Villa Marie Retreat Center
This past weekend I did something I’ve never done before. I took a 24 hour break from home. My oldest daughter volunteered to watch the kids for me, and I drove about an hour and a half south of the Twin Cities to an old monastery-turned-retreat-center just a few miles from Lake Pepin. The drive down was beautiful and thrilling. I was alone. There were several hills that actually tickled my stomach (clearly, I’m getting old). I listened to the Audible book I’m in the middle of (The Secret Keeper.)
Once there, I settled into my little, quiet room and read books. After reading, I took a walk on the grounds. The weather was perfect. Light breeze. Hazy. Cool temperatures.
These birds followed me for a while.
The labyrinth.
They had a labyrinth just outside. Somehow I couldn’t bring myself to walk it. I tried and then felt foolish. It didn’t help that there was a camper nearby, and I imagined curious eyes secretly watching from the dark windows. Being a private person, I was annoyed and moved on. Besides, labyrinths aren’t reformed.
Shortly after I began walking, I noticed a couple fairly far behind me. I was annoyed again. This was MY private walk, for crying out loud. Go back to your room and have fun there, but leave me alone. They didn’t. Walking fast, they caught up to me as I entered the Sister’s Graveyard. So I stopped and took a bunch of pictures, hoping they would get annoyed with ME and move along. Eventually they did.
A view of the west-facing stained glass window from the outside as the sun was going down.
Here is what that same stained glass window looked like from the inside.
It was crazy quiet all day. I was tired and decided to go to bed early. There was a sign in the hallway saying “Quiet Hours: 10:00-something I can’t remember.” But the point is – it said 10:00. This is important because I fell asleep around 9:30 and was startled awake at 10:00 by a large booming noise coming from somewhere in the building. I had on my white noise machine, but this noise crashed through and jarred my senses. And so commenced about three solid hours of a variety of bangs, booms, clashes, and clangs that were deep and loud. I would barely dose off only to be jolted awake by another startling noise. The white noise machine was useless in the face of this onslaught.
Yes. I was annoyed. Finally, around 1:00 the ruckus ended and I slept peacefully until 6:20 when a loud crash woke me up with a start. I didn’t even try to go back to sleep. I knew it was hopeless. It did quiet down again by late morning, but by that time I had some Starbucks energy drinks in my system, and I was plowing though all the things I wanted to get done.
Overall, it was a lovely get-away, and I was able to gather my scattered thoughts and make some plans for this next year.
Question: What about you? Have you ever had a get-away? Tell us about it! You can leave a comment by clicking here.
That sounds lovely! (All except the part about the loud noises.) I recently managed a 24 hour retreat without kids and it was so refreshing. Bless your daughter for filling in for you!
I don’t have many get-aways, however, I do a lot of walking. With my MP3 player fully loaded I find it to be my retreat.
The few times I drive away from my semi-remote community is a pleasure as it usually takes several hours to arrive at a given destination. Just the drive by myself is restful.
Your post has me craving another drive-out excursion but I always feel guilty for spending money on myself. At this point, a retreat for me would be driving and visiting with someone who would give me a listening ear … I have very few friends.
Thank you for sharing about your retreat. So glad that you were able to gather the scattered thoughts … I know what you mean. ((hugs))
Did you ever find out what all the noise was??
Sadly, since I have just been through a difficult divorce, I have some time alone when my ex has the children. I both love and hate this time. I would rather have them with me always (he is a huge liar and manipulator anyway), but I also know I need a break. I usually plan a few things but, since I am an introvert, I also like to have some unstructured time alone. I bake and listen to praise music, or I go get a pedicure, or I binge on Netflix. I have had to take a break from all the divorce/abuse/recovery books I am reading. It gets a bit heavy.
I am so glad you were able to get away!
How energizing! 😀 I’m making fun of you. Ha! What I want to know is what caused all that noise? Did you find out?
The photo of the apples was my favorite. I’m glad you got to read for a desired uninterrupted time. Wasn’t that lovely?
The last time I did something like that I was on the mission field. We took a day off and went to a retreat type place. I did exactly what you did: read and took a quiet lonely walk. When you are surrounded by demanding people one need some alone QUIET time desperately.
PS would you recommend the book you read?
I don’t know what the noises were – but they were people related.
And yes, I am enjoying the book!
It sounds lovely, aside from the random annoyances (I guess that’s how we know we’re still among the living). Your photographs are wonderful!!
I’ve never been on a retreat, but I sorta/kinda lived in that neck of the woods for one year way back when. Beautiful area. I’m glad you were able to get away and be refreshed — well, for some of the time, anyway. (Loud noises — grr.) 😉