After a lovely six weeks of rest and time at home, D and D Ministries started back up the second week of January. We jumped in with both feet, hosting our first Refuge and Refreshment retreat. That means that we planned and hosted a two night, three day retreat at a retreat center. We had precious friends come and cook all the meals, our daughters and one son-in-law were there to serve alongside us, ministering to so many needs.
We had ten couples there for the retreat and we had the sweetest fellowship with them. One comment we heard several times is that it just wasn’t long enough! We had group sessions, Q&A times, and also split sessions.
I honestly sat in awe of how God allowed this all to come together. It’s been a dream for so long, and here we were seeing it all come together in ways that only the Lord could make happen. We are so blessed and so thankful!
The weather was perfect, as was the setting! You just can’t beat the mountains of East Tennessee!
We had one day to catch our breath and repack before we headed to South Bend, Indiana where we spoke at a ministry retreat. Five couples joined us at the most gorgeous Bed and Breakfast on a very cold, snowy weekend. Dale also preached at their church on Sunday.
We flew home Sunday afternoon and had until Friday to be home. I enjoy each day I wake up in my own bed, but you know what? When it’s time to head out again, the Lord gives grace to go where He sends us! Philippians 2:13
We went from the snow to the beach in one week! Vero Beach, Florida was our next meeting and the Lord gave us warm temperatures, AND warm fellowship with the folks at the marriage/personal refreshment meeting we had. We even got to sneak in a couple trips to the beach where we sat in 80° weather and sunshine!
Friends, the Lord is so good to us. Our area was experiencing snow and ice and we were enjoying serving Him in sunny, warm Florida. We don’t deserve it, but we thank Him for these grace blessings. I spoke to the ladies three times over the weekend, and Dale preached/taught eight times. Again, God gives strength!
When we flew home Monday evening, the freezing temps were quite a shock to our systems! We had left warm footwear, coats, gloves and hats in our car at the airport. Were we ever thankful!
Being home these days has allowed me to “quiet” some rooms. That’s Myquillen Smith’s phrase for removing the clutter and decor in a room for a couple days, then slowly adding things back in. So far, my family room has been completed, and my craft room/office is in the process.
What this does is it allows you to clear out the clutter and remove anything that isn’t necessary. I didn’t remove a lot, but it was enough to make me smile at the results! It’s so easy to collect extra things in spaces that we live in each day. I got rid of old magazines. I found a new place to store my walking pad so it isn’t in view! I moved a couple lamps, allowing more than one good seat for task lighting. It feels terrific!
We’re under another Winter Storm Warning for this weekend, so maybe we’ll get snowed in for a couple days. That wouldn’t hurt my feelings! I am ready with food to eat and blankets to keep us warm. The Lord said, Genesis 8:22:Â “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease”. Neither will His faithfulness, even in the cold months. Rest in the warmth of His love and care for you.
RefreshHer 