"HIS eye is on the sparrow ...

... and I know HE watches me!!!"

The other morning, while listening to the radio, I heard this song.  After it was over, the announcer gave some history of how this song became about.  He said something about how a married elderly couple both had disabilities but yet always seemed to have a positive lookout in life.  They seemed to be happy even though they had daily challenges.  Daily problems.  Daily struggles.  A man came up to them one day and asked, "Why the happiness?"  Their response was this, "Because HIS eye is on the sparrow ... and I know He watches over me!"  This man went on to write this song and now many of us are blessed because of these words!!!

This week has been a challenging week.  Emotionally with trying to rid of all our mice!  And yes, the last of them was killed over the weekend.  We did not see anymore since Saturday!!!  Praise the Lord! 

My mind is full of lots of thoughts about life in general.  The choices we make today will most likely affect our children in the future.  I want with all my heart to surrender to God.  To His plans.  It can become a daily prayer and it's awesome to have peace that God is in control.  He's in control of all our wants, desires, wishes and hopes!!!  Going through the life of David in Bible Study and in my devotional time is so uplifting for me!!!  I am learning that David's secret to getting close to God was that he shared everything with God.  His feelings.  His hurts.  His victories!  His battles!  Everything!  I remember being in school and especially in high school when I did this a lot!!!  My studies were often prayed for and it seemed that I prayed more about my everyday things more than I do now.  Why?  I'm not sure?  I am trying to do much better at this!!!  I really think God loves when we pray and go to Him about our little things just as much as the big things!!!

This song has been ringing through my head all week!  It's so comforting to know in my spirit that God does really care and love me.  He watches over me.  Even when I doubt.  Or feel frustrated.  Or like I have the world's problems to fix and can't.  (I mean really???  Wouldn't it be so much better to surrender all to God and let Him take that weight?)  I am also going through a little Bible Story book right now for devotions.  It's just a small book with "real life" stories in the Bible.  I love it!!!  It's being a huge encouragement to me that God lead so many 'regular people' through the Bible and He did awesome things!  I mean walking through the Red Sea on dry ground?  Wow.  Being lead by fire and a cloud?  Being feed by birds?  Seeing the whole city flee because God made them hear 'a host of noise' and then the lepers walked into the city and found tons of food?  When the enemy was much bigger than the army fighting and yet they won the battle!!!  I mean like when God showed up at Mary's door and said she found favor with Him and that she would be the one birthing the 'Son of God'? 

These are great examples that God cared for His people.  He always took care of them.  Even when the people complained and had struggles and mess ups.  He looks out for us Christians!!!  That's awesome!!!  Really awesome!

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I enjoyed two straight hours yesterday with massages!!!  My wonderful husband gave me a gift card for my birthday and it took me from May - October to finally get it scheduled at the local spa!!!  It felt great!  Thank you Mike!!!

Today, I have the bathrooms already cleaned, the two oldest are off to school and Mike's at work.  It will be a day of cleaning, organizing and getting ready for a fun weekend with my man!!!  I can't wait!!! 

Be encouraged today!!!  God is faithful.  He did and still does miracles!  He still fights battles for us and splits the waters in our lives so that we can walk on dry ground and not drown or waddle in the mud!!!  Grab your Bible when you are down.  Open it and start reading about all God has done and then realize that "He is the same yesterday, today and forever more.  He is the Alpha and Omega."  Believe it!!!  It's true!

If you see a sparrow flying around outside today, stop and think how God loves you so much more and is really watching over you today!  He loves me.  He loves you!!!  Much more than we can ever imagine!

Mice (post 3) and Mike's hunt!!!

Here's an update on our mice situation.  Let's just say that I peak!!!  I tried to stay calm.  I tried to keep my cool.  I just couldn't anymore!

Saturday we caught a total of four.  That now makes something like 12 mice dead!  Not a good situation.  Not a good feeling at all!  My house feels dirty.  Mike was at the cabin and called me Saturday afternoon.  I tried to stay calm.  I was crying while talking to Mike on the phone.  I felt completely out of control with these mice.  Of course, there was nothing Mike could do with him being three hours north in the woods.  It just felt refreshing to let my tears and frustration come out.  I wasn't upset at him or the children or people ... I was upset at the mice!  Every time I caught one, killed it and got rid of it, I thought, "OK, this is surely got to be the last one."  Then I would see another one somewhere.  Mostly in the garage!  Hadassah was still not feeling well and Ashlyn and Shakia were playing.  I put Matthew in charge while I went a mile out the road and got more bait!  More traps!  More sticky traps (these do work for the tiny mice).  A bag of steel wool.  A bottle of expanding foam spray.  Bait.  Lots of bait!!!  I was buying on total impulse and looking at the hardware store man in desperation!  I felt like crying out, "Help!!!!!"  I left the hardware store a few minutes later ready to fight and win this battle!!!  I am going to WIN!!!

Matthew and I went around the house and stuffed all the little/tiny holes we could see.  We stuffed around the fireplace.  We stuffed steel wool under the kitchen sink.  We set bait containers in the attic.  In the basement.  We set two more traps and three sticky traps around the fridge because Matthew seen one go under there.  Later that night, that mouse was trapped, killed and disposed of!!!  PTL!!! 

We have not seen any mice now since Saturday!  Yesterday, Mike put more bait in the basement drop ceiling.  I feel like we got them trapped for good now!!!???!!!  I can't tell you how tired I am of being so conscience of every little twitch.  Noise. (Like when I was in the toy room downstairs and freaked when I heard the water in the pipes from the dishwasher running.)  Things on the floor. (Like this morning when I started the laundry.  I saw this gray thing under the sink in the garage.  I first thought, "Those crazy mice are moving our steel wool."  Then I thought, "No, that is a mouse!"  Well, I got Mike to come look right away and it was just old lint from the dryer!  It did really look like a gray mouse.  Sigh.)  I am ready to relax in my own skin once we are mice free!!!  :)

I am calling this my 'Egyptian Plague'.  It's no fun.  It's for sure not funny.  It's REAL LIFE for right now.  I can't imagine how those Egyptians put up with all their plagues.  I would have been furious that Pharaoh for not letting the people go.  Can you imagine tons and tons of frogs?  Lice?  Flies?  (Just talked to my brother last night and he was saying how they are dealing with so many flies in their house!  We chuckled when we both could feel each others frustration!!!)  Rodents, bugs, spiders, and all those disgusting critters are gross.  Not something nice to deal with and rid of!!!

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We are very proud of Mike!  He went hunting Saturday and came home with a nice six point buck!!!  He was very last minute with planning his one day in the woods and only practiced a little the night before with shooting his bow.  He went to the hardware for his license Friday night at 6:30.  No big deal really.  But he was excited to go!!!

He saw the six point buck in the woods in his evening hunt.  Took a shot and hit.  When he walked up to the buck, it got up and ran.  He took another shot putting the second arrow into the deers flesh.  He waited awhile and then found it!  Dead!  He was a very happy hunter!!!  We were all happy too!  The kids all wanted to see a picture and when brother John Mike texted us the news!  After they got it gutted and loaded, Mike called us!  Proud hunter!!!  :)

When he got back home at midnight, he woke up Matthew and showed him his game!  Matthew got a big smile.  Said, "Good job, Daddy!"  And headed back for bed!  :)

The kids came straight from bed to the dear!

Mike's Six Point Buck!!!

 

We cooked the dear heart for lunch yesterday.  It was tasty and we all really liked it.  An all out Sunday lunch is not something I usually do.  I knew the heart had to boil in water for at least 30 minutes.  They others said they wanted some mashed potatoes and macs with it!  I got the potatoes cooking too while the bow tie pasta soaked up the cheese and a splash of half-n-half.  The meal was complete an hour after we got home from church.  It was delicious!

Matthew's class did a science experiment the other week on pigs.  He wanted to take the lung out of Mike's buck and check it out more closely.  His daddy got him set up in the garage and he had a blast!  Seeing a tiny piece of flesh on my kitchen sink and blood on the sink in the garage is not something I get a kick out of!  However, I am glad that Matthew washed his hands in the kitchen sink.  :)  I was also happy when Mike got rid of all the fresh meat that Matthew cut up in the garage!  Boys ...

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The message yesterday at church was great too!!!  I love when I just read something in my devotions and then hear a message preached on that story!  That's exactly what happened.  In 2 Kings 6&7, it talks about a famine and how four lepers came into the city.  They knew that they would else dye outside the city from the famine or take a chance and go inside the city for food.  The Lord made a noise of chariots and horses and lot of "host".  All the Syrians fled from the city.  When the lepers arrived, everything was there for their taking.  They ate and drank!  God had provided for them!!! 

Do we consider our blessings?  Our table is spread.  We get feed spiritually every time we go to church.  We go to Bible Studies.  We have revival meetings.  We have family, church family, good health, breathe of life, friends in Christ, a risen Savior, a free country, hope, peace, forgiveness!!!  Spiritually our table is looking very good!  What are we do with our blessings?  Do we help the troubled?  Those that don't have peace?  Are we sitting at our blessings table eating contently when we have so many others all around us starving? 

What are we doing?  Love isn't love until we give it away!  Not reaching out is ungratefulness.  Selfish.  How can we not be grateful when Jesus gave His whole life?  We have so much to be praising the Lord for!!!  Our job is to tell others of our blessings!  Of Jesus!  Those lepers took the chance of going into the city to live.  1.)  Start being a missionary right where I am!  2.)  Pray for a passion of lost souls.  3.)  Weep for the lost!  Think of how sad it is for just one person to die without Christ in their hearts!!!  We can make a difference!

These are some of my sermon notes from yesterdays challenging sermon!  Thanks Amos for sharing the word!  I am challenged! 

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My house is smelling like pumpkin cupcakes because there is a batch that just came out of the oven!  It's pumpkin season and we have been enjoying pumpkin pie!  Steamed Caramel Apple Cider!  (Pour 1/2 cup Apple Cider into a mug.  Add 2 Tb. heavy cream.  A splash of caramel syrup.  A dash of cinnamon.  Steam it all together till it's nice and hot!!!  It's so yummy!!!)

If you want a quick dessert for tonight, go to my post last October and click on "Pumpkin Cupcakes Again."  They are so good!

My little one is listening to My Bible Friends while looking through a story book.  I have house work to do yet before the two oldest get home from school.  So, my post comes to an end!

I am blessed!  I want to bless at least one person this week!!!  I'm on the look out!  :)))

Mice (post 2) ...

I heard a cry coming from the bathroom this morning ... "I want it to stop!!!"  Hadassah seems to now be the one having the stomach bug.  I'm not sure why it is all happening weekends?  Three weeks ago it was Ashlyn.  Last Saturday/Sunday it was Matthew.  Now it's Hadassah!  After throwing up, she does seem a lot better and keeps munching on crackers and drinking water.  She absolutely hates that 'after chuck up throat feeling'.  Me too!

When she cried out, "I want it to stop!", I immediately agreed with her!  Stop the stomach bug and stop the mice infestation!!!  I have lost track by now and I am VERY AWARE that that's not a good thing!!!  Last night, after another fun night of games, we came home and Mike was gathering his hunting things together.  He was really excited to be going with brother John Mike to the cabin!  They left late last night/early this morning.  I'm not real sure ... I was already sleeping when John Mike picked Mike up.  Anyway, when John Mike got here, they heard a mouse.  Somewhere around the piano.  (I am now watching Ginger like a hawk because she's been sniffing around the piano the past few days.)  Mike put a sticky trap on the floor with peanut butter and also set a trap inside the piano.

At 5:30 this morning, Ashlyn woke up crying for a drink.  As I filled a cup in the kitchen, I heard a squeal.  Not exactly what I like to hear!  Ever!!!  Especially that early in the morning.  I looked and sure enough there was a tiny mouse on the trap!  I have no idea why I didn't kill it right then and there other than the reason of just wanted to get back to bed.  I set the trap outside the door up on my planter.  I thought that if the cats get to it then glory be!!!  When I did get up this morning to stay up, I went right outside to kill that mouse!  Sure enough, the trap was on the porch with NO mouse.  I wish like crazy I would have killed it earlier but now I am really, really hoping that it was the cats and that they got rid of it!  If it did get away, at least it is now outside!!!  :/  I texted Mike and said that his trap worked!  Caught the mouse!!!  You know what he texted back???  "Look in the piano left side."  I texted back ... "What?  OK."  I lifted up the piano lid and sure enough.  Another mouse was caught in another trap.  There were mice turds inside.  Some of Gingers food was in under it.  I think we found their 'home'!!!???  I swept out the turds and the mess they made.  Maybe this is why Hadassah keeps saying that some of the piano keys are sticking?  Sigh.

I set more traps.  Just in case.  I thought to myself that this is surely the end!  Right?  I went out the garage cabinet again wanting to really clean it out good now that we caught two more mice.  I started moving the things and what do you know ... one more mouse went running.  I screamed.  It ran.  I set another trap.  Put another sticky trap in there with fresh peanut butter.  I put mice poison food on the shelf.  Surely this mouse will have it's last day TODAY!!!

I never heard the likes of such a story.  I am telling the truth!!!  I think God hears our prayers about the small and big things in our lives!  Including mice!  Please God, help me keep my cool and help us get all these mice out of our lives!!!!

~ Amen! 

Mice!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not like mice!  I don't know of any housewife that does really!  I think they are gross, not cute and disgusting!!!  My husband agrees with me too!!!  :)  He hates them even more than I do.  Normally, I don't lose it when I see one in the house.  I try to keep my cool, set a trap, and hope that really soon it will be caught, killed and thrown out! 

Well, I have lost my cool this week!!!  We are being invaded with a family of mice!!!  This is the time of year that we usually kill one or two.  We are surrounded by corn fields and so when the corn gets cut down, the mice go running for a warmer place to survive.  However, we are hoping they DO NOT SURVIVE here in our home!!!

Here's my story ... We have already killed one or two mice this fall ... actually it's double that amount!!!  We stocked up on sticky traps!  But the problem was that we had a determined mouse.  It was stuck on the trap twice during the night and got away!  Twice!  We then knew that we needed something more!  We burrowed Dad Lapp's mouse trap and the very next day, the mouse was caught!!!  Killed. And thrown out!  I was happy!  We reset the trap (just in case we had another one) and the next morning there was a thousand legger caught on it.  This trap is awesome and very sensitive!!!

I wish I could end this post right now and say that we didn't see any more of those nasty mice.  Not so!!!  On Wednesday, I walked through the dining room and suddenly a tiny mouse went running right in front of me.  I screamed!  It kept running!  I set a trap and I was in a tizz.  Seriously!!!???  I had some errands to do, so Ashlyn and I went over to Mike's shop and told him of our little intruder and went for more traps.  And mice poison!  This has got to end!

I came home but still didn't have the mouse in the trap.  In fact, it's still set!  But in the mean time, I was folding laundry in the garage (because that is where my washer and dryer are).  I kept hearing this little scratching and yes, by now, any little scratch, twitch, or noise has me looking!  I looked up and on the garage shelf was a clear, empty container with a tiny mouse jumping up and down.  It was trying all it had to get back out!  I lost it again and I freaked!  I carefully pulled the container down and put a heavy board on top of it.  I would leave the killing to Mike!!!  This was mouse #2.

I remembered then that I had seen some dirt in the closet that is in the garage.  I store my bulks and some groceries in this cabinet.  I decided to get a rag and wipe it out.  When I opened the door, I screamed again!!!  Two little mice were nibbling away at my oatmeal that I had in a bag!  I closed the door fast!!!  I ran for the traps!  I was sooooo ready for Mike to come home and help with this disgusting problem!!!  That makes #3 & #4 in one day!!!

Mike finally did come home.  It seemed so long!  (But really he got home normal time.)  Mike, Matthew and Ashlyn killed the little mouse in the container.  Then he went to the cabinet and when he opened  the door ... there they were.  Two little mice just looking and eating oatmeal!!!  I think they are too little to know to start running???  He got one caught on a sticky trap and killed it.  The second one is still on the loose in the garage!  Help!!!  The one in the dining room is still loose too!

We have three traps set!  More sticky traps laying around!  Then last night, Mike was sitting on the couch.  I was sitting on the recliner.  Suddenly, there it went!  The mouse in the house went from under the couch - to under the bookshelf - to the kitchen!  It got away!  This is becoming quite a show around here and Mike got the broom and started hitting around to see if we could see it run again and put a stop to this creature.  Nothing.  Not yet!!!

This morning, I was in the kitchen making Matthew some over light eggs and toast.  I cut up a grapefruit for Hadassah.  Then I heard something.  This scratching noise.  Yep, the mouse was in my kitchen cabinet.  I put two traps in the cabinets.  I went right to where the noise was and I noticed this tiny little hole in the cabinet/wall.  I put a piece of duck tape over the hole.  This afternoon, there is a tiny bulge in the tape.  I know it's wanting to come out!  I'll let that job to my hubby again!!!

I have no idea what's going on with all these mice around here!  It's worse than ever.  The hardware man said that there are lots of people coming in and buying traps.  That must mean we are not the only ones fighting this problem!!!

Wish us some good catches and I hope, really, really hope that tonight we will catch these two intruders and put on end to this dilemma!!!  If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!!!  :)  I will take any advice!!!  :)))

In the mean while, I will try to not scream.  To keep my cool!  Not panic!!!  :) 

Other years we had lots of cats outside and now is when I wish for them all back!!!  I can't believe I just wrote that!!!  However, we do have a small kitty that showed up a few weeks ago and seems to like our back porch.  We also have a tom cat that visits often.  I hope they will catch any mice that are still running wild and free outside!!!

PS.  I was laughing when I said this but I kinda wish now I would have done it!  When Mike took the mouse in the container outside and killed it, Matthew and Ashlyn were right beside him!  Matthew had the hoe in his hand.  His weapon.  Ashlyn held a small paint brush.  Her weapon.  Ridiculous!!!  Hadassah and I would rather not join that gathering!!!  :)

Fall weekend memories ...

"Blessed be the name of the Lord.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.  Blessed be the name of the Lord, Most High ...".  These words were running through my head this morning after reading a verse in Psalms and Job.  It lifts my spirit.

This blog has been a record of a lot of our weekend fun!  Here's what we did this past weekend ...

We kinda feel like we had a really long weekend because the children were off school since Thursday.  So I guess that really does mean we had a long weekend, right?  We enjoyed the longer evenings together and not rushing off the bed was a treat.  We even got a game of Monopoly played together!!!  :)

Friday morning we slept in and relaxed!  We love mornings like this!  The Kauffman twins came here while Jody cleaned the shop.  I did laundry and got us all some breakfast.  At 11:15, we picked up Mike's mom and dad and surprised Lena by visiting her market stand in York.  They sell all different kinds of pickles.  Of course, because our family loves cucumbers ... the kids each enjoyed a handful of dill pickles!  :)  We got back home late afternoon and I was excited knowing that I had a fun night planned with Mike.  A date night with just him and I!  We took the kids to John Mike and Mim's and then headed for some food and shopping.  We were disappointed when we realized that there were no restaurants in which we had gift cards for.  Why does that happen?  We chose Smokey Bones.  It was OK but I know Longhorn would have been a better choice and free with our gift card.  Oh well.  We enjoyed the time together much more than the food!  We headed off for some shopping after our meal.  Mike was on the look out for comfy jeans.  After trying different pairs, he decided to just go with the expensive ones and be happy with how they fell!  Comfy!  Perfect.  :)  We did some more browsing and by then it was later than we expected.  We headed back for the children.  They had a total blast going to Cabela's with Uncle Mike & Mim and coming home with each a gift.  Slippers and bow and arrow.  Thanks guys for babysitting and making it such a fun night for them.

Saturday morning we slept in again.  The kids never got to bed till after midnight and so sleeping till 9 was great for them!!!  Jeffrey was here and the Kauffman children were too.  They played out in the cool brisk air while Mike and I cleaned out the garage and barn!!!  Things look so much better when they have a place to be and organized!  I just wish I wouldn't let it go till it's a huge project.  With Mike's help, it went great.  The water cooler got a good clean out too.  The patio furniture was put in storage till the cold seasons past through.  Spending the evening here at home was nothing boring either.  We babysat Hunter.  Ben's came to pick up Jeff and when they come the house goes wild.  :)Cousins just have a blast!  Meanwhile, Matthew ends up on the couch with a stomach ache and throwing up.  Poor guy just never complains when he's sick.  He puts me to shame.  Big time.  He lays there not feeling well and every now and then I hear him throwing up in the blue bucket.  I provided water, prayer and gentleness, hoping that the stomach bug will not last long!!!  Praying for healing!  He ended up sleeping on the couch.  I slept on the other couch right beside him.  We had an interrupted sleep but he did feel some what better by morning.

Sunday Mike and Hadassah were the only ones off to church.  I stayed home with Matthew to make sure he was all well and stomach ache free.  He stomached some canned peaches and took a hot bath.  I was really hoping that there was no more throwing up.  And there wasn't!!!  We played some Bible Baseball on the living room floor together.  Ashlyn looked at books and watched us play.  We were so sad when Mike called us and said that Sam Stoltzfus had passed away last night in his sleep.  He's leaving behind his wife and three young children.  Will you please pray for the Stoltzfus family that they may find comfort & strength in God!!! 

We enjoyed some of our fresh canned soup for lunch.  Mike geared up after his short nap for a 10K running race he was doing at 3.  I wasn't sure if we were going to make it to watch him run or not but the weather was so lovely and I thought the fresh air would be good for us all ... including Matthew!!!  We loaded up the wagon, grabbed some blankets and water and watched Mike take off running.  It was a fun time and Mike's run went well.  He ran the 10K in 55 minutes and 32 seconds!  We all cheered as he crossed the finish line!  (The race was a fundraiser for my cousin Amanda and her family serving in Haiti.  May you be blessed Jason and Amanda!!!)  Seeing all the people out in running gear was exactly what I needed to get me excited about running again.  Just the night before Mike was telling me how much he thinks I need to get started running once again.  Not because he thinks I need to loose weight, but more than anything, it helps me mentally!!!  It makes me feel good.  It's called exercise and good oxygen to my lungs and brain!!!  I'm just not sure why it always looks like a chore for me until I finally get myself out there??? 

After showering, we headed for a family night at John Mike and Mim.  He cooked burgers, chicken and hot dogs on the grill and it was fun sitting together just chatting.  Well, some of us were more concerned about football scores than chatting together about life.  :)  Mike is very impressed with the Chiefs!!!  :)  We didn't let this night get near as late as the previous ones.  Bed for the children by 9:15 was great!!!  We are thankful that Matthew is feeling better!!!  Thank you Jesus!!!

We live in a world now with lots of technology!  Mike was excited to listen to his audio book while he ran his 6 plus miles!  Here he is starting and finishing!

 So proud of you Hun!!!  You make me cheer, smile and laugh ... all at once!  I love you!!!

Today the sun shines in through the bay window bringing in lots of heat!!!  I turned the thermostat heat off and I am enjoying the warmth right now on my face as I type!  I hear the leaves rustling outside.  A cool, fall breeze is coming in through the crack in the window.  I did another Bible Study lesson and would love to share some thoughts! 

Our study on David is so interesting.  Did you ever wonder why David is known for "a man after God's own heart?"  He had big, huge mess ups in his life.  He for sure wasn't perfect.  Neither are we!!!  I was encouraged through this lesson how that David shared EVERYTHING with God.  His feelings.  His fears.  His triumphs.  His victories.  His heart!  It seemed like he had a direct communication with God!  He did.  David cried aloud to God.  He knew God could handle that.  He poured out all his feelings to God.  He was sure God didn't mind.  He prayed.  When we pray it's not just for us to talk to God but also music to God's ears.  He wants us to talk to Him!  David also wanted God to be present and feel it!  Pouring out his feelings to God made it real for David to feel God's presence.  I love the quote from Beth Moore!  She says, "Feelings can be a little like our laundry.  Sometimes we can't sort them until we dump them on the table."  God likes when we tell him exactly how we feel.  And finishing up my lesson it also talked how David confessed his needs.  His emptiness.  Too many times we talk to people about all our problems and feelings but hardly ever share them on our knees to God.  I wish to do much better at this!!!

The Bible is always showing me new truths!  I love it when I can view each day as a gift.  Not always view life like a busy schedule but a precious gift from God.  A day with my family and friends.  One day at a time.  It might not always be easy.  No.  I'm sure there were lots of boring days for David out in the sheep field.  I'm sure the first time he saw that lion or bear or giant that he slaughtered, wasn't just a piece of cake.  It required action.  He seemed to never rely on his own strength but on God's!  I think that is one huge reason why David had a heart after God!!!

Life is a journey here on earth.  Some days are fun.  Other days are stressful.  Some are sad and some are glad!  I hope that I can always find a song to sing in my heart!  God is good all the time!  And all the time, God is good!  Amen.

Finally finishing up this post!

I don't usually start a blog post and not finish it.  When I sit down to write, I post it ... most times.  But this journal was started on October 1 and I just didn't take the time (or rather have the time) to complete it.  So here goes for a really long post ...

10/01/2013 thoughts ...

I blink.  I reach for the calendar.  I turn yet another page.  Another month has been lived and is now gone.  Another month lies before us.  I am happy to say that the family calendar does look a bit more relaxing!  Even though there's not a week on my calendar page that's "empty", I hope we can enjoy more time together at home!!!

It's relaxing to know that today I can go out for groceries and a few more stops without being in a rush!  That alone makes for a better start!!!  :)

I am so delighted to say that ALL the carpets on the first floor of our house are cleaned!!!  They were deep cleaned yesterday and they look so, so much better!!!  Goodness, they needed it so bad!  Are we really that dirty?  Or do I just allow too much traffic on the carpets with shoes on?  Whatever the reason, they are clean now and hopefully they will stay that way a long time!!!  :)

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I keep thinking that I should post some interests of the children right now in their lives!  Time right now won't last forever.  They grow up so fast!

HADASSAH ... she's practicing volleyball almost every night.  They play this in school and she is really doing well with her fundamentals and she can serve great!  We were out in the back yard last evening bumping the ball back and forth.  We didn't have near as many 'stray balls' as when we first began this practicing!!!  Good job girl! 

She also is still taking piano lessons at school but only because her mom makes her do this!  :/  I think she will thank me someday for giving this opportunity to her but for now ... she's not really into it!  Sigh.

She's growing tall!  She is almost as tall as me!  Really!  The other Sunday morning I woke her up and when she got out of bed, I was struck with amazement.  How can my oldest be this tall already!  It's really showing with her dresses too.  She needs longer ones!  She wears my shoes.  My scarves.  I love it that we are friends!!!

MATTHEW ... all boy!  He showers only because I tell him too.  Not because he thinks he should get cleaned up and scrubbed down!  :)  He still loves balls and throwing catch with Mike in the back yard its something they do almost every night. 

He's my snacker too.  He loves chips and these peanut butter pretzels right now.  The other morning I was packing their school lunches and he got the big container (one from Costco so you know it was big) out of the pantry and said, "Mom put some of these in my lunch.  You don't have to put them all in."  He doesn't usually want sandwiches in his lunch so right now we are doing baloney and cream cheese. 

He's still the biggest tease to his little sister.  I have to keep reminding him and telling him to stop it and stop making her scream.  It's like he thrives on it and her response is always the same ... screaming.  I hope they do grow out of this stage quickly!!!  :)

ASHLYN ... the youngest and the most spoiled for sure.  We are knee deep into trying to 'train her' and teach her ways of sharing, caring, and saying sorry.  It's tough.  Really tough some days.  We celebrated the other day because she didn't have any melt downs.  I know ... ridiculous.  I remember when she was only a few months old and Mike made the comment, "Hun, I think she's a little different than the others.  More high strong."  I now agree!  We will try our best and hope she grows up to be a lovely, beautiful girl inside and out!!!  We continue to rely on God's help!!!

(This was written on 10/16) ...
She's got plenty of fun, good characteristics though too!!!  She loves, loves books right now!!!  She sits and 'reads'.  She loves when I read to her too!  She's got this little book that was given to Hadassah when she was young.  I don't even remember who gave it to her.  It's a book that intrigues Ashlyn so much.  I'm not sure why because Hadassah never seemed to be real interested in it?  It's a book of songs and poems.  Every day she brings this small, purple book to me and we read or sing it!  Songs like:  I'll be a sunbeam; Jesus loves me; Jesus loves the little children; Tell me the story of Jesus; I must tell Jesus; Praise Him, All you little children; Be near me; The Lord is good to me!!!  She has no idea how often these songs ministered to my soul as we sang them together.  The other day Mike listened as we went through our normal routine and he was amazed.  I got all teared up and I think it's so awesome that she loves to sing these amazing songs!  I love you Ashlyn so much!!!
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I have never had a blog post written and not posted this long before.  I am catching my breath as I finally feel like my life is slowing down!!!  I am so ready! 

Looking back at our past week, it was again packed with great events.  Some made me so tired.  Some were so much fun.  Others were moments of remembrance. 

Last Thursday, I helped with hot lunch at school and then talked to Rachel Ann about coordinating her wedding on Saturday.  I left Ashlyn with sister in law Lena and on my way back, Lena texted and said Ashlyn had just thrown up.  What?  I picked her up and tried to doctor her and care for her.  She kept spitting up and crying of belly ache.  She ate no supper but did seem a bit better by dark.  I was invited to meet with a group of ladies that were gathered at the new coffee shop in town later that night.  It was raining all day and I was excited to meet up with some good friends again.  We sipped our hot beverages and went around in a circle sharing what God is doing in our lives.  I really miss these ladies at church but excited to see where God is leading their families.  Mike was home with the children and Ashlyn was feeling a little better.

Friday, the kids had school and I decided to stay indoors if at all possible.  Ashlyn was not throwing up anymore but still laying from belly ache.  By lunch, she was up playing and seemed much better!!!  PTL!  I had wedding rehearsal to be at by 7.  We ate supper and I was off again leaving Mike with the little ones.  I met them all at Dad Lapps later for three good games of Settlers.  This game has us all worked up and it just don't get better than when we start hearing dad whine about the game.  One game is a blast and fun and then the very next set up ... the game can be terrible!  We all won one but dad!  :)  It was almost midnight before we got to bed!

Saturday we had a wedding.  I was the coordinator so I was up early.  The day went smooth and everything went well!  After we got back home, we ordered pizza and had a good night here at home hosting Dutchies!  The kids just have a blast together!  We adults did too!  :)  Thanks so much for coming Dutch and Rosa!  Your friendship is priceless!

Sunday morning was communion at church.  I never get tired of hearing the story and life of Jesus.  We heard again about the brutal death he died so that you and I can have eternal life!!!  We took bread and gave thanks.  We drank a sip of wine and gave thanks.  We washed each others feet.  Gave alms.  Then we all had lunch at church.  The meal was good!  We didn't stay at lunch real long though because Mike and some 'biker friends' were meeting at 1:30 to go for a 30 mile bike ride.  The kids and I relaxed at home while Mike had his best bike/run ever!!!  He seems to love this sport a lot!  The wives and children all met at Sam & Mary Ann for supper and had a time of fellowship with our hubbies.  Again, it was a great night with special friends!!!  Thanks Mary Ann for hosting the biking crew!  :)  We got home and remembered that the kids don't have school on Monday because of Columbus Day.  It was nice to not rush them off to bed!

Monday, I was so glad to sleep a little longer and let the children sleep in too.  I did some laundry and then went to Ladies Bible Study.  I am really enjoying the study we are doing on David!  The topic talked a bunch about jealousy.  I wrote, "We can't expect from people with what only God can rescue."  Jealousy comes with a threat.  When we are jealous of someone/thing we feel threatened.  We need to be humble and rid of jealous feelings.  "There is no rest on earth than after we give it over to our God!"  Then we talked about trusting God and how that becomes a daily choice.  Trust Him always!  Trusting God = "It might be a painful place to get but it's a wonderful place to stay!"  Trusting God with my mind and heart is a challenge!

It was a beautiful October afternoon!!!  I had so much outside work waiting for me that I decided to dig in and get to it!  The children helped me throw the 'not so pretty flowers anymore' out to the field.  I pulled weeds.  Blew out the pine needles and dead petals from the flower beds.  I mowed the front lawn.  It felt so good to 'prepare for cold weather' outside.  Funny though, I am pulling out flowers and yet we still have watermelon growing!  :)

Monday was my dads birthday too!  We surprised him by going out to eat and then back to dads for cake and ice cream.  It was a treat and fun!  Happy birthday dad!!!  You are so special and I love you!

Yesterday, I picked up some turkey and chicken meat and canned one batch.  I was busy preparing for our annual secret sister banquet.  The night was fun and again it was so great to see ladies from church and others that now go to other churches.  Bless you all!

I now have the laundry done for today and the third batch of meat is cooking in the caner!  The children will be home from school soon and Ashlyn is napping!  It is time to close this really long post and finally get it "posted"!!!

Life is busy.  Life is fun!  Life is short and we only get one shot at it!  Let's make the most of each day!  Hadassah told me this morning right before getting on the bus, "Mom, have the best day of your life!"  I smiled and immediately thought that my best day of my life was when I married my best friend!  However, I would try to make today a good day!  A day at home spending lots of time with Ashlyn!  Smile and make today a really good day too!!!

Lots of soup!!!

Today was soup day for us!  Mom and two of my sister -in -laws and I got together and mixed up five different kinds of soup!  It was a big, hard working day but we will all be so thrilled when we can restock our shelves with soup for the chilly days!!!

Fannie Lynn started out doing a batch of cream of mushroom soup.  Mom and I did this last Friday and had enough mushrooms left for one more batch.  It filled the kitchen up with a wonderful smell of cooked mushrooms.  I love that smell!!!

Then we mixed up a huge batch of potato soup!  We got the recipe from Susan Fisher and we all love it!  It's a small recipe so we took it X 18!  I know ... that's a lot of soup.  But between four of us, that's what we wanted.  After we mixed it all in a huge container we filled the jars and began to can.

Mom's been itching to make some good clam chowder soup.  After doing some research to find a recipe that we can use to can clam chowder, we ended up just picking one out of a cookbook and canned it.  First time for everything right?!?  I wasn't too sure of the idea.  I helped mix but will let them tell me if it is good and tasty.  Maybe I'll do some next year?

We took a lunch break with eating mom's delicious 'pig stomach' meal.  So yummy.  It's sausage, potatoes, roast, seasonings and ???.  All baked together.  We had the left overs for supper tonight and my family ate every single bite.  It's been a long time that I didn't have leftovers to put in the fridge.  Thanks mom!!!  Your pumpkin pie was delicious too!  :)

We got right back to mixing more soups.  Cheeseburger Soup!  I got this recipe from Anne Crystal and can't wait to serve it for supper on a cold night!

4 lbs. Hamburger
3 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 cup chopped onions
3 cup diced celery
3 cup diced carrots
9 cups diced potatoes
2 - 48 oz. cans chicken broth

Brown the hamburger with some butter.  Cook your vegetables just a bit and toss everything together except your broth.  Add some fresh garlic too if you want!  Fill your jars with your burger and vegetable mix and then pour your broth to fill up your jar.  Cold pack for 3 hours.  Yield: 9 Qts.

When serving ... heat a jar of soup and add milk, flour and cheese! 

 

We made two batches of this soup and then moved on to the next recipe ...

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Chili Soup.  Another recipe from Annie!  Thanks!!!

10 lb. Hamburger
6 Qts. Tomato Juice
2 cans stewed tomatoes, chopped
2 gallons pork & beans
3 jars canned pickle relish (I used two small jars of homemade pickle relish jam.)
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
3 pks. chili seasoning
Salt
Red pepper

Brown the hamburger and mix it with all the other ingredients.  Fill your jars and cold pack for 3 hours.  Easy and so yummy!  Yield: 20 Qts. & 4 pints

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All these soups were fairly easy but time consuming.  Chopping, cooking, filling and canning!  Thanks so much ladies for working together to get the job done well!  I had to leave mom with the mess to clean up again so I could be home for when the school children came home.  :/

Thanks again mom for letting us use your stoves and nice canning kitchen!!!  Love you!

Wedding Pics #2 ...

I know.  I know.  I should really be in bed right now with it almost striking midnight, but I am up waiting for Mike to come home from his five day trip to Belize.  All the pictures I have seen so far from email and texts tells me he had a really good time!  We can't wait to have him back in our home and I know we will be all over him tomorrow morning when the children wake up for school and see daddy is home!!!  :)

Anyway, while I am waiting for him to come home, I figured I might as well share a few more pictures of the wedding a few weeks back.  John Micheal and Mim had a very pretty wedding with very pretty people in it!!!  Take a look ...

Here Ashlyn is getting her hair done by cousin Ashley!!!  Thanks girl!  You did a great job!

A donut before the wedding ... I guess so.

 

These two were so cute!!!

Mim is giving them each a mint for doing a good job.

The twins and Ashlyn.  Such great friends!!!  Trying to stay warm on the chilly morning.

Ashlyn and her daddy!!!  Love it!!!

 

Sisters ...

Cousin Shakia is another great friend and playmate!!!

Matthew eating a donut too.  Handsome boy!

The bride and groom with my grandparents!!!

Darling!!!

John Mike and Mim came from church to my parents farm for the reception.  Uncle Sam was their escort!  Ashlyn asked for a ride too.  Who can resist that from such a beautiful little girl!

Everything was done up in fall theme.  Apple Cider in bottles.  Caramel apples for everyone!

Beautiful cake.  Popcorn and snacks!

Waiting for her lunch!

 Daudy Riehl ... my grandfather.  So good to see him again!

Daudy Dienner.  Love him too!

There were such little details here and there all day long. 

 

The whole day was so nice and fun!

 

Congratulations John Mike and Mim!!!

 

A day out in Lititz!

With Mike being out of town for a few days with Dave, Suz and I decided to make an afternoon tour through Lititz.  It was just what we thought and so much fun!

Last winter, I was at a crepe brunch.  (Yeah, I know!  Crepes are so tasty!!!)  While we enjoyed our foods, I was introduced to some oils.  Olive oils with flavoring.  I got to try a few and thought they were great!  I was told that there is a really neat shop in Lititz that makes tons of oils and balsamics!  I told Suz about this place months ago because I knew she would love it!

Suz called me yesterday and we made quick plans to go today!!!  What fun and how perfect the weather was for us to park and walk the town!  We got there at lunch time so we started off our adventure with eating at this awesome, small, crowded cafe'!  Tomato Pie Cafe'!  I ordered the 'house featured dish ... Tomato Pie'.  It was delicious and the greens and scone was so tasty to!  I got to try a Lemon Oil for my dressing!  Then to top it all off ... I ordered a 'Creamed Caramel Apple Cider' drink!  Heavenly ... really!!!  I have never tasted apple cider so good in a warm drink.  I was told the ingredients and so now I must try this at home!!!  I'll share that with you sometime!!!  I promise!!!  :)

After lunch, we went across the street to Wilbur Chocolate Factory.  Oh, we went from one smell to the next!  Warm chocolate and lots of choices to choose from in the gift shop.  I had to get a small bag of Wilbur Buds!  We need more beans for the coffee maker too, so I grabbed a bag of their coffee beans.  I am anxious in trying it!  It might just be my fuel tomorrow morning!  :)  There were some employees coating pretzels one by one with chocolate in the store.  Amazing that they still do chocolate coating my hand and not by machine!  Neat!

From there we went to the place that we came to the small town for ... Olio!!!  Lots and lots of oils!!!  I was surprised by how you tasted the oils of your choice.  There were really small cups that you put a drop or two of the oil you wanted to taste and then ... taste it.  Like stick your tongue in and taste it.  Or drink it!  Suz and I were the only ones in the store for awhile and we had some real tasting going on.  I would try and like ... and then she would awe and ahh over another one.  There was only one that I tried that I didn't like ... Fajita.  Nasty!  I did come home with six 'small' bottles of my favorites!!!  "Tuscan Herb", "Pina Colada White Balsamic", "Cucumber Melon With Balsamic", "English Toffee Balsamic", "EVOO with Natural Persian Lime" and "Hickory Smoke"!  I can't wait to share these flavors with Mike!  He loves oils and I hope he will be impressed with my choices!!!  :)

(Sorry but my phone just doesn't take the best pics.)

 

We finished our Lititz Tour with a real tour.  We stopped at Tom Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.  We did the 20 minute tour and I was amused at how pretzels all began!  Interesting! 

 

Thanks so much Suz for calling me and saying, "Let's go!"  I loved everything about today and you are special!  Thanks for your friendship!!!

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We are really missing Mike not being home!  I am hoping that my days keep going fast!  I have been going from one project to another around here.  Yesterday, mom and Jody helped me houseclean!  We got all my main rooms cleaned upstairs and it feels so good and fresh!!!  Also the carpets got cleaned professionally on Monday and that too made a huge difference!  Clean!!!!

After school yesterday, the kids and I went to moms for a delicious supper.  (Thanks Mom.)  We did a quick photo shoot and then off to the parade!  I wasn't going to attempt going to the parade this year with three children alone, but mom said she would go along!  Perfect!  (We missed Mike though.  Some events are becoming traditions for us and this is one we hope to do more with us all included!)  We had some difficulties getting to our usual parking spot, but when we finally got seated and situated ... the parade was fun!  Lots of people, drums, candy and trucks.  We all came home ready for bed!

Thanks for going along Mom!  You always make it so much fun for the kids.  (Like when I say no to the children when the man walking the street is trying to sell things ... and you say yes!  Matthew and Ashlyn got blinking lights and Hadassah chose cotton candy.)

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We have a few more things planned for the rest of our week and that should pass our time quickly till Mike gets back home.

Enjoy the beautiful Fall weather.  One day is just as nice as the next!!!  A very pleasant season!!!  I am loving it!!! 

"Thanks God!!!"