A Visit from the Folks

My folks were here last week. 🙂

That sentence makes me smile.

They haven’t been here in almost a year. Although we had seen them frequently through-out the past year (2 weddings, a graduation, a camp-out, bridal showers, grandpa’s funeral, and even an early Christmas celebration), they hadn’t been here.

At my house.

So we had some catching up to do!DSC_0085

We had games to play, projects to work on, and a birthday to celebrate.

We had a trip to town – which included grocery shopping with my dad, a stop at the thrift store and coffee for the girls.

Of course – we visited both of the Amish stores so Mom and Dad could stock up.

And one afternoon Mom and I even escaped to a quilt store. As we drove out of the driveway we both realized that we had forgotten our cell phones and left my dad and 3 teens in charge of the house.

I think we went a little giddy with the freedom! After increasing our fabric stash at the quilt shop, we stopped at the newly-opened tea room for afternoon tea and gi-normous chocolate hazelnut muffins.DSC_0093

That sentence also makes me smile. 🙂

After consuming a few cups of tea – our highly caffeinated minds thought it would be a good idea to drive into the next town and find the thrift store.  And since we were right there – we hit the grocery store and dollar store.

When we escape – we do it right!

Thankfully the house was still standing when we returned. And everyone was still alive. The dishes were even done.

And we might have started a new tradition for the next time they visit!

Which we hope is soon.

Very soon.

Making the Days Count: A Lesson From Nana

Skirt-to-Pillow

We’ve had a busy week here at Windy Ridge! My parents (the kids call them Papa Jim and Nana) came to spend a few days.

It always amazes me how much we accomplish when they are here! This trip that list of accomplishments included the pillow pictured above that Nana helped Dagmar make. But it also includes 6 meals made ahead and in the freezer, 3 batches of cookies, a double batch of spaghetti sauce canned, my new kitchen cabinets stained and varnished, and we still did home school every morning, fixed 3 meals a day, kept the laundry washed and made a killer chocolate cake!

That was just what Nana and I did! Papa Jim and my husband did just as much if not more!

How do we accomplish so much in just a few days? I’m sure one reason is because we have extra hands!

But I think it’s also because we feel a sense of urgency when they are here. Their visit will be short and we only have a few days in which to finish all the things on our list. We want to make every day count!

It made me wonder if I have the same sense of urgency in my life? I only have a certain number of days to visit this earth before heading to my “home” in heaven. Each day only has a certain amount of hours. Each hour only has 60 minutes.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

What did I do with today?

These words from the Chris Rice song “Life Means So Much” say it so well…

“…Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Everyday is a bank account
And time is our currency
So no one’s rich, nobody’s poor
We get twenty-four hours each
So how are you gonna spend
Will you invest or squander
Try to get ahead
Or help someone who’s under?

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much….”

Make today count!