A Bushel and a Peck

It's apple picking time! Autumn is truly a magical time of year--the trees and fields brimming with the succulent crops that had been growing and maturing all summer long, finally ready to pick. For the past two years while living in Alaska, we had ordered fresh apples from Washington because, well there aren't any U-pick apple orchards in the Last Frontier State--or at least none that I knew of.

Now that I'm living in the Midwest, I've got to embrace the abundance of agriculture that is in my backyard. Tonight I went to the Cider Hill Family Orchard in Kansas City with an awesome and adorable family who I am privileged to call friend. Their two kids, ages 8 and 2, are so fun to be around, which is saying something :).

Look at her: she's got character!

Our Haul:

While I wasn't quite ready for the picture, the kids were spot-on (finally)

...but it didn't last long!

But hey, now I am ready :)

Oh well. At least they were willing.

Striking a pose with a beauty:

I'm so looking forward to making applesauce and apple chips for this next year.

It is such an easy way to enjoy the fruits of the season for months.

I love their infectious smiles. Taking pictures is so much more fun with kids.

One more for me!

Hopefully next time, Marshall can come with me. :) Silly midterms.

Comments

Hoping for a Rainbow

I'm really not sure if I ever thought this day would come. The day that I made it past 13 weeks pregnant without losing the baby. #miracle. I know I am not out of the woods yet, and honestly, when are we really? I am just trying to live every day with gratitude for the life inside of me, living with hope for the future. Part of me wanted to wait until next week, when I was past 14 weeks and officially in the 2nd trimester, but I couldn't wait any longer. I've been getting a little thick in the middle, which is getting more difficult to hide, and I feel like I haven't been able to be completely honest with friends when they would ask, "how are you doing?" All I wanted to talk about was how nauseous I was or how nervous I felt. So now, the news is out, whether or not you already suspected something was up. Seriously though, the 1st trimester is not for the faint of heart! There were many instances when I thought I would lose the baby, but dee...

I'm Pregnant! .....

...or so I thought. And you did too. Happy April Fools Day! I had been having baby dreams and feeling nauseous on and off during spring break, and I knew I would test immediately when I returned home from our road trip. The test was barely visible and I didn't believe it, so I said nothing to Marshall. That night I had a dream where the next pregnancy test I took was a solid double line. Well, two days after the first test, I got my obvious positive. I was so excited. Not knowing if it would be a good pregnancy or not, I tested again two days later and the line was darker, so I felt confident. The past two pregnancies I miscarried at approximately 6 or 7 weeks both times, so I was pretty nervous about this one. What if it happened again? Would I be strong enough? Knowing that I needed extra strength and prayers, I asked roughly 40 of our family and closest friends to fast and pray with us on Easter Sunday. That Sunday I was on the top of the world. I felt so strong an...

The Power of a Slice of Bacon

Nothing to do with a Army PT test, but this was at the "Beat Beethoven 5K" on the 13th of April I have always been a big supporter of setting personal goals and making a plan to follow through with them, especially when it comes to athletics and performance. But I also know that these goals really are a personal endeavor, and no one can make another accomplish the goal. The motivation and effort has to come from the individual setting the goal. But I may be wrong. A slice of bacon might have the power to help a person accomplish a certain goal. Let me explain. Ever since my husband entered the Army, just shy of 2 years ago, he has been saying he was going to get a perfect score of 300 on his PT test. I believed in him, and kept waiting for him to come home from his PT tests with that perfect score. But he seemed to always come shy of the elusive 300, by just a couple of points. How could I help hi...

Tender Mercies

Search This Blog