This weekend the church crew hit the MOUNTAIN TOP (inside joke) to spend some quality time together in nature and in prayer away from the distractions of the world. The iPhone was in attendance, however, it did go on airplane mode and get turned off for majority of the weekend.
We arrived late Friday evening and enjoyed sometime of prayer and s'mores. While we were praying, we had a silent moment for us to open our mind and hearts for word from the Lord. While we were all deep in thought, one of the little 3 year old girls who is super adorable, TOOTED! We all were holding back the laughter. It was so hilarious.
I still did manage to have a cute vision while withholding my laughter in prayer. I kept seeing me walking with my flashlight and headlights shining on the road. At first I thought, "Well, duh, that's what I've been doing for the last 2 hours." But then, I realized how much I/we depended on our headlights and how much I will depend on my flashlight this weekend. Even though it was a full moon, nothing can compare to the illumination of your flashlight. Without it, we would have crashed off the MOUNTAIN TOP or I would fall on a rock and hurt myself. The simple correlation came to me that God is my flashlight (insert: This Little Light of Mine). The world is a dark place, and even with a full moon (for example positive friends or positive people surrounding you), it is still not enough to completely light your way to navigate through the darkness. Without God as your light, you are gonna crash off the MOUNTAIN TOP, fall on a rock and split your head open, or at least get pretty banged up.
This simple elementary analogy came to me and I realized that although I might not use my flashlight when I travel back down to the well lit valley, I still need Him everyday for my light. By being in the word, listening to the pulls on my heart, and talking to him everyday is the way to keep that flashlight lit.
We also broke into groups and laid hands on each other and prayed. I received some very inspirational, supportive, and loving prayer about my next step in life specifically relationships...specifically my future husband....wherever he is and whatever is taking him so dang long. haha. It felt good.
I felt like this was spiritually a deeper retreat then I have had in the past. Maybe it's me, being more open, and willing, I don't know, but it was great and I came back feeling refreshed and like I could've stayed longer.
You really become a church "family" when you strip away the makeup, break out the glasses and frizzy hair, doggy pajama bottoms, make some s'mores and get dirty in the woods together. I am thankful for my church and that we truly are a family.
We had a lot of fun too. Saturday we woke up and went on a short hike. I only got about 4 hours of sleep because our tent was positioned on a MOUNTAIN TOP and a 35 degree SLOPE! UGHHHHH We had cots but I think that just made it worse. It was like you had to fight to stay on the darn thing. Drove me and Frances to be up all night struggling to get used to it. Finally, exhaustion set in around 3:30am and I fell asleep. The next morning we found a MUCH flatter spot on the MOUNTAIN TOP and moved our tent. It was 100,000,000 times better Saturday night.
Morning Day 1 after only about 4 hours of sleep. Heading out on a hike.
Colette and Frances in the single ladies tent after we moved it to flatter grounds.
Boys heading out on the hike.
Girls on the trail.
Me and Mary
Foliage
Some of the group on the hike. There were about 20-25 people there but only a handful of us went on the hike.
We then headed to Lake Gregory for the afternoon. It was beautiful day!!!! I was happy to soak up the sun and rest my eyes in sunshine.
Lake Gregory.
Me and Audrey chillin on our towels
Chicks on the beach.
Dude, these Slurpees totally hit the spot. They were THE ONE! Everything tastes better at 5,000 feet.
Love
Mary and Zoya at our Campground and Audrey in the background.
Cute little tree.
It was a great time. We came home early afternoon on Sunday and I got to kick ass around the house and wash the car and get situated before church. I greeted, and then had a great prayer and worship service before heading on a date. Yup, a real date. I prayed on my knees for an amazing date. I'm sooooo sick of "good" dates. I'm over "good" and I am ready for "amazing". PTL, it was nothing less than amazing. AND, I think we'll be going on another date very soon. *Cheesy grin*
He is faithful indeed!
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