Sunset on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland (Friday 1/9/09)

“He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.
And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him!”

Job 26:10,14 (NIV)

Usually once a year, a few friends and I head down to the beautiful shores of the Chesapeake Bay to a retreat center in Maryland for a Creative Memories Scrap Booking Weekend! Our cars are packed with more scrap booking supplies than clothes and toiletries. With one weekend a year dedicated to our role as “Family Historian”, we are serious about accomplishing as much as we can in our memory books, while enjoying fellowship and eating meals we did not prepare, nor will we clean up. From Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, it’s a fun and productive weekend.

Pentagon-level planning is required for a wife and mom to get away, even for a few days. While our hubbies were enthusiastic and supportive about us getting away this past weekend, still some high-level preparation and management strategies were required to get us to the retreat with all we needed and also leave our families prepared for their weekend activities. Once we gals arrive at the retreat center and set up our table with all of our supplies, we can exhale and get to work!

Comfy clothes and little make-up (or none, gasp!) are in order for these cropping weekends. Many of the girls wear slippers the whole weekend. I wore my favorite pajamas most of time.

Friday evening, there was a beautiful sunset over the Chesapeake. Pausing to take in God’s handiwork, I gazed at the horizon as the sun just began to seemingly dip into the water. A warmth filled my heart. A perfect way to begin the Creative Memories weekend.

This morning, as I was having my quiet time with the Lord in a chair looking out onto the same horizon, He carefully placed me in Job 26. I am reading through the NIV Chronological Bible in a year, and the last several mornings I have been in Job. I had just shared with my friend, Lucille, yesterday that I just wanted to skip ahead to the end of Job where God speaks. (I was tired of listening to Job’s “friends”.) In His goodness, God gave me the above scriptures today (Job 26:10-14). His refreshment poured over my heart, and I chuckled that He blessed me through a chapter in His Word that I was considering breezing through quickly.

There I was on the Chesapeake Bay, witnessing the outer fringe of His works as I looked out over that horizon. I was in awe considering what was beyond it and the One who was behind it. This was but a faint whisper of the Majestic One. In that beautiful sunset on Friday evening, and on that promising horizon this morning, I faintly heard Him whisper to me, “Stay and linger with Me a while longer. I will always refresh you as you meet Me in My Word.” Yes, He refreshed me indeed.

The weekend was spent archiving and displaying family memories in scrap books. And God so sweetly gave me His special “whisper”, a memory from my time with Him. I will write it in my journal and put today’s date next to Job 26:10 in my Bible. “Creative Memories” turned into “Creator Memories”. What truths from His Word has He whispered in your heart lately? Do tell!

Here are a few pictures of the fabulous gals with whom I spent the weekend.

My dear friend, Lucille. We talked all weekend and still had more to talk about when I dropped her off at home.

Three lovely ladies: Laura, Shannon and Cheryl. Fun, fellowship and laughter!

Me, Laura, Cheryl, Lucille and Shannon (sitting)

The order of packing priorities:
90% – Scrap Booking Supplies; 10% – Clothes and Personal Items

Thanks for stopping by!

“The memory of the righteous will be a blessing…”

Proverbs 10:7