Martha Group Christmas!

I think I have the best bible study group of friends in the world! We call ourselves the Martha Girls because we started off 4 years ago with a couple Mary/Martha studies and we could all relate to Martha! We've done on-going studies since and cherish each other immensely! We're soo much more than a bible study group....we have carried each others burdens and prayed one another through some really hard stuff!! I always look forward to our gatherings including our annual Christmas parties with our girls. At one point all our girls went to school together but since a couple of them have switched schools but they LOVE to get together anytime too! Tonight we missed having Jodie, Macy and Miley due to illness. Here is our group:

Christmas JOY!

busy making PBJ sandwiches

decorating the bags with "merry Christmas" and bible verses

I love the Christmas season for many reasons but a big part of it is the JOY that overhwelmingly surrounds me. Joy to me is an inner happiness. It's a perfect word for the feeling of when my heart smiles. One of my theme bible verses for my life is from Thessalonians. It says, "Be JOYFUL always, pray continuously, in ALL things be thankful for this is God's will for those who belong to Christ Jesus." I sometimes wonder if I've had to live up to my name or I was named because God knew I would strive to be joyful. Anyway, there have been 2 specific events this weekend to bring me JOY!
First of all the girls and I were at Desert Ridge mall. It's an outside mall, but we were in As You Wish, painting pottery. It was a typical busy shopping day a week before Christmas. The girls were enjoying themselves painting and I was having fun people watching too. We sat at a table in the front window. All of a sudden the music outside grew louder and Erin says "what are they doing?" We look outside and right in the middle of the courtyard, several people had started dancing. Soon people from all over had joined them until there was a group about 20-30 people doing a very choreographed dance to Christmas music. When they were done, all the dancers very casually went their own way as if nothing happened. Come to find out this happens all over...it's called "flash mob". I gotta tell you had this blessed us! It put a smile on everyone's face and it made my heart smile too!
Then on Saturday our family made about 50 lunches and brought them down along with blankets for the homeless. Now living in Scottsdale and being on the north side of the "pass", we just don't get downtown Phoenix very often so our kids just have not had much exposure to homeless people. The older 2 have more memories of going downtown Seattle and seeing more. Erin especially has such heart to help, serve and love on people. It was an eye opening experience and it was priceless hearing Erin's observations. She was surprised that many of the recipients said "God Bless You" before we could say it to them. Also she mentioned she expected to hear people's voice all scratchy because they've been homeless for awhile and don't have water to drink. She was also suprised to see "so many dark skinned people be homeless." Yes, we did bless those on the streets with our gifts, BUT we got to experience the joy of giving and they blessed us with their smiles, acceptance and appreciation. Just 2 hours downtown serving and we all feel more appreciative of what we have. We hope to do it again and bring some of our friends to join us!
It sure feels good when my heart smiles!
Merry Christmas Friends!!

Oh and this "flash mob" incident was shared at church today...another sweet heart smile and even tears in my eyes! Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

Sedona in the Fall!!

Kyle - 8th Grade FUN Night

Games, Small group discussion, Fireworks, Food and LOTS of laughter!!

Halloween Pics

It's about time!!!

Seriously..... It's definitely time I update this blog! Life is busy as usual! I left off at our trip to Michigan......we ended our summer with a wonderful trip to Washington! We loved seeing friends, family and breathing in the great fresh air of the PNW! School started with a bang in August and it's been non-stop! Part of the crazyness of starting school had to do with my school commitments that I have this year. Along with my usual "jobs" of coordinating Home Room Moms, being a HRM, and coordinating our school restaurant night -fund raisers (we do 6-8 a year).....I also am co-chairing hot lunch this year. Why, you ask?? Because I was chosen to chaperone Andi's 7th grade trip to Catalina Island (off the coast of Cali) and my "payment" is to run hotlunch this year! Now with a couple months under my belt, it is going smoothly! (thank God!) Also in September and October I was sick!! :( It started out with bronchitis and turned into pneumonia and pleurisy and 7 weeks later, after 2 rounds of antibiotics, I FINALLY felt better! Just in time for Jeff's parents to come. We enjoyed time with them and time up in Sedona!! Oh, my is Sedona extra pretty in the Fall! Also come and gone...Halloween! Once again, Kyle hung out with friends and we had family friends over to trick or treat. Andi was the most beautiful "Miss America" and Erin was a cute fiesty pirate! Tooo much candy in the house!! :(
Also, this fall, Grandma Rinsema entered the gates of Heaven! It was a wonderful opportunity to fly to Chicago to be with family to celebrate her life! I'm so thankful for the time the kids and I got to spend with her this past summer. Our last hugs and memories for the kids. Another thing that's been taking up our time/energy this fall is fundraising. Kyle and his 8th grade class are going to WA D.C this spring! So our goal is to raise all $900 to go! He's worked hard painting, babysitting, carwashing, selling things in the n'hood and tomorrow I am hosting a jewelry party to raise funds for him. He's made a huge dent! I'll be happy to make our goal! So, activity wise....Kyle played fall soccer at school (tied for 1st in league -but 3rd in last tourney)...Andi continues year round swim team (at the verge of making state times) and Erin does gymnastics and dance. Busy, Busy, Busy! 4 nights a week we are home at 7pm. I'm soo thankful for my crockpot and hubby so we can be eating dinner at 7:05!! So, that's a realistic update. I will try not to let this many months go by!!

Vacation to Lake Michigan

We are just wrapping up our wonderful vacation in Michigan. It ranks pretty high for being the best trip we've taken out here. First of all the weather was perfect. Mostly sunny days and the water was warm the whole time! We were all in the water every day..sometimes several times a day! Some days we had perfect waves for body surfing and boogie-boarding. Other days were perfect wind for sailing. And we had some really calm days perfect for long boat rides and relaxing on the beach. Kyle and Andi both got their share of skiing in. Both got up on ski's the first attempt of the summer. Kyle even got brave and dropped a ski and skied slolum for a bit. Maybe next year we'll get Andi to go out side of the wake? Erin and cousin Ali giggled while tubing and entertained us all. While here we got to visit my grandma in Illinios, Jeff's Grandpa in Grand Rapids as well as college friends in GR. We also went to a rodeo with the whole clan and had a great pulled pork BBQ! The kids also played in the "forest" quite a bit with their cousins, riding bike and building forts and enjoying frequent visits from the deer. With the age they are at, they have so much freedom to do as they want which gives me (us) some more relaxing time! We were here for 18 days and they have flown by! We made some great memories, that is for sure. Until next year, Lake Michigan.....

Visiting Grandma Rinsema in Illinois.

Visiting Grandpa Maring....almost 101 years old!

Visiting our college friends in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Warm, warm Lake Michigan!

Luging in Muskegon, Michigan.

Playing on the beach at sunset!

Erin's adoring Fans! :)

"Take that!"

My beauties!