Season of White.

We got snow last night and now everything is bright and shiny from the sunshine gleaming off of the white snow.  It was predicted to snow a few inches and that's what we got.  Just enough to make the roads become a mess!  I was SO ready to get off the roads late yesterday afternoon!!!  It's our turn to clean our church and we really didn't want to cancel the plans because of other events later this week and Wednesday's tempts don't look good to be out traveling around!  I asked Hadassah to help me clean and because Jenna Martin was here, she went along too.  Jenna had plans to leave for her home after cleaning so the girls drove separate.  I was hesitant about this but figured Hadassah would come home with me after we were done cleaning.  It was only flurrying when we left the house.  The girls helped clean and we were finished in an hour!  By now, the snow was really coming down.  The girls left just before I did and I guess they thought Jenna would go home the way we go home.  (Sometimes I don't know when to talk or when to be quiet.  I was nervous about them driving in the snow and I told Hadassah to just go with me … but no.  Not cool, Mom.  Not cool.)

We weren't on the road long when Hadassah calls me and says Jenna's car can't go in this snow.  They couldn't make it up Rt. 10's hill.  Thankfully, they didn't get stuck and were able to turn around and make it back to Honey brook.  But I had four wheel drive and I was able to go.  When Hadassah called I was creeping up the hill myself and I didn't want to stop.  I made it to 340 and then asked 'now what?'  The girls are still in Honey brook.  I was able to drive but the roads were getting worse every ten minutes.  I called Mike but he was in Lancaster.  I called Juanita because that's where the girls parked Jenna's car.  I hoped Merv could bring the girls to 340 for me and we would be on our merry, snowy way home.  Merv was attending one of their puppies and couldn't.  My only option was to let the girls there (which was not happening) or go back for them!!!!!  SIGH!!!!  I'm not scared to drive on snowy roads but the tempts were dropping, other cars where along the roads, the snow was still falling but off I went back to Honey brook.  I decided to take back roads and avoid as many hills as possible!  I made it!!!  Picked the girls up and we started back home another route.  I really didn't want to go that big hill along Rt. 10.  I made it once but this was now 45 minutes later and I wasn't into the challenge of doing it again!!!  We crept home and many cars were spinning their wheels on the side of the highway.  Big trucks were pulled off the road.  It took me from 4:00 - 5:45 to get back home!!!!  I confessed this morning about my attitude because I was NOT HAPPY about how it all was.  The girls could have/should have just went with me.  Because now Jenna's car is still in Honey brook and she was snowed in at our house for the night.  I was VERY grateful that we made it home safe and sound!!! 

It's a different feeling having a teenager out driving on these wet, snowy, icy roads.  When Hadassah left for school this morning (thank you two hour delay), she had her defrost on high blast, scrapped her windows and drove slowly!!!  I know she has to learn but I was nervous!!!

We had a two hour delay for school this morning and that gave the children some extra time to bundle up and go play in the snow!  I wished they would make a snowman because I like those but instead they checked on the chickens, jumped on the snow covered trampoline and ran in the snow.  Austin was thrilled to use his new shovel!!!

I'm a wimp when it comes to going out in the cold snow.  I just want to stay inside.  Drink warm drinks.  Watch it snow while putting together a puzzle.  Or scrap booking! 

Scrap booking is a winter project that I usually have good intentions on doing.  Last week, I decided to sit down and pull out those photos and papers and start filling those scrapbooks!  When I was all set up and ready to begin, I realized I was out of my regular tape and only had small individual square tapes and no pages!!!  Those are two things that are kinda on the top of the "must need to scrapbook".  I decided to use my tape and just deal with each small piece.  And because I have so much paper, I tape pictures on whole sheets of paper!  It worked good!  Now when I purchase pages, I just need to tape the paper pages right on the real book pages!!!  I got a lot done and it's a good start for the scrap booking season!

This was actually when I was purging and organizing my scrap booking things the other day.  I still have that January Declutter on my mind but I went through our home and discarding so much stuff.  I stopped focusing on the day number and just cleaned out!  I have the garage to tackle yet but that's going to wait till Spring!

My dear husband is still working on this basement of ours!!!  I saw that last year this time, I was posted that Mike's working on this same room in the basement.  All that got done last winter was he framed up the walls.  Now, we really are in the home stretch!!!  I hoped it would be done for Super Bowl but not quite.  You see that beam?  Mike doesn't like anything "normal" when it comes to remodel and redoing, so he is grinding down the beams coating and taking it down to it's original steel color.  It's going to be so pretty when he's finished but he has way too much patience with this!!! I would have just been content with the original. 

This basement is going to be so nice and I'm really ready for the dust to stop and that horrible steel smell to quit.

Carpet is ordered and going to be delivered in the end of February!!!!

And here are a few window pictures I took this morning!!!

Winter time keeps us inside an awful lot but I have become to embrace it.  And actually enjoy it.  For years, I hated winter.  I didn't like the cold.  Snow was fun but I didn't actually like to bundle up and go out in it.  Since we remodeled our home, it gave us much more natural light!  And with the sun shining today and the snow right outside the door, it's bright in my house.  I love that! 

The tempts today are only in the teens but the kids are off to school and the "little man" is here with me at home.  The laundry is getting done.  The wind is picking up outside and I'm glad I can be inside today!!!

This is our season of white.  Enjoy it!!!

Anniversary #18!!!

Alright, right now this is making me feel much older!!!  Eighteen years of marriage is for older folks and no longer "newly weds" or the "younger couples" in church!!!  :)  But, I really don't feel much older and that's maybe why is it hard to believe that it's already 18 years that Mike and I are married!!!

Last night we went out looking for some coffee or good hot chocolate.  We wanted a bit more than just hot drinks so we drove out to find a coffee shop with a menu.  There's not a whole lot of options on a Sunday night and we ended up at Red Lobster.  We are super spoiled right now to have Matthew stay home with the little ones and let us go out!!!

As we sat and waited for our food and coffees, we both tried to think of all our anniversary getaways.  Eighteen is lot to try to remember and we started with our first anniversary in the hospital holding our precious first born!!!  Hadassah was born one day before our first anniversary!!!  What a gift of life!!!  We went on one night getaways when Hadassah and Matthew were smaller.  On our fifth anniversary we traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, for the weekend.  Another year, we flew to California and spent a weekend in San Diego.  Florida is a place that we went many, many times in February and saved some anniversary outings while we were there!!!  The best, best anniversary trip ever was going to Belize for five days!!!  This trip started out extremely difficult with getting a call from Mom Lapp while we were on a lay over in Atlantic and hearing the words "Dad has cancer".  We stepped onto the land of Belize with heavy hearts because we wanted to be with Dad Lapps through these first days of hearing such tough news but we had our resort booked and we were going to make the best of the next several days!!!  We really enjoyed our days there and spending those days focused on our marriage and refreshing our commitment to each other was energizing for the next difficult months ahead!!!  When we got back to the USA, it was back to facing cancer head on and being there for Mom and Dad!!!  We love anniversary trips away from home but this year it was just spent around a table at Red Lobster and enjoying each other!!!

Mike and I do a football weekend with John and Kathy every fall and this past trip may have been the best one yet!!!??!!!  We walked the Cliff Walk in Rhode Island, toured Boston, went to the Red Socks Playoff game and watched the Chiefs almost beat the Patriots in football!!!

This was a fun trip every single day!!! 

Mike and I have learned that the honeymoon stage only lasts awhile.  Then living together really begins.  We were in love, over and beyond!!!  We KNEW it.  We FELT it.  We LOVED with all our hearts.  And looking back I would do it all over again.  However, there are a few things I've learned about marriage!  To get married to the "love of your life" doesn't have to change that title as the years roll by.  Love is that mystery where you thought you loved to the fullest  and yet as days, weeks, years and even a decade later, our love keeps growing deeper!  The only way I can explain it is like climbing a ladder.  When you make your spouse your best friend in your life, it changes everything!!!  For us, we can testify that some days are harder than other days.  Some days you get upset because the toilet lid is up again or because he works too late or maybe because he seems to have lost that knight in shining armors armor.  I've learned that even though those might be some facts, I have the choice to sit and pout or I can kindly remind him to close the toilet lid so the baby doesn't splash  I can be sure that the house is a clean, safe haven for him to come home to after a long day at work.  I can even shine up myself and look like his bride when we are together because if he thought I was attractive in those dating years, why would I ever want to change that in our married years???  Some days are rough.  But that's life.  It's a choice to make if you want to become best friends or just live together.  Climb that marriage leader!  Take the next step up to a better, brighter year!!!  Mike has been a solid rock for me for 18 years!!!  We had to learn how to communicate better.  We had to go through some fire to be refined.  We have to listen and not just talk..  We solve life issues together!  His money is ours and the pennies I earn go in his change pocket.  Hang on to your vows friends!!!  Marriage is a gift!  A gift your children want to see and learn from!  Love your spouse more and deeper until those acts of kindness become natural!!!  Thank you Mike for teaching me so much over the years!  "I love you, Babe!!!"

My last 18 years of living with this man, have been stretching, fun, adventurous and a total blast!!!  Cheers to many, many more years to share my life with my husband!!!

Happy Anniversary Michael!!!

Seventeen.

 

 

 

Hadassah turned seventeen over the weekend and she is excited about the next year of her life!  She made it through the sixteen year old year by healing up a sprained ankle, passing her permit on the second try, passing her license after going through a life long lesson and finishing up her sophomore high school year!!!

 

Being a teenager in this day of age is no easy task!!!  Hadassah is surrounded by Christian peers every single day and has chosen a group of wonderful friends and for that Mike and I are VERY grateful!!!  She is in her Junior year at school and works for Mike with her internship.  She beautiful and really has a strong conscience for the things that right and true and God-fearing!

 

She is very health conscience as well.  She said she wants to do Whole 30 for the month of January and really she eats Whole 30 most of her days!  She rarely eats bread and if she does she wants the healthy sprouted kind.  She fuels up daily on salads and packs this for her lunch every single day.  Almond milk is in the fridge for her.  Two eggs, one banana and cinnamon all blended together is what she fries up before volleyball practises.  Her most asked question usually is "is it healthy?"  Her health and diet have improved her sports skills and the way she feels!

 

Hadassah says that I make a photo session out of everything.  And she's right!!!  :)  But she is also the one that inside likes that.  When we were at the cabin last summer, she asked for a mini photo session.  And then when we went for our Christmas tree, she wanted some pictures taken of just her.  She is one of the reasons why photography is fun!!!

 

May God bless your seventeen year of life Hadassah!!!  We love you so much and I really enjoyed our night out last week to shop and eat and to celebrate your life!!! 

Happy Birthday!!!

Freezing germs away!!!

It is so, so cold here in our state!!!  The winter tempts are defiantly here and I'm really hoping it will kill all of these winter bugs that Ashlyn keeps catching!!!!  Ashlyn is home sick again today.  She had a December where she was sick every Wednesday and Thursday of that whole month.  It was else a cold or fever or stomach bug!!!  She seems to be one of the first to catch germs here at our home.  It's now January and she was healthy and well until this weekend.

(This was on the weather app for this past weekend.)

Shakia was here for a few days and ended up becoming sick before going back to her home.  I felt so bad for her to be sick here.  Ashlyn was loving her playmate and friend and felt bad for her when she ended up on the couch with a fever.  I had my fingers crossed because Ashlyn seems to catch everything lately.  Second grade has had so many sick pupils out of school and I'm sure that's also a part of catching these terrible germs!  Shakia went back to her home on Saturday but still not well.  Sunday morning Ashlyn woke up sick!  :///  I hoped for a second that it was just a cold and nothing too serious.

Hadassah was in her first 2019 Volleyball Tournament over the weekend at Spooky Nook!  I couldn't wait to go watch her play and see her skills improve even more!  She's really been loving the new PA Elite Team and has worked VERY hard at her practises.  She's come home with a black and blue toe and thumb more than once now.  She jumps and her toes hit the front of shoe.  She hits the volleyball so much that it bruises her thumb.  This doesn't stop her!  It motivates her to keep practicing and get better!  We went to her first games on Saturday.  We took the younger ones along and that always makes for an interesting day.  All Mike and I would wish for is to sit and cheer for Hadassah!  Instead we usually end up taking turns entertaining the little ones.  It was a bit better with the tournament being a Spooky Nook!  This is an indoor sports arena with lots of different things to do.  Of course we were there to watch volleyball but in between games Mike let the Ashlyn and Austin climb up the rock walls.  They were both in a harness and loved the climbing!!!

Sunday was going to be a full day with church, small group lunch, volleyball games and then end with watching the Chiefs play the Patriots in football!  When Ashlyn woke up Sunday morning not well, I decided to stay home with her and let Mike and Matthew go to church alone.  Ashlyn was coughing and running nose.  I gave her some meds hoping this was all it was!  She seemed 'not too bad' after she ate lunch and Lena had texted and said that Ashlyn and Austin could stay at their house while we go to the volleyball.  We dropped them off at Lena's and headed for volleyball.  Hadassah's team played great!!!  Won all three sets!  We then dropped off Matthew and Chandler off at youth group and went to say goodbye to Mom Lapp.  She left for the Sunshine State Monday morning and we wanted wish her off!  We got back to Matt and Lena's in time for the big football game!!!  Matt grilled up a bunch of wings and Lena added crab stuffed mushrooms and fruit!  It felt like Super Bowl!  We were ALL into the game.  It got late and the kids were getting tired.  Ashlyn wasn't feeling well and on the couch.  We were so disappointed that the Chiefs lost at such a close game!!!  What a bummer!  We drove home in the freezing cold and tucked the two youngest into bed!  Hadassah ended up at youth group after volleyball and could bring Matthew along home!!!  I love when things work out like that!!!

Adrian had a birthday and so of course there was cake and ice cream served while watching football too!  Happy birthday Adrian!

Monday was Martin Luther King JR Day and the kids were off of school.  I don't know what to do with Matthew on these days because he's old enough to do some work but wants to act lazy all day!  It was VERY, VERY cold and windy outside so he really couldn't shoot any hoops outside.  He did mange to feed the chickens and bring in the dumpster and bring in the kids sleds that had blown into the farmers field!  Ashlyn was on the couch ALL day long.  Feverish.  Sick.  Headache.  I'm really hoping none of the rest of us catch this germ!!! 

Hadassah had one more day of volleyball.  They played a game at 1 PM and lost.  We were really hoping they could make it to the finals!  I had plans to go out with my girlfriends for coffee and a night of chatting and catching up in our lives but I wasn't about to take Ashlyn out of the house.  It was still cold and windy and Mike and Matthew wanted to go work at church.  I had originally asked my mom if the two youngest could stay at their house until Mike was done at church but Ashlyn wasn't well.  It ended up that Hadassah could come home and be with her so I could go be with my friends and Mike could go to church.  When I got back home Ashlyn did seem a bit better and I again hoped she would be well by morning!

This morning Mike left for work without turning on the kitchen lights and living room lights on because Ashlyn wanted to sleep on the couch and asked him to "be quite" in the morning.  :)  When I woke up I read my devotions with a flashlight and then wondered how she would be if I woke her!?!  She still didn't look good and felt sick.  OK, another day on the couch. 

It's still really cold outside but the winds calmed down the sun is shining!  I didn't have to give any meds to Ashlyn all day which is a good sign!  She's now up and doing piano and reading for school and it's 2:00!!!  I think she's on the mend!  I really want to get an immune booster vitamin for her!  Maybe then she will stay on the healthy side for the rest of the winter!!!

Well, I'm off to get supper on and head out for my twin nieces, plus Olivia's birthday party tonight!!!  (If Ashlyn stays well anyway!!!)

Stay warm!

Snow.

 

We had a two hour delay for school this morning and I was thankful for that delay!!!  We were out late last night watching Matthew's basketball game and then we stayed for the Varsity games after that.  The last game went over time.  It was time to get home, get bathes and get to bed!  So, this mornings snow and delay were much appreciated!!!  Thank you, God!

 

Shakia's been staying here the past few days and the girls were still so tired when they woke up at 8:30 this morning.  They said they were up playing Legos till late.  :/

 

Here's my view from the kitchen window this morning!  The blue birds and cardinals didn't show up this winter and that makes me so sad!  I love birds and seeing the blue birds and red cardinals at the feeders is a delight for me but so far it's just been these sparrows.  Too many cats???

 

The birds love to sit on our Christmas tree that we put outside!  It makes for the perfect place for them to sit when it snows!!!

 

 

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Austin loves guns!  Today we built guns out of these building blocks.

 

And even made a target!

Austin gets so bored with being the only kid at home when the others are in school and so I'm the one who tries to entertain him!  And before you think that playing with him is always easy or fun, it's challenging.  I've prayed often when the others were young and in little adult stages that I would enjoy playing with them.  It was SO hard for me to sit and play tea party with no end in sight.  Now games, that seemed different.  At least there was a winner and I knew there was an ending.  I've come a long way with the play date moments and I'm even more realizing that this stage is so short!!!  Why should I or even want to pass these days by quickly?  Mothering is the best gift ever!!!

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Matthew's all into his basketball games right now!  They are fun to watch and we really hope they will have a win one of these weeks!!!

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It's winter.  It snowed last night and the forecast is saying for more flurries this weekend!!!  We can't wait to snuggle.  Watch football.  Go to church.  Watch Hadassah's first volleyball tournament games for the Winter season!!! 

Life is good!  God IS SO GOOD!!!  I am incredibly blessed!!!

Winter has arrived.

As I type and look outside, it's white from the first winter snowfall we got on Saturday night!!!  We got excited to see the snow beginning to fall and there's something so fun in waking up to snow on the ground!!!

When the two youngest woke up Sunday morning, they wanted to go play in the snow!  My parents gave them new snow sleds for Christmas and they slid down our small hill out front.

The snow gave us a delay with church.  It's only in the 20's most of the day.  After church we came home to eat some nachos and Mike went out for a run.  We watched the Eagles game at Uncle John's 60th birthday party later that evening.  Patriots won and Mike's excited to see the Chiefs move on for next weekends games!!!

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Saturday was Allen and Janelle's wedding day!!!  Allen has been Mike's best friend since a little boy!  They have done so, so much together!  Allen works for Mike so they even see each other every day.  Mike was asked to be Best Man and even though I was so excited for him, I was nervous about how I would feel on this day.  Who wants to see your Man with another bridesmaid?  (Truth is that all the groomsmen are also married.  The other wives also sat alone and with friends.)  But it all went fine!!!  Allen and Janelle had a beautiful wedding and I got to sit with great friends and this made the day be so enjoyable even though I wasn't right at Mike's side during the wedding.  I told him later that night that I have a problem!  A jealous problem when I'm not with him!!!  I think this should be a normal response for a married couple madly in love!!!

Mike gave a funny speech!  He is the best story teller!!!

I got to sit beside Allen's Aunt Amanda during the wedding.  She's a sweet lady and she asked me in the reception when I can sit or be with Mike again.  I told her tonight!!!!  :)

Here we are side by side again after the reception!!!  What an honor to be at this wedding!!!!

Congratulations Allen and Janelle!!!

After the wedding we went to pick up the little ones at Matt and Lena and finish watching the Chiefs game!!!  Mike was keeping tabs of the football game during the reception.  I kept showing him the score from my phone!!!  He is very excited to see what the Chiefs will do next weekend!!!

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This is something we do every winter!!!!  I bought a bag of Honey Bell Oranges from Florida the other day at the grocery store and they make the best orange juice!!!  Ashlyn was my juicer!!!

Austin was begging for Popsicles to!  I put frozen strawberries, yogurt and a little water in the blender and pressed the start button.  We poured it in Popsicle molds and here you have it … Strawberry Yogurt Pops!!!  They love these!!!!

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 I had to take a picture of this because this is how our Sunday afternoons are most weekends.

 

Snacks and gadgets.  Mike and I often read or take naps.  Or watch football.  The kids play and get to enjoy their gadget for some time too.

 

 

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I made meatball boats the other night for supper and they were yummy!!!  I love when I find a normal recipe, twist it up a bit and create something different.  Instead of slicing the roll in half, I carved out the center and plopped in two big meatballs and then topped it with provolone cheese.  They were so delicious!!!

 

Thank you Pinterest!

 

And Costco is now carrying our favorite vitamins!!!  Check them out!

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Decluttering January is going here in this house.  Honestly, when I started this I thought, "Oh, this should be easy!  I'll find enough of stuff to clean out!"  But I'm already finding it hard to choose.  I went through almost the entire house (the garage is next but I'd really like to wait to work out there until it warms up outside.)  I was on a mission as I cleaned out and got rid of way more than 10 things on day 10.  So, I gave it a rest over the weekend and now I want to pick it up again and declutter some more!  Here are my scrap booking things.  I cleaned out the closet that holds all of this stuff last week and even though I didn't throw that many things out, it got a clean up and a going through!!!

Matthew also went through his closet!  He keeps saying he needs clothes and that so many things are too small but when I looked into his closet, I saw clothes.  So, he went through each piece and we now have another stack to take to Fashion Cents!  I took him out to American Eagle yesterday and we bought some new shirts and pants and spent so much $$$ but this kid is growing like crazy and I was happy to spoil him a bit on some new things!  As we were checking out at American Eagle, the cashier said, "Oh, yes.  I remember my mom saying how much he grew in a years time and needed to go shopping for bigger clothes too.  Just wait, the shoes are next!!!"  I laughed and said, "Yep, we are going to Nike next!"  :)))  Matthew grew inches and inches since last year!  He's becoming a young man and all those children clothes stores are now too small for him.  His voice is starting to do funny things and peach fuzz is on his upper lip.  How can this be???

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This is Austin's Stromboli creation!

And this is mine!  :)))

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Winter time is here!  I'm happy to be inside our cozy home with lots of sunshine today!!!

It looks like more basketball games this week and I'm excited to watch Hadassah play in her first volleyball tournament this coming weekend!!!  Also, there is more snow in the forecast!!! 

Let is snow!!!!!!!!!!