“Come For a Visit”
My Meanderings has requested more house pictures. I only had time to take pictures of the kitchen and the living room. I consider these two rooms to be the most important of the house. The kitchen is the heart of the home. Here you find mom cooking and baking. Is it Mom’s presence or is it the food that keeps the foot traffic of the little ones so heavy?
The living room is where the family comes together. Mom and Dad sit on the couch drinking coffee while the children play with army men, read books, play a game of UNO, or play with toys.
“Want what you have and you’ll always have what you want”
the piece over the mantle says it all: “Faith, Family, Friends”
“At long last, I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all” Laura Ingalls Wilder
~
Yesterday, in the late afternoon, I had just put my dinner in the oven, chicken cordon bleu, when I decided to go to the front porch to check on the boys, who were swimming in the pond. I was leaning over the railing, yelling down to them, when I noticed a vehicle coming down the road. The car slowed down and the couple in the car waved to me. I waved back thinking, “They’re so friendly! I wonder if they think I’m Nancy!” (the previous owner). As the car drew nearer to our house, it suddenly hit me.
It was my parents. My Mom and my Dad. All the way from New York state, over 3 hours away. I hadn’t talked to them all week. My heart started pounding with excitement and as I stepped down off the porch I started to sob. I was so surprised, so happy, so thrilled to see them that I couldn’t stop myself! They parked the car and got out to hug me and talk to me. “We’re here! Surprise! We found you!” I felt so loved. I never, ever expected to see them, I knew that they would visit in a couple weeks, but not so soon.
My Mom said, “I couldn’t wait any longer to see your new house!”
They had a little gift for me, a set of rose-scented soaps.
It took me a while to compose myself and the excitement continued as I showed them my new house. The kids at this point were buzzing about us, all eager to get Grandma’s and Grandpa’s attention.
They stayed the night and they are gone now. The visit was just a quick surprise visit, they went to go surprise my sister at lunchtime and then they are on their way back to NY. We had such a wonderful time, even taking the kids to McDonald’s for breakfast, going grocery shopping, and visiting an antique store. What an encouragement they were to me and how precious will this memory remain!
“Truly we live in a pitiful world that desperately needs a smile, a friendly touch, a kind word. Yes, our encouragement can make a difference in the daily challanges we all face, but encouragement can also make a difference for eternity. And that’s the real power to change a life.” Sandra Aldrich
watching caleb play
on grandpa’s lap. . .we’ve all been there, in the safety of his arms
Mom advice: “Always make sure you have the ingredients in the house to make cookies. And then make them!”
“Let’s make some cookies today, and see if time will wait. . . . . . . .”
Good to be Home 
Yay! Surprise visits are fun! It is so encouraging to know that family (and friends) are thinking about you and praying for you all the time. I can’t wait to stop by and have some lemonade with you while rocking on your front porch.The Lord never ceases to amaze me in all that he does for us. I am so glad you have found your HOME!
How exciting! I am so happy they came to visit you. I’m sorry it was so quick. I’m sure you would have wanted them to stay for longer. What a great blessing God gave you when you really needed it.
You have a beautiful home! I really enjoy reading your entries.
What a lovely home. 🙂 Congratulations. How wonderful that your parents suprised you like that. I am so happy for you that they came to visit, even though it was a quick one. Be blessed,Melody
You have sucha pulchritudinous looking home. I hope you have meany joyouse memories in it.
What a beautiful home and a beautiful family. I loved reading about your parents visit, what a special house warming gift, their presence. Have a blessed weekend.~Michelle
That was the most wonderful gift they could have given you! I am so happy for you, I can just imagine your excitement giving them the tour, and the joy they must have shared seeing how God has blessed you and Rich!
Loved seeing the rooms you posted and the picture of you at the end, the shirt looks very cool!
Is that a R. Simple mag.? 🙂 Look at how Caleb is squeezing the life out of his pop!
What a gorgeous home! Congratualtions!!!!
That was soo sweet of your parents to surprise you like that Ya’ll look very close Your house is beautiful! God is so wonderful to us! The picture of you and the children is really good too
Oh, You have my dream home! I love it! It’s beautiful and welcoming inside and out! I would love to be an honored guest in that red rocking chair.
We are country folks at heart too and hope to someday in the not too distant future, have a place very similar to yours! I adore the wrap around porch and all the rocking chairs. How special for you and your family to enjoy and to see the kids playing in the pond and all over the place, what a blessing!
How neat that your parents surprised you like that! What a neat, neat gift from them….a memory to last a life time and some of the first warm memories of entertaining them in your new house.
I hope you have a wonderful week-end as a family enjoying your new home.
Blessings, prayers and house warming hugs!
Jana
I love your house!! It looks so inviting :O)
Your family is just beautiful and your parents are so young!! What a sweet treat to have them surprise you like that :O)
Have a great weekend!
What a wonderful surprise to see your parents!! Your home is just beautiful.I really love the porch and all the rocking chairs.
Your home is beautiful! I can’t believe you have it so nice and set up already! I’m still working my way through boxes!!! Praise the Lord for the gift of our homes. And for your parent’s visiting! what a blessing.
love your home, thanks for the pictures!
i am so “jealous of that kitchen! you have a beautiful home 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my site. I love your kitchen! Congratulations on the new house and that is just awesome that your family surprised you!! Wonderful! Your family looks so gorgeous and happy! And I love the advice your Mom gave you. I think I am going to go make some cookies now! Take care and God bless!
Thanks for the virtual tour. Next time, can I see the upstairs please?
It gratified me to see no one was sitting in “my” chair!
Good advice about the cookies. I am trying to keep my cookie jar full, too.
By the way, remember when I was at your house a year or so ago and you showed me how to make blueberry muffins from scratch? Remember I paid no attention at all, and only commented that “I would never do that!”
Well, my wise friend, I not only do it, but love it first thing in the morning. Banana Nut is my current fav. Thanks for being patient!
Thanks for posting more pictures of your home and for sharing your reunion with your parents. It brought tears to my eyes. Your parents are very proud of you and your family and they are such good grandparents too! Love ya!
I love how you have no clutter in your house – not a lot of knick knacks and stuff that is overwhelming. It looks peaceful and so clean.
I’m so glad you were able to make those memories. Times like that are truely special. Soak them all up while you can!