Whew, dreaming can be exhausting. A lot of work. Climbing mountains. As I do most Tuesdays, I link up with Holley Gerth’s God-sized dream team here to talk about our dreams and how to achieve them. But I LOVED Holley’s prompt for today – she said, “take some time to play, and then tell us about it.” Have we forgotten to have fun? Y’all, I am ready to have some fun.
So……..I’m not going to tell you about fun that I had (though I did have an absolute blast with my entire family at the zoo on Sunday!), but I’m going to tell you about some fun I’m planning this weekend. I turn 40 this year. As do a ton of my friends. My best friend from law school turned 40 in February. My birthday is in September. So for a couple of years we’ve planned a joint couples trip to the California wine country to celebrate in April. Why the wine country? Well, we went together in law school and had a blast, but we were broke. Really broke. It was a ton of fun, but we wanted to experience the wine country at a little nicer end of the spectrum. Plus, it’s gorgeous and we both love wine. But, turns out, they had a conflict when it came time to plan at the end of 2012. And, it also turns out, I’m celebrating my seven year wedding anniversary with my husband in two weeks. After wondering what to do, we just decided to make it an early anniversary trip, early 40th birthday trip for me, and go anyways.
Guess who is not going to be a mommy with three year old triplets in tow for a few days? That’s right, MOI! I’m sitting here typing this with travel books spread out and maps of the area. We’re staying at a lovely inn nestled in the heart of Russian River Valley. Big oversized four poster bed, fireplace, and Jacuzzi tub. Decadent breakfasts off the patio. A rental convertible to tool down to Healdsburg vineyards and into the heart of Sonoma if we decide to leave the valley. Dinner reservations at sunset on Bodega Bay. Maybe a hike through the redwoods. A massage. The kind of trip you only get once every ten years. The kind of trip you never get with young kids. My dream trip. Friends, this is the weather forecast:
I loved the permission I got from Holley to revel in this break, “You and I are made for joy. We are also made for happiness, fun, laughter and enjoyment. We don’t serve a taskmaster. We serve a good and faithful Father who finds delight in His children receiving His gifts. So let’s open our hands, our hearts, our lives a little wider to what He wants to freely give us today. What do you truly enjoy that may not seem “spiritual” at all?”
This trip doesn’t seem very spiritual. I know I could do a lot of good building water wells in third world countries with this money. I am mindful of that. I also am incredibly grateful that I’ve been given the rare opportunity and the wherewithal to take a few days to escape. No work deadlines. No middle of the night bed creepers. No throwing together dinner in 10 minutes and then eating it in less time than it took to make. This trip is designed to be slow. Restful. Delicious. Secluded. Restorative. And I’m hoping it’s just going to be a lot of fun.
Can you take the time to go play a little today and remember that dreaming is supposed to be fun too.
Happy birthday and happy anniversary! What a great and wonderful trip. Have loads of “fun”.
Thanks so much Maggie – I’m just counting down……
It sounds fantastic, friend…I hope it’s full of wonderful memories! Enjoy every second! 🙂
Thanks Mel – I’m ready for a break 🙂
Gindi- I love this so great! And we share the month of September for birthdays- mine is the 3rd. But I will be a wee over 40- lol. I pray for lots of fun and laughter and just pure JOY and REJUVENATION as well. Lots to celebrate- birthday, anniversary, publishing of a book! God is good-ALL the time! Love you!
Oh fun Page – I’m the 9th! Thanks for all your prayers, I’ll be praying for words for you this weekend dear one – it’s not too far off!
What fun! Have a great, guilt-free time!
Check out Robert Sinsky vineyard in Napa their premise is food and wine pairings. My daughter used to work in sales for them, she is now in Tasmania working the harvest.Last week she learned to drive the forklift, a good college education and a sense if adventure leads to one proud but head scratching mama. Love your blog.
Tasmania – wow! Thanks for the tip. And the kind words!
I hope you have a fabulous time! It sounds just wonderful. Happy early birthday:)
Hope you had a perfectly wonderful time. Wish we could have met up but it was neat just knowing you were that close. Can you imagine, my husband and I live just 2 hrs away from all that! We absolutely love that area and have been several times. Crazy how your once every 10 year trip is just a weekend getaway for us. We do not take it for granted! Next time you are around, let me know!
What an amazing area of the country to live in – and yes, I’m sorry I couldn’t meet up w/you but we were long overdue for some couple’s time 🙂 Would love to see you one of these days….