Dave & Sharon

Memories of Summer

2009-09-08T06:21:00.000-07:00

The summer has been filled with memory-making times. Enjoy the pictures.

2009-05-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

The New Graduate and her room mate this year, Kirsten

Her Senior Art Project

The Evening of Graduation in Rockport, MA

A Week in California

2008-08-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

We were blessed to be able to spend a week in California with most of our children.
Enjoy the photos.
Abram Jack

Abram Enjoying Duplos

Just about Walking

The New Puzzle

Enjoying a Good 'Book'

Like Father, Like Son

Enjoying the Slide at the Pirate Park

Visiting Dirk's New Home

A Morning at the Beach

Our Surfers

Always a Flower Photo

The Korean Friendship Bell in San Pedro

Cannon Beach Getaway

2008-07-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Last week we were guests of Jerry and Dottie Koster in Cannon Beach. The Koster's have been vacationing with these other two families for some 15-20 years and we were privileged to be invited for the second time. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with the group. They are certainly a beautiful picture of community.

The Vander Bond Family

In honor of a 30th Birthday Girl we each created sand sculptures in an appropriate theme. She grew up in the south, vacationed in the south, and now lives in the south. The senior citizen of our group was delighted to see how seriously we all took this challenge. She didn't realize how competive we all are.

The Koster/Knibbe Group - A Southern Alligator

A Close up of 'One' of the Winning Sand Sculptures

The Vander Bond Group - The Birthday Tierra

The Hendrick's Group - A Birthday Cake

Family Time at the Bayou

2008-07-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

Ryan, Rachel, Malachi, and Abram

Abram Jack

Malachi David

Ryan and Abram

Annika, Dirk, and Sarah

The White Linen Suit

Sarah and Ryan Charles

OREGON TRAIL

2008-06-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

We were able to head down to Portland this past weekend and enjoy time with Sharon's brother and sister and their spouses. We enjoyed an early dinner on the river in Portland before heading over to the Starlight Parade downtown. We enjoyed a beautiful evening of watching the parade and following my sister-in-law around the parade route. After spending the night in Portland we headed down to Corvallis through wine country, just beautiful! We enjoyed their hospitality and the fellowship of my brother and his wife for a couple of days before heading back home via the Oregon coast. In spite of the clouds and rain we enjoyed seeing the farmland, dairy country, mountains and coast of Oregon. Enjoy the pictures.
Sisters

My sister-in-law and her 'marching' partner.

One More Time Around Band on the move in the Starlight Parade in Portland.

Our Sabbath rest started with a walk through the Rhododendron Garden in Portland. You can only imagine how many images we now have of all colors of Rhododendrons.

We were treated to a tour of the vineyard in addition to wine tasting.

We hiked the Old Growth Trail near Corvallis, Oregon.

CANNON BEACH - Some of the only blue sky we saw on the Oregon Coast on the way back home.

Residency at Franciscan Health System

2008-05-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

The offer has been extended. I have been accepted into a one year residency program with the Clinical Pastoral Education program. I would start in September of 2008 at Hospice House. On completion of this residency I would then, theoretically be employable as a hospital chaplain. The completion of 2000 hours is necessary for board certification at the national level. So ... one more opportunity to consider as we discern where God would have us next.

Thank you for your prayers for wisdom and discernment during this time of uncertainty.

May Brings Transition

2008-05-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

David and I have both finished our assignments here in Tacoma for the time being. David's last day at World Vision was May 9 and my last day at the hospital was May 15. If some of you remember, just 11 weeks ago I wrote about Jesus asking Peter to push off the shore a bit. It took a couple of years before Jesus slept in the boat while a storm was raging on the sea. Well, the storm seems to be raging around us and both of us are at peace for the time being. As I have learned to tend to my feelings a little bit better this past 11 weeks - we have been 'mad, glad, sad, and at times fearful.' And yet grateful for the experiences of the last 2 years here in Tacoma. Now we will wait to see where God directs the winds of our lives.

Meanwhile - a few pictures from this weekend. Dirk was up from L.A. And David and our nephew Jake ran the Olympia half-marathon today.

April Photos Tell Our Story

2008-04-22T20:23:00.001-07:00

With Opa and Oma

Blessing Abram at his Baptism

A Picture with a Six Month Old

And the Two Year Old

Our Baby Doll

Ride 'em Cowboy at Sunset Beach

Like Uncle, Like Nephew

Abram Jack

Tacoma Tulips

Tapestry from South Africa

AFRICAN TRIP

2008-04-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

David had a successful and safe trip back and forth to Africa. One of the projects in Zambia is AID's caregiver bicycles. David thought he should try one out, too.

At the end of his trip he took some personal time to visit Annika in Cape Town. Father and daughter had some special time together. We are all grateful he was able to be with her for a couple of days.

A Gift

2008-03-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

The first gift is the picture itself. I was bold enough to ask a complete stranger to send me a digital print of pictures he was taking at the concert. He was prompt and I have four beautiful pictures from the evening.

The gift was the concert. We were having a nice lazy Saturday. I had just come in from a walk and was perusing the paper. Under 'Religion Calendar' I came upon a Spiritual Renewal Conference. In reading the details I discovered that one of our favorite Christian artists was to be in Seattle in just 3 hours. I looked at David, and said, "Do you want to go?" We kicked ourselves into a higher gear and drove north.

We spent the evening in a small venue at a congregation just south of Seattle. We worshiped with Michael Card and three young Music Ministers from Presbyterian churches in the area. We were amazed at the intimacy of the evening. Michael has some new songs out on lament. The area music ministers have written new songs for Lent and shared those in the second half. We just had an amazing evening.

February Photos

2008-02-23T11:02:00.000-08:00

Hanging out with Abram

Seal Beach

Duplo Table

LA Zoo

Sunset in Malibu

Answered Prayer

2008-02-22T15:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm rowing out to the middle of the lake!

I met with the supervisor of the Clinical Pastoral Education unit on February 14 and I will begin on March 4. The unit is 11 weeks at 40 hours per week. He has asked me to work 20 hours a week in the mental health section of the hospital. This is a crisis unit for mental health care. The supervisor also facilitates a grief group in that unit once a week. Once he feels I am ready he will have me begin facilitating the group.

I have one more week here at home to get things organized before I began working outside the home again. Like a girlfriend here in Tacoma said, "It has been a good season, Sharon." And yes, it has been good. I am grateful for renewed energy and the next step God has for me on the journey.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Prayer Request

2008-01-31T08:14:00.000-08:00

After reading Luke 5 where Jesus steps into Peter's boat and then asks him to put out just a few feet so he can preach to the crowds without getting mowed over, and then after preaching from the boat he has Peter go out deeper and throw the nets into the lake one more time, I began to think. Hey, after a couple more years he asks Peter to get out of the boat and WALK on the water. How gracious is our LORD to give us all the preparation time before he asks us to walk on the water.

Those of you who have journeyed closely with David and me over the years know there have been plenty of times where God has gently asked us to push away from the shore just a bit, and then in his time has asked us to row out into the middle of the lake and throw our nets in and trust him for the catch. AND there have even been times it felt like he has asked us to walk on water.

I'm back where I am feeling God is asking me to push out from the shore a bit. I am applying to take a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education here in Tacoma. (400 hours of clinical work in a hospital in 11 weeks.) This is just the first step in the journey of becoming certified as a chaplain. Certification is necessary to get interviewed for chaplaincy work. And it is something I can take anywhere in the nation.

So, I put my application in on Thursday, January 31 and need an interview for a position that would be open March 4. I have only 2 days open in the beginning of February to interview in person. Please pray that God would open this door for an interview and I be accepted to the class if this is what God would have me do.

Thank you for lifting us up in prayer.

Snowy Monday

2008-01-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

What a difference 24 hours can make in the landscape!! The neighborhood children seemingly appear out of nowhere when snow shows up on our front lawns. They are making snow men and sliding down the street as I post these pictures. School was suppose to be delayed 2 hours, but the snow just keeps coming down. It is beautiful!

Sunny Sabbath

2008-01-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

Crystal Mountain

2008-01-19T19:39:00.000-08:00

Today the three of us enjoyed a day in God's creation. We had a great time skiing at the resort by Mt. Rainier. We had a little snow, especially at the summit. But at one point the sun peeked through the clouds and we got some good shots.

We send Annika off to Boston tomorrow and then she is off to Cape Town, South Africa at the end of January. She is ready to be on her way. We are not so ready to see her go, and yet we are ready to see what God has for her to learn in South Africa.

Chihuly Bridge

2008-01-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

The adventures continue. Annika and I went to the Glass Museum in Tacoma last night. One parks on the south side of the highway and walks across a bridge to get to the museum. The bridge has a covering at one point that is filled with Chihuly glass, appearing to be a great reef off the coast of Australia. (or somewhere like that) The glass work is beautiful.

Inside the museum there is a working glass blowing studio where we watched a team of three people create a red vase last night. We sat through the whole process, fascinated by the movement of all participating. We had a delightful evening.

Visiting in Seattle

2008-01-17T06:01:00.000-08:00

Last night we went up to Renton and spent time with Brandon and Amy Deur. Being with Brandon without his family around was a little out of context for Annika, his little sister is one of Annika's good friends in Michigan. We found an authentic Italian restaurant to have pizza. We'll be back there again.

We are having a good time hanging out. We are also getting Annika ready for South Africa. She is reading multiple books and writing reflection papers on each one of them. I am being the editor for each of those papers. I think she knows how handy it is to have an editor in the family. I like it. Reading the papers has taught me a few things and I understand what the focus of this semester will be.

Annika has Arrived

2008-01-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

Annika is spending her last week of winter break with us in Tacoma. She arrived last Friday and we have been relaxing together. We were able to have dinner with Jake and Cristin on Sunday evening. We went up to Seattle and took them out to a Thai restaurant within walking distance of their apartment. Having Annika meet the newest member of the Vander Plas clan was fun. Cristin has been in South Africa so she gave Annika the heads up on life in Cape Town. Everything she told Annika just reinforced her orientation information at Gordon College.

Last night we drove to Olympia and visited Deborah Van Tuinen's studio and had dinner with her and her daughter Austin. The pictures are in front of one of Deborah's new pieces that uses silver at the top, so beautiful.

The fun continues for a few more days. We'll post more pictures as the week progresses.

Snow in Seattle

2008-01-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

OK - when the temperature in Tacoma is 34 degrees on January 8 and the temperature in Grand Haven is 51 degrees at the exact same time, there is something wrong with this picture. This picture, well there was suppose to be a picture but the camera I used didn't have one of those cards that you are suppose to insert before taking the picture. Instead of film we have 'cards'. The camera didn't have a 'card' in it so the picture of snow on our front yard this morning isn't even a picture. You will just have to believe me that we had snow this morning.

The good news is that there is A LOT of snow in the mountains so we will be able to going skiing soon!

And the other good news is that our snow is gone, all gone, and you in Michigan will be getting snow at the end of this week and ours will not be returning.

Christmas on the Bayou

2008-01-04T08:50:00.001-08:00

WINTER BEAUTY

FAMILY SHOTS

MALACHI DAVID ... 23 MONTHS

ABRAM JACK ... THREE MONTHS

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

We are once again back in Tacoma after a wonderful time in Michigan. Not only did we celebrate Christmas with all our children, but we took in two weddings, and traveled to San Francisco for a 3rd wedding reception. There will be more to follow, but I would like to post one of my favorite pictures of the Christmas celebration, Annika and Malachi.

Adventures with the Anglican Priest

2007-12-09T17:15:00.001-08:00

Meet our dear brother in Christ from Rwanda, Rev. Nathan, an Anglican priest who was the first staff member for World Vision Rwanda. David and I met him in Holland, Michigan in the fall of 2005, just days after David started at World Vision. We worked with him on our trip to Rwanda in September when we went with leadership from Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. Nathan has a dynamic personality and he and David have quite a sense of humor between the two of them.

The day broke COLD and clear. Here David and I are on the front of the car ferry on our way into Seattle. Nathan did a great job taking our picture along the way.

Cold and CLEAR - Above are the Olympic mountains, and below a shot of Mt. Rainier from the boat and then the city of Seattle with the Cascade mountains behind it. The views were spectacular as we took the ferry from Bremerton into Seattle. Nathan was confused at first as to where our car would be and how we would get back. Not until we started driving on the ferry did he realize the car was coming with us! Oh the joys of America!! He was amazed.

Once we landed in Seattle we went into downtown and visited the famous Pike's Farmer's Market. Here Nathan is holding an Halibut and the young man a salmon. Nathan could hardly believe his eyes as he took in all the activity of the market. We enjoyed sharing 'Seattle' with him.

Our day came to a close with a beautiful sunset over the Olympic Mountains. What a great way to end such a spectacular day! Being with Nathan for the last few days has been a special blessing. Sharing life with a person who intimately knows the details of reconciliation and restoration in a war torn country gives one a completely new perspective on life. We pray together, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Minimalist Decorating

2007-12-05T18:31:00.000-08:00

If you have been watching the weather reports for Seattle you might think we have been swept away by all the rain. However, our little area was spared the brunt of that storm because of the way it came in from the south. So I even had a day dry enough on Tuesday to get out and finish some decorating. Luminaries line the walk and a few outdoor trees were added. And then note below the new door mat. I like all the little touches, and you can't even see it from the road because of the way our front yard is planted. Like several guests have said in the last week, "Looks like you're not competing for the neighborhood award!"

Now, the joys of living in Washington is displayed below. As I sat by the front window this morning I noticed that our front bushes are blooming! What a treat in December. And no, the snow did not stay on last Saturday. It melted and was followed by a lot of rain, though not as much as other areas.

Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas!

2007-12-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

I was going to put up lights today and set out luminaries, but in the snow!! Yes, we are getting snow in Tacoma and it is even sticking! We were told when we moved here it hardly ever snowed. Did we tell you about the two snow storms we had last winter? And snow in Washington shuts everything down because of all our hills and the lack of salt trucks and plows. Wonder how long this will last?

Christmas Competition?

2007-11-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

We find ourselves sandwiched between homes that are definitely vying for the neighborhood association Christmas decoration award. Last year the above house won an honorable mention. I think they have added the deer and a few more swags this year in hopes of actually winning. The house on the top has this great train set up in addition to all the lights. Their five year old son must love it.
This creates a dilemma for me. I would like to do a few lights, but anything we do will look pretty tacky compared to our neighbors. So then I swing to the other side and think, "Why do anything at all?" Other than that I would like to do something.
I'm trying to go for simple elegance; minimalism at its best. I put a few trees on the front porch today and hope to do luminaries tomorrow. I'll see how far I get and how it looks.
I'll post a picture of our home when I'm all done. You can send in your votes when I'm done.

New Traditions

2007-11-23T20:09:00.000-08:00

“Gratitude as recognition, receptivity, and response is a basic attitude and action of the Christian life. We not only recognize and are aware of God’s gifts to us, but also continually find ways of saying thanks to God in worship, prayer, and “whatever we say or do.” Our aim is to live our whole life as a sacred gesture of thanksgiving, a deep bow of gratitude, solidifying our relationship with God.” Don Postema - Space for God

Our Thanksgiving devotions started with this quote and followed with nine different places in the text that command us to have an attitude of thanksgiving in our daily lives. We shared these verses around a table filled with family and friends. My brother Hugh and his wife Gretchen, their sons and soon to be daughter-in-law, my sister Susan and her husband Brad and their four sons, and Brandon and Amy Deur joined us for Thanksgiving day.

In addition to Thanksgiving festivities the Vander Plas clan blessed Cristin and Jake with a bridal shower. What fun to see them open the items they had chosen for their bridal registry. Of course, there was the traditional griddle that no new couple registers for, but I always buy in memory of Grandma Trudy and her buttermilk pancakes. Gretchen also gave Cristin six different handkerchiefs from her grandmothers and aunts. They are so beautiful.

We had a wonderful day remembering our blessings with those around the table.
The festivities continued into Friday as we visited the Tacoma Museums to see the quilt exhibit from Gee Bend. What a story of creativity and ingenuity!

Sunrise in Tacoma

2007-11-14T08:11:00.000-08:00

Sunsets in Maui and sunrise in Tacoma. This morning the sky began to faintly turn red above the Cascade Mountains and then the color began to spread over the mountains. When the sky began to explode I decided to run out on our front porch and share the beauty of a Washington sunrise with you. Mt. Rainier is in the right hand corner of the picture.

Marriage Retreat

2007-11-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

During conversations at our week long 'marriage retreat', we realized that ten years had passed since we had taken a vacation with just the two of us! Now, granted we have been half way around the world with wonderful friends, and spent many exciting days with the family we love. However, a vacation with the two of us was long overdue. We spent a week together in Maui. Every morning we were able to take a walk/run along the ocean. The picture of the two of us shows you the view we enjoyed.
The week was relaxing with not one appointment scheduled. The greatest adventure was to Lahaina to have our sunglasses fixed at the Maui Jim headquarters.
We had a wonderful week of sitting in the sun and reading. Together we read A Work of Heart by Reggie Mc Neal and discussed how to care for our hearts as God calls us into places of spiritual leadership. Processing this book together provided much stimulating conversation. We are grateful for the friend who recommended it.
Right off the edge of the cliff where we sat most every day we saw sea turtles feeding one day, hence the picture of the turtle.
After a day of rain on Sunday there was a magnificent sunset. Every minute the sky would change and new colors would appear. What a Creator we have!
And of course, David enjoyed many opportunities to take pictures of beautiful flowers of which I have included only one.
We are so grateful for the grace of God in our marriage for thirty years. God has richly blessed us and our family. Our hearts are full of gratitude.

Being vs. Doing

2007-10-29T12:15:00.001-07:00

"We mostly spend our lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do. Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual -- even on the religious -- plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb, to Be: and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of a spiritual life." Evelyn Underhill

I can distinctly remember the conversation on a Tuesday morning around a friend's dining room table as we met for Women's Group from Covenant Life Church in Grand Haven, Michigan. The voices of our small children carried up the basement stairs and through the closed door. Above the backdrop of children's voices, we discussed what it was 'to Be' and how important Being vs. Doing is in our spiritual journey. We all decided that would be a wonderful possibility once our children were all in school all day, every day. If we went home 'to Be', and forgot the doing for an afternoon, our husbands would come home and really know what we 'do' every day.
Since that conversation some 15 years ago, I take notice of the discussion around Being vs. Doing. Once again, the reading from Evelyn Underhill brings up the importance of being in our life. A member of our small group here in Tacoma pointed this reading out to me, because at small group last week we had a discussion about how important playing with blocks has become. Two of us have had the privilege of playing blocks with our grandsons. One of us made the statement that while playing blocks with her grandson, she has never felt more in the center of God's will!
Playing blocks, being with our grandsons, the center of God's will - is being at peace. "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation", is the way the apostle Paul would phrase it. (Phil. 4:12)
So I post the picture of our grandson Malachi and our great creation with blocks. Who would have ever dreamed that an 8 year journey of seminary brought me to the place where I am content to play blocks. God is good and his love endures forever.

An Added Bonus

2007-10-21T16:20:00.001-07:00

I don't think I mentioned that we have an added bonus in visiting California these days. Our son Dirk has recently moved to California. So, not only do we get to see our favorite grandsons, we enjoy seeing our favorite son, too.

David and I are back in Tacoma. Winter has arrived here - or at least that is what people are saying. I'm hoping for a bit of sunshine this week so I can finally do some gardening. For those of you who followed my back saga, I have been pain free since the end of July and finally I'm able to get out in our yard. I am so grateful.

The Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a great day literally running around the pumpkins and 'hay maze' at Irvine Regional Park. We had tried and tried to get Malachi to sit and look at the camera, but he was too wound up to sit for us. At one point, after running around for an hour, he chose to sit down by himself and actually looked at the camera. Ryan and Malachi had a great time running through the hay maze. Malachi loved having Daddy chase him through the maze. Rachel and Malachi rode the train. What a great discovery - Irvine Park!

The Boys

2007-10-16T17:06:00.001-07:00

Malachi David, 21 months, welcomed Abram Jack on September 22. He weighed in at 8 pounds and measured 22 inches long. And yes, he has those beautiful long fingers and toes of which the Knibbe Klan is so proud.

The New Adventure

2007-10-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

I have so enjoyed keeping in touch with Rachel and Ryan and their friends via these blog sites that I have decided to give it a try myself. I am sitting in Rachel and Ryan's home right now, which means Rachel is helping her mother enter the new age of communication with friends and family around the world. So ... here goes and look for some new pictures of the babies. I'm having a great time loving them. David is here in California too and has been able to spend some time here as well.