Phantom, Retreat and Other Things

Phantom was incredible - the staging was absolutely AMAZING!! DH and I had a lovely night out. It's time to figure out another date night - it's so hard finding a babysitter though. We have managed two lunch dates since Phantom - that's nice, but an hour goes by fast.

This last weekend I went on the Women's Retreat with the church. The theme was "you matter more than you think." It was a lot of fun. I realized a few things about myself, and also didn't get a clear answer on something I wanted an answer on. I did meet a new friend though. It was video driven and the Saturday session was about having a "Friday Friends" group. Not a Bible study or an accountability group - just a group to be friends and to share struggles and to live authentically in a safe environment. I, however, do not trust women enough to take any 5 of the ones I currently know and try and start a group like that. I need 5 strangers. ;-) My new friend and I said we'd love to start a group - we just need 4 more women. Women of various ages, that go to various churches, that don't already know each other in some capacity. I'm going to start praying that God brings them into our lives. I share my innermost struggles with hardly anybody I know, I'd love to have a safe place to laugh and cry and not feel judged. We'll see.

I'm leaning towards us not going to Hawaii. It just keeps getting more expensive. Florida on the other hand keeps getting cheaper. DH wants to take a few smaller trips and not a big vacation. I don't mind a few smaller trips, but I have a hard time feeling like I'm rested and ready to go back home when we're only gone for a few days. I think because I manage to get away for the weekend here and there and he doesn't. So for him to get away for the weekend (or a weekend number of hours) is refreshing. We'll see. I'm not thrilled about Florida in August, but unfortunately I can't think of any other ideas. Anybody else have ideas for a family of 4 to go somewhere different and fun - airfare needs to be $300 or less from la - ?

It's Tuesday so I'm not in my office. I went to dd's class and did BFF and filed papers for the teacher. Then came home and worked on cleaning my house. It didn't seem to be too much of a disaster but there were so many piles everywhere that it took longer than I wanted. I sat down to have lunch and rest for a few minutes. I want to tackle my stairs - but for some reason I've been resisting that project for months and months and months. I'm hoping today is the day I can put it right.

Wish me luck.

74 days until my birthday. 85 days until vacation if I can figure out where we're going. 57 days until school is out for the summer.