"Beyond Our Dreams" Marriage Retreats
“Beyond Our Dreams” is a retreat for married couples who have children with special needs of any age who would like a weekend to rest, refresh, and re-focus on their relationship with each other and with God. In addition, you will enjoy relaxed mealtime conversations with other couples with similar life experiences.
The Model
Our teaching sessions take place in the comfort of our living room. The environment is casual and relaxed, with participation welcomed but never forced. One goal is to challenge you to go deeper in understanding of yourself, your spouse, and you walk with God. During these sessions, you as a couple will be led in conversations that help you understand how your personalities, families of origin, and life experiences have shaped you to see your shared life from very different perspectives.
Another goal is to encourage you to work together, to blend each partner’s unique gifts into a relationship that is much stronger in the midst of storms that sometimes never seem to calm.
Friday evening begins with a home-cooked meal straight from Karen’s kitchen. We then take a look at our personalities and how they influence the way they see the world. We also look at how our children with special needs may push us out of those personality comfort zones, which can leave us exhausted.
Saturday morning takes a look at the family we grew up in and how that shaped our perspective on life in general and marriage in particular. We will then take a look at the emotional triggers that you developed as a result of growing up in that environment.
Saturday afternoon is “date time.” One challenge that most marriages face after kids come along is finding time to prioritize each other. After lunch, couples have several hours to themselves with the only rule being you have to spend it together.
Saturday evening is spent learning to speak the truth into the emotional triggers that we have developed throughout life. Living in the truth that we are loved and safe can free us from the need to defend and protect ourselves when in conflict (which is sure to come) with our spouse.
Sunday morning is an experiential time focused on Psalm 46:10 – “be still and know that I am God.” We believe the most valuable experience we can give you is the opportunity be still with God and see where He’s trying to lead you, and then have the opportunity to share that experience with your spouse.
Hospitality and Home Cooking
From the time you check in at the Hudspeth House Friday evening to the time you leave our home Sunday afternoon, we and others will do our best to serve and spoil you. We invite you to accept our invitation to give you a peaceful, restful experience. We want every couple to feel “at home” in our kitchen and living room. You will be blessed by tremendous home cooking with no clean-up! The only thing you will be allowed to do is fill your plate.
Your nights will be spent at the historic Hudspeth House Bed & Breakfast – www.hudspethinn.com – located just off the square in Canyon, Texas. Each couple will have a room with a private bathroom. We want this to be a time for you to set aside for one weekend your regular routine, along with the worries and concerns that come with families like ours.
Commitment To Prayer
Our marriages are always opposed, and we believe we get Satan’s full attention when we make plans to enrich them. We enlist our retreat alumni to pray for you, your children, and those who care for them from the time you sign up until the time you return home.
In addition to our alumni, the leadership of the Southwest Church of Christ also in constant prayer for these retreats. Our leaders share our commitment to marriage, and see these retreats as a unique opportunity to serve and bless families who have children with special needs.
“Beyond Our Dreams” on the Road
We currently do “Beyond Our Dreams” retreats for the GIFT ministry at the Stonebriar Church in Frisco, Texas and the Winshape Retreat Center in Rhome, Georgia. If your church is interested in bringing this retreat to your community, we would be happy to speak with you about the possibility.
If you want a little more information, please watch this video:
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