On Friday afternoon, Todd, Hudson, Hayes, and I headed to an area conference center (about an hour away) for our church’s annual family retreat.
We attended the retreat last year, and in that weekend we developed a family mission statement. It was an incredible weekend last year that really opened my eyes to the responsibility that we have not only within our family, but also the responsibility we have to reach out and across to other families.
This weekend we were surrounded by many of our friends and also got to meet lots of new friends and cultivate new friendships. We attended different seminars about raising Godly kids and growing together as a women, and finding other couples to invest in and asking other couples to mentor us. Our boys had wonderful experiences with other kiddos and leaders. And we ended the weekend by participating in the family olympics. Hudson got the top score in the “shake it to make it game!” Absolutely hilarious watching him jump around to get all of the balls out of the box.
We worshiped together and got to see kids worshiping alongside their parents.
It was a great opportunity to reflect on who we are as a family, where we want to go, how we can grow, how we can change. But, more than that, it was a great weekend of connection with other families. Of letting my kids see our interaction with other families and other couples. And knowing that my boys should feel comfortable going to those families for mentorship and fellowship.
(I love this picture of Hudson at the family olympics!)
In the past few years, we’ve been so fortunate to grow alongside other families who are raising babies and finding ourselves in the same parenting situations and marriage experiences.
This is what the body of Christ is to me. People who have my kids’ backs. People who can open their doors to our family. People who we can call when we need to talk through an issue. People we can trust to pray for us and look out for us. People who know my kids’ names and help hold them accountable and be there to talk to them when talking to mom and dad doesn’t seem like a good idea.
It was a great weekend! It rained. We didn’t get a whole lot of sleep with all of us sharing a room. There were kid meltdowns. But we were all in the same boat. Tired, melting down, and rained on, and ready to face the day and fellowship with old friends and new friends.
It was a really fun weekend for our family… followed by a ton of sleep at home!
What a fabulous weekend with your boys! I love that your church does this every year!
How perfect! I love the idea of a family retreat. My husband and I both agree that our most important job right now is our children, and my husband works crazy hours (and hates to leave on a weekend when he hasn’t seen the boys all week) so the idea of a family retreat would be right up our alley. I may have to suggest this to our church – we have so many young families growing together now it seems perfect!
What a special time for you and your precious family to fellowship with other families in the body of Christ! Special memories being made!
sounds like a church!!
Love this!
Also..quick question I hope isn’t intrusive. What kind of car do you have, and do you like it? We may be in the market for a larger vehicle and I can’t convince my husband to go the minivan route…yours looks like it has a 3rd row and maybe isn’t a minivan?
What a great event your church provides for families!!
That sounds like such a great time! I wish our church did something like that.
What a fun experience! I definitely wish our church would do something like this!
I love this idea! How fun! Unrelated: Can you tell me what kind of vehicle you guys are in? We’re vehicle shopping and looking for something with third-row seating, but isn’t too big to park, drive in the city, etc. I’d love to hear what your vehicle is.
Such fun! This is completely unrelated and I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what kind of car is this? We are planning on having a third baby and will need a car that will allow 3 car seats. I’m not opposed to a mini van- I just would rather an SUV. Thanks so much if you can share!