I am writing this piece in response to a prompt on The Red Dress Club
This week’s RemembeRED memoir prompt asked us to write a memory of sand.
Last summer we took our first vacation as a family; we had rented a trailer at the retreat where my sister and her family had spent their summers for years. We had visited many times, enjoyed the location and time with family and returned home with a few memories. We also took away feelings of being uncomfortable; we had never quite fit in. This Christian retreat had amazing amenities, great kids programs but there were rules that cramped our style, more my style than hubby’s if I’m to be honest.
This year hubby and I decided to dive in and actually stay for a week in a rented trailer to experience what Muskoka Bible Center had to offer. The no drinking rule wouldn’t be an issue anymore; I wouldn’t be spending my evenings hiding wine in a juice cup on the deck. We still smoked but we felt we could work around that rule; it would be worth the discomfort. The “Modesty” rule for bathing suits at the beach was a no brainer; I had put on 30 pounds in a very short time since the accident. The sun could kiss my Buddha belly in the privacy of my own backyard thank you very much!
There is nothing pretty about being stuck in the car with two impatient children and a woman with fears of driving and back injuries my friends, the two hour drive took three hours with pit stops and sanity breaks. But we had finally arrived! Our trailer was amazing, the triple bunks were an immediate success! The views greeting us were breath taking.
I’d often heard the term “unwind” used for vacations but hubby and I had never before experienced the feeling. This week away we truly did. We left behind all the stresses of daily living and allowed ourselves to soak up each opportunity for growth which we happened upon.
It was a slow week, one which we took day by day. Each morning hubby and I had time alone together while the children we in kids program, we attended chapel together and then took walks through the woodsy trails and on the sandy beach. We reconnected as we hadn’t in a very long time; we fell in love all over again.
Our afternoons were spent as a family on the beach, playing in the lake, making sandcastles, canoeing and making memories.
When the evening rolled around we would reluctantly leave our spot on the sand and return to the trailer. The girls would sneak out each evening while we were preparing dinner to go “frogging” in the gully behind the trailer and return covered in mosquito bites, victorious with a bucket full of slimy friends.
This week allowed all four of us to see God’s love for us, we were surrounded by His unmistakable beauty. There really is no place like Muskoka Bible Center, it was surrounded by water, rocks, trees, wildlife and people filled up with a love for God which brought out the best in each of us.
We revelled in it.
When it was time to leave I felt a deep desire to stay. I didn’t want to face the realities the world and risk losing this feeling of connection with God. We knew it wasn’t possible to stay; we had to figure out a way to bring the feeling home with us!
When we expressed these feelings to other families there, they understood and gave some tips for keeping God in the forefront of our family.
Upon returning home we made the commitment to attend our church, to become involved. We have since attended regularly, volunteered our time, involved our children in activities whenever possible. Here at home we speak God’s name and Word often throughout the day, we consider God’s opinion when making choices and allow our children to see us doing that.
We are no longer afraid of walking this journey with God, we’ve found our purpose. We don’t give up and do our own thing when it’s uncomfortable, we remain steadfast in our resolve to keep this connection we felt that week away.
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Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
Ephesians 6:14-17
Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
AA Big Book, pg 130
Those of us who have spent much time in the world of spiritual make-believe have eventually seen the childishness of it. This dream world has been replaced by a great sense of purpose, accompanied by a growing consciousness of the power of God in our lives. We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities for us. We have found
nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness.
What a beautiful trip. I love that you have been intentional about "bringing God home with you" since you left.
Awesome! I loved the girls going frogging – I used to love catching little spring peeper frogs when I was little.I completely understand the retreat experience – finally connecting, wanting to stay forever, and the fear that somehow that feeling of grace and peace is going to go away as soon as you walk into your house! It can be hard, and God knows the world does come knocking, but hubby and I found out that when we got off track we could get right back on again, and it makes us happier than either of us would have expected it to.
Being on retreat can infuse our lives with such peace and purpose. How wonderful that you were able to incorporate what you learned/felt/experienced once you returned.
I have attended some "Women's Retreats" with my bestie. It's hard to come down from the mountain when you get home. But God empowers us from within and reminds us we do not need a retreat to mirror his image. Sometimes we do our best work in the every day circumstances….loved the pics. You have the cutest girlies!
I love the idea of finding an actual retreat that allows the entire family to reconnect. This was a lovely post and you left that place with new purpose. Beautiful :)
Wow, what an amazing, life-changing experience! I'm so glad you made the commitment to go. Wonderful. :-)
This sounds like a beautiful place where lifelong memories are made. I'm so glad for you and your husband that you got to reconnect! We struggle, my husband and I, to find that quiet, nurturing time together. We will be going to a similar camp this summer. I look forward to the time shared in the "wilderness." Thank you for sharing the verses and Big Book. Love that Big Book. Always hits right home:)
@From Tracie Thanks, it's been successful thus far.
@NC Narrator That's exactly it, we've made a consious effort to remain on-track and not get sidetracked by worldly demands
@Frume Sarah Thanks Sarah, it hasn't always been easy or successful but it's our driving force
@drybottomgirl Thank you so much, these girlies are teaching me patience daily ;)
@No. 7 That's the main reason we love this place, it's so powerful for each member of the family
@Elaine A. Thank you
@Wild Child Mama That darned big book smacks me across the face often…have you read pgs 68-69?
Love that you were able to connect in all the ways most meaningful to you!
I am so glad for you all that you had this trip together…and that you took full advantage of the emotional, spiritual, and physical rest that it offered. although my faith my be different, this week of yours sounds absolutely dreamy. :)
This sounds like a beautiful place. I'm glad it helped you come together more.
Another wonderful post, I love the testimony you share through your words. I remember taking the kids to youth camps…some of my most spiritual moments happened there.
This sounds like a wonderful vacation! We all need a place like that.
Finding the opportunity to really find your footing, and remember those moments of grace? There's priceless. Wonderful experience!
Great scriptures and BB Quote! :) Wonderful experience shared
Being present in the small moments takes more mindfulness than you think – so glad you had a great trip.
Wow Julie sounds like exactly what I've been looking for…I'm gonna check it out on the net then try and save some money…TY for sharing it.Love Ya KiddoSandy L.
thank you for sharing this trip, and your changed perspective between the two visits. the pictures were sweet to add too. great to read your take on the prompt!
I love that place! We vacation there every single summer and our ladies group goes there each and every February for a retreat!! Love MBC
@Shash gasp, are you going this year? We're there for 3 weeks and my sister is there all summer. It would be cool to sit and blog together while there lol
Julie, thank you for your honesty…even though it is now 2017. My husband is a pastor and we live to see people and ourselves growing in grace – that’s what it’s all about! Hope that you are doing well all these years later.