SF Retreat

Over the last year, Danny and I have been a part of a Spiritual Formations (SF) group through DTS. The two year small group is a requirement in order for Danny to graduate.

I can assure that thoughts crossed my mind several times about how it was going to be drudgery being "forced" to go to meetings every week. I wondered how I could possibly enjoy hanging out with people that I had been randomly paired with and who were only meeting with me for class credit. All these thoughts, and more, went through my mind. So, being the sinner that I am I approached the semester very pessimistically and less than hopeful. This, I thought, was just one of those things I was going to endure because I was determined to be a good seminary wife. I've since learned that I can not just "decide" to be a good seminary wife and pull it off all in my own strength - but that is another blog for another day.

Let me say that the Lord's plans are much more beautiful than I could have ever thought of. We have LOVED meeting with our SF group, and are thoroughly blessed by the friendships we've made.

To close out this semester of SF our group went on a retreat. Friends of friends had a lake house in east Texas and it was more than a blessing to get out in the fresh air and away from the city.

We knew we were in for a fun weekend, when in the car on the way to the lake house Jenna informed us that she couldn't believe we were going to spend the night in a place called "Scroggins, Texas." We didn't really see the problem, because it seemed like a normal enough town name for east Texas. But, Jenna's mind is definitely not normal. She was thinking it sounded too much like an part of male anatomy for her comfort.

So, to commemorate Jenna's night in Scroggins we stopped and took her picture by the sign while a pig farmer watched on from his nearby barn.

We started the weekend with steaks and side dished from each couple.

The guys worked their magic on the grill . . .


and the girls talked and chilled.

After dinner we split up into a guys group and a girls group and told our life stories, which was the culmination of our semester together. It was encouraging and bonding to hear about childhoods, formative years, life-changing experiences, and testimonies to the Lord's work in every one's life.


After life stories we fired up the chiminea and roasted marshmallows. Becca loved her marshmallows chargrilled.

And yes, she at them like this.

Jenna wanted to try her marshmellow black and crispy, but wasn't quite sure that she enjoyed the results.

Saturday morning we woke up, drank enough coffee to get us moving, shared some more life stories, and then headed outside to play.

Joey and Jenna braved the row boat, and Jenna used her Boundary Water skills to navigate them around backwards and with the sole paddle. As soon as Joey realized I was taking their picture, he picked up a stick and pretended to row so he wouldn't look like he was making his wife do all the work - but TOO LATE! Here it is - Jenna showing off her amazing paddling skills. But, to set the record straight, Jenna probably did beg and plead and even whine a little bit in order to get to get to row all by herself - just to see if she could do it.

We also went fishing - I should say other people went fishing. Fishing is only useful to me if I have book with me. Or in this case a camera.

Becca, the fierce competitor, was determined to get a catch.

And she did walk away with the biggest catch. (Look carefully and you'll see the tree branch!)

Danny and I had our turn in the row boat.

And Casey and Rachael tried their hand at fishing.

It was a great weekend of fellowship and recreation, and I cannot imagine going through seminary without these couples walking through it with us.

To see all the fun pictures, click here.