Applesauce

The Iowans left this morning at about 10:30 and took Madison with them. The one thing she wanted to do the very most this summer was go to Iowa so we made sure it happened. She'll be gone for 10 days. I can hardly stand it. She gave me a nice warm hug and even had a few tears. I thought that was sweet...until the truth came out... "I'm going to miss Cokey so much! Take good care of her!" Yah. The dog has moved in front of Mom (sniff-sniff).

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Quinn and I spent the afternoon at B&P's putting away 2 bushels of apples. We got 113 pints. I was down to the final 4 pints in my freezer so the timing was perfect. This applesauce recipe is simply the BEST applesauce ever. Quinn enjoyed grinding the cooked apples and even tried cutting apples this year. He made me so nervous and I think he grew tired of my eagle eyes on him. I guess I do want him to be cutting his own foods with a sharp knife by the time he leaves home. I suppose he has to start practicing now.

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B&P go to God's Kitchen in Elkhart twice a month to serve a meal to the indigent people that live in that area. They've invited our kids to come with them several times but it has never worked out. Quinn and I both went tonight, leaving about 15 minutes after putting the last pint of applesauce away. I served up generous portions of apple pie to help fill the plates and Quinn was one that served full plates of food to about 90 people by carrying them out to the eating area and serving them. He enjoyed it. It certainly is a different perspective for him and he handled himself well. We talked later about how "helpless" and "hopeless" some of the people seemed. We decided that God could be their reason for hope in their lives, and the hope we have in Jesus. We hope that the free meal provided them a little hope in their lives for this moment any way. We went out for supper with B&P and some of their church small group friends afterwards. It was a nice evening and good ending for a full day.