Surprise Holiday

It's been quite a while since I've been home and I still haven't gotten around to posting more details about my surprise birthday trip to the mountains! It's been a crazy week here (Next post I'll explain!)
Since so much happened, I'm going to do a day-by-day description.
Thursday:
My cousin Heidi and her family surprised me by showing up at my door! The funny thing was that Sam looked out the window just before they arrived and said, "Heidi's not here yet, Dad!" Trev somehow fluffed his way out of that one, but not twenty minutes later, Heidi appeared at my door! I cried! We sat and visited and then Heidi & I went for a drive/shopping trip on our own. It was so good to be able to visit with her, to be totally candid! We picked up pizza on the way home and not long after we ate, I got a call from my dear friend Kirsty, begging me to bring the kids over to play. I told her I had surprise company and wasn't sure how long they'd be able to stay, but Kirsty said to bring her along.... Odd, I thought... Heidi agreed immediately to go for a visit, stating she'd wanted to meet Kirsty for a long time.... Odder, I thought. We walked into Kirsty's house and I wandered into the living room (I tend to make myself at home over there) to discover another dear one, Melissa! I kind of missed the point up till now.... I didn't really realize that this was to be a party, I just assumed that Melissa and Tim had popped by, until Melissa whispered to me mid-hug that they were there for me! I sat down and began to relax (or at least tried to, talk about a day of surprises!) I'd 'relaxed' for maybe 10 minutes when I heard whispering in the front entry. Before I had a chance to ask Kirsty what's up, my Mom & my big sister Christi turned the corner. I couldn't believe it! I had asked Christi what she was up to that coming weekend and she didn't lie, but... LOL! Mom had been telling me that I needed to tell Trevor to let me go to Edmonton and that if he didn't feel up to it (he'd had minor surgery the day before) I should leave him behind and come anyway! I settle in again and start visiting with my vast array of darlings and my sister, Sheri walks in! Surprise after surprise! It was exciting and exhausting at the same time! My sister presents me with a card...
After the party breaks up, Ben & Heidi jump in their van for the 4 - 5 hour drive home.... They made the drive for just a few hours of visiting! Thank you Werdals! It meant the world to me!
We (meaning my sisters, my mom, my hubby, my kids & I) head home and I start packing. I don't think I got more than a few hours of sleep that night... SO EXCITED!

Friday:

I woke up and was ready to go before anyone else was! I honestly thought I'd be upset about leaving my kids and Trev (and so did everyone else) but it was no problem. We jumped in Mom's CRV and off we went. We made the drive to Canmore in really good time and stopped for lunch at a little bistro downtown. We headed to the hotel after eating so that we could check in and so I could dig out my camera. I wasn't willing to do very much without my camera. The hotel suite was beautiful!

I wish you could have seen/experienced the wonder I felt when I saw those mountains. I was raised in Sundre, AB, so I had a good view of the mountains from the kitchen window of my childhood home. My grandparents lived in B.C. and in order to get there, we'd drive right through the center of them! Mountains were not a new concept for me. But it's been more than 7 years since I've seen them and I honestly felt like a 'mountain virgin'....

Anyway, back to the fun. We wandered and window-shopped and shopped the afternoon away and it was time to eat. I was hungry but no one could settle on a place to eat... Sheri had us wandering down Main Street one direction and then we had to turn around and go back the other way! We stepped into a beautiful furniture shop to warm up and Christi disappeared, saying she was just going to pop into the washroom. You have to understand, I'm not pleasant when I'm hungry.... Even when I'm having the time of my life! Christi FINALLY emerges and we head back outside to find a suitable restaurant. Wandering, wandering... And I hear my name being shouted from somewhere behind me! Up walks my younger brother Mark and my sis-in-law, Danielle! My sisters and mom were stalling until Mark & Danielle could catch up with us. We all walked together (to the other side of town, go figure) to The Quarry, a bar/grill type establishment. Sidenote: If you visit The Quarry, stay away from the ribs and the chicken! All 6 of us headed back to our hotel to visit for a while before turning in... So nice to see Mark & Danielle by the way... They're about to have Baby Gracie & happened to be on a final adult get-away in Banff at the same time

Saturday:

We decided pretty much as soon as we were up to get ready and get on the road... Okay, I decided that's what we were going to do!We jumped in the car and headed on the highway towards Banff. We exhibited our adventurous side by deciding on a whim to drive out to Lake Louise (after getting our Starbucks fix in Banff of course!) I've never been to Lake Louise and it took my breath away! We walked outside as long as we could and then headed in to tour the hotel so we could warm up. What an ostentatious and ornate place! We sat for a few minutes (they visited, I stared outside like a tourist) and then we went back out to walk. We made it back to Banff in time for a late lunch and some afternoon shopping.

Supper on Saturday was a hilarious gong show. We stopped at a Boston Pizza when we got to Canmore and placed a delivery order for 7... At 8, it finally showed up wrong and ice cold! To be fair though, the delivery driver was obviously embarrassed and sorry for the mistakes. He went to bat for us, getting us new pizza, dessert, & $15 cash back. We spent the evening enjoying ridiculous girly talk & so much laughter.

Sunday:

Final day of relaxation, of no responsibility, of quiet, of being without my beloved & the two little loves of my life. We ate a leisurely breakfast and headed out for one last hike on a little path through Canmore. We had coffee & stopped at a store so that I could buy the one thing that both caught my eye & would serve to remind me of the joy I felt that weekend.

It's been several weeks & little details have escaped me, but there were a few moments and just general feelings that I remember most clearly.

I was moved nearly to tears several times over the weekend because my sisters and my mom took time out of their schedules to plan and execute a trip simply because of me... I know and have always known that all three of them love me so much, but I've never felt like I fit in with them. This weekend made me realize that regardless of age, financial situation, location just being family creates a love and acceptance that I've never felt.

On the drive to and from Lake Louise, we stumbled into serious conversations and we each treated each other with kindness and respect. I have a genuine desire to learn from all three of these women things that they have done right with their kids, how to best relate to our husbands, how to accept who we are... They are chalk-full of wisdom!

Listening to music, especially Bart Millard. It made me think of my childhood, listening to Sheri & Christi sing, but being too young to join in... All 4 of us sang old hymns together & praised God together. Music is so important to me and it's something that I have in common with each of them. I happen to be listening to him right now!

Anyway, thanks to each of my 'surprisers.' You were just who I would have asked to be involved had I planned it myself. I love each and every one of you and I thank you so much for loving me!