It's always a special occasion when family comes to visit us at the ranch, and it's even more delightful when our grandkids join us. This week was particularly blessed as our son Jacob, his wife Lauren, and their children Luke (3), Owen (2), and Nora (1 mo.) visited from out of state.

The ranch became a playground for these little adventurers as they rode the tractor with John and Jacob, explored the bulldozer, riding along as John moved some dirt, and climbed all over the front-end loader. We took walks, exploring the pastures surrounding the house, chasing after bugs, inspecting flowers, and observing the wildlife around the pond. The boys engaged in thrilling chases after hens and turkeys and helped gather eggs. Luke even assisted in guiding some stray turkeys back to their pasture. 

As if we didn't have enough to do at Amber Oaks Ranch, we took a little field trip to Sweet Eats Adventure Farm for their Fall Festival. Initially, John had reservations about spending money to simply wander through a pumpkin patch, but he soon realized that the $20 admission fee was more than justified. We dedicated an entire afternoon to exploring the expansive pumpkin patch, navigating the intricate corn maze, cheering on pig races, enjoying pony rides, and indulging in activities like firing the apple cannon – which happened to be John's favorite.

The boys thoroughly enjoyed having their faces painted and had boundless fun climbing, sliding, and jumping around. There were tons of activities for everyone, and our whole family loved it. Sweet Eats Adventure Farm totally deserves its five-star rating – we highly recommend checking it out!

As we revel in these cherished moments with our grandkids, we find ourselves giving more and more consideration to our legacy.  Legacy can mean different things to different folks, but for us it is about instilling an independent spirit and a resolve to be good stewards of the blessings God has gifted us.  It is unrealistic to think that our grandkids will follow in our footsteps, taking over the ranch someday, but we can certainly model for them the pioneering spirit and the passion to care for God's creation. 

We're pleased to announce the Pflugerville Pfarmers Market's permanent move to the Green Red Barn at the back of Heritage Park. Say goodbye to the hot parking lot, and hello to shaded comfort with parking available next to the barn.