This Weekend: Creative Healing Retreat – Tea Time, Gardening, Foraging, Pottery, Jewelry Making and More!

Saturday, July 8, from 10am-2pm I’m opening up Olive Branch Farm for a Creative Healing Retreat.
The Medical Tea Gardens and Permaculture Zones are their peak. Everything is a bit wild, but even the lush “weeds” have vast healing properties and are ready to process.

What is going to happen?
I’m going to have one on one time with each person who shows up to explore the specific benefits the plants and teas can have on your wellness, I’ll also spend time with you individually to brainstorm with you and answer questions about homeschooling or family issues that you may want to talk about.

While I’m having one on one time with each individual or couple or parent/child- the whole property and facilities will be set up for you to be creative, to serve, and to relax. Whatever brings you the most joy. What brings you peace and feels therapeutic? Find a couple hours here for that special time… from reading, swimming, painting pottery, helping with gardening and weeding, making jewelry or watercolors. Bring a camera and practice photography. Spend time with the horses…. Lunch will be provided.

The recommended contribution is $50 or 2 hours of volunteering at Olive Branch Farm.

This is for moms with babies, and for parents with children 9+ who can entertain themselves without getting into trouble. The day is not set up for ages 2.5-8.

All ages are welcome at 2:30pm to volunteer and at 4:30 to swim and relax, no more work!

If two parents come with the kids at 2:30-4:30 you may take turns volunteering and watching your kids swim and play.

Parents must watch their own kids in the pool area. Since we are trying to make this a productive day of cleaning and organizing the facilities it will not be helpful if a zillion kids are free-ranging like they do on co-op days.

All the details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/616371383379518/

Taco Bar at 5:30 (bring stuff to put in a tortilla)
Worship Night 6:30 all ages welcome. 

Songs in the Desert

This is a little awkward for me, but it might bless someone. I recorded 90 minutes of worship in the desert of Israel this morning for my kids and grandkids. If YouTube outlives me, these songs will remain for future generations.

These are the songs I grew up hearing in my home, many from the Jesus Movement.

I was a baby of The Jesus Revolution, born into Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, where Chuck Smith was pastoring my hippie parents in a big white tent.

These are precious melodies that became my childhood lullabies, and I gathered more of these songs throughout my childhood and teen years. These are the songs that changed my heart and brought me into sweet communion with Jesus.

As I sing them, I return, in my heart, to the places where I first believed, and His love just washes over me. Excuse my tears. I can barely contain the love I feel as I just bring all these songs into this desert.

This is the desert where Jesus prayed and fasted for 40 days.

My daughter Anna had booked a shack on the edge of the desert so she could come here to fast and pray over His Story: the Musical in the week before she moves back to Texas to launch the show.

Anna invited me to come. It wasn’t convenient, still having ten children at home. But with help from my husband, who is home with them now, and a few friends who are hosting three of our teens, and with the help of my adult daughter, Rachel, caring for my three littlest girls, I was able to come. Thank you.

I felt like the Lord wanted me to record one of my worship times in the desert, especially for my little girls, and my two little grandsons, James, age 2, and tiny Isaiah – who is due in May.

I am pretty shy about singing, but it’s okay, It’s for the kids. I can usually sing on key, so I’m doing what I can with the voice God gave me, so if He wants me to embarrass myself by publishing my singing… okay. My heart is in it.

I imagine that this ninety minutes of worship might best be enjoyed by babies as they fall asleep. Babies love listening to a mother’s singing without the accompaniment of instruments.