Pampered Chef...

My aunt Jolene (moms sister) is having a silent Pampered Chef party. Her goal is to rack up some points for my mom. If you haven't ever done pampered chef- for everything you order the hotess gets points and at the end of the party they get to pick out free things with their points. Well, Jolene is giving all of the points to mom so she can start to rebuild her kitchen supply.

So what can you do?

You can place and order so there will be points for my mom to pick out some new kitchen utensils.
OR
If you don't want to buy something for yourself then, Jolene's idea was to buy something for mom and she will be doubly blessed.

The party will close on April 30th.

Jolene's number is 296-0147
My number is 486-5227

Thanks again for remembering my family...

God is giving us some jewels...

Today the boys (Dad, Josh, Tyler, Andre) went to the house. There goal was to see what they could find. Well.... God decided to treat them!

THEY FOUND SOME FAMILY PICTURES!

Unbelievable! Good is so GOOD!
So many pictures of the boys when they were young.

PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!

They will have to be restored but it is truly amazing that our GOD would save some of those precious memories for us. We have been sitting around LAUGHING at the sweet memories!

One week ago today God protected us.

Today he blessed us yet again.

In just one week my family has seen so many blessings.... I just want to say THANK YOU all so much for the blessings!

Here are just a few:
Monetary gifts
Gift cards
A NEW four wheeler
New (amazing) blankets
Food
New (amazing) pillows
A few cookbooks
Meals
Yummy treats
Baking dishes/pans/hand towels

God has seen us through. We will STAND for him. WE WILL SERVE HIM.

A neat idea....

As my family and i spent the better portion of the day today (started at noon-finished at 9:30) making their itemized (listing anything and everything you have ever owned!) list.... I thought of a neat idea!

Recipes
Cookbooks

If you would like an idea of something to give my mom.... she needs all kinds of recipes and some new cookbooks! I know she would be over-joyed for you to share your favorite recipes with her...so lets shower her with either of these!

You can even just email me with recipes if you want! I will be putting a binder together for her so send them our way when you have a free moment. We would greatly appreciate them.
My email is andreandmandi@yahoo.com

Thanks so much for remembering my family.....

One blessed dude!

Tonight my brother, Josh, was BLESSED by some good friends! Everyone has known Josh's love for his four wheeler..... he babied it, built a ramp for it, raced it, bought new parts for it, it was something that consumed him. On Sunday, after the fire had started, this was one thing he and dad tried to go into the garage and save! Yes they were crazy! As they put their hands on it to pull it out it was already to hot to be touched. So they quickly gave up!

This motorized vehicle was NOT able to be replaced by insurance either. Josh knew he would have a new one again but at the same time he knew it would take time to save some money for it..... well little did he know that his good friends, riding partners, wanted him to be with them this summer! They blessed Josh with the exact same four wheeler that he lost in the fire! It is a different color, needs some things added to it for racing, and two years newer!

What a GOOD GOD we serve!

Josh thought his buddies just came to see him.

They corralled him to the other side of the truck.

Rounding the corner...knowing something was up.

Tear filled eyes...speechless!

No words could express... staring in amazement...

The boys explaining that Taryn, Josh's girlfriend, had a lot to do with this surprise.

Giving hugs to Taryn...

Trying it out....

Gabe wanted a ride with "dosh"! He didn't want to get off!

THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR BLESSINGS...

Faithfulness

My family has really gotten to experience exactly what faithfulness is, in the last nine months. First our wreck June 14- just a short 9 months ago. Our LIVES were SPARED! THANK YOU JESUS! Then my brother Tyler's innocence with Tylenol PM March 3- just one short month ago. HIS LIFE was SPARED! THANK YOU JESUS! And now April 5- just yesterday.... My parents house was taken due to a fire. ALL OF THEIR LIVES were SPARED! THANK YOU JESUS! You know satan thinks he has a plan but the Lord is our protector! He has answered our prayers over and over again. He is our strength when all has been stripped away. He is who we go to when we feel like we cannot go on.

Heavenly Father-
Thank you for our lives. Lord you have spared our lives once again. You are faithful. We WILL keep serving you!

Last night, as people left, our family was together. My dad gathered us together because he wanted to talk to us..... I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE SO FAITHFUL! Through teared filled eyes he told us "I will keep serving the Lord, he is good to us, he will see us through"! He wanted us to know that because we were all safe and alive he could go on. That the house was just stuff and most of it could be replaced. Let me remind you this is a man who walked away yesterday with NOTHING but the clothes on his back. Amazing, truly amazing.

God has a plan for them that is for sure. My mom and dad were in the sunroom, Josh had just gotten done taking a shower, and Tyler was SLEEPING in the basement! The fire marshal told my dad he has NEVER seen a house burn so quickly. 5 minutes max and there was nothing they could do to save it. Wow! and they all made it out ALIVE! THANK YOU JESUS!

Many are asking what you can do: There has been alot of groceries provided, as well as clothes for the boys. As for now gift cards or money would be great.... I say this only because my mom needs to be able to pick out her own clothes due to how differently sizes run at different places, as for groceries -only they know what they have and what is needed, and from there on out it is things like shoes (which they all need to be able to try on), glasses and contacts (which they have to have prescribed)-these are just two examples. If you can imagine they have nothing so they will have to slowly build things back up....so if you want to call me I will start a wal-mart list as they think of things and I will share those needs with you. (486-5227)
BUT
THE MOST IMPORTANT IS YOUR PRAYERS! IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING just get on your KNEES. THIS IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WE HAVE SO PLEASE JOIN ME in USING IT.

A big thanks to all of you! I will keep you posted.

Happy Birthday Uncle Josh!

My brother Josh turned 24 yesterday!

Happy birthday uncle "dosh" as Gabe would say.

We presented him with some of his favorites...

crispy crunchy candy bars and diet mt.dew!

This year for my families birthdays we are to present the birthday person with a list of good qualities/ things we love about them according to their age. For example: everyone presented him with a list of 24 things since he turned 24! I was so excited to sit and think about the things I loved about him. It brought many memories back... a few of my favorites were- his excitement and love for four-wheeler riding (i love the sparkle he gets in his eyes when he is riding), his love for my kiddos-he is so good with them and would do anything for them, his success- he will graduate in May with a PTA degree WAHOO!, and his unselfishness-he dropped everything this last summer to get me better and walking again.

We love you uncle Josh! We are blessed to know you! The world became a better place 24 years ago and the Lord added another faithful warrior to his team! Hope you had a good one.

Our little adventure...

Today Gabe woke up with a smile on his face and was ready to eat breakfast! yeah! We knew he was feeling better... he finally got over the slump. So we took in some much needed fresh air. (Daddy has been home with us this week because of spring break... thank goodness because this momma would have fallen apart! she hates to see her little guy sick..) We loaded up the car and headed to the park... enjoy our adventure...

Ella bundled up and ready to go!

Gabe and daddy take off over the bridge.

Exploring the wilderness....

talking about some birdies...

gabe decided to document everything he saw today!!!! he had drawn the worm and the duck that he saw...

headed toward the ducks...

hello duck... I am not sure you should get much closer...

waving to the cars driving by...

daddy was checking out this one-legged duck...



back over the bridge.. to the swings!

Swinging was one of his favorites... it always is!

mommy and daddy

3 months and pneumonia

My little sweetie turned 3 months on Friday. I took these pictures Saturday afternoon. We are loving on her as much as we can. She is growing so quickly and time is flying...like it always does. We enjoy Ella's personality that is coming forth.... she is as attention starved as her older brother. he he She LOVES to be talked to... sometime I will think she is getting tired or cranky and then I will start talking to her and she perks right up. She really is a good little girl. She loves her big brother.... she follows him (with her little eyes) wherever he goes. And Gabe still loves to give sis kisses.

As for pneumonia..... We had one of our worst nights in the knepp household last night! Gabe started coughing yesterday afternoon and didn't stop until 4am this morning. So needless to say we headed to QuickCare today. Sure enough he has pneumonia. A big thanks to my SIL -Tera who caught this in its early stages! He is doing so much better today and actually started acting like himself this evening.

Here are pictures of Ella to mark 3 months!

A little of this... A little of that....

This is what we have been up to lately....

Saturday, mom and I made a trip to Eville for some new spring/summer clothes for the kiddos. This is Gabe's big find for the day.... He pushed this wagon all around target so of course nanna didn't have the heart to tell him to put it back! :) So cute that "bear" got a ride.

This was Gabe's nap on the way to eville!

This is how Gabe feel asleep one night this past week. Can you tell the poor child was exhausted?? He has had yucky ol' drainage, which makes him cough, which makes him not sleep well. So needless to say when nap time and night time are here he is ready.

Daddy doesn't look much better!

This is one of our many trips to the park... Only to look forward to more through the summer!

We made it one lap around the lake and Gabe walked the last half! This warm weather is wonderful.

Gabe found duck poop. He was so concerned about it... he pointed to it and kept telling me "duckt poopt". I told him just don't step in it and it will be ok... check out the next picture!

He did step in it and he was then concerned for his shoe!!! Silly boy! Next time you see us ask about the duckt poopt and he will tell you a story... So sweet.

Ella didn't like that Gabe was getting to walk, so she talked nanna into carrying her!

Gabe has started playing by himself more and more. The other day I found him in the living room with this food and his animals all lined up around it. I was so proud! I just can't believe how much they soak up so quick.

We ride mom and dad's golf-cart down the road to a bridge so Gabe can throw rocks in the water. This is Gabe loving life!

Ella's FIRST golf-cart ride! She wasn't to sure of the wind.... it was messing up her hair! he he

Sweet baby girl enjoying time in her stroller at the park.

Throwing more rocks..... picking just the right one!

A visit from Grandma Great-Swartzentruber.

Here is a picture of 8 of us girls who were close in high school. We have managed to stay close through the years, weather it be through email, phone calls, texts, or visits. We were thrilled to have a visit from Brooke (who has been in Africa over the last year). So here we are: Brittany, Carrie, Ella and I, Lori, Autumn - bottom row Stacey, Kelly, and Brooke. Thanks girls for the good time!

Last Friday night we had a dinner date at Mandy and Aarons. We enjoyed hanging out with friends we don't get to see much. Just before going home Gabe realized that Emily likes hats too! They discussed eachothers hats and decided to be friends! So sweet!

Ariel these are for you:

My good friend Ariel (who lives in Colorado) bought this outfit for little Ella. She is about to out-grow it and I realized I didn't have any pictures of her in it so these are for you babe. I loved it!

Gabe didn't like that I wasn't taking pictures of him.. So he scooted in a picture. My two sweeties!