Retreat Part 2

I have no idea why I labeled my last post Retreat Part 1, because Retreat Part 2 is that it was over.  :)

But, I didn't go straight home.  So maybe that's what I was thinking. 

Andy had been invited by a friend to come to his farm outside of Tallahassee.  Andy and the kids headed out there in the afternoon and when I was dropped off at my car after the retreat, instead of heading home I got a text from Andy telling me I needed to see this place.  Although I was tired from lack of sleep, I'm so glad I decided to join them. 

This farm is a 500 acre hunting preserve.  (I'm not sure if that's really the proper term, but since I'm still recovering from this weekend, that's the best way I could think to describe it. :) )  They have a stocked pond, exotic animals, deer and goats you can hand feed, and go cart/4 wheeler thingies.  By the time I got there, the big boys had already had a turn driving the small go cart.  When I arrived, we went and fed the deer.  All the kids loved it!  After that I stayed behind to help watch them prepare dinner.  We were having venison burgers and hot dogs.  Drew now says that he likes venison better than "regular" hamburgers.  While dinner was being prepared, the boys took off on the larger go cart and headed to the race track.  Andy said his friend races professionally, so I trusted that he knew all about safety and that the boys would get a great ride.  They had so much fun and came back soaking wet from hitting puddles.  It was a perfect place for the kids to be outside and to enjoy.  And Ellis fell in love with the farm cat.  Too bad for her I'm allergic, so she will just have to enjoy other people's cats.  :)  Here are some pictures from the day.

 

Drew and Knox ready for action

 

Here's Davis in the back seat ready to go.  He's next to another little 3 year old, but she ended up not being able to go, because the straps weren't tight enough on her.:(

 



 

2 thumbs up!  He's ready!

 

 

Here they are feeding the deer.  They ate corn and graham crackers.

 

 

 

And just to go back to the retreat for a moment.  Although the time of the retreat is over, there were friendships grown and deepened.  Last night after the apologetics class I stood around for 30 minutes talking and laughing with 2 of the girls that were roommates from this past weekend.  Although I was soooo tired, none of us wanted to call it a night because we were having so much fun!  Retreats are great, but I love when relationships begin to blossom from time together.

 

It's such a good reminder to me that I should keep relationships as a priority in my life.  They fill me with great joy.  So any of my friends and family that might be reading this, thank you for being a part of my life.  :)