Delight Spring Retreat | the creative side | Pt. II

Every year, our retreats are scheduled in a way where girls arrive on Thursday evening, and we’ll share our first few hours together getting to know one another over a bowl of hot soup and fresh bread. It’s become a tradition, of sorts, to share homemade soup together on our first night. To be honest, it’s one of the little things I look forward to most! But something even more exciting is when Saturday rolls around and all of the things we’ve spent months working on and planning for actually happen! This year, we had creative sessions that ranged from far and wide for the girls to spend a few hours doing!

Families from the local area dedicated their Saturday afternoon to come out for a styled shoot where the girls got to learn from some incredible photographers and have the chance to dive in themselves and add some shots to their portfolios! We had an engaged couple come out during lunch and share their story and wisdom in dating/marriage, and model for an engagement shoot that afternoon. One of our attendees is an extremely gifted food photographer, and she put together a whole experience in teaching the girls how to style and photograph food. Michelle spent a few hours with fabric and had some crafts set out, and sweet Stacy and Annalee brought their sewing machines and every single person in the house created a square for a quilt! I can’t even begin to describe to you how special it was to watch everyone’s creativity come out as this quilt came together…and I don’t have a final picture of it, but I can guarantee it’s beautiful. And the story behind it is even more beautiful!

I’ve been so excited to give you a peek into the creative sessions from Saturday, but the day before, on Friday, Brandy just casually pulled a few things out of her hat and this INCREDIBLE styled shoot for the girls happened! Dressed in denim and neutrals, overalls and stripes, these pictures speak so much. I’ve never seen pictures that capture each of these beautiful ladies more perfectly, from their contagious smiles and personalities to eyes that tell powerful stories. Pretty sure their stories are better than anything I could write here…so as you scroll, you’ll get to hear from them and why this year’s retreat was shh…one of the best! <3 

And you just HAVE to join us back here on the blog tomorrow, because you’re about to see SO much beauty fill the screen as we feature and show you just a handful of the vendors who graciously gave incredible gifts to fill swag bags for the girls and to kickstart their businesses!!! Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!

 

photo credit :: Brandy Dawson  (@brandydawson) | Kelly Lemon  (@kellylemon)| Emily Moller  (@emilymoller_)

xoxo,

Emily

She could have written the entire post, but these words from Madison sum up Delight so perfectly that it all had to be shared here:

“To be completely honest, I was expecting nothing coming into the retreat. I hadn’t even had time to think about expecting something at the retreat. I had just moved less than a week before and was in a whirlwind of boxes and packing. In a lot of ways, the retreat completely snuck up on me which probably was the best thing because it gave me one option: be open to it all.

The morning of our last full day together at the retreat, we spent time during worship writing on two different boards expressing what we are free from and what we’re moving towards. We cried and celebrated each other. I saw whole countenances change as release and freedom entered their reality.  I stood in the back and wept over each girl and how much they are loved by God – I felt it deeply in my soul. I saw shifts all across the room from bondage to freedom. The reality of freedom is that is a continued process for nearly everyone. God sets us free in moments, and we keep saying yet to that freedom and no to the chains for the rest of our lives. We choose Him, over and over, and when we don’t, we are met with encouragement from one another to run back to the table where there is always a place set for us. Seeing beginnings or re-ignition of those processes for the girls in the room moved me deeply.  

Delight is one of the deepest dreams of my heart. Right after I got saved, I wrote a short list of my dreams. Owning up to those is terrifying because suddenly they become real – and if they’re real, they can be broken and shatter. Yet speaking them out is so empowering. One of the dreams I wrote down was “to start or be a part of a ministry from young women experiencing REAL life together.”

Delight is that. Delight IS a dream.

Over 700 young women who are fighting, struggling, experiencing victory, leaning on Christ, and growing in their gifts everyday have found each other because one woman followed the dream God gave her (Mamma Wall I am SO thankful for your trust!). It is peer-support from His support and is full of some of the most incredible leaders and dreamers I’ve met who are passionately pursing creative businesses and outlets. We joked around at the retreat about how “this isn’t your typical ol’ church camp,” and thankfully that is wasn’t! Delight is discipleship in the purest form: pointing each other to Christ beyond retreats and gatherings and high moments of good, but in everyday life coming along side each other in faith knowing that God cares for us and wants to see us brave, free, bold, walking in our identity, and LOVING from the love He gave us. It truly is what it says: real, raw, relevant. Delight isn’t a place where taboo topics are pushed aside or where we hush-hush issues. We bring them to the LIGHT. We talk and learn and because of that, we grow together into who we are meant to be: children of God, rooted in what He says about us.

If this at all peaks your interest, or if your heart is saying: “YES this is what I love to see happening,” (like mine!) I encourage you to take a look at Campaign 80/25. It assures that young women across the nation get a place to grow in Christ and be mentored in their art through Delight. I talked to one beautiful lady who overflowed with compassion at every moment who is a photographer and just so happens to be 16 years old as well – turns out she has over 20 weddings booked for this year! That is absolutely AMAZING!

Delight has changed my life. It has changed the lives of so many and I know it will continue to change so many more. At the end of the day, it boils down to two things: love God and love others. The rest is blessing. The rest is grace. The rest is gifts. And I’m so grateful for the gift of Delight.”

“Being a part of Delight is an absolute privilege to me. Having to be a part of such an incredible group of young women who not only have the ability to inspire those around them, but radiate such joy and passion through God. The first day I was introduced to delight, I knew right then that I was home. I was welcomed with open arms and genuine love. Delight is pure, real, and overflowing with Jesus.” :: Ivy 

“Coming to the retreat, I was in need of refreshment. This time of year is always so busy for me, so I was looking forward to getting away to be renewed and grow deeper in the Lord with sweet friends. The time spent together was so wonderful. The community in Delight is so intentional. You can just show up and feel like you’re with family. I’m so thankful for this week we had together!” :: Hannah 

“When I came the first day, I was thinking about the community of Delight and Be and how sweet they were to me over the year just being in the group online. Then I came into the house and everyone there was so sweet and understanding and loving. I felt safe being there. During the retreat, I realized God wanted me there to be healed and freed from things.” :: Lacey 

a few words from me to this lady…Katie, I remember the very first day together, the leaders were sitting in front of the girls and were building up one another’s spiritual gifts. And I almost blurted out the very same words that every other woman in the room was saying. You are joy. You are. I can’t even begin to tell you how refreshed I was just being with YOU. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life, and I can’t thank you enough for being that person to bring out laughter in me that I needed so desperately. I can’t tell you how healing it was for me. I value and treasure you beyond words, and your gifts go beyond what you even realize. I can’t thank you enough for leading us each morning and evening in worship, and I just thank Jesus for the anointing He placed over you and your life, and for how powerfully He is using you to draw people to Him. I love you so dearly and am so thankful for the radiant woman, wife, mom, and friend you are. I’m still praying you move within a reasonable driving distance of me…because I need more Katie in my life. 

“I came to the retreat very exhausted because of finals week and a crazy spontaneous night spent in the airport. The atmosphere was so peaceful when I walked in, and I was able to get the rest that I needed both physically and emotionally. I felt like God gave me a picture of a brush being re-dipped into water to be cleansed and then dipped into fresh ink. It was a cleansing time for me as I allowed myself to process this year and where I was with Christ. It was a time of renewed vision and inspiration. I felt like I walked away from the retreat with more spiritual clarity and direction for my future business.” :: Brooklynn 

“I walked into the retreat having never met anyone there, and that honestly scared me. I was already lost in the Seattle airport and when I told our group message that I was struggling with directions, half of the girls already at the airport came running to find me. It was then that I knew these girls would become my family and I had nothing to fear. Over the next few days, we grew to love and trust one another. We encouraged each other and loved on one another. There was more joy and love in our little community than I had ever experienced in my life. To me, that’s what Delight is. And to be able to experience a little slice of that at the retreat was well worth the stress, time, and energy put into getting there. I wouldn’t trade my experience ther efor the world, and the Lord knew I needed to be there!”  ::  Shayla 

and a few words for these two… Marcia. I don’t even know where to begin. You flew in and could have just been one of the girls at the retreat. But instead, even in your exhaustion and desperate need for renewal, you gave. You poured out your heart and spent hours in the kitchen just being that rock and person I needed. You brought me so much joy and the way you just humbly walk through life with such poise and wisdom, depth and discernment. Jesus has such a hand over your life and it is just an absolute honor to watch Him use you. I cannot thank you enough for all you did to serve and love every woman under that roof. Walking into the kitchen each morning at 7:30 and you were already there, already serving, already loving. You just radiate joy in everything you do. A pure, deep, rooted, established joy. I adore you completely! 

and Stacy. I remember over a decade ago you were the one babysitting me. It’s absolutely incredible to see the ways God works. I know there are so many times He just is thinking, “Just wait until I bring you two together again in the craziest ways!” What a gift it was for you to have these exact dates free and to be here to just serve. To bring your sewing machine and tender, gentle heart for each of the girls. To be a listening ear, to give and ask nothing in return, to lose sleep and wash more dishes than I can count. You were a gift more than I can say and I cannot wait for all the ways God will continue to use you in the lives of every woman there. 

And hey, look! It’s me! And our newest Delight member who is growing like a weed and we can’t wait to meet! <3

These women. They have filled holes in my heart I didn’t even know were there. I could write a book of thank-you’s just to each one of you. I’m in awe of how intricately Jesus works in using each of you and your unique gifts and talents. This group of women is just the perfect picture of the body of Christ. Ladies, you are family. You are pure, radiant, strong, beautiful, gifted, so full of joy and contentment and are filled to the very brim with grace and faith and so much strength. I am so thankful for you!!!

The patterns of this quilt, you guys. Just wait till you see the finished product!!! And these flowers…you’ll find out tomorrow who was the angel behind them!!! <3

A well-loved baking sheet as a backdrop!? Genius, right? Here’s just a glimpse of the food photography that happened!

“Attending the Delight retreat was such an encouraging experience. To be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are so passionate about Jesus and sharing their creative gifts was a huge blessing. Being a young self-employed woman can be lonely. The retreat created a space for fellow creatives to connect, share hearts, passions, and giftings with each other. The friendships and connections that I made through Delight are so valued and I feel so blessed to be able to attend!” :: Kaylie 

And these two. Brookie and Marcia. If you haven’t met them, you need to! These two are irreplaceable and are such a gift to Delight with their graphic arts and hand-lettering. So many of the images you see on our instagram feed have been designed by THEM!!! And that’s just what they’re doing here…make more beautiful art!

“In January, I registered for the spring Delight retreat, even though I wasn’t sure if everything would fall into place for me to get there. Like God often does, He provided everything I needed – the best flight buddy, all the funds necessary to go, and a peace that passes all understanding. I had no idea what God had in store for me at the retreat. From the moment we joined several over girls at the Seattle airport on Thursday, I knew I was right where I needed to be. It was like a family reunion – not as if we had just met. Over the week, strangers became sisters, and treasured friendships began. We shared stories across tables, prayed for each other, and celebrated as God freed us from so much weight we had carried. There is something about like-minded believers coming together and doing what they were created to do! It was such a blessing to be able to go to the Delight retreat, and it was a week that has left me forever changed!” :: Moriah 

And a peek into the sessions that happened on Saturday afternoon!! <3 Here’s a few pics by Lifesong Photography!