Our Seder

We ended up with over 140 people!

Since families were encouraged to bring their kids
I created a kids corner for them. It was a representation
of the first Passover in Egypt. There were games like Plague Memory,
try your hand at the Hebrew Alphabet, make a passover lamb and
much, much more. We even had a Moses who hung out with the kids
and told the stories of being in captivity.

This was right before everyone came.

Not the greatest shot but I guess that's why you aren't supposed to take pictures during prayer time. :-) I wanted to show how lovely it was to have church family all surrounding a table celebrating Christ's redemption. It was fun! Now I am doing nothing for a day. My Knight demanded it of me. I arrived at church yesterday at 9am and did not leave until 9pm. It was a great but long day. Happy Passover everyone!!!

Hello, My Name if Livin' and I am a Cake Batter-aholic

See now that I have no one at home to share my cake batter with I eat all. I used to share the batter between the three boys, even to the point of forgoing some of my own scoops because they gave me those cute looking, pitiful eyes. Now the only not-so-cute, pitiful eyes in my house are my own. I even did the horrible act of leaving extra batter in the bowl just so I can have more. I mean, come on I am not going to put the cupcake tray back in the over for just 3 more cupcakes. So I had to eat it.

My favorite ice cream is from Brusters called Cake Batter. Oh, I am so bad. I love cake batter more than cookie dough. I convince myself that I can eat the equivalent of a full cupcakes worth of batter and then opt out at dessert time for the cupcake. Then when dessert time comes I have to eat one so my family doesn't find out or get suspicious.

I need help! Anyone else out there eat cake batter or am I the only lonely poor pitiful soul out here that does.

I need more kids in my house. They keep me healthy and fit!

A Smile in the Midst of Sickness

DK now is sick. He has been running a fever of 104-102 for the last two days. Last night he started throwing up and I had the night time shift so Scott could make it to work in the morning. Nothing gets you up and running out of a dead sleep like the sound of a puking child.

Anyway, my Knight let me sleep in while he took the other two to the bus stop.

Then a little while later I heard...

very quietly "Mommmmm, hey Mommmmm"

When my eyes finally popped opened I saw my poor, pale white DK standing by my bed smiling. It was quite the sight. I then heard him say "I puked in the toilet all by myself. You didn't have to help me. I didn't even miss." Still smiling ear to ear, still pale and sickly.

He was so proud of himself. I just had to chuckle.

He asked for "his soda" which is Ginger Ale because no one else can drink it during flu season except the sick person. While getting him Ginger Ale he proceeded to ask me what could he eat. Here was his list...

DK "Can I have a banana, is that good for my stomach?"

Me"No honey, not good."

DK "Can I have cereal, is that OK for my stomach?"

Me "Nope not good either."

DK "Can I have fudge?"

I smiled and brought him a piece of toast and Ginger Ale. I could see the disappointment on his face but he started to cheer up when the soda made him burp. He told me he likes to burp when he's sick it makes him feel better. With that he ate his toast slowly turning it into as many Letters and Numbers as he could with each bite.

I need a few smiles in the midst of flu season. This will carry me through more puking and clean-up. :)

Flu Season Hybernation

It has hit our home, the wonderful flu bug. Just a note to let you all know that we will be falling off the radar for some time until this nasty little bug finishes its life cycle in our home. That means no church for some time, no visits with friends, no extra activities for a while. I am curious about how much time the boys will be off school because of this. Not that I don't believe the Lord can restore their bodies to health quickly but already the school wants Rocker checked for H1N1 and then they have a quarantine period where he cannot return to school until a certain amount of time.

I am hoping too with DK getting the vaccine he won't be too affected by this. It did ruin plans for my Knight and I. We have not gone on a date in 3 months and my Knight took tomorrow off so we could have a date day. That's not going to be happening now or for a very long time.

So email, call or leave comments to keep me informed about what's going on in the world outside our little home because we will be hunkered down for some time. We won't be visibly out much. I definitely don't want to pass this thing on.

We will see you all on the flip side of this flu!

Family Fun Fall Weekend

Our family tradition of fall Apple picking. We do it every year now!

We usually go out twice in the fall for apples and then
make applesauce and freeze it for winter. The boys love
going each year.

We also added pumpkin pie baking this year. A dear friend
of our gave us three large crock-necked or long-necked
pumpkins from his garden. My Knight did not want them to
go to waste so Sat when we got back from apple picking he
started chopping up my gorgeous pumpkins. They are great
pumpkin pie pumpkins.

Everyone dove in. Shaggy and my Knight took care of the
pumpkins and DK, Rocker and I took care of the apples.

When I went to make pumpkin pie I tired whipping everything
up by hand. My mixer went out about 3 months ago and I have
been dragging me feet about getting a new one.
After my Knight saw me struggling to whip the egg whites
into fluffy peeks he proceeded to get his drill and show me how
a real man whips egg whites.

The boys loved it. I on the other hand am determined to get a new mixer now.:)
Poor Elise J...she would be mortified if she saw this.

We had such a great weekend. No agenda, no obligations just family fun. The weekend ended with 4 pumpkin pies, oodles of apple sauce, apple fritters and just an overall sense of peace. The boys told us it was the best weekend ever. That makes it all worth it!

Kibble-sitting

We had the joy of Kibble-sitting this past weekend. Classic, Not-so-classic, Scarlet & Bubba went away this past weekend and we watched their little guinea pig named Kibble. He is so darn cute!



For the first day he was with us he wouldn't come out of his pig-loo (the little pink house). He literally picked it up and walked around his cage in it. I believe he is part turtle. Even at feeding time he picked up his pig-loo and walked right over to his feeding dish. He would dart his little head out, pick up a morsel and shoot back inside. It was hilarious.

Finally he warmed up to us here at the Livin' household and we got to pet him and love him a couple times. He went home last night with Not-so-classic. I know the boys are sad to see him leave. I don't know...maybe we will have to acquire a Kibble too. For now we will look forward to watching him anytime they are away.

My First Publication

As an intern at Teaching The Word Ministries I was asked to write a devotional for this series called God Stories. It is a compilation of stories about God working in and through the people of Lancaster County and the surrounding counties of Central Pa. It's not phenomenal or amazing work on my part but it was fun to do. I wrote about Scott's accident and how the Lord worked through our children and myself during that morning. So if you are ever interested I will have a daily devotional published in God Stories 5 that is slated to come out in Nov. sometime. The other stories are so uplifting and encouraging. It is an awesome testimony of God's faithfulness throughout our region and interdenominationally.

I know nothing big but it was exciting for me to do. I felt good when they told me they didn't really have to edit my submission. :) CCC members also have a great writer who submitted work in the last two editions, Michelle A. Her stories blow you away. You should at least go check her devotionals out.

My Loves!!

My three handsome men!! We are headed out this Friday for some fun family time deep in the Pennsylvania wilderness. I thought I would leave you with these faces. They are what keep me keeping on some days. Their eyes are reflections of their Fathers (earthly & heavenly). Their smiles remind me of all the good things in life. Most of all they are my sons! So we are off rain or shine to have fun in our tents & cooking over camp fires. I am so excited and ready for a small retreat. Hope you all have an amazing weekend. See you on the other side!

It's Almost Over!!!

The end of school is coming and we can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The week after our last day begins the summer music program for the boys. Shaggy is playing trumpet and Rocker is learning to play the string bass. That thing is huge!!! I guess I was planning on it being a Cello but nope it sure is humongous.

Anyway, things are winding down. I am finishing up traveling into Mechancisburg twice a day. We had a bad bus situation so I just resolved to this running back and forth for the sake of the kids. They are happier and I feel better knowing they are not being bullied and having to hear the "F" word 100 times a day.

Their last day is June 5th. We will head out that weekend for a 4 day camping trip up North. I am soooooo looking forward to it. Sleeping out in the woods, camp fires at night, hiking during the day it just doesn't get any better for me. Granted, one day I would like to make it to Disney World or go on a cruise but I sure do like camping. The best part is just being able to get away as a family. No cell phones, computers or modern conveniences. It works well with three boys. I love the peace about it and that as a family it brings us closer together.

So, I am looking forward to this summer. I have lots of art plans for the boys and I and some adventurous activities planned. I know some of you have already begun your summer fun but what's on everyones to do list this summer? Got any great ideas? Yay for summer break!!

For The Husbands Out There

Sons Of Destiny

Just a FYI to all the guys out there in cyber world there is a new blog site for the Men's Groups of Christ Community Church. It is part of the Men's Ministry. This site will have weekly devotionals, guest authors, group highlights and information regarding Men's Ministry of CCC. Go check it out and see how you can get involved in this new movement in Men's Ministry. Check it out at Sons Of Destiny!

Had To Post This

A friend sent this in an email but I had to post this. Read and weep if you grew up in the 80's. I found it very scary in the fact that I knew every point mentioned and actually owned a "Where's The Beef" board game. I also found myself singing the songs referred to.

You know you grew up in the 80's if....

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.


2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton


3. You know that 'WHOA' comes from Joey on Blossom

4. If you ever watched 'Fraggle Rock'

5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.



6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

7. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.



8. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
9. You played the game 'MASH'(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)


10. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.


11. You know the profound meaning of ' WAX ON , WAX OFF'


12. You wanted to be a Goonie.


13. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (Some of us...head-to-toe)


14. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off, his cheeks shifted and his nationality became questionable.


15. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.



16. You took lunch boxes to sc hool...and traded Garbage Pail Kids in the schoolyard.


17. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.


18. You still get the urge to say 'NOT' after every sentence.


19. You thought your childhood friends would never leave
because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.


21. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.


22. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying 'I know you are, but what am I?'


23. You remember 'I've fallen and I can't get up'



24. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.




25. You have ever played with a Skip-It.


26. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.


27. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.



28. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.


29. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.


30. You remember New K ids on the Block when they were cool... and don't even flinch when people refer to them as 'NKOTB'


31. You knew all the characters names and
their life stories on 'Saved By The Bell,' The ORIGINAL class..


32. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

33. You just sang those words to yourself.

34. You still sing 'We are the World'


35. You tight rolled or french cuffed your jeans. And still debate on which is the right term!

36. You owned a bannana clip.


37. You remember 'Where's the Beef?'


38. You used to (and probably still do) say 'What you talkin' 'bout Willis?'


39. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

40. your hair looked like this for at least 1 school picture!

So how did you do? Recognize anything or did it bring back nightmarish memories?