Rest and Be Thankful started as a Quiet Garden on 2 acres in rural Wisconsin, USA. Through the years it has gone through many changes, and now is in its second year of offering an online Quiet Garden for people to visit not just once in a while, but every day. Joan Tyvoll, an ordained minister, writer, conference and retreat speaker, writes a weekly devotional found at www.restandbethankful.org. Although just beginning Joan reports that the number of people logging on continues to grow. They have made friends from all over the US as well as England.

Ron and Karen Poidevin’s Way of the Wolf Ranch/B&B Retreats in Fredericksburg, TX was the venue for a seminar in February with Rabbi Rami Shapiro in which he explored Genesis and Job with a group from several denominations. It was heart warming to see people’s desire to support each other’s unique spiritual journey. In June they hosted the first weeklong Wisdom School at their retreat centre. As they move into their 15th year many groups are returning to reconnect with themselves and the Creator in a peaceful setting. Even guests who come for a B&B weekend leave refreshed and renewed.