Women of Faith-2014

This weekend was absolutely perfect. 

Women of Faith was amazing, the weather was incredibly awesome, lots of sunshine and warmth. 

The Minnesota falls colors didn't disappoint us. 

The shopping, food and coffee was in abundance and the friendship strengthened and made even sweeter. 

I was most looking forward to just "being" this weekend and that exactly what I did. 

There was no rushing. 

No hurrying. 

No agenda. 

We just "were" and it delighted and refilled my soul. 

I loved St. Paul and the personal tour I got of it from Christi. 

I am beyond thankful for our husbands who made it possible for us to be away for three full days. 

You men have blessed us and we are incredibly thankful for your sacrifice, too. 

My boys said, "we really missed you mom but we also had A LOT of fun with dad this weekend doing dad things." 

Really, this weekend couldn't have gotten any sweeter. 

We really felt The Lord's hand over us all weekend.

We started our trip with, well coffee of course then stopped here. It's the most amazing store and they were decorated for Christmas!!! Eeeekkkk!!!

Friday night's session started at 7. 

The next morning the session started at 9am. After we hit up a Starbucks we were ready for the day. I couldn't help but be amazed at the beauty of the St Paul cathedral.

For lunch, we along with four thousand other women ate at Cossetta's. It was AMAZING!

The weather was incredible for mid-October. We ate OUTSIDE in the sunshine.

After lunch we headed back to the conference. Matthew West performed and he was awesome! Loved his songs and inspiration.

After the conference the sun was still shining so I begged Christi to take me to see some big, fancy houses. She didn't disappoint! The most amazing homes on the most amazing, tree lined streets. I felt recharged just driving down these streets! 

After our drive around St Paul we headed back to our hotel to change shoes so we could hit up IKEA. I caught this picture as we were headed away from St Paul.

Stunning sunset!

IKEA!

Sunday morning we slept in, ate breakfast at the hotel then leisurely made our way to the St Paul Farmers Market. Once again, it didn't disappoint. The most beautiful fruits, vegetables and flowers. The bouquets smelled like Heaven and were SEVEN DOLLARS! Did you hear me?! $7!!!!

Then we headed over to the Black Dog Cafe where we sipped coffee and got to know each other on a deeper level. It really was just what I needed.

After downtown St Paul we headed to a mall for some shopping, then to Trader Joe's. That store is a dream of mine. They had a billion pumpkin items. I picked up a pumpkin cheesecake and as soon as I got home at 9pm my family ate half of it over lots of weekend catching up. 

I really am so thankful for this weekend. I haven't had a girls weekend in a few years and this was PERFECT! I'm really not sure what could have made it any better?! 

Thanks Christi for coming with me and taking me to all your favorite St Paul places. 

Let's do it again next year, yes? Please? Pretty please? 

This?

The other morning as I was driving home from dropping my boys off at school I started thinking, Is there more to this life than this? Instantly my heart swelled and I felt an overwhelming sense of YES! This IS the life you were made and chosen for. To be the best mother and wife you can be. To be there, present, every morning before school and every day after school. To drop them off and pick them up from school. To travel to away football games. To teach them about our Savior and His sacrifices. To make sure they've got clean laundry. To make sure they have food to eat. To involve them in cooking, cleaning and living. To teach them manners. To make mistakes and ask for forgiveness. To be an encourager, to be humbled, to teach them how to love and be loved. THIS is the life and I am so incredibly blessed by every dirty, stinky sock I wash, for every wet towel I find on the floor and for every hug and "I love you mom" I get! I am thankful for my hubby and how hard he works for our family so that I can live this life that I never, ever thought I'd be living but am so very thankful for. I love my little family. Thank you Heavenly Father for making it so very clear to me when I started to doubt this life and my meaning. I was created to be right where I am, right now. 

Proverbs 31:27-28 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of the idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

I don't claim to have it all together, but I am grateful for what I am able to give 

and strive everyday for it to be my very best.