Myrtle Beach

Noteworthy because this was my first time ever spending a night without Ellison EVER! I got to go on a great retreat weekend in Myrtle Beach with a group of women that I love. There were a couple of our ladies missing from the weekend, but all of us have been in a couple of Bible studies over this past year together. We've learned so much, not only spiritually, but about each other. Though the weekend wasn't quite what some of us thought it would be, I absolutely loved my time with them! I missed my sweet baby girl (and sweet hubby, too) to pieces, but it was great to feel "refreshed". The days leading up to this weekend had me feeling very weary and worn-out as a parent. Though parenting is such a joy, there are times when you just feel like you need to be "refilled" so you can keep going. I felt like I was running on empty the week before. Perhaps because Ellison seemed to be particularly challenging with tantrums and naughtiness, or perhaps because I had been going on 2 1/2 yrs without a real "break". At any rate, it was just what I needed, and I was so excited to get back to being Mommy. I thought Ellison would come running up to me when I arrived home. Didn't quite happen that way. She saw me, shouted, "Mommy!" and without even catching her breath said, "What surprise did you bring me?". Yeah, um, I'm pretty sure she missed me...

For some reason, I only took 2 pics the whole weekend. The weather was so perfect!
Eating lunch at "Cheeseburger in Paradise" before heading back home to reality:

Karen, Nancy, me, Jill, Lauren, and Caralynn.

[April 24-26]