Mommy's Retreat

I am so blessed to have a husband who is aware of the daily challenges that I face, and who wants to give me a "break" as often as he can!!  He is usually very agreeable to my slipping out of the house when I can to shop by myself, or run an errand alone, and I know he wants to do those kind of things more often than he is able (with his long work hours).  This weekend I get to go with the ladies of our church to our annual fall Ladies Retreat.
Last year, he bent over backwards and basically demanded that I go, and I was so thrilled to get such an opportunity.  What a blessing to just fellowship with other ladies for 2 nights and 2 days!!
This year, I asked him if I could go again, and he agreed!!!  He took the entire week of work off to take care of all the domestic and child care responsibilities, and I'll be gone until Saturday late afternoon!!  He's even going to do the grocery shopping while I'm gone too!!!  Isn't he AMAZING!!!!
Be back next week with pictures and memories of a refreshing time!!

Retreat.....

Main Entry: ¹re·treat

Pronunciation: \ri-ˈtrēt\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English retret, from Anglo-French retrait, from past participle of retraire to withdraw, from Latin retrahere, from re- + trahere to draw

Date: 14th century

1 a (1) : an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable (2) : the process of receding from a position or state attained b (1) : the usually forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position (2) : a signal for retreating c (1) : a signal given by bugle at the beginning of a military flag-lowering ceremony (2) : a military flag-lowering ceremony
2 : a place of privacy or safety : refuge
3 : a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director

"And he (Jesus) said unto them (his disciples),

'Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest a while:'

for there were many coming and going,

and they had no leisure so much as to eat."

Mark 6:31

As a busy mommy, I often have days like the disciples had that day. I often don't have a chance to sit down and eat before my children have finished and are up and at it again. Some days I realize in the middle of the afternoon or around dinner time that I haven't even had a minute to get to the bathroom. Motherhood is incredibly demanding and exhausting. So this past summer, when my husband came home from spending the week with our two oldest girls at summer camp, and told me he wanted me to go to our church's Ladies Retreat in September, you can imagine how delighted I was!! It had been 4 babies ago that I was able to leave all the children and get away for a couple days. My husband took the week off of work so I wouldn't have to worry about arranging for child care for our 6 children. He should get the "Father-of-the-year Award!" He does in my house anyway!!!

I think it's important that we figure out a way to get our rest.....to retreat from the demands around us and just rest in the quiet peace that only our Lord can give us.

We were challenged by the speaker to make our quiet time with the Lord our PRIORITY for the day. With small children that is SUCH a challenge. It's so difficult sometimes to figure out just how early is early ENOUGH to get up before little ones. If I try to find that quiet time at any other time of my day, it somehow alludes me. So morning is the best time for me.

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord:

in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee,

and will look up."

Psalm 5:3

I'm not always successful at being consistent with this endeavor, but I'm trying to take little steps at a time to make this discipline a reality every day!! It's where I can find strength and peacefulness in the chaos of my everyday. The Lord reminds me of His presence with me as I go through the day. He gives me that internal compass, that purpose for what I'm doing at home with all my children.

I thought you might enjoy a peek into the loveliness that was my retreat this past weekend.