Happy Easter!
Jesus is Alive!!!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Happy Birthday, Ashlyn!!! 2 years old!
Today is Ashlyn's birthday!
She turned 2!
She's the sweet girl we all love on every day!
She's almost got all her eye teeth. Blond hair. Blue eyes. She still writes marker on her hands and not always on paper (as you can see here). She says everything! Anything! She loves cucumbers and green beans! She sings "Jesus loves me ... I know."
Take a look at our darling today! (Can't tell here but she's still got the runs! Keep praying.)
Hadassah put these letters up for Ashlyn today. Then she did a 'photo session' with her! :)
She's two years old.
Cute as ever.
Opening up her gift from us.
New flip flops ... her favorite shoe besides her rain boots.
Sunglasses from Hadassah.
A new sticker book! She has just about finished her other two books. This girl loves to put stickers in their right spot. Peel and stick! :)
We are so blessed to have Ashlyn in our family! She's such a delight! We love you so much 'sweet pea'. You are our 'cutie pa-tutie'! "Sweetie peetie".
She turned 2!
She's the sweet girl we all love on every day!
She's almost got all her eye teeth. Blond hair. Blue eyes. She still writes marker on her hands and not always on paper (as you can see here). She says everything! Anything! She loves cucumbers and green beans! She sings "Jesus loves me ... I know."
Take a look at our darling today! (Can't tell here but she's still got the runs! Keep praying.)
New flip flops ... her favorite shoe besides her rain boots.
We are so blessed to have Ashlyn in our family! She's such a delight! We love you so much 'sweet pea'. You are our 'cutie pa-tutie'! "Sweetie peetie".
Easter Season ... #1.
Part 1 ~
Good Friday = the day a long time ago that our Lord, our Jesus, the Saviour of the World died on the cross for me. For you. For the whole wide world! For all those who receive the free gift of eternal life!
This day is a special day that we reflect on the death of Jesus on the cross. No school. No work. Just reading and reflecting about Jesus.
After everyone was awake and Ashlyn had two over light eggs eaten, we sat down as a family and watched a kids movie telling the life of Jesus. It started with His birth and went through His miracles. His healings of the blind made well. His teachings and parables. Then it showed His disciples and the Last Supper.
We watched as Jesus went before Pilot and Herod on trial. Then crucified.
He died such a brutal death! One being beaten. Spit upon. Hair pulled. A crown of thorns smashed down, piercing into his head. He carried a cross. He bleed. His blood poured out for me.
BUT ... the story doesn't end in defeat! NO ... on the third day ~ EASTER DAY ~ Jesus rose from the dead! He arose!!! He's alive!
Good Friday = the day a long time ago that our Lord, our Jesus, the Saviour of the World died on the cross for me. For you. For the whole wide world! For all those who receive the free gift of eternal life!
This day is a special day that we reflect on the death of Jesus on the cross. No school. No work. Just reading and reflecting about Jesus.
After everyone was awake and Ashlyn had two over light eggs eaten, we sat down as a family and watched a kids movie telling the life of Jesus. It started with His birth and went through His miracles. His healings of the blind made well. His teachings and parables. Then it showed His disciples and the Last Supper.
We watched as Jesus went before Pilot and Herod on trial. Then crucified.
He died such a brutal death! One being beaten. Spit upon. Hair pulled. A crown of thorns smashed down, piercing into his head. He carried a cross. He bleed. His blood poured out for me.
BUT ... the story doesn't end in defeat! NO ... on the third day ~ EASTER DAY ~ Jesus rose from the dead! He arose!!! He's alive!
After the movie and some discussion, we made a big breakfast. Creamed beef, toast, eggs, bacon and warm pears! Yummy! Mike was off for some golf and the kids and I hung out here at home. Last night, we went to Matt Lapps and enjoyed pizza and fellowship ... in between caring for Ashlyn. :/
We've been slammed with a flu bug the past few days. Matthew and Ashlyn were taking turns throwing up. Matthew is better but Ashlyn is stilling having a major case of the runs. Poor girl. Please pray for her and for complete healing on her small stomach!
Remember the death of our Lord today. He died so that we can be set free from sin.
Pen pals!
It all started with a simple phone call at 6:57 AM, Wednesday!
I was getting the kids their breakfast and getting ready to pack two lunches. Hadassah's class was going on a field trip today and I wasn't sure if she needed a lunch to take along. I called a friend from school that also had a child going on the trip. She said that they did not need a lunch. She also said that she was planning to go along and chaperon, but one of her girls had just woke up not feeling well. I made two quick calls and found a baby sitter for Ashlyn and I volunteered to take her place on the field trip.
Going to an old folks home was something I didn't do for years. When I was much younger, Rosa and I would go with Lynn to a old folks home and wheel them down to a room and play bingo with them. It's an experience I will never forget. Thanks Lynn for the taking us along way back then!
Seeing the fifth graders talk and get acquainted with the old folks was a bit awkward at first. They rehearsed at school with what questions would be appropriate to ask old folks. They even did some drills of sticking cotton balls in their ears ... hard hearing. Putting on glasses that were fogged up ... bad eye sight. Etc.. Etc.. Just to get a feel of how it must be be old. But, even after those drills, it still took a bit of smiles and giggles before they got the older person to say their name. :)
Each student had a Pen pal from the retirement home. They each made a gospel track for their pen pal and then on the field trip, they would get to meet that person and spend the morning with them. Hadassah's pen pal lady was sick, so we couldn't get to meet her. Bummer. Instead, she doubled up with Jenna and spent most of our time their with "Emily". They played two games. Made a gospel bracelet with the old folks. Ate grilled cheese and tomato soup with the elderly and then shared their track and bible verses with them. The whole trip was so neat! Thanks to Miss Kreider for organizing it! Great idea!
"Emily" was a sweet 'old' lady. She turns 92 in July. She told us about her favorite memories. Her deceased husband and wonderful two sons. Her wedding day and that they had chicken salad sandwiches and a white cake served at their reception! :) Her favorite food is cheesecake! She said as a little girl she lived on a farm and was right across the field from her school. She excepted Christ in her heart at age 8!!! A long, old Christian soldier was sitting right across from us all morning!
Hadassah was still able to give her small gift of a pansy flower and the track she made to her Pen pal. One of the retirement home employees made sure that her Pen pal would receive her gifts! I still wish we could have met her lady. Maybe, maybe we can go back in a few weeks and see her!?!
Spending time with older people was a great reminder for me to appreciate my health and all that I have! Everything good comes from God! I am thankful for my husband and kids!!!
I was getting the kids their breakfast and getting ready to pack two lunches. Hadassah's class was going on a field trip today and I wasn't sure if she needed a lunch to take along. I called a friend from school that also had a child going on the trip. She said that they did not need a lunch. She also said that she was planning to go along and chaperon, but one of her girls had just woke up not feeling well. I made two quick calls and found a baby sitter for Ashlyn and I volunteered to take her place on the field trip.
Going to an old folks home was something I didn't do for years. When I was much younger, Rosa and I would go with Lynn to a old folks home and wheel them down to a room and play bingo with them. It's an experience I will never forget. Thanks Lynn for the taking us along way back then!
Seeing the fifth graders talk and get acquainted with the old folks was a bit awkward at first. They rehearsed at school with what questions would be appropriate to ask old folks. They even did some drills of sticking cotton balls in their ears ... hard hearing. Putting on glasses that were fogged up ... bad eye sight. Etc.. Etc.. Just to get a feel of how it must be be old. But, even after those drills, it still took a bit of smiles and giggles before they got the older person to say their name. :)
Each student had a Pen pal from the retirement home. They each made a gospel track for their pen pal and then on the field trip, they would get to meet that person and spend the morning with them. Hadassah's pen pal lady was sick, so we couldn't get to meet her. Bummer. Instead, she doubled up with Jenna and spent most of our time their with "Emily". They played two games. Made a gospel bracelet with the old folks. Ate grilled cheese and tomato soup with the elderly and then shared their track and bible verses with them. The whole trip was so neat! Thanks to Miss Kreider for organizing it! Great idea!
"Emily" was a sweet 'old' lady. She turns 92 in July. She told us about her favorite memories. Her deceased husband and wonderful two sons. Her wedding day and that they had chicken salad sandwiches and a white cake served at their reception! :) Her favorite food is cheesecake! She said as a little girl she lived on a farm and was right across the field from her school. She excepted Christ in her heart at age 8!!! A long, old Christian soldier was sitting right across from us all morning!
Hadassah was still able to give her small gift of a pansy flower and the track she made to her Pen pal. One of the retirement home employees made sure that her Pen pal would receive her gifts! I still wish we could have met her lady. Maybe, maybe we can go back in a few weeks and see her!?!
Spending time with older people was a great reminder for me to appreciate my health and all that I have! Everything good comes from God! I am thankful for my husband and kids!!!
Monday, March 25, 2013
"Egg"cellant!
This is the Easter week. We are starting it with it snowing huge, white flakes outside. Not my preference ... but it looks gorgeous and we are warm and dry here inside. I always say, "If it's gonna be cold, it might as well snow." I usually mean this in "Winter" and not "Spring". Since the Spring weather just can't seem to get here soon enough for me and if it's cold anyway ... I guess I will welcome the snow. Snow in Spring? I can go with it. OK. :)))
However, I am really enjoying it this morning. I have Pandora playing Easter Songs on the Bose. Ashlyn is giving her 'baby Kate' and teddy bear a ride in her baby stroller. The heater is still turned on low in the family room. It's cozy!
Thinking about Easter seems a bit silly with the snow outside still coming down heavy. It does remind me of the verse, " ... wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." ~ Jesus
Here are my pansies and daisy's on the back porch. I hope they survive! :)
The children did some fun Easter projects in the Sunday School classes yesterday. Hadassah filled a large egg with Rice Krispie candy and then a cross inside. So neat! Hadassah's class also had a small seed they put in water and it grew into a small branch in no time! Really! I have to read up on the branch. It looks like an evergreen. It went from tiny to a small branch in an hour!
Matthew decorated a graham cracker with icing and candy! He said the icing is good! :)
With Easter on my mind and seeing a fun food to do this morning on a blog I have come to enjoy, I whipped up some Rice Krispie Eggs in no time flat! You can too if your into some fun!
However, I am really enjoying it this morning. I have Pandora playing Easter Songs on the Bose. Ashlyn is giving her 'baby Kate' and teddy bear a ride in her baby stroller. The heater is still turned on low in the family room. It's cozy!
Thinking about Easter seems a bit silly with the snow outside still coming down heavy. It does remind me of the verse, " ... wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." ~ Jesus
Here are my pansies and daisy's on the back porch. I hope they survive! :)
Here's the outside of my back door! Everything white and snowy!
The children did some fun Easter projects in the Sunday School classes yesterday. Hadassah filled a large egg with Rice Krispie candy and then a cross inside. So neat! Hadassah's class also had a small seed they put in water and it grew into a small branch in no time! Really! I have to read up on the branch. It looks like an evergreen. It went from tiny to a small branch in an hour!
Matthew decorated a graham cracker with icing and candy! He said the icing is good! :)
With Easter on my mind and seeing a fun food to do this morning on a blog I have come to enjoy, I whipped up some Rice Krispie Eggs in no time flat! You can too if your into some fun!
Melt some butter in a large pan. About 3 Tb. Melt one bag on marshmallows with the butter till everything is nice and creamy! Gooey! Stir in 6 cups Rice Krispies. Spray a plastic Easter Egg with cooking spray. Also, spray some on your fingers so that the gooey mixture will not stick on your fingers. Fill the egg half full and then place a chocolate egg (or I used a Robin Egg Candy). Fill the other half on the egg and press together. Open and set in an egg carton. Sprinkle with fun sugars or sprinkles too! I did two different egg sizes. I know the kids will enjoy these treats!!! :) This would be fun to make with them! I might do another batch with their help later in the week!?!
Enjoy the snow. I can see a Robin out by the pines watching it snow. I think it is confused! Matthew and I both said "Yippee" when we saw the first on the Robins showing up in our trees! I hope they don't mind too much!
Happy Easter Week!!!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Waiting ... for the "Spring" weather!
Burr. Shiver. It's cold outside! I don't mean to complain. I am so ready for some warmer weather! I don't think my seeds have been able to do a thing in the cold ground? But, I am so thankful that the sun is shining bright today! It lifts my mood against the coldness outside! (And maybe I should go check on my seeds? I might be surprised and see some sprouting! That would be exciting! : ) )
I have some random pictures to post today. Hadassah had some friends over the other weekend. The three of them had a blast together! They are chums!!!
They took my camera out back and did photo sessions of one another.
Hair curled! Smiles everyone!
They even snuck a few of Ashlyn in the midst of the girl fun!
Then they got creative and decided to paint an 'Easter Scene'. They got a board and some paint. They painted with their fingers and did a great job!
They gave the finished project to their wonderful teacher ... Miss. Kreider! They adore her!
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"Spring warmness ... please, please come! I keep going outside without my jacket and shoes! Mom keeps saying that I need warm weather to go outside barefoot! Please! Please come soon!" ~ Ashlyn
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Ashlyn is all into sticker books. She does it daily. A lot! She completed one book with no more stickers to pull off and restick. She is now on the second book! She loves, loves it! Right now, it's else the sticker books or the Jesus books!
Jesus books ~ All three kids loved these same books. I read them over and over in my own version and words. "Around and around and around went the stone. Zing. It hit the bear in the head. The bear fell dead!" This is my re inaction of David killing a bear. Ashlyn now says this herself and it sounds way too cute!!!
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Easter is right around the corner. Next weekend in fact! That's exciting to me. Reading over the Easter Story and reflecting on the death of Christ is always the best reminder for me that Christ died for me! On a cruel cross! For me!
Anyway, I responded to emails about the kids school Easter parties. I also searched on Pinterest with some fun foods to do with the kids over this time. There are some great ideas!
Last night, we had a family movie night! Here at home. It was great fun! I think we got three movies watched. Well, Mike and I fell asleep on the couch before 11 PM!!! During the movies, we ate popcorn and "Peep Smores"!
When I came across this idea ... I thought it was the coolest thing! Of course ... why not make a smores out of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow peeps?! Brilliant! I stacked the ingredients and then placed them under broil for just a bit and until the peeps began to get soft. We then topped them with the second crackers and yum! They were good!
I have some random pictures to post today. Hadassah had some friends over the other weekend. The three of them had a blast together! They are chums!!!
They took my camera out back and did photo sessions of one another.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"Spring warmness ... please, please come! I keep going outside without my jacket and shoes! Mom keeps saying that I need warm weather to go outside barefoot! Please! Please come soon!" ~ Ashlyn
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Ashlyn is all into sticker books. She does it daily. A lot! She completed one book with no more stickers to pull off and restick. She is now on the second book! She loves, loves it! Right now, it's else the sticker books or the Jesus books!
Jesus books ~ All three kids loved these same books. I read them over and over in my own version and words. "Around and around and around went the stone. Zing. It hit the bear in the head. The bear fell dead!" This is my re inaction of David killing a bear. Ashlyn now says this herself and it sounds way too cute!!!
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Easter is right around the corner. Next weekend in fact! That's exciting to me. Reading over the Easter Story and reflecting on the death of Christ is always the best reminder for me that Christ died for me! On a cruel cross! For me!
Anyway, I responded to emails about the kids school Easter parties. I also searched on Pinterest with some fun foods to do with the kids over this time. There are some great ideas!
Last night, we had a family movie night! Here at home. It was great fun! I think we got three movies watched. Well, Mike and I fell asleep on the couch before 11 PM!!! During the movies, we ate popcorn and "Peep Smores"!
When I came across this idea ... I thought it was the coolest thing! Of course ... why not make a smores out of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow peeps?! Brilliant! I stacked the ingredients and then placed them under broil for just a bit and until the peeps began to get soft. We then topped them with the second crackers and yum! They were good!
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Have a great weekend!
Spending lots of time with the kids and Mike is the only major thing on my agenda this weekend!
Stay warm. :/
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Let's let "Spring" spring forth!!!
Got that? Happy First Day of Spring!!! I have been so looking forwards to this day!!! I know that the 20th of March is just another day on the calendar but it always says ... "First Day of Spring"!!! No matter what the weather is outside, cold or warm, it is now Spring in my mind! That's exciting! I already feel motivated to Spring clean. Ahh ... just kidding! :) I'll get my urge. I'll wait for it to come! :)
I love Spring time. It's the time of year that seems to wake up the earth! We are enjoying the robins in our tree's (and Matthew is working on getting rid of the black birds that every year seem to make all their nests in our pines.) The grass is slowly turning green. The bulbs in the ground are breaking through the dirt and will soon be tulips and johnny jumps!
Thinking about flowers is like theory for me! I love, love greenhouse shopping. Even if it means greenhouse window shopping for now and until the weather allows me to actually plant them in the ground. I just said last night to my mother-in-law that I can't wait to go visit the greenhouses!
I am thrilled to say that today will be that day! We are taking sister Jody out for her birthday. We plan to stop for some pansies and a gift for her. We will also eat lunch together somewhere? Her pick!
The first day of Spring is always the first opening day for Rita's Italian Ice too. I plan to surprise the kids this afternoon when I pick them up at school with going for some free ice! Hopefully, the weather will be nice and not give snow showers as it's predicted! :/ Let's have warmth and sun now!!! Would that be too much to ask our Lord? Never too much for Him!
I am energized by the sunshine this morning. Thank you Lord for the dose and rays that are streaming through my picture window right now!!!
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I realized the other day that I had a few more fun pictures from our Florida Family Vacation that I would still like to post ....
These two love, love Popsicles!
Hadassah made rose's out of play dough one afternoon. They had fun getting creative!
The sweet oranges that I juiced a lot of, I am still enjoying! We brought some along home and I had another fresh glass of fresh squeezed orange juice this morning!
Here are the awesome people that live with me! They are so cool!!! Love them all!!!
Our last day on the beach and enjoying the ocean!
All three kids loved the water! Ashlyn loved the waves! Matthew did not like the seaweed but liked the wet! Hadassah loved diving through the water and swimming!
I love Spring time. It's the time of year that seems to wake up the earth! We are enjoying the robins in our tree's (and Matthew is working on getting rid of the black birds that every year seem to make all their nests in our pines.) The grass is slowly turning green. The bulbs in the ground are breaking through the dirt and will soon be tulips and johnny jumps!
Thinking about flowers is like theory for me! I love, love greenhouse shopping. Even if it means greenhouse window shopping for now and until the weather allows me to actually plant them in the ground. I just said last night to my mother-in-law that I can't wait to go visit the greenhouses!
I am thrilled to say that today will be that day! We are taking sister Jody out for her birthday. We plan to stop for some pansies and a gift for her. We will also eat lunch together somewhere? Her pick!
The first day of Spring is always the first opening day for Rita's Italian Ice too. I plan to surprise the kids this afternoon when I pick them up at school with going for some free ice! Hopefully, the weather will be nice and not give snow showers as it's predicted! :/ Let's have warmth and sun now!!! Would that be too much to ask our Lord? Never too much for Him!
I am energized by the sunshine this morning. Thank you Lord for the dose and rays that are streaming through my picture window right now!!!
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I realized the other day that I had a few more fun pictures from our Florida Family Vacation that I would still like to post ....
These two love, love Popsicles!
Here are the awesome people that live with me! They are so cool!!! Love them all!!!
Our last day on the beach and enjoying the ocean!
All three kids loved the water! Ashlyn loved the waves! Matthew did not like the seaweed but liked the wet! Hadassah loved diving through the water and swimming!
One afternoon, I was sitting out on the back porch in Florida and Ashlyn was running through the towels on the washline. I love the way she is enjoying this. Oh, to be more FREE and LIVE LIFE MORE LIKE THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES!
HAPPY SPRING!!!
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