Retreat

For 33 years now the women of First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley have held a retreat at Asilomar, usually in January or February.  I have attended 10 times, I believe, the first time when Sarah had just turned one.  I remember feeling relaxed, no meals to plan and cook, no clean-up, no children, just women enjoying each other's company and listening to a guest speaker, walking on the beach of Monterey Bay.  One year Liz went with me; the last time I went Sarah came.  I enjoyed seeing them interact with the mothers of their old Sunday School friends.  This year I asked my friend Anita if she would go with me, and after some thought, she agreed. We drove down Friday afternoon, February 10, and returned 48 hours later, having talked for hours about our churches, our families, renovating a house, health issues, grandchildren, and more.

And we heard Laurie Polich Short speak on developing eyes of faith even when the path seems dark. I am so glad I went and that Anita and I discovered we have a lot in common.