"My Bump"

Here's another update on Graysen's bump. (If you don't know what I'm talking about read this and then this).

My mom went with me to STL to take Graysen back for her ultrasound and follow up apt. with the surgeon. Graysen was excited to show Grammie the hospital!

I love Children's hospitals! (Remember, Hunter had surgery in 2009 at STL Children's) Graysen played in this car in the waiting room before her ultrasound...

My sweet, precious baby's hand wrapped around mine during her ultrasound. She truly did great!
The ultrasound was inconclusive, so the surgeon decided it was time to just remove the lymph node. We are scheduled for surgery on April 5th. It will be out patient and just a few days recovery at home, so nothing to worry about! The results from her lymph node should be back within 4-5 days after it's removed.

After we left the hospital we headed downtown Kirkwood and ate at a really cute New York Style Pizzeria. It was a beautiful day and we sat on the patio.
The pizza slices were bigger than the plate!

Graysen took it upon herself to be the door holder...even when there weren't people coming in or out. She's such a good, easy kid to take places! I am blessed to be her Momma.

Thanks Mom for going with me and supporting me during her Dr. apts. You're the best!

Cupcakes # 2 and # 3

Another virtual cupcake!

Thank you Shelley, for your contribution to Sixty Feet
and God's precious children in Uganda!

"From: The Dukes"

Thank you so much for investing in the lives of others
and building treasures in Heaven!

you can see cupcake number 1 here.

clothes line. a first for me.

my very first load on the line!

I'm excited to start this line drying clothes adventure! The people who owned my Grandma's house before her had this clothes line in their yard. She never used it (to my knowledge), but didn't take it down either, and boy am I glad! My father in law came and hung new line for me since this picture was taken. I also bought more clothes pins so that I can hang an entire load...there are three lines on this pole! I hope to get a lot of use out of this hanging line this spring and summer!

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Remember I'm raising money for Sixty Feet right now by selling cupcakes.
Read about the beginnings of this project here.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes:
Strawberry cake topped with rich chocolate buttercream icing

How can you resist?

Place your order today:
ashleyredburn@hotmail.com

bows

She has too many of them.
104 bows.

Bow hanger #1

Halloween, St. Pat's, Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Bows for specific outfits, Flowers, Puffs, Buttons, Doubles for pig tails, Singles for every other day

Bow hanger #2

30 headbands, countless clips and rubber bands in every color.

While my daughter worries about what bow to wear on any particular day,
there are children living in remand centers in Uganda
who are worried about whether they will eat that same day.

this is the reality of our broken world.


Here's a win-win...how about you eat some cupcakes
and give Sixty Feet money to provide some basic essentials for these kids?

Try this one: A moist french vanilla cake
completed by the subtle nuttiness of brown butter icing.
Simplicity. Perfection.

If you've never tasted this, you're in for a treat!

Order a dozen today!
ashleyredburn@hotmail.com

God orchestrates all things for His good! (and the PRC)

Let me introduce you to my newest friend: Cheryl!
Cheryl and I have a God story to tell you...

Last week my friend Kelley invited Lincoln and I to attend the 5th Annual Pregnancy Resource Center Dinner Fundraiser. The Pregnancy Resource Center of Rolla was "founded in 2007 to offer women facing a crisis pregnancy a place to go for information and assistance."


They also offer the following services:

• Pregnancy Testing

• Ultrasound

• Peer Counseling

• Community Referrals
  

• Material Assistance

• Post Abortive Support

Before dinner started Cheryl approached me. Our conversation started something like:

Cheryl: "hi, I know you don't know me, but I had to come introduce myself because I read your blog!"
Ashley: "oh. my. goodness.! I've never had anyone say that to me before!

...and ended the evening with an exchange of email addresses and a hug!

The dinner and speakers were wonderful and I learned a lot...but as I sat through the presentations I was in awe of our God. He brought us there, in a room of 448 people, and had us sit just a few tables away from each other so that she would see me!

As we walked out of the dinner Kelley said something like "Don't you just love it when God gives an answer before you even leave the room?" I do! I love "God moments", when He makes His presence so known!

I got an email from Cheryl that said this (I hope you don't mind me sharing Cheryl!):

Good Morning Ashley!! I am smiling from ear to ear this morning just thinking about how amazing our Father is!! I don't believe that last night was a chance meeting. I believe that the Lord had both you and I in the same room for a reason. I can't even believe that I was able to get up and awkwardly walk over to say hi. I know that was God because I don't even do well in huge crowds and always feel completely overwhelmed.

I look forward to seeing what comes from this new friendship!! I just know from reading your blog that you and I are a lot alike and both have a love for our Father that can never be surpassed!!

You said it...our Father IS amazing! It was not a chance meeting...(come on, we live in the same town and have never run into each other!) I am totally looking forward to our friendship and getting to know you. I can't wait to see what else God has up His sleeve...we might just be a crazy, radical team!! It was a blessing to meet you.

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Cookies and Creme Cupcakes: Fluffy white cake with chunks of Oreo cookies baked on an Oreo cookie base and topped with cream cheese icing chock full of Oreo crumbs.


Who can resist??

Cupcake orders are rolling in...I know there are lots of you who want some of these delicious cupcakes, make sure you don't wait to late!

Contact me and give me your order!!

Order deadline is April 11th...email me right now!
ashleyredburn@hotmail.com

Happy Birthday to my best friend

Happy 29th Birthday.
I am so grateful to be on this journey of life and love together.
I wouldn't want it any other way.
I love you.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

from Silas, Graysen, Ashley, Hunter, and Blake

Did you know that Patrick was actually taken into slavery by the Irish at age 16, escaped 6 years later, and became a follower of Christ as an adult? He later returned to minister to those who enslaved him...and that's the amazing power of Christ!
source

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Mocha Cupcakes: moist chocolate cake topped with the familiar warmth of roasted coffee and a sprinkling of crystal sugar.

do you want some?
me too!

Order yours today:
comment
or
email: ashleyredburn@hotmail.com

all cupcakes orders are donations only...please give to Sixty Feet from your heart!

perfect love comes from above

i don't know when or where he was born

but i know where he is sleeping tonight.

as he curled up on my lap in the rocking chair i smiled.
this is the kind of quiet, intimate time i need with him.

this is how we are going to learn to
love
trust
know
one another.

he buried his head on my shoulder,
the softness of my cheek on his.
i breathed in his scent
and felt the curls on his head in my hand

"can i sleep in your hands, Mommy?"
"yes, son, lay back and sleep"
as i stared into his sleeping face
i imagined what it must have looked like as an infant...
and i rocked.

i rocked him like i rocked my first two
and i prayed.
i thanked God for his mother
and for her gift on entrusting her sons to me.

i prayed for more patience tomorrow,
for more trust,
and more love.

and i know He'll provide.

my favorite picture of me and my boy

Our Weekend Wonderings: Date night, soccer, and outside *Updated with family dinner picture

Date Night: Friday night Lincoln and I had a double date with our good friends the Kings. We went to a new place and had wonderful conversation...thanks for having some adult time with us guys!

Soccer: The boys had their first spring soccer game this weekend!

A good picture of Gray and I, hanging out in the car during practice to get out of the cold!


The fan club that showed up for the boys game: Papa Charlie, Uncle Richard, Grammie, Aunt Kim, Daddy (left work!), Graysen, Grandma, and Chad. Of course I was there too, but taking the picture.
Good 1st game orange team!

A day outside: Sunday was beautiful 78 degree weather, and we spent the entire afternoon outside!

We put the new basketball hoop up and let me tell you what...the boys L.O.V.E. it!!!

My sister and I finally re-did Claire's flowers! I love the springy colors, the windmills, feathers, and butterflies!


All the kids with her new flowers. I know this may be uncomfortable for some of you, but this our reality, and it's part of our life. I promise my kids don't think a thing about hanging out in the cemetery for the afternoon!

On our walk I looked up and saw Hunter carrying Graysen. What a sweet brother.


Sissy played chalk with Graysen...think we're excited about our upcoming vacation?

After our walk, we got ice cream cones and headed to the Elementary School playground!

That evening Lincoln grilled and we had a picnic outside. This is what memories are made of...

10 months

We've been a family for 10 months now. I think we're finally finding our new normal. I've probably said that in past months (see links at the bottom), so I think that's a positive thing...every day feels a little bit more normal.

The boys pretty much "get" everything now I feel like...except the sentence structure...we're still not there. Blake gets very frustrated with me correcting him, but as long as it's done in a loving manner I can't stop because he'll never learn otherwise!

Attachment wise I think we're still working...although I'd say Hunter's in a good place!

He brought that home from school the other day. I'm SO glad we're past the "I wish I didn't have any brothers" stage! My love is growing more and more every day. I am beginning to be able to see past their walls and surface behavior to their hearts and that helps more than anything!

Two more months and we'll be celebrating 1 year together!!

1 Month Reflections
2 Months Reflections
3 Months Reflections
4 Months Reflections
6 Months Reflections

march madness and sixty feet shirts!

you want to know what is madness?
five children (ages 7 and under)
piled on one bed watching a basketball game...
and letting their mothers visit in peace!

maybe i don't mind march madness as much anymore...?

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Have you all seen the new Sixty Feet and Cupcake Kids shirts?

Here is another great way to help support Sixty Feet!

These adorable little girl shirts come in pink, white, and bright blue.
They are 20.00 and come in sizes 12 mo. - 10/12.
Wouldn't they be perfect to wear a a cupcake stand?!

These handsome little boy shirts are white and come with either a navy or a red Africa.
They are 20.00 and come in sizes 6 mo - 4T.

These shirts come in youth, womens, and men's!
Your whole family could match!
Youth sizes 2 - 10 are 20.00
Women's sizes S - XL are 25.00
Men's sizes S - XXL are 25.00

Look at these perfect shirts for the Cupcake Kids Momma's!
Women's sizes S-XL for 25.00

Go order your shirts and then plan your own cupcake sale!

If you can't have your own sale, purchase some from ours!

Virtual cupcakes for sale on my blog,
(top right hand corner)
Real, yummy cupcakes for sale from ME,
(leave a comment or email me at ashleyredburn@hotmail.com
remember you get a free cupcake potholder with a 50.00 donation!)
Pampered Chef items (Sixty Feet gets 15%)
Thirty-One items (Sixty Feet gets 10%)
(choose Ashley Redburn as your host)

our day of joy

last week lincoln and i took graysen to a pediatric surgeon about her lump.


i feel so much better about going to Dr.'s who post something like this:
God gets the glory!

look at this awesome clock with moving rainforest animals!
"take a picture to show my boys!"

a brave little girl getting all checked in and ready to see the surgeon!

the Dr. was very encouraging.
nothing too serious.
an ultrasound next week to clear up one more mystery.

does this picture look familiar?
oh yes, we must stop and take another picture on our way out of the Dr.!

after we left the Dr. we headed to Laumeier Sculpture Park.
outdoor,
family,
fun.

mommy loved the eye...
graysen loved it from afar.

daddy + graysen = adoration

mommy + graysen = love

she had a blast climbing on this cat!

we took the time to climb trees...

"let's run while mommy tries to take my picture!"

oh look!
i caught daddy too!

it was a joyful day.
we are grateful for the peace of mind that God gave us.

want to know something else that would make me joyful?
Seeing imprisoned children in Uganda live in better conditions with the help of Sixty Feet!
AND

Lemon Berry cupcakes: strawberry cake made with real strawberries, topped with citrusy lemon buttercream icing.

wow...you'd better order yours soon!


OR purchase your virtual cupcake right here on my blog!