A Few Updates

This is the first post I've made since school began last September. While I have absolutely LOVED working at Crean this year, I think I grossly underestimated the time/energy/workload involved (plus the 45+ minute commute). 

I have to say- the incredible ministry opportunities with these kids have really made up for the busyness of life!  I don't think I've ever had as much fun with a group of kids, nor been as impacted spiritually, as I have this year. 

Here are a few highlight's of life in the Kuypers household since Fall of 2010.

September

On Labor Day we took a trip to the park to enjoy the perfect weather

October brought the Month of Nuptial Activity as we celebrated the wedding of Randy and Taylor

The sister's threw a Cocktail Shower for Taylor

The Rehearsal Dinner

Randy and Taylor's Wedding

Do you recognize the setting? 

This is the 3rd Stuck Family Wedding at the Carlson's

In November we took a trip to Oregon and stayed with Aunt Sandie.  Tony did a Cycle-Cross race (something in between mountain biking and road racing with gallons of mud thrown in).  We cooked fabulous food with Aunt Sandie, tried to stay out of the rain and loved spending time with our family up in Portland.

December was full of concerts, cookie making, and present wrapping. 

We spent Christmas at Mom and Dad's house.  We had the big family Christmas on Christmas Eve, went to church and had dinner at Don Jose's.  Christmas morning was so quiet!  Only Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Tony and myself.  

Katie made this awesome pacifier for Dylan 

Randy dressed up as Santa Claus (and scared the heck out of Dylan!)

In January we celebrated my birthday by spending the weekend in Vegas.  We saw the Cirque du Soleil show "Mystere."  It was amazing!

In February the kids surprised Mom and Dad with a 60th Birthday Fiesta!

In addition to the party, for their birthdays we gave Mom and Dad a family photo session with John Robert Woods (who did wedding pix for Katie & Ryan, Randy & Taylor, and us).   

In April we got together and had the most fun taking these amazing shot's with John.  He is so talented!

May was a difficult month- on my first day back to school after Easter vacation a piano bench fell on my right foot shattering the bones in my first two toes.  In a two week period I spent time at an Urgent Care center, the ER, two doctor's offices, had surgery, and temporarily moved back to my parent's house as I needed a lot of extra care since I couldn't walk or drive.  Praise the Lord I am on the mend and can drive short distances now, but I'll finish out the school year living at Mom and Dad's house as they are only about a 10 minute drive from Crean (as opposed to a 45 minute drive from our house in Long Beach). 

We also had a green card interview at the USCIS office in Los Angeles hoping that after almost 10 years of living in the US Tony would get his green card.  Unfortunately, after waiting almost 3 hours we discovered the USCIS had neglected to request Tony's paperwork and they could not give us a decision, meaning we're back to waiting AGAIN.  So frustrating!

Despite these challenges, we've discovered that difficult circumstances reveal the blessing's of the Lord in unexpected ways. 

Our friends and family pitched in to help drive me to all my doctor's appointment's and to work (thank you Tay, Katie, Christy and Mom).  Our church delivered several delicious Meal's on Wheel's (thank you Jon and Steph, Tina, Tiffany, and Susan). My podiatrist worked to help us out by re-arranging his schedule so I could have surgery early enough in the month that I could be back at school in time for our final "Off-Broadway" concert. The prayers and phone call's from everyone have been especially appreciated.  Both Tony and I are so grateful for the way the Body of Christ  functions and are so thankful to everyone. 

Bear Valley Springs

Everyone has been SO kind and friendly at Crean Lutheran High- we are having a great time getting to know the staff and faculty. A few weeks ago the Instrumental Director and his wife, Matt and Kimberly, invited us over for dinner and we had a fabulous time.  Turns out that Matt, Kimberly and I were all at Azusa Pacific University at the same time, though we never met.  They invited us up to their family cabin with several other faculty members this past weekend.  So we all hopped in the car Friday evening and drove the three hours (with a mandatory stop at In-And-Out) to Bear Valley Springs.  

We had the best time, eating, laughing, playing games, going for hikes, and being refreshed by our brothers and sisters in Christ.  What a blessing good friends are!

Something New

Ever have to pinch yourself because something was too good to be true?  

Ever have to stop about ten times a day to whisper an incredulous "thank you" to the Lord for something SO unexpected?

We've had many blessings in our short time together as husband and wife-  Norm's salvation, our awesome honeymoon, a very special bible study group, and add to it now, a wonderful new job for me!

This year I'll be teaching at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine.  I was offered a Full-time Fine Arts position  and I'm now teaching High School Choir and Drama.  Yea!!!!  Who would have thought that this was possible when all other schools are cutting back their fine arts programs...

I've spent many hours reading through music and plays, trying to find choir dresses, meeting with colleagues to discuss the best way to begin a Parent Booster Organization, and generally getting more and more excited.  And school hasn't even started yet!

I will miss working with young children.  Singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" everyday was pretty cool :-) And, nerd that I am, I enjoyed my work in crafting the perfect pedagogical techniques for elementary-aged students.  I will especially miss the many special families that I leave behind, but one of the great things about Crean is that I will have the opportunity to re-connect with several students who sang with me in elementary school and now will sing with me at Crean!

Thank you Lord for your blessing and abundant provision.  

First Anniversary

"We" just turned one.  

July 25th was our first anniversary and we celebrated by going out to dinner at Lucques on Melrose Avenue in LA. 

We had such a lovely time- the food was amazing, the atmosphere was warm and intimate, and the diamonds on the lady next to us were breathtaking.  Both of us woke up the next morning still full from the night before.  We ate outside on the patio and enjoyed each other's company (and the heating lamp).  

On Sunday, our actual anniversary, we slept in, walked down to Second Street for coffee, and did absolutely nothing else the rest of the day.  Nice!


Thank you Lord for a wonderful year of marriage to my best friend.

Like a Good Neighbor...

I had noticed the hose out in front was leaking every time I watered the garden. It seemed to be getting worse, but I'm no plumber.  Tony went out to water the other day and the the hose broke off completely! 

Water started pouring out - gallons and gallons- and we started running around looking for the water main.  Our neighbor in the back house heard the commotion and brought his girlfriend out- then all four of us started running around looking for the water main. It was slightly ridiculous. 

We searched the garages, under the house, tried for 15 minutes to turn it off at the street, called Roto Rooter who said "we'll have to call you back," tried the landlady who, we later found out, was on a cruise.  Needless to say the front yard was a lake by the time Tony finally found it buried in the front garden 45 minutes later.  The water had stopped flowing in the front, but there was none in any of the duplex units.  

Our neighbor across the street is a plumber (who wasn't at home when we needed him!) but later on that night was persuaded to cross the street and plug the broken pipe so we could have water that night.  He came over the next day and replaced the missing parts and voila!  We had a working hose again. 

I made a "Thank You Neighbor" cake (Funfetti with Rainbow Chip icing) and brought it around to all the gracious neighbors who saved us from flooding the neighborhood.  

Thank you neighbors!

A New Friend

I walked into the kitchen yesterday and found this visitor on the wall. Tony was gone so I had to take care of him myself. Yuck!

Bicycle! Bicycle!

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

We rescued this poor lonely bicycle from Mom and Dad's garage and Tony fixed him all up Memorial weekend.  I introduced him to the neighborhood and took him down to the beach.  All he need's is a basket and I can take him to the grocery store.  Yea!