Trinity Kraal

Mrs. Roskamp

LA, 8A

16 September 2015

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

At Leadership Camp last year we had lots of fun and educational experiences that lead to the development of our theme, built on the rock. In making this our theme for the year we hope that it is something that guides ZCS in everything that we do in this final year 2015-2016. This theme means a lot to me both as an 8th grade student at ZCS and a Christian out in the world.

As an 8th grade student at Zeeland Christian this theme is something that I hope will guide my actions as well as those of the school this year. For me this years theme, Built on the rock, is not just the guideline for this school year, but it is a personal goal. See, 100 years ago ZCS opened with a goal of creating an open, christian environment and education that is built on Christ. 100 years later that is still what they are doing. Now, as I have gone through Zeeland Christian and experienced this, it’s my turn to provide those type of things for others. Zeeland Christian was built on the rock, Jesus Christ, and so now as I leave ZCS I have to take that and make it not just something that my school does, but something that I do. I hope that this year it’s not just the school that is reminded of their initial purpose but that I am also reminded of the reason I am here, to be an open door for others to come to Christ, to serve God with everything, and to develop a long lasting relationship with the Jesus.

Upon the finalization of this year me and the whole 8th grade will be graduating from ZCS and going out to be a light in this world. Whether we’re going to East, West, HC, or any other high school we’ll be placed into situations very different than what we would experience at Zeeland Christian. Therefore it becomes very important to learn what we can from Zeeland Christian and take it out into the world. If everything stays here, than there’s no point to anything. So, I hope that this theme will help me and others out in the world. It’s a very important to remember why we do what we do, nothing is worth anything if there is no reason it is done. I hope that this theme will remind us of the reason that we live, to serve Christ our rock, to live for Christ our rock, and to be built on Christ our rock.

I hope that this years theme, Built on the Rock, will help me in my life this year both as an 8th grade Student at ZCS and a Christian out in the World. I believe that being built on the rock is knowing why you are here, providing for others a way to christ through your actions under the mindset of being built on the rock, and growing closer to God every day as you pursue giving Christ your all.

Trinity Kraal

Mrs. Roskamp

LA, 8A

10 September 2015

The anchor

The picture of the anchor reminds me of one of our trips to Lake Michigan this summer. It was a cooler day in late august, we had already done all the school shopping and we were getting ready to start school. Seeing as it was cooler and my dad was gone in Detroit we didn’t have any plans but didn’t want to stay home. So we decided just to go out and walk the beach. Upon arriving at the beach we stepped out into the crisp cool air and walked down towards the canal. where we watched the boats driving through. After a few minutes we decided to get up and walk down towards the Ice cream store nearby. I got a delicious version of chocolate that tasted like a mix of Michigan deer trax and Mackinac Island Fudge. After sitting and eating our ice cream we walked back to the beach. My oldest sister, Taylor, wanted to walk the pier so we headed that way. As we got to the edge of the beach, right in front of the pier a huge boat came through the canal. People started to gather around to watch the cruise ship pass by. The people on deck waved and we waved back. After the boat had left we walked unto the pier. Their was a little bit of a wind so the waves crashed up against the wall . The colors were gorgeous, it was late afternoon, but there were some clouds dotted all along the sky that let a streak or two of sun through that hit the crashing waves.  We spend a few minutes out there watching the water and reading all the things that people had written on the posts, then we walked back, got into the car, and headed home.

The American Flag

The picture of the american flag reminds me of one of the simple moments of 4th of July.  Every 4th of July we go up to our cottage with my dad’s side of the family and stay there for 2 – 3 days. On one morning I woke up later than everyone else, as always, and got up to see the glorious sun streaking through the windows and lighting the whole room in a beautiful red and yellow light that makes everything seem awake and alive.  I got up and got dressed and went outside. It was hot and bright but everyone was outside. My little sister and cousins were playing in the barn, my uncles and dad were getting the boat and seadoo into the water, and my mom, one of my aunts and older sister were laying out and reading. My other aunt was over by the flagpole that was, in the middle of our yard, planting plants. I went over by her and offered to help. She excepted and I sat down and started digging the holes and placing the flowers in. The flowers were vibrant colors of purple, red, and some pure white. Each color had a special summery feeling to it and seemed to describe the whole meaning of summer. When I finished planting the flowers I went inside, changed into my swimsuit, and went and joined my mom, sister, and aunts.

The bird

The bird reminds me of a trip to Florida that I took with my family a few years ago. It was Christmas ever. Everyone had their palm trees decorated, the parade had already gone through, the presents were under the artificial tree, and the christmas music floated all through the warm and humid air. The best kind of Christmas. Anyway around 10;00am on December 24 me and my family packed our beach clothes and shelling bags into our small fishing boat that we keep up by my grandparents cottage, and we set out into the bay. See every year for around 3 weeks in december my family has gone out to florida to kinda take a break and celebrate Christmas with my grandparents who go out for November and December. It was about a 45 min boat ride over the blue water, under the huge draw bridge with the wind in my face and the birds calling out over head. The dolphins jumping in the water. It wasn’t a bad ride. After about 30 min we went out of the bay and into the gulf where the water was a lot ruffer. We couldn’t pull the boat up to shore so we had to wade unto shore. Pilot Island, or better known as Egmont Key. The shore line was absolutely covered in sea shells, and good ones too since no one normally picks through them. We spent the day touring the old forts and the town where the soldiers lived, walking the red brick road, and picking up sea shells.  Finally at late afternoon we got into the boat and started to head home. The wind had picked up a bit and the gulf was ruff. We tossed and and crashed into the waves in the gulf, but that was nothing compared to the bay. For a tinny fishing boat the waves were huge. My dad was driving a small motor and the 5 foot waves were crashing down on top of us. It was christmas eve! My dad kinda stressed out. We called my grandparents to come over and pick us up on the pier. They drove for about the 15 min drive and came to watch us come in, as we bobbed up and down over the waves making little progress. Finally we got to the pier where my mom and us three girls went with my grandma back to the condo in the car, while my grandpa and dad took the boat back.