Girls Do The Grove
There's something hard put to words when it comes to all things motherhood and family. Like a gigantically powerful, all encompassing vortex, the life as wife and mom consumes you. You ask that it will. You hope for it too. Any job worth doing is worth doing well, right? Get in. Wear it like a pro. Own it. These are just a few of my mission statements when it comes to life as Mrs. Cobble and mother to Eli and Casey. I want nothing left on the floor when the buzzer of my family blasts its last-seconds' blare.
You see, I'm an Aries. Passion and full throttle are my breathing. I tend to sweat enthusiasm even. Emotions are fully charged. Aries are typically high octane operators with blinders. So fixated are they on the pursuit of the passion, they, oftentimes, lose sight of the bigger picture. Jackson Browne's "Running On Empty" is our theme song. The Aries will suck life from the fumes of self only to push more.
And you know what? God loves the Aries enough to give them brilliantly beautiful people. People who know pace and believe in the power of rest. Fortunate am I to have these kinda peeps in my life. Well past the life of Pampers and temper tantrums, I am neck deep in the role of raising young boys, running a small custom designing business, emotionally supporting my head football coach husband, homeschooling and honing in on my writing dreams. You could say this Aries has answered the clue phone a time or two to hear the automated message of S L O W D O W N followed by "friends are the key to forever well." I have. And, I am heeding these words. For there's something cosmic and centered in friendships. These relationships outside of home's 4 walls not only encourage and strengthen our daily walk, but they also remind us of the absolutely beautiful power of helping someone else live more authentically.
Authentic living was restored this past weekend at the Grove Park Inn. Allow me to share with you some of the wonderful details.
I mentioned my prep for this trip in this post. To say I was excited is a HUGE understatement. The company I kept for this weekend are CAP LOCK go-getters. We have been friends for over 16 years. Oh, the stories I could tell. From sleeping in cars at the beach, to pizza rolls & taxi cabs to personalized black magnetic tape tank tops, to Tim McGraw & Kenny Chesney and then welcoming a sweet Stella Grace, these ladies and I know a time capsized in some kinda awesome.
The weekend began with heavy hits. Talks of love and life and journeys unknown with anticipation mixed with realness. Being fully present in another person's story is powerful. It's where hope takes human form if you ask me. Time was preciously spent inside this room with eyes steady on one another and with hearts open for giving and receiving too. Laughter and tears are a glorious concoction.
k.Mac had to do a little spoiling. It's true.
I loved being able to dote on these ladies that stick like Velcro to my heart. A round of Troubadour necklaces and Sunshine For The Soul Candles were well received. Kristen surprised us all with By Boe initial pendants too.
Dinner at the Inn left us with full bellies, worked-over hearts and ready to enjoy a day at the spa.
Here I am right before my very first massage. EVER.
Remember what I said about sweating enthusiasm? It's an Aries truth. Just.look.at.my.face.
The remainder of the day was spent. No appointments. No gotta get theres. But filled it was. With togetherness, laughter and stories reminisced upon and shared. We relaxed in the out-of-this-world February sunshine in a setting so serene and breath taking.
We utilized every amenity from the plunge pool hot tub to the sauna and waterfall jacuzzi. No relaxation stone was un-turned on this weekend jaunt. Wrinkled fingerprints and rested toes were the proof.
Our second evening there resembled much of the first. This shot above was taken from the window of our room.
Together. Rested. Real. This tranquil escape was an investment in the quality of us as individuals and the collective. It was the reset button for us all. The post-it note reminder that hope is traded and exchanged in times of uncertainty. That joy can be celebrated as life lends itself out. That through our differences, we all breath His air. An air clean & pure. Steady for the rush of the minutes-turned-years and genuine in the pursuit of our dreams.
Our journey is to breath. Breath deeply the bitter and the bones. The beauty and the bounty too. It's our oxygen each step of the way. What we make of it is our path. Thankful I am for CAP LOCK go-getters. For over 16 years of stories. For the black magnetic tape tanks tops and the celebration of Stella Grace. For the prayers. For the laughter. For the hilariousness of fountain dancing in neon yellow mini skirts. For what we have become is where we have been. Always.
The girls did the Grove,
.mac :)