Late last night I returned from my 18th annual writers retreat in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where, each July, I meet with ten other women to plot, to play, and to pray. What a precious time we had together this weekend. Although we dearly missed three of our number who couldn’t make it this year. Sniff, sniff.
This year actually should have been our 19th retreat. But due to Covid, we didn’t meet last summer. So while this past weekend marked 19 summers since our first gathering in 2003, it was only our 18th retreat. But next year, Lord willing, we’ll celebrate our 20 year anniversary.
We only had three formal plotting sessions this year (versus the customary 8 or so), but we brainstormed TWO books in my session, and I’m beyond excited about those stories (both standalone contemporaries). We had a session each for Robin and for Sharon, and both of those were great as well.
We spent a lot of time in prayer and study this weekend, opening God’s Word, postured to hear and receive from the Lord (as Psalm 81:10 says), and it truly was an anointed time.
For it was I, the Lord your God,
who rescued you from the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.
And we for sure ate a ton of delicious food! We prep all of our meals in Brandilyn’s lovely kitchen. She set me loose in there on Saturday night, and I made my mom’s White Wine Chicken with Dirty Rice for everyone. I love making those (oh so easy!) dishes, and it was sweet to taste “Mom’s cooking” again.
We usually play games one evening, but this year we spent more time sharing about what the Lord has been doing in our lives, in our writing, and lifting each other up in prayer. Sunday night a few of us watched an episode of Season 2 of The Chosen, commenting as we did, and that was a treat.
What a treasure these friends are to me.
Idaho is battling numerous fires right now so it was very smokey while we were there. But on Sunday things cleared up enough for us to go to a local art fair. Talk about creativity abounding. I loved the pottery—and kettle & caramel corn!
Sunday afternoon is the customary time we snap our annual group pics, and this year was no different. But this “bench setting” was. Everything went well, for a minute or two…
Then mayhem broke out! LOL
I honestly don’t know what I’d do without these women, these dear sisters in Christ. We’ve walked through so much together over the past 19 years, and to think that we have an eternity with Christ ahead of us… Talk about a HUGE blessing!
Have you had some much-needed girl time lately? Do you have a special friend (or group of friends) who are Jesus in the flesh to you like these women are to me?
Happy Tuesday, friends!
Tammy
Tamera Alexander
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Next year, you’ll have to share photos from the very first year and the 20th 😉 I have a few friends who are “Jesus with skin on” and can’t imagine doing life without them. What a blessing friendship is! I’ll get to see a couple of them this month and next finally. I just saw them in April but that seems so long ago!
I’ll do just that, Joy! I’m so grateful you have relationships like this too. They make all the difference in this earthly journey, don’t they? Praying right now for your time together that’s approaching!
Oh, Tammy – – what a wonderful post!! 🙂
I’ve enjoyed the photos from your gathering at Brandilyn’s for many years, and it’s always such a delight seeing your smiling faces, and knowing all this talent is shining for Jesus!
Special friends are the best. My very special group goes back to high school (just a few years ago, *wink*). There are 5 of us who are Besties, and we are as close as sisters. I cannot imagine my life without these girls. We were in each other’s weddings, have been there for births, and sadly, deaths. But what a comfort knowing we have each other. 🙂 So thankful for technology, since the five of us now live in 3 different states!
Thank you again for sharing this post with us (that photo of the “mayhem” is a hoot!!). 😉
Hugs from Georgia, Patti Jo
I love that you have your “besties,” Patti Jo! And amen to technology that helps keep us ALL connected. Hugs to you and your kitties. 😉
That’s wonderful y’all were able to gather as a group this year! It would be great to see a photo from the 1st year of the writer’s retreat. Best wishes and blessings to everyone’s writing projects, from on the drawing board, in progress, or releasing in the upcoming months. 😀
I’ll find and share that pic, Elisa! I’m grateful we were able to meet too. I felt the absence of our gathering last year, for sure.