Like this past one. A girls' getaway. Mothers. Daughters. Friends. Grandmas. Babies.
Oh.... It was good. Balm to the soul. Laughter loosed. Cares shared, burdens lifted, joy exploding good.
14 of us went to Galveston Island and stayed in a fabulous Beach House.
And the fabulous part? When we divided the cost between all of us, it was only $108 a piece for the whole weekend! Now how cool is that?! I think I just found a new vacation destination! And it was a fantastic, private getaway that allowed us the space to get crazy loud (it happened!) and also to spend time, just us girls, with no distractions...
Mothers and Daughters. Sisters and Friends. Grandmas and Babies. Friends for the ages.
Getting away from the responsibilities and duties of our lives. (Thank you Farmer Husband for holding down the fort and taking care of the critters!) We flew the confines of our organized chaos and gathered together for time away... Retreating to find that center again. Breathing deep. Inviting Christ to renew our hearts and refresh our spirits. It was glorious.
Long walks on the beach...
Hilarious, side-splitting comic relief...
And through it all, the thread of Community. Women-folk lifting one another up in the body of Christ. It was our theme. And it was intentional. For Community is not just about being together. Community is about doing life together. And it truly takes time. And deliberate attention.
It was not easy to get all of us together for a whole weekend! Each one there was pulled in a million directions. Work, Children, Husbands... and yes, illness. Even the remnants of grief. One has lost a husband to cancer. I have lost my mom. Katie has lost her grandmother. Others have suffered debilitating emotional hurt. Some are struggling to find their place, to find their purpose... Each one brought the weight of their world into the midst, and together we chose to let it go for this space of time and find peace. And laughter. And joy. And healing.
This weekend past was so needed and so blessed. The core of friendship began with these 6:
We are the "moms" and we each brought a "gift" to the weekend. We had skits, devotions and even a book club discussion! We all read The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks in the weeks leading up to the retreat and then had a great time sharing our thoughts and insights (if you've never read it, put it on your must-read list - such a beautiful telling of a love story - you will be laughing and crying by the end!) and we wrapped up the weekend with one mom leading us into a very special time of personal, quiet sharing with our daughters (there was much laughing and crying there too! Not to mention the hugging!)
Some weekends are just meant for getting away!
And for discovering things!
Like Big, Ugly Sand Worms! It was really BIG! And I almost stepped on it!!!! Eeeek!
It was also a weekend meant for exploring...
Historic Downtown Galveston!
And then we treated ourselves to a Beach Photo Shoot!
So. Much. Fun.
From the youngest to the oldest...
A weekend for Legacy-Living,
making time for the people and things that matter.
The cares of the world are still there,
but the hands of community are now there as well,
bearing the burden with me,
sharing the load,
engaging the heart, gifting a smile.
These sweet women, precious Hands of Community,
you who have rocked the babies,
brought the meals that fed body and soul,
and held me together
when the grief swamped...
Your giving hands have lightened the load,
soothed the hurt and created joy.
Precious Friends,
You have been Jesus to me.
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