October 2025

 

Halloween

Visited U of M

Got some nice pics from the Holland Sentinel

Puppies and Pilates

Celebrating Dad's birthday

We went to Cardale's hoco game

Cardale came to Isaac's game

Inducted into the National Honor Society

The cabin Nate, Caleb and Isaac stayed at

Stephen and his friends (Cobra Kai)

Crystal Mountain

-We celebrated my Dad's birthday

-All the kids had glowing reports at parent teacher conferences

-Lexi continues her Mandarin tutoring with Lexus once/week

-Nate and I saw the show Water for Elephants 

-My school did a fundraiser for our new social emotional dog, Georgia. The fundraiser was Puppies and Pilates and Lexi was in love.

-Nate, Julia and Isaac went to a GVSU football game. GVSU is trying to woo Isaac, so they gave him some free tickets.

-For HC's fall break, Stephen and Lexi flew to Charleston by themselves. They had a connection in DC, which was the more nerve wracking part for me. It wasn't their favorite part of the trip either. Their airline escort was a very old woman who did not speak much English and who took them to a remote office in the airport to wait. Stephen asked if they could buy some food, so she did walk them to a restaurant. Lexi said she was scared the lady was going to kidnap them. I told her, well at least you knew you could outrun her?! They had a great time with Steph and her boys. My parents were already in Charleston, so they drove Stephen and Lexi back home. 

-Nate went up north with Caleb and Isaac for a long weekend. Nate's co-worker let them borrow his cabin. They enjoyed cooking on the blackstone, playing games, going for a hike and just relaxing. 

-Lexi went trick or treating with the neighbors and Stephen went with some friends. I gave our candy to the neighbors to pass out and Nate and I went out to eat with friends! 

September 2025

 

WO HOCO 2025

Happy 46th birthday!

Happy 21st birthday!

Medaled in her race

Having a drink with Caleb

Stephen on the MS soccer team

Varsity soccer banners

One of his massive throw ins

Lexi looking good

 Soccer Senior Night

-Lexi got bit by a dog on her face. Surprisingly it has not scared her off dogs. She does have a little scar that we are trying to get rid of.

-Sep and Oct were spent attending Isaac's soccer games, Stephen's soccer games, Lexi's xc meets and rec soccer games. Julia continued working at Tiptoes during the school year and is helping with Aprendiendo Juntos tutoring at our church. 

-We celebrated Caleb's 21st birthday! It was fun and a little mind blowing to get a drink with him. We are so impressed with Caleb. The third shoulder dislocation really changed the rest of his year. He went thru PT, worked part of the summer, had surgery and then moved back to school 1 week later. He did PT 3x/week for about 3 months and will be down to 2x/week for another 3 months. In the midst of all of that, he was doing his school thing and his on campus job. We are all hopeful that shoulder dislocations are no longer part of his future! Caleb is a good friend, strong in his faith, smart and hard working. We love you, Caleb!

-Stephen and Lexi went on the middle school yg retreat

-Stephen participated in a theater class at Central Wesleyan Church

-Nate is one year out from car-t and he is healthy!

-We celebrated Nate's 46th birthday. He was in the hospital on his birthday last year, so we are grateful he was home and cancer free this year. Nate is all in at the power plant and central to the re-start process. He puts in a lot of hours and effort and the plant will re-open in 2026. We are thankful for another year with Nate and we love him very much!

-HC and WO had their homecomings on the same weekend. Julia and Isaac went with their friends. Unfortunately I never got a pic of Isaac and his friends dressed up. 

 

August 2025

 

Stephen, Gavin, Thandi and Lexi

Naomi and Ruth with their gifts

Naomi's 6th birthday

Enoc

Patrick, Grant, Jude, Stephen, Graham and Andrew

Tubing with his friends

Celebrating Stacey Hollebeek's birthday

First day of school- 12th, 11th, 7th, 6th

Isaac's 18th birthday

South Haven pier

Van Buren State Park

Camping

24th anniversary

5k finisher

Racing to the end

Grandpa's car at a car show

Thandi, Lexi, Gavin and Stephen

Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival

-Isaac went on a Serve trip to VA with the Providence youth group. His faith was deeply impacted by the trip. 

-Nate's Uncle Ken and Aunt Christy VanStelle visited us for an evening.

-Julia visited Hope College

-Lexi and Caleb ran the Heights of Hope 5k

-We celebrated our 24th anniversary

-Isaac made the varsity soccer team

-We went camping at Van Buren State Park for a couple of nights with the Shoemakers camper. The campsite is next to Palisades so Nate and Caleb had a fast commute. Isaac and Julia were not able to come because of work and soccer. Lexi had a nasty sore throat, but she was a trooper. We always enjoy spending time around South Haven.

-We celebrated Isaac's 18th birthday! We so enjoy watching Isaac play soccer, to see the trajectory from kindergarten soccer to varsity. Isaac is a leader and well liked by his peers. He still brings the laughter and mischief to our family. It makes me smile when he sits at the piano and plays. He loves Jesus, is cruising thru his academics and is looking forward to college next year. We love you, Isaac!

-Isaac went to senior camp

-Caleb had shoulder surgery

-A new school year began. Caleb-junior at GVSU, Isaac-12th, Julia-11th, Stephen-7th and Lexi-6th

-Lexi ran cross country at school and she played Holland Rec soccer. 

-Stephen played on the middle school soccer team

-Stephen is turning 13 in November and unfortunately can't take friends tubing at that time, so we did part one of his birthday party.

-We celebrated Naomi's 6th birthday. The girls get upset if one gets a present and the other doesn't, so I always buy two of the birthday present. 

-On Labor Day, we boated up to Grand Haven with the Gabrielse to experience the Coast Guard Festival

One of my favorite's of Isaac's senior pics

July 2025

 

I passed my clinical social work exam!

Hamilton!!

Cat Cafe

Lewis Adventure Farm with cousins

Delicious

Neighborhood lemonade stand

4th of July

-Caleb got a janitor job at Nate's power plant. Isaac got a landscaping job at Integrity.

-We watched fireworks over Lake Mac on our boat, along with some other friends in their boats.

-We celebrated Enoc's 1st birthday

-Lexi ran at a couple of MS cross country practices

-Grandpa DeMaster visited the kids for a couple of days.

-Stephen went to Camp Roger for a week with his friends, Patrick and Graham

-Isaac played the prelude on the organ

-Isaac, Stephen and Lexi did HC's soccer camp

-Julia, Stephen, Lexi and I went to the new Cat Cafe. They desperately want a cat, but witnessed how quickly Mom's allergies kick in around cats. Sorry kids, you can get one when you are an adult. 

-Stephen and Lexi went to MI Adventure with the youth group

-We took Stephen and Lexi to see Hamilton, Stephen's dream finally came true! 

-Nate, Stephen and Lexi went on a fishing charter on Lake MI and caught some salmon

-I passed the clinical social work exam! I had found out that my previous exam scores from the state of NY did not count here in MI. I was so upset that I had to study and take the exam again, 20 some years after I had been in my master's program. I studied all summer and was so relieved that I passed the exam-again! I am now a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).