We were able to attend our all-church retreat this past summer. The kids and I went on Thursday while Phil had to work one more night shift before joining us on Friday afternoon. Let’s just say that my having to pack up the five of us, load up all our gear, drive us over to Biola, get us checked in, find our room, get everything unloaded and settled, walk ourselves to the dining hall, help each kid get food and start eating, get them checked into the childcare room, get myself to the chapel, get everyone checked out again, walk back to our room, get them all ready for bed and finally sleeping, then to wake up to repeat the performance for breakfast and the morning meeting… well, it was no easy feat and I almost burst into tears when Phil finally arrived while we were at the pool for the afternoon swim time. I don’t know, something about Jonah turning three and finally out of diapers made me think this was somehow doable. It kind of was and it kind of wasn’t. No pictures during that time because of all of the above.
But Bruce Ware was our retreat speaker. Bruce Ware! Worth it.
Dr. Ware’s lovely wife Jodi. I could have listened to her speak all day long. Doubly worth it. What an awesome couple.
The highlight for the kids? The afternoon swimming. Especially since it was a crazy hot weekend. This boy needed some coaxing to jump off the lower diving board, but he loved it once I kinda made him try it.
The girl decided to go for the high diving board. So much braver than I…
So proud of her.
In the midst of making sure everyone had everything they’d need for the four-day retreat, I somehow managed to forget to bring my own swimsuit. So I had the younger two sit on the stairs and stay there. Thankfully, they stayed plenty entertained where they were.
Eventually, he decided to try the high dive, too.
I’m guessing he was second guessing that decision right about now.
Meanwhile, the girl couldn’t be pulled away from it.
Then look who made it and saved my day!
So finally Jonah was freed from sitting on the steps, much to his delight.
He kept wanting to jump off the diving board like the big kids, but wasn’t allowed to since he doesn’t know how to swim yet. So we found a diving board just for him. I wasn’t sure he was really going to go for it though.
Until big sister came and showed him how it was done.
Watching her form.
All the way to the splash.
And then he went for it!
Same form as his big sister, and knowing Daddy’s trusty hands would catch him as they always do.
“Did you see me, Mommy?” And then he too couldn’t be pulled off of that little diving board.
Dinnertime with Daddy.
Dinner with his buds. Really? We’re already here now where he can eat off with his friends and take care of himself? When did we get here?
I love everything about this picture.
And we got brave enough to meet the Wares and thank them for such a convicting and awesome weekend. Seriously the best retreat I’ve ever been to. (Thanks James for taking the pic!)
Jonah definitely approves of retreats and thinks we should do it again. Like now.
And here we all are! Minus yours truly.
And here we are after a weekend of about as much family togetherness as we can take. Ha ha. (Thanks Jami for taking the pic!)
