A weekend with the (blog) girls

When I was a freshmen in high school, I made the varsity swim team.

I was terribly proud of myself, until I realized that "varsity" didn't mean just swimming.

That varsity swim team was also my first introduction to cross-training: I had to run and lift weights and jog up and down that stupid high-school football stadium in Florida humidity five times a week.

I was none too happy.

Luckily, I had my trusty friend Lauren with me. Another freshmen varsity swimmer, she and I tackled all that cross-training with a grin-and-bare-it attitude.

Which may or may not have involved us running along behind the rest of the team singing the country song "Strawberry Wine" at the top of our lunges several times a week.

Hence the reason we were terribly popular.

Luckily, our teammates didn't have to listen to us for long.

Because we were horrible runners.

After all, we were 14; we'd never run with purpose in our lives.

Needless to say, it was painful.

But still, being 14 and wise beyond our years (ha!), we had amazing coping skills - skills that - to this day - I'm proud of.

Instead of standing at the gate of our school, daunted, because the coach and the rest of our team had already taken off for their standard 4-mile run, we took baby steps.

We jogged behind and had our "mini-goals."

Instead of 4 miles, we just had "to make it to that green fence up ahead."

Or instead of 3.8 miles to go, we just had "to get to that stop sign over there."

We'd continue on like this for the entire run, setting mini-goal after mini-goal.

And singing country songs.

It's the only reason I stayed on that darn varsity swim team for four years.

Suffice it to say, I haven't grown up much since 14.

Because I still handle hard things in my life with sets of "mini-goals."

Right now, I'm approaching my husband's stint at boot camp and our resulting time apart in the same manner.

Instead of looking off into the ever-widening time-space continuum toward May 1 - when I know I will see him again - I'm looking much closer.

I'm looking toward my next mini-goal, with the rationale that if I can reach that point, I can keep going and reach the next. And the next. Until finally, it's May 1. And my husband will be kissing my forehead once again.

So, my friends, by 3 p.m. today, Mini-Goal Numero Uno will be achieved.

Because my husband has been gone for one month.

And I'm heading south to meet up with a few friends for our first ever Florida Blogging Girl's Weekend.

It's what I've been pushing toward for the last four weeks. I've literally been repeating to myself, over and over, "If you can just get to that girl's weekend, you can get to through the rest of this. You've only got one month left after that!"

Because back in December, I met some fabulous women for dinner. Who happen to be bloggers. Who I happen to downright adore.

From Left to Right: Jess from All-American Jess, Justine from Almost There, Lil' Woman from Little Woman, Little Home, and me

Who also happen to have rallied together last month and said, "Britt, we know your husband leaving is going to stink to high heaven. So let's get together and do that girl's weekend."

To which I did a happy dance in my bedroom and then started planning out what I was going to wear weeks in advance.

I'm one lucky girl.

I've got really good friends. Friends who - it has to be said - have only met me in person once and still want to share a hotel room with me all weekend.

Of course, this was before they knew my penchant for cheesy country songs.

Too bad I'm already packed.

Because the second the school bell rings today, I'm hopping in my car, and I'm off to meet up with Jess, Justine, and Lil' Woman.

And hit my first mini-goal.

I'm so excited; I'm having trouble sitting still in my own classroom. I expect some student is going to come over and send me to detention for acting out. I'm just that hyper today.

I blame it on the mini-goal. And the infinite sense of fun on the horizon.

It's going to be a fabulous weekend.

Mostly because these ladies are awesome.

And because there will be little to no running involved.

***

I will blog about it all next week, I promise! After all, what's a blog meet-up without a little blog recap. So, until then, happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!