Southern Hospitality

Well come right in, y'all!  These were the words that echoed through the rafters of the two beautiful mountain homes that I've visited the past two weekends.  Somehow I've been blessed with the gift of wonderful relaxing time with friends and family, returning to the real world rejuvinated and .... a little bigger.

Along with the amazing Southern Hospitality that I've enjoyed has come platters of the most delicious food you can imagine.  Although my parents aren't natives of the South, we've lived here most of my life, and have adopted some of the cuisine as our own!

 Time spent lingering around a gorgeous dinner table sharing stories old and new, laughing, and sneaking glances at the beautiful lake beyond sure make for some great memories!

Lazy weekend afternoons that are usually filled with the energizer washing machine were spent instead enjoying the quiet beauty of nature.  I'm not a birdwatcher, but quiet time on the porch makes you see the world through a little different lens.

One of the most special parts of this Labor Day was watching Mr. Cheeks enjoy new surroundings and get such joy in the smallest things.  In the middle of running down a path, he'd stop in his tracks to check out a bright colored flower or a tiny bug.  How do kids see these things??

Watching Hubby and Mr. Cheeks brought me so much joy.  The blessing of family and friends who enjoy your child so much is incredible.  I thought that this picture was a great example of how husbands can still get the relaxation in, while being on "baby duty".  Resourceful aren't they?  "Where do we get one of these hammock swings?" was asked more than once!