The Gift of Joy- Women's Retreat

    A Saturday with some teachable heart women in Stafford, Virginia.

A women's retreat at Living Hope Lutheran Church.

Time for sharing and growing and maybe a new lens to see their own lives.

How does God show faithfulness- when I forget to be faithful?

Why is it so challenging to remember His Goodness to me?

Why does He seem so distant sometimes?

Can I begin to see Him everyday?

Some frost on the grass and a chilly start to the day.

We spent some time viewing two sessions of the Ann Voskamp Counting gifts videos.

Opening the door to some beautiful life framing.

Ann- a woman who just speaks normally in poetry.

A wonderful lunch and getting to visit with old friends and some new friends.

Then some time for crafting after lunch.

Some friends from a book club that had read

 1000 Gifts and came together to the retreat.

All sorts of materials for creativity

And a successful project to leave with - 

to start the journey of Counting Gifts

Some of the Joy in a Box embellishments from Ann Voskamp's blog-

a holy experience.

Talking and Sharing

Singing and Worship

The retreat was a gift from the Pastor's wife - Nancy Rueter-

 to the women of the congregation and community

in honor of her mother.

That she could pay it forward-

 to be an encourager and equipper of women

 to live their mission here on earth.

I give thanks for Nancy--

her heart for women-

 and the families and friends they love and serve.

Another community of women with a shared experience-
coming together to see something out of the ordinary
 in our ordinary days.

Revelation 7:12

 “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, 

Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, 

Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

What is your "take-away"-
 from a shared group experience lately?