The Ladies' Retreat

A couple of weeks ago I and several ladies from our church went on a ladies' retreat to Iowa. Our destination was a beautiful church camp in very northern Iowa. It was a nice drive, until lunch. We had a nice lunch and got back in the cars just as the hurricane rain caught up with us. We drove through rain off and mostly on again the rest of the afternoon. Our trip took 5 1/2 hours of driving.

We arrived at the camp at about 4PM and were directed to our cabin:

It was a typical camp bunk house. There were 5 sets of bunks, sleeping 10. But anyone sleeping on a top bunk would be very cozy with the ceiling, so one of our gals put a mattress on the floor and slept there.

We had a nice evening meal, and a session with some special music, skits, and a speaker that night. Some of the ladies took an evening ride on the beautiful lake on a pontoon boat. But since it was still raining a bit, I chose to eat some more dessert and then head off to bed.

Our rooms did not have a bathroom, we had to go to the bath house just across the grass from our cabin. I know, cozy, huh?

Saturday was a beautiful day, and we were all up pretty early, there was a nice breakfast waiting for us and steaming hot coffee.

Before the next session I took a walk around the camp and got some really pretty pictures of the place.

As the dawn is breaking

The lighthouse at the entrance to the camp

The grounds there are very beautiful. It was quiet and peaceful.

We had two sessions on Saturday morning, and then lunch. We packed our car and got on the read for home around 2PM on Saturday.

The drive up and back was, I think, the best part of the whole time. We chatted and laughed and told stories and asked opinions and just basically got to know each other a little bit more deeply. I think this is what women really want when they set out on these little trips. We just want some time to invest in each other and find a place where we can ask questions and get answers to life's issues.

We don't really need to go 5 1/2 hours away from home and sleep in odd places. We just need some time to spend with each other in a place where we can relax and be ourselves.

Sometimes it turns out to be on a road trip.

There were over 500 women at this retreat.

These are the ladies I traveled with