I really should just link this blog to my friend
Sara's who did a much better job than I ever will at this post. But when I print my blog book for the year I want to make sure to include this special weekend! Way back in October my old college bible study group (we always called it that even though 2 or the members were definitely not in college) started planning a weekend to get together to celebrate all being back in the same state as well as the fact that we have been praying for each other for over 10 years! From our bible study that we started my freshman year of college to our weekly prayer requests, these are the girls that know me best, that have prayed countless prayers for myself and my family. Weekly and often daily we communicate with each other. Beyond all of that they also make me laugh and we have so much fun together. Unfortunately schedule wise we couldn't make it work for all six of us to be together and it wasn't the same without Marianne!!!
The weekend began for me on Friday and I have to give a super special thanks to my mother-in-law who got my children several hours before everyone arrived. I NEVER would have had my house cleaned up in time had she not! That night we ate dinner at the house and talked for HOURS. We ended up staying awake until after 2 a.m. both days and let me tell you, that is not the norm for this Mama of two who normally starts her day around 5:30!
The next day we had lunch downtown at the Chelsea, one of my favorite places to eat.
Afterwards we walked around and shopped. We had to make a stop at Bear Plaza where we captured this gem of a photo.
Fyi, New Bern is where Pepsi was started and most places serve Pepsi products which I LOVE. Almost everywhere in LA did Coke so it is a welcome change. It's the little things in life, haha. We went into the Pepsi museum where Rebecca treated us all to a drink.
 |
| Do we look cool or what? Haha, |
That evening we went on a boat ride up the Trent River. It started off nice but the last 30 minutes it poured rain! In an attempt to be kind the boat driver offered us two bath mats to cover up in... random. The grand finale of the experience was when Rebecca got off the boat and somehow her shoe slipped into the river! I have to confess that I was almost crying with laughter by the time she laid down on the dock to fish it out, all in the pouring rain. Poor Bec!
 |
| View of our new house from the river. Just kidding! Can't take a tour of the Trent without passing Nicolas Sparks's house! |
After another day of talking, eating, laughing, and more talking it was unfortunately time for everyone to say goodbye. I'm so thankful to have had the time with these girls this weekend and thankfully we hope to get to do it more often now that we are all within a few hundred instead of a few thousand miles of each other.
 |
| Look who popped his head into the picture |
And I can't finish this post without saying thank you to this hottie- the best dad and husband ever. I informed him that the girls and I were taking over the house for the weekend and I didn't care what he did but he needed to disappear. Thank you Ryan for allowing me this special time!
And now that I have posted Sara's beautiful pictures I have to throw in a few behind the scenes moments from my iPhone.
 |
| I texted this to the girls the night before to show what kind of shape my house was in due to the presence of my children |
 |
| Crammed into the back seat |
 |
| Sara, Marianne, and Rebecca wrote 30 things they loved about each of us as a gift for our birthday. Very thoughtful |
 |
| Oh Becky Bam getting sassy |
 |
| Huddled together on the boat during the rainstorm |
 |
| I sent this to Ryan around midnight- all of us crashed on our bed. Yes, I think he was glad to be gone, lol |
 |
| This is what happens when we spend too much time together! |
Can't wait to do it again soon!
