One: This is spiritual life week at school! A dynamite speaker, Brian Holmquist, is the speaker each morning. I know how well he speaks because we have heard him a few times share about their family being missionaries. He can hold your attention well!!! So, when I heard he was the speaker for the week, I told Hadassah that's its going to be good!!! :)
She's been challenged and stretched! She is growing into such a young lady inside and out! I love to see her bloom into a teeny booper. :) In our time of age, things are not always easy for our teenagers and youth. They sure have tons more pressures than I think we did back in the day. That is why this is so very exciting!!!
Yesterday, Hadassah came home from school her normal happy self. Soon she asked if she can talk to me? Sure. We went back to our bedroom, for quite and a place to talk. She told me how she was being challenged spiritually and how that she would like to rededicate her life to the Lord! She said that she knows when she was really little she asked Jesus into her heart. Then again, in fifth grade, she asked for Him to forgive her of her sins. But this time she wants to do it on her own will. Her choice. To have a specific day that she can look back and say that "this day, January 20, 2016" she rededicated her life to Jesus!!! We talked a bit more and she decided that when Mike gets home from work, we would do this together. After supper, I told Mike that Hadassah wanted to talk to us. Again, we went make to the bedroom to keep from distractions and Hadassah shared her heart to us. We, as parents, were so proud!!! From the very beginning of marriage, our prayer has been that all our children would make a personal choice to have Jesus come into their hearts and have a personal relationship with Him! As part of this life journey, this is exciting for us!!!
Hadassah prayed. Prayed with tears and happiness. She wrote the date down in her Bible and felt cleansed and renewed after her sincere prayer! We sat together and chatted about how Satan hates when we make good choices like this. BUT, we are the winners! With Jesus in our hearts and souls, we fight back. Harder than before! We fight for victory and believe that Jesus paid the price for all our sins and won the battle between good and evil. Does that take away the tough times? No. Does that mean we will never mess up? Nope. Does it mean that things will always be easy and the way we want them? For sure not! BUT, it does mean that we keep praying! Praying through the trials and pains. Repenting when we do mess up. Rejoice that we are forgiven and not lost in darkness!!!
It will be a privilege to see Hadassah spread this joy to her friends and class mates! I am confident that she will "let her little light shine"!!!
Amen!!!
Two: We are also very excited about the snow forecast!!! They are predicting 12 - 18 inches of snow by Saturday! Bring. It. On!!! :) We went through the Christmas season without snow. And it's nearing the end of January and still only a few flurries now and then. This is gonna be a biggie!!!
The house is clean and ready for any entertaining that this snow storm may bring! We have a birthday party to attend, Matt Lapps are coming over, church and more friends stopping in! It's going to be fun to see what the weather will bring us!!! The winter clothes got organized and are ready to be worn!
Three: With the snow coming, I made some foods to go with the occasion. Mike asked for some Nature Valley Bars. I made a batch from scratch. I also made a batch of biscotties. With snow coming, I'm sure we will drink plenty of coffee and play lots of games!!!
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This is us today. Staying indoors and out of the cold.
Ashlyn painted a picture. She loves to play toys but begs all day long for me to play too! I do. A lot. But I still feel like I say no often. She will be ready for kindergarten when the new school term starts. And for that reason, we play together. I know the day is drawing nigh when she will be in school and not with me all the time.
I found a Nature Valley Bar recipe on Pinterest and it really does taste like the same thing!
The biscotties are being baked.
Now they just need dipped in chocolate!
Austin was at the doctor this week. He had just a baby check up and some immunizations. He weighs 16 lbs. He is doing great!!! She was impressed with his growth chart and how he looks!
We are trying some new foods. Baby foods. To put it simple, he is not enjoying the new tastes. He spits it out as fast as I put it in. He does eat some graham crackers and makes a total mess! Ashlyn is right beside me when I feed him and wants any left overs that he won't eat! :/ Silly girl.
At the doctors office. Ashlyn wore her Doc McStuffins outfit! :) And yes, the doctor did notice!!! Wink!
