With the help of my mom, I got to go home for a three day weekend last month. I flew in Thursday night and spent Friday shopping and talking and just catching up with her. Then, once Aubree got out from school, we hit the road (with AUBREE driving) to get to the farm.
Nervous about letting my 16 year old sister drive me...
As many of you know, the farm is a very special place for me. My grandparents on my mom's side live out in East Texas, in a house tucked away behind a curtain of pine trees and surrounded by the prettiest countryside I've ever seen. Darren and I had the pleasure of getting married out there, so some of you who visited know what I mean when I say the air is fresh and the views are magnificent. I visited there often as a child, and the place became a home away from home. More than that, it became a place to clear my head, somewhere I could escape the busyness or troubles of my life in Dallas and just be me out in the quiet. I had not been back to visit since my wedding, and was long overdue for a weekend with my grandparents at the farm.
Mom Mom prepared an early Thanksgiving feast for us
Just a few of the usual sights at the farm
Momma and me :)
Love my Mom Mom!
While I was at home, I received the wonderful news that I had passed my certification test. This is the test that I was so worried about as I took 3 solid months to prepare for it. Officially, I took the Allied Health Professional Cardiac Device Therapy exam through the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners, and as a result of passing I am a Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (see my name on the list of those who passed here). I appreciate all of the support and encouragement I received as I nervously prepared for that huge test! I have to do it again for Cardiac Electrophysiology next year.
I did it!
The following weekend, Carissa joined Darren and me for a day at the Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival. Some of you may remember my post earlier this year about the Kimmswick Strawberry Festival. To be completely honest, that was child's play compared to the Apple Butter Festival. A craft fair to end all craft fairs, this little tiny town hosted 600+ booths and 100,000+ guests during the yearly festival. We enjoyed milling around, sampling the different foods and gathering ideas for future crafts. In order to fully experience the atmosphere, we decided to get a caramel apple to munch on and it was delicious!
Carissa also took some fun fall pictures of Darren and me at Laumeier Sculpture Park (another place I highly recommend if you come visit St. Louis). Here are a few of the cute pictures she took:
Ok this one Darren took of Carissa and me
Love the leaf idea
For Halloween, we joined some of my favorite people at the annual Halloween party that seems to always be the highlight of October. Darren and I decided to go as the "Where?" couple this year, he was Where's Waldo? and I was Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? :)
A few weekends later, we had the pleasure of hosting Darren's older brother, Chris, and his lovely wife, Krista. We were all friends back at home, and for the past couple of years Chris & Krista have been missionaries in Germany. When they returned to the states, they decided to take a road trip to visit some friends and family that they hadn't seen in too long. We were honored to be a stop along the way, and really enjoyed sharing our life in St. Louis with them. Krista also took some amazing pictures, including this one of us playing in the leaves. She is starting up her own photography business and if you're looking for someone to take your pictures for any event/season/purpose, I highly recommend her!
Now, my focus is on preparing for the holidays. As my obsession with Pinterest and Etsy grows, I have challenged myself to create gifts for my family and friends that are unique, homemade, and specific to each of their personalities. This is taking a vast majority of my free time and is extremely therapeutic. After Christmas, I will have to share all of my creations with you (and maybe even how I made them!).
I hope you all travel safe this week for Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.
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