Hearts Encouraged Retreat
A WEEKEND RETREAT FOR FOSTER & ADOPTIVE MOMS
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR NEXT RETREAT IN 2023!
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS DONORS WHO BLESSED SO MANY AT OUR 2021 RETREAT!
What People Are Saying
"This retreat provided encouragement, laughter and feeling of belonging - I'm with my people, when in a room of total strangers I felt like I belonged."
"The most valuable part of this retreat is the non-judgmental support and honesty. I loooooooved and needed this retreat."
"What an amazing weekend! Thank you for the beautiful time of encouragement.
I absolutely loved this retreat."
"This retreat provided encouragement and hope that was given in each story...This was a gift and brought healing and support."
"Hearts Encouraged brought my focus back to the Lord and not my circumstances, Perfectly right! The spirit of the entire weekend was beautiful!"
"Paula was a great speaker. Love how she did not give us a list of how-to's, but rather she pointed us to Christ, related to us, gave us hope -was funny. This has been the best retreat ever! The worship and speaker were phenomenal. LOVED all the free time. The schedule wasn't jammed packed with activities - I didn't need more busy in my life!"
About
2021 SPEAKER: Elsa Kok Colopy
Elsa Kok Colopy is an author, speaker and an expert on multiple DVD curriculums. A former editor for Thriving Family magazine, Elsa has authored hundreds of articles and is the author of six books, including Pure Love Pure Life, Exploring God’s Heart on Purity (Zondervan), A Woman Who Hurts, A God Who Heals (New Hope), A Woman with a Past, A God with a Future (New Hope), and 99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress (Navigators).
A former single parent, Elsa has now been married to Brian for 15 years. Together they are the proud parents of four adult children and four adopted littles (three from Haiti, one adopted domestically).
Elsa is a humorous and inspirational speaker, and has served at conferences, retreats and workshops around the world. Elsa has personally walked the journey of healing from her own brokenness, blending a family, parenting children through trauma and finding joy in the midst of it all. She communicates hope for the hurting, healing for the broken and inspiration to those pursuing Jesus.
She and her husband, Brian, live, love and adventure together with their family in Colorado Springs, CO.
2021 VOLUNTEER TEAM
DANIELLE BANKER
Founder & Visionary
Danielle and her husband, Doug, have been married for 15 years and have 6 children (ages 3 to 15). The Lord led them to adopt early in their marriage - adopting 2 children from Ethiopia and shortly thereafter 2 more children from Ghana. God has since blessed them with two biological children.
Through the process of adoption the Lord has given Danielle a tremendous heart to support and encourage adoptive families. Danielle has helped found and lead a church adoption support group, co-lead post-adoptive training, and regularly volunteers with a local adoption agency helping families understand the various challenges often associated with adoption.
It is through these ministries that Danielle has seen many adoptive families struggle with isolation and shame. She believes that true Christian fellowship is an essential tool for a successful adoption - hence the birth of "Hearts Encouraged."
Elizabeth Kern
Registration Coordinator
Elizabeth has been married to her high school sweetheart for 18 years. They have 4 children. Three biological children, and 1 adopted son from S. Korea. In her free time Elizabeth loves spending quality time with her friends, playing tennis, and organizing events. Elizabeth graduated from college with a degree in sociology. She worked as a case worker and then at Compassion International before having children. She has always had a heart for those in need, and loves working with people.
Elizabeth always felt called to adopt. Even in high school she knew it was something she wanted to do. The adoption process took many unexpected turns and she felt the weight of unmet expectations and the stress that comes with adoption. In the midst of the hard, she saw God's hand working in their lives and feels called to encourage other adoptive mothers on their journeys.
Elizabeth is excited to be part of the Hearts Encouraged retreat. She feels strongly that God's heart is for adoption and there is beauty in adoption. She knows that true healing comes when we honestly share our stories with each other.
Valerie Crowley
Administrative Assistant
Valerie married her best friend, Ryan, 17 years ago. They have three great kids - two biological children and one adopted from China. Valerie and Ryan have always applauded adoption but never thought it would be part of their own family story. They supported many friends on the adoption journey and slowly felt God telling them to open their home to another kiddo through adoption. They brought their daughter home from China a few years later.
Despite excellent training and reading "all the right books," Valerie was overwhelmed by how deeply the challenges of adoption affected every aspect of their lives. The turning point in her own struggle came at the very first Hearts Encouraged Retreat, when she met other women who understood the heartache and hopelessness and could offer hope and solidarity. As her own family and relationships have healed over the years, she has a heart for other women on this hard path. Valerie is excited to be a part of Hearts Encouraged and prays that God would use it to heal and encourage other struggling adoptive and foster moms.
2023
Stay tuned!
Following Saturday night's Q&A Panel, ladies will be given the opportunity to fellowship and play games.
Stay tuned!
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F A Q's
WHAT IS 'HEARTS ENCOURAGED'?
Very simply, Hearts Encouraged is a retreat hosted by a volunteer group of Christian adoptive moms whose goal is to bring foster and adoptive mothers together to be encouraged by one another in the Lord Jesus Christ. We understand the unique challenges and isolation that some foster and adoptive moms experience.
Our desire is to help these moms feel loved by the body of Christ and to walk away knowing they are not alone. We hope to provide support, encouragement, and education within a warm, light-hearted, fun, and peaceful environment.
Hearts Encouraged is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to uplifting and blessing adoptive and foster mothers.
WHAT WILL THE 2021 RETREAT LOOK LIKE?
1. Same Conference Location. This year we are excited to continue partnering with The Hideaway. The Hideaway is a beautiful venue located in the woods in The Black Forest. Choosing The Hideaway continues to ensure that that retreat costs will be kept as affordable as possible.
2. Still a 2-night retreat. Many of you felt that one night was not enough time to fellowship with other women. This year we have decided to keep the 2-night retreat format.
3. More Breakout Sessions and Live Q&A. Once again, based upon your feedback, we are continuing to offer breakout sessions and live Q&A. The breakout sessions will be determined as the retreat draws closer.
4. More time to connect with other women. This was the biggest request to come from past surveys. We hear you and couldn't agree more! So whether it's connecting with other women or relaxing on your own we are making sure to build in chunks of free time at the 2021 retreat.
5. COVID precautions. We are operating under the assumption that COVID cases can drastically increase or decrease by the time of the retreat. Please keep this in mind when registering. We will be complying with CDC and CO local guidelines. COMPLETE CANCELLATION (minus $15 fee) will be offered until June 1, 2021, for COVID health reasons. If you or your family member is sick, exposed to COVID, or has a positive test we ask that you stay home in accordance with local guidelines. Please know that late cancellation will be a financial hardship for our ministry.
Please check The Hideaway's website to know all current standards. We will not be policing the behavior of individuals at the conference. We will ask and request that all standards are followed, but will be unable to enforce practices.
Our desire is to preserve the intentionality and focus of connection during this retreat with the current restrictions. We ask that you prayerfully consider these practices and guidelines and decide if you are comfortable with them. If so, we will be thrilled to have you join us for refreshment in the Lord Jesus Christ!
2021
PRICING & REGISTRATION
OVERNIGHT GUESTS
Option 1: If you will or would like to have a roommate.
LODGING + LOCATION FEES
$236
Total cost for a 2 night stay in a shared room. Shared rooms have four twin-sized beds. Includes 5 meals and all related taxes and fees.
Option 2: If you would like a single room.
LODGING + LOCATION FEES
$310
Total cost for a 2 night stay in a single room. Includes 5 meals and all related taxes and fees.
COMMUTERS
Option 3: If you will be commuting to The Hideaway each day.
LOCATION FEES
$134
Includes 3 meals and all related taxes and fees. Does NOT include breakfasts.
WHAT'S THE COST OF THE RETREAT AND WHAT'S INCLUDED?
We are so excited to announce that, thanks to God's provision through some generous donors, we will have no conference fees!
Unlike many retreats where attendees purchase their lodging directly through the hotel, Hearts Encouraged collects payment for both lodging and the conference at one time. Lodging must be paid in full.
Until lodging is paid, we cannot confirm ANY registrations for that room.
We currently offer 3 separate options depending on your preference:
1) LODGING - With Roommate(s) - Overnight guests who are paying for lodging. Up to four people per room.
2) LODGING - Single Room - Overnight guests who are paying for lodging for a single room.
3) COMMUTER - Commuting guests who are not staying overnight.
GENERAL
WILL YOU HELP ME FIND A ROOMMATE?
Yes! Please make a note in your registration comments. We will do our best to accommodate all room requests, although we cannot guarantee it.
I AM INTERESTED IN FOSTERING/ADOPTING BUT HAVEN'T
YET ADOPTED OR FOSTERED. CAN I STILL ATTEND THE RETREAT?
Yay! We are thrilled that you are interested in fostering or adopting. Each adoptive or foster parent has unique needs and valuable wisdom to contribute. As such, we earnestly hope you seek out parents along the various stages of this journey and glean from their experience in order to become the best adoptive or foster parent you can be. While the women at this retreat would undoubtedly have much wisdom and insight to share, our focus is primarily respite. Thus, at this time, we are requesting that only those women that are currently fostering or adopting, attend the retreat.
CAN MY HUSBAND ATTEND WITH ME?
We love that your husband is interested in attending. Unfortunately, the retreat is only open to women who are currently an adoptive or foster mom.
WE HAVE A NEWLY PLACED/ADOPTED CHILD.
AM I ALLOWED TO BRING HIM/HER?
In an effort to preserve a restful atmosphere, we apologize that we cannot accommodate infants or other children at this retreat. Please feel free to take advantage of our commuter option which allows you to come at a discounted rate.
As adoptive moms, we understand both the importance of attachment and the stress it might cause a child to be separated from you. If even a few hours of separation is too long, we encourage you to use this time to deepen your connection with your child and join us in a future year when your child is more securely attached.
I AM NURSING AN INFANT. MAY I BRING HIM/HER?
Yes! Non-mobile infants only please.
I CAN'T AFFORD THE PRICE OF A ROOM, BUT WOULD STILL
LIKE TO ATTEND THE RETREAT. IS THERE ANOTHER OPTION AVAILABLE?
Yes! We have a very affordable commuter option available. See above for pricing.
DO YOU PROVIDE ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?
We hope to sponsor or partially sponsor women in need of financial assistance. If you would like to attend the retreat, but the cost is beyond your means, please contact us at HeartsEncouragedRetreat@gmail.com. In the event we are able to award you some assistance, we will contact you.
I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE MONEY TO
SPONSOR OR PARTIALLY SPONSOR A MOM. HOW CAN I DO THAT?
Thank you so much! Without your generosity, many women would be unable to attend. Please email us at HeartsEncouragedRetreat@gmail.com to discuss your donation or gift.
CAN THE HIDEAWAY MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MY FOOD ALLERGIES?
Yes! Please note all food allergies in the registration form.
CANCELLATION POLICY
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
If you need to cancel your reservation, please e-mail your request to HeartsEncouragedRetreat@gmail.com and include the word “CANCELLATION” in the subject line. All cancellation requests must be received by May 1, 2021 for a refund minus a $15 cancellation fee.
Please allow 72 hours for a response and up to 10 days to process your refund.
After May 1, 2021, you will only receive a refund if we are able to fill your spot with someone from our waitlist. You may request a late cancellation by emailing us at HeartsEncouragedRetreat@gmail.com. Include the phrase “LATE CANCELLATION” in the subject line.
We will respond within 72 hours, but it may take up until the start of the conference to work through our waitlist, assuming we are able to find someone to fill your spot.
Gifts & Donations
Do you know a foster or adoptive mom in need of encouragement?
Do you know a
mom looking to connect with other foster and adoptive moms?
Do you have a heart for
foster care or adoption?
If so, please consider making a gift to a specific individual or donating money to a general sponsorship fund. Without the generosity of people like you, many moms would not be able to attend.
Please email us at
HeartsEncouragedRetreat@gmail.com
to make a donation. Thank you!
GETTING THERE
The Hideaway
3805 Walker Rd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80908
The Hideaway is 30 minutes from Colorado Springs and 50 minutes from Denver.
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From Denver, drive south on I-25
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From Colorado Springs, drive north on I-25
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Exit 161
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Head East (away from mountains) on HWY 105
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Cross HWY 83
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The 105 turns into Walker Rd. after you cross HWY 83
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Take Walker Rd. for 1/2 mile
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Turn right at the stone and stucco “The Hideaway” sign
Contact
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