Rooted Retreat Recap

Oh, how full my heart is! This past weekend was a prayer for the last three years—a dream that began in the quiet of my college dorm room. At the time, I had no idea if anything would ever come of it. So, I tucked it away in a quiet corner of my mind and simply prayed: “Lord, if this is from You, make it clear.” And as He always does, God—who cares deeply about the details—did just that.

For years, I prayed sporadically over the idea, unsure of when or how it would come to life. Then last summer, I sensed God nudging me: “Say yes.” Logically, the timing didn’t make sense. I had no steady income—just the occasional babysitting gig. And booking a retreat center? Let’s just say that’s not exactly budget-friendly. But I felt Him say, “Pay the deposit. I’ll handle the next step.”

So I did. And then… nothing. For months, no one registered except my mom and one kind woman. I began to question everything. Did I mishear God? Was this all just my own idea? Who am I to lead women—some twice my age—when I’m only 23?

But God kept whispering, I called you to this, and I will walk with you through every step.

And He did.

Women started signing up. Details began falling into place. God provided the best leadership team (huge thank-you to Maddie Yoder-Tate and Heather Jones!), and He even blessed us with cooler June weather—a rare treat in Missouri!

A Weekend of Faith, Fitness, and Fellowship

Twenty-three incredible women gathered for a weekend of spiritual rest, movement, and connection. My deepest prayer was that each woman would come with a heart open to what God had prepared. Life is busy, and it’s rare that we pause long enough to hear His voice. I wanted to create space for that—to stop, to breathe, to listen.

Part 1: Faith

Maddie, a pastor from Knoxville, Tennessee, led us in rich, biblical teaching centered on the Image of God. We were reminded that we are created in His image. We are His daughters. We are sisters in Christ. His Spirit lives in us. Maddie’s passion for Jesus and for women was evident in every word she shared, and it set such a powerful tone for the weekend.

Part 2: Fitness

Heather and I are deeply passionate about the female body—how it’s designed, how it functions, and how it reflects God’s intentionality. We led a variety of workouts to meet women of all ages and abilities right where they were—strength training, stretching, Pilates, and pelvic floor therapy.

So often, women see exercise as punishment. I wanted to reframe that mindset and show that movement can be joyful, healing, and worshipful. We also dove into nutrition—starting all the way back in Genesis 1. God created food and called it good... but do we actually believe that? Heather walked us through the basics of macros and practical ways to fuel our bodies well. (Spoiler: most of us aren’t getting enough protein or fiber!) She offered tools to help take these lessons back into everyday life.

Part 3: Fellowship

Above all, I wanted this weekend to be a place where true community could take root. Many women arrived not knowing anyone, but left with new friendships and shared stories. We broke bread together. We laughed through new stretches. We worshipped God in the stillness of sunrise. God worked so beautifully through each woman, and their encouragement meant more than they probably realize.

I’ve always loved health and wellness, but for a long time I didn’t understand why. Over the past few years, it’s become so much clearer: God gave me this passion not just for myself, but to pour into other women. In a culture filled with misinformation about our bodies and food, I’ve found so much life in looking at these topics through a biblical lens—and helping others do the same.

This weekend was a blessing beyond words. I prayed it would glorify God. I prayed that women would leave encouraged and grounded in truth. I prayed that we would honor Him with our hearts, minds, and bodies.

And I believe we did.