Stories - women's retreat

Our church hosted our women's retreat this weekend and it was spectacular! I don't know if we've ever had one before and I know that I haven't been away with just women in YEARS!! 

Our theme was Stories and our song for the weekend was Blessed Assurance and the words from that old hymn were so powerful. This is my story. This is my song. Praising my savior all the day long.

We planned some times for learning our growing in our faith and we planned some fun times!

I had not seen any leaves changing colors until this past weekend!! The team went up on Friday night to make all the preparations for the rest of the weekend. We kept the retreat short in order to draw some of our young moms who might feel as if they could run away for just 24 hours. We also worked hard to make everything as covid safe as possible.

The weekend's first speaker was Laura and she did an awesome job. We then had small group discussions and interest groups - like painting or hiking.

We gathered together again at 4 to hear Lydia speak. Lydia's mom was one of my closest friends and she was Mark's first cousin. When Nancy was dying, she gave marching orders to some folks and she reminded Lydia that "you are powerful." 

We asked everyone to write something on these 3 X 3 mirrors -- who does God say you are? What does God call you? I intentionally allowed myself to be in the picture because we are all called to be reflections of Jesus.

After dinner (eaten outside), we had an evening session with Dawn. She shared about how to write your story and told some of her story as we moved through the workbook!

This workshop was held at tables but we only allowed 4 per table and everyone continued to wear masks.

After that workshop, we had planned to have a bonfire outside while Leigh Ann shared her story. There was not supposed to be any rain . . .but the bottom fell out of the sky. As the social media post below explains . . .what do women do when plans fail . . .we pivot.

We set up chairs inside and put candles around a trashcan and moved forward.

We worshiped together, we laughed together, and we cried together.

On Sunday morning, we gathered for one last session and it was worship. Our oldest lady on the retreat turned 88 on Sunday so we had party hats and sang. I did the last talk of the weekend and shared a series of "but God" moments in my life. We ended the weekend with communion.

Oh my goodness, I didn't even realize how desperate I was for connections and how desperate I was for a time away with God. I came home with a full heart!!