Change

Of winter's lifeless world each tree
Now seems a perfect part;
Yet each one holds summer's secret
Deep down within its heart.
~Charles G. Stater

It's been a while since I posted. So long, in fact, that I forgot my password. I haven't posted mostly because we're around and it feels like there's not much more to know about our lives than you already know. After living so far away, sometimes we feel a little overexposed when we're here (though not in a bad way).

Anyway, I just felt like posting tonight. I was doing dishes around 2:00 am and walked outside to dump the compost. This is an ordeal of putting on my boots and walking down some very icy steps, so I was bundled up and was ready for the cold. As I opened the door the warm air hit my cheeks and I stopped short. It reminded me of the time in The Long Winter when Laura wakes up to find that the cold no longer bites her cheek when her face is outside the covers. Her moment of sudden warmth came after 7 months of blizzards. Mine came after only a month and a half of winter, but it was no less welcome. I spent the next few minutes opening up the garage and the windows in the house which still held the chill of the last few weeks. I walked around outside for a bit and the roar of the warm winds sounded exactly like it had on Lake Michigan in July. I know that this rain and warmth will cause a lot of problems for people. I know that snow and cold are coming again in less than 48 hours, but for now I'm enjoying the sound of the dripping eaves and relief from dry, chapped hands. I think a lot of it is enjoyment of change. I've been pep-talking myself all winter into enjoying the beauty of the snow, and I really have enjoyed it more than I thought I could. God has taught me a lot about being content with exactly how things are right now; however, I still love change. I love the promise of better thing and warmer days and tonight the scent of the far distant spring fills the air.

O, wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? ~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Advent

THIS pretty much sums up our thoughts about this season...with nice graphics and music.

My Favorite Time of the Day

Lately, it's been after-lunch story time with Sam & Lydia. We are working our way through the REAL Pooh Stories. I adore these writings...just listen...

By the time it came to the edge of the Forest, the stream had grown up, so that it was almost a river, and, being grown-up, it did not run and jump and sparkle along as it used to do when it was younger, but moved more slowly. For it knew now where it was going, and it said to itself, "There is no hurry. We shall get there some day." But all the little streams higher up in the Forest went this way and that, quickly, eagerly, having so much to find out before it was too late.

I envy the carefree energy of the stream and the peaceful steadiness of the river, with it's carefree nature of a different sort.

...and later...

(after being consoled by Piglet) Pooh began to feel a little more comfortable, because when you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed to very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.

I understand Pooh's vulnerability at having other people look at his thoughts. It all makes sense when it's inside. It's the getting it out that sometimes puts things out of order...at that point I wish I was more like the river.

Birthdays Galore

Last night we celebrated 4 grandkids' birthdays. In the first picture, they happen to be sitting in order of age: Gabe (7), Sam (6), Lydia (4), and Elinore (3). Sophie turned 2 in August but enjoyed all the festivities as well. The boys were thrilled to get more Legos, and Lydia and Elinore looked oh so fashionable in their feather boas. The reason Elinore looks taller than Lydia is due to her new high-heeled dress-up shoes. Grandma can finally shop for girls, with guidance from the moms.

It was wonderful to have everyone together, including Eric, Ang, and Gabe who all have November birthdays. Jen also has a November birthday so there are a total of 7 in one month. Jake was also able to join us for the evening. The adults will celebrate next week.

Theological Discussions

For those of you that don't know, Lydia comes to our house for a couple hours on Wednesday mornings. So far, both times, they have had a theological discussion while sitting at the table for their snack. The first time it was about how big God is. This past time it went like this:
Elinore: Lydia...Lydia...Lydia...
Lydia: What?
Elinore: (pause) Lydia, what was I going to say?
Lydia: I don't know.
E: Mama, what was I going to say to Lydia?
Me: I don't know.
L: God knows.
E: What?
L: God knows what you were going to say. You should ask him.
E: God, what was I going to say to Lydia? (pause) He didn't answer.

I can't wait for next week!

No French at the Table

Tonight we decided to put a greater, intentional effort into training our kids at the breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack table. I got this brilliant idea out of the blue...after kids interrupted prayer with babbles and snickers, talked about body functions and slimy foods while Lydia spun in her chair and Sophie told me that her enchilada was "too sour."

Brian and I decided upon a list of table manners/rules that we will review every time we sit down to eat. We did this while finishing dinner, the ideas fresh in our minds. We read them to the kids. Sam was already holding Lydia accountable to her transgressions. When accused of silly, babble talk, she defended herself, "It isn't babble, it's French!"

1. Sit properly. No standing, turning around, standing on your head or swinging from the lamp.
2. Use kind words, like please and thank you and sweetie pie.
3. No silly talk or babbling or French.
4. Do not talk with your mouth full, unless your hair is on fire.
5. Do not interrupt when we are praying, unless your hair is on fire.
6. Be thankful for the food put in front of you, even if there are bugs in it.
7. Ask politely to be excused, clear your dishes and kiss the chef.

Feel free to copy this list. Results not guaranteed.

Impersonations

Who knew that Elinore was good at impersonations? Since Gabe has been back, Elinore just loves how he talks. The last week she has been talking like Gabe. She totally has him down. It is hilarious. We'll have to get the two of them together, so we can all laugh. We've been calling her "Gabinore".

Buddies

Check out these cousins...they will be such good friends! Isn't it funny how they look nothing alike, yet?































I love this age. Daily I wish Noah would stop growing and we could freeze this time. I can't get enough of his chubby cheeks and his hearty laugh and his deep, dark eyes. I think having several children has helped us appreciate each age a little more. We especially notice our older kids enjoying babies a lot lately.

Rock City--Lookout Mountain

Last week, on our way home from a wedding in Atlanta, I wanted to stop at Rock City on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, TN. I had fond memories of going there with my family when I was young--many, many years ago. I especially remembered the swinging bridge which is suspended high above a gorge and sways when you walk on it. I also remembered Lovers Leap, from which you can see 7 states (on a clear day). Dad reminded me that I may have had this built up in my mind after fifty-some years, so it was a bit of a risk to pay the admission fee and begin the mile-long trek through the huge stone formations.

Amazingly, it was even better than I remembered and proved to be a perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon. Near the end of the trail, we went underground into Mother Goose Village where all of the nursery rhymes are depicted with carved figures illustrating the verses. The story of how this whole place came to be is also an intriguing one.

We later rode the world's steepest incline railway for a mile up the side of the mountain. The grade near the top is 72%, and we could look down at the ground below through the windows in the top of the car. One woman wouldn't uncover her eyes during the whole trip up and down, but we found it to be incredibly beautiful. Rock City and the surrounding area proved to be a great "rest area" on the long trip home.

First Few Weeks of Fall

It seems as soon as Labor Day passed, the cooler weather, darker evenings and quieter days began. All the neighbor kids are back in school and we have begun a new routine around here as well. I am so pleased with how it is going! I thought I would share in case any one was curious about our "homeschooling" days. I came across a really helpful tool to assist me in organizing our crazy life around here. It is quite Type A, but having a plan and everything organized greatly reduces the stress around our home. Plus, both Sam and I do best with routine.
So, here's our day:

Brian is almost always around for breakfast. He then leads us in worship and prayer before we head upstairs to "do our charts." Sam and Lydia have a checklist of personal chores to complete in the morning and before bed. When we are all ready for the day, there might be a small job to do together or some laundry to start...OK...there is almost always laundry to start.

Then we are all together for storytime. With all three kids, I am using this book and this curriculum to encourage our kids to love books and to love learning. The quality literature and fun learning activities make this an enjoyable time for everyone. After this, I am with just Sam and sometimes Sam and Lydia to do a bit of math, reading and/or handwriting. (The girls have play time alone while I do this.) Then we are all together again for snack and Bible immersion...reading Bible, memorizing verses, etc. After this we head outside to let off some steam. This is also when I can catch up on chores, run errands, or just feel free to play with the kids. It has greatly helped me to have a time to feel free from home responsibilities and to enjoy the kids.

Then we grab lunch. I have found that right after meals is a good time to have the kids do a small job, so they might fold some washclothes, change some laundry or pick up some toys after lunch. Sam and Lydia each have a half an hour of computer time while I catch up around the house, feed Noah and put Sophie down for a nap. Then Sam, Lydia and I read for a bit from a chapter book. We have read Charlotte's Web, Dangerous Journey and others. We are currently reading through the original Winnie the Pooh collection, which is my absolute favorite. Then we all have an hour of rest. Since the rest of my time has been so well organized, this has actually turned out to be a rest time for me, too.

Then Sam, Lydia and I have another story time using this curiculum. Same great idea: quality books, fun learning stuff. Then we head outdoors again when the babies are awake. For dinner, I have one of the kids help me while the others either keep playing outdoors or are in their rooms for alone time play. This is one of my secrets to sanity, too. Dinnertime is crazy because we are all tired and hungry, so keeping it simple and orderly really helps.

So, this is the way it goes around here, for now. Oh, except Wednesdays, when the girls are at Kindermusic with my mom. Sam and I make bread, which he is selling to learn math, interpersonal skills, etc as well as earn a bit of money. This has been a sweet time for us to work together. Oh yeah, and don't forget: plenty of Lego time!!

A couple things that have really helped me keep organized around here: 1) We have four weeks of favorite dinner meals chosen which we rotate through. I have these recipes in a simple small photo album so I can access them easily. 2) I do certain chores on certain days (groceries on Monday, clean the bathrooms on Tuesday, wash sheets every other Friday, etc) I write all of this on my calender so I don't forget. 3) I plan to do three months on/one month off of official "homeschooling" subjects. The off month will be spent planning for the next season and enjoying the change of pace.

OK...that was really long. Maybe nobody cares, but I have been so pleased with how smoothly and quickly the days have been going. I wanted to share the joy!!

Tobin's Dedication

As Amy said, we dedicated the two newest boys a week or so ago. It was a really nice time to focus ourselves on Noah and Tobin.

We spoke quite a bit about Tobin's namesake. His name means "God is good". We have a couple different perspectives on this meaning. From pregnancy to his birth and even looking at him now, I feel it. God is so good. We are so grateful for God's blessing of this life.

It is also our hope for him. We hope that Tobin will bring the goodness of the kingdom to humanity. That what he does, what he says, and who he is will show the goodness of God. Tobin's verse (as we have chosen) is Psalm 27:13 "I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Easton's Bible Dictionary says "Goodness in man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good."

This is where his middle name comes in: Peter - rock or stone. After Kevin's grandfather. We pray that Tobin will stand firm in goodness and not be swayed by this world. That he will be perstistent in choosing right over wrong.
We also made him some promises as we hold him out to God. "We promise to pray for you throughout your life, whether you ask for it or not. We promise to do our best to display God's love to you. We promise to make decisions concerning you based on prayer and Godly counsel. We promise to teach you how to live a kingdom life."

Noah's Dedication

For those of you who weren't there on Sunday, we had a special time to dedicate the littlest Wolthuis cousins, Noah and Tobin. I didn't have enough free time to take many pictures, so maybe Jen can post one of Tobin. Here is what I shared with our friends and family...

Dear, Sweet Noah,

I feel we already have a glimpse into the person God has created you to be: peaceful, tolerant, quick to smile, content and full of happiness. Your father says he doesn’t know anyone who is really happy and really intelligent, but maybe you can be the first. If not, and if I had to choose, I think this world needs more happy people.

Your middle name, John, came to us after a couple years of being deeply intrigued by the disciple John. In his gospel, he refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” I am captivated by the fact that he was so assured of God’s heart of love for him, that he was able to confidently, repeatedly refer to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Could I define who I am with this testimony? I seek to learn the truth of this fact: I am loved. At times of trouble in my life, when I loose perspective, by the grace of God, He speaks to my deepest place and reminds me that he loves me, as I am, even if I don’t change, and I am centered and find peace again.

My prayer is that you will know you are loved…by me and your papa and, most amazingly, by your Papa God.

We called you Noah after the friend of God that comes to everyone’s mind – the one with the arc. I apologize in advance for all the rain and boat jokes you will endure. We chose this name because we admire and celebrate the courage it took Noah to walk out the call of God on his life. Can you imagine building a giant boat, waiting for a flood, with no sign of rain while the entire world looks on? Sometimes we can identify a bit with how that must have felt. We feel God’s nudge to lead a counter-cultural life that doesn’t always make sense and almost always blazes a new trail. Noah, you will grow up in a family that does things a little differently, with a father that isn’t afraid to seek out the voice of God and lead his family to obey the best they can, while the world looks curiously on.

My prayer is that you will grow to hear His voice for yourself and, even if there is no sign of rain and the world looks on, scratching their heads, you will have the courage to obey.

Love,

your mama

Best Decision 2008

So we finally admitted that vacationing with four little ones isn't much of a vacation. This week we tried a "staycation," as I hear they are called. We drove zero miles, packed zero suitcases, planned local day trips and special events, and went to Meijers to fill our kitchen with yummy treats for the week. Brian took the week off from work and I am taking the week off from "work" as much as possible. This has been the best vacation yet. We've been able to keep up some normal routine around here (which the kids do best in), use the help of friends and family, and do some really fun, yet simple stuff around home. I continue to remind myself that little ones love simple pleasures. Lydia and I had a date this afternoon. I love seeing her light up from the special attention. Tonight's agenda: hotdogs and s'mores over a backyard fire!















Peach Pickin'
















Canoeing on the Black River around Windmill Island

July Memories

Just because no one has posted for quite a while doesn't mean nothing has been happening. July brought beautiful weather and an enjoyable visit from my sister. Aunt Pat got to see her great-nieces and nephews (although she doesn't think of herself as old enough to be a great-aunt). She met Noah and Tobin for the first time. This is a picture of her in Elinore's special kitchen where they had a tea party. They noticed that they were both wearing purple.

We went to a wedding in Traverse City and spent time driving on the road that goes through the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The views from the overlooks are breathtaking--Michigan at its best.
We also visited nephew Joel who works on charter fishing boats all summer. He is based in Frankfort, MI. This boat is his home for the summer. We were able to wish him a Happy Birthday in person.
When Sophie comes over, she loves to draw and color. Here she is hard at work on one of her many pictures that day. She recently turned two--more pictures to follow of her party.

Blueberries

On Wednesday, Ang and I took the kids blueberry picking. They had so much fun. Elinore and Gabe ran up and down our blueberry "aisle". Gabe was saying, "Come on, Elinore. Come hide in this blueberry cave!" and they were sitting together underneath a blueberry bush. He kept pouring his blueberries into Elinore's bucket and she just kept eating whatever was in her bucket. I think she ate enough to last the next three weeks! Ang and I enjoyed talking together and exclaiming in delight each time one of the kids found "the biggest blueberry ever" and popped it into their mouth! Delicious!

Sun, Sand, and Surf

Here are a few more pictures of California, these taken at Huntington Beach where there are many serious surfers and beach volleyball players. We watched with more than a casual interest since we know what a skilled beach volleyball player Stu is and that he continues to coach the sport, preparing players for tournaments.
This fisherman was very proud of his catch off the pier. We found ourselves eye-to-eye with this seagull outside the window of the second story of Ruby's Diner which is at the end of the pier. We've never eaten pancakes with a more breathtaking view.

California Memories

Last month we enjoyed a visit to my sister and her husband in California. We were there during the brief but beautiful blooming of the purple Smoke Trees. We had never seen them before, and they were everywhere. Pat and Stu have an incredible view from their deck, and gorgeous flowers , even on the walls of their house. I had to include this gas price sign to show that California is indeed ahead of the rest of the country.
We had a wonderful time enjoying their hospitality and the beauty of the area.

Firebug and Batmen

When Brian was young and we went camping, we used to refer to him as "Firebug" because of his fascination with the campfire. He could spend hours rearranging the sticks and twigs and adding new ones. As you can see from this 4th of July picture, he has not lost the thrill of the flame (this time Morning Glory Sparklers). They go above and beyond what regular sparklers can do.

We had a visit this week from not one, but two, Batmen--and they actually flew. The last two pictures are a bit blurry but prove that their feet are not on the ground.

The Fourth

Mom and Dad came over for a little celebration on the Fourth. We had hotdogs over the fire, delicious summer food like watermelon, corn on the cob, pasta salad and chips. S'mores for dessert. Sam was so excited for the event that, to pass time in the afternoon, he and I decorated the back yard with red, white, blue (and a little purple) balloons, table clothes, flowers, a homemade centerpiece, and some of Sam's drawings posted around. The kids were energized by getting to stay up until dark and enamored with the sparklers. Sam got a digital watch, so he kept us posted on the time every couple minutes. Many great memories were made and I was so glad to have my camera.