Refreshed and exhausted

Somehow I find writing this blog daily is much easier than taking a break and then picking it up again. The last four days have been full and busy but also refreshing and relaxing. Interesting paradoxes. I didn't take as many photos as I could have, but the green with which we've been surrounded this week was a balm to my soul. Here is the view out of the window of our room:

The conference centre was a number of buildings on the side of a fairly steep hill, connected by covered walkways. On every side, out most windows, we could see green and it was fabulous. It helped me up and down those stairs!

One of my boys asked me why we go to these annual conferences. The easiest answer is: that it is close to compulsory! More than that, though, we want to. OMF conferences on the field are a combination of work and refreshment. We have biblical teaching and encouragement, we worship together and pray together, but we also do business. We hear from our leaders as to what is going on, things that would usually go into a newsletter, but it is nice to hear it straight from them. We also socialise. We catch up with friends and colleagues. We exchange laughter and hugs and tears. And all in English! (Which is good for those of us for whom English is our heart language but a challenge for those who don't come from an English speaking background, which means at least 1/3 of our members.)

Our room. The futons were a bit hard and I forgot my pillow, so I didn't sleep all that well.

This is the first year that we've really relaxed and enjoyed the programme, probably because our youngest is now school age. That means he is more able to do a lot for himself (including the stairs) and doesn't tire so easily. Which means that we hardly saw them except at meals, bed and bath time and free-time.

I need to mention exercise. My muscles are hurting, and have done all week. On Monday morning the boys were so excited about going to conference that they were driving us crazy. We didn't need to leave until 1pm, and didn't fancy a couple hours drive with crazy boys in the car. So we took them out for some exercise in the morning. It was complicated, but I ended up doing a mile run with my 12 y.o. cross-country runner. Ouch! It's been a while since I did that. Then I went for my usual half-hour session at the gym.

So, I started the week with sore muscles. Then we arrived at the conference centre and proceeded to climb up and down stairs all week; not calculated to give sore muscles any rest.

On Wednesday afternoon we had five hours free-time. Free-time at events like this is always an issue when you have young children. Not likely to be restful. We decided to take advantage of a friend offering to take a group hiking to a local lookout. We didn't expect it to be a three hour hike, though! Our 6 y.o. dropped out fairly quickly - and my husband was wise enough to volunteer to walk home with him. That left me and two Eveready Bunnies who just didn't seem to get weary at all. All the way up and back, my sons barely stopped. Thankfully the leader of our group seemed equal to the task, not only of keeping up with them, but listening to their constant prattle!

Not much to see at the look-out. Too cloudy. But nicely cool.

The scenery was beautiful, but the boys moved so quickly I hardly got any photos.

Well you can guess how my muscles felt after this hike! Thankfully I took advantage of the Japanese baths at the conference centre. Yes - a "public" bath, but once you get over the embarrassment it is incredibly soothing to overtaxed muscles.

We had a Fun Night on the last evening. It was fun, lots of laughter! But I tired quickly.

When we arrived home yesterday afternoon we felt like we'd been away for longer than just three nights. Refreshed and exhausted, but glad we'd been.