Women's retreat at Camp Hebron

Well, it's time to update here, so you don't have to think I'm still sleeping beside those chopped onions!  

I did indeed go to the retreat at Camp Hebron and had a WONDERFUL time.   That wonderful time, however, did not include leading praise and worship with a strong, clear voice.  I just hated it that, of all times, I would have a cold in my voice at a time like that.  But those women at the retreat were great singers, and I don't think they really needed my big, loud voice leading them.  I could still play piano and sing in my croaky voice.  On Sunday morning they came up and stood around the piano behind me during worship.  That was awesome, hearing all their beautiful voices, sometimes in three or four-part harmony! 

The retreat was for the women of Erisman Mennonite Church near our hometown of Manheim.  There were several women from other churches there as well. I led worship for their retreat two years ago.  That time it was fun to reconnect with many women from my past.  This time it was even more fun.  LOTS of fun.  Every meal I sat with different people, and we always ended up laughing or crying together.  

Here's the group picture taken Saturday evening.  There were a few people missing that had been there part of the time.

I did not do a good job of remembering to take pictures.  Here are just a few.  On Saturday afternoon there was a knitting class!  I discovered I did indeed still know how to do a basic stitch.

On Saturday evening one of the ladies showed us how to make a "necklace" out of a tee shirt!  I might try it.

And of course, there were games.  This was a new one called Corkle.

I'm sad that I did not get a picture of our speaker, Audrey Kanagy.  She was so good, with an amazing ability to bring scripture to real life, often based on her recent trip to Israel.  Her topics were Bread, Water, and Grapes.  On the surface they just sound like a bunch of food, but for any woman who was there, each of those things has far more meaning now.   

The weather this weekend was GORGEOUS, so I even managed to have time for a nice walk on Saturday afternoon.  The meals were amazing.  After lunch (actually a full dinner) on Sunday, the retreat was over, and I drove the hour-and-a-half home.  Oh my word!  I was SO SLEEPY after eating that big Mennonite meal.  I could have stopped somewhere to take a short nap, but I just wanted to get home to my bed.  I made it, walked in the door, said "hi" to Dick, and went straight to bed without bringing anything in from the car.  I slept for two hours!

In the evening we went to Applebees with Anthony, Lori, and Austin.  It was a special day at Applebees, where 15% of what we spent would go toward Houserville House of Hope's Easter egg fundraiser.  It will benefit a child's medical needs. (More about that in a later post.)   It was really fun to finally be with them and catch up.  Once again, I forgot to take a picture, so instead, I'll  show you this precious one that Lori posted last week.  I just LOVE it!

For some reason I felt worse yesterday (Monday) than I did any day since I'm fighting this cold.  But this morning I feel better than I have for over a week.  Maybe yesterday was my hump day!  I do hope so.