I don't quite know where to begin so I'll start with the hotel. We stayed at the Grand Hotel which was just beautiful! I don't know how we got so lucky because the hotel assigns the rooms and we ended up in the Grand Suite. I looked it up when I got home and to stay in the room it's $875 a night!
Now the decorating is not how I would decorate but it was beautiful in a very fancy, regal, old palace way:
This is the front of the hotel:
The entrance to our room:
This was my bed:
This was once we were in the room- the hallway leading to our room and lounge area:
This is the lounge area where we also had a room that we could entertain and serve beverages to guests we had come into our room!
We had formal dining for supper. It was delicious!
Here's our menu for supper:
I had the banana-strawberry soup with candied pecans, the salad,
the garlic beef and the pumpkin torte with blood orange sauce.
Here's a picture of the beef:
Here's the pumpkin torte:
Here's the dining room musicians and a picture of the dining room:
Here are a few more random pics of the hotel and of the bridge at sunset- it was so beautiful!
On to the retreat:
The main speaker was Anthony Campolo. He was interesting. He talked about having a servants heart and showing Christs love even when it's not comfortable. He convicted me of a few things!!
Gracia Burnham and Katie Brown were the break out speakers. Gracia was the missionary who got kidnapped and held for a year and her husband was killed in a gun fight. I enjoyed her talk. Katie Brown is a lifestyle personality on TV- she also was good but they both just basically told their life stories and we felt like we didn't take anything out of their speeches. Still they were very interesting though.
The musical performance was Selah! I love them so I was very excited to hear them live. This was actually the most powerful moment for me. Todd (the main singer) has had a very rough year as they lost a baby this year. He ended up speaking about the loss of pregnancies and how it is a real loss etc...
He ended up having people stand that lost children in pregnancies. Now it's been 10 years since I lost the twins and 99% of the time I'm fine, but boy did it hit me then.
I don't want to say alot about this but lets just say that with my in-laws there were some very hurtful things said at that time so when my mother in law took my hand as I cried and my sister in law hugged me and shed tears herself it was very healing.
The interesting thing was that when Katie Brown was telling her story- she also has lost children and spoke about the hurt of what others say at that time. I don't think it was a coincidence that we were all together for both of these experiences.
God brings healing- it may take years, but it's in His time and it's so sweet!
We had such a good time. Lots of laughter and I mean lots- lots of great food, beautiful scenery and good fellowship.
Who could ask for more!
13 comments:
How awesome is that, the healing part I mean. What a blessing for each one of you!!! God is so good.. Not to mention you really lived high on the hog in regal elegance. I have never been on the inside of the Grand just on the porch, very nice indeed.
WOW! girl, you really were living in style! That hotel was so elegant!
I am so glad that healing took place with your relatives. That was worth the trip if nothing else happened!
Wow - What a room! I just love the picture you took of the porch. I'm glad you had fun. It brought tears to my eyes to remember that period when you lost the twins and I'm so happy to hear of the healing that took place.
You room was amazing!! It was NOT luck at all and not a coincidence that you were put in that room!!! You are a special person and you deserved every single second of that luxury!!
I am SO happy and thankful of the healing that has taken place!!! Praise God!!!
Wow what a weekend! The healing first and foremost what a God thing! But Cheri the Grand Suite and that dinner, now how am I supposed to say I'm not a tad bit envious! Oh my goodness what a great weekend!
What a gorgeous room! It looks like you were pampered this weekend.
I did not know about you loosing twins. What a difficult time that must have been.
Cheri,
You brought tears to my eyes! I was going to say that you must have felt like a queen staying in that room, but I'm sure you were more moved by the performance/speakers and the memories that were created.
Oh my goodness, that is gorgeous Cheri. The hotel is amazing and that food...YUM.
So glad you got to stay there and had such a good time :)
wow, that hotel and that food looks gorgeous!
I'm go glad you had a good experience. Sorry about your loss, we've lost four and it's very hard, even though we have children who make it. i am glad to hear of the support you found.
Wow, fancy schmancy! What a cool thing to do!
Thanks for a great post. Very happy for you, that you enjoyed yourself and had a bit of a bonding moment with family. Did you have any idea what was in store for you that weekend? Probably not.Take care,Patty
Wow - that's amazing! That's cool that you got such a nice suite! And even cooler the healing you had with them. Wow!
Oh I am so glad. It sounds like a great time and what a room!
MUch love,
Angela
Post a Comment