Refreshed

I just spend 48 hours with my besties in Oklahoma City. 
We talked.  A lot.
We ate. A lot. 
We walked.  A lot (more on this later). 
Best of all, we laughed (and yelped).  A lot. 
Sleeping was not a priority, and even though last week was absolutely nuts, I was not overly exhausted. 

It's a wonder how life-giving relationships are.  How even though I had little to no energy at 3:30 pm on Friday, after one brief conversation with these ladays, I was ready to run a marathon.  How refreshing. 

As suggested by one of the besties, pictures will be making their grand entrance into this little blog. 

SIDE-NOTE:  I have emotional music playing Pandora currently.  Looking at these pics make me miss these girlies.  I am generally a sentimental individual.  That being said, I sense tears will make their way into this post at some point.  Don't say you weren't warned.

Here we are.  Bricktown in OKC.  So cool.  Frozen yogurt in hand.  This being my SECOND frozen yogurt/self-serve experience, I displayed a large amount of self-control and only filled my cup to the 1/3 mark instead of all the way full.  When I made the mistake of filling it to the brim last time, I had a fever and chills shortly after.  Yes, I think the two are connected.  Please don't burst my medical knowledge bubble. 

Let's begin to relive what goes down as one of the most refreshing weekends I've had in a long time.  

Anywho...I will give a full synopsis of each of these ladays later, but for now, know that this is Katherine (Kitty, Kitten, Kath, Meow) and B (Bethany, Bees, Beezie, Beeps).

 Cheri took control of the camera for part of this journey.  And she captured some sweet moments.  I am thankful. What I love about this picture:  Jes (Jazz, Jazzy, Besica, Jazzster) and I are happy, Katherine is talking, and B is genuinely enjoying her fro-yo treat.

 I ADORE this picture.  I think Cheri just captured it.  And even if it was posed, this type of look happened throughout our 48 hours.  To me, it's a look of contentment, trust, and true friendship.  Okay, the tears are coming.

 B, I fear you will not enjoy this picture.  I enjoy it.  I don't know why.  Maybe just because I love you.  So I then love every picture of you.  Creepy?  Nah.

 And Cheri (Cher, Chers, Cher-bear) has made her grand entrance.  Reasons why I love this picture:  Jes is having a moment with her fro-yo, Kitten is capturing Cheri, Cheri is listening (something she does VERY well), and my besties are together.

 Ah, here we are.  Our first self-timed picture.  Some funnies about our outfits:  Cheri and I figured out on Friday evening (while driving) that we brought the same shirt-dress (on her it's a dress, on me it's a shirt...go figure).  Jes and I had decided to bring clothes for the other to wear (we were roommates for 3 1/2 years in college, so we always had "2 closets"), so I'm wearing her clothes and she is wearing mine.  Katherine and B are just cute.  Always.  All these ladays are.  Cheri pointed out once that we spend 2 1/2 hours in the morning getting ready. Ha.  I don't think we purposely moved slowly.  We just cherished the opportunity to say, "How does this look?"  Three of us are married, so we rarely have the opportunity to ask that question.  Favorite moment of "getting ready" time:  someone would ask someone else, "How does this look?"  After responding with their personal opinion, they would always say, "I don't really know.  Ask Katherine."  Katherine is our go-to fashionista.  Thanks, Kitten.  Love you.

 We all painted nails (in some form) on Friday night, so here is Cheri showing that her nails seem to complement the buds on the tree. 

 Only with these girls...we found a lovely old hotel.  It was very cool.  So we took the elevator to the 14th floor.  We sat for a spell.  Chatted more.  Enjoyed sweet moments.  Let our feet rest.  Etc.

 After all the sweet moments passed, it was suggested that we take the stairs instead of the elevator.  WHAT!?  Like I said, only with these girls.  And because we were going down, it didn't feel that far.  I suppose we ate A LOT that day (with more to come), so taking the stairs seemed like the most logical option. 

 Captured this candid moment.  I love love love this.  This kind of tenderness happened repeatedly over the weekend.  We really love each other.  Like, a lot. 

 I can hear Jes laughing.  And it makes me smile.  Tear. 

 I failed to mention.  This is at a lovely little cupcake/candy boutique called Pinkitzel.  We believe it means "Tickled Pink" (or something like that).  We were inspired to create our own candy store.  We will call it "Purple Giggle."  Laugh, please.  It's HIlarious.

 Jes, Cheri, and B planned a sweet surprise for us.  I supposed the surprise already happened.  They took us to the cupcake store!  And bought us each a cupcake!  You see, for 4 years, Katherine and I have celebrated our birthdays together (our days are 3 days apart), so it was dang special to celebrate together again.  Yum yum yummo.  Do not be alarmed:  this picture was taken right after we returned from our rendezvous to the pool where it was 80 degrees (and humid) in the pool room and where the temperature of the hot tub was barely 2 degrees warmer than the pool.  Talk about a hot time. Pun.

 Jes' sweet family met us on Sunday for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory in OKC.  Her beautiful niece was definitely entertaining. 

 I mean, look at her!  What's not to love!?  I could just squeeze her little cheeks for hours.  So darling. Jes offered to let me hold her.  I refrained for fear of catching the baby fever.  Sorry, B.

 To commemorate our weekend, we purchased Essie nail polish.  I think it'd be fun for you to guess (those of you who know us) which color lines up with which individual.  Go.

 Our last picture of our wonderful weekend.  Displaying our pretty nails.  Oh goodness, how I love you all.  And miss you all.  So much.

 And the Brucks family (minus Sam and husbands).  I lived with them for a summer.  And learned a lot about life, love, and family.  What a wonderful 3 months.

Sigh.  And that was my weekend.  Later in the week, I will fill you in on all the life revelations I received by being with these ladays. 

In the meantime, however, I will finish with how I'm connected to each of these ladays:

Jes:  Like I said, I lived with her for 3 1/2 years in college.  We went "pot-luck" when we enrolled at Tabor.  And our sweet admissions counselor, Amanda (Edington) Lee put us together.  And it was great.  We (or at least I did) learned how to work through conflict, how to support each other, and what it means to be a real friend.  Jes was a friend who spoke the most "hard truth" into my life, and for that, I am forever grateful.  She also sometimes thinks I'm funny (a huge plus).  I love you, Jazzy.

Cheri:  Cheri came to Tabor halfway through my sophomore year.  I don't even remember what first set off this friendship.  But whatever it was, it was dang special.  Cheri and I regularly say how special we think our friendship is.  We have a great deal in common, but more than that, Cheri speaks wisdom into my life like you wouldn't believe.  She is a listener, a compassionate friend, and another lifer.  She also laughs at my jokes.  Loves, Cheri.

Katherine:  Kits and I became friends my sophomore year at Tabor.  From then, we were practically inseparable.  She thinks I'm funny (thanks, Kath).  We are able to jump into deep conversation from nowhere.  Katherine is so intentional with birthdays and holidays.  I want to be like her.  She recently moved several hours from anything she's ever known.  She is brave.  I want to be like her.  Loving you, Kath.

B:  Bees is my oldest friend.  We have been besties since 4th grade.  She's been there through so many of my ups and downs.  She just returned from a 6 month spell in Africa where she nursed kiddos and loved on the people.  When she speaks, she exudes Jesus.  She laughs at everything I say.  I recognize that many times it is a pity laugh.  Nonetheless, I am thankful.  Loves, B.

So that was my weekend.  I want to do it all over again.  It was that good.  I love processing life with those girls.  Because of that, many revelations were had.  Revelations to come later.

As for this week, I will enjoy my break. 
All week. 
I will sleep. 
I will clean. 
And I will (gag) lesson plan.  But not today.

I will end with one of our inside jokes from the weekend (I know all but 4 of my readers will not understand this.  I kinda promise it won't happen again.  It's just that funny.  To us.).

ME:  In our small group, we're studying Philip Yancey's....
JES:  Bwahahahahah!
ME:  Hmm?
JES:  Oh, I thought that was your "Heidi" way of saying Philippians. 

Humor me.  Say "Philip Yancey" like you would say "Philippians."  You can't NOT laugh. 

Have a happy Monday!