California

In May Brandon was sent to a training down in Ontario California and I was really excited to be able to join him.  We took Evie with us and while he was busy for a majority of the time I was able to spend a few days just relaxing and reconnecting with friends which was such a blessing. This is such a busy season of life with 5 kids 7 and under.  I love it but I often feel like I can't catch a breath and I don't even remember what it was like to sit down to lunch or coffee with another adult other than Brandon and have any kind of real conversation or connection.  My mind is always moving in a million directions thinking of who needs what and where we need to be next or who is waiting for something from me or how am I going to find time to squeeze it all in not to mention dealing with the misbehaviors for what seems like the millionth.  So to have multiple days in a row where I could make plans and spend time connecting with friends was more of a blessing than I had even imagined going into this trip.  

 I was blessed to spend one of my days with Courtney and her girls.  It was my first time getting to meet the triplets and let me just say they are even cuter than I could have imagined and I am always so encouraged and amazed by this mama.  She handles motherhood with grace and always inspires me to be intentional with not only my kids, but my husband, and the Lord, and really all the relationships I'd consider significant in my life.  She is thoughtful and purposeful and I wish I got to spend time with her more often.  I love love love this family and the friendship we formed years ago, before we had 11 kids between us, which is still strong. 

 On another day I drove down to Riverside and spent the day with Melinda and her girls and again it was so good for my soul to have time with a true friend.  No one knows me quite like Melinda, she's more like a sister than a friend, and I realize after being together that there's a place in my heart that will always ache for a friendship like ours closer to home, and I'm mostly okay with that.  Some things are just to special to replace.

Evie and Hayley

I also got to spend a day with Andrea.  Andrea is one of the most flexible and easy going friend I have and I love this about her.  She is always up for spending a day together and we usually end up outside enjoying the weather and the kids.  She reminds me to soak up childhood with all of its messiness and wonder and not to stress over the stuff that just honestly isn't going to be important someday when I look back.  

I didn't get pictures of the remainder of my trip but I was also able to spend a morning with Debbie, the wife of our pastor in Southern California, and an influential mentor in my life.  I was so thankful for the opportunity to sit and catch up with her as well as to meet her granddaughter.  She always encourages me to think deeply and reminds me that God and even our lives don't fit into the neat boxes I sometimes want them too and that that is okay.  In fact it's something to embrace.  As long as our feet our firmly planted on God's Truth we can handle whatever challenges come our way.

Finally, I called up my good teacher friend Melissa.  We taught 3rd grade together back before we had kids.  I hadn't seen her in years but she had just had a little one and I thought I'm just going to give her a call and see if I can stop by for a minute and I was so thankful that it worked out.   There are few things I love more than reconnecting with old friends and seeing what has been happening in their lives.

I don't know if I missed anything.  It was a busy few days but such a special time for me to hang out with some of my favorite women.  Once again, so thankful that Grammy was willing to watch the older kids so that I had this opportunity to get away from my everyday and catch a breath and recharge a bit.