Our New Website

I set up a website for our farm, to market our organic maple syrup. Please check it out, share or link us!

http://www.hemlockridgefarm.com/

Life Here

Maddie is 5 months!

Still hard to believe that this sweet little girl is ours. Maddie is getting more like her momma every day-she's talkative & sociable & likes her voice to be heard. Sometimes she has a happy song, sometimes it's downright grumpy. But I guess that means she is normal!

I have been without a camera for the past couple months so pictures have been a bit sparse, although my mother-in-law, brother & sister have generously let me borrow theirs to catch a few special moment. This week though, I get to pick out a new one, so I'll have no excuse for not having pictures to post.

Life has been busy with a lot of changes the past few months. First, my Grandma Madelyn Vanderbosch (Madeline's namesake) past away Memorial Day weekend. I am so thankful that Grandma was able to meet Maddie-that was an answer to prayer for me. The thing that hit the hardest about loosing Grandma is knowing there will be no more going to grandma's house for the holidays or just for a visit. I'll cherish so many memories of both grandpa & grandma. My favorite memory of grandma is how after every visit or phone call she'd follow up her good bye with "Love Ya's!" Here's a photo of Maddie meeting grandma.

Two weeks later my Grandma Graham was hospitalized with pneumonia & heart failure. She is still recovering from that & has been in Rehab. for a while now, with plans to go home soon. She's still in delicate health, so we've been treasuring our time. Maddie & I try to visit twice a week along with my ma & younger siblings. This picture was taken 2 days before Grandma got sick.

My parents are moving back to my childhood home here in NY, from Lancaster county, PA. They moved down 8 years ago to be near their church & school, but are moving back home because the job market has been slim pickings for Pa. Their farm here is paid for & will be nice for Pa to get back into some farming on his own. Plus, there are only 4 children left at home, so homeschooling will be easier now for Ma (the youngest, Laura, is 8 already!) Here's a picture of my family taken at my brother Asa's graduation in May.

It's been very dry here, but we did get some rain today. Hopefully the corn will perk up soon. Will try to post again soon.

Madeline Catherine Slayton

Many of you already know about our little girl because she's 11 weeks old already! Maddie was born on Feb. 28th. I had a c-section that went very well, and Maddie is absolutely perfect. Kelvin went in the OR with me so we got to meet our girly right away. Words can't explain our joy. God is so good!

Right from the start Madeline has been fun to watch with her different postures. In some photos she's holding her ear & sucking fingers, another she's got her arm over her eyes like "whew, what a day!"

We had a dedication service at our church and this is the beautiful dress that was made special for Maddie by a good friend. It'll be a family treasure!

Two of my favorite photos. Thoughtful and peaceful.

Maddie all dressed up for church. I made the dress at Christmas, I guess I was hoping against hope that we'd have a girl. The sweater and the bonnet were a gift-Maddie wears it all the time.

I know this post is long past due, & pretty short, but better than nothing ;) Maddie's finally big enough to nurse one-handed if I'm sitting down & stable, so I can type & feed-maybe I'll keep up with posting a little better!

Bless the Lord, O My Soul
Of David.
103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,and all that is within me,bless his holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity,who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with goodso that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousnessand justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide,nor will he keep his anger forever.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father shows compassion to his children,so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,and its place knows it no more.

17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,and his righteousness to children's children,

18 to those who keep his covenantand remember to do his commandments.

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,you mighty ones who do his word,obeying the voice of his word!

21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,his ministers, who do his will!

22 Bless the Lord, all his works,in all places of his dominion.Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Niagara Falls Vacation

Kelvin at the base of Bridal Veil Falls on the Cave of the Winds tour. We stood in line for 2 hrs to go down, but it was worth the wait.
Kelvin noticed this rainbow & thought it was the perfect place for me to pose. I went up on the "hurricane deck" 3 times-basically, the water from pounds down onto the deck-the water was so powerful, that it felt like hail. So exhilarating!

View of the American Falls from our "Maid of the Mist" boat ride. We got to go right into the horseshoe of Horseshoe Falls-no pictures of this-the water and mist would have ruined my camera!

Maid of the Mist boat.

It was windy and wet!

Hannah's Wedding

Hannah and Nate's wedding date was July 31st, 2010-it was a beautiful day!

My sister Mary Ellen her posies that I arranged from my garden and my mothers.

Hannah looking very happy with her bouquet.

Mary Marion and Mary Ellen-the lovely bridesmaids!

Hannah and Nate doing a great job feeding each other cake. The first cake that I've made that we ever had to serve small pieces so that it would go around to the whole crowd. Usually, I can serve generous portions with tons of leftover cake. Not this time! There was just enough!

Our Baby News

Well, It's high time that I pay a little attention to my neglected blog and catch you all up on our big, exciting news that has consumed the whole summer. We are expecting a baby! We found out on July 9th, 2010, which is very meaningful for us because Emanuel, our second baby was born on that day two years ago in 2008. I am thankful that the Lord choose to redeem that very sad day by giving us hope for the future in the promise of new life.
We are resting in the promise that God does all things well and are praying for a healthy baby this time round. However, we acknowledge that life is a gift from Him, and in that, the life is his to give or take away, at whatever point He deems good. Please pray for us that we have peace in His decision!
I am 15 weeks along right now, the due date is March 14th.
This baby is a character already-at every ultrasound (except the first one at 5 weeks!) this tiny babe has been super busy- bouncing around waving hands and feet. So precious to see! I can't wait to be able to meet him or her!

I will try harder to keep you all updated better than I have in the past! Both my sisters got married, Hannah on July 31st, and Molly this past weekend on Sept. 18th. Had a great time at these affairs, but didn't take many pictures-I'm depending on getting some from the rest of the family. Somehow me and my camera haven't been as close as we used to be! ( I do have a few shots to share & I'll try to get them up for you all soon!