Click here to read Part 1  and  Part 2.

Part 3 is a (looong) continuation of the second day of our Gather Retreat back in April. Each girl had their photo taken and was primped by several other ladies and their artistic talents/gifts.  These women are just so beautiful inside and out! What a pleasure it was spending the weekend building new friendships and learning from one another. I am truly grateful.

After everyone had their photo taken, several girls would be found in various parts of the cabin exercising their gifts/talents. I was taken back by some of the girl’s talents (charcoal sketching, baking (hand painting blueberries with edible blue glitter!), writing, journaling, etc…)  Andea and I were the last to have our photos taken, and once we returned, it was time for me to start prepping the dinner feast. It was so nice to have help from the other girls. We allocated the dessert making to several girls, and boy did they deliver! Bethany even hand-painted the blueberries on top of the cupcakes. My gosh, they were fantastic.  While we cooked, the other “team” of girls prepped the beautiful table for our feast. They gathered wild flowers from the nearby field we’d been shooting in all afternoon, they strung little Chinese lanterns, made place cards for each girl, etc… It really was neat to see the group effort come together and everyone was truly enjoying themselves.

On the Menu:

• Strawberry & Spinach Salad
• Spring Roast with root vegetables (& rosemary from my garden!)
• Roasted & Seasoned Asparagus
• Wheat Rolls and homemade honey butter (this stuff is addicting, y’all)
• Sangria, Wine, Lemon Water
• Desserts:
• Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream
• Little Spice Cake Bites
• S’Mores Bars
• Mini  Chocolate Orange Cheesecakes

 

We transfered all the delicious food outside and took our places at the table. We took in the fresh air as we sat on the balcony overlooking miles and miles of huge pine trees in front of a lovely sunset amongst many talented women. We said a blessing and dug in. Towards the end of dinner we served coffee and desserts and Ashley gave an amazing delivery of the spoken word. I got goose bumps. I’m having  hard time putting into words how she shared what she’d written. It was empowering, encouraging, motivating, filled with truth and love about our God and some of her personal experiences. There was repetition, and it was sort of read to a beat.  It was so lovely. I feel blessed for having heard it.

After dinner, we piled the dishes into the kitchen, helped clean up and prepared for Andea’s discussion for the night. Andea spoke on “Priorities: Keeping your first love first.”

 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:5

She had us answer a few reflection questions about our priorities and what things we put before our Lord instead of loving him wholly.  What personal pursuits have been put in front of pursuing the Lord?

After dinner we slowly wound down for bed and April wound everyone back up by doing her “stuffed animal dance” puppet show that had us in tears laughing. (Yea, I know. We’re grown women and someone brought a stuffed animal- hah another story for another time.) Of course rap music was involved, which then motived others to get up and start dancing. It was a good night….

The next morning we woke up and made pancakes, smoothies, eggs, bacon, fruit, coffee and juices. It was a delicious farewell breakfast! Overall, it was an amazing weekend. Thank you to the girls who participated!  Andea and Amanda are co-hosting another Gather Retreat on the Texas Coast at the end of September. Unfortunately, I will not be able to co host, as my travel cut off date is Sept. 1 for this pregnancy.  Can’t wait for future Gather Retreats!  Praise God!