That is exactly what we did this past weekend.
This was our second year attending our All Church Retreat up in the San Bernardino mountains. Last year it felt more like summer, but this year it was an unexpected winter wonderland. Can I get an AMEN!?! I was thrilled. I actually cried tears of joy as we pulled into camp on Friday night. The families who got stuck in the snow, or had to run to the not-so-close Walmart for boots and coats, may not have been crying tears of joy at first, but I think in the end everyone enjoyed the chilly white surprise.
This weekend was a withdrawing from normal life. For me that meant no cooking, no dishes, no getting in and out of cars, no computer, no cell phone reception, no responsibilities. It was fabulous. It was a special time for our family to just be together (in a very small cabin at times). The childcare and preschool program were a gift that meant Chris and I got a lot of time together without our kids during the Community Gathering sessions, and our kids enjoyed parties and lessons and buddies of their own. Everybody wins. On Saturday I "took one for the team" and stayed in our room with napping Abby, which meant this mama got to nap for an hour and read for an hour (thanks to that trusty, and dusty, camping head-lamp). Napping and reading...now that is NOT normal life...and it may honestly have been one of the highlights of the weekend for me.
The retreat was also a wonderful time to be with our church family. What a treat to hang out and see each other in a totally different setting than our regular coastal lives. It was a time of community. We ate and played together. We went on wintry walks and huddled by warm fires together. We took communion together and took in the scenery together. We shared bathrooms and winter clothes. We did crafts and were challenged in our faith. As individuals, families, and members of a church community we retreated from our regular lives, and despite the driving, the packing, and the cold, at least this family returned renewed and encouraged and filled up and thankful. I'm sure we weren't the only ones.
And just for the record, it turns out that WE, the California family, got to experience the first snow of the season...before all my Midwest family. Not that they were jealous or anything.
Do you need to "retreat" as an individual, or a family, to renew or regain perspective?
How can you make time and space to move back and withdraw from your regular life for a bit?
