Soul Sisters Retreat recap

Chris Marsden, Rachelle Kofford, Cindy Sweeten, Darlene Ostlund, Debbie Hadlock, Nan Bruske, Kathleen Newman, JoAnne Murdock, Kimi Farley, Kelli Orchard, Heidi Bingham, Peggy Rinehart, Melinda Welch, Jill Allsop, Jacqueline Romney, Barbara Schwartz

The first ever Soul Sisters retreat was WONDERFUL. … really hard to put into words how healing, loving, fun  and helpful this retreat was for all who came.   I had 15 diverse women, 2 who didn’t know anyone.. attend with me up in Eden.   I was so glad to have my cohort- side kick – Board of directors- Kathleen Newman with me to settle in , figure out bedrooms and food.  She took over the kitchen for the whole event with food prep and clean up.  Kathleen is a gem. 

Everyone gathered at 4:00 on Thursday to settle into the awesome air bnb and find their rooms.  I was so happy Aunt Darlene and Cousin Cindy were the first to arrive because it really brought my angel mother near and I felt her blessing as I looked into Dar’s beautiful face.   We slept 5 women on the main floor, 5 upstairs and 6 down stairs in different arrangements  of beds, blow ups and couches.  I put a note and a fun word bracelet on everyone’s bed to welcome them.     I was really worried that Debbie, who reached out with her sad email after seeing me on Good Things Utah, wasn’t here yet…  when an hour and a half had passed and she still wasn’t here I got worried.  I didn’t have a phone number, only her email… so I sent.”are you lost?  Call me.”…and prayed and prayed that she would come.   By 6:00 she rolled in and I was so happy to see her.  She told me she was in bed til 3:30  in the afternoon trying to decide if she was really coming or not  and finally the spirit told her to get up shower and go…so she did.  

First up was Si of A Bountiful Kitchen’s cooking class.   Si did great showing off the Insta Pot electric pressure cooker and how to use it was we all made Chile Verde together.  She also showed us the tricks to the Levain Chocolate chip cookie and we mounded and baked them together and compared them to  the tried and true chocolate chip cookie.   It was a fun taste test.    We wore name tags  so everyone could learn names quickly.   

With dinner over we settled in for Story Time.  This gave some of the women anxiety…what were they going to share??   We sat in a big circle in the living room and everyone had 5 minutes to share a story from their lives.  It could be anything.  I shared Laila’s adoption story…others shared their conversion story, haunted child hood house,  babies being born,  how met husband,  sadness, happiness, how started business etc…  Debbie shared why she came, basically the email she sent to me, and all just rallied around her and her loneliness.     Everyone just listened to everyone else.  Everyone was genuine and took off social masks and just loved on each other.  It felt like a ministry.  We pulled out snacks, played cards and talked til after midnight. 

Friday those who wanted to got up and went on a chilly, beautiful walk with me up on a mountain trail where we stumbled upon a pond with ducks and geese and gorgeousness.  Breakfast was hash brown and sausage or croissant and berry breakfast casseroles with fruit.  We  had a little devotional on God’s beautiful world is a testament of his love for us  and gratitude and cultivating a gratitude practice.

Shelley Davies came in the morning and gave a beautiful presentation on grand mothering and how important it is to be in our grand children’s lives even in small ways.   Genuine encounters are the important parts.  She even shared a new subscription box service she is putting together filled with books, recipes, projects and journal writings for grandparents.    We all shared some traditions or things we do with our grandchildren to connect. 

Lunch was plates and palates salads , more talking and sharing and Bre came up to take candid shots and a bit group picture to celebrate this event. 

 In the afternoon I led the group in Brave Intuitive painting…this was harder than I thought and gave another group of women anxiety as they faced a canvas and paint and we discussed creativity and the shame around it that begins in grade school when comparison starts and  “artists” are pointed out.    I need to work on teaching this better..so many stop at the first thing they put on the canvas….that’s not the point.  Need to give up control and  keep adding layers and turning the canvas til something beautiful emerges.  I want to do this again, I just need to get better at teaching and inspiring this process. 

Free time for Hot tubing out in the beautiful setting.  The air was freezing, but the water was great.  Or…to go on a nature walk, take a nap, read a book, jump on the tramp…all good things.

Dinner of soup and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches that the ladies made themselves, then we had special guest Michelle Campbell come and share her sacred Cancer experience.  She has had 300 days of it in her life and she is at the All clear part…praying that it will last.  She  gave great ideas on how to help, what to say, how to process cancer and other sicknesses and be more empathetic.  

-->  My darling friend, Linda Wangsgaard came up with Michelle and then she stayed to spend the night with all of us.   Linda always fits right in anywhere she goes because she is so interested in other.  
  After the sadness cancer class…  we  switched gears and discussed the benefits of  laughter and humor and we all went around shared funny stories and laughed and laughed til  our stomach’s ached.    Marie Callendar pies and more sharing and talking til after midnight.    We had way too much FOOD on this retreat..we will have to readjust for next time. 

Friday morning up for a walk or sleeping in a bit, then breakfast of yogurt parfaits and bagels   with a final devotional about beauty and how we are all beautiful daughters of God.   Cleanup and out of their by 10:30.

So now I sit at this end of the event processing it.  It really filled my cup so full to put this on.  I prayed and planned, worried and worked for this event and it turned out better than  I could have imagined.  It was a diverse group of ladies ages 49-83, but when one get’s older, I think we have all been through stuff and just have so much more empathy and wisdom to share with each other.  There was NO  know it all in this group, just women really trying to share and listen and validate each other's lives and problems.  It was beautiful to witness and to be a part of.    I really feel Heavenly Father’s hand in this retreat and know that the ladies who came were the ones who really needed to be there.  They came for themselves or they came to be the listening ear- shoulder to lean on  for another. 

I  am going to send a survey to get feedback for this first one on what to fix and how to make it better…then begin planning the next one.  I have one scheduled the end of February, the third weekend of May and NYC in Oct.