Hohegrete (or, The Retreat)

This weekend was amazing... I went on a retreat with a couple of very dear families and people from church. Instead of actually writing about it (which would take pages and bore everyone to tears), I'm going to list the high-lights. Oftentimes it's the little things that make the difference and make life beautifully meaningful.

- getting to know everyone better

- seeing a glimpse of God's love through people

- late-night talks over tea

- learning how to knit from Eleanor*

- watching people beat eachother up

- singing beautiful worship songs

- singing worship songs in English (though they have a tendency to reduce me to tears)

- going on late-night walks under the stars...

- actually "getting" jokes! (well, most of them)

- learning new words such as "Eierlegendevollmilchsau" - roughly translated, an "egg-laying, milk-producing pig". This term is used to describe something that is capable of everything and makes everyone happy (and is unfortunately non-existent).

- walking arm in arm with Bizarro Mom

- being continuously impressed by how people interact with and serve one another

- trying to create a church logo/slogan with Sydney and Eleanor

- practical talks/sermons

- snickering to myself when the preacher inserted the occasional "Scheisse" (sh*t) and "Arschloch" (*ssh*le) in his sermons.

- fascinating seminar on communication

- singing "my hat, it has three corners" in German

- thinking about life and such

- afternoon naps and journaling

- singing "if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" in German

- being challeneged

- witnessing a car accident on the Autobahn (albeit minor)

- no computer or telephone for four days

- taking two days off of work

- an ever-deflating personal space bubble

- getting a new Jars of Clay CD (old hymns re-done!)

- goofing off in the snow without a jacket or mittens on, and neither caring nor freezing

- always being the last group to leave anywhere

- convictions, affirmations, focus and encouragement


*name changed to protect privacy


Lyrics of the day: "When peace like a river attendeth my way... when sorrows, like sea-billows, roll... whatever my lot, You have taught me to say: it is well, it is well with my soul..." (Thanks to Horatio Spafford)