Think Spring!

Keegan

Samantha

Maggie

It's that time of year again when I start longing for Spring and Summertime, don't you agree? We so miss taking the girls for walks. They seem to get cabin fever just like their mom. The girls will bring me their coats and hats and ask me if we can go "bye-bye?" And most of the time I have to say "no, not now" because I am alone with them and don't have the energy to get them all bundled up for an outing.

About this time last year, I ordered swimsuits (from Old Navy) for the girls to help me get through the winter blues. Well, I did it again and I have them hung up in the living room so I can look at them every so often and picture the girls in their little swimsuits running along the beach into the water and playing in the beach. Oh, I cannot wait!!! They are going to love it. (At least I hope they are going to love the beach as much as Thad and I do.)

We are almost done with our upstairs bathroom project and hoping for no more projects for a VERY long time after that! We barely have enough energy for our three busy little girls, let alone house projects.

The girls are doing well. They were sick several times this past winter but I guess that is to be expected this time of the year. They are still struggling with the pain of teething. It seems like one tooth finally breaks through and another one is coming right behind it. For the past week, though, the girls have actually been sleeping through the night, which has been a huge blessing.

We are officially done with the Early On program, as we now have 3 walkers in the house. I am relieved to have one less thing to worry about each week. The appointments were stressful because for some reason the girls didn't like having to work with the therapists. I think it is because they are EXTREMELY strong willed. I mean probably the most strong willed children you have ever seen. They can be little angels one minute and then throwing a temper tantrum the next minute because they didn't get their way. Anyway, we are thankful to have achieved the gross motor skill goals we had set for the girls.

We are also excited that Thad’s favorite restaurant, Chipotle, finally came to Grand Rapids. The girls are not good about sitting through a whole meal and the place looks a mess after we are done eating. We may need to stick with take out for awhile until the girls get a little older.

Today is March. Spring is on the way, right???

Friday the 13th!!!

Happy Birthday, Thad!!!

I am so glad you were born 31 years ago today. You are the best daddy in the world and a fabulous husband. We love you so much!

(Thad, you will be glad to know that the girls have been howling at the moon all day, just like you taught them last night, in preparation for your Friday the 13th Birthday.)

He Gives and Takes Away

It is difficult to pick up blogging "where we left off" due to the recent tragedy in our family. I want to share with you some thoughts that have kept coming to mind throughout the past week and a half.

When we were preparing for the girls' dedication at church last May, the Leader of the class shared with us how children are such a precious and amazing gift from God. She encouraged us to look at our children as being on loan to us from God and to treasure every moment we have with them because we don't know when our time together may end. When I learned the news about my nephew Brady's death, I was reminded of this conversation from 8 or 9 months ago. In the class, we read the lyrics to a Matt Redman song called "Blessed Be Your Name." The song is based on a verse in Job 1:21, which says "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

"Blessed Be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed Be Your name

Blessed Be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's 'all as it should be'

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name"

This song has been running through my head a lot lately. Especially, the last couple of lines. It is not easy to make the choice to say even though you take away God, Blessed Be Your Name! It is difficult for me to understand how the Lord determines who to give and for how long. I know it is not up to me and I am not entitled to that information. I just have a difficult time trying to wrap my mind around a purpose for Brady's life ending so very early and the extreme loss Lynnette and Craig feel. But I do know there is a purpose from God and that He loves us and does not cause us pain for nothing. I am also comforted that Brady is in a wonderful place.

Brady has an older sibling also with him in Heaven. This baby went to be with the Lord 6 weeks into my sister's pregnancy in 2007, so we were unable to learn the baby's gender. But I trust that Brady and his older sister or brother are playing together and someday I will get to meet them both. I have A LOT of catching up to do when I do see them. I haven't been able to do the things I want to do with them like hugging and giving kisses, tickling, reading books, babysitting, sleepovers, family vacationing together, shopping together, attending their sporting events and concerts, sledding, ice skating, watching movies together, spoiling them like crazy, and so many more of the wonderful privileges of being an aunt.

I like to think that Brady heard lots of joy and laughter at our house on Christmas Eve. He was probably getting excited hearing his cousins playing together and thinking he better get there soon to help Bryce fend off all those girls! It was a special night for me as I look at it as my only Christmas with my nephew Brady here on this earth. I believe there will be many more Christmas celebrations in heaven we will have together.

Here's a glimpse into our holiday festivities:

The Polar Express (by my aunt and uncle's house)

Uncle Craig and Samantha

Cousin Jessica & Keegan

Grandma Sue & Maggie


Keegan, Cousin Julia, Maggie & Cousin Chloe

Our 3 Reindeer

Cousin Hogan playing with the girls

Daddy & Maggie

Keegan very serious about opening a present

Maggie

The Girls in Grandpa Gordy's chair

Samantha & Grandma Joyce

Aunt Kristy, Maggie, & Cousin Bryce

Chloe got a pink guitar.

What a Rockstar!

Maggie is trying to figure out how to take Bryce's gift.

Keegan

Maggie

Samantha

Maggie

Samanta, Keegan, & Maggie with Great Grandma Jourden

Brady Michael Kooienga

Please pray for our family as we are mourning the loss of Brady Michael Kooienga. My sister, Lynnette and her husband, Craig, were expecting Brady to be born April 22, 2009. However, they had a routine OB appointment on Monday and the Ultrasound Tech was unable to detect Brady's heartbeat. Lynnette was induced Monday night and Brady was delivered stillborn on Wednesday, December 31, 2009. Lynnette carried Brady for 24 weeks and we were all very attached to him. We treasure the time we got to spend holding him on Wednesday. He is a beautiful little boy. We don't know why God chose to take him from us and are extremely heartbroken. We look very forward to the day when we can be with him again and would appreciate prayers during this difficult time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

keegan, samantha & maggie sending joy from our family to yours

photo shoot with mom

michelle did some experimenting with the camera before we took the girls holiday picture.

keegan & samantha

samantha

keegan

maggie

after photo shoot snack attack!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you have a wonderful upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday. We are looking forward to being together as a family. We sure have a lot to be thankful for!!!

Here are some current pictures of the girls.

Keegan, Samantha & Maggie. (Keegan is doing her Elvis lip).

We have three crawlers now!

Samantha making a silly face.


Keegan is taking steps.

Maggie.

Maggie getting kisses from Daddy.

Keegan.

Maggie.

Samantha & Maggie.

Samantha.

Maggie & Samantha.

The girls playing nicely together, which is pretty rare around here. They are usually fighting over the same toy!

The girls playing with Bear (who lives next door). Isn't he cute?!?

Keegan climbed into the toy container.

The girls looking for Bear.

Keegan caught with her hand in the animal crackers.