April happenings.

 

Mid April is giving us beautiful, warm weather.  We already had a few 80 degree days which seems crazy because the lettuce is still small in the garden but the trees are pushing forth their buds!  Austin had his first baseball game for the season and they won!  It was so fun watching so many families gather at the ball park again and cheering for their sons!  Go Flames!

It's gonna be such a fun season!

Someone is really missing her big brother!  Ashlyn washed Matts truck off and cleaned it inside and out!

Arie ... the German Shepherd puppy that is living at our homestead for now.  It's been a dream for my entire to get a shepherd puppy except for me.  I don't really like big dogs and German Shepherd dogs always seem like a mean dog to me.  I'm just not on board yet.  Jer and Hadassah wanted to buy a puppy but can't have it at their apartment.  They asked if they could keep the puppy at our house until they buy a house of their own soon.  Jer made a nice dog kennel out of the old chicken barn we have out back and she lives there for now.  The kids have been having a lot of fun with her and Jeremiah and Hadassah come over every day to feed her, walk her and spend time training her.  She is really cute.

Every morning, Austin runs out to say good morning to Arie before hoping on the bus.

I made a Tasty Cake at the cabin last weekend and there was a lot of cake left to bring along home.  I kept looking at it and thinking I'll end up throwing it out but then cake pops came to mind.  And they turned at really good!  I just squished the entire cake into one big ball, shaped little cake balls and dipped them in chocolate.  

And we were so ready to see Matthew and his classmates again!  All the Seniors returned safely from Kenya, Africa on Thursday evening.  It was 9 PM when they pulled back in to the school parking lot!  It was 3 AM in their minds because of the time change.  Everyone looked so tired but they all had smiles as they greeted their families back home again!

When Hadassah went on her Senior Trip to the exact same place, she texted on the way home asking for Chickfila and Starbucks.  I wondered if Matthew would suggest a food?  He texted me when they were about on hour out yet asking if we could bring him a cheesesteak from Dyers Deli?  I chuckled and replied of course!  He really had a fun trip, loved the kids and I can't wait to hear the stories!  The hike was a big highlight for him!  Welcome home Matthew!  We missed you so much and happy to have you back safe and sound!

It's so good to see his truck on the move again!

I made a greenhouse stop last week.  I bought 25 Snowdrift petunias and 8 black cherry petunia plants.  I also got some herbs!  It's so fun to know that flower season is coming!

Ashlyn and I took a quick drive to the orchard before she left for the weekend at the cabin with friends.  12 years old looks so cute on her!!!!  We love her so much and think she's adorable!

And the front trees are in full bloom too!!!  

I went to the science factory with all the second graders!  It was a fun field trip and this huge bubble maker was great!

And now we have lots of work to do with this huge mile of mulch waiting for us to work on!  18 yards of mulch is a lot of work but we work at it as a family and it really make the landscaping look great!

Hadassah has been spending most of her non working moments here at our house since Arie is now here.  The dog can't live at their apartment and so they come here to see her and train her and spend time with her.  On Saturday, I was mulching but Hadassah wanted to take Arie for a walk in town and I love our little town, so I decided to go along!  It was a beautiful afternoon for a stroll and we stopped to get my first Oola Bowl!  I've been keeping this place a secret from Ashlyn for a while now because I know she would love it and I hope to take her soon!  The price is high, so it has to be a treat and not something she's going to beg for a lot!  I really did enjoy it!

We are wrapping up the Elijah DVD Series at church and in the last session that Prisciall Shirer taught on DVD, she shared a prayer that she prays over her sons!  I loved it so much that I paused it and jotted it down.  I decided to pray this over Ashlyn and Austin before school!  The first time Austin looked at me and asked what I was doing.  I told him that I am praying scripture over him and his response was, "Oh, OK!"  I hope to memorize this and keep praying God's promises over our children!

The weather has been up and down.  We already had some 80 degree weather and now today is only in the 50's.  The lawn is lush green and we are back to a mowing schedule.  The mulch pile is worked on a little at a time!  Some flowers are planted in the ground!  The lettuce and seeds in the garden are popping through!  Clusters of pink flowers are covered all over our front lawn trees!  April is so pretty!

Easter Weekend!

 Easter Week was not exactly how we hoped it would be with Austin on the couch from Monday night - Thursday but he was well just in time for the cabin!  Monday night, he had baseball practice and during the night, started throwing up.  We had belly aches and not feeling well until Thursday.  I was really hoping he would be well enough for his class Easter party on Thursday but had to stay home.

Mike and I had tickets to the Passover Seder meal at church on Wednesday night.  Ashlyn and Austin were with Hadassah.  The whole evening and meal and meanings of horseradish and dipping parsley in salt water and then eating it ... all circled around the Passover Meal!  Songs were sung in Hebrew from a couple at church.  Everything was so neat!

I was so glad to finally hear Austin ask for his baseball cards on Thursday morning!  This stomach may just leave now!!!!  He's on the mend and feeling much better!

Lena was at school for the Easter Parties and bought home the project that Austins class did!  He was on it right away and it turned out so beautiful!!!  Teaching the real meaning of Easter in our schools is something I value very much!!!!  Jesus died.  Was buried but rose again three days later!  The grave is empty!!!!  He's alive!!!!!!

The rest of the day on Thursday was spent cleaning the house, packing for the cabin and heading north!  We spent the entire weekend at the cabin with most of my family!

Mom had the kids do an egg hunt and they laughed as they ran around the yard looking for colored eggs.

We eat so well at the cabin!  Jody made a pizza dough and topped it with mayo, tomatoes and basil for a lunch snack.  So good!

I really wanted to take the children up to the cross near the cabin!  It's where we went often in the past years but the little littles didn't remember it.  We drove the four wheeler and side by side up the path and there are stones along the way that describe the beatings and happenings of when Jesus was crucified!

So many cute faces all weekend!

Here we go to the cross!

Austin was so intrigued.  He just looked at the cross for awhile.  He asked how they got Jesus up on the cross.  What a sacrifice Jesus gave to us!

ALL BECAUSE OF HIM!!!

XOXO!!!

The weather was so lovely!  We sat around the campfire!

And played shuffle board games.

And when dad brings a wifi gadget along to the cabin, there is some gadget time too.  I really love to come  to the cabin and unplug but hubby likes to watch movies, etc..

The entire weekend was so fun!  Remember that Jesus died for all sinners!  He forgives all sins!  He rose again and is alive!!!!  He is returning for His bride any day, so be ready!!!!  

Happy Easter!