A quick plan...you can take charge of!

Okay family...Here is how I have been training....

Start off by doing walk/jogs--I started with 5min walk and then 5min. jog for 2 miles. I know there are some plans that are walk 2mins. and jog 1...This process will build endurance. I would HIGHLY recommend an ipod or discman (whatever you have) and get some good tunes bumping...that way you are enjoying what you are listening to AND then the running you are doing doesn't seem so long. So everyother day do the walk/jog, and then on the other days I am doing a crosstrain...so a long walk, kettlebell, taebo, eliptical....whatever.

I am very enthused by the response this has gotten! YOU CAN DO IT and if you started training...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

Love you all! Rianne

HERE IT IS!!!

FAMILY! here is the post that many people have known about and been anticipating! :) GET EXCITED! As many of you know I am trying to get as many of us together to run the 4th of July Freedom Run. I have been doing some research and found out that you can run a mile (8:00am) or do the 5K (8:20am). [Also, you should know this is data from years past...I havn't found anything for this year...but lets be real...I think Tradition says it will be the same this year.] :)

I know many of you are thinking to yourself right now..."I don't think I can...I mean, I am Veenstra" Well...Here are a few things you should consider BEFORE you say no...

1.) It is Beppe's Birthday, and she would be so proud of her family!

2.) You are there anyways....

3.) It is only 3.1 miles--this may sound like a lot now..but think, you have until July 4 (that is like 76 days...THAT IS A LOT!

4.) It will be fun, and Veenstra's are like the authors of fun

5.) Alyssa offered to design shirts (Passin' the Faith Along......) Could be an amazing thing to put on the shirts :)

6.) It is something we have never done before....

7.) We are getting close to summer which means summer clothes...which means we would all like to at least feel a little bit better about how we look in clothes....this is a good way to help that....

8.) The team so far that I know will FOR SURE do it [Lord Willing] is: Doyle, Jonathan, Bernie, Becky(she might tell you she is a question mark but that is a lie), Anson, Emily, Rachelle (If emily doesn't get that baldwin thing), and Alyssa (she also might try to tell you she isn't--also a lie), Kyle (same thing).....and beppe--because what won't she try once?! :) {a little inspiration to everyone}

9.) I know you think that the people I pute down that are unsure are being peer pressured...and that is true...I just think it would be AWESOME!

10.) Why not guys? I mean what do we have to loose, We might even make the Diammond Trail for being the first Team to enter the Freedom Run :) And that is worth it all.

So, at least consider it...I am giving fair warning because I know we can do it. It WILL be fun I promise, and we will all be in the same boat...cheering eachother on and just having fun, and showing sully that we rule :)

Well there you go...let me know if you would like to participate....I will encourage, and remember I have access to a personal trainer, if you have questions on how you should train for this...I would say to just lace up your sneaks and start doing run/walks....I am more than willing to call people at 5 when I get up to run...or send text reminders....etc to help out.....LET ME KNOW. AND GET EXCITED!!

Now, lets take some time and remember how great last year was!

I liked this kid with the boot...dedication to the L-S marching band! :) He knew his role was important!

All the candy we can eat after the big run! :) and that is just the stuff people gave to Jessa...and she was scrappy with picking it up :) she will rake it in this year, and SHARE :)

Brandon, to old for the curb...not old enough to not sit in the street and try to get candy

Just soaking up the sun, enjoying eachother's company

This kid who found out how cool our family is...and blended in so well with the boys, he tricked becky! :) HAHA

Then...post parade....

Christmas lights still up

Pake Fishing with the pole

he got from Brando!

The 'never to be forgotten' slip 'n' slide experience (see, she will do anything once!)

The crazy game Jackie and Vern brought...

Well...that is all I got for now...like I said....Let me know!  Rianne

In Memory

Wes & I brought the memorial stone to its place by the tree

given by friends of Anson & Sylvia. This is located on Jefferson street and is the furthermost tree located near the emergency entrance of the Pella Hospital.

It is large and easily seen while walking and driving. Those of you in town can check it out. We were able to set it nicely on the slope so all the words are readible from the road.

We miss Heit terribly, but as the scripture says " from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord's love is with those who fear Him". He is with each of us who love and honor Him.

-Arlys

The Last Winter Storm of the Season?!

I don't know if positive thinking will bring nicer weather sooner, but I really think this is the last storm of the season.  Doyle and I and kids tried to make it up to Luke's confirmation today, but once we got past Ankeny  the roads were  slippery.  We don't think the plow was through yet and the roads were slushy.  There were a few fresh accidents that we passed and the police hadn't arrived yet. We made the decision to turn around at the Huxley exit.  We didn't know at that point that the Iowa Department of Transportation closed part of the road  as you went further north.   KCCI said, " The Iowa Department of Transportation reopened Interstate 35 between Story City and U.S. Highway 20 on Sunday afternoon after shutting it down for several hours. Snowfall and blowing snow had caused problems for drivers earlier in the day."  

We are getting older and wiser.  I could see us 20 years ago trying to keep going even when everything said it was not good traveling weather.  Now we turned around, went to church in Pella and then drove home.  Caroline's wonderful celebration meal  was missed though especially when we had to eat left overs when we got home.  We talked to Luke and they made it to church and he answered all the tough questions.  We hate it that we missed Luke's special day.  Now, we will all think positive and hope this is the last winter storm this season!

Wonderful Weekend

We had a great time this past weekend as we traveled with the whole family to Iowa with the Silent Messengers group the girls are in. We all thought it was a bit surreal (?sp) to have our Baldwin friends in our Des Moines setting. Kinda like a dream where you have different parts of your life mix together but you know that it is really not possible. It was so good to see family and friends at Crossroads, Heartland Reformed and even at Pella Christian High School's Chapel.

Thanks to all who were able to come and see us and the Silent Messengers group. Alyssa, or shall I say Drew, thanks for the baby wipes....we never did find the ones we thought we had with and I'm sure the girls would not have wanted to grab lunch at the mall with their makeup on. Doyle, thanks again for being our photographer, the pictures turned out great. See how many faces you recognize in the picture above :o) Also, thanks for the offers to have a more comfortable nights sleep in a bed......even though we couldn't take you up on it this time, we do appreciate it!

Hey, by the way, check out the memory stone for Doetze. Right now Wes has it. But in case you haven't heard the story - here it is in a nutshell. Linda Booth - (friend) Rallied several Baldwin friends of our kids to buy a memory tree (in this case a snow crabapple)- from Hackert Tree Farm. We didn't know where to plant a tree so we talked with Pella hospital. In God's timing they were planting.... get this - sno crabs. So Wes picked up the tree and worked with the hospital to plant it. We assume that it is planted - In the mean time the local funeral director here in Baldwin (Mike O'Connell), suggested that a field stone would be a nice memorial marker. Out of the goodness of his heart he found several stones, from which we picked one, called the local monument company here and at his expense had them engrave this stone with the inscription that you see. We finally delivered it and hope by this summer to take a picture of the tree and stone together. Isn't that cool?

Easter - Sunday, April12

"He has Risen, Just as He said."   We can look forward to Jesus coming again, just like he said.  What hope we have!  This is something to celebrate! Yeah!  

We will plan on Easter dinner at Beppe's house.  Let me know whether to expect you for dinner via a comment on the blog.  I will let you know what to bring, depending who all is coming.  Susie