Changing the World One Caramel Apple at a Time

Today for happy hour, I want to recap the highlight of my perfect fall weekend.  Last Sunday afternoon was an absolutely beautiful early fall day!  It was perfect for the little Sunday afternoon date that I had been looking forward to for several weeks – Apple Fest at Evan’s Orchard!

I had been to the orchard about a month ago with my friend Kim from a book, coffee, and the park.  We went for the peaches, and heard about the apple fest that was going to be happening in September.  Unfortunately she couldn’t go to the Apple Fest so I was instructed to take lots of pictures and blog about it so that she could live vicariously through us.

We enjoyed that afternoon so much that I would have blogged about it regardless. =) From the start of the drive through all the beautiful horse farms on the way to the orchard to the finish of getting home and tasting what we picked it was a great trip!

We were walking around looking at all the produce, homemade turnovers and fudge, food, and then there they were… the caramel apples!  Instant mouth watering.  Our stomachs were growling since we came from church and hadn’t eaten since this awesome breakfast:

sweet potato breakfast skillet and cinnamon toast

Anyway, Will asked what I wanted to eat, and when I said I really just wanted a caramel apple, his response was “I knew as soon as I saw them that you were going to want one.”  Me, “How’d you know that?”  Will “You talk about them all the time.”  Well folks, I learned something new about myself… apparently I have a hidden passion for caramel apples.  And I am perfectly ok with that!

The BEST caramel apple I have ever had!

Something just as awesome as our fresh, delicious, caramel apples  was the people watching.  There were so many families there!  It was different from watching hurried families at the store, families at the mall separating to their individual favorite stores, or families at the movies not able to talk with each other.  At the apple fest they were all walking around, playing, picking fresh fruit together, and eating caramel apples.  They were all having a good time.  There was even a sense of community as there were whole groups of people there interacting.  Seeing that was as refreshing as the crisp fall air.  It seemed like out there at that orchard life was exactly the way it’s supposed to be.  Who knew that eating a caramel apple could make you feel like you are a part of something.

That’s the look of some one who knows they are a part of something because of what they are eating =)

We proceeded to go apple picking.  These really are the best apples!  So juicy.  They have the perfect balance of tart to sweet.

Those were so much better tasting than what you buy at the supermarket, and I enjoy the experience of buying them a lot more too.  I don’t mind spending a little more money when I know the food is healthier, better quality, and my money is going to friendly, local people who you’ll meet when you go there. (sorry for the tangent.  it’s something Will and I are getting more and more into)

so much more satisfation when you pick them yourself

I wanted to rescue the ones on the ground lol

and we had a fall photo shoot =)  reminds me of the “a little about me” pic on the right side of the blog.

Also they had venders with booths set up selling their handmade goods.  I even signed up to get emails about maybe taking a class on how to redo furniture to give it an awesome vintage look!  I am looking forward to getting more information on that.   Oh and Farm Boy taught me how bees communicate:

I married Will, so I don’t need the discovery channel

We ended the afternoon with taste testing some local homemade pork rinds, and with me treating hubster to some local homemade kettle corn because I like to spoil him and he deserves it =)

our loot

The moral of this date story is that going places like Evan’s Orchard or the farmers’ market is worth it.  It’s not nearly as stressful as the grocery store, you smile more and are smiled at more, you learn more about produce, you know what you’re getting, who your money is benefiting, and you feel like you are a part of something.  

And with that I can justify going and getting as many caramel apples as I want, right? right. Maybe for happy hour today…

Enjoy your weekend friends! I hope it’s a great one!  Ours is kicking off with a double date at church, of all places, this evening =) 

Off to Africa. K. Love You. Bye.

Something happened today that fills me with pride, excitement, joy, awe, and a smidgen of jealously and sadness.  You see today, one of my very best friends in the whole world is embarking on a life changing and world-changing adventure.  Kayla is headed to Africa!  

This journey started a while back, but I will never forget the day when she told me that she was officially going to take a semester off of school and spend 6 months in Ethiopia.   Will and I both were/are so excited for her.  Going to other countries is an awesome thing in general, but going to another country because you’re stepping out in faith and following God’s call to go serve the people there- that is a truly life changing experience.  I will be keeping up with it by reading her blog, and if you are interested in doing so too here is the link: http://kaylambryant.blogspot.com/. 

She followed in my footsteps! She won that award for all of her serving off campus.

I am filled with pride in my best friend.  She is a strong and courageous woman.  She has pursued this opportunity fiercely. Yes, it was hard work, and I am proud of her for putting in the effort.  And you know something, God didn’t overlook that hard work.  At every step in the way He would show up and show off with provision and encouragement for her.  Another tid bit about the two of us: we met because I was her small group leader.  I have watched her grow so much over the last 3 years.  I am not her small group leader; I am her comrade.  I am so proud of her and proud to serve a God so faithful.

Watching Kayla’s journey to this day has also doused me in excitement and joy.  Her zealousness is contagious.  Hearing how her preparations are going, taking her to eat at an African restaurant when she was visiting, hearing her countdown, all of it has been a thrill.  This feeling is deeper than just hype; it is an excitement for how her life will be lastingly impacted and how the lives of the people she will encounter will be radically changed.  God will do this work, and He chose the perfect lady for the job.  You can’t help but have a better day after chatting with Kayla.  She is a very wise woman, but she is also a goof.  The best thing about her is her small-town-Montana charm- no  one is a stranger to her.

Keep an eye on her blog to see how she befriends the people of Ethiopia.

The final emotions that this day brings me are jealousy and sadness.  I hope you don’t think badly of me for being jealous of my friend jettisoning off to a foreign country for a six month adventure of serving the people there.  I have written here more than once about how I have an itch to go an serve, how I so desire to be on the mission field, and how adjusting to the desk job/working through the summer is not easy for me.  So yes, I will own up to it; I am a little jealous of my best friend at the moment.

As exciting as it is though, I am also a little sad.  I want all the best for Kayla; don’t get me wrong.  But you see this is the friendship that we share:

Surprising our other good friend/small group member Aleesha with a hippy birthday cake!
We like shenanigans!

this is us after Will and I’s wedding. I have no idea what we were cracking up about, but put much more casual clothes on us and this picture would be an everyday occurrence.

Hanging out when she came to visit Will and I in KY

We didn’t have cake candles, so Kayla got the real, smell-good kind.

We stay up late eating ice cream, watch way too much smallville, nearly burn down kitchens when making green beans, eat the most caloric pancakes known to man together, laugh, cry, vent, and talk about absolutely nothing.  When the little things of life crack me up; I tell Kayla.  When my world is off its rocker; I tell Kayla.  When I am frustrated and my short fuse is spent; I talk it out with Kayla. When Will and I got engaged she was one of the first 5 people we told.  When I have something that I want to say, but I don’t think anybody cares to hear something so ridiculous- yep, you guessed it; I tell Kayla.  So yes  I am sad, because the friend that I share my life with is leaving on a jet plane.  I mean Montana/Kansas to Kentucky was enough distance; at least we were on the same continent and cell phone network!

So Kayla, as you are en route this evening, know that I will be reading every blog post, praying, emailing, making time for skype dates, and planning an awesome celebration for the next time I get to see you.

k. love you. bye. ❤

The Margins that Matter

There are many things that I wonder about as I spend all day at the office.  The predominant theme is how is working 8-5 five  days a week a meaningful way to spend life.  At first having a big kid job was kind cool (until I saw just how many taxes get taken out of a pay check, lol).  It didn’t take long for the novelty of a full-time job with good benefits to wear off.   4 months in and I wrestle everyday with the fact that life works this way.

Don’t misinterpret me.  I understand why we need jobs in the world today, and I am so grateful for the blessing that this job is.  There is no question that my job was a blessing from God.  I even enjoy my job for the most part.  When I think about it I know that working for an engineering firm is a good job to have.  The work that I do as an assistant helps the guys there to help improve society, so that even makes my job somewhat meaningful.

My point is that I am a firm believer in making life matter.  So I like to spend my off time well.  I like to spend it getting to know my husband even better, making memories, laughing, in hanging out with fellow Christians, worshiping, traveling, and spending time with family- because family will be a constant in life, always there.

Now I need to pause for a moment and give props to my husband.  Will, has been a big factor in this area of my life.  I used to always have a to do list, they were often color coded, and my to do lists had to do lists.  He has taught me to slow down, invest, and reevaluate priorities.

Recently, I had an opportunity to spend time with Will’s side of the family and it was a meaningful and memorable weekend.  Weekends like that one, or like when my parents, or Paul and Melanie visited make work worth it.  Those are the things that I want to characterize my life.

October came and went so quickly, but I have so many memories to show for it.  My birthday and all that it entailed, my parent’s visit, the weekend with Will’s fam jam, fun times with friends, and even getting a puppy! Don’t worry there will be a post about her later =).

My main goal in life is to live it in a fashion that I hear my Savior say well done at the end of it.  If I do that then I know that my second goal will be met- to lead a life that matters and is filled with joy.  Life is simply too short for it to be anything else.  So I am going to bond with my family, invest in my friends, hold my puppy, run half marathons, go on dates with my husband, handle money wisely so I can give the most possible away, give food to the hungry, bask in the colors of fall, and laugh a lot!   That sounds like a lot to do, and it is.  But those weekends of margin spent hanging out with the family or the slow laughter filled evenings at home with Will watching Smallville, those are the key to savoring life not racing through it.   It is the margin time that we afford ourselves, the time to bask in what matters, that rounds out and balances our life.  How we utilize the time surrounding the work day- how we use our margin is what makes working 8-5 five days a week worth it.  It’s the time spent in the margin that we remember and cherish.  So here’s to spending it well!

Oh! and another thing I have learned: Pictures are key to making the most of your margin time.  Pictures help keep memories and joy alive.

Us on the hayride, trying to stay warm!

The Margins that Matter

That’s John, Will’s older brother, and his middle daughter Mary.

so Blair had the magic touch with the piglet, and I… well I had some tasty jeans evidently.

At the Pumpkin Patch!

Dorothy and the scarecrow =) Cutest scarecrow with the best personality- Jade Garrett

For more on this topic check out the Southland sermon from this week: Priorities.  It was pretty timely for the blog post draft I had waiting to post.