Let me start off with this: I am bad about getting away. I am terrible about going on vacation. Part of that is the business I'm in. It's pretty nonstop, and social media is always moving very quickly, so you can get left behind if you don't keep up. But a big part of that is my mentality, that I WILL get left behind if I don't take a week off, or even a few days. I know it's not healthy, and it's something I want to work on this year. However, that makes the moments when I can truly get away even more sweet.
The second thing I'm terrible at is surprises for my husband. He is so good at getting little things for me at random times, or taking me out to eat, or just going out of his way to do something sweet. I, on the other hand, have a hard time with that. It's not that I don't want to do it, but I need to plan everything out well in advance - spur of the moment stuff is not my forte.
I've known for a few months that I wanted to do a little special something for our anniversary. This was a very hard year for both of us, and I have been so grateful for how Nathan has taken care of me through it, even when he has had some difficulties of his own. So about a month ago, I started planning a getaway.
It really wasn't anything overly impressive, but I defeated the odds and actually planned something fun for a surprise! On Saturday we drove down to the Outer Banks (one of my favorite places ever) and stayed in a hotel that I found for a good deal on Groupon. I packed a lunch to eat at Jockey's Ridge, and we attempted in a very pathetic way to fly a kite.
The kite was cheap. We are not kite flyers. The kite was destroyed about 10 minutes after trying to fly it, and the winds were about 25 mph. But hey, at least we tried. After that we went out to eat and just hung out, relaxed, walked around some stores, and spent some quality time together. It was really a sweet time of being refreshed and renewed, and stopping our busy lives to appreciate each other again.
Sunday morning, we drove home - and, of course, stopped at Duck Donuts on the way - and left in enough time to have a slow morning. Now, as I write this, we're back to the grind a little bit. I'm working on photography stuff this afternoon while he's at band practice. But I am just so thankful for the little bit of time we had away, and I think it kicked off our 4th year married (ahh! surreal) in a good, good way.
I'm so grateful for time off, and I hope you take the time to enjoy a slow weekend every once in awhile, too! Happy Sunday! (PS Don't judge the phone pictures, all my skills go out the window when the wind is crazy and I can't even see what's on my screen)
Sabrina, the cockatoo in the lobby of our hotel
Like I said, I couldn't even see my phone to see my finger was blocking the camera. Ha. It was a crazy day :)
Yep, it was that cold. And yes, that's what's formerly known as our kite in Nathan's hand
First time ever to Duck Donuts! So yummy
The drive home after our sweet time together :)
