Weekend Report / Cows Have Pockets?

I've been blessed with a bunch of good weekends this semester, but this one was definitely incredible.

...First, the Fall Retreat at beautiful Smith Mountain Lake was even more awesome than I was expecting it to be. All of our planned events and ideas went off without a hitch, including our new "Wesley United" bracelets and individual Polaroids. I really felt that, even though we were only there for a little over a day (including the overnight stay), everyone seemed to come out of their shell a little and be included in the larger group. I know I certainly got a sense of the Wesley family pulling together a little tighter, and that ... is a very good thing. Thanks again to everyone who came and made the Retreat what it was.

...When we all got back from the Retreat, and after I took a solid two-hour nap, it was soon time for the Hour That Doesn't Count. Things weren't looking good for much randomness since I was so tired and most of the usual players were out of town or graduated. However, I pulled out of the slump in time, and we assembled quite the posse, anyway. With Halloween so close to the Hour, Gina, Katie, Brittlea, and I just decided the best thing would be to put on our Halloween costumes and take a stroll downtown amongst all the other costumed crazies. And that, my friends, was truly an eye-openingly fun experience. Katie was wearing her substitute costume, a pregnant cowgirl, which drew a lot of attention. She also had a good time taking pictures with random costumed people - everything from a human-sized milkshake to a cow with pockets.

Brittlea put on a random dress from the Wesley basement, along with Gerritt's donated hat. Gina had an authentic-looking doctor costume, and I finally debuted my Indiana Jones costume that I'd been piecing together this fall. It was a great time, and it was an Hour That Didn't Count that I'd probably do all over again anyway.

...The great Halloween fun extended into Sunday, when Gina, Susan, Rachel, and Casey threw our Halloween party at Wesley. There was all the usual Halloween fare and hoopla, which was a great way to wind down the weekend. My Indy costume even won Best Overall, which was really amazing! It must've been all that hard work Mom and Gina put into helping me piece it together. Thanks to all the family members for donating whips and leather jackets and things, too!

There were many more details that I just can't fit in right now, but wow! What a weekend.