Women's Retreat: Behind the Scenes

Ryan and I got home last night after spending the weekend serving together at a women's retreat.

It. Was. A. Wonderful. Weekend.

I have so much to process in my heart, so I'll start today by showing you some of the behind/between the scenes moments.

Ryan had the entire day off work Friday, so we were able to finish our packing and leave in the late morning. We had a BEAUTIFUL day to drive, and we were so excited that this retreat was held on our beloved Lake Webster. We had carved out a little time before the retreat began to have a date, because we sorely needed it.

(We still hadn't shed our permanently exhausted looks, I noticed.)

We love this coffee shop. I've talked about it before, during our summer visits to the lake. It's just such a serene place, and we love everything we've ever ordered. We sat for a long time, talking and remembering some of our favorite former dates in this little spot. When we felt we had taken up enough of their time and space, we ventured toward the water.

It was so pretty under that blue sky.

I cannot possibly explain to you what a dear, dear place in my soul this lake holds. It's been almost ten years now that I've been visiting it regularly, and God and I have had many, many, many talks here. I've cried a lot of tears into this water, I've sensed many nudges, and I've done a lot of heart-healing. Ryan and I have had some significant moments together as a couple on this lake, and we've put some stones in our life-altar beside these waters. I love all water, but I may love this water most of all.

We headed over to the retreat center to get set up and settled in. They were using a brand new lodge this year, and it was beautiful!!

We stayed in the same room we stayed in last year when we served at this retreat, and they left us some beautiful gifts!

I spoke for the first time Friday evening, and I'll tell you more about that another day. Ryan and I both got a GREAT night of rest (amazing what happens when you don't have a cat standing on your face at 2 a.m. sobbing for a drink).

Check out these beautiful food trays that were among the lunch offerings. WOW!

The women had free time all Saturday afternoon (something I think is wonderful at a retreat like this...down time is as necessary as the programmed time) and Ryan and I took advantage of the opportunity to have another little date and go on our first walk of 2019!

We parked at his family's cottage and checked out the lake view from the porch. :)

Then we walked into town and look where we landed!!!

I mean how did that happen???

We loved every second of that date, and we even squeezed in a little rest before going back for the afternoon/evening session of the retreat.

I was absolutely exhausted at the end of day two. This was an intense set of talks for me (as most of them tend to be, in all fairness) so I was worn, body and soul, when the day was done. Ryan and left the fellowship time a little early, and I wound up with a full eight hours of sleep under my belt by the time the alarm went off the next morning.

Oh, what a wonderful time of heart-healing and growth it was for both of us! We appreciated the ladies being so understanding about our own need for space to listen and be filled, even as we gave all we had to helping them do the same.

Grace.