Feliciana Retreat

Us YAVs got some quality R&R this weekend at the Feliciana Retreat Center located just north of Baton Rogue. We arrived Thursday evening and spent the next two days without cellphone service enjoying each other's company and being away from the city. It was the first of three retreats that we will have throughout this year and set an awesome precedent. We were broken up into three committees for the retreat - food, spiritual and fun. I was on the food committee which meant planning and preparing the meals. Let's just say we definitely didn't go hungry - from pasta to brownies to fajitas to cheese sticks to quiche we were eating well in the woods!

We also had intentional time for spiritual activities which included praying in color, singing hymns, reflecting on bible passages and lighting an advent wreath (that Colleen so awesome constructed). The rest of our time was spent learning how to play dominoes (we all got obsessed while simultaneously finding out how competitive we all are), playing cranium, reading books, napping, writing, canoeing, decorating ornaments and my personal favorite - swinging on the porch swing outside. It was the perfect balance between scheduled activities and being able to relax on your own. The no cell phone thing was also SO nice. Not having to answer to anymore for two days was just what I needed!

Our log cabin at the Feliciana Retreat Center

The amazing fire that Colleen kept going the entire time we were there!

Decorating ornaments! Layne looks so pleased with hers 

My Mardi Gras beads ornament

Who doesn't love coloring? Our wooden Christmas scene...like my green faced elf?

Dominoes game! It's actually really fun to play and we all got super in to it!

Canoeing with Alex and Kalyn on the lake

Lesson from the Journey: There is something about being in nature that allows you to "stop and smell the roses" - appreciate yourself and those around you.