Weekend at The Glen

This year we went back to Colorado Springs for the annual Navigators' Physicians Discipleship Conference (soon-to-be-named retreat) at the Glen Eyrie Conference Center!  We were so blessed to be there last year and we were so grateful to attend again this year.  It truly is a place where the Lord is present and the power of Holy Spirit will change your heart.  If you ever have a chance to attend a conference or retreat at the Glen, you. should. go.  Here's a glimpse into our weekend and part of what we experienced while there...

Our drive there:

We got to meet up again this year with Tim and Anna Dietrich and road trip together!

Maybe not the safest picture... but cute nonetheless!

2nd Annual Dietrich/Thorpe road trip!

Scenery

Watching the snow outside our window - it was so peaceful!

Snow on the pines

Scene on our way to the castle

Women's luncheon on Friday afternoon

My Pi Phi sister Chelsea and her 6-week-old son, Davis

Telling stories/chatting after the Friday night session

I love my husband so much!

{Wildlife and scenery}

 Scenery from our "Time Alone with God" - 

This is the part of the retreat when we all have a chance to spend some alone time with the Lord, praying, journaling, listening, reading the Bible, etc.  It is such a cherished time for everyone in attendance and something to look forward to every year.  The Glen is the perfect place to release all the distractions and focus solely on the Lord.

Picture in the Great Hall where all the sessions and worship were held

The girls - me, Anna, Susan and Chelsea

Last night

Sunday morning we were all making plans to come back again next year!  We are so grateful to be a part of this special group of people and to have this experience.  We look forward to more and more years at The Glen.

Weekend Fun

I got a little behind on blogging this week and now I'm feeling a little under the weather, but I'm making some time to document some weekend fun!  Last weekend I made a spontaneous trip with Rachel to NWA to see our good friend Lauren, her newborn, Ava, and then our families.  It was truly last minute but so worth it to see everyone and get the quality time together with Rachel on the drive there and back!  Thanks for driving Rachel!  Before our trip though, Jay and I went out with some church friends to celebrate Valentine's Day a little early.  The guys set up the date and we ended up going to Kyoto - our favorite Hibachi Grill and Sushi House!  We had such a fun time all together and definitely enjoyed the food and atmosphere!

Andrew, Leah, Jennifer and Jason

Our chef made a heart out of the rice!

Yummy sushi and my forever valentine :)

We left Saturday morning and were on the road after a quick stop at Chick-Fil-A and were in Rogers by mid-morning.  We stopped at Lauren's to see her and the baby and Jessica joined us, too!  We hung out and chatted til about noon then Rachel and I went our separate ways to spend the rest of Saturday with family.  It worked out great for everyone!

Lauren, Ava and me

Parker getting ready for the Hogs b-ball game!

Sweet baby girl - she looks so much like her brother!

Parker and Daddy

Angel in the making... Will she be a Pi Phi like her Mom and two aunts?

The girls!

After hanging out with Lauren and the girls, Allison picked me up for lunch at The Crumpet.  I didn't get a picture there, but we had a great time eating good food and talking.  We came back home to some rowdy and excited kids but just in time for naps!  After nap time, we got dinner ready and then made some Valentine's Day sugar cookies.

Lucy all smiles at dinner!

Rolling out the dough!

Cleaning up after cutting out

"Painting" with the icing glaze

Stew playing with Play-Doh!

It was a fun and fast day but I'm so glad we did it.  Rachel picked me up Sunday morning and we got back just in time for second services at our churches!  Great timing and good driving!  This week went by so fast so I'm not surprised I didn't make any time for blogging, but I hope you enjoy the pictures and we'll see you next time!

New York vs. New England

Last night was, of course, what some people consider the biggest football game of the year.  Last year our YAMs group got together and we did the same this year.  The Sterks so graciously hosted it again and we had a fun time watching the game, the commercials and fellowshipping with each other!  I was rooting for the Patriots, but I really didn't care who won in the end.  It was a good game with some great competition; but now we have to wait nearly 7 months for football season to start back up again.  Sad day.  Here are a few pictures from the night:

We got Dash all ready to go for the big game.  #83!?

Isn't he just the cutest?

Besties!

Michael and Jordan

Snacks and fellowship

Watching the game

Have a great week!

On Call

{Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.}

-Romans 12:1-2a

Jay started a new rotation this past week and has been on-call since Friday morning.  That means this weekend we haven't been able to do much but wait around at the house for a phone call that may or may not come through.  I spent the majority of Friday night and Saturday anxious for that phone call that would take my husband away from me and an otherwise enjoyable and relaxing weekend.  It wasn't until late last night and this morning that the Lord burdened my heart with a sobering realization...

I realized that sometimes (myself included) people just tend to wait for a 'calling' from the Lord before they act on or enjoy what He's already given them.  I recognized that the Lord has given me my ministry in my job, in my marriage, in my relationships, in my attitude and in my every day circumstances.  I wasn't enjoying the time I had with my husband or making the most of every moment together with him, I was just anxiously awaiting (bitterly, mind you) for him to have leave me for a stupid job.  Whoa, when I took a step back and evaluated my heart and attitude, let me tell you, it was not good.  How was I responding to God's calling in my life as a wife in that moment?  I was resenting the fact that Jay had a calling, too - that the Lord had given him!

I must say, when I recognized my ugly heart and began to consider my attitude these last few weeks, it was not pleasant.  I realized that in order to respond to God's calling in my life with joy and delight, my mind must be renewed and I must choose to be transformed into Christ-likeness by the Holy Spirit.  Wow, lately I had not even recognized my life as a ministry much less chosen to be content in what He had set before me.  

I'm so grateful the Lord is sanctifying me each and everyday and that I can learn from His Word to become the woman He wants me to be.  I desperately want my life to be a living sacrifice for God, for my spiritual act of worship to be my LIFE.  This, of course, is all in view of His mercy, His goodness, His sovereignty and His sacrifice and my response is to take the call and to make the most of what the Lord has so graciously given me.