community garden

this summer I've been working a little with Lori, a colleague here at Calvin, on a community garden she started. It's called Everybody's Garden located in Hudsonville area, and the primary intent is to offer a community project for the special needs young adults group (including Mel, her daughter), Ready For Life. So far things have been amazing; God has blessed all of us in so many ways through this simple little project.


Here's Mel watering with her makeshift sprinkler. this was at the very beginning, before Evergreen Ministries surprised us with their donation of a sprinkler system!


these are the most recent results from 2 days ago! the yellow ones are pear shaped and taste like no other tomato I've tried. Incredible stuff.

all is well

Thank God, Daniel's family is safe! They were in Lima during the earthquake, and they said it was scary, but they are just fine with no damage to their homes. We were very relieved to find that out. Please pray for the many people who have lost loved ones.

stacks

I've been trying to find ways to decorate the walls in our house without cluttering up the place or hauling in anything bulky - huge and complicated do not translate well in a small, 1940s city-dwelling. I really like these ideas though...

barefoot in Alger Heights

Recently my wonderful family bought me a birthday present - the kind of gift that keeps on giving...



this cookbook is amazing. As a Ina Garten fan, I am constantly aware of the unfairness that the food network is a cable channel not included in the most basic Comcast package (well, that package only includes like 20 channels - 2 of which are CSPAN: thank God for bookTV!). But my days of "Barefoot" deprivation are ended because I have this cookbook. First recipe on tap? 40-garlic chicken. How can you pass that up??

what a summer it's been so far. Daniel and I just returned from about a month of travel. We spent 3 wonderful weeks in Peru (2 of those with Eddie), where we ate so much amazing food, traveled to Punta Sal up North, danced some Marinera, and just had a blast with the family there. Everyone sends their love to the family and has wonderful memories from the wedding last year. Daniel had eye surgery, so now he can see perfectly without glasses or contacts! Amazing stuff.


one of the meals we shared... risotto marisco. que rico!


daniel's mom and dad walking on the beach - so romantic


at costa verde

after returning from Peru, Daniel and I celebrated our 1-year anniversary! My family drove up and recreated the wedding dinner for us. they are the best. we are so thankful for the blessing of our family.