www.janegoodall.org

"We have a choice to use the gift of our lives to make the world a better place." -Jane Goodall

guess which dietsche

i am currently putting together a simple collage of our three kids as babies, and thought it would be fun to let you guess who's who--they have all looked so much alike as newborns!

dangerous journey

this children's adaptation of Pilgrim's Progress really captured my kids' attention! this surprised me a little, because it is written in old english, and you would think at first glance that some of the illustrations would be too scary. but even my three year old would sit for whole chapters and would ask me to keep reading when it was over! makes me want to read John Taylor Gatto's book, "Dumbing Us Down"--it's on my list! have we come to expect way too little of our kids? i am always amazed to read in the laura ingalls books, too, how the children will quote entire poems or passages by heart, do complex long division problems in their head, etc. i bet they didn't learn that stuff watching sesame street. :)

wet wild weekend

i would just like to report that we survived the weekend at the cottage in southern michigan with matt's extended family with only a few minor battle wounds. let me assure you that this is NOT a large cottage (2 bedrooms) and that we counted 30 PEOPLE & 4 DOGS who ALL spent the night there last night!! talk about cozy!! it was worth it for the memories, though, despite the severe lack of sleep!

the kids played for hours in the water; i got to prove for one last time while in my 20's that i can still water-ski (it's been quite a few years, and i am feeling it today!); matt took numerous laps tubing, skiing, and kneeboarding with the guys; and matt and i came in second in the bean bag toss competition. i won't mention the shady midnight blobbing adventure... :)

and hats off to our generous hosts, who gave up their bedroom so that matt and i and our kids could have their room, while they camped out on the kitchen floor! next year we may need to bring a tent...

feature notes

i first saw Gavin DeGraw perform on Good Morning America, probably a couple years ago now... and i instantly knew he was going to be one of my new favorites. still is. he combines piano talent with a great voice and good rhythm. i especially love the "stripped" (more acoustic) version of the album i have as my current music feature. yesterday i found a really cool website where you can watch and/or listen to a few of my favorite songs of his ("chariot", "i don't wanna be", "meaning")--i have it linked to his name on my sidebar.

and Blueberries for Sal, since it's that season... if you haven't read Robert McCloskey to your kids, you need to! such sweet stories with nice illustrations, as well. Make Way for Ducklings is another great one of his.

1st annual levi day

the idea was first inspired by the fact that our kids' birthdays fall during the wintertime when it is harder to find special things to do. we thought it would be fun to designate a special day for each of our kids during the warmer season and go and do something just with them that they would really enjoy. as we thought it over a bit more, we thought it would be extra special if daddy were to take at least part of the day off and be the one to take them on their special excursion. this year, at least, this will also include a backyard campout with daddy the night before.

levi lives and breathes anything with wheels and a motor. the other day, out of the blue, he came up to me and said, "mommy, i want a motorcycle on my birthday cake." (his birthday is in january.) we considered several different options of things to do along these lines for his special day--the raceway (probably too loud for a 3 year old), a car show (probably not as exciting to him if the cars are just sitting there)... and finally decided on Craig's Cruisers, where he can actually drive in a racecar for himself!

after a night in the tent, the guys first headed off for a donut breakfast, then took a nature walk and even caught a frog along the way, and then went to Craig's Cruisers. levi was thrilled to ride in a racecar with daddy, and was also excited to report that he had won a lollipop and a bouncy ball in the arcade. it was so fun to see his face absolutely beaming from having such a special time with just him and his dad.

we ended the day with a special cake... and it even had a motorcycle on top. :)

one.org

went to church with my sister yesterday, and the pastor was talking a bit about social justice and poverty... two topics that always seem to get my blood flowing... i guess that's why i was a social work major in college. he directed us to a website that i hadn't known of before, but am glad i do now. it is the ONE campaign--please check it out and please consider signing the declaration. until you have been overseas and seen first-hand how other parts of the world live, you may have no idea just how wealthy most of us really are in this country. this just offers a way for your voice to be heard on behalf of the poor.

too cute

background: a few months ago, miriam learned the word "melancholy" while we were reading Because of Winn-Dixie. in the story, the word is used and defined as meaning "sad". (keep that in mind as you read the following story.)

last night, matt was talking with levi and miriam before bed. since levi has to be reminded nightly to stay in bed if wants to avoid being punished, matt was refreshing his memory that that would be "owie"... levi added, "yeah, and that would be sad"... and then miriam chimed in: "yeah, AND that would be LEMON-choly!"

psalm 9:9-10

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

puddle riding & creek wading

i love where we live. it's certainly not the most beautiul neighborhood around, but the location is so great for us right now. we are minutes from matt's work, our church, and the grocery store. there are several parks, Zeeland Schools' nature preserve area, and Zeeland Schools' athletic field complex all within walking distance from our house. on a good day, we can also walk downtown, to the library, or even to Captain Sundae. :) in the spring, the middle school marching band makes its rounds down our street almost daily (practicing). this time of year, the high school marching band starts practicing their half-time show, so sometimes we catch that, too, if we are walking over in that area. we also try to walk over and catch a peek at Uncle John's football games now and then--their season will be in full swing soon. we have great neighbors, having gotten to know quite a few of them over the past two years. and, for being in town, we have a decent-sized backyard with lots of shade. now, if only the house were a bit bigger...!

this morning the kids and i took advantage of a break in the heat wave and walked/biked to the elementary school parking lot at the end of our street. miriam and levi made quite a splash riding through any and every puddle they could find. we then continued on down the bike trail to the creek. usually we just toss a few pebbles in or take a mini-hike down the foot path leading through the woods along the creek. but today, with the waters running a bit higher and swifter after this morning's rain, i decided to let them wade in from a clearing just off the beaten path. they thought it was great, and levi informed me that he wants to do that again very soon! we made it home just before another downpour!

nyco

a couple saturdays ago matt and i drove to kalamazoo to meet up with an old friend, jess, and her new husband, sam. we met and became very good friends with jess and jamie, her first husband, while in australia. just after we left australia, jamie was diagnosed with acute leukemia and died a few months later. jess and their 3 children then returned to the states (they were mid-westerners like us, which is partly why we instantly clicked), and just over a month ago she was re-married. (obviously i am condensing the story QUITE a bit.) they now live in chicago where sam teaches guitar lessons and is in a band called nyco. hence, nyco's new release as my music feature.

matt

may 6, 1985 - august 1, 2001 (5 yrs ago today)

"i have fought the good fight, i have finished the race, i have kept the faith." --2 timothy 4:7

these are the lyrics to a song i wrote last year in my brother's memory.

Until Then (Matt's Song) written February 14, 2005

There’s an empty spot in the picture on my windowsill-- It reminds me of the hole that can never be filled-- Missing a brother, missing a son-- And all of the dreams that are now gone-- Why did it have to happen this way?-- I don’t know

But one thing I know-- Is You never let go-- Even when we can barely hang on---- And one thing I believe-- Is that You never leave us-- To figure it out on our own---- I know there’s a purpose for all You allow-- A reason for all of our pain---- May our tears draw us closer to Your heart-- Until we see him again

There’s an empty spot in this heart that is aching still-- And I’m reminded of the hole that, Lord, only you can fill-- Still missing a brother, still missing a son-- Yet dreaming of him running with the One who knew why it had to happen this way-- Lord, You know

But one thing I know-- Is You never let go-- Even when we can barely hang on---- And one thing I believe-- Is that You never leave us-- To figure it out on our own---- I know there’s a purpose for all You allow-- A reason for all of our pain---- May our tears draw us closer to Your heart-- Until we see him again

Until then--