Time

I know my posts have been few and far between lately. Time has been quite illusive for me as I have begun a new era in my life. But, today, I am taking the time to let you know that I will not be posting anything until at least June 2. I will be busily unbusy.

Today, Husband and I depart to take an anniversary cruise. You may remember that two years ago we took our first cruise for our 25th anniversary. We loved it. We cruised the Mediterranean from Spain to Italy to France and had the time of our lives.

It's been two years since that momentous trip. Yes, I will be married 27 years on May 30, 2008, and, yes, it is difficult to believe that time really is ticking away at record speed. (I would love to reminisce with you at this point about the poignant moments of our marriage, but I don't have the time).

In just a few short hours, 10 a.m. cdt, Husband's dad will be here to deliver us to our flight. We will enter the doors to a vessel that will transport us to a wonderland of discovery, historical significance, and just plain enjoyment. Our first stop is Milan, where we will encounter Da Vinci's The Last Supper. We will hop a train to Venice, travel the Grand Canal, enter the wonderland of Cruising. From there we will see new and wondrous sights in Croatia, Greece, and Turkey. I am ready for those seven days of adventure.

This year I have an idea of what to imagine as I pack my last few items. The most anticipated is 10 days alone with Husband. We will dream big for our children, plan well for our future, rest up for our present, and (above all) worship our God who never fails to please us with His Goodness, Generosity, and Grace. Why He would bestow such pleasure to me is beyond my scope of understanding.

Thank you, Father, for everything we have and do. I know it is straight from your hand. Let us glorify You in all we do and say.

Soul Food

Have you ever really needed a break from the difficult day to day drudgery you must endure? Have you ever just wanted to get away and simply do things that you rarely get to do? Selfish things like spend days with friends who genuinely care about you, or walk lazily along a street lined with quaint shops that entice you to come in and browse. Have you ever wanted to experience novel things like harvest lavender and bring a bouquet home to release it's gentle aroma in your bedroom? Maybe you have wanted to pick perfectly ripe peaches to make a fantastic homemade dessert and just never took the time.

These are just a few of the things I experienced with my girlfriends this weekend. Let me just add a few more things to the list:

*soaked in the hot tub at the hotel until we were beeeeet red.
*sang hymns at the top of our lungs.
*ate snacks until I thought I would explode.
*bought fabulously charming old furniture.
*shared our hearts.

At dinner one evening I asked each friend to describe the weekend in just two words. Here are their words and it really sums up the entire trip. I can add no more.

Restful, easy, soul food, happy heart, desperately needed, refreshing, fun, new experiences.

Hooray for the GRT (Girl's Road Trip) I couldn't ask for more.

PS Whose pillow do I have?

The Return

I am so tired I can hardly think about what I want to share tonight because we have just returned, but, I feel I must record a few of these emotions I have welled up inside. The first is how very thankful I am to have been to such a fabulous place as Paris, France. The Eiffel Tower was spectacular! Not to mention the Arch de Triomphe, Louvre, Orsay, Invalides, Sacre Cour, Versailles, etc. Each one held it's own beauty and charisma. Nevertheless, what I am clinging to in my heart and pondering with great affection are the precious moments Husband and I spent with 18 and 15 (almost 16). Eating crepes with Nutella (chocolate paste) for breakfast, afternoon snack and late night snack. All four of us talking on our bed till late about the days events. 18 drilling 15 about what she learned that day. Trying to order our meals in French and absolutely butchering that beautiful language. Eating french fries every day! Hearing them say "WOW" when they first glimpsed the grandness of the Arch de Triomphe. Riding miles and miles and miles on the Metro and trying to find a place for all four of us to sit together in rush hour just to find a dress for 18 to wear to her prom. Watching them stare at a sculpture in the Louvre with awe and wonder.

Paris was brilliant, but the snapshots that are emblazoned on my heart and soul and that I hold dear are of my girls and the relationships we sealed this week. xxooxx I love you.

Incredible

That's what I call my life somedays, simply incredible. Today, 15, 17, and I will be leaving for Paris. France, that is. We will be meeting Husband there to holiday together. (He has been in Singapore on a business trip.) We are vacationing in Gay Paree!! Oh, my goodness! How does someone like me get to do something as fabulous as spending spring break around the world? Oh, well, I am not going to look for answers today, I am simply going to prepare to have a grand time with 15 and 17.

This could be a challenge. 15 and 17 don't always have fun together. They are as different as night and day. One is quiet the other is talkative. One is an optimist, the other a pessimist. One an overpacker, one an underpacker. Dark, light. Alarmist, calm. Impatient, patient. Brash, gentle. Could they possibly be more different. I don't think so. But, this is what gives life it's color. Who wants a gray world? I don't. I admit, I could do without some of the more difficult challenges my children cause me to face, but, in reality would the good times be as precious without having experienced the thornier days?

I have delayed this extravagant vacation with children because I have feared I might not have a good time with them.They probably will not appreciate me and all the effort I have to put forth in order for this trip to take place. The money, the time to plan each day, the jet lag, the relationships, the everything. But, today, I believe it will all be worth it. They are excited to go and looking forward to every moment. I will genuinely take pleasure in merely watching them experience Paris, from packing to returning home. I will hold every moment captive because we will probably never get to experience this with them again.

Thank you Lord for your gracious generosity. Thank you for my children. Thank you for Husband.

Traveling with Women

I admit it, I stole the title. Our "official" journalist for the trip is going to use this title for our trip journal and it was just too good for me not use. Traveling with women is an event no woman should miss. We went to shop at an annual flea market in Virginia, but, what occured was much more than shopping. We laughed until our sides ached, we cried in reverent pain with each other, we shared our very souls with one other, and trusted that it would be held in high esteem and honored. What I expected was what I was given. A relationship with each woman that will always be special.

These friendships will always be extraordinary because we devoted four days to building this connection. We will always have the memories of a shared view of the Milky Way, a walk through a covered bridge, the thought of "kicking up diamonds", and a hug from Aunt and Uncle at the Old Cox Barn.

We have one thing in common that unifies us from which our bond is founded and it cannot be forged...Christ. He forgave us, saved us, and is the process of transforming us and that is the journey that we share and of which we shall never tire, the magnificent renovating power we see in each other as Christ reveals Himself in our lives. AMEN!!