Baby Zeke has arrived! The last 24 hours in the life of the Ippels

Ezekiel (Zeke) "middle names undetermined" Ippel has arrived!  2:33 AM, November 15, 7 pounds 1 oz, 19 3/4 inches.  He and mama are both very healthy and delivery went quickly and smoothly.

I will leave the details and story to Amanda, as it is hers to share.  But the last 24 hours have been so full that I (Krista) thought I'd share a few stories and pictures that we have found humorous (with permission).

- Immediately following delivery, I texted all immediate family members.  Not having her dad's phone number saved, Amanda recited it to me and I added it to the mass text.

Krista: 2:33 AM: We have a baby! Ezekiel something undetermined Ippel, 2:33, 7,1, 19.75
Terry: 4:21 AM: Who is this?
Krista: 4:21 AM: Krista
Terry?: 4:23 AM: Do you have the right number?  But congrats!  That is exciting!
Krista: 4:23 AM: Is this Terry?
Cyndi: 4:24 AM: Cyndi from goodwill.  But I am happy for you!!
Krista: 4:24 AM: Hahaha sry
Cyndi: 4:25 Have a great day and life with the baby!

- First thing this morning when the kids woke up, Ben's mom Kathy showed the kids the pictures that Ben had posted on Facebook, 'introducing' them to their baby brother.

Jayden: "His head looks like it's on backwards.  Whoa.  Is that his chest? He looks very strong.  When he is one year old, he will be able to pick up a chair!"

- Hearing that 'baby brother's' name is Ezekiel, Austen began to cry.  "He will not like his name.  I do not like his name.  I will never get used to that.  I think when he grows up, it will make him feel sad when people call him that."

Austen's demeanor during much of our visit, due to his very strong feelings about his little brother's name.










- After I woke up late morning, I was uploading pictures of Ezekiel onto my computer.  Hannah came to watch and began singing to, "aweing," petting, and kissing my computer screen. She went so far as to give my computer a very nice, very gentle hug.    







- Late afternoon, with Ben on the way home from the hospital to take a nap, Kathy (his mom) gets a text:
 Ben: 2:15 PM: Love you soooo much!!!!
Ben: 2:20 PM: I do.  Haha.  But that was meant for Amanda. :)  I wondered why she hadn't responded back to me....

- On the quite long trip to the hospital, Hannah began to grow restless, questioning, "I see my baby?!"  After being reassured we were almost there, "I hold her?" Throughout hospital visit: "I hold that! / I hold it? / You hold her?" "Him, Hannah.  Him."  "I hold HIM?!"  (we need to work a little bit on pronouns)














- Jayden: "What happens if Ezekiel grows up Spanish?"

- When leaving the hospital after our very busy visit, Jayden and Austen both inquired, "wait.  Where's the hole in his head?!" (soft spot)

And a few pictures for you to enjoy:

We're a photogenic bunch... (we also didn't try to coordinate this as much as it appears.  Just the matching big sister shirts)

Hannah innocently offering her baby brother a pillow for his face...

Hannah decided in the moment this was being photographed that she no longer wanted to be sitting down.  Or have baby brother on her lap anymore.  Good catch, Ben.  Good catch. 

Picture abandoned to rescue Zeke from a projectile 'nose suctioner,' thrown over his head in case he might need it. 

A rare peaceful moment.  Proud big sister.

Beautiful mama

We love you Buddy.  We've fought hard for you.

HOW are you sleeping?!?!

Now I'm going to take a picture of ME!

The more you have the harder to coordinate.  We tried.  Ohhhh we tried.  Good enough.

fighting for a recovery

    Over the past five months. My mind has been consumed with trying to recover. I am constantly thinking about how to improve my mind through logic games, logic puzzles, and how to how to grieve what has been lost. It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that it took 10 seconds for me to lose the ability to walk, talk c sit up, and many other things. At times, I feel very angry. That I cannot be the mom or the wife that I want to be. I have this little box where I keep an assortment of balls, sponges, and anything else that I feel would aid in my recovery.

 iI has been such a fight every day.  with myself, who I desire to be in the future. To be honest, I struggle many times with trusting that God is in all of this. I had no problems with my "former "life. But I realized through all this I am quite  a fighter.


 I fight for the ability to care, independently for my family. I I look forward very much to the day. When, I can look at a  door and open it with ease. I really miss, being able to pick up Hannah. So I fight for that to come back and.I believe, that someday God will restore to me was stolen. I am thankful, for the time I have with my family. Life is a battle. Maybe, you haven't experienced a battle yet  trust me it will come. Every person's battle will look different. It's in the battle that you begin to realize what kind of warrior you are.

      For the past five months, our focus has been fixated on getting me better. I am so thankful for Ben. Even,  when  it feels that we remain in a black.depressing hole. He was never given up. I know, that somehow,someway,someday. We will be back to normal. That in itself, keeps me going.  each day, I feel is a grieving process. To some extent, you grieve the difference. In life, and try to learn how to trust God more genuinely. This, is not easy. It' snot for the faint of heart.

working on wrist flexion

my ice bag in hand, trying to numb the area on my stomach where i get My daily shot

 I am due   in the next five weeks. Slowly ever so slowly. I am starting to think more about our newest member. Of our family. Who was only 13 weeks along when everything occurred. Now, is a healthy 35 weeks.

Trying to be patient, and this season's life

If, you would have asked me what this year would have looks like. I don't think hundreds of hours dedicated to rehabilitation would have bad in my mind frame. I don't really enjoy, where life is this year. I try to remember that this is a season. Not a lifetime, however it feels like a lifetime. I look forward to next year being stronger. And God willing living life, the way  I hope I can. Homeschooling does not look at all how I wanted to look, at least this year. My favorite part, Konos, has had to be set aside at least for the near future.

MyHannah Lou

 Oh  oHannah Lou now little. You are you are at two years old. And very full of energy. From, the moment you are out of bed if you are running. You really don't play with toys. However, yesterday you played for 20 minutes in your highchair with Playdough. I love how the much you talk. When you say, "no, you're funny." You are very adventurous. It always can make me smile. You don't really like to watch movies. If you are so much interested in a story. You want your own story to go  along with it. at. You really just like the company of someone else's voice talking. the other day, I took you for a walk in your new umbrella stroller. We went off to the park, and you wanted in the worst way To swing. Those are hard moments for me because I can put you in the swing. pushing you in a stroller is still a struggle. Because my left hand doesn't want to stay put when I'm pushing forward. So we went down the slide a together, and I just kind of step back and enjoyed watching you skip across the grassy field. Just watching you was to peaceful to me. Your blonde bouncy hair, blowing in the breeze.You will probably never remember how hard this time in your life was for me. That is okay with me. You see with the most beautiful voice ever. I love how high you can get your voice to go, especially when you sing "I yup you so much".  if, you knew you had earrings and they would be out by now. I love you Lou Lou.

The little things.

Okay.This is my first blog post with Dragon a dictation program. I hope it goes well. It has been very hard not to be to type of the past four months. I chose these pictures to highlight some of the fun things the kids have done. I love Jayden's adventure red Hat. He wears that everywhere. Earlier this summer we lost it. It was very sad because he literally wears his hat every day. I love that because he is always ready for an adventure. It has been so hot here in Arizona. Krista will filled up like 60 water balloons the and put them in the cooler and the kids and I would go outside and throw them at each other. The expression on Hannah's  the face was priceless. She would scrunch  up her face when anyone would come relatively close to her.I enjoyed these excursions out side with the kids And their aunt. Because sometimes it's the really little things in life, that bring joy.

a part of our ongoing journey towards full recovery

Topics to learn about this year

• 

I asked the kids what they wanted to learn about this year
detectives
princesses
horses
the body
lion
plants
rainforest
sap
how they make video games
farms
police officers
how they make candy

tigers
dinosaurs
villains
birds
do spiders sleep a night?
doctors and nurses
polar bears
space
how do the make computers
squids
sharks
hoe cold is Anarcttica?
crocodiles
lakes
how do you make a trampoline?
how do you make a camera?
hummingbirds
bears

• 
  
• I;m pretty excited to start the dayofff with bible geography and grapevine studies....and do a travel around the world with some fun geography books!This year will be kept light and fun..as we welcomes new little friend into our family and believe God for continual restoration of my left hand.

This is a Team Effort

I thought I would try to give a sneak peak into my world right now.  Yes, I am home from the hospital. No, I am not back into my old routines.  I have a team that helps me each and every day.  

My mom and dad, two brothers, and father-in-law came earlier this month and tremendously helped out with the kids.  My two sister-in-laws and my mother-in-law have been here recently helping with the kids, coordinating meal times, changing all diapers, as well as bringing the kids swimming, to the park and to movies.  My mother-in-law is really helping with doing school with the kids right now.  I am so thankful for everyone's help with the kids.  I could not have done it on my own.     

The first few days at home, Ben had to help me make my way to the restroom and upstairs, walking with me slowly - slowly. Getting showered, getting dressed,  and drying my hair in the morning is my least favorite time of day.  Ben helps me get dressed every morning.  It used to take me twenty minutes to get a stinkin' shirt on; now I can manage it in about seven minutes.  Each night Ben gives me a Lovenox blood thinner shot in my stomach to help prevent another stroke during the pregnancy.  Ben has been awesome through this whole process.    

We have had countless people bless us with meals.  I cannot say thank you enough!  There is no way my energy is at 'pre-stroke' levels.  I have gone from taking multiple naps a day to just one, and am able to stay up longer at night.  My weeks are full of doctors appointments.  After my two-hour per day therapy I am wiped out.  I take a 45-minute to 1-hour nap after each therapy appointment.  

I try to wear ear plugs at night during dinner to cut down on the noise level.  My brain still gets over-stimulated very quickly.  I tend to get easily distracted.  They believe it will take 2-3 months for my brain to stop being so tired.  I can't wait.  Each day I deal with as it comes.    

Each day is full of a new set of challenges.  I have no license right now. My goal today is to get through the whole day with no cane.  

Yes, things are improving, but we are not back to 'normal.'  Unfortunately I am not able to run after the kids yet.  I still need a lot of assistance.  I am so appreciative of all the extra help we have received.  There is no way I could do this alone.

Humorous Stroke Quotes

Humor has been very important to all of us in these last few weeks.  The first day I (Krista, Amanda's sister-in-law) visited her in the hospital, I was laughing so hard I was crying within the first five minutes of entering the hospital room.  These moments, laughs, and comments have been so important throughout this journey.  We've been trying to keep track of a few of these interactions in order to be able to look back and remember.  Here's a quick glimpse:

Ben to Amanda: “You’re sitting on your arm.”

Amanda: “Oh…I thought that was the remote control.”

Shortly after Amanda threw up one morning, Kathy (Ben's mom) was adding cheese to a bowl of chili for lunch.

Austen: “Is that mama’s throwup?  Why are you putting cheese on it?”

Jayden: “Mama, are we getting a meal tonight?”

Amanda (high-fiving Jay): “Yes, we are.”

Jayden to Ben (sitting right next to Amanda): “Daddy, are we getting a meal tonight?”

Ben: “Yes, we are.”

Jayden: “Okay.  I just wanted to make sure Mama really knew what was going on.”

Amanda: "When the ambulance came, I remember Ben saying over and over, 'I'm Phoenix PD, I'm Phoenix PD.'"

Ben: "I said it once!"

Amanda: "Well I just imagined you fighting through a ton of people and shouting over and over, 'I'm Phoenix PD, I'm Phoenix PD!'"

Ben: "Well first of all, there were not tons of people to fight through, and second, I was not shouting, I told the EMTs when they got here.  Once."

Katie, Ben's sister, brought Bagel Beanery bagels from Michigan.  As Ben and Amanda were looking through them:

Ben: “Those ones are mine!  You got the fruity ones!”

Amanda: “Did you have the stroke?!”

Amanda: "Ben has been frustrated when he helps me get dressed because he can't find any of my clothes - they're all rolled up into a ball in my drawers.  But how was I supposed to know I was going to have a stroke?!  I'm sorry, if I had known I was going to have a stroke, I would have organized all my drawers!”

The stroke has nothing to do with me, but to bring glory to God

I cannot type worth a "hoot" anymore.  So much has happened these past 3 weeks.  On May 20, Ben and I were simply laughing about the lunar eclipse, standing outside with our paper plates and laughing about what I was supposed to be looking at with a pin hole in the paper plate.

Little did we know within 2 hours our lives would change within 10 seconds.  Ben and I were hanging out and out of the blue my speech immediately became slurred and an intense pain soared from the nape of my neck upward and Ben was on the phone with 911 immediately: "Hi, yes I think my wife is having a stroke."  I remember thinking, "this is silly, who has a stroke at 29?" The next thing I remember is Ben saying, "the ambulance is here."  I have no memory of being put in a bag.  Just them asking me over and over for my birthday and my due date.  And them saying, "squeeze my hand."  I had no idea I was paralyzed.

I felt an overwhelming sense of peace that I knew was the Holy Spirit.  I do not remember much of the ambulance ride, just being immediately put into a CT machine and feeling God's presence.

The hardest part was not being able to reassure Ben.  That part killed me.  At one point thinking in my head, "I'm ready to go home now," and Ben leaning over me very upset, "Amanda! You can't walk!"  "What do you mean I can't walk?!" This is news to me.  I had no idea I was paralyzed.  I am so thankful for the prayers.  You all rock!

Every day I would wake up - "Okay, God, what are you giving me back today?"

I didn't know I lost my ability to swallow.  That my whole left side was paralyzed.  One day I had 3 MRIs, and just praying the whole time for God to protect our baby.

Each step of the way, He was the most faithful friend.  The rally of love and support from all our friends and family...you ministered to us so much.  Thank you thank you!

In Proverbs it says, "The steps of a man are established by the Lord and when he falls he will not be hurled headlong for the Lord is the one who holds his hand."

This verse means so much to me now, just trying to learn how to walk again.  Huge challenge!  Ben has to stay on my weak side (left side) because if I'm going to fall that is the side I will fall on.  That is what God does for us, he stays on our weak side.  His desire for us is success.  I am so thankful for his faithfulness in this most challenging trial of my life.

My voice is still weak, but my arm is slowly coming back.  God is so good!  I look forward to being able to push my kids in the swing again soon!

This whole process has reminded me of a fighter.  When I started rehab I had zero trunk support.  I would flop over on the mat.  It took 4 people to get me into a wheelchair.

Ephesians 6:13-18  "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

When I was so floppy, these are the verses that came to my mind.  When I was struggling to maintain balance, I refused to believe the lie "you may never walk again."  This has ultimately been the biggest test of my life, but God, I trust you!

Never will I leave you nor forsake you.  He is faithful.  I believe that to my core of who I am.

Each and every day God gives me back something that was taken from me in 10 seconds.  And everyday He gives me something new back, even if it is just a movement in my fingers.

Mentally exhausting, every day is mentally exhausting.  My stamina will come in the months ahead.

Please keep Ben in your prayers, he is juggling a lot right now.

To God be all the glory!  Amen!

Slow Downs Are Good

We have been going at a pretty slow pace the past few days. Life has been very busy and really dictating how are day to day activities have been. I know this season will be short lived so we are just rolling with it. I am treasuring the small things right now, because life is too unstable to put much stock in other things. Yesterday, on my mornings with Moriah we went for a walk, laid in the cool grass, sat and watched a hummingbird for a very long time and smelled the grass. I love watching her run in her gray and pink pajamas, bare foot through the grass and wanting me to be the queen and her the princess. Its the small things right now that mean so much to me.

Things My Kids Said Yesterday

" Mama, blood is stampeding from my finger!"- Moriah.

She said this after she started stabbing a padded mail envelope with a pen over and over and then coincidentally stabbed herself. Not quite sure why she decided to do that but I assure you, the amount of blood was minimal to what the padded envelope suffered.

Hannah literally screaming " Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!!!!!!!!" as he walks in the door. She loves Daddy so  much and the minute she hears the garage door open goes rushing downstairs to find him and scream as loud as she can, his name.

Hannah screaming "NOOO!" at someone and then recanting her words and saying quietly, with her chubby little cheeks, " No, no, no."

Me & Moriah Mornings

These past few weeks, Moriah and I have been leaving the house early and walking our neighborhood with a bag of cheerios and the birds chirping. We talk and I answer questions about birds, dogs, God and funny jokes. We walk twice around and then stop at the park and swing. I swing her and give her "under dogs" and then we make a spider and swing that way too.

Sometimes, sprinklers are on in the morning and we make sure our stroller goes through them, misting our legs and pajamas. When we are doing the spider on the swing we give each other big hugs and I smell her hair, look into her blue eyes, see her life and treasure her.

I love my mornings with Moriah. I'm thinking of adding muffins to them, it seems fitting. Having more than one child makes spending time alone with each one more challenging, but even more important. So, I'm off to enjoy my busy day, but first....Moriah and I are going off on our morning walk, just the two of us.

Happy Easter From Us!

This is the

 best we could

DO!

I've Been Nominated!

I"ve been nominated by my sweet friend Holly for the Versatile Blogger! Thank you Holly! Its pretty sweet because Holly has an amazing blog herself if you want to go check it out it is http://myplantbasedfamily.wordpress.com/. Her blog is full of amazing recipes and ideas to live healthy and vegan! Love her blog! Ok, I"m suppose to nominate 15 blogs which will NOT be hard at all since there are so many amazing blogs that I am encouraged by daily but I"m also suppose to include 7 things about myself so...here they are:

1. I love to workout
2. I sing constantly, mostly out of tune- not because I can't sing in tune I"m must too lazy
3. I would love to write children's books someday
4. My favorite colors are blue and green
5. I love cold,rainy days but only up to a week
6. Coffee is wonderful
7. I am a morning person to the core
8. Let me squeeze in eight, I love Christ and I am not ashamed of it!

Ok, here are the 15 blogs that I would totally nominate!

http://myplantbasedfamily.wordpress.com
http://momsinneedofmercy.blogspot.com/
http://blog.aussiepumpkinpatch.com/
http://frugalfun4boys.com/
http://hodgepodge.me/
http://cultivatedlives.blogspot.com/



*** ok, I will need to come back b/c I'm a terribly tired..will keep updating this. Thank you again Holly!

Learning About Easter In Our World

Today, the kids and I spent the morning listening to hymns on the crucifixion and the blood Christ shed for our sins. We opened up our Easter eggs with the symbolism of what Christ did for us.  Our hands were dyed- mine still look as thought I rolled in purple dirt today. Hannah insisted on crawling, screaming and squeezing food coloring bottles on her white shorts. Rule #1 no white shorts, Rule #2 make sure you are outside. I followed one of the two rules, thankfully.

We prayed, read the Bible and then I created their simple Easter cones filled with reeses peanut butter eggs. We had an Easter egg hunt and dinner with some dear friends tonight and another fun day planned tomorrow, sin Ben. Thankfully we could celebrate with us this evening...will miss him tomorrow... "life" doesn't stop on Sundays for some jobs. Thank you Jesus! I love you! Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday and if you fell upon this blog, I pray that if you do not know the love that Christ has for you- you will find it today. Feel free to email me if you want to know more! Enjoy your friends and family- family comes in all shapes and sizes and doesn't necessarily mean blood- I've learned that in the past 5 years of living out here.

My God Image

I have realized something about myself. Unless I am rooted in Christ and constantly in His word, I am pretty shaky when it comes to my " accomplishments and achievements". Let me explain. Social media, support groups, friends, church, pintrest, and blogs open up the doors for so many avenues to be used by God, through God but if my identity is in any of those things listed above the minute someone does not comment, recognize or pay tribute or a craft on pintrest becomes just a pin and never a production my self worth begins to fall.

Call me honest, or putting myself out there but I think that so many of us fall into this category and we hate to admit it. I share because this blog serves as a journey to my life...an avenue, to see my spiritual growth as well as the growth of my family. This has been something that the Holy Spirit has been bringing to the forefront of my heart each and every day. This year, has been a tough year for Spiritual growth. I am thankful for the growing pains because it means that the Holy Spirit sees that I'm ready for it; I need to grow so that I can grow into a new level.

Lately, however, I have felt a huge disconnect from certain areas of life and I really believe that this is God working out my self image.....removing it from me and replacing His image into my heart. When I look in the mirror, regardless of who is saying what or not saying- I see Christ. When I am having a harried day with my kids and look at a blog that is full of tranquility and peace and begin to compare that God-image rises up in me and yells " NO!".

When my self esteem begins to waver because of what I feel I am not doing enough of, being enough too, failing in  this area, etc my God Image rises up and says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6


I am a child of God, I have been bought by the blood of Christ, I am a new creation, God knit ME in my mother's womb, I AM fearfully and wonderfully made, I am not bound to sin but God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God...."


You will NEVER feel good enough, you will never do enough crafts, games, reading lessons, spend enough time with friends, give enough ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH! 


Hold me now, I feel the Holy Spirit moving! But by the strength and power of the HOly Spirit mighty things will come forth through you. Remove from selfish ambition- this includes any self image and worth that is carried and replace it with my garment of Praise- that my light would shine through in the dark places. You will  not reach out when you hold onto self. Self is not of me, but humble yourself so that I may be exalted. 


Mothers, wives, friends- our image is in CHRIST! The old has passed away, behold the new has come. He makes all things new. Stop living in the lies that the enemy has placed on you. " You will never be as good as her, you will never do as much as her, your friends are not interested in you, why doesn't anyone call you..." These are lies to isolate and cause division. This is how the enemy works, with thoughts and lies.


Behold, I have created your for greatness for might for power- IN MY NAME. No longer walk with your head held low, but I have created you for such a time as this. Your image as a mama is rooted in ME, your image as a wife is rooted in ME, your image as a friend is rooted in ME- You are rooted in ME.  John 15: 1-11

1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Praise God, He totally just hijacked my blog- Praise God, my heart is overflowing with joy right now at the truth that I shakily typed as the Holy Spirit flowed through my heart. This is totally meant for me, but I believe that God has allowed me to have this forum because it is intended for so many more. Walk forward oh Daughter of Christ- " Daughter your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed from your affliction." Mark 5:34

Easter Ideas

We are SOOO behind on celebrating Easter this year, or at least the weeks coming up to it. I think next year, I will incorporate our family that is in town, into our celebration and actually plan to do so....because, Easter is in a week here are some ideas we typically do each year as well as a few new ones!



* Make Unleavened bread
* Bake hot cross buns and sing the song while explaining the meaning
* Read the Easter story
* Do our walk to Calvary banner with each symbol for each day ( something we start typically WAAAY before- can anyone say "catch up"?)
* Build our cross and nail our sins on it
* Create an indoor Easter scene
* Have an egg rolling contest
* Make a Spring,floral centerpiece celebrating Easter
* Act out the Easter story
* Resurrection Eggs- LOVE these!
* A friend game the idea of a plant based empty tomb! Love that, thank you Cati!

Here are some more ideas that I posted about last year Easter Ideas and  a couple more !

Enjoy celebrating Resurrection Sunday and the days leading up to it! Remember, " How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure that he should give his only son, to make a wretch his treasure...."
Listen to this song and know Christ loves you!

These are just a few- I plan on dedicating this entire next week to getting ready for the celebrating the Resurrection of Christ! What do you like to do?

Refreshing Breaks

Ben and I took a much needed hiatus from parenting and spent three days relaxing, playing games, hiking, eating and so much more together up in the northeastern mountains of Arizona. There was snow on the ground, the smell of pine needles everywhere and silence. I am so thankful that I married my best friend, that we have family willing to watch our children so we can get away and that we value our relationship in the midst of parenting. As you know, parenting can get a tad catawampus on you sometimes. Sometimes, a little time a way is just enough to rejuvenate your heart. And, sometimes.....you wish you had just a couple of more days.

Applying James 3:17

Today I read in my quiet time James 3:17. This is a verse that I feel so strongly in my spirit to meditate on and to ask the Holy Spirit to continually renew and work in my heart. There are times that I feel the complete opposite of this on the inside. Or, I feel that I have so much to change that I cannot even imagine where to begin or that I am doing alright.

Raising a family requires more sacrifice of myself than I could have ever imagined. It requires me to lay down my selfish ambition and my insecurities. I am forced to confront parts of me that quite honestly would never come out or be known, except to God, because of the life I've created. I am so thankful for the powerful working of the Holy Spirit and to know that " Nothing is impossible with God."

Something For Mama Too

I have been learning to crochet for the past two months. Right now, I'm working on a couple of different projects. One, is making little crocheted chicks with eggs for my kids. They are far from perfect but I love a challenge and something homemade.

Crocheting is very relaxing and addicting. There are a few things you need to get started:

* Variety of crochet needles ( I have F-I)
* Fun colors of skeins ( aka. yarn balls)
* Books from the library, youtube or a dear friend
* Patience and determination

The first time I tried to make my first row for a scarf it took me over an hour. Now, I can probably make an entire scarf in an hour. I am kind of becoming addicted to this little craft of mine and having so much fun with it I may try to offer a few tutorials a few times a month. That, however, would require taking pictures as I go, step by step- a bit of a challenge. Anyways, here are a few of my favorite books to start with!

Some of my favorite crochet books

Forces of Nature

Today we learned more about friction, inertia and force. We slid down the slide on placemats, cardboard boxes, trash bags, and a a blanket. The kids hypothesized on what would cause them move faster. We also tested a piece of wood, stone, rubber animals and an eraser to see which had the least amount of friction. 

We climbed trees and talked about how thankful we were they weren't made of ice and snow. Its been a fun day! Grandma even tested the forces of gravity and F=ma for us on the slide :) We do love her :)

Ice Cream Cone Fun!

Enjoying the amazingly gorgeous weather out here in AZ! Sunny, "warm" ( 80s) and a great time for ice cream cones! 

the other day, the boys played quietly for 3 hours by themselves, setting up chess, and then going outside to play dinosaurs who are eating "lemons"- love them