Hospitatlity

I have always loved the idea of showing hospitality to others. I always wanted my own home to have others in. Church friends, family, my kids friends, anybody! I've just always loved the idea of a home filled with the smells of food and the sound of people.

I was blessed with this love from my mother and she from her mother. I love setting the table, preparing the home and hoping that others feel welcome. I love getting to know others and learning new things about them. I love every aspect of it. Well, that's exaggerated... I don't love so much the cooking side of it... I don't hate it, I'm just not very good at that part. But back to the point... I'm so thankful that my mother instilled this love in me and showed me how to and taught me the importance of showing hospitality.

We've actually been talking about hospitality a lot at church in our Women's Ministry events lately as well. That hospitality isn't "entertaining", but it's actually ministering. We've been encouraged to be hospitable, to stretch ourselves and to look at it as an act of ministering. I've thought of this before, but honestly it's never been the purpose for me. We've been encouraged to think about who we have over. To not just stick to the easy people, like friends and family, but to remember the singles, the widows and the grieving. To minister to them by having them in our homes.

So this weekend I begin this new mission! However, I started with an easy group, yes, I'm choosing the easy way to start! I invited 3 of the single (see, I hit one of the groups) college ladies over for brunch and I'm so excited!! I've set the table with all my china, brought out the cloth napkins and the fancy candles. I can't wait to bless these sweet girls with a special "girly" time. I'm praying for opportunities to minister to them and hopefully to encourage them. The boys are leaving and even the dog is leaving, so it will be just us girls!

Can't wait to tell you how it goes!

The Food of Apple Hill

I know I shouldn't and I really shouldn't admit it, but I go to Apple Hill for the food. I'm really trying to not love food so much and love exercise more, but when it comes to Apple Hill, I just can't help it. And hey, there's lots of hills to walk around there, so it all balances out, right?! Anyways, back to the food!! I go for the fritters. They are the best at High Hill, although I'm beginning to believe that's only true because it's where I ate them with my grandparents and cousins as a kid. Then there are the carmel/fudge dipped apples, perfect! We split this one three ways. Thomas was all over it! But where it got really bad this year, was the apple desserts. Mom treated us to a treat, we figured one thing to split for the 6 of us. Oh no, that was not the case, after all a sweet tooth is genetic, we split three things between the 5 of us! (Thomas wanted to play more than eat, that he didn't get from me!!) We shared an Apple Turnover with caramel sauce, an Apple Dumpling and a Cherry Blossom. YUMMY!! It was a little much, more than just a taste of each, but oh so enjoyable!! And as you can see, we managed to polish them all off. Too bad I didn't take a picture before...

I can't wait to go back next year

I Love Apple Hill

Last weekend was Apple Hill Day!! It was one of the best days ever!! I'm a huge fan of Apple Hill, have been since the first day I stepped out of the car there almost 20 years ago. It's a place full of special memories, good food (which we will discuss later), harvest all around you and wonderful smells, even the animals smell good there. This year I was introduced to a whole new level of wonderful-ness. I saw it through the eyes of my 2 year old. I got to see him enjoy all it had to offer, enjoy it with him and watch my extended family purely enjoy it with him as well. We all took turns spoiling Thomas in our own personal favorite Apple Hill ways!

The pumpkins, everyone's favorite!!

The "fishing hole" at High Hill, one of my favorite places to just sit. That's Thomas, Jared and Umple Ross watchin' for some fish.

Face Painting, always a favorite of mine! Thomas is still talking about the shark that the man painted on his face. He asks where it went and can tell you which cheek it was on.

A ride on a miniature horse, my mom's favorite (I don't think we ever got to ride one!!) She was thrilled to walk around the loop with Thomas. He wasn't too sure how he felt. You could tell he loved it, was a little nervous, but thought it was pretty cool. He wears his "cowboy" hat everyday and talks about the horses.

The tractor, all the boys like those!

The farm animals were one of Thomas favorite discoveries and a new one for all of us. I don't remember too many when we were growing up. I love that they are there now.

The hay maze, they are in the back. This was Auntie & Umples favorite thing to share with Thomas. He loved finding all the scarecrows and Umple helped him find all of the dead ends.

Fun was definitely had by all!!

Our happy boy!