highly recommended!

so had to go and get some Cd's today that i highly recommend.

my friend Keith sent me via email a sample of Crowders song a week or so ago and fell in love with it. it was top quality and i knew the second that i heard that song i was going to have and go pick up the CD. today after church i booked to NW Bookstore and picked it up- lucky me it was on the top 25 played list for KTIS so it was on sale for only $9.95 today, instead of the normal $14.00 or so. i was going to try and up load a song for you to listen to so you'd wanna go buy the CD, but i cant for the life of me figure out how to do it. anyways.

while in the store i tried to force myself to just get in and out with just the Crowder CD...but, as i walked by one of the end rows i sow Robbie Seay Band....as you can see, had to buy it! i am not sure which CD i am going to like more, but i can tell you this- this is all i will be listening to for the next couple of days. love it....rock solid. cant wait til he comes to MN and does a show.

the first song on Robbie's CD is called Rise:
Slow down, be still.
Let go, we will.
Be here, be now.
Slow down, be still.
Breathe in, refill.
Be here, be now.
If you choose to love.
To know that the call. Is to give all you are. To give love away, away.
Rise, rise people of love, rise. People of love rise, give yourself away.
Rise, rise people of love, rise. People of love rise, give yourself away.
Give yourself away, give yourself away.
Slow down, just breathe.
Be still, believe.
Be here, be now.
Slow down and see.
its all you need.
be loved and free.
and to hear the call is to give your love away.
and to hear the call is to give your love away.
and to hear the call is to give your life away.
is to give you life away. we're not safe, we not safe. but we will rise!!!

2007 school picture

just like you got when you were kids in school, teachers in school also get their yearly picture taken. for a couple of reasons: our ID badge that we have wear during school, for the year book, for the 'get to know your teachers' billboard hanging in the hallway next to the office, and than...like the kids, we get a package of pictures sent to us for free. most people just chuck theirs...not me. i get a kick out of getting them and deciding who gets one. i only have a small amount so decided i'd post my 2007-08 school year picture on my blog so those of you that don't get one to hang on your refrigerator (and make sure you tell all those single men you know about me when they comment on my picture....ha!). anyways- my weekend was so relaxing. i haven't been home for this past 5 weekends and decided that i was going to 'jail' myself up in my own house. so- all weekend i have been at home. it's been great. i've caught up on some emailing that i have been putting off to some friends over seas, did some updating with pictures, cleaned my windows, did much needed landry, sat on my butt, read some- in my new tri-althlete magazine, in my bible, and for grad school. i have left my house twice since i've got home from work on Friday. once to workout early this morning and than another this after noon to run an errand to target to get more landry soap. tomorrow i will leave the house for church- otherwise; i've been home all weekend and have loved it. a much needed relaxing, catching up on life weekend. i needed it.

Anna Persuitti

Anna rocks!!!! i love that i have a friend that is only 23...yeah, that's 10 years younger than me. whoa. she is full of fire and energy and has a heart of gold. she keeps me on my toes and makes me feel like i am still a 20 something year old. she loves the phrase 'super pumped' and every time she uses that phrase it makes me smile. she is the definition of super pumped.... anyways- she has been training for this Duathlon for the past 2 or so months and i don't think she missed a single work-out in preparation for it. she is my hero! I told her about the duathlon awhile ago when i was planning on doing it -but than my old body decided to go sour on

me, so i choose to sit this year out! but- i still wanted to go and see Anna kick some butt. and that she did. the girl flew. she finished the 2 mile run, 22 mile bike, 2 mile run in 1 hour and 44 minutes (or something close to that). she reached all her goals and finished with a smile on her face. i was very proud of her and was glad to be there as a support to her. Her family rocks, so it was fun to hang with them on such a beautiful morn. Way to go Anna Banana.

Anderson Wedding

this past weekend was filled good looking kids. a good friend of mine got married this weekend and i was put on 'baby' duty during picture taking and even a little during the wedding. These cute kids are who i got to play with all day on Saturday. it was a beautiful day. a beautiful bride, a handsome groom, some solid groomsmen and some of the cutist flower girls and ring bearer ever. Here they are just playing around on a rock waiting for the party to start.

Emma is pure sweetness...and i love spending time with her. she has grown up so much in the past year and cracks me up with the things she says and does. she, like most little girls, loves pink and pretty dresses. she kept asking everyone around her to 'look at me...' Craig and I are both Emma and Wills (her little miracle brother) god-parents and when ever we are both around them (which isn't very often) i like to get an updated photo of our little g0d-family, if you will. Craig is great with them. Emma has been a little scared of him in the past but this weekend she broke through that and i think she is on her way to maybe having a little 'crush' on him. Will and i got to spend a lot of time together during the wedding, since he wanted nothing to do with sitting still, being quite and starring at the bride and groom. we got a lot of playing in while the others sat. we played with a water bottle, rocks, grass, his blanket, and i taught him how to say 'bonk'. we laughed and laughed. he is going to be a ladies man for sure!
these to fine looking ladies are the owners of these beautiful kids. Darla (far left) is mother to Will and Emma, and she is married to Ryan (brother of the groom). Allison (middle) is mother to C.J (Clara i mean) and is married to Keith (other brother of the groom). These ladies rock my world. I love that they both have been a massive part of my life. I have learned so much from them, been encouraged by them, been loved on by the them, and they even let me pretend to be a part of their family at the wedding so i could sit at the 'family' table. I love them! they are great. thanks for being solid ladies!!!! not much about the wedding itself and i know - no picture of the bride and groom...i guess i was to involved with the youngsters and just forgot to take a pic of the bride and groom- whoops!!!! it was a good wedding, it was a good day!

volleyball

TONIGHT I AND COACH ZIEMER TOOK 9 8TH GRADERS FROM OUR VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO THE GOPHERS GAME. I ALWAYS ENJOY DOING THAT WITH THEM. SOME OF THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER, AND WILL NEVER, GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND SEE A GAME LIKE THAT. THEY LOVED IT. I LOVED IT. IT WAS GOOD TIME. PLUS, MAN CAN THOSE LADY GOPHERS PLAY VOLLEYBALL. IT IS ALWAYS FUN TO SEE SOME HARD CORE VOLLEYBALL. ONE OF THE CHICKS THAT PLAYED COULD, WHAT SEEMED TO ME, FLY. SHE HAD MAJOR HOPS! THE GIRLS LAUGHED AND CHEERED AND WERE TOTALLY SILLY. IT WAS GREAT. AND THE GOPHERS WON!!

COACHING 8TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL IS GREAT. AT TIMES I WANT TO PULL MY HAIR OUT CUZ THEY DONT LISTEN AND SOME OF THEM ARE THERE JUST BECAUSE THERE FRIENDS ARE. BUT...IT'S WORTH IT ON NIGHTS LIKE THIS, WHEN YOU SEE KIDS HAVE A GREAT TIME. WE HAVE 42 8TH GRADERS PLAYING VOLLEYBALL AND LET ME JUST SAY COACHING THEM IS NO EASY TASK. WE START GAMES NEXT WEEK AND I AM NERVOUS TO SEE HOW WELL THEY DO. WE ARE NOT READY, THEY ARE NOT READY! BUT I GUESS- A COACH ALWAYS GOES WITH THE PUNCHES - RIGHT!

ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE. I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO BLOG SOME THOUGHTS OF MINE THE PAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS BUT HAVE HAD TO MANY OTHERS THINGS GOING ON AND...I JUST CANT SEEM TO GET ENOUGH SLEEP THESE DAYS- SO.....

LAST SUNDAY I WENT TO CHURCH. IT HAS BEEN A MONTH SINCE I HAVE ATTENDED MY HOME CHURCH (OPEN DOOR) AND WAS SO GLAD TO BE THERE. THE WORSHIP WAS REFRESHING AND UP LIFTING AND I WAS SO GLAD AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME TO BE ALIVE, WELL AND TO BE LOVED (NO MATTER) BY MY GOD. ONE OF THE SONGS SUNG HAS STUCK WITH ME ALL WEEK AND HAS BECOME A PRAYER OF MINE. I AM SURE YOU HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE AND I HOPE, LIKE ME, YOU TAKE ON THE WORDS OF THIS SONG AS A PRAYER FOR YOUR HEART.

"CONSUMING FIRE, FAME INTO FLAME, A PASSION FOR YOUR NAME. SPIRIT OF GOD, FALL INTO THIS PLACE, LORD HAVE YOUR WAY! STIR IT UP IN MY HEART LORD, STIR IT UP IN MY HEART LORD, STIR IT UP IN MY HEART LORD, A PASSION FOR YOUR NAME!!!"

The Rut Hut pictures take 2!

jen and i matched t-shirts all weekend long, and we didnt even plan itthis the the big mining truck we climbed on for a while. this is the big tire that is on the big truck
glasses are a must when it is raining out

we had sunday morning service on the doc and 'the doc' pastored us....so cool

us in front of the rut hut.

The Rut Hut.

Traveled to Hibbing MN this weekend to hang at the 'Rut Hut' with my pals Jen and Nate. Nate, and his family, would be the owners of this fine northern woods cabin. It is found on Island Lake about 3 hours away from the cities and is loads upon loads of fun. Instead of boring you with paragraph after paragraph of what we did, what happened, how much we laughed and so on- i am just going to make a list of things i will remember about "my trip to the Rut Hut.'

1. I've learned that Nate's jeep needs a tune up! along with his motorcycle...but we tired to get it going!!!

2. the stars were the brightest i've ever seen them... so awesome to look at

3. Lake Island has a island on it...huh, wonder how it got it's name.

4. If your not careful...you might actually fly out of the boat while Nate is driving. Jenny- hold on!!!!

5. we ate 50 cookies and drank 84 cups of coffee in a 2 day span of time

6. I say 'i feel like' a lot.

7. having Sunday morning church on the dock has to be the best sort of service ever! thanks Pastor Nate

8. Jen is becoming one of my all time favorite people.

9. doing grad school work is impossible while at the cabin

10. you can boil eggs in a sandwich bag, and they are good- who knew!!!

11. Jen has ultra sonic ears, and i dont!

12. visited MN largest mining field! climbed on some of the biggest tires I've ever seen and drove by the greyhound bus museum. did you know there was a greyhound bus museum?

13. Nate threatens he wants to 'kick me in the head'; a lot!!! - and i am not really sure why?

14. the golf cart was a great way to get around, even if we lost the key.

15. 'bass' has a whole new meaning.

16. the Hawaiian scented spray made going to the bathroom a better experience

17. i haven't shower since Friday morning- and its Sunday @ 10:21 p.m.

18. Jen and Nate are both chiropractors, how lucky am i!!!!!!

19. we found a apple tree and Jen went nuts! free apples...

20. sleep is good

21. grilled salmon is the bomb!

22. i guess there is a game called Hell...we played it! don't ask!!!! i lost.

23. we got 'woo-hoo-ed'....again, don't ask

24. Nate's cloths never match. and he takes pride in that.

25. the water was so clear- but way to chilly to swim

26. i love 4-wheelers

27. I've never went to the bathroom more in my life than i did this past weekend.

28. friends are a must!

29. we took our bikes and never used them. but got a tour of beauty mountian away.

30. The rut hut is awesome; when can we go back Doc?

31. pictures not really ready to post yet....here are just a few weird ones. more to come later.

Labor Day Weekend...w/ family!

In past Venhuizen history we have had massively large family reunions...but we haven't had one since 1991, or there about. This past labor day weekend we had a get together at my parents house in Mora. It was a beautiful weekend full of family fun, catching up with relatives i haven't seen for almost 15 years. Before i get into the details of the weekend, lets take a blast from the past quick like.

This was taken way back in 1978 with most of my cousins. A few of them are missing- but this is most of them. I will not try to explain who is who, but i am the cute little girl in the pink dress with my arms crossed....my grandpa and grandma Venhuizen are also in the picture. They were the best grandparents...I miss them! I think the age range is from 3 months to 9 years old. This family reunion was held in Roschter at one of my Grandpa's brothers houses...i think! I am thinking i am 3 years old here, so am going to venture a guess that i don't remember much about this get together. So let forge forward about 12 years...The next 15 or so years we had regular every summer family get together...

So this isn't really a picture taken at a family reunion, but at my Aunt Bonnie's house with the same crew of cousins, the only difference is that we are about 13 years older...that would make me 16 years old, a junior in high school. Not sure if you can tell any difference- whoa!!!! again, i am not going to try to explain who is who, but I am the one in the dark blue shirt right in front. We are an interesting group of kids!!! lots of fun things to do together and loads upon loads of trouble to get into. Again....lets fast forward another 15 or so years to this past Labor day and our family reunion.

This picture includes almost all of the Venhizen cousins that showed up to most of those family reunions back when i was 3 years old. We range from 25 to 38 (i think)...we have grown up, have wives and husbands, kids of our own...a job, a house of our own, we are the grown ups now - weird! it was very cool to see some of them. Most of these peeps i see pretty often, but....the two guys on the far right of the picture, both in blue i haven't seen in 15 years- and the crazy part is they live in Brooklyn Center- just down the road from me. The four girls in the front row are all sisters and we use to play together all the time. They were the only girls i really had to play with, other wise it was boys-boys-boys!!!! So...it was great to see them, and catch up on life's adventures. This was taken in 1987. and the pic after that was taken 2007. Lots of change!!!!

So even though i have been a Venhuizen for 32 years, i learned something new about my families history. So my ancestry is from Holland, i knew that, but what i didn't know was that my grandpa actually lived there for about 3 years....and than he also lived in Canada for a while as well. my dad tells me that at one point grandpa, at the age of 18, had to take 2 of his younger brothers - ages 15 and 13- and had to ride work horses from Canada back to south Dakota, where my grandpa Henry spent most of his years living and than raising his own family. can you imagine riding work horses from Canada to s.d...whoa! anyways. It was a joy to see family!

current picture of my immediate family....