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When I hear the front door latch turn and the clomp-clomp of combat boots on wood floors, I know my man is home. And after a kiss and a “Hey baby. How was your day?” I can count on him shooting me a second question:

“Did you talk to anybody today?”

And I’m sure-fire certain he likes it when I answer yes, because then he knows his verbose wife won’t barrage him with a torrent of words. Because for every 1000 words my man speaks, I speak about 5ooo. Ish. He also insists that when I’ve been able to talk with other people during the day, I’m in a happier mood. And apparently, happier Kristen is more fun to live with.

Which is why he was totally down with me having people over for a tea party, an (in)RL tea party.

I sure love me some pretty decorations!

Friends I’ve known for a long time and for just a little while came over Saturday. We talked and laughed and encouraged and ate goodies and drank tea. I got to use up at least 20,000 words all within a few hours!

This is me with Trisha and Audra. Trisha is a lovely friend I’ve known since Maui. Her family must think the Strongs are stalking them because we’ve followed them on the last four moves. Crazy! And I was introduced to Audra only recently by our mutual friend Jessica {a.k.a. the girl who knows everyone on God’s green earth}. Audra used to live in Nashville but moved to Colorado Springs about ?year ago. Nashville’s loss is Colorado’s gain~Audra is beautiful and just as sweet as she can be.

These are three of my four home girls. Our kids all go to the same school and we do Bible study together. Raquel {on the left} has the sweetest disposition EVER and is as warm as they come. Rebecca has been my beautiful BFF since the Albuquerque days, and I would be a complete mess without her. When a parenting dilemma finds me, I usually ask myself, “What would Rebecca do?”?Denise?{on the right} is one of the smartest gals I’ve ever met, and she is a talented writer, too. Michelle is also in our posse, but I didn’t get this picture ’til after she left. Boo on me. Michelle is one of those wonders who is the ultimate get-the-job-done-er. Another great example of mom, wife, and friend.

It was so fun to have hometown girl Sally at my casa. I’ve read her books and her blog for quite sometime, and she is just about the best mom-encourager out there. If you ever start to feel mothering is unglamorous and nothing special, drop everything and read Sally. In one fell swoop, she’ll show you how this mothering thing is the holiest of callings *and* make you feel like a rock star. Lisa, another Albuquerque bestie, took this photo, and I realize I forgot to get a picture with her, too. Double boo on me. Lisa, whose husband has been deployed more times than I can count, is a mix of spice and joy. She’s the effervescent lightbulb to any soiree, and I just love her.

Part of our time was spent watching video content prepared by the (in)courage writers and DaySpring folks. And because DaySpring is chock full of the awesome sauce, they are packaging a 2 DVD disc set and study booklet over here.??They will be available May 14th with a special discount code for all (in)RL attendees.

Kinda cool, dontcha think?

The only bummer part of the day was that *you* couldn’t join us. Maybe next time, k?

Have a wonderful week, girlfriends. I sure love and appreciate each and every one of you reader-darlings. You are the best and then some!

{Click here for more (in)RL recaps}