You are invited
THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
It will be a weekend to be cared for, and I'm not saying "cared for" like a "spa weekend" might offer. Rather, this weekend is all about deeply caring for, and SAFELY nurturing your soul and your story.
You can expect
your heart and your story to be deeply respected
as you are surrounded by other like-minded women.
We strive to create an environment where there is no need for you to share any part of your story, if you don't want to. You can be safely surrounded in this lovely bed and breakfast, while also choosing to have some much needed time to yourself for rest and reflection.
When we gather in the cozy living room, you will receive words of hope and comfort that will uniquely guide you to consider that hurting spot inside of your heart. Time will be a gift to you as you privately name what is so hard for you for the purpose of gaining a deeper understanding and belief that
EVEN THAT HARD SPOT HAS HOPE!
Our desire then, is to honor what you are battling and then respectfully guide you towards a hope where you can know freedom from that hard thing and even lean into the idea that
your challenge can be restored into something new, beautiful and purposeful!
This will, no doubt, be an impactful weekend to remember!
While you will definitely enjoy this cozy bed and breakfast and all the delicious food that we eat together, we just know that one of your most memorable parts will be when we take a little field trip to a junk yard.
The junkyard is where
Restorable
began for me, and now I want to give you this experience so that you too may be able to more thoroughly name what is aching you and breaking you. This naming thing... it is a form of cognitive therapy, a very powerful tool that is used to help move us from the power of feeling broken toward the soul anchoring power of
HOPE!
It truly is impossible to fully explain it here... beauty in the broken, but I have seen over and over again how God has uniquely held women's hands and hearts in this junkyard. He has led them towards a comfort where they feel deeply heard and known. Each year I walk away in awe of God's gentle one of a kind love towards each of us.
If you want a glimpse of what the ladies experience was like at our 1st retreat then
listen here, or head to the
blog post.
Rest assured... YOUR BROKENNESS IS NOT ALL OF YOU!
As a mechanic would be excited to restore a broken down car in a junkyard, God (our soul mechanic) looks on us with love when He sees our broken pieces. He wants to restore the deepest layers of our souls.
On the Restorable Retreat will will walk through the valley together so that we may first be comforted and then be led towards hope, healing and freedom. We believe so strongly that there IS HOPE AND FREEDOM from your hard thing, and as we move towards the end of our time together you will discover that it is not only possible... but it is inside of you!
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, we believe that you can feel comfortable here.
Whether you are in the deep throws of a significant challenge, or in the process of seeing your story restored, our hope is that this will be a breath of fresh air for you in your season.
Whether or not you have been at the Restorable Retreat before or this is your first time... you are welcomed here. I am amazed at how God gently leads continues to peel back the layers of our restorable stories.
Whether you are currently receiving counsel, or have never stepped foot into a therapist's office... you are safe here, and we believe that this weekend will give you great strides in your heart's healing and/or recovery.
Whether you snore or not... God has a place of rest for you (& the other women there!)
This retreat is not for you, if you just want to get away to have a massage and your nails painted. We believe that kind of get away is also fantastic, but this is different then a spa treatment. This time away will be for nurturing you from the inside out, so that your time away may give you a sense of appreciation for what you will inevitably go home to.
I realize that if you are reading this section, then my answers here may fall short of helping you KNOW for sure, if you should come. PLEASE, feel free to
email me to ask me personally how this may or may not be a fit for you.
We will gather together around 7pm on Friday, Feb. 28th in this beautiful bed & breakfast.
If you are arriving from another state... your closest and quaintest airport is in
Harrisburg (about 1 hour away). You might also consider
Baltimore (2 1/2 hour drive) airport or
Philadelphia (1 hour drive) airport. If you prefer not to rent a car, please email me so that I can arrange for your free pick up and drop off.
When you arrive to the B&B you are welcome to take some time to yourself to sort of transition and settle in a bit (we will not assume that you are anti-social!), or if you prefer, grab a scrumptious treat or a healthy snack in the dining room while meeting new friends.
Our evening will begin around 8pm as we gather together in the living room for our first discussion (feel free to get your pj's on for this cozy time).
Saturday will include the following:
.
delicious food
.
formal and informal discussions regarding hope, healing and wholeness
.
painting a sign for your home
.
a field trip to the junkyard
.
learning how stress effects the body and how to combat that cycle
.
an authentic worship experience where you are welcomed to safely and quietly take in certain truths that might be for your story
.
rest, down time, options for napping, space for processing alone or with a new friend
On our last morning together we will:
.
embrace our story that is filled with hope and freedom
.
make steps towards walking in the freedom that is ours
.
enjoy a big and beautiful lunch together as we reflect one last time AND PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO GO BACK HOME.
. pack up and drive away at 3:30 with hearts filled with refreshment and hope!
with authentic hearts we look forward to laughing and crying with you
Worship host...
coming soon!
You've got questions... we might have answers...
Sharing your story?
Will I have to share any of my story with others? NO....and I repeat, NO! No, you don't have to share your story!
You are welcome to share some of your story with those you feel comfortable doing that with, but this weekend is not intended to make you feel uncomfortable with the disclosing of personal details. While we will be welcomed to share pieces of our hearts and stories, we will not EVER be asked to share what we are not comfortable sharing. You are safe here.
Together we will have the common bond that we do not have it all together... while our stories and details will vary, we will still be able to connect our hearts in ways that may even surprise you!
Allergies?
When you register for the retreat, there will be a space for you to communicate any allergies, sensitivities or preferences... happy to help ya with that! (I've got restrictions too!)
What is included?.
. All of your food for the whole weekend (no meal on Friday night... but plenty of food to call it a "meal" if you'd like).
. Bedding.
. Towels.
. Basics like, soap and shampoo.
. your very own Restorable Journal.
. Gifts, including a hand crafted mug created for this retreat, and all kinds of other surprise gifts too!
Beds & Baths?
You can expect to share a freshly cleaned bathroom and bedroom with at least one other woman. (feel free to invite a friend to join you and the two of you can share a room with a king bed!)
In the ticket options, you will see three choices. You can choose from a twin bed, queen bed, or a shared king size bed (which is basically 2 twin size beds next to each other).
We have been so pleased these last two retreats to see how well this all worked out for each of them women!
Can I come for just part of the weekend?
This precious weekend is an experience that builds on itself from the time you arrive on Friday evening, until you drive out the driveway on Sunday. Our recommendation is that you allow yourself the gift of taking it all in. We strongly believe that this will benefit you and those you love.
Covid?
we are very aware of the threat and concerns that come from any illness, and because of that we ask that if you are noticing any signs of sickness and/or have been in contact with someone recently diagnosed with a contagious illness, please stay home and get some rest! We will be sure to refund all but your $200 deposit.
Masks?
We will not be requiring the wearing of masks while we are together. If this is uncomfortable for you, then you might not be able to relax enough to receive from this retreat. I suggest that you soak in some of my reflections from previous Restorable Retreats on the
Hope Layer Podcast (episodes 9-19)
Alcohol?
this is a non-alcoholic weekend so that we can respect those who might be struggling with using alcohol in ways that they really don't want to.
Refunds?
If you are sick or have an emergency, then we will refund your investment with the exception of the $200 retainer fee/deposit. Due to the large investment that this is for Jen Mininger Photography, please, give us as much notice as you can.
Travel?
If you are traveling from out of state and need to fly to come be with us... this info might help you. The closest and quaintest airport is in Harrisburg (about 1 hour away). You might also consider Baltimore (2 1/2 hour drive) airport or Philadelphia airport (1 hour drive). If your prefer to not rent a car from the airport, then please email me so that I can arrange for your free pick up and drop off.
The Investment Cost?
We understand that this is no small financial investment. Friend, your heart and your future are worth it!
BUT... you don't have a money tree... right? We get it...neither do we! So, with a $200 deposit you can then have a payment plan option to help spread things out for ya.
ALSO, great news! We have already received loving donors who believe in the value of this retreat and would like to offer financial help to women in need. PLEASE, don't hesitate to
email me if you would like to inquire about sponsorship. Please!
WHAT OTHERS SAID ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE
"The Restorable Retreat created a welcoming safe place to do some hard heart work. The opportunity to be surrounded by authentic, like-minded women was a beautiful reminder that we are never alone in our struggles, there is always hope and that we are restorable.
The entire weekend was pivotal for me and so worth the investment of time, money and energy."
"I've been part of many retreats for women over the years... both as a participant and as a worship leader. There's something unique about being involved in both aspects... you really get to know the heart of the people planning the event.
The Restorable Retreat was different than any other gathering I've been in for a number of reasons. The Holy Spirit outdid Himself through Jen's attention to every detail, enabling each woman to not only feel, but KNOW that this was a weekend especially created for her. It was an exquisite setting in which to do the hardest of heart and soul work. Jen had a team of prayer warriors that interceded for each woman... before, during and even after that beautifully unique weekend.
I went into it knowing it was going to be special, but not fully realizing the impact until having walked through each layer of the well-planned 40 or so hours. What a worthy investment for a woman in need of the type of self-care that a spa weekend or "normal" retreat could never truly fulfill. "
"The retreat was great for me! The inviting, warm atmosphere was wonderful.
My key take away was that I went from feeling unable to talk things out, to being able to ask questions. Unasked questions have always led my mind to wonder to the worst case scenario, so being able to open up and to seek the truth is very freeing. The retreat was intense at moments, but very restful at the same time.
I could have spent at least another full day(or week!) with everyone! I am so thankful for Jen’s listening heart and her dedication to putting it all together. I am so very glad I went."
"For me, since the retreat, I have mostly felt a freeing sense from my broken spots, meaning not bound to stay broken or hurt by things that have happened in my life."
