2015 Retreat Photos

Ezekiel 16

Women's Retreat 2014

Nothing to Lose

Her conversation with the counselor was brief.  She didn’t realize how badly she wanted to keep her child until after the words had flown out of her mouth.  Before Nancy began asking Eve any questions, she gently assured her that she didn’t have to divulge any information she didn’t feel comfortable sharing.  Nancy began by asking Eve some general questions like the first day of her last period, pregnancy symptoms and history, and if she was insured.  The Caris Group counselor asked questions in a gentle way that allowed Eve to say aloud the pros and cons she’d felt about each of her options and had kept bottled up.  Nancy followed Eve’s lead in whatever she wanted to share.  When the topic ventured to whether or not Eve had any family or friends’ support, Eve sadly admitted that she didn’t. 

Sweetest Taboo

Olivia could hear the thunder begin to rumble.   Yes! She thought to herself.  She stood still in the middle of the grass with her arms opened wide as though she were about to accept the biggest hug.   She lifted her head high with both eyes closed.   As the summer evening’s light breeze swayed past, she caught a whiff of the rain’s fresh fragrance.   She inhaled deeply.   Olivia could feel tiny droplets of cool water began to hit her face.

What Happens at Home Stays at Home

“Sunny day sweeping the clouds away, on my way to where the air is sweet, can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?”  The television in Ameea’s room came on with a blast. Eyes still closed, Kenya felt around the bed for the remote but had no luck. She completely forgot about the timer set to help wake Ameea in the mornings. Still searching for the remote to lower the volume, Kenya rolled over to the left and went crashing to the floor with a loud thud. Flat on her back, she was instantly reminded that the twin-size bed in Ameea’s room was much smaller than the king size bed in hers. Kenya freed herself from the Elmo covers twisted around her legs and got up from the floor. Rubbing her now throbbing hip, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and headed to the kitchen to make Saturday morning breakfast. It had been a long week and Kenya was looking forward to the day she had planned of much needed girl time with her BFF, Nikki. The smell of maple bacon, eggs, and pancakes brought Ameea to the kitchen.

Acceptable Sacrifice

I had inclined to be contemptuous of my father for the conditions of his life, for the conditions of our lives.  When his life had ended I began to wonder about that life and also, in a new way, to be apprehensive about my own.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

Martin tried to slow his breathing, “Steady now, Martin, you’re going to pass out if you don’t calm down, calm down for your mother,” he mused to himself.   He struggled to hold it together.   He wanted to convince himself that it wasn’t true – it just couldn’t be so.   He thought that if he could convince himself that his mother wasn’t going to die, then he could convince her that it couldn’t be true, that the Jesus she loved wouldn’t send this whirlwind into their lives. 

2014 Retreat Registration Form

2014 Holiday Party

Eve's Time: Standing in the Rubble

“Hello, thank you for calling Planned Parenthood.  How may I help you?”  Eve hung up the phone again.  She put her cell phone in her purse and stared at herself in the rearview mirror.  She didn’t recognize the person who was looking back at her.  She felt nauseous.  She wasn’t sure if it was the pregnancy or the guilt.  She felt ashamed for calling Planned Parenthood to schedule a third abortion.  She felt even more ashamed that she already had the phone number for Planned Parenthood saved in her cell phone’s contacts right after Paulie’s Pizza.  

In God We Trust

Eve's Time: Earth Bound

Stars are seen falling from the sky, bright streaks, burning through the atmosphere – now you see‘em, now you don’t. But upon close examination, the streaks across the night sky are not stars at all. They’re bits of space dust and rocks called meteoroids, ignited by friction either burning up in the sky or crashing to the ground as meteorites.    

Martin, though demanding attention during his meteoricbackward fall off the organ bench, didn’t light up the sky norburn up before crashing to the ground.  And upon close examination, he didn’t feel the back of his head meet ceramic with a sickening thud.  Martin lost consciousness on the way to earth – victimized by lack of sleep, lack of nourishment, and no lack of guilt.  His father always warned him about ministering to the people of God absent proper atonement.  Although the actual time from his loss of consciousness to hitting the floor was only seconds,

Birthday Fun!

Extra! Extra! Recipe

Extra! Extra! October Awareness!

OCTOBER 2013

Lung health isn’t just about not smoking. Learn more about the occupational and environemenal factors tied to lung disease.

Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk (Fall Weekend) Dates vary depending location. Contact your local Alzheimer’s Association or visit
www.alz.org
American Heart Walk
Dates vary depending on your location. American Heart Association www.heartwalk.org
Auto Battery Safety Month
Prevent Blindness America www.preventblindness.org
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Washington State University nutrition.wsu.edu/ebet/

National Liver Awareness Month

American Liver Foundation www.liverfoundation.org
National Physical Therapy Month
American Physical Therapy Association www.apta.org
National Spina Bifida Month
Spina Bifida Association of America www.sbaa.org
National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
SIDS Alliance
www.sidsalliance.org
National UNICEF Month: Trick–or–Treat for UNICEF.
National Office of the US Fund for UNICEF www.unicefusa.org
National Work and Family Month
Alliance for Work–Life Progress www.awlp.org
Talk About Prescriptions Month
National Council on Patient Information and Education www.talkaboutrx.org
Vegetarian Awareness Month
North American Vegetarian Society www.worldvegetarianday.org

Life Lesson Series

Eve's Time : You Made a Fool of Me

Clouds of steam filled the bathroom as Kenya finished her morning shower. Turning off the water, she stepped out onto the rug and wrapped herself in a bath towel. While brushing her teeth at the sink, Kenya wiped the mirror with her hand just enough to get a glimpse of her face.  She was unacquainted with the set of eyes looking back at her. Hers were a beautiful shade of brown, usually bright and cheery. The ones staring her down in the mirror were empty and baggy from more than their fair share of sleepless nights. Nights she’d spent staring at the ceiling, allowing her imagination to conjure up ideas of why the other side of the bed seemed to be empty lately. “Stop it Ken, we’re not doing that today.” Kenya cleaned her face of the tears that started to drip down her cheeks and onto her chest. The thoughts she’d tried to wash away in the shower left a residue she couldn’t get rid of. Returning her gaze to the mirror, a smirk started to replace her frown. “Well, whatever it is, it ain’t enough to take him from me!” she told her reflection, ready to high five the mirror. Kenya swung the bathroom door open and headed for the bedroom remembering her morning surprise. 

Myself by Sharollette Ann West

Who Is Sister Girl?

Who is Sister Girl?  Sister Girl is the Rebellious Child all-grown-up.  The lies, hurt, rejection, abandonment, abuse she received as a child is still with her, except now it’s been multiplied by the number of years she’s been on her own.  The stereotypical Sister Girl is often seen as being the combative, confrontational, around-the-way girl.  This is the furthest from the truth.  Sister Girl can range from being the ‘passive doormat’ to the aggressive woman who has walked away from what’s natural to the alternative way of living…homosexuality.  The one thing ALL Sister Girls have in common is a VERY STRONG NEED TO BE LOVED, despite the fact that she’s difficult to love.  She doesn’t know what love looks like, so what she chases adds to her brokenness.  It’s when she comes to the end of herself  and begins to trust someone outside of herself will she find love within herself.

Photos