Anniversary & A Memory Verse

Yep.  I'm late posting the memory verse again.  At least you get to see that I'm real, right?  I can honestly say that this is the first time I didn't forget.  I thought about it Thursday night, knowing I should post one for Friday, but then I decided I wanted to leave the Doula for a Day post up a little longer.  So that's why this one is late.

Well, that and I was busy this weekend.  Busy doing what?  Oh, I'd love to tell you.

I was busy celebrating my six year anniversary with my husband.  Giselle, who must be an angel in disguise, offered to keep the girls FOR FREE so that Derrick and I could enjoy some time to ourselves.  She actually made the offer back in October, but we decided to wait until this past weekend to take her up on it.  Interestingly enough, even though Giselle is only 21, she's one of the only people I trust to keep my kids for two nights.  I know that may sound crazy, but she's a very mature 21, and she has a younger sister that she practically raised, so she's basically a little momma.  And an angel.

Derrick and I knew we didn't have much time for our anniversary weekend, so we didn't want to waste all of our time traveling to a far away destination.  At first, I was looking at some resorts and spas on the north side of metro Atlanta, but I quickly realized it would cost an arm and a leg to stay at one of those places.  So, we decided to use priceline to book a hotel in Midtown, and to just have a little staycation.  In retrospect, we made a great decision.  We wound up staying at the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown, which was very nice.  I've included two photos, one of the view from the room and one of the dog bed in the lobby.  (Kind of funny to see such a dog friendly hotel in the middle of the city.)  We had time to eat at some of our favorite restaurants, we got massages on Saturday, we slept late, we shopped, and we just spent time together.  We even tried a new restaurant, Rosebud, for brunch on Sunday.  It was pretty yummy.  I'd definitely recommend it, and I hope to go back soon.  It was a wonderful weekend, and I'm so grateful for the time we had.  I definitely came home feeling rested and better able to be a good mommy to my girls.

Thanks again, Giselle, for the amazing opportunity.  It was a true blessing.

On to the memory verse.  I don't have a story for this one.  It' just a verse that I've always wanted to memorize.

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:4 (NIV, '84)

I'm not very good at rejoicing in my suffering.  Are you?  Whether you are or not, this is a great verse to help us remember why we should rejoice, even when tough times come our way.  Perseverance, character, and hope are all qualities that I'd like to possess.  Wouldn't you?