Merry Christmas!!!

Our three lovely, beautiful children God blessed us with!!!

 

(I copied and pasted my letter onto this blog and for some reason it doesn't look the same.)

 

Here's our family update ...

 

Its Christmas time and it’s the best time of the year - if you ask us!!!  As I sit here and reflect back through our 2013 year, I realize once again just how blessed we really are!  Not everyone lives like we do.  We have so much to be grateful for!  Here are just a few things happening with our family.

 

~ Mike … Working at Lapp Structures is still where you will find him during the work week.  He loves his employees, dealers and all that goes with having a good job!  He does a wonderful job at balancing work and family time!  I love that he walks out the door happy to go to work and then later walks in the door so happy to spend the evening with his family!  He’s truly the best husband and daddy!  The kid’s love when they can get him on the living room floor rolling or wrestling with them!  In May, he took a 5 day trip to Florida for a public speaking course.  Being trained by pros in speaking was a stretch that Mike enjoyed.  Mike still loves to play baseball but this year he coached the “Gators” ball team and did a great job!  He also still likes to golf and in September he got to go to Arizona on a three day golfing trip.  Compliments go out to Lumberman Associates!  He took on a new sport this summer of biking.  He’s loving his new way of exercising but still likes to go for a run now and then.  Traveling is something Mike loves to do and he dreams of him and me traveling to faraway places sometime in our older age.  J  He had a good opportunity to travel to Belize in October.  He toured the country and really was inspired.  The two of us together also got to spend a weekend in Dallas, TX, with friends!  We had such a great time!!!  A six point buck was killed by Mike’s arrow this archery season!  He was so happy to have an archery kill again and the deer meat is tasty!  Even though life is busy at times, Mike is my true love!  We are blessed to celebrate our 13^th wedding anniversary in a few weeks!!!  Time doesn’t stop, but if it could, I would freeze our moments together.  I love this man and he loves me!!! 

Mike is fun, funny & frugal.

~ Lori … I am a wife & the mother of our three gorgeous children!  I wouldn’t trade “my job” for the world!  Between mothering, serving, cleaning, keeping up with the laundry and all our everyday activities … I am kept busy.  It’s the kind of busy that I really enjoy!  A few things I like to do are cook, take candid photos, spend time with my family and in my spare time – blog, play Settlers and enjoy the sunshine.  You can read about our family events throughout the year at: reallife-lori.blogspot.com.  A goal of mine this year is to not take life for granted.  Embrace the good times!  Pray through the hard times.  Laugh and enjoy life!  Reflecting on Christmas, I love this time of year.  The Christmas music!  The nativity scene & the fresh cut greens.  The smells!  And everything that

comes with the holiday season!  I am thankful that Christ came as a baby, died for my sins and rose on the third day! 

Join me by enjoying the sights, the sounds & the sand tart cookies this Christmas season!!!

 

~ Hadassah … She’s growing and so much that she’s almost as tall as her mom.  J  I teased her so often already that when she is taller than me, I will need to start wearing heals.  I am realizing that else I need to go shoe shopping or just be OK with the fact.  J  She loves to hang out with friends.  She loves to have a good time!  She brings much laughter into our home!  Entering the tween stage is exciting.  She is looking forward to redoing her bedroom soon and then sharing it with Ashlyn.  She shares scarfs and sometimes shoes with me.  It’s so hard to believe our oldest baby is growing into a young lady!  She’s beautiful inside and out!!!  Listening to her practice her Christmas songs on the piano, is sweet music to my ears.  Middle school is going well for her.  She’s doing a terrific job keeping her grades up midst the newer responsibilities.  She loves to shop, eat chocolate and nibble on cucumbers.  Ginger, her puppy dog, makes a perfect pet!  Hadassah is a blessing, a blast, and a bunch of fun!!!

~ Matthew … He’s eight years old.  He likes 3^rd grade.  Matthew loves his family and his normal routines.  He and his mom have that in common.  J  His favorite past time events are throwing balls, playing baseball, playing games on the computer/iPad, and riding his new four wheeler he got for his birthday.  I know riding this in the snow will be tons of fun!  He made a new goal of reading more.  (Actually, we all did.  Reading is so good for the mind!!!)  He loves to spend time with his dad.  They enjoyed many ball games together this past summer!  Matthew joined the “Rockies” team in little league this year

and played great!  His imagination is never ending and it gets interesting to see all his drawings or Lego creations.  Teasing Ashlyn is still so much fun for him.  He knows how to get her going.  He has a passion for people.  He is a happy boy and enjoys the outdoors. 

Matthew is carefree, cool, and a big charm in our family. 

~ Ashlyn … She is a sweet gal and a handful at the same time.  She seems to like things on her time, her way, and that brings its own set of challenges for us parents!  Her small figure, blonde hair, blue eyes are so pretty.  Ashlyn does bring such joy and many kisses into our home.  We love and adore her to death!  She has a handful of songs she loves to sing.  Her favorite activities right now are … books, coloring, playing with her kitchen/dishes, and caring for her dolls.  The house would be way too quiet without her and we are so happy she’s part of our family!!!  Maybe with her turning three in the Spring will

bring us less drama?!  J  However, some drama is good and makes for no duel moments! 

Ashlyn is gorgeous, girly, and has a whole lot of giggles!

 

Well, that’s our family update.  Celebrate this time of year because of the real meaning of Christmas  … the birth of Jesus!!!  He came to this world to bring true happiness, true peace and lots of joy to all who believe in Him!  He died for our sins!  He arose on the third day!  He ascended up into heaven and promises to return for His church at any time!  May this Christmas be the best celebration you have ever experienced!!!  God is so good!

Merry Christmas!!!

 

~ Love From The Lapps … Michael, Lori, Hadassah, Matthew & Ashlyn

 

 

Nativity Scene ... 2

Baby Jesus is just born.  There's a chill in the nights air.  Mary and Joseph must have been very thankful that they at least had a place inside, some small fixings to meet their needs, and a small corner away from the crowded streets.  Giving birth in these conditions was most likely not what they expected or had in mind.  Some things just don't always go as we expect or think they should go.  They didn't complain.  They knew that God was with them.  God had a purpose and plan.  They just had to wait and see what would happen next.

Meanwhile, out in the hills of Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching their sheep.  Trying to stay warm around the campfire was not always easy or fun.  Being a shepherd was a dirty, stinky, rough to the bone type of job.  Keeping all your sheep within your sight had it's challenges too.  Nothing rare or strange ever seemed to happen to these shepherds.  It was just a job out in the fields.  A job for the lowly folks.  This night changed everything with being a shepherd.  In just one night, being a shepherd suddenly had a whole new meaning.  An angel from the heavens arrived!  A bright light shone in the dark sky.  God's glory was shining all around them.  Now, this would frighten anyone especially the lowly shepherds.  They were so afraid.  What was happening?  What was going on here? 

The angel began to speak to them.  "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly, there were tons of other angels all around them.  A whole heavenly host praising God!  They were saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"  Then the angels all went away into heaven leaving the shepherds alone with just their sheep once again.  Those shepherds probably sat there for a minute trying to put together all that they just heard and seen.  They rubbed their sleepy eyes and realized that suddenly they were not so tired.  They were very awake!  They grabbed their few belongings, left their sheep in the field, and headed towards the crowded town.  They said that they were going to go see this thing that just happened.  They knew that the news they had just witnessed was from God!

They quickly rushed into town.  More people trying to get through the streets was not what Bethlehem needed but it's exactly what Baby Jesus needed!  Worshippers!!!  The shepherds found Mary and Joseph.  They found just what the angels said, "a baby lying in a manger".  As they looked at the tiny newborn, they told Mary and Joseph all that happened.  Other's around, wondered what in the world the shepherds were talking about.?.  Angels ... a whole sky of them?  A baby born in town ... so what?  But Mary treasured everything in her heart what they told her.  She knew!  She knew that Jesus was special.  She knew that all they proclaimed happened ... was true!!!  The shepherds went back to their sheep glorifying God for all they heard and seen!  Never had they a night like this before!

I am getting my story info from the book of Matthew and Luke and so just how all these events happened in the right order, I'm not sure.  Luke doesn't say anything of the wise men.  But in Luke it says that they went to the temple.  So when Jesus was eight days old, he was circumcised.  He was named ... Jesus.  This was the name that the angel said to call the baby.  Thirty three days later, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord in the temple.  They offered a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two pigeons.  While they were at the temple, a man named Simeon approached them.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit and was so excited when he saw the baby boy.  Simeon was told through the Holy Ghost that he would not die until he saw the Lord's Christ.  When he walked into the temple and saw the young parents with Jesus, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God.  He said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."  Simeon knew!  Joseph and Mary was amazed at this.  How did this man now?  Then after some more statements, Simeon walked away.  Soon a prophetess, a lady named Anna, began to give thanks to God.  She too was glorifying God for His son!!!  She too knew that this baby was special!!!

After Jesus was born, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.  They saw a star in the sky and followed it for far!  When they arrived to Jerusalem they went to the king with some questions.  They asked King Herod, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."  What?  What king?  Herod was troubled.  All of Jerusalem suddenly was troubled and wondering about this baby.  What baby king?  He gathered all the chief priests and scribes and started asking all kinds of questions.  He wanted to know where this Christ was to be born.  They told him that "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: and you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."  After Herod heard this, he spoke to the wise men secretly.  He asked when the star appeared?  He sent them to Bethlehem and said to go and search diligently for the child and when they found him ... to come and tell him.  He said he wanted to worship him too.  This was a lie.  He just wanted to hurt the child. 

The wise men went to Bethlehem and saw the star again.  It was shining in the sky right on top of where baby Jesus was.  When they noticed the star again, they were so happy!  They went into the house and there they saw Jesus with his mother Mary.  They worshiped the baby!  They gave gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh.  They knew this was the reason they followed the star for so long!

That night, in a dream they were told to not return to Herod.  They departed to their own country by going another route.  They were not the only ones that had a dream.  An angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt.  The king was searching for the baby to destroy him.  So, Joseph got up quickly and woke Mary.  They loaded up their few belongings on their donkey and headed out of town.  They headed for safety and God told them just where to go.  They traveled all night and stayed in Egypt until the angel again told them it was safe to go home.  Meanwhile, the king Herod, when he realized that he was tricked and that the wise men were not coming back, he was furious!!!  He made a command that all the male babies in Bethlehem that were two years old or under, were to be killed.  How terrible!!!  So many babies died!  The king was sure he had nothing to fear now.  Surely that baby king was now dead.

After Herod died, an angel went to Joseph in another dream and said that they could go back to Israel.  Those who sought after Jesus were now dead.  Joseph and Mary knew it was now safe!!!  They went to Nazareth.

It must have felt so good to be back in their own little town.  Back with their families.  Back home!!!  So much has happened since they left town.  Their lives would never be the same again.  It would be much better!

Jesus grew to be a boy, into a man.  He was wise.  He was part human and part God!  His life always reflected God's glory!!!

Jesus came as a baby to die for our sins.  He gave His life years later so that we can live!!!

Praise Him this Christmas season for coming to save us from our sins!  Let's be like the shepherds and glorify God!  Let's be like the wise men and offer him our gifts and talents for His cause and kingdom!  Let's be like Joseph and Mary and follow God's direction.  Sing with the angels this Christmas!!!  Rejoice ... peace has come to earth!!!

Christmas with the Dienner's!

 Yesterday we got to spend the afternoon and all evening with my extended "Dienner" family!  Mom and Dad hosted the Christmas dinner at their house.  Their rec room and barn is just the perfect place to gather!

Every year my grandparents give EVERYONE a gift.  Thank you Mommy and Daudy D.!!!  We love you so much!

Handing out some money as a gift!

Ashlyn was all excited when I told her she can play with Kia today!  These two have a blast!  Playing with her cousins is a great day!!!

Matthew appreciated his $$$ gift!!!  Ryan, Tyler and Matthew had such a blast in Dad's straw mound.  They made tunnels and made broom soak ammunition.  They were covered from head to toe with barn dirt and straw ... but what fun they had!  We came home and Matthew jumps right into his pj's.  He was not impressed when I looked at him and shuck my head at him.  Taking a shower really a punishment ... is it?  He did shower and I would like to think that he really did feel cleaner and better!  :)  Boys ....

Mommy D. had a small present for the younger children.

She was the very first person to give Ashlyn a Christmas gift.  I have a picture of that moment.  I wanted to really capture this again this year!  Tadaa ...

 It's a doll that laughs and laughs.  Mike will be soon saying that it will be become bathtub toy I'm sure!  :)  Thanks Mommy D.!

A bunch of us blessed our grandparents with canned goods we did through out the year.  Homemade breads and goodies to last for awhile!

Hadassah was really excited when she saw what her gift from her great grandparents was!  A gift card to Park City and a pin.  Shopping excites her!!!

The girls had fun in the barn hay too!  They jumped off a big high pile of straw.  Straw in hair, in shoes, in socks ... yep all over!

Here's my handsome husband and no I did not photo shop those blue eyes!!!  Every now and then I say to him, "Just look at me."  I love those blue, blue eyes!!!  I love him so much and we are excited to have a joyful Christmas together with extended family and friends!!!  He enjoyed a game of Acquire with the men.  He won!!!  :)

Us ladies sat and chatted.  We learned about some new hobbies.  Ate yummy foods.  I always enjoy the homemade chip dip!!!  A favorite from long ago!  We played game after game of "Dice".  Cousin Angie said that she knows of another similar way to play.  You score everything the same except ... if a person keeps going after the first person who rolled is finished, and they get a one or five, that previous person does not get to write down their score.  We played one game like this and the men liked it.  Mommy D. hated it. :) She wanted to always write her score down if she chooses to stop shaking the dice.  It made for a more daring game because if you gave three (or how ever many) dice for the next person to shake, you must likely didn't get to write down your score.  Mike and Dad liked this and once Mike stopped at 300 thinking that Dad wouldn't go on with that low score.  But he did and rolled a five.  They laughed and laughed because Mike couldn't even write down a low 300 but Dad got to write down 350!  :)

The Christmas spirit is such fun!  Thanks Mom and Dad for hosting us!  Merry Christmas to all my Dienner relatives!!!

Christmas Parties are going on!!!

This time of year is one of the busiest time in our lives.  Always.  I keep trying to tell myself to slow down and enjoy the small things that seem to never get noticed.  We are enjoying all the cards through the mail!  We eat too many cookies this time of year.  We have Christmas music playing almost around the clock.  It's the holiday season that keeps us going from one party, to the next gathering, and then to another banquet.  It's all done with friends and family and that's why it's so much fun!

Yesterday, it was another one of those days that kept me stepping.  Mom Lapp and I went to set up for the employee banquet.  Ashlyn helped us set tables, chairs, table clothes, plates and all the other fixings that make a banquet look nice and like Christmas.  Mike brought us a quick lunch.  We organized the employee gifts and then got ready to go to our next event.

Ashlyn and I went to school for the third grade Christmas party.  Matthew decorated a ginger bread cookie, went on a scavenger hunt and even acted out some Christmas/Winter words.  Hadassah's class went on a field trip and so their party was an all day outing helping at Global Aid. 

We brought Celine home with us from school and she got to stay just a bit before Linda picked her up.  These girls think Christmas is awesome!!!

Then last night, we went to our annual employee banquet.  The food was great!  The games, fellowship and ping pong was exciting.  I just wish our toddler would have taken a nap in the afternoon because she seemed to be on my lap all night whining and asking to go home to her bed.  :/  Thank you all for your gifts and we appreciate our working crew so much!!!

It was late till we got to bed.  We were all tired and ready for some rest!

Today we slept in and enjoyed a morning here at home.  I thought about mixing my third batch of sand tart cookies but then decided to wait for that sugary mess till next week.  My family is enjoying way too many of these but I love them too ... so I hope to make yet another batch!  :)

We've got more Christmas events for this weekend!  Celebrate the Lord's birth with us and enjoy the season!!!  Enjoy your family.  Remember what we are celebrating and rejoice that Jesus was born!

We have only four more days till Christmas!!!  Yipppeeee!!!

Christmas program ... Baking Cookies ... Time with friends!

I can't believe that this is the week before Christmas!!!  We have like 9 days till Christmas Day!!!  So exciting!  So much has happened since my last post.  I have no idea how?  I guess because we are always doing something!

***
Last week was the school Christmas program.  I went to the afternoon program and again to the evening program.  Seeing it twice is always fun because they do such a good job!  The highlight for everyone was the play and the song "Drummer Boy"!  Watching the children preform about the birth of Jesus is great!

 

***
We had the start of our banquets on Friday night.  The food was yummy and the kids enjoyed the night at home with their sitter!  (Thanks Maryana and Jenna!!!  They really love when you guys come!  And no wonder .. a gift for each of them!  Wow!  Thanks!!!) 

***
Saturday we waited for the third fore casted snow shower!  We've had snow on the ground for about 10 days already this season and it's not even the official winter day yet!  I still always say, "If it's cold ... it may as well snow."  I like snow.  Not really being out in it.  Just watching the kids play in the snow and staying dry and warm inside is my way of enjoying it.  I decided to bake more cookies while it snows.  We made chocolate chip cookies last week and we stuck some in the freezer for future gatherings!  I mixed a go of Ginger Snaps and baked them.  I love making these!  The smell is so amazing.  The kids helped too!

 He scooped ...

 She rolled the dough into balls and then sugar ...

 Yum!!!

 I dipped some in white chocolate to make them look a little more fancy!  My style!

Here are the girls the other day baking chocolate chip cookies.  Watching them bake ...

 Scooping them off the tray ...

Eating them ...

 ***
Then we mixed a batch of sand tarts.  I never made these before and so I wasn't sure how it was all going to turn out.  I hoped I picked a good recipe!  I hoped my family would like them!  I was right!  The recipe is yummy!  The taste is so good!  The mess was crazy ... with sugar all over the kitchen counters and some on the floor.  Nothing a good wipe down couldn't clean up though!
 

 

The cookies are a hit!  My big batch of crispy sand tarts are almost all eatin!  I might have to do another batch this week!?!  They came in handy though when we hosted Matt Lapps and Dutchies for a very last minute Sunday brunch. 

 

***

Saturday night, the snow was blowing and it was freezing cold.  Like 20 something degrees!  We wanted to as a family go see a live nativity scene.  The snow didn't keep us inside and we bundled for the cold walk through nativity.  We arrived with the snow still blowing and the roads were getting slick.  We were taken to the walk through nativity by bus.  Then we walked through each scene.  We warmed ourselves while Abraham spoke.  Then we shivered through a few scenes before warming us again by an open fireplace with the shepherds.  It really seemed like "real life".  I'm sure there were plenty of really cold nights for those shepherds.  Then the angels sang as the snow still came down!  We moved to the next scene into a barn.  There we heard from the king and then witnessed a live manger scene of baby Jesus!  A donkey, sheep, singing angels, harp and flute playing softly, Mary & Joseph trying to keep their newborn warm!  We ended with warming up with cookies and hot chocolate!  By now, the roads were terrible and they escorted Mike back for our truck and we headed slowly home.  It is such a blessing to have a warm house and food in our fridge.  Mike and I again realized and acknowledged that those two things are such blessings!!!  We jumped into our pj's and made a quick visit with Matt and Lena.  Their basement was so warm from their wood stove!

 

***

Church was canceled Sunday morning.  That's when we decided to host a last minute brunch with Dutchies and Matt Lapps.  Mom and Dad stopped in too.  (Doesn't seem like the weather outside is keeping us inside.?.)  Mom made some creamed beef while I quickly got some breakfast foods together.  By 11 AM, we were ready to eat a hearty breakfast with great friends!!!  Thanks for coming you guys!!!  The kids played in the snow while we played games.  We sipped on coffee and ate cookies!  :)

 

Sunday night, we went to my parents for some Rummy O and Dice!  I rolled my very first handful of sixes!!!  Six sixes in one shake!!!  Mark that score down please!!!  :)))

 

***

Today was a normal day of laundry, cleaning up from the weekend, and making errand stops in town.  I am so glad to have finally dropped off my Christmas cards at the post office!!!  Cards are on their way friends!!!  The kids had another good day at school.  Mike made it safe and sound to and back home from New Jersey!

 

There is another fore cast of snow for later tonight!  All this snow is a blast!  Maybe we will be able to all sleep in tomorrow morning?!?

 

Take time to enjoy this season!!!  Winter is much more fun with snow ... and cookies ... and friends stopping in ... and of course - Christmas!!!

 

Lighting of our Christmas tree!

On Saturday night, we drove to our usual Christmas tree farm and picked out the perfect tree!  I think it's the best one yet!  It's full all around and the smell of fresh evergreen is now in our living room.

Mike and the kids went up on the wagon and pulled down the tree we picked out.  We paid for the green tree and loaded it on the truck.  Then we made a quick drop in to see our newest family addition ... Janessa Shea.  She's so tiny and cute!  Congratulations John Ervin and Anna Ruth.

We brought the tree through the front door and set it up in the living room.  Our kids are so full of energy and loud lately.  They were so excited to put the lights on it and hang the ornaments.  Matthew even started putting the lights over Mike while he made sure the tree is straight.  The joy and fun they bring with traditions like these are contagious.  We all had fun decorating the tree and now I love to sit on the couch at night, with all the lights turned off (except for the tree lights) and admire it's beauty.  It's starting to really feel like Christmas!!!

My crazy, high active family ... love them!  PS ... Some days we don't get out of our pj's!  :/

This girl is so full of funny gestures, funny faces and silly comments!  Here Matthew is covering up Mike with the lights ... just to be doing something crazy!  (I promise ... we don't teach them these things!  :)  )

Matthew has a gift wrapped for Ashlyn and because it's the only gift wrapped so far, it was still placed under the tree.  Cute.

Our two lovely girls!

 

 

Yesterday, the kids had a two hour delay and the snow is bringing more Christmasy feelings!  I wrapped some presents and they are now under the tree.

 

This morning we have more 3 plus inches of fresh snow.  The kids are home all day with no school.  It's the kind of day that makes you smile and keep looking outside.  Matthew absolutely loves all the snow so far!  Him and Ashlyn were bundled up again and out together.  Hadassah baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies and then went outside too.  The painter is here and finishing up the two bedrooms for the kids.  I can't wait to have them organized and situated!  It's all been going great so far though.  Matthew slept in the single bed last night while the girls snuggled together in the full size bed.  He couldn't sleep in his room because of the strong paint smells.  In a few days and we will have two nice looking, freshly painted rooms!  I am amazed with what a coat of paint can do to a room! 

 

The small heater is now running ... trying to dry the wet boots and mittens.  I'm sure the kids will be having more fun outside later.  They are getting their "school room" set up for more fun.  They have a day off of school and then play school.  I like it!  :)