Okay, the Christmas adventure begins with a lot of white stuff - which we in Michigan call
S N O W! Walking out to my car after work on Friday, December 20, there was plenty of snow - which made for many adventures of the Holtvluwer family in the upcoming days!!
S N O W! Walking out to my car after work on Friday, December 20, there was plenty of snow - which made for many adventures of the Holtvluwer family in the upcoming days!!
Car before I cleaned off all the snow..........
and after it was all cleaned off....luckily there was a gentlemen there in the parking lot ready to help me in case I got stuck - but I didn't so I was off for Christmas adventures!!
Jack's sister, Nancy came from Lynden to spend Christmas time with us and our kids this year. Nancy was suppose to arrive on Thursday evening, but with delays in Seattle and Minneapolis, and Grand Rapids, she arrived in Lansing on Saturday morning 2:00am! Jack braved the roads and weather and picked her up.....and I was glad that she was here safely, better late than never......Christmas is a time of remembering, making new memories, giving to others, receiving from others, enjoying conversations, but above all to reflect on the perfect gift given to us by our Heavenly Father in the birth of His precious son, Jesus.
As I was anticipating spending time with Nancy (Jack's sister), Nick and Jenni; Nate, Brooke and Hudson; Ben and Emily, my brother, Tim; Aunt Wilma; Pam, Tim, Allie and Sarah and Andy (we were missing Bob and Megan who moved to Portland in Nov) I was intent on making the most of our time together! I wanted everyone to be aware when everyone would be arriving at our house, and what to plan on while everyone was here for a few days. I made an "agenda" of sorts......anyway, everyone knows what happens when you make an "agenda". Even though, I know that God is in charge, sometimes I think He needs a little help.......I have heard the saying, "if you want to hear God laugh, make an agenda" well, let's just say I am so happy that He is in control of our lives, because I would make a total mess of everything!
While waiting for Nate and Brooke and Hudson so arrive, the kids played a lot of Guitar Hero and Wii.....it was nice to hear the sounds of the kids back in the house, while praying hard for the others to make it here safely!
All the kids were expected to arrive on Sunday, Dec. 21! Also. planning to attend the party on that days was one of the worst snow storms that Michigan hadn't seen in awhile.....! Ben and Emily were driving from Texas and were to arrive in GR Saturday afternoon.....but since Ben's parents had recently moved to Ohio, they wanted to stop by and see them first. They would be staying there on Saturday night and driving to GR Sunday afternoon instead. They kept in touch with me about the weather (cell phones are wonderful!) and I encouraged them to please get here yet on Saturday. They called and said they were planning on getting to our house yet Saturday night!!
Nick and Jenni realized that their tickets said they were to arrive in South Bend on Saturday......so they called me late Saturday night and said they were coming in late Saturday night. Nick and Jenni and Em and Ben arrived at our house just as the snow was beginning to come in with a vengence.
Nate and Brooke were scheduled to fly into Chicago on Sunday around noon, and catch a plane to GR by 2pm. Well, everything was canceled into GR, and the soonest they could get here by plane would be 4:oopm Tuesday. The weather was great in Chicago! After renting them a car in Chicago, they were on their way! The weather was horrible.....at one point Nate called me and said he couldn't go any farther, there were cars, semis, etc in the ditches, flashers all over, he couldn't see the road. We texted him some hotels where he was and he finally made it to an exit......putting PJ's on Hudson at a McDonalds, looking for a place to stay......when the weather cleared up a little. Everyone here was so worried but were so thankful when they arrived around 8pm!
This was suppose to be a "Navajo Taco" night, which we were all looking forward to Aunt Nancy making for us.....
As I was anticipating spending time with Nancy (Jack's sister), Nick and Jenni; Nate, Brooke and Hudson; Ben and Emily, my brother, Tim; Aunt Wilma; Pam, Tim, Allie and Sarah and Andy (we were missing Bob and Megan who moved to Portland in Nov) I was intent on making the most of our time together! I wanted everyone to be aware when everyone would be arriving at our house, and what to plan on while everyone was here for a few days. I made an "agenda" of sorts......anyway, everyone knows what happens when you make an "agenda". Even though, I know that God is in charge, sometimes I think He needs a little help.......I have heard the saying, "if you want to hear God laugh, make an agenda" well, let's just say I am so happy that He is in control of our lives, because I would make a total mess of everything!
While waiting for Nate and Brooke and Hudson so arrive, the kids played a lot of Guitar Hero and Wii.....it was nice to hear the sounds of the kids back in the house, while praying hard for the others to make it here safely!
All the kids were expected to arrive on Sunday, Dec. 21! Also. planning to attend the party on that days was one of the worst snow storms that Michigan hadn't seen in awhile.....! Ben and Emily were driving from Texas and were to arrive in GR Saturday afternoon.....but since Ben's parents had recently moved to Ohio, they wanted to stop by and see them first. They would be staying there on Saturday night and driving to GR Sunday afternoon instead. They kept in touch with me about the weather (cell phones are wonderful!) and I encouraged them to please get here yet on Saturday. They called and said they were planning on getting to our house yet Saturday night!!
Nick and Jenni realized that their tickets said they were to arrive in South Bend on Saturday......so they called me late Saturday night and said they were coming in late Saturday night. Nick and Jenni and Em and Ben arrived at our house just as the snow was beginning to come in with a vengence.
Nate and Brooke were scheduled to fly into Chicago on Sunday around noon, and catch a plane to GR by 2pm. Well, everything was canceled into GR, and the soonest they could get here by plane would be 4:oopm Tuesday. The weather was great in Chicago! After renting them a car in Chicago, they were on their way! The weather was horrible.....at one point Nate called me and said he couldn't go any farther, there were cars, semis, etc in the ditches, flashers all over, he couldn't see the road. We texted him some hotels where he was and he finally made it to an exit......putting PJ's on Hudson at a McDonalds, looking for a place to stay......when the weather cleared up a little. Everyone here was so worried but were so thankful when they arrived around 8pm!
This was suppose to be a "Navajo Taco" night, which we were all looking forward to Aunt Nancy making for us.....
3 comments:
we had such a great time mom!! Thanks for posting pictures! Next time...you're gonna try Guitar Hero! I have a feeling you will rock at it!! Can't wait to see you in March!
Despite the chilly cold weather -we had a great time! Food, family, and lots of fun! Thanks for being such a great host!
Jenni
All the pictures were great as well as "the story" of all the snowy happenings.
The picture of Em and the shorts was great and also remembering the "other large pants" I gave her a few years ago.
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