Winter Bliss

sunset one winter night

our friends took us to a Newsboys concert last
Friday night at Community Reformed Church
it was AWESOME!

The moon one night when we where out!
amazing!

writing out our Christmas cards for the year

note this was end of November and I have a few
presents already under tree :)

mommy I dislike the vet so much!
get me outta here!

oldie picture I found  hehe

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season!

It's that time of year again. December has come and with all the joys of Christmas. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of  "Merry Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets? Is this really Christmas? For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality. Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing his great  love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angles all shared in the excitement of knowing about his great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of his coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child. Please read Luke 2: 4-19. We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. We then become sons and daughters of God. Heaven will be our home one day. Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a "Merry Christmas." The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met.

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Rejoice!
We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Making memories as Husband and Wife, family and friends

My brothers girlfriend made this awesome
pumpkin oreo cheesecake from pinterest It was
amazing!

after everyone left too cute!

My parents came over the night before Thanksgivng
that was our due date for our little Turkey. sweet pink
roses and a in memory frame of our daughter! Thanks
Mom and Dad! xoxo

Toby and Sadie love each other!

cozy and warm!

set up for Thanksgiving. Thanks Em for letting us use your Wedding decor!

We hosted Kuiken's Thanksgiving this year in our pole barn.
I got a little crafty with things I had around the house.

Pumpkin carving with Em and Todd. I did a 

heart in memory of our daughter.

Sunday afternoon walk

even though we didn't make it to the flea market this

summer we made it in November to Shipshewana. We went with 

Justin's aunt and uncle.had a great time and watched the prade and light show!

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving :)

We where a little late putting away our patio set
this year! the snow fall came a little too early
for my liking!!!!

After leaving my job a good friend who I got
to know made me things this spring for the baby
we lost. So she came up to me before my last week
and made these. She said to me I know you will
use these someday! so sweet of her thanks Missy!

opening day of gun hunting. We saw one but to far
away :(

who doesn't like the Notebook? favorite movie!

Thankful for baby girl Flokstra in heaven this Thanksgiving

Our lives will be changed for ever when our daughter was born at 18 weeks. so much has changed in those couple of months. Each day, week, and month gets a bit better for us. Its really hard to put together that our little turkey would arrive soon or be a December birthday. My due date was tomorrow (wed) November 26th. so this Thanksgiving we are thankful for you baby girl that you where perfect in every way. We miss you so much. That will never change. On a positive note we continue to see our specialist in Grand Rapids. We are getting lots of testing done. We see him in December to discuss what the next step would be. We cant thank everyone enough. our heavenly father, you are with us every step of the way. family, friends, co-workers thanks you. You  have no idea what a great words of encouragement does in just sending a positive message. I cant thank god enough how one door closed with me taking a new job. But at the same time the door opened. I will be doing what I love! working with children and hopefully making a positive impact on there life's. I will be a teachers aid. Best of all no weekends! praise the Lord! We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! we are hosting it this year and very excited! Give thanks for the unknown BLESSINGS  already on their way. I Saw this on pinterest and thought is was very appropriate. :)

relaxing weekend

Halloween weekend was a lot of fun this year. We started out by carving pumpkins on Thursday night with the newlyweds Todd and Em great to catch up. we got to see some of our neighbors and many friends kids dressed up. Friday evening we got to hang out with our friends Scott, Sara, and baby Aubrey. So fun to see how far she has come. Saturday morning It was my turn making bfast :) I decided to go with omelette's delish! We then took a morning walk. We headed to the farmers market downtown Holland, cold but very fun. We got a tomato basil pizza crust, spinach, kale,broccoli, loaf of breads, and sweet potatoes. We did a few more stops. We headed to the meat market out by us and got things for our pizza. We made a stop to meet Jon and Laura's baby. what a cutie she is! We enjoyed a late lunch with having panini sandwiches with the yummy bread we got. I then took a little nap. I was wide awake for a Saturday morning! Justin washed his truck and of course the golf cart. We made last minute plans with Jon and Laura and there little girl who is almost a month already! we where going to go out but decided to stay in and do pizza instead. We had a great time. Magic Mike was on and the guys kept saying there has to be something else better on haha. We ended our night with a extra hour of sleep. After church was a great afternoon celebrating my grandma's 77th Birthday with a Birthday lunch at my parents. I wanted to share a verse with you that someone emailed me this week. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)  We have had yet another rough few weeks. On October 16th I found out I was Pregnant. It's sad because it scares me and I don't get real excited right away. My blood levels where rising for a bit and then about four or five days later they dropped :( Please pray for us as we got referred to The Fertility Center in Grand Rapids. Our appointment is this Friday Novemeber 7th. We really want to get to the bottom of this and figure this out. We have Hope that we will have a family someday. Blessing to you all!

Fall 2014

I LOVE fall so much here are a few pictures :)

crock pot homemade apple sauce. I got the yummy idea from
a co-worker and loved it!

good old pumpkin bars!

my table fined and LOVE it!

one spoiled doggie!

pretty leaves in our yard

more....

The Passion concert

late night bible study (BSF)

a fun Saturday with friends

Katie, John, myself, and my hubby

yummy jam from Todd and Em's Wedding :)

up north color tour

more leaves again up north

Todd and Em's

we have a photo bomber!

the beautiful bride and I thanks for letting us
be a part in your special day xoxo

sunny night

yet another

a concert i took my mom to for her b-day

the Passion it was great!

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

October 15th  is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I never really knew to much about this Until this happened to us. It's a day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death, which includes but is not limited to miscarriage, stillbirth ( what we experience), SIDS, or the death of a newborn. It is observed annually in the United States and Canada and, in recent years, in the UK and in the Australian States of Western Australia and New South Wales, in Italy on behalf of a charity named Piccoli. WOW!!!! that's so awesome!!! The day is observed with remembrance ceremonies and candle-lighting vigils, concluding with the International Wave of Light, a worldwide lighting of candles at 7:00p.m. We encourgae you to light your candle for us! and a prayer. We miss and LOVE you so much baby girl.

Week by week.

The past few days have actually been really hard. I think its because fall is here and I think I would have been this far along, and about one more month to go. Like I had mention before I have made new friendships with a lot of people in the last two months. Some have gone through what we have experience, while others have been there for us when we really need it. I can't  thank you enough. My co-workers have been great. I am already thinking of the Holidays this year. Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to be extra tough. I know she will be rejoicing in heaven. The hubs and I went up north this past weekend and got away. It was really nice to just be able to relax and spend time together. I know we have lots of people praying for us and I continue to ask for prayers.

                                           We can't always see where the road leads but god promises

there's something better up ahead we just have to trust him.

PICTURE crazy

Family picture Toby is thrilled!  haha

after being very sick he wouldn't eat.
so they say to make hamburger with white rice he loved it!

The only veggie the hubs eats!
so we blanched it and are stock for winter

homemade salsa  turned out good!
Spent the day at my mother in laws took
us six hours!!!!!!! but worth it

my mother in law has a garden LOVE!
fresh zucchini and made chocolate brownies

meijer date night

They love this kittys sooooo MUCH!
sorry Toby :(  hes our dog

my new fav...Pumpkin crunch cake! thanks
aunt Chris

my adorbs niece Emme and I at Lodge day
with the Kuiken side

found this on the one and only pinterest  to make
for all the neighbor kiddos.

neighborhood cook out all ready! we do this in the spring and fall.
we cook over the fire and have a potluck!

my find this week at Home and Company love that store!

glamour shots!

neighborhood civil war camp