How Sweet It Is...: Love & Laughter...

As I had mentioned in a previous post Eric & I had the opportunity to to escape Tulsa last weekend & make the short drive up to Branson, Missouri. We attended a one day marriage confrence on Saturday called The Love & Laughter Getaway. I want to emphasize the Laughter part because that is what we spent most of our time doing! The day was broke up with sessions from 3 different people. Dr. Gary Smalley, a relationship expert, Pastor Ted Cunningham from the Woodland Hills church in Branson, & a wonderfully funny comedian, Paul Harris, who has a show in Branson & is a member of Woodland Hills himself. Since the main point of the weekend was how important it is to laugh & to create memories, Paul Harris really had the most stage time infront of us. Which was no problem for us because we have not laughed so hard in a long time!! It was nice to see a comedian whos jokes were appropriate & still some of the funniest I have ever heard! Since the seminar was only one day long I can't say that I learned a ton of information...but I was more reminded of how important it is to not be so serious all the time & to find ways to laugh & make memories because that is how we want our kids to remember us. That we were able to laugh with each other & laugh with our kids...and those are the memories they will truly cherish! We are wanting to go back next year & are definitely wanting to invest in more marriage confrences because it doesn't matter how great your marriage, there is always room to make improvement or try something new!! And it is always nice to be reminded what God intended marriage to be.

Outside the confrence we spents some time touring Branson...which was a ghost town!! We arrived Friday night and by that time my prego body was starving so in an effort to start the weekend out on a good note, my husband tried to quickly feed me! We ate what was suppose to be a quick meal at the hotel...one waiter for 10 plus tables equals not so quick! But with my mood much better after a meal, we decided we would strike out and "explore" Branson. The Ghost town! We made it down to the landing thinking that maybe the shops would still be open but we were later informed that they had closed at 7:30!!! So we topped off the evening by sharing a McFlurry at Micky D's!! Saturday we woke up and attended the confrence then went out to lunch at Shorty Smalls with some other couples from our church that were attending as well! Lots of fun! After the confrence wrapped up around three, we headed into Branson. Most of the shows & attractions were closed for winter but we of course hit up some of the places that were still open...the Outlet Mall, the Landing & the Titanic exhibit...which we didn't go into but we did see the ice sculpture contest outside it!! We finished off the night by eating again with our friends at Olive Garden! We had a nice long dinner with lots of good conversation & lots of laughing!! Sunday morning we woke up and ate at IHop & then headed back to Tulsa! We had a great time but are very much missing our King size bed we had at the Cheteau!