Sinterklaas, Suzie Snowflake, SundaySchool, Sleep

Those pretty much some up my weekend. Well, except hockey- but that didn't work into and S.
I have lived in our little Dutch town for over 13 years and have donned my wooden shoes and scrubbed streets every May for the annual Tulip Festival for the last 6 years. Yet I have never taken my kids (or myself to the SinterKlaas parade downtown on the first Saturday of the month. It may have something to do with the 10 degree days that we usually have, but one can never be sure about the reasons.

So this year,since we already had a jam-packed Saturday, I promised my daughter we would squeeze that in too. After all, if you can only be home for 45 minutes, what's the point in being home at all right? That's what I figured. So after hockey, after delivering packages around town, after stopping at our school's cookie walk to purchase too many goodies and after a quick dance recital where we listened to "Susie Snowflake" 3 times, not once, not twice, but 3 times, we bundled up and awaited for the Dutch hero to arrive on his white horse. You can read all about the history of Sinterklaas here. Then we strolled down to City Hall where the kids listened to the history and then played games. For approximately 10 minutes because after all, we had to head to Sunday School Christmas program practice.

 My point in this post isn't to let you all know how busy I am, because I know that everyone is busy. That's called life. My point is, after all of the hustle and bustle. The sweat of hockey, the fun at dance, the excitement of seeing Sinterklaas... my favorite moment of the weekend was this:

 She was bound and determined to fall asleep in the chair with her daddy. And she did. And they stayed there...

until we woke at 4am with one heckuva kink in his neck. :) So he moved to the couch.

And I had the whoooolllleee king sized bed to myself.

aaahhhh..... sweet sleep....

(speaking of sleep, does anyone know how Nebraska faired?! I fell asleep as it was tied at 20. Yeah. I was shot too. I'm kind of afraid to look at the scores, so I haven't checked!)

13 years

Thirteen very short years ago I wore my dream dress. Not too frilly, not fussy, but made me feel pretty dress.

I stood at the entrance to the long hall in church and saw him up there. Get me to him.

I gracefully walked down, holding - er, clinging onto my dad's arm, tears glistened my eyes and I *que record scratching* What?! Okay, I bawled like a baby, I accidently had my tissues in the hand of my bouquet, so everytime I wiped the snot away from my nose, the bouqet was blocking my face. It was a priceless moment. But at least he didn't run.

Thirteen years have come and gone. I can honestly say that I love him volumes more today than I did back then. We were so young, so crazy. We have had our ups and downs, but there is no one I'd rather have waiting for me at the front of the church than him.

I love you more than anything, Steve,Thanks for putting up with me for all these years!

( and perhaps while we're on vacation together this week you'll let me get a good updated picture of the two of us? This one seems a little dated. )

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11