Sometimes, Mom Knows Best...

When I was younger...in my tween and teen years, my mother would sign us up for a yearly parish Catholic retreat at Mount Saint Francis. My friend's mom would do the same for her and her sister. It was a weekend usually in November to reconnect with ourselves, have some time to figure out our paths and where we thought we were headed in our young lives.  At that time we had no iPod, iPhone or any real techie gadgets...but there were still enough outside influences in our world that a weekend away did the soul some good. It was my mom's way of silently telling me she cared about my well being.

Fast track a "few" years later, and my mom this past summer signed me up again for this retreat. I haven't been in years! Toddlers, small children, and day to day life became priority over putting "me" first. I put the coping mechanisms of motherhood, homeschooling and being a wife in high gear and survived.  I think however, my mom sensed that all was not well in Andrea-land this time around; and that I needed some time to figure things out in this new season of my motherhood, homeschooling and life in general. A lot has happened in the last 18 months or so, but my coping mechanisms were getting a little worn out. It was getting hard to focus on the beauty and good in my life. I think about it now, and I think my mom knew and saw that.

The whole retreat revolved around the Eight Beatitudes...very fitting theme for a mother don't you think? Humbling to say the least. This past weekend gave me a new outlook on how to handle this round of motherhood, homeschooling and life. I think that my mom saw that I needed a chance for some spiritual revitalization.  Again, it was her way of telling me quietly that she cared about me. She's good that way ;)

This retreat was held on the weekend of the Feast of Saint Francis by a Franciscan monk, at the Franciscan monastery! 

A chance to reconnect with friends too.