Cascade

    I spent a weekend in Cascade on a Ladies Retreat with FCBC. I rode with a group of women around 4pm on Friday, getting there just in time for Worship. Heather Payne, from the Christian singing group, Point of Grace, lead worship all weekend through song and poems. I had never heard of her before but a lot of the older women did. She sang with us and lead us in prayer all weekend.

  

     I was assigned with a handful of wonderful women for small group (Heidi, Wendy, Alyssa, Michelle, Mary) as we discussed scriptures and prayed for each other. Discussions were on God being Holy, Faithful and Good. All of us had such rich stories of God being wonderful and using us for His glory.
On Saturday, there were groups of women taking groups hiking, shopping or walking and I chose to go to Laura's cabin in Donnelly. It was so beautiful and relaxing. A handful of women took the paddleboards out while the rest of us sat on deck and warmed up. I stayed on the deck with Christy, Wendy and Laura. We talked and cried and laughed.  I have to admit that although it was a relaxing weekend, it was cathartic to cry a little I talked through the drama I experienced the week or two prior. The women that I've become friends with are so honest and raw with their emotions, they've become a safe space to share without feeling judged. They bring light to God's love and faithfulness to every situation we go through.
That evening, during personal devotion time, a group of us were shown a beautiful little family of deer. They certainly weren't afraid as the buck walked up pretty close to us, with his doe and twins behind.

After dinner, I couldn't take the pressure of not talking to my family any longer. I walked outside and chatted with Matt and the kids. They were having a guys Poker night so I didn't want to take too much time away from them but I really missed them, even though I knew they were coming up to get me the next morning.

And as promised, they pulled into the hotel parking lot with big smiles! I was so refreshed and eager to talk to them about my weekend and all that we learned and did.
We stopped for dinner, then made our way up the dam to Cascade Lake. I'd never been there before. And I was so happy to be there!! It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend.