Late last night I returned from my 18th annual writers retreat in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where, each July, I meet with ten other women to plot, to play, and to pray. What a precious time we had together this weekend. Although we dearly missed three of our number who couldn’t make it this year. Sniff, sniff.

This year actually should have been our 19th retreat. But due to Covid, we didn’t meet last summer. So while this past weekend marked 19 summers since our first gathering in 2003, it was only our 18th retreat. But next year, Lord willing, we’ll celebrate our 20 year anniversary.

We only had three formal plotting sessions this year (versus the customary 8 or so), but we brainstormed TWO books in my session, and I’m beyond excited about those stories (both standalone contemporaries). We had a session each for Robin and for Sharon, and both of those were great as well.

We spent a lot of time in prayer and study this weekend, opening God’s Word, postured to hear and receive from the Lord (as Psalm 81:10 says), and it truly was an anointed time.

For it was I, the Lord your God,
    who rescued you from the land of Egypt.
    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

And we for sure ate a ton of delicious food! We prep all of our meals in Brandilyn’s lovely kitchen. She set me loose in there on Saturday night, and I made my mom’s White Wine Chicken with Dirty Rice for everyone. I love making those (oh so easy!) dishes, and it was sweet to taste “Mom’s cooking” again.

We usually play games one evening, but this year we spent more time sharing about what the Lord has been doing in our lives, in our writing, and lifting each other up in prayer. Sunday night a few of us watched an episode of Season 2 of The Chosen, commenting as we did, and that was a treat.

What a treasure these friends are to me.

Idaho is battling numerous fires right now so it was very smokey while we were there. But on Sunday things cleared up enough for us to go to a local art fair. Talk about creativity abounding. I loved the pottery—and kettle & caramel corn!

Sunday afternoon is the customary time we snap our annual group pics, and this year was no different. But this “bench setting” was. Everything went well, for a minute or two…

Then mayhem broke out! LOL

I honestly don’t know what I’d do without these women, these dear sisters in Christ. We’ve walked through so much together over the past 19 years, and to think that we have an eternity with Christ ahead of us… Talk about a HUGE blessing!

Have you had some much-needed girl time lately? Do you have a special friend (or group of friends) who are Jesus in the flesh to you like these women are to me?

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Tammy