QMCC Ladies' Fall Retreat 2015

One of the highlights of fall each year is getting to go to the QMCC Ladies' Fall Retreat. This year was no exception.

I was trying to figure out how many years I've attended the retreat, and think this was probably the 15th year....maybe even the 17th or 18th. A long time!  It's been going for 32 years, but I didn't even know about it until that first time I went.  I'm thankful I found out about this wonderful retreat at the camp that's very close to my heart!

Two sisters-in-law and a niece attended the retreat, so that was special to get to be together a little while.

This year the Elm and Hudson church ladies from Altus hosted the event and did a wonderful job.  Name tags hung from a brach as you registered, which also had number on the back to be used for door prizes later on.

The ladies had pooled together their fall decor to make beautiful table arrangements for the tables.

Since fall is my favorite season, I loved the decor!

I love the colors of fall. They are my happy colors!

For a snack, the ladies had a popcorn bar. There was a caramel popcorn, a pumpkin spice popcorn, plus a few other varieties, and candy corn, chocolate and peanuts.  They had little brown paper sacks to put the snacks in. Very cute!

 Craft time was fun. They had stations to make fabric pumpkins, pumpkin magnets from jar lids, cinnamon/orange simmering project (in the jar above) and a pumpkin made from canning jar rings.

This is a favorite time for everyone!  Ladies, even those who claim not to be "crafty", seem to enjoy making something! 

Thank you to the E & H ladies for a spiritually uplifting time at the retreat.  Studying God's Word together, singing together, praying, laughing, sharing together....it's all a part of what makes this retreat so special.  Looking forward to next year already :).

QMCC Ladies Fall Retreat

The 32nd Annual QMCC (Quartz Mountain Christian Camp) Ladies' Fall Retreat was held this past weekend.  It was a great time of worship, fellowship, and fun for all who were in attendance.

This year's theme was "In PURSE-uit of Holiness" with the play on words to use a purse decorating theme.

There were lots of purses everywhere - going along with the brown and turquoise color scheme.

This was Friday night's delicious meal.  The plates are so pretty!  (Not really that sturdy, but pretty :).  I like the square plates, don't you?

This year's t-shirt design was so cute!  I commented that each year's shirt is my favorite!

Bookmarks were made and handed out to those in attendance.

I can't post about QMCC without a picture of the cabins I grew up sleeping in when I attended camp in my growing up years.  The little "A" frame still brings back a lot of memories. It's the only one left on the QMCC grounds and this is one that was actually my cabin many times.

One of the newer cabins is shown here, right at sunrise, so it's in the dark.  They are nice....with bathrooms in them, as well as air conditioning...something we didn't have in the "A" frames!

Craft time at the retreat was especially fun.  This craft consisted of totes being decorated with ribbons, buttons, paint, flowers, jewels, trims, and a lot more.  So neat watching everyone create their own, unique project!

More crafting....

One of the finished totes...with a PURSE theme!

Another decorated tote...with buttons, a flower, and scriptures.

Friends decorating...

Another craft was using scrapbook papers and scriptures.  Very cute and fun! (This photo was with my camera, so looks really yellow.)

The retreat was an uplifting time spent together with sisters in Christ growing closer to each other and closer to God.

Each of the four speakers talked about holiness and shared God's Word in thier own unique way...encouraging each one there to continue to strive to pursue holiness in her own life.  It's always amazing to give one topic to four people and see how they use God's Word to portray the message in their own way.  

 The singing was beautiful! Hearing women sing together in that way is a sweet, sweet sound!  It makes me think of the singing that will be in Heaven!  (of course, men's voices are nice, too....but just neat to hear a bunch of ladies singing alone some times.)

Thank you to all who helped with the retreat this year, who attended the retreat, and who have volunteered to help with next years retreat.  It will be here before we know it!  (I'd better get busy! :)

31st Annual QMCC Ladies' Fall Retreat

"Shout!  Get the Grime Out!" was the theme for the 31st Annual QMCC Ladies' Fall Retreat held this past Friday and Saturday at the Quartz Mountain Christian Camp near Lone Wolf, Oklahoma.  Eighty Christian sisters from Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona met together for a time of fellowship, Bible study, prayer, and worship.

Decorated clothes pins were given as favors to each lady in attendance.  Thank you to my Mom for helping me decorate the pins! Each pin held the Bible verse for the laundry-based theme.  Other clothes pins and puff paints were left on a table for the ladies to make their own pins.

My friend Teresa made a few of these Wash Day tea towels to be included in part of the retreat decor.  Very cute! 

One of the crafts made at the retreat was a refrigerator magnet. The small wire hanger and mini clothes pins held the velum and decorative paper scripture. Another craft was a cute little scarecrow pin craft.

Soft lime green t-shirts were available to purchase.  Thank you to Custom Graphics in Altus, OK, for the super-cute design!

The tables were decorated in white, lime green, and black decor.  Each table had laundry-themed centerpieces....plus a few daises...just for fun! Thank you to several ladies who helped get the tables decorated.

A closer look at the place setting.

The fliers and programs were coordinated to keep the "Shout!  Get the Grime Out!" theme consistent. The speaker did a great job with her lessons.  She talked about giving our "dirty laundry" to God and letting Him do the cleaning.  The devotional speakers did a great job, as well.  Each woman spoke about God's Word with a sincere and obedient heart.

These plates and napkins came from Hobby Lobby. They were the inspiration for the color scheme.  The food was delicious.  Recipes will be posted tonight and tomorrow night on my family recipe blog: "Life's a Bowl of Cherries".

Laundry detergent scoops held mints for each table.  I KNEW there was a reason I had hung on to these for so many years!

This is a picture of many of the decorations that were used as the centerpieces.

All of us are already looking forward to next year's retreat.  The theme is "In PURSE-uit of Holiness", with purse themed decor.  The scripture for next year will be, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20.

Ladies' Retreat 2009

This weekend was the 30th Annual Quartz Mountain Christian Camp (QMCC) which is near Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. The theme was "Promises of God". I want to share with you a little bit about the retreat.  One Christian sister travels over an hour away each year to make a bulletin board with the retreat theme. Isn't that a great way to serve others by using her God-given talent?

I ordered t-shirts for the retreat this year.The lady at the store asked me what color of shirts I wanted.  I couldn't decide, so she said, "How about using several different colors?"  "Perfect, I said!" The ladies really liked the shirts and enjoyed getting to choose a favorite color.

The tables were simply decorated usuing one color of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and purple) per table. A wrapped flower bouquet was placed in the center of each table.

The program carried out the theme and the theme scripture was carried out in several ways: The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. Psalm 145:13

Small favors were placed at each place setting.  The treats were small swirl lollipops, with a scripture sticker on the back. The lollipops can be purchased at Oriental Trading.

I will share more about the special ladies retreat in the next few days, but if you want to try one of the recipes from the retreat (Pumpkin Pancakes with Caramel-Pecan Sauce), go to "Life's a Bowl of Cherries". The recipes are posted for you to enjoy.