Looking Out on a Better Point of View

Every year as winter wears on into February, I start to feel a bit gray. I mean, at this point, we've only seen the sun for a handful of days in the past 2 1/2 months and there's really no end in sight -- regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil predicts. Springtime in the Inland Northwest is a wet and cloudy affair.

This year I decided to find my own Vitamin D in Mesa with two of my most favorite people. 

Oh! Glorious SUNSHINE! It was heavenly! 

Clancy and I flew into 75 degree Phoenix last Thursday to spend the weekend laughing our heads off with our beautiful friend, Lynsey, resident Arizonian. Clancy and I have been friends since Nels and I first moved to Idaho Falls in 2006. Lynsey and I have been friends since introduced in 2002 by our to-be husbands (Nels and Ben) - who were roommates at the time. Lynsey and Clancy became friends through blogging and facebook, via Moi, so this was the first time meeting for the two of them. Fun, fun! The three of us have been trying to plan this meeting for the past 2+ years - only to be interrupted by pregnancy, babies, and moving.

But oh boy! it was worth the wait!

Lynsey, Clancy, Me

Thursday, after flying in, we spent the afternoon getting to know Lynsey and Ben's three beautiful children and trying to acclimate to the 60 degree temperature shift. :) That evening we headed to a hotel so that we could stay up until 4:00 in the morning laughing and talking without Lynsey still having to play mommy.

The next afternoon was filled with shopping in Tempe. Gyros, hippie shops, Urban Outfitters, and thrift stores. No heavy coats or boots. Aaaaaahhhhhhh . . .

Friday evening, we met up with Andrea to eat dessert for the first time in a month! and cry our little eyes out watching Les Miserables. 

 These next pictures need no explanation for their awesomeness.

Saturday was a day full of Firsts.

First massage . . . WOW!

First hike in the Arizona desert. I'm in love!

We hiked up to a lovely stream running down through the warm rocks.

There are petroglyphs all over the area and I'm guessing that at least some of them are original --- many clearly were not. :)

First time eating at Cheesecake Factory. Yum!

Clancy is a first rate Cartwheeler.

First time ordering a drink in a bar --- a drink called Ice Water, for which one must show your ID to a crabby female bartender.

This is our friend Grayson that we met at the bar. I'm guessing one of the only mostly-sober people there at 1:00 in the morning. He had a hard time believing that we have 12 kids between the three of us, was born in the Virgin Islands, and has some serious skills singing Bob Marley.

And first time singing karaoke --- in said bar. Terrifying, exhilarating, and our purpose for being at a hole-in-the-wall bar in the middle of the night! Two things: it is ridiculously difficult to find anywhere to sing karaoke on a Saturday night AND I honestly thought that I was going to pass out from fear and adrenaline at one point. Thankfully we all survived our anxiety, the creepies in the parking lot, and the hilarity of being in a dive bar after midnight. :)

singing Queen's "Somebody to Love"

Pat Benetar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot"

and Clancy St. Crancy singing "Any Man of Mine" by Shania

Another "friend" HER name is Alex! :) She loved our song selection.

With two hours of sleep under our belts, we tearfully sent Clancy back to I.F. early Sunday morning and then spent the day napping, chatting, walking, and laughing at the Strader home. I'm so thankful that when Nels scheduled my flights he gave me one extra day. It was really, really great to get to spend some time with Dr. Benjamin! Both Lynsey and Ben have been two of mine and Nels's dearest friends over the years. I love them both so much and cannot wait to see them again.

The only thing that could have made the weekend better was if Nels had been able to be with us . . .

. . . particularly when, at about 10:00 at night we thought we heard a tomcat out in front of the house . . .

. . . only to discover that it was actually a drunk neighbor, who'd been stabbed repeatedly in the arm by his drunk father, crying for "help!" on the sidewalk!

No problem! First Responder Ben to the rescue with his sterile gloves and gauze . . .

. . . while the cops, firemen, and paramedics all looked on. LOL!

Oh, don't mind Ben . . . he's just bleaching a stranger's blood off the walkway . . .  WHAT?!

Monday morning dawned, having spent the entire night laughing and crying. Sleep deprivation at it's finest! My flight left at 6:25, while I desperately attempted to remain conscious enough that I could manage the 1 1/2 hour drive from the Spokane airport back to Sandpoint upon landing.

Thank you so much, Lynsey and Clancy, for an unforgettable and much needed weekend! You are two of the sweetest, funniest, and most fabulous women I have ever known and am so thankful to have you both! Thank you for loving and sharing so much with me. I have learned so many things that will help me be a better mother, wife, and Rachel.

And to Ben, Dustin, and Nels who all played Mr. Mom for the weekend to make this happen, we are forever in your debt!