This weekend was a great weekend.
And in true ‘I had an awesome weekend’ fashion, I took almost zero pictures. Well, no photos with my fancy camera. Of course I took the required 8 iPhone pictures, because obviously, that’s what 20-somethings bloggers do.
Our weekend started on Friday evening when the Husband and I picked up 2 friends and took off to New Buffalo, Michigan. Well, I guess this is where the lies start (and end, I think) because we didn’t actually go to New Buffalo, but we went to some town really near there and I can’t remember the name of it. Actually, in my defense, the family who owns the house doesn’t know its real address – so I’m not the only one who had no idea where they were for an entire weekend.
After waiting in an obscene amount of Chicago traffic and making the required Wendy’s stop in Chesterton, Indiana, we ended up at this gorgeous house in Michigan. The house is owned by our friend’s parents – and let me just say, I’m very thankful to be friends with someone whose family owns a vacation house.
The house is located on a dune in Michigan and is literally right next to the lake.
Words can’t describe the peacefulness.
Well, I should stop here and say that the reason we went on this getaway (with 10 friends) was for our small group retreat. The purpose of the weekend was to strengthen our relationships with God, our spouse, and our community.
So of course the first thing we do is play “The Newlywed Game” which I was sure would cause at least the Husband and I to break up. We weren’t the only couple fighting during the game though, thank goodness. OK, I shouldn’t say fighting, but there were some heated discussions going on.
“DO YOU NOT KNOW ME AT ALL?!” was uttered more than once throughout the night.
The purpose of this game was to determine which room each couple would sleep in. The winners got the master bedroom while the losers got air mattresses.
Strangely (or maybe not so strangely?) the couples who were married the least amount of time won (the Husband and I) and the couples who had been together the longest ended up on bunk beds and air mattresses.
We figured this actually made sense, because the couples who had been together the longest had no idea where their first date was or related events. Actually, they all thought they knew, but were in general disagreement about the exact order of events and where they occurred. Too bad for them, but I wasn’t feeling too badly when I was lounging on our king-sized bed.
Anyway, the Husband and I woke up each morning in the master bedroom, which overlooked the beach and Lake Michigan. We kept the heat going so we could crack open the windows and hear waves.
There is nothing more peaceful than that.
There were so many highlights of the weekend, but I mainly enjoyed hanging out with our little community and walking along the beach and spending some solitary time on the beach with my Bible and journal.
Also, the food was delicious. Each couple was in charge of one meal and no one disappointed.
I would have pictures of the food, but you best believe I devoured that stuff without even a thought of waiting the extra 5 seconds to snap a picture. Just rest assured that it was beautiful and delicious. There was chili and lasagna and breakfast casseroles and stuffed french toast.
Then on Sunday the trouble started. Everyone stayed at the lake house for a few additional hours to watch some football games and this is when my weekend got a whole lot more stressful. (Sorry for this random football rant, but it needs to happen.)
Chicago Bears – really?! Cutler has a groin injury and our defense decided to wave a white flag. Please start showing up to play the game. Thanks.
Miami Dolphins – I KNEW I SHOULDN’T HAVE PICKED YOU IN MY SURVIVOR LEAGUE! I’m now out of the damn competition and this makes me really, really unhappy. What makes me the most unhappy is that I had originally picked the Chargers (who won) and second guessed myself and picked Miami with the help of some men who I thought knew what they were talking about. The odds just didn’t go in my favor. Not that I’m blaming anyone… (but I totally am, because I prefer not to blame myself for most things.)
Denver Broncos – I really wanted Peyton to win in Indy and I guess it wasn’t meant to be! But I’m glad I watched the game, because I totally teared up when the crowd acknowledged Manning in the beginning of the game. What a class act he is, and props to Indianapolis fans for being class acts, too! Sports can be so good for the soul, and after a rough football day (for me) I loved seeing the great side of sports.
Well, back to my weekend… the Husband and I drove back to Chicago and ate some leftovers and promptly fell asleep on the couch while watching the Broncos and Colts play. I know I had a good weekend when I fall asleep on the couch before 10pm. Of course the Husband then had to wake me up to try to convince me to go to my actual bed, and after throwing a tantrum (yep, like an 8 year old) I agreed to head upstairs and put pajamas on and go to bed.
Am I the only one who gets so tired that I convince myself there is no better place to sleep than on the couch in full clothing? Props to the Husband for succeeding to move me at all.
And now after a full night’s sleep (and a coffee), I’m ready for the week ahead of me! There are going to be some great things happening, I just know it.
(And in case you’re wondering, Oz enjoyed his weekend, too. He was at human-grandma’s house with his BFF).
Cheers to new beginnings!
