Last Session
Ladies Fellowship – Saturday Afternoon, January 21
Praise & Worship Time
My last session – Blessing Your Loved Ones By Your Attitude
After Discussion and Prayer Time, we played a few games of Bingo.
Group photo
The close of a wonderful time with fabulous, godly ladies.
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Thanks everyone for making me feel welcome.
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Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.
Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others.
Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message)
Morning Session
Ladies Retreat – Saturday, January 21
Gathering together in preparation for the first session on Saturday.
Discussion and prayer groups after the first session.
As the discussion and prayer time was wrapping up, some of the committee members (background) were preparing a mocha drink to go with the lunch snack.
The lunch snack was perfect – chocolate & peanut butter popcorn, cheese stick, clementine (can you tell that I already ate mine), and mocha drink.
After the snack, Lisa and I helped each other with dipping our hands in paraffin.
Lisa’s parents are some of our ‘bestest’ friends. We have known them since our single days, so I’ve known Lisa since she was a baby.
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Tomorrow Night: The last session.
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Smiling faces make you happy, and good news makes you feel better.
Proverbs 15:30 (Good News Translation)
Saturday Morning at Ladies’ Retreat
January 21
This is what I saw outside our motel room window when I woke up on Saturday morning – about four inches of snow.
The building on the right was where our meetings were held. Thankfully we could get there by inside hallways
.
We had to be checked out by 10:00 a.m., so got that done before breakfast.
We could not go outside until this man had our sidewalk shoveled. He did not know we were inside.
Our car was just outside the door.
By the time we got to the meeting room he was snowblowing outside the main entrance.
After breakfast the ladies were asked to arrange their chairs in one large circle.
This lady was in charge of the game, and said each woman must move to the chair on her left when they can answer yes to any of her questions.
Have you ever lived overseas?
If the lady on your left did not move, you sat on her lap.
Many times there were three ladies on one chair.
Did you kiss your husband goodbye before coming to retreat?
This was the only time I noticed four ladies in a seat (actually five with the baby.) The front two stood because of the baby.
It was good to spend time laughing
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More tomorrow night
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Don’t complain as some of them did. Because they complained, they were killed by the angel that destroys.
1 Corinthians 10:10 (Easy-to-Read Version)
Ladies’ Retreat
Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship
Friday Evening, January 20
Each of us received a folder of things we needed for the retreat – the schedule, questions to discuss at the end of each session, and a survey to fill out at the end of the retreat.
It was held at Inn of Reading (Internet photo).
Our room was simple and peaceful – my kind of place.
I liked the towel, washcloth, and soap arrangement.
After getting our suitcase unpacked, we went to the Conrad Weiser room to get my presentation ready.
The room attendants were setting tables and preparing the soup and sandwich buffet.
Many visited while waiting for the program to begin.
Sister and brother twins. The lady on the right offered to be responsible for one of them during the retreat. I love thoughtful people.
They are so tiny.
Tiny, tiny feet
Gathering for the opening session
The ice breaker game: “Take as much toilet paper as you think you will need.”
After they were finished taking toilet paper, each lady was asked to tell those at her table one thing about themselves – one thing for each piece of toilet paper she had taken.
Then it was my turn. In this picture Cerwin captured me pointing to the Blessing Calendars I brought for each lady.
The theme of the first session was highlighting 1 Corinthians 10 to challenge the ladies on the seriousness of a complaining spirit. Check it out! 1 Corinthians 10:10. Complaining is in a listing of sins that separate us from God and his strength and peace – sins that destroys our relationship with Him, our family, and friends.
After the first session and the question and answer time, many ladies took advantage of being pampered with something quite fun.
Can you think of a reason why some ladies had their hands wrapped in a towel?
Some were dipping their hands in scented paraffin wax. This appears to be the lavender wax.
After dipping your hands in very warm wax three times…
…someone helped you put your hands in a plastic bag.
Then your hands were wrapped in a hand towel. We had to keep the towel on for fifteen minutes.
What a great, relaxing way to close the evening.
Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master.
2 Peter 1:2 (The Message)
From an EEG to Speaking at a Retreat
Friday, January 20
No, I am not getting a new hairstyle. This is what I looked like at 8:30 Friday morning during my EEG.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures and records the electrical activity of your brain. Special sensors (electrodes) are attached to your head and hooked by wires to a computer.
It was a very relaxing test, because I was supposed to be still for twenty minutes after twenty-three electrodes were attached to my head, and one near my heart.
Cerwin used my cell phone to take these pictures.
Twelve hours later I was speaking at a ladies’ retreat near Reading, Pennsylvania – for Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship.
Cerwin had to come along, because I cannot drive until all my tests are completed due to my accident in late December. He helped me set up, enjoyed the good food, then made sure my PowerPoint was up and running before going back to the motel room to relax. He said he was well occupied by watching “Gold Rush” on TV for two hours. He loves that show.
I am enjoying my time with this fabulous group of ladies, and will tell you more about the retreat in the next few posts.
Trust the LORD and his mighty power.
Psalm 105:4 (Contemporary English Version)
