Girlfriends and Getaway

This past weekend was anything but usual for us. My friend Shauna (who now lives in Seattle) wanted to have a small gathering with a few friends from our high school and their little ones. We ended up meeting at my church in our auxiliary/portable building (I had used it before for my dad's 70th birthday party). In retrospect, fewer people showed up than we anticipated so we probably could have just done it at someone's house, but it was still fun and the large room allowed the kids to roam and play within view of the visiting mommies. It also seemed somewhat fitting since our small Christian high school, at the time that we attended, had been located in several portable buildings. :) Several of us realized that we hadn't gotten together since high school, but it didn't really seem that way since we keep up with each other on Facebook. I think it was especially fun for us to see one another in our mommy roles - so different from our high school days! It was especially noticeable when the three mommies with babies all sat down to nurse. :)

The next day following church, several of my newer girlfriends (as opposed to my "old" high school girlfriends :) headed up to Seattle for the night in honor of our dear friend Leah whom we have to say our final goodbye to in only one week when she and her family leave for Brazil (if you haven't read this post about my amazing friend written by her husband, you should!). Abby and Ben went out to my in-laws and Jake stayed with my mom; it was my first night away from Jake which was sad and a little hard for me, but he and I both did fine overall. :) My friends and I stayed at an old historic hotel called the Camlin right across the street from the Paramount Theater (we didn't go to the theater but it made for nice pictures :).  I only took 15 pictures while I was there - so unusual that Abby said, "That's it?!?!" when she later looked through the pictures. I guess I just felt a bit weird since I'm usually only taking pictures of my kiddos. :)

(middle photo courtesy of Kristal Mensonides)

My more Seattle-savvy, shopping-loving friends couldn't believe that in my thirty-one years of living in Olympia that I had never been to that section of downtown Seattle. We went stores I'd never heard of (like H&M) and ones I'd only heard of on Pinterest (like Anthropologie). It was fun to window shop (especially Anthropologie - one could spend FOREVER in there!) and I also enjoyed the quick walk-through Pike's Place Market that they insisted we do when they heard I'd only been to Pike's Place one-time on a field trip back in my school days! What can I say? :) Come to think of it, I've only been to the Space Needle one time too. Mariners games and business-related errands have been just about my only reasons to ever head into Seattle. Hm, I think that I need to get myself and my kids up there sometime to do some exploring when the weather gets warmer. :)

Anyway, just as female gender usually does, we stayed up late - very late - talking, crying, sharing, advising and laughing. It was a good, sweet time that I hope my dear friend Leah will cherish as she leaves us behind for new adventures and friends that God will be bringing into her life. I love you, Leah! May the Lord richly bless your obedience to His Word and your love for Him!