I went on the women’s retreat with my church this weekend. It was crazy bad timing…one kid had pink eye, the man was to leave town right when I got back, we are moving in a week. You know. Life is happening. If I hadn’t already paid for it, I may not have gone.
Besides that, I was asked to officially be the unofficial photographer for the weekend. Which is kind of obscure and intimidating. I’m not so crazy about taking photos of people I don’t know and it just wouldn’t be cool to have 200 pictures of the women in my small group. Who, by the way, were awesome.
Here they are, posing for a group photo. Women get crazy when we are together for a whole weekend at the beach with no men or children. Or laundry. As you can see, it was easy to get some good shots of this group. My concern was getting enough shots of the women I don’t know.
One opportunity came Saturday afternoon while hanging on the beach with a friend. I noticed some women from our group that I hadn’t gotten photos of yet.
They were relaxing, talking, bathing in the sun near us. I hated to do the whole Hey y’all! I know you don’t really know me that well, but don’t you want to pose for my camera in your bathing suits? I thought the best I would get would be a couple of half-hearted smiles and a lot of groaning.
This is what I got instead.
I’ve never seen women jump up so fast. They were like middle schoolers.
They not only posed, they ran to the water to give me fun, action shots. It was awesome. Then, they did this.
I don’t think some of them have done a cartwheel in years. There were a couple more frames in the middle, but they aren’t the most family friendly shots if you know what I mean.
I had to share these, as it has had me laughing for a couple of days now. I just love how, when we are removed from the everyday, we give ourselves permission to be ridiculous and silly.
Wilson Ramblings says
April 28, 2008 at 9:53 PMthank you for being my ridiculously silly friend… and giving me permission to be the same.
His Girl says
April 28, 2008 at 10:14 PMthese pictures are AWESOME! makes me want to go on a girly trip early this year!
Regina says
April 29, 2008 at 5:02 AMOur girly trip isn’t until August. Now I feel like it is an eternity away. Some silly in my life would be good right about now.
Caroline says
April 29, 2008 at 6:19 AMIt is funny when removed from our everyday responsibilities, we can get in touch with our crazy side. I love how quickly it shows back up.
minnesotamom says
April 29, 2008 at 6:37 AMHilarious!
melissa says
April 29, 2008 at 7:08 AMi’m so glad that you “had” to go and have an absolutely wonderful time! it always seems like right before a trip like this, there can be a million and one reasons why to not go. but they are always so fun and refreshing. my favorite is that you got people to do cartwheels on the beach!!! i bet posing for your pics will be some of their favorite memories of the trip, too.
Jaelou says
April 29, 2008 at 8:28 AMAww those are awesome!
Brian and Staci says
April 29, 2008 at 9:26 AMIt IS so good to get away and be a “real person” and not a “mom”…if only for a few days! Sadly, I forget how to just have fun sometimes because I let “things” get in the way. Have you ever read the book by Nicole Johnson? It’s called The Invisible Woman. I just read an excerpt from it and am going to check it out ASAP. Sounds like a good one! I’m glad you had a great time!
Tracey says
April 29, 2008 at 1:25 PMThose girls are crazy.
I was commenting with Nester about how we don’t like to go away with people we don’t know…but you made this look fun.
Heather says
April 29, 2008 at 2:10 PMHow stinkin’ cute are those pictures!?!! What a fun group of girls.
Diane says
April 29, 2008 at 3:45 PMHysterical…i’m cracking up! The picture of the two women in the water doing a little jig just made me bust out laughing. So cute. What a great group.
Jaelou says
April 29, 2008 at 7:40 PMOooh no one has wished you happy birthday here. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🙂 Again.
Jennifer P. says
April 29, 2008 at 9:15 PMHey–I popped in to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY too! It wasn’t until I wrote a check today that I realized it was the 29th, ran home and checked my list of blogging buddies b.days–and sure enough saw it was YOUR DAY :)!
Hope you have an amazing year ahead full of blessings, pleasant surprises, and lots of holy in the mundane! You are awesome :)!
Brian and Staci says
April 30, 2008 at 4:17 PMHAPPY BIRTHDAY! If you lived close, I’d make you a cake! Hope you enjoyed your day!
Tonja says
April 30, 2008 at 6:13 PMA good dose of ‘silly’ can do wonders for your soul, can’t it!
Good for you!
Wilson Ramblings says
April 30, 2008 at 6:19 PMso I know you had your camera at your new “old” house yesterday and I’m dying to see the progress… any updates?
Mrs. Decker says
May 1, 2008 at 12:22 PMHappy belated Birthday! Girl weekends are the best…You don’t have to be “the adult” mom, wife, employee….you just get to be…well, a girl.
Kimba says
May 1, 2008 at 1:49 PMSo let me get this straight…
Your girls’ retreat was in April at a real hotel on the beach?
My last girls’ retreat was in November at a camp with real cabins in the woods. We slept in sleeping bags on our bunk beds and shared one huge bathroom.
Don’t get me wrong…It was spiritually uplifting and fun but I would LOVE to spend a weekend at the beach with a bunch of silly gals.
Man, I live in the wrong part of the country. 😉
Kim
Lisa says
June 4, 2008 at 10:31 PMI plan two retreats each year for our church ladies and love it! We go to Pigeon Forge and stay in a large cabin, but we do not share pictures. Our rule is “what happens in Pigeon Forge stays in Pigeon Forge”!!
We are silly to the extreme and we have the best bible studies. My oldest daughter has gone with us for two years now and it has been a special time for us as she is leaving for college in August.
Lisa Q
lifewiththequeens.blogspot.com