Be of good Cheer- May retreat

Back row:  Si, Dixie, Tammy, Karen Nickl, Kim, Connie, Lisa, Kathleen   Front row:  Melinda, Angela, Nan

My May Soul Sisters retreat is over and it was a beautiful gathering..  I’ve learned to turn this event over to the Lord and who ever comes or what happens at the retreat is His.  There is less worry and manipulation on my part and it brings me more peace as I move toward the unknown of will the ladies show up? Will they participate? Will they get along?  Will all of the “right “ things be said… Anyway, it was AWESOME.  There were 12 of us ( a last minute cancellation, that didn’t even bother me)  and it was the perfect amount for  our airbnb home.  The setting was the Dimple Dell , Sandy Utah area with open land and gorgeous mountains .  We found great walking trails each morning.

Kathleen Newman was my right hand woman…and she does such a great job making everything look just perfect.  She is a great cook and has energy for the set up and clean up part as well.  She is exceptional.  That was the word used to describe her by the other women of the retreat, over and over and it totally fits her. 

My sister Angela came  with a friend Connie Holt .  They shared a room and they have quite a lot in common.  Both married older , divorced men with 3 and 2 boys respectively.   They are strong  Red personalities with #4 energy dressing.   Angela is great at remembering my stories, so then I can tell them.  Connie is wise in her responses and a scriptorian. 

Lisa Anderson, Laura Belnaps little sister, came all the way down from Smithfield.  Lisa has had a difficult year with her husband’s health and her mom’s deteriorating health..daughter married, son moved out… So empty nest syndrome is big in her life.

My awesome friends, Si Foster, Kim Johnston came.  Both introverts who don’t like gatherings with new people..but both did great at being open and loving to all.

Nan Bruske, Jill Allsop and Carole Brown from my home ward all supported…and needed to be here for different reasons.  They were all so happy to have spent the time.

Tammy Siebert , who came to the Feb retreat came again to this one, with a different friend Dixie Munsee . Both from Mt. Green.  Both just wanting to connect, not knowing anyone else.  Such lovely women, with so much to give and so much wisdom.

Thursday night was all about great Plates and Palates salads, home made coconut cake and sharing a story.  Everyone had atleast 5 minutes to share anything they wanted, some told how they met their husband, some gave a brief run down on their life and kids, some told a lesson learned,  what their own mother was like- good or bad or a difficult time.  I shared about the power of music and that it speaks to me.  Hymns come alive and say the exact things that I need to hear and it feels like Heavenly Father is communicating to me.   I talked about when my sons came out, and how Hymns lifted me .   We laughed a lot and cried some.  It’s good to be vulnerable and this time really does become sacred.

Friday morning up for an 8:00 walk in gorgeous weather, for those who wanted to.  Others slept a bit more, or got ready for their day.  We had a wonderful sausage egg burrito breakfast with salsa, guacamole and fruit.  Plus a little sweet roll on the side.  Kathleen made it all look gorgeous.  
My friend who was coming up to teach about YOGA and it’s benefits and what it has done for her in her life, couldn’t come up at the last minute, so I took over this task.   Good thing I started my at home yoga practice in March , so I had something to talk about and refer to.  I gave everyone yoga mats and we moved furniture and all talked about the benefits of stretching and balance as we get older and how valuable Yoga is.  Then I let them to Yoga with Adrienne a popular Youtube channel, and we went through a guided beginners practice. 

Lunch time was Healthy snack ideas led by healthy Kathleen.  She is an over achiever and has fun playing in the kitchen with her girls, so she brought frozen grapes, dates with pecans, made banana- berry ice cream, hummus, edamame, roasted chick-peas, home made lara bar, protein balls,  more protein balls, a chocolate chia pudding, and avocado toast.  Everyone tried and got food on their plate, then we all settled in for our speaker.  We also talked about making every day not so every day by dedicating some task to the Lord... having it be your time to commune with Him.  I had Addison Calligraphy up a favorite scripture... "This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Karen Nickl came and told all about the psychology of   happiness and how we can actually change our body chemistry by working on  10 things:  Medication when necessary, eating fresh, exercise, sunlight, music, socialize, talk therapy, laughter, power pose, thought stopping, prayer/meditation and find a passion.  She is always excellent and I was amazed at some of the insights I had while she spoke.  I really liked the thought stopping techniques and prayer parts.   A big take away for all of us was the thought of being “hot and Happy.”

Karen was gracious and hung around after to field more questions and expand on some of her points.  It was so interesting and eye opening.

Next….Game playing, visiting, helping with meals…all good things.

We had a dinner of marinated chicken, roasted veggies and an apple- pear salad from Si’s blog. Si brought her tried and true chocolate chip cookies as our dessert.  They were a hit! 

Holly Reid was up next with her Ubuntu presentation  I am- because we are.  Which is basically that we are all in this together so we  need to love and support each other.  HELP each other, speak kindly about and lift and serve one another. Holly went all out with bracelets, pictures and an Ubuntu stick to inspire us all to use the saying, “I am….” In positive ways.   We circled up on the rug and took an all feet in the middle picture like the one taken with the African children.  It was beautiful.

We told funny stories and had a belly laugh or twenty…then couldn’t leave each other but kept talking and using all of words, then we crashed at midnight.

One more sleep , an early walk, breakfast of yogurt parfaits, fruit  and bagels with home made flavored cream cheese rounded out the meal.  We had a final recap of what everyone’s take away would be.  My cup is filled.