Retreat

Stan and I had the opportunity to get away this past weekend with Mike and Allison. What a blessing this weekend was! The has become our annual weekend (sans kiddos) that we go to Massenutten Resort in Northern Virginia. We have even become familiar with some of the local shopping and restaurants and feel quite at home there. My parents have a time share that they are unable to squeeze into their schedule so we are the very grateful recipients!!

Stan and I had lots of time to talk, relax, do our own thing and spend quality couple time together. We enjoyed quiet conversation where we were able to finish sentences and really, I think this weekend was like a second honeymoon for us. What a wonderful gift I have in Stan. He and I had such a wonderful time of connection esp. after having adjusted to life with two children. We are certainly blessed.

Allison and I had a great time shopping, talking and catching up on girlie movies. Even though we only live 2.5 hours apart, time spent in quantity is not so often with 3 kids between the two of us! It was refreshing, rejuvenating and just plain good for my soul to be able to spend such wonderful quality time with such a dear sweet sister as Allison is to me. I am certainly blessed.

Mike and Stan did their guy thing. Here they are pictured on the computer, reading a boy magazine with Sports Center on in the background wearing matching shirts that say, "Proud to be Awesome". What can I say, I think they had a great time too! Who would have ever imagined that Allison and I would marry men who got along so famously, even to dress as twins...

These two munchkins stayed with Mommom for three nights!!! What a trooper my mom was to come and take care of them! I have to hand it to her, she is a wonderful grandmother and it is so evident how very much she loves her grandbabies by the way she plays, reads, gets down on their level and just loves on them. Nanny rescued her on Monday morning and kept them all day so that we could enjoy the three day weekend. Nanny was, as always, a fantastic playmate for the boys and I think she thoroughly enjoyed herself too. Thank goodness for grandmothers who love our babies!!

What a gift a strong marriage is. Stan and I had a chance to really put time and energy into building our relationship and making it stronger. It is such an awesome blessing that we also have such dear friends who also thrive in a marriage that is built on the strength of the Lord. Marriage is not easy, but when time and care, wrapped with prayer, are devoted to it, it can be the strongest bond- just as God created. Here is to marriage, here is to time well spent investing in my marriage, and here is to my loving husband...Thanks be to God!