Bradyn is NINE!!

On Friday, March 22, Bradyn celebrated his ninth (WOW) birthday!! Russ and I decided it would be fun to take him to a Griffins game for his birthday, and it just so happened that there was a home game on his birthday. He wanted to have a friend along, so he asked his best friend from school, Caden Engelsma to come with him. Russ picked up some Pizza Hut on the way home, and it was a quick and easy, yet different supper for the birthday boy. My mom graciously offered to make a cake for him and dropped it off by our house on her way home from work. We had our pizza supper and cake and ice cream and then Russ was off with the two boys to the hockey game. He dropped off Bradyn's friend after the hockey game was finished. Bradyn was super excited, even though the Griffins didn't pull off the win. It turned out to be a really close game with quite a fight, which the boys thought was cool. All in all Bradyn said he had a great birthday. We are once again amazed at how quickly the past year has gone by, and are thankful that God has given us the blessing of our oldest son.

Blessed Beyond Measure

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalm 139:14

On Wednesday, March 13, God blessed our family with the birth of a beautiful, healthy baby GIRL!! Yes you read that right, this family with all boys now has a precious little girl to love and protect!! Gracie Ann Lotterman was born at 9:13 am weighing in at 8 lbs and 6 oz. and measuring 21 inches long.

We were scheduled for a C-section on Wednesday and had to be at Spectrum Butterworth by 6:30 am for our 8:30 surgery. We walked back at about 8:25, and after some struggle and 3 tries with the spinal, things were finally underway. I was able to request a mirror, which I did, as long as they waited to turn it until they were ready to pull the baby out....so this time I actually watched our baby be born and was amazed and flabbergasted when they pulled it out and lo and behold it was a GIRL!!! The entire OR was quite excited, as they knew we already had three boys at home. Russ and I just looked at each other and cried. We are still trying to process that we have a daughter, and are amazed at how many pink things she has already acquired. :) Her two older brothers were beyond excited when they found out that she was a girl. They both had told us numerous times over the past few months that they really wanted a baby sister, and in Austin's words "Mom, I'm sick of having boys..." Calvin doesn't really understand what is going on, so it remains to be seen, in the next few weeks how he feels about the whole situation.

We are doing well, and at this point, the Lord willing, we hope to return home on Saturday the 16th. Russ and I are again humbled that the Lord has given us this new life to train in His ways. We ask for your prayers as we embark on this awesome task. I'll leave you with some pictures of our precious little girl. Enjoy!!


Meeting our baby girl for the first time.


Bradyn and Gracie


Austin and Gracie


The boys admiring their new baby sister


Daddy and his little girl

A snowman and a lost tooth

Last week Wednesday, the boys had a half day at school due to parent/teacher conferences. It turned out to be a beautiful day with slightly warmer temperatures (at least warm enough to turn the snow into packing snow)so I kicked ahem, I mean, sent the boys outside to get some fresh air. They decided to build a snowman complete with a carrot for its nose. When they were finished they wanted their picture taken by him.





For the past week or two, Austin has been monkeying with one of his bottom middle teeth. It has been loose, and he's been busy wiggling it to make it come out. Yesterday, during church of all places, he informed me that it was really loose and was probably going to come out later that day. Sure enough, during lunch time, it became really loose, so I convinced him to let me pull it out. He of course was a little afraid it was going to hurt, but after much reassurance from Bradyn (who has had a few teeth pulled by mom) that it doesn't hurt at all, he let me pull it out. Just like that it was done with, and he had a nice show and tell for his Kindergarten class today.

Calvin Graduates.....to a toddler bed!!

During the last week and a half, Russ and I have had the chance to deep clean the house in preparation for the baby, whose due date is fast approaching. Russ has been going to the office at noon each day which has given us the mornings to concentrate on cleaning. Last week we were able to clean our room. We had to move the book case into the living room to make room for the baby cradle. We haven't hauled it out from storage yet, but hopefully in the next few days the cradle and totes of baby clothes will make an appearance around here. Today we were able to clean the boys room. This included taking apart the crib (sob) and putting in its place the toddler bed (double sob). It appears our little guy isn't so little anymore....I guess he IS almost 2 and a half after all. He thinks it is just the best, and even took a nap in it this afternoon without getting out. Hopefully he does just as well tonight.

Daddy putting the finishing touches on the frame

Calvin lending a hand

Calvin taking a look

Trying it out

Showing us how he can get out....

I think he likes it!!

A day in the life......

Life with the Lottermans has been wonderfully normal the past few weeks. Just hangin' out as a family, going to school, going to church, catechism runs, various doctor's appointments, going sliding, the occasional family gathering, the beginning of tax season, and the biggest story of the past week or so, is the snow....particularly the amount that has fallen.

Last week school was cancelled two times (Monday and Friday) because of winter weather. I don't really mind this, as it gives the kiddos a little break from the school routine. The week of the 21st was when we received our first REAL snowfall of the winter season. The temperatures were what they call arctic temperatures, with windchills in the single digits above and below zero. We had about 7-8 inches of snowfall during that week. On Sunday the 27th a warm front started to come through the area, bringing with it freezing rain into Monday morning, (which was the cause for school cancellation that day) and eventually rain into Tuesday and Wednesday, which completely melted all the snow we had. We had a record temperature in the upper 50's on Tuesday!! Twenty four hours later, the temperatures had crashed back into the lower thirties, and by Thursday and Friday we had lots more snow falling and a snowday on Friday. The snow has continued to fall over the weekend, and finally stopped by our house about an hour ago. I must admit, I don't really mind the snow, that is if I don't have to go out in it. :) It looks so beautiful when it coats all the ugly, brown, dead stuff around our house and yard. I took some pictures of different areas of our yard covered in snow. I just love the way it looks.

The back corner of our yard where all the wood used to be.

Looking out our picture window at the row of pine trees in the side yard.

Out our back door towards the swingset.

The swing by the firepit.

Out our front door at the front corner of our yard.

The big tree, by the road, off to the side of our driveway.

Last Saturday, we decided to take the boys on a quick sliding trip. They had been asking to go for a while, so we went to the hill by the water tower in Hudsonville. I only got a few good pictures because it was too dark for anymore to turn out.

Bradyn and Calvin ready to go sliding.

Bradyn at the bottom of the hill.

I promise Austin was there too, however that child moves entirely too fast to be caught by the lens of my camera. :)

Calvin only liked to be pulled up the hill in the sled, but wanted nothing to do with sliding down the hill, so after a few tries, he came and hung out in the van with me.

As I mentioned before, tax season has started in full swing this week. Russ hopes to concentrate solely on taxes all of this week for sure, and possibly all of next week as well, depending on the number of appointments he gets next week. After that he will be working for Herman during the day and doing taxes in the evenings and Saturdays. Friday he set up his computer on the table and did a few returns that customers had dropped off. Calvin loves anything to do with the computer, so he pulled his chair over to "help" dad.

Figuring out how the stapler works.

Gotta love this one, daddy and his little helper.

Finally, here's a picture of my date for lunch today...I love hanging out with this little man, he's so sweet!!

Bret and Kyndra's Wedding

Last week Friday, the 18th, my little sister got married. Man do I feel old!! My sister Kyndra was wed to Bret Dykstra in a truly beautiful ceremony at Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church.
Russ and I were asked to be Master and Mistress of Reception again. Having done it for Kylar and Roxanne's wedding, this time around was a lot less stressful, and we could enjoy ourselves a bit more, because we knew what to expect. Bradyn was asked to be a junior groomsman by which he was delighted. He looked like such a little man in his shirt and tie and suspenders. :)
Everything went very well. I didn't get a ton of pictures as I was busy chasing Calvin (I think he knows I can't move very fast) and helping pin flowers on the various people who needed them.

Bret and Kyndra with Kyndra's nieces and nephews

Bret and Kyndra with Bret's nieces and nephews

Bradyn and his cousin Cristyn who was the junior bridesmaid

My parents with Bret and Kyndra

My dad with Kyndra

My two gorgeous "not so little anymore" little sisters...

The new Mr. and Mrs. giving their thank you speech

The cake/cupcake table

We are thankful that God brought these two together and will continue to keep them in prayer as they begin their new journey together.

Inner Beauty

I received an email from Family Life Today, as I occaisionally do, on different subjects that might be of interest to me and to my family. One of the articles in today's email was entitled "Obsessed With Being Thin?" I read through it, and thought maybe some of you would like to as well. What follows is the copy of the article from the email.

The beautiful people

Our culture today has influenced many women to see themselves solely in the context of how they look. We are continuously bombarded by image after image of seemingly perfect women with perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect figures. And because we live in a time when we are connected technologically with the entire world, we are not merely competing with one or two women from our own village. We feel that we are compelled to compete with the most beautiful women in the entire world!

Why are so many women driven to compete with one another in this way? Why would Lisa starve herself and then exercise to the point of collapse? Why do thousands of men and women spend billions of dollars every year just to look good?

Our world's obsession with outward appearance and weight has led many of us to think in shallow terms about what makes for peace and joy. "If I could just wear a size 8 (or if my hips weren't so big, or if I had a smaller waist, or ... ), I know I would be content, successful, or happy." As silly as that sounds, I know that many women subconsciously think that way. I confess that I have thought that way. (As if there isn't an unhappy size 8 woman anywhere in the world!) We believe the lie that outward perfection (which, by the way, is an impossible goal) is the key to inner peace and joy. Or perhaps we are duped into thinking that the false happiness and contentment that comes from being satisfied with the image we see in the mirror is the true peace and contentment that we are seeking from our relationship with God. We seek after lesser joys.

Trying to avoid the inevitable

Among unbelievers and particularly those who set the styles, is this worship of youth and beauty just one more reaction against the inevitability of death? The truth is that those who don't know Christ are charging full-speed ahead to a terrifying and inevitable end. Could it be that this worship of youth and beauty is a welcome deception as they seek to forestall the inevitable for as long as possible, fooling themselves into believing that they are immortal—that they are always young?

The Christian, however, should have a different perspective. Death is not to be feared. It is to be welcomed because its sting—fear of the punishment of eternal separation from God because of judgment for sin—has been removed. In fact, Paul teaches that in death this body of ours, this old tent, will be torn down and clothed with life. He says in 2 Corinthians 5, "We know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens … . For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (verses 1, 4). Only then, as we shine with His perfect life, will we know true, lasting beauty reflecting the glory of the King of heaven.

Living in Southern California, I love to watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes when it appears that there might be an especially nice sunset, my husband will drive me down to the beach in the late afternoon. We'll sit on the grass for an hour or so and observe God's handiwork in motion. I've found that a few clouds make for the most beautiful sunsets. As the sun sinks down on the horizon, it shoots out golden beams of light that make the clouds look iridescent. The effect is spellbinding as scarlet, amber, pink, lavender, and golden skies shine down on a sparkling blue-green sea. Sometimes it just takes my breath away. When I see these spectacular displays, I am reminded that this earth (as magnificent as it sometimes may be) is only a vague shadow of the beauty of heaven. How beyond expression must the grandeur and excellence of heaven be! We will be clothed with life straight from God's throne! We will shine with more beauty than the most exquisite sunset! Are we seeking to prepare ourselves for God's dressing room, or are we consumed with the meager rags of this earth?

No biblical command to be thin

Now, I'm going to say something that may seem rather surprising. You know, I've read the Bible straight through many times, and I've never found any Scripture that commands or even commends thinness! Think of that. I don't believe that there is any verse in either the Old or New Testament that encourages Christians to be thin or states that being thin is a mark of godliness.

An eternal makeover

The kind of beauty that God desires for you is found in 1 Peter 3:4: "… the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit." It is called the "fruit of the Spirit" (the results of the Holy Spirit's work in your life) in Galatians 5:22-23: "love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." The excellent woman in Proverbs 31 is known for her industry, wisdom, strength, confidence, generosity, courage, knowledge, optimism, and kindness. Since we've already looked at the beginning of verse 30, let's see the way the verse ends: "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." The fear of the Lord is a defining characteristic of a godly woman. A woman who fears the Lord will be growing in all of the qualities listed above. But what does it mean to "fear" God?

Charles Spurgeon taught the true meaning of this concept when he preached in London more than 100 years ago:

Blessed is the man whose heart is filled with that holy fear which inclines his steps in the way of God's commandments, inclines his heart to seek after God, and inclines his whole soul to enter into fellowship with God, that he may be acquainted with Him, and be at peace. What is this fear of God? I answer, first, it is a sense of awe of His greatness. Have you never felt this sacred awe stealing insensibly over your spirit, hushing, and calming you, and bowing you down before the Lord? It will come, sometimes, in the consideration of the great works of nature. Gazing upon the vast expanse of waters—looking up to the innumerable stars, examining the wing of an insect, and seeing there the matchless skill of God displayed in the minute; or standing in a thunderstorm, watching, as best you can, the flashes of lightning, and listening to the thunder of Jehovah's voice, have you not often shrunk into yourself, and said, "Great God, how terrible art Thou!"—not afraid, but full of delight like a child who rejoices to see his father's wealth, his father's wisdom, his father's power—happy and at home, but feeling oh, so little! We are less than nothing, we are all but annihilated in the presence of the great eternal, infinite, invisible All-in-all (emphasis added).

Remember what the Lord Jesus taught: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness..." (Matthew 6:33). Then, let that encouragement spur you on to the pursuit of the inner, godly characteristics that He desires for you. Remember that He is in the process of changing you—a process that will find its completion when you are beautifully robed in His glory in heaven. Don't settle for a mere 15-pound weight loss or even the good but temporary establishment of healthy eating habits. Submit yourself to His work in your life—rejoice in it like a "child who rejoices to see his father's wealth, his father's wisdom, his father's power"!

I have to admit, I am one of those women that constantly thinks about how I look, but over the past few years in my journeys in weight loss, weight gain, weight loss, and now weight gain again, I have come to realize that I don't need to be so concerned about how I look. I have received some comments from a few people in the past that have been hurtful, and I admit that these are hard to forget, and I may never completely forget them, but with God's help and the help of my amazing husband, (who, by the way, loves me just the way I am) I am able to look past them. I do think it's important for people to remember that what you look like on the outside, is not nearly as important as what you look like on the inside.