Think of a weekend away with some of your favorite girlfriends that’s full to overflowing with laughter, love, sharing, great food, more laughter, singing, more great food. And now add the dynamic that all those gals are sisters in Christ—and all are writers.
Can you say a bit of heaven?!
This past weekend I attended an annual writers retreat that started back in 2003 (I can hardly believe this was our 13th year), and it’s a weekend I look forward to all year long.
From L to R: (back row) Sandy Sheppard, Sharon Dunn, Francine Rivers,
(2nd row) Gayle DeSalles, Robin Lee Hatcher, Sunni Jeffers, Brandilyn Collins,
(front trio) Karen Ball, Janet Ulbright, and Tamera Alexander
The ten of us met for the weekend to PLOT, PLAY, and PRAY (missing our sweet Tricia Goyer who couldn’t make it this year, love you Tricia!).
We plot each others’ next books. We play on the lake, watch movies, take walks. And we pray—starting each day by focusing on God’s Word and lifting our praises to Him, and asking his blessing on our time together. To be honest, I went fairly empty and weary. And left full to overflowing and so encouraged! While still a little tired. LOL!
Do you have times of refreshment like this with girlfriends, too? I sure hope you do. Makes all the difference in the world.
And now…
Winners announced from last week’s giveaway, plus another giveaway!
Sonja, you won the MP3 version of Among the Fair Magnolias!
Trixi, you won the PRINT version of Among the Fair Magnolias!
Click here to email me your snail mail addresses, Sonja and Trixi,
and we’ll get your copies in the mail!
And now the giveaway…
Enter the Southern Hearts Kindle FIRE Giveaway
What’s a favorite girls’ getaway or retreat you’ve attended in the past? Do you have a special memory you can share? Sweet or embarrassing, whichever you prefer! ; )
Blessings on your Wednesday, friends,
Tamera
Tamera Alexander
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I use to get to go to a quilters conference with my mother every year. It was a wonderful time with her & seeing friends from previous years..
How special, Deanna. And what memories you must have made. Thanks for sharing.
What a fun group!!! I can’t wait to read the books you came up with during this retreat! I have a group of friends who always go to the beach together. Now that I live in Florida, I meet them in Gulf Shores. I’m the only writer, so they often go blank when I jump up and down and try to tell them I’ve figured out a plot point! But we have fun. I did attend a writers retreat last year, here on my little Navarre Beach, which included Winnie Griggs, Rene Ryan, Beth Cornelison and me. We had so much fun and kept right on plotting through a really scary storm! What would we do without our writerly friends to help us and pray for us! Great post. 🙂
LOL, Lenora. Love your descriptions of how they reacted. So funny. And your little Navarre Beach retreat sounds fabulous! Hugs, friend.
I have never done a girls getaway, but boy does this sound fantastic! Maybe someday??
Praying for that for you RIGHT NOW, Alyssa! Much love, friend.
Tammy, I’ve never yet been on a retreat. But I have had loads of movie days with one of my best friends. We’re both pretty addicted to movies (and books!), so we enjoy those moments and chatting over lunch afterwards. We are participating in Beth Moore’s Siesta Scripture Memory Team this year, so we are planning on attending the celebration conference thing in January. I’m expecting it will be that fill-you-up-to-overflowing experience that you’re talking about. Totally looking forward to it, and enjoying the memory work along the journey of this year.
That conference sounds fabulous, Andrea! Please report back on that when the time comes. I love things like that. Thanks so much for sharing!
The Southern Missouri District Assemblies of God Women’s Retreat at Lake of the Ozarks! The services, craft demonstrations, workshops and renewing old friendships were great! When I was younger, we stayed in dorms, had lots of snacks for late night conversation, and lots of laughter! Now I prefer a regular bed to myself over a top bunk bed!
Sounds heavenly, Joan! Except for the top bunk. LOL! I’m soooo with you on that one! 🙂
Hello Tamera. sounds like you had a lot of fun.But, why were you all having to look up? LOL
I went to a Women’s Retreat at a big Hotel several years ago with the ladies from my church.
I really enjoyed that with the speakers, prayers, games played, and lots of talking with friends.Not sure will get to go this year. Would love to be your winner. Can hope anyway, huh?
GOD bless you. Thanks for this giveaway. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
Brandilyn’s husband was on the balcony and we were looking up at him, which is code for a way to make our aging necks look better. LOL. Just sayin… ; ) Praying blessings for you today, Maxie!
Never been on one. Sounds lovely and fun
It was both of those things, Gretchen. The relationships we share with others are so precious, aren’t they? Blessings, friend.
I have never been on a retreat with lots of women there. My sister-in-law goes and love it. I guess what comes close to a retreat is when my best friends and I get together and spend several days together. We meet at a cabin and have so much fun together. My best friends are my mom and my 21 yr old daughter who is away at Appalachian State in Boone, NC. I am a person who stays in a lot of pain and for some reason all my friends have vanished and that is ok. I understand, look what God had in store for me…a mother who has always been here for me and a daughter who still wants to hang out with me. Plus I have a friend called Jesus.