A Day at the Cider Mill/Yates

Fall is here. And everyone knows it. And [most] people are super pumped.

Boots, scarves, pumpkins, mums, orange & burlap, flannel, thanksgiving... etc etc. There are a million different reasons to be super excited about this time of year. 

This past weekend I got to check off one of bucket list items and went to the Cider Mill. Yates Cider Mill is one of the most infamous Cider Mills in the Metro Detroit Area and this week the weather was GORGEOUS people were out in droves at good ole Yates.

I haven't been in a few years and I completely forgot just how amazing those little donuts are. I actually don't really like Cider (gives me heart burn), but I love fall activities and I love donuts. 

We got a half dozen donuts because I only wanted one, which turned into two, which somehow turned into three. Those sweet, soft, warm cinnamon sugar little bug-gars are so darn good.

The bees were out in full force so I was on high alert the whole time.

After we got our eats we went to the park across the street and ate in the shade. The bees were out in full force so I was on high alert the whole time.

Of course the boys played KAN JAM the whole time. typical.

The girls (including little Josie) talked about how scary having babies will be and the ups and downs of being a ministry wife.

Man I am lucky, my husband is so cute.

Eh hem. 

All in all, despite the bees, it was so much fun. I love those people, we all have so much in common, and it was a gorgeous day to be alive, in Michigan, and at the Cider Mill.

What about you? Have you ever been to a cider mill? Have you checked anything off your fall bucket list yet?

My Precious Family Time

Today's post is going to be short and sweet because my weekend was crazy busy and this is what is most pressing on my heart today.

As you probably know my birthday was last week, and this past weekend I got to celebrate with my family.

My husband made fun of me because I managed to stretch my birthday celebration out an entire week - but that's what birthdays before kids are all about, right?

Anyways-
Friday night I got to snuggle my nephew, eat my favorite meal (Swedish Meatballs). drink yummy coffee & wine, open some gifts, and just be with my family. 

Ever since my dad passed away two years ago I have really craved and valued family time. Part of me regrets not valuing family time before my dad passed away. Part of me feels like I didn't care enough before he got sick.

But I guess I can't listen to that part of me because there isn't a point to that now. The past is in the past and I can only change what I do from here on out.

As much as I miss my dad and I feel robbed that he is already gone - I have to remember to be thankful for all the time I had with him. All the lessons he taught me, all the memories I have with him.

So I guess my point is, I hope you value your family and/or the people in your life. You never know that tomorrow holds and we are not promised another day on this earth.  

I have been a selfish person most of my life, it is something I still work on daily, but I know that family is important. To me, family comes before most other things. Even Philip and I's little family unit comes before our extended family even though we don't have kids yet. And you bet your bottom dollar that when we do we will fight to protect our family time.

Do you value family time? Even if you are not close with your blood family do you have a friend family that you value?

Coffee Date & Glorious Friday

I got an email that a coffee linkup was coming so I just decided to go with that for today because I was going to do a week round up today anyway and this just seemed like more fun.

Come on in, friends. I have decaf & regular. Cream or Hazelnut creamer, ya know, because it's fall now.

I guess I'll start - then you tell me about your week.

Sunday: Started off at church & I didn't have to do the powerpoint for the music or preaching. I got to be a regular ole fashion church goer. It was so refreshing. Then after we went down to Taste of Clarkston. Sunday night we had our 2nd Growth Community - I was nervous because only 4 people came last week but this week we had 12 people total! I was amazed!

Monday: MY BIRTHDAY! I turned 26 and my awesome friends at work got me gifts and decorated my office - I also wore a birthday crown all day. Then the Tiger's game & we stayed at Motor City Casino Hotel that night! so much fun!

Tuesday: I got to sleep in - in the most comfortable bed ever. Then I met my coworkers in Detroit to put flyers up around the city for a new account the company I work for got. This was an adventure to say the lease. Then after I went out to dinner with friends for my birthday.

Wednesday: work (yawn) then yoga class yay! I did a tri-pod headstand and a headstand. Getting better slowly but surely.

Thursday: a SUPER frustrating day at work. Here's a tip: when looking for a job, LISTEN to a voicemail before calling back & remember WHO you are having an interview with before you show up. Also, shorts and/or a tshirt are not ideal interview attire. Then my first Vinyasa yoga class, I had been doing Intro classes up to this point, and I was dripping in sweat but felt amazing after.

Friday: well that's today but I get to see my one and only and most favoritest nephew tonight!!! And see the rest of my family for my birthday dinner!

In summation: It was a great week, I felt super loved even though some parts were difficult.

Enough about me. What was your week like? Let's chat.

Throwback - Wedding Pictures

Well since it is Thursday I decided to do a Throwback. I actually just got these pictures from the morning of my wedding last week even though my wedding was last Summer. It still counts.

I just love these pictures so I decided to share them with everyone!

My dearest friend Abby and I were rocking out to "Baby got Back" our favorite go-to jam. The pictures of us at the wedding dancing to this song are pretty awesome as well. 

My bridesmaids! Casey on the left came from Idaho, Shannon I've known forever has a BABY now, and Vanessa my sweet cousin from Germany whom I love so dearly.

My two sisters mean the world to me! Katie (in yellow) and Laura (in Black) they make this day perfect and I wish everyone had a Katie and a Laura when they got married. (Laura also got preggo a month later and made me aunt)

When you're freaking out and nervous, Carrie Underwood music is key.

I don't think I will never look as pretty as I did on my wedding day. The best day of my life so far.

Thanks for stopping by!

26 Goals for my 26th Year

I just turned 26! I am now closer to 20 than I am 30 that is just a titch unsettling.

So I decided to make this year more intentional by making a list of 26 goals for this this

1. Fall more in love with Jesus I don't know if this needs any explanation but my prayer is to crave reading the Bible and miss it if I don't.
2.Conquer my giant, huge, crippling fear of flying This one goes along with goals 3 and 4 but I really hope I can get over this.
3.Go to Hawaii This trip is planned for the week after Easter! No plane tickets have been bought yet though.
4.Go to Germany We haven't gotten dates for this planned 100% either but we are thinking in August 2015.
5.Go to at least 2 Tiger's games I don't think this will be very hard - I went to 5 this year.

On my Birthday at Comerica Park

6.Finally figure out how to apply eye liner. It's just time for this to happen. Please help me.
7.Go Up North If you don't know "Up North" is the upper half of Michigan and it is GORGEOUS and I haven't been up in 2 summers now, this MUST change.
8.Read 6 books This averages out to be 1 every 2 months - gotta be reasonable here, folks.
9.Do yoga 3x a week I wanted to set a yoga goal but if I don't meet it I will be very disappointed and maybe quit.
10.Run a 5k I used to run 5 miles without blinking HA! so 3.1 seem do-able.
11.Quit my job and work from home. I have a work from home opportunity that I will start training for in October... if I have the courage.

12.Paint 2 pictures Last year I painted 1, this year I have started 1 so I want to finish it and completely start and finish another one.
13.Communicate better with my husband I fancy myself a good communicator but in reality, I don't think I am.
14.Stop saying "I'm sorry" for every little thing I'm sorry but I just say  I am sorry for everything, sorry.
15.Learn how to cook I can make meals that are edible, but I want to cook meals that are amazing.
16.Start meal planning I have done this maybe 3 times and I never regret it, why can't I make this a habit?
17.Take more pictures I hope this won't be too hard for me to do.
18. Blog at least 3x week Here we are on week 3 and so far, so good.
19.Have 10 followers on my blog I don't even know how to go about doing this exactly but I am gunna try.

20.See my family at least once a month I live 45 minutes from my family and I only see them every 6 - 8 weeks, NOT OKAY!
21.Go to coffee with 8 women from church I really want to get to know the women in my church but I am not good at building relationships on my own.
22.Get my self confidence back! I am not sure when I lost this, but I have really been unsure of myself this past year I don't like it!
23.See our church reach 200 people - not on Easter Right now we have about 100-120 on a Sunday I pray everyday that God would grow His church.
24.Conquer my anxiety This is a giant and daunting goal but I am going to try.
25.Memorize 2 verses/month She Reads Truth has been a life changer and made this more attainable.
26.Live in the moment - don't look toward the next season of life. You may or may not know I am super duper excited to have babies one day but I find myself daydreaming about it way too much

Those are my goals - I will probably check in on my half-birthday and see how we are doin'.

What about you? What are some goals you have for the year? 

Taste of Clarkston

This past Sunday we went down to Clarkston, Michigan for the annual Taste of Clarkston festival.

Y'all - Clarkston is such a cute little town full of amazing restaurants. Clarkston also happens to be where my brother and his wife got married and where Philip and I got married. 

Anywhooziles. We went down and got to a taste a sampling of some amazing food. It was a gorgeous fall day and the food was amazing as always.

We went with Philip's parents and his cousin and her two awesome kids Jordan and Alicia.

Spinach and Artichoke dip is ma jam.

I slept in that morning and didn't get to wash my hair so I hated every picture of me. But I let this one go on here because my husband's smile is the cutest.

On the walk home we ran into my friend Michelle who lives in this adorable little apartment in downtown. It was so nice to see her and catch up for a few minutes. [ugh my hair is rough]

That was my Sunday Funday. 

What did you do this weekend? Does your town have any cute and delicious festivals?

Homecoming Game

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARY!

Thank you, Mary!

Today is my birthday and if you read this post (here) you know that I got a camera for my birthday!

So on Friday my husband and I went to the local Homecoming football game. It was actually really awesome because, if you didn't know, my husband is on staff at a small church plant up here and it we got to see a lot of people that we know from church and connect with people in a different atmosphere. 

Also, as an avid Gilmore Girls fan I have always wanted to live in a town that has a lot of town spirit. This town isn't exactly on the Stars Hollow scale but it is so cool to see so many people out to support the Bobcats! As we drove to the game we saw people lining the streets and having parties because the parade had just gone by. We got the field and I was kinda taken aback by just how many people were there - everyone in Red and Black!

These two (husband and Brent from church) are playing each other in Fantasy Football this week.

Love these two! I wish you could see her adorable little baby bump! They are expecting their first baby - a wittle boy!!

Ran into some people from our old church who happened to be there! Their girls are precious!

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We ended up leaving at halftime but they won! Go Bobcats! God Bless this city, I pray each person at this game comes to know Christ and He radically transform their lives.

Tonight is yet another Tiger's game & then we're staying at the Motor City Casino Hotel tonight! Happy Birthday to me!

Thank you for stopping by!