As of six oclock tonight I'm off to a weekend prayer retreat. Looking forward to no kids, no chores, no cooking and a weekend of prayer, meditation and hopefully insight <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

wow Evie...I am jealous! Let us all know how it goes. I have never been on one, but would love to.

Please mention your good old buddy here when praying, won't you?

the weekend was totally awesome....absolutely nothing like I expected it to be....instead of talking about how to pray, types of prayer, etc. we focussed on building a relationship with God first, then developing a prayer life. Relationships were explored through the theme of Genesis, and what was originally intended to be our relationship with God. We did have prayer exercises and meditations, and a "creativity center" - a table with markers, paints, plasticine - so we could get creative and work on whatever. I wrote a poem. Those who wished to share their creations did so at the closing service.

And........the food was fabulous - red pepper soup for lunch, homemade buns, cinammon rolls for breakfast, chicken and home made potatoe wedges....hmmmmmmmmmm.....I ate my way through the weekend <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Evie,
this just sounds so wonderful! If you get the time, I would love to hear more about the program you had, in detail. So, if you get the time and can/will/want to, email me here at home. I think you have my email.

will do - if I haven't got back to you by Wednesday, remind me ok? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Evie, sounds like a perfect get-a-way to me. There is definitely something life changing about spiritual encounters with women.

Has anyone in here ever attended a Women of Faith conference? All women fill entire convention centers in big cities to listen to music, sing along with music, listen to faithful women share their stories, and be moved by the Holy Spirit. It's awesome. Oh, and they also have an opportunity to shop for books, music, t-shirts, etc, that the speakers have written and designed. And of course there is time to eat thrown in too. Sound great or what?

Ahhh, there's an idea. Maybe we could all meet at one of those. Check out their web site and see what you think, www.womenoffaith.com.

I'm praying the day will come when we have a boomerwomenspeak convention, but until, maybe this is a thought. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

As a matter of fact I have heard of them and visit their website weekly. I also get their newsletter. I have had several emails back and forth with Thelma Wells, one of their speakers and she is simply a dear. I also entered their contest to put a caption with their picture and if I win (keep your fingers crossed)I will get two free tickets to one of their speaking engagements. My girlfriend has been to three of them and she says they are awesome and promised to take me next time. Hey...maybe I'll be taking her if I win, heh? If you write to Thelma, be sure and tell her I sent you! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Wow, you correspond with Thelma Wells? I'm impressed. Jawjaw, I think you would love those conventions. I could see you up with them there doing your thing! They are very fun women, very faithful, and warm.

I would love to go to a Women of Faith conference, or something similar that is "large" like that, since most retreats I get to are small, and close by here <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> Unfortunately, they are always pretty far away from here, translate to pretty expensive to attend at the moment - but who knows, maybe someday.........I'd like to get to a writers conference someday too........and I'd like to travel to England and Scotland.....and I'd like....ooopps, getting off topic..... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

Evie,
Continue on with your dreams. I like reading about everyone's dreams and believe me, they are not so different from my own. We all have them, and I am a firm believer in three things

***Ask and you will receive
***Believe it will happen
***Give thanks when it does

I hope to meet you and the rest of the girls at the Boomer Women's conference in the future and maybe...just maybe we can all plan a retreat somewhere! Wouldn't that be great? Okay...I didn't mean at my house. That would require cleaning...no, I said no. Don't even ask. Hey...I jut had a thought...what about Dotsie's? After all, she is responsible for all of us getting together, am I right? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />