A Great Weekend

The second to last weekend of September was a full one – but such a WONDERFUL one!

Earlier that week, my girlfriend and I made a plan to meet half way in Dubuque, Iowa, and spend the day together on Thursday.

Even better yet, we invited Addie and my friend’s daughter to join us!

It was only a two hour drive, so we met mid-morning at a really nice thrift store to do some shopping.

It was a beautiful day for a drive!

WHAT A BLAST we had shopping together!

We talked each others ears off the whole time and found some great finds as well!

I love the milk glass bowls I found – and got all four of them for under ten dollars total.

We had all packed and brought a lunch and ended up sitting in our van to eat.

It worked!

And we were together!

After that we grabbed some coffee and the girls wanted to get some phots so we did!

The rest of the afternoon we decided we wanted to go for a long walk, but our feeble attempt at finding a park to go to on our phones was a huge fail.

So we just stayed where we were and walked a huge circle around and around the empty parking lot we were in.

It was PERFECT and a beautiful day to be outside!

We had the best time together, and I always walk away from time with this friend encouraged, challenged, and with my heart so full!

Friday rolled around and it was date night for David and Kayla!

I LOVE our date night swaps so much!!

David and Kayla brought the kiddos to me this time, with my promise to have them back to their home and tucked in their beds on time.

I made a fun dinner of chicken nuggets and fries while we waited for Blake to arrive home.

Once Blake arrived, I asked him if we could take the kiddos out for some ice cream, and of course he said yes!

So we did.

Just locally, so that it did not get too late.

The co-op was empty at that time of night, but we had the employees full attention as they watched all of these cuties enjoying everything so much!!

It made my heart full to bring joy and smiles to others.

We headed back to the farm after that, and the grands followed their chore cards as they got themselves and the house ready for bed.

That filled my heart fuller!!!

Then Tate, Eliza, Blake and I watched a show until David, Kay and Saige’s arrival back home.

IT WAS PERFECT!!!

Saturday morning was an early start as Lane and I had to be at the library for his job by 8:45.

After that I came home and made soup for our Sunday family lunch after church.

Addie made that flower arrangement in the photo below that day – isn’t it beautiful??!!

Sunday morning started early too!

It seems that in the quiet of Sunday mornings is the only time I am finding to do my cleaning jobs these days.

Sigh.

I also made bread that morning for family lunch as it is always better fresh!

Blake helped with some cleaning jobs too!

His thing is windows!!

Have I ever cleaned a window, you ask??

I honestly don’t think so!!

My FAVORITE thing about Sunday family lunch is when Blake hollers over all the noise “It’s time to pray so we can eat!!” and our grand babies run to stand next to us to pray.

Please let me never, ever forget this!

I have the CUTEST video of this moment that Addie Mae took, because Aspen asked to pray that day.

I helped her and she repeated what I said – seriously the BEST thing ever to see and know that your children are raising their children to love the Lord.

Ok, here are the tears! SOB.

After we ate that day, some crazy kids thought they needed to make it known that I was getting older.