Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog each week. I love and appreciate the ways in which you encourage and inspire me.
Last Saturday, Eva Marie Workshops hosted its first (of hopefully many!) Women’s Mini Retreat. This one-day event was a postponement of a retreat I’d planned for last October that had to be put on hold due to COVID. It’s been a dream of mine to host retreats, so I was disappointed to have to cancel last fall. I wasn’t even sure if hosting one this month was the best idea because the COVID guidelines in New Jersey change regularly, so planning even a small event felt risky. However, I knew in my heart that it was time, so I decided to step out in faith and host this mini-retreat. My studio can safely accommodate about twenty-five women, and seventeen women attended. We were truly blessed.
Now this mini-retreat wasn’t my original dream. The retreat I’d planned for last October was for about seventy women and was to take place at a beautiful retreat center. After the year we’ve all had, I knew it was time to host a retreat, but I also knew it had to look very different from my original vision. I wasn’t going to give up on my dream, so I worked with what I had and moved forward as best as I could to make my dream a reality in whatever form I could.
What helped push me forward? The women who believe in and encourage me. My support group cheered me on and helped make it a success. They brought folding chairs, prepared all the food, and donated prizes. Our gracious speaker, Jewell Utt, spoke on Finding Refreshment for the Servant’s Heart—how to refresh our bodies, minds and spirits. So many hands working together made the mini retreat extra special. We all left feeling blessed and renewed especially after this past year.
It’s important to have a good support system when doubt creeps in. Imagine what would’ve happened if I hadn’t moved forward with my dream because it wasn’t going to be as big as I’d originally imagined? I would’ve missed the blessing of the speaker, hearing the laughter and excitement of the women, the smiles on their faces, the opportunity to work and share together, and to get to know one another better. We all would’ve missed out on so much.
Do you have a big dream, but due to circumstances beyond your control, you’re not moving forward with it? Or is there a voice that keeps telling you can’t do it? As I was planning the event, that voice was trying to plant doubt in my mind. I had to be stronger and fight it, and I’m so glad I did. We all came together in community, connected with one another and were encouraged. Maybe it wasn’t my original dream, but I’m so happy I pursued it anyway. I believed, and with faith, it became a reality.
Don’t give up on your big dream, start small and keep moving.
I’m a grateful benefactor of your pursued dream, thank you!
You’re welcome. Thank you for encouraging me.
Thank you for your encouraging words. We can never give up on our dreams.
I am blessed personally by reading this blog! Sounds like with persistence and perseverance your women’s retreat empowered and graciously blessed more souls than you know. I’m hearing the words let go and let God. This is a very good lesson for me to imbibe as my ambition tends to leave me In creative mode and falling short on the invitation. Many blessings.
Thank you for reading my blog and your gracious comments. Yes, things always work better for me when I let go and let God.
Never give up on your dreams.
I love this! Thank you for somehow always knowing what I need to hear. You are such a kind and generous soul. Go you and please know how deeply you and your blog are appreciated. 💕
So happy you enjoyed reading the blog. Thank you for your encouraging words.
I like this story very much. Good on you for not giving up. So good to hear that there was great teamwork too! Fantastic 🙂 So nice that you dreamt up such a dream to start with 😊 It’s always good to think up pleasant heavenly visions. Then there’s something amazing to work towards and achieve…but all in its own timing. Sometimes actually our ideas are too big and one can easily get disappointed when that grand event doesn’t get to take place due to circumstances. Still big dreams for little people only come to pass if we with patience endure the trials and pursue the end goal. For you it is your purpose of encouraging women and supporting them. I think that, like with Joseph and his dreams, God is the source of such grandeur.