Small Group in the Mountains

This past weekend, we went with our small group to a cabin in the mountains for a weekend of fun and fellowship! Zack and I had a great time, and I think everyone else involved did too! Friday was an ugly day with rain all day long, so we were thankful that we were able to ride with Zack and Gretchen and leave at about 11:45am. It rained our whole way up into the mountains, but at least we had good company. We decided to make dinner at the cabin instead of going out to eat, so the Zacks, Gretchen and I had pork tenderloin, green beans, and baked potatoes for dinner. Then we settled into a game of spades while we waited for the rest of our group to get there. Gretchen and I were doing so well, and then the Zacks pulled an a amazing hand and set us in the process...it was our undoing, although we fought back and almost beat them.

The rest of the group got up to the cabin around 8:30 and we started a friendly game of mafia. Christy and I ended up being mafia our first round and both stressed out about it. Once the group figured out who we were, we were quickly killed off and then they started up a much longer second round (Christy and I didn't play round two...it was just too much to be in the mafia the first game. So we watched as the group struggled to figure out who the mafia were in the second game).

Zack teaching the group how to play Mafia

Christy, Amanda, and Gretchen trying to decide who was in the Mafia.

Gretchen

"it's Zack"

Pam

Accusations were flying

Zack in trying to determine who the mafia is.

Hector...or should I say inspector Hector

On Saturday, we had a great breakfast made by Zack, Gretchen, Matt, and Amanda consisting of french toast, blueberry muffins, grits, oatmeal, and bagel sandwiches.

Matt enjoying a cup of coffee and the beauty of the morning in the mountains

That was some good french toast

While we were getting ready to eat breakfast, we were pleasently surprised by William and Gloria knocking on the door! It was so good to see them, since we haven't seen much of them since William started seminary.

William and Gloria

The guys decided to play a game of flag football and the girls took showers and got ready or were out taking pictures of the boys.

Twirling!!

Cliff

planning the attack

and the defense

Jaclyn, Pam and Gretchen Watch the Game

Zack

Hector

Pam watching from the porch

Gretchen taught the girls a game of nerts while we waited for the boys to finish their football game so that we could eat lunch. Kevin and Jaclyn made a really yummy chicken salad for lunch, along with some hummus and fruit.
After lunch, we decided to go and do a corn maze. William made the suggestion that we all not use the maps of the maze and so everyone tore off their maps and gave them to Zack (everyone except Gretchen) and he threw them away. We then split into 3 teams of 4 and tried to see who could finish the maze first, getting all 7 of the whole punches. Of course, Zack, Gretchen, Matt, and Amanda finished first (with the aid of a map) Hector, Christy, Pam and Cliff came in second and then our group William, Gloria, Zack and I came in third. We were doing well, except that we missed number 2 and it took us a LONG time to go back and find it.

Back Row: Pam, Cliff, William, Zack, Zack, Paula, Matt, Hector
Front row: Gloria, Gretchen, Amanda, and Christy

Zack and I

Amanda and Matt

Punching the card

Zack racing through the maze.

Once we got back from the corn maze, the guys went out for another game of flag football and most of the girls watched "27 dresses" and Pam and I got dinner ready.

Hector was one of several injured players when all was said and done.

We had Lasagna, garlic bread, and salad for dinner and white chocolate raspberry cheesecake or smores for dessert. Yum!
Pam, Cliff, Amanda, and Matt left after dinner, because they needed to be at the church the next morning. We missed them. Especially during Zack's sing along...which was really funny. I haven't laughed that hard in a while.
Sunday morning Hector and Christy fixed breakfast. It was delicious, blue berry pancakes, bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs. I think that Zack was enjoying these great breakfasts, since it is his favorite meal and he doesn't get such elaborate breakfast at home. After breakfast, William and Gloria and Gretchen and Zack left. William had an interview for a position as an intern in a church in Atlanta that he needed to get to, and Grtchen and Zack went to hear her brother preach at a church about 40 minutes from where we were.
Hector and Christy and Kevin and Jaclyn helped us wash the sheets and straighten the cabin and then we had leftovers for lunch and played a game of sequence that the Morangs dominated.
Then as with all things, it was over and time to get home. But it was such a weekend of blessings. It was the first time that our small group was able to do something like that, and we so enjoyed getting to spend the time with all of them. Hopefully we will be able to do something like this again soon!