my mom was a cheerleader in high school (Grand Rapids Christian High)

my brother steve snowblowing the driveway with my toro snowblower

I was usually the person responsible for keeping the driveway clear...as well as one of our neighbors (who hired me to take care of )...but here's my younger brother steve doing the job; also steve leaving the Christian music center (with his saxophone?) ...must be late 1970's
*****

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 Philippians 4:6-7

my sister Julie & mother Linda in the backyard at our house on griswold street, grand rapids, mi

we lived in this house for about twelve years...I loved growing up in grand rapids..still cherish all my friends and great memories..we lived next door to the brummlers ...and their kids, brad, bob, katy, & I think they had a Julie too (?) .. today my sister Julie is a teacher in the st. joseph area, still in Michigan.

my (late) uncle sherwood (lt. col. ret.) with his dad, my grandpa gareth

uncle Sherwood was a GREAT man..army career...became a lieutenant colonel...served in Germany & Vietnam among other places...in "The Big Red One". He had a big family with his wife, my aunt Ruth..unfortunately, he left us early. God bless his soul. I think the army life took a toll on his health. Let us all be mindful of our servicemen & women and not allow the government to take advantage of them.

@ alger park, my dad helped coach my brother's rocket baseball team, grand rapids, michigan

today, brother steve is a counselor for a public school district near Redlands, california

halloween pic of my young mom & her friends & family

painting our sandbox at our Eastern avenue house, grand rapids, michigan, early 70's

 for some reason I wasn't very happy while andy (red)

seems to be having a blast

today brother andy is a big-time attorney at varnum riddering in grand rapids
*****

“I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according Scriptures.”

 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

my aunt martha with some of the kids at grandpa's cottage, holland, michigan

this is a great old photo by the tetherball pole...at grandpa Leo Peters (founder of Butterball) cottage on Lake Michigan in Holland Michigan (half-a-mile from tunnel park)...we used to have SO much fun at the cottage..every summer..growing up in grand rapids...we loved the "big lake" ..and aunt Martha (vangenderen) traveled with her kids from wherever they happened to  be living at the time (for a while they moved a lot..Colorado, Wyoming, Washington state, et al). that's me in the front, and maybe sister Julie with her arm around cousin craig...and a few other cousins

what norwalk california looked like "back in the day" (1930's)

an old photo from my grandpa's album...before the area around Norwalk was developed

great old fishing picture ..my grandpa & kids

that must be my dad (Jim Kok) on the left...I think it's my grandpa gareth on the right...bellflower California..they probably went fishing in long beach...good day fishing !

bears dancing @ yellowstone (or yosemite?)

this is a photo from my grandfather's photo album...they travelled a lot to Yellowstone as well as Yosemite..and I don't have the caption to remember where this was taken

...pretty incredible !
************

“Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for

Me will save it. “

Luke 9:23-24

my grandma Kathryn & grandpa Gareth

 grandma & grandpa Kok. grandma died before I was born & my grandpa remarried to Ada VanZee-Timmer, the only grandma I knew...she was very nice & kind...and I think Kathryn was also, judging by the pictures.

my aunt Kay KOK playing the piano as a child

beloved aunt Kay...they were SO hospitable to our family when we moved from grand rapids to southern California...her husband, my uncle Barry, was originally from GR as well...while Kay was kind of a "California kid" but they met in Michigan (at calvin college)...they still live here in southern cal (near seal beach)..hope all is well for them

an old piano recital program...my dad's high school (or junior high?) days, holland, michigan

an old piano recital program...my dad's high school (or junior high?) days,

 holland, michigan

“He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. “

1 Peter 2:24

my grandma kathryn schaap kokas a child...she died at an early age

grandma Kathryn was married to my grandpa Rev. Gareth Kok, a Christian Reformed Church pastor.

the three eldest Kok siblings (philip, andrew, Julia)

great pic of my dad as a youngster (2nd from right) with some friends in bellflower

a few beverly hills homes, drive-by cam, not stop & focus

"It is by grace [we] have been saved, through faith - & this not from [ourselves], it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no 

one can boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9