10 April 2009

We had a wonderful time at the beautiful Callaway Gardens two weekends ago! I was blessed to get to spend the weekend with my father and sister at 2009 Vision Forum Father & Daughter Retreat, an event I will never forget! Below is a “brief” review of the weekend accompanied by photos (the notes are on their way!).

The trip down to Georgia from Indiana on Thursday went smoothly with the exception of getting stuck in Nashville during the morning rush hour. We arrived at the hotel in the mid-afternoon and settled into our temporary “home”.

After we were settled in we went exploring and then spent a couple hours in the small garden outside the lobby. Breezy painted a little pond and I took photographs of the flowers while the three of us visited and delighted in each other’s company.

Friday morning was relaxing as we had some much needed rest (the day before we had risen at 3:15am). We refreshed ourselves we went down to the ballrooms where the messages would take place. There were several young ladies putting tussie-mussies together (for the next day’s High Tea) and when we were asked if we could help we gladly accepted and got to work.

That afternoon we enjoyed visiting with other fathers and daughters. We were able to meet Madeline and Caroline whose father met ours at the Men’s Leadership Summit earlier in the month. We also had the privilege to meet Rebekah, Jasmine, Cassie, Hannah, and Elizabeth, (and see McKenzie and Julia again, who we originally met at the Crossroads).

On Friday evening was the “picnic”, but instead of being on the Grand Lawn (as it was raining) it was indoors at tables. Our fathers had matters to discuss, so several of us ladies sat on the floor in a small hallway enjoying fellowship with one another.

Friday evening, Saturday morning and evening, as well as Sunday morning we heard messages that were encouraging, inspiring, and challenging about our relationships with our father. They were presented by Doug Phillips, Voddie Baucham, Scott Brown, as well as Geoffrey Botkin and his two daughters, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth.

Saturday we awoke bright and early, ate a delicious breakfast at the buffet, and listened to the speakers. We were dressed in our High Tea attire because there would not be enough time later on to change into them. There were so many lovely outfits, all were quite charming!

High Tea was at 12:30 and we all went to our tables, each was set for ten. There were scrumptious delicacies, including delicious scones. Following tea we spent the free time with our daddy (though we did visit with other fathers and daughters beforehand).

That evening we listened to more encouraging messages. Afterwards there was a special time for the fathers and daughters. Randomly selected from the crowd (out of those who volunteered by waving their hands, and some by standing on chairs in addition to waving their hands), eight fathers with their daughters went to the stage and each had to serenade their daughter by singing either “You Are My Sunshine” or “Edelweiss”.

The winner was chosen by how load the audience was when it was time to vote for each one. (There is a picture below of the father and daughter who won, theirs was so sweet I almost started to cry.) Then with eight other father-daughter couples they had to pretend that they were getting their fathers ready in the morning for work.

Sunday morning we had breakfast at the buffet and following that we listened to a sermon by Voddie Baucham which was followed by fellowship with other fathers and daughters (a lot of this went on all throughout the weekend – I just love being around so many like-minded young ladies!). The Retreat ended at noon, but we stayed an extra night so that we would have a whole day to travel home.

In the afternoon, Daddy drove Breezy and I through the lovely gardens. I am always in complete awe of God’s amazing creation! The two days before were rainy, and then Sunday was chilly, so we did not walk in the gardens much at all.

Monday we drove home, only stopping once, and arrived back at our cozy home an hour earlier than we had expected. We gave Momma a nice, long report about the weekend, and we were all glad to be home – safe and sound. Words that were spoken during the weekend by the speakers still ring through our heads, such a blessed weekend it was!

I took over a thousand pictures during the weekend, and after going through them I picked the ones below for you to enjoy!

The pond in the garden where there lived several large coy fish and a couple small turtles.

Breezy painting the pond.

Making the tussie-mussies for Saturday’s High Tea.

A small look at God’s wondrously intricate creation! For more butterfly photographs, click here.

Picnic on the carpet with kindred spirits.

After High Tea on Saturday.

The father-daughter serenade that made me tear up — it was so very sweet!

Daughters getting their fathers ready for work.

We got to meet Elizabeth, a very sweet young lady who we originally met through blogging.

Friends both old and new.

Just a snippet of the beautiful Callaway Gardens.

My wonderful father and I. He is the best father ever, my hero!

Categories: Conferences, Encouragement, Family, God's Creation, Life, Reviews