The Truth is We Say Not as We Do

What is the problem with this picture?

School's Out

Well we got no choice, all the girls and boys

Makin' all that noise, cause they found new toys

Oh we can't salute ya, can't find a flag

If that don't suit ya, that's a drag

School's out for summer

School's out for ever

School's been blown to pieces

Well we got no class

And we got no principles

And we got no innocence

Dear Gov. Rick Snyder,

Please explain how cutting another $300 per pupil funding (on top of the $170 from last year) will create a better future for Michigan.

How will we create more jobs when we wont have educated civilians to fill them? Our global competition only adds to their school days and costs while we cut. Education allows us to develop informed citizens who will work, fight and vote. Maybe ignorance is your goal?

You claim to cut the excess but what excess are you speaking of? Some local schools don't even have a complete set of texts for all of their students. They still depend on VCRs and broken down projectors. Their maps are out of date. They fail to provide college preparatory classes, like Advanced Placement, because they can't hire another teacher. Teachers clean their own classrooms since the custodian was cut. Maybe in Ann Arbor you have those fancy schools with laptops and turf football fields that I heard of?

Education is part of the solution to our financial woes. Not in cutting its resources but in providing new life and support for those citizens who face the most difficult financial struggles.

Thank you,

Seriously Concerned Citizen

This is the Sound of All of Us

Singing with love and the will to trust

Leave the rest behind it will turn to dust

This is the sound of all of us

It's Time to Turn Your Love, Give it Back

4 Weddings!

Jeff and I went to FOUR weddings this summer, three within 10 days of each other. Needless to say, we ate a lot of dessert and danced till our feet hurt. We traveled to Costa Rica, Chicago's Ukrainian Village and Grand Rapids for all of these weddings. Each wedding reflected the couples involved and were so different. It definitely made me think more about how we define marriage in our culture and the practices that we continue as tradition even though their original meaning was lost long ago. (For example, did you know that a bride traditionally carried a bouquet of flowers to mask any body odor?!) I have a tendency to get hung up on these silly histories (and what I sometimes see as pointless, expensive undertakings) but I also learned to just sit back and enjoy the beauty of some traditions, like cake.

Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica

Emily and Elliott's Wedding

Jeff and me

I'd Like to Thank my Lucky Stars that I'm Alive and Well

Fall always seems so exciting and super busy! Lot's of new things and big changes, so here is just a quick review about what has been going on!

Jeff (boyfriend!), me, Emma, and Matt

Laura came to visit for a really fun weekend.

I'm so excited that she wants to come to Hope!

Halloween Party at Jeff's.

Allison (Jelly Beans), me (cowgirl), and Jeff (Geico caveman)

Fall Break Bike Ride!

Holland to Saugatuk and then camping!

21st Birthday Girls Night Out

Emma, Kristen, me, Kegan, and Allison

Funny How Time and Distance Change You

This past week my whole family arrived in Michigan for a long weekend together and then they left my youngest sister, Laura, with me! When I moved to Michigan Laura was only 13 and still just an annoying little sister to me. Now, she is 16, driving, and a beautiful young lady who stands a few inches taller than me! During our time together I was so impressed by her maturity. We had a ton of fun hitting the beach and visiting friends in Grand Rapids.

Sisters at the wedding: me, Laura, and Emma

Beach time and sunsets

Grand Rapids

Street Light Eyes

A Day at the Tyner's Cottage

Magician Lake

Niki, me, Kegan, and Dani

Tubing!

Banana tube

Dani, me, Kegan, Chris, and Niki

What the pictures didn't capture included lots of good food, bonfire, and reading.

I have a read a number of good books this summer including God-shaped Hole, This Song is You, and yes, even Twilight. (although some may debate how good it actually is)

Swimming in Sunshine

Hukilau 2009

These few pictures really represent what the Hart Cottage means to me. I love all the laid back music time and playing with the kids outside. I am so appreciative that we have a space that can hold all these amazing people that I love! Even though this year there were less people up for the 4th of July (I missed you mom!) we still had a great time and lots of good food!

I've Got Souvenirs

I went to Canada!

A friend and I made a spontaneous trip across the border for the weekend to learn about wine and see the Red Bull Airshow.

That's a plane between those cones over the Detroit River.

On the Windsor wine tour we got to learn all about ice wines.

On our way back to the great state of Michigan.

Come, come summertime

Holland summers are amazing! They kick it off with Tulip Time which included my parents and lots of corn dogs this year and then they move on to cook outs with friends and beautiful days at the beach!

I'm working full time this summer as Hope's Housing Assistant. That means I get to read lots of housing cards from incoming freshmen!

My Soul Now to Stand

Spring 2009

15th & Washington

This school year I have been attending Fourth New Community Reformed Church. It has been a great opportunity to serve in the community and I participate with the worship band. The group is made up of mostly Hope students. (pictured here, L to R: Charlie, Stan, James and Caleb)
The people of 4th have really opened their hearts and homes to us! This spring was the last time this group will get to do music together. In the fall James will be studying in South Africa as he prepares to work with international aid groups, Caleb will be interning with a missionary in Uganda, and next spring Stan will be in Hope's Washington, DC honor semester and then he will graduate early!

Sisters and Roommates: Dani, me, Emma, and Lauren

My roommate, Dani, will be in Spain next semester! This was from one of our last nights in a our beloved dorm room in Gilmore Hall! I'll miss it!!

There’s No Dollar Sign on a Piece of Mind

Have a safe and merry Christmas!

Open Your Heart, Catch My Disease

The Great Plague of 2008.

Almost 500 students and faculty of Hope College were stricken with a noro-like virus which forced the school to close its doors for four days. Students everywhere fled and I among them. I went with some friends to Chelsea, MI (right outside of Ann Arbor) for some unexpected fun and relaxation. School re-opened today and we are praying for no more outbreaks of this highly contagious virus!

AuSable and I went on a hike.

A group of us went dancing in Ann Arbor.

The Survivors.

Let Them Be Thirsty No More

Last year on the day of Relay for Life I found out that my Grandpa Gil was diagnosed with cancer. I live in Gilmore Hall and it just happened that I was on Team Gil! I think Team Gil really meant a lot to my Grandpa in the last few months of his fight. Grandpa Gil lost his battle with cancer but Team Gil walked again this year with 41 members!

The grand total was over $40,600 raised!!!

Over 700 students and faculty participated!

This years Team Gil t-shirt

All at Once the World Can't Overwhelm Me

Moms always know where misplaced items are and exactly when you need to come home so my Mom and Chickey surprised me with a trip to Florida for my fall break!

We ate at one of my favorite places, Two Senoritas. Laura even drove there, scary but we survived!
Gift time for Mom and Chickey!
Cook out, a nice break from Phelps food!

Spending the morning at Mom's school and meeting some of her students.

I'll Thank God for Every Moment

20 years old.

Does this mean I have to be a responsible adult now? Hope College also likes to celebrate my birthday by having homecoming and a dance the same weekend!
We were so happy for my birthday.
Tante Wilma and Uncle Jim made so much good food that we had to take a long nap.

I think it was pretty good way to start off this decade!

They Haven't Seen Me Crazy Yet

I am class of 2011, odd year and legendary.

Last year the 2011 Pull Team was the first team in over 20 years to win as freshmen.

This year they easily won again by 67 feet in just 71 minutes!

Pull Fun Facts:
Each team has 36 members: 18 "pullers" on the rope, and 18 "moralers" who relay directions and help keep the pullers focused.

There are four cancellations on record: in 1918, 1943 and 1944 because of World Wars I and II, and in 1957 because of a campus-wide flu epidemic.

Keri Law '99 became the first woman to compete as a puller in 1995.

This year was the shortest pull since the modern rules were implemented in 1978.

Eres mi sol

Dutch can Samba too...

This semester I'm taking a World Music class as part of general education requirements. It's been an amazing opportunity to learn about foreign cultures through their music. Today we had a Brazilian dance teacher give a group of very nervous and stiff college students some dancing lessons. We learned the basics in Samba and Belly Dancing. Some very funny and self-conscious dancing ensued!

This is Samba dancing from the Brazilian Carnival national festival. We didn't exactly look like this...
Our instructor explained that belly dancing was done in ancient Egypt to help ease labor pains for pregnant women. I would believe it, my abs got a full work out!