I got home Saturday evening and every time I talk about the week I get tears in my eyes.
I will try to tell you little bits and pieces throughout the week and hope you get a GLIMPSE into the beauty of Brave Girls.
I flew in Tuesday evening and met my blog friends Lissa and Becky at the hotel. We were all sharing a room that night. A bus would be picking us up the next morning to head up into the mountains.
First of all let me tell you....these girls are not just my blog friends anymore...they are my friends for life.
I love them.
They are real. Creative. Tender. Joyful. Full of grace. Brave. Women of faith.
We were all comfortable the moment we met each other and I felt like I had known them forever.
The next morning all the girls met outside the hotel and we were taken up the mountain for the next four days that would change our hearts forever...we had no idea what was coming!!!
(They stopped the bus on the way up the mountain at an overlook)
On our way up the mountain Lissa had to share with us a note written to all of us by Lisa's daughter Natlie to warn us about the dangers of ticks and how to protect ourselves. Could she be any cuter???
When we were almost at the cabin our bus stopped and Melody met us.
We all pulled out a note and bag of bird seeds that had been given to us when we boarded the bus. It was included with a ton of other goodies in our handmade totes...they were gorgeous.
The note said "Worries Are For The Birds". Melody went on to say that any of our worries could be left right there. Where we were going was a place for openness, comfort, safety, creating and growth. She then asked us to toss the bird seeds into the air. We were reassured that we could pick up our worries on the way home if we so chose...but the birds would have probably flown off with them by then.
Don't you just LOVE that!!!
What a sweet way to start our time together.
(taken on one of our early morning walks)
When we got to the cabin all of the "staff" came out to greet us. They had the biggest smiles on their faces and they all knew our names. We all felt so welcomed and loved immediately. The cabin was so gorgeous and the moment you stepped in the doors you felt at home...how could we not....the whole place was decorated with Melody's amazing art and photos of all of us and the people we love!
We all shared an amazing brunch and got to know each other a little bit.
We then all went out into the art tent.
Now...this is a good lesson to not judge a book by its cover.
It was an old army tent that had been repaired but when the rains came hard there was some leaking.
Melody's husband fixed it so it wouldn't leak.
It might have looked a little rough on the outside, but girls...it was so gorgeous on the insides.
When I walked into the tent I cried.
This is what we got to create in....
We then worked on three simpler projects to get everyone slowly warmed up to create.
When we came in from the art tent we were greeted with beautifully set tables and amazing food.
To say we were being spoiled would be an understatement!
The first evening ended with a speaker that has forever changed my heart.
I tried to write about it a few times and it doesn't come across right here.
So, I will just tell you the lesson.
We all have pain.
Different pain.
It changes us.
For the better or the worse.
What is does to us it up to us.
We all have a choice what we do with our pain.
Right now in my life I do not have real pain.
I am not bragging...but I am also not embarrassed to admit this.
What I am saying is that I am also not naive.
Pain will come my way and I have a choice what I do with it.
I will not be ready for it.
I will not welcome it.
But I still have a choice.
It was an amazing, full first day.
And the best was yet to come.
I can't wait to share more and I hope I do it justice.
I'm so happy to hear it was more than you expected. What a wonderful way to spend a few days. I want to go next year. Jeanne, I love reading your perspective. It is so genuine. You have such a tender heart. Once again, thanks for sharing it with us. Welcome home. I can't wait to read more. Please hurry. I'm not sure I can wait.
Xoxo
Posted by: Maisy | October 18, 2009 at 06:23 PM
Wow. This truly does sound like an amazing time. How did this work as far as who could join in? I think it would be wonderful to be a part of something like this with like-minded, creative women!! I know you had a blast!!
Can't wait to hear more!!
Blessings,
Becky
Posted by: Becky | October 18, 2009 at 06:23 PM
Wow, Jeanne, it sounds just so incredible. I really can't wait to hear more. So glad you are home safe and sound.
Posted by: Tricia Whisler | October 18, 2009 at 06:42 PM
I got weepy just reading your post. I can't believe how amazing it sounds and I'm so glad you got to go! I love the lesson about how we can choose how to handle pain - very meaningful. Can't wait to hear more!!
Posted by: Jackie | October 18, 2009 at 06:46 PM
I have goosebumps reading this life changing few days you experienced... thank you for sharing it with us and spreading all your insight.
Welcome home sweet friend and so so happy for you,
xo,
LuLu
Posted by: LuLu | October 18, 2009 at 06:48 PM
What a rich, meaningful, life-impacting experience you were blessed with!! I am eager to hear more. You write beautifully:)
Posted by: mkg | October 18, 2009 at 06:53 PM
How amazing! Looks like this was definitely good for the soul. I'm glad you had a wonderful time. I have come to feel the same way about my blogger friends. It is wonderful to have so much in common with women you have never even met! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: amber | October 18, 2009 at 07:26 PM
wow, jeanne. looks like a wonderful experience. i am sure that you will be reliving your time there for a long time.
Posted by: traci | October 18, 2009 at 07:54 PM
oh my goodness...what a blessing for you to be able to attend such an amazing event!!! I would of loved to have been there! Thank you for sharing a wee bit with us...I feel blessed already. Your words are amazingxoxoxoxo
Posted by: koralee | October 18, 2009 at 07:59 PM
clearly much thoughtfulness and love was put into this time together! it sounds like it was a beautiful time! i want to hear more!!=)
Posted by: amy | October 18, 2009 at 08:22 PM
Wow - this sounds like it was a life-altering (or at least perspective-altering) experience. Like the others who've commented, I am also looking forward to hearing about the rest of your retreat.
I love that line: Worries are for the birds!
Posted by: Rachel | October 18, 2009 at 08:59 PM
Good times... good friends... We all need some good fun like this. I hope your week is WONDERFUL!
Sheila
Posted by: Sheila Tattered Goods | October 18, 2009 at 09:10 PM
Oh Jeanne.. I am getting so excited.. now I am going to have to go next year! I need to hear more!
Posted by: JenR | October 18, 2009 at 09:20 PM
I am on the edge of my seat! I just want to know MORE MORE MORE. I also wish I could crawl back into time and get on that plane to Idaho and have joined you. It sounds like your trip was full of moments I would have cried over and rejoiced in!
Posted by: A.Love | October 18, 2009 at 09:23 PM
Sounds wonderful...thanks for sharing...and I can hardly wait for more!!
Posted by: kana conger | October 18, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Jeanne - this is so amazing. What an amazing testimony you will have now, and how Brave Girls is now being exposed to all of us who have never heard of it before and all of us who NEED it!
I am in pain - and I have to say, when I'm in it - I need to be reminded that I HAVE A CHOICE. I have to choose Him and choose to surrender my pain.
I can't wait to hear more!!
I'm so blessed by you.
xo - Tracy.
Posted by: Tracy | October 18, 2009 at 09:41 PM
I'm so happy to hear you had an amazing time. I saw Lissa at church this morning and she was glowing. She spoke great things of you. I can not wait to hear more!
Posted by: Nora | October 18, 2009 at 09:50 PM
: )
Posted by: Julie M. | October 19, 2009 at 12:16 AM
Wow, what amazing friends and time you must have had!
Posted by: Fiona | October 19, 2009 at 04:09 AM
I'm having the same reaction as the others...I want some, need some, and am glad you got some!
Posted by: Kathryn | October 19, 2009 at 04:28 AM
It all sounds so wonderful. Love the inside of that tent!
Posted by: Zita - Mlle Magpie | October 19, 2009 at 04:34 AM
Jeanne, the inside of that tent is utterly gorgeous...what an amazing place to share and create...it sounds like you had a wonderful time on your getaway...the note about ticks cracks me up, what a cutie that girl is!!!
Posted by: Lori | October 19, 2009 at 05:12 AM
Wow ~ what an awesome tent! You can't judge a book by its cover perfectly suits this diamond in the rough. Meeting and spending time with Becky & Lissa must have been incredible ~ I love the bird seed and throwing your worries away ~ what a great start. I cannot wait to hear more...
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=554492020 | October 19, 2009 at 05:20 AM
oh my!!!
the tent with the lanterns & twinkle lights...wow
so glad ya'll were blessed by such an amazing time
can't wait to hear more
& see what you created too
xo
Posted by: paige | October 19, 2009 at 06:36 AM
Jeanne thanks for sharing about this experience- it looks amazing. I would love to go next year- it's not to far from where I live. What a beautiful place to create- can't wait to see what you have made.
Posted by: lorraine lewis | October 19, 2009 at 07:11 AM