Nothing Like A Rita and Girlfriends

I am waiting for the girls to get up. We were up until 2 am last night, just an hour shy of the chat fest Laura and I had the night before until 3 am. Today is our pack up and head back to the real world day... and my heart finds itself both excited to get home, and sad to be leaving this home. 

We swam. We laughed. We didn't cry. We talked about real things, hard things, meaningful things, dumb things... We asked questions and we gave answers. We have some great photo's that will remind us all of the great memories we made. 

I don't want to stay, and I don't want to live this specific time longer. I think the healthiest part about these five days away has been the peace found in the deciding if I should come out, knowing that my heart had gotten into a rhythm being home. I was excited about the options I had if I had stayed home instead of making the trip, and all that I would have been able to accomplish and do. However, I know that coming out was the not only the right decision, it was the perfect one. It has been clear the entire time that I was supposed to be part of the group, and that I needed to come so that I could walk away with what I am in my heart. And yet, despite all the goodness....all the laughter and hugs, I know that this snapshot of Heaven must commence and that life at home must return. I am thankful that I don't find my grip on these days to be that of pursuit of extension. It has been a simple acceptance that it has been a gift to be with these girls, and that is enough. 

I go home today after a mid morning field trip to Woodford Reserve to see how Kentucky Bourbon is made. I am really excited about that stop before getting back to Lexington, where we will have to empty the over stuffed car and distribute things into the correct vehicles. Hopefully I will be in my car for Virginia sometime around 2pm and then will make the very familiar drive through West Virginia to exit 50 on 64E in Virginia. 

The next few days are going to be intentional ones in getting organized and taking some trips to the local home improvement store to start planning out some changes. Mandy is leaving tomorrow for a weekend trip, so Gracie and I will have the weekend to ourselves on the home front. The forecast is calling for rain which makes me sad because I won't be able to lazily float in the river with my new handy dandy water raft. 

All in all its been an amazing gift of a weekend, we were mad at Fay for ruining our Destin plans, but we are all thankful to have the hook up at the Lake. It's been a mixture of sun, shopping, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, naps, late night talks, lots of hugs, and even more love. 

As I think of Julie and her married life, I am encouraged that she makes spending time with the girls a priority, it is a cue I hope to follow well. Regardless of how much I will love my spouse and family in the future, much like 'there's just nothing like a margarita', there is just nothing like spending time with a group of women that love Jesus and each other.