Ahhh...  The smell of ham in the oven, I put it in frozen last evening and cooked it on low overnight.. This morning I added scalloped potatoes.
You might be wondering why I am writing at this hour of the morning.. When church started at 9am??
There are under the weather people in this household. The oldest and the youngest to be exact.
I think I know what the youngest's problem is.. Teething. He had high temps during the night. Actually before he went to bed he had 102.2  Then he woke up a little before 4 AM and was burning hot again. I nursed him and gave him Motrin. But, he still thrashed. I rubbed him all over with a cool wet cloth.. And gave him a bottle of cold juice. He soon settled down. But I spent over an hour up..
And the oldest's problem? Not sure. He says his tummy ache comes and goes. He has a headache off and on.  Refused supper last night. Slept from about 6 pm on.. I gave him something for fever as he was a wee bit extra warm. Thought it might knock what he had.. But, he still is not feeling well. So, Momma got Miss Damaris up and ready, and her and Emery went with Daddy to church.
Why is it that you can clean until you are cleaned out and the place still looks like you never cleaned?  I am having a hard time dealing with that issue right now. I mean, I have 3 big healthy energetic children and 1 very full of energy baby. Somehow this place gets turned upside down every day. Can't figure it out. It should not be hard to pick up as you go.. Or so I think. But, maybe I haven't trained them to do it yet?? I keep thinking One day I will wish for it to be messy again, just so I can do something.. But, until then, I will wear myself out trying to clean!
Try as I might, I cannot keep things back from the edge of the tables and counters, etc. far enough for little fingers, Merlin's, to not get. Last evening he managed to get a Kleenex box. O the mess! and, I might add, that the joy of pulling things out and flinging it is his favoritest thing to do! If he can pull and pitch he is not happier! My purse, the diaper bag, the cupboards, yes, my dishes go flying! The toybox, bookshelves, end table, Big Sister's room! O the mess he creates in her play corner, with her dishes and dollies! He will even drag them out to the dining room! O and don't get me started on clothes baskets.. No matter how neatly they are folded, he has got to redo it! O and when I have a load that needs hanging out or putting in dryer, My dryer is on back porch, so I need to put it in a basket and take it there. He finds the basket while I am reloading the washer, I come and discover the basket being emptied! He will sometimes see me coming and take off giggling! Yes, he is walking.. All over and it don't help to keep things put in place, because he finds more stuff walking than crawling, I think.. He is higher and can see more..
Another thing he loves is CORDS! Very dangerous, I know, but if he spies a cord plugged in he will pull it out. Mema was vacuuming and he saw the cord, she was not aware he does this. He pulled it out and she was left with a puzzled look! His poor paddies get smacked for that. He has a resiliance and determination which make it hard to get the message across at times.. One day I will look back and wish for these days..
Why is it that when we are going through tough times, we whine and fuss? Then years later we look back and wish for them days?? I am trying to not fuss and whine now so I can look back with pleasure on these days.. Instead of wishing for easier times.. These might be the easier times.
We are halfway through this month. Time is swiftly flying by. Was in Walmart yest. and they are all Christmas already! With one aisle and parts of 2 others of Thanksgiving stuff.. It is not even the end of November.. WHY are they so early this year?? Seems rather strange to me. Or maybe I just don't remember last couple years.  I know last year I was getting ready for Thanksgiving with a giant ball in front of me. Which popped not even 2 weeks later.
Well, I need to go finish dinner preps and go take a looong soaker. I sorta pushed it off, since I knew I was staying home. Get a nice dinner ready and then hit the tub.. Hopefully Merlin will let me.. Should have went before now, as he has been sleeping for several hours.. Yikes.. Never thought of that. Well, will have to see what comes of it.. Maybe will have to shorten the time soaking.
To all a cheerful day, the blessings of the Lord be with you all.. on this blessed and beautiful Lord's Day..

He has learned how to flush!!  Now what??

 This past Sunday... Nov. 1st.  We had Communion and Fellowship Meal.. After that the men had a brother's meeting.. Then the men and children headed outside. I trailed along to take pics! 
They sent off a bunch of helium filled balloons with tracts!
Jonathan Byler from West Virginia, brought the helium tank.. He does this himself, so it was something new for us.. But a very neat idea.
Here is the first balloons and tracts they sent off. Emery got that privelege. Not sure how that came to be..

Here Stephen Peachey was very interested in the process of how the balloons are filled and he wanted to try doing it!



Merlin got in on the fun as well, then he slept for several hours! It was pretty chilly outside, but he loved it..
 
Send off with Prayer..

Here is the first balloons with cd they sent off..

Here they are fixing to send off a cd.. The cd was too heavy for a single balloon. It took about 6 or so.. Then they also added a baggie with a tract on the other end of the string!

This one has a tract on one end of the string and a cd! 2 sets of balloons with a cd on them were sent off..
Andreas let it off.. They are praying over it.

Here are the 3 girls with balloons ready to go off.
Mariah Byler, Cheryl Stoltzfus, and Damaris Hostetler. 
Up, Up, and Away to do the Lord's Work..

We already got a call from one! Yesterday!  Andreas had put his name and our phone number on one and a young boy (12yr. old) called from Hershey saying that they found it in his back yard! We thought that they were all heading south and west! Hershey is north and east! We prayed for them before they let them off that the Lord would take them where needed.. and where He wanted them to go.
I think the children had as much fun as the men!

One Sunday afternoon the children were invited to go along with their Uncle Levi's biking the Rail to Trails.. They had a lot of fun!

Here they are starting off from Shippensburg Township Park on Britton Rd.
Crossing Britton Road..

In Oakville.. Where we picked up the kids and Levi's biked back to the Park.

 

On the way to Oakville we saw these guys gliding..
 

I am so praising the Lord! All of Junior's blood work came back clear except the sugar test.. It is border line. So we watch our sugar. Cut back on carbohydrates and not so many sweets. He said to feed him more green veggies.. Well, 6+ yrs ago we were told he couldnt eat them green veggies or anything raw. But now he is supposed to. Rather confusing. But, that was cleared up as well. Junior was told to take a dose of Metamucil every night before bed. Than he can pretty much eat whatever he wants to without fear of his diverticulitis flaring up! With the holiday season approaching where a lot of nuts is used in the baking, Junior can now eat them nuts! I can now start to use pecans again! AND buy him a bag of walnuts to crack. He has missed nuts greatly these last 6 years.. 
Yesterday I woke up in a sore pain. Junior thinks it might be diverticulitis.. So I will just start taking that fiber stuff and hoping it will take care of it.
Well, I should/NEED to get moving, but was too excited to not share the good news with you all. 
Also, I needed to say Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian family and friends.. I soo miss celebrating that holiday in October. I just dont feel right to celebrate the end of November..