Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve Beach Service
This is our first year celebrating Christmas in Florida and our first year worshiping on Christmas Eve on the beach. At sunset. It was gorgeous and a reminder of God's loving gifts he gives to each day. Beautiful service with our toes in the sand:)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Christmas Shopping in Shorts
We safely arrived Tuesday night to the Florida house after 11 hours on the road! Jack was still sick so we didn't do much on the first full day here. Everything is unpacked though and a trip to Costco was made.
My hubby was so wonderful and let me go on 2 shopping trips yesterday all by myself! It was awesome and I got things done so quickly. Jack went to bed at 5pm last night which threw off Mike's Christmas surprise for me...but he then let me go shopping again.
This time I took Dutchie so he could finish up his Christmas shopping:) It was great shopping in shorts!
All the shopping is done besides 1 more gift. This morning Mike and I addressed all our Christmas cards while Jack was napping.
Also, Jack is starting to feel much better!!!! FINALLY.
The rest of the family is arriving this afternoon. Things are starting to look a lot like Christmas down here:)
Here is a picture of Dutchie shopping. People thought I was crazy. I was like, "I swear I have a 1 year old at home, I'm not a crazy dog person". Ok, well maybe a little, but there are lots of them down here.
My hubby was so wonderful and let me go on 2 shopping trips yesterday all by myself! It was awesome and I got things done so quickly. Jack went to bed at 5pm last night which threw off Mike's Christmas surprise for me...but he then let me go shopping again.
This time I took Dutchie so he could finish up his Christmas shopping:) It was great shopping in shorts!
All the shopping is done besides 1 more gift. This morning Mike and I addressed all our Christmas cards while Jack was napping.
Also, Jack is starting to feel much better!!!! FINALLY.
The rest of the family is arriving this afternoon. Things are starting to look a lot like Christmas down here:)
Here is a picture of Dutchie shopping. People thought I was crazy. I was like, "I swear I have a 1 year old at home, I'm not a crazy dog person". Ok, well maybe a little, but there are lots of them down here.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Ben Visits Bama
As I mentioned a few posts ago Uncle Ben came for a visit to Bama. We were so happy to have him. He is one of my best friends' and Mike's, and to get to spend a whole weekend with him to ourselves was quite the treat (usually there it lots of us and lots going on).
When you are with Ben you are always promised good food, good conversation, lots of laughs, and a plain jolly good time!
Ben babysat on Friday for us as I posted about, which was awesome. Saturday we: went to the zoo (after homemade pancakes), stopped by the club for a drink, shopped at Costco, waked out to the course to intrigue Ben since couldn't play this visit, ate dinner at Flip Burger, and then watched Santa Clause 2. Sunday: Church, Omelets, tour around the area, grocery shopping at Whole Foods, and we cooked Co qu Vin.
There is always a comfy bed, full fridge, good wine, and family that loves you waiting for your next trip to Alabama. Thank you for visiting us brother!
When you are with Ben you are always promised good food, good conversation, lots of laughs, and a plain jolly good time!
Ben babysat on Friday for us as I posted about, which was awesome. Saturday we: went to the zoo (after homemade pancakes), stopped by the club for a drink, shopped at Costco, waked out to the course to intrigue Ben since couldn't play this visit, ate dinner at Flip Burger, and then watched Santa Clause 2. Sunday: Church, Omelets, tour around the area, grocery shopping at Whole Foods, and we cooked Co qu Vin.
There is always a comfy bed, full fridge, good wine, and family that loves you waiting for your next trip to Alabama. Thank you for visiting us brother!
We Are NOT Skipping Christmas
My sick boys were asleep by 7pm on Saturday night. So Dutch and I curled up on the couch, made some hot coco, and watched Christmas movies. One of the movies we watched was "Christmas with the Kranks", based off of the John Grisham novel, Skipping Christmas (way wonderful short book that you can read in one sitting). I cried at the end of the movie. Yep.
This is a strange year for me and then with my boys being sick it just threw me for a loop. I love Christmas time. My favorite time of the year.
The lights, traditions, decorations, food, parties, music, church services, outfits, gift giving, the love. There was no Candlelight dinner at the club this year, or Grand Rapids Christmas party, or Barrington Christmas party, or Willow Creek service.
These things should not make a difference because I really do love my little family, friends, and home here in Alabama. I am blessed. And I know that I will see my family shortly for Christmas. But for some reason "Skipping Christmas" made me feel like I was skipping Christmas, and I don't want to because this is only Jack's second Christmas!
My Christmas cards have not been sent out. Presents not bought. Decorations not fully put out. Heck, Jack hasn't even sat on Santa's lap. Ugh.
If Jack gets better we now have 4 days to do lots of Christmas activities. If he doesn't feel better than we will just have to get very creative.
Maybe I am crazy. Maybe this is the lack of sleep talking. Maybe none of this matters. Maybe what matters is that we have been comforting and cuddling Jack 24/7 for the past 4 days. Wiping his noes and feeding him sips of juice every chance we get. We have been reading him Christmas stories and watching animated Christmas movies with him trying to cheer him up.
I just posted about enjoying each day as God created it. And I actually have been pausing and doing so, they just aren't as full of as much Christmas cheer as I would have planned for. But I'm not supposed to plan now am I. Still learning that one.
Now I am just rambling...
Just so you think we aren't totally Scrooges over here, proof that we have done some things!
This is a strange year for me and then with my boys being sick it just threw me for a loop. I love Christmas time. My favorite time of the year.
The lights, traditions, decorations, food, parties, music, church services, outfits, gift giving, the love. There was no Candlelight dinner at the club this year, or Grand Rapids Christmas party, or Barrington Christmas party, or Willow Creek service.
These things should not make a difference because I really do love my little family, friends, and home here in Alabama. I am blessed. And I know that I will see my family shortly for Christmas. But for some reason "Skipping Christmas" made me feel like I was skipping Christmas, and I don't want to because this is only Jack's second Christmas!
My Christmas cards have not been sent out. Presents not bought. Decorations not fully put out. Heck, Jack hasn't even sat on Santa's lap. Ugh.
If Jack gets better we now have 4 days to do lots of Christmas activities. If he doesn't feel better than we will just have to get very creative.
Maybe I am crazy. Maybe this is the lack of sleep talking. Maybe none of this matters. Maybe what matters is that we have been comforting and cuddling Jack 24/7 for the past 4 days. Wiping his noes and feeding him sips of juice every chance we get. We have been reading him Christmas stories and watching animated Christmas movies with him trying to cheer him up.
I just posted about enjoying each day as God created it. And I actually have been pausing and doing so, they just aren't as full of as much Christmas cheer as I would have planned for. But I'm not supposed to plan now am I. Still learning that one.
Now I am just rambling...
Just so you think we aren't totally Scrooges over here, proof that we have done some things!
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| 3 Work Christmas Parties! |
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| Christmas Flowers...okay from a work party but they got me in the mood. |
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| Outside decorations. |
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| Stockings are hung by the chimney with care. |
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| Our Tree. |
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| So sad I didn't get Jack in front of the tree. Dutch and I sat in:) |
Sick
Sick. Sick. Sick. The most descriptive word of our Postma home since Friday. Tired. Worried. Frustrated. Bummed. Sad. Annoyed. Those would be some others.
Jack had the sniffles starting last Saturday, and on Friday morning things turned for the worse. The poor baby has been sleeping most of his days and not eating anything. I get down some liquids but not many. We took him to the Doctor's office Monday, instead of departing for Florida. All tests came back fine and we were sent home with instructions to give Tylenol and Motrin, plus try amoxcecilin (spellings wrong but I am tired). Plus try give him eye drops, lots of rest, and liquids when we can. Ok, Mike who is also sick, was hoping for some magic pill. But I guess time is all it is going to take. Jack is a mover and a trouble maker and for 4 days now all he has done is slept and cuddled. Breaks my heart.
On Sunday I was just plan worried and used social networking to reach out to some moms. Honestly what did we do without facebook! My fears were calmed as many have been in my shoes, and it was so sweet that people took time out of their busy preChristmas days to write me some tips. Love it.
Between a snoring husband and a coughing baby on the monitor, mommy has had very little sleep. Kind of given up on it at this point. Let's hope I can catch up on it over our holiday! If you can remember please say a quick prayer for a quick recovery for Jack. Thanks:)
Jack had the sniffles starting last Saturday, and on Friday morning things turned for the worse. The poor baby has been sleeping most of his days and not eating anything. I get down some liquids but not many. We took him to the Doctor's office Monday, instead of departing for Florida. All tests came back fine and we were sent home with instructions to give Tylenol and Motrin, plus try amoxcecilin (spellings wrong but I am tired). Plus try give him eye drops, lots of rest, and liquids when we can. Ok, Mike who is also sick, was hoping for some magic pill. But I guess time is all it is going to take. Jack is a mover and a trouble maker and for 4 days now all he has done is slept and cuddled. Breaks my heart.
On Sunday I was just plan worried and used social networking to reach out to some moms. Honestly what did we do without facebook! My fears were calmed as many have been in my shoes, and it was so sweet that people took time out of their busy preChristmas days to write me some tips. Love it.
Between a snoring husband and a coughing baby on the monitor, mommy has had very little sleep. Kind of given up on it at this point. Let's hope I can catch up on it over our holiday! If you can remember please say a quick prayer for a quick recovery for Jack. Thanks:)
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| At the Doctor's office. |
Monday, December 20, 2010
Rinker Family Christmas Tree
This summer my Mom realized that a pine tree they had planted 20 years ago was growing crooked and would have to come down before a big snow storm hit so that it wouldn't fall and damage someones car.
It's funny I remember planting the three tiny pine trees behind the basketball hoop when I was so little. They have grown to be these huge beautiful trees, I guess like Ben & I:)
Instead of just cutting the tree down and ending it's long life, my Mom insisted that we were going to use that tree as the Rinker family Christmas tree.
She wasn't kidding! The tree got the honor and she did everyone proud. I thought it was pretty darn cool.
It's funny I remember planting the three tiny pine trees behind the basketball hoop when I was so little. They have grown to be these huge beautiful trees, I guess like Ben & I:)
Instead of just cutting the tree down and ending it's long life, my Mom insisted that we were going to use that tree as the Rinker family Christmas tree.
She wasn't kidding! The tree got the honor and she did everyone proud. I thought it was pretty darn cool.
Jack's First Birthday: Party
What a fabulous group of friends we have down here in Alabama! Simply amazing.
Thank you everyone for coming over to celebrate Jack's big day with us!
Your generosity and thoughtfulness is beyond appreciated!
We love you all:)
Thank you everyone for coming over to celebrate Jack's big day with us!
Your generosity and thoughtfulness is beyond appreciated!
We love you all:)
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| Gina & Luke |
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| Allison & Maddie |
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| Jake |
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| Claire, Ginger, Jen, and baby Chole |
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| Cooper |
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| Trying to get a group shoot |
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| Buds |
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| Harper & Bobby |
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| Cameron & Harper |
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| Adorable. |
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| Volree & Cooper |
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| Harper |
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