Books, Books, Books

  I love to read. I love, love, love it. I wish I could say that I spend my time reading books that lead to deep philosophical conversations and lively debate, but I don't. I like mindless, entertaining, almost cheesy fiction.
   I currently finished The Hunger Games series- I could not put these down-they were amazing! I definitely jumped on the Twilight bandwagon, and I am a sucker for any book that was written by Karen Kingsbury. I often get very emotionally invested in the books I am reading and can be found crying away on my couch at two in the morning as I read about the latest tragedy to happen to the Baxter family.
  However, none of the books or series I mentioned above can even hold a candle to my all-time favorite series- The Christy Miller Series. I can still remember where I was when I first started reading Summer Promise, book one of the series. We were at the Brouwers house- all the kids were hanging out as our parents played cards, and I was in their spare room sucked into the magical world of Christy Miller. I couldn't turn those pages fast enough.

As you can see from the cover of this book, it was clearly going to be a page-turner!

  I was invested in the romance of Christy and Todd. I read and reread every detail about their slow ascent from friends to dating and was overjoyed when they came out with the college years to keep me up to date on the status of their relationship. I couldn't wait to meet a "Todd" of my very own. :)
  One of my favorite Christmas presents ever was my very own set of Christy Miller books. These are still a treasured possession, that not just anyone is allowed to borrow. I became so wrapped up in these books and the story of Christy, that my family would tease me that I thought she was a real person and friend.
  While I realize that I can become a little obsessed while in the middle of a book (ask Bryan), that is what I love about books. They can take you and transport you to a place far away, where you can relate to the characters, feel their pain, experience their joy and for just a little while be whisked away from the dirty dishes that should be washed, the laundry that needs to be folded and the papers that are waiting to be graded...Oh the joy of a good book.

Fun with the Fam

 Another trip to Pella is coming to a close. And what  fun trip it has been. Cami got to spend lots of time with her cousins. She got so many hugs and kisses from Grandpa and Grandma. I got to meet up with some college friends to catch up and see them in their new roles as moms. It really has been a blessing.
  With Dan and Amy moving to Cali this summer, and two new babies in the fam, we made sure to take advantage of this time together and took family pictures. Here are a couple of my favorites of the kiddos in their new Easter outfits from Grandma and of our little family too.

 Spending this week with Cami has made me really anxious for summer, when I get to spend every day with her. A teacher's schedule is so great!

A Glimpse of Heaven?

 One of the best Christmas presents we got this year was tickets to a Chris Tomlin concert. The concert was finally this past Tuesday. So, my parents, siblings and all of our spouses went to dinner and then to the concert.
  It was AwEsOmE! It was three hours spent in worship with a couple thousand people. People were singing, dancing and letting their love for the Lord show. The spirit of God was definitely in that place. And it was so neat to think that this is just a glimpse of what heaven could be like...

A Trip to Pella...

 I am so excited- next week is spring break and I get to go to IOWA! Every spring break, my hubby and I head to Pella to visit his family and catch up with some friends. It is always a restful and relaxing week. There are so many things that I look forward to, and here are just a few:

* Riding the Harley around Pella with my hubby.

* Hanging out with my awesome sister-in-laws. I am so lucky- I married into a great family and one of the things I love the most about it is my sisters! We don't see each other a lot, but we always pick up where we left off. They are fun and funny and a blessing in my life!

* Spending time with our nieces and nephews. We only get to see them a couple times a year, so we have to soak up all the time we can get with them. They are always so much bigger than the last time I saw them and have so much energy and life. Even better, is that this trip we get to meet our new niece Adalynn!

* Puff pillows, Pizza Ranch, George's, Banket, and more! Oh the wonderful food that we eat when we are in Pella- it is such a treat. Even better is the souvenir of 5 extra pounds that I get to take home after each trip! :)

* Tulip Tea Room- For the last four years, the girls always get to have a dainty and fun lunch at the Tulip Tea Room. I was a little skeptical at first, but now I so look forward to this fun outing!

* Sleeping, napping and relaxing- Bryan's parents spoil us and let us lounge around, make a mess and enjoy our time together as a family.

* Being spoiled by my mother-in-law who fills the house with all of our favorite snacks and treats! (Have you noticed that most of the things I am excited about revolve around food? )

* Watching B and brother and dad compete for the golf crown- this battle gets pretty heated, but it is fun to watch them "bond".

* Catching up with college friends- some of our college friends live in the area and it is so fun to catch up with them, meet their kiddos and see how life has been treating them!

* Did I mention Pizza Ranch yet? :)

I could go on and on...and I as I look forward to heading to the midwest to spend time with my awesome family, I get more and more excited! :) Best of all is now we have sweet little Cami who gets to spend a great week with the people who mean so much to us!