It's all history now.

It seems like we plan and plan for special events and then the next thing you know... they're history. Memories.

What a fabulous visit I had with my BFA&F, Stephanie! We packed a lot into the visit but, as usual, the time went by much too fast.

Wednesday… After school, Kat and I dashed to the airport to meet Steph. I’m certain the other folks in the baggage claim that day had to wonder about us – we couldn’t stop hugging each other! From there, it was off to a Tex-Mex dinner at Ninfa’s, one of our favorite Tex-Mex restaurants. Ninfa’s is credited with being the restaurant that brought fajitas to the US. What else would be more appropriate for her first night in Texas?!

My discoveries/rediscoveries for the day:

• Our tastes are so similar. After more than two years of not seeing each other in person, we both showed up at the airport with the exact same nail polish on our toes and very similar flower designs painted on our big toes!
• We can both talk at the same time and still completely understand each other.
• We can finish each other’s sentences with astonishing precision.

Thursday… We skipped the original plan of attending my Bible study group (sorry, ladies!) and opted to stay in our jammies ‘til noon, drinking way too much coffee and catching up on things. Leftover Tex-Mex for lunch and then off for some shopping at the nearby outlets. Steph said she didn’t really need anything. Funny though, she found several “perfect” things that just had to be bought! Afterward, we picked up Burrito from his drum lesson and then headed over to watch the end of Kat’s cheerleading practice. Dinner was barbeque at home. That evening, Steph, Kat and I had a “girl’s night out” at a local ceramic shop. Steph and I both made a set of coasters and Kat made a light switch cover for her room. Very fun!

My discovery/rediscovery for the day:

• We already knew our daughters had similar looks. We discovered they also have almost identical personalities and habits. The next generation of BFA&F in the making!!!
  Friday/Saturday… We got the kiddos off to school then jumped in the car to head to Galveston. It was a nice day for driving and it gave us lots of time to catch up on things with no interrupted conversations. We arrived in Galveston in the afternoon and checked into our hotel. We decided to beat the dinner crowd and had an early dinner at Gaido’s, our favorite seafood restaurant.

Afterward, we drove to the west end so that she could see where we stay in the summer, the house we tried to buy (the deal fell through), and the beach we call “ours.” We walked off our dinner on “our” beach, collected seashells and snapped a few pictures along the way. Of course, we had to stop at some of the touristy souvenir shops on the way back to the hotel. The long drive, heavy dinner and walk on the beach meant an early bedtime and a good night’s sleep. I didn’t even hear the thunderstorm that Steph says rolled through in the early morning hours!

Saturday, we checked out of the hotel and headed to a quaint soda fountain for an early/light lunch. The hotel clerk recommended The Star Drug Store (billed as the oldest, continuously-operated drug store in Texas) near The Strand. From there, we spent the afternoon shopping at the various stores on The Strand. After a fun-filled day shopping, we headed to Casey’s for one last seafood meal before heading home.

My discoveries/rediscoveries for the day:

• We can sit in silence and enjoy it.
• We still laugh at the same jokes and laugh harder at the new ones we create.

Sunday… up early for church. It was nice to worship with Stephanie again. She knows my passion for women’s ministries and it was good for her to see where that happens for me now. We had planned to take the boat out in the afternoon but the weather didn’t cooperate with us. So, we headed for a nice lunch at Cheddars after church and then home to relax. Stephanie took her turn at jumping on Kat’s new trampoline. She’s still got the moves and I’ve got the pictures to prove it!

That evening, Steph and Kat worked on a new manicure. Steph had found a really neat nail art kit that she brought for Kat and she spent a good amount of time giving Kat a manicure and showing her how to use the kit. While they sat at the kitchen table doing nails, I prepared some of the food for the next morning.

My discoveries/rediscoveries for the day:

• It’s good to worship with people we love.
• Our daughters’ similarities were reinforced!
• Steph is a great mom/aunt!!!

Monday… I planned a brunch in Steph’s honor and invited all of my closest Texas friends. It was an opportunity for all of them to meet this woman they had heard so much about and had prayed for so many times. It was a time for Steph to put faces to the names she had heard about and to meet people she had also prayed for. What a fun morning it was! All but one neighbor and friend were able to attend. Nine ladies and three little kiddos spent the morning at my home enjoying food and fellowship. Thank you to all who attended and helped make Steph feel even more a part of my life here in Texas!

After the brunch, Steph and I headed to the craft store. We purchased cork to glue to the back of our new pottery coasters and beads to make earrings to match a necklace Steph had purchased in Galveston. Later, we headed out to watch another cheerleading practice and then home for a pasta dinner.

It was hard to go to bed that evening knowing that the next morning would be the end of her visit.

My discoveries/rediscoveries for the day:

• One glance between the two of us can equal a complete conversation.
• You can mix old and new friends with great success!

Tuesday… This day arrived all too quickly! Burrito didn’t have to be at school until noon, so he was able to join us for breakfast and was around to help load the heavy suitcases. We added a few pounds to her luggage with all the shopping we’d done! It was “that time” all too soon. We dropped Burrito off at the high school and headed to the airport. We sat in a coffee shop inside the terminal until the very last possible minute, getting in that last minute, oh-so-important conversation. It was hard to choke back the tears as I watched her go through the airport security checkpoint. Steph, thank you for coming here to visit me. I do love you so much and you are truly my best friend – always and forever!!!

My discoveries/rediscoveries for the day:

• When someone asks you if you’re decent and you're not, you better make sure your “no” sounds forceful enough or they’ll assume you’re fooling around and enter the room anyway. Seriously.
• We won’t let two years pass before doing this again! (We’re thinking about a fall trip to Virginia and want to include the daughters!)