I need to be honest and say that I came in to this week with a poor attitude…honestly, it was NOT the way I thought I needed to be spending my time.  While I really do LOVE the people I work with and enjoy their company, after coming off a really busy time planning the Women’s Retreat (and with our daughter’s wedding just 5 weeks from now), I was freaking out about leaving town for a week to RELAX!

But – God in his goodness, as well as a Senior Pastor who believes in us all living a healthy rhythm – which does include rest and fun, provided for us all to pack up and head to Florida for the week!

Crazy things happen when you get away from your normal routine of working hard – here are just a few…

You have fun with co-workers and enjoy a 12 hour car ride…

You eat REALLY great food (thanks Barb for coming along and feeding us really well…and thanks for letting us “help” your lists and trips to the store become meals for 35)…

You do things you haven’t done in YEARS/decades…like cruise the neighborhood at midnight ON BIKES  with girlfriends…

Or go to the beach, lay on a blanket and watch shooting stars and dip your feet in the cool water…

You become truly thankful for VERY generous people who share their amazing home with you…a home that makes you feel like you are in a spa – allowing you to take a shower with THREE shower heads…

You enjoy seeing friends watch sports as you sneak to the upstairs screened porch to catch “This is Us” with a bunch of women (and Jeff)…

You listen as people share their stories and laugh and cry together over what God has done…

You leisurely ride your bike to shops, a cute stand for lunch, and grab ice cream – just because “we are on vacation and can do WHATEVER WE WANT”…

You play on the beach and watch and listen to the ocean…

You snuggle with friends and listen to them share their hearts and feel the freedom to say “me too”…

And – as the house goes quiet on your fourth day together, you give each other space to have some quiet time alone or with God…

I’m thankful for what God has provided for me today…a MUCH NEEDED space to rest and be with Him.  I’ve been on the balcony/upstairs porch for almost 5 hours…TOTALLY ALONE – only listening to the trees blowing and birds chirping.  I love that some of my friends are golfing, some are taking walks or jogs, some are at the beach, and Barb is probably still cooking.  All of us feel the freedom to do WHATEVER WE WANT OR NEED (per Jeff’s instructions) and I’m completely content to be here – alone with God.  My goal was to come and get some “color”/tan for the wedding…and yet, I’m just really happy to sit here, under a blanket, with my bible, pen, and laptop.

I’m thankful for a church that knows and values the importance of building in to their staff and providing some soul care.

This week…it’s the week I didn’t know that I desperately needed. I’m glad God did.

—————

Addition: while I wrote the above earlier today…I didn’t push “post” and now have more to be thankful for…like the perfect ending to our week-a gorgeous bonfire on the beach. We had dinner together, shared about different seasons we are personally experiencing, grabbed a friend and prayed for and with each other, and cooked s’mores.

I love these people…

And I stand in awe of God’s creation…

#noFilter #noneNeeded

#thankful #pastorsretreat2017 #watercolor #aboveandbeyond