Easter Wishes

Greetings to you all!

We just wanted to stop by and wish you dear friends a very Happy Easter! 

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22,23

It is my prayer that the GLORY of Easter will fill your heart with JOY!

How grateful we are for the cross, and Christ's amazing sacrifice!  We are His treasure..."His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God created beforehand that we would walk in them."  We are loved indeed.  Thank you Jesus.

"He was wounded for OUR transgressions; He was crushed for OUR iniquities.  The chastisement of OUR peace was upon Him, AND WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED."

Isaiah 53:5

Hallelujah, what a Savior!!

as a side note:  I have yet to edit any of my pictures.  These are the real deal.  My little baby's eyes are really this blue.  {grin}  and she is very excited to celebrate her VERY FIRST EASTER!!!  What fun we shall have!  I cannot wait until she can understand more of what I tell her about our Jesus.  But, the time is flying fast enough...I try to just enjoy each and every second.

Pigtails

No, not the curly kind you find on a farm.  Ellie's first pigtails!  Observe:

Are these not the cutest!  Makes her look so grown up, don't you think?

Other news of importance: 

• Ellie has two teeth now!  She has about four more on the way too.  That is a lot for such a little person to handle all at once, let me tell you.  (this is also the explanation for the extra wet stuff on her face...that, and a runny nose from her cold.  Poor dear.)
• She is now eating all sorts of things.  She has had rice cereal, oatmeal, pears, bananas, green beans, and sweet potatoes.  She is a big fan of her vegetables.  They seem to be her favorite for now.  Ellie also loves to drink water from a big girl cup.  {grin}  She gets so excited about it!
• Last, but not least, she is enjoying sitting and playing now.  So fun!

What a big girl you are getting to be, little missie!  Your Mama loves you so very much!

We are getting excited because Daddy is due to be home sometime late late tonight or early tomorrow morning!  We miss him exceedingly when he is gone.  Hurry home, Daddy!

One Spring Day

Ellie and I have been staying in town with my parents this week since Hubby is gone, and staying home alone has never been my favorite activity.

Guess who came by for a visit this afternoon? Chaz and Terrie Yandall!

Chaz Yandall, Dad, Terrie Yandall (back)

Your's Truly, Mom, and Ellie (front) 

we were so surprised to hear they were in town!

Many of you will remember the missions trip that Dad and I took to the Philippines three years ago, well, these are the missionaries that we went to serve alongside. We have known their family for many years, and have formed a sweet friendship.

I so enjoyed that trip to the Philippines. It was such a blessing to be involved in their ministry for 4 short weeks. I wanted to stay. They offered to give me an internship of sorts for a year stint. I brought that letter home with me, and my parents and I prayed much over it. What a hard decision it was, but my parents felt that it might not be the best timing for something of that nature. I shed tears; it meant that much to me. But, there are few people's advice and wisdom that I respect and desire as much as my parent's.

Needless to say, I didn't go. God had a plan. He ALWAYS has a plan. That same year, I met my husband-to-be, Jay. And the rest was history. {grin} We met for the first time in May of 2008; he stayed at my parents house with his Mom and Grandpa for the next month and a half while his dad was in the ICU at our hospital. We talked, but I don't think either of us was especially interested in the other. He left as soon as his dad was stable enough to fly to a hospital closer to home, and six months later called and asked my dad if he could court me. How romantic! We courted long distance for 4 months before he proposed in July. I said yes, and we were happily married November 14, 2009.

I know that most of you know our story, but I wanted to say all that to draw your attention to the providence of God. Working as a missionary in the Philippines was God's work...it didn't make sense to me that it couldn't be the right thing. I know now that it was a good thing, just not the best at that moment. My best thing was coming, and I might very well have missed him. We would never have met. I would never be here in Montana. I most definitely would not have the sweet daughter that I do now.

God's ultimate desire is that we will choose His best for us. Prayer and godly counsel are the two ways that I find myself able to see His best...and sometimes I have to act blindly, not knowing what will come of it, but knowing by the presence of His peace that I am making the right decision.

Okay, I know I just rambled on and on. I do get going sometimes. {grin}

We had a wonderful time of conversation (and coffee!!) together with the Yandalls. How fun to catch up on all that has changed in each other's lives.

I thank God for great friendships like theirs.

I will leave you with a picture of who else but the little missie...

such a little goofy face! 

Catching up

It has been a crazy week for us up here in Montana.  I find my life always gets a little crazier and a lot more fun when my family is in town...especially my twin.  Love you, Ash!

I was just downloading some pictures from my camera that have been taken this week.  Would you like to see what we have been up to?  Well, let's hope you said yes, because what follows is a glimpse of...well....us!  If you answered no to the question above, please DON'T READ ANY FURTHER.  You know you don't want to...really...you had better stop now.  Well, you can't say I didn't warn you.

first of all...someone is growing up! 

getting some love from Auntie Ashley

We had a fun fun week with my twin.  We celebrated our birthday together, albeit a bit late, and went...

...BOWLING!!!  Oh the fun... 

 dear Hubby showing us how it's done

my COOL twin  {grin}

Ellie helped...

We had a blast spending the day together.  I am so glad I have someone to share my birthday with every year.

Here are a few more pictures from this past week:

this one was taken by Ash 

 this one by Mama

I arrived home the other evening to find this delectable item in a box on my porch!  What a treat!!

just look at this! fudge-like cake... 

ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you, this was divine!  so rich and perfect with my cup of freshly brewed coffee.  (yes, I just discovered how to use the self-timer on my camera...and obviously, I need more practice.  ha.)

dear cake-giver,

thank you for making my evening.  my husband enjoyed your surprise as well.  it was so very thoughtful of you.

love, me.

Ellie has just recently started to do something very amusing.  She scrunches up her little nose at you.  Copies anyone who does it to her too...pretty cute if I do say so myself.  {grin}

 yes, this mama is aware that her little missie is missing both her hairclip and a sock

"what was that you were saying, auntie ashley?"

Well, you can now consider yourself fully updated on the current events of the young Rickel household.

Jay just left this morning to go to training in Salt Lake City.  {sad}  We are going to miss him. He will not be back until sometime Saturday.  Daddy, if you are reading this, WE MISS YOU ALREADY!!

Happy

Ellie and I are enjoying a quiet, rainy Saturday morning.  Daddy is off at the annual volunteer firefighter's auction.  It is a big thing around here.  Very fun!  If it were sunny, Ellie and I would be with him as well.  However, we are not.  We are here...practicing sitting up and drinking coffee.  (the former being accomplished by Ellie, and the latter, by your's truly)

We are so excited to see Grandpa and Grandma Franks as well as Auntie Ashley tomorrow! Yeah!!  Auntie Rachel, we are going to miss you.  We wish you were coming too!

It has only been a month and a bit since we saw them last, but Ellie has already changed so much!  Amazing how that happens.  {grin}

skype chatting with the family

This is how we usually "talk" to my family in San Diego.  Such a wonderful way to keep in touch!  But, nothing like the real thing.  Which is why we are HAPPY today.  HAPPY to get a chance to love on some of our favorite people.  HAPPY to share a bit of Ellie before she grows up any more.  HAPPY to celebrate a belated birthday with my twin. (this was the first birthday, ever, that we were apart...so sad)  HAPPY to be alive and breathing this morning.  HAPPY to write some thank-you notes to sweet friends and family.  HAPPY to be a daughter of the King Most High.  HAPPY at the thought of spending an eternity praising and worshipping before His throne.

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!  (obviously, the aforementioned coffee is working well.  {grin}  For those of you who haven't yet had yours, go, grab a mug of the delightful stuff.  I will wait right here; I don't mind....so you've returned...now, isn't that good...mmmmm....your day is so much brighter now, isn't it?!! )

Well, my baby girl is now fast asleep in her bed.  I love watching her sleep. Yes, sometimes I am a bit envious of her nice long naps. I, however, am off to switch the laundry, and finish a few more household chores before she awakens.  Wish me well.

Of birthdays and flowers and giggles

Once upon a time this Mama tried to take a sweet picture of her birthday roses and her little girlie...but, alas, said little girlie was not in the mood for posing. Mama likes the picture anyway! {grin}

What fun to have Ellie's half-birthday on my own birthday! I cannot believe my little baby is 6 months old already. How the time has flown by. I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of it...I thank God for my little blessing every day.

Today, little Ellie was in a much better mood for picture taking as evidenced by the photos below.

contagious laughter...

smiling at her daddy...

We have had rainy weather for the past week and a half with another 10-day forecast of nothing but more rain. Sometimes discouragement mounts and I sigh and yes, maybe I cry a bit too...but then I pick myself up, and go find some bits of sunshine. These smiles, they are my sunshine. Their rays warm my very heart. Blessed am I.

In opening this blog to write a few sentences, I was again encouraged by the name that we chose along with the verse that accompanies it. STEADFAST..."be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."

It is my prayer that this blog and the thoughts voiced herein would be an encouragement and a blessing to all who read them. Amidst the joys and storm clouds of every day life, may we encourage each other, my friends, to remain STEADFAST.