A couple weeks ago as I lay face-down on a massage table, I told our chiropractor that Danny and I were about to head up to Georgia for a marriage conference.

“Again? Didn’t you just go?!”

Yes, one year before. And we had gone one year before that, too. Actually, we plan to go every year that we possibly can. The CONNECT Retreat is that important to us. Moreover — our marriage is that important to us.
In case you’ve missed it when I’ve written about CONNECT before . . . twice . . . here’s what makes this retreat really special: It’s a marriage conference, and it happens to be designed for couples who run businesses (mostly photography, but other businesses as well) together.

But now here’s what makes it really, really special: It’s a come-spend-time-with-God-and-your-spouse-and-some-great-old-and-new-friends conference, with all the sessions designed specifically to meet the needs of couples who are not only navigating their marriage together, but navigating running a business together.

For Danny and me, it’s the perfect way to recalibrate each year. We go wondering what God will teach us, and we come home filled with ideas and new energy and enthusiasm. There is simply no way I can truly sum up this kind of experience in a blog post, so I’ll just share a few of our big takeaways this year:

• “The god you are afraid to trust is not the true living God but a false God you have created.” (from Zach & Jody‘s Monday night talk)
• Most of us have an identity crisis in that we don’t see ourselves as God sees us; our true identity is in God. “Where lies are not confronted, callings are not fulfilled.” (from Jeff & Julia‘s Tuesday night talk)
• “We all have the same calling. . . . God did not give you your business [or whatever else you hold most dear] for yourself. He is in the business of building His kingdom, and that is what it is all about.” (from Katelyn & Michael‘s Wednesday night talk)

Of course, there is so much more that I could try to explain about how incredible CONNECT was — but the truth is, a week later I’m still processing it for myself.

Our marriage was strong, but we came home feeling stronger. Our faith was well rooted, but we came home so aware of the much-needed, life-giving water that this retreat was for those roots.

~ Laura

Oh, and PS: Just like last year we’ve got a handful of photo shoots we did with friends in Georgia coming to the blog soon!