Pantry dejunking!

Having a huge pantry is a HUGE blessing...but sometimes we debate that issue when it comes to a thorough spring cleaning! 

 The pantry in our house seems to be the area that just collects unneeded things, and this year was no exception!  I would post a "before and after" picture, but I think the "before" picture would be a little embarrassing !

First we hauled everthing out...and that took a while: )

Then we scrubbed the shelves and walls....

...and the floors....: )

After a large trash can was located we started to go through everything.... 

Lots of memories were unlocked when we came to the bins of old clothes and keepsakes...

...then came the leftover cleaing....

...and mopping....

And then (after a couple days) we were DONE!!!

What a delight clean things are!!!!

Picnic anyone?

The other day the weather was just PERFECT to eat supper outside on the deck! 

Our new "griller"...he did a wonderful job!

Oh the blessings of family and spring, and what a joy it is when they are combined!

The closest thing to flying...that we have...

With the weather SO beautiful playing outside is much more enjoyable!  

Especially when flying through the air!

Get ready....   Get set....

JUMP.....!!!!!

Our "little" boys...

Pulling off some "fancy" moves...lol

Love you guys!!!!

The Answer is......!

#4, Purcellville

Congratulations to those who guessed correctly!

I was surprised that so many people got it right!!! 

I will have to pick a harder one next time: )

He cares!

"Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; 

       burst into song, O mountains! 

       For the LORD comforts his people 

       and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

  But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, 

       the Lord has forgotten me."

  "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast 

       and have no compassion on the child she has borne? 

       Though she may forget, 

       I will not forget you!"

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; 

       your walls are ever before me."

Isaiah 49:13-16

I was feeling very discouraged the other day and the LORD gave me this verse!

Quick Quiz

One morning, mom got out the maps and told us that we were going to mark out where Dan was, where Alicia was, where Andrew W. was going to be...etc.  So we immediately focused out attention on Virginia and where our brother lived.  And while we were looking for the very small town where Dan lives mom asked us how we spelled it, no one knew so....papers were got out and the game begun...

All of us tried in vain to remember the way that little town was spelled.  

(I had sent him a couple of packages but just couldn't remember how to spell it!!!)  Finally mom had to just give in and tell us what it was.  But she thought that I should put it on my blog, just for fun and see how many people could guess it right.
Here are a couple options that you can decide which one is correct!

What is the correct spelling where Dan lives in _________  Virgina

1.Perseville

2.Purcavile

3.Puercellville

4.Purcellville

5.Pursiville

6.Perceville

7.Purselville

Hopefully one of those is spelled correctly!

But there are a couple of rules...

1. - If you are part of our family you may not answer (unless you really have no clue)

2. - If you are Dan's girlfriend or Dan himself you may not answer (or if you have sent him numerous packages)

3. - Please do not look on Dan's blog, or the map to find the answer (you get what I mean?)

Have fun!!

The Answer will be posted on Thursday!!!!

Quality time...

Big brother....and little brother....just enjoying being brothers

*smile*

"Sometimes being a brother is even better 

than being a superhero. "

 ~Marc Brown

An interesting move...

When moving Josh out of his apartment I was in charge of packing up the kitchen....what a special, but hard time!  Going through each 

drawer, and packing each item was a stretch for me as I realized that Alaina would never again measure out flour, or pour a glass of water.  As I looked at her treasured Starbucks Coffee mugs tears threatened to flow...but once again I was comforted by the fact that my Comforter was there with me, holding me in His strong arms, and reminded of the special friends that were praying specifically for me during this task.

Some of you may be wondering "why" Josh is moving or "where" he is going: )  He is planning (Lord willing) on attending Grace University this fall to get his bachelors degree in Aviation and as well as playing basketball with Joe.  One of Joe's buddy's parents from basketball owns a house a walkable distance away from Grace, and Josh is planning on renting there with him.

We had quite the experience getting to the house from Lincoln!  First we lost the tailgate off the end of the trailer (strange signals from a driver passing us let know that something was wrong) so we had to go all the way back, and retrace our steps to try to find it (which we never did).  But when we finally did arrive at the house we were excited to get everything unloaded... but another obstacle lay in our way.  John, the one who owns the house, was supposed to leave a key somewhere but, "mysteriously" disappeared so we were stuck, with a trailer and van full of stuff waiting outside a locked house: ) We did manage to finally get a hold of John and somehow got the key and proceeded with the process of unloading....

Finally done....*smile*

Packing wedding memories away....

Alaina's Life Verse

Roofing

The sad day finally came when Dad decided to re-roof our house...which meant taking off all the lovely old tiles, and replacing them withthe plain, modern day shingles....

We had done the far side of the house last year (it needed immediate attention) and had quite the crew of guys over to help.  But this year Dad decided to just do it ourselves!  And they did a GREAT job!!  Getting up early, working in the sun, (which resulted in some pretty cool early tans...and some pretty bad burns) and trying to beat the rain!

What a tragic face...given from the dramatic side of the family.  When I first saw this I thought it was real!!!!

...taking a short rest after his dramatic slide down the roof..

The working crew!  

What a HUGE blessing it was to have Josh home, it is so nice to have him around!!!!

With bruised thumbs, sore bodies and much darker skin they finally finished...ahead of the rain: )

Thanks, you guys...you did a fantastic job!!!  

"Junior" Pictures

I was at Wissmann's, Bethany was there with her camera...who could resist taking some cute pictures?!?!?  Since Dad decided to have me wait a year these are my Junior pictures instead of Senior pictures...*smile*

My favorite....I think: )

Love you Bethany!!!!

Which one is your favorite?

Uncle Mark

HAPPY   BIRTHDAY  

UNCLE MARK!!!

We love you so much!!

Hope you have a WONDERFUL day : )

Special Keepsakes!

I just LOVE making little girls dresses.....especially when they are friends, and I get to see the little girls in the dresses: )

Mrs. Klostermeyer asked me to sew these matching dresses for her daughter, Rhyan, for her birthday!  They turned out SO cute!!!

Easter is coming fast...so....

 if you are looking for a darling dress for your daughter/sister....*smile*

you know where to come: )  

Just call, leave a comment or send me an e-mail and I will get back with you.  I do have  quite a few pictures on my blog if you would like to see more: )

The smiles just got bigger!!!

Would you look at those smiles!!!! 

We are very excited for Dan and Bethany as they begin their 

new relationship with each other!

Bethany Wissmann has always stood out to me as a girl who loved God, and tried to glorify Him in everything that she does!  Spending time with her has only reinforced those first thoughts!  The past few years, especially when he moved out to Virginia, I have always teased

 Dan that the girl he picked I would have to approve of.  Well...once again, he has exceeded my expectations *smile*  Love you Dan!!

Looking forward to spending lots of fun times with you Bethany!  Love you girl!!!