Father-Daughter Retreat Part 2

~ Posted by Rubia

 

Hi all! I’m continuing the story about the wonderful weekend Roma and I had with our Dad in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Yesterday Roma posted about what we did up until after high tea on Saturday, when we had the privilege of meeting two of our favorite speakers at the conference, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin.

 

After that, the day was not over yet! We went upstairs and changed clothes to tour the Callaway gardens.

 

The flowers were so pretty! I think that almost all the pictures I took that weekend were of flowers! The area was all so beautiful and I think that it is especially so in the spring time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Although it was rainy most of the weekend, I’m glad that it cleared up a bit that afternoon so we could be outside.

 

 

After we toured this pioneer house, we made our way to the butterfly house.

 

This brought back funny memories of when Roma and I were afraid of butterflies when we were little. We went through a butterfly house many years ago and we screamed and ran from the butterflies. This time we were doing just the opposite—we were trying to get the butterflies to land on us! There is still one butterfly that bothers us just a little bit though, and that is the owl butterfly. This one has what looks like an owl’s eye on both of its wings. It looks a little bit scary, but it is also kind of neat. J

 

Walking through another part of the gardens, we made our way to the chapel. I’m not quite sure how often this is done, but sometimes in the afternoon someone plays the pipe organ in the chapel, until 4:00 p.m. It was so close to 4 as we started fast-walking towards the chapel, still some ways away. We could hear it from a distance and that motivated us to go faster. It sounded beautiful! We made it to the chapel at 4:00 sharp when it stopped and the player was gone! Oh, well. At least we heard it from a distance.

 

The stained-glass windows were very pretty. There was a window to represent each season of the year. At the front there was a cross on top of a rock reminding us of Christ the Solid Rock, and the Bible in front was open to 1 Corinthians 13.

 

 

 

 

That evening, we went to the Gardens restaurant for dinner, which was more formal. When Bianca went to the same retreat several years ago, she and Dad went to this same restaurant ~ a really nice place with delicious food!

 

Roma and I had some really good trout with broccoli (I think it was broccoli . . . J) and a grits cake stuffed with cheese and herbs. For dessert we had bananas foster. It was all so good!

 

 

Back in the conference room after dinner, the next speaker was Mr. Curtis Bowers. His message was specifically to the fathers in the room. He spoke of the importance of godly fathers in a dark world and how God has chosen us to shine in it. He talked about the ways in which God has blessed his family as they work together. (By God’s blessing, they worked together to make a really good movie called, “Agenda.”) I quote something he said that I think is very true:

 

“God will bless a father who has his children involved in his life. Working together as a family nourishes relationships and blesses other people.” He went on to say that the saddest words a father could say at the end of his life are “what would’ve been.” It is important to be faithful and purposeful.

 



Photo Credit: Roma.



The next speakers we actually Skyped. They were a man and his daughter, who is unfortunately in the hospital with cancer. But their message was very encouraging. They spoke of families (specifically fathers and daughters) going through trials together and the importance of being strong in those trials. Trials will either strengthen relationships or destroy them. This is something that our family has also been learning together during this time. I believe that God uses trials to strengthen our relationship with Him. The young woman with cancer whom we Skyped said, “If we didn’t know trials, we wouldn’t know God and His power and that He is our rock and strength.” I would say amen to that!

 

Another reality is that the world around is watching us and our reactions to trials such as these. What do we want them to see? Do we want them to see Christ in us?

 

Photo Credit: Roma.



The next Sunday in church Mr. Scott Brown (speaker and author) preached a sermon from Matthew 25 (the parable of the 10 virgins), about being ready for Christ’s second coming. This was also a great message.

 



Photo Credit: Roma.



This retreat was such a blessing. I am grateful to have had the opportunity! I admire the people who do retreats and conferences like this because of their vision: the building of families with Christ alone as the foundation. I also met some really great people and made friends that I hope will be life-long ones!

 

I will close this post with one request: I would love for ya’ll to join me in praying for my dear Dad. This has been a difficult time for him, having his parents pass away not long ago, and trying to deal with many issues. Thank you so very much! (And thanks to those of you who already have been praying!)