CountYourBlessings

I love Fall!

2010-09-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

Well....lets just start by saying I'm not going to even try catch this blog up, it just too far past gone.

With that said....Welcome Fall!!!

Until this year I really always kind of thought as fall as a boring season full of no excitement. It was the time where I was starting yet another year of school, and working very very slow shifts at the Golf Course. But this year is different!! For some reason I was ready for it! I'm enjoying the cool breezes, the changing colors of the leaves, apple cider, and fresh apples! Not to mention the other fun thing I got to start 3 days ago. Cosmetology School!!! So far I absolutely LOVE it! Laura Louwerse (friend from elementary, middle, and highschool) and I car pool everyday to GR and get to learn so much about the things we love doing! We've met some really fun girls and are really liking our instructor (Cathy) so far! The last few days we have been studying "salon management" and learning about all the Aveda Products. As well as learning a hand and arm massage with this GREAT smelling lotion. We also (very excitingly) opened out "kits" the first day. Talk about Christmas!!!! (The gift part at least). It was every girls dream, if your into hair that is!! With in the next couple weeks I'll be starting cuts colors and spas on the "models" I have to bring in. Let me know if your interested!! But as for now I'll leave you with a few pictures from this fall so far :) Thanks for reading!

My Cousins Ross&Sarah welcomed the first

great grandson on the Brink Side. Welcome Parker!

Mom and I out to lunch at Rainbow Grill the day

found out I got the job at Engedi Salon!

I LOVE spending my Monday's with these girlies

& their baby sister <3>

every Monday for the next year!

Joe and I went for dessert to Uchellos. We ordered

the Strawberry Shortcake, We highly recommend it!

Jamie & I went to Calvin to pick up Erika for

lunch, boy did I miss her!!

Monday Lily&I brought Jaycee lunch after she was

done with her fun day at Young 5's!

Laura&I off to our first day. This begins

the drive to GR every day for the next year!

AND I got my hair cut the night before, it's

a BIG change :) But I think I like it!

SO Excited!!

These are most of the supplies we got!

Jaycee is on the 7th Grade v-ball team at ZC,

I've been so busy this was the first game I could

make it to :( You did great Jaycee!

J.T. was at soccer.

Joe&I off on a "surprise" date ;)

He took me to Olive Garden! Can you believe I've

never been there before?!

My meal was Very good!!

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the rest of the fall season, before we know it, it will be time to snowboard and snomobiel!!!!

Spring Break 2010

2010-04-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

On the road, all pasty white!

Still doing The 30 Day Shred, but now I cycle in some running, and other exercises :)

Wanna switch sunglasses?-Uhhh NO!

Everyday all day.

Family Pic at the Easter sunrise service on the beach.

Dinner at Branns

Family at game night :)

Toilet Paper Team

Out to dinner at "The Garlic"

Out on the town.

The planning of this trip started months ago. My mom started researching for hours and hours every night for multiple nights and boy did it pay off. We had a beautiful condo with marble counters, walk out to the beach and pool, it was just excellent!
The whole week was spent laying out :) We had just amazing weather. The coolest day was about 79, but still very strong sun and every other day was about 82-85!
I went out to eat twice with my family, once with the girls, and once with every ones families.
We spend a couple nights in a big room play games over 50 of us. It was so much fun! All together we had 6 families and 8 girls, it's crazy and sad to think that they may be the last time or close to the last time we will all get the chance to be together! We returned left Florida at about 5:20 AM Friday morning and were home just before midnight. We made great time, and hit barely any traffic!

As for the rest of the month and looking into may I'm realizing it is going to go SO fast. Time flies already. All of us girls on spring break were reflecting on how we had been planning that trip for months and now it done, in the blink of an eye. Not counting today I have 22 whole days of school left and 2 half days. Isn't that crazy?!? I just started "coaching" girls on the run at Zeeland Christian, so that will be a good motivator it keep in shape! I also have started working at the golf course for the summer and am as always babysitting(still love it!) I graduate on May 25th(My 18th B-day!!) And then later that week head off to beach week. I cannot believe how fast these four years of high school went, but I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment of it, except for the tests/homework and stuff :)
I hope you all have a great rest of the school year, pushing through to the very end..soon enough summer 2010 will be here!

Psalm 37:4

2010-03-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

-Psalm 37:4.

Last night we had a special speaker come to youth group from the "A team" to talk about relationships. I was a bit hesitant to go, in fear that I would be targeted because of my well known relationship with Joe. But boy was I wrong. When we got there we split the group up into guys and girls and that was so nice. One of the main verses that our speaker opened with was the one I wrote above (Pslam 37:4). I had heard this verse before, but never really thought about it. Last night was different, I was hit, hard. We talked about how if we really truly delight in the Lord then the desires of our heart will to delight in him. I know it's kinda confusing and it's hard to put into words. But the desires of our heart is what will make us truly happy. God will bless us according to the trust we have in him and how much of ourselves and our relationships are based on him.
Joe and I's relationship has struggled in this aspect. We were always so concerned about being with each other that we tend to forget about God. After youth group we discussed how a relationship is not right and unless it is centered on God. All I have to say is, "I'm soooo excited about where this is going to take me!!!" I'm so excited to talk openly with my best friend about the one thing that actually matters in life. I almost feel free, like this burden that I didn't even know I was carrying, is gone and has been lifted. It feels so good. I feel like I no longer am going to be held back or hesitant to talk with Joe about God, and I can't even believe it, it makes me ecstatic!!!
I'm also going to work on taking this aspect into my relationship with my parents and friends! I want to be completely honest with myself and with others about the struggles and highpoint I experience with God and my faith in the future!
I just am soooo incredibly amazed with the way that God showed himself last night at youth group and I'm so glad he told me I should go. I'm greatful for the people at youth group and for each person in my life that is going to help me and encourage me in my journey with Christ.

Last week was the semi-finals game for boys basketball. I rode there with Joe and then went to sit with my friends. It was a great time. I do have to say I'm going to miss being apart of the "Maroon Platoon."

A Couple weeks ago we went up north with my cousins the Draismas.
It was sooo fun! One of my cousins has a baby named Kennedy, she's 1.
My other cousin just had a baby names Makenzie, who is 3 months old.
Needless to say Jaycee and I enjoyed helping out all we could!!

The Family on our winter toys :)

A couple weeks ago I gave Joe a haircut. I was a little nervous because I'm the one who was going to be going out in public with him later that night, but all fears aside we went for it! Darci(his sister) was in Florida so she couldn't do it, and I was up next for the job!

All ready to go!

We love Crazy Horse!!

We did go to the beach for an adventure, but it was
very short lived. As you can see it's a little windy..
Joe couldn't even keep his eyes open :)

A couple weekends ago we went skiing up north.
Our friends, the Seitsemas have a cabin right next door to
ours, but only come up in the summer, so it was fun
for them to come up in the winter. We went skiing/snow
boarding with 14 of us! It was so much fun!

Wyrick Family

Father and Daughter :)

Kinda cool the way this picture worked out :)

We also had races on the ice!! Our neighbors
have little pit bikes and BOY are they a blast!!!
After riding for a couple hours I came home and
informed Joe I was in NEED of a pink and black
pit bike :) Needless to say he was quite proud his
girl friend had so much interest in dirt bikes!

I hope you enjoyed this SUPER long post!
Next time I write it will probably be about Spring Break!
We leave Wednesday night for New Symrna Beach with
6 of my girlfriends and their families! Can't wait!!
Safe travels to anyone who is going away!

Catch Up Of Winter 2009-2010

2010-02-17T13:10:00.000-08:00

Winter has been a bit crazy. I've been so busy. I fill my every week with babysitting, time up north with family, school, hanging out with Joe and Friends, and my new found pleasure the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred dvd. Here are a couple of pics to show what I've been up to. I wanted to add more, but of course my i photo is being dumb and won't let me upload them. Anyways I hope your all having a wonderful winter.

So far I'm on day 15 and Level 2...Still a huge work out though..I keep thinking I'll get used to it, and I don't! I guess that's the point!

Thanks Giving & Wisdom Teeth

2009-11-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day spent with family. It was so good to see all the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandpas, and grandmas again. ThanksGiving always reminds us to give thanks, too bad its not more important all the time, as it should be. But this year I'm specifically thankful for my parents, siblings, friends, extended family, Joe, and the Terpstra girls. You guys have all made this last year a blast, and I thank God for you all everyday! We went to the Brinks from 12:30-5:30 and then the Wyricks from 6-9:30. We literally ate, and then just chatted, but I never got board, sometimes it just fun to talk!!

Speaking of talking, I can't barely do it today! This morning at 9:00 I got my three wisdom teeth removed. The whole process went great, I felt great after words too. I never got loopy or said anything out of the ordinary, so I was pretty proud! Haha, now.... it's all a different story. The numbness is wearing off and the pain is coming. I'm pretty dizzy and have hot flashes... Mom says that's because I'm not eating, but I don't even want to think about that. I tried some yogurt... Yes my mother fed me with a baby spoon, don't think that will ever happen again! But the family is getting some good laughs looking at me and my big bags of peas. Glad I can be the entertainment of the house. I'm going to be even more of a laugh when I get poofy! Haha looking forward to it?? Maybe some of you will get a peak at my oversized face at church on sunday! Anyways I hope everyone has a great weekend, full of time with your families, I know I will too.
Oh and Joe comes home Sunday! Can't wait!!!! Hope to see you all soon.

Love this song.

2009-09-09T15:04:00.001-07:00

Pentwater 09'

2009-08-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

The past few days I have been up in Pentwater, MI with the Terpstra's. I've never ever been there and all I have to say is WOW! What a blast! It's such a small little town and it's so nice to be able to walk everywhere and know where your going.

It was an absolute pleasure to be able to spend a couple beautiful days on the beach with my three favorite girls! It was alot different then just babysitting a day let me tell ya :) But I loved every second of it! Waking up in the morning and seeing Lily's smirks and hearing Sophia's giggles just made my morning! I feel so blessed to be loved by them and to have the opertunity to do some lovin on them too!! Yes, I'm tired haha, but would do it in a heartbeat again! Thanks girls, Nick, Sarah, and Family for sharing your girls for an amazingly busy and fun couple of days!! I love you guys!

Good Morning Sophia!

Beautiful Baby :)

Lily Struttin her stuff eating her ever so favorite Superman Icecream!

Cutie Patutie!

Band Concert

Girlies On the Beach

Love Her!

It's been a while...

2009-07-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Alot has happened since I updated last..
1)Grandpa got robbed... we are thanking God everyday that he is still alive and no-one got hurt. When things like this happen to your own family you look at life way different and realize that it can be gone in a blink of an eye. Thank goodness this time it wasn't. Thanks for all your prayers for my grandpa and our family, it was a scary time, but some lessons about how valuable life is, were learned real fast.
2)My friends say I have no life ;)
I'm actually sneeking this blogpost in while little baby Lily Wiersema is Sleeping. Thats how much a babysit these days...
This is how my week went"
Monday: Babysit 9:00-10:20
Babysit 10:30-12:30
Tuesday:Babysit 9:00-5:00
Wednesday: Babysit 8:30-3:15
Work Golf Course 4-8
Thursday:Babysit 9:00-5:00
Friday: Babysit 10:30-2:00
Babysit 5:30-10
Saturday: Work Golf Course 12-5
Babysit 6:30-???
So yea, this is what my summer is all about. Some times I think oh my I need a breather, or more like a nap! Haha If I'm not babysitting or working at the golf course at night I'm hanging out with friends, Joe, or playing softball on summer league Thursday nights!

Some people ask: "Do you ever get sick of babysitting or working?" But to tell you the truth I don't! I love spending time with Kids. I think of it this way. If I wasn't babysitting I would be sitting around at home of spending too much money! So this keeps me out of trouble!
So this week was deffinitly busy, but it was fun to get to spend time with my friends a little bit more this week at nights too.

I hope my schedule stays about the same and the calls for babysitting keep coming (hint hint... :)
But am also looking forward to going to the cottage, senior pictures with Christy Pacanowski, hanging out with friends, and going on a mission trip in a few weeks.

So yea, thats what I've been up to.. but I better get going for now. I need to wake up Lily so she'll sleep tonight! Haha...

Have a good weekend!
-- jenna --

Summer...

2009-06-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

What's that?

For some reason I just can't wrap my head around the fact that summer has actually begun!
To tell you the honest truth, I have not had one day off. Besides Sundays of course! I am working at the golf course on Saturdays and Wednesdays and so far this summer and scheduled on my calendar for the month of June, babysitting a TON! I get to spend my Tuesdays and Thursdays with the Terpsrta girls and I absolutely love it. They make me laugh and smile so much! And then I've been really blessed with just random calls for times throughout the week, and that's what keeps me busy! I absolutely love babysitting and will take that over a "job" any day, so please, keep your calls or e-mails on facebook comin! I'm way looking forward to summer at the cottage and getting to spend more time with my girlfriends and Joe too! I love not having to do homework and worry about school, life is so much more relaxed. And who can not appreciate getting to sleep in every once and a while, that has been a blessing in itself!

On a deeper note...
Lately I've been realizing the "hurt" in our community. I think when were young things like death, cancer, and premature birth are a "bummer" and then not thought about too much more. Now that I'm older I'm just getting to start to realize how unfair life really is. Don't get me wrong, I along with any of us should not complain about "life." We have it so good, and God gave us this amazing earth to live on and I'm so thankful for that! But back to my point. How awesome will life not be in heaven? When we don't have to worry about sickness or death. When money and fear won't "run" everyone's lives, it will be amazing.
- There was recently a new country song on the radio that talks about a man saying, "I'll work like it's all up to me, and pray like it's all up to HIM." I think this is how we should all live our lives. We should live our lives as best as we possibly can but at the end of the day give it all up to God. This week and more so this whole summer I want to challenge myself to live MY life in ways that are God honoring. He's the one that put us on this beautiful earth in the first place! Why not thank him for it?
I hope I gave you something to think about, and if not, at least I challenged my self! Who ever said talking to yourself if weird? Haha, it works!

-- Jenna --

Birthday Weekend

2009-05-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went up to the cabin for our first "summer weekend." I call it a summer weekend because it was soooo warm! It was so nice out. We got there Friday night and then woke up Saturday to a 79 degree hot sunny day. It was the same on Sunday, but even better! It was about 81! We spent the weekend taking the first tube rides of the summer and just relaxing. Monday (Memorial Day) It was my Birthday! We started the day off by going to the parade because J.t. and Jaycee are in the school band. We followed up the parade with brunch at russ' with Grandpa and Grandma Wyrick and to my wonderful suprise, The Terpstra Fam.(Lily and Sophia) ;they were at the table behind us! After bruch we went home chilled for a little while and then my family headed out to my Grandpa and Grandma Brink's cottage. I stayed back for an hour and waited for Joe to come home from up north at his cabbin. At like 3:30 Joe picked me up and suprised me with some beautiful flowers and a sweet card and we headed out to the cottage to be with my family. Later monday night we went to Adam DeYoung's (Joe's family friend) granduation open house and went over to Grandpa and Grandma Wyrick's house to jump in the pool. Every year I try to make it over there on my birthday, because Grandpa always promises he'll have it open and warm! And it was, it was 91 degrees!! Good enough for me.
So yea, a pretty busy weekend, but it was so much fun! Thanks to all of you for all the Birthday wishes and gifts it was a very special day.

P.S. On a side note, I found out I'm not going to be getting as many hours at the golf course as I would have liked, so if anyone needs a babysitter hit me up! :)

Junior Senior Prom 09'

2009-04-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Friday (April 24) night was the Junior/Senior Banquet and wow was it fun! We got out of school at 11 o'clock Friday and then my two friends Erika and Corrin and I went to get our hair done at Joan Sneller's house! It was so fun getting our hair all done up! Then Erika and I went back to my house and got ready and took a few pictures. After Erika left Joe came over and we took a couple pictures too! It was so fun seeing him that dressed up! We took a few pictures outside and on the golf course and then left for the park. After pictures at the park with friends we went over to the Hudsonville Pennical Center and had dinner, watched an entertainer, and danced! Once the prom was done we went bowling in our dresses and boy was that a blast! We followed bowling up with a breakfast at 1A.M. in the morning made by a a Katelyn's parents! So it was a very fun night and I can't wait to do it again next year. Enjoy the pictures!
"Why Hello Good Lookin!"

Pictures Pictures Pictures :)

Bowling After Banquet

Easter

2009-04-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

So I'm a little late in saying Happy Easter, but hey Jesus lives everyday! We had an awesome church service Sunday morning and at the end we sang some really awesome songs. One song we didn't sing was, "My Redeemer Lives" and I just love that song and feel like it is such an amazingly written song when it comes to Jesus in our lives here on earth and him in our eternal lives forever!

For I know my redeemer lives
And in the end He will stand on the earth
For I know my redeemer lives
And in the end He will reign on the earth

Though my flesh it be destroyed
Yet with my eyes I will see God

For I know my redeemer lives
And I will stand with Him on that day
For I know my redeemer lives
And I will stand with Him on that day

Oh my heart it yearns within me
For the day when Jesus returns
Oh my heart it yearns within me
For the day when Jesus shall reign

Though my flesh it be destroyed
Yet with my eyes I will see God

For I know that my redeemer lives
And I will stand with Him on that day
For I know that my redeemer lives
And I will stand with Him on that day

Jesus Lives!

Pics from Florida

2009-04-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

So spring break was an absolute blast. I got to spend time with my mom and grandpa and grandma Brink. So many people got to go with friends, but I have to admit I really enjoyed just chilling with my mom and getting to just relax and do nothing but lay out! Our first two days were rainy so that was kinda bummer, but things got better and we ended up have awesome weather! Erika came over to our condo for two days and we had an awesome time catching up and soaking up the sun! When we got home there was snow on the ground! Yuck! I thought we were done with winter! At least this coming week looks hopeful! Oh and on a side note, Joe's Brother and sister-in law found out today they are having another boy! I'm so excited for you guys and cannot wait to meet him in August!

Mom and I on the airplane ready to arrive in warm weather!

Watching "Medical Mysteries"
Erika and I laying out and swimming in the pool.
A restaurant on the pier that we ate at a couple times :) Only a short walk down the beach.
Out to lunch with Erika at crabby Joe's!

Mom and I, a little burnt!
On our way home :( At least were somewhat tan! *Landing in South bend... Hello snow? :s Joe and I sporting our new sweatshirts, I was very excited to see him again!

Spring Break 2009, Daytona Beach, Florida

2009-04-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

So spring break has been awesome! The weather not so much... we arrived on Monday and it was 81 degrees with not a cloud in the sky so we got to lay out for about 2 hours that afternoon. Then Yesterday(Tuesday) It was quite a disappointment. In rained and was really windy, but I must say the temp. was quite good. Today is a little better. The sun is just starting to come out and we can't wait for a full afternoon of doing nothing but laying out! Right now we are sitting in a cute little restaurant called Crabby Joe's which is actually located ON the peir! Tomorrow and Friday don't look to promising, but the weather is looking up for Saturday and Sunday(each day is from 84 degrees to 89), so we will hopefully get a little in before we come home next Monday! Mom and I miss everyone back home and hope all is well. Hi to Dad, Jt, and Jaycee we miss you and will see you on Monday.

Here is one picture we took with the computer b.c we can't get the pictures off my camera.

Love you!

*Jenna and Mom

Faith

2009-03-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

So I was walking around my house the other day, and stuck in my front door was a flier and the main title was, "Where is your faith?" I didn't really think much of this at all, until two minutes later when I went over to the fridge and saw a little paper stuck behind a magnet that stated, "faith?" Thats all it said. I right away was thinking woah! This has to be a sign and then I got to thinking. Where is my faith? Sure I can say I have faith in God and come across as that type of person, but in the end of the day can I look back and say I gave every single choice or decision up to God and have faith and believed that he would carry though for me? I think I don't. Even though I'm only in high school and the everyday decisions I have to make aren't HUGE my faith in God is still important. The little things we worry about on a day to day basis really aren't worth it. God will follow through for us, but we have to believe that and have faith that he will before we can expect anything. This week I am challenging my self and all of you to have faith like a child and think and know everything will be o.k. if I just bring it up to God in prayer.

Winter of 2008-2009 In a Nutshell...

2009-02-26T18:29:00.000-08:00

*I chose a few pictures from this winter to sum up what I've been doing. Most include hanging out with friends, time at my cabin, time at Joe's cabin, snowboarding, and snowmobiling! Oh and how could I forget? BABYSITTING... Haha. my friends often mock me for how much I'm babysitting, but I secretly just think there jealous they don't get to spend time with a whole bunch of cute kids like I do!

*Babysitting the Terpstra Girls, possibly the best laughs ever spent with little Lily and Sophia. I can't wait for another little Terpsra Girl to babysit next summer!
* Jumping off the porch at the cabin with Jt into the 4 ft. deep snow!

*Mom and I all suited up and ready to ride!

*The Fam, minus Jaycee

*Joe and I at his Cabin, Notice the clashing suits(Yamaha vs. Artic Cat) :)

* Stuck ;)

*Uncle Joe and Ethan

*On the chair lift-snowboarding

*Christmas 2008

*Babysitting Addisyn <3

*Well that sums it all up for now, but I've got plenty more i'll add later, enjoy!

Blogger?

2009-02-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, a blogger! When creating this blog I started thinking to myself, "Am I to young to have a blog?" Maybe I am maybe I'm not? Will just have to see how things go! I guess I mainly decided to start this blog in hopes of growing my relationship with Christ. You may be wondering how a blog can do that. But I plan on writing down my thoughts and feelings on this page and hopefully telling about some awesome God stories too! I pray that this will be a way that I can look back and see how far I've come and I hope that maybe my words will speak to all of you too! Oh, and of course I will still add the occasional pictures, b/c those are always fun too! Maybe though the words I share with you and myself, will make be realize how blessed we really are! That's why I chose the title of this blog. We are sooo blessed!!! I'd love to here your God stories too,So make sure to comment!

Count*Your*Blessings