This weekend was so wonderful. Fort Caswell stole my heart three years ago, and every year that we return, I fall a little more in love with the quiet peacefulness that floods my heart each and every time I go back there. Each year, more and more women from our church jump on board and this year we had 48 ladies go! Just imagine 48 Baptist women sharing a big old plantation house and you can imagine the abundance of laughter, good food, and sweet conversation.

Southport, which is one of the most charming little towns I’ve ever been to, is only about 15 minutes from Fort Caswell, and we all love browsing through the little boutiques and grabbing lunch at the local waterfront restaurants.

These croissants are better than Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Yep, I said it. They’re game-changing. They’re buttery and delicious and I’m pretty sure they will be served on silver platters in Heaven. If you are in Southport, you have to stop by Burney’s Bakery and get a big box of these. Then, go back 10 minutes later to get more… because you will have already devoured them. YUM!

On Friday, we had lunch at the Yacht Basin Eatery (one of the delicious little waterfront restaurants in Southport). Their fried pickles, shrimp tacos, and mahi mahi tacos topped with fresh mango salsa are amazing. Then, on Saturday, we had lunch at the Provision Co. and it was just as incredible. Crab cake sandwiches, grilled tuna sandwiches, and the best sweet tea complete with an ocean breeze and seagulls singing in the background. I could so get used to that kind of lunch every day. What could be better than lunch on the water in a tiny little town bursting with southern hospitality?

No matter where I go, I’m always on a secret mission to find the best coffee shop (this is Coffee Date With Kate, after all). I was thrilled to find this little gem and would’ve sat here all day long if I could have. But, there were more shops to see, so off I went. Downtown Southport is just so precious!

This year, our speaker for the retreat was a precious Spirit-filled lady named Andi Barkley from Lake Norman Baptist Church. She was such a blessing and her message touched every woman’s heart in a special way. The sound of all those women- all so dear to my heart- filling that big old house singing praises to our Father is a sound I want to remember forever. I always come home closer to these sisters of mine, rejuvenated, and more in love with my Father.

It seems like every year, there’s a specific verse that just kind of jumps out at me. I love how Jesus does that… As His daughters, He never fails to meet us where we are, and pour Himself out so generously. The verse that captured my heart the most this year was from Isaiah 43:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”