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). 

June 2025

 

Stephen's production of Schoolhouse Rock

Gun Lake with the Jongsma family

Whitecaps game

Flipping pancakes for the yg fundraiser

Last day of school

-Caleb finished his sophomore year at GVSU, Isaac 11th grade, Julia 10th, Stephen 6th and Lexi 5th

-Isaac and Stephen did 4v4 soccer camp

-Isaac got his senior pictures taken, how is this happening?

-We celebrated Nate on Father's Day

-Tim and Jenny's family rented a house in Holland for about 6 weeks. Steph and Ben's family visited for about 2 weeks during the same timeframe. We had family pictures taken, spent a day boating at Gun Lake, went to a Whitecaps game, went out to eat at the Olive Garden, and had lots of cousin time. 

-Lexi did volleyball camp at HC for a week

-Stacy visited her friend Robin, in PA, who was going thru breast cancer treatment.

-Stephen was in the Schoolhouse Rock, Jr production and he did great! I had flight drama, but my travel savvy friend figured out how to get me home in time for his show.

May

Gornos and Hollebeeks, around Nov 2021

 

Celebrating the end of Forest School

Enedina's brother, Rodi, graduated HS

Tornado sirens going off, chilling in the basement

Spring orchestra concert

Spring choir concert

Whitecaps game on Mother's Day

Tulip Time parade

Toley and Nate at the WO purple power game

Tulip Time 5k

Grandparents Day at the Middle School

-Caleb and Lexi ran the Tulip Time 5k and Caleb did not need to slow down for her

-My coworker's husband, Toley (Conrado), coaches baseball at WO and honored Nate at the purple power baseball game. Purple power games raise money for cancer research at the Van Andel Institute. It struck me when the announcer said Nate is a two time cancer survivor.  

-The month was full with Isaac playing on two travel soccer teams

-Julia got a job at Tiptoes, a childrens clothing boutique

-Caleb dislocated his shoulder for the 3rd time.

-Our friend, Dirk Hollebeek, died after his 7 year journey with cancer. We will miss him. 

April

 

Prom 2025

John, Jacob, Nathan, Sam and Isaac

Julia and Kaden going to Isa's quinceanera

New tablet

Happy 11th Birthday!

Celebrating Easter

Sedona

Pink Jeep Tour

Grand Canyon

Our Sedona sunset view

Sunset hike in Sedona

Cliff jumping

Boating on Saguaro Lake

Hiking at Saguaro Lake

Afternoon at the water park

Taking a hike

Made it!

-We flew to AZ for spring break. We stayed in an Airbnb for a couple of days in Gilbert, near Tim and Jenny's house. We had fun seeing the sights and spending time with them. We then spent a couple of days in Sedona. We spent one day seeing the Grand Canyon and another day we did a Pink Jeep Tour outside of Sedona. We loved Sedona and had a really great spring break overall.

-Lexi participated in Holland Rec volleyball

-Stephen was on the middle school track team and did hurdles

-We celebrated Lexi's 11th birthday! She was very happy to get a new tablet. Lexi continues to enjoy Forest School and loves her teacher, Mrs. DeZwaan. She always asks for homework and wants to do her best. Lexi is happiest when she is outside and playing with her neighborhood friends. She enjoys doing Mandarin tutoring with Lexus, playing soccer, volleyball and running. We love you Lexi!

-Caleb finished his sophomore at GVSU