Tuesday, October 27, 2009

My Nephew Reece




I had a beyond fantastic weekend last weekend when Blake, Carlin and Reece came home! I love more than anything when my brothers and their families get to come home! We have the best time together.

Since that amazing day on May 13th, 2009, Reece came into the world and all our hearts got much bigger because we all had a lot of love to give that little guy! We were able to drive out and visit the new arrival a couple weeks after he was born and instantly when I saw him, the tears started flowing and my heart started melting. He was so very tiny, and just watching my brother hold him and talk to him and be a daddy to him was amazing to experience. To look at little Reece and see all his features, some similar to Blake and some similar to Carlin is an amazing miracle.





All pictures from our 1st visit in May!

The reality hit me that while God is still the one in control of Reece's life and He will ultimately be the one to give and take away life, he has entrusted Reece's life to Blake and Carlin, for however long that may be and it is overwhelmingly incredible to think of the significance of that. I can't begin to imagine the physical and emotional struggles that would come with being 1st time parents, but they handle it with such ease and are such a "natural" mommy and daddy. I can't wait to watch, not only Reece as he grows and grows, but also Blake and Carlin as they will continue to amaze me I'm sure, as they juggle parenting, work, home, family, friends, church with such simplicity and ease.




All pictures from the week of Brett and Kavia's wedding in June!


I've had the amazing pleasure getting to see Reece 4 different times since he's been born! And each time I'm blown away by the changes. I remember in May I could fit him on my lap, his head on my knees and his feet up against my tummy...I remember saying, "I will never forget this, how tiny he is" and I have to admit, sometimes now, seeing his long body and cute baby rolls now, makes it hard to recall!



Auntie Amy and Reece in May!

Auntie Amy and little Reecie-piecie in June!


Auntie Amy and Reecer man in July!

Auntie Amy and Reece in October!


His physical features continue to change, although one thing remains the same, still no hair! :) And the little hair he has is very blonde. It's adorable!

Little Reecer man has really completed our family (that is, until Buhrman Baby #2 comes along, I'm trying to talk them into it soon, don't worry!)---there's so much attention on that little guy, every move, yawn, stretch, roll over, tooth, is carefully inspected and studied by each person in our family and now we are trying to remember what we did before Reece ever came along!! There are still fun card games had after Reecer goes to bed, but one thing's for sure, there's nothing quite like cuddling up with that sweet, snuggly baby!



Tickle time with mommy!


Reece and Grandpa Buhrman having a boot-scootin' good time!


4 Generations!


Bath time!


So big already!!

One thing's for sure, Reece is one loved baby, and I can say (because this is my blog!) that his Auntie Amy loves him the most!! :)

I love you SOOO much Reece and can't wait to watch you grow up and can't wait to be a part of your life!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Feels Like Home




"Feels Like Home"


by Chantal Kreviazuk




Somethin' in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There's somethin' in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life


If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done


It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong


A window breaks, down a long, dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see, through the dark there is light
Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much


It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong


These are lyrics to a song that I had the privledge of singing at the Brad and Kali Jantz's wedding, 4 summers ago. I absolutely love this song. Not only does it define the love we can have for another person and how we are made to "complete" one another, but also explains the correlation of love and "home". This song should be my blog's theme song or something! :) It makes the exacty point I'm hitting on and shows how it relates to a love relationship.

It's amazing to me how she compares her love for another person to "home" and how she knows she's completely in love because the feeling of love feels like "home". So I go back to my original question in day 1 of my blog; what does home feel like? And maybe another question, what does love feel like? Do they feel the same to you?


There are many different kinds of love that we can experience throughout our lives, love for parents, sibilings, extended family, friends, spouse and our Lord Jesus Christ. When singing this song my mind immediately goes to the strongest feeling of physical love I have on this earth and that is with my husband because it talks about physical affections of love such as being held in his arms, lost in his eyes, protected from crime and violence.
So as I compare my love for my husband and what "home" feels like to me, I have come to some amazing conclusions. When I think of the love I have for Josh, I get that same warm and fuzzy and happy feeling that I get when I experience "home". So I'm sure that warm feeling is one way that his love feels like "home" to me.
Just think about it, when you love someone you want them to experience "home" with you, so you can share those special moments together and can feel that deep connection and warmth with one another instead of alone. When I fell in love with Josh what is it that we did? We went to each others home, he met my family, ate my mom's delicious chili and monkey bread, played cards with my family, met my friends, toured my hometown, went to my homechurch, looked through photo albums, watched home videos, the list goes on. Josh loved me and he wanted to experience my home. I don't say all that to say that when you love someone they become a part of your past or present home, but what I'm saying is that Josh got to experience the things in my life that defined who I am today, afterall, there was 21 years of my life that I lived before starting to date him. But more than that, the point I'm very slowly getting to, is that Josh's love for me feels like "home", not because of the town we live in, the church we go to or the friends we have. His love for me feels like "home" because the way he makes me feel, because we have created "home" together and through our previous experiences of "home" we have learned how to love one another and how to incorporate those moments into our new "home".
Let me see if I can get the point I'm trying to make a little clearer....I'm confusing myself! This is just harder to explain than I thought it would be. :)

The experiences that define "home" for me....will now and forever define my love with Josh.


To give an example; Christmas, (we all know how I feel about this holiday!) was created as a warm fuzzy "home" feeling when I was very very young. The amazing memories I had growing up of Christmas, created a deep-rooted sense of happiness that I've taken with me throughout my life. But ever since I've meet Josh, Christmas has become even sweeter. I have memories of our first date in Kansas City ice skating on an outdoor rink with the Christmas tree lights turning on to start the holiday season. And making our first gingerbread house together and singing Christmas Carols in the car together and cuddling next to the Christmas Tree as our gaze got lost in the rythmic twinkle of lights and baking many yummy treats to enjoy together. And ever since we experienced our first Christmas together, Christmas, which is already "home" to me, now could never be "home" again without the one I love. It's a combination of new memories and old, but there's something about Josh's love for me that feels like "home" to me. Which amazes me when he wasn't even around during those defining "home" years. It's a deep-rooted connection that brings two "homes" together and creates a new "home" that could never be replaced.

Our first date in KC iceskating, and making our first gingerbread house!

Wow, that was confusing. Please help me out, how does your love feel like "home"?

Also I'm curious what everyone thinks about marrying someone who you didn't meet until later in life, someone who didn't grow up with you. I'm going to do a blog soon about knowing someone's history and how they became the person they are today. Do you think it's more beneficial to know someone growing up or more beneficial to not meet the person you marry until after they are an adult? If you don't meet them until they are an adult, how important is it to go and experience their life and "home" where they grew up and where their life was defined? Important or not at all? Tell me what you think!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Fall is here!





Ok, for fear of being ridiculed, let's take a step backwards. :)

With as quickly as the weather has turned cold, I feel like we might have skipped over Fall and moved directly into winter. But I have noticed, Fall isn't slipping by completely. Trees are changing all different colors and the leaves are falling to the ground. Josh's parents have a row of trees lining their driveway that turn a bright beautiful red color in the fall, and when I was there last weekend they had started turning red and were giving me a glimpse of what their breath-taking beauty would be like in just a short week or two more! I posted a few pictures below for you to see!





Meet Sable, she's the official greeter at the Turner household!


She kept wanting to take pictures, but I wouldn't let her, I know, I know, I'm so mean!


It's a beautiful drive in to their home with these trees paving the way!


We went to Staci and Layne's house for adult small group this week and Staci had the most delicious Apple Cider for everyone. It smelled and tasted like Fall...it was wonderful!

Every Sunday afternoon my parent's home is completely full of friends that come over to enjoy lunch and support the losing Chiefs. Maybe they'll win the Super Bowl...you never know! We have a great time, and I love living closer so that I can enjoy with fun fall days with friends!

A week ago, the high school small group that I help co-lead was able to get together for a fun afternoon of pumpkin carving! We had a great time hanging out and getting to know each other!


Ah, the pumpkin carving and cider drinking with fun high school girls!


So you see, Fall is in the air, and I haven't completely bypassed it yet. :) I'm enjoy every change and blessing that comes with a new season and a new Holiday time approaching! Thanking God that He makes himself known through the traditions and blessings of this time of the year.



Enjoy the colors, raking, playing in the leaves, smells of Apple Cider, wood burning, smore-making, football watching, sweater-wearing and chilly weather! IT'S FALL, it's HOME!


A little Bing Crosby!

Ok, I know I talk about it a lot, but I can't help it, I've been designed to LOVE Christmas! Which is why when October rolls around it is so difficult hold myself back from listening to all sorts of Christmas songs, decorating my home, planning fun Christmas parties, making family plans for the holidays, looking up new holiday recipes and wishing all a MERRY CHRISTMAS! I try to hold myself back some so that people don't think I'm crazy, but this is my blog, and remember, it's all about honesty! :)

Last night I started listening to music that I will be singing with Jennea and Bethany for church during the Christmas season and now really, there's no going back! This morning I'm listening to a little Christmas music to brighten my day, the weather is very chilly, the sky is grey, and the only thing missing is Christmas lights up on the houses! You should totally try it!

Listen to Bing Crosby "Winter Wonderland". If you don't have that on your Christmas Playlist on your iPod like I do, check it out on Youtube.com at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcnhowSWCgE

Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and look outside, think about the warmth surrounding you, and listen to Bing, I guarantee, you'll be in the holiday mood! Who knows, you might even get all the Christmas shopping done early this year!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

A Baking Masterpiece

Jennea's spectacular cupcake!


I love to bake. Especially when I find a spectacular recipe and it becomes my "trademark". Everyone starts asking me for the recipe, requesting me to bring it to the next get-together, that's when it's so much fun, to know that you've created a masterpiece and others love it as well! I've been trying to pinpoint my masterpiece, my Mona Lisa, I'm not sure what it is! Debbie Jantz is cinnamon rolls, Josh's grandma is pie, my mom is Cream Puffs, Carlin is homemade pizza, Cathy is Christmas Braids and Jennea is cream-filled cupcakes!





It was this week that Jennea was gracious enough to drop off her delicious chocolate cupcakes filled with cream and dipped in a chocolate frosting. As Josh would say, "it's a party in the mouth!". I was talking with Jennea about how she is always perfecting her recipe. Trying new things to make it better and better each time. Just this week she was asked to make 130 of them for an event and luckily we got a few of the leftovers!!! How amazing that she has a masterpiece. She has a specialty dessert that has her name on it.





I need to create my own specialty. What will it be? I love desserts so much that I think it has to be some sort of sweet dessert. Maybe something with chocolate. Maybe some sort of bread. Maybe caramel frosting. We'll see....if anyone has any great ideas let me know! I will be thinking and searching, and let you know what I come up with!

Reaching the Lost

Church has been around forever. Many churches that exist today are exactly the same they were 30, 50 and 90 years ago. Why is that? Why are they singing the same hymns, preaching the same sermons, sitting in the same pews, saying the same prayers, repeating the same chants, wearing the same clothes, starting at the same times? Does it show a reverence and honor to God to keep church consistent over the centuries? Does God want church to change?

Let's take a look at the rest of life. TV Shows and movies. Have they changed? The movies now rated PG would have been rated R back even 25 years ago! Commercials are getting more inappropriate for families to view. Liberal thinking is all over the media and ingrained in our society. We have become a consumer-driven world and expect one-stop-shops, everyone to cater to us and our needs, and to be entertained at everything we do. No one just does something because it's what they are "suppose to do" anymore. Everyone has an opinion and makes it heard. Whatever is comfortable and easy for us, we do, and if it's going to be too much effort or pain, we avoid it. 3 years ago I attended a wedding where someone came in blue jeans and a baseball cap. Does anyone remember a day when suits and ties were worn to weddings and funerals?

So the question that we need to ask is, what is the purpose of church? Why do we exist as a church? Is it to gather together as a fellowship of believers and go through the motions of what church used to be, see some good friends, dress up a little, and then go out for a yummy lunch afterward? I don't think that the souls of this generation can afford for us to make that our purpose. We have to reach those people. We have to somehow reach those un-churched, un-saved people. The people that don't live for a higher calling, they are constantly searching for the next "thing" to love, the next "thing" to do, the next "thing" to entertain them, the next "person" to become. They are the ones fully saturated in this world and the things of it, completely unaware of the hearts and souls of them and those around them. Just living day to day, trying to figure out this thing called life. How do you reach THOSE people. Church should not exist for the believers alone. I'm not saying church is not important for believers, it is VITAL, God loves the church, He has called the church to rise up and spread His word, He has shown us the importance of communing with other believers and worshipping Him in His presence in that place. But I'm convinced that a Sunday morning worship service should not be about the believers. We need to view the church as our "home" and remember those that we are inviting into it.

When you invite someone to your home, what do you do? Sure you clean it, but there's more. You prepare your home for them, you become hospitable. When I have house guests over, I greet them at the door with a big smile and hug, I put a playlist on my iPod that I know they would enjoy to have playing in the background, I buy a magazine and treat and put it on their guest bed where they will be sleeping, I put shampoo and bodywash in the shower so they don't have to use those stupid little travel-sized ones, I light wonderful smelling candles, I cook yummy desserts that I know they would enjoy, I buy cereal that I know is their favorite and have it for them for breakfast, I buy more coffee because coffee is "home". Why do I do that? Because I love them, I want them to feel welcome, I want them to stay as long as they would like, I want them to come back, I want them to feel LOVE in my "home".

Why can't we view church that way? Why don't we greet visitors at the door, opening it for them and greeting them with a big smile and warm welcome? Why don't we talk to them once they are in our "home" and make them feel welcome and loved? Why don't we have progressive and contemporary worship music that they can get into and really enjoy?(afterall, they've just been listening to something on their radio in their car, and if they aren't a Christian, I guarantee you it wasn't the classic Christian Hymn station!). Why don't we wear blue jeans so they don't feel underdressed? Why don't we have a gift for them so they feel welcomed and have information in it incase they have questions that they don't want to ask? Why don't we have a coffee bar to make it feel like "home"? Why don't we have a relevant message that is engaging, exciting, challenging and pushes them to see the love of God? Why are we afraid of scaring people off by reading the bible and stating the true facts? Why don't we give these visitors a chance each and every Sunday to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior? They might never get to hear the gospel again. That is where they will truly find "home". It's true, some people will never understand true grace and accept the word of God. But it is our responsibility to present them with an environment that welcomes them, makes them feel comfortable and lets them hear about it and want to come back. I firmly believe that if we do our part, God will do the rest!

Let's make church "home". Not only to us and our fellow believers but most importantly to THE LOST!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

My Grammy







Me with my Grammy


This week marked a special anniversary. If my great-grandma (known to me as "Grammy") was still alive, she would have turned 100 years old this week. Instead, the Lord chose to take her to her "home" at the age of 93 years old. As I turn my thoughts to my Grammy this week I have happy memories to reminise on and yet I'm a little saddened as I ponder how my life's events and experiences would have been different and even more special, had my precious Grammy been here to live life with me over the past 7 years.


My Grammy was an absolutely amazing woman, I loved being with her. She was the most amazing cook I've ever met, she had so much energy (proven by her teaching water aerobics until she was 87 years old!), and had so much life. She wasn't afraid to stand out from the crowd and be herself, all of her clothes were unique and typically bright and wild, her earrings were big and fun, she had so much personality and life. She never sugar-coated anything, she said what she felt and I loved that about her. She loved the Lord with her whole heart, her heart was genuine and she let you in to live life with her. She had experienced a lot of hard times in her lifetime, but was a strong woman because of it. I love my Grammy.




This is my family, brother Brett, Grammy, mom, dad, Gramma GinaLee and brother Blake.

On a family vacation to Sea World, this is me with my Grammy!


I had the precious gift of spending 18 years of my life with my great-grandma. I know that is almost unheard of these days, and yet I can't help but selfishly wish I had been able to have 18 more! She lived with my Grandma (her daughter) in western KS for many many years and the drive for my family to visit them was 5 hours. So we didn't get see them but maybe a couple times a year, but I have precious memories of Christmas' spent there with all of my Grammy's homemade Christmas candies and fudge lining the counter!

My Grammy was a fireball and I absolutely love it when my mom and grandma talk about how much of Grammy they see in me. There are so many questions I have for her that I never even thought to ask as a self-absorbed teenager. So many cooking tips that I long to have her teach me. So much advice about the hard times in life and good. Oh how I wish she would have been able to meet my amazing husband. She would have loved him! I wish she could have been at my wedding, come to visit me in Springfield with my Grandma last year. I wish I could cook for her, I can just hear her now while in mid-bite "oh my, this is just delicious, oh well I think this is the best ____ I've ever eaten..." :)


My Grammy and Gramma GinaLee


See the picture above of my Grammy with my grandma. I wish when I talked to this picture, my Grammy would talk back. What was her life like in this picture? Did she struggle with gaining weight in her thighs like I do? Did she wonder how they were going to make it financially? Did she cook just a regular old supper every night? Did she love fun clothes and jewelry? Did she have the money to buy them? Did she struggle making her hair look good each day? Did she feel beautiful? Was she stressed? Did she have friends who loved her? Did she struggle with acne? Did she have a house? Did she feel pressure to fill it with new furniture and decor clean it daily? Was she confident even then? Did her hair, clothes and home exude she her own "style" even then? or did she conform to the pressures of the society around her? Was it hard raising her first child? Was it hard for her to get pregnant? How many kids did she plan on having? I wonder how old she was in the picture? If I'm so much like her now, I wonder if we struggle with the same things at the same ages in life, I wonder if the same parts of "home" make us feel warm and fuzzy.


Some of my family at my Grammy's 90th Birthday Celebration


The last big family celebration we had with my Grammy was at her 90th birthday, both of my Grammy's kids and all of their families came to western KS for a huge party! I wonder what her 100th birthday would have been like. With Grammy organizing it, it would have no doubt been quite the event!!!

I miss my Grammy so much, but am so thankful for the 18 years I got to spend with her and so thankful that her daughter my amazing Gramma Ginalee is now in the same town I am living in, and I'm not holding back my questions from her! I'm so blessed and thankful for the family God gave to me, and for a Grammy that loved me so much!

I miss you Grammy!! Don't worry, I'll keep finding my own funky style, and keep cooking up a storm and show you all the recipes I've learned when I get to heaven!




Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Delilah Radio


This is a picture of Delilah from the radio! Does she look like what you thought she would look like?
Ok, I know I know. I will probably be judged for this, but this blog is all about honesty! :)


It's true, I love Delilah Radio! It's not the advice she gives that draws me in, it's her soothing voice and how she invites me to put the tea pot on for another cup of tea as I enjoy the evening with her. When I listen to it, I'm usually driving down the road, but I feel as though I am cuddled up on a couch underneath a soft & fuzzy blanket with a cup of tea, just relaxing and listening to some great music and listening to many people call in and pour out their hearts.


The reason I started listening to Delilah was during the month of December when B98 fm plays CONTINUOUS CHRISTMAS MUSIC! It is the best month of the year! I absolutely love the Christmas music. When Josh isn't around, I will listen to it throughout the rest of the year while I am baking or working out or driving! Not all the time, just occassionally, enough to brighten my day and make me a little happier. There's just something about Christmas music!


So now any time I hear Delilah, I think of Christmas time and that makes me love listening to her even more!


So yes, it's true, as embarrasing as it may be, Delilah feels like "home" to me, listening to her show gives me a warm, fuzzy, winter-time feeling!



Coffee is "Home"

Who is the first person to ever try coffee?
Why did they keep drinking it after the first sip?

Coffee is most definitely an acquired taste. It wasn't until 4 years ago that I started attempting to acquire the taste. I was dating a guy whose parents LOVED the bitter, black liquid tar. :) I was bound and determined to like it, it seemed like such a mature thing to do, drink coffee with pie for dessert and so peaceful to get up in the mornings and drink a cup of coffee. At first I would drink it with lots of cream and sugar to sweeten it up (despite what Dennis would say! :) ). And then I was able to try all sorts of different coffee drinks at Starbucks, ones with all sorts of sweet stuff in it!

Some of my first memories of coffee, is when I was at the Turner's house in the mornings and could enjoy the morning with them, looking out the windows of their beautiful home at the view of the wooded area surrounding their secluded home. I love remembering the mornings when I would sit out on the front porch drinking a cup of coffee with Cathy, wrapped up in blankets, chatting, waiting for the day to warm up, the dew to dry up off the grass, their dog Sable-searching for someone to pet her, and our day to begin. :) Or in the evenings after a delicious meal (Cathy's an amazing cook!) we would always have a yummy piece of pie for dessert. Secretly in the beginning, the coffee wasn't my first choice, but something about coffee at the Turner's with a piece of pie, just made it all feel warmer and cozier.

Now I'm to a point where I really enjoy drinking coffee and have made some special memories with my mom, grandma, husband, brother and sister-in-law, and friends, when I've sat with each of them chatting around a cup of coffee. I think that it's very possible that coffee opens up people's hearts.

This morning, I stopped by Lincoln Perk on my way to work and got a coffee and added a little cream and sugar to it, and you know what I felt when I drank it? Warm and fuzzy. It takes me back "home" to the Turner's household where coffee is "home".

Friday, October 2, 2009

What is it about Grandparents?

Let me know what you all think...

What is it about Grandparents that make you feel "home"?

For most people they only see grandparents during holidays, and holidays are always "home", so are we conditioned to associate holidays, home and grandparents together?

Is it the fact that we are their 2nd generation? It's amazing to see the physical similarities, the personalities? It sure has been fun to look at how similar Josh looks to his Grandpa Lee (Mildred's 1st husband). To look at those photos from so many years ago of them when they were our age just makes you wonder if they were just like you. You feel a deeper connection with them when you see that they were once your age, looked just like you and have the same, smile, laugh and sense of humor. Is that what makes them feel like "home"?

Is it that they cook really really yummy food? And way too much of it!

Is it because they obviously love you as if you were their own child? They have experienced life and are full of wisdom and understanding that you just feel smarter after being with them?

For me, I love hearing all about their life growing up, what their parents and grandparents were like, what their struggles might have been. Looking through their pictures is one of my favorite things to do. And when you get married, it's exciting because there's a whole other family tree to discover. Good and bad. It can bring you happiness as you discover and also concern. Like finding out that Grandma Mildred's father, brother (I believe), 1st and 2nd husband and son have all had heart attacks. What does that mean for Josh? Is it possible to change your destiny?

I know growing older isn't all fun. But I must admit, there sure is something peaceful sitting on this couch and looking out the window at the beautiful farming landscape, watching the wind blow and the sky threaten rain. I wonder if when they were my age, if they ever wished for life and stress and business to slow down be able to grow old with the person they love and enjoy the peace of a cool fall day.












































Getting ready for breakfast...wow I didn't realize how funny Josh looked!! :) Apparently he was yawning while trying to smile...




















A weekend on the farm

After spending a fun evening and night with a college roommate, her husband and their new, adorable baby boy, Josh and I headed to northern Missouri for some quality family time with Josh's extended family. Both of his grandparents live in this area, about 5 miles apart actually, and so we were excited to be able to stay with his Grandma Mildred and Grandpa Oren yesterday afternoon and today.

What amazes me is how much "home" I can feel when stepping in the door even when it's not my own family, but my in-laws! We were greeted with big hugs and warm smiles. There's something about taking days off of work, traveling to visit family, feeling the weather turn chilly and rainy, watching the leaves start to change colors, and feeling the warmth of the heat inside and smelling the delicious spices of chili cooking on the stove and fresh baked bread in the oven.

As we sat down for our evening dinner, I felt overwhelmed with that tingly "home" feeling. Grandpa Oren blessed our meal and loved every word...as he thanked the Lord for the "pleasure of having Josh and Amy here to spend this time with us" I was so filled with happiness, because it was apparent he meant it from the bottom of his heart. The chili, fresh bread, homemade sweet pickles tasted like "home" and the chilly, rainy weather outside set the stage perfectly.

Later in the evening we were able to play a fun game of cards, which completely felt like "home" to me! I love cards! Josh's parents were able to join us for that as well and we had such an enjoyable evening. Great food, conversation, cards, weather and safe travels made for a day with lots of "home" memories and warm fuzzy feelings!

I've got to be honest, visiting grandparents with the weather turning cold, sure makes me excited for Christmas! I think that one reason why I love these moments here on the farm so much is that it reminds me of the holidays...which to me are true warm, tingly, memory-making feelings of "home".

Waking up to the smell of bacon frying really made me feel like I was on vacation! It was wonderful to get out of bed, walk into the kitchen in my PJ's and be greet with 2 big smiles and good morning greetings. Coffee ready to pour in my mug and a full breakfast of bacon, eggs, biscuts and hashbrowns got our day started off the right way! I'm excited for more warm "home" moments this weekend.

I'm going to try to share some pictures of my vacation with family on the farm thus far! Enjoy!