I cannot blog in detail the tremendous ways that TCC loves on their people overseas, but I will say this: I have never heard of or seen a group love on their people the way TCC does (and I know a ton of ex-pats). I mean, whoever put their plan together over the years (Travis?), to really care for the SOULS of their people, it has been an amazing blessing, and has helped keep us where we are. The marriage retreat is one huge example of that.
We had been prepped a few months before hand that this would take place and we got our reading assignment, a book I highly recommend: Marriage Matters..., it is long, but we weren't required to read it all, just a few sections.
Holly had emailed and gotten our children's schedules, food preferences, habits, etc. It was very well-planned.
It started one evening, we got dinner on the way to a really nice hotel (understatement) and settled in for the first session. We were there two nights, with 3-4 other couples participating, five sessions, and lots of junk food, laughter, and some serious talk about our marriages and how the gospel plays out in them.
The L family and our family shared an apartment at the hotel so we had time there to chat well into the night (TCC provided this luxury as well).
The view from the 43rd floor!
We woke up to snow flurries! This was unbelievable. It snowed all day long. None of it stuck, but still we kept saying how it looked like we were in a snow globe. I just smiled all day because God answered Sophia's crazy prayer for snow. We saw the forecast before we left, mid-40s most of the week, no chance. I tried to tell her that it probably would not snow. And she asked anyway. Put my faith to shame.
I was so sorry that we missed being with them the day it snowed. But Tim and Holly, who had kid duty along with Jessica the first night, brought us a video of the kids in the snow. Sophia was eating it as it fell, and giggling! It was so cute. Later when we saw her the next day she said all wide-eyed: 'Did you know it SNOWED!?' 'God answered my prayers, just like he did for a baby brother!' she rambled on in excitement, and I was so thankful to God for those simple things that bring such joy, like snow, and the faith of a little girl who asked for it.
Tobin went with us on the retreat and he did pretty well. I am still nursing him (almost 8 months, yeah!) He is looking pretty cold in the picture, it was chilly even with the heat on in the hotel.
Wednesday night we went to the revolving restaurant at the top of the hotel. It was a buffet of anything off the menu you wanted. It was delicious! I ordered japanese beef teppanyaki, and lots of Indian food, the chef was actually Indian from Delhi, we ordered palak paneer which was not on the menu and it was great! All of the food was tasty tasty and we had GREAT conversation!
Earlier in the day we had played the newlywed game, David and I were the undefeated champions going in (only played once at Julie's birthday party our first time Stateside, 2008, but champions nonetheless), but we lost it fair and square. Actually we were tied with two other couples and then we had to throw skittles in our spouses mouth from about 7 feet away for the tie breaker. Anyway, the questions from the game, which were AWESOME and quite difficult, led us into many more conversations....
Here are a few examples (Travis made these up):
The husbands had to answer:
When it comes to romance, which Star Wars character do you most resemble:
a. wise Yoda
b. Resourceful Han Solo
c. powerful Chewbacca
d. sensitive Luke Skywalker
The wives had to answer:
Which Beijing tourist spot most reminds you of your last marital conflict:
a. The Great Wall
b. Ming Tombs
c. Forbidden city
d. Tienanmen Square.
Yes, yes. We had fun and lots of laughs.
John and Melissa. Completely Kindred spirits to us. Time with them was some of the best times we have had since being overseas, so encouraging. More on them in a later post. Just note here: they are precious to us.
Tim and Holly. We spoke of them before. They were amazing, traveling so far and bringing their son too! Champs. They always encourage us, but what really impressed us was their tenderness towards one another and how solid their marriage is, it was no show, it is for real. We learned a lot from them.
Travis and invisible Julie (how we missed her!). We were trying to come up with some of her answers for the game...(you need to answer these Jules)
Here we are, it was cold up there!
The spread of food. yum!
A chef making Naan (Indian bread).
They took Tobin for a stroll around the hugantic hotel.
And he really enjoyed looking at himself in the mirror.
The Marriage retreat was a real highlight for us, and we were so thankful for the chance to participate. Thank you TCC for making that happen and for all the ways you serve us and so many others!
