DREAMING

               

                                     Dreaming...

So I was listening to this clip about a woman who died of breast cancer, I think before she was 30 yrs. old.
 She had made a list of things she wanted to accomplish in her life time...take a train across Canada, run a half marathon, help an orphanage in India, get married, etc. Most of those things she never achieved. If I remember correctly, she died a month after getting married and now her husband has set out to accomplish those things in her memory. Some, like learning to play the cornet, sew, knit... he's not real thrilled about but is determined to do them anyway.

   So here I am in my wonderful little life with my man and my babies, and it looks like that's just how my life is to be. And I look forward to the rest of the journey even though I don't enjoy every aspect of it to the max. (Really, am I expected to enjoy potty-training, fighting stretch marks, cleaning toilets, or settling squabbles ?)
   But just for a little, while my son settles back to sleep on my shoulder, my 2 year old sings in the next room to keep herself awake, and my 4 yr. old snoozes on her hero-daddy's pillow..just for a little I'm going to dream.
   In my dream, I grow beautiful flower gardens and learn to make special bouquets which my children take   to the elderly.
                   (If it weren't for mu husband, I'm afraid any surviving flowers around here would be a dream.)
           I would take an anniversary trip to some place like this :

 Another trip would be to Alaska because that's my hubby's dream.
 We'd take our teenagers to a poor country and all help at an orphanage...preferably in India, where 2 of my beautiful nieces are from.
I would become an inspirational author for women.
                                                 I would run a lovely bed n breakfast with a tea room and a coffee and book nook and a music room (which would have a grand piano for my husband and varied instruments for my children.) And weary people, and terminally sick folks, and wore out moms, could come free of charge and  be refreshed. ( and for those moms..something special...a Private bubble bath, where they could soak till they were wrinkly as you please). No interruptions allowed.
   I'd learn to cook healthy attractive 10 minute meals, with lots of variations. And people would quit asking me if I don't feed my hard working, Thin husband.
 My children and I would memorize whole chapters of the Bible.
                        And as surely as I bring this to a close I will think of more things to add. It's been fun dreaming but in reality, my windows still need cleaned, my laundry is still unfolded, and my two year old is still awake.   What are your dreams ???

           "Our Wedding (Sour Cream) Brownies"

 First layer                                                                                                     will try to post pic later
1. In medium saucepan combine: 1 cup water
                                                   1cup butter
                                                  3 Tbsp. cocoa
Cook and stir till boiling. Remove from heat & set aside.
2. In med. mixing bowl combine:  2 cup flour
                                                   2 cup sugar
                                                    1 tsp. baking soda
                                                   1/2 tsp. salt
                                    Set aside.
 3. In large mixer bowl combine: 1 cup sour cream and 2 eggs
      Beat well. Add first two mixes. Beat till smooth. Pour batter
  into greased 15x10 " pan.
   Bake at 350 * for 25-30 min. or done.
   Cool on wire rack and freeze.

Second Layer
             1/2 cup scalded milk
              2 cup peanut butter
Mix. Add 1/2 cup butter
                2 cup 10x sugar
                 1 tsp. vanilla
 Spread over frozen cake.

 Third Layer (Topping)
   1/2 gal. vanilla ice cream mixed with  
   1/2 cup instant van pudding mix (powder)
    1 cup coolwhip.
Freeze.... Enjoy :)

My Family

My oldest brother Carl ,his wife Ruth..(they're separated) and their beautiful adopted 7. They live in Ohio.

Marlin and Darla ..Sweet Emily is her mom's right-hand helper with 7 brothers.

My sis Dorcas , husband Matt, 7 biological children, 5 permenant foster, the girl to the far right is  17 year old Krista who was in dire need of a loving home and  Rachel(in white behind Dorcas), helps Matts with their childrens ministry and works closely with Krista.

Somehow i missed getting a family pic of Lukes. Here he is with wife Anita.

Luke's twins from India w/ cousin Emily

Heidi n Hannah with Luke's youngest adopted daughter, Kristina

My brother, Kevin( just older than me) and his wife Clara are expecting their first in August (?)

Yup,that's us.

Exuberant sis Loisann n her Groom, Anthony Witmer

My parents, Luke and Lois Weaver (PA) and my youngest sis, Diane who lives in Sparta, WI

A Few Highlites From Our Trip

A short but sweet visit with Ruby Showalter from VA....our memories together go way back to 2nd grade when we were two plump little girls in long braids ;) It was great getting to see her little Hadassah for the first time.

There's so much beauty in good ol' PA. This photo was taken out back at my parents one of the first evenings we were there.

I was so glad to get to spend some time with a former student, Andrea (High) and her little family.

 Baby Alex is such a sweet miracle baby. (He was 1 lb. 11 oz. at birth.)

Rehersal was fun. more on the wedding later. 

My sis was absolutely soaring beyond cloud nine!

Our little family took about a 4 mile long buggy ride with Dad's neighbor and his little girl when they went to the bank. A relaxing and fun experience in the midst of a crazy busy week.

Memorial Day- most of the family got together at a park . Very warm day but all the better for getting wet. Wonderful to relax after the weekend. (Sat. was the wedding. Sunday we were away for lunch, from there went and visited some other friends and got back to Dads shortly before Brian Highs arrived for the evening..all fun but so tiring!)

More wonderful times relaxing at my brother Marlin's place between the beautiful mountains of north-western PA.Slept there Monday night and left after lunch on Tuesday to head for Ohio.

Jacob Mahlon pushing his cousin Jacob Isaiah

Mahlon in Ohio with his cousin Morgan Weaver

Hannah couldn't have been much happier than while riding horse with her cousin Destiny

The last night before heading home. It's so fun that my sis' three youngest are the ages of min

I'm still a little sad that I didn't get some good gab time with Donna Mullet. But it was a good trip and just about as good to get home again. :)

For My Beautiful Daughters

                 I keep thinking I really need to update my blog, but what to write? Today I pulled out an old "journal" that I used to use along with my devotions, or took notes in church, etc. and I decided to just share something on here that I wrote when my first daughter was not quite a month old. I'll revise it just a tad since I know have two daughters.
    Ps. 144:12b "that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace."
  (as pillars sculptured as for a palace)
 * I desire my daughters to grow up firm and stable in the truths of God's word with beautiful spirits sculptured fit to be the temple of God.
    Prov. 3:9 "Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase."
Hannah, our first child, we want to raise you to be an honorable woman bringing honor to your Maker. You're a gift from God and we want to give you back to Him in this way.

Hannah-4 yrs. * * Heidi- 2 1/2yrs

                                                             
                                             Jewelry For My Daughters 
Prov.4:9 Tiara of Wisdom..."She shall give to thine head an Ornament Of Grace: a Crown of Glory shall she deliver to thee."
 Prov.15:13a Merry Makeup "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance."
Pro. 16:13 Lipstick..."Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love [her] that speaketh right."
 Prov.20:15 Lip Gloss.. "There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." 
 Prov. 25:12 Earrings... "As an earring of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear." 
Prov. 27:9 Perfume of a good friend..."Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a [girl's] friend by hearty council." 
Prov. 31:25a Dress..."Strength and honor are her clothing."
                 "Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord,
                       She shall be praised."  Prov.31:30
  

Rainy Day Play

  Hurray ! Spring is here ! What's not to love about that ? But what about the little munchkins who really think they ought to be outside when there's a cold drizzle turning their play area into a soggy muddy mess? Sometimes I need inspiration to keep life indoors from becoming boring and to keep away the Wines.  Here are some ideas.

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   • This is really a Favorite ! Give them some finger paints and let them go wild in the tub ! Clean up is easy with the shower hose and a sponge.
   • Empty Pamper boxes make a fun train !..or build houses or countless other things with them!
   •   Why save cookie decorating just for Christmas time? 
   •   This worked a bit better for Hannah than for Heidi.  Hannah still has her cat which appears occasionally. Heidi's lion has long been ripped and discarded.  So inexpensive for all the fun and laughter !
   •  I couldn't find my picture for this one but Hannah can spend a LOT of time sitting quietly at the table with some flour and cornmeal on a cookie sheet. She can write letters in it and then "erase" it by shaking the pan or she'll get out her little baking dishes and sift and mix and "bake" to her hearts content. Heidi enjoyed it too but it didn't last as long for her and it definitely didn't stay in the cookie sheet. It can make a mess but sweeps up easily.
   •   Some day they may actually speed up my cleaning, but for now it's just lots of fun to try..Afterwards, give them rags to "skate" on and help dry all the extra wet spots.
   •  If you have extra table boards, prop one up against the couch or other stable spot. PRESTO ! an indoor sliding board ! Just be careful if it has "protrusions" on the side they could scratch themselves on.
   •  Old envelopes and cards glued onto a discarded cereal box kept them occupied for a Long time. Let them go with markers, odd stickers (you know, the kinds that come in the mail or with a new calender), and whatever else you have on hand. Pull out their little vehicals and let 'em go to town !
   •  There are so many simple crafts out there and the girls are tickled pink when I tell them I'll do a "project" with them. This one included tracing their feet onto black felt to make a cute winter penguin. You can easily glue a magnet on the back so their creation can be displayed on the fridge. 
   • Stop at the library and stock up on "I Spy" books !  
   So what are your ideas ? I'd love to hear them !
   

Simple Winter Pleasures

Hannah gets so much pleasure walking hand in hand through the snow with me.

Is it spring yet? Can we come out of our den?

Heid'si mad cause she wants on her own "horse" !

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