Good Friday

I drove Hope to school today. She was bringing her kindergarten teacher a Ziploc bag full of Amish Friendship Bread starter. As I was prepping the bag of liquid mush this morning, Josiah came into the kitchen and asked, "That's going to be bread?" I told him that we would add more ingredients and bake it and remember Jesus today. He interrupted before I could say more, "Oh I know about that story, how Jesus is bread." He then turned and left the kitchen. I smiled. I am glad Josiah knows the story. My prayer is that the story would get into his heart and it wouldn't just be head knowledge, but a heart knowledge which brings about life change. When we break our bread tonight at dinner we will re-visit the story of Jesus being the bread of life and talk about how Jesus offers us eternal life and sustains us spiritually.

On the drive home this morning, after dropping Hope off at school, Josiah said, "I see the cross Jesus died on." I asked, "You do?" Josiah pointed out of the car window and said, "Ya, it's right there." There it was. An old telephone pole (I think), ragged, forgotten, leaning to the side. I told Josiah that even though that wasn't the actual cross Jesus died on, it is good that it's there for us to remember. Remember His death on the cross. How Jesus, God's only Son, was a sacrifice for our sins. My sins. I have never noticed this old telephone pole before, or seen it in the way my son saw it this morning, but now I don't think I will ever drive by it again without looking at it and maybe even whispering up a thanks to my God in heaven for His Son, who gave His life for mine.

Last night Hope couldn't fall asleep and I suggested she remember some of her Bible verses and that would bring her peace and help her fall asleep. What a blessing to lay next to her and hear her repeating over and over again, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.

Tonight we remember that love equals sacrifice!


(This piece was carved by my amazingly talented husband)

Toddler Bed

On Sunday night we did it. We made the transition. We no longer have a crib in the house. Andy put together Livia's toddler bed (with a little help from Livia herself) and we braced ourselves for what life would be like for a 2 year old to have the freedom to get out of bed. Livia is loving her "big girl bed"! I'm a little nervous to write this, but everything is going so well, she has stayed in bed the last 3 nights and 3 nap times! We are hoping that this will continue, we'll see...




Livia helping put her bed together!


Night Night Livi Mae!

One Hour Twenty Three Minutes and Thirteen Seconds...

...that's how long it took my dear friend, Laura, and I to walk our 10K this last weekend in Wenatchee. The weather was amazing and God's creation was breath-taking! This was the first race I have ever been a part of and it was such a great experience. Laura and I said a number of times we should have just walked the half-marathon...I think we were too chicken to originally sign up for it, but once we were out walking and our adrenaline was pumping I think we would've pulled it off! My goal was to walk the 6.2 miles in less than an hour and a half and I was just pleased to accomplish that.




Still Smiling!


Besides the 10K walk, we had such a great time hanging out with our friends over the weekend. Laura's husband, Kyle, attended Multnomah the same time Andy was there and the doors to our apartments were about 8 feet away from each other. We have so many great memories with Kyle and Laura and we thank the Lord that we get to continue to make memories with them and our families even now. We each have three kids so when we get together there are 6 busy little kiddos running around!

Here are the highlights from our weekend getaway:
*Snow was falling on Steven's Pass Friday morning...I just LOVE snow!
*The Food...the Strong's always make the BEST food!
*Laura's J5 coffee...Yum!
*Sun shining, with a light breeze during our 10K walk...BEAUTIFUL!
*Lots of Laughter!
*Kids playing outside, riding scooters and bikes, throwing balls, hitting trees with sticks...yay for spring time in Wenatchee!
*Kids going to "Touch A Truck" and getting to sit in and play around BIG trucks!
*Hope lost her 2nd tooth!

We thank the Lord for good friends and the blessing of a safe trip!




Josiah and his friend Maddeck

More Prep

We have recently started getting the Thriving Family Magazine and have really enjoyed it. Check out the Exploring Easter article and how you can do an activity a day with your kid(s) next week as you prepare your hearts for the Celebration of Jesus' Resurrection!

Preparing our hearts for Easter

I love the stages all three of my kids are in right now. I am trying more each day to appreciate each stage and day as it comes. Right now is the time that I was waiting for 6 years ago when Hope was first born and I thought of all sorts of fun crafts and ideas that we could do "when she got older"...well now she's older and I have to get myself into gear and actually do all the fun crafts and ideas I have thought of. I am reading a book right now... a really good, thought provoking book, and I will share more on that another day... but what I am challenged by so far is living with a thankful heart ALWAYS ("give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18) and living with REAL INTENTIONALITY...that is what brings change. So all that said, I want to experience life with my family, with my kids and not miss moments to teach and learn and give glory to God!

So, with Easter less than 2 weeks away we will be taking time in the Weeda house to focus on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and how He died for OUR sins and we will also focus on the celebration of Easter...His Resurrection! We serve a living God! I don't have time to re-invent the wheel around here, so I am taking ideas from various places and people...but if you and your family would like to join in, here is an idea for talking with your kids about the Empty Tomb in an object lesson!

Dolls and Cars and Dresses, Oh My!

This is Livia! She is our 2 year old with PER-SON-AL-I-TY! As you can see, this is how she is normally found playing around our house these days...holding a baby doll, driving matchbox cars around while wearing a dress. We have always said that Josiah is the "ham" of the family, he is such a character, but now he has some competition! Andy and I look at each other frequently and ask each other, "how did we get two of them?", usually there is only enough room in a family for ONE of these! Right now I can hear Josiah and Livia in the other room giggling together (I am sure there is some conspiring happening too)...there is never a dull day in the Weeda house and I Praise the LORD for that!



(Of course after I took a picture of Livia, Josiah had to come over and get a picture taken of him too!)

The Three Amigos

I just LOVE these kiddos!

Chocolate Cream Pie

This year for Andy's Birthday I gave him a coupon that said he could have a pie a month (that I would make for him). Last month was his actual birthday and I made him the traditional Banana Cream Pie (his favorite). So, I asked him a couple of days ago what kind he wanted this month and he chose Chocolate Cream. I actually haven't made chocolate cream from scratch before, in the past I just used chocolate pudding for the middle...so after doing some research of recipes I made a Chocolate Cream Pie from scratch today. I think I can call it my own recipe because I really didn't follow any recipe in particular, so in case you're in the mood for a rich dessert this weekend, here's the recipe:

1 (9inch) pie crust, baked
1 1/2 C White Sugar
1/4 C Cornstarch
1/2 t Salt
1/2 C Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
4 Egg Yolks (beaten)
3 C Milk
1-2 T Butter
1 T + 1 t Pure Vanilla

Bake Pie Shell* and have it cool before adding the Chocolate filling. In a large saucepan stir together Sugar, Cornstarch, Salt and Cocoa Powder, set aside. In a medium bowl blend the Milk and Egg Yolks; gradually stir into sugar/cocoa mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens & boils. Boil & stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; blend in the butter and vanilla. Press plastic wrap onto fillin in saucepan and cool to room temperature. Pour cooled filling into pie crust. Chill pie thoroughly before serving (about 2 hours). Top with Whip Cream and Enjoy! Yum!

*I use Martha Stewart's Pate Brisee recipe