I basically had the most amazing weekend! Thursday night, my friends watched my boys so I could go to sushi and drinks with my doting husband. It was so wonderful! Friday, I had my mom’s group and then I left for mom’s weekend away with two of my dearest, dearest friends. Fellow graduate school wives, one of the ladies had an apartment in St. Joe, Michigan from her husband’s internship. (You read that correctly. free lodging.) The drive was only four hours from where we live, but the traffic on the way there was crazy- so it took us 6 hours to get there. We were all exhausted when we arrived. That wouldn’t have compared to how exhausted we would have been if we went away for the week to Rimington Leisure Park in the Ribble Valley in England, as we had planned.
Saturday- we woke up and enjoyed a beautiful breakfast. It was so peaceful to eat, not feel rushed, not need to cut someone else’s food up, or barter with them to eat. We drank delicious coffee and perused the farmer’s market. It was so wonderful to stroll through, in no rush. To look at everything, at our own pace, to be inspired by the beauty around us. From flowers to tables laden with colorful fruits and vegetables. It was just a creative person’s paradise, really. We ate delicious food, including gyros and shrimp. We drank too much wine, and even attended the area’s wine festival. That night we got home relatively early and watched a retro chick flick before crashing out before midnight.
Sunday- Knowing it was our last day, there was a lot of pressure to see everything we wanted to see. We visited South Haven, Michigan for a relaxing boat cruise (with wine) more delicious food, and these gorgeous sites, including a fruit mural wall downtown. After some Moscow mules, not so light shopping, and a broken cell phone, we headed home.
It was such a treat to leave my family and mommy obligations for a weekend. I was definitely nervous to go away, I’ve probably left my kids twice overnight. I was comforted knowing they have an amazing dad, who spoiled them rotten all weekend with swimming and junk food. They probably didn’t even notice I was gone. My soul was filled by the beauty and peace in the area, but more so by the intimate conversations and free therapy from friends. We laughed, let ourselves get misty eyed, and made memories that will linger for years to come. Friendship is such a wonderful gift.