blooming life beautiful

nourish your skin. it will heal itself. learn how to get the best skin of your life.

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Our boy is back! Lovely evening for catching up and hearing of his adventures around the fire. Yes!!

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Our first graduate from Red Shepherd Learning! We couldn't be more proud. And if you are wondering, I held it together wonderfully. My heart is incredibly thankful for the gift of all that this night stands for. #latergram #Godisgood #graduationday #graduation2017 #homeschooling #homeeducating

[bloomnaturals-blog]

So, it is done. We are tired and overwhelmed with such gratitude. From the kindest generosity, the stand brought in a whopping $46,000 (that isn't a typo with extra zeros) which means that John is coming home and at least half of his family will be there in China with open arms to welcome him into the family. This amazing guy took a dunk (8 times) to raise big bucks for his new Grandson, John. ❤️ To all the friends that dug deep to bring this boy home, there are no words (and that is hard for a DeGraaf). Honestly, this kind of outpouring leaves me almost numb because the magnitude of it needs to be processed in pieces. As only @meganvos can do, my sister fashioned this Stand beyond the lemonade and signs. She crafted a celebration, a party of life, redemption, hope, and joy in seeing the lonely set in a family. This body. The church. There is good here. #lemonadeforjohn #adoptionisforfamilies #ittakesavillage #adoption #purereligion #hesetsthelonelyinfamilies #lemonadestand #generosity #dunktank #Godisgood

[bloomnaturals-blog]

It has begun. So much love here. 9000 conservation Ada from 11-4 and 2279 New Town Drive, Grand Rapids from 2-4pm today!!! #lemonadeforjohn #adoptionisforfamilies

[bloomnaturals-blog]

We were never good at division. So in doing the math, we decided we don't want to be split up for the whole day. After all, this is a family affair. So, we are changing the Lemonade Stand times for the Grand Rapids location. Come from 2-4 tomorrow in GR or 11-4 in Ada! Please SHARE so others will know, too. #lemonadeforjohn #lemonadestand #adoptionisforfamilies #adoption #ittakesavillage #purereligion

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Today we're making lemonade. Lots of it. #lemonadeforjohn #lemonadestand #adoptionisforfamilies

[bloomnaturals-blog]

I might hoard this. Sister made this sourdough. It is a gift. #nofilterneeded #sourdoughbread #iwillnotshare

[bloomnaturals-blog]

A curious question was posed today at breakfast this morning. When eating waffles, do you eat in a geometric pattern or random bites? Like the one pictured, I cut off the edges that make a square grid without even realizing it. Not sure what that means. We have a few grid eaters in our family. You? #gfwaffles #gfdfwaffles #breakfast

[bloomnaturals-blog]

This kid has my heart. Today he turned 6 which is only a few days after his family's Gotcha Day. It was two years ago that he joined my sister's family, thus our family. The celebrations seem to stir some kind of unrest for him. There are still glimpses of uncertainty that causes me to hurt for him. How can a young one comprehend the fullness of adoption, the finality of family, that we will always be here for him? On our walk in the woods while his brother and cousins played in the creek, we talked of all the other gotcha days celebrated in our family. There are 5, soon to be 6 gotcha days in all. Those words cause tears as I type. We get to experience a love that only Father can place in our heart. We get to see redemption that is a living picture to our own adoption in Christ. This is good. So, I will keep kissin those chubby cheeks, keep telling him how God picked us to be a family and keep praying that someday he will understand fully. #adoptionisforfamilies #springinmichigan

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Some of my guys. My joy. We had to show them the Klompen dancers. #tuliptime #dutchheritage #tulips #springinmichigan #tulipfestival

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Thankful for leaders that pour into this handsome guy. #younglife #investinginyoungergeneration #senioryear🎓

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Because we don't do ordinary things...our SCRUB is full of nutrients including magnesium, detoxifying, soothes irritated skin, and wonderfully hydrating. As moms, whether by birth, adoption, foster care or by imparting the next generation, we often take care of ourselves last. This isn't a tough woman contest. Isn't the idea to pursue this job with vibrancy rather than exhaustion, with joy rather than drudgery, an overflow of the beautiful things welling up in us? It isn't a fall-on-our-sword but a we-get-to! Take time this week to take little vacations in your day, laugh just because, enjoy the little moments and see what flows out onto others. Physical pampering is good, too. Let our SCRUB be that for you or give it as a gift to someone else that needs to feel a little special. #scrub #treatyourselfwell #bloomnaturals #nourishyourselfhealthy #mothersday #mothersdaylove

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Just in time for Mother's Day! Link in profile #scrub #bloomnaturals #perfectlygreen #reusableglassjar #pamperyourself #mothersdaylove

[bloomnaturals-blog]

Avocado toast is a new trend. It must be. I've seen it on many menus. However, this one takes the cake (proverbial, of course). It may look like something you foraged while hiking for days but it was all kinds of amazing. The yolk on top was 😍. I had it 3 mornings in a row. #vacation #avocadotoast #samssocialclubcalistoga

[bloomnaturals-blog]

#worldbookday #goread

[bloomnaturals-blog]

We get to spend a few days with this one. Just this one. He's been gone for almost a year with 2 week-long visits home. It's an incredible privilege to watch sons grow, mature, to see Father growing, sprouting a path and to guide him through his next steps. We are so proud of him. Over Spanish fare in a outdoor cafe, I was blessed hearing my husband pour wisdom into this one, to help him form his future in this big crazy world. Wow! #mymotherheartisfull #muirwoods #menthatleadwell #Godisgood