The Schaap Duet

new blogs

2010-03-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

Mark and I have new blogs, probably won't be posting on this one anymore. Check them out schaapphotography.blogspot.com, www.markschaap.blogspot.com

I miss my family on Mothers day.

2009-05-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

My first mothers day away from my MAMA, I love you and miss you mommy!

I love my family.

2009-05-10T10:25:00.001-07:00

This picture makes me happy:

So does this one:

This one too:

Can we adopt you please!

2009-05-07T13:58:00.001-07:00

This is the pastor that I work for, Kempton's, daughter. Isn't she the cutest thing ever, and those pig tails, Ahhh, so precious. She loves Mark!

My Daddy

2009-04-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, my daddy has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Being a daddy's girl all of my life, this news has been life changing, as I wrap my head around a time line being put to my dearest dads life. My dad has been the most influencial person in my life thus far. He taught me how to love, cherish, and value the salvation that Christ has given us on the cross. He revealed to me the wisdom and beauty that the Bible brings to our lives. He taught me the value in living for Christ everyday and the necessity to dig deep into His word and pray without ceasing. He taught me how to keep my heart tender. He taught me how to love and encouarge others with a sensitive heart. He taught me how to change a tire. He taught me to never put a cat in the mail box. He taught me how to share my feelings, and that communication is key to any healthy relationship. I have always been and always will be a daddy's girl (and to be honest a mommy's girl). I love my dad with all my heart, but God is given me such a peace-that passes all my human understanding. Despite the way that I think I should feel, I keep trusting in God, and the ultimate comforter keeps giving me an abundance of it. He knew we were going to be in Minnesota during this time, and I believe he has been prepareing me for this throughout the months we have been here. My dad is at peace with this, and that is such a blessing, as he knows that he will be in paradise sooner then we thought. There are so many miracles that have come from this and we know there are more in store.

My beautiful, talented, wonderful friend Shan Shan took some family photos with us while we were in Cali last month. I love the way she captured the essence of our family. Here are some of my favorite:

40 Days for Life

2009-02-23T15:37:00.000-08:00

Our church is doing a 40 Days for Life Campaign. I would love for everyone to partner with us in prayer for the victims of forced abortions and for God to reach the heart of the world to see abortion as such an abomination as slavery is seen today. My heart has really been convicted about this issue and I pray that we all decide to take action to help those woman who feel they have no other choice. Donate baby clothes, bottles, anything, or the easiest, money to buy these supplies to your local pregnancy care center . But please, please pray for our nation!

We got to see this live, and yes it was intense.

Sydney

2009-02-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

Isn't this one of the most precious faces you have ever seen! This is my niece Sydney, and I can't wait to see her again. She brings so much joy to my life!

Small Group

2009-02-17T20:33:00.000-08:00

Since the move here Mark and I have made some pretty incredible friends. In addition to that we were so blessed to be invited into a small group associated with our church and this group has been nothing but a gigantic blessing to us. Not only are they all awesome people and totally fun to hang out with, but they desire deepness, pushing each other toward Christ, holding each other accountable to resist sin, and fighting for our marriages. The Lord is so good to us, and this group is among the top blessings in my life. We are growing closer every week and I can't thank God enough for how amazing it is to be a part of a body that treasures encouraging Mark and I toward Christ as one of their priorities. I pray that we can only do the same for them. It is apparent that this is right were God wants us. We have experienced many struggles thus far in the move, however more joy comes each day in the satisfaction and blessings that God brings through much provision financially, relationally, and emotionally. Wow I feel blessed!

2009-02-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

It has been such a blast with my new camera! I have taken many photos and I am excited to continue to learn more and more. This is Kenneth, my little friend that I babysit here on campus every so often. He is just the cutest thing ever, I promise more photos to come as I get better at this editing thing :)

Winter is cold!

2009-01-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

Mark and I are doing extremely well here in MN! God has blessed us tremendously with so many friends and our church is just amazing! You should all listen to Pastor John Pipers sermons at desiringgod.org. We feel so blessed to be at this church and to get the privilege of serving with people who desire God with such fervent hearts. Mark is truly enjoying his internship there and we are growing so much! Winter is going well, it is cold, and we have to plan many indoor activities as the -22 degree weather doesn't allow much time to be spent outside. But it has not been as bad as everyone told us it would be, we just stay really active and dress appropriately! Plus the snow is so fun :) I'm still in the honeymoon stage of loving the snow. We will post pictures so soon, thanks for checking in and sorry for the lack of posts.

Running for Jesus

2008-08-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

So, I have this goal to run a marathon. I think it is a God-given desire because I hate running. I want God to be glorified and honored with everything I do in my short life, and though I fail often, this is my passion-and I know by abiding in Him, He will be glorified (John 15: 7-8). I don't want to fit God into my own passions and ambitions, I want His will and plan to come and thwart all my plans, and for me to step aside and watch Him work. Saying all that, I believe that through running I spend a unique time abiding in God. It's desperate need of Him to help me not only physically, but defiantly mentally, as I accomplish something that takes a lot of time, commitment, perseverance, consistency, aces, and pains. My prayer is that these disciplines that I develop with spill over into the rest of my life, to better serve and glorify My God. To prove to myself that this was a serious ambition, I took my first step of commitment, and ran my first 5k race. I loved it, the energy of all the people was really cool, and I ran my PR! I took 6 min. off my best time. I still have a long way to get to 26 miles, but that is all part of the process that God is taking me on. Here are some silly photos of the morning.

Here's me putting my "race gear" on :)
I'm ready!

I was very cold, and nervous!

Trying to act excited about the next three miles that I was about to run.

You can't see me, but I was in there. A really humbling experience is letting all the people pass you (especially the older ladies, which I totally admire), as you try your best to pace yourself to not get burnt out in the first mile.

Racing to the finish line, I was so happy to see it, I sprinted all the way!

Afterward, tired, sweaty, but so happy with my time, God really helped me as I prayed the whole way!

Schaap Reunion

2008-08-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

This is the family reunion that we went to up in Brainard MN, right by where they filmed the movie Fargo. I did not want to leave, it was so beautiful, we stayed right on the gorgeous lake, and the water felt like Hawaii, so warm! We have such a great time with family, we miss them already, I wish every weekend could be us all together (with my family too of course)! But it really was a refreshing, great time! Here is me trying to ski, not the best, but better then I expected! I kinda got up!

Nephew Aaron, attacked the chocolate cake on my lap. Sooooooo cute!

Mark, good at everything!

Me and Dad Schaap! So funny ;)

My sisters-in-laws (though I hate to call them in-laws) I love them a lot.

My niece Sydney, she was so cute, she was crying so much because she was scared of everyone getting in the water she kept saying "Daddy don't try it! Mommy don't try it." I think we traumatized her....but she still is just so adorable.

Crazy fun!

Oh, and here is our new (to us, it very used) car....we love it!

Our new home

2008-06-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

Our New Home

After driving down a winding road, with tons of foresty trees through the University, you come to this sign, if you drive a little further through some more beautiful seanery, you come to seminary village, where there are 6 buildings like below. Dorm style, I know! But there is tons of beauty surrounding it. And our Apt. is quite large, at least to us.

But check out our back yard! This is what we wake up to every morning, our living room and our bedroom windows display this beauty! Lucky huh! They let you canoe in this lake, but no swimming, bummer, but there is a swimming lake right down the street with somewhat of a "beach" to hang out on.

Its almost been two weeks since we arrived her in the twin cities. I have to say that I really like it here (except that all my family it still in cali). However, the whether has been great, it doesn't get dark until like 10 pm and everyone is so darn friendly. They call it "Minnesota Nice." I hope to aquire some in our time here :) Well my job is going great so far, the days fly by, and the kids are so fun. Well thats all for now, love you all and miss you guys! -Megs

my first blog ever

2008-06-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

Well hello everyone out there in the blogosphere...Umm I'm not really sure what to write on these things because I haven't really even read a lot of blogs! Ha well I guess everything is going good here in the big MN (that's short for Minnesota if you didn't know) but I must say that I feel like a bit of a bum since I have been sitting at home trying to get a few things done while my wonderful wife goes to work. I'm looking for jobs right now without much luck, but I'm sure that it won't be long now before I get back to some no brainer job that makes ends meet. Well I will try to keep everyone posted as to what is going on in my life and the things that come along the way! I love you all
marky mark and the funky bunch

Its not Goodbye, its Farewell

2008-06-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

Our going away party...my mom likes to say "its not goodbye, its farewell" (as she fights the denial stage of us going away). "Meg and Markan" is a joke from our wedding, my dad was praying for the meal, and he kept saying Meg and Markan instead of Mark and Megan. It was really cute and everyone giggled, but I think he was a little embarrassed. I love you daddy!

My favorite niece ever.

My sister, she just got a new home too!

This is so true, especially when you say a long heartfelt goodbye to someone, and then see them again, now that second goodbye is so awkward. (this misspelling is the most awkward part)

Here we go!!! I cried as we drove away, and a lot throughout that day. The biggest move of my life!

We had a big load.

The Macho Men after loading up the truck!Rain leaking into our truck!

The Big Move

2008-06-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

In my attempt to keep in touch with everyone back home, I am starting a blog. I hope to be consistent with updates and photos, but bear with me as I try hard.

So most of you know that Mark and I made the big move to Minnesota. We drove a big yellow Penske truck across the states and it took about four days. It was fun and easy with the exception of a terrible wind and rain storm on Thursday that almost drove our truck off the road (I was quite scared and tense the whole five hours!) It was raining so hard that the cab of the truck was leaking! But we made it to our new home in one piece, and all our stuff is moved in. We are defiantly not settled yet, still have a lot of boxes to unpack, but we are taking our time (really I am trying to distract myself from being homesick for as long as possible, though it is already setting in). The one saving grace is the amazing view we have from our apartment. We live on a lake and it is just gorgeous! Pictures do not do justice! I just sit in our living room looking out the big window and rejoice that there is no rim of brown smog to ruin God's beauty. But I still miss Cali, don't get me wrong. I will post some pictures of the move and our new place as soon as I find where Mark packed the cord that connects the camera to the computer! Till then, Megs