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The Shack: Attitude 101

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    It's funny how attitude really is everything.  Much to my chagrin, I would have to admit that when Joel and I found out we had a couple's retreat to attend this last weekend in June, I was less than thrilled.  Of course, it was really a very silly thing to have my knickers in a knot about (who wouldn't want to go on a retreat with the most wonderful man in the world and meet other wonderful, encouraging people along the way?!). This is all just proof that I truly am a work-in-progress.
    Come to find out, the place we were going to be staying at was going to be called "The Shack".  Okay, I'm sure several of you know exactly the spot I'm speaking of and may be able to guess where I'm going with this.  I had no clue whatsoever about the place.  All I could picture was a dinky little Super 8 motel.  This of course did not exactly help my attitude issue.
    I truly have to laugh at myself; as we pulled up to The Shack, lo and behold there was this huge, beautiful, (well, as beautiful as something can be at 9:45 at night) rustic Bed & Breakfast.  Get inside said building and it was almost jaw-dropping.  Completely the opposite of anything I was expecting.
    Sometimes my perception of how things are going to be and how they actually are do not coincide.  Although the teaching, the location, and everything else about this retreat far exceeded my expectations, I am reminded that that will not always be the case.  I do not have a choice about every circumstance in life, or what changes -good or bad- will come.  I do, however, have control of how I handle those circumstances and changes.  The things I go through in life are never simply about the thing itself; it's learning how to deal with it in a godly manner, learn from it, grow from it, and be an encouragement to others along the way.  It's remembering that life is not all about me.
    So for all you who were wondering, Joel and I had an absolutely fantastic time!  The teaching was phenomenal, and we learned so much!  I love being married to this guy; he is so patient with all my little quirks and idiosyncrasies and he always points me back to God.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time together as a couple, and getting to know the others who came!  Both Joel and I left The Shack having been totally blessed.


Contemplation - I married such a stud!
...This is what he was contemplating. ;)

Did I mention we were on a lake?
I'm a sucker for lighthouses and large bodies of water!
What it's all about
Beautiful scenery
More of the grounds, right outside the B&B
Our speaker, Dr. Ken Nichols
and his beautiful wife, Marlene
...And of course we couldn't
be so close to Lake Mi
without walking along it
for awhile!












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