WEEKENDS ARE MY FAV!

I spent the weekend having entirely too much fun! On Friday when I got off work, I pit stopped in Newport Beach for coffee with my newest cousin Bree (she married my cousin Tyler in January and looked absolutely stunning!). I loved every second of our time together - just sitting across from her while sipping on an iced coffee and learning her heart. I think we really could be great friends and I’m so excited to see what comes next for the Swope cousins! We have never been particularly close - but maybe this is our time! From there I hit the road for San Diego for a weekend at “home”. My mom had dinner ready when I arrived and my Grandma (who is a total rockstar at 98) and my Aunt Sandy were there to enjoy the meal together as well. We just chatted and it was an easy, calm, enjoyable little evening with family.

Saturday was my favorite day of the weekend for sure! SO MUCH FUN! I spent the entire day with my lifelong best friend Anna and her family. I walked into her house at 11:30am and there was a happy birthday banner hanging in the kitchen (it just might have been the banner we made together for Adelynn’s 1st birthday - LOVE that dual functionality and sharing ANYTHING with Adelynn) along with some fun champagne flutes on a darling platter and a gift waiting for me (ps Anna is the BEST wrapper - we believe in Costco ribbon and paper, but she has a special flare for making it look special!). It was so sweet of her to want me to feel special and celebrated - love her heart for me - what a treasure! Our first adventure was Liberty Station for lunch where we had the most delicious sandwiches from Con Pane (according to Anna they’re the BEST SANDWICHES IN THE WORLD) and then watched Adelynn run around and just took in the beautiful day. It was so delightful outside, so soaking it in and being able to just laugh at Adelynn’s antics felt like utter perfection. Adventure 2 was some whirlwind shopping. While Adelynn pretended to nap (they are now officially a 1 nap family) Anna and I grabbed my mom and then hit TJ Maxx and Kohls. We found a few really cute things from the Lauren Conrad line (forever love The Hills) and then dropped my mom back off at home. Adventure 3 was dinner at URBN - a delicious pizza place with tons of vibe. We ate and laughed and they sang to me over the free chocolate chip cookie sandwich (it was no pizzookie, but a valiant effort for sure). As Adelynn started to totally lose it, we headed home to get her bathed and in bed and then finished our day with Adventure 4 - pajamas, champagne, and a game of Mexican Train. By 9:30 we were all headed to bed (we’re in our 30’s after all) and I just laid there thinking about the ridiculous blessing of friendship. I know I go on and on about it so I won’t say it again now, but the Lord gave me a tremendous gift in Anna Rae and I do not take that lightly. 

Sunday we woke up and had coffee and bagels while watching Adelynn play - she is the happiest girl in the morning and her smile is one of my favorite views in the world. By 8:30am we were all ready for church and out the door. There is something deeply moving about worshipping at the church I grew up in, the church I watched become. The people are truly family and it really does feel like HOME. After church Anna and I hugged and said goodbye - and then I headed to coffee - the Sunday morning tradition. I love it. Then I had lunch with mom and we headed out for some more shopping. Very soon it was time to hit the road to head north but I made one more pit-stop before pulling into my garage. My very first friend from college, Lisa, was in town from Arizona so we had coffee and cheesecake together in Riverside - our old stomping grounds. It wasn’t anything extravagant or extraordinary, but it was so good to just be us, sitting across the table from one another, laughing and chatting about normal life - in our 30’s - and how great it is to STILL be doing it together.

Now it’s Monday and I’m back at work (and begrudgingly I might add). Life feels heavy and slightly overwhelming. My head is pounding and won’t let up. I need way more coffee because I didn’t sleep a wink last night thanks good ol’ broken brain. BUT I had a beautiful weekend, so I’m holding tight to joy, and choosing to sing praises and live in gratitude. Won’t you join me?