Growth

Nellie is 15

Fifteen! Having your oldest child go through the teen years is a crazy experience - every year brings so much growth and new opportunities and it's so fun and exciting to watch! And at the same time, there's this quiet clock in the background ticking down the days until she heads out on her own (...only three summers with Nellie until she heads off to college), which is sort of devastating. But mostly it's fun and exciting.  

The biggest change for Nellie this year was starting high school and everything that goes with it. She played flute in the marching band, which meant weekends full of football games and traveling to competitions. She was in Legally Blonde in the fall and High School Musical in the spring. She was in the Wind Symphony and had the opportunity to play in major concerts at DeVos Center and Miller Auditorium. Now, she's a section leader and is gearing up for another marching season and playing in the Spartan Youth Wind Symphony - she just found out she got in!

But Nellie remains our fun-loving, super-responsible, independent girl. Life's always more interesting and fun when she's around because she coordinates the best games, performances, and activities. She has a wonderful group of friends and I swear, she was born for high school. We can't wait to see what the next year brings - there's never a dull moment with this one. Let's hear was she's looking forward to!

Nellie helped coordinate an animal mystery all-camp game at Woldumar this week as part of their teen leadership/CIT program

Birthday morning

Nellie's birthday dinner choice was Ukai - we'd never been there and didn't realize you needed reservations. We had an extra hour to kill after baseball so we took a little hike at Hunter's Orchard

What is your favorite memory from the last year?
That’s really hard; there are too many. Maybe the Western Michigan Band Conference and getting pizza afterward at Bilbo’s.

What is one way God's been working in your life this year?
I feel like it’s been so much…after the pandemic, everything has been so different. I feel like God is working in my life every day. I think I’ve gotten closer in relationship with God this year, so I see Him more in nature and little things that happen every day. The difference between being home all year and going back to school…there’s just more to see and notice every day.
 
How do you feel about being fifteen?
Good. I don’t know. Happy, another big milestone. One year closer to 18, so… This is an awkward question. I mean, “the same as I felt yesterday?” [I might need to revise the interview questions. 😊]
 
What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
Marching band, probably. I’m going to be a section leader, so it’s going to be different than last year. I’m also taking an AP class this year, so I’m excited about that!

What is one goal you have for next year?
Maybe keeping all As even though I have harder classes. Or keeping healthy relationships, like not neglecting people even though I’ll be busier and have more stress.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you get together with your friends?
Well, we get ice cream a lot! Talk, mostly. Joke around. Usually it’s for band-related events, so play our instruments. We like to walk around downtown. Swim.
 
I know it's a tough question, but what do you see as some of your strengths?
My sense of humor, leadership ability, reading. I don’t know if that’s a strength, but I’m good at it and I like it so…a strength to me! I don’t know, what do you think my strengths are? [Well, like music?] Oh yeah, music. I forgot.
 
What careers are you considering?
Definitely something in music, like a band conductor, or something in biology. Like forestry really interests me.
 
What’s your favorite song or type of music (right now)?   
Oh man, it changes every week. Right now, probably "Accidentally in Love" or "American Pie." But in general, pop music. Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters.
 
Favorite food?
You can’t beat pesto pasta. For snacks, Nature Valley granola bars, like the crunchy ones, are so good. They always crumble up. [That’s what I don’t like about them!] I know, but then you can drink them out of the package.
 
Current favorite movie?   
Probably Titanic or Monty Python. And Napoleon Dynamite.
 
Favorite show?
Gotta be The Simpsons. Right now I’m watching The Office. Oh, and Miraculous Ladybug! How could I forget.
 
Current favorite book(s) you're reading?
All-time favorites are The Book Thief, The Firekeeper’s Daughter, and Pride and Prejudice. But right now, I’m reading The Murder of Mr. Wickham.
 
Favorite color?   
Blue, but I’ve been thinking about changing it to yellow. It’s just a happy color, and it’s been a happy year.
 
Favorite place to be?
Home or Aunt Pam’s house, or school.
 
What are your favorite things to do?
Play flute, be with my family and friends, read, be outside. Drive?  Because I can do that now.
 
My new favorite question in the last couple of years - how would you describe your year in lines from a musical? 

From Wicked: 

Too late for second guessing, too late to go back to sleep. It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and take that leap.   

[Why?] I think because it’s the first year of high school, which for me anyway represents the first step on my path to adulthood. And if I think back over the year to everything I’ve learned and experienced, I realize I can’t go back.

What was your favorite birthday present this year?
I think it has to be the record player. I think I’ve used that the most so far. And I like all the books I got, and that conditioner. It’s life changing.
 
Is there anything else you want us to know about you? 
What am I missing…oh, I’m on Facebook now! Come to the GL football games. Come see the marching band. And…hi, thanks for reading!

Annie, age 13

We have another teenager! Annie has filled our house this year with music, dancing, laughter, baked goods, and the exact right amount of spunky sass. She has the longest skincare routine of anyone I know, so she doesn't look a day over 12! That's not really true, now that she's taller than both Nellie and me, she's often mistaken for the older sister.

Annie is still her sweet and gentle self, but she's got a lot of tenacity that she brings to the stage, basketball court, softball field, and cross country trails! She visits my office every day at lunch (and occasionally between classes) to say 'hi' and update me on her day. She's a good friend, sister, and daughter and we love her to pieces! I think being a teenager will suit Annie quite well.

Sporting her new birthday Crocs in the morning sunshine

Trying out the new AirPods

She got to go to theater camp on her birthday! 

She made it on the sign!

What is your favorite memory from the last year?
Probably going to Mackinac Island! We should go again... I don't know, there's so much good stuff. It's been a good year!

What is one way God's been working in your life this year?
He just gave me a really good year. I've been able to grow into myself more, be more confident in myself. I also have kind of loving people around me. He put me in a good environment.

How do you feel about being thirteen?
Kind of the same. I definitely feel older, more responsible. Like I've started a new era. I don't feel like I can do new things or have more responsibilities, but I can be more responsible and I'll be in eighth grade, so maybe people will trust me more.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
Doing more things, like visiting new places and being the oldest in middle school. I've had two years of middle school experience now! You promised we'd go to Disney World, so I'm excited about that. And just our normal places, like Petoskey and the U.P. Ooh, I want to go to Canada. Well not really, I want to move to Canada, so...

What is one goal you have for next year?
Clean my room.

Who would you say are your best friends?
I don't know, I don't want to name everyone.... But definitely Lydia, Hudson, Jaden, Gabby, all the cousins.

What are your strengths?
I don't know, don't you know them better than me?! I would say getting stuff done, but then again, maybe not. I think being a leader.

What careers are you considering?
Being a lawyer, or something with baking, or being an interior designer.

What’s your favorite song or type of music?   
It changes every day, like I'll hear a song I haven't heard in awhile, and be like, "oh I love this song," then listen to it for four days straight until I don't like it anymore.

What's your favorite food?
Anything from Tim Hortons. Well, maybe not plain black coffee... but MOST anything.

Current favorite movie?   
I like a lot of movies, but I don't really have a favorite. One of my favorites is 13 Going on 30. Back to the Future, always a classic. All the Marvel movies except for some of the newer ones.

Current book(s) you're reading?
The Book Thief.

Favorite color?   
Still purple, but more like pastel purple.

Favorite place to be?
Starbucks, Target, Meijer, or home.

What are your favorite things to do? 
Be with my friends, bake, read, swim, spend time with cousins. I like to shop.

What was your favorite present?
I think I've used my Crocs the most [I still can't get over the fact that Crocs are back in style!]; but honestly I like everything and I think I've used everything so far.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you? 
If any of my friends are reading this, my phone doesn't work so I'm not getting any texts. I know my phone is probably BLOWING up with all your messages...just kidding.