It's been a summer of international guests here at The Mill House! Some years we seem to have several groups of guests traveling the US from other countries. Some years very few. This year has been the exception!
We had a group of school teachers from Turkey...they left us Turkish Pistachios! Two weeks ago we welcomed a group of 4 men from Denmark. They were walk in guests and we were so happy we had rooms for them. They were traveling to Indiana to attend a muscle car auction. They would purchase classic muscle cars and then ship them overseas to Denmark. It cost then $5000 to ship 2 cars in one large crate.
This week 2 young ladies from Switzerland rang the doorbell. They were on their way to Chicago. I had a good laugh as one of the girls told me she used to work tourism in a place called "Heidi Land"!!
We have hosted guests from Australia, Germany, England, Brazil, Portugal, France, and Dominica in the Caribbean. We've hosted missionaries from Africa, Thailand, Mexico, Azerbaijan, France, and The Philippines.
I was thinking the other day how I would have never met so many people from so many places if it weren't for innkeeping. The best part is I have learned that people are people no matter where they are from! Everyone enjoys a good conversation and good food. The expression "mmmmmmmmmm....." means the same thing in every language!!
I just keep humming "There's a Sweet Sweet Spirit in this Place", after the wonderful conversation with our Garden Room guests yesterday morning. A pastor and his wife stayed the night in our Garden Room. They are actually pastors to missionaries and have served in the old Soviet Block countries.
I woke up yesterday morning just feeling "out of sorts". Didn't feel like cooking, serving, and smiling! But, because it is my "job", I quickly drank a cup of coffee, threw up a few quick prayers, kissed my hubby goodbye and got to work.
The Garden Room couple requested an in room breakfast and I also had a couple to serve in the common room, both at 9am. I had gotten up even earlier to serve breakfast to a cross country bicyclist who also stayed the night here to escape the heat and rain from the day before. Sure, it would have been easier to serve all at the same time in the common room...but as it says in 2 Corinthians 14...Christ's love compels us! So I was obedient and served in order to please our guests and God.
Thank God he knows exactly what he is doing! Because of the privacy of the Garden Room, a wonderful encouraging conversation took place between this tired innkeeper and this Godly couple. We shared stories and encouraged each other. What a blessing!
The pastor guest reminded me that there was a "sweetness" in this place....His beautiful wife left a very encouraging note in the room journal:
A Garden of Delights
Delightful Room- great bed!
Delightful Atmosphere- the Lord is here!
Delightful Garden- we are inspired!
Delightful Hospitality- because of you!
Delightful food- ahh! those scones!
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!
We serve our guests with the best we have. If their needs are complete privacy we are very sensitive to that. We are here if they want to chat about the history of the inn, places to visit, or our story. We are thankful to be able to serve all in this place because His love compels us!
A stay at The Mill House is always a "Joyful" occasion and our little side business, "Joyful Confections" makes sure it is true!
The Mill House is the perfect setting to hold a small group marraige retreat! As innkeepers and marraige small group leaders in our church, we are priviledged to hold retreats at our inn. It has been such a success that we would like to spread the news!
Spring is the season of "love" and the beginning of the wedding season for The Mill House. A few weekends ago we hosted a honeymoon couple in our Garden Room. They had stayed here 2 years before to celebrate their engagement.
Bring your bicycles to The Mill House in beautiful Grand Rapids, Ohio! We have a covered area to keep your bikes dry and safe. Not only are we on the Northern Tier of "Adventure Bicycling", we are located right across the Maumee River from Providence Metropark. You can bicycle from Grand Rapids to Waterville along the river. A mountain bike is your best bet for this trail!
The long winter months allow us to freshen up The Mill House and work on "big" projects. This past January, while the innkeepers were on a much needed vacation, our handy painter was a busy bee as he repainted our Garden Room. Replacing the bright yellow for a much calmer green, The Garden Room is a comfortable oasis for those needing a break from the hectic world. New quilts and shams give it a quaint look as well as keep you warm. The windows offer a beautiful view, no need for a television in this room as nature puts on her own show!
Sitting directly on the banks of the Maumee River, we are privileged to have an awesome view of the river in all seasons. This is the view from our common room where a hearty homecooked breakfast is served each morning.
Now that Thanksgiving 2010 is officially in the books, it's the time to get serious about your Holiday Gift giving!
Come visit Grand Rapids, Ohio to experience our annual Christmas Open House! Next weekend, November 19, 20, and 21, our quaint riverside village goes back to the Victorian Days of Yuletime. Take a horsedrawn wagon ride, roast chestnuts over an open fire, gaze in storefront windows bedazzled in their holiday finest, visit with Father Christmas, watch ice carvers create frozen sculptures, and enjoy street entertainers as they fill the air with Christmas Melodies!
