Monday in Baton Rouge

Well, back to our time in Baton Rouge. Sunday we drove back to BR from New Orleans and left Daddy in NO. He had a business trip. We visited with more cousins at Mimi and PawPaw's house - and the kids went swimming too!! This was the first time they ever swam with floaties and they did great!! No pictures of swimming and our cousins - my battery died on my camera by the time we were half way through the Aquarium. I can tell you there was much splashing, laughing and fun!!!

The next morning we slept in a little because the kids were up late! I decided to let the bedtime go a bit since the kids rarely see each other. I am usually a stickler for maintaining our schedule somewhat but this time it felt foolish to fight that battle on my own! :)

Monday we hung out at the house and then I went to meet with a mentor that I've REALLY wanted to touch base with again! The last 3 years have been a whirlwind at times and I needed some grounding in places. Without someone to guide us we can easily find ways to justify the mindsets we are determined are right! I needed to be spiritually adjusted a bit - I've been wanting this for the past year - I just KNEW it would get me back on track! It did just that! The details would be too much to share but let's just say I heard EXACTLY what I needed to hear and it felt good to have someone guide me!!

After that I picked up the kids - ate some chicken schwarma (woohoo) and then we headed to our home church in BR. One of my friends emailed me about the Ladies Pamper night and I was NOT going to miss it! The year we left was the first year they were doing this and we left before they had it! It was great! Once again - I don't know why but I forgot to take pics!!!! I had a pedi, a massage and a facial! And they had child care for the kids too!!!!

This is one thing my current local church does not do now; they have zero events corporately. Our former church (in BR) has monthly or semi-montly ladies nights. They either have a guest speaker speak or they have a fun pamper night or they have a special something! (They do the same for the men too - just not a pamper night.) I think that makes the church feel more like a family when everyone can come together and interact in periodic events. Of course not everyone WILL participate but the ones who do want to plug in will feel more connected to the body. Just a little something I feel is missing at my church!

It was fabulous!! We went online and scheduled the pampering we wanted to have and then we showed up to have our services done! Of course the pedi was take off nail polish, rub the lotion that softens those feet on, soak in water for a minute or 2, then polish on. Not a true pedi - but there was no time for that - I was impressed that someone would bother to volunteer to do that! The massage was a local business who brought their chairs and gave you a 1o minute massage (kind of like you see in the mall) - then after your massage they gave you their business card. So this promoted their business. Then the facial was a local spa that did a 10 minute facial that left you wanting more I tell you! I've never had a true facial and boy was I wanting to tell her to give me the works! When we left we got a goody bag with a goody from the spa and a coupon for services. They also threw in a girlie gift. They had headbands, bracelets, rings- who knows what else they had! I just know of 3 gifts because of the ones I know of that were opened! WE HAD FUN! It was great to be pampered and doted over! OH - they had sushi too!! Never had sushi and wanted to try but needed to leave. Basically it was a night of indulging a little and taking time for you. It felt good!! Especially knowing your church cared enough to organize something so grand for you. I was able to have a little me time before the week of running began! What a way to start my visit out! I was beyond happy I tell you!! I left feeling like I was cared for beyond what I expected!

I highly recommend any and all churches to do the same!!! (The only expenses were the food - which was discounted for them - and any of the nail polish stuff.) Obviously, there were other expenses but the massages and facials and paraffin wax and eyebrow waxes were all donated time by the businesses!!! It wasn't nearly as expensive as it could have been if they had to pay for those services! The businesses left with potential customers! I know I would have tried them out if I lived in town!! Sometimes it takes trying something out to feel brave enough to indulge. At least for me - I like to know what to expect when I schedule something for myself. My me-time is so minimal that I want to KNOW I will enjoy what I plan. So it was a win - win - win! Church won by ministering to the ladies and loving on us, the spa won by getting potential clients and we won because we left feeling loved and having time to visit with friends! Can't beat a 3 way win!!!!