Life ...

Some days go by so fast.  Others seem to linger on and then end with a sigh.  I'm not sure what makes the difference?  Today was a great day with our toddler!!!  She seemed to be so sweet all day.  After being so tired last night from her not taking a nap yesterday, I was happy to have a better day today.  Yesterday was a day that I felt like she was trying me out.  Like when I caught her eating Gingers food.  She knows better and I can't see how it even tasted well.  She kept shutting the door in front of Hunter (I was babysitting him yesterday) and saying that there are alligators in the room.  Hunter didn't appreciate being in the room all by himself with these pretend alligators.  Can't say I blame him.  She didn't have a nap either and so her mood was not the best. 

Now today was one of those days that I knew to keep stepping and get all I could get done in fast work.  It went really well with a better tempered toddler too!  :)

Mike was off to work at his normal time.  I love how our winter mornings together on the couch reading our devotions together before he leaves is still in process!!!  When he leaves earlier during the busy times of the business, that doesn't always happen.  So, I am enjoying these moments together!  It gives us the time to sit quietly.  Read.  Think.  Pray.  Sometimes even laugh or cry.  Life can be so fun and then sometimes so hard.  I am very thankful for a man that loves the Lord and seeks for wisdom from God!!!  I then brew up a cup of coffee for him, kiss him off to work and wave to him by front window.  I think being in love with this man is a touch of heaven!!!

By this time, it's time to get the kids up for school.  For some reason waking them this morning went extra well.  While I made Matthew a piece of French toast, he got dressed.  Normally, he lays on the couch till it's ready and then eats and then gets dressed.  I think his earlier to bed last night really does make a difference!?!  Then I woke up Hadassah.  She is growing up in so many areas of life right now.  I am amazed.  She really wants to please God.  She wakes up and goes right to her bible and devotional book that lays beside her bed.  She reads and prays.  Then she gets dressed for school and finally makes her way to the kitchen for a bite to eat.  After they both brush their teeth and comb their hair and say a prayer for their day, they are ready for another day at school.  Most times Ashlyn is now awake.  With Hadassah in and out of the bedroom, it doesn't always stay so quiet.  Ashlyn loves to watch the bus come and waves to them!  She says almost everyday that she wants to go to school too.  I think she will like school!!!  :)

Normally, Thursdays are my cleaning day here at home but because we have weekend plans, I did that yesterday.  It was my week to clean my dad's shop though, so after Ashlyn and I had breakfast, we were off to clean.  She stays with sister Jody while I clean.  Then the next week, Jody cleans and I watch the twins.  It works pretty good!  I got the shop cleaned in good time and decided to make a quick stop to get my feet soaked!  They needed it so bad and Jody was fine with watching Ashlyn a bit longer!  Thanks!!! 

Mom and Dad gave us more beef meat as a Christmas gift.  Dad raises his own beef and the past few years they also paid for the butchering as a gift!  I love this so much because it makes the best steaks and hamburgers for all our summer grilling!!!  The meat was butchered and ready for pick up today, so on the way home from cleaning, Ashlyn and I swung by to get it.  Now our freezer is stocked with fresh beef!!!  Thanks so much Mom and Dad!!!  We love you!!!

I stuck to my daily tasks and baked a large pan of crunch bars for a marriage retreat at the Haft.  We were asked to help with the cooking but since we already had other weekend plans, I decided to at least send something along up to help Rosa!  The bars turned out looking amazing and I hope they will all blessed by eating them this weekend!

By now, it was time to pick up the school children.  Ashlyn was on the brink of needing a nap and so the short drive was perfect for her to fall asleep.  We stopped for soft pretzels (because the kids are always to hungry right after school) before heading straight to the dentist.  Hadassah and Matthew both needed to get cavities filled.  Matthew went first.  After he was finished, I took him to the shop to hang out with his daddy while Hadassah finished up her time on the dentist chair.  She had two fillings and one tooth pulled that had partly fallen out already.  Ashlyn slept almost the entire time we were at the dentist.  So relaxing that way!

I put sausage in the oven before heading off to the dentist but the kids wanted some mashed potatoes yet to go with their sleeping teeth.  I whipped some together and we were finally eating supper at 6:15.  Mike wished he wouldn't have to be rushed but he had a school board meeting to head off to.  The kids studied their verses and words and then did piano.  Their bags are packed for a fun weekend with family.  The dishwasher is still running.  The washer and dryer are finishing up laundry that I wanted done before leaving for a fun weekend getaway tomorrow morning.

My day went well.  I think I mentally checked off all I need done.  (Well, Ginger needs to go to Sadie's yet tonight, but I might wait till Mike gets back home to do that?)

I am feeling blessed tonight to have good health and energy.  My Vertigo is still getting better.  I have my moments of dizziness but they are very mild.  Mostly when I wake up and lie down.  No complaints!  Mike and I have a fun weekend planned together and so it's now time for bed and get some rest!!!  Morning will be here earlier than usual.

Have a wonderful weekend and be a shining light to all those hurting around you.  A smile can brighten a day!  A thank you can make some one's day.  A hug and kiss will always make the heart feel much better!  The other day I heard this on the radio ... "Signing off but still pressing on."

Good night.

Spring has sprung!!!

It's April already and Spring is starting to show it's signs!!!  That's exciting to me!  I love to see the new life starting to bud on the trees, roses, flowers and the grass turning a slight tint of green! 

We've had a rainy weekend, so when the sun came up bright and the rain showers passed yesterday ... and the tempts were in the 60's ... I got really ready to plant some garden!!!  I went to Mike's mom and asked if I could use their tiller?  We loaded it on the truck and I was heading back home!  I needed Mike's help to get the tiller off the truck but I figured I could still work up the garden ground with my hoe.  I started to hoe and seen lots of earthworms squiggling all through the dirt!  Ashlyn gets the biggest kick out of holding a worm.  As I started to hoe, I thought that maybe this would be good enough and that maybe I won't really need the tiller after all???  Ashlyn was out with me as we dug in the dirt and finally I couldn't stop myself and I went inside for my seeds!!!  We started to plant the garden!!!  The garden tiller will be returned without even needing to use it.  :)

I had my gardening gloves on.  Ashlyn had hers.  I had a hoe and shovel.  Ashlyn had the same!  I made a straight line and opened up the sugar pea bag.  We together placed the seeds in the ground and covered them slightly with dirt.  Two rows got planted!  Then we moved right beside those rows and made another straight line for our radish seeds.  Then we planted the butter crunch lettuce and covered them with hot covers.  Candy onions were next.  I have my spinach and cut lettuce to plant yet but I got this old big wooden box from dad and would like to maybe plant these in that box???  With all the rain, the dirt that was shoveled in the box settled a lot and so I figure we should add more dirt to it before the seeds get planted.  That may have to wait till week.  We found the garden signs in the barn and hammered them in the garden!!!  Our garden of seeds have been planted and now we wait for more sunshine, more rain and then eat some good fresh veggies!!!  I can't wait!!!

Holding earthworms in her hands ...

Another fun thing that I had happen yesterday is seeing the kids come home from school, drop off their backpacks inside and head right back outside to play!  Matthew went for his bucket of balls and was showing Ashlyn how to hit!!!  So cute!  Hadassah grabbed the basketball and soccer and played around the driveway just being her happy self bouncing balls! 

 

I thought about firing up the grill for supper because it seemed to be the right weather for grilling, but instead kept it fairly simple around the kitchen stove to make our supper.  With the extra outdoor play, the kids were hungry for a good meal!

The pansies are in planters and now sitting on the back porch!!!  Happy Spring to you all!

 

Ashlyn turns three!!!

Our toddler turned three and what a blessings she's been to us!!!  Through the easy and tough training times her turning three gives a sense of relief.  Maybe the "terrible two's" will now calm down a bit???!!!  :)  Even though she can be our drama queen, we could never imagine our family without her!!!  We love her so much and she does bring such joy and life into our family!!!

She woke up wiping her eyes adorable blue eyes.  We were all loving on her immediately (that is always how it is if she allows it)!  She got the message loud and clear that it was "her birthday".  We showed her how to show it with her fingers!  We played the song "happy birthday to you" from you tube really loud!  She danced and took in the moment!  Watching her twirl around the living room floor and her long, blond pony tails swirling through each motion, is just way too cute!!!  Sometimes I really do just sit and adore her!!!

 

She loved all the birthday gifts that she got, especially these dress up shoes that sister Jody gave to her.  She clops all around the house.  Thanks to everyone!

 

Ashlyn loves to look at books.  We go through different stages and right now its a Dora book where you find pictures on the page.  We must have looked at it dozens and dozens of times.  She also loves, loves the "Captain Naaman/Little Maid" Bible story too.  I often read it to her after she's tucked in bed at night.  She loves to listen to it with CD too.  Puzzles is something she took interest in awhile ago and her collection has gotten bigger over the last few months.  She loves to put the same ones together over and over again.  I love that she does this because I think it's so good for her learning mind.  Her latest is playing memory.  She is actually good at it too!  She watches carefully and remembers.  Her young mind is growing!!!  Playing doll with baby Kate and Anna is a daily task!  Her kitchen foods and play sink is always rearranged!  She even started to set our dinner table by putting our spoons, forks and knives by each plate.  She feels important and likes to know she's helping too.  She likes to watch Peter Rabbit.  She knows it's a privilege when she gets to watch it!  She is still our veggie lover and has taken a big liking to apples recently!  She will push meat aside any day if there is corn or peas or cucumbers or string beans or apple slices available!

Turning three means that her independence is still growing.  She likes to do a lot of things by her self.  Sometimes it requires such patience and then other times it's kinda nice.  She loves to dress herself after a bath.  She does not like to have her long, blond hair combed out.  She lets her daddy comb it out for her Sunday mornings and he seems to have her calmed down by the time it's time to get a band in her hair.  I do that!  :)

I had good intentions on having a small party for her.  We bought the party plates and cups.  I did some very last minute inviting but it turned out that we celebrated just as a family.  She didn't mind really.  Maybe we will get to use her plates later this week as a surprise!

We love this girl so much!!!  We are blessed to have her in our family!!! 

Happy Birthday, Ashlyn!!! 

(PS ... I should add here that she did get dressed up real pretty for church and her hair combed so cute.  These 'real life' moments are so precious even if she's still in her pj's!!!)

We are unique human beings!!!

I slept good last night.  I woke up and moved slowly out of bed.  I got just a small dizzy spell and then felt fine.  I am trying to not make quick turns or look up or down quick because that's when my inner ear goes funny and it makes me feel dizzy.  It seems that if I go at a slower pace, things go better.

Mike was off to work after a cup of fresh brewed coffee and a kiss.  I packed the kids lunches and got them breakfast.  Matthew is all into French toast right now and Hadassah ate a pop tart with fresh fruit.  They were off to school ready for another day of lessons!  I started the laundry and then got breakfast for Ashlyn and I.  We shared some yogurt and bagel.  I decided to opt out on my dizzy meds and just take the meds for my inner ear.  I've been feeling fine so far!!!  I praise the Lord for that!!!

Sometimes I wonder why things like this pop up in life?  Why suddenly this inner ear thing?  I won't pretend to have answers because I don't know how to answer them.  One thing that I do know and that is to sit and worry about issue's like these do not help!  To turn to God and pray and pray and wait and listen to His voice and see if there's something to learn from this.  Sometimes healing comes quickly.  Sometimes not.  God is still always good and today I am praising Him for his mercy on me and for bringing me a fast recovery!!!  My morning is going so well!!!

On Tuesday night, I was in bed playing this song.  It felt good to know that God cares for me every single day.  I'm not sure why this song was ringing in my head other than since Wednesday morning, I've played it often or hummed it in my head.  This is no big trial, this ear thing, and I can't imagine how tough some storms in life my be.  Really.  One thing for sure is that I am being reminded that our bodies are truly fearfully and wonderfully made from our Creator!!!  Dr. Ben Carson reminded us of that on Friday night.  On Wednesday, the diagram that our family doctor showed us of how our ear looks inside, Mike and I were amazed.  Amazed how these three little circles in each of our ears have these hair like sensors on them and when they become weak or infected, it throws off our balance and makes us feel dizzy.  Our eyes are also needed but this is why blind people still can have balance without sight.  Their inner ears help them walk and keep their balance! 

Our God is so creative and really made us unique creatures.  The most unique out of all his creation I am sure!!!  "Thank you, Lord, for making me special and for letting our bodies run flowing so we can function with ease!!!  Thank you!!!"  ~ Lori 

Have a great day and praise the Lord for your uniqueness and for good health!!!

Spring fever ...

The weather has been so chilly the past few days!!!  It almost feels like January with the tempts being in the 20's early mornings and barely rising past 40 during the day.  It's gives me even more Spring fever.  Our upcoming weekend tempts seem to be better but with coming with rain.  Maybe next week my seeds will get planted???

But with the weather being so cold outside, we've been staying warm inside.  We had a wonderful evening on Friday night going to Daysprings 'Remember America' dinner and speaker night.  Dr. Ben Carson was the guest speaker and we really enjoyed all he had to say that evening.  He challenged us to get or stay involved with our public government leaders.  Know who they are and vote!  Vote so that we can get our government back towards fearing God!!!  The whole evening was impressive!!!  The kids were having fun right here at home with April being their caretaker!  They seem to like evenings at home with the sitters just as much as we do going out with just Mike and I!!!  Thanks April (and siblings) for making it a fun night for the kiddoes!!!

The rest of the weekend was spent being with my hubby and kids. Ryan and Tyler spent the day Saturday with us.  They killed a dove (and yes they were told that it's not dove season after they had already made the kill) and a sparrow.  We've got lots of black birds perching on the pines and we really don't invite any nests being built by them!!!  Matthew has been busy with his pellet gun.  Saturday night, Matthew and Mike decide to butcher the dove and fry the breast meat.  Let's just say that till it was all said and done, there were feathers in the family room, guts on my Longaberger basket lid, and olive oil spritzed on the kitchen oven and surround surfaces.  I try so hard to let Matthew get all detailed and be a boy with things like this.  Mike thought I did a terrible job at inviting all the other drama and cuttings of the bird.  I tried to tell Matthew (in the best manner that I could) to butcher the bird out in the grass and I didn't complain when I cleaned my Longaberger lid and then seeing the oil spritzing, I just walked out the kitchen till the cooks were all finished.  Then I wiped up the mess and floor.  The meat ended up looking like a chunk of coal.  It didn't smell too made.  It was hard and not good.  (Not that I touched or tried it though.  No thanks!!!)  Boys will be boys!!!

Sunday was church and then home for lunch and naps.  We visited Shaelyn in the evening.  She's so dear and tiny!!!  Her head full of hair is so adorable!!!  Congratulations Jason and Mindy!!!  She's a doll!!!  From there we stopped in for some snitz pie and soup at Ervin's.  They had church at their house and we wanted a taste of their goodies!!!  Everything was so good!!!

Monday was laundry day and the kids only had 1/2 day at school.  We all went to Sharp Shopper and then to Costco to load up on some good veggies and snacks!!!  The kids did a great job helping me!!!  On Tuesday, we cleaned Mommy D.'s house for them.  Her and Daudy come back from Florida tonight.  On Wednesday morning, I woke up early to let Ginger out.  I sat up in bed and everything was spinning!  I rolled around and stayed laying a bit longer.  Ginger scratched again at the door.  I got out of bed and quickly realized that else I needed to hang on to something or I might fall over.  I went to the bathroom and got Mike to come help me.  It was the weirdest feeling.  The whole room was spinning.  He helped me out to the couch and got me a bucket because I felt like I could throw up.  He said I was all white.  I felt terrible.  Mike stayed home that morning to help get the kids off to school and pack their lunches and get them breakfast.  I felt fine if I laid still.  I needed to stay laying for most of the day.  Every time I got up, I got dizzy.  At 2:30, I finally was able to get up and get dressed.  We needed to sign some business papers here at home and then the kids got home from school.  I didn't feel too bad but still would get dizzy spells.  We dropped the kids off at Lena's while Mike took me to the doctor to get checked out.  I had already looked up "Inner Ear Infection" and was suspicious of it being that.?.  The nurse did her routine and then the doctor came in to confirm that yes I have a case called "Vertigo" - an inner ear infection.  I was given two meds.  One to help with the inner ear and another to help calm down my dizziness. 

The next two days were a whirl.  (Sometimes literally!!!)  Last night I felt the best lying down and not making any fast motions or moves.  My spinning did seem a bit better and I slept well.  This morning I was able to get the children their breakfast and pack lunches.  They were out the door in time and I didn't feel too bad until around 8 AM.  Suddenly I felt myself getting dizzy and needed to hang on to things to walk.  I tried to make hot chocolate and toast for Ashlyn.  I was hungry myself and managed to scramble two eggs and make a piece of toast.  I sat on the couch exhausted and dizzy.  Sister Jody stopped in and washed my dishes and took Ashlyn for a few hours.  (Thank you so much!!!)  I laid on the couch and slept till 11.  When I woke up I felt much better!!!  I slowly got myself some lunch and started doing some house work.  My afternoon went well!!!  I was able to keep going without being dizzy for the most part!!!  I've read that the worse of this usually only lasts a few days and then gets better.  I have already seen a big difference and we are hoping and praying that complete healing will come soon!!!  Going at a slower pace really helps!!!  And that's not how us "Lancaster County" people normally operate!!!  Please pray for me as I get well and try to keep from being dizzy!!!

The kids came home from school excited to see warm chocolate chip cookies on the counter!!!  Matthew's got this state project that we finished up and chocolate chip cookies are the Massachusetts's state cookies.  He plans on passing these out to his class mates tomorrow after his presentation on Massachusetts.  I would love to go see his presentation but it will all depend on how I feel.  I have not driven the past two days and so going tomorrow could be an adventure?.?  :)

Health is wealth!!!  I was again reminded of how much good health really has a lot to do with our everyday events.  It's like bags of gold!!!  I am thankful to God for my healthy children, husband and myself!!!  I am counting my blessings today!!!

It's Spring!!!

I couldn't wait to wake up this morning and go room to room telling everyone, "It's the first day of Spring!!!"  I get energized just knowing it in my mind that Spring is here and that surely one of these days the weather will turn pleasant too!

With it being now Spring ... I am making a Spring Bucket list!!!  I got some of these ideas from other sources and then added many of my own.

~ Rejoice.  "This is the day that the Lord has made;  let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Ps. 118:24
~ I am very happy to have most of my Spring cleaning already done!  Thanks to mom and my sister/sister-in-laws for coming over to help me!!!
~ Be determined to exercise!!!  I have this aching thought to get into running (or at least for a brisk walk) again.  I keep thinking "when the weather gets nicer" but I know that's just an excuse!!!  "Lord, help me get determined!"
~ Plant the garden!
~ Make some spring planters!
~ Plant lots of basil (because I love it so much) and other useful herbs!
~ Don't let the weeds and my outside work get overwhelming!  Enjoy the outdoor work!
~ Trim, Edge & Mulch!
~ Um, pull the weeds and then mulch!  :)
~ Plant flowers!  Lot's of colorful ones because flowers make me smile!
~ Get my signs for the garden out of the barn.
~ Plan a birthday party for our toddler!  She will be turning three soon!
~ Organize the garage and barn (for the one millionth time!  :))) )
~ Get the mower, weed eater and blower fired up.
~ Fill up the bird feeders.
~ Fertilize the roses.
~ Open the windows and hear the birds sing outside!
~ Admire the tulips and daffodils.
~ Go to garage sales and possibly have a garage sale myself!  Hadassah and I love this!
~ Enjoy Easter!  The story of Jesus.  Communion.   Gatherings with family.  And fill some eggs with candy. 
~ Start going to baseball games to cheer Matthew on in little league and support Mike as he coaches the Gators.
~ Shot lots of basketball hoops with the kids.  Or do sidewalk chalk.  Or jump rope.  Or all of the above!
~ Eat fresh fish ... because I know Matthew will be catching some for us again in a few weeks!  :)
~ Eat lots of greens with the home grown lettuce and veggies!!!  Yum!!!
~ Count my blessings!
~ Continue to have lots of date nights with Mike!
~ Give plenty of hugs and kisses to the children!  They are growing so fast!  Embrace the moment!
~ Hang out with friends!!!  :)
~ ENJOY SPRING TIME!!!

It felt so good today to give the house another good cleaning over.  I know that with more outdoor play there comes with it more tracks and dirt in the house.  That's OK if it stays to a minimum.  As I cleaned I even opened the bedroom windows just enough to bring it some fresh air.  I would really love to visit a greenhouse today yet too!  Just because it's spring and I get charged by seeing plants grow!

Today is also my sister's birthday too!  (Another reason I remember what March 20 is!!!  A birthday for sis and spring!!!)  Happy Birthday, Jody!  You are so special!

It's here!!!  It's Spring!!!  Enjoy all the blooms!  All the fresh air!  All the wonderful feelings that only this season can bring!!! 

Seeds for the garden ...

I bought my garden seeds today!  I'm dreaming of getting them in the garden one of these weeks.  I hope to get the tiller through the soil on Saturday, but weather permitting! 

I made my seed list the other week and couldn't wait to finally go buy them.  Ashlyn went with me and she's so cute!  She went down one isle and asked "this one?"  She loves our garden foods and I think she will love to help herself when they are ready to harvest! 

I wish the warmer Spring weather would show up at my door and stay for a really long time!  Just yesterday, I again tried to rip out the pine tree branches and holly that was to be for my winter décor outside the back door.  But it's still frozen.  I'm thinking of setting the whole box in my garage for a few days?!  :)  I will be planting spring flowers soon and would love to use my planter box.  :)  Come Spring, come!!!

This is just the start of our vegetable's.  I have many more on my list but I buy them as plants and not seeds.  Things like butter crunch lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, etc. will have to wait till the garden is tilled and the frost is gone!

I also grabbed a few packs of sunflower seeds, cosmo's and zinnia's.  I am so ready to plant the garden, plant flowers and welcome Spring!

One more day till the "First Day of Spring!!!"  It's true!!!  :)  Celebrate!