Camp Pinnacle was pretty even on a rainy, gray day
With some of the ladies from the retreat
At Sherrill's Pioneer Restaurant in Clyde, NC - note the gun over the cashier
Well, Ohio was hit with one major, major ice storm this week. I know the weather was nuts everywhere – I keep hearing about it, but boy was I happy to not have to go anywhere for those few days!
I was also so thankful that we decided to drive to Georgia this week. I had a women’s retreat for Crossgate Church in Seneca, SC, and they were having their retreat in Clayton, GA. The closest airport was Atlanta, and that was still going to be about a 2.5 hour drive, so we just decided to drive the whole thing, and am I glad because the airlines were so messed up from the storm, I would never have gotten out. We had no school most of the week and the roads got to be good enough to drive on pretty much exactly as we had to leave. Thank you, Lord!
This time, my husband decided to come with me which was great. His parents came down to spend the weekend with the kids. We have not had as much time together as we’d like this past month, so it was a luxury just to drive in the car and talk. He also has a handy phone (so much cooler than mine!) so I spent some time trying to find, you guessed it, local places that aren’t chains for us to eat and stay, etc.
We found a really awesome sushi place on Thursday night just south of Cincinnati, I think it was Miyako? They have a hibachi side which we weren’t very interested in since we were in a hurry, and a cute little sushi bar right in the middle. Absolutely delicious, I have to say, and so quick. I’d do that again anytime.
We stayed in a little historic bed and breakfast in Richmond, KY called The Bennett House. It was a pretty nice b&b, and a good change from hotels. Got up and headed out to the retreat center. On the way, we stopped for lunch at Sherril’s Pioneer Restaurant in Clyde, NC. I have to say, I would never have stopped here normally (not the best looking from the street!), but the reviews online were fantastic, and they were spot on. It’s just a little diner, but the food was great and cheap, and the people working there were super friendly. Totally should be on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives!
Got to Pinnacle Retreat Center in the early afternoon, and it was raining and gray and still couldn’t hide how beautiful this area is. I’m sure this was one of the worst days of winter for the people down here, but after our ice storm week, 40 and rainy was looking pretty awesome! The women we met there were just wonderful. I did a concert at their church about a year ago, and it was like meeting old friends. So kind and welcoming to us! And the staff was amazing at this center – I was so impressed.
I taught the retreat on the life of Peter – we looked at how he had been transformed by his time with Jesus into someone God could and would use for amazing things, and how his life could relate to ours as we seek the same thing. I felt really good about the retreat, and about my conversations with the women there. I also led worship for them, and it was just a great group. Many of them were going through some very hard things, but they were seeking the Lord, and He is faithful.
On Saturday, Nathan and I finished the retreat and then drove the whole way home because I didn’t want to miss church on Sunday. We made pretty good time, only stopping once, at a great little Indian place for dinner called Masala – fabulous pakora, by the way. We ate in a hurry to get back on the road and when we were driving through town to get back to the freeway, we drove right by the b&b we’d stayed at on Thursday night! How funny – we had no idea we were that close. So I guess we know where to eat and stay if we ever need to get back to Richmond, KY. 🙂
Got home and led worship at church in the morning. Looking forward to a little bit of down time now before my next trip to catch up on life!