The biggest challenges often come in small packages

I was just writing to my family, and realized that I have more sympathetic ears than I normally take advantage of. I'm sure all you teachers in particular can relate. Here's what I was writing...the background is that I teach in an inner city school, and though many, if not most of the kids have problems, this one student has severe issues (has-tortured-animals kinds of issues).
She is a little girl I lovingly refer to as "my runt." She got passed around from class to class, and even school to school, until she ended up with me. Well, on an average day, she is simply annoying and disruptive. As I feared, her presence has completely altered the dynamic of my classroom. She certainly functions far better with us than she has anywhere else, but unfortunately, because of her, we are noticeably less efficient than we used to be. Even considering the other trouble kids, we were building a system that worked for us. Still, everyone needs a home, a place to feel welcome, and I am more than happy to provide this place for her. But it is so difficult! She doesn't do herself any favors, either. She creates conflict and is a constant disruption and distraction. She is not emotionally in touch, so she feels no guilt or remorse... imagine trying to discipline and mold her behavior so that she can be successful! Without a doubt one of my most challenging tasks. Thankfully, she will finally receive her psychological consultation in a couple of weeks. I truly hope it leads to her receiving the services she needs, because even though I know I am a significant and positive presence for her, she needs more than I can give her. Anyway, point being, I had to be so hard on her today. I spoke more forcefully than I've had to speak to any child, or any person for that matter. She was completely out of control, and I knew I had to do it, but I literally had to brace myself. Even though they were just a few words, they took so much out of me. I let her sit in the office alone until the end of the day (devastating for her, because she thrives on attention). When I picked her up she acknowledged her words and actions, and apologized and promised she would never behave that way again. Sadly, I've heard it all many times before. I told her I accepted her apology, but I wasn't sure I believed her anymore. She says tomorrow she's going to show me that she means it.
I'm trying to remain hopeful. I hate feeling this jaded.

Christmas Jammies and old doggies

I just thought I'd share this photo. Abby was fascinated with her Paw-Paw's(grandpa) 13 year-old black lab and spent the morning wearing him out by following him around in her Christmas jammies. The poor doggie had to sleep for days to recooperate after we left.

o the world And the people of holland Michigan

please save the planets and the animals plaese do not plut trash and the garbage reclyle cans and glass and newspapers so that we can live a better life throw away bombs or god will get mad at yuo. So please be nice to the world or we will lose it and be nice to yuor neighbores and they will be nice to yuo aand will trust yuo sometimes. And stop killing elephants and tigers and whales. Tiger are losing there habit and there wo,nt any left to see in the wild.


I woud help feed the children and teach them to listen to god and i will how to read the bible. And save the poor from illnes and from getting sick.


Plaese do not honk yuor horn in the middlle of the morning os that we can sleep Please tell yuor son to be nice to his kids or yuo will go to jail or move out of yuor huose and i will sell it to win feild.

I will be diver for swimming on the hope college swim team and teach them a new dive from bay waltch on tv. I wish that the show bay waltch was on right now os that Reachel.

Bangladesh os I can save the tigers and talk to the people who live there and need to be careful out there.


My favorite things about tulip time are the street scrubbing and waltching the parades and eating at the food binders and waltch them dutch dance for the public for there injoymentseeing and working there. My friends and going on the rides and the carinval
and seeing the aniamal there at the fair grounds Randall h snow.

The Tennants are missionaries? That is correct?

Randall stopped by today, as usual, for his daily chat. He mentioned that he missed the Tennents and I agreed. Then this picture passed through on our screen saver. When it caught Randall's eye he said, "That is where the Tennants live. That is their house." I said, "Yes."

some pics

So you can see us

Here are some recent captured moments. Checking out daddy. Getting mama kisses. Christmas breakfast. Christmas Eve family portrait - first since the hospital. And below is playing with an ornament snagged from the tree. Ethanael is 6 months now and his new tricks are shaking his head back and forth, tipping it back to look at things upside down, and frequently sticking his little tongue out. Another new development is the offer for me to do the best parts of my old job, part time from home for better pay. Thank you Jesus.

a suggestion and a question

I was just rocking Sienna to sleep (praise Jesus she is getting back to her normal self!!! for my frustrations, see our blog) and singing to her when Faith Like A Child popped out of my lips (and oldie but goodie) and I was racking my brain to think of another song to sing. Nothing came to mind, nothing except a few cheesy old Hope songs (which I do continue to enjoy) but lets face it, there's no way you can make Ancient of Days sound quietly soothing. So please help a sister in distress and suggest a few SUPER AWESOME worship cd's. Also Jared, is that bungalow still for sale? I'm secretly looking into houses in Holland, though not so secretly because now I've posted it for all the world to see. And here is a picture of Jeff in a tux!! First time I've ever seen him so dressy. We are all dressed up for a wedding that was December 23rd, isn't Sienna's dress awesome!?! And can someone tell me how to rotate pictures? I can't figure it out.

Two Incredible Happenings...

1) The Tennant family was in the cement city of Dallas, Texas, at a little yuppie neighborhood park on the sunny and cool afternoon of December 16th visiting Simone's relatives and having an early Christmas celebration. Their Cannon PowerShot S3 IS Digital Camera in its fancy camera bag, loaded with rechargeable batteries and a $60 memory card, was mysteriously stolen after a certain Tennant parent set it down to push two excitable boys on the swings. Lest you have seen exactly how vigorous the pushing of Cad and Eli on a swing is, you know not the intensity of swing pushing in the Tennant family. Much sorrow and grief followed that day. One Tennant parent with a name starting in "S" even asked God to severely punish that suspicious woman (yes, another MOM in the park, can you believe it?!) suspected of stealing our beloved camera we had saved up for. Despite the number on the bottom of the camera, the Tennants did not receive a call reporting it lost. Both Tennant parents were not feeling very celebratory and the long drive back to Austin was a quiet and rather mournful one.

WELL... just this week a small box appeared on Simone's doorstep in mid afternoon. She carefully opened it, wondering what could be inside. Tears came to her eyes and a grand smile escaped her lips. It was a new Cannon camera, even better than their last. She knew who it was from and felt completely overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciate.

HERE IS THE SCOOP: Upon hearing our sad story and desiring to bless us and the work we do here, another set of Tennants that live on Long Island in New York, bought and sent us a new camera. Nathan and Cheryl Tennant and their son Jacob visited us this Christmas and we had many little adventures here in Austin. They are very generous and we feel very blessed.

2) Ben had TWO snow days this week. It snowed only a tiny bit, but there was freezing rain and an inch of ice formed all over the city. Austin shut down, literally. Not even the mall was open. No one went to work... except maybe the Wal-Mart employees. They always work. So we had Ben home a couple extra days and had ourselves a little vacation. We went sledding down some neighborhood hills on boxes. The boys were ecstatic. It is actually COLD. No worries, supposed to be back up to 60 next week. Ben went around helping neighbors carve their cars out of mini icebergs with his ice scraper. No one knew what an "ice scraper" was and Ben had to explain. They were all using hammers and screw drivers to scrape their cars. Exciting, exciting, exciting.

Pictures to come again... as soon as the memory card comes in the mail...

Wolthuis' Photos

I met Amy Wolthuis in the park a couple of day ago and shot a bunch of photos of their kids. I've been practicing a lot lately.
They have 3 kids now. Sam got cold and went inside after about 3 minutes. Lydia, their reddest, worked the camera like a professional model. After about 15 minutes she said, "I done taking pictures now." She new that she was doing something. Finally, Sophie is their baby and was just along for the ride.

reason enough to get out of bed

the last week i have been a single parent as jeff was in holland taking classes and having too much fun with friends. it was a hard decision to stay home, but a necessary one. however, i am exhausted, i don't know how some people do it. sienna has been mostly awesome during the day but for over a week she's been waking up at 2 am EVERY MORNING and needing to be held in order to fall back asleep, we are in the process of trying to break this habit but how can you not melt when looking upon her captivating beauty? because she smiles, i can do it.

Jesse and Adriana's Wedding Photos

I took pictures for another wedding last week. I'm pretty excited about the photos. Here is a 6 minute video of some of the best shots. It's really low quality so that it can be posted. Jesse and Adriana graduated from Hope this year and go to the Vineyard. The wedding and reception were in the Vineyard's sanctuary.

Convenience Store Aficionado.....

I have come to the realization that I am a "Convenience Store Aficionado." I find myself planning trips around them! Speedway automatically keeps track of your fountain drink and coffee purchases.....every 7th one is free. (I earn a free one every 1.5 weeks on average). At Wesco by D&W, you can purchase a popcorn bucket for $6.99 and bring it in for unlimited free, buttery, movie-quality, popcorn refills for the remainder of 2007! Want to become a convenience store aficionado like me? Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Get a Speedway or Wesco (or both) membership card. They are free!
Step 2: Revolve your errands around the closest Speedway or Wesco gas station in order to use rewards cards on items such as fountain drinks, coffee, and popcorn.
Step 3: Memorize all Speedway and Wesco locations between Holland and any long distance trips you may have planned.
Step 4: Purchase a large 64 oz. mug from Speedway to fill with the beverage of your choice...only $.94 for each refill!
Step 5: Look for the local chapter of "FPDA" (Fountain Pop Drinkers Anonymous) and try to admit you don't have a problem

President Ford's Procession

Hello Friends! Happy New Year to you all! I am doing well. I had a great Christmas-- I spent a couple of days at my parents house taking full advantage of their cable and exercise equipment. I spent every morning running on my mom's mini-trampoline and watching "Hitler's Henchmen" on the History Channel. How great! Today, my sister Carrie and my nieces Raleigh & Sydney waited with 50 other bystanders off the Gerald Ford Highway to see the procession of President Ford's coffin on the way to the museum for the funeral. We taped it, and then came back to Carrie's house and saw ourselves on the news. It was very cool.