Vision Retreat?

While listening to Jimmy Evans in church this morning he mentioned Vision Retreats and the value that they hold in a good solid marriage. I had never really heard of the concept so I am doing some research. Sense I see that there is very few websites on the subject I decided to post my experience with the concept here in my blog for other ladies who might be interested to know more about Parent Vision Retreats. Remember retreats are for all couples, happy and unhappy. Everyone seems to benefit from these types of retreats.

There are rules apparently to qualify your trip as a Vision Retreat, instead of a get away. 

Rule #1
No Kids

Rule #2
Create a retreat in an environment that will not be distracting. In hard core english, NO electronics, except for maybe a camera.

Rule #3
Design a daily Schedule. All activities should be done together without distractions

Rule #4
Plan your talk time. 
Half of your day should be considered "talk time". This is when you will pray together and discuss the vision you both have for your family. This is when things can get ugly, fighting can happen, but you need this open, honest communication to work together at home. Don't be afraid to be honest with each other about your problems, the point of this time is to work them out together. 

Rule #5
Fun Time
This is when you should enjoy each others company and have some fun together. One on One. 


You should have at least one a year. If necessary though, you can plan one as needed throughout the year. If you are feeling a rift between the marriage, or there is an issue that needs to be discussed. Aim to learn to work as a team, as a unit. The idea is that you are setting time aside to concentrate on each other and your families future. 


http://www.amazon.com/Mountaintop-Marriage-Vision-Retreat-Guidebook/dp/1931585245

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-U_MLq389c

http://www.thesabbaticalcoach.com/html/vision_retreats.html


So anyways, Jason and I both work kinda crazy schedules so I am going to have to be creative to work this out but I am excited to get started. I want us to sit down together and create a vision for our family. I dont feel like that is something we have ever even thought about. Sure, we talk about what we would like, how we want things, but at the end of the end we have never made a plan. Also it has been forever sense we have been able to put everything else aside and just concentrate on making one another happy. I am skeptic however, that 
he will want to spend half the day talking. Jason isn't much of a talker. So I will have to let you all know how it goes~

American Girl TuTu

I saw videos on YouTube and wanted to try it for Maes dolls. It was very time consuming but not really hard. I used the big green bottle as a prop after measuring it against her Julie doll. Then went to work. We loved the outcome! Great day to do with your daughter if you both enjoy crafting.

American Girl DIY

Mae loves her American girl dolls and we are always on the look out for something new to add to her playroom. I was so excited when we stubbled on myfroggiestuff on YouTube. She has hundreds of great diy tutorials for American Girl, monster high, Barbi and more. So basically sense I never really have everything they use in these videos I usually watch them and then incorporate those ideas with mine. Below are a few diy projects we have made in our house using stuff just laying around the house like boxes, old toys, and small left over pieces of wood from other projects.