I am sooooo thankful to be retreating. My last one was in March!!!

I was having a hard time figuring out where I wanted to have this 24 hour retreat of solitude. It has been 100 degrees lately so taking our camper to the local regional park did not sound like a good idea especially since our A/C is out.

I am realizing that having a beautiful nature/outdoor space is a must for me on these times away. I realize I connect with God best through creation and quiet or another way to see it as naturalist and contemplative. This is based off of the book Sacred Pathways which describes 9 different ways that people often connect with God. I found a church that has a test for anyone interested: https://annarborvineyard.org/participate/spiritual-formation/spiritual-styles-the-nine-sacred-pathways/

I love the beach but the thought of driving down to a hotel at the beach did not sound restorative since I am not a fan of driving. And to be honest paying for a hotel at the beach in the peak of summer is not in our budget. So I decided to pray for clarity and peace about a place to go. Later that afternoon I get a text from a friend asking if my daughter is able to dog sit while they are gone on vacation. This is perfect especially since the last time I was at her place I thought how perfect it would be for a retreat. Her house and yard is absolutely magical. The beautiful architecture of this 120+ year old house is unreal. The yard is brilliantly landscaped with tons of shade trees, pond, fountains and green everywhere. The whole place just radiates peace. So I boldly (bold is my word of the year because I am tired of living in fear over things) asked if I could crash there for 24 hours. She answered how I thought she would- with graciousness and generosity.

I planned to be there from 9am Friday to 9am Saturday. When I arrived it was still cool enough to sit in the shade by the pool which is surrounded by silver birch and palm trees. I just sat and enjoyed the beauty before me for at least 45 minutes. I watched a red dragonfly couple doing aerial stunts above the water. I dozed off for a mini cat nap in the metal pool lounge chair. It is so important on these times away that I pay attention to what I need. I don’t fight a nap if I am feeling sleepy. I don’t set an alarm. I allow myself to just be.

I begin to feel too warm as I am losing shade as the sun moves higher in the sky so I move to the giant, shaded wrap-around stone porch of this 1902 historical home. In an era before A/C having a huge shaded porch was a must. To be honest I think we miss out in modern homes. This is my favorite spot of this home. I run into my friend’s sister who is renovating her upstairs bedroom while I am here. She apologizes for disturbing me but it is fine since I am able to find places to tuck away and enjoy the quiet. She did not know I was coming and when I explain to her of my monthly retreats she longingly says, “I wish I did that. I want one of those.” This further inspires me to keep writing and to one day publish these thoughts to hopefully encourage others in this much needed life rhythm. It is my hope that my story can help others experience this peace and joy too.

Part of paying attention to what I need is eating when I am actually hungry. Far too often in the hustle and bustle of life I can shelf my needs to take care of others’ needs. But this time is for allowing my bucket to be filled. I buy my favorite things to enjoy. I have some chips and guac and some Haagen Daaz ice cream. I doze off for my 2nd cat nap within the first 2 hours of being here.

These times away allow the waters of my soul to settle. It is an image I got from a fav author, Ruth Haley Barton in her book Invitation to Silence and Solitude. If you imagine a jar full of river water. In the flurry of life it is like the jar is being shaken continually and the water is murky and cloudy. But silence and solitude is like setting the jar down and the stillness creates something new. The sediment in the water begins to sink to the bottom leaving the remaining water clear in the stillness. This is how these retreats feel. It is like a long exhale after far too long of shallow breathing. It is this deeper, peaceful breathing that allows naps to descend on my tired soul and body.

After I wake I listen to the guided lectio divina reading in the Hallow app, write in my gratitude journal and this new journal of mine. It is where I dedicate one page to each month. I list memorable things both good and hard to be able to quickly look back for my end of year review/examen in December.

The heat moves me indoors to a reclining leather arm chair in the back sun room. The 3 walls are full of windows surrounded by unreal landscaping to make it feel like I am sitting in the center of a royal garden with the shade of green all around. I pick up a sweet fiction love story I am enjoying. I sit there and read until I finish it. This in itself is a luxury because the delight of reading at home is often done in smaller pockets of time and usually with an interruption or 14 of them.

I move back to the front porch to read another book, Habits of the Household. Within minutes I see my stud muffin husband walking up the sidewalk to drop his laptop to me since mine is getting repaired. “First things first” he says as he hands me my 2 favorite flavors of See’s Candies lollipops. He helps me get all set up with wifi then heads back home. My hero.

I begin to write about this retreat away. These retreats are a great time for me to write and to enjoy the space to put my thoughts down.

After awhile I head back inside to the recliner where I snuggle under a cable-knit blanket for nap number 3. This one heads up being more than 10minutes. I wake after 2 hours and decide it is time to eat a pre-packaged BBQ/ranch salad kit. I make a good dent in caramel cone ice cream.

I go for a walk with her dog around their almost 3 acres of citrus groves. I feel like I am walking in the garden of Eden in the cool of the evening. I admire the japanese maples planted along the side of the home.

I return to the stone porch with 2 oranges I picked. I watch the sunset behind distant mountains and stay out front til it is dark.

I was in the kitchen with their dog and I heard a rather loud noise outside. I peak out the window and see my truck’s bed light on. This freaks me out. Part of what makes this home magical is all the huge windows but at night with no window coverings, this is not so magical for this chicken butt who wants to work on her word of the year, “bold” but instead hides in the bathroom and calls her hubby to come down and check things out. We laugh together as I feel like Buddy the elf calling his dad because he is afraid of the loud radiator noises. This is not the first time I have left a retreat after dark. He teases me that I like solitude conditionally. It is true. I like having a room at a retreat center but knowing there are other people nearby is comforting. So I enjoyed a 12 hour retreat and that seems to be enough to fill my cup.

Cost of this retreat:

• Lodging: free
• grocery run: $22

Total cost: $22- soul maintenance retreat: priceless