A fun weekend!

Through the generosity of a co-worker's daughter and son-in-law and by the grace of God, I had a FANTASTIC weekend with some girl friends.

Let me preface this by saying that I do believe that it is important for women to just get away from the real world every now and then and enjoy each other's company. That's not to say that the same isn't true for men. My husband likes to go hiking in the woods with his friends, hunt, etc.

But, this is about ME!

So, my friend and co-worker arranged this fun weekend whereby she, another friend and co-worker and I spent the weekend on a lovely houseboat on Beavers Bend Lake in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. My friend's son-in-law owns the marina and treated us to this wonderful weekend.

We spent our weekend yaking, singing (loudly and badly),talking about our combined 15 children, watching movies, boating, tubing and EATING! It was a blast! Not only did I enjoy our beautiful surroundings, but I got to know these girls even better and we learned so much more about each other.

I love my girl friends. Not only the gals I spent the weekend with, but all of those special women in my life. Women just know how to communicate. Everyone brings a different perspective to situations and conversations. It's always interesting to hear what they have to say. Sometimes I'll hear a perspective that I hadn't thought of, sometimes I'll offer one that someone else hasn't thought of. To my way of thinking, girlfriends are arm chair psychologists sent to us by God.

I want to have a weekend like this every month! Truly I felt like a teenager again.

Don't get me wrong. We all said that it would be so much fun for our families to get together and go camping some weekend soon. We would all love that.

We have gone camping once or twice a year with family friends for years. I really do think that we, as a country, have gotten away from the basics of fun and the family.

It is FUN to play UNO in a tent with your childhood friends while your parents are outside cooking. It is FUN, as parents to grill steaks and cook dinner and yak while your kids are off with their friends.

It is FUN to be out in nature (even if set up and break down is taxing) every now and then. We come back EXHAUSTED, but happy.

So, adults of the world... enjoy your friends and family! Cherish your time together. Realize that a weekend in the woods is the exception, not the norm. Make the most of your time together!