Bra Burning and Picnics

Last weekend, I had the much-needed and blessed opportunity to spend the weekend on Canyon Lake, outside Austin, with some of the most wonderful women I know. The so-called "Wedding Angels", some of the women who helped most significantly with my wedding, gathered at the lake house of Mrs. Terri Reed to celebrate the big even being behind us and the relationships that had grown during the process. For me, it was much needed for three reasons: 1. I hardly had the opportunity or focus to really spend time with any of these women the week/weekend of the wedding. 2. I definitely needed to get away from Fort Worth and the things going on at work and, 3. It had been too long since I got some girl time, especially with my mama. Right now, since B and I came to Houston to go to the Rodeo with my parents, I am currently spending quality "girl time" with my mother by camping out with my coffee and computer on the patio watching my mom play in the dirt, aka garden and tend to potted plants.

If only the blogging were as pleasant as the experience being blogged about. I want to write about the weekend and how refreshing, encouraging and rejuvenating it was, so that you can feel just a little bit refreshed and rejuvenated, but even typing it wears on me. It's hard to bring someone back in time with you to rest in that weekend through the typed word. Alas, I will try, if for no other reason than to record it so that I will not forget. Mind you, my leather-bound journal sits next to me on top of The Economist by my coffee, because blogging just isn't enough!

Branson and I arrived at the BEAUTIFUL lake house very late Friday night. I had to practically drag him along with me because he was so desperate to see our friend George and get some guy time, but the ladies just really wanted to get some time with the two of us. Branson went promptly back downstairs to our room to read Donald Trump, while I caught up with the women upstairs. The fun really began on Saturday morning, when Branson, my mom, Ms. Davlyn and I all drove in to downtown Austin to protest the education budget cuts at the State Capitol. It was even better than I had imagined it would be. There were over 11,000 people protesting, it was a beautiful day and I saw some fantastic signs...some of which made sense and some of which did not make sense. We hollered and got dotted-which means we were counted, by being given a sticker dot. My favorite sign was a white flag waving with an apple painted on it and the words "Come and Take It" emblazoned across the top, which I thought was wonderfully clever. I could have stayed there all day, camped out on a blanket, shouting against the government. But we had shopping to do. So we had a fantastic lunch at Opal Divine's, where the music was too loud but authentically Austin, then fought against the ridiculous Austin traffic (did I mention this was the first day of SXSW) to drop Branson at George's, then headed to the Outlet Mall to meet the other girls.

We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping at the Outlet Mall, which in my opinion is never quite as cheap as I need it to be, then saw the incredibe dam at Canyon Lake, and had a hilarious photo shoot in my car. We were trying to get a picture of all of us kind of in the MINI, by balancing the camera on a trash can with a timer. I couldn't get my head high enough, Angie's face looked like someone on a roller coaster, Lauren's legs were sticking out and my mom and Davlyn were hiding behind the car, trying to look like they were in it. It was priceless and the photos are great. My favorite part of the weekend, though, was Gruene, Texas, which we got to visit twice.

Saturday night we went out to dinner in Gruene, ate outside on a beautiful night and I had some DELICIOUS fish tacos, which I discovered as a delicious alternative on Lent, and then went antique shopping in the best antique store I've ever been in. I found a beautiful sterling silver cross necklace and perfect little stoneware bean pot, in mint condition, the need for which Branson just could not wrap his mind around.

Sunday, we slept in and had breakfast and coffee on the porch. It was my favorite kind of day, with clouds and a cool wind. We had intended to go out to the dam for worship, then go kayaking, but were waiting for the sun to come out. The sun persistently refused to make an appearance, so we gave in and drove to the dam anyway. We hiked down to the lake front and had an intimate worship service down there with my homemade unleavened bread and Lauren's adorable four year old girl protesting each song choice, which was hilarious. We had to sing quietly so as to appear less like a cult, but it was a moving worship service nonetheless. Then we went to Gruene again for my favorite part of the weekend. We found a perfect little picnic table hide away on the patio of Gruene Mansion Inn because Angie knew the owner. So we had a picnic with a lovely German wine and delicious fruits and cheeses, while we listened to the bands play and watched everyone around us celebrating a lovely weekend. The sun had finally made its appearance. We did some more shopping in the adorable little shops in the area then, sadly, headed out. I am now determined to make a trip back and stay in a cottage with the Gruene Mansion Inn at my earliest convenience.

That night I tried a new recipe of coconut crusted tilapia, with an apricot mustard sauce, asparagus and a spinach salad, which was delicious and fresh. I will be uploading pictures and the recipe for that soon. We stayed up late having girl talk, I loved getting to know Lauren, who did my wedding flowers, even better and getting time to be still and be grateful. We vented about bosses and men and kids and it is so very encouraging to me to have women like this in my life who have lived such wonderful, Godly lives with their husbands. I look forward to so many more weekends like this in the future, especially with those who could not be there this time. I am so very blessed to have so many "mothers". So thank you all for this heavenly weekend away, for the encouragement and for all that you did to make my wedding happen the way it did. I could not have done it without you.

K