The women of our church have been at Myrtle Beach this weekend for the annual retreat. This year I decided to go and agreed to lead a small group. I knew that might be the only way to insure I didn’t skip small group time.

I’m so glad I went. I also got my own hotel room, which I don’t think I’ve ever done. I slept in the middle of the bed and ate peanut M&Ms way too late at night and watched (and loved) {500} Days of Summer while laughing out loud. It seems like whenever I get the opportunity to be a grownup I end up acting like a kid.

It was nice to get away. There is something kind of amazing about having a conversation without a single interruption, eating a meal without getting up from the table once and visiting the bathroom all by myself. More than that, though, there is such beauty in connecting with other women on a deep level, both those in my same stage of life as well as those who are walking behind and in front.

I’m not usually a huge fan of women’s retreats in general, as I have an aversion to ice breakers and I think I’m developing an emotional allergy to chit-chat. But this one was just right. What about you? Do you like retreats for women? What would your ideal women’s retreat look like?