So this is me: retreat

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Sunday, October 19, 2025

Ladies Retreat

The last weekend in September was Ladies Retreat with our church district. Clearly this post is somewhat overdue. I started it the week after retreat but struggled for some reason this year to get my thoughts out of my head.

Wednesday night our Pastor's wife texted asking if I would want to say something at the brunch on Saturday... I was annoyed and anxious and waited nearly 12 hours to respond.

So the below is a mash up of the post I started and the "something" I shared on Saturday. 😊

I’ve been going to ladies retreat for several years now. I always leave retreat with a full and happy heart. This year was no exception. Sometimes getting there is another story.

I took Friday (of retreat weekend) off but we didn't end up leaving until later in the afternoon any way. That freed me up to take a nice long walk with the pups. Finish laundry and packing, bake some muffins, run some errands and even have an impromptu coffee with a friend. 💙

My sister in law picked me up around 3(ish) and then we headed to pick up another friend. We chatted easily about all the things on our two hour drive. I was feeling a little disappointed and sad about some of the people who were not able to be there for one reason or another. I tried to put aside the disappointment and just focus on the good. Yet I arrived at Chambers feeling slightly out of sorts. I had some PB m&ms and prayed for my mood to lighten.

Friday night still left me feeling a little ambivalent. But Saturday! God was on the move for sure.

Three of us shared this little cabin.

One of the great things about retreat is being surrounded by Christian sisters. Chambers feels sacred and if you go there ready to meet with God…meet with God you will. There’s nothing like being joined in worship with all the ladies under the tent- I still find myself calling it the tent even though they have now built a permanent actual building. I love the cabin chats and campfires- go expecting to be a little sleep deprived. It’s worth it.

I am happy to say God worked on my heart and poured in peace and joy and renewed hope as the weekend progressed. The overall theme of the weekend was Coming Before the Throne with Boldness and the Speaker talked about Powerful Women.

Some nuggets I took away from retreat were-

Life isn’t meant to be sweet and comfortable. In this world there will be plenty of troubles. But God is with us through it all. He can take our hurt, our anger, our frustration.
Powerful women fall but we get back up. Nothing is wasted with God- he will use it all- your whole messy story- if you let him.
Powerful women know who they are… why does it matter to know who you are?
God has entrusted unique things to YOU! You bring things to this world, this church, your community. Your family NO ONE else can. Be proud of who God made you to be and is continuing to make you to be.
On Sunday we were reminded to help make and encourage strong men. Having strong men in your life does not make you less. Powerful women engage strong men. I loved how she encouraged us to give our sons and grandsons room to grow- space to be who they are and also allow the men in our lives to challenge us and speak into our lives. How can we encourage our men- ask open questions, listen. PRAY! and pursue gently- not loud. But STRONG.

Sunday morning in the space between breakfast and the last session/worship service I spent a good bit of time here....

I chose a spot where it felt quiet and peaceful and I could feel the warm sun on my back. I pulled out my journal and spent the time praying and reflecting.

I’m always reminded how important and powerful prayer is. A lot of times recently I’ve struggled with prayer. Giving into fretting, worry and anxiety instead. But there is nothing greater in this world we can do than pray for one another.

As we traveled home from Retreat we talked about the weekend. Church. Our husbands and kids and came up with this action plan.

1- pray for our church and our pastor and his family. For vision and unity for our future
2- pray for our husbands and children
3- pray for another woman (or women) and encourage her throughout the year and maybe even bring her to retreat next year

I hope you’ll join me in doing these simple things and consider going to ladies retreat in 2026- I don’t know any details about it yet but you won’t regret it.

Friday, November 15, 2024

Ladies Retreat - Fully Known

This entry has been in progress for weeks, every now and then I open it look it over and think- I really should finish this... and then don't. I'm not sure why I am having such a hard time completing this entry- but let's give it another shot today.

The last weekend in September was Ladies Retreat for our church district. It is one of my favorite times every year. I haven't made it to every one but it is always a blessing when I do.

I wore my new church shirt. Perfection.
Next I'll be needing the cap and hoodie.

My Friday morning didn't go how I imagined but I still managed to get myself packed and ready to go before Mom and Becca came to pick me up. We then trekked to Syracuse to pick up another old friend for the weekend. Our trip down to Chambers was smooth sailing. Last year my parents purchased a camper at Chambers and we were all staying with Mom there.

I wish I took pictures of the weekend. I took virtually zero.

I cried through the worship portion of the first night, my heart was so anxious and sad. I am thankful I was standing next to my mom who just wrapped her arms around me and kept on singing. I am so thankful for my mom, for her on going presence in my life, her story and her testimony, her love, compassion and encouragement. I am thankful we share a faith and church.

The last couple years my relationship with Alive Wesleyan has been up and down and a little rocky. I am happy to say its starting to feel like home again.

Our church ladies on Saturday- next year I hope we have oodles more with us. Next year, I'll be staying in camp housing so my mom can invite others to enjoy her accommodations. So if you'd like to go to retreat and room with me...let me know 😉 Mark your calendar and block it off- Sept 26-28, 2025. I can even drive us if need!

Our speaker this year was Suzanne Eller. She was phenomenal. She was real and funny and encouraging. The theme was Fully Known. The team did a great job incorporating the theme throughout the weekend. There were even Tshirts! I love me a "free", super soft, comfy tshirt.

Theme scripture for the weekend was from Psalm 139

Some of my take aways from this weekend-

God is always aware of me, my thoughts, my feeling, my actions, my motives
He is near , a hedge around me, he guards me as a treasure (Psalm 139:5)
Our calling is not what we do but what we are becoming
Our thoughts are powerful- we get to choose what we believe
Fix your thoughts on what is TRUE (Philippians 4:8-9)
We are invited to detach from our current sphere of influence and attach to JESUS 💖
We become identified with Jesus when we step from what we feel to what we KNOW.
Biblical JOY- is consciously walking into God's Love and care... right where you are.

All the ladies on Saturday night.

Stolen from the PennYork Womens Ministy FB page

At the main session Saturday night we were invited to write down something we needed to lay down and do so, then pick up a crown instead. I'd be lying if I said this was a one and done thing. I have had to remind myself multiple times in the past weeks that I laid those things at Jesus feet. I do not need to pick up those burdens again. Not that I don't care any longer, not that I am not praying any longer. But to not let it consume me, to wallow and mull it over and over with an anxious heart. God has a plan, he sees far more than me. He is working. I have to believe it and trust.

I made a playlist of the worship songs we sang- it is HERE.

Read about past retreats here:

There are two or three of my first retreats that are missing. They were posted on my old blog which one day just disappeared. Aimee and I had an epic adventure getting to retreat our first year- I wish I still had that entry. We only had the aid of printed out directions from google or mapquest or whatever and got lost, as we tend to do. We hit a deer and then later we almost hit a truck and trailer on the side of the road. It was after dark when we made it to the campground and dropped our stuff in our cabin and headed to main session- no idea who we were rooming with. (We didn't even realize it was our own church ladies until after session- why it didn't occur to us we would be with our own church- I don't know! We were first timers). 😆

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139-1-6 niv

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Ladies Retreat! Embrace 2023

This past weekend was Ladies Retreat for our church district. I was so excited for this weekend.

This summer my parents bought a camper for the campground. So I got to stay with my Mom in her camper with one other friend. It was great!

I took Friday off. After I dropped Hannah off at school, I headed to Green Lakes for a run. It was not as long as my long run "should have been" but given I had not run a step in a week it felt pretty good! Trying to get back on track this week!

After my run I had a couple errands to run and hit up Serendipity for a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew- which was so yummy! Then I headed home to finish packing, shower and eagerly await my Mom's text that she was on her way.

Mom picked me up just before noon, we picked up two more friends and then were on our way!

We stopped at Spotted Duck Creamery for some ice cream and met up with a couple other ladies from our church.

We got a little tied up in traffic as there was a car show going on in a town near the campground but we finally made it!

I love our church ladies with all my heart.
I can't stop looking at this picture and it makes my heart smile! =)

Friday night campfire

Lynn Cowell was our speaker and she was phenomenal. She was funny and engaging. I love that she was a total, self professed Bible Nerd. She spoke on several women in the Bible and I loved how in the Bible we were at each of the sessions. She also did a great job tying in the theme of retreat- Embrace.

Some of my take a ways from Retreat-

Change is rarely a choice- but we can choose a humble attitude and seek wise and godly counsel
Some times we feel like its a dead end but really its just a blind curve
God is still working even in the hard times, especially in the hard times
There is a very real spiritual battle going on- our PRAISE is a MIGHTY WEAPON in that battle
stop listening to my own voice and the voices of others-- Listen to GOD'S voice above all else
"We humans make plans but the Lord has the final word."
Hard is often part of the restoration process

Best Moments of Retreat:

Our group picture- it fells my heart with such JOY
Saturday lunchtime and lingering around the table
Having Coffee and reconnecting with a friend who moved away and I had barely spoken to in over a year.
Time sharing with Stacey in the camper
The applesauce spice cake at lunch- so good!
Hearing how Jess got to connect with a young mom from our church 💖

Lunch on the way home at Mooney's so much laughter and the BEST mac n cheese I have ever had!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac n Cheese

I was a wonderful, blessed, refreshing weekend. My heart is full and thankful.

Looking forward to 2024!

Monday, September 19, 2022

Retreat 22

I am thinking about Ladies Retreat this weekend. As well as past retreats. The things God has done in my life.

This year I was so excited to go to Retreat! I had been feeling so blah. I was sure this was the answer to refresh my spirit and soul.

I took Friday off so we could leave whenever. Whenever ended up being early afternoon. Which made me happy as the jeep had an appointment to get inspected. We dropped it off first thing in the morning. I took Bruno for a little run which was mostly irritating and found me very grumpish and frustrated with myself. Bruno though thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Back home I finished laundry and got down to the business of packing. I messaged my friend who always finds it funny I wait to the last minute to pack. I only forgot my phone charger and regretted not bringing flip flops (I don't know what I was thinking there!)

The jeep was finished and passed. Rhett and I picked it up and had lunch at a local sandwich shop.

Mom picked me up, we then picked up our friend Stacey and were on our way! We stopped for ice cream at the Spotted Duck. Their ice cream is beyond delicious!

We made it to the campground, checked in and settled into our cabin. Grabbed some supper from the Snack Shack before the main session.

From the get go things felt a little underwhelming. I have been to many retreats over the years and something seemed to be falling flat. As I sat in the main session I prayed. Wondering if it was me. Praying God would open my heart.

Me, Mom & Stacey

We had such a good time together!

The Prayer Walk

I just love our church ladies!

I FaceTimed with Rhett (and Bruno). This may seem like such a small thing but it filled my heart so much. I still get anxious especially when one of us is away. It made me so happy that he wanted to connect while I was away and that he was thinking of me.

I don't want to dwell on the things I was disappointed in. I so much appreciate all the hard work the retreat committee puts in. It is a huge task to put this weekend together! I did glean some things. I had so much fun with old and new friends. I felt God speaking to my heart. I had deep heart sharing talks late at night with my cabin mates. Our church is going through a lot of changes right now and it is not easy. But we are prayerfully excited about our future.

Some of my takeaways from Retreat

YOU are either a Missionary or a Mission Field
Be a noticer- take note of the people around you (how can I minister and share Jesus, or just be a light) and what God is doing
Actively listen to/for God with EXPECTATION
Dream BIG! Pray Big!

The theme verse for the weeknd was Romans 12:11-13 at the Sunday service the speaker read it from The Passion Translation which I had never heard of before. We really liked it!

On the drive home we looked it up in several versions. We also really liked it in The Message

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

As service was ending this was the last song. I LOVE it! I had never heard it before and I totally added it to my running playlist.

My thoughts on our past retreat excursions can be found >> HERE << if you are so inclined.

Ignite was the theme. There is definitely a spark lit in my spirit. I am working to fan it into a flame as I reflect and pray for the ladies I as with this weekend, our church, our future and next year's retreat!

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Anything can happen.

This year it sure feels that way, doesn’t it. I have to confess- whenever I have said it recently it has had negative connotations. Things have happened this year that I could never have imagined happening in America.

But. Every time those words escape my lips with exasperation- pshhh- anything can happen this year. (Sigh. Eye roll). I hear God whispering back- Yes. Anything. Can. Just believe.

Good things can happen! This whole ridiculous mess we are in- God can redeem it! He can make all things new. He can change hearts and lives. If only we allow him.

This weekend I was at ladies retreat with our church district. It was like no retreat I have been to before. It felt small. Subdued. Quiet. We were separated into small groups. We wore masks. It was only for a day. And yet. God was there. The speakers were phenomenal. The Holy Spirit washing over my tired and weary soul. Renewing my spirit. My hope. My strength.

Even as I type this draft. In the dark. On my phone. It is 5 am. I have been awake for hours. Praying. Thinking. Remembering. My heart feels full. Urgent yet full of hope.

I hope and pray next year retreat is more “normal”. That our small band will multiply many times. That we will have record breaking numbers. That once again we will join together under that tent with hundreds of other ladies worshiping our Lord.

I learned so much this weekend. I am strong. I am victorious. Though the battle is real and raging. I saw tear stained faces- my own included. I don’t know their stories- but God is working. God is working.

One passage we studied was from 1 Kings 19- about Elijah after God had proved himself against the false god of Baal. And Jezebel was after him- vowing to take his very life. How this mighty champion of the Lord became afraid and distraught; even suicidal.

But God met him, ministered to him. Lifted him up. Strengthened him when he was weak.

We learned how anything can be a wonderful opportunity if we let it. For prayer. For compassion. For hope. To love our angry, broken world.

I thought about my Grandma. Her legacy. Her love for Jesus. I thought about how I have a purpose. I was made on purpose. For a purpose. I am loved. And so are you.

One speaker said she expected to hear testimonies next fall of how God has used us- of the mighty things God has done. How people can see- see the difference Jesus makes in our lives. In my life.

Far too often lately I have felt grumpy and tired. Worn out. Like this life in one giant test I am failing. A failure and a fraud. I don’t want to stay there any more.

I want to be fruitful- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. I want them to flow out of me. I want people to know when they need prayer. I am on my knees. I want to be known for my heart of compassion. I want people to know- they are loved.I want to be the person God says I am.

Ephesians 6:14-18 (The Message)

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Rise Up and Pray

This weekend I was once again able to attend my Ladies Retreat with our church district.

I am happy to report that our trip to and from Retreat was easy and uneventful- unlike our first trip ;-)

Ladies Retreat never disappoints me. It is always a time of laughter & refreshment. This year was no exception.

There is just something about being on that campground, under that tent with 300ish ladies singing praise to our Lord. <3

The theme this year was Rise Up the speaker, Amy Carroll. She was fantastic!

I went to a workshop on "Telling Your Story", I think it ended up being one of my favorite parts. The session started- we were basically sketching out the bones of our testimony on our packets. - Crap. We are probably going to have to share our stories at the end. I started thinking about ways to escape. I left my page blank until almost the end. All the sudden the words poured out onto the page. I still didn't want to share out loud. But. I. Did. Out loud. With actual words. To ladies who were not in my immediate, intimate "friend" circle. And one complete stranger. Not quite as hard as I imagined. And you just never know how your story might touch another.

Throughout the weekend...

We learned about letting of who we are not and embracing who we are.

We did Zumba in the early morning.

We painted signs made from old pallets. (Mine is pictured at the top).

We gathered and prayed.

We shed tears and shared hugs.

We took communion.

We left hungry for more.

It felt good to being sharing Retreat with Aimee again. We have been friends since the 6th grade. This weekend gave us lots of time to reconnect. Sometimes life and busyness gets in the way.

One of my favorite parts about Retreat is fellowship with my church ladies. Connecting with people I might not have otherwise. We sat around the campfire Saturday night until well after midnight.

Sunday the peaceful morning was calling to me. I spent the time between breakfast and the final session having some quiet time. I filled the blank "note" pages in the retreat book and the back cover with prayers. <3

My favorite song from Retreat- I don't remember ever hearing it before but then yesterday I heard twice on KLOVE.

In the coming year I am committed to praying for next year's retreat. For hearts that God is preparing even now. God is going to do good things in the coming year...

I came home to this-

Our church is transitioning to chairs...another one of those changes that has been in the works for a while. Another one of those changes that has not been easy for me ;-) Having my very own pew in my kitchen took a little of the sting out.

Past Retreat posts:

2008

2009

2011

2013

2018

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Retreat!

This weekend I was able to attend Ladies Retreat with out church. Its been a few years since I have been able to go. I was privileged to get to take my best friend, my sister in law and my daughter with me.

We had an fantastic time! The theme of the weekend was Beautifully Broken. The speaker Mandy Young was amazing. We loved her! She was just so full of life and joy. We hung on her every word.

PS she is friends with Candace Cameron Bure. We are seriously thinking about becoming her groupies ;-)

It was just over all a refreshing, encouraging weekend. So wonderful to be reminded that even though we are broken and flawed. God can use us and God loves us, and we are beautifully His.

One of my favorite parts was the Journal cover/ Bible journaling class we went too. We covered composition notebooks. It made me itch to Bible Journal more again. It was so fun, we could have stayed there all night playing.

Our other favorite spot was the Cup of Grace Coffee House. I mean Coffee. <3 They had keurig's and Kcups, creamers and syrups. Whipped Cream and Sprinkles. Tables and twinkle lights. =)

Most of the our church ladies.