4 weeks old ...

Baby is four weeks old already.

The other day it was so warm (not complaining!) and Matthew wanted his shirt off.  Why not? 

These kids are the bestest in the whole wide world!  Love them so much!

I think Ashlyn was getting a bro and sis squeeze a little too much.

 Sisters!!!!!!

A favorite drink ... MEADOW TEA!

If anyone needs meadow tea leaves or roots, come around! 

I have lots of tea leaves and it makes the best meadow tea!

April Showers Bring May Flowers!!!!

Oh yes!!!  Our rainy month is coming to a close and the May flowers are ready to bloom!  I love it!!!  Yesterday, my dear mother took me along with her to greenhouses!!!!  We went flower shopping!  Her suburban was filled with vibrant colors and flowers!  I couldn't wait to get to the greenhouses and see all God's beauty!  I love flowers and especially when they are in a big greenhouse!  It makes the splendor of colors and different varieties so beautiful!

I love petunias!  Geraniums!  Inpatients!  Verbena!  Daisy's!  When mom dropped Ashlyn and me off at home, she stayed and planted them for me right away!  Thanks mom!  Here's a few we planted!

This geranium I had for THREE years now!  In the fall, I move the whole planter into the garage

and let it set there till Spring!  Wonderful and gets huge!

VERBENA

THIS IS A NEW PETUNIA COLOR!  LOVE, LOVE IT!

WINDOW BOXES ...

GERANIUM READY TO BURST OPEN!

DAISY!

WE HAVE TWO TREES OUT FRONT THAT ARE LOADED WITH PINK BLOOMS!

Easter 2011

Saturday afternoon we went to Daudy Lapp's for a family gathering!  Mommy Lapp made 'hay stack' for supper and then we had homemade vanilla pie, pudding and fruit salad for dessert!  Hard to loose that 'baby fat' eating that yummy stuff!  After the meal, the kids found their Easter basket outside!  The weather was actually nice!  The sun came out late afternoon and was shining so bright for their little hunt!  We spent the evening playing games ... settlers, skip-oh, sorry, and hoss. 

Matthew dressed up!

Cousins

Sisters ... Me, Lena, Linda, "Soon to be sister-in-law" Mary Sue, & Anna Ruth

(We missed you Rosie!)

Our Easter Children

Ashlyn's First Easter Dinner

The 'Easter Basket Hunters'

The girls and their Easter baskets!

Hadassah's basket!

We didn't get to spend time with my family this weekend.  Bummer.  They all went to the mountains and we decided to stay home.  Traveling with a three week old baby didn't seem too appealing.  The kids were not impressed with our decision at first, but they had a fun weekend at home!  We went to church yesterday and had a much warmer afternoon!  Last night we invited Matt Lapp's to come over!  They brought pizza and we hung out.  The kids love getting together just as much as we adults do!

We try to keep Christ the top priority in Easter.  It was because of Him that we even have the Easter Story!  Having family gatherings, egg hunts, eat chocolates and play games is great ... but it's BECAUSE CHRIST AROSE that we celebrate Easter!  Hallelujah!

He's Alive - Christian Music

He's Alive!!!

"And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away:  for it was very great.  And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: 

Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: 

HE IS RISEN; HE IS NOT HERE: 

behold the place where they laid him."  Mark 16:2-6

Happy Easter!!!

Jesus is Alive!!!

First Little League Game!!!

Matthew finally got to play his first Little League Game for the "Cubs"!  It was a sunny night and 60 degrees.  He loved it!!!  He played first base when he was out field and got a hit every time he was at bat!

Here they did some warm ups before game time!  Stretching those fingers!

 "Let's Go Team!!!"

The couch asked some of the dad's to help out with pitching!

 Matthew up to bat ... using his new bat he is so proud of!

Got on first base!!!!

 Playing his base ... first base.

Making a play!!!  Great job!

Who won?  In Matthew's league they don't keep score to win.  Everyone is a winner!

"Good" Friday

"Good Friday"
It's Easter Season.  Spring.  I have not put as much thought into the Easter Season this year as I would have liked to.  Having a baby at this time of year as kept me busy just mothering.  Although, when rocking Ashlyn, feedings, and times of relaxing does give extra 'thinking' time!  I have done lots of thinking about Christ's crucifixion and dying.  Dying for me!  Me!  Oh, how that must have been tough for him to do!  This morning we read the story of Jesus dying on the cross together as a family.  The kids are understanding this more every year and I love the questions and comments that they make!  When we read the part of the nails driving deep into Jesus' hands, Mike pressed his finger really hard into each of their hands and when they said aww, he stopped.  It gave them a very small feeling of how it must of hurt Jesus when the soldiers nailed him to the cross.  When we read the part of when Jesus was dying on the cross and asked John to take care of Mary, Hadassah asked, "Why?  Where was Joseph?"  The Bible doesn't say much about Joseph after Jesus was born.  Even in the last minutes of Jesus before dying and he was hanging on the cross in pain, he took care of those he loved.  His mother!  Then when we talked about the curtain being torn into two, they asked questions about sacrifices.  It's so awesome that Jesus is the real sacrifice for us and now we don't need to kill animals for forgiveness!  That would have been such a pain and messy!  Sometimes asking Jesus for forgiveness can seem to cause a lot of "pain and can be really messy to clean up our sins", but at least we have the blood of Jesus to cleanse us white as snow!!!!  Moving along in our reading, Mike explained how that Joseph of Arimathea gave his own grave to bury Jesus in.  Then how the soldiers guarded the tomb for three days.  On the third day, the stone was rolled away and Jesus was no longer dead!!!!  Alive!!!!  Alive forever more!  The religious leaders thought they were rid of Jesus.  They thought their problems were over with the gospel being spread to all the world!  It really was just the beginning.  Jesus ministered to those on the earth for a few more weeks before returning to heaven in the clouds.  Now it's up to us Christians to spread the gospel.  We need to tell the hurting world of the wonderful blood of Jesus!  Salvation!  Life after death.  Heaven.  Hell.  Eternity. 

I've wondered already why today is called "Good Friday"?  Being crucified, whipped, spit upon, beaten to death is defiantly not my interpretation of a 'good day'!  I suppose that's not the end of the story and we Christians can now years later call it a 'good day' because it took Christ's death to give us salvation.  The Easter story is so refreshing to read and gives me another reminder to reach out to those hurting.  Tell EVERYONE about Jesus.  Be a light everyday.  I wish this wasn't so hard for me to do.  Being 'bold' in Jesus and witnessing is hard sometimes.  In 'real life' I want the whole world to hear about Jesus.  Hearing the gospel through me?  I hope I can be a witness wherever I am and go!  A challenge.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."  John 11:25 & 26

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." Matthew 27:50

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, for the angel of the Lord came down from heaven and , going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.  The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples:  'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.'" 
Matthew 28:1-9

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."  Is. 53:5
~~~~~~~~~~~~
School Projects ...
We are so blessed to have christian schools to send our kids to!  They were again taught about Jesus this Easter.  Not just about eggs, bunnies, and chocolate!  Here are some projects the kids did at school.  Hadassah's was a cross made with painted broken egg shells.  Matthews cross was made with tissue paper.

OUTSIDE ...

If you would take a walk around our house here is what you would see right now ...

Actually, this is inside on my dining room table.  Mustard weeds along the road make for a quick boutique!

This is a 'double' daffodil.  Two on one stem.

I planted johnny jumps a few years ago and they live up to their name! 

I have these little flowers popping up everywhere!  They are even growing between our pavers!

These decided to grow in the middle of my white daisy patch!

This is a bleeding heart flower.  I love these especially over Easter. 

Reminds me of the blood Jesus shed and how "His bleeding heart" saved the world!!!

We love roses!!!  These thorns are only small but sharp! 

I can't imagine the crown of thorns our Lord wore on the cross!

Our little garden is showing some groweth!  Radishes, carrots, and lettuce!

Can't wait to eat these fresh vegetables!

I hope you have a wonderful "Good Friday"!  Remember the true meaning ... the death of Christ!

In my "little" world

Hi.  My name is Ashlyn.  I would like to introduce myself in this blog.  Mom has been writing a lot about me and now it's my turn.

Today, I am 3 weeks old.  It's quit different outside of mom's tight, warm womb, but I am adjusting.  I like when I am wrapped tight in a blanket and held close to mom's chest!  It makes me feel so safe and warm!  Even though I am only 24 days old, my world has been busy.  (Rather mom has been kept busy.)  I like to be fed about every 3 hours.  It don't take me too long to drink my 3 ounces of simalac.  Burp. Diaper change!  Mom seems to have a routine by now and I love the way she cares for me!  I am still waking up through the night for feedings and mom is really looking forwards to me sleeping all night!  I want to ... but I need all the nutrients of that formula to keep my little body growing!  Hopefully, in a few weeks I will surprise mom and sleep straight through the 2:30 AM feeding!!!! 

I am being more alert.  I notice lights & respond to sounds.  I smile.  Not nearly every time someone talks to me but when I think they need a smile in return!  I love my nuk! 

Here I am at 3 weeks old!!! 

Ready & Waitin'

We've had so much rain!!!!!!  Please remind me on a dry week in August that all the "April Showers" is exactly what God's earth needed!  We are so ready for some sunshine and dry! 

Matthew is waiting to play some little league as soon as the weather permits.  His first game was scheduled for last Saturday, but because of the drenching rains it got canceled.  Then it was rescheduled for Sunday afternoon and again ... it was too wet!  So, the next game date is for tonight.  Yep, you got it - rain in the forecast!  We will wait and see what the weather will be like at 6:00 tonight.

Last week, Mike and the kids went into Sports Authority and bought some sports equipment.  Hadassah wanted soccer shorts.  She loves to play soccer and is running the back yard with that black and white ball right in front of her long legs.  She's good!!!  Mike and Hadassah run and pass it back and forth with Ginger running beside them!  It's so cool!  The other night she was crying that her legs hurt!  I think she over does it sometimes and her muscles get sore! 

Matthew needed bigger spikes and wanted a new bat!  When they got back home from the sports store, Matthew's face was beaming with glee!  He was so proud of what his daddy bought for him.  He couldn't wait to show me!  A new bat bag, new spikes and a brand new bat!  He loves this bat!!!  He's since then got it out almost every day and else just looked at it, or gave it a swing, or cleaned it (it's brand new and really not in need of a polish but he wants it looking good!).  He's cleaned his brand new spikes.  He's wiped out his new glove. He even used a towel for the inside of his brand new bat bag!  I'm telling you, HE IS READY TO PLAY BALL! 

..........
I am ready and waitn' too.  Doctor's orders are that I am not to drive till Ashlyn is 4 weeks old.  If you have a c-section, that's the orders!  With these rainy days, I am content inside and not wanting to take baby out in the damp.  But, when the sun shines and it feels decent outside, I will be ready to get out and about!  I can't tell you how many times the kids said, "Mom, can we go here ... can we do this ... can you go get ... will you pick us up at school today ... will you be at our class party?????"  After each question, I look at them and although I would love to do all these, I have to for now say, "No."  It's 'real life' when we don't always get exactly what we want right now.  I know that in just a few more weeks, we will have warmer weather, be more mobile and getting out and about!

We did manage to get out to Hadassah's piano recital at school last week.  It was short and sweet.  She did a good job!

...........
Last Saturday, when we had so much rain, the kids decided to have a "store".  They were displaying hair bands.  They hung a string from the living room picture window and displayed their products.  I love when they get creative!

OUR BALL PLAYER!!!

PIANO RECITAL

"HAIR BAND STORE"

NOTICE ALL THE RAIN DROPS?  YEP, PLENTY OF THEM THIS MONTH!

Give Me Jesus - Jeremy Camp

Just A Nap ...

We've had a busy week!  Matthew was home from school on Tuesday because of some mysterious pimples on his face and arm.  I wasn't sure if a nap was possible with him home, but he entertained himself with his Lego's and I got a short nap!  That evening, Mike took Matthew to his little league practice.  When they came home, he complained of a ear ache.

That night was a no fun!  Ashlyn was settled early (that's a good thing!!!), but that also means that she'll get up during the night earlier.  She was up at 11:30 PM for her feeding.  I got her fed and back to sleep and then Matthew started crying.  I got up to see what was wrong ... ear ache.  I tended to his needs and laid back down to sleep.  Then Ashlyn up at 3:30 AM for another feeding.  In the mean time, I was up 2 more times with Matthew and finally put him in bed with Mike.  If anyone knows how Matthew sleeps, it's not a quiet experience!  He snores so bad!  Mike could only deal with that for so long and Matthew was put back into his own bed.  Ashlyn woke up at 5 and had a very disturbing burp.  At 6 AM she wanted another feeding.  By that time, it was time to get up and get the kids ready for school.  I felt so tired and weak that after Ashlyn was fed, I couldn't help but go into our bedroom, close the door, get on my knees and cry!!!!  I had to have God's strength because on my own, I was too tired!  When I walked out to the kitchen, Mike asked me if I was OK?  He squeezed me tight and I cried again!  I wanted to face my day with determination and even though it was dreary again outside, I would try to make it the best that I was able!  Hadassah has been such a helper since Ashlyn was born and when it was time for her to get up and go to school, she did it with a smile!  Matthew stayed home from school again, but this time because of ear ache.  Mom came up and did my laundry!  Then the dryer stopped working.  Thanks to Jody for picking up my wet towels and taking them to her house to dry.  The dryer has motor issues and needs replaced!  I had baby sleeping and Matthew started throwing up.  Then I had Matthew settled and sleeping and Ashlyn was awake!  When Matthew woke up, we played a card game called "Guess Who".  I was sooo longing for a nap!!!  I needed one!  I asked Matthew as we played our game, "When am I supposed to sleep if when your awake when Ashlyn's sleeping and then Ashlyn's awake when your sleeping?"  He looked at me so innocent and said, "I HAVE NO IDEA!"  I couldn't help it ... I had to laugh!  What an honest answer!  When Hadassah came home, she entertained Matthew and I did nap for 30 minutes!  Only a half hour but it was a nap and that counted! 

I guess all this is a part of 'real life'.  Having a newborn waking up for feedings in the middle of the night is only a season in life.  Having a son sick with ear ache is only for a short time.  Feeling the desperate need of God's strength is something I should strive for daily, not just when I am weak and tired!  I love the song from Jeremy Camp that says "Give Me Jesus".  Every time I hear this song on the radio, my bose volumn goes sky high!  I am so blessed by this song and I hope you will be too!






 

Blessings ...

On Monday, it was so beautiful outside and the weather was perfect!!!!  Mid 70's!  I actually got outside for a little and enjoyed it very much!  With having a baby, healing from surgery and with all the damp, wet weather we've been having, my going outdoors has been very limited.  So awesome to see the outdoors ready to burst forth with buds and blooms in a only a few weeks! 

My family and friends have been such a blessing to us!  Mom is stopping in a lot and doing our laundry and any other household chores, Jody is at my beckon call when I need anything, sister - in - laws are cleaning my house and picking the kids up at school when needed, church people are bringing our suppers every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday for the next few weeks, Grandma mowed our 'high & thick' grass on Monday, and the list just goes on and on!  Blessings!  Thanks to EVERYONE!!!

On Sunday, Matthew's really cool Sunday School teacher (which happens to be his Aunt!), had his whole class at their house for an Easter Party!  Party is what they did ... the story of Jesus on the cross, egg hunt, 'real' hard boiled eggs, pizza for lunch, candy, candy, and did I mention candy!?!  I don't know why, but our kids love hard boiled eggs!  This was soooo cool for them!  When Matthew came back home, he was so proud of his bunny basket full of candy!  Thanks Jason & Mindy!  (We'll be sure to give you his next dentist bill!  Ha.) 

 

Mommy D. mowing our yard on Monday!  Thanks so much!!!

The kids loved the warm weather on Monday and thought bare feet and shorts would be the only thing thinkable to wear!

  

While Hadassah monkeyed around on the swing, Matthew got out his golf clubs and putted a few balls!