Have you ever had one of those days, or weekends, that feels right out of the pages of the Bible when it talks about the "long day"? I swear I think the days of this past weekend were at least double the length - or maybe that is just because I didnt sleep very much or very well any of those nights!

Friday afternoon/evening was our church's annual Women's Retreat! I was on the committee this year which meant showing up early to help set up, get things looking pretty, and generally help out wherever needed. IT was such a nice night! It is always fun to see my friends from church, hang out with the ladies, laugh, eat and just catch up with some wonderful friends! My new best friend (I am certain we were separated at birth... or at least our husbands were!!) was there with her mom, aunt and sister in law.. so I got to meet them and get to know them a little better!!

Around midnight I went home and cleaned house for about an hour... (after all, hubby had been home with the kids all night ALONE...) before falling into bed. 6am came REALLY early. I had to wake the kids up and drive 3.5 hours to get to NY for a bridal shower that started at noon! Coffee in cup holder, we set out on our second busy day. I must admit, I was not looking forward to this trip... not because I didnt want to support my future sis-in-law, but because I was missing the second day of the retreat in order to drive 7 hours round trip to get there and back (with 4 kids, through NYC, etc.).  We arrived, girls jumped into dresses, I re-did my hair and make up, and off we went to the shower while the boys stayed home at the in-laws with their uncles for the afternoon. The shower was very pretty, looooooong, but pretty.

After the shower we went back to the in-laws house to play with the kids in the yard (it was a gorgeous day!) and I decided to try to call a substitute to teach my Sunday school class the next morning so I didnt have to jump RIGHT back into the car to drive 3.5 hours home!!! I did find a sub and I was able to stay there that night and have girls-night watching Enchanted and staying up TOO late AGAIN!!

Sunday morning again, came too soon!! I crawled out of bed at 7 and began rounding up our supplies to head home. I made a trip to a local bagel place to get breakfast for all the kids and a dozen to take home to hubby, then came back to the house to try to convince the kids to eat fast enough for us to get on the road by 8. Then 8:15. Then I was begging to be in the car by 8:30! Finally we said our goodbyes, got into the car to leave, and we were on our way home. After missing my final exit in PA and driving a good 20 miles out of the way to get home, we arrived back home around 11:45. We ran inside, I changed clothes really quickly... then hubby jumped in the car with all of us and we went to go buy a gift for my friend's son's birthday and went to the party!!

The party started at 1pm... we hung out over there with her family so long that everyone else left and we had to figure out what to make for dinner! The hubbies went to the grocery store and we made a lovely meal for everyone. That was the most relaxing and fun part of my weekend! I just love hanging out with couple friends that we have so much in common with!

So today I am EXHAUSTED... I cant believe it was only ONE weekend!

I have to write about my driving in NYC experience soon... I love it when I am able to see God's provision for our family in very CLEAR ways and this was just amazing! (How's that for a teaser!?)