This past weekend Brett and I got to go to Chicago and spend an amazing weekend reconnecting with our friends Marc and Tonya all under the pretense we were there for a management conference. Brett and I have planned many trips to get together with Marc and Tonya and the rest of our KC family but for one reason or another we haven't been able to make it happen but it was time to make the dream come alive!
Marc and Tonya are people we originally met during under graduate school in Sterling, KS and while Brett and Marc spent some time together there in Sterling I really only knew Tonya as a previous volleyball player (she graduated the year before I came to Sterling but was still involved with the program and in other things on campus). But our friendship really began in Kansas City. About a year after Brett and I were married and were living in Kansas City there were I think 5 or 6 couples from Sterling that moved up to Kansas City, Marc and Tonya were one of them. Marc decided to go to chiropractic school as an extension of his interest in sports medicine. What began as the guys playing on a softball team and Tonya and I supporting them at their games turned into spending at least one evening each weekend together. Tonya and I were usually scrapbooking until the wee hours of the night while Brett and Marc watched sports, played sports, watched movies or whatever. Of course there were the countless games of dominos and cards played as well. They quickly became that couple with whom we spent most every weekend, who we could call and say "we're coming over" and they didn't feel like they had to make a big to do of it or they could just tell us "not tonight" and vice versa. We all got a long great!
It was also so exciting (and a little scary given the stage in life we were all in, that being in school and making no money) when we found out we were both pregnant! Our Ella and their Blake were born less than 4 hours apart - fun huh?! Needless to say when God was leading us out of K.C., leaving them was the hardest part. Brett and Marc stay in touch quite a bit since they are both now practicing and are great encouragers for each other, they have even gotten to do a couple weekend trips together for different technique trainings. Tonya and I on the other hand have had a hard time staying in touch regularly and often just get the update on each other from the guys. Before this weekend I hadn't seen her for over 2 years which was only the 2nd time I had seen her since we moved out here in 2005.
We miss them and the ease of their friendship terribly! One of the hardest realities I have had to face in my life is when my mom said, "Beth you need to understand that there may never be another Marc and Tonya, that they were very special friends and those don't come along everyday." They are truly so dear to our hearts. I'll admit I was a little concerned about seeing them again after all this time and if there would be an akwardness since it had been so long since we had all been together, but let me tell you seeing them again it was like we hadn't missed a beat. We had a blast together! It was so fun to catch up with them and to laugh with them again . . . oh the laughing!
Another blessing from the weekend was to spend some quality time with my sister's best friend Shelby. It was so good to see her and talk with her and just love on her and the sweet baby boy she is expecting in a couple months.
Of course, I also enjoyed the car time with Brett as we drove to Chicago. It's been at least 5 years since he and I took a road trip just the two of us. I truly love my man and was blessed by the 20 hours of drive time we spent together.
So here's a pictorial recap of the weekend:
Brett and I left Thursday and drove through to Louisville then took our time on Friday driving the rest of the way. We ate dinner with Shelby Friday night before heading to the airport to get Marc and Tonya. All four of us went to the morning sessions of the conference where we heard speakers Denis Waitley and Randy Snow. Here is Brett and I with Randy Snow, an Olympic Hall of Famer and founder of NO XQs (I think that's right it's supposed to sound like "No Excuses"). Both speakers were incredibly entertaining and had amazing messages to share!
We headed to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory for some amazing food. The guys went to the afternoon conferences while Tonya and I went back to our hotel room ate our cheesecake and rested which included not only watching what we wanted to on TV but also hearing it as well (those of you with kids will know what I mean by this). Then Shelby joined us again just as the guys got back to the room and we decided we would take the suggestion of a man Marc and Tonya know to go downtown for dinner at Uno Pizzeria. Apparently he and his wife enjoy this pizza so much they will take day trips from Wichita just to eat there. When we got down there we found we were facing an hour and 30 minute to hour and 45 minute wait but decided it would be worth it. So that allowed us to do some walking around downtown and of course some photo opportunities.
The four of us together again!
Me and Shelby
Me and Tonya
Marc and Tonya
After about an hour we headed back to the restaurant to see how things were progressing. Let's just say we were really committed to eating there because we ended up waiting for over 2 hours just to get seated! I wish I could say we waited as patiently and just enjoyed the time chatting but I would be lying. We groaned everytime that speaker came on and announced another table of 4 begging them to let us have one of those tables and just put another seat at the end, I mean come on how hard would it have been? The upside of the whole waiting process would have been missing the parade of nearly to totally naked bicyclers who were rode through the streets protesting something or other. But then we finally got in and finally got to eat and I'll go ahead and admit this deep dish pizza was worth the wait!
Despite the grumbling and groaning we all ended up with smiles on our faces and very full tummies!
We headed back to the hotel where Marc, Tonya, Brett and I stayed up way too late chatting just like old times. Sunday morning held a few more motivational messages and then it was time to get the Robertsons to the airport and Brett and I to hit the road again. We made a quick stop on the way to the airport to say goodbye to Shelby and then we were on our way. Here are a few last pictures from the hotel where we stayed:
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