This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Women's Retreat with 100 women from my church. This is the third retreat I've been on, and each time I go, it's for a different reason. If I'm being totally honest, more often than not, I don't necessarily want to go, but know I need to for one reason or another. And each year God teaches me something which I would have missed had I not been where He wanted me. This year was no exception. I am thankful, just as in years past, that I went and heard what God wanted me to hear.
  Upon arriving back home, Steve asked me, "So, did you have fun?" I wouldn't really classify my retreat as fun. Don't get me wrong, there are many fun moments, but it's more than just that. It's a RETREAT. A retreat from my everyday duties, the menial tasks as well as the heavy duty ones. A retreat from technology and keeping up with correspondence. A retreat from, dare I say, whining a fighting. ;)  A retreat that frees me up to just be still & listen. Each year I've gone, I've had a job to do. But each year, despite being busy, I've felt the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart. Through stories shared, conversations with women who love me, new friends, and the work of the Holy Spirit, I have seen first hand God's leading in my life. With all I've been through in my years here on Earth, and the Lord's leading through it all, I have to say that I have never seen/felt His direction in my life so obviously as I have this past weekend. He amazes me! There will be more on this in another post because I'm still processing it all… but if I can encourage you with these words from Isaiah 43:18-19

                                                        “Forget the former things;
                                                          do not dwell on the past.
                                                       See, I am doing a new thing!
                                          Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
                   I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Here's just a little bit from my retreat experience. The theme, LET GO – LIFT UP. You know I love to document my experiences, but this time was different. I LET GO of a little bit of my self expectations. I spent the time 'listening.'

Our beautiful lodging

Some of the decor I was working on (Mom and Grandma)

Saturday afternoon, my friend Kristi and I decided to take a hike and enjoy the beautiful sunshine & (almost) spring-like weather.

Well, plans quickly changed. Our nice hike turned into crawling across the lake because we kept sinking up to our waste in snow. SURPRISE! What an adventure :)

This is what happens when you take a Mom away from her natural surroundings - - - she starts to rebel ;)

James 4:10 "Humble yourself in the sight of Lord, and He will lift you up."