If you live in Waco and you haven't heard of Highland Baptist Church, you're obviously living under a rock. Not only is Highland known for it's amazing worship music, missions emphasis, and uncomplicated desire to glorify Christ...it's also known for it's annual Highland Harvest Hayride. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little about the hayride part. I'm not even sure we've given the event an official name, but it's my blog...my opinion...and my show, right? Highland Harvest Hayride it is....
Our lifegroup started this tradition three years ago, and each year it seems to grow bigger and bigger. This year we topped out at about 75 people, and we actually had to have TWO trucks and trailers to fit everyone in! The favorite pit stop during the hayride is the dairy farm....ooooh, that smell! We let the kids get up close and personal with the cows for a small taste of farm life, and several of us cinged our nose hairs by getting a little too close to the stench, er, I mean smell.
Following the hayride, we let kids roast hot dogs and smores while the adults feasted on homemade chili and cornbread. The whole event is a "back to basics" approach to fellowship and family....God's picturesque countryside, friends and family we dearly love, and most importantly NO TV, COMPUTER, IPOD, etc. (Kenny S., I forgive you for using your Blackberry...I know the "new" hasn't worn off just yet.) We all leave with dirty, exhausted kids, full bellies and desires to own a little piece of land in the country. (Thankfully, our gracious hosts, Bruce and Nellie, will open their barn to us next year--so we'll get our "country fix" once more.)
Just a few random thoughts from tonight's event:
1. Kesleigh, I always enjoy looking for your "runaway" children at these events.
2. Kim, please know that one batch of those brownies will never be enough. Not even if you've made them just for me....
3. Parents: if we find ourselves asking "Who does this child belong to?" every 5 minutes, we probably need to institute some sort of number system. I like how the farmers numbered the cows by tagging their ears. Maybe we could do that....
4. Kelly T.--did you nurse Patriot on the hayride? If so, you've got me beat. I've nursed my kids in every public bathroom and parking lot in the city of Waco. But I've not had the opportunity to nurse on a hayride. You should get an award.
5. Melinda, I enjoyed playing "woof-woof" with Sage. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one succumbing to my child's rather odd sense of imagination.
6. Bruce and Nellie: I'm a city-girl, but your place is way cool!
Here are a few pictures from today's event....enjoy!
Remember the gracious hosts I talked about? Here they are! Two of the most loving people I know. Thanks, Bruce and Nellie! We love you!
With 30+ children present, it takes every man and woman to help us wrangle them all. You know what they say: It takes a village.....
My precious children....sorry for the blatant display of favoritism. Remember, my blog.....my show.
The Selkes...(sorry for getting you lost. How'd you like the cemetery???) and the Konzelmans. (Amanda is the "butter voice" I described in an earlier post.) BUY THEIR CD!
My Asian-sister-in-Christ, Julie and my side-conversationalist friend, Theresa.
Loadin' up.....and random kids......
Okay, I had to show you this picture....do you see the man in the blue shirt? That's Mr. Potts, also affectionately known as the "baby stalker" because he loves babies so much! On the hayride, Emerie decided she would rather sit in his lap than mine. Several times I tried to get her back, and she would shake her arms at me telling me "no thanks." Can you believe it? Thank you, Mr.Potts, for being such a great hayride-babysitter!
I've got tons more photos, and I'll try to get them up in a later post! I'm behind in my bible study homework, so I better get to it! Blessings......
3 comments:
What a fun day!!!!! Yor girls are as beautiful as always :) I loved the pics!
Thanks for commenting Jules! You're one of the few who ever leaves me some love....
Thanks so much for sharing these pictures. I feel like I was at least a small part of the party. I completely understand the crankiness when it comes to alignment. There is a tips for blogspot link on my blog that may be helpful for you. I always enjoy your post.
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