and costume and be honest: I am a blue-ribbon slacker. You wouldn’t know it to look at me, but I kick butt and … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discipline Issues, Growing Pains, Kids, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life, Silly Lists, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged 10, 10 K Run, Fifth-Third River Bank Run, Gold Digger, Holidays, Home, John Mayer, Kanye West, Los Angeles, Mother's Day, new year, New Year's Eve
6 Comments
“What’s Included” In Mexico
Next month my husband and I are leaving the mess in the kitchen, turning on our heels, locking the doors, and escaping into the wild blue yonder together. Along with some of our best friends and our new friend, the … Continue reading
Posted in Friends, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Rants, Vacation
Tagged Cancún, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cozumel, Florida, Mexico, Punta Sur, Riviera Maya, vacation
1 Comment
A Slow Unraveling
This fall my kitchen windows have seen more than just leaves changing color outside; they have stood witness to exhausting and unwelcome changes happening within our walls, around our table, in our kitchen. It’s taken me a more than a … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Home, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Rants, Seasons of Life
Tagged BSF, BUSY FAMILY, calendars/schedules, College and University, College football, Help!, parisian tourist, preschool, rocket football, school, subway, Time
7 Comments
Running with Children
So I’ve been trying to be diligent in my exercising lately, walking the dog and going for runs as often as my knees can handle it. I’m trying to loose my three pound gut roll, er, ”be healthy” and model active … Continue reading
Bittersweet, by Shauna Niequist
What a delight to have been offered the opportunity to review Shauna Niequist’s latest book, Bittersweet, released last month by Zondervan. Stitched together with threads of the poetic and honest writing we devoured in Cold Tangerines, Shauna’s voice again rings … Continue reading
Should’a Would’a Could’a
Sure. There are lots of reasons I should have stayed home today: 1. A sink that appears to have vomited up fruit particles, dirty pans, and filmy glasses. You’d think that with a dishwasher directly adjacent to the sink I … Continue reading
The Lure of Summer
My blogging aspirations for the summer have, quite obviously, fallen flat, dying the pathetic death that comes with goals left unattended. The weight of summer presses in on my heart and I am drawn, again and again, away from this … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Family, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Home, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Silly Lists, Summer
1 Comment
The Gift of Sand and Water
Anyone who knows me well can attest to the hold that the beach seems to have on me. The sound of pounding water, birds overhead, toes in sand, sun on shoulders, salty air — it’s almost too much. Living … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Education, Gifts, gratitude, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Things I Love!, Vacation
Tagged beach, Florida, Island, Sea Turtles, skim board
3 Comments
Found Art, by Leeana Tankersley
“Because such art is essentially redemptive, found art is also deeply spiritual, predating even urinal-man in its origins. In God’s hands, spit and mud become sight. Dust and rib become humanity. Darkness and void become world. Fishermen become followers. Virgin … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Home, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life, Travel
Tagged Bahrain, essays, Found Art, Leeana Tankersley, memoir, Middle East, Navy SEAL, San Diego, The Blog Tour Spot, Zondervan Publishers
2 Comments
Practicing Silence
“Sometimes we need silence. Not always, but definitely sometimes. If we will comply, if we will receive the moments of quiet contemplation and rest, we might be surprised by what emerges. As much as I didn’t want to engage in … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Discipline Issues, Faith, Following Jesus, Gifts, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life
Tagged Found Art, Leeana Tankersley, quiet, silence, solitude, unplug, Zondervan Publishers
10 Comments
Ice Tunnels and Secret Caves
As the snow continues to threaten and temps stay frosty, cabin fever can set in and cause temporary insanity. To combat mental decline, we planned an adventure to Lake Michigan this weekend [free fun!] and the kids are already asking … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Family, Kids, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!, Travel
Tagged beach, caves, Frozen water, ice tunnels, Lake Michigan, Little House on the Prairie, snow
2 Comments
Update your iPod
Sometimes I find myself dreamily swaying back and forth, occupying a snatch of time that feels special, different. I look to my right and see smiles, to my left, hear laughter, and know that God has given this moment for … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, God, gratitude, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun, Summer
Tagged Brandi Carlile, concerts, Grand Rapids, guitar, Happy Birthday, Interlochen, iPod, Jingle Bells, John Mayer, Music, poety, song
1 Comment
From “Pure Pleasure”
This coming February I will be taking part in a blog tour for Gary Thomas’ latest book, the phenomenal Pure Pleasure. When I was invited to do the review, the title intrigued me [subtitled: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad About … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, Gifts, God, gratitude, Home, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Seasons of Life
Tagged "Pure Pleasure", Book, Christmas, FREE BOOK, Gary Thomas, James 1:17, piety, pleasure, sex, Zondervan Publishers
1 Comment
What I Can’t Carry
Today I just needed a little time. Some space to breathe and room to think. Looking outside, the gray ceiling of clouds promised a harsh cold, but I didn’t care. I found my running shoes, clicked my dog to his … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Matters of the Heart, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged "Black River", Amos Lee, Bible, Christ, Church, Ephesians 4:26, Ghost, God, I Peter 4:8, Indigo Girls, iPod, Jesus, measuring sticks, Reuben, space to breathe, validation, winter walk
1 Comment
Scouting the Divine
I hit the jackpot today with my addictive talk-radio habit: Midday Connection had Margaret Feinberg on discussing her new book, Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, and Wild Honey. I was so touched–I cried, my chin … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discoveries, Faith, Food, God, Growing Pains, Literature/Books, Nature/Outdoors
Tagged bee-keeper, farmer, Jesus, Margaret Feinberg, Midday Connection, Scouting the Divine, shepherd, vintner
2 Comments
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
Yesterday I got to go along with my nearly-4-year-old on his preschool field trip to a local farm. We visit this farm nearly every year, and I have to say, God’s lovely autumn creativity is rivaled only by the delicious … Continue reading
Lessons from the Orchard, Part 1
Sometimes I feel like I’m overly emotional. I mean, yes, I am a woman enduring cyclical hormones, but still, I don’t know how many people tear up at the sight of a lovely old tree or because painfully beautiful harmonies … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Food, gratitude, Kids, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun, Seasons of Life
Tagged Apples, Autumn, brothels, Crane's Apple Orchard, Creation, Fall, gift, gout, Grace, gratitude, Hormones, Indian Summer, Monkeys, Orchard, Pies, slums, starfish, tears, Thankfulness, tides
4 Comments
Chasing Pavements
Before anyone gets all “copyright lawyer” on me, I will admit the obvious: I’m “using/borrowing/adapting” Adele’s song title for my own use and express benefit. I was going to say, “So sue me,” but actually, no. Please don’t. I just … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Heartbreak, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life
Tagged Adele, Chasing Pavements, Church, Disappointment, Faith, God, Hope, Jesus, Longing, Love, Nature, Photography, Running, Spiritual Development, Urban Dictionary
4 Comments
Daisy Chain
Last spring I was privileged to hear Mary DeMuth speak at a Christian Writer’s Conference. In a room full of other brothers and sisters, alike in our love for the Lord yet quite possibly different in our perceptions of faith, … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Friends, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Nature/Outdoors, Play
Tagged A Slow Burn, Christian Bookstore, Daisy Chain, Defiance, Francine Rivers, guilt, Harper Lee, Hope, Love, Mary DeMuth, redemption, remorse, sequel, suspense, Texas, Texas Trilogy, trilogy, Zondervan Publishers
5 Comments
Medieval War Games
Well, they did it again. Made a game out of wood and jumping and self-inflicted wounds. Little did the feudal lords of the middle ages know that their catapulting weaponry would be such a hit in the backyards of the … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Summer, Uncategorized
Tagged Bill Nye the Science Guy, Biology, catapult, Children, Family, Friendship, Kids, Lever, Midieval Times, Midieval Weapons, Pulley, Screw, Simple Machines, tools, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Wedge
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Come On Over!
Friends! I’m excited to announce that I’ve been asked to do some blogging for West Michigan’s own kids’ TV show, Come On Over! Supported by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, this show has already won numerous Michigan Emmy Awards and … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Family, Friends, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Seasons of Life, Summer, Uncategorized
Tagged Come On Over, critics, Emmy Awards, Fun!, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, imagination, Neighbors, team, West Michigan
3 Comments
Arctic Dog Mushing On Labor Day
Leave it up to the neighborhood kids, my own included, to create a game that is so wonderfully ridiculous I can’t help but document it for you. Yesterday’s game had me laughing so hard the residual giggles followed me indoors … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Friends, Home, Kids, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Summer, Uncategorized, Vehicles
Tagged Beef Chunks, Children, Family, Friends, Friendship, Fun!, Indian Summer, Jerky, Kids, Labor Day, Mushing, Neighbors, Nome, Salmon, Sled-dog racing, snow
1 Comment
Just Another Day at the Beach
Yesterday was a perfect, cloudless, blue-sky day–the kind of blue that looks like an inverted Caribbean Sea hanging motionless above a busy world; blue that is deep and changing and ever-present. Carolina Tarheels Blue. Hudsonville Ice Cream Packaging Blue. J.Crew … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Food, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun, Uncategorized, Vacation, Vehicles
Tagged beach, Bucket List, Caribbean Sea, Carolina Tarheels, Fricano's Pizza, Grand Haven, Grand Haven State Park, Hudsonville Ice Cream, J. Crew, parking spots, shoes
3 Comments
Son of a BEACH!
What a day. Last night I was so exhausted after our elusive hunt for beach parking that I just couldn’t even tell you about it until now. Well, let’s be honest: it was the exhaustion and the fact that the … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun, Uncategorized, Vacation
Tagged beach, Coast Guard Festival, Disappointment, Family, Fun!, Grand Haven, Holland, Kids
5 Comments
Who Needs Whale Watching, Anyhow? Part 2
I know–I said I’d write this sequel on Thursday, and it just didn’t happen. To all 4 of you out there waiting with bated breath, I’m sorry if the torture of suspense may have elevated your blood pressure or aggravated … Continue reading
Posted in Nature/Outdoors, Random Fun, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation
Tagged Bainbridge Island, boiled eggs, Children, Family, Lunch, OOPS!
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How Summer Smells
Tonight while I was upstairs getting into my sexy night sweatpants [pathetic, I know] and going through my 83 step face washing routine for bed, I pulled my head out of the sink and was slapped in the face by … Continue reading
Fill It Up Again
I’m borrowing this title from the Indigo Girls who, if I believed in reincarnation, I would totally want to be in my next life–at least musically speaking. Their guitar playing–to die for; their poetry–kills me; their harmony–makes my heart stop … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Nature/Outdoors, Travel, Vacation
Tagged Children, Family, Friends, Fun!, Indigo Girls, Longing, Mountains/Ocean, Nature
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Waiting for Mountains, Yearning for Sand
Every now and again I get into kind of a funk. I usually write it off as fatigue or hormones, but really I think it has something to do with geography. We’re planning a trip out west this summer and … Continue reading
