Calgon Take Me Away by J.G. McGlothern
As parents it is easy to run on empty without realizing we need a re-fill. The purpose of my Mom Retreats is to provide space for moms to get away from their demands and leave the guilt at home.
I am happy to report my first Mom’s Retreat – Refill Your Cup – in January, was a huge success. Five women attended, affirming my intended goal – hold space for mothers to “Refill Their Cups”. We stayed on Vashon Island in a rustic, roomy home, swept away by the views of Mt. Rainier and the Puget Sound.
I hired two cooks, so the women didn’t have to cook a meal or wash a dish. The agenda was set to provide sharing time in our small group, silent time, play, and reflection. We met in Circle a few times to carry on conversations about “refilling our cup”, silence, journaling and meditation. I led the women in two short meditations using Thomas Keatings Contemplative Prayer as a guide.
We were women of different faith practices, different experiences of God and sitting in Cirlce we were more than moms. We were women connecting with our Divine within.
I will be holding another retreat this spring and this new blog site will report about future retreats as well as provide a cup or two of weekly wisdom.
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- Retreat leader, J.G. McGlothern, surrounded by participants of her first retreat, Re-fill Your Cup, in January 2010.
I was an attendee of the first Moms’ Retreat and wish that everyone would go at least once. Moms, yes, but also anyone feeling like her cup is empty. We as women are taught to be mindful of everyone else’s “cups” at the cost of our own. Jenny provided a weekend to relax with enough structure to make it meaningful, if that makes sense! The food was fantastic, the company was great, the atmosphere was peaceful and I fully intend on going again.
P.S. Jenny, I have been playing music most mornings since my return and IT’S WORKING!!!