snippets of life.

This post consists of photos. and captions. No particular order! enjoy =)
p.s. you DO want to keep going, because these are not on facebook. just fyi.



Playing pool at Doug and Sandy's. This was a posed picture. these boys seriously are amazing. it's not ever day you can get six boys ages 14-18 together and have them open up, play, love, cry, eat and joke around like these guys can. i love them =)

and because i know you're dying to find out... yes, that is a moose head. and yes, it was once alive. and yes, the man of the house did hunt it. and yes, he did have a moose-eating party for all his kin and friends. and no, i did not attend.

(l-r: seth, justin, david, anthony, petter, joey)


i never promised short captions =P




this is the double winding staircase in the front entry way of Doug and Sandy's house. Every time i go there, i resist the urge to go to the top and walk down, trailing my hand along the banister while scoping the party below like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind.
maybe someday i'll just bring my hoop skirt along and do it!



Mmm I love Hermosa beach. This is the view from the pier. AMAZINGLY beautiful day. THIS is why I love california.



And this is why Michigan isn't so bad either =) amazing sunset on Big Pine Island Lake. Toodling about the lake in the pontoon boat with the family. (yes. toodling is a word.)



I was so glad I got to visit my awesome cousin Maria and her cute hubby, Jim. Turns out, DT grand rapids is pretty great at night. wonderful balmy weather, pretty lights, fun music in the park. I really enjoyed my time there!



Yes ladies...he IS single!
(Honestly, I think he was trying to fit cheetos in his mouth without breaking them? maybe? too bad we don't have pics of him feeding the dog cheetos from between his toes. never a dull moment. seriously).



trust me, its ten times better in the edited form. =) one thing i love about my brother Johnny is that while he can be grown up and responsible, he also is down for a crazy good time. Always full of laughs, funny faces, and inside jokes. definitely one of my favorite people, ever.



So this is my niece, Karlina. she is a girl in case there is any confusion (we've had that mix-up before). And Karlina loves peaches. Watch Karlina put the peach in her face and suck it mercilessly. (i could write a children's book about it like, See Spot Run. But Karlina, Peaches and mercilessly are all really big words for kids to read/understand.)
ANYWAY. the kid loves peaches. it was incredible to watch her devour them with her gummy mouth inhabited by only two teensy teeth.




Mmm...the view from the porch of the cottage overlooking the yard and the lake. beautiful. relaxing. peaceful.



awwww cuuute little family!
NOT.
This is John and Amy. They don't have kids. They have a puppy. But they sure look cute with kids! Hey guys. have a kid.



I love this picture. It's Gramzy and Karlina and a snoozing Papa. We were giving Mommy and Daddy a rest from the baby and we forgot a jacket. so we wrapped her in a huge blanket.



See. johnny can be somewhat normal. and they look just fine sans baby. (ok guys, you don't have to have kids. the puppykins works ok)
=)


Yeah. forget what I said about normal. They were legitimately doing this in the kitchen. Too many unanswered questions like: Is this a dance or a fight? Are they ninja's or knights? Does Joey's leg really need to be that high on the table? Was it posed or was it natural?
I'll let you decide =)


Well Now you get a glimpse into my life. even MORE so than you normally would!
thanks for reading. and looking.
adios.

run wild with the hope.

"From the place where morning gathers
You can look sometimes forever 'til you see
What time may never know
How the Lord takes by its corners this old world
And shakes us forward and shakes us free

To run wild with the hope

The hope that this thirst will not last long
That it will soon drown in the song
Not sung in vain
And I feel thunder in the sky
I see the sky about to rain
And I hear the prairies calling out Your name"

Mmm. it gives me chills every time I read/sing/hear it. This is part of a song by one of my favorite Christian artists. It is considered "old school" and not many from my generation know/appreciate/love him or even know who he is. He is the writer of very popular songs like, "Awesome God", "Step by Step" and "Creed." But many people miss some of his other songs. And they often hold some of the deepest nuggets of truth. Here is the link for the video.

As you will see, he is not a performer. He doesn't have a "happenin' stage presence." But he is so talented. and his heart is sincerely after God.

I would have loved to attend one of his concerts and worship with him. I think I admire him, his musical talent, his lyrics and his ministry more than almost any other Christian music artist to date.

He died. in 1997. It always makes my heart hurt when I think about it. I think, "My goodness, what a tragedy." or "Why him! he was such an amazing guy!" But then I remember that God is all about his glory. and this man glorified him in life and death. I have benefited so much from his songs.

Ugh. I'm Sorry. This post wasn't originally about Rich Mullins. It was about sunrises. and hope. and the glory of God. Will it annoy you too bad if I keep writing? Oh well. =)

So if you go back and read the lyrics I posted, I will tell you why this song and especially this excerpt are so important to my heart. Every time I have road tripped, especially through what seems like the middle of nowhere (Kansas, Dakota, Nebraska etc...), I have listened to this song. And one time a long time ago, me and my brother were the only ones awake driving through Utah at sunrise. we listened to this song together.

I listened to it on my road trip, driving at sunrise. And then the other morning I took my parents to the airport at 5 in the morning, and on the way back, the sun was breaking through and I was in awe.

I am NEVER up that early. People say it is worth it. I have always doubted that.

But they were right.

Coming from behind the San Gabriel Mountains was a glow that morphed the night sky into a slate gray. what few visible stars there were twinkled their last and slowly faded out. the wisps of clouds became a sharp white before glowing gold and becoming brilliantly shiny around the edges. the gray remained in the west while the eastern sky held a mixture of blue, gold and pink. Not as deep as a sunset, but just as fantastic. And the sun wasn't even showing yet. (I was back home and in bed by that time!)

(closest thing that depicts sort of what I saw)

My focus was on the sky. But as I came over the pass from the 105 to the 110 heading into Downtown LA, I was struck by the irony of this situation. Here was the glory of God, on display right in front of me. There was no denying how Big and Awesome my God is when I see this art show come alive before me against the mountains.

Forget Disney's world of color... this is where its at. AND its free (well...the low LOW cost of waking up ridiculously early).

The irony comes in when I looked at where the sky met the earth and there was nothing but city as far as the eye could see. and this isn't just any city. this is Los Angeles. More than lights and houses and money and fame and diversity and churches and schools and opportunities.

It is crime and gangs and corruption and prostitution and orphans and abuse and trafficking and drugs and... and brokenness.

How are these two phenomenon existing together. How is the glory of God hovering over a city like this one. Then I realize...it's not hovering...its seeping. spreading its tendrils through the city blocks. wrapping around the lonely and the brokenhearted. it is everywhere.

and the Lord took by the corner my whole world and shook it forward and shook it free. to run wild with the hope that this thirst will not last long, but it will soon drown in a song not sung in vain.

the glory of God is not only in the sunrise. Not only in the Billy Graham or Harvest crusades.
It is in the giving of food to a homeless man. offering your seat on the bus to an older woman. weeping with those who weep. rejoicing with those who rejoice.
it is the prayer warriors who gather together or meet God in the quietness of their own room. it is in the healing of a life-threatening disease that I foolishly attribute only to science. it is in the fingers of an artist creating something new, unique and original. it is in the notes of the symphony playing in perfect harmony.
it is in the lives of each and every believer who continually comes to God in repentance, with a heart that is pliable and ready for what is next. It is in the heart of a seeker who knows he wants more, and is longing for fulfillment and realizes it only comes through Jesus Christ.

but I almost miss it. because I cannot imagine how the glory of God could be in this place.

i don't want to forget that this IS the glory of God. and i can see it in my city, if only i have eyes to see and a heart to understand.

there is hope.

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

(Romans 5:2-5)

home.

there are songs written about it. everyone from...

John Denver: "Ain't it good to be back home again..."

to

Diddy: "I'm coming home...coming home. Tell the world I'm coming home."

to

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's: "Home is wherever I'm with you."

to

A Hymn Writer: "There is beauty all around, when there's love at home."

And let me tell you...I have come to appreciate this concept of home so much! (it will be touched upon later)

In case you haven't figured it out, I have returned from my Month (and six days) excursion across the country. When thinking about writing this blog, it seemed a bit daunting. I haven't updated since the beginning of the month, and I didn't know how I would fit all of those stories and pictures into one blog without being overwhelmed.

So...i decided not to. (write about the last few weeks of my trip).

That does not mean i cannot summarize. but it will be a TRUE summary. not a typical Suzy-Summary (which can range anywhere from a few descriptive sentences to a detailed narrative.)

Bullet points normally keep me from rambling. normally.

i decided to summarize so that we'll actually have something to talk about when I see you. Spilling it all on my blog makes conversations with people go like this.

Person: "Aw hi Suzy! How are you doing!?"
Me: "Hey! I'm doing really well! Just got back from an AMAZING road trip!"
Person: "Oh yeah! I read all about it on your blog! it sounded so fun!"
Me: "...oh cool! yeah...that was pretty much it!"
*awkward silence*
Person: "And I read about what you plan on doing this fall too! Sounds like a great plan!"
Me: "Yup...pretty excited about it."
*awkward pause*
Person: "Well it was really great to catch up with you... Keep posting blogs, i love the updates!"
Me: "You too!"
(i silently wonder if my writing is that much better than my conversation so that people would rather read about it via blog instead of talking to me about it. trust me people, i'm much more animated in real life...)

then i go home and blog stalk them.

• Gateway woods volunteering- fantastic and amazing. great people. hard work. heart benefits from serving.
• poison ivy- one of the worst experiences of my life. lots of no-sleep nights. lots of medication. my legs and feet have lots of scars now.
  
• Gateway woods Sale- I never cease to be amazed at how incredible this event is. teamwork. people. fellowship. money flowing like it was never an issue. lemon shake-ups being sold for $50 a cup. phenomenal. like always.
  
• Meeting with Chief Probation Officer of Allen County-This was a great experience. but it helped me realize that i was made for LA and it was made for me.
  
• Family Vacation-Bullet point can't do it justice. but i'm being committed to my style here. it was so great. adorable niece started walking. puppykins loves her auntie Suzy. everyone got along. lots of water sports. lots of AMAZING food. inside jokes. memories. i love my family so SO much.
  
• Trek Home-My great friend Kaits offered to drive home with me. we decided to push through. I left Byron Center, MI at 9:34 am on Sunday morning. Drove to Chicago. picked up Kaits. we left pretty immediately and we arrived at my home at 4:07 pm on Monday afternoon. Simon stayed healthy. We took turns sleeping and driving. we are road warriors.

And with that...I am home.

Only Kaits can truly attest to how excited this made me. Every sign for Pasadena made me yelp in excitement. Everytime I'd give it just a moment of thought, I'd squeal and smile super big. Don't get me wrong...i have loved my trip immensely. I just love home more.

I love the familiar. the streets I can drive on without a GPS. the old Armenian ladies that walk up and down the streets. the neighbor's awesome burn-notice-esque charger. the buildings. all things that I know.

There are so many places i want to go and see. People i need to catch up with. foods I need to eat. AHHH!!!

Being home is good for my heart. it settles me. It is a gift God has given me to remind me that he loves me. Because sometimes I forget. So I am going to now learn not to take advantage of this gift. I will learn to relish the little details of my life that bless me. Decide that when there are challenges and difficulties that I will look for the reminders of his Love.

And now to start life! =) thank you for all your prayers, love, hospitality, texts, facebook comments, hugs, etc... during my trip.

Au Revoir!

p.s. if you DO blog-stalk me (no judgment, cuz I do it)/read my blog, please comment! Just say hi. or "read by me." or whatever. I don't care if we don't know each other well (or at all) and you feel creepy! I like to know who reads my blog, so those conversations in person that might happen some day where i'm rambling on about my life and you ALREADY KNOW IT can be avoided. (fair warning: i might still ramble. that's just me. but the chances are SLIGHTLY SMALLER knowing you've read it already.)
'kaythanks.

House of God, forever.

[I always thought church was only about reading the Bible and singing and praying. and I felt bad for being so excited about seeing people and fellowshipping.
But then.
i realized that there is more to the House of God than merely going through religious motions. It is gathering with your brothers and sisters in Christ and worshiping God. ]

Here it is. One of my absolute favorite sundays of the year. (This year, I actually get TWO of them!) I am excited. I am apprehensive. For all of my social inclinations, I tend to back off in large settings like this and get a little shy. There are so many people I want to see. I am greeted by a nice man I've never seen before with a newsboy hat and a fantastic tie.

And so it begins. *deep breath*

I catch the eye of that one girl from Illinois across the foyer...oh what was her name? It is an awkward split-second as we decide if we know each other well enough to say hi or just merely break eye contact and go on our ways.

we break eye contact. It's just easier that way.

I see a little girl holding on to her daddy's hand, looking shyly at me from behind his leg. I know her from last year, but she has grown so much. I give a little wave. She's not sure she recognizes me, but she smiles anyway and then buries her head in her arm.

I follow my sister-in-law into the nursery (she is in charge of watching kids today). I decide I'll watch the people coming into church from there and when i see someone I know, I'll go find them.

A former girls-camp counselor walks into the baby room. She was in her early twenties and single when I knew her for that incredible weekend in high school. Now she has a handsome husband and BEAUTIFUL baby perched on her hip. we say hi...but it is one of those things where we've both grown and changed so much, we aren't the people we used to be. but it is so nice to see her face and see where she is at in life.

Finally i see the faces of some very dear people to me. as they get out of the car and walk toward church, I leave the baby room and stand inconspicuously by the coat closet. Scanning the room, I see so many people I know. But they are all engrossed in Sunday-morning conversations. Somewhere in the background someone gives off a song in the sanctuary. The strains of a hymn filter out, mostly carried by the "faithful fifteen" (or in Altadena, the faithful four) who are in church promptly at 10:00 for singing.


My cousin who is living there for the summer is one face I've been looking forward to seeing. He makes eye contact with me and walks straight over. We don't say anything. just hug. familiarity will do that to you.
he has whales on his tie. that is how awesome he is.

I catch the eyes of some close friends and nod at them. we make a silent agreement with our eyes to meet at the lunch hour for a hug and a quick catch-up session.


Then I see her.

One of the most familiar and dear faces to me. One I associate with love, hugs, sweetness, motherhood and home. Her back is to me as i walk toward her. I call out her name as there are people hustling and bustling about. She turns and stops for just a breath of time before gathering me into one of her comforting embraces.

She doesn't let go.

I don't want her to.

She is saying something, but I am not really taking it in. This hug was just what I needed. Being so far from my mom and missing her, this came at just the right time. There is no awkward small-talk here. just a hug. and some tears. Right away she states, "You're sitting with me." There is no question. But that's ok, because there is no one else I want to sit with.

We go into church and sit down. A man I am familiar with stands to start the service. He begins with a challenge, a thought-provoking question. Then there is Scripture read. He is so wise. I admire his leadership, teaching, passion and love for Christ. He also loves these people in this church. You can tell.
And he is one of my dad's friends and comrades in church leadership...and that is always endearing.

The other minister is sitting slightly behind the first. I know him well too. In fact, he is the husband of the woman sitting by my side. He doesn't know I'm here yet. As he scans the people in the pews, he glances briefly at me and his gaze almost moves on and then a light of recognition colors his eyes. His face brightens with a grin and he mouths, "good morning!" to me. I nod an acknowledgment and smile. Already I am anticipating a dinner-time talk that always seems to happen when I'm at his house. Questions, challenges, wisdom, God, laughter, seriousness. That anticipation makes me smile too.

A message is shared. A prayer is prayed. hymns are sung. my soul is moved. my heart is happy. my spirit calmed.

and I think to myself,
there is no other place I'd rather be then here.

i love this place.
i love this church.
i love these people.
i love that it is all because of God.