Extreme Home Makeover Part 1

We are officially homeowners again and are and the verge of tearing some of it down-- kind of-- more like, tearing OFF. We are adding a shed dormer to the attic and are hoping to transform it into a "master suite" complete with closet space, a 3/4 bath, a bedroom and sitting area. This is a big undertaking, but thankfully, we are going to have some help from family, new friends and students from church.

In the meantime, Mom Ross and I are attempting to do other projects to get things rolling during the wait. Both Mom and Dad R. came over to the house one rainy Saturday and helped me to weed and mow down much of the lawn and landscaping. There are some salvageable plants, but mostly, they all went to plant heaven.

The few things we did keep? Some holly bushes, a hydrangea bush, some mums and a lavender bush. Lavender is my favorite flower. I was SO excited to see that this house already had a bush-- it completely sealed the deal for me:)

Here are some before and afters-- Trust me, it might not look like much on film, but it is a major improvement...

Before and after of the front flower bed #1


Before and after of front flower bed #2

Before and after- side of house

I appreciate the fact that our new house has a yard, but I also appreciate the fact that it's not very big:) I will attempt to grow a green thumb this year, but I can't promise anything!

Memories of Labor Days Past

For the past 3 Labor Days, we have taken a picture of Wyndham in one of Grandma Ross's beloved Cracker Barrel Rocking Chairs. It wasn't something we had initially set out to do, it just kind of happened. If you are a new mom and feel like like the baby/nursing stage is dragging on and on- just take a look. These pictures are evidence that these years are going to fly by...

2005

2006

2007

Where's Home?

So we're here in Ohio...it's already been 12 days. Time flies when you're busy. It's been a complete whirlwind so far- beginning with the huge storms that hit Muskegon the day we left for our big move. The power was out and we had to shower and wash laundry at my brother's house before we hit the road. This put us so far behind on our schedule, we ended up stopping and staying at a hotel in a suburb of Detroit to avoid falling asleep at the wheel- not to mention that we were being chased down by ANOTHER violent late-summer storm.

Because we have visited Ohio several times this year, Wyndham has adapted fairly well to her new temporary dwelling given the circumstances. Lots of change all at once. She has gone from our house, to Grandma Wood's house, now to Grandma Ross's house, and she has now toured our future home here in Minerva as we finally signed papers last Friday.

All of the Ross kids and their families visited over Labor Day weekend, and Wyndham was once again surrounded by large groups of family and fun. In the 2 days since everything has died down,we are finally beginning to see the affects of our move on Wyn.

I heard her crying in her bed yesterday morning, and when I went to get her up for the day, she clung to my neck and wouldn't let go. I thought she might have had a bad dream, or had lost her binkie---when I laid her down to change her diaper, she cried out, "Where's home?"....

What??! I asked her to clarify what she had said.."Where's home?", she said again... All of my bravery and all of the fake confidence that I have been building up these last few months suddenly crumbled under the weight of 2 words- "Where's home?".

I couldn't help but cry with her. After all, I knew exactly how she felt. Making the transition from Grand Rapids to Muskegon was fairly painful as we left behind many of our friends, and certainly, many of our newlywed memories.

Just when I thought I couldn't last another day without my own home, I began to really savor and value the time we were having with my family. I have learned and grown a great deal these past 9 months, and to leave all that is familiar and comfortable behind was more difficult than I thought it would be.

Though all signs are pointing to an exciting and fun future here in Ohio- we are still enduring the beginning awkward stages of living in a new place, getting to know new people and figuring out where everything is. Talk about a character building year. Who knew that it was all in preparation for the next chapter in the adventure of our lives?

I decided to tell Wyndham that home is anywhere that Wyndham, Mommy, Daddy and Jesus were. After all, home is where the heart is they say...

Shall We Gather at the River

Today, my sister Danielle was baptized. As her younger sister (by almost 10 years), the thought about her being baptized or not never crossed my mind. I always assumed she had been baptized before or shortly after I was born therefore, I didn't remember it...

It's amazing how you can live with someone almost your whole life and still discover new things about them every day...

The seriousness of the occasion really struck me as we stood beside the lake on this beautiful hot August day. A simple act of submersion that symbolizes so much more. The process is over in about 5 seconds, but the grace and forgiveness that Christ gave to us is everlasting.

As we stood on the shoreline, I began to daydream about what it would have been like to be baptized by John the Baptist- or better yet, Jesus Himself. My dad is a close 3rd though, and he has had the honor of baptizing my entire family- including his own mom and dad who came to Christ later in life.

Wyndham stood with me amazed as we watched 6 other young people from church profess their faith publicly.. it made me want to get baptized all over again-- I feel like I have learned so much more since I was 12.

My mind wandered back to last Sunday when my dad had a small commissioning ceremony for Randy and I at church as we are leaving for Ohio soon-- He quoted from Isaiah 6:8, "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, 'Here I am! Send Me!"

That passage is often quoted for people entering the ministry (such as ourselves), but truly, it is for all believers. I think of my sister and the 5 others who were with her today-- God has a plan for all of them, whether it be here in Muskegon, some distant land far away. We can show the salvation and grace of Christ in our every day lives, wherever we may be...we are all called to go forth for Christ.

One of my favorite memories from this day was shortly after the service as over. Wyndham ran up to Danielle and said, "You went under the water Auntie! You love Jesus Auntie".





A child's prayer...



Today we were at the River... someday, we'll all meet again at the real river...I can't wait...

Child of the 80's

So, as you all know, we have been living with my parents these past several months... as we are preparing to move out in a week, I decided it was high time for a garage sale around here. Not only do we have several items we personally need to ditch, but my parents still have a basement FULL of clothing and toys from our childhood.

Let me take you back to a decade you're all familiar with...one filled with Top Gun, blue eye shadow, tight-rolled pants, scrunchies and side pony tails...the 1980's.


These are my very first kindergarten book bags... Does anyone remember "The Getalong Gang?"...


A Vintage Hello Kitty-- (the original) and my glowworm. I used to huddle myself up in my mom's huge dress jacket during church service and play with the glowworm in the dark perfume soaked caverns...


Dude.. not only did I find Teddy Ruxpin, I found his friend Grubby too! I also found a matching raincoat for Teddy as well as several books that go along with them... Do you think I could sell these for some serious cash?


Every girl's friend- Rainbow Bright- though she's absent from this picture, I found everyone else I had- Starlight the horse, a Sprite doll and a card game with all of the characters... Is it just me, or is "Murky Dismal" a weird name..even for a villan?



SHE-RA!! Princess of Power! She could kick He-man's rear in a street fight:)


Polly Pocket and Charmkins anyone?


A random 80's smattering... yes, that is a Fraggle in the carrot car...


Carebears, Launchpad McQuack, My Little Pony Pencil case, and the "Mac" Moon guys from McDonald's.


Muppet Babies-- anyone having flashbacks of Nanny's green an white-stripped tights? They never showed above her knee...?


Voltron...I think that this was kind of like the Transformers if I'm not mistaken...

This New Kids on the block memrobelia was "Hangin' Tough" in the basement too... I used to have a pin of Jordan Knight as well...

Some other items I found- not pictured: Mall Madness, Clue,Cabbage Patch Kids, a half decayed JEM doll, a Barbie waterbed that converts to a keyboard (that one was a REAL stretch), many MANY McDonald Happy Meal toys, and my "diploma" graduating from the Nursery at my church.

It was fun walking down memory lane before we move out- even if I had to have 3 asthma attacks in the process!

Toddler Flashdance

Striped cotton dress...headband...lace leggings...need I say more? Please excuse the horizontal view- I haven't quite figured this whole "photobucket" thing out yet!

Dora the Explorah

Wyndham seemed to gloss right over the Elmo stage and is now a full-fledged Dora the Explorer worshipper. Actually... I kind of like it too! There's always a problem to solve, a map to read, a song to sing and a Spanish word to learn. So for, I've learned up, down, open and close! More than I even remember from High School:)

Wyndham was so engrossed in her Dora dvd one day that when I gave her a 5-minute warning that it was going to turn off she said, "No turn it off. You go to the bathroom and fix your face and fix your ears, OK".

Translation: fix your face: put on make-up, Fix your ears: I'm guessing fix my hair? Or maybe she meant put on my earrings..? She loves to watch me get ready in the morning. What a ham. She totally knows how to stall and work the system:)

Randy recently saw a special on comedy central that mentioned this Dora phenomenon. Brian Regan is the comic in the clip below- Check it out to get a great dose of parenting humor... warning: you will never be able to say Dora the Explorer again without a John F. Kennedy accent... you'll see...