This Week We All Re-Treated Ourselves!

 Monday was a fresh new start to a great week. Work was good, the kids were all happy, and Tanner and Parker are both cruising through life. After work, I had a fun crafternoon at RaShelle’s house with some gals from the ward. It was fun to get together and chat! I was sooooo tired so I stopped to get a Big Gulp from 7-11, something I NEVER do. The kids were a little jealous after I picked them up from school, so I took them to 7-11 too and they each got a treat.

Tuesday was a busy day with work, school, massage at the chiropractor, and then Ray’s first play rehearsal at Triple Threat in Norco. She dove right in and had a great time. She’s been bringing her embroidery everywhere she goes and all her friends want to start embroidering too. It’s so funny! But I guess it’s a timeless classic hobby. When I picked her up from play practice, I took her straight to the high school to check out the STEM Academy Expo. She had been talking about it for weeks because the medical program has a real ambulance and she wanted to check it out. Holy moly, talk about mind blown! They had so much cool stuff at this expo! Like, full hospital beds with interactive robots, a virtual cadaver table, and tons and cool tech and resources to help kids on their way to the medical profession. Even I was stoked! Ray was on cloud 9 and I’m so excited for her future and hope that she gets to go to this school and be a part of this program. Tanner took Jack to soccer and we all met back up at night to read and snuggle together.

Wednesday I took the kids to Disney after school. We hadn’t gone ALL month because we are just so busy with someone going on every day. Ray was kinda not wanting to go but we ended up having such a great time. We shared pasta at Pizza Planet and treated ourselves to a giant Mickey Chocolate Chip Cookie. It was crowded but we still did a few fun rides and the kids told me over and over, “Thank You for bringing us to Disneyland!”

Thursday was the Day of Awesomeness at school with inflatables all over the grass for the kids to jump around and play in. It was so fun! It was cool to see my C track mamas volunteering. C track is the best!!! I had a sweet conversation with Kristina as I was thanking her for taking Jack on Friday. I love her faith in Jesus Christ. She is truly such a light!

So, I was a little nervous, but after I got off work, I drove to Vegas to meet Andrea for a Women’s Retreat. My drive was easy and smooth and I didn’t have to stop. I pulled right up to the house where we were staying and was immediately enveloped in peace.

Shannon took the kids home and their MCO ride fell through so the kids just stayed home until the babysitter got there. Tanner ALSO had a retreat for work so he was in San Diego golfing, going to a Padres game, and is listening to a motivational speaker.

Anyhoo, it was soooo amazing being with Andrea because even though we are so close and talk every day, we rarely ever get to see each other in person, let alone hang out for a weekend without kids or husbands. So what a treat it was for me! We started the retreat with a little bit of a get to know you where we briefly shared about ourselves and then we were explained the point of the retreat which was to find our feminine divine power within. I know it sounds silly, but it was really lovely.

We put post it notes on each others backs with 1 word describing what we thought of each other and the first one I had was “good friend”. This STRUCK me because I was there mostly to get past my hurt and insecurities from being rejected by all my social circles. Right then, I knew I was in the right place.

We enjoyed a delicious homemade dinner together, worked on our breathing, journaled, and then Andrea and I shared a bedroom and talked for a little while before going to sleep.

Friday, Shannon took the kids to school and it was the last day before Spring Break so they got to have fun, wear pajamas, and get out early. Shannon threw Ella’s teacher a bridal shower which was sooooo cute and kind! She took Ella home with Amelia and they got to visit the horse stables and get ice cream. Ella is living her best life. Kristina took Jack home with Alec and they got Chick Fil A and played until 10pm. Rayleigh went to a birthday “spa” party at the park with all the girls from class. She had the best time and then went to her friend, Alaina’s house for a little while before coming home to be with Natalie, our babysitter.

For me: I was a little late getting out to morning yoga because I’m not a morning person,  it what I was able to do was fantastic and so moving. We had a yummy breakfast with fresh fruit and chia pudding. We discussed a concept, did an activity to open up our awareness, and the discuss and it was pretty amazing. Andrea and I built these structures and then had to answer deep questions about it and I know it sounds crazy but it was really super cool. We participated in a sound bath and did more guided breathwork. “Breath in- with man, nothing is possible. Breath out- with God, nothing is impossible”. Wr journed a lot which I loved. We enjoyed another yummy dinner of Tuscano soup with homemade sour dough bread. We all sat in the hot tub that night and it was nice chatting and getting to know the women a little bit better. We all slept so good that night.

Saturday, Tanner was able to head home in the morning and take Jack to his soccer game. He also took the kids to Top Golf and do laundry. We started the day with a quiche breakfast and then did our final round of learning. We took a healing nature walk and had a yummy lunch.

At the end of the retreat we all basically bore testimony of what we felt and learned and it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I prayed to Heavenly Father for a group of women to be my friends. Women who would uplift me and love me for me, who inspired me and enriched my life and He handed this weekend to me on a silver platter. I poured my heart out to Him and manifest my desires and He gifted something to me that was better than I could have ever imagined.

I drove home and it was quick and easy. Tanner and the kids were waiting outside for me when I got home. Well not Ray, she was doing baptisms with the youth. It was good to be home!

Sunday, sweet Ray bore such a tender testimony about her experiences in the temple. She is just the best. I love her so much. We had a nice day at church and then came home to relax. Tanner and I sat in the hot tub for a long time and talked about our weekends. He felt uplifted from his work retreat and I felt the same about mine. We are both in a really good place right now and it was cool to recognize that each of our kids was able to have their own “retreat” with each of their friends and we all were successful. Power family!!!

We watched Pearl Harbor as a family for movie night and man, it was intense. We had a good discussion about it all- especially about Rondo and Muz.

Next week is our 21sf wedding anniversary and I asked Tanner how he felt about our marriage. I feel pretty good. And he agreed. Our lives and relationship is not RIGHT where we want it to be, but we are happy in the place we are. We are progressing in the right direction.

My heart is full and good things are happening!