Mini Holiday

Sometimes a little 24-hour jaunt feels as good as a whole holiday away from home. That was our experience yesterday. We had been invited to a fund-raising concert for King's Fold Retreat Centre and promised to come if the weather permitted. After weeks of cold, gloomy weather, the sun came out and the temperature moderated. Right now it's +11C which for the second of November is pretty mild.

We left Sunday morning around 10 and drove west to Airdrie, did a little shopping and then went on to Rock Pointe Church, which is on Hwy 1A, west of Calgary, but a little east of Cochrane. Tisha Murvihill, principal harpist with the Calgary Philharmonic, was donating her time and talent to raise funds for King's Fold Retreat Centre, a non-denominational Christian retreat centre in the foothills of the Rockies. She was playing excerpts from her new CD, "A Quiet Afternoon," for an audience of about 180 people. It was just marvelous. She's very talented and very personable. Meditations interspersed the music, which included "Change My Heart, Oh God," "Create in Me a Clean Heart," and "You are My Hiding Place." The entire two hours was just uplifting and satisfying.

Then we met our friends, who had recently moved to King's Fold where O. is the new director, and went to their home at the Retreat Centre for supper and an evening visit. It was dark when we arrived, so we didn't get to see the spectacular scenery until this morning. When we got up the morning sun had coloured the snow-covered mountains pink, but by the time I got out to take a picture, the colours had changed. Didn't get a very good shot, but this at least

gives you an idea of what it's like there.

O. gave us a tour this morning, and we were very impressed with how clean, neat, well organized and thoughtfully built the centre is. There is a main lodge with bedrooms, meeting rooms, a gorgeous dining room with large windows framing the view. There are several smaller outbuildings, including some cabins for fasting retreats, and a very beautiful small chapel. This picture of the

carved entrance door gives you a glimpse of the care that went into the details. A very peaceful place, surrounded by pines and inspiring views of the Rockies.

Google King's Fold, Alberta for some better pictures and information about the centre. If you live anywhere in the area, I recommend a visit or a short or extended stay. Their rates are reasonable, and breakfast, lunch and dinner are available. That is not "camp food" by any means. The meals are wonderful.

It was a treat to visit with O. and D. and their two little boys. They just recently moved to King's Fold from our small town, and we miss them.