April 26, 2019

Today is my last day of maternity leave.  I have the weekend and then I go back on Monday.  I am on the verge of tears as I type.  Oh how I wish I could stay at home with these 2 boys and love on them, and help them to grow up into men...
I know that decisions Luke and I made when we were younger are effecting us today, and that I have to work for a couple more years.  And then, I can stay at home and possibly homeschool these boys.  I thought leaving Ephraim when he was a baby was hard...it is double as hard leaving Asher and Ephraim.  I know they are in good hands and will be loved and cared for, but it is the fact that is not me...that I am working instead.  Ughhhh

This is why having a budget and not shopping is important...because it will help Luke and I achieve our long term goals which is being completely debt free and able to leave on 1 income without living paycheck to paycheck. 

I am soaking these boys up today and trying not to shed tears!

April 25, 2019 part 2

Luke was called to Jury duty this week.  Which entailed going downtown everyday this week except Friday.  I think it was a great change of pace for him.  He was able to have some alone time to write, to send cards, to read, and to RELAX.  We also came to visit him for Lunch at Public Square.  It was a fun time for all of us.

We are trying to work diligently in getting our gardens all planted and created.  I have all the raised beds put together and filled with dirt.  Now to just start planting.  We were also able to get the 2nd strawberry patch dug out and will be planting them on Saturday...a little late but better late then never??  Luke and Ephraim hauling all the dirt away from digging out the Strawberry patch

April 25, 2019

Ephraim's first Easter Egg coloring experience.  He loved crushing the eggs and looking inside to see the yellow yolk.  The coloring part was just because we told him to put it in the dye.  He made making my egg salad a lot easier!

Asher was unimpressed with Egg Coloring

Easter Celebration time!  We had lunch with my family on Saturday and Sunday we had lunch with his family!  It was the nicest thing to not have to run from house to house.  We were able to go to Rittman Grace Brethern for church on Sunday and celebrate all that Christ has done for us.

Ephraim helping to make the Easter Salad...or maybe he was just eating the broccoli??  I love that he loves vegetables!!

April 20 2019

The days go by so quickly and the next thing I know it has been 10+ days since I have written. 
Ephraim loves working in the garden just like his Great Grandpa Moine and his Great Grandma K.  Here he is watering the turned dirt and then taking a break on an old well cap in the strawberry patch.  We pray that he has a love of working in the dirt and sees the fruits of his labor.  The Tomatoes in the basement are growing...they still have a ways to go.  (we started them a little late)

I often dream about what this boy will be when he grows up.  Will he still like the same things like gardening and cars?  Will he be a worship leader...that would entail his Uncle Erik or Uncle PopPop teaching him guitar because we have no musical talent in our family.

Quality time is definitely one of Ephraim's love languages.  I haven't figured out Asher's yet.  As of now I am going to go with Physical touch as he loves being held!

We did an Easter Egg hunt.  Thought is might be something fun to do with his cousins.  It was a whirlwind and ended in 5 minutes.  Afterwards he had 2 eggs, and was a little overwhelmed.  He had his first piece of candy a reeses peanut butter cup...a little boy after my own heart!  This boy loves peanut butter!!!  He eats it by the spoonful!  Be still my heart.  This is something I have never done but his Grandpa does all the time...maybe that is where he learned it from. 

We love being outside and our passion for the outdoors has been passed on to our son.  He loves taking walks.  This was always a favorite spring walk at Daffodil trail.  Ephraim loved smelling the flowers...ummmmm he would say!

When I think about my 2 little boys who will one day be men.  I want to make sure that I love them well AND that I raise them with structure and discipline.  This is hard to live out on a daily basis but so necessary.   I pray on the hard days that I am able to focus on the good things and keep in mind that God has entrusted me to do the hard things with these little boys. 

April 6th, 2019

Morning with these 2 boys is my favorite.  I know that they will share a special bond through the years and hopefully for a life time. 

I don't ever remember my Dad reading me a book.  But I have this precious memory of my Dad reading 3 of his grandsons a book.  So, sweet.

April 5th, 2019

Everyday, I say I want to get a family photo of the 4 of us...you know one where we are all dressed in matching clothes...Social Media worthy!  But it never happens, we don't have matching outfits and we are not about to spend money on a matching outfit.  Our goals and dreams are much higher than a picture we can post on Instagram.  So, today almost 2 months after Asher was born we have our first family photo.  This is real life for the Jensen 4.  (Please note Asher is always this smiley!)

April 4th 2019

Luke constantly takes one for the team and eats peanut butter and jelly every day...to help keep our budget under check.  Today, Ephraim and I decided that we would eat peanut butter and jelly too!  We make the small sacrifices so when it comes time we can say the "Big Yes"

April 3, 2019

Luke and I pray daily that Ephraim and Asher are close.  That their relationship is one that is fun, encouraging, supportive, and binding!  I love that Ephraim always wants to come and sit by Asher and hold his hand or kiss his head!  I pray this never stops!