Dear Rose Park,

After going for a run, Simon and I met two friends from Rose Park for breakfast this past Saturday morning at Russ’. Before we left for Russ’ Simon had already had some oatmeal and a banana. Given that, I figured he’d just have a muffin at Russ’. I was wrong. As we sat down at our table, Simon looked at me and said, “Daddy, I’m hungry.” So, I ordered him some french toast and sausage; after he polished that off, he then proceeded to eat half of my muffin. It’s a good thing I love him.

Dear Rose Park,

Yesterday afternoon Sam, Simon, Winnie and I drove to the corner of Riley and 120th to Eagle Crest Charter Academy in order to watch our friend Ava Lemire play volleyball. It was so much fun to see her play and see her gifts on display. Even more, it was so much fun to see Ava’s friends and family cheer her on.

Dear Rose Park,

There’s been a change in the traffic etiquette at the intersection of Riley and Butternut. If I can say it, this is one of the funkiest intersections in all of Holland (maybe only second to the 32nd Street, Lincoln Avenue, & State Street intersection). I don’t have any facts to back this up, but I can only imagine the amount of accidents that have occurred at Riley & Butternut because of all the complexities (blind turns, awkward angles, narrow turning lanes, etc.). The change is this: if you are driving west on Riley and come to a red light at Butternut, you are NOT ALLOWED to turn right on red. This change has come within the last few weeks or so and naturally it has been received with the cold shoulder.

Dear Rose Park,

500 dozen. Five-hundred multiplied by twelve equals six-thousand. That’s how many pig-in-the-blankets Bette Van Dyke has sold. Yesterday morning, some diligent and gracious ladies of the church were making pig-in-the-blankets in the church kitchen. As the worker-bees men’s group sampled the fare, I asked Carol Teusink how many they were planning to make. Yesterday alone, they made sixty-dozen. I was in awe; until she told me how many Bette has sold over the years, then I was in shock.

Dear Rose Park,

The Old Testament begins with a beautiful story of creation. It is beautiful and at the same time an explosion of God’s power. Light rushes in, ground rises from the depths, water is swirling and bubbling, vegetation is spreading and growing, living creatures of every kind are flying, running, climbing and crawling, and even humankind is being formed and molded in the image of God. It is a beautiful story of God’s power, creativity, and love for His creation. Throughout this narrative we hear a phrase that sets the rhythm of creation: “And God saw that it was good.”

Dear Rose Park,

It’s the dawn of a new decade. You might still be sweeping up the confetti from your all-night party or just waking up after sleeping in; regardless, welcome to a new day and a new year. With the coming of a new year there will undoubtedly be the question, “what’s your New Year’s resolution?” Maybe you already have one, maybe you haven’t even thought of one, or maybe you’re looking for one. If that’s the case, consider this:

Dear Rose Park,

Last night was a beautiful service; not because of anything I did or said, but because we were able to gather as God’s people in God’s house to hear from God’s Word, sing praises to God’s name, and celebrate the birth of God’s Son Jesus.

Dear Rose Park,

Last week I received an email out of the blue from my first grade teacher. I went to Lakeview Elementary school on the south side of Holland. Lakeview stood at the corner of Lugers and 32nd Street. I use the past tense ‘stood’ because Lakeview doesn’t even exist anymore. I was there when they rung the bell for the last time. Some time later they demolished the building and put up a dog-park, but that has since changed as well. Anyways, I was surprised to receive the email because I hadn’t spoke to this teacher in quite some time, but the content of the email brought a smile to my face and heart.

Dear Rose Park,

Last night the Waterstone family drove to the south side of town to watch the Holland High School boys basketball team open up their season against Mona Shores at the Dutch Dome. If you didn’t know, our very own Corey Wolters is the head coach of the Dutch; if that wasn’t incentive enough, I also wanted to bring Sam, Simon, and Winn to my old school.

Dear Rose Park,

On Monday night, Simon and I bundled up and went to the Zeeland light parade. We met our friends the Sommers (Clayton and Katlyn along with their two boys Braxton and William). Clayton and I were roommates at Hope where we both swam. I was amazed at how many entries there were in the parade: local businesses, plenty of churches, and dozens of firetrucks, police cars, and ambulances all beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. As I stood there, watching Simon and Braxton watch the cars and trucks pass by, something dawned on me yet again…