November 28

• Church this morning.
• A relaxing day.
• I started the day with a sad and even mean spirit.  Thankful that prayer helped me work through most of it by the time we got to church.  God does answer prayer!!!  Still praying for a spirit of peace and joyfulness. 

November 27

• Even though Seth's parents went home due to his dad getting sick, we spent time with Ethan, Tracy, Justin, Lindsey, and Isaac.  Always good to spend time with family. 
• For some reason, I was exhausted at the end of the day.  Went to bed at 9pm and slept!!!  Good to catch up on some sleep.
• A little sad that Brielle is starting to give up nursing, but I know it's a part of growing up and I'm thankful for her growth!  Also loving her personality shining through.

November 26

• Not much going on today, and the down-time is nice.
• Spent time coloring Christmas pictures with the boys...relaxing and nice just to talk with them.
• Setting up the Christmas tree and listening to Christmas music!  The boys were driving me nuts, but it was because they were SO excited to set up the tree.  Maybe I could learn from that...

November 25

• HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
• Wonderful food and fellowship!  So thankful for my family!!!
• Encouraging worship.

November 24

• Sorted through a few things and donated a bunch of stuff.  Hoping it blesses someone and helps with tuition funds!
• Great to see Bethany again!
• So fun to go out with Steve, Lori, and Beth to see the newest Harry Potter movie! 
• Good to joke around with Seth.
• Always good to go home.
• Lori's news!!!

November 23

• Koen was so helpful while Ty was having a hard time (tired and not feeling well...praying he gets back on top of things quickly).
• In this season, I'm realizing I have a lot to be thankful for:  a supportive husband who loves me, adorable kids who are healthy, helpful parents, sisters I can connect with, a beautiful home, encouraging friends, and a Heavenly Father who calls me his own.
• Library time with the kids today.

November 22

• It's a joy to have the basement finished and the kids playing in it...even without me down there!
• Seth had a busy, busy day, but it went relatively well.
• It was a high-energy day with kids, but nothing bad. 

November 21

• Nursery duty was easy. :)
• Low-key afternoon.
• Worked on some pictures with the new computer...realizing I have a lot to learn, but still thankful for this new computer!!!

November 20

• Pictures with Mary...the kids were very well behaved, but I'm not sure how many smiles we got...or even if we got all three looking at the camera at the same time!
• Despite the stress and drama of it all, having to deal with a flat tire went remarkably well.  The kids were so good, Discount Tire was so close, and they got us in fairly quickly.  Not how I wanted to spend part of the day, but it worked out just fine.
• Met Justin, Lindsey, and Isaac at Chucky Cheese.  Insanely busy, but the kids had a blast and that's always a joy to witness.  Also, Seth's mom paid for it which was very sweet and helpful.
• It was just not my day with cars.  I was going to run out to get a movie for us to watch after getting home, but when backing out of the garage I clipped the rear-view mirror on the Camry and broke it.  Thankfully, Seth was very gracious about the whole thing, cleaned it up while I put the kids to bed, and found online that it shouldn't be too expensive or difficult to fix it.  Praising God even in my mistakes. 

November 19

• Lori's birthday...it's great to celebrate life!
• Seth's parents came and helped out...picking Koen up from school, allowing me to pick up a few things at the store and staying with the kids, helping with bedtime, etc.
• Seth got to spend time with Justin out hunting.
• THE NEW COMPUTER CAME!!!  Now I just have to figure it all out...hmmmm...
• Mary stopped by to pick up/drop off a few things...always good to see friends.  I'm so proud of her in her weight loss efforts and am inspired by her!

November 18

• Got most of the vacuuming done.
• Spent the day SCRAPBOOKING with Kelli!  Great to visit, great to scrapbook, though a bit disappointing I'm so far behind.  I'd love to scrapbook more often, but I feel guilty when there are so many other things I could/should be doing.  When I'm scrapbooking with friends, I feel good about it because I'm spending quality time with them.
• Parent-Teacher conferences with Koen's teacher went well.  He's growing up and learning so many new things.  And I'm so proud of him and his kind heart toward other kids. 
• Got the bathrooms cleaned tonight!

November 17

•  Zumba with Kaye.
• Picking up Koen went better...Ty didn't melt down!
• Got lots of laundry done!
• Brought Kelli and family a meal...I like doing the hospitality things in life.  Also good to spend time with her and hold baby Caleb!
• After exercising, Seth and I moved a lot of the furniture into place in the basement.  Still a ways to go, but fun to see things take shape.

Novmeber 16

• THE CARPET IS IN!!!
• The boys are so excited about the new carpet in the basement they are moving all their toys down there one by one...and I didn't even ask them to do it!!!
• Thankful that Anna is so excited about her show tonight...bless her and her family/friends.  (The show ended up being a lot of fun!)
• I had the courage to talk with the carpet guy about what I do as a jeweler...maybe one of their wives will book a show?!?

November 15

• Got a phone call that the carpet is coming tomorrow!  So exciting after all this time!!! 
• Even though we had a lot of moving and cleaning to do before the carpet could go in, I'm thankful Seth and I can work together to accomplish tasks like these.  Not only agreeing on what needs to be done, but lifting and moving things together, too. 
• I'm so thankful for Seth's strength as he moved some of the things on his own.  I"m also amazed at all the building skill he has or has learned to complete this basement!  I'm also thankful for family members who helped!!!
• It was a difficult day for a tired Ty, but I was able to keep my cool and not stress about it too much, even when he was melting down at Koen's school.
• Koen's continued excitement for school and specifically the letter people is a joy!

November 14

• A nap...albeit short due to Ty waking me up.  Extra sleep is always appreciated!
• Ordering a new computer online! :) 
• Friends at church!

November 13

• Hung out with Justin, Lindsey, and Isaac tonight...pizza and catching up!
• Some down time with the kids was nice before I headed off to a jewelry show.

November 12

• It's Friday! :)
• Had dinner here with Mom and Dad...always a joy to spend time with family!
• Carpet is ordered and paid for!  What a blessing to be able to pay cash...to know how and be willing to save for something. 
• Enjoying another phenomenal day in weather!

November 11

• Veteran's Day...SO thankful for my freedom!  Someone posted on facebook something to the effect that only 2 people have ever willingly sacrificed their life for mine...Jesus died for my soul and a soldier died for my freedom. 
• Another unbelievable day with our weather!!!  70 degrees in mid-November is something to rejoice about!!!
• Took the kids to Deanna's Playhouse today with Mom...great place and fun!  Plus, it's always nice to enjoy my kids and spend time with my mom!
• Took the kids to the park today...without jackets!
• Got lots of running around for Premier stuff accomplished to-and-from Holland.
• Ordered carpet for the basement!!!

November 10

• Trying a new approach to each day as I want to change how I utilize my time and try to grow my business.  While it didn't work as well as I'd hoped, it's still a step in the right direction.
• We picked out carpet!!!  Planning to order it tomorrow.  So thankful for Kaye, all her knowledge and connections!
• Zumba -- kicked my butt, but so good for me.
• Another amazing day weather-wise!!!

November 9

• Oasis...learning so much about Esther and about myself!
• BEAUTIFUL weather!!!  60 degrees+...loving it!!!
• Training...so challenging and inspiring.
• Heart to heart talks with Seth.

November 8

• It was a beautiful day...even got to play outside with the kids for a bit.
• Made bread with Ty.
• Closed a jewelry show = payday!
• Able to save a little more money to buy a new computer!!! (see above)
• Talked to Jane for a bit.
• The day itself was pretty tough with kids, attitudes, not listening, etc. and I really didn't think I'd find much to be joyful about, but with a little effort I came up with 5 things!!!  That in and of itself is a joy!!!  Before I started this blog, I sure wouldn't have taken the time to find the good in the day.

November 7

• Some good music in church this morning.  One special music song prompted me to think about how Jesus did EVERYTHING with others in mind...do I? 
• Going to lunch at Mom and Dad's and picking up the boys!  It's nice to be missed!
• Seeing videos of Grandma Rinsema as she said good-bye to everyone on the phone.  Difficult, but wonderful.
• Relaxing this evening.

November 6

• It was tough (probably tougher for Seth), but Brielle went from 8pm til 6am without eating.  Lots of tears...hoping tonight will be better, but excited that we're one step closer to sleeping through the night!!!
• Premier Round Up today...I learned some and was challenged a lot.  Thankful Premier is in my life and now I just need to do more with it!!!
• Date night!!!  A quite night out with Seth (and Brielle) at the bookstore for dinner and browsing...plus the new Jack Reacher novel.
• Looking at a new computer for me!  :)  Keeping an eye for sales.
• A beautiful autumn day!  Premier training was at a camp ground with beautiful facilities and right on the lake...a gorgeous morning!
• The boys are staying at Grandma and Grandpa's tonight.  I'm so thankful they love going and even more thankful my parents enjoy having them!
• Daylight savings tonight!  Hope Brielle sleeps that extra hour! :)

November 5

• A clean kitchen
• Seth picked up Koen which allowed Brielle to continue her nap and me to complete a few more things
• Seth and the boys made a fire...a perk in the colder weather.
• It snowed!  I'm not so much excited about the snow as witnessing the boys's excitement!!!

November 4

• Fall clouds...big, gray, beautiful.
• A good day home with the kids.
• Three future jewelry shows booked.
• Finding out a little more about the weight loss "stuff" I'm planning on doing after the first of the year.
• Good talks with friends...thanks, Mary.
• Seth complimenting me.
• Christian music, and listening to it throughout the day.
• Having repeat hostesses.
• My kids giggles and smiles.

November 3

• Booking a jewelry show and a catalog show!  It's always fun to do this, but after the rash of cancellations I've had, this is VERY encouraging!
• Zumba with Kaye!
• Just listening to my 3 kids laugh together...one of the best sounds on earth. 
• Taking an hour nap while Brielle slept and Ty watched a movie (especially after only getting 4 1/2 hours the night before)!  Sleep does me good!
• Spending time with Kelli after running into her at Meijer.  Rejoicing in Caleb's birth and that things seem to be going so well for them. 

November 2

• I got to go to Oasis Bible Study for the first time in a month after sickness, Grandma's funeral, and the tornado warning/watch.  I learn so much from Beth Moore's Bible Studies...and I love the book of Esther!
• GIRL'S NIGHT OUT!  Such a nice time sharing dinner with friends!  It's always good to laugh!
• Shopping at Kohl's w/o kids, and Mary came along, too.  Shopping shouldn't be this fun. :)
• Having a husband who is OK with me going out with friends and is willing to care for the kids!!! 

November 1

• I'm blogging again! 
• My health is almost back to 100%.
• A lot has happened in the past month...but the most significant was Grandma moving on to heaven.  I'm so thankful she's pain-free and praising Jesus!  Plus, her funeral gave me an opportunity to see a number of family members who I haven't seen in a while...including Jane and Annika!
• Tysen turned three!  His doctor's appt. went well today.  I know we take our health for granted sometimes, and I'm thankful he's growing strong and healthy.
• Brielle cut 2 new teeth!
• Even though I've had a lot of show cancellations for this month, I'm not going to get discouraged.