This weekend I got fed, and I mean in the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional sense. I just got back from a 3 day retreat with 20 ladies from our church. Sure I haven't pooped in 3 days and have averaged about 4-5 hours of sleep the last 3 nights, but how often do I get to take off from all my daily responsibilities and just enjoy the company of other women? Here's a picture from our "10-minute" hike. Fortunately, we all made it unscathed and finished with a breathtaking view of the gushing waterfall you see behind us.
We have a good group of sisters from all walks of life. We represent different careers, interests, stages of life and races. We each bring our own gifts and our own personality traits. When I think about this weekend, it reminded me of orientation week freshman year of college. We spent all hours of the day and night with each other, and in that time we learned more about one another, in a way that you can't do from just seeing each other on Sunday. That's why college friends are so special. When you've endured long talks at absurd hours of the night in your pajamas over bowls of ramen together, there's something magical that happens. Mmmm. I didn't grow up having sisters so it's always a blessing for me to get some time with ladies. Girls just need sisters.
It was also so satisfying to delve into the word and enjoy seminars led by one of the sisters from our church, who happens to be a gifted teacher and orator. We learned about our suffering and were reminded through Job and Christ's death on the cross that God truly does know and understand our suffering. And that our present suffering is also a blessing, something we endure and gladly give to the Lord we love. Amen for sisters and amen to a beautiful (yet exhausting) weekend retreat. I'm already excited for next year. I had such a good time that I didn't think too much about missing my girls. Does that make me a bad mom? But I was SO excited to see them for the first time in 3 days, and I got the biggest, tightest, warmest hugs from them, too. I was very proud of Joe for taking good care of the girls while I was gone and even handling a few extras, such as an early morning dentist's visit for the girls (first visit ever for both of them) and taking them downtown for a festival. Because I have Mr. Mom living with me, what do you say we consider making these retreats semi-annual, huh, ladies?
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