Mr Phillips said that Vision Forum events seem to be a place where young couples meet, or get engaged, and he is a man of his word.
And on that note I will end my Father Daughter posts, for this year....
Friday, April 29, 2011
An Engagement
And now for the engagement. After taking Virginia out for a little break in the hall, we were walking by the book table when my good friend Lindsay called my name and held her hands in the air. For a second I wasn't sure what she was showing me, she was absolutely beaming so I looked at her hand and there it was. An engagement ring! It had happened about an hour ago and they were trying to keep it quiet, but that's next to impossible at a conference. I'm so glad she is marrying a Georgia boy (good choice of state) so we can see each other more often.
Mr Phillips introducing Lindsay and Brantley
Mr Phillips said that Vision Forum events seem to be a place where young couples meet, or get engaged, and he is a man of his word.
And on that note I will end my Father Daughter posts, for this year....
Mr Phillips said that Vision Forum events seem to be a place where young couples meet, or get engaged, and he is a man of his word.
And on that note I will end my Father Daughter posts, for this year....
Thursday, April 28, 2011
High Tea, a Hailstorm and a Tornado
Saturday afternoon we enjoyed a delightful High Tea. It was such a precious sight to see 500 fathers and daughters attired in their finest suits and dresses, having tea together. We sat with the Phillips, and two families from Canada. I really enjoyed getting to meet Dr. Hoffe and his lovely daughters. Dr. Hoffe was originally from South Africa, and came to British Columbia by way of England.
Getting to know people is the best part of an event like this, and what better way than over tea?
Mr. Phillips shared with us about the trip that Vision Forum will be taking to Europe this summer, and it sounds amazing. Imagine, standing on the sands of Normandy with the men who stormed those beaches 69 years ago.
As we were finishing tea my mother, grandmother, brother and three sisters arrived to spend the afternoon with us. After visiting in the main hall for awhile, Mom decided to take the girls back to our room. Shortly after she had loaded them in the car a terrible hailstorm started. I was about to run out and help her when Mr. Turley (the conference director) told everyone to get away from the windows and go into the restrooms. There was a tornado in the vicinity and it was heading our way. So imagine this, you're standing there in your formal tea dress, your mother and sisters are in the parking lot and a tornado is headed this way. What do you do? Well if you're like me, you bolt for the door, do your best Olympic runner impersonation and get everyone out of the car and into the building of course! As we entered the main lobby we saw grown women weeping and in absolute panic, not a very calming sight. But what happened next was one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed. As we were approaching the restrooms we heard a beautiful, calming choir singing hymns. It was, as one father called it the TBC or "Tornado Bathroom Choir". There standing in the ladies room, were about 20 young ladies praising God!
Now to set this up again: Quarter-size hail is falling outside, a tornado has been sighted in the vicinity of the resort and grown women are weeping in the lobby. Now instead of panicking these young ladies lifted their voices in praise to God. What an incredible testimony!
I have heard of it raining cats and dogs, but never turtles and dinosaurs!
After all the excitement of the day, the sun set on a peaceful, and surprisingly musical Father Daughter Retreat
Up next- The Engagement!
Mr. Phillips shared with us about the trip that Vision Forum will be taking to Europe this summer, and it sounds amazing. Imagine, standing on the sands of Normandy with the men who stormed those beaches 69 years ago.
As we were finishing tea my mother, grandmother, brother and three sisters arrived to spend the afternoon with us. After visiting in the main hall for awhile, Mom decided to take the girls back to our room. Shortly after she had loaded them in the car a terrible hailstorm started. I was about to run out and help her when Mr. Turley (the conference director) told everyone to get away from the windows and go into the restrooms. There was a tornado in the vicinity and it was heading our way. So imagine this, you're standing there in your formal tea dress, your mother and sisters are in the parking lot and a tornado is headed this way. What do you do? Well if you're like me, you bolt for the door, do your best Olympic runner impersonation and get everyone out of the car and into the building of course! As we entered the main lobby we saw grown women weeping and in absolute panic, not a very calming sight. But what happened next was one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed. As we were approaching the restrooms we heard a beautiful, calming choir singing hymns. It was, as one father called it the TBC or "Tornado Bathroom Choir". There standing in the ladies room, were about 20 young ladies praising God!
Now to set this up again: Quarter-size hail is falling outside, a tornado has been sighted in the vicinity of the resort and grown women are weeping in the lobby. Now instead of panicking these young ladies lifted their voices in praise to God. What an incredible testimony!
Up next- The Engagement!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Better late than never!
Well our computer has officially died after years of faithful service (cue taps). After 2 weeks of diligent work by our tech guys to no avail, we just went ahead and purchased a new computer. I will resume my Father Daughter Retreat recap posts, then get back to posting about the truly wonderful things in life; homemaking in general, cooking in particular.
Love y'all,
The Southern Homemaker
Love y'all,
The Southern Homemaker
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Messages and Mentoring
As I mentioned before, this year was the sixth Father Daughter retreat that Dad and I have attended, and I think that this year was the best yet. The fellowship was so encouraging and the messages were excellent.
Saturday morning started out with Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin speaking on "Adventuress Femininity", something very near to my heart. I have always been what my Dad calls an "All-American girl", I love being a girl and I love adventure. When I talked to the Botkin sisters on Friday they told me "we actually thought of you when we were writing this".
A spirit of adventure is a wonderful and necessary thing for a girl to have. A spirit of adventure doesn't mean we have to become Nancy Drew or Jane Bond. Life is an adventure, and if we don't embrace it then we are living in fear. A spirit of fear is not from the Lord (2 Tim 1:7) and is something that we must overcome with the Lord's help (Phil 4:13). The Bible says that we are to fear God (Prov 9:10) and nothing else (Deut 31:6). God is in control, we can rest assured in that (Rom 8:28).
Then Mr Scott Brown spoke on the topic of modesty. He posed an excellent question that every family must answer, "what is your dress code, and do you get it from God or man?". Then he gave the following verses for families to study: 1 Tim 2:9-10, 1 Pet 3:1-6, Deut 22:5, Prov 7:4-27, Gen 5:21, Rom 12:1-2, 1 Thess 4:1-7, 1 Cor 6:1-20
Now I can't cover this entire topic here, Lord willing I will in a future post. But just remember this, modesty begins in the heart and is reflected in the way we dress.
Then Mr Geoff Botkin spoke on "What godly young men will be looking for in your daughter". Dominion marriages are crucial in reclaiming the family, and that is why it so important that we know what the right kind of young men are looking for.
The average young man is directionless, without a mission and without a message.
"If you don't know where you're going in life, any old wife will get you there." Isaac Botkin
But the young man with a mission and a message is developing discernment, looking for a wife who is friendly, confident in relationships, confident in doctrine, humble and teachable.
I always wonder how young women can have such high standards for their future husbands, while having almost none for themselves. Just as we have standards, don't you think they do as well? By thinking that all it takes find a husband is being cute, we are not only devaluing them but ourselves as well.
"You still think you're the belle of the county don't you? That you're the cutest little trick in shoe leather, and every man that meets you is dying of love for you." Rhett Butler to Scarlett O'Hara, Gone with the Wind
Saturday night Mr Phillips spoke, but I didn't take many notes. I had a little friend on my lap for those 3 hours and was enjoying her company. Little Virginia is too precious for words!
Virginia's tulip garden!
Also part of the Saturday evening line-up were two audience participation activities. Mr Phillips would call for volunteers and almost every hand in the room shot up. The first five were brought on stage where their fathers sang "You Are My Sunshine" to them. The winner was chosen using the "Clap-O-Meter"
Then it was time to help daddy get ready for work. Anyone who has been here before knows that this is when things get messy. 5yr olds and shaving cream are quite a mix! Mr Phillips says every year that he is going to get Dad up there, but hasn't been able to yet.
With all the mess cleaned up, Dad and I had dodged the bullet yet again, or so we thought.
After this Mr Phillips said "We don't believe in grudge matches at Vision Forum, but there are some old debts that need to be settled. So we are going to have a special old-timer round". At this point Faith Phillips looked at me "raise your hand, Dad would call on you!" "No way! That is one thing Dad says he never wants to do." I started praying "dear God please don't have him call on us" but it was to late "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my good friend..." and he finally got us. Dad was great, and went through the whole thing with a big smile, what a trooper!
As wonderful as the messages were, the fellowship was even better. Outside of a family reunion I have never hugged so many people! Catching up with old friends, making new ones and just enjoying time with like minded young women was a tremendous blessing.
Up next- High Tea, a Hailstorm and a Tornado!
Saturday morning started out with Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin speaking on "Adventuress Femininity", something very near to my heart. I have always been what my Dad calls an "All-American girl", I love being a girl and I love adventure. When I talked to the Botkin sisters on Friday they told me "we actually thought of you when we were writing this".
A spirit of adventure is a wonderful and necessary thing for a girl to have. A spirit of adventure doesn't mean we have to become Nancy Drew or Jane Bond. Life is an adventure, and if we don't embrace it then we are living in fear. A spirit of fear is not from the Lord (2 Tim 1:7) and is something that we must overcome with the Lord's help (Phil 4:13). The Bible says that we are to fear God (Prov 9:10) and nothing else (Deut 31:6). God is in control, we can rest assured in that (Rom 8:28).
Then Mr Scott Brown spoke on the topic of modesty. He posed an excellent question that every family must answer, "what is your dress code, and do you get it from God or man?". Then he gave the following verses for families to study: 1 Tim 2:9-10, 1 Pet 3:1-6, Deut 22:5, Prov 7:4-27, Gen 5:21, Rom 12:1-2, 1 Thess 4:1-7, 1 Cor 6:1-20
Now I can't cover this entire topic here, Lord willing I will in a future post. But just remember this, modesty begins in the heart and is reflected in the way we dress.
Then Mr Geoff Botkin spoke on "What godly young men will be looking for in your daughter". Dominion marriages are crucial in reclaiming the family, and that is why it so important that we know what the right kind of young men are looking for.
The average young man is directionless, without a mission and without a message.
"If you don't know where you're going in life, any old wife will get you there." Isaac Botkin
But the young man with a mission and a message is developing discernment, looking for a wife who is friendly, confident in relationships, confident in doctrine, humble and teachable.
I always wonder how young women can have such high standards for their future husbands, while having almost none for themselves. Just as we have standards, don't you think they do as well? By thinking that all it takes find a husband is being cute, we are not only devaluing them but ourselves as well.
"You still think you're the belle of the county don't you? That you're the cutest little trick in shoe leather, and every man that meets you is dying of love for you." Rhett Butler to Scarlett O'Hara, Gone with the Wind
Saturday night Mr Phillips spoke, but I didn't take many notes. I had a little friend on my lap for those 3 hours and was enjoying her company. Little Virginia is too precious for words!
Also part of the Saturday evening line-up were two audience participation activities. Mr Phillips would call for volunteers and almost every hand in the room shot up. The first five were brought on stage where their fathers sang "You Are My Sunshine" to them. The winner was chosen using the "Clap-O-Meter"
Then it was time to help daddy get ready for work. Anyone who has been here before knows that this is when things get messy. 5yr olds and shaving cream are quite a mix! Mr Phillips says every year that he is going to get Dad up there, but hasn't been able to yet.
After this Mr Phillips said "We don't believe in grudge matches at Vision Forum, but there are some old debts that need to be settled. So we are going to have a special old-timer round". At this point Faith Phillips looked at me "raise your hand, Dad would call on you!" "No way! That is one thing Dad says he never wants to do." I started praying "dear God please don't have him call on us" but it was to late "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my good friend..." and he finally got us. Dad was great, and went through the whole thing with a big smile, what a trooper!
As wonderful as the messages were, the fellowship was even better. Outside of a family reunion I have never hugged so many people! Catching up with old friends, making new ones and just enjoying time with like minded young women was a tremendous blessing.
Up next- High Tea, a Hailstorm and a Tornado!
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