Office/Guest Room MakeOver

BEFORE....

A 2nd door leading into the kitchen.

After...

Removed wallpaper border.
Door removed and wall put up.

Removed old chair rail.

Two applications of a vinyl spackling product to fill in the gaps between the tongue and groove used for the wall when our house was built fifty-five years ago. Two applications of Sheet Rock mud to smooth out the wall. One gallon of primer.

AFTER...
New chair rail given to me from my parents for my birthday.
Handmade headboard and curtains.

Two gallons of paint.



I love it! So worth EVERY hour of blood, sweat, and tears.

our newest family member

Allow me to introduce our newest member of our family, Lucas Allan Vander Giessen, born to Jason and Kelly Tuesday, October 5th. He is absolutely precious!

Oh the joy of holding a newborn baby...

Big sister, Morgan, kissing her new baby brother... so sweet.

Rhianna holding Lucas for the first time.

My Groom

This coming December on the 27th, Corey and I will be celebrating our fourteenth wedding anniversary. Many do not know the beginning of our relationship so I thought I would write about how I met my man.

• We met at Applebees July 1, 1996. Corey was a corporate trainer sent from Jackson, Michigan to open the new store in Wyoming and I was server hired for the new restaurant opening in the neighborhood. I was going to Grace Bible College and Applebees was located down the street from the school.
• We had our first date July 5th. We went to the movie Independence Day together.
• Three months into our relationship, Corey had my mom and dad over for a nice Sunday dinner. After I had left for work, Corey asked my father for permission to marry his daughter. The following day, my mother called very concerned about the short engagement and I explained to her that Corey hadn't even asked me to marry him yet! Evidently Corey had let it slip we wanted to get married around Christmas while discussing the plans with my parents the night before. So upon my next visit with Corey I explained the conversation I had earlier with my mom and he quickly went down on one knee and asked me to marry him on September 29, 1996.
• We were married 3 months later.

Our plans were for a quiet and simple wedding with only our families present but somehow ended with a large wedding in our home church with many friends and family present.

My mother said I would regret not having a wedding in my church because little girls always dream of their wedding day for years. I panicked at thought of all those people watching me and had dreams of tripping down the aisle, falling doing the stairs, or vomiting from stress over not remember my vows. I knew what I wanted for the bridesmaid dresses and could not find them so my mother handmade each dress from the pictures I drew for her. I knew I wanted the bridesmaids to wear long evening gloves and went all over Grand Rapids looking for them in the color ivory. I picked Corey's ivory tuxedo before I ever started to look at wedding dresses. The wedding dress was my least favorite to shop for. I did not like trying the dresses on and really had no opinion on any of them so I trusted my mother to choose the perfect dress, which I believe she did! Looking back, I am thankful my mother encouraged me to have a church wedding. However, I think some of our wedding pictures show pure fear and panic all over my face. My father held me so tight down the aisle there would be no chance of falling. I did forget a portion of my vows but my groom came to my rescue.

8.21.2010

Gale Winds on Lake Michigan

Grand Haven pier and light house

Grand Haven city park

protected

I rolled over this morning and saw the clock read 5:26am. Oh no the alarm did not go off as it should have at 5am. I reset the alarm for Corey and carried on my morning routine in quite a peaceful manner considering how late it was. I never did feel rushed and harried and even left the house earlier than I normally do. I traveled the "old" path to work as I need to stop and pick up donuts for the office. I was very early and felt unusual peace for my morning thus far. I felt as though God kissed me gently awake telling me I needed an extra 26 minutes of sleep. I carried on my way to work with the donuts setting on the front seat. Just as I was pulling up to Baldwin from Main street, a SUV turned into my lane and the driver must have realized his error and went over the median curb to avoid hitting me. His tires squealing and his side raised I thought for sure he was going to roll however he over corrected and the hit the north curb. He then turned into the gas station and gathered himself I suppose. My light had turned green and I had intended on stopping to see if the driver was ok but something told me to keep going. I drove slowly to see where he was going next. He followed behind me unable to keep within his lane or at a consistent speed. After traveling a 1/4 mile, I realized he was a drunk driver out on the roads a 6:30am! I watched as he drove over 5 lanes of traffic hitting each curb from side to side. I picked up my cell and dialed 911 as I drove watching him in my rear view mirror. The road was unusually empty. The dispatcher requested me to stay with him as he turned into the 2nd gas station for another rest so I pulled over across the street and described his every move. He then drove across the side street to McDonald's and went through the drive-thru. I drove to the office and parked my car and stood outside as he sat for a minute with all the windows down eating. At that point a coworker came over and identified the make of the vehicle because I don't recognize many vehicles. I stood and described his moves as I was unable to follow him any longer. He traveled west with a vehicle now on his side and 4 cars and a large truck in the opposing lanes. I watched until he was out of my sight. I stood praying for those on the road with him and thanking God he protected me though the situation. I walked into the office punching in 4 minutes late. I was shaking physically but felt peace God had orchestrated my morning so perfectly and placed me just where he needed me. I put my phone away and prayed that the 2 officers called would get to him before he could hurt anyone. I had received a voicemail from OCCDA 15 minutes later requesting me to drive to 28th and Baldwin per the officer's request. By the time I had received the message and returned the call an hour later, the dispatcher explained the man I had been following was arrested for driving under the influence and was sitting behind bars as we spoke. Tears of relief streamed.

Precious Lord, take my hand

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
When my way grows drear
Precious Lord linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Thomas A. Dorsey wrote this song in 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, after his wife Nettie died while giving birth their son (who also died shortly there after).

“I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, ‘Fear not; I will help thee.’” Isaiah 41:13