July-2017

July was a great month . It was a very special month, because of a wedding and adding to our family.

A few highlights of that I will record here. 

With John and Yvonne and Lindsey, Brooke, Tim and myself we drove to Sea-tac. while we were waiting for our plane, the two on the picture decided to get their shoes shined because they should be looking good for the wedding. The problem was that the shoe-shine-man never showed up. Our plane had to leave before he came.

In Omaha John got our rental vehicle and we drove to Sioux Center.

Stopping along the way for food.

We came by Chad and Onita and said our "Hello's" and off we went to Jordyn's baseball game.

That was fun, and she can run. She played with gusto.

The next night we had Nick and Brittany's wedding rehearsal at the Apple Orchard Venue in Harrisburg. A very nice place. It was very hot outside but the dinner was inside and had air.

The pizza was delicious. Baked I believe on hot stone.

The next morning we went to see a baseball game where Derek played in. 

Brittany and Nicholas 

Their wedding day

It was beautiful. Two people so very much in love and starting their journey in life together  with God 

So much to be thankful for.

Sweet.

Most pictures were taken in the shade because in the sun it was quite toasty.

This is the Storteboom clan minus three. 

I am so-so thankful for all these kids and grand kids. 

Seeing all of them it gives me smiles and tears of JOY.

This picture of the two of them with the trees and apples in the background is so beautiful.

On Saturday we came together by Mike and Ria in RockValley.

and went to Pizza Ranch for dinner.

This is one of Bryce's favorite places to eat.

They gave us the back room all to ourselves. 

So we could be loud.

The youngest ones of the bunch.

On Sunday we flew home  after  a nice lunch in Rock Valley.

At the airport we ate again and driving home from Seattle we ate again. 

That day we all went with Tim's need for food and that was great.

That boy was always hungry.

JUNE

There are no pictures for June.
Feels almost abnormal to me that there is not even a flower picture on my camera and loaded unto the computer.
Still a lot has been  happening in June  too.
There were several family members who celebrated a birthday this month. Then some anniversaries. There was a bridal shower for Lindsey.
And then the usual doctors app.
The weather was not yet the nicest in June this year.

This picture of the lilacs comes from a bush here by the clubhouse in James Circle.

They were so beautiful.

Makes the June blog a little more interesting to me.

May

This was a busy month but great month.

Our Daphne plant this year did really well.

I am so glad we still have one.

It still feels a link to the years Dad was here.

Well I went for four weeks to Iowa.

There were so many celebrations  this month.

Will try to get a picture of each occasion and some more.

This dog, named Harrison is big, but he thinks himself, he is very little and can fit in small places.

He is very much loved in the VanGinkel household.

Renee  knitted little animals for the girls and I took them to Iowa.

Jordyn made a house for hers.

We first celebrated Jordyn's 9th birthday.

Our soccer player Riley.

It is a delight to see the grand kids participate in things from school.

No matter what age and no matter in what.

Emery, another soccer player for this year.

Derek graduated from eight grade.

They did not have any special program for the occasion as only a class party.

What was a lot of fun for the kids.

Then we had a bridal shower for this lovely bride. 

Brittany, another grand daughter we love to add to our family.

Bryce had a birthday and turned nineteen. He likes cards and gifts.

He likes most of all Reese's  Peanut buttercups.

The whole school did a concert in the BJ Haan Auditorium at Dordt College

Jordyn sang her heart out.

Riley graduated also from eight grade with a ceremony in one of the churches. in Sioux Center.

'The foursome'

Growing up way to fast.

Bryce graduated from High School in Rock Valley.

He looked so handsome in his cap and gown.

Love this picture.

Oh, oh they all slowly on grow taller then grandma. 

Marissa passed me by too.

So you see this ones as well.

Well there will be so much more to love.

One big giant humongous rhubarb plant in the Elgersma garden.

It came from the Van Dalen's garden in Lynden as a little seedling.

March and April.

It used to be I was taller then my precious daughters. 

I loved them when they were small and I love them now when they are tall.

Our monthly flower delivery. 

So beautiful.

Tulips in our yard

February 2017

Another puzzle. This one was fun to make. A cat behind a sewing machine and all kinds of other sewing stuff. You can see on the following pictures that we had quite the winter in February and being housebound. There was no school for a whole week.

This was across the street and looked so pretty with all that white snow surrounding it.

A quilt for church.

Cleaning up some of my scrap material. It made just a tiny little dent in my stash.

A sign of spring  Daffodils coming up.

My orchid bloomed again. 

God new we needed a lift with all the winter and gave us another flower to brighten the days.

January 2017

We just kept on having winter and snow.

This looked so beautiful one evening when the sun went down.

The ice and rain did a lot of damage everywhere in the north part of the county.

This sweet girl comes always along with her Mom to bring flowers every month.

I did a lot of puzzles this winter.

December 2016

We had winter in December.
Also it was a great month for all kinds of musical performances. That all was leading up to Christmas. Our dear Saviors birth. John 3 :16.
I will just post a few pictures and go from there.

This seed bell is hanging by our back window and somehow the birds do not eat a lot from it. Other years they had things finished in a few weeks. It must not be the right seed.

Well when I grew up we had to eat our plates empty. Liking it or not.

So we will leave it there for a little while longer.

Still a rose is blooming in December.

So is my snowman not adorable?

I love that man. Every year in December, snow or no snow, he shows up.

Thanks Desiree for this puzzle.

It was a fun one to do.

Part of my precious bunch of GRAND-KIDS.

Tim does a great job the last couple of years to set up the village.

I gladly gave it over to him.

And here is my lovely, fun-loving, caring, best friend as well as my sister, turning 85

We had a great dinner with all her kids, most of the grandkids and great-grandkids.

Thankful I could be part of the celebration.

Somehow I liked the scene of this picture. Tried to capture the pure white clouds through the tree.

I think the late afternoon sun was shining on it.

This is from my patio.