Weekend Testimonials

" Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."  
                                                                                       Psalm 40:5  

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Shifting My Perspective

Testimonials from October 2013 Weekend Retreat


From Amy Fischer (mother of 2 children, ages 6 and 5):


     I am so glad that I took the time to join in on a MOSAIC of Faith retreat.  What a gift to myself, and, in turn, to my family!  The setting was both gorgeous and relaxing.  Claire attended carefully to our needs and brought much warmth and coziness to the gathering.
     More than how fabulous the accommodations, the food, the details, and the materials were, I was most struck by the "quality" of my time spent at the retreat.  The sessions were thoughtfully prepared.  We were urged to dig deep within ourselves to gain the most from our experience at the retreat.  I was not disappointed that I took that advice.  I left the retreat feeling that it was a truly transformative experience. 
     The discussions and topics presented allowed me to look closely at my family life and spirituality to see what is working and what is not.  The time of reflection, along with Claire's guidance, and the input of the other wise moms, allowed me to find more joy in my present life, and helped me to realize more ways to allow God into my life.  The setting, the group, and the "getting away from it all" made this all possible.  Thank you Claire!  I'll be back for another retreat next year!"  

From Michelle Mugford (mother of 2 children, ages 9 and 7):

     

 
   I went on the MOSAIC of Faith weekend retreat unsure about what to expect and a little nervous.  Although I knew Claire, I did not know any of the other women going on the retreat.  I also do not consider myself overly religious, so I wondered if I would fit in.  

     When I arrived at the retreat, after a stressful ride through Boston on a Friday afternoon, I was happy to see the beautiful and peaceful setting where the retreat was held.  I immediately went for a walk on the beach, met another one of the moms attending, and was able to shed the stress of the ride down.

     Claire was an incredible hostess.  She catered to our every need, making sure were were comfortable and liked the food that was served.  The women I met that weekend were inspiring, amazing women with so much to share and offer.  Our discussions were enlightening.  I loved knowing that we could share as much as we wanted to.  It was nice to hear other women going through similar challenges and successes with their children, families and faith.  It was so nice to have time to ourselves to go off for a walk, write in our journals, or just rejuvenate from the every day stresses of life.  

     When I came back from the retreat, I felt more centered and empowered to be the best mother and wife I can be.  I felt closer to God.  I felt that not only did I renew my energy as a parent, but I also strengthened my faith.  The retreat was a wonderful experience that I would recommend to all!


Testimonials from April 2013 Weekend Retreat


From Alison Lewandowski (mother of 4 children, ages 6, 4, 4, and 1 year):

 

    The MOSAIC of Faith retreat is simply the best thing I have done for myself as a mom.  Forget the massages, pedicures and girls' nights, this retreat gives you a full dose of relaxation while rejuvenating your spirit and guiding you to reflect and connect with God, no matter how deep your faith is.
     I knew I wanted to participate in this retreat as soon as I heard about it, and it certainly did not disappoint. I felt like I had days that I was just going through the motions of daily chores and chauffeuring, going in circles while everyone else in my house was priority over me. Putting four mini people, as adorable as they are, first all the time is exhausting. Getting my husband to understand these feelings is just as bewildering. The sessions at this retreat seemed designed to address exactly what I was experiencing and feeling, and really helped me to reflect and realize that God has blessed me with my children, and I am going to be a good mom to them.
     The accommodations, to this picky mom, were very comfortable and attractive. The Duxbury home is a very beautiful and serene, beach side escape. The modern kitchen makes mealtimes enjoyable, and the food provided is delicious and very generous. I truly felt pampered with all of the special touches that were prepared throughout the home, from the flowers to the resource library, the new linens to the foot bath and pedicure station.
     The best part of the retreat is easily the sharing with other women and the thoughtful guidance of the facilitator. Claire is very flexible, open to meeting all of your needs and truly wanting this to be a meaningful and enjoyable weekend for all.  For me, it was all of that and more.  I have been invigorated, inspired, and feel prepared to give my best to this wonderful gift of motherhood.
     My wish for every mom is that they could experience this retreat at least once.  For me, I will put it at the top of my Christmas list each year.  What better gift from my husband to be able to polish my mothering tools and return a happier, more empowered mother, ready to tackle another year.  Time is already moving too quickly in my house and there is nothing I want more than to make the most of it, and to make each day with my family one that is treasured and blessed.

   

From Audra Linardos  (mother of 4 children, ages 7, 6, 4 and 3 years):

      If you are looking for an experience to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate, then the MOSAIC of Faith Retreat is the experience you are looking for.  It was a whole body experience a journey for the heart and soul. 
     The landscape was breathtakingly beautiful. The retreat house was serene, warm, and so inviting... like a pair of my favorite cozy slippers.  It just enveloped me as I walked through the door, and that feeling of peace and comfort lasted throughout the weekend. It was the first time in a very long time, I was in a place where I could focus on me, and only me:  the woman, mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.
         Claire did an amazing job mapping out the thought provoking discussions and reflections.  There was a nice balance of group time and individual time throughout the weekend. The experience had a positive pulse all of it's own.
     Oh, and how can I forget about the food... fantastic!  It was so refreshing to have yummy meals and treats already prepared for us to enjoy throughout our stay.  And, to eat them hot - yet another small gift the weekend had to offer.  Every meal, treat, and last detail that Claire thought of personalized this experience and brought it to a level that just can't be compared. 
      It was truly one of the best gifts I ever have given myself.  I would recommend this experience to any woman who is looking for the time and place to" reboot" or refill her tank. Claire is the spiritual adviser who can help you get the job done!


 Testimonials from November 2012 2013 Weekend Retreat

From Lauren Lennon (mother of 4 children, ages 7, 6, 3 and 3 mos.):


     With four kids ranging from three months to seven years of age, and a full time job, I am so happy I took the time to commit to myself and attend the MOSAIC of Faith retreat in October, 2012.  The whole experience was amazing: from the food, to the setting, to the amazing women I got to spend the weekend with, and of course, our fearless leader, Claire. 
     I am not one to enjoy things like meditation or yoga, as quieting the mind does not come easily to me.  Claire showed me a new way to be reflective through journaling, but with the distinct purpose of “going to God,” and in doing so, answers will come.  And they did.   And they still do when I take the time to go through this powerful process.
     All four of the sessions offered were relevant and meaningful to me.  But two of the sessions have really created big changes in my life.  The first is seeing all the little interruptions in my life as blessings, little blessings that wouldn’t be in my life if it weren’t for God’s gift of a family to me.  The second is that I do need to come first sometimes, to replenish myself, so I can give to my family.  It may sound small, but the small shift in mindset has helped me make terrific gains.
     I plan on going to the retreat again for two reasons.  The first is, I don’t think you can repeat any of these lessons too many times; there are always different problems to work through, and old habits die hard!  The second is the feeling I had when I walked through the door of my home when the weekend was over.  The feeling was indescribable!  I had such appreciation and love for the little faces eager to see me.  At that moment, I was able to send up my thanks to God and know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it is all worth it, that I am blessed beyond what I can even comprehend.  So thank you, Claire, for sharing your gifts with us, and hosting this amazing retreat!

From Cynthia Mathieu (mother of 2 children, ages 8 and 6):

 

     It has been almost three months since my MOSAIC of Faith Retreat Weekend and I can attest to the almost daily occurrences and reminders that emerge from the lessons I learned.  I came away from my weekend feeling lighter and more empowered than I have in a long time.  The weekend was truly a great gift to myself…spending time with myself and God, with the loving support of a caring spiritual facilitator, Claire.  
     The retreat was filled with beautiful life lessons, wonderful new friends, glorious scenery, and memories that will last a life time.  Cedar Hill is pure serenity.  My favorite spot to talk with God and reflect was at the wooden bridge by the marsh - absolutely breath-taking.  I truly felt that I was in God’s presence.  How could you not feel rejuvenated?  
     The weekend has made a huge difference in my life.  I feel I have been able to easily assimilate what I learned into my everyday life with my family.  After having spent the time reflecting on Claire’s thoughtful questions, all which prompted deep consideration, I find myself in higher place: more attuned to dealing with the challenges of motherhood, and the demands of life.   I would recommend this experience to anyone who is open to the endless possibilities God has to offer.  
     Claire is highly experienced and deeply committed to nurturing your spiritual development.  I wish to extend to Claire my deep love and warm-hearted gratitude.


   From Jessica Weller (mother of 2 children, ages 6 and 3):

 

     The Mosaic of Faith Retreat weekend was more than I ever could have imagined.  A weekend full of relaxation, QUIET, thought provoking content, a gorgeous setting, delicious food, laughs, getting to know and learning from other amazing women, and precious time to focus on myself, my faith and my parenting of my children.
      I have to admit that I left for the weekend feeling guilty about going, frazzled about getting there, and worried about leaving my husband and children behind.  When I returned on Sunday, I came back a more centered, relaxed and positive mother.  I have the retreat, the other participants and Claire to thank for that!
Lawn and water view
from the front porch of Cedar Hill
     When you first arrive at the Cedar Hill Retreat Center, you seem to leave your cares at the door.  The ocean view, lush green lawn and beautiful house immediately fill you with peace.  Then you are greeted by Claire, who is one of the most giving and caring individuals I have ever met.  She welcomes you into the home and shows you to your private bedroom where she has included so many personal touches to make you feel at home.
     The massages happen first thing, and I HIGHLY recommend that you splurge on this.  Larissa is a talented massage therapist, and it is the perfect way to kick off the weekend.  Everyone had a massage on our retreat.  So Friday night  at dinner we were all so relaxed and ready for a wonderful weekend.
Cedar Hill's private beach front
     Cedar Hill is a gorgeous setting for this retreat.  There is so much outdoor space to explore, and plenty of quiet nooks inside the house to find a private place.  There is the beautiful porch with rocking chairs, the outdoor fire pit, the labyrinth, the wooded path to the beach filled with birds, the wooden bridge by the marsh area and then the beach itself.  Such a quiet and beautiful beach to sit, journal, reflect, pray, draw..... whatever.
      The food at the retreat is delicious and plentiful (no need to pack snacks in your suitcase). Claire is great about making sure there is plenty to eat during meals and between sessions. She was wonderful about catering the menu around our dietary restrictions/allergies, and the snacks were things we all LOVED.
     Claire is such an amazing facilitator and participant!  The four sessions during the retreat were full of rich content and so well planned and thought out.  Each session comes with questions for reflection.  There are so many questions to choose from so that everyone finds something that hits home for them in their life.  There is ample time to reflect on these questions, and then everyone comes back to share their discoveries.  The sharing component is a safe and inviting space where people can share as much or as little as they like.  It was here that we all got to know each other better and learn from one another.  During the final session, we all set a goal for ourselves, something that we would drive away with and work to implement in our lives.  These goals left us feeling empowered and knowing that, with a little work, we could accomplish them, and then move on to some of the other things we learned about ourselves at the retreat.  These four sessions were life changing for me.  I am so grateful for Claire and her wonderful ability to encourage us to look deep within ourselves, pray, and let God help us find the answers.  It was amazing!
     ALL mothers of young children need a MOSAIC of Faith retreat.  What a gift to have a weekend away to enjoy some peace and quiet, time and space to reflect about yourself and your children, and a gorgeous setting to relax in!   There is a Catholic/Christian focus at the retreat, but even if you are not very active in a church (I am not at the moment), you will still get so much out of it.  Anyone who believes in God, or considers themselves a spiritual person, will benefit from this much needed weekend.   I HIGHLY recommend signing up for this journey.