Many of you know I am part of an online forum called MOMYS (Mothers of Many Young Siblings). I joined the MOMYS digest when I had but 2 children and couldn’t even post questions because of my “Read-Only” status. When I was pregnant with my 4th child, I joined the forum side of the house and gained some wonderful friendships and advice there over the years.
Three years ago one of the MOMYS put together a retreat that was in my neck of the woods (if you count 5 hours away my neck of the woods!) and we packed up the family and headed over to meet many wonderful women I had only “met” online. (Isn’t the 21st century amazing?!)
That first year it was blistering hot and I was immensely pregnant (with Emily). The rooms were not air conditioned and our windows would not open. The mattresses were little better than boards and I seriously entertained the idea of sleeping on the concrete sidewalk outside. To boot, the cafeteria was at the top of the hill, and to a pregnant woman, it might have well been Mt. Everest. Yet despite my discomfort, I walked away from that retreat refreshed. Because I had met these people IRL (in real life) I felt I knew them much better, and friendships were forged that will never be forgotten.
The second year, the retreat moved to a closer (and nicely air conditioned!) location. Many families who had been there the previous year, returned. There were many new faces as well. I came hesitantly because Emily’s death was still so fresh in our hearts. In fact, I had already filled out our reservations prior to her death and could not bring myself to remove her name. When I arrived, the ladies had bought me a silver pin with a bow and arrow in honor of Emily. There were many tears shed and hugs shared that weekend.
This year it was like coming home. The MOMYS are an incredible group of ladies. No two are alike and yet we can all come together in Christian unity and worship and fellowship in love. We enjoy our time there so very much.
I do want to share a good laugh we had at the expense of an unsuspecting misspeller…
From the shelf in our room:
I honestly don’t know what HEAVEY LOUDS are, but I was very careful to speak softly when standing near this shelf. ;o)
Verna says
I love to go to those retreats. Sometimes they have the one day retreats that our church ladies go to and I always come home refreshed.
Also, have attended the Women of Faith conferences when they were close enough. The are refreshing to our spiritual lives. I love to go.
Enjoy and attend all the Momys Retreats possible.
Blessings.
Pen to Paper; Spirit to Soul says
This is my first time to visit your blog. How neat to be refreshed in a place that is not, perhaps, physically refreshing!
I hope to get to ‘know’ you better in the coming weeks.
Pamela in TX
moey says
I wish we could have gone this year. Last year was so fun, and I’ll never forget being preggy, cooking in the sweltering kitchen with Ty as the right hand man after I’d been deserted by the other moms on kitchen duty — who had vomiting children or nursing infants to suddenly attend to! All that, while a tornadic storm blew over us and during the talent show. What a great memory. LOL! Love you lots, Amy.
Lynnette Kraft says
Sounds like you had a great time – I especially love the message on the shelf and your comment. ha!
Sorry I missed you guys today. Abigail needs glasses (as we suspected).
Lynnette
Lilyofthevalley - Tanya says
I was so disappointed we couldn’t go, we had been talking about this as a family all winter and we were all excited about going. Lord willing, we will be there next year. 🙂
So glad you were blessed. Thanks for the laugh!
Sally-Ann says
I am so glad that you were “refreshed” by the retreats, even with no airconditioning! Sounds like something wonderful to look forward to each year
Holly says
The retreat sounds like such a wonderful time and that picture made me laugh.
Linda says
Amy, I have never gone to a womens retreat, but John and I have gone a couple of times together to the Wilds Camp/Retreat and we loved it.
I am glad that you have had this opportunity to meet blogging friends in the Momys group and to make many friends.
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
Kristin says
Ha! That’s funny about the shelf!
The retreat sounds like so much fun. I wish all of us Wednesday Walkers could have a get-together like that!
Kathryn @ Expectant Hearts says
Beautiful post! I love retreats like that, even with the physical discomforts. thanks for sharing.