What happens when you mix a long weekend, the Smoky Mountains and four women together? Not only is there a union of minds, but the heart and soul quickly follow in the opening up of our deepest parts. And when a trip to the mountains turns into this beautiful connection of heart, soul and mind, you experience retreat in its purest form.

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A retreat happens when stepping away makes room for real life to fill in the gaps. The cracks that life brings when heartache and despair hit, blend into a seamless whole with the gift of retreat. Three days with three amazing women allowed the loose ends of life to temporarily dissipate. A new space opened up for the connection of hearts to grow. The stepping away from ordinary created a space for extraordinary to take place.

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The gift of retreat happens when friendships are given the chance to grow outside of the busyness of everyday life. Filling a weekend with laughter, fun and food creates a sense of belonging. But it is when God takes a love of writing and love of Him as a starting point and expands it, the gift of learning steps in. Beautiful lessons of faith spoke new life into me. Lessons that I didn’t know I needed, but ones that God poured out through three women.

RETREAT

I learned….

Pouring into others creates an abundance that you can then pour out as an overflow into others lives.

Loving and laughing is medicine for the soul.

When deep calls to deep, closed chapters of our lives crack open slightly to allow for healing. Secrets have a chance to escape to a safe place of understanding.

The slow recognition of “Me too” is prompted when God is invited into the center of every conversation.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20

The retreat weekend was God’s amazing blessing to four women who knew each other better online, but made space to connect deeply in real life.

How do you make space in your ordinary for a retreat? What does this look like for you?

Please join me in sharing some love with my three amazing friends, Patti, Debbie and Holly. Here are the links to their blogging homes. If you stop by, tell them I said “hi”!

Patti Krank @ Old Things New

Debbie Kitterman @ Dare 2 Hear

Holly Barrett @ Reclaiming a Redeemed Life

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May you all find the space for retreat in your lives and find blessings in the stepping away.

Blessings of grace along the way!

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Linking with Lisha @GiveMeGrace

 

 

 

 

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