Safe and sound back home!!!

Hadassah is back home!!!  She had a wonderful time and loved the whole missions trip.  Her stories are fun to listen too but she did miss us and is happy to be back home.  We missed her like crazy too!  Hadassah loved the mountains in North Carolina and even got to see a little bit of snow.  She said that the snow is different there.  It snows in balls instead of flurries.  :)  It was a great time for her to see another culture and see how some Indian people live.  Witnessing to them was stretching but she did a good job!

On the way home, after driving all evening and into the night, Hadassah's class arrived back at school at 2 AM Friday morning!!!!  I'm not sure why such an odd timing but they played dodge ball until 4 AM, then slept on the classroom floors, ate a simple breakfast and I picked her up at 8:30.  She came home ready for a hot shower and soft bed.  :)

Her class will have this memory forever and what a blessing it is to have a Christian teacher that leads her class to the mission field!!!  Thanks so much Mr. & Mrs. Alderfer and all the adults that went along and made this possible for the eighth grade class! 

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Safe and Sound ...

Wednesday night we went to small groups.  In Honey brook.  But this time it was different.  We left the house with it raining.  A text went through earlier wondering who is all coming and if we should meet because of a tornado warning being put out.  How often do we actually get a tornado in our area???  Not often!  We decided to still get together and as we shared and prayed, it rained even harder!!!  Our phones all started to beep and telling us to take cover that a tornado has been spotted!  By now, we were in contact with some people in the Gap area and saying it was really bad there.  We waited out the storm in Honey brook and then started towards home.  We drove through so much water and even stopped once to see if it was safe to keep driving on the roads because of so much water!!!  We had to detour RT. 340 at different places because by now the tornado damage has happened and police and firefighters were out working hard to fight fires and direct traffic!!!  A tornado did come through our area and destroyed as it went storming right past our friends and relatives houses and land! 

I knew the storm was bad but didn't go out to take a look until today!!!  So much has been cleaned up already and it still looks nasty!!!  There is stuff in trees.  Trash along the roads.  Houses in need of repairs.  Barns being rebuilt.  I was asked to help make a lunch for Manny and Suz today.  They had damage from the tornado on their farm and asked people to come help fix their barn roof and clean up.  I was told to bring food for about 30 people.  I called Rachel to help me and I made sandwiches and she made soup. 

When we pulled into Manny's today around lunch time, my mouth dropped open!  They were tearing down the old tobacco shed and hauling off all the trash!!!  The barn had shifted from the high winds and now needs to be replaced!  There was tons of people there to help!!!  Like 100!  Neighbors, friends, church family, family, etc.!!!  Rachel and I both looked at each other and knew that if our food got served it would have to be a "feeding of the 5,000 miracle"!!!  :)  We were told that White Horse Fire Company was sending food over for lunch too!!!  We put all our food together and served it up!!!  Lots of men, children and friends ate and we had plenty of food!!!  :)  God is so good!!! 

Mike helped cut up trees and wood.  Matthew ran around outside and played with his friends while the dads worked.  Hadassah even stayed to hang out and watch the action.  I left after lunch to go pick up Ashlyn and Austin.  I asked sister Jody to watch them till I was finished serving!  Thanks Jody!!!  Bless you, Manny and Suz, as you finish the clean up work and get a new barn built!  We enjoyed helping your family today!!! 

I made these huge sandwich rings and they got devoured. 

It's amazing how community gets together and makes food for occasions like these!!!

After lunch, I decided to drive around the neighborhood a little to see more damage.  Here's the farm on Amish Road.  Lot's of people were out helping them clean up too.  And then a picture of where two chicken houses were destroyed.  I saw men out picking up trash along the roads.  It is a nice day outside and people were out everywhere to help!

 An Amish school house was destroyed on Wednesday night and already rebuilt!!!  How could all that happen so fast!!!  It's our wonderful work ethic, helping hands and willing hearts!!!

 

We were grateful and blessed to not have any damage here at our home!

 

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Austin is growing in leaps and bounds.  He still pulls himself around on the floor.  He just started to pull himself up on some of his toys.  When he's standing, he cries because he doesn't know what to do next!!!!  Still no teeth but feeling something on the bottom gums.  It won't be long before we will see some teeth!  He is also getting better at foods.  He loves cheerios!  He ate baby cereal much better this week!  He is healthy and growing!!!  We love him so much!

 

  7 months old.

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I made another batch of bread this week.

 I left Ashlyn bake a small loaf for herself! 

 She was so happy to have her own loaf of bread!  She LOVES butter and was so happy to brush lots of it one each small piece I sliced for her!

 Yum!!!

 

 

 

 

We are very thankful for health and safety and praising the Lord for keeping our family safe and sound this week!!!

No more braces!!!

We had a very happy boy yesterday afternoon!!!  Matthew got his braces taken off and now wears a retainer in it's place. 

 

When he has something on his mind or has an event coming up, it's all we think or talk about for awhile.  Kinda like his mom.  :)  Matthew has been counting down the days for his braces to come off.  He had them for over a year and did very well through the whole process but could not wait to be brace free again!!! 

 

I picked him up at school and we went straight to the orthodonist office.  They were crazy busy!  I said that you would have thought a snow storm was being fore casted and everyone wanting to get in their appointments.!.  Ashlyn got a few toys from the toy box and played while we waited for Matthew to get on that chair!  We followed him back and watched as they took off his braces and wire.  When he felt his teeth again he said, "It feels like they are pushed back really far.  I don't feel those braces in the front anymore."  :)  He was happy.  Then they scrapped off the extra glue off his teeth and fit his retainer into his mouth.  Yet another 'something' in his mouth but we are at the tail end of this orthodontist journey!!!  :)  They gave Matthew a case to keep it in when he's eating or playing sports and went over a few cleaning care things.

 

Then we were off for home again!  He is now adjusting to the feel of a retainer in his mouth and talking sounds a little funny.  It will only take a few days to get used to this and adjust!  We are very happy with what Dr. Georgelis has done so far with his teeth and jaw!!!  Thank you!

Braces free!!!

Now we only have a retainer and he's off to school again this morning!  Happy kid!!!

 

 

We are really missing Hadassah at home!  I think of her and her classmates so much as they are serving in missions in North Carolina!  We did get an email update saying that the travels all went well and that they are getting settled in!  I can't wait to hear her stories!!!  :)

 

It's a rainy day here at home today.  The kind of day that I'm not sure if I feel like starting anything.  I did attend the last Bible Study session at Spring Garden this morning and was again refreshed by the word of God and enjoyed the yummy brunch!  Doing a study on the Armor of God was really a great learning study for me!  Ashlyn stayed at Colson's house and played while I was spending good time with ladies and friends!  Austin napped through the DVD session!  :)

 

I keep thinking about the word S-P-R-I-N-G!!!  Since we had some warmer days and I worked in our disgusting barn last Saturday, I want spring to come NOW!!!  I moved all the things that I still want out of the barn and into our garage.  Now the barn can leave the property!!!  Ugly and dirty!  And gross!!!  I know that we will have enough work outside here that will keep us busy all spring and summer but we are ready for some new grass and not just mud!  Front walks and a back porch are all in the plans as soon as the weather warms up enough to pour more concrete! 

 

I am usually really ready to work in the little garden and get our veggies planted as soon as the weather gets warmer!!!  I am sad that my garden may have to wait till a bit later this year???  I don't want my garden where it is anymore and so it needs to be moved.  With the barn moved and the driveway bigger, the garden looks a tad out of place where it is.  I don't know how fast that will happen or if it will get done early enough for some early planting.?.  For now, I keep looking at garden idea's on Pinterest and try to visualize how I want things to be.  I have "Garden" on my spring wish list!  I need to wait out winter a few more weeks and then let the outside projects begin!!!

 

It's time to go play a game with Ashlyn!!!  I treasure our times together while Austin naps!  

 

Missions Week!

So we move from one crazy, fun week of school last week into Missions Week this week.  The kids loved all the fun themes last week!  They both really went all out with the dressing up stuff!

Matthew was one of the winners last week!

 Character day ...

 Disgust & Angry

Look a likes ...

Now moving into a Mission Themed week ... it should be refreshing!!!  And quite.  Hadassah left the house early this morning.  She was looking forward to this week for a long time!  Her class in "on the mission field" all week long.  In Cherokee, North Carolina!  It took her some time packing and reading through the booklet that went over some missionary details.  We quickly went out shopping for a few more skirts on Saturday evening because there will be no laundry done till they get back home.  She grabbed a few snacks to take along.  Hadassah was a bundle of nerves and emotions this morning when I woke her up at 4:30 this morning.  She was excited and yet anxious about leaving home for a few days without Mike or I going along.  I know she will be just fine and will have a blast!  We are praying that Jesus will shine through the kids this week as they serve and bless and that alone always gives a return.  Hadassah will be blessed this week too as she serves!

Mike took her over to school at 5:15 AM!  The other 8th grade students were arriving and loading their things into the three vans that will be taking them ten hours south!  I cant imagine all the energy that got exchanged so bright and early!!!  :)  Join us in  praying for the eighth graders this week as they minister in N.C.!!!  We will miss Hadassah like crazy!

Missions week at school will be great for Matthew too!  They will be challenged and told stories of missionaries!  Missionaries will be coming to share their stories with the school!  It's gonna be another exciting week!!!

With the sun out bright and mild weather, I am getting spring fever!!!  Hurry come spring time!!! 

  

Winter Fun Days have begun at school.

This week began with fun props for the kids to take along to school. 

It's called Winter Fun Days.

It seems to brighten up the winter days and add some fun and humor to classrooms.  I'm sure the teachers will be amazed and giggle what all the children come up with. 

Yesterday, Hadassah was a COOK.  She had her hair in a hair net and put on an apron.  She carried around a mixing bowl and spoon.  Matthew was an INVENTOR.  He wore an apron and then put one of Mike's white shirts over top of that. 

(I was annoyed at my camera.  The bus was on it's way, so blurry has got to be good enough.  Sigh.)

Today they both went out of the house looking like this ...

AN OLD MAN ~

 BLACK OUT DAY WITH HER CLASS ~

And because it is windy and raining huge, loud rain drops outside ... I am inside with my two youngest today!!!  Again.  I'm so thankful that I 'do not have to' go out in weather like this!  Let me repeat that!  I'm thankful to stay home, inside, warm and dry!  We will be so ready for spring when it arrives!  Rather sooner than later, right?!?

When the kids are eating their breakfast before school, Austin is often times in his little seat watching them.  We are still trying to get him to like foods but it's going slow.  He's not impressed with new things.  Maybe a little like me, huh???

7 1/2 months old:

He loves and adores Matthew!  He is his morning buddy!

Because we had another two hour delay this morning because of icy roads, I surprised the kids with warm honey bun cake.  Hadassah came walking into the kitchen and awed at the smell!!!  Matthew thought I should bake this every morning so they could smell and taste this!  I thought maybe buying a candle with this scent would be a healthier and better option.  Smile!

Treats like this are fun for me to make now and then.  It will be a great dessert for after supper tonight too. 

It's a rainy day here today.  The candles are burning to bring a warm feeling to our indoor surroundings.  The house still smells great from the cake setting on the kitchen counter.  Music is playing softly while baby takes his morning nap.  Ashlyn is right beside me doing her sticker book and coloring.  It's gonna be a day of pjs and hot coffee ... I can just tell!  :)

Stay warm.  Stay dry. 

................................................. I'm wishing for spring!