Tilikum & the Big Swing

We have spent the last few days at the Tilikum Retreat Center in Newberg, Oregon, about an hour outside of Portland. We were attending a retreat with Campus Crusade for Christ and enjoyed the time to connect with other new staff who are currently raising up ministry partners for their team. It was a sweet time of rest, relaxation, training, and connecting with each other and the Lord.

Tilikum is nestled among orchards and hillside vineyards of the Willamette Valley and was a perfect spot to enjoy nature when we weren't in sessions! Tru and I took a canoe out on the lake one afternoon to enjoy the quiet peacefulness of the lake and the trees. One of our favorite activities was "The Big Swing." A more adventurous, grown-up version of the favorite swing set pastime we loved as kids. Remember when you would ask your mom or dad to pull you back on the swing and send you flying, pushing you higher and higher? Well, at Tilikum, you do just that on a giant version that lets your toes touch the leaves high in the trees. (Oh, and it's not your mom & dad doing the pushing!) What could be better than flying through the air with the breeze in your hair and on your face, but with no exertion required?
(Check out my hubby's face in this last picture. You can click it to enlarge. Do you think he was having fun?!)

Truman headed off to a conference in California this morning and I fly back to Texas at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning! As soon as I can get settled back in at home, I plan to work on putting together some pictures of our time in Portland!