JUNE 14-16, 2024
A few
spots still
available!
A RETREAT FOR GRIEVING COUPLES
OUR VISION
Our vision is to bring encouragement, hope, and comfort to couples that have experienced the death of a child. We are born-again believers who are confident that, as God's children, we grieve the loss of our children with hope because of Jesus.
​
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
​
We are grateful for the gift of hope, and want to share that gift with others.
Our times of teaching/sharing will be founded on Biblical truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
ABOUT
Hi friends! We are Erv and Jen Miller, and
we live in Westcliffe, CO. God has taken us on a life journey that we would never have chosen, and yet, looking back, we see His Sovereignty and goodness in all of it. He blessed us with three precious little girls, all born with a rare genetic disorder. Over a period of 17 years, we had the privilege of loving them and caring for them. It changed our life, and it changed us. Though the journey was far from easy, we saw so many glimpses of His grace and glory.
​
All 3 of our girls are now in heaven, and we still miss them tremendously. The journey of grief has at times threatened to overwhelm us, and yet God's comfort, strength, and grace has kept us through the storm.
​
Because of our story, God gave us a dream to reach out to other couples who are grieving. We are not counselors, and we do not see ourselves as grief professionals in any way. Rather, we have a heart to connect grieving parents with each other in a setting where we can learn from and care for each other.
2024 RETREAT
Our 2024 Retreat will be held in Westcliffe, Colorado on June 14 - 16, 2024. Our friends and neighbors at the Pines Ranch have graciously offered us their beautiful place to hold our retreat.
​
The Pines Ranch is a rustic, peaceful environment, tucked away at the base of the gorgeous Sangre de Cristo mountain range. You can expect to truly "get away from it all" in this setting of tall pines and mountain vistas. You can visit the Pines Ranch here, if you wish to know more about the ranch.
​
Our retreat is open to a total of up to 10 couples (including us), which should allow for deep, intimate connection. Each couple will have their own bedroom/bathroom combination in a clean, but rustic cabin. Don't expect the Hyatt...you're coming to the mountains! What you can expect is friendly faces, fresh mountain air, good food, time to reconnect as a couple, and connection with other couples who are walking the same grief journey as you.
​
The retreat will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 14th. You should plan to arrive between 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. Closer to the time of the retreat, we will send you a more detailed schedule. We will end the retreat by early afternoon on Sunday, June 16th.
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE
WHO CAN COME?
Our retreat is designed for married couples who are grieving the loss of a child. We are not professional counselors, and this is in no way intended to take the place of professional counseling that may be needed. We expect a wide variety of couples, each with their own unique story, which needs to be shared. While we do not want to diminish the pain a single parent experiences in grief, we feel specifically called to minister to married couples.
​
​
​
​
All of our grief journeys are unique. The only person that knows the right time to attend a grief retreat is you. Some couples may feel ready only a few months after the death of their child, and others may want to wait a number of years. There is no right or wrong time. If you have a child that died, and feel a need to connect with other grieving families, this retreat is for you.
​
​
​
​
​
Thanks to the generosity of our friends at the Pines Ranch, we are able to keep the cost of the retreat very minimal. The cost per couple is $250, which includes food, lodging, and materials. The cost is non-refundable, although we may take into account emergencies that arise on a per-case basis.
​
​
​
​
​
The closest airport to the retreat is the CO Springs airport, which is 1 hour and 45 minutes away. Denver airport is 3 hours away. If you fly, you should plan to rent a car. If you would like to rent a car with another couple, we will see if we can help make that happen. Obviously, you are welcome to drive here as well.
​
​
​
​
​
We have to be honest with you: this is our first-ever Journey of Hope Mountain Respite! We are excited and have lots of ideas of how to make it a wonderful weekend. We have been to a similar retreat, and it was a life-changing experience for us. We will be finalizing details closer to the event date, but here are some things you can expect: times of couples sharing their unique grief story, times of praying for each other, times of connecting alone as a couple, times of split sessions for men and women, fun, recreational times to just enjoy each other, and times of fellowship over yummy meals. We are praying and expecting God to use this weekend to do great things!
​
​
​
​
​
Please use the contact form and send us an email. We will respond to you with some questions for you to fill out, and instructions on how to pay, if you choose to sign up. Use the contact form for any questions you might have...just emailing
us is not a commitment to come.