Peek into our Midwest Week

This week in Minnesota is what dreams are made of – lots of sunshine and so much beauty all around!

Last Friday started with my Women’s Conference. The theme was “Be an Original” and the Key Note speakers were Lisa Bevere and Bob Goff. They were both phenomenal! I’ll share some of what I learned in another post. The music was awesome and the time with a bunch of great ladies was absolutely SOUL-FILLING!

Thank you, Ted, for holding down the fort so I could get away for 24 hours.

Sunday was supposed to be our final day of soccer with SIX games… but it snowed for 4 straight hours and soccer was canceled. Yay! The boys played in the snow ALL.DAY.LONG.

I was okay with just staying in, watching the boys play from window, all while enjoying the warmth of my home – but my boys encouraged me to get outside. I’m so glad they did – it was glorious outside. Everything was white and pristine, and the weather was not too cold.

Monday was writing, cleaning and playing with Luke.

On Tuesday Luke and I explored a beautiful park called Ritter Farm. He wanted me to hold him during most of our hike, and that’s okay with me… I’m soaking up every minute of him being little and still wanting to be held because I know that he’ll turn 10 in 2.5 seconds. We collected bugs, climbed trees, and enjoyed all the pretty trees along the path.

Wednesday mornings I’ve been attending a women’s bible study called “Sisterhood” at River Valley Church – the same church that put on the women’s conference.  I started this Bible study about six weeks ago, without really knowing anyone. I am slowly getting to know some really precious women – and have enjoyed incredible teaching by the women’s ministry team.

Thursday started a four day weekend for the boys for something called MEA. I don’t even know what that stands for except that it’s like a “Fall Break.”

We met some new friends at the cutest apple farm in our town called Applewood Orchard. We rode a hayride, found our way through a Hedge Maze, ate apple cider donuts, drank apple cider, then sampled and picked our own apples. This apple farm grows a variety of apples. The boys scouted out where to pick their favorite flavor during the hay ride. First, we pulled our wagon over to the SnowSweet Apples (George’s choice). Next, Clark insisted we go pick some Sweetango Apples on the OPPOSITE side of the Orchard. He told me he’d tasted them at school and that they are the best. He was absolutely correct. They were the vey best apples I’ve ever eaten in my life. So sweet they taste like candy. Have you tried them before?

We all LOVED this little pumpkin/apple farm and will definitely be back!

Thursday night we went to dinner at a local pizza place with Clark’s soccer team. There was something special about this group of kids and their families. We all enjoyed sitting together during practices and getting to know each other, then cheering on our kids during soccer games. We bonded during this season and am sad that we won’t be hanging out 3 times a week anymore. Our dinner together was a fun way to end the season – but I hope we can continue getting together.

How was your week? Did you get beautiful fall weather like us?