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…

Dear Rose Park,

Yesterday afternoon, after his nap, Simon and I drove to the south side of town to visit Ann Lawrence. Ann is a charter member of Rose Park and lives in the cottages at Resthaven on 32nd Street. Simon and I drove south on Butternut past the doughnut shop (Dutch Delight), over the bridge, by the big diggers (Padnos), up the big hill (Holland Hospital) until we finally made it to Resthaven. As Simon and I walked inside, we saw Ann right away. She was with her friends in the activity room playing bingo.

Dear Rose Park,

Last Wednesday at 4:11pm Winn Julia Waterstone was born. 10 toes. 10 fingers. 2 eyes. 2 ears. Sam counted them all at least three times. In a split second, we fell in love. Leading up to her birth, Sam and I kept asking each other, ‘how is it possible to love another child like we love Simon?’ But as soon as Winn was born, it was as if our minds were clear and our hearts grew three sizes bigger.

Dear Rose Park,

Last week Friday I woke up early. I took Rudy for a walk while it was still dark and there wasn’t a car in sight. I filled up my car with gas and my cup with coffee at Family Fare just as it opened. The sun wasn’t even flirting with the horizon as I caught the last twenty-minutes of “First & Last” on ESPN radio and drove east on Riley. I drove 196 to M6 and then 131 south all the way to Portage, MI to visit my 89-year-old grandfather, Don Brinks.