Frustrations on a Wednesday and a Recap of the Retreat

I am a bit frustrated from this morning. The choir, orchestra and cast get to pre-order tickets for Celebration in December. Of all mornings for the computer and the printer to act up! I frantically called Roy and in the mish mash of my grumbling, mumblings, and definite lack of patience I told Roy I hate the printer. He was a little taken back and replied, no you don't. Yep, I do! He said, hate is such a strong word, you really shouldn't use it. Being corrected and rightly so didn't go over so well with me at first. I declared this was all an attack from the enemy because several that we have invited are not believers. Roy thought it was more from my frustration in dealing with the glicks and non clicks of ordering tickets. I don't care what he says, I still think it is from the enemy. Anyway, when he, Roy not the enemy (although...no, Roy's not the enemy), he is going to get the printer back on line and print the tickets. Also, I am upset because I ordered 6 tickets on the wrong night and when he gets home, he'll have to order them correctly. I'm thinking we have an opportunity to give or sell those Saturday night tickets that are really good seats.


That whole fiasco put me behind on what I needed to get accomplished this morning. I finally hit the road to do errands. I needed to pick up a dessert for Bible study tomorrow and run to Target. Went to the bakery and got some fallish cookies and then tried to find a parking place at Target. What in the world! Everyone and their cousin was there. It was like Christmas when there isn't any parking available. Is Halloween really that big of a holiday? So I punted on Target and ended up in Macy's, uh just to window shop of course and to calm down a little. Well, it was lucky shopping day at Macy's with things marked down 50%. I even found a leather or leatherette silver jacket marked down $80.00. I was so happy to find it because the silver leather jacket I have now is way too big for me and it was an all time favorite of mine. Then I stopped at Whole Foods to see if I could find at the nearest store what I found at the Sugar Land store, sugar free banana nut muffins. None! Bah humbug...or since it is the season should that be boooo humbug? So in conclusion, tickets bought-good, printer not working-bad, ordered wrong night's tickets-maybe OK, delicious cookies for Bible study-good, not being able to eat one-OK, but I'm not losing sleep over that, and silver leather jacket with faux fur-really good.


Friday night at the retreat Kristen, Cindy and Marcia and I joined Lisa P for two songs. We had a blast! Kristen loaned me her cowbell and drumstick and I was not only a singer but an accompanist. It was perfect in rehearsal that John Bolin told me the song needed more cowbell.

Think this is when we did the oh...we...will...sing hallelujah part.

I was giving it my all on the cowbell and to properly play, one must make a special percussion face to do a good job. I got that face down perfectly. My alto part, uh, not so perfect.

Unable to do hand motions because of the before mentioned cowbell.

This is Lisa P and John Bolin singing The Prayer. It was awesome! It really needed cowbell to make it perfect....ha ha...!

Sights from our suite.

The long and winding road that leads to the door....

Our conversation area or if we were in a church this would be called the connection center. It is where Dena and I visited. It is where Cindy, Marcia and I practiced BGV (back ground vocals, I'm getting all professional up in here) for the songs, and it is where Lisa P came to around 11:00 pm and laughed with us until 1:00 am. Good times...

Probably, wait no probably about it, the best part of the retreat for me has no picture documentation, but it is engraved into my memory. We were sitting at a back table for lunch. I was with several friends and with several young women who were friends. One girl came in late and sat at our table...little did we know a divine appointment was getting ready to take place. We were all eating and visiting when the young woman who arrived late asked me if I was Nancy Monarch? Of course I responded maybe, no not really, I said yes. Long story short she was the granddaughter and niece of two of my closest friends from tennis days. In fact I had prayed so often for her grandmother and aunt to come to know the Lord. I have to admit, I didn't think it would ever be answered but prayed on hoping God would answer. Back in the day I brought them to a Christmas event where you decorate the table and between Mary and Marti, our table, themed a Victorian Christmas, won best decorated. Y'all it was over the top good! Come to 2010 and both Mary and Marti are believers. Praise Him! It was so fun to catch up with this young woman and how God has been at work in all their lives. At the end of the retreat she came up to me and thanked me for praying for her grandmother to know Jesus. Wow, what a sweet and precious moment. Guess I can use two out of three of the most said words in women's ministry, sweet, precious and darling. Maybe I'm starting to fit in...nah, I know I won't be using those particular words again today.

Last but not least is my favorite picture from the retreat. Looking to the Son and reflecting His glory and goodness.