Put a Cork In it!

It was a hot, quiet night in for Chrissie and Amira at Nick's apartment (Amira's bf who was away on a business trip) - where they'd trespassed to gain use of Nick's stove and DVR in order to watch the D minus film "Georgia Rule" with terrible plot lines, poor exposition, and hideous characters (not to mention the ridiculous wardrobe and false eyelashes sported by Lindsay Lohan). Still, the girls shamelessly wasted poor Nick's $3.00 pay per view selection while cooking dinner for each other and avoiding that "long walk" they'd flirted with the idea of earlier in the day.

Bruno, (Amira's fuzzy black & white Shitzu) takes the girl chatter in stride while scratching his bum.
"Bruno.. NOOO!" Says Amira over & over.
So instead he switches to starring obsessively at the one toy that is totally off-limits for him. "Not that one Bruno...here try this!"
But he'll have none of it pointing his nose in the air, exposing his under-bite and allowing it to settle into a slight snarl "he's smiling at you, I promise!" before continuing his previous cycle of scratching and toy-obsessing...

"So what shall we drink? White or Red?" Amira instinctively pulls out first a bottle of 2-buck Chuck Chardonnay and preps the corkscrew for action.
"Chardonnay? Hmmm. Does he have any Red?" Chrissie "suggests".
"I'll call him and see if we can open THIS one. It's made with Spanish grapes see?" Amira hands Chrissie the label on the much more "pricey" selection of Red. "I don't know what kind of grapes cuz it's all in Spanish.. but it's so good!"
Chrissie studies the label en Espanol todo. "Hmmm sounds good to me." As she silently curses the day her Mexican roots failed her. "Yee-ho-leigh" is the only slang her mother ever taught her...
Amira hangs up the phone with Nick and proceeds to open the bottle of Red (with Nick's permission) Turn, turn, turn....
"Hmmm. It's not lining up... this thing right here- it's supposed to click on so it'll pop off..." She explains.
Chrissie peers at the peculiar sight of the uneven corkscrew.
Unturn, unturn, turn, turn... Amira goes again & again, still not lining up.
"Let's just pull on it." Chrissie suggests and Amira shoots her an "are you CRAZY" kind of look before turn, turn, unturn, unturn, turn, turn- the ladies come to a final decision.
"Hold this down." Amira places the bottle on the floor and Chrissie grabs on with both hands. Amira's feet, first firmly planted on the ground also grip the bottle and her hands tighten onto the top of the corkscrew. She pulls. Yanks. Grunting furiously.
"It's coming!" Chrissie squeals! "You're almost there..." and POP!
The cork breaks in half.
"NOOOO!!!!!" Amira exclaims shoving the corkscrew into the remaining cork in the bottle. "It-must-not-fall-in!!!" She assumes her previous position of pull.
"I like screw top wine SO much better." Amira laments.
Bruno watches unamused in the corner.
Chrissie tightens her grip. Amira is serious. Turn, turn, pull, pull, pullllll---YANK! POP!
"Bravo!!!!" They cheer. The wine is saved and ready to breathe.

Georgia Rule continues on the flat screen and the girls faces darken over the plummeting plot line. "I can't believe they wasted cold hard CASH on this thing." They agree in total distress.

Suddenly, a black wet nose appears over the arm of the couch with full sniff... Bruno is on his hind legs still snooping for that pink porcupine flashing rubber toy!

Next, a familiar ring tone sounds on Amira's phone while Chrissie's beeps through with a missed call.... the girls decide to abort the floundering flick for a well-deserved phone break.

Georgia HELL will just have to wait.
And so will Bruno.

The End.

Retreat! Retreat!

What was so Amazing about our Circle of Grace Retreat this weekend you wonder?

• The cabin suggested to me by the owner of BB Cabins was named "Amazing Grace."
• The planning committee team worked like a well-oiled machine and everyone pulled their weight so that we could all really relax and enjoy ourselves in between the hard work.
• When I thought we had no worship leader but we'd make due... poof! Sarah S. did a fantastic job with such humility and bravery.
• The weather was warm and clear which just made a very pleasant drive up, around and down.
• When looking for gifts to suit our theme, we found a "circle" silver charm with the word "GRACE" on it- the perfect fit to our theme, along with another novelty item that sported the name Grace on the tag.
  
• One of the girls trespassing onto private property allowed for a conversation with the owner of a future retreat location (right on the lake) that would accommodate the growth of participants perfectly!
• When Lara, Erin & I went to "drive by" said property, the owner was on site, gave us a personal tour through the entire location, and fixed our coolant leak so we'd be safe driving home!
  
• The EXACT same verse was used in the various readings and illustrations we'd prepared ahead of time about God's Glory and Grace... without any of us planning it or collaborating it-- God SHOWED us His GLORY!
  
• Friendships bloomed and hearts were softened right before my eyes.
• Women stepped up to challenges without complaint and allowed their talents to be used and tested in the most uncomfortable ways.
  
• Everyone pitched in without complaint so we were either early or on time for every single activity from meals to small group, to check-out time.
• We got be girly-girls while by being strong, goofy, tender, real, responsible, caring, open, vulnerable, raw, encouraged, taken care-of, blessed, important, sassy, and blunt.

In your journey with the Lord, and as you discover the Truth behind His Glory.... always remember:

We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life— those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength. - Oswald Chambers

Until next year!