Tomorrow is my annual pilgrimage to Pigeon Forge, TN. I make this trek each year to meet up with my best friend from High School, Rachel. We started this about 7 years ago, and we haven't missed a year yet.

Rachel and I met in 9th grade. We have seen each other get married, one get divorced, then married a second time. We have seen each of us have 2 girls apiece, hers teenagers, and mine children.

Rachel is one of those rare friends who you can immediately feel comfortable with, even though we haven't spoken since last year's trip. It's like we haven't been apart, even though we lead very separate and different lives.

Rachel is a very practical, logical woman. She is a working Mom, and a deacon in her church. I am fairly flighty, creative. I am a SAHM and you couldn't pay me enough to be a deacon!

We started this trip by attending a Women's Weekend Getaway Women's Weekend Getaways , sponsored by Phil Waldrep ministries. It was nice, and we enjoyed the speakers and the music. We did this for two years, then we decided to strike out on our own.

While we loved the Christian environment, we wanted to spend more time with one another, catching up, rather than in a convention hall singing camp songs with women we didn't know.

So, we started booking our own room, and meeting for 3 days of shopping, eating and talking. One time, we booked and extra day and did a "spa day" with massages and facials.

This year we are taking an extra day, but no spa. Just more relaxing. Our motel has an indoor pool. Hopefully, this year there won't be a teen convention staying at the same motel. Last year 145 rooms of the motel were booked to teens! They were quiet, but we just chucked even thinking about trying to get into the pool!

So, it's off to pack for me!