Step Into the Scholma Life: September 2009

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

ArtPrize...

... was pretty much the coolest thing I have been to in a long time. If you live in the Grand Rapids area I HIGHLY suggest checking it out at least once. We have been down there twice already and I can't wait to go again before it is over. Hopefully I will post pictures soon, but for now I am WAY too tired and am hitting the sheets. Nighty Night! (at 8:40) :)

P.S. I am missing the Lindhout boys way too much right now. I need to see them soon. I am SO looking forward to October 11 when I have them for an entire week!!!

Monday, September 21, 2009

"By Your Side"

Well.... My original intent for this post was to write about the song, "By Your Side" by Jamie Slocum, and then have it play in the background for you yo hear. Unfortunately I cannot find this song anywhere on the Internet, not even YouTube. But anyways...

You all know how unbelievably stressed, depressed, and crabby I was when the school year started rolling around. Normally this time of year makes me happy. I love fall, I love love love school supplies, and I love going back to school to see my fellow colleagues and kiddos whom I missed all summer. This year was not exactly the same. I had began the dreaded job hunt, and we all know there are not many jobs out there for teachers. I understand this, and it sucks, but I deal with it. My patience began wearing thin when there were 2... not 1 but 2 openings in Hudsonville, the district where I work, and I didn't even get a flippin interview. I quickly became angry and sad, and you pretty much didn't want to be around me. One day, shortly after school started, I was listening to a CD on my computer that I had currently copied for my mom, and song number 2 came on. "By Your Side" by Jamie Slocum. The words made me stop my blog stalking :) and listen a little closer. After it finished I listened to it one more time and almost started crying. This song is my current life story when it comes to my career. Here are the words to the beginning. (I have this song on media player if anyone knows a way I can put it on here that way)

And I know theres a plan for you

You life has a purpose

There's hope beyond your broken road

Jesus set a place for you

At the front of the table with the weary and the wounded

And He's showing the way, the truth, the life for everyday

So when you loose your way

CHORUS

Don't give up, don't give in

This is a race that you can win

Every time you get passed by

There is a reason why

God loves and believes in you

He knows the pain that your going through

He's with you every step of the way

And He's by your side

Basically, I need to be patient and my time will come when it is supposed to when I will be able to have a classroom of my own to make a difference in the lives a little kids. Until then, I need your prayers and open ears. These days it's not what you know, it's who you know!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Post Family Farm

This weekend we had Jessi, Gracie and Grant over for a 2 night sleep over :) They were so good and so much fun. We sure are tired though. Not used to having 3 little ones around. On Saturday we dropped Grant off at Nana and Papa's for his nap and took Jessi and Gracie to Post Family Farm. The girls had a blast. When we got home we painted pumpkins, made picture frames and dot art, took Diesel for walks. It was definitely a fun filled weekend. As I am looking at the pictures, there is not one of Grant. Poor buddy missed out on all the fun stuff. The only time Aunt Ashley dared do any of it was while he was napping :) Here they are though.

Holding the baby kitties

Petting and feeding the goats

Zip Line

Pumpkin Train

Watching the horses

My absolute FAVORITE thing about fall... Pumpkin Donuts and Apple Cider

Jessi got her face painted

Playing games... this one cracked me up, "cow tippping"

There were so many pretty flowers

Pony Rides

Hay Rides

When we got home we painted pumpkins and...

picture frames

and ended with some dot art.

Friday, September 18, 2009

5 Years Ago Today...

... I met the man I married!

Jon and I met on a blind date set up by his sister Shelly and my Mom. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was so nervous. This was my first time to ever go on a blind date. I stood in the front yard waiting for him to drive around the corner in his green Ford truck. (Thanks to the note from Shelly, I knew a little about him before our first date.) The minute his truck turned the corner, my stomach filled with butterflies. Although. I remember when he stepped out, an instant smile appeared on my face. He was so cute :) He walked up and apparently I was too nervous to say anything. For a minute we were both silent. Come to find out he was trying to figure out which one was me. (Remind you, Court was in a homecoming dress) Guess he thought I got pretty dressed up for the big date :) Well, we hopped in his truck and away we went. The truck ride was quiet for awhile but then Jon decided to talk. Thank goodness because I was so nervous I didn't know what to say. He brought me to Bilmar in Grand Haven. Little did he know, it was a fancy restaurant. We could barely read the menu and for those of you that know me well, I am the pickiest eater on the planet. This menu is filled with all kinds of fancy seafood such as lobster and crab, and what do I order? A basket of chicken fingers :) We laugh about it to this day. (Should of gone to BK) We both however ended up loving the food and make it a tradition every year on September 18. (Only we don't order chicken, we splurge!) After dinner we checked out the movies at the theater and nothing was playing that either of us wanted to see. We ended up coming home and watching my favorite movie at the time, Jersey Girl, in my living room. (I found out later that during this time, my mom was on the phone in her bedroom whispering to Shelly about our date. Funniest part is that Shelly was whispering back when she was at her house :) This is a whole other story though.) Then, later that night Court and her friend Melissa came home from their homecoming dance. We all just sat in the living room and laughed all night. It was my best first date, and I will always remember September 18, 2004. I just knew I would marry him someday! I Love You J!

Enjoy these pictures of our amazing 5 years together!

(There would be a billion more but I have already spent well over two hours trying to create this post and I'm thinking that is long enough)

This picture was takin' on our first date. My mom was taking pictures of my sister before her dance and quickly turned the camera to snap a picture of us :)