Thanksgiving was a time of gratefulness.

Thanksgiving was a great way to start this holiday season!!!  We started out the day with our annual family meeting.  This is where we all sit together and make some new goals for the upcoming year.  It's when we reflect back from the past year and say things that we need to improve in and do differently!!!  It's the perfect opportunity to set new family goals and write down the things we are most grateful for!!! 

 

Then we grabbed the freshly baked chocolate cake and went to Daudy Lapp's for a Thanksgiving dinner!!!  The food was so yummy and delicious!!!  Mom always does a great job!!!  We spent the day with family and friends.  The guys shot their guns and hit clay birds. 

 

The night finally came when Hadassah and I went out Black Friday shopping!  Hadassah was looking forwards to this a lot!  Jess met us here and went along too!!!  The whole night was a blast!!! 

 Carmel apples were given as thank you gifts!!!

  

Ashlyn dressed up for her school thanksgiving party and she looked adorable!!!

One of the school moms made these.  Cute turkey legs.  :)

Middle school had a brunch for their party.

Kindergarten is a fun place to learn and Ashlyn is really starting to recognize letters!  She traces a lot and writes all the time!!!  This little indian/pilgrim is so cute!!!

When you get to do school with a cousin ... you have to document it with pictures!!!  ;)))

And so why does she say some days that school is boring?  That she doesn't like the bus ride?  This looks like a blast to me!!!!!  :))))

A fun craft!

I left the kiddoes like my beaters after mixing a cake for our thanksgiving dinner at Daudy Lapps.

It's starting to look like Christmas here at our home!!!  After a late night out on Thursday, we still had enough of energy to decorate for Christmas on Friday!!!  It's a day I look forward to a lot!!!  I love the Christmas season and really enjoy decking out the house for this wonderful celebration!!!!  I don't know how many times I have thought back or said, "I'm so glad it's this year and not last year!!!"  We were finishing up the house last year this time and moving back in just in time to spend Christmas at home!!!  So much needed to be done last year this time to make our move before Christmas happen but it happened!!!  So glad to be in and settled much more this year!!!  :)

 

I made my first stop at the greenhouse and loved what I saw!!!  So pretty!!!

 

 

We went down to moms the other day and helped her put her Christmas decorations.  Look who sat in one of the empty containers!!!  

You know the days when your husband says, "What did you do today?" 

Well ... here's a tiny glimpse of what goes on each day!

 

 

We are super, super excited about Christmas!!! 

Come on, Christmas!

This song is striking it for me today!  I just came inside from blowing tons of leaves and I'm lucky to be in a sweat because it is so beautiful outside today!!!  I love the warmer days that we get now and then but after hearing this song and seeing the upcoming weather conditions, I guess I'll be singing "Come on, Christmas!"  :)))

We have a fun weekend ahead of us!  I hope you do to! 

Colds ...

We've been having a tough week with colds, runny noses and coughs.  Especially, Austin and Ashlyn!  I just hate a cough and kinda panic inside because there isn't a whole lot (well, at least that I know of) to help get rid of coughs.  For babies!  We pray for healing.  I keep rubbing Austin with baby Vic's.  I like the smell and really don't mind putting this on him and I hope it is helping!  I also run the diffuser in their room at night!!!  A blend of thieves, peppermint and lavender!  Again, I like these smells and really pray that is will help ease the coughing! 

I didn't have a full nights sleep all week because of the colds!  I have been sleeping on the couch with Ashlyn on the other couch so she don't catch Austin's cough on top of her runny nose!  Most times sleep gets interrupted because someone wants a drink, or a nuk or ????  Tuesday night Austin was up for an hour in the middle of the night just crying.  He kept saying, "Dada."  So I took him into bed with Mike and even though he was glad to be with Mike, he still kept crying.  After holding him and rocking him and giving him a drink, Mike was able to get him calmed down.  :///  Night's are always the worst when the kids are sick!  Thankfully, when the sun came up each morning this week, the kids woke up feeling a bit better!!!  We are still wiping noses constantly but the cough did tame down a lot!!!  Thank you Jesus!!!

With all my mumblings and sighs here ... I did have to repent this morning!  I woke up to Mike turning on the living room light!  Ashlyn was still sleeping on the couch!  She was up at 5 AM crying and asking if it's a school day???  I told her no and she went back to sleep.  Sigh!  Now the light was on right on top of her and she was stirring.  She really doesn't need to be up at 6:30 AM on an off day of school!!!  I got up and just sat down to read some scripture before waking the kids up for school and Austin starts crying!!!  I could feel myself starting to complain inside.  Get upset!  Mumble.  I got grouchy and got him out of his crib.  So much for reading now!  Mike kissed me before heading off to work but now Ashlyn and Austin were both up and Austin is in tears because he wants his daddy! 

Then it hit me!  Like a ton a bricks!!!  Why am I being grouchy???  Are things really that bad?  NO!!!  And that's when my mind went to the Holmquist Family!!!  Brian and Andrea Holmquist took their family to Papua New Guinea to be missionaries years ago.  They lived there and raised their family in the tribes all the while working so hard on translating the Bible into a new language.  So that others may come to know Jesus as their savior!  The Holmquist family has since moved to the States and sent their children last year to Linville.  Their son Carson has become a good friend to Matthew and they got to spend some time together this summer before Carson and his family went back to New Guinea.  Their plans were to go for a few weeks and say some good byes before moving back to the States and helping with other Bible translations.

When Matthew spent the day at Carson's house this summer, I got a text from Andrea a few days later saying to check Matthew for ticks.  Their son Cade had a tick bite earlier and she was just warning me to check over Matthew's body!  Cade has gotten so sick from this tick bite and is now fighting a major case of Lyme's.  When the Holmquist family flew back to Papua New Guinea late this summer, Cade just got worse.  They ended up flying him to Australia for medical help.  Cade has been there now for months!  The Holmquist family has been through so much in the past few months.

I am writing all of this to ask you to help pray for Cade and the Holmquist family!!!  Cade is right now being flown back to the states by a jet with his mom on board and a team of medical assistance!  This will take about 24 hours to make a flight like this!  They will stop at three different places to get fuel and they hope to get Cade to a hospital in Delaware as soon as possible!!!

So, why would I be grouchy over a few nights of not getting straight through sleep???  When I did sleep, it was sound!  Why am I complaining inside when the children only have runny noses???  I had to confess to God this morning and remember my blessings!!!  Set another mind set and put on a smile!  Did it take away the colds and coughs???  Nope.  But it did give me a better look at today!  Another day of being able to care for the children and smoother them with kisses!  (In hopes of not catching any germs myself!!!)

If any of you know anything about Lyme's Disease, it is rough!  It can get really rough for some!  We've been through this twice last summer with Mike and Matthew both being diagnosed with Lyme's but we are ever so grateful that they are both now well and in 100% healthy again!!!  (Matthew did not get a tick bite at Carson's house this summer.  It was weeks later that Matthew had been bitten and treated for Lyme's.)

Please pray for Cade and Andrea as they go to a hospital in Delaware and meet with yet another set of doctors!  Pray that God will touch Cade's body and bring healing!   

Nothing planned!!!!

It's been like in forever that we had nothing planned for the whole weekend!!!  And as I type this I don't mean that in a bad why or a good why I guess.?.  :)  Having things planned means we have loving friends and family that like to get together.  My calendar gets so filled up with all kinds of activities but this weekend there is nothing written in any of the Friday, Saturday or Sunday boxes!!!  Coming out of a very happening week, I am completely fine with that!!!  Our teenager, however, is not!  She's been texting me from work wanting to go get our nails done or do something.  It's like she can't stand the matter that we might actually have a few nights at home ... in a row!  :))))  Mike and I are just enjoying the moment of not being so pushed.  I must add that we like to have things planned but if it's day events plus evening events, it makes us weary pretty fast!

I said that the air got colder and that means we now need to bundle up with warmer clothes!  Austin has a runny nose from being outside with Mike the other night.  He loves, loves to be with his dad and Mike was outside digging post holes for the new basketball net system.  He didn't mind one bit getting cold as long as he could be with his dad. 

This was Austin the other morning waiting the school bus.  He waves to the kids as they get on the bus!  It's so cute!!!

This used to be Matthew's jacket!!!  I think it's still so cute!!!

His wave ...

I had to ask why we planned such a fun night out on Thursday night when our week has already been packed to the max!?!  We had two church gatherings (which I skipped out twice.  Sad.).  I babysat twice.  We attended a viewing, funeral PLUS an employee wedding.  And it was only Thursday!  (Big eyes!)  Mike planned a night out with Dave and Sonia to go to Cheesecake Factory.  He wanted to thank them for all their many years of being an Elder at church.  I love Cheesecake Factory, so I took a deep breath and went along happily!  It was so much fun!  Good food and lots of great fellowship!  Dave's have become such wonderful friends in the past two years!!!  And because Hadassah was our babysitter for the night, I promised her a piece of cheesecake!  Which one did she choose?

Lemon Raspberry!  Great choice!

Ever since time changed, it is getting Austin up earlier!  He wakes up around 6 each morning now.  Waiting for his nap until after lunch is hard for him.  And me.  Because he is so tired if I hold him off till noon.  I needed to wipe up the kitchen floor and to keep him from walking in circles on my wet floor, I offered him a pretzel in his high chair.  Soon I noticed it got really quiet and here he fell asleep.  I put him to bed at 10:30 and he slept for 3 1/2 hours!  That gave me some quiet time to finish up laundry and blow more leaves outside!

I also got to sit down and jot a list that I will be looking at more and more the next upcoming weeks.  I can't believe it's time to start thinking about the holidays!  We are excited and can't wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Ever since we went to Cleveland a few weeks ago, I've been wanting another carrot, apple and celery drink!  I asked mom in law if I can borrow her juicer for awhile but when I went for it today, she wasn't home.  So, I swung by Lena's and now I am borrowing hers.  I have always liked the juice idea and the tastes!  But to buy one I wasn't sure about?  Would I really get my use out of it?  Or would it be a think I do and then set on the shelf?  I finally, after years of thinking about it, added it to my Christmas list!  :)  If I get a little or a lot of health benefits from it, then yeah!!!

I love this combination!  Two large carrots.  One large apple.  Two celery stalks.  Add a handful of chia seeds yet and yummy!!!  Austin does too!!!  He kept asking me for more and more!

I am off to enjoy a lazy weekend!  Here at home!!! 

I am so blessed!

And if anyone wants to play settlers or games or put puzzles together or drink coffee ... let me know.  We may or may not show up.  :)))

November is keeping us busy.

This has been a crazy week so far for us!!!  We came out of an emotional weekend.  It's been filled with many events, tears, seeing old friends and looking back at past memories.

 

HK Fisher went to be with the Lord on Friday night.  It has been a tough battle of Prostrate Cancer for him the last year.  It has been so tough for his family to see him die.  I have known HK ever since I was eight years old.  Mom and Dad took our family to Spring Garden Church when I was eight.  It was there that I got to meet my best friends, Mike and make friendships that will last a life time!!!  HK was the father of my best friend!  Rosa and I have spent so much time together with her parents!  We traveled to Florida, Indiana, Perry County, Buffalo Valley and so many other places together.  I was in and out of HK and Lynn's home A LOT!!!  After I was married, Mike and I continued to keep close connections to the Fisher family!!!  I was honored to help with many of HK's auctions and I will forever think he is the best auctioneer out there!!!  My love for auctions have defiantly stemmed from his auctions!!!

 

HK & Lynn have been such faithful leaders in the church where I grew up.  He helped other churches get through tough issues in life.  That's why we have so many friends in Davis County, Indiana.  My parents have volunteered to go along on many weekend trips to Davis County when I was young.  Even though a lot of the meetings where focused on problems, we made many great memories!    

HK baptized both Mike and I into the church of God.  He preached at our wedding and married us!  He prayed over our infants at baby dedications.  He preached at every Council and Communion service and I loved his sermons about Joseph!  He said so often to me, "Thank you kiddo for all you do."  I was the one that printed out the church bulletins for years and he always noticed the work and effort that goes behind all of that!  I guess with him knowing me for so long I was still a kiddo in his eyes.  That's OK with me.  :)))

I had the privilege to visit him the week before he died.  I went back to his bedroom and had a good short visit with him.  He talked weak.  I knew he wasn't well.  Then when I went for another short visit on Wednesday, he was much weaker.  Now in a hospital bed.  Not able to talk much anymore.  He did raise his eye brows when Rosa and I walked to his bedside.  He knew who I was.  He was breathing a lot harder.  He was facing his last days here on earth.

When Mom called on Friday night and said that HK died, it was sad.  I felt so bad for his family.  I had a flood of memories come to mind.  Now, the past few days have been spent with the Fisher's.  Please continue to pray for the Fisher family and especially for Lynn.  She now finds a new normal in life.  A new routine.  New challenges.  Pray that she can remember that this is not a goodbye but a see you later!!!

I love you Lynn!

This is HK signing his name on our marriage certificate.

 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

 

Our "little man" is still little on the doctors chart with his weight but above average with his height!  Austin is already 16 months old.  I made the comment the other night to Mike that "this is why we have babies".  :)))  I love his stage right now.  He can say some words.  He can express what he wants.  He sleeps ALL night!!!  There are not enough words to describe how cute he is!!!  Austin CANNOT get enough of his dad!!!  He cries every time Mike leaves home.  He lights up the second he sees Mike come home from work!!!  Austin is healthy and thriving in life!!!

 

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

 

Ashlyn got her first report card!!!  She was so proud and happy to bring this home for us to see!!!  I do wish that she would be all smiles when it's a school day though.  Ashlyn is struggling with school days.  Actually, with the bus ride.  She seems to be doing fine in the classroom but sheds tears on the bus.  This morning she was up at 6 AM snuggling with Mike before she had to get ready for school.  She begged Matthew to let her sit with him on the bus.  Mike promised her that he would pick her up at school today ... again.  That brought a smile but her comment was that she still can't wait for the end of the school day.  This takes me for such a surprise because Ashlyn loves people and all the different school activities.  She made us laugh yesterday when she said, "Mom I wish you were my teacher.  And Dad I wish you were the hot lunch people."  :))))  (She does love Miss Petersheim and really enjoys hot lunch.)  It does feel good to be loved.  :)

 

You got this girl!!! 

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

With living such a crazy schedule lately, Mike and I try to find some time out for just us!!!  We actually didn't have any "plans" last Friday night and so we took that night as a "date night" for us!  The kids went to sitters as we called up my parents and said that we were coming to pick them up and take them with us!!!  We had a blast!!!!  They never ate at a Bonefish Grill.  We had gift cards to use there ... so that was a win, win.  The food was so amazing but the night out with my parents was just as amazing.  We laughed as we ate.  The night out was so much fun!  Thanks mom and dad for going with us!

Mike got the Ahi Tuna and I ordered the Saucy Shrimp.  Both dishes were outstanding and we would totally go for these same foods again!!!

I barely touched my sides that night but they made for a great lunch the next day!  Yummy sweet potato mashers and lobster mac and cheese!

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

It is Fall and the leaves are falling!!!  We blew together a few piles of leaves the other day and Ashlyn loved jumping through them.  Austin didn't like it so much and just watched from the side lines. 

 

 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

 

Yes, we did vote!  After the funeral service yesterday of HK, Mike and I stopped by the poles to cast our votes.  I prayed for God's hand in this whole election and so when I woke up this morning with my alarm radio saying something about Clinton's victory, my heart did sink!!!  I'm not sure what I heard wrong but it wasn't long before Mike took a look on his phone at who won the 2016 Presidential Election.  He said, "Donald Trump won!!!"  I looked at him again and said "what?"  "Wow!!!  How awesome!"  I couldn't wait to tell Matthew this morning because it was him and I up last night trying to stay awake for the election results.  We all ended up all in bed before the results were all in.  I am so happy to know that the Republicans now have the upper hand.  May God still have our nations heart and motives!!!

 

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

 

Because it is autumn, I roasted a spaghetti squash for lunch today.  I only ate half of it because even though the spaghetti squash was small, it made a lot!  I'll save the rest for later!  I topped it with chili, cheese and sour cream.  I love squash and spaghetti squash really is a lot like spaghetti.  Except that spaghetti squash is a vegetable!!!  So good!!!  Try it!

 

Now, I am catching up on the news about the election day yesterday.  It looks hopeful for us Republicans but God still really needs to be our focus!!!  We need to have revival in our own hearts so that others may get to know Jesus as their personal Savior!  Spread the word of God!  May the healing of our nation begin today!!!

God bless America!!!

Autumn events ...

Kindergarten has been a pleasant but tough little journey for Ashlyn.  She keeps saying that she misses me so much.  It's hard for her to get on the bus in the morning and afternoon.  She says she doesn't like the bus but still she has fallen asleep on her ride home many times.  The other morning she said she has belly ache.  I kinda knew why or I thought that maybe she just didn't want to face the bus.  I went along with it and said that she can lay on the couch till she feels better.  She asked for oatmeal for breakfast but when she came to sit down and eat it, her belly hurt.  I thought that maybe she really doesn't feel good???  She laid back on the couch and rested.  Meanwhile, the bus came and picked up Matthew and left.  She was up a minute later saying her stomach feels better.  What???  I mean, well, good!!!  :)  We took another look at breakfast and we were out the door with me taking her to school.  She really does enjoy school once she is there.  Now, of course, for a five year old that wants a snack whenever she wants and a drink the second she can gets thirsty, school is a good stretch for her.  But through all this, she came home very excited the other day!!!!  She was picked to bring Curious George home for one week!!!  She was so happy to bring George to her house and take lots of pictures together. 

 

And play games together ...

Look at books together.  (She took my camera and didn't make the setting adjustments.  :))) Thank you now for the darker pictures.)

She really did fall asleep looking at a book with George.  :)

Here again ... Ashlyn took the camera.  She gave Curious George marshmallows.

 

 

Many thanks to Miss Peterson for making kindergarten a learning experience and filled with fun activities!!!  Ashlyn loved her time with George!

 

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

 

 

We had a great night with Hadassah's volleyball team and school friends the other evening!!!  Linville Hill now has freshman and sophomores!!!  The high school girls had a wonderful volleyball season and to celebrate, the teachers invited the whole school for a formal banquet and awards!!!  We are proud of Hadassah for receiving the MVP award!!!  Great job girl!!!

 

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Now with the kids school fall sports over, Mike and I have a quick challenge of our own!!!  Honey brook Community Church had a fundraiser 5K.  We've been enjoying our two years attending this church and are excited to see growth and new visions coming about!  We now meet in a school gym and look forward to meeting in a church house.  This 5K will help fund the expenses!!! 

Mike is so good for me in something like this.  Running or excising is a goal of mine but I tell myself way too many times, "Well, at least I'm out running a little."  To set goals of distance is rare for me.  Well, Mike wanted to run together and so we did!!!  And we made it!!!  The whole way!!!  We didn't beat any records with our time but we felt wonderful to say that we ran a 5K together. 

And Mike was rewarded for finishing first in his age bracket!!!  Good job Hun!!!

 

 

Fall is going by quickly and it's now November!!!  Are we ready for the holidays???  Not yet!!!  Enjoy some Autumn just a bit longer yet!!!