tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698Thu, 07 Jan 2016 16:15:06 +0000alexandracompassionvideocompassion bloghomebibleAmsterdamlettershaitiChristmashikingpregnancykitchenMikebooksglacierwomenwritingcanadaesteskauaimonths and countingweightbabychinaindiaice creamoutside my windowworkmarathontravelphilippinesthanksgivingbikingbirthdayhope livesmoabsarahchurchrwandaweekendfallfoodprayerbathroomdominican republicfirejobmarriageonionanniversarybeautybedroomvalentine's dayzooGod's willapplesbrandyflight of the conchordshalloweenhome buyingjenjimmyjoypovertywambuababy roombuena vistaeasterinterviewkoreanicaraguaobamaparentspianopikes peakstorytilewalkwedding dress4th of julyCourage Classicbabiesbreckenridgecampingcandacedeerdonutdoorselectionexpectationsgiraffeharry potterjonnew yearspampasnowthankfulyardSayersafricaaspen hillbaby showerbeachblogboy and girlbroadmoorchicagocoloradocolorado springsdadebenezerecclesiasteseditinginternational dinnerjettleavesmothers dayparty divasphotographyquotessingingskinnysonnetstar warstabletarathe oniontreesvacation30Kenyaamy nappaartaspenblog contestbookshelvesbreastfeedingbridesmaidcallingcheesechildrenchoicesclothescluelesscollegecommunityconfidencecontentcookiecripple creekcriticalcsadecisionsdiscontentdogdonutsdreamemailenglandenvironmentesteemexerciseexploringfacebookfarmfoxgermanygiftglobal food crisisgod is in controlgoddessgrandmahouseijmirishitalylizlord of the ringsmelancholymemorial daymoviesmy favorite thingsnaturenerdoctoberationolympicspersonality testspicturesprocreationreadingred rock canyonrenaissance festivalreviewromancescotlandshackshannansilassponsorshipsquirrelsst patricks daystar trektexasthaithe shackupdatevan schooneveldviewwhitneyswisdomworry2022 thingsAIDSB-17ChristianityHIVadelaideaffairsagia sophiaaidaairportallergiesambitionanselapologyartemis fowlascensionasiansaunt cinauthor sightingbakerybaldbangladeshbannisterbanquetbaptismbearbeckybeesbents fortbig catsbiggest loserbikiniblack knightblog rollblondebobboringbourdainbraybread puddingbreathebrian fellowbriobrugesbruisebunsc.s. lewiscabbage patch kidscampcarcerealchocolatechoicechrisclafoutiscleaningclosetcoffeecoldplaycolumbinecome what maycomfortcommentcommitcommunioncompahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifssioncomplimentsconfessionsconformityconservativecontrolcooking showcoolcorn moldcrawlingcuban spritzerscubicleculturecupcakedancingday on the greendeepdefinitionsdeservedeskdespicable mediadiapersdinosaurdonatedr. horribledrivedust bowl woody guthrieedinburghelephant barellenenchanted aprilentitlementererhevanfailurefair tradefaithfashionfatfat albertfeatured bloggerfollowfood crisisfree willfriendsfurnituregary buseygenerositygenocidegeorge herbertglen eyriegold camp roadgossipgrammargrandparentsgrilled cheesegymnasthadassahhaircuthaitian doughnutshandsharvestivalhelping othershobbithog ate my twin brotherhome essayhong konghootershorsethief fallshospitalityhot doghouse huntershuggingindividualisminfluenceinjuredinsultintrovertsiqjadedjambojamesjason mrazjealousyjesus is my friendjib jabjosephjuarezjulyjust couragekatykingknow-it-allskristalaborlabor dayleadershiplegacyliberallittle house on the prairieliving at homelondonmailemalt shopmany thingmarigoldsmarla tavianomaterialimmaverickmccainmetabomiamimisandrymisogynymollicasmoneymoo dangmount hermanmt cutlermugmuskratmysteryname callingnappalandneighborhoodnew zealandniagara fallsnicknamesodeoktoberfestold moviesomahaopennessoprahorganizationorissapaint minespartypastapastorspatchoulipatiencepatrickpeachespenelopepenroseperspectivepet peevepet peevespeter panphantom canyonphelps phanpicturepigtailspinterestpixarpleasepoempoetrypoliticsporcupinepostmodernismpridepromproposalprovisionpueblopumpkinquarryrace warrappersrattlesnakeraviolirhubarbrocky mountain newsrough draftroxboroughsalsasanta fesarathschnappisciencesensitivityseven fallssexismshakespeareshe's so hotshrine of the sunshysicksignssisterhoodsolitairesomewhere over the rainbowsongsoooosorbetspendingspicesportssquashstacy and clintonsteamboatsterlingstressstrippersubmissionsuper bowlsurgeryswimmingtaiwantamalestaosteatextthai lettuce wrapthanksthat bird is a liarthe dutchthree cups of teatom ka gaitoo legit to quittraintrainerstrappedtraveling pantstrevortrusttruthturnipstutortwilightuhfuncle stanunderwearuntil you have a childvegetablesvoyage of the dawn treaderwaitingwall-ewantwardrobewatchmenweird alwhat not to wearwhatever is lovelywii fitwillow creekwindowwoodmenworship pastorsyear in reviewyes we canyo-yohttp://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Amber)Blogger1133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-2135636933500497524Sat, 06 Apr 2013 02:17:00 +00002013-04-05T19:17:25.606-07:00Hi, Everyone! For a long time I've been meaning to create a website/blog that would look a little more professional. My new site is up and running over at ambervanschooneveld.com. I named it such so that only people who really like me (and therefore know how to spell my name) can find it. From here on out, I'll be posting there rather than here. I'm not quite sure if I'll begin redirecting thishttp://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-new-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-5995356946559526433Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:55:00 +00002013-04-04T08:55:34.966-07:00waitingHey kids! Before I launch into a post on waiting, I just wanted to let you know that you might be waiting a little for posts here. I'm in the process of importing my blog to a new site, and I also have a couple of freelance projects tying up my time right now. Thanks for being patient! I wonder how much of my life has been wasted living as if I'm waiting. There's always something that's not http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/04/living-as-if-im-waiting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-7211889062038263441Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:36:00 +00002013-04-01T07:38:20.168-07:00bibleecclesiastessonnetHere's another sonnet, based on Ecclesiastes 3, which I wrote while Allie took a very short nap. (Which is my way of saying, please don't judge it too harshly.) I don't like how quickly my sonnet switches tone, but then that is how Ecclesiastes has always been itself. ***************************** <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/04/ecclesiastes-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-2028292240271992899Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:38:00 +00002013-03-31T17:36:34.839-07:00alexandraeasterThe toothbrush symbolizes how Jesus has brushed us clean. Or I just couldn't get it away from Alex... Here Alexandra is in the group of kids just before the Easter egg hunt - on the left in the back. She understood the concept of picking things up and putting them in a bag, but she was fairly liberal in what she chose. She picked up one Easter egg, along with a rock, some garbage, a pinehttp://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/happy-easter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-5734377746841673565Sat, 30 Mar 2013 21:04:00 +00002013-04-01T07:38:36.508-07:00bibleecclesiastessonnet<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]> http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/ecclesiastes-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-4641687221624491819Thu, 28 Mar 2013 02:24:00 +00002013-04-01T07:38:48.424-07:00bibleecclesiastessonnetThough you might not be able to tell, I actually started this blog to practice writing, and not simply as a baby video depository. Today I had my quarterly review with my boss, and he suggested I take some time to write in another genre to keep my skills fresh. So, inspired by John Van Dusen who occasionally rewrites Scripture in sonnet form, I decided to rewrite Ecclesiastes (or at least some ofhttp://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/meaningless.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-5803122295904314190Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:21:00 +00002013-03-26T20:23:02.528-07:00alexandraMike says I'm being indulgent, but I just had to upload both of these videos. Isn't she pretty? And funny? The former comes from me. The latter from her daddy. Oh, and for my family who isn't on Facebook, look at the new life skill we've taught her. http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/adorapuss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-4550880418535684765Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:27:00 +00002013-03-21T20:28:13.795-07:00alexandraAlex got pretty excited about an ant today. Well, actually she got pretty excited about a ladybug and said, "red, red, red, red, red, red, red, red, red, red" for about 10 minutes. But then we inadvertently killed the ladybug, so I diverted her attention to the ant. Then she said "ant, ant, ant, ant, ant, ant, ant" for about 10 minutes straight. We also took her to her 18 month appointment http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/ant-ant-ant-ant-ant-ant-ant.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-7036853486561630850Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:35:00 +00002013-03-20T19:35:12.269-07:00compassion Now that I've typed that headline, I realize you're all going to assume I'm pregnant. No, my super-duper hyper-exciting news is less personal than that. But it is news I've been waiting to talk about for about three years. Dr. Bruce Wydick is a professor of Economics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco. He is a sponsor with Compassion and has a heart for helping http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/super-duper-hyper-exciting-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-7788437123712888110Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:51:00 +00002013-03-18T10:51:25.885-07:00compassionHere are some articles I've been working hard on. A lot of sponsors want to understand what food children get through Compassion. It's a more complicated answer than you might think! So I wrote three articles about it. Maybe I'm a nerd, but I think this is one of the more interesting things I've gotten to write. I hope these will help you understand Compassion's ministry better! Part one: http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-meals-do-kids-get-at-compassion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-8001473261403664010Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:33:00 +00002013-03-18T06:33:35.704-07:00alexandraAlexandra loves her Easter basket from Grandma and Grandpa. If only she could decide where to put it... http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/ready-for-easter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-5843549840420122233Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:10:00 +00002013-03-17T09:10:51.363-07:00alexandramonths and counting Alex says, "Thanks for the dress, Haylie!" (To see past "months and counting" posts, click on the tag at the end of this post.)http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/18-months-and-counting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-5137207155226500856Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:24:00 +00002013-03-16T19:58:14.964-07:00giraffezooAlex loved the giraffes at the zoo today. She was definitely the loudest person there. She also got a lick on the cheek from one. She was so excited that she learned the word "animal" on the spot and would shout "Ammal! Ammal!" if Mike and I would dare to stop somewhere without an animal, as if to say, "No stopping! Take me to an animal!" I stopped into a new food kiosk where they are http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/giraffes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-3682662465185651451Sat, 16 Mar 2013 03:24:00 +00002013-03-15T20:24:40.167-07:00reviewJohn and Kerry are my friend Sarah's parents. They're the quintessential cool parents. Now they're cool grandparents. Kerry reminds me of Lauren Graham. She is funny and pretty and talented. John is hip. (He's a worship pastor and musician. That's kind of their bag.) He's creative and thoughtful and kind. That's probably why they have two such wonderful daughters, including one of my favorite http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/duck-butts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-3967538908530001058Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:27:00 +00002013-03-13T19:28:42.488-07:00alexandraIt's that time of year again, when I'm so eager for summer, I can't remember why exactly we all don't live year round in Hawaii. Alex loves to go outside ("hi-yi," as she puts it) and is getting to play out of doors so much more now that it's warming up. Here's a video of her wearing Haylie's shirt and hat. (Aunt Krista wanted to see documentation that the hand-me-downs are living another day.) http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/welcome-spring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-6464983455559519706Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:12:00 +00002013-03-12T19:13:05.763-07:00alexandraThis is an exciting time to watch Alex. She's saying several new words every day. I've been asking her what a cat says for months now, and today she finally answered back. :) http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/meow-meow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-253817399025177732Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:40:00 +00002013-03-07T18:21:03.323-08:00alexandraBack by popular demand, here are some videos of Alex. (By the way, we've started calling her Alex more these days. It fits her feisty personality.) Here she is playing with her car, which she likes to drive all over. She also is enjoying wandering around in the yard in this beautiful weather and babbling to herself. And here she is saying "bird" and barking at dogs. She also http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/just-ordinary-day-with-alex.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-7376679199520086856Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:55:00 +00002013-03-06T14:59:44.581-08:00beautyconfidenceinsultweightRecently I posted a video of Alexandra kissing me. It was so cute. But it was hard for me to post it because of my chin. I have a hate-hate relationship with my chin. I had to physically restrain my fingers from creeping up the keyboard to type an insult about my chin in that post. The other day, my husband posted a photo of me on Facebook in a less than flattering dress. A friend commented, "So http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/stop-insulting-yourself.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-8818287771487017595Sun, 03 Mar 2013 02:28:00 +00002013-03-02T18:29:16.802-08:00alexandraAlexandra went on her longest walk ever at Palmer Park. She was quite a trooper and walked about 3/4 of a mile to 1 mile (we carried her the rest of the way)! She got distracted by the cactus, mud and rocks, but had a great time running down the path and screaming like a monster. She also took a walk the other day at Garden of the Gods with Mike. She's getting much better at walking on http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-little-hiker.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-7787691233233470330Sat, 02 Mar 2013 02:59:00 +00002013-03-01T18:59:43.927-08:00alexandraanselhadassahHadassah and Ansel came over for a play date today. Aren't they cutie pies?   http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/03/three-little-monkeys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-5778784586487221021Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:22:00 +00002013-02-27T18:23:55.482-08:00alexandra Alex is honing her raspberry blowing techniques. Now it mainly consists of glomming onto your face with a spitty mouth and blowing. And here's one more video for the true Alexandra aficionado, of her doing nothing in particular. I'm sure my mom will find it highly engaging. http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/02/hanging-out-with-allie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-3238239952170696329Wed, 27 Feb 2013 04:36:00 +00002013-02-26T20:36:17.662-08:00aunt cinuncle stanHomes are important to me. There's my parents home, where I lived my whole life and where my parents still live. There's my grandma's house, where I spent nearly every holiday growing up. And there's my Aunt Cin and Uncle Stan's house, one of my favorite places. My uncle died when I was in college, and my aunt sold the house years ago. Last night I laid in bed worrying that in 20 years I wouldn'thttp://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-aunts-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-9097018107869683591Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:38:00 +00002013-02-25T12:38:21.265-08:00foodweightAs I've been thinking more about these thoughts, they've led me to what I think is my conclusion: Our body is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It seems like a simple premise, but I think we (I) often get things muddled up. When, as I said in the last post, our attention to health and our bodies becomes the focus of our lives, it can become our god. And when it becomes our god, it is nohttp://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/02/our-bodies-means-to-and-end-or-our.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-2082624623202189097Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:08:00 +00002013-02-24T20:08:40.767-08:00alexandra Kristin Chenoweth: Who are you wearing tonight? Alexandra: My great-grandmother Thelma's pearls and my great-grandmother Dorothy's purse. http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/02/oscar-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3992840042194996698.post-2645307442015680290Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:02:00 +00002013-02-21T20:03:29.837-08:00alexandraToday, Allie killed me with cuteness. First she wore these red Dorothy slippers, hand-me-downs from the Egger girls. (And those are Haylie's tights, if you want to know.) Then  she played dress up with my hats. I tried to get her to play in the snow today - we got about five inches overnight - but she decidedly disliked the snow. I think there was too much of it so she felt http://cleverphrasehere.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-very-cute-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0