Our Retreat in Lancaster

Last Monday we went to the Bishop's Convocation- the Bishop's retreat for the pastors and their spouces (& family) if they can attend. I know my last post was about a night out with my husband, and you may think that's all I do..... but believe me- these events are few and far between.  Everyday life includes lots of housework, homeschool, cooking, taxi service, etc. etc.

The bishop's retreat is every January,and then there's annual conference every June for 2 1/2 days where all the Mehodist pastors in our conference are required to attend. It's the annual business meeting. Delegates from all the different churches also attend. 

For me these gatherings are always a great way to see friends we only see once or twice a year; friends who we have moved away from; those in the same profession as we are. Pastors and their families. 

We share a the same mission and have experienced a lot of the same challenges in our lives, so it's neat to share with each other, and with newer and younger pastors too.

Age is something that seemed to be an underlying theme to me this time.

At least it is something I noticed. A lot. 

I sat next to a pastor's wife who was a good 20 years younger than myself. We were at the pool. She was clicking away taking pictures with her cell phone. First I thought she was taking pictures of her boys in the pool. But she told me no, she was taking them of herself!! She wanted to see how old she looked to her husband!! I guess I am not in the same place as she is..... it seemed pretty funny to me!

There were a lot of young pastor's wives with young babies- many of them foster babies. 

We were foster parents for about 18 or 20 years. I remember taking care of many many foster babies.

I loved it. But now I am a bit past there with my children being older. Our youngest is 11 and then there's 4 older than that. 

Anyway - one other incident pointed out age to me too. A young pastor sat at our breakfast table with 4 of us being 40 or 50 something, this fellow kept saying that he likes to have people  younger than himself in his church committees. He went on and on about this. -- One pastor at our table, the one who always wears Hawaiian shirts to all get togethers, reminded him that there's a lot of life left after 50! 

All of us secretly watched that younger pastor go over to the buffet and chose a pastry for breakfast. 

We were watching and laughing as he chose the one with the most icing. 

"Go to it! Lots of icing is great for your waist line! Watch out! It may make you feel OLDER! "

Oh well- here's some pictures of the kids in the pool. They had a great time! 

The adults mostly swam in another pool with out all the kiddie toys.

(Don't worry- kids swam with us too! It wasn't segregated!)

 

  

 

These kids are the adults who will lead us in the future!