Circuit Training

Yesterday morning, my girlfriends and I shared our first post-Christmas workout together at E2 and were given the opportunity to circuit train with the new owner Kyle. It looks so much easier sitting from the couch, with a bowl of ice cream, watching 'The Biggest Loser' contestants drip in sweat as they pull-up, dip down, squat with weights, toss weighted sports balls in the air, play tug-a-war with ropes and then repeat once more with a few extra push-ups in the mix all the while having a trainer joyfully enjoy his job of "encouraging" you to squat lower or throw higher. 

Kyle is an extremely talented, gifted guy and he knows what he's doing when in the gym setting. My muscles trust him. (not sure they thank him today!) Us three ladies found ourselves rotating through these circuit training exercises enjoying the moment and trusting they would eventually get us to our personal goals. (a stronger, faster runner) It wasn't until later in the day, and this morning, when I attempted to get out of bed that it hit me...

or hurt me. 

Life has us all on a circuit training course creating muscle memory, stronger bodies and minds, and to make us a better person. 

There are moments in my life where I feel like "I've been down that road before" or "here we go again." Situations that I should have learned the first time but for some reason, I needed to try again. I believe that God gives me these moments to build stronger character in my life. Opportunities to try to do things better, make me strong, see things differently. 

I had times in my life where I needed to exercise my forgiveness muscle daily; sometimes hourly. Situations that need grace as the minutes flew by in the day. I had to put my heart on a circuit training workout so that I could do what God commands me to do. There were moments where I had no desire to change or become stronger but I knew that God wanted me to once again, repeat the exercise of forgiveness. 

Or how about that child that sucks every ounce of patience from my savings account? Having to repeat that circuit training workout of offering grace and patience to that "sweet" child is a choice which results in huge pride for the little blessings that were given to me. 

Think of it as our faith muscle. 

Sometimes it seems as if we walk through the same pain or feel stuck in a negative situation, but remember that God is in the business of building a better you and waiting for us to never grow tired of depending on Him more. The more we read the Bible and sit in conversation with Him, the stronger our faith muscles become. Then, once in a taunting situation or devastating moment, those faith muscles will remember, trust, and rely on God to carry us through. 

Today My Hero was not feeling so hot as she was hanging over the kitchen sink with my amazing mother tenderly rubbing her back. My Hero has been on a circuit training workout for nearly seven years and her body is feeling spent. There has been very few times where she has complained about the pain, the treatments, or the sheer exhaustion of this long run with cancer. She has faced it with courage and her faith muscles have never been stronger. 

I pray that someday God will see that My Hero is strong enough to go find a new workout. Something that will give her great delight and joy. A race with less physical fatigue and more physical strength. Strength that she has not known for many years. 

I thank God for allowing me to repeat training exercises and pray that when placed in front of the pull-up bar I can not shiver in pain, but rejoice in the truth it will teach me knowing that God is my coach and will never leave me alone. 

So, I welcome the training and pray I can learn to approach life with my faith muscle, remembering to not give up, but to keep on running, training, and becoming a stronger me. 

Christ-MAS 2013

From the Broersma Five...

 We pray all our readers may have the gift of CHRIST in their own families this year. May you all feel the weight of a little baby and know the promise of salvation through the manger. As my SIL reminded us on Sunday last week that 'MAS" means more and as we have a birthday party for the King today, may we not forget that we can never have enough of baby Jesus. We praise God for the glorious riches He has given us in 2013 and excitedly wait for 2014 to arrive. MERRY CHRISTMAS and let us strive for more of Jesus this next year!!!

{ Melissa & Michaela have grown as an extension of our family. 

God is doing BIG things in their lives and we are blessed to be apart of the miracles in their lives. }

{ Christmas Eve traditional P.J. gifts }

{ The silly things a mom does to make herself look "cool" to her growing daughter. I sacrificed my adult jammies for zebra printed tacky jammies this year. The things we do for love..OH oh. }

{ It's official. Melissa is now going to deliver home-made cinnamon rolls from this year forward no matter where she is living. 

Round one is done and seconds are coming soon. }

{ Bed-head, naughty eyes, and the precious gift in the manger. It is a BLESSED Christmas. }

{ From our little blessings to yours; we Wish YOU a Merry Christmas! }

Crossing my Red Sea

This week has many implications of past disappointments, struggles, hardships, and pain. A week where lives were lost, dreams crushed, jobs altered, and discouraging reports shared.  I felt I was standing with my toes dipped in the Red Sea, but my heart didn't have the energy to cross. I found myself angry this week from the simple exhaustion of running alongside My Hero's strong fight with cancer. I'm proud to fight with her, rejoice with her, and tell others that she's my sister. Its just tiring to watch others suffer with her pain. Standing at my waters edge, I faced the memory of Grandpa Van Dyken passing away suddenly 10 years ago, my Dad telling me he had prostate cancer, or just a few years ago when My Hero was told her cancer had spread...Over the years this seemed to all fall within one week of each other.

"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt. So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle."  Exodus 13:17-18

It has caused some to hate this time of year and has blinded eyes to the miracles at the bottom of the sea. Chasing me was the fear of what test results would haunt my sleep and consume my mind.  Concern of how to deal with roller coaster emotions and anger of how it has stolen much joy over the years expended me. Not being able to "fix" issues and problems plays games on my mind and taints my view on my possibilities. All of this has some level of bondage in my heart and the devil continues
to have some grip in my life not allowing my feet to move.

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night The Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their rights
and on their left."  Exodus 14:21-22

It's hard to comprehend what passed through Moses' mind when his toes dipped the waters edge of the Red Sea. To have the children of Israel depending on you as your enemies draw closer had to have been an intense moment for Moses and yet, he stayed calm crying out to God. Never did Moses allow his fear or lack of limitations in God stop his pursuit to the Promised Land. How many times have I put God in a box and not allowing Him to show His powers and part my Red Sea? How many times have I allowed situations to overcome and disappointments to steal my joy from the gift that came so beautifully wrapped in a manger? I'm embarrassed (and human) to say that it's more times then I'd like to admit.

"Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance The Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."  Exodus 14:13-14

When I'm placed at battles edge, I need Moses to SCREAM from behind me to, "Go forward!" When the tides of life lap at my feet, rather then fear and worry to settle, I need to find my staff, grip tightly, and allow God to show His faithfulness to me and trust that He will be enough to part the murky, scary, un-navigated situations I stumble upon. I need a Moses-like attitude. 

Self-doubt robs too many potential opportunities. Lack of faith results in mountains not moved. I'd love to say that I never struggle with any of these things, but we live in a fallen world where each and everyone of us has a (or many) Red Sea's to cross. Some more then others. Whether its a struggle in a relationship, financial worries, health battles, or day in and out worries; we all contemplate how we will cross over to dry land. "Be still."

"Then the Lord said to Moses,"Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea to dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."  Exodus 14:15-18

As My Hero received news that her test results stayed relatively the same, I found I could breath a little easier..."Be still." Ten years earlier, God gave us a sunrise promise that Grandpa was at peace. We had that same stunning sunrise promise the morning of the doctors appointment as a way of saying, "I've got this. Be at peace and remain in Me." I'm embarrassed to say that I wasn't able to run with ease across the sea this week, but I pray as today continues on and tomorrow approaches, I can run freely with hope, faith, and a strong grip on His Staff that will part the sea and protect me until I plant my feet on dry land. I can see God patiently sitting seaside, gently whispering to me, "Be still." And then there's Moses yelling at me, "Don't look back; just GO FORWARD." 

"And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant."  Exodus 14:31

So, I move forward with faith, trusting that God will hold the raging waters of life upright, as I pass through my Red Sea and attempt to see the beauty in the situation rather then being swallowed up by the fears of circumstance.
And in those moments...I'll just be still.

December Photo Mash-Up

 { Addison busy at school fireside with her new glasses. So grown up. }

{ Cousins at war with each other in a fierce game of battleship. }

{ Addison & Annie watering plants at the Windmill. Addison put over 20 hours of "community service" into the mall cleaning, painting, and being Daddy's helping hand. }

{ There are moments where we can't trust this monkey even after we put her to bed. Yes. That is "bottom cheek" cream she has moisturized across her face. Within the next few days she managed to get into the tub of Vaseline and my not-dutch-deal-of-the-day Clinique facial cream. Mama not happy.}

{ Dad & Donny keeping busy replacing the Windmill motor. Dad was in heaven putzing around with tools helping Tim with his To-Do's. }

{ Mom and Myriam dancing, singing, and keeping beat with Auntie Becky and Joel blessing people at the Windmill with Christmas tunes. }

 { GINGERBREAD TIME... } 

{ The kids built sugary homes and came out cavity free! }

{ Lynden Floor Design/Elements Christmas Party with my Go-To Gal Pal }

{ Mom with our three blessings at the Jingle Bell Run/Walk along with Auntie Lindsay, her mom Renee' and her littles. }

Well, there you have it.
Merry Christmas.

Our (my) Given Go-To's

{ our friends and family: Jake (future SIL), Sam, Greg, Linda, and Mac } 

It was nearly 13 years ago that God introduced me to my soul sister and friend. God knew my heart needed this gifted, amazing gal pal in ALL areas of my life from fun to tears and tea to chocolates. It started with Linda needing someone to cut her little blond studs hair, Mac and Sam. Oh, and heaven's if I were to cut the pop! The first time I set my eyes on Sam, I must admit, my heart dropped a bit as he was a spitting image of Bryce Fransen who had passed away years earlier from a battle of cancer. From the hair to the dark brown eyes...it's all I could think about when cutting his hair for the first time. There was an instant connection with Linda and it started gaining head way when she too succumbed to my scissors and color techniques. She was the cutest thing! 

When Tim and I had been married for a year, he transferred job careers to Lynden Floor Design which has evolved into a lifetime partnership and multiple blessings for our family. Tim and Greg could be matched for twins with their go-get-em' personalities and Greg has had HUGE influence in Tim's business strategies. Greg has been a big brother and mentor to Tim in life and at work teaching, training, encouraging, scolding, and showing Christ in all levels of life. We never anticipated the level of involvement when accepting a simple job offer years ago. And with that came more opportunities for Linda and I to get to know each other and create AWESOME memories. 

From our first trip together laying tile in a lakeside cabin pre-kids and first shopping trip with the controversial swim suit purchases, to a second trip with the rent-a motorhome followed by a few Big White ski trips. Dinner dates with all you can eat crab and leftovers from others plates, and late night jobs setting up the new shop. Coffees, chocolates, introductions to Red Rose tea. Helping us with our first baby, family 'LOST' nights, game nights, BBQ's, coffee deliveries during new home construction. Third Day concerts and #1 fan concerts to the Newsboys...influence of music and scrap booking soon crept into their home and their hearts filled ours. We call them friends, family, landlords, business partners and brothers and sisters in Christ. 

What these two add to our lives can never be measured or explained. From our best to worst moments they hold no judgements; just open arms. When I needed Linda most, she gave, she wept, she hugged, and she forgave. From meltdowns in the cow pastures to hugs that nearly pulled me out of the car. These two dropped life and poured into ours. Linda held my hand, drove me to and from, spoke to the void during the freshest wounds I've experienced. She allowed me to be weak and carried me when I couldn't stand on my own. It's not easy being put into a fiery situation, but Greg and Linda did it with grace and showed forgiveness immediately. They embraced us when our "wash machine was broken beyond repair"!!!

Greg and Linda are the living example of "go to" friends, but more then that they exemplify the hands and feet of Christ to us and all around them. They have set a pure example of parenting and marriage for us and also shown us the balance of having fun. They are the biggest inspirations to us. Selfless, giving, humble, caring, God-serving people. My life is richer because of this friendship and my husband is a stronger man due to the example Greg has shown him through daily life together. We are better people because of a simple boys haircut. And let's not forget the influence these handsome boys have had on our kids!

Yes, it is true, there is questioning about whether or not the thumb print agreement still stands between Jake and Addi someday getting married. If we had our way they would never know that it started with a joke! Mac and Sam have helped me many times climbing in our trees, showing stunts to Charlie, and entertaining the thought of babysitting to our sweet little babies. So far my efforts at getting them to change diapers has come to a halt. Mac, Sam, and Jake have been just as much of this friendship as their parents and we thank them for their respectful giving and serving to our family.  

What's most embarrassing about this almost 13 year friendship is the idea that it took this long for Linda and I to have a picture taken of us together! Terrible! So why not start our photo memories in our dutch costumes in the next family adventure. 

I stand behind this friendship 100% and pray that I can give as much to them as this beautiful couple has given to us. I thank God for my friend reminding me of accomplishing my daily essentials, the timely phone calls, persuasions to home school, soft words spoken, tight embraces, and open doors when things looked bleak. I praise God for blessing my life with this rich, inspiring, sister-like relationship and pray for her daily. 

She is my Go-To and I pray I can be hers to the level she's been to me.